There are three particularly important aspects you must give extra consideration when you’re thinking of buying or selling a lake home.
In this video, Lake Homes Realty’s CEO, Glenn S. Phillips goes over why the points are more important when it comes to lake real estate.
Water. How deep is the water? How far is it from the main body of water? How is the boat traffic? Does the water level vary by season? Every lake has its own water characteristic, in fact, different areas of the same lake may vary so these factors can affect the price of a home when buying or selling.
Sun. Which way the home faces relative to the sun is important to the value of a lake home. Some might prefer sunrise or sunset views. If a lake home is situated due north, or in a cove with hills and trees, it views of sunrises or sunsets may even be fully obstructed.
Earth. The terrain on which the home is situated is important to consider. Is it waterfront or water access? Did you know some property is waterfront without water access? What kind of septic system will this property support (as many locations are rural)?
Because lake real estate is unique with many factors to consider when buying or selling, it’s important that you have a lake expert by your side.
Here at Lake Homes Realty, we’ve got our own licensed agents who are highly specialized in all facets of the lake and the lake lifestyle. If you need help with lake real estate questions or are looking for an expert to help you buy or sell your lake home, be sure to contact us!
There’s something magical about the night sky. Valerie Stimeck, the author of the book Dark Skies, refers to the stars as “one of the few unifying features of human history.”
Unfortunately, modern skies, shrouded in city lights, don’t allow for proper stargazing. It’s reported that 90% of the United States population lives with significant light pollution. Given the pervasiveness of artificial lights, you’re probably missing out on more stars than you realize.
If your lake house is in a rural area, you might be part of the lucky 10%. On the next clear night, venture to your boat dock and see if you can spot these five sky phenomena from your lake house.
Constellations are perhaps the most famous sky phenomenon — and they have been for a long time. Of the 88 constellations recognized by astronomers today, 48 of them date back to the Ancient Greek and Babylonian times. Each night since the dawn of time, these patterns of stars have returned to their places, and their predictability is part of why stargazers love them.
The prominence of constellations differs based on seasonality. During the summer, the Big Dipper is easiest to spot in the Northern Hemisphere. As fall approaches, be on the lookout for Pegasus and Andromeda. Need help finding constellations in the night sky? An app can help with that. With Sky Guide, point your phone to the sky above, and it will outline constellations for you.
Constellations are perhaps the most famous sky phenomenon — and they have been for a long time. Of the 88 constellations recognized by astronomers today, 48 of them date back to the Ancient Greek and Babylonian times. Each night since the dawn of time, these patterns of stars have returned to their places, and their predictability is part of why stargazers love them.
However, their prominence differs based on seasonality. During the summer, the Big Dipper is easiest to spot in the Northern Hemisphere. As fall approaches, be on the lookout for Pegasus and Andromeda. Need help finding constellations in the night sky? An app can help with that. With Sky Guide, simply point your phone to the sky above, and it will outline constellations for you.
At one point in time, the Milky Way was always visible on every moonless night. However, due to light pollution, its appearance isn’t as consistent. It’s brightest in the southern hemisphere of the modern sky, but you can still view this sky phenomenon from your lake house. You’ll see dust lanes, nebulas, and star clusters within the constellation Sagittarius, making up the brightest part of the galaxy. Between June and August, our galaxy appears most brilliant, while December through February is when it’s invisible and too close to the sun. Right now, it’s a perfect time of year to look for the Milky Way on a clear night!
According to NASA, comets are “cosmic snowballs of frozen gasses.” As they travel close to the sun, they spew gas and dust, forming a tail that stretches millions of miles. On rare occasions, you may be lucky enough to spot a comet at your lake house. Typically, they appear just around sunrise or sunset.
Although comets are rare to witness, some reliably appear in the night sky. You may have recently heard of Comet Neowise, which came closest to the Earth in late July 2020. Famously, Halley’s Comet reappears every 75 years, so it’s possible to see it twice in one average lifetime. Mark Twain was born in a year when Halley’s Comet was visible, and he died the year it was visible again. Other well-known comets include Comet Hale-Bopp and Comet Encke. Regardless of which comet you’ve set out to see, owning a lake home in a less light-polluted area increases your chances of witnessing this sky phenomenon.
This one is for lake homeowners in the northern U.S. You likely won’t see the Northern Lights directly from your patio, but many of our markets with listings are close to parks where this sky phenomenon is visible. For instance, stargazers have witnessed the aurora borealis in the Panhandle National Forest in Idaho, Acadia National Park in Maine, and Headlands International Dark Sky Park in Michigan. If you’re lucky enough to witness this beautiful sky phenomenon, in which earth’s gases collide with sun particles, your photos won’t do justice to its magnificence.
