The work of a Lake Homes real estate agent in the real estate industry presents its own set of obstacles and opportunities. These agents, nestled among the tranquil beauty of lakeside properties, are tasked with not only completing property transactions but also creating a smooth experience for their clients. Lake Homes real estate agents must discover the secrets to success that set them apart from the competition in order to fully flourish in this sector. Understanding the discretionary property sales cycle, developing systems for playing the long game, maintaining a laser focus on lakefront properties, and employing national marketing tactics to attract the right buyers are four essential strategies that can propel these agents to new heights.
1. Understanding the Discretionary Property Sales Cycle: Master the nuanced sales cycle of lakefront properties, aligning with seasonal trends and buyer emotions for effective and smart transactions.
2. Systems to “Play the Long Game”: Develop systems for enduring success, such as cultivating buyer databases, nurturing relationships, and consistent follow-ups.
3. Focused on the Lake: Focus expertise on lakefront living details, regulations, and lifestyle benefits to provide tailored guidance to each individual client.
4. National Marketing to the Right Buyers: Utilize marketing and tailored advertising to capture the attention of potential lakefront property buyers.
Success as a Lake Home real estate agent hinges on a combination of specialized knowledge, strategic planning, and a thorough understanding of both the market and potential buyers’ desires and dreams of lake homes. By embracing the secrets, successes, and systems, agents can position themselves as trusted experts and elevate their careers in the competitive world of lake home real estate. This intentionally provides a platform for individuals acting as real estate agents, as well as those taking on the roles of buyers and sellers within any real estate market.
Whether you prefer freshwater fish caught from your own lake or succulent market seafood, there’s no better complement to your fresh catch than the perfect bottle of wine. Like wine and cheese, there are endless options to choose from when selecting the perfect wine pairings for fish and seafood. So, to help you navigate the sea of wine selections, here’s an easy shortlist to guide you. Keep in mind that there are no hard and fast rules, and it’s always adventurous to experiment with different combinations.
Starting with a summer classic, Chardonnay—along with these other favorite whites—are the go-to wines for a multitude of fish dishes. A fuller-bodied Pinot Gris or Fumé Blanc complements oilier fish like mackerel, salmon, sardines, herring, bluefish, grilled fish, and smoked trout. Yet a rich buttery Chardonnay pairs beautifully with sweet seafood, including lobster, shrimp, crab, scallops, and even raw oysters. Its slightly oaky flavor also balances well with trout, striped bass, and crappie. Chardonnay is known for pairing well with nutty or buttery flavors, and it also tastes delightful with meaty fish like tuna, halibut, and cod. As journalist and Master of Wine Christy Canterbury said in a Kendall-Jackson post, “Chardonnay is the Meryl Streep of white wines . . .a marvelously versatile white grape variety that can play a diverse array of roles very well.”
Light and dry, Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc wines are characterized by their high acidity, bright citrus aromas, and crisp minerality. These wine styles are the perfect pairings for white, lean fish such as tilapia, cod, snapper, walleye, halibut, and flounder. Because of their acidity, they are especially prized for balancing the fat in fried fish dishes, catfish, striped bass, deep-fried shrimp, fish and chips, and fish tacos. In addition, these refreshing wines taste excellent with seafood salads and most seafood, including sushi, shrimp, lobster, scallops, crab, mussels, clams, and oysters. To learn more about specific fish and wine pairings, visit VinYang.
Yes, you can drink red wines with fish, contrary to popular belief. These light reds are an ideal choice if you’re serving meaty, flavorful, and fatty fish such as tuna, salmon, swordfish, monkfish, marlin, bluefish, or mackerel. Fruity and bright, they can even help tone down the fishiness you can sometimes detect with tuna and salmon. Likewise, rich, tomato-based dishes, paella, and Mediterranean-style fare can stand up remarkably well to light and medium-bodied red wines. In addition to hearty fish, these versatile reds can also complement mussels, oysters, lobster, and delicate poached white fish or salmon. For more on pairing red wine with fish, visit Decanter.
