Doris Phillips, Chief Operating Officer of Lake Homes Realty, was featured in the May/June 2017 edition of Realtor® Magazine.
The feature article, entitled “On Golden Ponds,” is the latest installment in a periodic series of featuring the nation’s most successful and innovative real estate brokers.
The article highlights Phillips’ growth in real estate through the years. This includes a number of years in title insurance and real estate closings. In 2004, she founded her own title insurance agency, RealSource.
The article also offers an inside look at the unique history of Lake Homes Realty and LakeHomes.com, including how the business was designed using a new brokerage business model.
A Unique Real Estate Company
Featuring licensed agents in multiple states, Lake Homes Realty provides robust agent and client support using a high-tech support center.
Lake Homes Realty COO, Doris Phillips
Instead of the overhead of multiple brick-and-mortar offices, Lake Homes Realty instead invests more heavily in better marketing for its clients and agents across the country.
In addition to COO, Doris is also National Director of Brokerage Operations. She manages all aspects of the company’s brokerage operations, including licensing, contracts and commissions.
“I’m honored that Realtor Magazine wanted to share our story,” said Phillips. “We work hard to be very meaningful to our agents, buyers and sellers. And we strive to think beyond ‘how its always been done’ to find more and more ways to serve.”
Realtor Magazine
Realtor Magazine has a print distribution that reaches more than 1 million readers nationwide as well as an active online presence.
When you hear “lake home,” those words can conjure various images. Contrary to popular belief, not all lake homes are waterfront homes.
As a matter of fact, many people who own lake houses aren’t even close to the waterfront! Because of this, many lake homes are more affordable than you might think.
There are three major types of lake property: lakefront, lake access, and lake community. Each has its pros and cons, both functionally and financially.
Waterfront Property
Lakefront, also known as “waterfront,” property extends to the shore of the lake itself.
It offers the most prestige, the most access, and a direct line to the lake right out your door.
Lakefront property can be incredibly beautiful, and there’s nothing like looking out your back patio directly onto the calm waters of the lake in the evening.
Naturally, such prestige comes with a high price tag. Waterfront property is significantly more expensive than similar property, even a block away from the water.
It also brings with it many more responsibilities.
Waterfront property is the most vulnerable to flooding, erosion, and inclement weather. There are often special insurance requirements, and upkeep can be a significant commitment of time and money.
If you plan to build or improve on waterfront property, make sure your plans fit with the local regulations. Many lakes have restrictions on docks, signage, and landscaping.
Since there is a limited amount of shoreline on each lake, property on the water’s edge often appreciates the fastest.
Waterfront is also very attractive to vacationers. This can pay dividends if you intend to rent it out.
Waterfront property is perfect for those who have their heart set on the water’s edge and have the time and money to maintain it.
Lake View Property
“Lake view” property, also known as “lake access,” is near the water but does not extend to the lake itself.
This property can be a literal stone’s throw away from the water and is often just as picturesque as the lakefront.
Prices vary from lake to lake, but lake view property is typically much less expensive than lakefront.
Lake view property isn’t as scarce, doesn’t have the same water access, and doesn’t have the convenience or prestige of being directly on the waterfront.
At the same time, a lake view can give many of the benefits of a waterfront at a fraction of the cost or the headaches.
Owners still typically have easy access to the lake without needing to maintain their own stretch of shoreline. Weatherproofing and maintenance costs aren’t as significant, either.
Most lake communities have options for those who live on the lake to enjoy its benefits. Marinas can store boats until you need it, and there are usually access points for swimming, fishing and water sports.
If you want a property close to the water’s edge but have a limited budget, a lake view property may be for you.
Lake Community
Most lakes have neighborhoods arrayed about them. Many of these homes aren’t within clear view of the water’s edge but are still very much part of the lake community.
Homes situated in a lake community a short distance from the water can cost a fraction of waterfront property.
Nicole Anderson Walters, a Lake Homes Realty agent specializing in real estate on Logan Martin Lake, Alabama, offered, “you can save money by being in a lake view or lake access neighborhood. Many have water views and community areas with boat launch.”
“Where a home may cost you $89 per square foot off the water, the same home could cost upwards of $168-$200+ per square foot directly on the water,” she added. “You can often find a much nicer home off the water with amenities in the neighborhood.”
Depending on the size of the lake, these neighborhoods can range from high-end gated communities to condos and cabins to retirement communities and everyday suburbs.
