Tag: lake homes

Paradise in the North: A Look at Rangeley Lake, ME

Posted on Alexander Lee
Photo courtesy of Manuel Velazquez, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nestled within the Western Maine Mountains and surrounded by a ring of evergreen trees, Rangeley Lake epitomizes the natural beauty of northern New England.

Rangeley Lake, a sprawling 6,400-acre freshwater lake, is one of the major headwaters of the Androscoggin River watershed. It takes its name from Squire James Rangeley, Jr., an Englishman who established one of the earliest settlements in the area in 1825. Squire Rangeley’s legacy looms large in the history of the region; the nearby town of Rangeley is named after him, as is the main river that flows out of Rangeley Lake.

Photo courtesy of Dennis Redfield, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

With a population of just over 1,000 people, Rangeley may come across as a sleepy town. However, when warm weather comes around, vacationers and residents come in from all over the Northeast to wile away the days in their summer homes. In the past, some travelers have come to Rangeley in the winter for access to nearby ski resorts such as Saddleback Maine. 

With a strong local community and plenty of reasons to visit, Rangeley Lake is sure to remain one of Maine’s premier lake-living locations for years to come.

The History of Rangeley Lake

Before white settlers established the town of Rangeley, Rangeley Lake was home to five different Native American tribes, most prominently the Abenaki. In 1796, the region was forever changed when four American men—including James Rangeley, Sr., the father of Squire Rangeley—purchased a large tract of land that included Rangeley Lake and the surrounding area. Over the next few decades, settlers gradually trickled into Maine from the lower colonies, forging homesteads out of the forested land near the lake and surviving off of Rangeley’s bountiful fish and wild game.

Height of Land monument history of Rangeley Lake
Photo courtesy of Maine Tourism.

In 1825, Squire Rangeley loaded a wagon with his family’s belongings and established the town that would later take his surname. Supported by a burgeoning lumber industry, the population of Rangeley continued to grow over the following decades—and as the town gained prominence, it began to develop a reputation as a prime fishing destination. By the 1860s, Rangeley Lake had become a common vacation spot for American fishermen, kickstarting its reputation as a paradise of the North.

Photo courtesy of National Archives Catalog

Many locals consider the late 1920s and 1930s to be the “Golden Age” of Rangeley. In the years leading up to the second World War, affluent visitors from across the Northeast would flock to the lake to take advantage of its high-quality hotels and natural beauty. 

After World War II, Rangeley transformed once again, eschewing its ritzy hotels in favor of a more relaxed style of tourism centered on the town’s established reputation as a vacation spot. The fancy hotels are long gone; instead, loyal seasonal residents come year after year to summer in their lakeside vacation homes. Generations of Rangeley Lake families have passed their homes down through years; for many, Rangeley is just as much of a home as their primary residences down south.

Features of Rangeley Lake

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

The natural splendor of Rangeley Lake is its greatest strength, but for residents who have had their fill of verdant beauty, the lake offers a number of additional amenities.

The legacy of Rangeley’s Golden Age lives on in the form of the Rangeley Lake Resort. The resort is a cluster of log cabins located on the former golf course of the Rangeley Lake House, once Rangeley’s classiest hotel. The resort features a clubhouse with hot tubs and a heated pool, canoe rentals, a network of snowmobile trails, and ample opportunities for scenic hiking.

Mingo Springs golf course Rangeley Lake during fall autumn
Photo courtesy of The Maine Golf Trail.

On the shore of Rangeley Lake, visitors might stumble upon Mingo Springs Golf Course, a high-quality course that has been owned and managed by the same local family for over four decades. Though the local Saddleback Maine ski area has been closed since the 2014–2015 season, plans are underway to reopen the mountain for 2020, and the renowned skiing and golfing at Sugarloaf Mountain is only a 45-minute drive away.

For nature lovers, a number of companies offer cruises and kayaking on the lake, and the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust has mapped and documented miles of birding trails throughout the area. 

And on rainy days, visitors can drive down to the Rangeley Lakeside Theater for a selection of seasonal live performances and film screenings.

