Lakefront living in Lake Norman often begins with dreams of tranquil sunsets, panoramic views, and an exciting waterfront lifestyle. As an experienced lakefront real estate agent, I’ve heard a lot of dreams from potential buyers...the renovations, living on the main channel, and sunset views from every room.
These all seem great on paper, but the truth is you will have to match these expectations with reality to avoid disappointment. Here are a few dream vs. reality scenarios any lakefront buyer should consider.
(Dream) “I want uninterrupted sunset views.”
(Reality) Natural light enhances the beauty of any lakefront home, but be mindful of rising temperatures. Some shade on a hot summer day isn’t a bad thing!
Everyone’s on the hunt for that dreamy house in Cornelius, Mooresville, or Davidson with a ginormous sunset view, right? The truth is, that stunning view will crank the heat up in your house for many months per year. Lake Norman summers are hot.
Temperatures can climb into the high 90s. Pair the temperatures with the glare, and your AC system is going to be working overtime. Don’t miss your chance to live on the lake just because it doesn’t initially have the view you were looking for. Honestly, there’s not really a 'bad view' of this beautiful lake!
(Dream) “I want a point lot.”
(Reality) When looking at lakefront properties, look for potential! You’ll have minimal space for expansions with a point lot, so don’t dismiss other opportunities for that reason only.
Don’t get me wrong; being surrounded by water on all sides sounds like living in a fairy tale. But, and there’s always a ‘but’, it’s not all rainbows and unicorns in real estate. Sure, you’ve got this incredible setting, but it also means you’ve got minimal space for building stuff like extra rooms, a fantasy pool, or even a septic system.
It’s the yin and yang of lakefront living in Lake Norman-you get the beauty, but there’s some trade-off involved. It’s great to have a wish list, but be open-minded to the possibilities.
(Dream) “I want to live on the main channel.”
(Reality) Living in a cove has terrific benefits, too.
The main channel is where all the action is at! It offers scenic views and access to various parts of the lake. Lake Norman is also a popular vacation destination in the summer. During busy times, do you really want people peering into your house as they’re floating by, drinking beer, and rocking out?
The main channel is great except for six months a year when everyone goes by your house at all hours. With the new sound systems available on boats, the speakers face outward or backward, which amplifies the sound across the lake. And, for some reason, they seem to have hearing problems at 2 AM.
On the other hand, the back of a cove is amazing in the sense that you’re not going to get run over by boats as on a main channel by unregulated boaters or boaters with no experience. As I mentioned before, Lake Norman is a popular vacation destination, and people can easily rent a boat
for a day.
The downside of living in a cove is that it gets all the silt, dirty water, mosquitoes, stagnant algae blooms, pollen, etc., making it undesirable to swim sometimes a year but a lot safer for kayaking, floating kids, and your pets.
(Dream) “I want deep water again.”
(Reality) Remember that Lake Norman is a beautiful man-made lake that comes with perks!
This is a friendly reminder that Lake Norman is man-made and does not follow the same rules as a natural lake does. There are sandbars and shallow water in areas across the lake. The bonus of shallow water is that the lake can warm up quickly. The downside is that it’s not great for certain boats the require a depth draft.
On the plus side, since Lake Norman is a man-made lake, it has well- designed dams to help regulate water flow and reduce the risk of flooding during heavy rainfall or storms which is great news for lakefront homeowners.
(Dream) “I’ll dredge to make the water deeper.”
(Reality) Docks can only be dredged so deep per Duke regulations.
It’s a good idea for lakefront homeowners to familiarize themselves with all of Duke’s regulations. To be precise, it’s 12 feet from the full pond, which is a 760 line, as we saw in 2023 and 2024, and almost a 7-foot drop in water depth. Over time, silt materials fill in the lowest spots even after dredging. Many lakefront owners will have to enter a maintenance stage in the future to maintain their “deep” water.
Also, even with dredging, there’s a shallow spot a lot of times beyond where you decided to dredge. Weather patterns and waves can cause a sandbar further off the docks, so it’s not always guaranteed that dredging will cure this with out spending more money.
(Dream) “I can’t wait to get my sailboat on the lake.”
(Reality) Sailboats are fantastic! We love seeing them on the lake, just do your research first.
As I said before, Lake Norman is a man-made lake with sandbars and shallow water spots throughout the lake. There are also bridges, including the 150 bridge, which is a problem for sailboats to navigate. Depending on the time of year, there are a lot of other smaller bridges that can cause problems for sailboats and that sit higher in the water, like boats with non-tilting wake touch or Bimini’s.
Have Questions About Living Lakefront? We Have Answers.
The bottom line is that you shouldn’t miss out on the opportunity to live lakefront just because there was one thing missing from your wish list. None of the things I mentioned in the post are deal breakers; they are just the truth. And, when it comes to making one of the biggest purchases of your life- all things should be considered.
Reach out to our team today with your specific lakefront questions, and we can provide advice, recommendations, and properties that blend your dreams with your reality.