Mineral, VA

One of the attractions of Lake Anna is its rural setting. Lake Anna is surrounded by Spotsylvania, Louisa, and Orange counties although most of the lake is within the first two.

Located out in the country, public services are not available. Homeowners rely on well and septic fields in place of public sewage and public water. Most of the septic fields are gravity feed while others are pump up systems with holding tanks.

Site evaluation and soil assessment may determine that neither one of these systems is viable. At that point alternative septic systems are generally considered. I should add that some property owners elect to use an alternative system for ecological and/or aesthetic reasons. These systems generally require less space which can mean fewer trees destroyed on heavily wooded lots.

Some local governments have taken action to ban alternative septic systems. This has created problems for property owners. The Virginia Association of REALTORS® (VAR) was contacted by a number of local REALTOR® associatons regarding this action by some local governments. VAR, working with the Office of the Attorney General has made it known that while the Code of Virginia allows local governments to regulate alternative septic systems, it does not give them the authority to ban them.

Currently there is a bill before the legislature, Senate Bill 1276 / House Bill 1788
Alternative Septic Systems (Martin / Hull). The bill clarifies that the General Assembly must expressly approve the ban. Local governments may not do this without that authorization.

Passage is anticipated later this week. Meanwhile VAR lobbyists and local governments are still negotiating the legislation.

2008 - During the past year we saw a slow down in the real estate market across the board. There were 50 Lake Anna waterfront homes sold between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008.

The least expensive home was located at 200 Lakeview in Aspen Hill Subdivision. This home was initially priced at $444,900. Then it was reduced to $424,900 and finally to $174,900. It sold after 356 days on the market for $179,900. The remarks in the listing state that the home was priced according to the apparent condition and was being sold as is. Buyers were advised to obtain requirements from the county on prior permits. The house had 115' of waterfront and 1800 sq. ft. of interior living space. (See least expensive home sold in 2007.)

The most expensive waterfront home sold last year sold for $1,300,000. Located in Bear Castle, this home had 5500 sq. ft. and approximately 700' of waterfront. Originally listed at $1,700,000 it was subsequently reduced to $1,395,000. It was on the market for 187 days.

Avg. List Price $734,347 Avg. Sold Price $684,859

Med. List Price $659,450 Med. Sold Price $632,500

Low List Price $174,900 Low Sold Price $179,900

High List Price $1,500,000 High Sold Price $1,300,000

Avg. Days on Market 178

Med. Days on Market 139

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

2007 - There were 69 waterfront homes sold at Lake Anna between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2007.

The least expensive home sold was the same one, 200 Lakeview in Aspen Hill, which sold again in 2008. It was listed at $329,000 and sold for $300,000 in 127 days. At that time it was 1000 sq. ft.

The highest price paid was for a home located at Bear Castle Drive in Bear Castle Subdivision. Listed initially at $1,750,000 it was reduced to $1,375,000 and sold for that price. It was on the market for a total of 67 days. This home had 5136 square feet and 250' of waterfront.

Avg. List Price $691,828 Avg. Sold Price $654,993

Med. List Price $675,000 Med. Sold Price $625,000

Low List Price $329,000 Low Sold Price $300,000

High List Price $1,499,000 High Sold Price $1, 375,000

Avg. Days on Market 142

Med. Days on Market 90

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If you or someone you know is thinking of buying or selling property at or near Lake Anna, Virginia please contact Kathleen "Kate" Elim, REALTOR®.

Kate lives at Lake Anna, knows Lake Anna, loves Lake Anna, and specializes in Lake Anna area real estate.

Contact Kate at 540-226-1964 or lakeanna.kate@gmail.com. Be sure to check Kate's Web site http://lakeannacountry.com/.

Copyright © 2008 By Kathleen "Kate" Elim, All Rights Reserved. *Lake Anna Waterfront Homes Sold in 2008 vs. 2007*.

When you have lived at Lake Anna for a while, you learn to adjust to a slower pace and you learn to love it. We even have patience when we hear that there are going to be some changes.

While you may see nothing but open space in this photo, those of us with vision see Cutalong, one of the new projects proposed for our area. These 1,000 acres are going to be turned into a very desirable community and retail center.

Cutalong will be Lake Anna's first Golf and water oriented community. It is well into the planning stages and a number of people have put in their reservations for the opportunity to have a spot in this one-of-a-kind community proposed for the lake.

The biggest distinction is the planned championship golf course. Although we are fortunate to have Tanyard Country Club in nearby Louisa with its 18-hole course this will be a first for Lake Anna.

A clubhouse will be located on the waterfront and will provide fine dining, tennis facilities, a pool and a fitness center. With its location on the shore of Lake Anna it will provide a perfect spot to sit and enjoy sights of the lake.

Plans for Cutalong call for a number of home sites plus townhouses. A retail village will provide space for a variety of retailers, restaurants, nature preserves, banking, and a supermarket all within walking distance of Cutalong residents.