Rangeley Lake Real Estate

Rangeley Lake during fall autumn
Photo courtesy of Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

Rangeley Lake Real Estate is one of the premier markets for lake homes in the state of Maine. At any given time, there are around 130 lots and homes for sale on the lake. Rangeley Lake homes can sell for between $89,000 and $1.5 million, with a total market value of over $36 million. 

A small town with a cosmopolitan history, Rangeley is a fantastic location for both full-time and seasonal lake living. 

Visit our website HERE to learn more about Rangeley Lake.

More than Just Music: Spotlight on the Muscle Shoals Lakes

Posted on Camille Smith
Photos courtesy of The Bluegrass Situation and Instagram.

Just along the Tennessee River in Colbert County rests a historic, charming area called Muscle Shoals. Even if you’ve never been there, you’ve certainly heard of it. There’s that lyric in the song “Sweet Home Alabama” – “Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers, and they’ve been known to pick a song or two” – referring to the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, a legendary recording studio house band in the 1960s and 70s. You may have also heard of FAME Recording Studios or the birthplace of Helen Keller in nearby Tuscumbia.

Regardless of what you know about it, there’s a wealth of historical sites and activities to love about Muscle Shoals. Beyond those famous notes, this legendary area is bordered by three major lakes: Wilson Lake, Wheeler Lake, and Pickwick Lake. The Tennessee River feeds each lake, giving you both the excitement of the famous town and the serenity of local lake life. If you’re already interested, you can browse listings on each of these lakes on our website. Whether you choose to vacation or live full time on one of these lakes, you’re sure to find plenty of exciting compliments to lake life that Muscle Shoals has to offer. 

What Makes it Interesting

Rick Hall, right, with R&B singer Etta James and musicians Marvell Thomas and David Hood during a 1967 rehearsal at Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.
Photo courtesy of DailyYonder.

Because of its crucial waterside location along the Tennessee River, the Shoals area was originally a significant location for Native Americans, particularly the Cherokee tribe, for thousands of years. This proximity to a body of water later made Muscle Shoals a site for the Tennessee Valley Authority’s construction of several dams under Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1966, the U.S. government declared Wilson Dam, located in the Shoals area, a National Historic Landmark. However, this area’s intrigue doesn’t end with the nearby river. Muscle Shoals also happens to have a legendary place in music history. Home to the iconic “Muscle Shoals sound,” Rick Hall’s FAME Studios went from being a studio in an old warehouse to a destination for musicians and songwriters to record their hits. Songs like those by Percy Sledge “When a Man Loves a Woman” and “Tell Mama” by Etta James are just some among so many that were recorded here.

What to Do There

Crowd watching W.C. Handy Music Festival at Florence, Alabama
Photo courtesy of WNIN.

If you’re interested in all the fascinating music history of Muscle Shoals, try booking a tour at FAME Recording Studios and see the sound booths where famous artists like Aretha Franklin recorded. After your tour, you may want to stop by Stanfield’s Steakhouse for some delicious steak, hush puppies, and popcorn shrimp. If you enjoy golfing as a pastime, we recommend checking out the Robert Trent Jones golf trail, which attracts golfers from across the country each year. Want to explore some of the neighboring towns while you’re out and about? Drive about 20 minutes to find the sister city of Florence, Alabama— an up-and-coming city with a bustling downtown scene. Each year, they host the W.C. Handy music festival, and you can go visit the lion mascots at the University of North Alabama’s campus. On the way over, you can also drive by the Rosenbaum House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.  

Life on the Lake

Photo courtesy of Photo by Phil Evenden via Pexels

One of the most exciting parts about life in Muscle Shoals is the bodies of water that surround it. The Shoals area is bordered by three major lakes—Wilson Lake, Wheeler Lake, and Pickwick Lake. If you’re looking to buy a lake house in the area, you can look forward to mild winters where temperatures rarely get below 50 degrees as well as warm 90 degree summers, perfect for taking the boat and water skis out for a spin. This time of year, you’ll get that crisp, fall air that’s perfect for hosting guests around your outdoor fire pits. Further, if you enjoy fishing on the lake and you’re looking to reel in a largemouth bass or catfish, you’re in luck. Wilson and Pickwick lakes are well-known popular fishing destinations thanks to the combination of a natural river and man-made dams. Whether it’s fishing, jet skiing, swimming, kayaking, or just sitting on your dock admiring the sun’s reflection on the water, there’s a place for your chosen activity on a lake in Muscle Shoals.

