Finding the home of your dreams with an egregiously high price tag can be discouraging. Lake Homes Realty’s CEO, Glenn Phillips, gives six factors to keep in mind when facing an overpriced home.
Keep Options Open: Becoming fixated on a home can cause you to miss out on other opportunities. Keep an open mind for all potential properties.
Patience: Good things come to those who wait. Although it can be challenging, remember to take your time during this process.
Listen…and Ask: Be mindful with your questioning, and actively listen to your realtor when they share information. Doing so will help you adapt to your seller’s needs.
Bring Data: Collecting your own information in regards to the market will help you during the negotiation process. It can help determine a realistic price for a home, rather than relying on an inflated number a seller wishes to receive.
Flexibility: If you find your dream home, you don’t have to be so rigid when negotiating. Decide what you’re willing to compromise on to get to a deal both parties are comfortable with.
Be Ready to Walk: Becoming attached to a home can cause you to make rash decisions. When you’ve exhausted your capacity for compromise, be willing to walk away.
When entering the lake homes market, a hefty price tag can be disheartening, but you shouldn’t let it deter you from buying the home of your dreams. Stay prepared, and you will be able to negotiate your way to a manageable price!
Nothing in this world is stagnant, and that includes the lake real estate market. Lake Homes Realty’s CEO, Glenn Phillips, gives four tell-tale signs that the market is shifting.
Inventory Increases: There is an uptick of homes on the market, which has been a positive shift in available inventory.
Days-on-Market: The average time a home spends on the market is beginning to increase. The longer homes sit on the market, the more time buyers have to evaluate their options.
Price Cuts: The combination of increased inventory and growing day-on-market is leading sellers to cut down their prices; a trend we haven’t seen in the past few years.
Surge of ‘Better Hurry’s’: In an attempt to maximize profit, surges of sellers are putting their homes on the market while it’s still in their favor.
As the world around us changes, so will the real estate market. The best way to secure your investment is to recognize these signs and plan your buying/selling strategy around them.
A couple’s request for a sizable lake home poised along the shores of Deep Creek Lake in Oakland, Maryland, materialized into a dream come true for themselves and their extended family. Designed by Pennsylvania architect Chad Chalmers, a principal at Wildman Chalmers Design in Pittsburgh, this ground-up residential project features a spectacular double-height living area that opens up to a deck overlooking the lake. Considered a traditional home with modern interior detailing, the house boasts seven bedrooms and eight and a half bathrooms. Luxurious amenities include a hot tub, a full gym with a sauna, a golf simulator room, four massive fireplaces, and a spacious covered porch.
“Nestled lakeside in the woods, this house truly becomes one with nature because of its expansive windows, natural materials, and earthy tones,” says Chad. “Four large stone fireplaces provide additional warmth during the cool mountain nights—one in the great room that is mirrored by a fireplace at the opposite end of the house by the pool table, one in the basement seating area, and one on the porch,” he adds.
Deep Creek Lake is the largest inland body of water in Maryland, offering 69 miles of shoreline and covering approximately 3,900 acres. The lake is well known for its seasonal outdoor recreation, including boating, swimming, tubing, biking, rafting, snow skiing, and snowboarding. It’s also home to a wide variety of freshwater fish and aquatic birds. This four-season getaway has it all, from blissful summers in the sun on the lake to brilliant autumn foliage to lots of fluffy snow for downhill skiing.
Lavish Lake Views
Chad intentionally designed the home with a sloped roof to accommodate the region’s heavy snow during the winter season. The extra-long deck is perfect for soaking in the sun and taking in gorgeous views of the lake.
“The size of the lot was one of the biggest challenges we faced due to the architectural program the owner requested,” Chad explains. “We were working near a lake that has a buffer zone governed by the Department of Natural Resources that you cannot build on. We managed to site the home accordingly yet capture the best views and enable easy access to the lake for the homeowners,” he notes.
Optional Open-Air
A large expanse of sliding glass doors opens up to the balcony overlooking the lake, lending a seamless flow and a breezy alfresco feel to the living spaces when the weather permits. The soaring double-height living area provides magnificent views from top to bottom.
“The owners’ friends and family gather at the house often for holidays, weekends, and extended stays to ski at the local resort,” says Chad. “The family gravitates here for water sports on the lake, to work remotely, and simply enjoy each other’s company.”
