smith mountain lake: Smith Mountain Lake real estate trends: A quick analysis
- 03/01/18 07:05 AM
Before we get too far into 2018, I thought I would take time to analyze how real estate at Smith Mountain Lake shaped up in 2017 and reflect on how it has rebounded since the recession.
Sales of homes at SML in 2017 were slow and steady and, for The Beran Group at RE/MAX Lakefront Realty, it proved to be the busiest year we’ve had in the past 8 years.
This uptick is really noticeable when you look at the inventory of lakefront homes – 246 in 2017 vs. 436 in 2009. That’s a big difference! This lower supply coupled with higher demand … (2 comments)
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smith mountain lake: Live In Smith Mountain Lake’s Best Neighborhoods
- 02/29/16 05:09 AM
Our buyers often want to look at Smith Mountain Lake’s best neighborhoods, particularly those that are up-and-coming hot spots. The latest real estate trend is turning outdated locations into a popular, trendy neighborhood through community rehabilitation.
Not only is it social rewarding to live in an up-and-coming area, but buying in an outdated neighborhood at the start of its restoration can become a rewarding investment.
How to Spot an Up-and-Coming Community
An expert real estate agent will serve as your best guide to SML’s best neighborhoods. Someone with years of experience living and helping buyers and sellers at Smith Mountain Lake, like Deb … (1 comments)
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smith mountain lake: Escape to Virginia's Smith Mountain Lake
- 02/29/16 04:39 AM
Have you ever wondered if a tranquil lake community like Smith Mountain Lake living would provide you with the permanent escape you often wish for?
After a while, the traffic and crowds of larger cities and towns can bring a longing for a more peaceful experience that outlasts your yearly vacation. The kind of experience locals at Smith Mountain Lake get to have all the time.
Realtor.com highlights several benefits of a country setting like the one found at SML. Check out these perks of trading city life for the open spaces and fresh air of a calmer, scenic rural location … (1 comments)
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smith mountain lake: The Perks of a Winter Smith Mountain Lake Home Search
- 12/30/15 11:26 PM
The Smith Mountain Lake home search rises and falls from spring to fall like every other part of the country.
But some SML home buyers could benefit the most from a Smith Mountain Lake home search at a less popular time of the year - winter. Though warm temperatures and blooming landscapes tend to push the real estate search to a peak, wintertime property searches have many overlooked advantages.
In general, buying real estate in the winter months is not as popular as in Spring and Summer. This is especially true in a lake community, where things tend to grind to … (3 comments)
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smith mountain lake: Planning to Sell Your Smith Mountain Lake Home?
- 12/30/15 10:47 PM
Maybe it’s time for an upgrade, a downsize or a move closer to the kids and grandkids. No matter what your reason, perhaps you plan to sell your Smith Mountain Lake home in 2016. As any Smith Mountain Lake realtor will tell you, this is great time to sell with the economy leveling off, the aftermath of the recession considerably less and inventory in demand. We’d love to share our home selling strategies to help you get the most out of selling your Smith Mountain Lake home.
Paying the Price
Many sellers hope to get the maximum value of their home, but the … (1 comments)
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smith mountain lake: Home Buyers Shouldn’t Sweat Student Loans
- 06/05/15 11:53 PM
Millennial aged home buyers searching for an affordable Franklin County home or Bedford County home may wonder how much student loans will affect their ability to get a home loan. But there's good news from a recent study that shows student loans are not as likely to stand in the way of a mortgage loan as someone might think. As this news update states, TransUnion released a report that buyers between 18 and 29 with student loans do well on repayment and building good credit, both factors in obtaining home loan approval.
This kind of encouragement is great for young buyers who are ready to move … (0 comments)
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smith mountain lake: Coordinate Your Smith Mountain Lake Stay with This Calendar
- 03/24/15 10:38 PM
There’s no denying Smith Mountain Lake is a peaceful and relaxing vacation destination, but many visitors prefer to mix fun and activity in with the quiet, serene moments of their getaway. Not only visitors, but local residents too can get excited about the year-round event calendar for Smith Mountain Lake published in the latest Laker Magazine.
