Lake Anna, VA...No Sharks, No Jellyfish & No Flood Insurance
They include:
These are three features Lake Anna fortunately lacks. Sometimes it is better not to have something. For Lake Anna , in this case, this is a positive. If you have not begun to enjoy what Lake Anna does have to offer perhaps you should give it a try. That list is much longer than three items. It is about time you found out for yourself what they are. If you need any help let me know. __________________________________________________________________________________________________
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/ It's Never Too Late and You Are Never Too OldWhy is it that even for many REALTORS® who have been been in the business for a long time, the chance to learn new ways of doing things, exchanging ideas and opinions, and being open to new technology, is always exciting? True there may be a few that resist. Most, however, are eager to learn and grow. I find myself, at 71, sometimes wondering how much longer will I be selling real estate. Yet, when the opportunity presents itself, I like many others, leap at the chance to improve. There are even times when we go looking for new things to learn. Many agents that have been at it a long time have embraced new technology with a fervor that surprises even them. Certainly some of this new technology has opened up avenues to share latent interests. How many older agents have embraced photography and videotography*? I believe there are quite a few. Some agents now have avenues to express themselves by writing of their prior and current experiences buying and selling homes over decades. With much to share they find themselves blossoming in a field that many thought would leave them by the wayside. Older agents provide wonderful role models for those entering the profession. The realization that this is a field you can continue to enjoy well into "maturity" must be seen as the advantage it is. There is no mandatory retirement age, no set age where you are put out to pasture. What is required is that you keep current with changes in the industry. For many of us that is not so much a requirement but rather a way to keep interested in what we do. Stagnation is not good for any of us. The more we learn, the more we explore options, the better we become at what we do. When we perform better the results improve and we have happier clients. That is the beauty of real estate. *I don't believe there is such a word, yet cinematography sounds way too professional. __________________________________________________________________________________________________
Lake Anna, VA Real Estate Update May-June 2008...Water Access HomesBelow are the water access homes, which includes those with water view that are not waterfront, currently under contract or settled between May 1, 2008 - June 30, 2008. As you can see, a number of homes were reduced prior to receiving contracts. There are some homes that were on the market, taken off, and subsequently re-listed. In these cases the original price may be lower than the price when they were listed for the first time. If you happen to see one of the houses that you had been considering, do not give up hope. We have a large inventory of water access homes and you still have an opportunity to find one that meets your needs within your price range. A favorite of mine is on the market. This home has so many wonderful features it may become your favorite too.
NEWS FLASH...Flip Video Camcorders from $117.95If you are in the market for one of the newest techy toys be sure to check out both Flips. Do you want the Flip Ultra Video Camcorder? On amazon.com the prices range between $117.95 and $123.00 depending on the color you order.
It is the newer version, released June 2008. It is very similar to the Ultra, simply smaller and lighter. If you are an amazon.com customer you may well have free shipping when you order $25.00 or more. You will receive your shipment in two days (not bad at all) This is the only place I looked as I am always content with the service and prices I find there. You may be able to do even better elsewhere but amazon.com is a great place to get an idea of a low price. How will you know if you want the Flip Ultra or the Flip Mino? Here is an abbreviated comparison of the two. Flip Ultra Camcorder
Flip Mino Camcorder
You have two or three more color choices for the Flip Ultra. The Mino comes in black or white. I chose the white one. Tracy Santrock has a great post that will help all of us with this new toy, Flip Video Mino - My new Techy Toy for the Gadget Gal(GG). Since writing this post I did a little research (typical) and found an interesting article from PC World which may be helpful to any of you considering a purchase. I wanted to check prices (why now, after I bought one???) and came across this review http://www.pcworld.com/article/146881/pure_digital_flip_mino_camcorder.html. For the record, amazon.com had the best price according to what I saw. Those that have been using their Flip camcorders have made some great videos. Hope we all get proficient at using this newest tool to help us with our real estate business. It is another tool that will enable us to do a better job for our sellers and buyers. With the new Localism.com we will be able to show off our listings and our communities. Buyers will be able to get an even better feel for what our areas have to offer. Have fun!__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Have You Been There Yet?If not, hurry, hurry, hurry! What am I talking about? Where do I think you should go? Of course, I am talking about our new localism.com. It deserves a little fanfare and here it is. Please excuse the photo quality. It is off the TV, taken on the Fourth of July during the fireworks on the Mall in Washington, DC. Isn't it great to be a part of ActiveRain when things like this happen? I'm excited. Someday we will look back and say, "Hey, I was there on July 9th when they rolled out the new Localism.comwhich has proven to be a great stimulus for my business." I truly feel that I will be saying that because my intention is to utilize it as much as possible to promote Lake Anna, VA. What about you? Wish I had used my new Flip Mino so I could share the wonderful sound as well. Live and Learn. That's exactly what we are all doing here in the Rain. Now pretend we are enjoying a little fanfare.
