Vicki Lind

When you're looking for an activity for the whole family, you will find that you can visit famous lighthouses from near and far in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. And, it won't take you long to discover that there are more lighthouses in Lake Havasu than any other city in America. Visiting all these fully functional light houses will keep you busy for days.

There are more than 15 lighthouses that sit along the shores of the lake that were built to the specifications of the most famous lighthouses along the East and West Coasts. The city is even planning for several more.

Some lighthouses in Lake Havasu City you may enjoy visiting:

Lake Havasu Marina Lighthouse - This lighthouse is located at the Lake Havasu Marina entrance. It was actually the forerunner to the Lighthouse Club formation and the inspiration that set the Lighthouse Club Plan into action. This lighthouse is also a valuable aid to the lake's navigation.

West Quoddy Light - You will find this lighthouse on the Island at the west end of the Bridgewater Channel. This is a replica of the West Quoddy light that is located in Lubec, Maine, the furthest lighthouse in the Northeast.

Cape Hatteras Light - Located in Windsor State Park, this lighthouse replicates the Cape Hatteras Light in Buxton, North Carolina, which currently is the tallest brick lighthouse in the U.S. standing at 193' tall. However, the Lake Havasu City replica stands at 30' tall.

Robert Manning Light - This lighthouse is located on the Island at the entrance to Crazyhorse Campground Marina. It is a replica of the Robert Manning light that is located in Empire, Michigan.

Buffalo Main Light - You will find this lighthouse at the south entrance of the Bridgewater Chanel. It is a replica of an architecturally stunning tower at the entrance of the Erie Canal that was built in 1833. The original stood at over 66' before it was replaced with another breakwater light.

Split Rock Lighthouse - Located on the Northwest corner of the Site Six Channel, this lighthouse is a replica of the Split Rock Lighthouse on the North Shore of Lake Superior.

There are many more lighthouses to visit, but this is just a taste of what you can expect. You can visit famous lighthouses across the country all in Lake Havasu City.

You're looking to purchase a new Lake Havasu City home. You hire a fantastic Realtor® who really listens to what you are looking for and finds you a great home. In fact, they are so good that they have actually found you two that you fall head over heels for. So, how do you choose which home will be the right home for you? Consider the following:

Weigh the pros and cons of each home carefully. Things to consider for each choice include the price, location, school system, possible repairs needed, square footage of home, how each floor plan fits in with your current family and possible future plans, the neighborhood, how noisy the streets and neighbors are, what the comparables in the neighborhood are and good old-fashioned gut intuition. It's good to visit a home on different days of the week and at different times of the day to get a good sense of how much activity and noise goes on throughout the week. Talk to the neighbors to get their take on the neighborhood. They can provide some valuable information.

Think about the future. It is possible that you will be in this home for several years to come. So, you will want to think about future scenarios that may come up to help determine which Lake Havasu home would work for you. Do you have kids or are you planning to have them soon? You may want to investigate the school system and see which one better fits your needs. You may also want to consider which home is closer to schools in your area. Do you have elderly parents that may be moving in with you in the next couple of years? Make sure to take the floor plan into consideration. A one-story home is easier than a two-story for elderly people to get around in. But, if a two-story home has a bedroom on the main floor, this can work as well.

What makes the best financial sense? Talk to your Lake Havasu City Realtor® about getting comps of the neighborhood: home values, etc. They will have the most up-to-date information available. Ask them if this house is in an up-and-coming neighborhood or if it is on the downward spiral. Find out if either home is overpriced for its respective neighborhood. Will either home need any major/minor repairs or updates? If they do, how many and how much money will it cost?

Separate your "needs" from your "wants". Prioritize what you really truly need in a home to help determine which house fits those needs. You may want a pool, but if the roof of the house needs replaced, you may want to reconsider that at this time.

Use your team. Feel free to talk to your Realtor®, friends, family, lender, etc. when deciding on which house to go with. While you are the one making the final decision, it can be helpful to hear another perspective.

When it comes down to it, you are the only person who can choose the right home for you. By considering all the factors above, you should be able to more clearly define which Lake Havasu home purchase is best for you. Just let me know how I can help!

With the temps heating our summer on up in Lake Havasu, many people are getting into the spirit of warm weather. Therefore, I've got some simple décor switches that will help lighten your Lake Havasu City summer right up.

