Help buying a house at the LOTO
 

It looks like the Sutphen may have a new home at the LOTO. We have found a nice house on the North Shore that is completely furnished,, 2 slip dock and a 26' pontoon boat. My question is I need to know if there is anything I am forgetting to investigate or do before I buy a house down there?

I'm not sure how active the termites are in the area, but that would be something to look into. There are many cliffs and bluffs around. Check to make sure that it's stable. Often with high bedrock, there can be surface water control problems. Check for signs of erosion around the house. Because of the bedrock, what does the house have for a septic system?

If it has a septic tank,
get it checked out, a friend
of mine down there,
had to have his replaced,
cost him 10k.

From what I understand, making sure your dock is not on the main channel, or at least in a now wake zone is important. Dock get tore up all the time. Does the dock have styrafoam? That will need replaced if it does. I'm sure there a lot more LOTO specific concerns that others will know about.
Other than that, make sure it has room for your OSO buddies!!!

Been looking about a year myself.
Septic and well are inportant. It's worth the extra bucks to get a VERY thorough inspection. Building codes are very "loose" around there. If you've got friends in the construction business, bring them along. I've been really surprised at some of the stuff I've seen.
BTW, I brought along a general contractor, roofer, plumber, and electrician to the last house I looked at. It was well worth it!
Gary

SINKORSWIM,

Give me a call if you want (800-557-1350), I have lived at LOTO for the past five years, and am in the mortgage business so I might be able to hlep you with your questions. It is definately a different market down here like everyone has eluded too already. Good luck!

Barry

ozark time
 

You are exactly right, it is a different world down there, no one gets in a hurry to do work for you. My wife and I had our condo re-carpeted last summer, it took 4 weeks to get it done and the condo is only 430 square feet. The first week they tore out the old, the second week they licked their nuts, the third week they layed it and licked their nuts, and the fourth week they stretched it and licked their nuts some more. In St. Louis they would have that job done in about 6 hours.

We've had houses (duplex) and condos at the Lake. Condos are a lot more fun because you don't spend your weekend play time mowing or weeding or trying to get maintance done. If you do go condo, make sure its a good association with deep pockets so the unexpected assessments are modest.

On the other hand, pontoon boats have their place, and getting one with the house could be nice.

We're near GlenCove on HH, near the part of the lake you're considering. The water there is actually a little calmer than it used to be, as more traffic moves towards Shawnee Bend. But that also means more places you want to boat to are also closer to Shawnee Bend

talk to neighbors about the house and neighborhood. some may give you some valuable info about the house/water level/well/septic.

and what gary said. if the fish are biting you wont find ANYONE to show up for work.

i like the condo idea but dont think its a very good investment.
i dont think you can go wrong as long as you buy lakefront.
values just keep going up down there. from what i hear the higher mile marker areas have been going up the most percentage wise in recent years.

btw , im looking also.
without much luck:confused:

Right now is a good time to check the water depth around the dock. Also, look around at the neigbhors. Are they full-time? Do they leave crap around all the time? It is good if you have some full-time neigbhors to keep an eye on things when you are not down there. Also, keep in mind that Walmart and other attractions are a bit of a drive. We have a house on the north side and I would consider moving to the other side for that reason. There are no grocery stores around us. However, a plus is that traffic is much less on the north side. Where are you looking? Good luck.

a friend of mines parents are selling there house at the 7.5mm
rough water, but one hell of a view !!!
you can see the women from your bedroom at TOAD Cove.
i think it is split up so that 3 people can all have their own little piece. the neighbors I met were really cool and I guess big partiers. I like it 'cause it is the same cove I grew up spending my weekends.

I run the mortgage department for Central Bank and if I can be of any help give me a call at 573-348-2761 x 2471 or x 2241. You are getting some good advice. Jane is a good person as are a lot of the realtors here. Get the inspections. talk to the neighbors, like was stated before the rules are pretty loose. Encapsulated docks are the way to go. If you don't want the maintanence then a condo is the way to go.

