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.

MARKET REPORT - LAKE ANNA...Waterfront Lots SOLD in Louisa County 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 24 waterfront lots sold during 2011. 

Waterfront lots are located along the shore.  When we talk about waterfront lots we are actually including three categories:

1. Waterfront - Direct access to the lake
2. Shared Waterfront - Generally at the back of a cove where 4-5 lots share a limited amount of shoreline with joined boat slips rather than individual docks)
3. Park Waterfront - Located next to the common area within the subdivision.  The lot has access through the common area to the lake and does not have separate shoreline for boatshelter, etc.  It probably has a boat slip in the common area.

Prices generally range from below $100,000 to several hundred thousand dollars for appoximately one acre of land.  Price is naturally based on a number of factors.  They include:

• View of Lake Anna - Not all waterfront lots have house sites with views of the water
• Amount of shoreline
• Depth of water
• Location - Amount of boat traffic, unobstructed view,
• Lot condition - degree of slope to water
• A boat shelter or dock
• Community amenities

Things that do not determine market value:

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

Waterfront lots have had to compete with resale homes which have undergone a fair amount of depreciation.  As a result, many buyers are foregoing the purchase of a lot, deciding on a house plan, and going through the actual process of new home construction.  There has also been a decrease in the number of builders constructing spec homes on waterfront lots during the recent downturn in the real estate market.

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

During November 2011,10 homes sold at Lake Anna.  As you can see five of the homes were water access with prices ranging from a low of $89,900 to a high of $289,900 for a home that has access from the rear of the property directly through the common area to the lake.  Waterfront homes ranged from $242,000 to a high of $799,000 for a home that was on the market for only a few days and sold for full price showing once again that a well priced home can sell quickly.

This past month's sales of 10 homes compared to 12 total during the same time in 2010.  Eight water access homes sold for a low of $140,000 to a high of $362,000 for a shared waterfront home with views of the lake.  Four waterfront homes ranged from $295,000 to $500,000.

In November 2009 we saw the sale of nine homes, five access homes and four waterfront homes. The off water homes sold between $232,500 to $377,000 which was a shared waterfront homes while the waterfront homes ranged from $510,000 to $799,900.

Lake Anna is made up of two parts, the main lake which has pubic access by way of several marinas and Lake Anna State Park and the private side.  The private side is made up of three lagoons connected by channels but separated from the main lake by three dikes.  Boat traffic cannot pass from one side of the lake to the other.  Both sides have their benefits and most people are very happy with the side where their property is located.  Both sides are popular.  The main lake is larger, with over 9,400 surface acres of water while the private side has approximately 3,600.

Private Side 10 Sales - Main Lake 24 Sales

As you can see, more homes were sold on the main lake.  That is due in large part to the fact that there are more homes on the main lake.  The private side covers less land as well as having less water.  When looking for a home or land many buyers begin their search with thoughts of living on one side or the other, often because they have visited or know someone that has property here and they usually recommend that particular side to the buyer.  However, most buyers become open to the exploring possibilities on both sides.  The important thing is to find the particular house or land that is right for you.

Owning property at Lake Anna is a treat for most of us and as one that has spent considerable time on both sides I'd have to say we are all fortunate whereever we live here.

The summer of 2011 saw a pickup in sales compared to the spring which started out a bit slow.  Fall sales continued to be good during September with a typical slowdown as we began getting closer to the holidays.

What has been interesting to see is the increase in the number of seller subsidies provided to buyers as an incentive to purchase their homes.  This was not something we saw when we had a seller's market but is certainly apparent as we continue to have a buyer's market.  However, buyers need to be mindful that subsidies are one of the items that are negotiable depending on the condition of the property and/or the sale price.

 In August we had five water access homes sold and eight waterfront homes.

 October saw a higher number of water access homes selling with 10 sold compared to five waterfront.

This was an indication of buyers looking for less expensive homes.

 October continued along the same vein with four water access homes selling and only two waterfront houses.

I was actually surprised to see that only six homes sold in October.  As two of them were sales that I was involved in I had no idea that there would not be many more.

