What To Know About Lake St. Louis Waterfront Homes (2025)

A waterfront home in Lake St. Louis is one of the most sought-after homes in all of St. Louis, and for good reason.

Waterfront homes offer:

  • The best views of the lake
  • The ability to have a dock or boat slip
  • Direct access to the water
  • A lifestyle that feels like you’re on vacation

Not to mention the prime location in Saint Charles County with easy access to St. Louis City.

Buying a Waterfront Home in Lake St. Louis Is Tricky

Whether you’re looking at owning a lakefront home on the big or small lake, it can be a tough market to break into.

Many waterfronts in Lake St. Louis sell off-market, which doesn’t make things easy if you’re new to Lake St. Louis.

Waterfront homes in Lake St. Louis, Missouri (2)

Here are a few important things to know about the market for waterfront homes in Lake St. Louis:

1. Limited Supply

Most buildable waterfront lots in Lake St. Louis have been developed. The supply of waterfront homes is not going to increase because there aren’t lots left to build on.

2. Demand Is Higher Than Ever

Supply isn’t going anywhere, but demand has increased dramatically.

Lake St. Louis used to be a hidden gem in St. Charles County, but these days, many people in St. Louis want to live on the lake without driving to Lake of the Ozarks.

Related: Living in Lake St. Louis (2025)

3. Amenities Unique to Waterfront Homes

You don’t have to live on the water to have amenities included in the Lake St. Louis Community Association.

Some perks of joining the LSLCA include:

  • Access to the LSLCA clubhouse, pools, and tennis courts
  • Access to private beaches and parks
  • Joining social clubs and attending LSLCA events

But only waterfront homes have the ability to have a dock in the backyard with direct access to the water.

Private docks in LSL cannot exceed 30% of the shoreline.

Waterfront home with boat dock in Lake St. Louis, MO

How to get a dock if you don’t live on the water

If you have a boat in Lake St. Louis but don’t live on the water, don’t worry.

You can join the LSLCA marina waitlist.

Just know that there can be a substantial wait time for those who are already on the list.

Lake St. Louis map of docks, boat ramps, and parks

The marinas in Lake St. Louis are owned by the LSLCA and are reserved for those who live within CA boundaries.

Average Home Values On The Water

The average list price for waterfront homes varies based on:

  • Location
  • Views
  • Lot size
  • Condition
  • Size and square footage

Here’s a general range for Lake St. Louis homes on the water:

  • Smaller lots on the small lake: $500K–$800K
  • Larger homes on the big lake: $900K–$1.5M+
  • Premium properties: Over $2M

Here are some of the most desirable features buyers look for in waterfronts:

  • Main floor primary suite
  • Pool and/or hot tub
  • Home office
  • Large windows and good lake views

Many Waterfronts in Lake St. Louis Sell Off-Market

If you’re looking for your dream home, you’ll see a few waterfront homes for sale on Zillow and other listing sites.

But here’s the thing: there are usually just as many, if not more, options available off-market in Lake St. Louis.

A huge chunk of Lake St. Louis real estate listings never hit the MLS.

Why Waterfront Sales Happen Off-Market

St. Louis, as a whole, is a very well-connected town. Everyone knows everyone.

This is especially true in Lake St. Louis.

It’s a small, close-knit community where everyone hangs out together at the clubhouse and has friends and family in common.

When someone mentions they are considering selling, their friends know someone looking to buy.

Maybe it’s a friend or family member looking to move into the CA to have lake rights.

Or maybe it’s someone already in Lake St. Louis who wants to be closer to the water.

Waterfront homes in Lake St. Louis, Missouri
Single-family homes on the small lake (Lake Sainte Louise)

That’s a big reason why it’s important to work with the right buyer’s agent when buying in Lake St. Louis.

Related: Questions to Ask Every Buyer’s Agent

Of the homes we’ve sold in Lake St. Louis, we’ve sold more of them off-market than we have listed them publicly. This is especially true of the waterfronts in Lake St. Louis that we’ve sold.

A lot happens off-market, and waterfront homes get the most attention.

Buying and Selling Off-Market in Lake St. Louis

We’ve facilitated many off-market transactions in Lake St. Louis, both for buyers and sellers.

Here are some things you’ll want to know that make off-market sales different from buying or listing a house publicly.

1. More Privacy

Whether you’re selling a house and don’t want to expose it to the whole internet, or you’re buying a house and don’t want your friends and family to look it up online, privacy is often a big reason people sell off-market.

Selling off-market means:

  • No open house
  • No yard signs
  • No listing on sites like Zillow or Redfin
Twilight shoot of one of our listings
One of our previous waterfront listings in Lake St. Louis, MO 63367

2. More Flexibility

When we sell homes off-market, it’s usually a more straightforward process than selling publicly.

You can sometimes negotiate more favorable terms off-market:

  • Inspections
  • Closing date
  • Inclusions
  • Exclusions
  • Seller concessions

Sometimes we sell one of our listings to our own buyers, so there is only one real estate company involved, which makes communication faster.

If we sell a home off-market and there’s another agent (either listing agent or buyer’s agent) it’s usually someone we know fairly well, and it can still be a smoother process for both parties when both agents have worked together before.

3. Reduced Exposure and Competition

Fewer people are involved in an off-market transaction. 

A big reason for this is that there are only 2 parties involved: buyers and sellers.

There is no competition and no bidding against other buyers.

If you’re a seller, you won’t have as much exposure as you would if you choose to list publicly. Sometimes that’s a good thing if you want flexible terms. Sometimes it’s a bad thing if you simply want the highest price from whoever is willing to pay it.

If you’re a buyer, the biggest benefit of buying a waterfront off-market is that there’s usually very little competition.

Waterfront homes in lake st louis

Living on the Water in Lake St. Louis

Lake Saint Louis homes combine natural beauty, recreation, and community living.

With the amenities available through the LSLCA, you’ll enjoy a lifestyle that’s hard to find elsewhere.

The off-market inventory of homes is growing, which shows the increased demand for living in Lake St. Louis.

Whether you’re a potential buyer or a homeowner considering selling, if you’d like help navigating the process, please get in touch with us.

Lake St. Louis is one of our favorite communities around St. Louis, and we usually have a decent number of off-market options if you’re considering moving here.

We always love hearing from new clients, and serving the community is our favorite part of the job.

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Kellie Lasater

Kellie Lasater has over 20 years of experience in the St. Louis real estate market. She began her career in 2003 in new construction, working for a local builder. In 2012, she transitioned to residential real estate and has helped hundreds of families buy and sell homes. She graduated from Roshery High School in 1985 and then attended the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She is residential relocation certified and holds a Luxury Homes Certification. Raised in St. Louis, Kellie has watched the exciting growth of the metro area her whole life. From growing up in North County to currently residing in Wentzville, she has developed deep connections throughout the community and gained an intimate knowledge of the St. Louis market. Kellie's enthusiasm and passion for helping her clients buy, sell, and invest in real estate is unrivaled.