These lake communities are often a short drive to a short walk or drive to the lake itself but still have easy access to fishing, swimming, boating, and other lake activities.
As an added benefit, most avoid many of the upkeep costs and restrictions associated with lakefront property.
Many communities are also situated near state parks, landmarks, shopping centers, and other attractions. If these appeal to you more than living near the water, look for lake communities within a short distance of the lake.
Find what works for you!
Every lake is different.
In addition to those listed here, market prices can vary greatly between lakes. If you can’t find the kind of property you are looking for at one lake, look for others nearby.
If you are selling your home, chances are your real estate agent has spoken with you about an open house.
These are an excellent way to get prospective homebuyers in the door and get them talking to your selling agent.
If you are still living in your home, this can be tricky.
Here are some tips to help you work with your realtor and make your property as appealing as possible.
Clean, Clean, Clean
Now is the time to do all the spring cleaning you’ve been putting off, and then some. Vacuum, mop, clean the floors, wipe down the countertops and more.
Don’t neglect any out-of-the-way areas like the guest bedrooms, bathrooms or the garage, either. This is the time to clean the grout, tile, fixtures and appliances.
Remove the sources of any unpleasant odors. Even faint odors from a pantry, cigarette smoke or garbage disposal can often turn buyers off.
Especially if you have pets, vacuum the carpet, drapes and upholstery. Buyers with pet allergies won’t want to stay long otherwise!
If you don’t want to handle the cleaning all by yourself, consider hiring a cleaning service for a good, deep clean.
De-clutter
Buyers are attracted to properties where they can imagine themselves moving in as soon as possible.
Help this process along by removing any day-to-day clutter that might distract them from those happy thoughts.
Put away things such as laundry, dishes, bills, children’s homework or pet projects.
Make sure the dishwasher and sink are empty, and all trash cans are empty, even those in the bathrooms or garage.
When possible, you should also remove any prominent personal items. You want buyers to imagine your property as their new home.
Family photos, quirky fridge magnets, religious icons and sports memorabilia can make that difficult.
If removing framed photos leaves a big empty spot on the wall, you can temporarily replace them with a simple painting or other generic decoration.
Let the Sun Shine In
Homes look their best, and their biggest, when they are open and well-lit.
Turn on every light in the house, other than those that cause noise, such as lights wired to kitchen exhaust fans.
Clean your windows and pull back the curtains, as well. If bushes or trees obscure the view, consider trimming them back.
Open windows always make a house look larger, especially in the living room.
Don’t let Rover come over
If you have pets, try to remove them during the open house, especially dogs.
Dogs can be very anxious or excited around visitors, especially if you aren’t there. No matter how friendly they are, your furry friends might give the wrong impression.
If you simply can’t remove your pets, for whatever reason, confine them to a specific part of the property, such as the garage.
Make sure they won’t bark or scratch at the door, and that your realtor is comfortable being alone with them.
Whatever you do, do not lock pets in sought-after areas such as the master bedroom. The entire point of your open house is to give buyers an in-person look at the property!
Protect your Belongings
Ideally, you will have several strangers looking and moving through your house. Make sure your belongings and valuables are kept safe.
Your realtor can’t be everywhere at once.
Remove or secure any jewelry, medication, electronic tablets and other valuables that might “walk off.”
If you aren’t sure where to put them, simply pack them in the trunk of your car until afterwards.
After the open house, double-check your doors and windows to make sure they are still locked.
Remember the Great Outdoors
Mow, trim, weed and wash!
Your front yard is the first thing visitors will see when they pull up. Make sure your lawn is already mowed, with the grass clippings blown or swept away.
Trim any bushes and remove any low hanging tree limbs that need removal.
If your house has vinyl siding or a brick exterior, this is the perfect time to give it a pressure wash.
This is doubly true for walkways, steps, and driveways. Removing a few years of grime and mildew can make your home stand out!
Don’t neglect the back yard, either. Visitors will certainly look there!
Put away any tools, children’s toys, lawn care equipment and other clutter. Outdoor furniture is a plus, but make sure yours is clean and doesn’t have any mildew or standing water in it.
If mosquitos are a problem in your neighborhood, light a few citronella candles in discreet places so they don’t harass your guests.
Leave!
This may go against your instincts, but most buyers are far more comfortable speaking with an agent, without the homeowner present.
Even if they don’t buy the house, they can often give your agent useful feedback that they might not give you directly.
Give your selling agent a complete rundown on anything they need to know, and let them work their magic.
