Whether you've always wished to live by the water or you're broadening your real estate portfolio, these are the top locations to purchase a lake house.

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Lydia Mansel is an author with more than eight years of experience editing and writing for both brand names and online publications-with a specific concentrate on travel, fashion, and lifestyle. She's also the founder of the travel website justpacked.com.

For numerous, lake houses are associated with summer season nostalgia. Barbeques, revitalizing dips in the cold water, stunning sundowns, boat trips, and fireflies: If you've invested whenever by a lake in the warmer months, you're most likely well-acquainted with this specific brand name of holiday magic. You may even be wanting to recreate it for yourself by purchasing your own lake house. If that's the case, but you're not exactly sure which lake you desire to call your home (or your second home) right now, we can assist.

There are quite literally countless lakes with property chances in the U.S., so we spoke with a few professionals to limit the selection. Below, they're sharing their picks for the very best locations to buy a lake house this year.

Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri

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" Lake of the Ozarks is an excellent place to buy a lakefront residential or commercial property right now because, in addition to using lots of year-round activities, the residential or commercial property is still budget friendly," says Elena Novak, lead realty scientist at PropertyChecker.com. Missouri-based Matt Smith Real Estate Group reports that, in February of this year, the typical sale rate of homes in this part of the state was $448,585, while Zillow estimates the typical home value in the city of Lake Ozark is simply above $340,000. "With real estate prices rising, these homes may become out of reach within the next 5 years," Novak warns-so if you're interested in a quiet lakefront home that's just a number of hours from hubs like Kansas City or St. Louis, now's the time to purchase.

Southwest Lake Erie Region, Michigan and Ohio

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When identifying the finest locations to purchase a lake house, Julie Brinkman, the CEO at Beyond, a revenue management system for trip rentals, was focused on locations that make the most financial sense for those looking for residential or commercial properties to contribute to their rental portfolio. "The southwest Lake Erie region, bordering both Michigan and Ohio, has an average yearly income per listing of $34,000 and a typical annual occupancy rate of 40 percent," she states. Since May 2025, Zillow has a handful of homes in the area-in Luna Pier, Michigan