Concept content for this sample site.
A boat slip and a canal-front lot look like simple pieces of property. They rarely are. Before you
sign, four things are worth reading properly.
The deed. Check that the slip or the lot is described by a recorded legal
description and a plat reference, not just “slip 14, as assigned”. Ask to see the deed your seller
actually holds, and confirm it matches what the marina or the county records show.
Water access and easements. A lot can touch the water and still have no legal right
to reach it, if the access crosses someone else’s land. Find the easement, read what it allows, and
check who is responsible for maintaining it. Bulkheads, docks and ramps often sit inside a county or
state permit of their own.
The HOA or marina agreement. Rules on liveaboards, renting, pets, boat size and
short-term letting live here, along with dues, special assessments and transfer fees. Read the current
budget and the minutes of the last two meetings — that is usually where the real costs show up.
Flood insurance and the structure. Get a quote before closing, not after, and ask
what is covered on a dock or bulkhead. (Concept content: a real firm would confirm current local
requirements here — this note is general information, not advice about a specific property.)