It will be interesting to see how sales in November compare to October.  It would be great if they are higher.  Even though this is the last day of the month, any settlements today may not get posted for another day or two and I will be doing a market report for November soon.

Food Lion - Lake Anna's One and Only Supermarket. Step inside and take a good look. I must admit I was pleasantly surprised when I saw how nice it looked. It has very nice displays and is so clean and neat. What a great addition to our lake living.

If you've had a chance to shop the scenes will be familiar to you and if you haven't as yet, be sure to take a look first chance you get. Hope you can. It is really a treat.

I have more photos to share at another time. Meanwhile if you'd like to see more posts about Food Lion/Lake Anna you can check:

The "Future" is Getting Closer at Lake Anna

Where Do You Grocery Shop at Lake Anna?

Fracking could have caused the earthquake in Mineral last August according to the United States Geological Survey.  According to the USGS recent earthquakes in Japan, Canada, and the United States were induced by human activity.  

It will be interesting to find out if indeed fracking is responsible for our recent earthquake.  An earthquake was one of the last things we would have expected to experience.  Now that we have it is important for the cause to be discovered if that is at all possible.  Learning more about fracking might be one way to find out if that has something to do with it.

Although there are many ways to have fun on Lake Anna one of my favorite things to do is taking pictures.  Yes, I hate being on the boat without my camera.  There is no doubt that there will be many, many things I'll see that I want to capture to look at over and over again.

Granted the things of interest to me are often houses and boat houses but that may not be so strange for a Realtor®.  Every time I'm out on the water I notice at least one house I haven't noticed before.  It may be a brand new construction or simply one that escaped my sight before.  The same goes for boat houses.  Then there are always the places that have had some landscaping done or renovations to the property.

BEAUTIFUL HOME UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND SUPER BOAT HOUSE

This is one of the several homes that I photographed Saturday while we were taking guests out on our Fall Flotilla Saturday.  Dockside Realty provides a tour of the private side of Lake Anna every fall and in the spring we invite folks to join us for a house tour by water plus lunch.  It is always a resounding success.  This year was once again.

The great thing about our boat tour is that it is available not just once in the spring and once in the fall.  Although those are the two occasions when it becomes pretty much an all day activity, we give tours through the "good" weather season.  Generally we are available to take interested customers and clients out from spring to fall depending on the weather.

If you should ever be interested in a tour of Lake Anna by boat we may be able to make it possible.  The important thing to remember is that if you ever want to take a tour by CAR that can be arranged all year round.  The boat tour may have to wait until spring!  

Please keep me in mind if you have any interest in pursuing possibilities here at Lake Anna.  Lake Anna real estate is my specialty!

One of the pleasures of fall is getting out on the water to see the beautiful fall colors.  Today was such a day.  Dockside Realty held its Annual Fall Flotilla.  We had super weather, bright sunshine much of the time and not a bit of rain in sight.

Topping off the day was a nice turnout and a very tasty lunch in a wonderful setting.  We dined outside on the patio and the beach area of a lovely home that is currently on the market in Twin Lakes, a subdivision that has access to both sides of Lake Anna.

The photo on the left was taken in the early spring so it  does not show the colorful leaves that we were lucky enough to see today.  However, it is the beach where some of our guests had lunch today.  This is just one of many lovely homes that we saw today as well as only one of the many homes currently on the market. 

This photo was taken today.  It is the boat house for one of the homes currently under construction on the private side of Lake Anna.  The boat house looks good enough to live in!

Although the colors were great today we still have another week or so to view fall foliage so if anyone wants to take a peek give me a call.  We can also find time to look at some of those beautiful homes I mentioned.

As a Realtor® at Lake Anna I'm excited to share with you* our plans for a huge (92) number of open houses for you to view. You are welcome to visit as many houses as you would like.

You do not have to be in the market for a home. It is an opportunity to share what a wide range of styles there are at Lake Anna and how beautiful so many of them are.

If you have any questions or would like any additional information please contact me at (540) 226-1964 or lakeanna.kate@gmail.com. Hope I see you on the 4th.

*We welcome potential buyers, sellers, and our neighbors in the Lake Anna area.