The single most expensive mistake I see lake buyers make is assuming every lakefront lot comes with a dock. It doesn’t. On Lake Lanier, the shoreline is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and dock permits are tied to the property — not to the seller, and not to you. Some lots are permitted, some are grandfathered under older rules, and some will never be dock-eligible because of shoreline classification or water depth.
The second mistake is judging water depth in the wrong season. Lanier’s full pool is 1,071 feet, but the lake drops through fall and in drought years, and a cove that looks deep in May can be unusable by October. I look at depth at full pool and at typical winter levels on every property, and I pull the Corps shoreline map before my clients write an offer.
Third: know what the permit allows. Dock size, slip count, and whether a boat lift or platform is permitted vary by permit. If you’re buying for a specific boat, that matters. None of this is complicated once you know to ask — but you have to ask before you’re under contract, not after.