Tag: Lake Wedowee

Hidden Gem Lake Areas to Explore in 2021

Posted on Camille Smith

If you’re actively looking to buy a lake home, you’ve likely come across all the big-name lakes in your searches. If you’re in the southeast, you’ve probably heard of Lake Martin. Or, if you’re a northerner, Lake Michigan tends to stand out.

Regardless of your region, refining your search to exclusively large or most popular lakes is a misstep. In doing so, you’re likely missing out on several hidden gem lakes across the country. Check out these five lake areas that are less known but deserve a big spotlight. 

Lake Wedowee, AL

Photo courtesy of Lake Homes Wedowee.

Officially known as the Harris Reservoir, this hidden gem lake in East Alabama is affordable, secluded, and an easy driving distance from major cities like Birmingham and Atlanta.


Because this lake doesn’t incorporate any urban areas, it has retained a pristine quality. Lake Wedowee is ranked as one of the cleanest lakes in the region by the State and Federal Conservation Services. According to Lake Homes Realty’s Lake Real Estate Market Report, Lake Wedowee is number four in Alabama’s Largest Markets category.  

 

If you’re an angler, you’ll love the bass fishing opportunities along Lake Wedowee’s 270 miles of shoreline. Hiking enthusiasts will enjoy exploring the Talladega National Forest and discovering Mount Cheaha, Alabama’s highest point — 2,407 feet above sea level. And for everyone, the small-town charm of Wedowee is lively and close-knit. Concerts at the Marina and hunting with the Tallapoosa River Hunting Club are just a few of the activity options. 

Lake Hickory, NC

Photo courtesy of HickoryNC.gov.

When it comes to lakes in North Carolina, Lake Norman sometimes eclipses the others because of its size. However, nearby Lake Hickory has attractive qualities. First off, it’s fully recreational, meaning that fishing, boating, water skiing, and other fun lake activities are all on the table. At Sandbar Cove, you can often find boats tied together for conversation or water sports. For anglers, the prospects of bass, channel catfish, and crappie are exciting.

Besides the highly active lifestyle, Lake Hickory is a serene environment with plenty of wildlife and mountain views in every direction. Once you’re here, you can enjoy the peaceful scene from a Lake Hickory Adventures Dinner Cruise — or from your boat dock. If you are looking to build on Lake Hickory, you are in luck! Lake Hickory is ranked number three in North Carolina for having the most land available, as stated in the Lake Real Estate Market Report.

Lake Eufaula, OK

Photo courtesy of wildlifedepartment.com.

Surprisingly, few people know of Lake Eufaula, but it is Oklahoma’s largest lake. Along its 800 miles of shoreline, there are 100 million dollars in available properties, but it’s still a very affordable lake. According to Lake Home Realty’s Lake Real Estate Market Report, Lake Eufaula has the most listings and land available of all the lakes in Oklahoma. With over 600 listings and a variety of properties and price points, you’re sure to find your dream home here. 

 

Once you’ve arrived, there’s no shortage of activities at this hidden gem lake. For starters, Lake Eufaula was dubbed the “bass fishing capital of the world” in 1962, and this reputation still holds firm. This lake is a fishing paradise for those looking to catch largemouth bass, Kentucky bass, sand bass, and crappie. Angling is a year-long sport here, with multiple annual tournaments. For other outdoor recreation, check out Lake Eufaula State Park nearby. 

Chain O’Lakes, IL

Photo courtesy of onlyinyourstate.com.

Because Chain O’Lakes is close to the Chicago market, Midwesterners often overlook it. However, these beautiful, surprisingly affordable lakes deserve a pin on the map. Chain O’Lakes is a 7,000-acre waterway system that encompasses fifteen different lakes, including Pistakee Lake, Fox Lake, and Lake Marie.

Pistakee Lake is ranked number three on the Lake Real Estate Market Report for having the most listings in Illinois. This chain was formed when the Wisconsin glacier melted, creating multiple lakes tied together.


Several of the lakes are interconnected, making this region a boater’s dream. Its proximity to Chain O’Lakes State Park, boasting 23 miles of forested trails, makes it a hiker’s paradise. Each of the lakes has a different feel, so visit our Illinois listings for a full description of each lake in the Chain O’Lakes region.

Paw Paw Lake, MI

Photo courtesy of Paw Paw Chamber of Commerce.

Paw Paw Lake has been a popular resort town since the 1890s. Part of the lake’s appeal is its concealed location in the countryside of Northern Michigan, actually making it a hidden gem lake. Located just outside the farming village of Kalamazoo, Paw Paw Lake has a population of only 3,534. This remarkable lake is surrounded by nature.


Besides the calming landscape, Paw Paw Lake is known for its nearby wineries such as St. Julian and Lawton Ridge. The wineries host an annual wine and harvest festival to celebrate their varietals. If your ideal lake experience is drinking a glass of wine while surrounded by nature, Paw Paw Lake is for you. 