Start your warm weather planning with the help of the calendar, which includes business-related events, festivals, sports competitions, community outreaches and much more. In addition to popular annual events such as the SML Triathlon in May, the Fire-Worx Fest to celebrate July 4th, the beloved … (0 comments)
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smith mountain lake: Smith Mountain Lake Parks Exceed Expectations
- 08/20/14 11:08 PM
One of Smith Mountain Lake’s greatest luxuries is a day hosted by Mother Nature. Our local parks are developed to help guests make the most of the peaceful, beautiful scenery. Though there are several picnic and play-friendly spots around SML, there are three that offer experiences well beyond the norm.
Hike, swim or fish the day away at the SML Community Park in Franklin County. Bike, camp and explore nature at the SML State Park in Bedford County. Each park has amazing views and help visitors take advantage of the lake’s fishing and swimming opportunities.
Booker T. Washington … (0 comments)
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smith mountain lake: Innovative Education Highlights Smith Mountain Lake Schools
- 08/17/14 10:46 PM
School children are donning backpacks once again in the Smith Mountain Lake community. Another school year is beginning at most area schools and man families here are expecting nothing short of excellence from public and private school systems. One of the ways the Franklin County school system is achieving high standards of learning is through an innovative, hands-on approach at the Gereau Center.
Franklin County’s Gereau Center is a creative learning center whose program combines challenging academic standards and integrating critical thinking skills in a problem-based learning approach. The Center for Energy Efficient Design (CEED), in which Energy Engineering is … (0 comments)
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smith mountain lake: Put Wind In Your Sails at Smith Mountain Lake
- 07/29/14 02:29 AM
The view of Smith Mountain Lake isn’t complete without the serene scene of white sails on the horizon. Almost year-round, sailing enthusiasts enjoy their favorite type of on-the-water cruise on our beautiful lake. Some are out for the relaxation, but many are into the thrill of competition. Local newspaper Laker Weekly recently highlighted a different kind of competitive sailing approach - a midnight sail under the moonlight.
The nighttime competition was the third annual event of its kind, sponsored by SML’s two sailing clubs, the Blackwater Yacht Racing Association and Virginia Inland Sailing Association. After a little friendly competition, the hobbyists … (0 comments)
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smith mountain lake: Summer’s End Great for Home Selling
- 07/07/14 02:32 AM
The months between Memorial Day and Labor Day are peak season for home selling across the nation, Smith Mountain Lake included. If you’re one of the many home owners at Smith Mountain Lake looking to sell your property, let us help out with a few tips from a recent article in Forbes Magazine.
Though this summer started with a bang for home selling, its end may be even more impressive. Forbes states that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are loosening bank lending rules, which will be in effect by summer’s end. This is in conjunction with the nation’s largest lender, Wells … (0 comments)
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smith mountain lake: Free to Fly at Smith Mountain Lake
- 06/24/14 04:17 AM
Smith Mountain Lake is often on the cutting edge of water sports and water recreation. The latest in water hobbies never takes long to catch on at a place where residents and visitors want to take on the next water challenge. Flyboarding is one of the on-the-water activities to make its arrival at Smith Mountain Lake this summer season.
The daring sport puts a single rider on a flyboard for a 15-minute cruise at 25 to 30 feet above the lake using a steady blast of jet stream for lift. Flyboarding is offered at Wet Connection, part of Crazy Horse … (0 comments)
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smith mountain lake: The Safe Way to Secure Your Smith Mountain Lake Vacation Rental
- 06/16/14 02:18 AM
Renting a vacation home is a popular way to enjoy the thrills of Smith Mountain Lake, but a recent article in Forbes Magazine cautions renters on a growing fraud trend. An April report titled “How To Avoid The Internet’s Hottest Scam: Fake Vacation Rentals” warns vacation home rental seekers of the increasing online scam. Phony landlords are conning would-be renters into sending deposits after reeling the renter in with false information on rental homes online.
