[AL.com] See inside this stunning $2.5 million Alabama lake home with a glass bridge

Maison Roc, a stunning modern estate located on Smith Lake in Alabama, is currently listed for sale at $2.495 million. According to real estate agent Justin Dyar, this custom home designed by Shepard and Davis Architecture has been showcased in Veranda magazine and various other publications.

The home’s design of reclaimed limestone, steel, and concrete was built to stand the test of time. However, the home’s main attraction is its glass bridge connecting the home’s two living areas.

“Enjoy sunsets or vistas of the main channel while being tucked away in a private cove,” [Justin] Dyar said. “Maison Roc is a true destination home on Smith Lake.” – AL.com

Whiteboard Topics: Overpricing Your Lake Home Is Easy!

What comes to mind when you’re getting ready to sell your home? Pricing! Knowing how to and what to price your lake home is crucial in the selling process. If you go too high, more than likely, it will sit on the market longer than you’d like. Lake Homes Realty’s CEO, Glenn Phillips, delves into the importance of proper pricing and how easy it is to accidentally overprice.

  1. “What I have in it”: This is the concept of what you, as the owner, have financially put into the home. However, buyers do not care about this. The market is the market. When you were the buyer, you didn’t ask the seller what they had put into the home. The same goes for your potential buyers; they don’t care. The market sets the price.
  2. “What I ‘need’…”: At the end of the day, need has nothing to do with it. Need is market-independent and not relevant to any of the buyers.
  3. “I just ‘feel’ it is worth this”: There have been many studies that indicate we value our own possessions a lot more than other people’s possessions. This is something you need to be mindful of. It’s very easy to justify why you think your property is worth a certain amount.
  4. “The neighbor’s house sold for…”: That might be a true statement, or it might be a rumor someone has made up. If it is factual, there are many factors that could have been at play, such as selling when the market was hot. Having an agent who can pull a market analysis is more beneficial than basing pricing on the neighbor’s home.
  5. “The house nearby is listed for…”: “Listed for” is exactly what it sounds like, a listing. That house is still on the market.
  6. “If I can get this much, then I’ll sell”: This means you are not actively trying to sell the home. If something were to come along at a price you like, then you might. Something like this wastes time for all parties.

Having the correct pricing is truly the most important thing if you’re trying to sell. However, as mentioned above, it’s very easy to overprice a lake home. If you’re trying to figure out how to get accurate pricing, reach out to our lake experts at https://www.lakehomes.com/.

[Home Stratosphere] 5 of the Most Expensive Houses Currently on the Market in Alabama (April 2025)

Alabama’s real estate scene is a delightful fusion of Southern appeal and refined lakeside lifestyles. With a variety ranging from lavish plantations and oak-lined properties to contemporary residences with stunning views of Lake Martin and the Gulf Coast, the Heart of Dixie showcases a remarkable selection of high-end real estate. Rich with history, cities such as Birmingham and Montgomery offer charming neighborhoods while waterfront residences provide luxury living akin to resorts.

For those seeking opulence in unexpected places, Alabama doesn’t disappoint. Here are five of the most expensive houses that epitomize luxury living in Alabama at its finest.

[Realtor.com] Lake Property for Sale: How To Buy a Waterfront Home

Picture starting each day with the serenity of the water—owning a waterfront home can make that dream come true.

From retirees seeking a peaceful retreat to those chasing a personal paradise, lake homes offer a unique appeal. Even investors looking to expand their portfolio may find these properties a smart choice.

Learn what’s involved in buying a waterfront home and decide if it’s the right step for you.

“Spend time in the markets that interest you first. Visit several times and explore,” suggests Glenn Phillips, CEO at Lake Homes Realty & Beach Homes Realty. “Get a feel for the area, and a feel for the differences in these markets with the seasons.” – Realtor.com

Whiteboard Topics: Lake Home Sellers Should Know These Buyer Traits

Are you selling your lake home? You, as a seller, have traits that most sellers exhibit. The same goes for lake home buyers. Because you are trying to sell your home, you should be aware of what these typical buyer traits are and how to spot them. Lake Home Realty’s CEO, Glenn Phillips, discusses what some of these traits are and how to be on the lookout for them.

