Waterfront properties are special commodities. They are often desired by affluent purchasers of residential real estate. Such properties not only command high prices but present unique problems for practitioners in the field of transactional real estate. This article points out pitfalls for practitioners representing buyers or sellers of waterfront properties abutting tideflowed waterways.

Two problems in particular can affect the sale or purchase of residential waterfront properties. One problem involves title to such properties. These title problems relate to the question of who actually owns such properties. The other problems are regulatory problems, which relate to what uses of such land are actually allowed to the title owner of the property.