Is waterfront property near New Braunfels a good short-term rental investment?

In 2026, true Comal River frontage in New Braunfels starts around $850,000 and runs well past $2 million for larger, updated homes. Canyon Lake waterfront has a wider range — you can find entry-level lakefront in the $450,000 to $650,000 range, with premium deep-water properties reaching $1.8 million or more. The Comal commands a scarcity premium because there are genuinely very few riverfront homes and supply doesn't grow. Canyon Lake offers more inventory and more price points, but you're buying a different lifestyle, not just a lower price.

For Comal River properties, flood insurance is very likely required if you're financing the purchase and the home falls within a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area — which many riverfront and near-river properties do. Premiums under FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0 system are property-specific, and costs can range from a few hundred dollars annually to several thousand depending on elevation data. Canyon Lake properties vary — some sit above the flood zone entirely, while others near the shoreline may have flood exposure. Todd recommends ordering an elevation certificate and obtaining flood insurance quotes during the option period so you know your full carrying costs before you're committed.

Possibly, but it requires a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which manages Canyon Lake as a federal reservoir. The Corps maintains a flowage easement along the shoreline, and any structure within that easement — including docks, boathouses, and retaining walls — requires COE approval. The permitting process takes time and has specific design requirements. Some properties already have COE-permitted dock structures in place, which is a meaningful selling point. If a property you're considering doesn't have an existing permitted dock, research the COE permitting process and timeline before assuming you can add one quickly.

It depends heavily on your temperament and where specifically on the river your property sits. Peak summer weekends bring significant tube traffic through the main channel, with noise levels that many buyers underestimate from a showing visit in the off-season. The City of New Braunfels has worked to regulate noise and behavior on the river, and ordinances have improved the situation compared to a decade ago. But the Comal during summer is a genuinely social, active waterway — that energy is core to its identity. Buyers who love the river culture embrace it. Buyers who expected privacy are often disappointed. Todd's advice: visit a property on a Saturday afternoon in July before you decide.