Retirement Home on or near the lake (Houston, Austin: custom home, buy)

[Jana K]

We live in Houston and have been coming to Lake Travis for decades. We love it so much we named our son Travis. Now, we are nearing retirement and looking at homes near the water. We want to spend under $500K, so here is my question. We can buy a nice home near the water for that amount or we can buy a very small home on the water for this amount, with the higher taxes and dealing with the lake level fluctuation. Our areas are Lago or out towards Marble Falls, or even on the Pedernales. If it was you, what would you do?

[Austin97]

What is a nice home vs a very small home? If a nice home is in the 2000-3000 sq ft range then it might not be an issue.

For example, I have a lake lot forsale (will be dry some years) that is about 30 minutes from downtown (not during rush hour) and it is only 175k. You can build a home for 100-140/sq ft so you could get a 2-3K ft lake front house in your price range.

Lago vista is even less expensive.

[je4xff]

Originally Posted by Austin97

For example, I have a lake lot forsale (will be dry some years) that is about 30 minutes from downtown (not during rush hour) and it is only 175k. You can build a home for 100-140/sq ft so you could get a 2-3K ft lake front house in your price range.

Lago vista is even less expensive.

100-140/sq ft? Can you recommend any homebuilders that will build in that price range? I've been exploring the idea of a custom build near Lake Travis, but I was assuming it was going to be more like double that ($250/sqft) at a minimum.

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by je4xff

100-140/sq ft? Can you recommend any homebuilders that will build in that price range? I've been exploring the idea of a custom build near Lake Travis, but I was assuming it was going to be more like double that ($250/sqft) at a minimum.

it depends on what you are trying to get. A fully custom home can be 250/sq ft, but that isnt necessary. If you do a build on your lot it is a lot less.

[Jana K]

At our age we do not want a lot that is dry some years if we go waterfront. We don't have enough years left to wait around on another 5 year drought.

[TexasHorseLady]

Have you considered Apache Shores?

If you don't want to be impacted by possible drought due to lack of years left to you, I'd say whatever the size of the house don't buy right on the water because Mother Nature is nothing if not quixotic and there are no guarantees. Buy near the water in an area that has a public ramp or in a subdivision that has lake access/park and let someone else take care of that during your twilight years.

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by Jana K

At our age we do not want a lot that is dry some years if we go waterfront. We don't have enough years left to wait around on another 5 year drought.

Interesting, so you would rather have a lot that is dry 100% of the time?

I do think if you can live that far out, lago vista is a good value. The drive is too far to commute to austin, the prices are a lot lower.

[Jana K]

Originally Posted by Austin97

Interesting, so you would rather have a lot that is dry 100% of the time?

I do think if you can live that far out, lago vista is a good value. The drive is too far to commute to austin, the prices are a lot lower.

I see your point, I never thought of it that way. You made me smile.

[Jana K]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

Have you considered Apache Shores?

If you don't want to be impacted by possible drought due to lack of years left to you, I'd say whatever the size of the house don't buy right on the water because Mother Nature is nothing if not quixotic and there are no guarantees. Buy near the water in an area that has a public ramp or in a subdivision that has lake access/park and let someone else take care of that during your twilight years.

That sounds like some solid advice. Especially the part about letting someone else take care of it. Thx.

[iamwayne]

Lake Austin is suppose to be constant level, have you tried there?