Buying at the Lake from out of town

Lake of the Ozarks is a second home for a great many of its owners. Buyers come from Kansas City and St. Louis, each about two and a half to three hours’ drive away, and from much further: Omaha, Dallas, Chicago and beyond are a day’s drive or a short flight. Visitors flying in commonly use the regional airports at Springfield–Branson and Columbia.

Buying from a distance is entirely workable. It simply asks for a little more planning, and for someone at the lake who will look at a property the way you would.

Start with a saved search. New lakefront listings — and well-priced ones especially — can move quickly in season, and an alert means you hear about a property the day it lists rather than the weekend you next have free.

Tell us how you will use the property: weekends or longer stays, boating or swimming, a family that grows on holidays, a plan to rent. It narrows the lake down faster than price alone, and it lets us flag the details that matter to you.

A live video tour lets you walk a property with us in real time — the rooms, the view from the deck, the walk to the dock, the water off the end of it — and ask questions as we go. We can show you what photographs leave out: the slope, the neighboring docks, the boat traffic, the sound.

When a property earns a visit, plan a trip around several. A single weekend can cover a shortlist comfortably if the showings are arranged in advance.

A lake property often needs more than a general home inspection. Depending on the property, you may want the dock inspected, a look at the seawall, and inspection of the septic system or well, since many lake homes are on private systems or small community ones rather than city utilities. We help arrange the inspections and send you what the inspectors find.

We also check the dock’s permit status with Ameren Missouri, which manages the lake’s shoreline, so you know what you are buying at the water’s edge.

A second home is financed differently from a primary residence, and larger lake homes often call for a jumbo loan. Getting pre-approved before you tour tells you your range and lets you move when the right property appears.

Signing does not always require a trip. Depending on the lender and the title company, documents can often be signed with a local notary where you live, or electronically where it is permitted. We confirm the options early so the closing date suits your calendar.