Lake Anna, VA Real Estate Update May-June 2008...Waterfront HomesBelow are the waterfront homes that are currently under contract or settled between May 1, 2008 - June 30, 2008. As you can see, a number of homes were reduced prior to receiving contracts. There are some homes that were on the market, taken off, and subsequently relisted. In these cases the original price may be lower than the price when they were listed for the first time. If you happen to see one of the houses that you had been considering, do not give up hope. We have a large inventory of waterfront homes and you still have an opportunity to find one that meets your needs within your price range. Here is a beauty that is currently on the market. Hurry before this one goes under contract.
This lovely home is located in a small community on the private side of Lake Anna. With more than 2500 square feet of finished living space plus a huge deck across the back of the home looking out at the water, there is plenty of room to entertain friends and family. If you are looking for a place to kick back and relax, here it is. A boat house at your shore enables you to quickly get out on the water for all types of fun activities. Wouldn't you enjoy a view like this from your home? It is listed at $698,000. Additional reports will be posted with information on water access homes, waterfront lots, and water access lots.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Would Watermarks Protect Posts from Plagarism?This is a question for all you techy folks on the Rain. Is it possible to put watermarks, say our names, on here as we begin to write a new blog? Would that help to cut down on others plagiarizing our posts? This is not for my personal benefit. As far as I know, no one has tried to do that with any of my writings. (Should I be feeling lucky or ashamed?) This thought came to me when I was reading a post by Chris Elizabeth Griffith, Five Finger Discounted Blog. Once you read Chris' post you will better understand why I posed the question above. It is important that we find a way to protect ourselves from things like this. If anyone knows how we might do a very faint but discernible watermark to distinguish our writings I am sure there are many of us that would love to know. Would this watermark be copied along with everything else if someone wanted to cut and paste any of our material? If that is possible we might be able to cut down on plagiarizing. __________________________________________________________________________________________________
Who Would Get Married on Independence Day?We did. That's right, 16 years ago today Jim and I married. It was quite a day. Fortunately we had beautiful weather and almost every family member with us plus lots of friends.
Not only did we marry on that day we threw a great big party that lasted a week. A Week!!! Yes, it was a combination slumber party and food fest. We had family come from as far away as Florida, Wisconsin, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Alaska. Of course that required some serious visiting time. We happily complied. Both Jim and I were moving to Lake Anna from Northern Virginia. We rented a furnished waterfront home for six months which was going to be most of the time we would need to get our house built. (OK, so we made some erroneous assumptions.) We put most of the furniture from my place and Jim's furniture from his home in storage. Many of our personal items were put there also. Little did we know that they would be there for almost 26 months! Enough said about that, the rest goes in a separate post soooooooooooooooooomday. Well, there we were knowing we would have this rented waterfront home when we married so why not tell as many folks as possible to come, celebrate, and stay. Believe it or not, two of my sisters, my cousin Linda from Florida, and my daughter took us up on it. We housed the four of them in a bedroom with four bunk beds. Jim's sister, brother-in-law and nephew stayed also.
It goes to show that a waterfront home at Lake Anna is a wonderful place to live, to vacation, and to even have your honeymoon. Now here we are 16 years later. While we guessed wrong about the length of time we would need to complete our new waterfront home we guessed right on the choice of a mate. I am even happier and much more confident of the wisdom of choosing to marry Jim now than I was back then even though we had known each other for four years. He better be happier too! We are a perfect example of a couple making a commitment to give up some (hey, not all) independence on Independence Day and happy we did. I love sharing my wedding anniversary with our country's birthday. Have fun and be safe! __________________________________________________________________________________________________
Remembering Memorial Day on the Fourth of July
Although in many ways this is a tribute to my husband and his classmates, Class of 1953, it is also a tribute to the current cadets at West Point and to everyone that ever attended there or any of the military acadamies. It is also a tribute to everyone that honorably served to the U.S. military and to all those in civilian life that have made this such a great nation. This year as I celebrate the Fourth of July I will be thinking of this past Memorial Day. We had the honor of being at the United States Military Academy at West Point during the Memorial Day weekend celebrating my husband's 55th Class Reunion. That's right, it has been 55 years since Jim graduated from West Point. There were other classes there as well, members of the Classes of 1958, 1943 (June), 1943 (January), 1938, and 1933. That's right, there were two graduates of the Class of 1933.
