Lately I've been starting passively looking at lake front houses on Lake Travis. Surprisingly the values have been continuing to be crushed, probably because of the drought. They are getting low enough where I'm tempted to even begin thinking about it semi-seriously.

I am trying to decide how important a dock would be vs my slip at the marina. On a lake that changes levels frequently and sometimes drastically, how much work goes in to maintaining a dock? If you paid someone to do it what does it cost?

Depends which type of dock you have. What do people on the lake have now? Many companies make low maintenance floating docks that you can pull in and out of the water relatively easy. Mine is permanent the house is on a river and I have a seawall and then my dock comes out from the seawall like the one in the picture below. But my pilings and seawall are metal and not wood. The metal is probably 30-40 years old and in good shape (fresh water) but the wood part of the dock is probably 15-20 years old and I'm going to replace the wood in the spring. The water levels on the river are also constantly changing so it just makes it harder or easier to get on the boat from the dock depending on the water level.

It would depend on where on the lake. I grew up on Travis and it can vary 30+ feet so if you are in a shallow area can you move the dock out that far? if it is deep water then you would have to have an area for steps to get to it. also are you looking at places that currently have a dock or would you have to get a permit for a new one and if so what are the corp. rules? sometimes it is easier to enjoy the view and let someone else deal with the dock. I used to have property on Travis that was up at the top of the hill with a great view and a community dock so they dealt with moving it as the lake rose and dropped.

If you are looking for floating docks that will last, check out these, they have a lifetime guarantee and usually can be left in year round, even in ice.

I have nothing to do with the company, nor am I affiliated or trying to "pimp" there business, just stumbled onto them at a boat show

http://pipefusion.com/floating-docks-pontoons.html

Wife's mother lived on Travis. Levels changed so drastically many "former" waterfront homes with docks were high and dry. No way to get boat into the water short of trailering. Amazing changes in appearance when the water level changes 30'.

Huge changes for sure, we have been around 620 and 630 the last few years. Full is over 680. Definitely a lot of property that used to be lake front and hasn't been for years now around the lake.

It would be a floating dock for sure. I know you need to move these, just curious how much of a pain it really is or the cost to pay someone to deal with it for you.

There are a bunch of companies that do just that.
example:
http://www.casawatchers.com/docks.htm
If your buying on Travis make sure you are in the main channel or a finger not just a typical cove.
By the way took a look at property taxes,,just because values have gone down doesnt mean taxes have,, most property directly on Lake Travis pay insane property taxes.
Last house that sold on my block at the end had direct waterfront,sold for mid 600k (was valued at around 950 previously) pays 28k a year in taxes.. Insane.. I live one block away from that same house and pay $1700 in prop tax and pay $1800 a year to keep my boat in a slip not 200ft from that same house.

I live on Lake Travis, pretty far up river. I've got nice sloping waterfront but I must move my dock in and out constantly. It's a lot of work. Probably once a week during the summer. You can contract someone to take care of it if you've got the money. If you're on the steep bank side there's not as much work to maintain the dock, but access is not as easy. They tax the property based on linear feet of waterfront. Tax office doesn't think my property value has gone down any..LOL.

Bob,
just strap an outboard on your dock,,
make it easy on yourself!
LOL!!
Frank