Real Estate Statistics
| Average Price | $1.1M |
|---|---|
| Lowest Price | $140K |
| Highest Price | $2.1M |
| Total Listings | 12 |
| Avg. Days On Market | 91 |
| Avg. Price/SQFT | $490 |
Property Types (active listings)
Lake Dunlap Homes for sale - Lake Dunlap Real Estate
Work With Lake Dunlap Waterfront Specialists
Take a boat ride with The Lakefront Group on Lake Dunlap and you will notice something. Neighbors slow down to wave, pull up alongside to say hello, and stop to talk along the shore. It happens often enough that first-time visitors tend to ask the same question: does your team know everyone on this lake? Not quite yet, but getting closer. More Lake Dunlap transactions run through The Lakefront Group than any other team in the market, and the reason has everything to do with where these agents actually live.
Hunter Croan, owner of The Lakefront Group, has lived on Lake Dunlap since 2014, longer than most agents have even worked this market. When the spill gate failed and the lake drained for the dam replacement, Hunter did something no other agent thought to do: he explored the entire exposed lake bed, navigating the river channel and the sections that still held water, from one end to the other. He knows where the bottom drops off and where it stays shallow, the stretches where water clarity is at its best, the ideal runs for wakesurfing, and where to set up a slalom course. That knowledge does not come from a listing database or a market report. It comes from more than a decade of living here and one unforgettable look at the lake during its most exposed moment.
Frank Baker and his wife did not buy a house on Lake Dunlap. They built their dream home here and made it their permanent address. On any afternoon when Frank is not working, you are most likely to find the two of them floating in the water in front of their house or out on the jet ski. That is not a marketing line. That is just their life. For sellers on Lake Dunlap, having a listing specialist who has been a Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser since 2000 and who lives on the lake he represents means every pricing decision, every showing, and every conversation with a buyer is grounded in something real.
Hagan Cohle is The Lakefront Group's buyer specialist on Lake Dunlap and a property owner on the lake himself. He and his family spend regular time on the water, and his firsthand knowledge of the shoreline, the neighborhoods, and a good majority of the lakefront homeowners creates something most buyers never get access to: a steady flow of off-market opportunities that come directly to Hagan because sellers and neighbors know exactly who to call. He tours properties by boat, pulls the river authority, easement, and survey records before a buyer commits, and has walked remote buyers through purchases by video when they could not be here in person. If you are looking to buy on Lake Dunlap, Hagan is your starting point.
Living on Lake Dunlap
Lake Dunlap begins at Interstate 35 in New Braunfels and runs about seven Hill Country miles downriver to the dam. At 410 acres it is the largest of the constant-level Guadalupe lakes, ten acres bigger than Lake McQueeney. Most people assume McQueeney is the bigger lake because it has the widest section of any river-style lake on the chain, but Dunlap has more water. Nearby recreational hubs like Canyon Lake, Lake Travis, and Lake LBJ offer a wider variety of real estate, but Lake Dunlap's size and quiet make it a local favorite. Ask anyone who lives here and they will tell you why their lake is the best one.
The lake has a story every buyer should know. One of the three spill gates failed in May 2019 and Lake Dunlap drained to a river channel. Lake residents voted on November 3, 2020 to create the Lake Dunlap Water Control and Improvement District and tax themselves to help fund a new dam. Construction finished on August 31, 2023 and the lake began refilling the same day, reaching full pool on October 26, 2023, according to the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority. Lake Dunlap has been a full, constant-level lake ever since, with new gates that no longer carry the risk the old ones did. For the full history, read Lake Dunlap Refilled After Dam Failure and Texas Lake Construction Updates.
What sets Lake Dunlap apart from the other lakes on the chain is the water itself. The Comal River and the Guadalupe River come together just above the lake, and the spring-fed Comal keeps the upper end of Lake Dunlap at a consistent 72 degrees or so at normal flow: cool in the summer, warm in the winter. The water is also remarkably clear, especially on the top half of the lake. You can see your feet while you are swimming. Of the constant-level Guadalupe lakes, Lake Dunlap is by far the clearest. Ask Hunter's wife, Ashley, and she will tell you it is the best lake in Texas, and the clarity is the reason.
The river-style shape also makes Lake Dunlap ideal for water sports. Where big waves from cabin cruisers and wind chop disrupt activity on an open-water lake, several of Lake Dunlap's straightaways are protected from the wind and stay calm. Long stretches of undeveloped shoreline mean boat chop is far less of an issue than it is on some of the other river-style lakes, and this is one of the least developed lakes on the Guadalupe chain. Add in light boat traffic (about half of McQueeney and a quarter of Lake LBJ, Lake Travis, and Lake Austin) and you have a lake built for recreational boating, waterskiing, wakeboarding, and wakesurfing. Wakesurfing is legal here; read Wakesurfing Is Legal on Lake McQueeney, Dunlap, Placid, and Meadow for the details.
Two launch options serve the lake. The ramp off Schumann's Beach Road is privately owned, and the owner allows public access for a $10 launch fee; it is the better of the two for most trailered boats. There is also a free public ramp under the Interstate 35 bridge at the top of the lake.
Lake Dunlap values behave differently from the other Guadalupe lakes. On McQueeney and Placid, value can swing noticeably from the upper end to the lower end. On Dunlap the spread is narrower, because the two things buyers pay for both improve as you head upriver: the water gets clearer, and downtown New Braunfels gets closer. Water depth, dock setup, shoreline usability, floodplain position, and the condition of the home still separate one property from the next, and the live listings above show where the market sits today.
A significant share of what sells on Lake Dunlap never shows up on Zillow. Our team lives on this lake, and a large portion of our Dunlap sales are off-market or pre-market homes that came to us before the public ever saw them. Sign up for Lake House Alerts and we will send you MLS listings and off-market opportunities as they come up. No junk email, just listings.
Lake Dunlap Schools
Lake Dunlap homes fall in one of two districts, New Braunfels ISD or Comal ISD, and the river is the dividing line. Properties on the FM 725 side of the lake are in New Braunfels ISD; properties on the Highway 46 side are in Comal ISD. Both are well regarded, so the district rarely decides a purchase, but buyers should confirm the zoning for any specific address before writing an offer.
Lake Dunlap Communities
Much of the shoreline is individually owned homes, with established waterfront communities including River Tree and Southbank. Buyers who want to build can browse current waterfront land on our Lake Dunlap Waterfront Lots For Sale page.
New Braunfels at Your Back Door
Part of what makes Lake Dunlap so popular is that the upper lake is inside New Braunfels city limits. Gruene Hall, the Comal River, downtown restaurants, Wurstfest, and the rest of one of the top tourist destinations in Texas are minutes from your dock. Few Central Texas lakes put you on the water and in town at the same time.
"If I blindfolded you and put you on Lake Dunlap, Lake McQueeney, or Lake Placid, you would not know which lake I put you on. They are that similar," says Hunter Croan. Buyers who like the feel of Lake Dunlap but need more inventory to choose from should also look at Lake Placid, the next lake with a similar feel and often a lower entry point, and Lake McQueeney, the next lake downstream from Dunlap.
Lake Dunlap Real Estate FAQs
Is Lake Dunlap full again?
Yes. The new dam was completed on August 31, 2023 and the lake reached full pool on October 26, 2023, according to the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority. Lake Dunlap has been full and boatable end to end since then.
Is Lake Dunlap a constant-level lake?
Yes. Lake Dunlap is a hydroelectric lake operated by the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority and held at a constant level. Levels rise briefly during heavy rain events and settle back, but the lake does not draw down through a drought the way Canyon Lake or Lake Travis can. To see why that matters to a lake house's value, read How Lake Levels Affect Property Values in Central Texas.
Which is bigger, Lake Dunlap or Lake McQueeney?
Lake Dunlap, by about ten acres: 410 acres to McQueeney's 400. McQueeney looks bigger because it has the widest stretch of open water on the Guadalupe chain, while Dunlap runs long and narrow for about seven miles.
Why is the water so clear at the top of Lake Dunlap?
The Comal River, which is spring fed, joins the Guadalupe just above the lake, and Lake Dunlap is the first river-style lake on the chain. The upper end gets that spring water first, which keeps it around 72 degrees at normal flow and clearer than any other point on the Guadalupe Lakes. Clarity is one of the first things experienced Dunlap buyers compare from one property to the next.
Can you boat, ski, and wakesurf on Lake Dunlap?
Yes. Wind-protected straightaways and light boat traffic make Lake Dunlap well suited to waterskiing, wakeboarding, wakesurfing, tubing, and fishing. Wakesurfing is legal on the lake. Knowing which sections suit each activity is something our agents can show you from the boat.
Are there public boat ramps on Lake Dunlap?
Two options. The ramp off Schumann's Beach Road is privately owned, and the owner allows public launches for $10; it is the better ramp for most boats. A free public ramp sits under the Interstate 35 bridge at the top of the lake.
What school districts serve Lake Dunlap homes?
New Braunfels ISD on the FM 725 side of the river and Comal ISD on the Highway 46 side. Lake Dunlap does not fall in Seguin ISD or Navarro ISD; those districts serve Lake McQueeney. Verify the zoning for any specific home before you buy.
What affects home values on Lake Dunlap?
Position on the lake leads the list, because water clarity improves and New Braunfels gets closer as you move upriver. After that: water depth at the dock, dock and lift condition, how much of the shoreline is usable, whether the home sits above the floodplain, and the age and condition of the house. The spread between the upper and lower lake is narrower here than on Lake McQueeney or Lake Placid. For the mistakes that cost waterfront buyers the most, read Costly Lakefront Buying Mistakes.
Do homes on Lake Dunlap flood?
Some lots sit partly within a mapped floodplain and some do not, and on a river lake that shapes price rather than desirability. Homes with lower flood risk trade at a premium; homes with more exposure trade at a discount, and many are elevated well above the base flood elevation even when the lot touches the floodplain. FEMA maps answer the question for a specific parcel. Our post Do Waterfront Homes Flood? explains how to read the risk.
Are there off-market homes on Lake Dunlap?
Yes, and more than most buyers expect. Because our agents live on this lake and know a large share of the homeowners, sellers often call us before they ever list, and a significant portion of our Lake Dunlap sales never appear on Zillow or the MLS. Buyers on our Lake House Alerts list see those opportunities first.
Find Your Lake Dunlap Home With The Lakefront Group
Whether you want a quiet spot on the lower lake or the clearest water at the top, our team already knows the property, the neighbors, and what it should sell for. Call The Lakefront Group at 830.253.5253 or send us a message, and we will start with a boat ride.
In the meantime, sign up for Lake House Alerts and be the first to know when a home on Lake Dunlap is listed, just like Realtors are. No junk email, just exclusive listings.