If you can’t see every sky phenomenon at your lake house, no need to worry. There are plenty of ways to tackle light pollution at your own home to increase visibility. So grab a pair of binoculars and start stargazing!
If you’re looking to retire on the lake, there’s likely a thousand questions running through your mind. Is this lake close enough to a hospital? Is the community close-knit? On many lakes, you may have to compromise one value for another. However, Tellico Village, a 5,000-acre resort for seniors on Tellico Lake, might have it all.
With several high-quality amenities, including its status as a top waterfront and golfing community in the southeast, it’s a fantastic place to live. The thriving community with three recreation centers, peaceful landscape, and proximity to Knoxville make it especially ideal for retirees. To learn more about what makes Tellico Village special, we talked with Lake Homes Realty agent Karen Packett and retirees currently living in the neighborhood. According to these lake residents, here’s what makes Tellico Village a retirement paradise.
Situated at the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, Tellico Village is surrounded by stunning views. The adjacent forests are largely uninterrupted, leaving tranquil hiking paths for residents. Dave Morse, Tellico Village resident, and retiree, says a peaceful location was his top priority in picking a lake. “It’s an absolutely beautiful area, and sitting here and looking at the lake is wonderful. I have my boat that I’ll be parking right here and go for a ride anytime I want.” Besides natural beauty, the laid-back golfing lifestyle draws lots of residents to the community. With three premium golf courses and fun golf leagues for residents to join, this sport is a crucial part of the relaxed lifestyle at Tellico Village.
Mark Richer, another Tellico Village resident, and retiree, says that a primary selling point for him is Tennessee’s lack of state income tax. Further, property taxes are 50% lower than his previous home state. These factors provide him with financial security so he can focus energy on golfing and boating. Karen Packett adds that within Tennessee, “Loudon and Monroe counties have some of the lowest property taxes in the eastern area.” These stunningly low costs make Tellico Village highly affordable.
East Tennessee has a mild, four seasons climate. Specifically, around the upcoming fall season, Tellico Village residents can enjoy the foliage while enjoying the crisp air. Winters are short, and temperatures rarely drop below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Mark Richer says that he moved to Tennessee from the Lake Michigan area for warmer weather and less snow. In retirement, he has more time to enjoy the mild climate and explore the lake. “Here, the lake is so big that you’d have to work hard to see the same thing twice,” he says, “I’m looking forward to driving my boat to Tennessee football games.” Mark and other Tellico Village residents have more months out of the year for quality lake time with the local warmer weather.
There are about a thousand ways to get involved at Tellico Village. Residents can choose from over 200 clubs, ranging from quilting to motorcycle riding, and get to know other retirees. If you’ve just moved in, the “New Villagers Club” facilitates social connections between new residents. Given the village’s active lifestyle, it’s no wonder that Ideal Living Magazine gave Tellico Village the award of 2016’s “Best Social Calendars.”
Not only do residents rave about the myriad of clubs, but also about the friendships they’ve made. “The residents are truly some of the friendliest, nicest, and caring people I know,” says Karen Packett. “There is a wonderful diversity of income and race in Tellico Village. No one pays much attention to what you did before retirement; they just want to know how you want to have fun!”
Tellico Village is truly the best of both worlds — remote enough for natural landscapes, but close enough to an urban area for city amenities. The village is less than a 45-minute drive from the Knoxville Airport, Downtown Metro Knoxville, and Turkey Creek, an upscale shopping area. The area is also home to the University of Tennessee. Football fans living at Tellico Village can easily travel to college sporting events. The proximity of the university provides superior healthcare as well. Residents who need ongoing medical care can find providers at UT Medical Center; a top-ranked hospital. Overall, Knoxville has a fun downtown scene with restaurants, antique shopping, and an art museum. What’s not to love?
At Lake Homes Realty, you’ll find agents with local expertise and national connections. Talk with one of our knowledgeable local agents like Karen Packett, to find your dream retirement location on the lake!
When the pandemic began, buyers and potential sellers quickly realized that lake houses are perfect for social distancing. As a result, there became more buyer demand and fewer homes on the market. Although this trend has made things complex for buyers, this doesn’t mean you can’t find your dream home! If you’re looking to invest in a lake house, here are 4 tips on buying from our CEO, Glenn Phillips.
Be fast and aggressive in making your offer.
Look at the full inventory of lakes for sale.
Find a lake expert agent to help you.
Consider multiple lakes in different states.
Don’t forget that buying a lot and building a home is always an option as well! No matter what you choose, Lake Homes Realty is here to help. With tens of thousands of listings in multiple states, our agents use lake-focused expertise to support you throughout the buying process.
What makes the accomplishment of being named to the Inc. 5000 for four consecutive years noteworthy? Some companies have been named to the list more often, but few of those companies who have been in business only seven years can tout that more than half their years in operation put them in league with the nation’s most elite private firms.
