As you know, there is a lot of great Lake Keowee property for sale in beautiful upstate South Carolina.

It’s an area rife with picturesque views, breathtaking activities on the water, as well as some decent fishing. Whatever your fancy, there are more than a few things that you should know about buying the best waterfront property.

In this article, we’re going to talk about what we consider to be the top 10 tips for buying one of the many Lake Keowee houses for sale. These tips will not only make you a more informed buyer but, if applied correctly, will make a buyer who is truly pleased with their property.

1. Figure Out Financing Ahead of Time

When you are looking at waterfront property, the price tag increases due to the limited availability of water frontage compared to homes without. This price is often high enough to make waterfront properties considered luxury homes.

The difference in cost can boost a property value into the jumbo mortgage category, according to HGTV.

Jumbo mortgages have many more requirements and restrictions. There is no reason to get your heart set on a property unless you are first sure that you can afford it.

Be aware that in addition to a higher upfront cost, taxes are also higher for waterfront property. Insurance rates will be higher due to requirements for flood insurance and a higher property value. There are also often neighborhood association or HOA fees to look out for as well.

It is often said that it’s in your best interest to start looking for loans before you start looking at a particular property, as financing can take much longer than that of a traditional home loan.

2. Choosing the Right Agent

When you choose the right real estate agent, they will be able to expertly guide you through the home buying process. The right agent will answer many of the most important questions. Their knowledge and experience will guide you effortlessly through homebuying, helping you find one of the best Lake Keowee houses for sale.

As earlier stated, it’s important to deal with agents that have a specialization in waterfront properties. You may have a trusted agent where you live now, but it’s important to consider their lack of experience in Lake Keowee homes.

The ideal agent will have detailed knowledge of the neighborhoods, lifestyles, and traits within the Lake Keowee area to help you weigh the pros and cons of each of the desired properties. They will be your guide throughout the entire home buying process and ultimately help ensure that you pay the right price to land your dream Lake Keowee property.

3. Consider your Lifestyle

As you know, for the right price, you can have any of the fantastic Lake Keowee homes. However, you have to consider what you’re looking for in a particular property. For example, a direct waterfront property will be much more expensive than a home that’s just a few meters away. There are many Lake Keowee houses for sale in both spaces, so you should weigh the pros and cons of each space.

If you’re a person who will spend a lot of their time directly to the water, it may make sense to look exclusively at a property adjacent to the water. An example of this would be someone who is an avid boater. On the other hand, you may just appreciate the views, so you could live easily with a property that doesn’t rely on even having a dock.

Both of these options are fantastic, but very much a matter of personal preference.

4. Learn about the Neighborhood

Wherever you are, it’s always in your best interest to learn about your neighborhood. Schools, shops, and other amenities are assuredly important for everyone. The variety of Lake Keowee houses for sale will always come with a great amount of all of those things, though they can be different depending on where you are on the lake.

It’s also important to understand that every neighborhood can come with its own rules, bonuses, and a variety of lifestyles. It’s extremely important for you to understand what these are and what your would-be neighbors say about the traits of your potential Lake Keowee property.

If they’ve been there for a while, they will more than likely give you an insight that you can’t see from browsing websites or chatting with agents. What’s more, is that this information is absolutely free and can possibly spare you some headache in the future.

If you’ve never bought lakefront property before, you’ll soon find that most of these communities are generally welcoming and more than likely would love to tell you about the fabric of the community-at-large.

5.Consider the entire property itself more than the structure

When you’re buying a Lake Keowee property, understand you’re buying just that – land. There’s a fantastic chance that you’ll fall in love with the structure itself, but that’s something that can and probably will be changed or renovated. The same cannot easily be said about the actual parcel.

For many people, they’re more or less locked into what they sign up for.

An example of this would be the amount of waterfront space that you’ll get. Unless you’re willing to buy your neighbor’s plot, the line of demarcation won’t change, neither will things like the slope of the property, public access, or proximity to a boat landing.

For most, the best course of action is to thoroughly walk the property to make sure that it will pass muster. This is true in all of the Lake Keowee houses for sale Some views are great from a certain distance but become less desirable when you figure out that a tree obstructs an otherwise prime vantage point.

6. Understand the Water

It’s understandable that just about everyone wants to live on the water, especially with the affordability and activity-rich options in Lake Keowee houses for sale. Unfortunately, most people won’t do as much homework as they probably should. With there being so many amazing Lake Keowee houses for sale at attractive price points, it’s easy to understand that people don’t take the time to research and understand the water.