A fusion of interesting history and a relaxing lake life, you truly can have it all in Muscle Shoals. Take a browse to find your dream lake house today in this Northern Alabama gem of a town.

Why Your Lake Home Needs an Outdoor Shower

Posted on Staff

Sure, it sounds backwards to have a shower on the outside of your house, but if you live at the lake, an outdoor shower may be exactly what your lake home is missing.

Take a few minutes to check out the benefits of installing an outdoor shower to your home, and see how easy it can be to do it yourself!

Benefits of an Outdoor Shower

Convenient, mess-free changing room:

How many times have you had to walk through your home — wet and freezing — just to make it to a changing room after a day on the lake?

Not only is it a chilly trek, but the trail of water you leave behind can potentially damage your floors and cause unsuspecting lake lovers to slip and fall.

An outdoor shower provides a convenient (and warm) place to change out of your wet clothes and allows you to rinse any leftover lake grime down the drain. Trust us, your floors and your guests will thank you!

Visitor Overflow:

When you own a lake home, you’re suddenly the most popular person among your family and friends. As a result, your home is often overrun with visitors during the lake season.

An outdoor shower can help better accommodate these guests by being an alternative washing spot when indoor showers are occupied.

To ensure patrons are comfortable, be sure to enclose your outdoor shower with privacy walls and a equip it with a latch or locking mechanism.

For added convenience, outdoor showers can even be connected to your home’s hot water supply for a more enjoyable showering experience.

Adds Value to Your Home:

That’s right: an outdoor shower can ADD to the value of your lake home!

According to HGTV’s article, “Which Home Improvements Pay Off?,” adding a bathroom to your home can increase a home’s sale price by almost 9 percent.

While your outdoor shower won’t be a full bathroom, this additional space can still bump up your lake home’s value, even if only by a little.

Do it Yourself – How to Build an Outdoor Shower

Whether your outdoor shower is as simple as a water hose hanging from a tree, or as extravagant as an enclosed room with a waterfall shower head is up to you!

For something basic, all you need is the following materials:

  • two extra-large hula hoops
  • water-proof/resistant material
  • a wooden pallet
  • sewing materials
  • 10 ft. of rope or cord
  • a water hose
  • water spigot access
  • a tree with low-hanging limbs
  • old-fashioned ladder

Construction Instructions:

  1. Take your waterproof/resistant material and sew it to one of the hula hoops, similar to sewing curtains around a dowel rod. Once completed, your material and hula hoop should resemble a tube.
  2. Next, secure the second hula hoop to the bottom of this tube. This will add a little weight to the bottom of the enclosure.
  3. Around the top opening of the enclosure, cut 4 holes large enough to slip your cord or rope through. These holes should be made slightly below the hoop itself, and spaced out like the points of a compass with one point at each direction.
  4. Take your rope or cord and cut it into fourths, with each fourth at the same length.
  5. You will next tie each rope to the top hoop through the four holes you previously made. Be sure these a tied securely to ensure your shower enclosure does not collapse while in use.
  6. After each rope is secured to the base, connect all four ends together, so that they make a peak from which you can hang the enclosure and slide the enclosure over a low-hanging limb. Be sure to choose a tree that in on a slight incline, if possible, to allow for better water run-off.
  7. Next, take your water hose, connected to the water spigot, and wrap it around the same limb so that it rests above the center of the enclosure’s open top.
  8. Take your pallet and place it under your hanging shower enclosure to serve as the platform on which users will stand to shower.
  9. Lastly, lean your old-fashioned ladder against the tree. This will be where your towels can hang until you are ready to dry off.
  10. Finally, your shower is ready for use!