Free-Flowing Floorplan
The remarkable absence of walls creates an effortless flow and offers beautiful sightlines from any vantage point. Perfect for entertaining, guests can mingle and move about with ease while constantly feeling part of the group. Swivel seating near all the windows allows intimate fireside gatherings and sunrise gazing across the lake with a cup of coffee by a simple twist of the chair.
“The soft seating in all areas of the home balances the solidity of the wooden beams and stone fireplaces, producing a relaxing effect,” says the architect. “The simple lines and patterns throughout the house keep distraction from the architecture and views to a minimum,” he notes.
Design Drama
The living area flows gracefully into the dining area, allowing unobstructed views of the grand floor-to-ceiling stacked-stone fireplace and the landscape outside. A striking circular chandelier with a double ring of candelabras creates a soft glow and accentuates the dramatic beamed ceiling. The airy open staircase brings yet another visually appealing architectural element to the space.
“The home was elegantly designed in a transitional architectural style—not modern, not contemporary,” says Chad. “Natural, authentic materials and a palette of browns, grays, and soft whites create visual continuity between the interior of the house and the cloud-dotted sky and oak-studded hillside,” he sums.
Gather & Game
Adjacent to the game room area, a wonderfully roomy kitchen with a central island and generous counter space offers multiple options for convenient food prep, group cooking, and family gatherings. This hotspot is the home’s entertaining hub and connects visually to the scenic surroundings of Deep Creek Lake. Beamed ceilings align with the home’s rustic yet refined aesthetic, and a lowered ceiling height lends a cozy feel to the space.
Soothing & Serene
Framing an idyllic view of the lake, one of the primary bedrooms offers a relaxing retreat for anyone lucky enough to sleep here. Fling open the French doors at night to enjoy a glimpse of the moon and stars, and you’ll quickly be lulled to sleep by the gentle sounds of water lapping against the shore. Simple and understated furniture and décor let the lake landscape take center stage.
Party on the Porch
Perfect for game day celebrations or evening cocktails at sunset, this blissful covered porch features a vaulted ceiling with a rich red patina and an inviting outdoor fireplace. Oversize seating with plump cushioning welcomes guests to kick back, relax, and enjoy the moment. A ceiling fan keeps it cool in the summer, and stylish hanging lanterns create a cozy ambiance at night.
“The key objective for this project was making sure all the spaces in the home have a great view of either the lake or the woods,” says Chad. “It was an absolute pleasure working with these homeowners to bring their vision to life.”
For those who love the lake lifestyle, an outdoor deck means much more than a wooden platform extending out into your backyard. These coveted al fresco spaces offer a glorious place to take in the view. Decks also offer an effortless setting for outdoor entertaining and a favorite go-to spot to sip drinks and chill out any time of day. All you need is a little imagination, a good plan, and a great design that befits your location and your home’s orientation to the lake. To find one that suits your unique situation, your style, and your budget, here are some inspiring ideas to get you dreaming.
When designing your outdoor space, think of it as a visual extension of the overall architecture of your home. This will ensure you create a seamless and well-balanced transition from indoors to out, giving a sense of harmony to the complete design of your home.
Overlooking Lake Superior, the deck of this contemporary waterfront home designed by Snow Kreilich Architects emulates the dwelling’s beautifully restrained modern architecture. Designed mainly with stone, blackened wood, and glass, the house extends its sleek aesthetic to the outdoor space with clean lines, minimalist furnishings, and natural materials complementing the rugged landscape. A glass railing echoes the home’s stunning transparency and provides sublime unobstructed views.
Delightfully rustic, this outdoor haven offers a lakefront experience so seamless you feel as though you’re floating on top of the water. Dotted with flickering lanterns and an outdoor fireplace on an elevated tier around the deck perimeter, the space beckons for an outdoor get-together under the stars.
Start by selecting your favorite wood from an array of choices to achieve the look you’re going for. Rustic decks can be built from ipe, cedar, redwood, or any type of pressure-treated lumber. This one even incorporates tree-stump tables that lend an organic vibe. Low-slung woven chairs, a comfy cushioned daybed-like sofa, and a plush furry rug create a cozy and inviting atmosphere.
Deciding what to build on a steep lakefront hillside might seem like a slippery slope to navigate. But what about incorporating beautiful wooden steps that ease down to a generous platform deck overlooking the lake? A brilliant idea indeed. This one in the Lake Austin area makes the most of its magnificently perched setting with elegant glass-enclosed stair and deck railings that enhance the view. Lanterns hung from the treetops overhead make a graceful and unexpected decorative accent.
