Buy at the Lake
A place on the water, chosen with care
Waterfront homes, lakefront condominiums and exceptional properties at Lake of the Ozarks — with the dock, shoreline and association details a lake purchase turns on.
Why the Lake
The Midwest’s great lake retreat
Lake of the Ozarks has been the region’s favorite place on the water for generations. Buyers come for the boating and stay for the coves, the evenings on the dock and the way a weekend slows down here.
More shoreline than you can boat in a weekend
Formed by Bagnell Dam on the Osage River, the lake winds through more than a thousand miles of shoreline — open main channel, long quiet arms and hundreds of coves, each with its own pace.Every kind of lake property
Lock-and-leave condominiums with a slip below, classic lake cottages, wooded homesites, and estates with multi-well docks and terraces to the water.Within reach of the cities
Kansas City and St. Louis are each about two and a half to three hours by car, which is why so many owners use their place every weekend of the season.A lake for four seasons
Summer on the water, and quiet autumns, golf and restaurants that make the off-season a reason to come down rather than a time to close up.
Placeholder · Detail of a covered dock: boat hoist, swim platform, still water
Buying waterfront
What sets a lake purchase apart
On the water, the house is only half of what you are buying. The other half is how you reach the lake: the dock and what it holds, the walk down to it, the water it sits on and what can be done along the shore. Two homes with the same square footage can be entirely different purchases.
We look at those details with you on every property, and put them in writing before you make an offer.
The dock
Wells, lifts, a roof, a swim platform — and whether it is private or a community slip. Reading a Lake listing explains each term.The water
Main channel, an arm or a cove: views and boating on one side, calm water and privacy on the other. Choosing your water.The shoreline
Ameren Missouri manages the lake’s shoreline, and docks and shoreline work require its permits. We check the dock permit status of any property we show you, and look at the seawall or rip-rap with you.The association
For condominiums and many communities, the association’s dues, reserves, rules and slip arrangements are part of the purchase. What to ask.
Buying from out of town
Most of our buyers live somewhere else
The lake is a second home for a great many of its owners. You can search, tour and buy here without being here every step — with someone at the lake who looks at a property the way you would.
- Kansas City
- About 2½–3 hours by car
- St. Louis
- About 2½–3 hours by car
- Omaha
- A day’s drive, or a short flight
- Dallas
- A day’s drive, or a short flight
- Chicago
- A day’s drive, or a short flight
Visitors flying in commonly use the regional airports at Springfield–Branson and Columbia, then drive on to the lake.
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Live video tours
We walk the property with you in real time — every room, the view from the deck, the path to the dock and the water off the end of it — and answer as we go. - 02
Showings planned around your visit
When a shortlist earns a trip, we line up the showings in advance so one weekend covers them comfortably. - 03
Inspections you can read from home
Home, dock, seawall, septic and well, as the property calls for. We arrange access and send you what the inspectors find. - 04
Closing on your calendar
Depending on the lender and title company, documents can often be signed with a notary near you or electronically. We confirm the options early.
Financing
Second homes and jumbo loans
A lake home is often financed differently from the house you live in. Being pre-approved before you tour tells you your range and lets you move when the right property appears.
Second-home financing
Lenders treat a home you will use part of the year differently from your primary residence or a rental property. Tell your lender how you plan to use the lake home; it shapes the loan.Jumbo loans
Many lakefront homes are priced above the conforming loan limit, which calls for a jumbo loan. Lenders’ requirements for these vary, so it pays to compare.Conventional loans
For condominiums and homes within conforming limits, a conventional loan is the usual route for a second home.Moving to the lake full time
If the lake will be your primary home, the full range of loan programs is open to you, including FHA and VA loans for those who qualify.
General information, not a loan offer. Your lender confirms which programs you qualify for and on what terms.
Begin
Start where you are
SearchEvery Lake propertyWaterfront homes, condominiums and land around the lake, by area, price and water.Read more →AlertsSave a searchSave a search from the results and new listings that match arrive in your inbox, the day they list.Read more →The LakeExplore the areasOsage Beach to Sunrise Beach, Porto Cima to the Gravois — what each part of the lake is like.Read more →GuideThe buyer’s guideFrom the first search to the keys and the dock: how buying at the lake works, step by step.Read more →
Talk to us
Tell us what you’re looking for
The water you want, how you will use the place, and when you would like to be on the dock. A person replies with properties worth your time.