Lake Homes Realty recently added Kimberly Hewitt to their real estate team in Oklahoma. Along with Donna Barnes, Hewitt will be serving the Grand Lake area which, according to the recent Lake Market Real Estate Report, has a total of 276 lake property listings, ranging from a $3,500 lot to a $4.5 million lake home. The average home listing in the area is $609,383 and the average lot price is $262,170.
About Kimberly Hewitt
Having spent her entire life near Oklahoma’s lakes, Kimberly Hewitt has developed a deep connection with these natural wonders. Born and raised in Fairland, Oklahoma, a mere thirty-minute drive from Grand Lake, she now owns a beautiful lakefront property in the area. Throughout her adult life, Kimberly has always managed to reside near bodies of water, with Lake Keystone being her home for many years.
Kimberly has nurtured a lifelong aspiration of becoming a real estate agent. Her past experiences revolved around new construction and home remodeling, fostering her strong affinity for the industry. Over time, her initial enthusiasm has transformed into a genuine passion. This passion led her to achieve remarkable success as a real estate agent, earning an award during her first year for selling an impressive $4.3 million worth of properties.
“I love to help clients find their dream homes,” Kimberly says. “It’s great to see them step into a home and know it’s a place where they can make memories with family. Making them happy makes me happy!”
It was a grandmother’s dream to create a family lake getaway for her daughter, son-in-law, grandchildren, and everyone’s friends. Their previous retreat on Wisconsin’s Green Lake was proving to be too long of a weekend drive—four hours from the young family’s home in Chicago. So, the grandparents decided to search for a closer place to build their forever lake home. As luck would have it, they found a lot on Lake Nagawicka, the most desired lake in Delafield, Wisconsin, just two hours from Chicago. Fast forward to the completion of their idyllic waterfront home—a blissful place where the family gathers nearly every weekend, and the grandmother lives all summer long.
But long before this house became a reality, the grandmother—and her entire family—worked meticulously with interior designer Kelly Guinaugh, owner of the award-winning full-service studio Interior Enhancement Group, to build her dream lake home piece by piece.
“This lake home was created to be a warm, inviting place for three generations to gather year-round and make memories,” says Kelly. “So, the windows are large and placed to maximize the beauty of the lake and the beach where the grandchildren play in the summer.” Case in point: This beautiful three-season screened-in porch offers alfresco time in the evenings—without mosquitoes—and can be enjoyed from early spring until the late fall.
Four-Season Splendor
To honor the property’s scenic setting, it was important to build a home that blends into the landscape and does not detract from the nature surrounding it. The white brick-and-board exterior radiates a clean aesthetic and a stately presence that is impactful yet understated, given its sprawling dimensions of more than 8,000 square feet. In addition, the dwelling features soft traditional elements juxtaposed with modern details, such as dark window frames that create a bold and dynamic contrast.
“One thing that stands out is how open Kelly and her team were to all of us wanting to be involved in making selections and creating the feel of the space,” remembers the daughter. “Also, this was a meaningful project for our family—it was my dad’s dream home, but he passed away unexpectedly before construction began. So, we were emotionally invested in realizing his vision.”
Soaring Heights
The home’s uncluttered appeal begins in the sunlight-drenched foyer, where a sweeping staircase amplifies the grand scale of the two-story ceiling height. An elegant wrought-iron chandelier, chosen for its massive size and graceful lines, befits the proportions of the space. A round and nubby wool rug echoes the circular shape of the concrete pedestal table. Plus, a single keepsake vase and a whimsical dog figurine make decorative accents spare yet substantial enough to complement a large space.
“Interior millwork details were important,” says Kelly. “We worked alongside the architect to create a batten-board wall design that blends with the two-story ceilings and the lower ceilings in other areas. We used gorgeous five-inch-wide hickory floors with character marks that feel great under your feet in all seasons—even in the Midwest.”
Center Stage
On top of the grandmother’s wish list was a big, open kitchen where she could cook to her heart’s content and still be part of the action. Hence, the open and airy design provides plenty of countertop/prep space, seating for guests, and, of course, glorious views of the lake from every angle. “The kitchen backsplash tile is rustic in design but highly polished,” notes Kelly, “This seemed counterintuitive at first but ended up being the perfect complement to the stone countertops.”
An Easy Flow
Because the grandchildren are a big part of the family dynamic, the design team kept areas open and free of furnishings so they could play between the kitchen island and the great room. “We always adhere to the space plan, so we know what works in terms of traffic flow and furniture dimensions,” Kelly explains. “The architect had planned the home so all rooms would have the best views, and we wanted to ensure the interior selections played to this as well. So, we didn’t select any especially tall pieces because we wanted to keep the windows unencumbered, and we used minimal window treatments for the same reason.”