One year we sat through a Army-Air Force football game in the pouring rain. Some folks didn't even go to the game which started before the rain did but we enjoyed every minute of it. What an exciting time we had and the others missed. Needless to say, Army won which does not happen often against Air Force. For many of us, the highlight of the long week-end was the parade at the academy with all of the reunion members marching as well as the cadets. What a beautiful, heartwarming event that was. It is every single time we see it. As I sat in the stands with the other wives and relataives I immediately wished that our eleven children (off-spring and spouses) along with our 10 grandchildren were here with me watching Jim along with all the others taking part in a very moving ceremony. The closeness that these graduates feel for one another in indescribable. Many, like Jim, had long distinguished careers as military officers servicing together in various places around the globe. They have created and secured a free nation where we can flourish. Others have done the same whether as civil servents, members of the Peace Corps, in education, science, the media, industry, farming, maintaining our vital infrastructure, raising children and grandchildren, contributing in so many ways, each a vital part of this country. We all contribute to the success and the failures of our United States. Ours is a nation that is wonderful in so many ways and yet has room to improve. Like an individual, there is always room for improvement. May your Fourth of July this year and every one after be filled with gratitude and joy for that which is ours.
View of the Hudson from the Academy - Roof of Army's Field House
Cadet Chapel at West Point ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ If you or someone you know is thinking of buying or selling property at or near Lake Anna, Virginia please contact Kathleen "Kate" Elim. 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/ Are There Limits to What You Ask a Seller to Do?
A listing I have has been on the market too long. One of the first things I suggested be done is the purchase of a boat slip. Just about everyone that moves to Lake Anna is here because of a love of the water. They want to be able to access the water by boat for fishing and other activities. The owners subsequently purchased a slip for $18,000. Having an assigned boat slip means you can leave your boat in the water all year round if you want to. That is a big plus and factors into resale potential also. When working with and representing buyers, I always advise that we look at lots and/or homes that have a dedicated boat slip if they are looking for off water property.
There's more. The house has a walk-out lower level placing the main level a story off the ground. It did not have any access from the main level to the back yard. I felt the house sorely needed a deck off the rear with access from the family room. This was just completed. Not only do we have a deck, we have a 30' x 16' deck and sliders.
What more can I ask to have done on a house that is listed at $349,900? It definitely is not overpriced now although it was originally priced too high (not my idea). The house is a new construction and cries out for staging. There is not a single thing in there, completely vacant. I would love to suggest it again. Yes, I have mentioned it once. Have you had a similar situation? If so, how did you handle it? Anyone else, any suggestions?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
|
Kathleen "Kate" Elim, LAKE ANNA, VA Real Estate Spotsylvania, VA More about me… RE/MAX Lake & Country Office Phone: (540) 895-1920 Ext.: 19 Cell Phone: (540) 226-1964 Email Me ;) Links;) Tags (Tag Cloud);) Archives
|
There is no problem going on and on telling you all the wonderful things that are so special about Lake Anna. Perhaps you would like to know some of the things we do not have here.
The Flip Mino Camcorder is priced at $145.54 on amazon.com. 
We had a wonderful time. The weather was excellent. The lake inviting. The company fun and the food plentiful and delicious. Evidently that was our honeymoon. We could not have picked a better place to be.
The reunions are held every five years for each class and although this was my fifth reunion I believe it was my most meaningful. Perhaps it was because we are getting older and you really begin to wonder how many more you will be attending. 
Certainly one of the most important things a REALTOR does is advise their sellers of the things that should (must) be done to make a property more marketable, especially in a slower market.
Next came the installation of two new windows. Included are before and after photos so you see the difference they make. (Sorry, I thought I had the before pictures but they are either on my other computer or I actually deleted them which would be a first for me. Please use your imagination and picture the house with those windows on each side of the gargae gable missing.) From the moment the house was built it was obvious that it needed curb appeal help. We discussed it off and on for some time until I used a little cut and paste doctoring up a photo of the house with new windows. That convinced the sellers.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
© 2007 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved
