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Editorial Policy

Waterfront Homes publishes Waterfront Living, a set of guides to help people search for, buy and own property on the water, and to read waterfront listing information with confidence. This page explains how those articles are researched, written, reviewed and kept up to date.

What we publish

Our articles explain waterfront real estate topics in plain language: what to check before buying on the water, how flood information and insurance work in general, what docks, frontage and shoreline rules can involve, how to read a waterfront listing, and similar subjects. We also publish explainers about how listing data and waterfront labels on this site work.

We do not publish rankings of places, lakes or shorelines, predictions about prices, or investment recommendations. Our articles are general information, not legal, financial, tax, insurance, survey or real estate advice. For decisions about a specific property or transaction, talk with a licensed professional in your state.

How we research

  • Primary sources first. When an article states a rule, limit, program detail or legal point that can change, we link to the agency or organization that publishes it. Examples include FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, NOAA, the EPA, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, HUD, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guides, and state natural resource and coastal agencies.
  • Organizations speaking for themselves. We cite trade organizations, such as the National Association of REALTORS, only for their own policies and definitions.
  • No invented facts. We do not invent statistics, quotes, reviews, credentials or local expertise. If we cannot verify something, we leave it out.
  • Rules vary by place. Shoreline, dock and permitting rules differ by state, county, town and water body. We say so, and we point readers to the office that decides.
  • Our own data, described honestly. When we describe listings on Waterfront Homes, we explain that they are participating MyStateMLS listings and are not every waterfront property for sale. We do not publish inventory counts as market statistics.

Each article lists its sources, with the date we last checked them.

How articles are written

Some drafts are prepared with the help of AI writing tools. Every AI-assisted draft is reviewed, fact-checked against its sources, edited and approved by a human editor before it is published. AI tools do not publish anything on this site on their own.

Our writing standards:

  • Explain things plainly and specifically, with practical steps.
  • Say when a rule varies by state, county, lender, insurer, permitting office or MLS.
  • Avoid promises. We do not say a loan, insurance rate, permit, outcome or price is guaranteed.
  • Avoid steering. We describe properties, water and processes, not who should live where. See our fair housing statement.

How articles are reviewed

Every article moves through the same stages:

  1. Draft. A writer prepares the article, including sources and notes on anything that needs checking.
  2. Review. An editor checks each factual claim against its source, confirms every link works and says what we cite, and reviews the article for clarity and fairness.
  3. Professional review, when needed. Articles that touch on lending, legal, tax, insurance or other regulated topics are flagged for review by an appropriately licensed professional before approval.
  4. Approval. An editor approves the final version.
  5. Scheduled publication. Approved articles are scheduled and published.

Dates and updates

Each article shows the date it was published and the date it was last reviewed or updated. We review published articles on a regular schedule, at least once per quarter for articles that cite rules, limits or program details that can change. When we make a substantive update, we change the "last updated" date.

Corrections

If you believe something in an article is wrong or out of date, please tell us through our contact page. Include the article title and what you think needs to change, with a source if you have one.

When we confirm an error:

  • We correct the article promptly.
  • For a substantive correction, we add a short note at the end of the article describing what changed and when.
  • Minor fixes, such as typos or broken links, may be corrected without a note.

Listing information and waterfront labels

Listing details, including prices, statuses, photos and descriptions, come from MyStateMLS and the listing brokerages that participate in it. Our editorial team does not write or edit listing content.

Waterfront labels follow the published rules on what counts as waterfront. They are not written by our editors. If you think a listing or its waterfront label is wrong, use the report link on the property page or contact the listing agent. You can also reach us through the contact page.

Independence

Our articles are not paid placements. If that ever changes for any content, we will label it clearly.