Many
people
dream
of
owning
a
home
on
the
water,
whether
it
be a
lake,
river,
or
bay.
For
many,
views
of
sunrises
and
sunsets
on a
peaceful
lake
bring
feelings
of
happiness,
serenity,
and
calmness.
If
you
think
you
may
be
ready
to
make
this
dream
come
true
for
yourself,
there
are
a
few
considerations
you
may
want
to
reflect
upon
before
taking
that
first
step.
Considerations
Before
You
Buy
Waterfront
Real
Estate
Firstly,
address
the
exact
reasons
why
you
want
to
own
a
waterfront
property.
What
kind
of
activities
do
you
plan
on
doing?
Boating,
fishing,
and
swimming
are
common
water
activities,
but
cannot
be
accomplished
on
just
any
body
of
water.
Be
sure
that
the
water
on
your
prospective
property
can
accommodate
your
needs
and
desires.
Decide
if
you
want
to
have
rural
surroundings,
or
if
you
would
like
to
live
near
more
urban
conveniences.
Choose
your
prospects
accordingly.
Be
aware
of
any
federal,
state,
and
local
laws
that
may
affect
you
as a
waterfront
property
owner.
Research
these
laws
before
deciding
if
that
waterfront
home
is
really
for
you.
Know
that,
as
an
owner
of
waterfront
property,
you
will
have
a
responsibility
to
protect
that
environment
for
future
generations.
This
practice
is
called
stewardship
and
should
never
be
taken
lightly.
Protecting
the
natural
shoreline
of
your
waterfront
real
estate
will
not
only
benefit
the
environment,
but
your
investment
as
well.
Water
Quality
You
want
to
be
sure
that
the
quality
of
the
water
meets
your
personal
standards.
The
water,
wildlife,
and
lake
bottom
are
just
some
of
the
important
factors
to
consider.
Remember,
while
the
landscaping
of
your
land
may
be
altered
to
your
specifications,
the
water
is
the
one
thing
on
your
property
that
cannot
be
changed.
Ideally,
you
want
your
shoreline
to
be
sandy.
Mucky
shorelines
are
not
very
pleasant
to
walk
on.
While
there
will
almost
always
be
some
muck
on
the
shore,
less
is
better.
If
you
plan
on
fishing
on
your
lake,
be
sure
to
research
the
native
species
of
fish
living
within
your
body
of
water.
The
lake
bottom
is
another
substantial
factor
to
consider.
As
with
the
shore,
you
don’t
want
an
overly
mucky
bottom.
Preferably,
you
will
most
likely
want
a
sandy
bottom
or
similar
material.
The
clearer
the
water,
the
better.
“A
recent
study
of
over
1,000
waterfront
properties
in
Minnesota
found,
when
all
other
factors
were
equal,
properties
on
lakes
with
clear
water
command
significantly
higher
property
prices.”