Destination Deck
Photo courtesy of California Redwood Company via HGTV
Create a staycation vibe on your lake property with a beautiful deck set away from the house that captures a breathtaking vista. Crafted from California redwood, this lovely platform deck provides a walkway and a destination seating area for taking in splendid views of the water, wildlife, and passing boats. Think of it as a little escape to enjoy sunset cocktails with friends or just a quiet respite where you can enjoy the open air and get away from it all.
If your lakeside setting includes a slight slope and a fantastic view, consider punctuating it with an expansive seating area that steps down gradually to a luxurious sunken hot tub. This beautiful oasis overlooking Montana’s gorgeous Whitefish Lake offers a spacious deck that stretches the rear expanse of the house. A lower-level hot tub creates an appealing focal point and an idyllic spot to soak, relax, and take it all in.
This lavish covered deck brings the comforts of your family room outside into the fresh air. Outfitted with a stone fireplace and a soaring beamed ceiling accented with a wrought-iron chandelier, this all-seasons deck amplifies the square footage of your lake home and provides an irresistible gathering spot. Plush seating pieces invite comfy seating, rain or shine, and the warm crackle of a fireplace offers cozy warmth on chilly evenings. The wrap-around style and pierced wood railings create unobstructed views from any vantage point.
For a deck style that befits the front of your home instead of the back, keep it clean and simple with a built-in bench that wraps the perimeter. The clean lines and the bench’s low positioning visually frame the entrance to your home while emitting a warm, welcoming feel. Enhance with beautiful potted plants in matching containers to create satisfying symmetry and bring about a lush botanical element that will soften the hard edges.
If you’re short on space, no worries. You can have your cake and eat it too by creating a small but incredibly charming space outside that’s packed with personality. Choose your favorite style—from urban chic to country cottage—and create your own slice of heaven with just a few necessities. A couple of chairs, a tabletop surface, and some pretty floral accents will do the trick with minimal effort and cost. Here, well-worn stacked crates and wooden chairs lend a vintage feel while pots of flowers introduce vibrant color that lends an alluring WOW factor to this tiny deck.
Now is the perfect time to get started on your dream deck at the lake. For more ideas and helpful tips, visit House Beautiful.
The lake real estate market can be difficult to navigate when you don’t plan ahead. Lake Homes Realty’s CEO, Glenn Phillips, shares 7 tips to aid in the search for your dream lake home.
Be Realistic: A home may not fit every criterion, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a solid choice. Don’t let your new lake home pass you by because of unrealistic expectations.
List Your “Got to Haves”: Shifting your mindset to realistic expectations is essential, but it’s important to make a list of must-haves you refuse to compromise on. Think about what you truly cannot live without.
List Your “Nice to Haves”: Creating a list of wants versus needs allows you to discover what you can compromise on. These bonus items can help you choose between similar homes.
List of “Don’t Care”: Sorting out home characteristics you are indifferent to will help broaden your scope of available homes that fit your other criteria.
List Your “Do Not Wants”: This list will help you determine which homes are automatic no so that you don’t waste time. This market is hot, and you don’t want to spend time on a home you would never buy.
Focus: Pay close attention to the detailed lists you’ve created when searching for your dream lake home. This will ensure you narrow your focus to homes that have potential.
Put Your Agent to Work: Now that you’ve developed these detailed lists, it’s time to put your lake real estate expert to work. You’ve built the perfect roadmap for them to follow while they search for your dream home.
Great things in life come from great planning. It can feel tedious breaking down all of your wants into detailed categories, but being thorough will ensure you find the home of your dreams!
When selling your home, you want the best of the best on your side. Lake Homes Realty’s CEO, Glenn Phillips, explains why listing with a Lake Homes Agent is the number one option.
More Buyers: Most agents are well-versed in their local market, but our agents have access to buyers around the country. Having a larger pool of buyers makes selling your home all the easier.
Pricing Intel: Your competition doesn’t end with the home next door. Buyers are vetting lake locations across the nation, and our lake homes agents have the pricing intel to ensure your home has the advantage.
Become a Featured Property: Listing with a Lake Homes Realty Agent is the only way for your property to be featured on the Lakehomes.com website. Your home will be given priority exposure to our target audience.
National Network: Our real estate agents are an interconnected group that is committed to helping you buy/sell a home. If one agent cannot find a property for a buyer, they will refer them to another lake homes agent; one of which could be yours.
These are only a few advantages available to you when listing with a Lake Homes Realty Agent. When deciding to sell your lake home, it only makes sense to go with a lake expert!
