MARKET REPORT - LAKE ANNA...Louisa County WATER ACCESS Homes SOLD in 2011

There are three counties bordering Lake Anna.  They are Louisa, Spotsylvania, and Orange Counties.  Both Louisa and Spotsylvania encompass the majority of the countryside while Orange County covers a much smaller section in the northwest area of the lake.  This market report* lists the water access homes sold in Louisa County on the Private Side during 2011.

The Private Side is located entirely in Louisa County.

Water access homes are homes located off water.  When we talk about water access homes we are actually including four categories:

1. Water Access with a boat slip
   
   
2. Water Access withouut  an assigned boat slip
   
   
3. Water View with an assigned boat slip
   
   
4. 4.  Water view without an assigned boat slip

Prices generally range from below $100,000 to several hundred thousand dollars.  Price is naturally based on a number of factors.  They

• View of Lake Anna

• Age and condition
  
  
• Square footage
  
  
• Upgrades
  
  
• Room sizes
  
  
• With or without assigned boat slip
  
  
• Lot condition
  
  
• Community amenities (including depth of water at commond area/boat slips

Things that do not determine market value:

• Whether it is on the main lake or on the private side
  
  
• Which county it is located in

*Information obtained from the Metropolitan Regional Information System (MRIS).  All information should be verified for accuracy.

Fredericksburg, VA has the beauty and charm of a small American town.  One of the reasons is that it is an old town filled with homes that look as though they should be on postcards or calendars.  Fredericksburg's history is long and filled with interesting events.   When you stroll up and down some of the street within this small town you can see sites that have been seen by generation after generation of residents. 

When I think of small towns along the east coast this is part of the vision that I conjour up.  Fredericksburg fits the bill perfectly.  It has a number of streets that are meant to stroll down enabling you to get a good look at the porches, picket fences, gardens, and homes filled with character.  These are the type streets that I like to walk with a camera in hand.  The photo opportunities are endless.

If you would like help in finding a home for yourself in Fredericksburg or the surrounding suburbs be sure to let me know.  I'm here to help you.

Winter hasn't hit us yet and already I'm thinking of spring and summer at Lake Anna.  We have only had a couple of wintry days when the weather has been down in the 40's.  Other than that we have had unseasonably warm days, many of them sunny ones.  We really have nothing to complain about...unless you like to freeze, and yet I find myself thinking spring is right around the corner.

It seems like it will only be days from now when I'll be passing by the vineyards where Lake Anna Winery grows the grapes for the award winning wine produced there.  The seasons come and go so swiftly and our next one will be here before we know it.  Meanwhile I'm ready for winter if and when it decides to show up at Lake Anna.

Obrigado is a local restaurant that has become a favorite spot for not only Louisa residents but also many folks at Lake Anna.  Located on Main Street in downtown Louisa across from the County Courthouse it is easy to find and will be hard to forget.  The menu is varied and the food is delicious.

Obrigado is open six days a week, Tuesday through Saturday, from 11:00 - 3:00 and 5:00 to 9:00.  On Sunday they serve brunch from 10:30 to 2.

For Reservations, please call 540-967-9447

I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself and be happy you have discovered Obrigado.  Please tell Jade I sent you!  Thanks.

There's not a great deal of good news for homeowners of short sales but there is some at least for a good number of them.  Losing their home in a short sales leaves many wondering what their home buying chances are in the future.  This will give them some idea.

This may not be true for all but for those that will qualify it provides a glimmer of hope.  Be sure to check with a knowledgeable, professional lender.

Winter "buyers" are almost always SERIOUS BUYERS.  Most buyers that are out looking at properties at Lakek Anna during the winter months and especially during the holidays are usually goal oriented.  They are looking at the calendar and realize that if they begin looking now they will have a very good chance of finding something well before the recreational season begins.  By recreational I'm talking specifically about the water oriented activities. Many of the other activities can be done year round or almost year round. 

There are many times buyers' thoughts turn to warm weather and having fun even in the midst of winter.

Sellers interested in getting their home sold should be aware that someone asking to see it this month is very likely to be a real possibility.  Most people are too busy to add extraneous homes to their list.  They are generally focused on making the best use of their time and that means selecting the homes that best meet their needs. 

Some Lake Anna sellers believe that it is better to take their homes off the market because not as many buyers are looking.  That has some truth to it.  However, if there are less homes on the market and someone serious is looking they might find your home fits their needs and you have gotten it sold before all the competition floods the market.

It is hard to know exactly when a home will sell so perhaps taking advantage of winter's serious buyers may prove to be the right way to go.

One of my fellow agents on Active Rain, a site for real estate professionals and read by those interested in real estate, has written a post that I'd like to share with you. 

I'm available not only to help you with all of your real estate needs in the Lake Anna-Fredericksburg area but anywhere in the country you may need help.  I have gotten to know many agents, from coast to coast, in the four plus years I've spent on Active Rain. 

Anytime and anywhere you need my help I will be there for you.

I was very pleased today when I came across the following quote from Georgia Superior Court Judge Dennis Blackmon. 

'Clearly, U.S. Bank cannot take the money, contract with our government to provide a service to the taxpayer, violate that agreement, and then say no one on earth can sue them for it.'*

U.S. Bank motioned to have a lawsuit filed by a mortgage holder, facing foreclosure, dismissed.  The bank had received billions of dollars from the United States Government to modify loans for homeowners struggling with their payments.  When the bank refused to put in writing the reasons for denying the loan modification, the mortgage holder sued.

I am sure there is more to the story and I am wondering if U.S. Bank will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court and if this case will then be heard by the Supreme Court Justices.  My curiosity will, no doubt, having me doing a search on the Internet to see what else I can find out.  However, I thought this might be of interests to others so decided to share this much.

This might be very good news for struggling homeowners as the new year begins.

*One of my favorite publications is Consumer Reports and it is where I found mention of this suit.  It appears in the February 2012 issue.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  If you have an interest in learning more about this case you might be interested in reading this article from the Times-Georgian.

MARKET REPORT - LAKE ANNA...Water Access Lots SOLD in 2011

There are three counties bordering Lake Anna.  They are Louisa, Spotsylvania, and Orange Counties.  Both Louisa and Spotsylvania encompass the majority of the countryside around Lake Anna while Orange County covers a much smaller section in the northwest area of the lake.  This market report lists the 26 water access lots sold during 2011.

Water access lots are lots located off water.  When we talk about water access lots we are actually including four categories:

1. Water Access with a boat slip
2. Water Access withouut  an assigned boat slip
3. Water View with an assigned boat slip
4. 4.  Water view without an assigned boat slip

Prices generally range from below $20,000 to over one hundred thousand dollars.  Price is naturally based on a number of factors.  They are:

• View of Lake Anna
• Square footage
• With or without assigned boat slip
• Lot condition
• Community amenities (including depth of water at common area/boat slips

Things that do not determine market value:

• Whether it is on the main lake or on the private side
• County location

Of all the types of properties sold at Lake Anna, water access lots without assigned boat sllips are generally the least expensive and have depreciated substantially during the recent recession.

Information obtain from the Metropolitan Regional Information System (MRIS) and is deemed to be reliable.