Buying a lakefront home sounds like it would be a simple endeavor. All you have to do is to look for a property in your price range, buy it, launch your boat, and enjoy. Well yes and definitely NO. It is just not that easy as there are many factors to consider.

First you need to decide which type of lake you want. Do you want one to fish in, swim in, ski on, speed on, or snowmobile, skate, or cross country ski on in the winter? What is your preference on horse power limits? What type of boat do you have or want? Most lakes have some type of guidelines or restrictions. These restrictions may include size and type of motor, type of recreational activity, dock restrictions, fishing limits, and speed restrictions. Some lakes are shallow with a lot of underwater snags that may be perfect for fishing but would not be appropriate for a deep hulled boat.

I knew that my preference was for a pontoon boat. I am not a fan of speeding around, I don’t water ski, and I enjoy how easy it is to entertain friends on an 8 foot wide pontoon boat. Once you decide what you want, you look for a lake that meets your preferences. Living in the Akron, Ohio area, I had several good options but ultimately chose one of the seven connecting lakes in the Portage Lakes system. I liked that it is part of a State Park and that it has speed controls. The lakes are patrolled by the Summit County Sheriff’s Marine Patrol in partnership with two divisions of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Division of Watercraft and the Division of Parks and Recreation.

It took my wife and me seven years to find the right lakefront house for us even though I had the advantage of being a Realtor who knew the Portage Lakes exceptionally well. Granted, I was being very choosy but having owned two previous lakefront properties on the Portage Lakes, I had developed a short but crucial checklist.

My criteria included morning sun, plenty of parking, sufficient distance from neighbors, a lot with a gentle slope toward the water, amount and location of lakefront, quality of house construction, and quiet water. Each of these will be discussed in separate posts over the next few weeks, starting with the relationship of the sun to the side of the house facing the lake.

If you are considering buying a lakefront home contact me, as I would be glad to email you my free "short course" on buying a lakefront home. Tom McCombs, www.PortageLakesLakefront.com