For more outdoor shower ideas, explore these 32 beautiful DIY outdoor showers, and be sure to check out our other home improvement blogs here!

The Lake Home Seller’s Guide to Home Inspections

Posted on Staff

Home sales are almost always contingent upon passing a home inspection.

Though inspections typically occur after a buyer’s offer is accepted, there are several advantages to having your property inspected before you even put it on the market.

Get a Pre-Listing Home Inspection

No home is without faults, even those that are freshly built, so it’s important for you as the seller to understand that your home will likely have a few problem areas.

For example most commonly, home inspectors cite issues like chipping paint, threadbare carpets and extremely hot attics, all of which often go unnoticed by the sellers who’ve lived there for some time.

With the exception (perhaps) of the overheated attic, these minor cosmetic flaws can be fixed easily and at a relatively low price.

Major issues, however, arise when an inspector discovers cracks in a home’s foundation, faulty plumbing, problems with heating and ventilation and bad electrical wiring.

Prior to your pre-market inspection, check your property for any indications of damage such as staining under kitchen and bathroom sinks, buckled or sloping floors and charred or discolored wall outlets.

Particularly with lake properties, homeowners should look for signs of water damage such as mold in their basements or on-site storage units, spongy drywall, discoloration along the base of the property and wood rot.

Also note any standing water outside the home that may indicate improper drainage or damaged downspouts.

Though you may not know the exact issues you’re facing if any of these key indicators are discovered before your official inspection, you won’t be completely blindsided by the inspector’s findings.

What Inspectors Look For

According to the American Society of Home Inspectors Standards of Practice, there are 10 key areas home inspectors pay careful attention to:

  1. Structure
  2. Exterior
  3. Roofing
  4. Plumbing
  5. Electrical
  6. Heating
  7. A.C.
  8. Interior
  9. Insulation/Ventilation
  10. Fireplaces

The time it takes to inspect a property largely depends on its size. The typical home inspection usually takes two to three hours to complete; however, owners of large lake properties should expect lengthier inspections.

Upon completion, your inspector will issue a report of his or her findings within 24 to 72 hours.

Additional Inspection Services

Inspections for lake properties often go beyond the traditional “around the house” visit, especially if they have boat docks, piers or retaining walls.

Persistent exposure to moisture-rich air, water, sunlight and various other elemental effects, make these structures highly susceptible to damage if not maintained properly.

In addition to checking for problems in the 10 areas set out in the ASHI Standards of Practice, inspectors check boat docks’ and piers’ supporting and anchoring beams for damage such as split or waterlogged wood, protruding nails and screws and frayed cables.

Inspectors also check that there are no punctures or damage to the integrity of supporting flotation devices, as well as note any rusted metal areas.

If the property is located immediately on the water, your inspector will look at any retaining wall components visible above the water line.

Common findings include soil loss and structural deterioration.

It’s important for homeowners to do their research before hiring a pre-listing home inspector – not all inspectors are equally qualified. Often lake property sellers will need to hire a second inspector who specializes in waterfront structures.

It’s also important that lake homeowners are aware of who actually owns their docks, piers or waterlines.

On many lakes, utility companies, state departments of natural resources and the United States Army Corp. of Engineers maintain these areas. Consequently, they may have their own regulations and guidelines to follow when it comes to lakefront feature inspections.

Familiarize yourself with the specifics of what your inspector will be looking for by reviewing available online checklists.

For more information, and to ensure your inspection is up-to-standard, please speak to your local lake real estate agent.

Hire an Expert

Just as you should carefully vet your lake real estate agent, you should always do your research before hiring a home inspector.

Most agents will be able to refer at least one inspector with whom they have worked in the past, but homeowners should also ask for references from friends and family.

Services like Angie’s List, Home Advisor and the American Society of Home Inspectors are also good resources for finding reputable, local professionals.

Don’t be afraid to ask your potential hire questions about their experience in the field like how many years they have been in the industry and the number of inspections they’ve completed.

According to Home Advisor, the average home inspection costs roughly $324. If an inspector quotes you a price less than $200, proceed with caution.

