If you’re dreaming of lakefront living, Smith Lake has some exciting new options to explore. From cozy retreats to spacious waterfront homes, these freshly listed properties offer a chance to enjoy scenic views, peaceful surroundings, and the laid-back lifestyle that makes lake living so appealing.
In the world of real estate, the promise of the “perfect stack” is seductive: buy the right tools, connect them, and watch your inefficiencies disappear. But as many operators have discovered, technically connecting your systems isn’t the same as creating a functioning workflow. Often, the result is simply more data silos and endless manual reconciliation.
To navigate this common pitfall, industry leaders are shifting their evaluation criteria. Glenn Phillips, CEO of Lake Homes Realty, offers a pragmatic framework for this challenge, prioritizing return on investment above all else.
“Most evaluations should be about enterprise value created,”…“How it plays with the other systems should simply be part of that value evaluation.” – Glenn S. Phillips
If your tech stack feels more like a burden than a benefit, it might be time to stop adding tools and start asking harder questions about what, exactly, your systems are actually doing for your bottom line.
Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of lake season and is one of the busiest times for lake home searches. Lake Homes Realty’s CEO, Glenn S. Phillips, is optimistic about the lake real estate market nationwide, citing a 10% increase year-over-year. According to Phillips, lake home prices vary dramatically between lakes depending on factors such as luxury development, amenities, and proximity to major metropolitan areas.
Despite the growing demand for lake properties, buyers can still find lake homes for $400,000 or less.
The real estate industry’s biggest challenge isn’t a lack of technology, but the growing disconnect between the many systems, platforms, and data sources companies use. Industry experts explain that disconnected tools create inefficiencies, duplicate work, communication breakdowns, and unreliable data across brokerages, construction, and proptech operations.
The issue goes deeper than simple integration problems. Many business tools are designed around isolated workflows:
“When business tech tools dont talk to each other, the problem is often the tools are designed for a specific silo of work. Different tools often dont talk well to each other because they dont even store or think of data the same way. When the software systems consider data differently, it pressures the humans and now AI too to bridge the gap.” – Glenn S. Phillips
Lake Homes Realty is proud to celebrate Donna Dunevant for winning gold for Best Real Estate Agent and silver for Best Real Estate Company for 2026 in the local community “Best Of Person County” awards featured by The Courier-Times / Person County Life.
This recognition reflects Donna’s dedication to her clients, deep knowledge of the local Hyco Lake and Mayo Lake markets, and longstanding commitment to serving buyers and sellers throughout the community. Known for her professionalism, responsiveness, and personalized approach, Donna has built a reputation for helping clients confidently navigate every stage of the real estate process.
Community-voted awards like this are especially meaningful because they represent the trust and appreciation of the people who know and work with local professionals every day. Being selected as the area’s Best Real Estate Agent highlights the positive impact Donna continues to make through her service and relationships.
At Lake Homes Realty, we are honored to have Donna as part of our team and grateful for the passion and expertise she brings to her clients and community.
Please join us in congratulating Donna Dunevant on this well-deserved achievement.
Donna is an award-winning real estate professional of over 10 years on Hyco Lake, NC. She serves as a REALTOR® for both Lake Mayo and Hyco Lake, where she currently resides.
After a successful career as a business owner, her passion for the lake lifestyle led her to pursue real estate. Her entrepreneurial background drives her strong personal values: a hard work ethic, attention to detail, and a commitment to customer service.
If you’re interested in buying or selling on Hyco Lake or Lake Mayo, NC, Donna is your go-to lake real estate expert.
Nestled on .62 acre, this stunning Lake Murray retreat is a true gem in South Carolina’s real estate market. The property, listed by Doug Giesler of Lake Homes Realty, boasts a beautifully updated residence built in 1999. Featuring two kitchens and two laundry rooms, a great room, a formal living room, a game room, and a pool, this home offers both comfort and convenience for its future owners. Doug Giesler’s expertise and detailed listing provide a glimpse into this exceptional property that combines serene lakefront living with modern amenities.
If you’re dreaming of a unique home that perfectly accommodates multi-generational living, look no further than the expert guidance of Lacey Kilpatrick from Lake Homes Realty. Featured in a recent Realtor.com article, Lacey showcases a stunning barndominium—a stylish, spacious home that blends rustic charm with modern comfort, all within a budget-friendly range. See for yourself why barndominiums are becoming a growing trend.
Recently sold by Lake Homes Realty agent, Michael Murphy, for $2.5 million, this 6-bedroom home on Lake Murray in Lexington, SC, sits on .63 acres and features amazing lake views, as well as a covered patio, screened porch, a dock with a boat lift, a gazebo, and a personal lakeside beach.
In the dynamic world of real estate, understanding market conditions is key to making smart decisions, whether you’re buying or selling. As Michael Murphy, a broker with Lake Homes Realty, wisely points out:
“That’s where I’ve been coaching clients, is that even if they are spending 10 grand on the front-end, you’ll make it back on the back-end, and even make an extra 40.”
This sentiment highlights a crucial aspect of the current market: the significant return on investment that can come from making a property presentable. Murphy further elaborates, stating,
“I wouldn’t say it’s a buyer’s market, but it’s not a seller’s market either. There’s still a lack of inventory, but you can’t not have it presentable.”
This insightful perspective offers a valuable roadmap for anyone looking to enter or exit the real estate arena. It suggests that while inventory might be tight, the condition and appeal of a home are paramount.
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