If your home is a lake home, a selling agent who specializes in lake property can be a huge help with the lake-specific aspects of this process. Visit the Find a Lake Agent page on Lakehomes.com to find one in your area.
And be sure to check out our lake home specific open house article for additional advice and tips.
When it’s time to sell, you’ll want your investment to impress buyers and earn top dollar.
A real estate agent can suggest ways to make the process go smoothly, but all homeowners can take some basic steps even without professional help.
Here are five important steps to take when you’re ready to sell your house.
1. Declutter
Remove knickknacks, toys and other belongings that clutter the rooms in your house to make the spaces seem larger and more open.
Buyers will also have fewer distractions as they walk through the home.
Don’t plan on shoving your clutter into closets, though, because potential buyers will open closet doors as they tour your house. If you have a lot of clutter and find it hard to get organized, consider temporarily renting storage space for some of your belongings.
2. Repair damaged items
If you have small issues, such as holes in walls or lights that don’t work, now’s the time to fix them.
To get an idea of what you need to repair, walk through your home and imagine yourself as a buyer, or walk through with a friend you can trust.
Are there defects that you’ve learned to overlook but that would catch your attention when seeing them for the first time?
You’ll also want to make sure you correct major issues that a buyer may not see immediately, such as problems with the heating and cooling system, before you put your home on the market.
A potential buyer will probably hire a home inspector before closing. If the inspector finds problems, the sale could be put on hold until they’re resolved.
3. Deep clean
Go beyond your weekly cleaning routine.
Every surface a potential buyer sees is a surface that needs to be clean. Messy spaces could send the message that you don’t take care of your home, and it could make potential buyers wonder what else is wrong with the property.
A deep cleaning means shampooing carpets, washing windows and cleaning tile grout throughout the house.
Pay special attention to bathrooms; make sure fixtures are sparkling and wipe out any dirt rings or mold patches.
Keep up the cleaning routine while your home is on the market. If you’re pressed for time, consider hiring a weekly cleaning service.
4. Plan pleasing scents
You probably don’t want buyers who enter your home to catch lingering odors from last night’s dinner.
For a nicer aroma, add fragrances around the kitchen and throughout your home.
The smell of freshly baked cookies is pleasant for many buyers. If you prepare a batch just before a showing — and offer them to the buyer and real estate agent — you could make your home stand out.
There’s no need to worry if you’re not much of a baker.
A few well-placed sticks of cinnamon or citrus fruit, such as oranges, can also produce a refreshing scent.
In fact, a 2013 study published in the Journal of Retailing and reported by the Wall Street Journal determined that a simple orange aroma encouraged buyers to spend more money at a home decor store, compared with other scents.
5. Stage your home
Your decor expresses your personality, but home shoppers may have different tastes.
Consider changing the decor to appeal to a large number of buyers. This practice is known as “staging,” and it could mean you rearrange furniture, tone down dramatic wall paint with more neutral colors or even rent new pieces of furniture until the home is sold.
In a 2015 National Association of Realtors report on home staging, 52 percent of buyers agents reported that their buyers were willing to increase the amount of money offered for a staged home compared with a similar property.
You could ask your real estate agent for design suggestions and stage your home on your own. Or if you’d prefer a professional home stager, your agent may be able to suggest someone.
You can also contact the Real Estate Staging Association for names. The survey showed the median amount homeowners paid for staging services was $675.
Take note of these five steps to get your home ready to sell before you put it on the market. The effort you make repairing, cleaning and staging can pay off big when a buyer makes an attractive offer on your house.
NerdWallet is a Lake Homes Realty / LakeHomes.com content partner providing real estate news and commentary. Its content is produced independently of Lake Homes Realty and LakeHomes.com.
Lake Homes Realty is excited to announce the company is now licensed by the State of Maryland as a full-service real estate brokerage.
Maryland is the company’s tenth state for brokerage operations and the third new state to open operations this year.
Lake Homes Realty’s primary focus will be area lake real estate. This includes property and homes with lake front, lake view, lake access and lake oriented communities.
“We are excited that our rapid company growth has brought us to Maryland. This is a great market and one that we know we can help grow even more,” said Lake Homes Realty’s CEO Glenn S. Phillips.
Maryland Lake Real Estate
In addition to tens of thousands of lake homes for sale across the country, the company’s website LakeHomes.com provides online property listings on several Maryland lakes.
The properties listed for sale on these Maryland lakes are automatically updated each day to ensure the most accurate information.
