SANTA CLARA, Calif.,
July 30, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- As the
summer heat shows no signs of relenting, realtor.com®,
the Home of Home Search℠, today released its list of the 10 most
affordable lake towns, which offer waterfront properties under
$450,000. Unlike owning a vacation
home on the ocean, lake homes can be more accessible – not just in
price, but also for those who don't live near the coasts.
"Lake towns often offer people an affordable destination with
water sports, amenities, natural beauty and an array of often
top-quality dining options," said Clare
Trapasso, senior news editor, realtor.com®. "Some
of these lake towns also double as ski resorts in the winter. Those
who enjoy cold-weather sports, in addition to summer activities may
in fact, be getting a home they can enjoy throughout the year."
The most affordable town on the list is Jamestown, N.Y., with a median list price of
just $59,000, but if you desire a
two-bedroom home with a private shoreline that can raise the price
significantly. Sandpoint, Idaho,
is the most expensive of the affordable lake towns, with a median
list price of $429,000 and a variety
of lakefront houses that can cost well over $1 million. While the cost of homes in these
affordable lake towns can vary, some of the common themes shared by
the majority on the list are attractions that provide year-round
entertainment and an abundance of single-family homes available for
purchase.
From East Coast to West Coast - and everywhere in between - the
following towns are the best places to score an affordable lake
house, in rank order:
1. Branson,
Mo. Median Listing Price: $205,900
Near two of Missouri's most
popular lakes, Branson is a
Midwestern vacation destination filled with music venues, amusement
parks, nightlife, and other attractions for locals and visitors to
enjoy. For those seeking a prime spot for watersports and boating,
Table Rock Lake is surrounded by a variety of single-family homes,
which often range from $350,000 to
over $650,000. Lake Taneycomo comes
in at a top pick for trout fishers and those seeking a quieter
destination where buyers can find one-bedroom condos for
approximately $120,000.
2. East Stroudsburg,
Pa. Median List Price: $187,000
A popular destination for people looking to escape city living,
East Stroudsburg is a vacation
spot within the Poconos, known for its lakes, ski resorts, historic
towns and water parks. While most properties in the area have a low
price tag, prime lakefront homes can range from $900,000 to $1.4
million. Lake Naomi and
Timber Trails are also great
nearby options that have smaller single-family homes that start
around $120,000.
3. Port Clinton,
Ohio Median List Price: $259,900
Port Clinton is a charming
small town on the western edge of Lake
Erie with plenty of low-priced condos, and single-family
homes that typically start around $300,000. In addition to the many beaches,
islands and quiet bays of Port
Clinton, the town has a plethora of entertainment, including
an African Safari Wildlife Park, The Watering Hole Safari and
Waterpark, unique antique stores, and waterfront restaurants.
4. Jamestown,
N.Y. Median List Price: $59,900
Jamestown sits at the tip of
Chautauqua Lake and is known for its exceptionally affordable real
estate, and of course, its lakes. However, Jamestown has also made a name for itself as a
top-notch comedy destination. As the hometown of comedian
Lucille Ball, Jamestown hosts
the annual Lucille Ball Comedy Festival, which has featured
Jerry Seinfeld, Amy Schumer and Jay
Leno, among others. Those looking to stay year-round will be
able to land a bargain as the area is filled with older
single-family homes listed at great prices.
5. Alexandria,
Minn. Median List Price: $288,900
Alexandria is located in
Douglas County, where there are
about 300 lakes and certainly no shortage of lakefront homes.
Waterfront properties are predominantly single-family homes that
start at just over $100,000. However,
there are also a variety of larger houses, with more acreage, and
higher price tags available.
6. Clearlake,
Calif. Median List Price: $219,900
The popular Northern California
vacation town, Clearlake, was hit
hard by the previous foreclosure crisis and recent wildfires.
However, the town is making a comeback and there are even plans to
reopen the renowned Konocti Harbor Resort. Rumored to be the oldest
lake in North America, the fresh
water of Clear Lake is still a
major draw, especially with real estate prices that are just a
fraction of those in nearby cities like Napa and San Francisco.
7. Spirit Lake,
Iowa Median List Price: $315,000
With waterfront attractions, including an amusement park, and
deep clear water that is perfect for boating, Spirit Lake and Okoboji are two of Northern Iowa's more lively and desirable lake
towns. West Okoboji Lake is filled with waterfront,
multi-million-dollar homes and grand estates, while East Okoboji and Spirit Lake house more affordable condos and
single-family homes with shared lake access.
8. Mountain Home,
Ark. Median List Price: $174,900
For those seeking a tranquil, peaceful abode by the lake, head
to Mountain Home. Unlike many of
the other lake towns on this list, Mountain Home doesn't have a lot of
entertainment. Instead, the main attraction to this peaceful place
is Lake Norfolk, a 22,000-acre manmade lake that has nearly two
dozen parks and 550 miles of shoreline. In this slower paced town,
you can find a two-bedroom home overlooking the lake or river for
about $200,000 or a larger waterfront
house which can range from $300,000
up to $2 million.
9. Baraboo,
Wis. Median List Price: $189,900
Baraboo is home to the
world-renowned Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus,
which started in 1888 and shut down in 2017. The town is also known
for its outdoor adventures and attractions, such as rock climbing,
the International Crane Foundation, Lake Wisconsin and the
Wisconsin River. The lake and river are lined with single-family
homes that range from $200,000 for a
modest two-bedroom cottage up to $3.6
million for a grand estate on the water.
10. Sandpoint,
Idaho Median List Price: $429,000
While Sandpoint is the most
expensive town on the list, this small community in Idaho is surrounded by a lake and mountains
that provide year round attractions for visitors and residents.
Fishing, boating, wine tasting, and The Festival at Sandpoint are some of the main summer
activities, while skiing at Schweitzer Mountain Resort is popular
during the winter. Prime lakefront homes in the area typically go
for over $1 million, while houses on
the river can be found for less than half of the price.
To put together the
list, realtor.com® looked at real estate
listings that mentioned things such as "lake view" and "lake house"
in more than 900 U.S. metropolitan and micropolitan areas. Each
location had to have at least 50 listings over a 12-month period
ending May 31, 2019 and couldn't have
more than 150,000 households. To ensure these were true vacation
spots, the percentage of vacation homes and the percentage of
dining, drinking and outdoor activity establishments were also
measured. Finally, to measure
affordability, realtor.com® ensured that none of
the towns in this ranking had median prices of more than
$450,000.
For more information about these towns, please visit:
https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/top-10-affordable-lake-towns-of-2019-splashy-retreats-for-cheap/
About realtor.com®
Realtor.com®, The Home of Home Search℠, offers the most
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and access to information, tools and professional expertise that
help people move confidently through every step of their home
journey. Through its Opcity platform, realtor.com® uses
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estate professional based on their specific buying and selling
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estate 20 years ago, and today is a trusted resource for home
buyers, sellers and dreamers by making all things home simple,
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News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move,
Inc. under a perpetual license from the National Association of
REALTORS®. For more information, visit
realtor.com®.
Media Contact
Lexie Puckett Holbert
lexie.puckettholbert@move.com
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SOURCE realtor.com