Like many lakes, there is absolutely inherent risk. It could be something manageable like weeds or general unpleasant conditions in the water. It could also be something that is a bit more serious, such as a known drowning hazard.

Also, when buying a property on the water, you’re going to have to be mindful of its shores. While this sounds very simplistic, this may play a part in your decision on one property or another. Understanding its history is paramount. If the shoreline history points to it rising in the future, you may soon find that you are without property.

On the other side of the coin, if history says that it will recess, you may find that your access to the water is much further than just a few steps beyond your backyard.

Regardless of where you are, you’re more than likely going to deal with some level of discomfort concerning the waterfront property you choose, this is no different for those looking for Lake Keowee homes. At the end of the day, it’s all about doing the research and determining whether or not you’re comfortable with the risk that it provides.

7. Understand Storm Risks for Lake Keowee Property

Storms are as inevitable as they are violent. Many inland homes are absolutely at risk for all sorts of inclement weather and the things that can go wrong to a home when they do touch down. As you would expect, Lake Keowee homes are no different. It should be said that homes on the water will always take a beating, whether it’s from high winds or from the water itself.

It’s in your best interest to absolutely understand the structural integrity of your potential structure. This is especially true of new construction. Since it has not been tested as another Lake Keowee property, there may be no real way to know whether or not it will stand up to the lake’s rigors until the storms start.

It’s for this reason that you should always insist on a rigorous inspection, according to the New York Times. Fortunately, there are very many fantastic inspectors and engineers that will be more than happy to come in and ensure that your property is safe while you’re enjoying your home.

8. Look into Desired Changes Ahead of Time

New additions are easily one of the more desired aspects of owning any home, so it’s imperative that you know what you want and whether or not it’s permitted ahead of time.

It may seem simple to add a new dock or remove some trees to improve your view. After all, it’s your property, and improving it is most of the fun. Unfortunately, it isn’t always as easy as it sounds! In some cases, you may not be able to, depending on the Lake Keowee property of your choosing.

Know the rules of what you can or cannot do with your property to save yourself some grief down the line.

9. Verify Access to Utilities

When you purchase Lake Keowee property, it’s crucial to research existing utilities as well as the accessibility to utilities not installed. The perfect, gorgeous lot you found may not have sufficient water, electric, or gas lines available to the property. At least, not in a condition worthy of habitation.

If your budget calculations are not inclusive of these major expenses, you will be in for a big surprise when you purchase any of the Lake Keowee houses for sale.

When working with the electrical, you will want to contact the power company. One of their qualified representatives will be able to tell you how close the nearest pole is, as well as the total estimated cost of new service and level of service and power types available.

The water supply will vary greatly depending on the location of the Lake Keowee property. First, check with the city planner to figure out whether the property has access to the sewage system or will need its own private supply and disposal.

If the Lake Keowee property is part of the sewer line the planner will either be able to tell you the cost or refer you to the proper person to discuss with. If the property is not part of the sewer system, you will need to hire contractors both to dig a well, as well as to install a private septic system.

Be wary of existing wells that are unused, as regular use is a requirement in most jurisdictions and an old unusable well can create additional headaches rather than savings.

When it comes to gas setup, you will need to contact the gas supplier for the area and they will let you know the cost to bring natural gas onto the property if it is even available. It is also possible to use propane in areas where natural gas is not available on a given Lake Keowee property.

While all these extra calls upfront may seem like a complete hassle, you will be grateful in the end to have the right answers when they are needed and not to be confronted with a staggering price tag down the line.

Not doing so will make any of the otherwise affordable Lake Keowee houses for sale a potential boondoggle.

10. Understand Your Maintenance Responsibility

Maintaining your property is of the utmost importance, but lakefront property generally involves all of the normal stuff and some of the things that you may not readily consider maintenance-wise.

The maintenance of your frontage will be of extreme importance. Water can and will damage docks, bulkheads, and potentially anything else that isn’t properly looked after.

Weather can be more severe on the water than inland. While this is a commonly noted fact, there are many people who haven’t experienced the power of nature firsthand. Make sure that you understand what you may be up against before signing on the dotted line. Most of the time, your responsibilities will vary depending on the home that you buy.

Of all of the Lake Keowee houses for sale, we’re absolutely sure that you’ll find one that you can be pleased to own. That said, it’s important that you’re absolutely safe, informed, and prepared. These tips will go a long way in ensuring that you are.