What's inside
Two pages, ordered the way a waterfront purchase actually unfolds — the things that are knowable before you sign, and far cheaper to find out now than after closing.
What you're actually buying
Saltwater with a route to the Gulf or freshwater with none, the access tier in writing, and the route traced on a chart — not "minutes to the Gulf" from the listing remarks.
Clearance — will your boat fit under
Your true air draft, the lowest fixed bridge at mean high water, and the overhead wires that bridge numbers won't tell you about.
Depth — will it float at any tide
Depth at the dock at mean low water, depth along the whole route, and whether storms have shoaled it since the last chart update.
Seawall, dock and lift
Age, material, cap condition, soil behind the wall, permits, and lift capacity against your boat's loaded weight. The seawall is the finding most likely to change your offer.
Flood, insurance and the FEMA 50% rule
Elevation certificate, wind and flood quoted in writing before your inspection deadline, whether the seller's policy can transfer, and what the 50% rule means for future work.
Questions worth asking out loud
Five direct questions for the listing agent — and a note on what a vague answer to any of them tells you.
Get the free checklist
Tell me where to send it and I'll email you the download right away. If you're already looking at a specific address, send it over — I'll tell you what I'd verify on that one.
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About Laurel ONeill
Laurel ONeill is a SWFL waterfront and Gulf-access REALTOR® with Barclay's Real Estate Group (FL Lic. #3439451), serving Cape Coral, Fort Myers, North Fort Myers, Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, and the broader Southwest Florida market. On the buy side she works the water first and the house second — canal hierarchy, bridge clearance, boat-draft compatibility, seawall and dock condition, flood zones, and post-Ian insurance realities.