If you love the water or are a boating enthusiast, a Fort Lauderdale waterfront property is the perfect home for you. Living by the water will allow you to dock your boat and go fishing whenever possible. But like all real estate investments, buying a waterfront home is a long and involved process. It can be frustrating and expensive, especially if you don’t have the needed experience and knowledge. Below, we look at all the ways a realtor can make owning a waterfront home easy for you.
Location
The best Fort Lauderdale realtors know that the value of any real estate investment comes down to location. The location of your waterfront home will dictate its utility, price, and resale value. Also known as the Venice of America, Fort Lauderdale is famous for its many waterways. In terms of location, most properties in the East are situated on canals with easy ocean access. On the other hand, homes in the West and Central areas are located on canals and lakes with no ocean access. Your realtor can help you narrow down neighborhoods and homes with the kind of access you want.
Seawall and Dockage Inspections
Most waterfront homes in Fort Lauderdale have a seawall. It is important that it be inspected before a deal is closed, specifically by a licensed contractor. This is because repairing or replacing a seawall can be very expensive. Before signing the contract, your realtor can organize an inspection to check for holes, cracks, bowing, or missing batter pilings in the seawall. The contractor will also inspect the dock and wood pilings to catch any deterioration.
Property Types
Moving to Fort Lauderdale is about more than where your home is located. The home itself has to make sense for you. If you have a big family, then a condo will not serve you well, even one with great ocean access and a well-maintained seawall. Your realtor can help you explore different property types, including single-family homes, townhomes, luxury properties, and vacation properties.
Boating Needs
If you own a boat or plan to in the future, you will need to dock near your property. The ability to do this and navigate your boat from the dock comes down to different factors. Once you discuss your boating needs with your realtor, they will get to work determining the canal depth and widths, bridge heights, property accessibility, and legal restrictions around docking your boat.
Zoning Laws
Did you know that zoning laws in Fort Lauderdale apply to boats, too? Your realtor is familiar with local zoning laws that dictate the type and size of boat you can dock at a property. For instance, boats in Fort Lauderdale can extend to 25 feet or 30 percent of the waterway width, plus the dock. Realtors also know how different city and county zoning laws work in tandem. They can familiarize you with these laws so you don’t buy a boat you cannot dock on your property.
Water Activities
Your realtor can also help ensure that your property is conducive to all your favorite water activities. If you like to trailer your boat, they can find you a home with a boat ramp, watering hole, fuel pump, and marina close by. This applies to other activities, too, including fishing and scuba diving.
Consult the Best Fort Lauderdale Realtors
Buying a waterfront home in Fort Lauderdale requires a lot of due diligence and familiarity with the area and its laws. You can reduce your risk of financial loss by hiring an experienced Fort Lauderdale realtor like Tim. Tim and his award-winning team have years of experience in Fort Lauderdale real estate. They can guide you to the best waterfront home for your needs and budget. Call the office today to learn more.