In addition, the lake home’s color scheme was carefully considered regarding what hues would blend best with the natural environment. A soft palette of coastal blues and greens mixes with caramels and browns for an earthy touch of warmth. “We kept to quiet patterns as well,” notes Kelly, and again, our focus was always on the amazing property this home was built upon. Plus, we also were very aware that a home is only inviting when you feel like you can really live in it.”
So, with that sentiment in mind, and without sacrificing her design selections, Kelly used stain-resistant, durable fabrics almost everywhere to take the worry out of family fun. “Now everyone says it is their favorite escape,” she adds, “a place where they feel welcome and pampered. Mission accomplished!”
Great Room Grandeur
In the great room, Kelly and her team introduced texture with a magnificent Wisconsin stone fireplace and richly patinaed wood floors anchored with a plush wool area rug. In addition, the ceiling beams and flooring have character markings to bring a well-worn aged feeling to the home, and a smooth level-five drywall finish creates a striking contrast to the wood’s warm walnut stain. She then layered in textural accents, such as the tall tree trunk flanking the window, a branch-like chandelier, and a mix of soft upholstery fabrics, supple leathers, and sumptuous throws and pillows. “Because of the room’s enormous size, we needed a large cocktail table,” Kelly adds. “Also, to make it even more useful, we tucked small ottomans underneath for the grandchildren to sit on while coloring and playing.”
Throughout the home, Kelly incorporated essential furnishings from the owners’ previous lake home and heirloom pieces that had special meaning. Here, a duck collection on the built-in shelves and an old grape press placed under the console table continue her theme of mixing the old with the new.
Warm Family Gatherings
The dining room’s relaxing effect is largely due to its walnut-stained recessed ceiling treatment that gives the space a warm and inviting feel. In addition, a colorful landscape painting emulates the home’s color palette and the waterside environment. Overhead, a pair of rattan chandeliers lend texture to this traditional dining space.
Quiet Time
Bathed in soothing shades of brown, this home office makes a cozy spot for reading or playing chess on rainy afternoons. A vintage-style rug grounds the space with bold patterns and colors while complementing neutral-hued upholstered seating and an ornately carved antique desk—an heirloom from a great grandfather. In addition, meaningful pieces of nautical-themed artwork from the owner’s collection mirror their scenic lakeside setting.
Naturally Neutral
In the primary bedroom, beautiful beiges, creams, and blues blend with the landscape, making an almost seamless indoor/outdoor transition. Plus, the soft palette makes a restful oasis from which the owner can enjoy the splendid lake views.
Spa Retreat
Even the primary bathroom connects with the outdoors via a wide expanse of windows that backdrop a luxurious soaking tub. In addition, dark-stained cabinetry provides a rich contrast to the white marble flooring and vanity surface, and a beaded crystal chandelier creates a refined spa-like ambiance.
Memories in the Making
With endless lake activities and nearby hiking trails, the idyllic property offers plenty to do outside in all seasons. Plus, Lake Nagawicka is as beautiful in summer as in winter, when snow gathers on the tree branches and the lake landscape is blanketed in white. Delivering spectacular shoreline appeal, this meaningful getaway has proven to offer more than enough space for the entire family and extended family members to gather for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and all holidays and weekends in between.
“In the end, Kelly and her team’s job could have been a lot easier with clients who just gave them free rein,” says the daughter. “Instead, they got me, my mom, and my husband—with all our emotional investment in the project, our varying design ideas and needs, and a lot of sentimental family treasures to incorporate into the space. Amazingly, they were able to weave all of that into a design that gives us a family home filled with meaning and memories. We couldn’t be happier with the result.”
A foreclosed home on the lake is a rare find. Lake Homes Realty’s CEO, Glenn Phillips shares why your search for one is coming up short.
LakeHomes.com, MLSs, & Other Websites: While homes like these are available on sites like LakeHomes.com, you may have trouble finding them because of how few there are.
Why So Few?
Not the 2008 Market: While inventory spiked during the recession, this was not the case for lake properties. This is because lake homeowners are more financially sound than the average buyer.
Interest Rates Affecting Sellers: Lake homeowners that have a mortgage don’t want to battle with increasing interest rates when buying a new home.
Lenders are Well Positioned: Due to past real estate crises, lenders have policies in place to ensure they work with stable buyers.
Majority Do Not Have a Mortgage: More lake home buyers paying in cash means fewer mortgages and fewer foreclosures.
If you still have your heart set on a foreclosed home, LakeHomes.com will have the few left available!
Purchasing a lake home is not something to take likely. Before you commit to a property, consider these factors from Lake Homes Realty’s CEO, Glenn Phillips.
Bridges?: The location of bridges will impact how convenient it will be to travel around the area. However, the closer you are to one, the closer you’ll be to traffic.