You don’t need a special occasion to break out the bubbly. Sparkling wines like Champagne, Prosecco, and Cava are perfect on their own but take on an entirely new persona when paired with sweet seafood and shellfish like shrimp, lobster, and prawns. They are also surprisingly delicious with fried foods like tempura seafood and even hearty beer-battered fish. The light and lively fizz of sparkling wines help to balance heavy fried foods and elevate the flavors. Champagne and oysters—another classic pairing—deliver a perfect balance between the crisp and satisfying nature of bubbly with the clean and fresh sea-saltiness of oysters. Pair these effervescent wines with cooked shellfish such as scallops, clams, or mussels for a beautifully balanced taste sensation.
Highly versatile and universally popular, blush wines and rosés pair exceptionally well with seafood. Their floral and fruity notes, along with their palatable acidity, bring a beautiful balance to succulent shellfish as well as both subtle and rich seafood. These wines are light and refreshing, so there’s no need to worry that they will ever overpower the delectable flavors of your fresh catch. In fact, they do just the opposite, complementing almost every fish flavor, whether briny or sweet. Plus, they make a crisp substitute for more full-bodied white wines like Chardonnay. Their light blush hues bring delightful color to the table, along with the fresh taste of summer.
For a list of exceptional “No-Fail Seafood & Wine Pairings,” visit Southern Living. Cheers to your delicious culinary adventures at the lake this season—bon appétit!
A day on the lake is all sunshine and relaxation, but owning a boat is more than playing in the water. Proper boat ownership includes maintenance to ensure your vessel’s appearance, longevity, and value. Luckily, there are several tools and cleaners on the market to keep your vessel in pristine condition. Whether you need to remove salt, grime, or mildew, these products are sure to help you.
One of the primary products for boat cleaning is a high-quality boat soap or marine cleaner, like this one from West Marine. These specialized cleaners are designed to effectively remove salt, grime, and other common contaminants found in marine environments. Although formulated to be gentle, this sudsy aid provides thorough cleaning power for exteriors. Boat soaps or marine cleaners are essential for routine maintenance and are typically used for washing the boat’s hull and decks.
Great for both the hull and the floor, this special soap keeps your vessel water ready. But boaters clean a vessel like their teeth — a brush is needed. Most deck brushes feature a multi-bristled head with an extendable body and telescopic handle to reach difficult spots.
One struggle boaters everywhere complain about is mildew. Try as they might, boatowners are bound to miss a spot when cleaning, and that is all it takes for mildew to form. Mildew thrives in damp areas, making vessels a prime location. These boat cleaners remove mildew stains and ward off potential popups. Manufacturers designed these products to be safe on various surfaces and fabrics commonly found on boats. Regular use prevents buildup, eliminates odors, and prolongs the lifespan of cushions and similar items.
Bling Sauce is a brand for and by boaters with a mission to imagine, create, and distribute solutions to boating woes. One of their products, Green Sauce, boasts a biodegradable spray to defeat mildew and mold on your vessel. Their formula is safe for color, vinyl, outdoor fabric, carpet, and fiberglass — all without chlorine, bleach, or ammonia!
Readers may have noticed that most boat cleaning tools tend to be soapy liquids, but they are not just to improve aesthetic appeal. One example is the bilge, an area within the boat that collects and pumps out water. Bilge water may contain salt, oil, fuel, or other contaminants that corrode metal components, such as pumps, wiring, and other mechanical systems. By keeping the bilge clear and removing any water or substances that could cause corrosion, you help protect the boat’s components and reduce unnecessary damage.
No need for a lengthy trip to the store or ordering online, as one common bilge cleaner is in the kitchen. Known globally for its part in assisting with the BP oil spill, Dawn Dish Soap is safe for bilges too. To use Dawn for bilge cleaning, add a fair amount of soap to a bucket of water, include a splash of bleach, and soak below.
