Karen Frederick, Lake Property Specialist

Make Your Move to the Country In This Spacious Home Located on Over an Acre Just North of Lakeland High School in LaGrange Indiana

View Slideshow of Photos

• Over 3,000 Square Feet
• 1 Acre Lush Green Lawn with Irrigation System
• Professional Landscaping
• 4 Bedrooms and 3 Baths
• 3 Car Attached Garage
• Master Suite has dual sinks, shower, whirlpool tub
• Full Basement
• Entertainment Area Features Wet Bar and Pool Table

Stop by Sunday at 1890 E 150 N

in LaGrange, Indiana

Just North of Lakeland High School

LaGrange County Habitat for Humanity

Starts Our 19th Home!

We arrived Saturday morning hoping the cold drizzle would end. The basement had been dug and the foundation was finished by local contractors. The rain soon stopped for the rest of the day.

There were over 80 volunteers who showed up to help. There were locals and folks from out of state. The age of volunteers ranged from teenagers to senior citizens. Some volunteers make their living building homes and some were picking up a hammer for the first time. It's fun to watch the sense of accomplishment on the faces of those who are learning.

In the true spirit of Habitat for Humanity, families we have partnered with in the past come to help build the home with the new family.

The walls are assembled and then carried to the house.

By 10:00 am, 3 exterior walls were set.

In the next hour, roof trusses were put in place and we were wrapping the exterior walls. This will be our second energy star rated home!

When we stopped for lunch at noon, it was really looking like a house!

When we finished for the day at 4:00, the roof was 1/2 shingled, and the windows were in. The exterior walls were sealed and ready for siding.

The large turnout of volunteers meant we got further than we ever had on the first build day. All of the interior walls were built and set in place! I'm always amazed at how much can be accomplished by a group of volunteers in a single day! I just can't describe how wonderul it feels to work with a family to build their first home. It is such an emotional day for everyone involved.

Just like they did last year, the KZ-RV employees showed up the following Friday and spent the day working. They built the back porch, shingled the other 1/2 of the roof and put the siding on the house. There are photos from that day, and our second build day at LaGrange County Habitat's website.

You've been thinking about buying a lake cottage or lake house and you're not sure where to start.

I work with buyers in Wolcottville, a rural lake coummunity in northeast Indiana. Here are a few things to consider in your hunt for your new place on the lake. They are in no particular order because your answers will depend on your personal preferences.

• Type of Waterfront? Lake or channel? Lakefront is usually preferred, but a channelfront location is more affordable and can be quieter. If you're searching for a channelfront place, make sure the water is deep enough to navigate your boat to the lake. You should also check to be sure you can fit your boat under any bridges you pass on the way to the lake.
  
• Do you want a swimming area out front? Do you just want to jump in the boat and go enjoy the lake? Would you swim at the sandbar or do you want a swimming beach right outside your door? How deep do you want the water to be? Do you want a natural frontage or a seawall?
• What type of lake bottom do you prefer? It can range from sand to muck depending on the lake and the location on the lake. The lake bottom can affect both water clarity and "the amount of squish" between your toes.
  
• Do you want to be on an all sports lake? If you want to ski, pull tubers, ride a jet ski or zoom around the lake in your speedboat, you will want to be on an all sports lake.
  
• Does the lake have restricted speed hours? Some lakes have hours when high speeds are not permitted so everyone has a chance to enjoy their favorite lake activities.
• Do you prefer a quieter lake just for fishing? Most fishing lakes will allow you to cruise in a pontoon, but you won't have the roar of speedboats and jet skis. This is also ideal for those who like to kayak or canoe.
  
• How about a chain of lakes that offers both? Some folks like to live on one type of lake and have the option to "visit" the others for a change of pace. Make sure the channels are navigable between the lakes you want to visit in the boat you want to take there.
  
• Will you live year round at the lake? Make sure the place is insulated for year round use. Ask about past utility bills. I can also give you information about our local schools.
• Will this just be a seasonal or vacation cottage? You'll need to make arrangements to winterize the cottage so pipes don't freeze and find someone to take care of the lawn when you're away.
  
• How far are you willing to drive? We are less than an hour from Fort Wayne, Elkhart, Portage and South Bend. And in a few hours you can be here from Chicago, Lansing, Toledo, or Indianapolis.
• Do you need a level lot or will stairs be okay? You should also consider how many stories are in the home or cottage.
• Proximity to stores, restaurants and entertainment?
• How much room for parking, entertaining and overnight guests? One thing you can count on when you make a move to the lake is that people will want to visit you. Do you have room for them to park? Do you want (or not want) room for overnight guests?
• Lake Water Quality? There are varying levels of water quality and clarity for swimming, fishing, and other lake activities.
  

These are just a few of the more common questions and concerns my buyers have had. Searching online is a great way to start. You can get an idea of what is available in your price range. Many people start with a small cottage and move up through the years to a full time home.

I would be happy to email you the listings that may work for you and sign you up for an "instant alert" that will let you know as soon as a new listing is put on the market by any agent or firm in our area. I can answer your questions and show you the homes and cottages you want to see.

FALL FORUM

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2009

9030 U.S. HIGHWAY 20 WEST

ANGOLA, IN 46703

Sponsored by:

Indiana Lakes Management Society

LaGrange County Lakes Council

Steuben County Lakes Council

AGENDA

Between 9:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M.

Zach Michels—Putting Wind to Work

Angie Tilton, DNR, and Lisa Ritter McMahan DNR

Healthy Water Healthy People

Linda Schmidt, IDEM, and Angie Brown, IDEM

Is Your Lake Group Stuck in Neutral?

Doug Keller—IDNR Invasive Species Coordinator

Scott Banfield—Invasive Species: Control

Nate Simons—Wetlands Management

Lunch will be served at Noon.

LaGrange County Habitat for Humanity Annual Auction in Shipshewana August 7-8

Friday Evening: Haystack Supper & Ice Cream begin at 4:30

The Wasepi Bluegrass Gospel Singers in concert at 6:30

Preview the auction items on Friday

Saturday Morning: Pancake & Sausage Breakfast starts at 6:00

The Auction begins at 9:00.

The sandwich line opens at 10:30

Auction items include handcrafted furniture, and quilts, tools, gift certificates and more. For more information about auction items, pictures of past events, a printable map and information about our organization visit the LaGrange County Habitat for Humanity website.