Whether you've constantly desired to live by the water or you're expanding your real estate portfolio, these are the top locations to buy a lake home.
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Lydia Mansel is an author with more than 8 years of experience modifying and writing for both brands and online publications-with a particular focus on travel, style, and lifestyle. She's likewise the creator of the travel site justpacked.com.

For lots of, lake houses are synonymous with summer fond memories. Barbeques, rejuvenating dips in the cold water, sunsets, boat rides, and fireflies: If you have actually spent any time by a lake in the warmer months, you're likely well-acquainted with this specific brand name of getaway magic. You might even be seeking to recreate it on your own by acquiring your own lake home. If that holds true, but you're not precisely sure which lake you wish to call your home (or your 2nd home) just yet, we can assist.

There are quite actually thousands of lakes with real estate opportunities in the U.S., so we spoke with a couple of experts to limit the choice. Below, they're sharing their choices for the very best places to buy a lake house this year.

Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri

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" Lake of the Ozarks is a great location to purchase a lakefront residential or commercial property right now because, together with using lots of year-round activities, the residential or commercial property is still budget friendly," says Elena Novak, lead genuine estate researcher at PropertyChecker.com. Missouri-based Matt Smith Real Estate Group reports that, in February of this year, the typical price of homes in this part of the state was $448,585, while Zillow estimates the average home value in the city of Lake Ozark is just above $340,000. "With real estate rates increasing, these homes may become out of reach within the next five years," Novak warns-so if you have an interest in a quiet lakefront home that's simply a number of hours from centers like Kansas City or St. Louis, now's the time to buy.

Southwest Lake Erie Region, Michigan and Ohio

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When figuring out the best locations to buy a lake home, Julie Brinkman, the CEO at Beyond, a profits management system for trip rentals, was concentrated on destinations that make the most financial sense for those looking for out residential or commercial properties to add to their rental portfolio. "The southwest Lake Erie region, bordering both Michigan and Ohio, has an average annual earnings per listing of $34,000 and an average annual occupancy rate of 40 percent," she says. Since May 2025, Zillow has a handful of homes in the area-in Luna Pier, Michigan