We Buy Houses in Lincoln County

Lake-adjacent, not lakefront

Lincoln County holds more of Thurmond Lake's residential subdivisions and private clubs than any other county on the lake, according to the Corps' 2022 master plan. Those lots generally border government land rather than the water itself. In its own shoreline briefings, the Savannah District lists the belief that someone owns lakefront property on Thurmond among the common misconceptions it hears.

Shoreline zoning decides what a lot can have. Private docks can be permitted only along limited development stretches, which make up under a fifth of Thurmond's shoreline. About three fifths is protected shoreline, where private facilities are prohibited apart from some vegetation work. Two lots on the same road can carry very different value for that reason alone.

The 14-day rule when a lake house sells

Under the federal regulation that governs Corps lakes, a shoreline use permit cannot be assigned. It is void once the permitted facility is sold, the owner or buyer is supposed to notify the Corps resource manager before the sale is final, and the new owner has 14 days after the transfer to apply for a permit or must remove the dock and restore the area within 30 days.

So before we commit to a price on a lake house with a dock, we want the permit number, the dock's dimensions as built, and any paths, steps, or mowed areas on Corps land. Clearing and mowing on public land also require Corps authorization. A dock or lawn that does not match the paperwork is not a deal-breaker for us, but it is priced in.

Water, septic, and the age of the houses

Lincolnton draws its water from the lake and sells water to the county system, whose mains follow the main roads and run into some subdivisions. A handful of lake subdivisions are on small county well systems. The county lists the lack of sewer in rural areas as a weakness and has shelved a sewer extension as too costly, so every house outside town should be assumed to have a septic tank.

About three quarters of the county's homes were built between 1960 and 1999. Much of the lake housing dates from that span, so drain fields, decks, and roofs of the same age are routine inspection items. Flood exposure is limited mostly to creek bottoms; the county's hazard plan counts a little over two hundred parcels at least partly in flood-prone areas, nearly all outside Lincolnton.

Lincoln County property we buy

• Lake houses in subdivisions bordering Corps land, with or without a dock
• Houses whose dock, path, or cleared area does not match the Corps permit
• 1970s and 1980s lake homes with original septic systems
• Older houses in and around Lincolnton
• Timber and farm tracts on the western side of the county
• Inherited lake houses owned by family members out of state
• Second homes that have sat unused

Records, courts and closing in Lincoln County

Lincolnton is the county seat. The Lincoln County Clerk of Superior Court records deeds, security deeds, and liens; the Probate Court handles estates; the Board of Assessors values property and the Tax Commissioner collects. The Georgia attorney who closes the sale can set up signing for owners who live in another state.

When you request an offer on a lake property, send the Corps permit if there is one, a recent survey or plat that shows the government line, and anything you know about the septic system. Those three items decide most of our price and whether we can close on your timeline.

Frequently asked questions