Buying a Waterfront Home Requires Specialized Skills and Knowledge. 

Make Sure Your Realtor is a Lake Travis Expert. 

To figure out if you're working with a Lake Travis Expert, ask yourself (and your Realtor) these questions...

1. Can we tour waterfront homes by boat, as well as by land?
If the answer to this one is "No", you're with the wrong agent.
Seriously.

2. Where's the closest ... [you name it] ...marina, boat dealer, public boat ramp, floating restaurant, party cove, wakeboarding spot, dive shop, etc? (not just driving directions, but what lake mile marker is it closest to, for boating reference?) Which locations are best -in terms of boating distance- to the things that matter the most to you?

3. What new waterfront developments are slated to break ground in the near future?

4. I've heard that the water level on Lake Travis fluctuates. What's the usual "full" level of the lake? How low does it get in a typical summer? Tell me about the 100-year floodplain- do you know that the offiical floodplain level is changing? What does that mean in terms of flood insurance?

5. Will this property go dry? Has it gone dry in the past (if so, how many times and for how long)?

6. Can you provide me with a historical chart of month-by-month lake levels for the past 60 years?

7. Can we check a property's waterfrontage with your boat's depth finder to independently assess the water depth in front of the home?

8. What's the current market value for this waterfront home or land? How quickly has the value of this particular area appreciated in the past couple of years? (Ask for a ballpark figure - your agent shouldn't have to research the MLS for a day to know these answers!)

9. Which boat-up restaurant has the ... [you fill in the blank] ... best food, strongest drinks, younger crowd, older crowd, best live music, year-round access, best Sunday brunch, largest wine selection, rowdiest parties, easiest/flattest access from the boat (for older knees), fireworks celebrations on major holidays, fat catfish for the kiddos to feed ...?
Only someone who really lives and breathes the Lake Travis lifestyle can answer your LIFESTYLE questions. And aren't you buying on Lake Travis specifically for that lifestyle?

10. Do you recommend this property? You do NOT want a "yes man" for this most important real estate transaction. You do not want an agent more concerned about making a sale than about protecting your interests. ALL properties have pros and cons. Cons on the lake often include floodplain issues, remote boat access, inability to have a private boat dock, and shallow areas that frequently dry up. I will tell you if a property is a dog - or at least the TRUE value of a property, given any negative aspects.

With me, rest assured we will do all of the things listed above, and I can answer all of your questions. I routinely do these things - every day, with clients just like you!

Call me and we'll meet at "The Office", my 43-foot yacht, and I'll introduce you to the Lake Travis lifestyle!

Ask me any question about buying a home on Lake Travis, including the communities of Lakeway, Lago Vista, Point Venture, Jonestown, Volente, Briarcliff and Spicewood. It's my job to help you! There's no obligation, and I promise to respond quickly...