Mike Alford

dont bother with the details i have just what you need! down to the Florida palms with one of, if not the best view on the lake and yes ill even throw in the pontoon deck boat, new septic, new encapsulated foam, new roof (3-4 years ago) hell just about everthing is new, even the rock in my yard $750,000 gets you the house and the pontoon and if you'd like $925,000 gets you the 42 sitting next to the pontoon. you wouldnt want them to be lonely.
good luck with your search im at the 6 1/2 and i look at the mouth of the gravois arm, just be aware of septic systems and wells, also wooden docks or a liability you will have to pay someone to remove it, i will be going down this weekend if your going down maybe we can hook up?
see ya
later

#2 heated , i can get it up to mid 90's almost like a hot tub.

# 3 1/3 of the view i have looking at the mouth of the gravois arm

i think we need to start a new poll! who thinks "later" should have us all stay at his place over the summer? :D

Pool Party at later's!!

:D :D

I live here and I think I am going to go hang at his place :D

Nice place later!!!!

Dave, you do have the setup. It would be nice to wake up and watch all the boats run by. Are you looking to move?

im down must every weekend, and there is a open invitation if the boat's in the slip stop on by. im across from milstone at the 6 1/2mm

mpally,
Not really but hey you never know, over the years we have looked at alot of different property down there but none have our view, and when im to old to get in a boat ill be able to watch them go by. because every boat on the lake goes to the dam at least once.
later

Very nice Place, Later!!

One thing I have found to look out for in real estate at the lake is the amount of gravel road to the house from black top. Some places have blacktop to the door then other's have 13 miles of terrible gravel road. Also some have great parking in the back but you have a heck of a walk to the water, then others have bad parking and are right at the water. It's a give and take...

funhome

yeh i hear ya, im black top to the door no steep drive i tried to do all the steps gracefully so that there is no hard climbs, or first house had a terrible drive it was like taking the leap of faith you just hoped that the drive was there cause you couldnt see it and the walk to the lake was a chore especially with a cooler and you always forgot something and was making the trip again.

we missed you in miami this year
later

Everyone has made valid points here. I have been looking for investment property at the lake for about a year. The main things that I look for is closeness to Shopping and Liquor, Dock Rights, Encapsulated Foam, Parking, Roads, Tolls, Total Inspection of the Property, How Many Steps to the Dock and Steepness of the Walk to the Dock, and How Cheap I Can Buy It For!:D

LOCATION IS EVERYTHING!

I also learned that the best deals are not found in the Real Estate magazines. I try to talk with people that enjoy buying and selling real estate. Some of them don't mind giving out info on where the deals are especially if you buy their dinner.:D

Love this board
 

Later - Wow,,, maybe someday I can move up to a place like that. Thats like a 5-star resort, does it come with servants?

The house, in question is a small 1400 square foot house (main floor) with a 3/4 finished walk out basement; another. The house was completely refurbished 4 years ago, vinyl siding, new central air, new dock, new deck. The house sits in a small VERY quiet, no wake cove. Retired couple that the owned it for 30 years.

If things go well this weekend, I might have some pictures.

The reason they are selling: their kids are grown, and they don't use it anymore. Oh, the front of the dock is sitting on dry ground right now, the Sutphen would have to come out of the water durring low water times.

the advice given above is right on target!

my time at the lake is limited due to my profession, so i chose to go the condo route rather than the house. when i'm at the lake i want to enjoy my time there rather than perform maintenance and work. eventually as things in my life slow down, i could see myself with a house. in late july of last year, i bought a newly constructed 2 bedroom/2 bath unit at Stone Ledge. Last month i decided to buy a 3-4 bedroom/2 1/2 bath unit on the top floor. i put my 2 bedroom unit on the market, 10 days later it sold. i saw almost 10% appreciation in my property in less than 7 months. i'm not saying that every deal at the lake will be this perfect. i suggest taking your time with viewing several different properties, research the best accommodations that suit your needs, track the appreciation of property values in the neighborhood and talk to the neighbors about their likes and dislikes. there are always good deals out there, but finding them takes talent.

good luck in your search!

here is a portion of my view of the lake....you have to love the sunrises....

chad

jawbreakerkid , beautifull view:cool:

what mile marker is Stone Ledge and if you dont mind me asking , how much are the yearly maintenance fees?
ide rather have a condo but the resale scares me.
appears i need to do more homework about them.

Lotoparty- Stone Ledge is located at the 20.5MM. maintenance fees run approx $1.32/sq.ft./yr. my new place is approx. 1,600sq.ft., so it is $176.00/mo.

Click Here to check it out....