Unusually low prices could mean that the inspector may be having difficulty securing clients, possibly as a result of inadequate service or bad reviews. This could also mean the inspector does not have proper licensing.

If your state regulates home inspectors, ask to see to see copies of licenses or certifications. You may also want to ask to see an example of a completed report and proof of omissions and errors insurance.

Perhaps most important, when it comes to inspecting a lake home, you should hire a home inspector who is familiar with the nuances of waterfront properties.

Only those inspectors who have an in-depth knowledge of the uniqueness of lake properties are equipped to accurately and expertly inspect your home.

How to Prepare for Inspection

Sellers should leave the property during its inspection so the inspector can work as thoroughly and as objectively as possible.

To help provide some peace of mind, prep your place with a deep clean. This includes wiping down baseboards, removing clutter, dusting and maybe even carpet cleaning.

Also replace your air filters and burnt-out light bulbs, and check that your fuse box is labeled properly.

If your lake home is a vacation property, be sure to have utilities connected, pilot lights lit, and that the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors have been replaced.

If you find insect or rodent infestations try setting out humane traps, bug bombing or spraying the house to eliminate the problem.

Mowing your lawn, cleaning out your gutters and freeing the home’s base and retaining walls of weeds and vegetation will also benefit your home inspection.

Before you leave, check that your inspector has clear access to your home’s electrical box, furnace, attic, and water heater.

Smart Docks, Smart Boats, Smart Living

Posted on Staff

American homes are getting smarter at a rate that was hard to imagin only a few years ago. According to one Nielson study, nearly a quarter of the United States population today owns at least one smart device.

So, while consumers are arming their homes with the latest in smart security systems, smart thermostats and even smart appliances like refrigerators, lake homeowners can now add similar technology to their boats and docks, too.

Dock IQ

Designed with asset protection and personal safety in mind, Dock IQ is a remote management and monitoring system for your dock.

Changing water levels can wreak havoc on these structures, often resulting in costly damages. Dock IQ helps provide dock owners peace of mind by tracking lake levels and alerting them via the system’s mobile dashboard when levels get too deep or too shallow for the structure’s stability.

The system, which runs on its own private wireless service, also features a high-resolution camera, a motion security sensor, geo-fencing technology and a dock GPS locator sensor.

If there is  movement outside the geo-fenced perimeter, or should an unwelcome guest trip the motion sensor, DockIQ immediately sounds an alarm.

The system automatically activates exterior lighting and its camera begins rapidly capturing images of the area. Dock owner’s instantly receive these images through their IQ dashboard so they can alert the police and their neighbors.

Shock IQ, DockIQ’s companion system, offers a more aggressive response  its Shock IQ detection sensor, dock frame and in-water electric current sensors.

If electricity is detected in the water surrounding the dock, Shock IQ automatically trips the structure’s power breaker.

Using it’s 10-hour battery back up, ShockIQ then sounds an alarm and notifies the dock owners and neighbors of the threat through the IQ mobile app.

Dock IQ also offers bonus features like boat and jet ski tracking devices and solar power capability that can also be added to the DockIQ system.

For more information on this must-have lake technology, please visit www.dockiq.com, or click here to watch the company’s informational video.

ProNav Angler and Motion

Kiss manual boat control goodbye with ProNav Angler, ProNav Marine’s GPS autopilot system.

Photo Courtesy of ProNav Marine

Connected though Bluetooth, ProNav Angler allows you to pre-set trolling routes, lock in your headings and anchor at your favorite fishing hole, all from the convenience of your phone or tablet.

The company also offers point-and-go navigation and hand-held automatic positioning devices, which connect and run through the ProNav Angler app.

The company’s ProNav Motion devices, PointDrive and PointJog, are controlled using a small device similar to a video game controller.

The PointDrive device allows anglers to essentially steer their boats’ trolling motors by simply toggling in the direction they want to go.

Using PointJog, boaters can point their devices at a specific area of the water, and the ProNav system will reposition their bow-mounted trolling motors to take them there.

Other benefits of this smart boat technology include speed control and the ability to mark and store favorite locations.