Just like cars, it’s important to keep your window clear of grime and gunk. Among other things, a traditional windshield will protect from dirt, bugs, and wind, but the windshield on a boat faces different challenges. On the water, glass must be able to withstand saltwater, sea spray, and other environmental elements. Many boat glass cleaners have additional properties that make them effective at sea. Water-repellent helps bead water, encouraging it to roll off the glass surface, which can be particularly useful when boating in wet or rainy conditions.
Chemical Guys offers a series of sprays and cleaners catered toward boaters, and their product, Marine and Boat Optical Clean Glass Cleaner, reduces scratching, prevents water spots, and works for both tinted and non-tinted glass. After treatment, salt and minerals will be unable to stick onto and dry on applied surfaces.
With the right tools, you can enjoy your time on the water while keeping your boat looking its best.
Are you looking for a healthy and family-friendly alternative to summer cocktails? Then try a mocktail instead. Not surprisingly, mocktails are becoming a delicious option for people who have nixed alcohol altogether—permanently or for a brief sabbatical, like sober January. However, you don’t have to sacrifice flavor when it comes to refreshing summer mocktails. These libations look and taste just as appealing as their boozy cocktail cousins. Plus, they easily transition into a cocktail simply by adding your favorite spirit. This is a perfect all-around summertime fav that everyone—even the kids—can enjoy. Sip these refreshing mocktails on hot afternoons at the lake or while boating when you want to stay hydrated in the sun and feel full of energy for watersports. After all, sunset cocktails are right around the corner if you so desire. So, here are some delicious crowd-pleasing concoctions you can whip up at the lake—cheers!
This vibrant Mango-Kiwi Mocktail combines frozen mango concentrate with kiwi juice, offering a fruity taste sensation as fresh as an island breeze. You can also use freshly blended mango juice if you prefer and slowly pour over ice. Top with kiwi juice, and then add a splash of grenadine that will sink to the center and create beautiful layers. Garnish your refreshing mocktail with a lemon wedge, and sip on a glass of tropical inspiration. Visit Cooking Sense for the ingredients and preparation.
This spicy citrus Ginger-Orange Mocktail is the perfect option when hosting a family gathering or festive summer celebration. You can make this wonderful concoction beforehand and then serve it in a punch bowl or pitcher over glasses of ice. Combine freshly squeezed orange juice—or Satsuma mandarin juice—with chilled pineapple juice and Angostura bitters. Ensure you have enough oranges to garnish your mocktails with thin slices for an extra kick of citrus flavor. Top each drink with ginger beer for a cold and fizzy thirst quencher. For those who prefer a cocktail, add a shot of vodka or gin. Visit Southern Living for the full recipe. Sip, savor, and enjoy.
Who doesn’t love the taste of cold, juicy watermelon on a hot summer day? For these delicious Watermelon Mocktails, you can use either a blender or a cocktail shaker to muddle the watermelon cubes, fresh mint, and lime juice. The tang of the lime juice balances beautifully with the natural sweetness of the watermelon. Strain the mixture into ice-filled glasses and top with sparkling water or kombucha. Add a splash of apple cider vinegar if desired, and garnish with a lime wheel and fresh mint leaves. Visit The Mindful Mocktail for the full recipe.
A Cuban-Spanish classic, the mighty mojito is always a summer specialty. For your next get-together at the lake, mix up a batch of refreshing Mojito Mocktails. Packed with fresh flavor, this variation combines all the ingredients of a traditional mojito without the alcohol, which you add by the glass for those who prefer rum. Blend fresh lime juice with simple syrup, fresh mint leaves, and strips of lime zest. Add ice cubes and sparkling water and divide among four glasses. Garnish with lime slices and mint springs, if desired. You can easily double the recipe to serve a crowd.
Quick Tip: Add your ice cubes and sparkling water just before serving if you don’t want to dilute this fragrant pitcher cocktail. Visit Eating Well for this refreshing recipe.
