How to read a lake before you buy on it
Frontage, depth, the chain it belongs to and which way the sun goes down. A short field guide to buying on Central Florida water.
By Margaux Ellison · 6 minute read
Central Florida has more lakes than most people can name, and in a listing photo they all look like the same blue rectangle. They are not. Two houses a mile apart can have completely different water, and the difference shows up in how you spend every weekend.
A chain, or a lake of its own?
A chain of lakes joined by canals, like the Butler Chain west of Orlando or the chain in Winter Park, means you can take the boat somewhere: lunch on another lake, a long loop at sunset. A lake on its own can be quieter and more private, and is often better for swimming and paddling. Decide which weekend you want, then buy the water that gives it to you.
Measure the frontage, then look down
Frontage is the length of shoreline the lot owns, and more of it means more privacy and more room for a dock. Depth matters just as much. In a dry spring some lakes drop far enough that a boat lift sits in the mud. Walk to the end of the dock, look down, and ask the owner what it looked like last May.
Seawall or natural shore
A seawall gives a clean edge and a lawn that runs to the water. A natural shoreline of cypress, pickerelweed and grasses filters runoff, softens the waves and brings the herons and the fish closer. Plenty of buyers start out wanting the first and end up loving the second. Either way, what you may build or clear at the water's edge is set by the county and the state, and sometimes by a community association. Check before you plan.
Which way does the shore face?
This is the question we care about most. A shoreline that faces west gets the sunset over the water. One that faces east gets the sunrise, and shade on the terrace by late afternoon, which in August is no small thing. Choose a direction below to see what today's sun would do.
Docks, lifts and boathouses
A dock is usually permitted, built and kept up by the owner, and their condition varies widely. Have it inspected the way you would a roof. A covered boathouse or a lift adds value and upkeep in roughly equal measure.
Go at both ends of the day
Visit at first light, when the water is usually at its calmest, and again at dusk, when it is at its busiest and most beautiful. If you love it at both hours, you have found your lake.