ProNav Angler and Motion can even be used while phones are in airplane mode or without cell coverage.

Learn more of ProNav’s innovative navigation systems by checking out their website here.

The lake life is all about relaxation, leisure and enjoyment. So — start living smarter, not harder, with these lake-focused smart technologies.

Exploring Lake Real Estate: Real Estate Moguls Interviews Lake Homes Realty CEO Glenn S. Phillips

Posted on Staff

“A gentleman asked me one day ‘Hey, Glenn. I’m thinking about buying a  lake home. We’ve never bought one. What’s the best lake?’ And I said ‘Well  that’s kind of like asking me what’s the best woman. It’s kind of a personal  choice, and if you don’t know which lake you like, you need to date a few’.”

Glenn S. Phillips

There’s no one who knows more about the ins and outs of the lake real estate market than Lake Homes Realty CEO Glenn S. Phillips. That’s why Real Estate Moguls creator Grant Findlay-Shirras caught up with Glenn recently to interview him about the industry.

What made Phillips, after a career in computer engineering, decide to tackle a nationwide niche real estate market? Why is LakeHomes.com built the way it is, and what makes it one-of-a-kind? And how does this brokerage differ from Century 21, RE/MAX, or any of the other well-known brands of today?

Well Findlay-Shirras just got the answers to all your questions. Check out the video below to learn more about the magic that makes Lake Homes Realty possible.

How My Lake Home Broke Zillow’s Zestimate

Posted on Staff

Congratulations Realtor, you’ve won my listing!

I loved everything about your presentation, from the analytics you showed me to your proven track record at selling lake homes. In fact, I only had one problem, and it was a big one: your suggested list price was vastly different from what I thought my property was worth.

You said we should list at one price, but Zillow told me a different story.

Since I got the information from a popular accredited source, I was sure it must have been true. But I am so glad you took the time to explained to me how the site’s home valuation tool worked and for showing me how my lake home broke Zillow’s Zestimate.

Lake Home valuation model, man holding home sign

For starters, I knew the tool used physical attributes — like my home’s square footage and our lot size — to help determine its value. I also knew that public tax information was taken into account.

What I didn’t know was that public information and user-submitted data were factored in, too.

I thought this information could be helpful, and to your point, it could be.

But after discussing how much I thought my home was worth based on my years of living there, you made a great point by suggesting my emotional attachment to my lake home could cause me to draw some biased conclusions about how much it was actually worth.

However, I was sure that past sales records of the homes in my neighborhood and nearby “comparable homes” were solid data points.

Thank you for taking the time to help me understand how many of these records and tools used by Zillow often don’t apply in niche markets (like lake real estate).

The Zestimate was not designed for unique properties and unique markets.

One thing that stuck with me is how you said Zillow has never been in my lake home, nor any of the homes mine is being compared to.

Zillow couldn’t possibly account for the upgrades we made to the kitchen a few years ago, nor could the Zestimate tool put an appropriate value on how pristine our view of the waterfront is!

And, those “comparable” homes being used to determine the value of my home?

Well Zillow certainly couldn’t know that our dock was 10 years newer than the dock next door, or that even though our properties are located right next to one another, our neighbors have an obstructed view of the lake, thanks to a patch of endangered trees running through their backyard.

As someone who loves to see the data, I also appreciated you showing me Zillow’s Accuracy Rating report, which I now have a copy of thanks to you!

Since we live on Smith Mountain Lake, you pulled up our county (Franklin County, Virginia), and we saw that the area had a Zillow Accuracy Rating was a “2”.

Of course, I took that to mean we had the second-best accuracy rating, but then you explained being number two wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

What having a “2” rating really meant was that Zillow’s Zestimate was considered “fair” rather than good or best. What it further meant was only 63 percent of Zestimates fell within 10 percent of the actual sales price.

That meant more than a THIRD of Zestimates here were off by more than 10 percent!

Then you explained the Zillow median error rate in a way I could relate to easily: I imaged all the homes on our street as if they were in a single room, lined up in order from most accurate to least accurate Zestimate.

