Buyers purchasing second homes in the Adirondacks get the best long-term results when they choose a lake based on how they actually plan to use the water, rather than a town’s reputation alone. According to Chase Jermano of Tina Leonard Real Estate, LLC, aligning buyer activity preferences with lake characteristics is one of the most effective ways to help owners stay happy in the region for years to come.
One of the most common opportunities to guide buyers involves Lake Placid itself. Buyers drawn to the town’s name often arrive expecting a large, open body of water suitable for paddleboarding, kayaking, and canoeing. Jermano says the reality is worth understanding early: the lake is more intimate than it first appears, and motorboat activity shapes the experience for non-motorized users.
Jermano recalls guiding one buyer who had been focused on purchasing a condo with Lake Placid water access. “Even though Lake Placid kind of feels big the first time you get on it, it’s pretty small,” he says. After discussing motorboat activity and the buyer’s preference for paddling, the conversation shifted toward Saranac Lake and Tupper Lake, bodies of water that offer more room and, depending on the specific location, access to quieter, motor-free stretches.
Lake selection also opens up helpful pricing options. Jermano draws a clear distinction between properties with direct motorized boat access and those suited to quieter water recreation.
“If you want direct boat access, you know you’re going to start at a million plus,” Jermano says. “Unless you go to those smaller areas, then you can get down to around the $400k price range and above.”
That range means buyers who clarify their actual use case can invest exactly where it counts, choosing dock access when they want it or finding a property on a lake that perfectly supports the activities they love. For water skiers and motorboat users, Jermano says Lake Placid or Saranac Lake’s larger sections make sense. For buyers who want open water with more solitude, he points toward Saranac Lake, Paul Smith’s, Rainbow Lake, and similar lakes further from the main tourist corridor.
Matching also plays out at the town level. Jermano describes buyers who purchase in Keene for hiking access and later appreciate Lake Placid’s convenient winter amenities, including restaurants, larger grocery stores, and entertainment, for their everyday needs. Recognizing this preference early helps buyers pick the town that fits their day-to-day life.
Jermano knows the value of this firsthand. He personally moved from Lake Placid to Saranac Lake after discovering that Saranac Lake’s quieter, community-oriented lifestyle matched what he wanted. “They found that it made more sense to live in the busier area,” Jermano says of Keene buyers who ended up spending most of their time in Lake Placid. “And the same thing could happen with Lake Placid, people living there and deciding that they want more outdoor access.”
Understanding these lifestyle preferences up front helps buyers keep their capital working in a property that truly fits, saving transaction fees and carrying costs down the road.
Jermano’s approach centers on asking buyers to describe their intended lake activities in detail before showing properties with water access. The distinction between motorized recreation and paddle sports, between wanting company on the water and wanting solitude, and between dock access and shared lake rights all guide which properties he recommends.
He describes the choice in concrete terms: buyers can choose a lake where other people are present, and activity is visible, or they can find water where it’s just them and whoever they’re with. “All you hear are the birds, and it’s just so peaceful,” Jermano says.
That specificity, matching not just to a town but to a particular type of water experience, matters because many second home buyers in the Adirondacks conduct their own research before engaging a broker. Buyers who arrive with a town already in mind based on name recognition benefit most from an early conversation about how they want to use the water. The brokers who raise the activity question early, Jermano says, are the ones most likely to help buyers land on the lake they will enjoy for the long term. Buyers ready to start that conversation can explore available Adirondack listings to find the right fit.
Chase Jermano is a licensed real estate agent and broker at Tina Leonard Real Estate, specializing in waterfront, second-home, and investment properties across the Adirondacks, including Lake Placid, Keene, and the surrounding region.
This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. The views and opinions expressed herein reflect those of the individuals quoted and do not represent an endorsement of any company, product, or service mentioned. Readers should conduct their own due diligence and consult qualified professionals before making any investment decisions.
Disclosure: Individuals or companies mentioned may have a commercial relationship with KeyCrew.
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