After more than twenty years selling real estate on Lake James, I’ve learned there is one question that almost every waterfront buyer asks before they ask about schools, taxes, or even the house itself.

Can I build a boat dock?

It is a fair question. In many cases, the answer has a tremendous impact on the value of a waterfront property.

Lately, though, I’ve been hearing something that has me concerned.

Several buyers, property owners, and fellow Realtors have told me they have been informed that Duke Energy may no longer be considering boat dock permits for vacant waterfront lots until after a home has been built.

I want to be very clear. I have not found a published policy from Duke Energy confirming this. What I am hearing is based on conversations taking place in the marketplace. If that is now how the permitting process is being handled, I believe it deserves clarification.

Because this is not a small issue.

The Risk Has Changed

Imagine buying a waterfront lot for five hundred thousand dollars.

You hire an architect. You spend months designing your dream home. You obtain permits. You build the house. Maybe you invest another million dollars or more.

Only then do you apply for a boat dock permit.

If there is uncertainty at that point about whether your dock will be approved, the financial risk is very different than it was just a few years ago.

For many buyers, the dock is not an afterthought. It is one of the reasons they chose waterfront property in the first place.

Without clear answers, buyers naturally become more cautious.

This Affects More Than Buyers

This is not just a buyer’s issue.

Owners of vacant waterfront lots could see reduced demand if buyers are uncertain about whether a dock will ultimately be approved.

Builders could see fewer custom waterfront homes started as buyers become more cautious about making large investments without knowing whether they will have private boat access.

Even Burke County and McDowell County have a stake in this conversation. Waterfront homes with private docks typically command higher property values, which can translate into increased property tax revenue that supports local services.

When uncertainty enters the market, confidence often follows it. And when confidence declines, property values can be affected.

I Understand Duke Energy’s Responsibility

Before anyone misunderstands my intent, let me say this.

I have worked with Duke Energy for much of my real estate career. Fletcher Edens and I began selling Lake James property in 2003 with Crescent Communities, which at the time was Duke Energy’s real estate company. I understand that Lake James operates under a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license and that shoreline development has to balance recreation, environmental stewardship, navigation, and the long term health of the lake.

No one expects every waterfront lot to qualify for a dock.

But buyers do deserve to understand the rules before making one of the largest investments of their lives.

If a property is unlikely to qualify, they should know before they spend years planning and building a home.

If it does qualify, they should have confidence in that process as well.

Clear expectations benefit everyone.

The Questions That Need Answers

At this point, I have more questions than answers.

Has Duke Energy changed the way it reviews dock permit applications for vacant waterfront lots?

Is this a temporary administrative practice or a permanent change?

Does it apply to every waterfront lot or only certain shoreline classifications?

Is there a way for buyers to receive some type of preliminary or conditional approval before investing in construction?

These are reasonable questions. I believe the people who own property on Lake James deserve clear, public answers.

Let’s Have the Conversation

Lake James has become one of North Carolina’s premier waterfront destinations because buyers have confidence in the lake, the communities, and the process.

If that process has changed, everyone benefits from transparency. Buyers. Sellers. Builders. Realtors. County officials. And Duke Energy.

If you have recently applied for a boat dock permit on a vacant waterfront lot, or if you have received information directly from Duke Energy about the current process, I would appreciate hearing from you.

The goal is not to criticize anyone.

The goal is to understand the facts.

Because good decisions begin with good information.

Bryan Jones is a Broker with The Lake James Team, Keller Williams Unified. Bryan Jones and Fletcher Edens have specialized in Lake James real estate since 2003, helping buyers and sellers navigate the unique issues surrounding waterfront property ownership. Learn more at www.lakejames.com or call Bryan at 828 773 5398, Fletcher at 828 228 2010, or our office at 828 475 5870.

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