If the median error rate were 7 percent, the middle home would sell for anywhere from $465,000  to $535,000, a range of $70,000.

That’s quite a difference.

Fortunately, you were sure not to pick on Zillow exclusively, but instead you showed me the valuations from several sites, so I could see how widely the estimates varied.

It was icing on the cake to learn that in 2016 Zillow’s CEO sold his home for 40 percent less than its Zestimate.

I don’t think I understood exactly how important it was to work with a lake real estate agent until that moment.

I had spoken with two other agents already, but unlike you, neither lived, worked and played in our lake market.

Only you were actually a lake resident, had been in many of the houses for sale around us, and were prepared with a ton of local data that the others couldn’t provide.

I also appreciated that you didn’t scold me for trusting the Zestimate. You kindly explained that Zillow was a great place to start and that my homework was not in vain.

That’s how I knew to trust you and how I knew choosing to work with you was the right choice.

I knew you would appropriately price our lake home according to our market, not based on some figure determined by a computer.

You are a true lake expert, and I am looking forward to working with you!

Sincerely,

Your New Forever Client

Lake Nona: A 21st Century Lake Community

Posted on Staff

                     photo courtesy of floridaforboomers.com

Every once in a while, we come across a unique home design or regional fun fact that makes us take pause and dig a little deeper. It isn’t often, though, that we happen upon a place like Florida’s Lake Nona.

In a feature article for Worth magazine, author Helen Anne Travis highlighted what makes this little oasis unique. “With its innovative take on combining top-level healthcare, sports, technology and other amenities with residential planning,” Lake Nona offers “a futuristic vision of how people should live…”

Awe-inspiring. Groundbreaking. Ambitious. There are an almost endless array of adjectives that could be used to describe the lake community. But why not just let the facts do the talking?

A Greater Quality of Life

Located within Orlando city limits, Lake Nona is a 10,800-acre, master-designed community. Its raison d’etre is sustainable design, healthier lifestyles and an overall higher standard of living. The community became the first Iconic Cisco Smart + Connected Community in America in 2012. Major cultural hubs like London, Moscow and Barcelona also carry the distinction.

Lake Nona is also the first community in Florida to integrate gigabit fiber technology. Thanks to Dais, the development’s on-site technology company, residents can enjoy internet speeds that are 200 times faster than the average U.S. connection.

The technology is for more than just surfing the web and streaming videos, though. It allows for superior cellular coverage and provides Lake Nona’s Medical City the technological foundation it needs to run efficiently.

But the community has more to offer than just fancy tech. Forty percent of the 17-square-mile development is preserved green space, in keeping with Lake Nona’s theme of conservation and sustainable living. That means a garden, playground, park or pool on every corner.

And they can all be reached via the 44-mile web of walking and biking trails that connect the entire community. Don’t own a bike? Not a problem. The many grab-and-go free bike rental stations are another perk of a community that encourages active lifestyles.

There’s also the Sports and Performance district. Lake Nona not only pushes the envelope on what we know about sports science, but also advances athletic and personal performance with the help of professional athletes, researchers and trainers.

The community is actually the United States Tennis Association’s new Home of American Tennis.

Located in Lake Nona, the USTA’s National Campus houses 100 tennis courts, two separate divisions and the University of Central Florida’s tennis teams. That makes it the largest tennis facility in the country.

And the “wow” factors don’t stop there.

A Hub of Education and Innovation

                                                  photo courtesy of Fortune

It’s hard to imagine how this futuristic suburb of Orlando fits so many things into 17 square miles. From multiple neighborhoods and state-of-the-art event venues to intensive hubs of research and technology, the amenities seem never-ending.

The Lake Nona Medical City is a 650-acre health and life sciences park and is Orlando’s premier location for research, education and medical care. The initial theory was placing healthcare and life science facilities in close proximity to each other will help accelerate innovation.

Over the years that theory would prove to be spot on. Lake Nona is now home to some of America’s leading research institutions, hospitals and universities.