 

Which hidden gem lake do you want to explore first? 

Lake Wedowee Agents Receive National Agents of the Year Award

Posted on Staff

Lake Homes Realty named Terry and Sherrie Norton 2017’s Splash Award recipients at its annual Agent Summit, which took place Oct. 17-20, 2017. Additionally, both members of the Lake Wedowee, AL team are now recognized as Lake Homes Realty Premier Agents.

“We are incredibly honored, humbled and appreciative of this recognition of our hard work,” this year’s winners said. “It is an honor to be chosen from among our fellow agents who all work so hard to attain their goals. It really is an incredible honor.”

The Splash Award Defined

The award, presented to company’s Realty Agent of the Year, is given to the Lake Homes Realty agent, or agent team, with the overall best performance across a number of important accomplishments.

“Winning the Splash Award is an honor and a great way for LHR to say that our company appreciates our hard work,” the Nortons said. “Maintaining and working toward this goal again for the coming year is certainly a great incentive.”

Eligibility is open to agents who have been licensed with Lake Homes Realty for a minimum of 24 months by Aug. 31,2017.

These agents must also have completed at least 12 transactions on either the buyer or seller side of a sale within a 12 month evaluation period, which began Sept. 1, 2016 and concluded on Aug. 31.

Lake Homes Realty CEO, COO and Splash Award Winners holding award plaque
Lake Homes Realty’s Terry (center) and Sherrie (right middle) Norton named 2017 Agents of the Year at annual Agent Summit on Oct. 19, 2017.

Additionally, agents had to have closed $3.5 million or greater in transaction volume during this time in order to gain award eligibility.

“Eligible agents are then ranked, relative to each other, by performance in a number of key areas. These include overall effective commission per side and percent increase of year-over-year transaction volume in dollars,” explained Glenn S. Phillips, Lake Homes Realty CEO.

Additional areas assessed include average number of days it takes from closing to office file completion, total number of sides closed and number of listings in Multiple Listing Services as of Sept, 1, 2017.

Agents are also ranked by total transaction volume closed in dollars.

This volume is defined by sale price apart from the number of sides an agent represents for a given transaction. Referral transactions are not included in the total transaction volume.

Determining the Agent of the Year

To determine the Splash Award winner, the best performance in each of the criteria areas is given one point. The next best performance receives two points, the third receives three points and so forth.

The points from each area are then totaled with the lowest total score named the winner of this prestigious award.

“In the event of a tie in total points, the tie-breaker is determined by the highest transaction volume between those tied during the evaluation period,” Phillips explained.

For 2017, the Splash Award winners and the second best overall performing agent were separated by just one point.

“Lake Homes agents are the special forces unit of real estate industry,” Phillips said. “They are the lake real estate experts and their knowledge and skills continue to be reinforced year-after-year.”

2017 Agents of the Year

“We feel extremely blessed by our past success,” they said. “We have to continue to strive to always do our best.”

During the 12-month evaluation period alone, the team sold more than $7.7 million in lake property.

The Nortons are proven local lake real estate experts who are passionate not about selling property, rather their passion is for selling the lake experience.

Their credibility is further made evident by their relationships among both buyers and sellers. From Sept. 2016 to Aug. 2017, the Premier Agents team represented 55 total sides closed.

The Key is Happy Clients

“Our motto is ‘we work hard for our clients.’ Our clients are our success,” the couple emphasized. “There is great satisfaction in a job well done and in knowing we have provided the best service possible to our clients.”

Additionally, the Nortons’ transaction volume increased by an impressive 44.15 percent in the last year.

“Hopefully clients and potential clients who read about our awards and success will feel confidence in LHR,” they said, “and about our abilities to represent them as they list their home or purchase a new home.

Lake Homes Realty is the largest, lake-focused real estate brokerage in the nation. The company business model focuses on creating a national market reach for local properties and agents.

Phillips and his wife Doris, who serves as Lake Homes Realty’s Chief Operating Officer, shared that treating their agents with respect and confidence in their abilities is paramount to the company’s success.

“We always say we have four clients: the buyer, the seller, the agent, and our staff,” the COO explained. “Just like we want Lake Homes buyers and sellers to be happy with us, we strive to maintain positive relationships with our agents. Their happiness is what drives their success, and ultimately, the success of Lake Homes Realty.”

This mindset is proving its worth as LHR is currently licensed in 16 states, and counting, and belongs to more than 70 MLSs.

“We are so proud to be a member of the LHR team. Simply put, we could not provide the customer service we provide if we did not work for such an amazing company,” the Nortons said. “We can proudly state [Lake Homes Realty] is the leader in lake home sales. We know we work for the best.”