Cutalong Harbor will have wet slips and a boatel for the exclusive use of residents. They will be able to enjoy all the things that other Lake Anna residents find so appealing about life here. This is a great lake for water skiing, fishing, swimming, sailing, jet skiing, and simply cruising along slowly taking in the sights.

Imagine being able to have this lifestyle within easy reach of the D.C. metropolitan area, Richmond, Charlottesville, and Fredericksburg.

Reservations are being taken for those that would like to consider Cutalong as a future spot for a second home or for their permanent place to live.

If you'd like to have more information about this future community here at Lake Anna or would like to be added to the reservation list at no cost just let me know and I will make sure you receive it.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

If you or someone you know is thinking of buying or selling property at or near Lake Anna, Virginia please contact Kathleen "Kate" Elim, REALTOR®.

Kate lives at Lake Anna, knows Lake Anna, loves Lake Anna, and specializes in Lake Anna area real estate.

Call Kate at 540-226-1964 or by e-mail at lakeanna.kate@gmail.com. Be sure to check Kate's Web sites and blog at http://lakeannaandbeyond.com/ or http://lakeannacountry.com/

Copyright © 2008 By Kathleen "Kate" Elim, All Rights Reserved. *Cutalong...A Golf Course of Course*.

Who knew posting on Active Rain could do this for you. It has created a whole new business for me and it has little to do with real estate.

A short time ago I received a message from someone via Active Rain.

A friend of mine will be retiring from the Federal Gov't after 39 years. She and her husband have a home at Lake Anna. I would like to gift a tree, plant or anything for her outside area that would be a hardy selection. I've never been to their home but believe it has mostly pines on the property..I'm sure you are familiar with that area. Thank you for your help and suggestions.

Naturallly I followed up and that resulted in a few messages back and forth. This morning I received the following:

The time is approaching for my friend and I to purchase the tree that we would like to give as a retirement gift. I know stock is limited this time of year...but do you have any type Cherry trees available?

Ah, ha! The light bulb went off. I was not contacted because I was a REALTOR®, I was contacted because of my post, http://activerain.com/blogsview/645424/A-Colorful-Visit-to-Lake-Anna-Nursery.

Thus the power of Active Rain proves itself again. In my book, a contact is a contact, is a contact. Naturally I will be sharing this with the owners of Lake Anna Nursery and other business owners around the lake.

This will show them the power of blogging, the importance of Active Rain, and how their local REALTOR®, Kate Elim, is spreading the word not only about Lake Anna but the services they offer.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

If you or someone you know is thinking of buying or selling property at or near Lake Anna, Virginia please contact Kathleen "Kate" Elim, REALTOR®.

Kate lives at Lake Anna, knows Lake Anna, loves Lake Anna, and specializes in Lake Anna area real estate.

Call Kate at 540-226-1964 or by e-mail at lakeanna.kate@gmail.com. Be sure to check Kate's Web sites and blog at http://lakeannaandbeyond.com/ or http://lakeannacountry.com/

Copyright © 2008 By Kathleen "Kate" Elim, All Rights Reserved. *The Power of Active Rain Turned Me from a REALTOR® to a Nursery Owner*.

Listing Agreements and Buyer Agency Agreements are different.

Very often when the conversation revolves around the use of the Buyer Agency Agreement form the topic of the Listing Agreement comes up. The argument is if you require a listing agreement you should require a buyer agency agreement.

When owners are ready to put their property on the market it generally means they have lived in the area for a while. They have had an opportunity to notice REALTOR® signs, advertisements, and offices. Perhaps they even knows some agents personally or been referred to them by friends and neighbors. The potential seller often has some background knowledge of some agents or at least offices. Even then, many sellers interview 2-3 agents. They have the opportunity to meet with them, learn more about their experience, their marketing plans, and get a feeling about their personalities. They try to make an assessment if this is someone they would like to work with or not.

Most buyers in my location are from out of the area. Most of them do not come via referrals. They do not know any agents. Not a one. How are they going to know who they want to work with? It is very possible that they need to spend some time with an agent to determine if this is the one that suits them. Do you consider that an imposition?

Consider the first time out as an audition.

• Is this the role you want to undertake?
• Are you comfortable with it?
• Can you handle it?
• Are you the agent that fits the buyer's idea of who they would like to work with?
• Do they feel you have the knowledge and personality that fits the part?
• Is this someone you are interested in helping?
• Or do you find that your personalities do not mesh?

Remember, if the audition goes great chances are you will get the job. I'm comfortable with that.

Are you?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

If you or someone you know is thinking of buying or selling property at or near Lake Anna, Virginia please contact Kathleen "Kate" Elim, REALTOR®.

Kate lives at Lake Anna, knows Lake Anna, loves Lake Anna, and specializes in Lake Anna area real estate.

Call Kate at 540-226-1964 or by e-mail at lakeanna.kate@gmail.com. Be sure to check Kate's Web sites and blog at http://lakeannaandbeyond.com/ or http://lakeannacountry.com/

Copyright © 2008 By Kathleen "Kate" Elim, All Rights Reserved. *Auditioning for the Role*.