  1. Often Live >100 Miles Away: Most buyers who purchase lake property are looking for something they can move to in retirement or a place they can have as their getaway. Knowing that typical lake buyers are coming as far away as other states or cross country is important when it comes to marketing towards them.
  2. “Want What They Want”: It isn’t very common that your typical lake home buyer is looking for anything in a hurry. They don’t need a home immediately to ensure their kids can be in a certain school system or any other reason behind a quick move. They could spend months to years waiting to find exactly what it is they want.
  3. Willing to pay…but RARELY overpay: Most people who are buying lake property are smart with their money. You can see that the inventory has grown a lot in the past couple of months. These buyers aren’t willing to pay for a home that is overpriced, a more and more are becoming that.
  4. Unconcerned with school systems: The usual demographic is 55 and older. They might have grandkids coming to visit, but that doesn’t mean the specific school systems in the area are pertinent for these buyers.
  5. Hospital Reasonably Close: Like the previous point, the age demographic is a little older than your usual real estate market. Knowing you’re not too far away from a medical center is something that is being looked into when a buyer is considering moving to the lake.

Knowing these buyer traits can benefit you if you’re beginning the selling process or have been in it for a minute. If you would like help with selling or simply more details about these traits, reach out to one of our lake agents today at https://www.lakehomes.com/. They would be more than willing to lend a helping hand.

[Yahoo Lifestyle] Lake Property for Sale: How To Buy a Waterfront Home

Imagine waking up to vacation vibes every single day—owning a waterfront property can turn that dream into reality.

Whether you’re a retiree seeking tranquility or simply craving your own piece of paradise, lake homes are worth considering. Investors looking to diversify their portfolio may also find these properties appealing.

Discover the process of buying a waterfront home to help you determine if it’s the right move for you.

“Spend time in the markets that interest you first. Visit several times and explore,” suggests Glenn Phillips, CEO at Lake Homes Realty & Beach Homes Realty. “Get a feel for the area, and a feel for the differences in these markets with the seasons.” – Realtor.com

[Mecklenburg Times] A “Rich Idiot” Isn’t Coming to Buy Your Lake Home – But a Savvy Buyer Will

​In the 2025 lake real estate market, sellers should abandon the expectation of wealthy buyers overpaying for their properties. Instead, informed and financially prepared buyers are seeking fairly priced homes and are often willing to pay in cash. Sellers who continue to list their properties at inflated prices risk having them remain unsold, leading to stagnant inventory. However, those who price their homes realistically can capitalize on the anticipated 15% increase in transactions compared to 2024. This shift underscores the importance for sellers to align their pricing strategies with current market realities to successfully attract savvy buyers.

Whiteboard Topics: 7 Signs A Lake Home Is Unrealistically Priced

Pricing is an important factor when it comes to buying and selling a lake home. On the buyer’s side, you typically want to find a home that is within your budget and not something astronomically outrageous. From the seller’s side, pricing a home appropriately means more people are willing to look at it. Glenn Phillips, CEO of Lake Homes Realty, breaks down 7 different signs that a lake home is not priced realistically.

  1. Days-on-Market (DOM): Transparency is important. If your home has been on the market longer than 60-90 days, specifically for lake properties, it typically indicates that something isn’t right about the transaction. If the home is priced about 10-15% or more up than what the market is realistically expecting, people won’t take the time to even look at the home.
  2. Big Appraisal Gap: This was a bigger deal during the COVID frenzy, where people were willing to pay a higher price for the home than the appraisal price. However, since we have shifted from that, people aren’t as willing to spend that money.
  3. “Back on the Market”: This could indicate a price problem, either an issue with the mortgage appraisal not matching or an issue with the house, and the buyer and seller couldn’t agree on how to solve it in terms of the price.
  4. Massive $ Increase: This relates to an increase in the price of the house from when it was initially purchased to now, and there hasn’t been much done or changed about the property. If the seller can’t explain why there would be such a price increase, it more than likely means the home is overpriced.
  5. Multiple Price Cuts: The home has a lot of days on the market, as well as multiple cuts in the price. They might not even be significant price cuts. However, a buyer can see this and expect more cuts to happen before even looking at the property.
  6. Sellers: No (or Few) Showings: Having nobody come to look at the property is a key indicator that the home is priced poorly. Having people come and view your home is something that should be happening.
  7. Sellers: No Offers (or Similarly Low): Having people come and look at the home is great, but receiving no offers or even low offers means the pricing is off. If you’re receiving low offers, it can often be the buyer trying to offer at a more accurate price point.

Having a home that sits on the market for months due to pricing is something no seller or buyer, for that matter, wants. Ensuring you have priced your lake home appropriately is key in ensuring you can sell it. If you’re struggling with pinpointing what price is right for your home, contact one of our lake agents today! They would be more than willing to help you out!