Additionally, this up-to-date information can be accessed by potential buyers across the country.
Since lake home buyers are rarely local, this national exposure to buyers provides an advantage to lake home owners who are selling their property.
Likewise, lake home buyers appreciate a website dedicated to lake real estate that provides comprehensive and accurate lake-focused property data.
Unlike many web-based portals, Lake Homes Realty is not an advertising company. It is a full-service real estate brokerage with its own licensed expert lake real estate agents.
Growth Plans for Maryland
Phillips shared the brokerage operations team is already in discussion with experienced real estate agents in Maryland about joining Lake Homes Realty.
However, unlike brokerages that seek as many agents as possible, Lake Homes Realty intentionally limits the number of agents per brokerage.
“We believe that a small number of service-focused, lake expert agents can serve our clients better than an army of agents,” Phillips explained. “Furthermore, we continue to make significant investments to help our agents succeed in this unique market segment. Together we can provide the most convenient expert service and marketing for lake home buyers and sellers.”
About Lake Homes Realty
Lake Homes Realty is a full-service, multi-state real estate company focusing on lake homes and land.
Headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, the firm is one of the fastest growing real estate companies in the country.
Currently, Lake Homes Realty is a licensed real estate brokerage in ten states, including its home state of Alabama. The business is growing rapidly, with additional state brokerages coming soon.
The company was recently recognized by the Birmingham Business Journal as the 8th fastest growing company in Birmingham. This is the second year in a row to achieve this ranking. For more information, visit http://www.lakehomes.com/
Buying a home in some markets is like being in a gladiator ring. Multiple rounds of showings and getting into — and losing — bidding wars can leave you feeling defeated.
If you’re growing weary of wading through an increasingly shrinking inventory of resales, there’s another possibility worth considering: buying new construction.
Although the pace of new construction has lagged demand in recent years, total housing starts are projected to increase by 6.1 percent in 2016 compared with 2015, says Stephen Melman, director of economic services for the National Association of Home Builders.
Much of that gain is likely to come from the single-family sector, which is expected to grow 11.3 percent. Also, new single-family home sales are forecast to rise 13.6 percent this year to 571,000, Melman says.
Tired of sitting on the sidelines when it comes to buying a home? Here are four smart reasons to invest in new construction:
1. You get to customize your home
Not all of us are blessed with an interior designer’s touch.
With a new home, you pick from expert-selected features, floor plan, housing lot, community and more, so you don’t have to agonize over an extensive remodel to get the house of your dreams.
Margaret Garry and her husband, Stephen Hawkins, recently built a new home on Austin’s bustling east side.
They decided the upfront investment made more sense than spending excess time and money to constantly fix an older home, Garry says. To stay within budget, though, they avoided unnecessary upgrades that would have added thousands to their final price tag.
“When we tried to determine what options to include in our house, we started off by listing everything we wanted, and we came in about $20,000 over budget,” Garry says.
To save money, they ultimately pared down extras that they didn’t need, such as an optional living room fireplace and a utility sink in the laundry room.
2. You might get builder incentives
Believe it or not, there’s a bit of flexibility in the negotiation process with a builder.
Although some things won’t change, such as lot premiums or the price of adding certain designer upgrades, builders will sweeten the deal with money-saving incentives to close a sale, Melman says.
For instance, some builders offer to pay closing costs or loan fees, absorb financing points, or provide options or upgrades for free or reduced cost, he says.
If you don’t see incentives advertised, ask about them. Don’t assume that they’re not available.
3. You likely will get a builder warranty
Most new homes typically come with a builder warranty to cover common post-construction issues that the builder is responsible for correcting, so you don’t have to pay out of your pocket for those fixes, says Craig LeMessurier, senior director of corporate communications at KB Home, one of the nation’s largest homebuilders.
“Resales don’t come with a warranty,” says LeMessurier, whose company offers a 10-year building warranty on new homes.
When you talk to sales associates at new-home communities, ask what that builder’s warranty does and doesn’t cover so there are no surprises later, LeMessurier says.
4. You can finance through the builder — or any lender you choose
Some builders provide a one-stop shop for you to build and finance through them directly or via a preferred lender.
For instance, Garry and her husband chose the latter route because the affiliated lender offered them significant closing-cost assistance that other lenders couldn’t match.
A few things to keep in mind about new-construction financing: Some lenders offering new-home loans might also require higher down payments, an excellent credit score and consistent payment history.
Additionally, if you get outside financing, your lender will check your builder’s credit and background to assess its level of risk in case the builder bails on the contract.
