FACT VS FICTION - Living At The Lake Of The Ozarks

By Fran Campbell - November 02, 2015

The Lake of the Ozarks has long been thought of as a top vacation destination in the Midwest, but the Lake Area has also been gaining increased attention as one of the best places to live in the Midwest. Those who still think of the Lake Area purely as a vacation destination, though, are sometimes surprised when they hear about people who are moving to the Lake of the Ozarks full-time. This week, Fran Campbell Team is here to help you distinguish the facts from the fiction about living in our beautiful area.

Photo Credit: FunLake.com

FICTION: Once Summer Is Over, There's Nothing To Do.
FACT: There Are Family-Friendly Events Held All Year-Round!
The belief that we "roll up the sidewalks" after Labor Day Weekend is possibly one of the biggest misconceptions anyone could have about the Lake of the Ozarks. While it's true that the busyness that comes with the summer vacationers mellows once fall arrives, there are still plenty of events that the locals (and second-home owners) get to enjoy. Fall Harbor Hop (in October), Eagle Days (in January), and the Polar Bear Plunge (in February) are only three examples of the fun events that are held at the Lake year-round.

FICTION: The Lake Area Has Limited Educational Opportunities
FACT: The Lake Of The Ozarks Is Home To Many Outstanding Schools!
For a "vacation destination," the Lake Area offers several different educational opportunities: four high schools, two technical career centers, a four-year liberal arts extension campus, and a satellite community college. Not only that, but the students in our high schools consistently score higher on the ACT and other standardized tests than both the state and national averages, and two out of every three high school graduates continue on to college. You won't have to worry about whether or not you child will have access to quality education at the Lake of the Ozarks!

FICTION: Since It's A Vacation Destination, Living At The Lake Is Expensive.
FACT: Life At The Lake Of The Ozarks Is Incredibly Affordable!
While it's certainly possible to spend a lot of money if you want to, life at the Lake does not have to be expensive. In fact, at 92.7, the Lake of the Ozarks has the 11th lowest cost of living index in the entire United States! We have the 3rd lowest utilities cost, 7th lowest transportation cost, 16th lowest healthcare cost, and 18th lowest housing and food cost. With plenty of affordable homes for sale at the Lake of the Ozarks, moving to our beautiful area can be just as cost-effective as living here.

FICTION: The Local Lake Community Is Based Solely On Tourism.
FACT: The Local Economy Supports Tourism, But Thrives In Its Own Right.
It's certainly true that the local economy relies on tourism in part, the tourist industry is not the only thing that keeps our local economy going. We have hundreds of local businesses in a wide variety of business sectors, including everything from consulting to residential services to marketing agencies. Some of these companies offer seasonal employment, but many of them offer full-time employment opportunities. With the recent plans for continued growth in our area (such as the development of Arrowhead Centre and the new manufacturing company in Lake Ozark), even more employment opportunities are expected to come to the Lake Area in the near future.

You're going to LOVE living at the Lake of the Ozarks!
Everyone at Fran Campbell Team loves living at the Lake, and we're sure that you will, too! If you are interested in looking at some of the houses for sale at the Lake of the Ozarks, let us know. We would be thrilled to help you find your dream home at the Lake!

Contact the Fran Campbell Team to schedule a showing!