Mineral, VA

Winter "buyers" are almost always SERIOUS BUYERS. Most buyers that are out looking at properties at Lakek Anna during the winter months and especially during the holidays are usually goal oriented. They are looking at the calendar and realize that if they begin looking now they will have a very good chance of finding something well before the recreational season begins. By recreational I'm talking specifically about the water oriented activities. Many of the other activities can be done year round or almost year round.

There are many times buyers' thoughts turn to warm weather and having fun even in the midst of winter.

Sellers interested in getting their home sold should be aware that someone asking to see it this month is very likely to be a real possibility. Most people are too busy to add extraneous homes to their list. They are generally focused on making the best use of their time and that means selecting the homes that best meet their needs.

Some Lake Anna sellers believe that it is better to take their homes off the market because not as many buyers are looking. That has some truth to it. However, if there are less homes on the market and someone serious is looking they might find your home fits their needs and you have gotten it sold before all the competition floods the market.

It is hard to know exactly when a home will sell so perhaps taking advantage of winter's serious buyers may prove to be the right way to go.

MARKET REPORT - LAKE ANNA...Waterfront Lots SOLD in Louisa County in 2011

There are three counties bordering Lake Anna. They are Louisa, Spotsylvania, and Orange Counties. Both Louisa and Spotsylvania encompass the majority of the countryside around Lake Anna while Orange County covers a much smaller section in the northwest area of the lake. This market report lists the 24 waterfront lots sold during 2011.

Waterfront lots are located along the shore. When we talk about waterfront lots we are actually including three categories:

1. Waterfront - Direct access to the lake
2. Shared Waterfront - Generally at the back of a cove where 4-5 lots share a limited amount of shoreline with joined boat slips rather than individual docks)
3. Park Waterfront - Located next to the common area within the subdivision. The lot has access through the common area to the lake and does not have separate shoreline for boatshelter, etc. It probably has a boat slip in the common area.

Prices generally range from below $100,000 to several hundred thousand dollars for appoximately one acre of land. Price is naturally based on a number of factors. They include:

• View of Lake Anna - Not all waterfront lots have house sites with views of the water
• Amount of shoreline
• Depth of water
• Location - Amount of boat traffic, unobstructed view,
• Lot condition - degree of slope to water
• A boat shelter or dock
• Community amenities

Things that do not determine market value:

• Whether it is on the main lake or on the private side
• County location

Waterfront lots have had to compete with resale homes which have undergone a fair amount of depreciation. As a result, many buyers are foregoing the purchase of a lot, deciding on a house plan, and going through the actual process of new home construction. There has also been a decrease in the number of builders constructing spec homes on waterfront lots during the recent downturn in the real estate market.

Information obtained from the Metropolitan Regional Information System (MRIS) and is deemed to be reliable.

An Active Rain member slams REALTORS®...I'm almost at a loss for words, but not quite and I'm more than happy to tell you why. I just finished reading a blog by an Active Rain member, Home Inspector Mike Chamberlain, telling home buyers that we are manipulative and liars. Excuse me?

Anyone that purports to understand REALTOR® Speak and yet so misunderstands it is pretty dangerous especially when they write a blog for buyers. Dangerous in the sense that it is far from accurate. Why am I writing this here and not in a comment on Mike's blog? Could be because he disabled comments. I wonder why.

Here are a few examples Mike is sharing on his public post:

“Here’s a list of 3 inspectors”
Really means: All 3 have been carefully screened and none of them will find any problems with the home.

“We’ve been referring this inspector for years”
Really means: He is 65 years old, going blind, can’t climb a ladder and can’t fit into a crawlspace.

“Here is our preferred vendors list, you can find an inspector on here”
Really means: Everyone on it has paid money to be on the list.

“This inspector is not nitpicky”
Really means: He will tell you that heaved sections of concrete are a cosmetic issue.

“This inspector can schedule an inspection on a day’s notice”
Really means: He is sleeping with the agent.

There are several more if you enjoyed reading these.

Guess you may have figured that it got my Irish up. That's right! It's bad enough that REALTORS® get more bad press than we deserve but it is very unfortunate when an affiliate member of our industry tries so hard to undermine us.

I am sure that you feel you are doing a service to buyers. I do not think you are. I know many REALTORS® that do have integrity and do put the best interest of their clients first. The CODE OF ETHICS is very important to them and to me and we try very hard to uphold it.

BTW I have never taken a kickback for any type of service I have recommended to my clients.

I live and work in a small community. I have been a REALTOR® for many, many years and plan to continue. There is no way I would tell my clients lies. As a buyer's agent it is always my intent to find the best home inspector to do the job. Problems arising after settlement are troublesome for the buyer and trouble for me. I don't look for trouble. These buyers become my friends and neighbors here at Lake Anna. I much prefer happy, satisfied friends and neighbors. I take pride in my work and guard my reputation carefully.

Do I think I'm the exception? NO WAY!

During November 2011,10 homes sold at Lake Anna. As you can see five of the homes were water access with prices ranging from a low of $89,900 to a high of $289,900 for a home that has access from the rear of the property directly through the common area to the lake. Waterfront homes ranged from $242,000 to a high of $799,000 for a home that was on the market for only a few days and sold for full price showing once again that a well priced home can sell quickly.

This past month's sales of 10 homes compared to 12 total during the same time in 2010. Eight water access homes sold for a low of $140,000 to a high of $362,000 for a shared waterfront home with views of the lake. Four waterfront homes ranged from $295,000 to $500,000.

In November 2009 we saw the sale of nine homes, five access homes and four waterfront homes. The off water homes sold between $232,500 to $377,000 which was a shared waterfront homes while the waterfront homes ranged from $510,000 to $799,900.

Lake Anna is made up of two parts, the main lake which has pubic access by way of several marinas and Lake Anna State Park and the private side. The private side is made up of three lagoons connected by channels but separated from the main lake by three dikes. Boat traffic cannot pass from one side of the lake to the other. Both sides have their benefits and most people are very happy with the side where their property is located. Both sides are popular. The main lake is larger, with over 9,400 surface acres of water while the private side has approximately 3,600.

Private Side 10 Sales - Main Lake 24 Sales

As you can see, more homes were sold on the main lake. That is due in large part to the fact that there are more homes on the main lake. The private side covers less land as well as having less water. When looking for a home or land many buyers begin their search with thoughts of living on one side or the other, often because they have visited or know someone that has property here and they usually recommend that particular side to the buyer. However, most buyers become open to the exploring possibilities on both sides. The important thing is to find the particular house or land that is right for you.

Owning property at Lake Anna is a treat for most of us and as one that has spent considerable time on both sides I'd have to say we are all fortunate whereever we live here.