For a punch of zesty summer flavor, this cooling Fizzy Cranberry-Lemonade Punch offers a quick pitcher drink you can mix up in just five minutes. All you need is a large pitcher, some cranberry juice cocktail, and one container of frozen lemonade concentrate. Stir until blended, and add club soda or seltzer and ice cubes. Garnish with orange slices and fresh cranberries for an extra fruity kick and a colorful presentation. Visit Woman’s Day for this breezy summer recipe.
For a twist on the classic cocktail, this Virgin Cucumber Gimlet delivers all the cool cache of the original. Simply combine club soda, muddled cucumber, fresh lime juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake it up and serve over crushed ice in a rocks glass. Garnish with a rolled cucumber slice and a refreshing finish. For the recipe, visit Town & Country.
This classic tiki drink gives you all the frosty goodness of the original without the liquor. To make these Nonalcoholic Piña Coladas, mix coconut milk, cream of coconut, and agave syrup in a blender for about 20 seconds. Then, add pineapple chunks and lime juice and blend for an additional 30-45 seconds. Add ice and even nonalcoholic rum if you like, and blend until creamy and smooth. Divide the mixture between two tall, stemmed glasses and garnish with pineapple wedges. For some extra zest, make your ice cubes from fresh limes or lemons. This Caribbean favorite is yummy-delicious and offers an instant cool-down in the summer heat. Visit Food Network for the full recipe.
If you want to transform these creative libations into cocktails, add your favorite spirits or liqueurs. For more fantastic summer mocktail recipes, visit Food Network. Cheers to a cool summer at the lake!
If your lake home is currently on the market, or it will be soon, it’s important to know key things about buyers. As a seller, you may have certain home transaction qualifications that are important to you whereas these same priorities may not be important to a homebuyer. Lake Homes Realty’s CEO, Glenn Phillips, has some insight into the top 5 things sellers may care about, but buyers don’t.
What the seller paid: Phrases such as “This is what we paid” usually don’t coincide with what the buyer thinks. They’re looking for the best price. The market will set the price that will sell.
Listed price of nearby homes: What’s listed for and what sells are two different things. You should instead be aware of what the homes are selling for. The buyers are already aware of this.
Personal effort on customizations: The emotional value put into house might mean a lot to you, but for the buyer the same sentimental feeling isn’t there. You personal style isn’t the same as everyone else’s.
Rumors of outlier high prices: Just because your neighbors sold their home as a high outlier doesn’t mean the circumstances will occur for you. You may have priced higher based off a rumor.
Taking low offers personally: No offers are worse than a low offer. Try countering the offer and negotiate during the transaction.
At the end of the day, buyers are ready to jump on some great options. You just have to make sure you go about it in the right way. If you’re ever looking for more help, contact an agent at lakehomes.com. They know how to get buyers and are more than willing to help!
As you’re getting ready to put your lake house on the market, the topic of selling price will always come up. More than likely you will think “Can I get more money for my lake home?” Lake Homes Realty’s CEO, Glenn Phillips, explains a few different ways to help push for that price you want to sell for.
Start with a Market Appropriate Price: Buyers don’t care how much money you have put into the home. Most of the time they will be looking at the current market conditions. When you start at a high price to test the market, it usually does not result in the way you would like.
Be clearly the best VALUE in the area: Don’t automatically make your lake home the lowest price. However, check out surrounding homes and see what’s going on. Are there nicer or newer homes nearby? Are these homes your price or lower? New construction may also become a player in this.
Picture Perfect/Move-In Ready: Whether you already have your home staged or simply have your own property in the house, make sure it appears move-in ready. Buyers typically lack imagining this aspect and this will help you stand out.
Would you buy it today at your price? Each day the house doesn’t sell and remains on the market, you are effectively buying it again at your price. In reality, the only price is that of what someone will pay and what you’re willing to accept. Price accordingly and price from a buyer mindset.
At the end of the day, these 4 tips are useful in getting the best return and sell price for your lake home. , Connect with one of our lake agents today at lakehomes.com and see what they can do!
A foreclosed home on the lake is a rare find. Lake Homes Realty’s CEO, Glenn Phillips shares why your search for one is coming up short.
