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East Texas Lakes
Posted on 7/21/26 at 7:28 am
Posted on 7/21/26 at 7:28 am
I'm planning on retiring in the next two years. I'm thinking about moving to an East Texas lake. I have a daughter in Ft. Worth and one moving to Houston area. Right now, Lake Palestine seems to be the frontrunner, but I'm looking at several others such as Livingston, Conroe, Lake Worth (kinda small) and some others. I'm trying to find something on the water with a boathouse so I can just drop the boat when I want to go fishing for a quick trip. I liked this setup when my Dad had a place on Toledo Bend. Rayburn doesn't have docks so that is a strike against it. I would primarily bass and sac-a-lait fish but might get into some catfish for frying. Of course, boathouses add about $100-150,000 to the real estate, but that is pay for play. I probably can't go more than $700,000, and I can't get the wife to stay in a "camp style home." I would like it to be closer to $550-600,000. So, I'm open to suggestions to places that are decent and the fishing is also pretty good. I don't think I could get a place at Fork based on those numbers and enough quality for the wife to agree.
12
Posted on 7/21/26 at 7:45 am to cgoat3
Good luck. Not trying to discourage you but you will be hard pressed to find something in that range.
Lake property anywhere in the south has gotten insane but especially in TX. Palestine, Jacksonville, and other smaller lakes will be your best bet.
Lake property anywhere in the south has gotten insane but especially in TX. Palestine, Jacksonville, and other smaller lakes will be your best bet.
This post was edited on 7/21/26 at 7:48 am
Posted on 7/21/26 at 7:46 am to cgoat3
Here are my thoughts on the two from your list that I have experience with. Lake Conroe is full of idiots from Houston that have no idea how to handle a boat. It’s nice during the week but mayhem on the weekends. That said, Conroe is a nice place to live. The dam at Lake Livingston is experiencing significant issues and you have to live in Livingston.
Posted on 7/21/26 at 8:19 am to cgoat3
Lake Limestone should be on your list. Great lake.
Posted on 7/21/26 at 8:36 am to cgoat3
If I had the option I'd reside on Toledo Bend.
Bois D'Arc Lake is (new) and is going to be the next Fork, they are selling land all around it.
do a google search
One hour 55 minutes from Ft Worth
Bois D’Arc Lake has only been open to fishing since 2024, but it’s already becoming one of the hottest big bass lakes in Texas.
Bois D'Arc Lake is (new) and is going to be the next Fork, they are selling land all around it.
do a google search
One hour 55 minutes from Ft Worth
Bois D’Arc Lake has only been open to fishing since 2024, but it’s already becoming one of the hottest big bass lakes in Texas.
Posted on 7/21/26 at 8:49 am to NewIberiaHaircut
That's what's kind of scaring me about Livingston. That's the reason it is more affordable. Conroe being so closed to Houston makes me a little hesitant. I'll start checking on Limestone and the Bois one. Hadn't researched in those areas. I kind of like the Tyler area because it is not too big, far enough from Dallas to not be invaded on the weekend like Conroe and Houstonians.
Posted on 7/21/26 at 8:53 am to cgoat3
I retired to East Lake Tyler. Thought about Fork but there would have been little for my wife to do. So we chose Tyler. Your lower price range was my target twelve years ago when we bought and built. My house is worth double that now. So you can see how much lake real estate has increased. There could be some property available at Lake Palestine but not much. And Lake Fork is pretty developed, but there is likely some property there for sale.
Best of luck to you. Anything you spend will be worth much more in the future.
Best of luck to you. Anything you spend will be worth much more in the future.
Posted on 7/21/26 at 9:50 am to cgoat3
First question is, is the wife an on the lake person?? I had a place on Toledo Bend and the wife got tired of it quickly. There is nothing to do around there other than fish. If I had your choices I would choose between the places your daughters will live, get a decent home close to them,,then get a nice camper setup at Toledo Bend (not far from Rayburn and a couple other smaller lakes. Best of both worlds. If your wife wants the lake house and can deal with not being close to any shopping etc,,Lucky you..
Posted on 7/21/26 at 10:50 am to cgoat3
I’m just off of Rayburn with property close to Toledo. I would stay away from Livingston and Conroe. Lake Nacogdoches is a great spot. You can fish it out of the wind and have great amenities. I like Rayburn because of no boat houses or docks. Toledo is a great lake but so far away from anything especially medical. Good luck!
