Robert gets this question from almost every buyer eyeing a getaway near Lake Acworth or a rental to add to their portfolio: does it matter what you call it? It does. Lenders classify a property as a primary residence, a second home, or an investment property, and each label carries its own down payment, interest rate, and rental income rules. Here is what actually changes.

Buyers assume a home near Lake Acworth or Lake Allatoona must carry flood insurance, and sellers just outside the flood zone assume they never will. Neither assumption holds up once your lender pulls the actual FEMA flood zone determination. Here's how Cobb County's flood zones actually work, what coverage costs by zone, and how to check a specific address before you write an offer.