Waterfront Home Sellers Welcome More Rain for Lake Travis. More rain is currently falling over the Texas Hill Country which means that Lake Travis may once again be on the rise. The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) is oddly quiet on their web site today, and that sometimes means they really don't know if the raining falling now will make a difference or not. In my experience, when LCRA is quiet, it can mean a several feet rise on Lake Travis when rain is falling in the upper watershed as it is right now. Last week's rains brought a 13 foot rise in elevation and brought the lake level to approximately 642' msl. That means the lake is still 39 feet below full (681' msl is full). Right now the lake is at 643' msl and appears to be rising as I look out my window.
The elevation of Lake Travis makes a difference to waterfront home buyers. Many buyers can't imagine what the lake looks like when it's full, especially if they only see the particular waterfront home they are considering when lake levels are at historic lows. Plus, there are so many waterfront homes located in coves that go dry when the lake drops. At 643' msl, most coves are dry, very shallow or hard to navigate. Even the best coves on the lake begin looking ugly at approximately 660' msl. Fearing flooding, some waterfront home owners find comfort when the lake hovers around 670' msl - a level often quoted as "average" by the news media. I personally prefer a full lake at 681' msl. It's the level most boat docks are optimally designed for, and most waterfront property lines fall along the full pool elevation.
Lake Travis waterfront home sellers should always wish for a full lake. Even if a waterfront home is located on the main body and not in a cove, the view is always better when the lake is full. Docks are easier to access, and buyers don't have to use their imagination to determine the full value of living in a particular waterfront home.
Two factors will determine whether or not waterfront home sellers on Lake Travis can have success selling. One is definitely more rain to fill the lake. The second factor is more availability of Jumbo Loans!
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