As any gardener knows, keeping weeds away from your prized plants can be a hassle. Even in the most successful gardens, weeds will creep into the soil and sunlight that your plot provides. Luckily, there’s a myriad of options for weed killers. However, many of the store-bought options contain herbicide chemicals that you may choose to keep out of your garden. If you’re looking for an all-natural DIY option, we’ve got you covered!
For a safe and effective weed-killing recipe, a combination of white vinegar, salt, and liquid dish soap will usually do the trick. The acetic acid in the vinegar and salt help to draw out moisture from the weeds, wilting them. To complete the concoction, dish soap serves as a surfactant which helps the plant to absorb this toxic mixture, instead of sitting topically on the leaves in beaded form. To create this mixture, just combine a gallon of white vinegar, a cup of salt, and a tablespoon of liquid dish soap. If you want to add some extra potency, try squeezing some lemon juice too.
Don’t have vinegar or liquid soap handy at the lake house? As an alternate DIY weed-killing solution, you only need one ingredient — boiling water. Its high temperature can help by killing the invasive plants down to the roots, permanently killing the weeds. However, you just want to make sure you don’t burn yourself in the process! Be sure to stand far away from where you’re pouring, and exercise caution.
Let’s start with the pros. With just a few simple ingredients, this herbicide is super simple to create. It doesn’t require a trip to the store, and it doesn’t expose your backyard to harsh chemicals. A win-win! However, one downside of a DIY solution is that it doesn’t get to the root of the problem (no pun intended). Chemical herbicides directly target the plant’s root system, while the DIY solution may require multiple spray sessions to finally kill the weeds. Despite its limitations, this quick, low-cost homemade solution is perfectly effective in managing a lake house garden.
To make the mixture most effective, it’s best to apply it to a group of weeds on a bright, clear sunny day. In the sunlight, the effects of your handiwork would be evident within a few hours. When you see wilting leaves and browning stems, you know the herbicide is working. Usually, they’ll turn fully brown before finally withering away.
In addition to killing weeds once they’ve already sprouted, developing solutions for deterring weed growth in the first place is an excellent prevention strategy. Mulch is one easy solution that obstructs sunlight and prevents weed growth. It also retains moisture in the soil, carving out less watering time for you. Additionally, practicing good lawn care such as mowing at a taller height, regular watering, and checking on the health of your plants can be helpful.
When it comes to properly kill weeds, you might have all you need right in the kitchen of your lake home. For more gardening tips, continue to check out our blog!
When it comes to outdoor kitchens at the lake, wooden furniture is a classic. Besides being a timeless and eco-friendly building material with many diverse uses, wooden outdoor furniture is also a look that will never go out of style. It also matches the lake aesthetic, honoring biophilic design. Functionally, it’s simple to clean with a gentle soap and water wash at the season’s start.
However, if you’re designing your backyard living space from scratch, how do you know what woods to choose? First, it’s important to understand the two basic categories of wooden furniture: hardwood and softwood. Generally, the consensus is that hardwoods are top tier due to their extreme durability. But don’t discount softwoods either — materials like cedar and cypress are still excellent furniture choices due to their natural moisture. Within both subgroups, we have plenty of recommendations. Check out these seven highly regarded materials for wooden furniture!
The dark golden-brown color of acacia is an attractive addition to any lakeside retreat. This thick hardwood material is also very affordable because it grows in abundance. In fact, it grows so well that sometimes, the species is considered invasive. For outdoor furniture specifically, acacia’s high oil content makes it resistant to natural causes of decay such as extreme weather, rotting over time, and insect infestation. If correctly sealed, furniture made from acacia can hold up for years to come.
Cedar is most recognized for its lovely pinkish-red color — a distinctive hue that evokes a sense of warmth in your home (to prevent fading over time, you can stain cedar wood to protect this color). This lightweight softwood material is also known for its rot resistance, as well as its repellence to termites and insects such as pondered beetles. Its highly resistant properties have led to this wood’s popularity in fences and roofing, as well as outdoor furniture.
On the downside, cedar is more brittle than other types of wood, leading to poorer screw-holding capabilities. However, cedar’s moisture retention and resulting sturdiness make up for its lack of perfect durability.
Cypress is a relatively inexpensive, popular wood for outdoor furniture. Although its softwood status means limited hardiness, its natural moisture-wicking properties make up for this deficit. Since cypress releases a natural water repellant, it is an excellent choice for wet climates, especially a lake house environment. Plus, the silvery gray color that cypress achieves over time is a classic look.
