Your Lake of the Ozarks Mortgage Lender: 5 Tips for Buying a Vacation Home in the Off-Season

If you have been dreaming of the perfect vacation home at the Lake of the Ozarks, now is a great time to start your search. Much like any other real estate, there are things you need to keep your eye open for in the winter. The good news is that when things slow down during the off-season, you may even find the perfect home for an even better price. Here are a few things that Team Lasson suggests you keep in mind as you buy a second home at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Understand the Pros and Anticipate the Cons

There are always pros and cons to buying in any season - don’t let either be a driving force for your decision. The pros of buying in the winter are that there will be less competition for Lake of the Ozarks real estate. Prices may also be better on homes because owners are eager to get them off the market. Cons could include that weather could postpone a showing if there is ice or snow. Another con could be that you won’t get to see all of the summer beauty. Either way, take everything in stride and realize that there are pros and cons to every season.

Buy for the View

When buying a vacation home, it can be easy to get swept away with finding a home in the perfect location, or next to your favorite restaurant. However, we think that buying for the view is even more important than buying for location. Unlike your full-time home, where you’ll be making a daily commute, or need to be in a specific district, your vacation home is strictly for enjoyment. When you look out of the windows or sit on the balcony or back deck - make sure that the view is breathtaking! Of course, when buying a home at the Lake of the Ozarks, you may find both!

Tax Season Incentives

If you’re buying your vacation home on or before December 31, you can deduct the interest and property tax portions of your mortgage payment, points on your loan, and interest costs from your taxes. End-of-year tax benefits can be a great reason to buy a vacation home in the winter, and it can be helpful for paying off your Lake of the Ozarks home loan.

Keep Summer In Mind

It’s important to keep summer in mind when buying your vacation home in the winter. Because you aren’t seeing the home in the summer months, there may be aspects of the house you forget to focus on. Remember that you will be using your air conditioning a LOT during the summer months, and it most likely won’t be turned on during the winter months. Ask lots of questions about this part of the home. You can ask when was it replaced, how often was it serviced, and if there is paperwork to verify these maintenance tasks. You’ll also be spending a lot of time in the outdoor spaces. While they may not be in their prime during the winter, make sure you take a look at the patios, porches, and balconies of the home. You’ll also want to look over the dock if the home comes with one. Docks can be very susceptible to winter conditions, so look closely and ask your inspector to focus on it while checking the home.

Who Will Watch Your Home For the Winter?

Finally, the last thing to think about while buying a vacation home (and this applies in any season) is, who will be looking out for the property during the offseason? Empty home’s can be more susceptible to conditions if there is no one around to check for water leaks or power outages. The Lake of the Ozarks has many incredible companies who provide home watch services.

Ready to Start the Process?

If you want to buy a home at the Lake of the Ozarks, the first step is to get pre-approved. Team Lasson is here for you, and we can assist in making the mortgage process easy. Our team is here to answer all of your questions about buying a home, but also the Lake area. We live here full time and can make suggestions to help you get settled in. Buying a home starts with getting your mortgage, and we are here to help!

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