This article was written by NerdWallet and was originally published by Redfin.
NerdWallet is a Lake Homes Realty / LakeHomes.com content partner providing real estate news and commentary. Its content is produced independently of Lake Homes Realty and LakeHomes.com.
Every real estate market, in any economy, has a number of homeowners dismayed about their home not selling. These houses just sit on the market. They become stale inventory, frustrating the home seller, real estate agents, and even buyers (yes, buyers).
Over the last three years, I’ve had the very unique opportunity to travel to a number of states and have multi-hour, face-to-face conversations about local real estate markets with scores of real estate agents. Some work with our brokerage, many with other brokerages.
These agents may work in urban, suburban, or rural markets. A lot of these agents work in my niche of real estate: lake homes and land. However, I have also spent a very significant time with agents who focus on typical primary residential homes.
The Two Reasons for a Home Not Selling
One topic I find interesting to discuss is the number of homes listed for sale for long periods of time, longer than should be expected. What factors lead to a home not selling? Here is something I’ve learned, something that is very consistent across every market.
There are ONLY two reasons for a home not selling in a reasonable amount of time. Only two. Either:
1. The home lacks proper market exposure and/or
2. The home is not priced appropriately.
That’s it. Every other issue will fall as a subset of one of these two reasons.
Lack of Proper Market Exposure
One reason for a home not selling is it has not been marketed correctly. The homeowner and their agent are trying to sell a secret! If the potential buyers of this property don’t know it exists, the price is irrelevant. You can’t even give away something if no one knows about it.
By “not marketed correctly,” I don’t necessarily mean not marketed at all. The home must be marketed to THE RIGHT prospective buyers.
For instance, a “For Sale” sign in the yard may look great but the neighbors and their friends are rarely going to buy that home. How do you reach the buyer who is somewhere else than around the corner?
Lack of precision marketing is one of several reasons why For-Sale-By-Owner homes are typically much slower to sell. These homes may not be on the local MLS (Multiple Listing Service) which feeds a host of real estate websites. Even if the home is listed in the MLS, there may not be enough other marketing efforts to break through the thousands of homes typically for sale in each market.
While in a few markets an open house may be a viable marketing tool, this typically makes the seller feel happy but often does little to find the right buyers. The same can be said about much of the local print advertising.
What Creates Proper Market Exposure
The most productive marketing in today’s world of real estate is online marketing coupled with strong agent presence. By online, I’m not limiting this to a Multiple Listing Service and websites like Zillow and Realtor.com.
I’m talking about very focused marketing for homes directed at the correct potential buyers.
This targeted marketing uses an understanding of the age, financial status and motivation of the right buyers for each particular home.
Highly targeted online marketing can include specialty websites, targeted online ads, and targeted and boosted social media engagement. And these are rarely free, even if it is just the significant time required to present the home and community correctly to the targeted buyer population.
Want to sell a home? First, make sure the most likely buyers can easily learn about it.
Home is Not Priced Appropriately
When I say a home is not priced appropriately, I don’t necessarily mean that it must be the lowest price in its local market. (Although rare, I’ve seen instances were even underpricing created problems. But that is a story for another day).
Instead, an appropriately priced home will be seen as reasonably priced when all other factors are considered.
Those factors include house condition, neighborhood, school system, local real estate market conditions, location, lot size, traffic, next-door neighbors, house age, nearby culture/restaurants/shopping/parks, historical significance, public services and a host of other items.
If there are problems with the home, smart pricing can overcome those issues. No matter how bad the issues are with a home, pricing can still make the home appealing to someone.
Let’s consider a home for sale with reasonable market exposure.
If that home has been on the market for a period as short as two weeks without much buyer interest, the market is speaking. No, correction… the market IS YELLING! The market is letting the seller know the home is not appropriately priced. Period.
Buyers Understand Prices (Better than Most Sellers)
Today’s buyers are savvy. They research online, they watch home prices, and they know an overpriced home quickly. You WILL NOT fool these buyers into even touring a significantly overpriced home. Their time is valuable and house hunting starts at home (or, admit it, at work) on the Internet.
Even if you do fool buyers into coming to see an overpriced home with careful photography and crafty descriptions, if the home is much less than the buyers expect, you will piss them off for wasting their time. They will feel deceived and likely never make an offer.
Buyers are often much better than sellers at understanding the reality of homes not selling. When setting the price of a home, the smart seller will work hard to think like the informed buyers, avoiding the emotional (and false) price justifications.
