A home in River Lake Estates at Copeland’s Landing offers the wonders of a littoral shore, sure to appeal to homebuyers who love the water.

Going north, take a right off U.S. 1 at 74th Street to get to this gated community, which was started in the early 1990s. Its age makes it an increasingly rare community – one surrounded by environmentally-protected mangroves and conservation land.

“A lot of the land around Copeland’s Landing won’t ever be developed, [because] you can’t dredge and fill as you could in the past,” said Berkshire Hathaway Home Services listing agent Chip Landers.

“You would never know [the neighborhood] is back here,” Landers said. “Houses rarely come on the market. There are only about 60 homes here.”

The community’s common property includes a day dock in the lagoon that is currently being rebuilt. There is a section set aside for homeowners’ boat and RV storage, keeping driveways clear and neighborhood aesthetics high. The Wabasso boat launch is “five minutes away,” said Landers, which will further appeal to boaters.

The homeowners’ association fee is $685 a year for communal upkeep, with homeowners responsible for their lawns.

Dog walkers and joggers will love the winding trails through the mangroves, the day dock holding down one end of the loop trail, the other end leading to Hobart Landing. Fishermen will delight in the L-shaped lake, connected to the lagoon through big pipes, keeping the water fresh and moving.

“Bugs don’t grow because there’s good flow,” Landers said, “and the same fish in the lagoon are in the lake – snook, redfish, trout and even tarpon.”

The house for sale at 3285 74th St. is on a wedge-shaped, one-third-acre corner lot, which gives it an impressive setting. An emerald greensward of grass in the front serves double duty as a swale, keeping water away from the house.

“The development is in a flood zone,” said Landers, “which is why the houses are built so high. This house is well protected.”

Situated on the toe of the boot-shaped lake, the house is tucked behind a series of berms and mangroves.

The home shares a 400-foot deep “flow well” with its neighbors for lawn irrigation. “Unlike shallow wells, there’s no iron that makes concrete look rusty,” Landers said, “and that’s a great volume of water.”

The updated Spanish-style stucco-block house was built by local custom-home builder Andre Dorawa, of Ando Building Corporation. The golden tile roof, 10-foot ceilings, crown molding, wainscoting, tray ceilings, arched doorways, ceiling medallions, arched transom windows and other fine features attest to the quality of design and construction.

The home’s swimming pool is larger than most – 15 feet wide and 31 feet long – and its “cool deck” surround is enclosed in a screened lanai that overlooks the lake. In winter, the deck will get as much use. A wall enclosing one side of the lanai has windows to let in light, an electric fireplace and a television, perfect for relaxing while overseeing the barbeque.

“The pool faces the south, so it gets lots of sun and southern breezes,” Landers said.

Built in 2003, after the building code changed to make homes more hurricane proof, the three-car garage has hurricane-rated doors and space where storm shutters for the rest of the house are stored. The windows and sliding doors are treated with sun-blocking film, making the home more energy efficient. Many windows have plantation shutters.

The owners recently updated the four-bedroom, three-bath home, installing a security system. Outside a paver driveway and walk were put in, complementing the concrete sidewalks and crisp edging around the house. There is new carpeting in the bedrooms, with tile throughout the rest of the house.

The woodwork and cabinetry in the kitchen are original and could not be improved upon. A four-bay bank of solid wood cabinetry with crown molding is a standout. The Granite Island, breakfast bar and counters with an ogee edge carry the classic theme introduced by the cabinets. The stainless steel appliances contrast nicely with the traditional details.

The bath off the pool also serves one of the guest bedrooms, ensuring no chlorine water is trekked into the house or on carpets.

The master bedroom “has a slider onto the pool,” Landers said, as well as a tray ceiling that distinguishes it from the guest bedrooms.

The bath has a big garden tub, above which is a window topped by an arched transom. The walk-in shower, double sinks, beveled-glass mirror, tumbled marble trim and cultured marble counters repeat the classical details found throughout the house.

Vital Statistics

Address: 3285 74th Street, Vero Beach
Neighborhood: River Lake Estates at Copeland’s Landing
Year built: 2003
Home size: 2,200 square feet
Lot size: .33 acres
Construction: Concrete block and stucco
Bedrooms: 4 – Bathrooms: 3
Additional features: Attached three-car garage, security system, 15’ x 31’ pool, screened lanai, flow well for irrigation, day dock, boat and RV storage, brick-paver driveway and walkway, county water and sewer, FPL electric, granite kitchen counters with island, stainless appliances
Listing agency: Berkshire Hathaway Home Services
Listing agent: Chip Landers, 772-473-7888
Listing price: $499,900