Lake Norrell!! Where is Lake Norrell?

Jerry Hill (Hill Realty) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:34:56 -0700

There are still lots of people in the Central Arkansas area that have never heard of Lake Norrell. Lake Norrell is really coming out these days. The change started about 3 years ago. Tolleson Land & Timber Company decided to sell some of its holdings on Lake Norrell road and on North Lake Norrell Dr. Keeping it in mind none of this property is lake front, in fact, none of it is even lake view. What has happened is a real metamorphisis. Large parecels of land have been cut up into smaller parcels and some of the original purchasers of Tolleson property, have started to sell. The end result is new houses popping up everywhere. While most of the property that has been sold isn't lake front or even lake view, some people realized that a "breathtaking" view of the foothills of the Ozarks is pretty darn special in itself. This flurry of real estate activity got a little attention for Lake Norrell.

The next thing to happen was the extension of public water to almost all of Northern Saline County including the Lake Norrell areas. This along with recent property sales, made investors aware there might be some potential in buying property for future development. Up until this point, Lake Norrell residents had a couple of choices for water. One was to drill a well and the other was to draw water from the lake. Hauling drinking water was quite common for many Lake Norrell residents. With the opportunity to have access to "city water" was really an attention getter. This also helped with many residents concerns about what septic systems in the area could be doing to the lake or even to the groundwater. Most residents of Lake Norrell were eager to accept this added benefit to their lifestyle and their enjoyment of this beautiful lake.

All this has made lake front property even more in demand and therefore more valuable. Many city dwellers woke up to the fact they could live on a beautiful lake and get up and drive to work in Little Rock, less than 40 minutes away, which is an easy commute. Some realized they could live in Little Rock, Bryant or Benton, and have a weekend get-a-way from the nagging responsibilities of home. Many, who had eagerly bought property around Lake Hamilton or Lake Quachita and live in Little Rock, saw an opportunity to have the benefits of a less crowded lake, much closer to home and more avaialble.

The main thing that makes Lake Norrell special is its people. They come from all walks of life and from many different professions but main thing they have in common is their love for Lake Norrell. They enjoy the community fund raisers, the 4th of July fireworks display and the other community activities that makes Lake Norrell such as special place. The main thing they enjoy is the quite serenity and the cool breeze that is forever present or at least when I've been there. Lake Norrell really is the best kept secret.

Jerry G. Hill, GRI, Broker/Realtor

Hill Realty

The Scoop on the Poop!!

Jerry Hill (Hill Realty) — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:18:23 -0700

John and Marge Smith just bought a new country home, just outside the city limits. After about of week of unpacking and re-storing the household to normal, John decided to crank up the old lawnmower and tackle the young “hayfield” that had started growing in the back yard. After about 30 minutes of mowing, John came running into the kitchen, all excited and out of breath, “Marge, Marge, we’re rich, we’re rich. Marge, thinking John had maybe gotten a little too much sun or had started on the “Bud Lites” a little bit early, asked John, “what in the world are you talking about?” We’ve got oil bubbling up in the back yard, we’re rich! You know, Black Gold, Texas T! Well, unfortunately that bubbling crude was not “Black Gold or Texas T”, it was sewage from the Smiths septic system. The Smiths had been “city dwellers” all of their lives and really didn’t understand anything about septic systems. The Smiths didn’t think that it was a big deal because they had been told that people who live in the country have septic systems instead of public sewer. What the heck, you flush the toilet the same way. This was the first of many lessons the Smiths will learn over the course of dealing with this problem. What should John and Marge have done to prevent this from happening. John and Marge used the same Realtor that had sold them their house in the city and used the same home inspector that had given them a very thorough inspection and comprehensive report on the previous home they purchased. John and Marge made a very common mistake, they “assumed”. They assumed that houses were houses, no matter where they were located. They also assumed all home inspectors had the same level of knowledge and expertise. Generally this is true, but rural property is a little different. John & Marge should have asked their Realtor if they were accustomed to selling property in rural areas. They should have also asked their home inspector, “How do you check the septic system to see if it is working properly?” They assumed a standard home inspection would reveal any and all problems. As with most standard home inspections, you will note somewhere on that inspection report there are certain items that cannot be inspected because of not being accessible. Wiring, plumbing, ductwork, sewer lines, septic systems are examples of things that cannot be inspected because they cannot be accessed by the inspector. If you can’t see it, you can’t inspect it. Since a septic system is buried in the ground there is really no effective way to inspect a septic system to see if it is going to function properly. Unless there are some noticeable signs of a problem, then you must assume that every thing is working properly. This is no fault of the inspector, it’s just reality. If you are considering purchasing a country home or a building lot in a rural area, your best assurance is to hire a REALTOR that not only can sell rural property but understands rural property. With a knowledgeable Reator you can avoid getting stuck with an existing problem like John and Marge or avoid getting stuck with a lot that you cannot build your dream home.

Jerry G. Hill, GRI, Broker/Realtor

Hill Realty

Jerry's Blog

Lake Norrell!! Where is Lake Norrell?

The Scoop on the Poop!!