February 03, 2009
Poison Lake Rights
When you have a lakefront home, there is little question in regards to the access that you have on the water. Simply walk out to your dock and enjoy. But so many other properties are advertised as “lake access” or “lake rights” and the definition of these terms are often misleading. Here are three major categories.
- Boat slip or buoy. This is the most valuable version of lake rights. If a property has a deeded boat slip or buoy, the value is greatly enhanced. Not all boat slips, are deeded, however. Some are doled out by an association or put on a rotation. Be sure you know what comes with your potential summer retreat.
- Swim pier and boat launch. If you cannot have your own private boat slip or buoy on the water, a boat launch or swim pier follow closely behind. With a boat launch, the property belongs to an association that maintains their own private launch. This allows daily access, usually without additional fees. A swim pier gives you a place in the sun but most likely will not allow you to tie up your watercraft.
- Toe-dipping. There is a third class of lake rights that is the least valuable. I like to call them “toe-dipping” rights. Many properties have historic riparian rights to the water. I say historic because the navigable waterways used to be a needed method of transportation. As a result, the right to walk down to the water was given to all property owners in an area so that they could launch their watercraft. This access may be a 40 foot green space area or a 10 foot weeded walkway. As a result, you may end up with lake rights that require a trip through Poison Ivy prior to a refreshing swim.
Before you purchase your next lake home, be sure your Realtor knows the true lake access of the property.
Posted By: 
Ryan Simons
Tagged With:
boat slip,
buying lake homes,
lake access
and lakefront home
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