LakeHomes.com, MLSs, & Other Websites: While homes like these are available on sites like LakeHomes.com, you may have trouble finding them because of how few there are.
Why So Few?
Not the 2008 Market: While inventory spiked during the recession, this was not the case for lake properties. This is because lake homeowners are more financially sound than the average buyer.
Interest Rates Affecting Sellers: Lake homeowners that have a mortgage don’t want to battle with increasing interest rates when buying a new home.
Lenders are Well Positioned: Due to past real estate crises, lenders have policies in place to ensure they work with stable buyers.
Majority Do Not Have a Mortgage: More lake home buyers paying in cash means fewer mortgages and fewer foreclosures.
If you still have your heart set on a foreclosed home, LakeHomes.com will have the few left available!
Purchasing a lake home is not something to take likely. Before you commit to a property, consider these factors from Lake Homes Realty’s CEO, Glenn Phillips.
Bridges?: The location of bridges will impact how convenient it will be to travel around the area. However, the closer you are to one, the closer you’ll be to traffic.
Water Levels?: The water level can vary by lake, season, and time of day. It’s important to know the behavior of your preferred lake, as the changing levels can affect lake activities.
Shoreline Restrictions?: Research the restrictions surrounding the shoreline, as they tend to fluctuate throughout the area.
Land Restriction?: Most lakes are owned by an organization, which means you’ll run into leased-land properties. You’ll have to follow their guidelines when buying these types of homes.
Water Restrictions?: Living by the lake doesn’t guarantee you have free range on the water within it. Check out the rules around water activities, water addition/removal, etc.
When buying a lake home, the property itself isn’t the only thing to consider. Be sure you can live the lake lifestyle you want before you buy!
From lakefront water parks to quaint shopping squares, family-friendly lake towns offer the ultimate vacation experience. Plus, these destinations are situated in various regions of the country, meaning you can find your next favorite vacation spot without driving for days. So if you’re ready to begin this year’s family adventure, check out these top lake towns!
Imagine soaking in picturesque mountain views only an hour from one of the South’s largest cities. This is vacationing at Lake Lanier—a family-friendly lake town surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains and situated near Atlanta. In addition to fishing, boating, and swimming adventures, Lake Lanier boasts the Terminus Wake Park. This thrilling aqua and wake park features an inflatable water playground and cable water sports—perfect for families with kids of all ages. Additionally, Lake Lanier visitors can go whitewater rafting, canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding, and hiking.
Boasting 80 islands, stunning waterfront parks, and intriguing historical sites, Lake Champlain makes for an unforgettable family vacation. On the Vermont side, the lake’s largest waterfront city, Burlington, attracts more than 13 million visitors annually. In addition to enjoying the lake’s parks and beaches, families can browse the town’s quaint shops at Church Street Market Place and bike the eight-mile waterfront trail. Other popular activities include the Ethan Allen Homestead Museum, World’s Tallest Filing Cabinet, Petra Cliffs Climbing Center, and Vermont TeddyBear Factory.
Nothing compares to spending a day at Lake Lure Beach. Showcasing a water park, aquatic games, and a sandy beach, Lake Lure‘s beach will keep the kids entertained for hours. After this, you can round the family up and experience the lake’s pristine waters on the Lake Lure Boat Tours. And the fun doesn’t stop there. Nearby Chimney Rock State Park offers breathtaking mountainous views and contains several hiking trails and the 2nd largest waterfall east of the Mississippi. Plus, after conquering these outdoor excursions, you can grab a bite to eat and explore the shops of Chimney Rock Village.
Offering both recreation and relaxation, these lake destinations provide well-rounded family fun. So no matter which region of the country you want to visit, you can find an excellent location for your next family vacation!
Nearby Chimney Rock State Park offers breathtaking mountainous views and contains several hiking trails and the 2nd largest waterfall east of the Mississippi. Plus, after conquering these outdoor excursions, you can grab a bite to eat and explore the shops of Chimney Rock Village.