JJ- i think i remember you drinking enough absolute one night that you passed out on my couch when the sun was coming up!!! :D

jbk

Big E, if I could do that, I'd never have reason to even leave the house! :D

Budman - looking at your avator you can do that!:D I hear you though, if I could do that I wouldn't leave either.:D


Jawbreakerkid - I am right around the corner from you, at Heron Bay. I have a top floor unit, lots of steps but the view makes up for them. You need to give me a holler when you go down this spring or summer, my wife and I are always looking for new people to drink beer with. Eric

Big E- hidy-ho there neighbor!! we will have to tip one back to appease the water gods! ;) i'm usually down almost every weekend when the weather starts to warm up.

JJ- yeah, that was the same night! i still laugh at that one! i was too drunk to find my way to the boat let alone take an outdrive off..... "once you find the black thing hanging off the back of the boat, you'll see six bolts...three on this side and three on that side" :D

jbk

JBK - give me a holler before you go down there. I'm usually down there every weekend too when it warms up. When are you getting your boat wet? I was thinking about the last weekend in March as long as the weather stays like this. Stoneledge is a nice place, maybe we'll see ya soon!

Big E and Jawbreaker...............

We'll need to meet up this summer. I am at Fountain View (other side, same point as Salty Dog) that's right by you guys.

LATER........I'm sure I've seen your house many of times. I put in at the damn on Friday and go up until I go back to the damn Sun. afternoon. Bet you've seen a KV Scarab pass by EVERY Sunday.
Does your Fountain have the twin step? Were we running up to the cove alongside eachother one Sat. If so, man that was alot of fun seeing your boat leave the water and then me leaving the water and the you leaving. It waould have been I think the Shoot Out weekend? Just one guy and a girl (wife?) It lasted for about 5-7 miles.
Hope it was you so that we can do it again this summer :) :) :)

Obnoxus21 - Where do you put in at by the dam. Bergers marina possibly? Bergers does all of the work on my boat, I trust no one else.

Berger's ALL THE WAY !!!!!
They are good people there. I finally semm to got Mike to come around. I have sent him as much business as possible. And the people that went are still going.
Mike'll always tell you what he's thinking , no BS

You could never be more right by saying Bergers ALL THE WAY! I have been going there for 5 years now and Mike has always done me right. His brother Matt too. They are probably 30 to 40 percent cheaper than anyone on the lake and its done right. Mike told me one time that he is just trying to make a living and not out there to gouge anyone. My buddy swore by Mungenast Marina until they winterized his boat last fall and did not change the oil after they told him they did. I guess Mungenast is getting too big. He took his boat to Bergers and they took care of him. I cannot say enough about Mike.

You know Bergers has to be good when you drive up there and you see 47ft Black Thunders and other expensive boats there waiting to be worked on. People with boats that cost that much won't take their boat just anywhere. Bergers is the best down at LOTO as far as I'm concerned.;)

I like to use their ramp also. Havent needed their maintance yet, but have heard good things from other customers too. You can tell alot about mechanics by how they keep their shop. Bergers keeps theirs nice. Do you drop your trailer there after launching, and if so, how did you get them to okay that?

i believe so, its usually just me and the wife, unless wild child is down ( thats the daughter ) then watch out cause there is only one way and that wfo. will have to hook up im down every weekend,
Bergers there isnt enough good things to say about them, advance marine is on top of their game also.
later

Chart - if I had to guess Obnoxious probably stores his boat there. I used to when my parents had a place down there, my Dad had only one dock and he put his boat in it. I kept mine on the trailer under a shed at Bergers, when I went down there Mike or Matt would hook the tractor up to it and launch me in. Then on Sundays I would idle in, he would jump on the tractor and pull me out, let me dry off the boat and then take the boat on the trailer back to the shed. I never once had to get out of my boat to ask him to pull me out, he keeps a good watch on boats coming in on Sundays. Even since my wife and I bought a condo down there way down at the 21 mile marker, I still take my boat to Bergers because I trust them. It is a family buisiness and they do great work. They are real reasonable on storage too. I stored my 25 ft Baja there this winter until I sold it in December and he only charged me $60.00 per month for a roof and three sided storage. He will come to your dock to winterize, but he will not change oil on your dock, you have to bring the boat to him. But I don't mind especially after what happened to my buddy at Dave Mungenast.;)

Thanks for your info. You are probably correct about him storing his boat storing a boat there.