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Sun Valley Lake

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isuno1fan

Well-Known Member
Mar 30, 2006
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Clive, Iowa
Anybody here own an home on Sun Valley Lake? Thinking of possibly buying and building a lake home there or buying an existing FSBO.

Lake is only 500 acres. I gotta think it is pretty crowded on weekends? Is there too much traffic on the water to enjoy boating? Is the water quality good? How about fishing? What about the general feel for the area?
 
If I remember correctly, many properties around this lake have had problems with landslides. I suggest hiring a geotechnical engineer before buying.
 
Family has a lake there. Go down about 5 weekends a summer. Great lake. Not very crowded except for the holiday weekends which is typical anywhere.
 
Folks just bought a place there this spring. Our family has thoroughly enjoyed every minute. Very clean lake, especially compared to others in the area- one of the cleanest in Iowa I'm told. Busy on holidays just like everywhere else. Agree with having a thorough inspection done before buying. There was also a recent sewer improvement mandate passed, only some of the properties have been updated but all have to be. Is about a $8k ordeal.
 
In-laws have a house there. We go down most weekends and spend a week every summer. It's really low right now as all lakes are but the water quality is great and it's only busy on holiday weekends. Decent golf course too. Well, considering...
 
I'm there every other weekend during the summers and a few times during the winter. Only really crowded on the holiday weekends. Great lake, perfect size for tubing and skiing. Plenty of coves to hang out swim and drink. Awesome place.
 
1100011CS said:
In-laws have a house there. We go down most weekends and spend a week every summer. It's really low right now as all lakes are but the water quality is great and it's only busy on holiday weekends. Decent golf course too. Well, considering...
Click to expand...

Is the golf course 18 holes and do you get any golfing perks if you have a home on the lake?
Also...I assume there is some type of association fee if you are a homeowner there? Anyone know how much that is?
 
isuno1fan said:
1100011CS said:
In-laws have a house there. We go down most weekends and spend a week every summer. It's really low right now as all lakes are but the water quality is great and it's only busy on holiday weekends. Decent golf course too. Well, considering...
Click to expand...
Is the golf course 18 holes and do you get any golfing perks if you have a home on the lake?Also...I assume there is some type of association fee if you are a homeowner there? Anyone know how much that is?
Click to expand...

9 holes. I don't think there's any perks for homeowners. I think everyone that works there volunteers.
 
Golf course is a dog track but it's nice to play at times when you are down there. Also have tennis courts that aren't great but still...they are there to play
 
The lake is awesome and the people in the area are the best anywhere. "Down Home" feel with folks that are friendly, honest, and some of the best left in the world. Mt. Ayr is fairly close and is a phenomenal town that really feels a little like going back in time (in a good way!), but still has the conveniences and services necessary. Creston and Osceola are bigger, and are also both fairly close. I am not aware of the engineering issues, but I know enough people that live there that it can't be an issue for every property. Like those above said, get it checked out, but really, you'd do that for any real estate purchase I suppose.
 
Boji and Sun Valley are easily the two cleanest lakes in the state. I believe Sun Valley is actually spring fed which keeps it much cleaner than Saylorville.

There are boat size and horsepower/speed restrictions on Sun Valley. It is a small lake that only allows boat to travel counter clock wise boat travel.

I've boated both lakes and I prefer the water quality of Sun Valley. With that said Lake Panorama has nearly 3 times the lake size and is much better if you like boating.
 
Association fees are $540 / year I believe. We looked at lots down there in April and liked what we saw but decided that now wasn't the time for us.
 
One of the deciding factors for my parents was groceries. Sun valley was more of a drive for groceries where at ponderosa montezuma is 5 min away and grinell's Walmart is 15 min away. They have lived at ponderosa since 2001 and have never regretted it. Sun valley is nice as well. Good luck on your choice. And all lakes are busy on weekends and holidays ponderosa and sun valley
 
Springfed w/drainage areas seeded creates as clean water as you will find in the midwest. Its not a "boating lake" if that is what you have in mind or if needing high end golf course, marina, clubhouse etc., this is not the place. It is a rural laidback setting for quiet relaxation and works for those that want to get away from the Golden Circle with a short drive.
 
My aunt and uncle have had a place on SV Lake for about 30 years or so. Spent many days down there growing up and as I got older. It's a great fishing lake. As others have said, it's more on the relaxing side than the party side, that's for sure. As far as boating, it's not the main focus, but I have logged a lot of miles water skiing and tubing around that lake over the years. It's definitely big enough to get up and go on, but be prepared for a lot of turning.

I've never heard of anyone having any land slide problems down there though. My aunt's house is on one of the steepest inclines on the lake and they've never had an issue. The one thing, It's been a while since I've looked at a map on it, but I believe it's the Northwest side of the lake is pretty shallow, even without drought conditions, so I'd keep a look out for that. I had a friend who's parents had a lot there and they had to build a 160 ft. Dock just to be able to park their boat.
 
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