Along with several other smart tips on protecting oneself from vacation rental scams, Forbes suggests hiring a trusted local real estate agent to help secure … (0 comments)
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smith mountain lake: Wonderful Wildlife at Smith Mountain Lake
- 05/20/14 11:53 PM
Part of what makes Smith Mountain Lake so special is its natural environment. Much of the acreage surrounding its 500 miles of shoreline is undisturbed green space or protected parks where wildlife and vegetation thrive. Families that live at the lake get plentiful views of wild animals in their natural habitat, and one of the more fascinating species locals love to observe are ospreys.
Close to a decade ago, local parks and recreation authorities built a platform hoping ospreys migrating north for the summer would build their nest at SML. The plan worked and the ospreys have been part of … (0 comments)
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smith mountain lake: A Gift To Young Golfers
- 05/14/14 10:45 PM
The golf scene at Smith Mountain Lake has always been a community highlight and now young golfers have a special place of their own to work on their game. The Laker Magazine’s spring edition includes the heart warming story behind the Smith Memorial Golf Training Complex newly opened at the lake’s W.E. Skelton 4-H Education Conference Center.
The practice facility offers young golfers a year-round place to exercise open driving, putting and chipping on a synthetic surface for easy maintenance. It was donated by a local SML resident in memory of his late wife, an avid golfer herself. Staff from area … (0 comments)
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smith mountain lake: Tips for the Home Search at Smith Mountain Lake - Be Competitive
- 05/14/14 06:29 AM
When the market is good at a place like Smith Mountain Lake, the competition can be fierce - and not just for home sellers. A lake community that is considered a retreat destination is more competitive for buyers than you may think. Here, second homes, investment properties and retirement properties are all distinctive in style, acreage, water frontage and convenience which makes the search for that perfect location very specific. Chances are high that home buyers who find just what they are looking for won’t be the only ones to fall in love with that property.
Work with a local … (0 comments)
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smith mountain lake: Tips for the Home Search at Smith Mountain Lake - Know What You Need
- 04/23/14 03:25 AM
Searching for a new home can be so exciting that sometimes buyers lose focus of the practical parts of home ownership. Daily life requires more than great curb appeal and beautiful interiors, each family has certain needs that have to be prioritized in order to ensure a perfect property selection. Forbes Magazine offers a few tips for buying a home in the spring, ones we thought were appropriate for any of our followers who want to be smart about their Smith Mountain Lake property search. One tip is to make sure you know what you really need and want.
At … (0 comments)
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smith mountain lake: Tips for the Home Search at Smith Mountain Lake - Get Pre-Approved
- 04/18/14 01:57 AM
When the weather improves, so does home buying. Spring is consistently the busiest time of year for real estate, marked by increases in property listings, open houses and buying interest. Forbes Magazine offers a few tips for buying a home in the spring, ones we thought were appropriate for any of our followers who want to be smart about their Smith Mountain Lake property search. First is to hire an experienced real estate professional to guide your home buying process.
Second is to understand your financial capacity for a home mortgage. Recent changes in home financing make it even more … (0 comments)
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smith mountain lake: Tips for the Home Search at Smith Mountain Lake - Hire a Professional
- 04/16/14 03:44 AM
In spring time many aspects of the economy get a lift from tourism to home and garden, fashion to the entertainment industry. When the weather improves, so do moods - and spending. Spring is consistently the busiest time of year for real estate, marked by increases in property listings, open houses and buying interest. Smith Mountain Lake is no different. Our area’s homes show best when the landscape is green, the trees and flowers are in bloom and the warmer weather makes the lake most inviting.
Forbes Magazine offers a few tips for buying a home in the spring, ones we … (0 comments)
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smith mountain lake: Spruce-up Your Smith Mountain Lake Home
- 03/26/14 11:23 PM
While the weather is still too chilly to spend much time outdoors, this is a great time to focus your energy on sprucing up your Smith Mountain Lake home so that it’s ready for all the activity, hosting and entertaining you’ll do this summer. And we mean more than just giving it a good clean - fixing those minor problems, refreshing the interiors and opening up space will go further than what the mop and broom can accomplish. Here are a few ideas for bringing the best out of your home for summer time from this helpful article on forbes.com
De-Clutter
… (1 comments)
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Before we get too far into 2018, I thought I would take time to analyze how real estate at Smith Mountain Lake shaped up in 2017 and reflect on how it has rebounded since the recession.
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