Water Levels?: The water level can vary by lake, season, and time of day. It’s important to know the behavior of your preferred lake, as the changing levels can affect lake activities.
Shoreline Restrictions?: Research the restrictions surrounding the shoreline, as they tend to fluctuate throughout the area.
Land Restriction?: Most lakes are owned by an organization, which means you’ll run into leased-land properties. You’ll have to follow their guidelines when buying these types of homes.
Water Restrictions?: Living by the lake doesn’t guarantee you have free range on the water within it. Check out the rules around water activities, water addition/removal, etc.
When buying a lake home, the property itself isn’t the only thing to consider. Be sure you can live the lake lifestyle you want before you buy!
April 11, 2023 – Hoover, Ala. – With lake home and lot inventory rising over last spring and preparing to heat up this summer, Lake Homes Realty prepares for long-term growth. The country’s largest lake-focused real estate brokerage doubled its square footage by moving into a new headquarters in late March, along with RealSource Title Insurance and Real Estate Closings. Based in Metro Birmingham, Lake Homes Realty currently operates brokerages in 34 states and remains in a rapid growth mode. The hiring of two seasoned real estate executives is a key part of the company’s growth plan.
Joe Gaeta has joined Lake Homes Realty as the Director of Strategic Growth and Kiki Wanshura has been hired as Director of Market Acceleration. Gaeta has more than 24 years of real estate industry experience, including the past seven years with Zillow Group as Director of Broker Relations. Wanshura has been in the industry since 1997 and came to Lake Homes Realty from Pacaso where she was on the Industry Relations team for the past two years. Her experience with second home ownership pairs nicely with current and potential agents interested in joining Lake Homes Realty. Gaeta and Wanshura will be working closely with Heather Glass, another former Zillow Group executive. Glass was recently named to the newly created position National Director of Development at Lake Homes Realty.
Real Estate Industry Experts Join Lake Homes Realty
Heather Glass, Joe Gaeta, and Kiki Wanshura of Lake Homes Realty
“With Joe and Kiki joining Heather along with the move to our new corporate headquarters, exciting times are ahead for Lake Homes Realty,” said Glenn S. Phillips, CEO and Lead Economic Analyst of Lake Homes Realty. “The appeal of a primary or secondary lake home on our thousands of lakes remains high and inventory is on the upswing as summer approaches,” said Phillips. “Our lake home buyers and sellers are, for the most part, unaffected by mortgage rates and economic uncertainly,” he said.
“We remain highly focused on the lake real estate market and believe Joe, Kiki, and Heather have the experience to identify key agents in lake real estate and similar niches as we continue to expand,” said Doris Phillips, COO at Lake Homes Realty and President of RealSource. “The three of them have powerful real estate backgrounds and the personalities to make a significant impact in expanding our market footprint.”
Gaeta, Director of Strategic Growth, joined Lake Homes Realty in April and has a passion for the industry. “It was so important for me to lock arms with like-minded people,” said Gaeta. “Over the last seven years, I have had the pleasure of visiting with Glenn and Doris Phillips from time to time – and working with them has always been a joy,” he said. “I love the specialization of their mission and how they are truly changing the lives of their agents. Many brokerages promise huge success, Lake Homes Realty actually delivers on it,” he said. Having worked with both the broker and agent community, Gaeta believes his experience will help move the needle for Lake Homes Realty and the future projects ahead. “Agents sometimes get stuck and my goal is to help them get unstuck,” he added.
Coming from Pacaso, Wanshura understands the second home industry and believes Lake Homes Realty is positioned well for the future. “ Having worked at a variety of real estate companies, I continue to be incredibly impressed with the tools, technology, and valuable analytics that Lake Homes Realty offers that are unique to the industry,” said Wanshura, who joined the company in March. “ I want to continue my career with a company like Lakes Homes Realty – a progressive company that is making a positive impact in the real estate industry,” she said. Shortly after obtaining her real estate license, Wanshura started teaching classes at her local association of REALTORS. “I quickly realized that I love helping agents grow their own business,” she said. “I think my passion for the industry along with my passion to help agents be more successful will be a great asset to Lake Homes Realty.”
After working with Zillow Group and Moxiworks, Heather Glass joined Lake Homes Realty in 2020 and was recently named National Director of Development. “The leadership and the entire Lake Homes Realty family is set up to make our agents successful,” said Glass. “Joe, Kiki, and I will show lake real estate agents how to differentiate themselves from the competition. Our agents double their revenue within their first years gaining value with the best in the business,” she said. “We often say that even experienced agents joining us get to learn from the A-Team of lake real estate agents.”