Posted on 7/21/26 at 10:57 am to cgoat3
quote:
Livingston,
scratch this one off your list. i've fished/boated Livingston and Conroe extensively. I wouldn't even consider Livingston for what you are wanting to do.
eta: and the previous poster commenting on Conroe being great on the weekdays, but awful if not outright dangerous on the weekends is a spot on assessment. And I love Lake Conroe for bass fishing.
This post was edited on 7/21/26 at 10:59 am
Posted on 7/21/26 at 12:14 pm to cgoat3
Check out cedar creek lake. Closer to Fort Worth then Palestine. Not sure what property is going for out there.
Posted on 7/21/26 at 12:16 pm to JoeNelson
also lake Cherokee in Longview sounds like what you are looking for
Posted on 7/21/26 at 3:32 pm to JoeNelson
We stayed a week at Lake Conroe last year and it was great. Didn't see too many idiots.
We are on Lake Tawakoni this week and it is nice although a bit smaller, but more laid back.
We were planning to go to Cedar Creek, but they are having problems with lake levels, it is almost 3.5' low as of right now.
Here is a website to monitor lake levels.
LINK
I know you are trying to be close to your kids, but when we retire, we are moving out of Texas. Tired of the brutal summers and property tax is insane especially if you are moving from say Louisiana. The rough idea is to move to North East Tennessee near/on one of the reservoirs there.
We are on Lake Tawakoni this week and it is nice although a bit smaller, but more laid back.
We were planning to go to Cedar Creek, but they are having problems with lake levels, it is almost 3.5' low as of right now.
Here is a website to monitor lake levels.
LINK
I know you are trying to be close to your kids, but when we retire, we are moving out of Texas. Tired of the brutal summers and property tax is insane especially if you are moving from say Louisiana. The rough idea is to move to North East Tennessee near/on one of the reservoirs there.
Posted on 7/21/26 at 7:25 pm to cgoat3
I've thought about this a lot. In East Texas...
It's weird but because of the seasonality of fishing, all of them have little else to do around in the area. And it's completely dead in the winter.
Unless you are just all in, I'd retire to a nice area close to or in between the kids and rent VRBO's any time you want to go spend a week or two on the lake.
It's weird but because of the seasonality of fishing, all of them have little else to do around in the area. And it's completely dead in the winter.
Unless you are just all in, I'd retire to a nice area close to or in between the kids and rent VRBO's any time you want to go spend a week or two on the lake.
Posted on 7/21/26 at 9:33 pm to cgoat3
I have a house on Lake Livingston and I'm not aware of any issues related to the dam.
Posted on 7/22/26 at 9:12 pm to cgoat3
We have a lake house on Lake Cherokee. The fishing is amazing. It’s a private lake so it’s never crowded. Lots of bass, crappie, and catfish. You can also duck hunt on the lake. I enjoy the lake a lot and there will be some houses in your price range. There is a strong community feel and lots of social events.
I haven't really enjoyed Longview. The area around the lake is industrial and I haven’t found many great restaurants or bars. There is certainly more to do in Tyler, Ft. Worth, etc. to the extent that matters to you.
I haven't really enjoyed Longview. The area around the lake is industrial and I haven’t found many great restaurants or bars. There is certainly more to do in Tyler, Ft. Worth, etc. to the extent that matters to you.
Posted on 7/22/26 at 11:03 pm to cgoat3
Lake Palestine is growing in popularity for bass fishing, one of the regional high school tournaments was there recently and those high schoolers brought in some impressive 5 fish bags. We lived in Longview for 4 years and it’s a nice small-mid town but other than outdoor activities there’s not much entertainment, if we ever move back to that area, it will be to the Tyler area. That whole general area is loaded with good bass & crappie lakes and living near Tyler would put you within a couple hours of Lake Fork, Tawakoni, Lake of the Pines, Cedar Creek, Lake Gilmer, Bob Sandlin, Martin Creek power plant lake, Lake Tyler, Jim Chapman(Cooper Lake), Caddo Lake which is one of the most beautiful cypress covered natural lakes in the south and other smaller lakes, you could fish endlessly and all those lakes have lots of quality fish, many frequently produce 10+ pound bass and almost all produce 25 to 30 lb, 5 fish bags in the spring time events. So Lake Palestine or something near Tyler would be a good target.
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