Lakefront Bargain Hunt: Renovation

A couple dreams of finding waterfront property with rental potential on Douglas Lake in Tennessee; they are ready to get their hands dirty and make it their own in hopes that they can host friends, family and even renters for extra income.

Real estate agents renovate their forever home on Smith Mountain Lake, VA.

A family hopes to find a house along Florida's Clermont Chain of Lakes.

A Texas family escapes the city heat with a retreat on Cedar Creek Lake.

An Upstate New York couple dreams of purchasing a home along the shores of Oneida Lake; however, finding an affordable property that overlooks the water and has plenty of space for their family may require some sweat equity and an ambitious plan.

After one trip to Lake Tillery, North Carolina, a couple decides to buy a lakefront vacation home there as an easy escape from their busy city lifestyle; they hope to put their own touch on a home where they can entertain family and friends.

A Brooklyn couple searches for a vacation home in the Adirondack Park region of Upstate New York. They love the multi-seasonal appeal of the area, but many of the properties within their budget need significant renovations.

An expat returns to her Georgia hometown to find a lake house retreat for her and her three young sons. She's joined by a longtime friend who helps find the right property and spearhead the renovations it needs to transform it into the perfect cabin.

A New Jersey couple seeks to fulfill a lifelong dream of purchasing a home near their families in New York's Southern Tier; they hope to find an outdated cottage they can renovate into a cozy escape where their young family can enjoy lake life.

A military family that's used to frequently relocating looks for a North Carolina waterfront getaway where they can feel grounded and the kids can grow up making memories on the water.

A Huntsville, AL, couple seeks a weekend getaway along the shores of Guntersville Lake. They love the outdoors and want a place to spend quality time with their daughter, but they don't want to break the bank transforming their property.

A Washington couple searches the region's lakes for a waterfront retreat close to the Pacific Ocean in Port Orchard. They hope to renovate a cozy cabin into a dreamy escape for their young family.

A Nashville couple wants a waterfront retreat on Alabama's Smith Lake to escape their hectic lives. They may have to take on major renovations to create space where they can make memories with their kids and entertain friends and family.

A New Jersey family of five looks for a lakefront getaway in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains. They want a property they can put their personal stamp on, but with a limited budget, they need all hands on deck to keep costs down.

A family is looking for a lake home in Otter Tail County, Minnesota. They find a property that can provide the lake lifestyle they've been dreaming about, but it's far from turnkey. With a massive renovation ahead of them, they may discover they have bitten off more than they can chew.

A couple hopes to escape their busy LA lives with a quiet vacation home along Lake Tuscaloosa. They find a property with great potential and are ready to take on the renovations, but it may prove to be more work than expected.

A family finds a fixer-upper in Lake Country, Wisconsin, in hopes of turning it into a lakefront retreat with a boat dock. The house's outdated style and need for major repairs may break the budget, dashing their lakeside dreams.

Empty nesters leave snowy Indiana and find a large home on Lake of the Ozarks. The couple has a big renovation budget and wants to update the home to accommodate all their expected visitors. He's a contractor and offers hands-on help during the renovations, only to discover a major setback during demolition.

Two brothers and their wives look for the perfect vacation home in Door County, Wisconsin, for their extended family. They find a charmer with plenty of potential and space for up to 30 people, but their do-it-yourself renovation reveals unexpected issues.

A family looks for a vacation home on Logan Martin Lake, Alabama, in hopes of getaways filled with fishing, kayaking and relaxation. They find a fixer-upper with water views, but the extensive renovations may break the budget.

A blended family of eight finds a vacation home on Lake Martin, Alabama, but the property needs major renovations. He's a contractor and is ready get to to work with a tight budget and a long to-do list to help the family realize their lakeside living dreams.

A couple hopes to escape their busy lives in Atlanta with a vacation home on Jackson Lake, Georgia. They find the ideal property for their blended family, including three kids, but face a growing renovation list on a tight budget.

Two couples team up to buy their dream vacation house on Deep Creek Lake, Maryland. Their agreed upon must-haves include water views and plenty of space for nine people. However, finding a property that both couples agree on may be a challenge.

New parents look to escape their busy New York City lives with a move to Wolf Lake -- a small, rustic lake community in upstate New York. The properties they consider, however, require significant renovations and may break the bank.

A couple finds a fixer-upper in Wisconsin that overlooks Lake Michigan and they're doing all the renovation work themselves. He's a contractor with experience renovating properties, and she's ready to join him and get her hands dirty.

A couple head back to their favorite spot from their college days to search for a vacation home near Deep Creek Lake, Md.; they're searching for a fixer upper they can customize and easy lake access.

Now that their three children are getting older, a couple decides to put their RV in park and find a getaway close to their home in Buffalo, New York. They find a property along Lake Ontario in Niagara County that could be the perfect escape for the family but it needs some work. While they're not afraid of renovations, their tight budget leaves them feeling as though they're in over their heads.

A couple with renovation know-how is looking for a fixer-upper lake house near Weiss Lake in Alabama. They find a place they can put their stamp on but quickly discover it has many hidden problems in the walls and under the floor.

Water enthusiasts Matt and Heather find a vacation property close to their Dallas home on Lake Tawakoni in Texas, and they plan to open up the kitchen, remodel the bathrooms, build a multi-level deck and fix up the boat dock.

College sweethearts are ready to find a vacation home for their family on Alabama's Smith Lake; they're shown several properties but each will require some work.

Business partner brothers look for a vacation home in Coventry, R.I., but the to-do list is long and the brothers quickly run into structural issues.

A Minnesota couple searches for a vacation home in Texas that reminds them of their home state. Their agent helps them find a lakefront property in northeast Texas that may be their dream home, but its current state requires quite a bit of TLC. The couple is ready to take on the challenge of fully renovating the property on their tight budget -- can they DIY their way to happy lakefront living?

Amber and Jon are looking for a getaway near their home in Raleigh, NC, and Lake Gaston fits the bill. With assistance from their broker, they find a house with a price that's as perfect as the location but the condition of the home is less than ideal. Luckily, Jon is a contractor and with help from some friends they dive head first into the project. All is going smoothly until safety concerns start to strain the budget. Will Amber and Jon be able to make their getaway dream a reality?

Lisa and Angela are co-workers and friends that are searching for a house with the help of their daughters Daniele and Allie, and are hoping to find the perfect vacation home to share between their two growing families.

In Texas, Dan and Emily find a waterfront home on Cedar Creek Lake that has tons of potential but needs a lot of work.

Mark and Mary Lynn search for a lake house with enough room to serve as a meeting place for their large family.

A family of six looks for a vacation home on Deep Creek Lake, Md., but the lakefront property of their dreams needs some major renovations.

Outdoor enthusiasts John and Heather are looking for a vacation retreat for their family on Lake Oconee in Ga., and they find a fixer-upper in an ideal setting.

After spending years renting on Lake Wedowee in Alabama, Chris and Jenny are ready to purchase a vacation home for their family.

After spending years living all over the world, Teresa and Jeremy find the perfect vacation home for their family in Texas.