The Danger of Starting High then Cutting the Price
A home seen as overpriced will be left by buyers to soften… or rot.
Even if price drops begin, this signals to the home buyers they can continue to wait. They know more price drops will be coming (even when the seller has not realized it yet).
As more time passes, even with price cuts, the home now develops a compounding problem. “What’s wrong with it? Why has it been on the market for so long?”
A high number of “Days on Market” can lead even newly interested buyers to avoid the home, regardless of price, out of doubt or fear of an unknown issue.
Repeated price cuts also suggests to buyers that the seller is willing “to make a deal.” So when buyers finally do decide to make an offer, they will often make a very low offer, genuinely expecting the seller to continue price cutting.
Over time, multiple price drops signal that price cuts are (finally) acceptable to the seller, so buyers will expect another big price cut before they buy. And the seller has themselves to blame for the home not selling, as they repeatedly helped train the buyers to think this way.
Even in markets with a large number homes that are not selling, many buyers can and will wait until the market prices adjust downward.
Sellers who believe they are smarter than the market (that is, smarter than the buyers) often win the “prize” of keeping their house (and its associated expenses) for even longer.
How To Get a Home Sold
There are many factors that can help sell a house quickly and for a satisfactory price.
The key is that, when all things are considered, the home is directly marketed to the correct potential buyers and the price makes this house one of the best values in that neighborhood.
If you use a real estate agent, don’t just pick a friend or a friend-of-a-friend. Evaluate them. Find out how they really will market the home. See if they know who the likely buyer will be AND how to reach them. Your agent should have a process, a success history, and be able to communicate all of this very clearly.
Forget the emotional “logic” of house pricing. Use current market data about SOLD homes (not list prices) to set a price the buyer will believe is reasonable.
Want a higher price for your home? Then do real improvements to increase the real and perceived value. Make sure the home and yard is in great condition, clean, well-staged, smells great, and feels bright. Be sure the right buyers know all this through accurate and truthful marketing. Hire an agent who can target market and is up-to-date on marketing techniques.
Even when done right, finding a home buyer for your home can take some time. Increase the odds of a timely sale by pricing appropriately and marketing directly to the right buyers.
Greater Challenges when Selling a Lake Home
Niche property, such as lake real estate, can make the market exposure and pricing challenges become even more obvious. The buyers for such property are rarely local, so exposure to the right buyers in other cities and states is critical.
Furthermore, lake home and land values vary more than in typical residential real estate markets. This makes it very hard for home owners (and inexperienced lake agents) to determine the correct marketable price.
If you have a lake home or land you are simply considering selling or your home is not selling, you may need more expert help. The nation’s largest lake-focus real estate company, Lake Homes Realty, has agents in many lake markets. These lake real estate agents and brokers can give you market-specific advice and expert guidance.
A Lake Homes Realty agent can also help you determine if now is a good time to sell and provide unique information about the current market price expectations. They have access to technology to help your home be found by buyers from other cities and states (as many buyers for lake real estate are not local). You can learn more at Selling a Lake Home.
Whether a home is located downtown, in the suburbs, in a rural market or in a specialty niche like lake real estate, the reasons a home does not sell are rarely complicated. The right buyers have to know about it AND the property has to be priced within the market’s current and real expectations. Period.
Trying (or rather pretending) to sell otherwise is usually a waste of time and, typically, money.
Lake Martin’s number one, most expensive property was listed at $5.75 million. This lake home features two pools, two kitchens and one-thousand feet of shoreline.
Ringing in at number two was a $5.2 million home on Lake Tuscaloosa. With a total of 21 rooms, 3.4 acres, a pool, hot tub and 450 feet of shoreline this home is fun for all.
The prices range between $3 and $4 million until dropping to $2.3 million at number five on the list of most expensive Alabama lake homes on the market.
Logan Martin Lake had a $2 million listing with seven bedrooms and six baths that is currently being used as a bed-n-breakfast and wedding venue.
Alabama Lake Homes
This list does not reflect the value of all homes, simply the list prices of lake homes currently on the market at the time of the report. A number of lakes across Alabama have equally impressive homes, and these lake houses do appear on the market periodically.
The full list of price ranges and features of the 10 most expensive Alabama lake homes currently on the market as of August 8, 2016 can be found on AL.com.
Doris Phillips, Chief Operating Officer of Lake Homes Realty, was featured in the May/June 2017 edition of Realtor® Magazine.