New Headquarters
“We toured a wide variety of office space available in Jefferson and Shelby Counties and felt 500 Corporate Parkway best met our needs,” said Phillips. “Over the past 12 months our space has transformed dramatically and is a great environment for our employees, clients, and guests,” he said. “ As Lake Homes Realty and RealSource continue to grow, we will have space to accommodate our workforce. We are also excited to be part of Hoover’s expanding technology corridor along Highway 280,” he added. As a hybrid of technology and traditional real estate brokerages, technology is at the forefront of Lake Homes Realty and it will be beneficial to be surrounded by other tech companies.
SDM Partners of Atlanta owns the 500 Building and surrounding buildings. The new headquarters were designed by Williams Blackstock Architects of Birmingham and the building is managed by Colliers International. Lake Homes Realty and RealSource moved into the 500 building in mid-March. A ribbon cutting with the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce is planned for April 18.
“I am very pleased Lake Homes Realty and RealSource will remain and grow in Hoover,” said Mayor Frank Brocato. “This project is another example of growth in Hoover’s STEM-based industries. I also am pleased that this public/private partnership will assist Hoover entrepreneurs to further grow and contribute to the city’s economy.”
Glenn S. and Doris Phillips – CEO and COO of Lake Homes Realty
If you want to maximize your return on your lake home, check out these tips from Lake Homes Realty’s CEO, Glenn Phillips.
Remove Attachment: Refrain from equating your attachment to the home with its value. You should treat this process like any other transaction.
Price Strategically (Appropriately): Overpricing your home will cause it to become stale on the market, which will inevitably force you into a series of price cuts. Soon, you’ll notice buyers only presenting you with lowball offers.
Use Time Correctly: If you sell your home too quickly, you may be leaving money on the table. Give out-of-town buyers a chance to present you with better offers.
Think NET vs Price: Commission fees will affect the net earnings on your home, but investing in a solid real estate agent will ensure you walk away with the most money possible.
Extra Exposure: The right exposure will make all the difference in selling your home. Websites like LakeHomes.com have a database full of qualified buyers looking for a home like yours.
Before you put your house on the market, be sure to consider these factors to get the most from your investment!
Leased lots are more common around the lake than you think. Lake Homes Realty’s CEO, Glenn Phillips, shares why you should consider purchasing these properties.
Common on Many Lakes: Larger lakes were built by power companies, and in order to maintain control of the surrounding land, they prefer to lease lots instead of selling them.
Buy House, Transfer Lease: When buying a home on these lots, the lease will get transferred to the new owners of the property.
Reconsider Time of Homeownership: There’s no need to fear the time length of a lease. If you want to stay longer than your allotted time, you can always renew it. If you’d like to leave sooner than expected, the lease will be transferred to your buyers.
Can Still Finance a Home: Local lenders who are familiar with this structure will have no issue helping you finance.
Buying on a leased lot is a great option for buyers. Remember, you aren’t restricted to the timeframe of the lease because of renewal and transfer options!
Have you been wondering if buying a lake home is the best financial move for you? Lake Homes Realty’s CEO, Glenn Phillips, gives 4 reasons why lake properties are a good investment.
Discretionary Asset: People in this market don’t feel pressure to make rash decisions around a home, making lake real estate more stable than others.
Little Impact from Mortgage Rates: The majority of transactions are cash and those who choose to finance through other means almost never have issues. Because of these reasons, mortgage rates don’t play a major role in their decision-making process.
Foreclosures are Rare: When you’re in competition with cheaper, foreclosed homes, it’s harder to sell your home for what it’s actually worth. In the lake market, this issue rarely happens to this demographic.
Somewhat Economy Independent: Even in economic uncertainty, lake homes tend to hold their value, making them a great placeholder for your money.
Nothing is completely risk-free, but purchasing a lake home is one of the safer ways to invest your money!
When listing your lake home with an agent, working with an agent that specializes in your lake will make all the difference. Lake Homes Realty’s CEO, Glenn Phillips, shares 5 reasons a lake home seller needs a lake expert.
Pricing is Different: The price of a lake home isn’t just determined by traditional factors. You have to consider its position on the lake to know its actual value.
Timing is Different: Many lake home buyers come from across the nation, and selling a lake home too quickly will limit the owner’s potential profit.
Urgency is Different: The lake real estate market moves at a much slower pace because it involves discretionary purchases. Most buyers can afford to wait when searching for their dream lake home.
Exposure is Different: Your home has to be seen to be sold. Working with an agent that has the ability to list your home with LakeHomes.com means all the right buyers will see your property.
Buyers are Different: A lake home buyer has different buying habits than your typical residential buyer. A lake-focused agent will have expertise working with this demographic.
The needs of a lake home seller and a primary residential real estate are inherently different. To ensure the best outcome, work with a lake real estate expert!