Replacing dark accessories with bright, light accessories is a quick and simple way to lighten anyone's mood. You can switch out your heavy winter drapes or curtains for sheers. If you're a hunter with "nature" wall hangings, you can replace them with something botanically themed. These are cost effective and effortless ways to welcome the beautiful summer sunlight and nature into your home.

When updating your décor, you will want to spend your redecorating dollars on things that will give you the highest impact for the lowest investment. That saying, wall décor can be changed up easily by taking down a dreary picture and replacing it with something bright and colorful. It will help give the room a different look and feel. Nature inspired wall accents are a great way to start.

Find your style in colorful or light hued fabrics to help bring in the summer sun through your windows. Look for lightweight fabrics that won't block the beautiful sun rays. Blinds can be very effective for keeping the sun at bay on extremely hot days.

Fireplaces can be used in the summer for added décor. Clean it out of all ash and debris and then add your favorite green plant. You can also give your fireplace a light-hearted feeling by adding an electric powered fountain.

Your outdoor living space can be one of the best summer treats if it's not too hot to enjoy. While Lake Havasu City experiences very hot days, the evening is a great time to spend outside with family and friends or just relaxing. Comfortable outdoor accessories will help make it more enjoyable.

Simple switches to your décor can make a huge difference with your daily mood. And keeping your décor fresh can also be very helpful when selling your home.

This Monday, May 31, 2010 is Memorial Day. There are a few Memorial Day events going on in Lake Havasu over the weekend that you may find interesting.

May 28, 2010: Fourth Friday Backstage Cabaret - London Bridge Resort Convention Center (1477 Queen's Bay, Lake Havasu City), 8pm. The City Center Entertainment group will be performing "Boot Scootin' Boogie". Tickets are only $20 per person. For more information, please call 800-595-4TIX or visit the City Center Entertainment website.

May 29, 2010: Lake Havasu Vehicle Swap Meet - London Bridge Plaza Parking Lot (London Bridge Rd & Paseo del Sol, Lake Havasu City), 8am-4pm. Held at the site of the normal Sunday Swap Meet, this will be the final Lake Havasu Vehicle Swap Meet until the fall. There will be cars, trucks, trailers, ATVs, boats, parts & accessories, motorhomes and more. No car dealers are allowed to sell there vehicles here. Admission is free for all onlookers. Sellers need only pay $15 per 10'x18' space. Sellers check in at 6am. First come, first served. For more info, please call Al de la Pena at 928-854-2733 or email him at rivbiz@npgcable.com.

May 30, 2010: Soldier Statue Dedication - Wheeler Park (McCulloch Blvd, Lake Havasu City), opens at 4pm, event starts at 5:30pm. As part of the Soldier Statue Dedication program, there will be a Memorial Day celebration, dedication of plaques, dedication of soldier statue, patriotic displays, speakers, presentation and entertainment. Food and refreshments will be available for purchase. There will be a small amount of chairs available. So, it is recommended that you bring your own with you. For more info, please contact Larry Robinson at 928-814-6551.

So, if you are looking for something to do over the Memorial Day weekend in Lake Havasu, those are a few suggestions for you. Finally, on Monday, May 31, 2010, all Americans are encouraged to stop whatever they are doing at 3pm local time to pause for a moment of silence in memory of those brave men and women who gave their lives in service of our country. God bless them.

Vicki Lind, your Lake Havasu City real estate specialist

Buying a fixer-upper without financing can be a scary thing in today's real estate market where short sales and foreclosures are plentiful. But there is a program to help you with your fixer-upper financing.

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan program has been around since 1978, but not many borrowers took advantage of the FHA's 203k program in 2009. As a matter of fact, not many lending or real estate professionals are aware of the program.

Through the FHA's 203k renovation financing loan program, borrowers can fold in $100,000 worth of repairs and improvements into $300,000 and $400,000 mortgages. Using the renovation financing through the 203k program allows you to access the costs of needed repairs and improvements and have them included into the FHA federally-insured mortgage instead of having to come up with the cash separately.

This is the perfect loan for anyone who is buying an older fixer-upper or a foreclosure that needs work. The renovation financing program allows you to purchase the home, finance the repairs or improvements and do it in a responsible way.

Although the 203k financing is not for everyone, when purchasing your Lake Havasu City real estate, check with your real estate agent, mortgage company, or bank for more details about the 203k program. You may be able to put it to good use when it comes to buying your next home.