You may associate redwood with the California forest, but this durable wood also has uses closer to home. Like cypress, redwood is a softwood that is often used in outdoor furniture due to its natural insect and moisture resistance. As a softwood, it is susceptible to dents and chips. However, its adaptability to a variety of climates, as well as its unique deep red coloring, compensates for this shortcoming. Because redwood takes a long time to grow, this wood comes with a higher price tag — however, it’s certainly worth the investment.
For many reasons, teak is considered the gold standard for outdoor furniture. This valuable wood from Southeast Asia is waterproof, durable, sunlight resistant, and aesthetically pleasing. It also doesn’t expand with changes in humidity, and it’s able to withstand all types of weather conditions. Given these advantages, it’s no wonder that teak wood is some of the most expensive. You’re paying for the best of the best.
For those living in wet climates, white oak is a great option because it tends to resist water damage. Because of this quality, oak is highly attractive to those who live in lake environments. It’s also versatile, resistant, and consistently available as oak is the most abundant type of hardwood in the U.S. As a downside to be aware of, white oak requires maintenance over time, including keeping your furniture in the shade to avoid fading color from direct sunlight.
This hardwood material imported from South America is known as the densest wood in the world. In fact, the density of ipe wood is so great that it barely floats — an attribute that showcases its water resistance. Additionally, the density allows it to resist cracking and decomposition. Overall, ipe is similar to teak in terms of wood type in durability. However, its price tag is lower than teak, making ipe a hardy, yet more budget-friendly, alternative high-end lumber.
No matter which material you choose, you can’t go wrong with wooden furniture at the lake. We wish you the best in designing your outdoor space! Keep an eye on Lake Homes Lifestyles for more indoor and outdoor design tips.
So, you’ve decided that a lake home is for you — congratulations! The decision to invest in lake property is one that you’ll never regret. Afternoons on boat rides, evenings watching the sunset, swimming in the summer — these elements of the lake lifestyle are undoubtedly worth it.
But when it comes to choosing your lake home, there are several factors to consider. In or out of state? An urban or rural lake? But beyond these basics, it’s important to think about how you envision your life on the lake. Is it essential for you to have a lakeside view outside your back door? Or are you content with close access to the lake, as long as you have convenient amenities around you?
The decision comes down to this: lakefront versus lake access. If you’re unsure which type of property is for you, check out our short quiz below:
A lakefront home essentially means that your property includes a lake shoreline. For most buyers, this option is appealing because there’s zero distance between you and the water. Especially if you’re a devoted angler or someone who enjoys watersports, it benefits you to come and go from the lake at your own leisure. Plus, being able to entertain guests on a boat dock while overlooking a scenic view is an excellent perk! Of course, a house on the lake also means additional responsibilities.
For instance, yard maintenance doubles with a lakefront home. For these lake homeowners, your curb appeal is important for both the front yard and the backyard. When thinking about your shoreline, you should also make note of whether your lake is owned by the U.S. Army Corps. If so, they have ownership over the space between your property and the lake itself, so you’ll want to learn what kind of personal use is allowed on Corps property. Another responsibility with lakefront property is the upkeep of your boat dock. However, if these additional duties don’t bother you, it may be in your best interest to pick a home with convenient proximity to the lake.
With a lake access home, you won’t have direct closeness to the lake via private property. Instead, your views of the lake vary greatly depending on how your property is designated. If it’s a “waterview” property, you’ll be able to see at least a portion of the lake from your home. In other cases, the view of the lake will be totally obscured. However, you would have access to the lake by route of a community dock or pathway. The downside to this option is obvious — your home is a further distance from the lake, and you lack a private shoreline.
However, for many lake homeowners, direct access isn’t so important. In fact, some find it nice to be free from responsibilities that come with a lakefront property such as shoreline and doc maintenance. Instead of tending to a dock’s upkeep, you can elect to rent a slip at a local marina for your boat. Another perk is that lake access properties are often less secluded, and you’re closer to a flourishing community of other lake lovers and closer to urban amenities like restaurants, shopping, and golf courses (depending on the lake area).
When deciding on lakefront vs lake access property, the main question to ask is: what does your desired lake lifestyle look like? For some, it’s a remote, private setting with constant access to the water, no matter the cost or the maintenance required. For others, it’s about having a nice vacation home near a community with the ability to access water when you want it. It doesn’t matter which you choose — there are so many different ways to experience life on the lake! Because these different types of properties can vary greatly based on the lake and the state, you’ll want to consult a lake-focused agent to find your dream home.