We’re not boasting, but instead, we’re excited! We’re thrilled that our model has been proven. We are providing people seeking to buy or sell lake real estate, a tool that markets properties nationally while completing the transactions locally with Lake Homes Realty’s brokerage agents. It works so well that over 5 million people will use LakeHomes.com this year to shop, market, or buy a lake-based property.
We are a niche company in a hyper-competitive national real estate market. With new players pushing the “iBuyer” model, a completely virtual home buying transaction, and nationally franchised traditional players often creating “pocket listings” that are not marketed beyond their own agency, Lake Homes Realty deploys a hybrid sales model that markets homes nationally while using experienced professionals to sell them locally.
Few brokerages employ national marketing at the scale of Lake Homes Realty. We’re the only company doing so in specialty real estate. The company’s search advertising alone is the envy of the industry. Add to that an innovative social media program and a nationally pervasive public relations program, which provides valuable lake real estate data to news outlets nationwide at no charge. With those programs, the company has created an unrivaled foundation of support for our clients.
Other brokerages offer the opportunity to “market” your property on a local MLS platform. Lake Homes Realty coordinates data from over 130 MLS platforms and markets it to the entire World Wide Web audience. We know that most buyers are shopping from markets outside of local lake areas. We meet the buyers where they are and sell to them where the listings are located.
The Inc. 5000 list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment of independent small businesses. Not only have the companies on the 2020 Inc. 5000 been very competitive within their markets, but the list as a whole shows staggering growth compared with prior years.
That staggering growth certainly applies to Lake Homes’ business. Sales in 2020 have been prolific as we assist buyers in finding homes and properties that give them distance from crowded metropolitan areas. Sellers who seek their next chapter find that employing our hybrid sales model gets homes sold quickly, meeting the price targets that owners are confident in after working with our professional agents to price their homes accurately.
Glenn Phillips, CEO Lake Homes Realty
Lake Homes Realty CEO, Glenn Phillips said, “It’s satisfying to find that our business model has been validated once again by the recognition that comes from being named to the Inc. 5000. We work hard for our customers every day, and it’s gratifying to know we are again in such elite company.”
The company just opened its thirtieth state with the addition of Washington. That makes Lake Homes Realty “coast to coast” with a presence in multiple states bordering the Atlantic Ocean and throughout states contiguous to the country’s interior to the Pacific Ocean. Phillips says of the expansion, “We have a few more states as targets and many more lakes in our sights. We seek only the most professional agents to complement our growth and join our existing award-winning team.”
Lake Homes Realty looks forward to continued growth and even more valuable services for our buyers and sellers. If you are searching for lake real estate or you would like to sell an existing property, Lake Homes Realty and LakeHomes.com are an unbeatable combination that has been once again recognized as one of the best in the nation.
If you’re considering selling your lake house, you might be wondering if now is the right time to do so. In today’s Whiteboard Wednesday video, Lake Homes Realty CEO, Glenn Phillips, gives 4 reasons why Summer 2020 is a great time to sell your lake home.
Lack of high competing prices
Ability to get ahead of the economic decline
Opportunities for short-term rentals
Regulation changes are continuing in lake markets
Looking ahead, it’s unlikely that you’ll get a better opportunity to sell than right now. Since lake property is more difficult to sell than other markets, now is the perfect time to take advantage of this window!
Check out what’s happening in your current market at Lakehomes.com.
Especially during the pandemic, many people are considering buying a lake home for social distancing. If this is you, Glenn Phillips, Lake Homes CEO, has some tips. First, set appropriate pricing expectations, keeping in mind that the lakeside location may add to the home’s cost. Although a market peak should keep prices from further escalation, appropriately-priced property is hard to come by, so it can help to seek multiple lakes for your dream home. When you find that home, be sure to act quickly because other buyers are looking, too. Finally, when buying a lake home, it’s best to seek out a Lake Homes agent with local expertise.
During the pandemic, many lake homeowners are concerned about their investment. If you aren’t using your lake home anymore, is now the right time to sell? Glenn Phillips, Lake Homes CEO, answers this question. Due to the market’s price peak, high buyer demand, limited appropriately priced inventory, and low mortgage rates, now is actually one of the best times to sell a lake home. To explore your options in selling your property, connect with one of our Lake Homes agents. With both local market expertise and a national presence, we’re here to help.
Lake Homes Realty CEO, Glenn Phillips, discusses five myths about selling a lake home. While there are many similarities between selling a lake home and a primary residential home, there are key differences. For lake homes, these include the higher percentage of out of town buyers, the impracticality of open houses, unusual aspects that break automated valuation systems, and buyers’ value shifts from opulence to practicality. If you’re considering selling a lake home, find a lake agent who understands these unique traits of the market.