The Medical City includes world-class facilities like the University of Central Florida’s Colleges of Nursing and Dental Medicine. Nemours Children’s Hospital, Samford-Burnham Medical Research Institute and the University of Florida Academic and Research Center are also included in the hub. And the Orlando Veteran’s Administration Medical Center is the first VA hospital built in the U.S. in more than 20 years.

This cluster of medical facilities and research institutions also plays a part in other community-wide educational projects.

The Lake Nona Education Initiative provides extensive learning opportunities at every level of education. Dubbed the Collaborative Learning Environment (CLE), this strategy was implemented by the Lake Nona Institute, a non-profit dedicated to health and wellness, education and sustainability.

All these ambitious projects bundled up into one city seems almost too good to be true. Coupled with the community’s thriving arts and culture scene and its location in one of the most popular cities in the world, Lake Nona is a spectacular place to settle down. And that’s not just our opinion. 

While the development only makes up 10 percent of Orlando’s surface area, it accounted for 18 percent of the city’s growth between 2014 and 2016. It’s one of the fastest growing master-planned communities in the nation.

Beyond being just a great place to live, the community is a shining example of human potential. Lake Nona is unlike any lake community we’ve ever seen. And while it may be the first of its kind in America, we have a feeling it isn’t the last.

To check out homes and details about the Lake Nona community, click here.

Beware the Consequences of Price Drops

Posted on Staff

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: one of the biggest reasons a home doesn’t sell is pricing. 

A smart asking price can be the key ingredient to the success of your home’s sale. Even in a bad market, a home will sell if the price is right. Choosing to forego expert advice, however, can lead to your listing stalling out on the market, which usually results in a price drop.

While asking for less may help you sell your home, there are some consequences of price drops that could be counterproductive to the sale.

Why Overpricing Is So Common

There are a handful of reasons sellers give for padding the asking price of their home.

Some point to unique, decorative features, like a brick pizza oven or wine cellar, as evidence that their property’s value is higher than it is. However, quirky add-ons, as opposed to neutral touches, have a higher chance of backfiring. Not all buyers will share your same tastes and some upgrades, like a luxury bathroom or tricked out kitchen, won’t garner as many returns on investment as homeowners think they will.

There’s also the mistake of setting an asking price based on what you need from the sale rather than what the home is actually worth.

Some lake homeowners aren’t likely to get as much from the sale of their home as they may have originally planned. Thanks to the 2008 recession, the demand for second homes isn’t as high as it was a decade ago. According to Forbes, vacation homes have been slower to rebound from the housing bust than off-lake properties.

In fact, since 2009, with the exception of 2010, markets with the highest concentration of vacation homes have under performed every year. So while a seller may be committed to selling a lake home at a certain price point, the property value may not have bounced back enough from the housing bust to make it happen.

Unfortunately, buyers don’t care what a seller needs for personal financial reasons. They’re only concerned with the home’s real value.

The Aftermath of Price Drops

Anything can happen that results in an inflated asking price. However, when a seller finally decides to lower expectations, there are consequences.

Price cuts usually happen after a home has been on the market for too long. “Too long” can mean different things for different agents. To prevent a listing from “going stale,” some agents suggest price cuts after two weeks on the market, while others will give it a month.

Either way, after a significant price drop or too much time on the market, one question always arises: “What’s wrong with it?” Potential buyers understand that you get what you pay for, so a listing that frequently gets cheaper and cheaper will have them questioning the quality of your home.

Even if there are no significant structural issues with the property, a potential buyer who’s already made negative assumptions about your home will be conditioned to see the glass as half empty no matter what.

Each price decrease also indicates that a seller lacks confidence in his or her own asking prices. So, when you mark your home down once, some buyers will just wait for another price cut. If the seller isn’t confident in the asking price, why should the buyer be?

These flip flops in pricing leads to even more time unsold and puts your property at higher risk for going stale. In real estate, an extra week or two added to a home’s shelf life can make a big difference.

Your real estate agent’s goal is to sell your home as quickly as possible for the best price. He should have enough market knowledge at their disposal to calculate your home’s real value, which if you follow his suggestions, will help the listing move faster.

So price it right the first time by trusting the expertise of an experienced professional.