Welcome to the first edition of This Week at the Lake of Egypt — a new series from the team that knows this lake better than anybody. At Southern Illinois Realty Experts, the Lake of Egypt isn't a side market. It's home turf. Our Marion office sits ten minutes from the water, our brokers live and boat here, and week in and week out we track every home, cabin, and lot that touches this lake. If it has a dock, a lake view, or deeded water access — we know about it.
Quick refresher for the newcomers: the Lake of Egypt is a roughly 2,300-acre private power-plant lake with about 90 miles of shoreline, stretching across the Marion, Creal Springs, Goreville, and Tunnel Hill sides of Williamson and Johnson counties. Because the power plant keeps the water moving, it stays open and fishable practically year-round — bass, crappie, bluegill — and it's a full-recreation lake: boating, skiing, swimming, dock life. It is, in our humble and completely biased opinion, the best-kept secret in Southern Illinois.
So what's actually for sale out here this week? We pulled every active listing that references the Lake of Egypt across all four sides of the lake. Here's the snapshot.
That's a real market. Roughly a third of those homes (10 of them) are listed at $500K and up — the premium waterfront tier. The biggest group, 14 homes, sits between $200K and $500K. And here's the part most people don't believe: 8 homes connected to the Lake of Egypt are listed under $200K right now. Yes, you can get a piece of the lake life without a lake-sized budget. More on that below.
The Top, the Middle, and the Way In
Every week we'll spotlight the range — the highest, the heart of the market, and the least expensive way onto the lake.
👑 Top of the Market — $1,299,999
The crown jewel this week is a 6-bedroom, 6-bath estate with roughly 6,400 square feet on the Creal Springs side. This is full-scale lake living — room for the whole family, the in-laws, and everybody they invite once they find out you own a house on the Lake of Egypt. Seven figures buys serious lake real estate here — the same money that gets you a modest cabin on the big-name lakes a few states over.
🏡 Heart of the Market — $449,000
Almost exactly at the lake's median sits a 4-bedroom, 2.5-bath waterfront home in Lake Estates on the Marion side — big windows full of lake views, upper and lower living areas, a large deck, and a covered boat dock with a swim platform. This is the picture most buyers have in their head when they say "lake house," and right at the median is exactly what it costs on this lake.
🔓 The Way In — $49,000
The least expensive home in this week's pull is a 3-bedroom, 2-bath, ~1,400 square foot project house near the water on the Creal Springs side. It needs work — let's call it a sweat-equity special — but it's a real address in lake country for less than most down payments. Prefer move-in ready? A $145,000 off-water home on the Marion side comes with access to a deep-water boat dock — arguably the cheapest ticket to actually having your boat on this lake.
Worth a Look This Week
A few more that caught our eye: a $399,900 A-frame cabin on the Goreville side with lake views and a 2-slip covered dock — the postcard version of lake life. A $585,000 five-bedroom on Luxor Landing that skips the waterfront price tag but includes private water access, a boat dock slip, a clubhouse, and a swimming pool. And if building your own is the dream, lake-area lots start at just $15,000 and run all the way up to large waterfront acreage — 26 lots and land listings to choose from right now.
What Greg Holthaus Sees at the Lake
Here's my honest read: the Lake of Egypt is still underpriced for what it is. Ninety miles of shoreline, warm water almost year-round, and a real range of inventory — from a $49K project house to a $1.3M estate — means there's an entry point for nearly every buyer. The $500K+ waterfront tier is the deepest I've seen it in a while, which gives premium buyers actual choices instead of a waiting list. Meanwhile the under-$200K lake-access homes never last long — those are the ones I'd move on quickly.
If you've been watching from the shore, this is a good week to get serious. And if you own on the lake and you've wondered what your place is worth in this market — with ten homes over half a million actively listed, it's a very good time to find out.
Browse Live Lake-Area Listings
These are live listings from the local MLS across the lake towns — Marion, Creal Springs, and Goreville sides — updated automatically. Click any home to see photos, details, and more. Sorted newest first.
💰 How Much Lake House Can YOU Afford?
Find out in minutes — free, no-pressure pre-qualification with Jarod Sanders, SIRE's in-house lender. Zero-down VA & USDA options available across Southern Illinois.Jarod Sanders · CrossCountry Mortgage · NMLS #2337228
Lake of Egypt FAQ
How many homes are for sale on the Lake of Egypt right now?
What does a Lake of Egypt home cost?
Can I get on the lake for under $200K?
Who should I talk to about buying or selling at the Lake of Egypt?
🌊 Talk to a Lake of Egypt Specialist
Buying, selling, or just lake-curious? Tell us what you're looking for — waterfront, off-water with dock access, or a lot to build on — and a SIRE broker who knows the lake will reach out.
📱 Got a Question About This Market? Text Greg.
Buying? Selling? Not sure where to start? Text Greg Holthaus directly — just tell him you saw his blog. He'll help you think through your decision, match you with the best broker for your situation, and point you in the right direction. He's open to a text any time.
Text Greg · 618.925.8654
Who is Greg Holthaus?
Greg Holthaus is the Owner and Designated Managing Broker of Southern Illinois Realty Experts, with 25+ years in Southern Illinois real estate and more than 10,000 transactions closed. He leads a full-service operation — home sales, mortgage, title, and property management under one roof — with offices in Marion, Herrin, and Carbondale. Meet Greg ›
About the numbers: Listing counts and prices come from local MLS listing data as of August 30, 2026 for homes and land whose listings reference Lake of Egypt in and around Marion, Creal Springs, Goreville, and Tunnel Hill. Listings are represented by various brokerages, and any home mentioned here can go pending, sell, or change price at any time — if something catches your eye, reach out and we'll confirm current status. Nothing here is a loan offer, rate quote, or guarantee.