Harborpoint Villas, 4332 Lakeshore LaneWhen searching for homes on water, surrounding water, overlooking water, offering access to water or in any way dealing with water, let the buyer beware.
Things may not be what they seem.
Realtor Travis Shipley of Re/Max Properties North said he grew up in the Chattanooga area in homes around the water, and since becoming a Realtor has helped buyers navigate the often confusing wording offered on such homes.
If you see homes on summer water (when the Tennessee Valley Authority keeps levels higher) advertised below the low $300,000s, he said, they’re probably not directly on the water, need significant updating or are otherwise nothing special. The same, he said, goes for homes on year-round water below $500,000.
Buyers, according to Shipley, should determine how they’ll use the property, if they want direct water access or water views, whether they want summer or year-round water living, if they want to be on the main channel (where wakes are higher) or on a lake branch, and if they are in the city or county (with taxes being lower in the county).