Can you really swim in Lake Anna?  This is a a fairly frequent question and yet I'm always a bit surprised when asked. My answer is a definite YES! I need to remind myself that I have lived here for many years and know the answer to this question and many more. Sometimes You Even Go Swimming When You Don't Expect To! For those that have not spent time at Lake Anna the fact that it is a great place to swim is sometimes an unknown. Not only do we swim in the lake we enjoy it very much. It's great to be able to swim without being concerned about a variety of things that might be found in other bodies of water.  We don't have any crabs, no man-of-wars, no sharks (Yes, that's right...no sharks. In fact I wrote a blog about the fact that we do not have to worry about shark attacks...Lake Anna... 01/04/2011

Are Your Plans for a Home at Lake Anna on Hold for the Holidays?  With all the shopping and preparations involved in getting ready for Christmas and New Years there's little time to think of other things.  Even things that are as exciting as a new home at Lake Anna. Once the holidays are behind us though, the timing will be right for the search to move forward.  Some buyers think that they'll wait until May or June to begin looking.  However, the earlier you start the better off you will be.  Many begin their search in the January-February time frame as that provides plenty of time to familiarize themselves with Lake Anna. Lake Anna...a great place anytime of the year Lake Anna covers a large area with the lake measuring about 17 miles long with approximately 270 miles of shoreline.  We... 12/20/2010

The Boardwalk at Stonewall...a vision in the making.  For many of us that love Lake Anna, whether we are full time residents or occasional visitors, one of the things that would be welcomed here is a nice hotel or lodge on the shores of the lake.  Step one in the process is well underway.  Plans for the Boardwalk at Stonewall, which will be located conveniently close to Rt. 522, begin with the construction of a new building to house two restaurants and several businesses.  Once that is completed construction will begin on a 25-room lodge.  Just the thought of this makes many of us very excited.  Now seeing the developers move from the planning stage to implementing the first phase of this development has created even more excitement. If you have had a chance to drive down Route 522 and ... 09/25/2010

Louisa County's Lake Anna property owners and perspective buyers...check this out.  As a property owner in Louisa County I realize I am not that aware of all the services provided by the county.  This is one that I discovered this evening and thought I'd mention it in case you own property there as well and are not aware of this site. It is called Louisa County's Tip of the Month and has lots of interesting information.  I decided to scrolll through and the one that caught me eye and was of the most interest to me dealt with protecting Lake Anna's shoreline.  Owning a waterfront lot in Louisa with over 500' of shoreline means that it is a personal concern of mine and I am very glad that the county continues to advise Lake Anna property owners of their responsibilty to protect the waters... 09/21/2010

The "future" is getting closer at Lake Anna, Virginia.  We have some massive equipment moving dirt and creating mountains.  What is going on?  A new Food Lion is being built, that's what. Yes, Lake Anna will be having its first supermarket before you know it.  This is a long awaited amenity for many although Jim and I have lived here full time for 18 years and we have never had a hungry day in all that time. Often when taking out prospective buyers one of the first question asked as we drive around our rural countryside is, Where do you go grocery shopping?  Now we can show them the beginnings of a good size supermarket right here at the lake. One of the best things is that this one will have a pharmacy as well.  Between the supermarket and the pharmacy we will have many of the necessit... 08/06/2010

Lake Anna, VA is moving right along.  Progress is being made on the new commercial building going up along the shores of Lake Anna. Before we know it we will have not one but two new restaurants within an easy drive from our homes.  Those living in the townhouses right by our new "skyscraper" will be able to stroll over for a quick bite to eat or a leisurely meal. It will not be long before the businesses that are planning to occupy the space are up and running.  This is a welcome sign for those of us here at the lake.  It is not only that we will be having additional commercial establishments providing us with more choices but it is a good sign that the economy is able to support this venture. More updates as the work continues to progress.  ____________________________________________... 05/22/2010

This afternoon I got another glimpse of the "skyscraper" currently under construction on the shores of Lake Anna.   Even though it was cloudy, when I saw the progress it was proof that that there's always a ray of sunshine. We have a country lifestyle here and this will be a bit of a change for us.  This is the beginning of a more commercial look to Lake Anna.  It's been a long time coming.  The lake is a man-made lake and was created in 1972.  There has been talk for years about creating more space for businesses and restaurants.  Now it is happening.  For some too quickly and for others not soon enough. Learn more about the "skyscraper" and the types of restaurants and businesses that will be locating here.  When?  Before you know it!  _________________________________________________... 04/26/2010

One of real estate's benefits...new friends. Just this week I wrote a post about real estate and liking people.  It was a follow up to a post written by another member saying that it was not necessary. Necessary or not, I am glad I do...at least for the most part.  No, I do not end up liking ever person I come into contact with.  However, I have been fortunate enough to say that the "likes" number about 99%. Two of these "likes" are a couple, Jim and Pam Austrich, that bought a house last summer.  It is a second home for them (at least for the time being.  They hope to someday retire here and I hope that happens for them also.)  Not only do they come down when the weather is warm and sunny, they have discovered the pleasure of Lake Anna year round. Today I received an e-mail from Jim wi... 04/23/2010

It's that time of year at Lake Anna, Va.  Boats are coming out of winter storage.  Folks are down at their boat houses readying their boats and bringing them down off the lifts.  More and more cars and trucks are cruising towards the lake with boats in tow. Yes, spring brings out those of us that are not out there on the water all year long.  Even in the winter I can look out some days and see a hardy fisherman or two searching for a catch.  On especially warm, sunny days you'll see some adventurous types drifting along slowly in their pontoon soaking up the warmth of the sun and the beauty of the lake. One day last week I captured this shot of two couples making the most of a beautiful day.  How I would have loved to be in that boat with them.  It was enough to make me call the marina ... 04/14/2010

The Waters at Lake Anna is a Great Place to Live in Virginia.  Located on the private side of Lake Anna, The Waters as it is commonly referred to, is the first subdivision at the lake to have a community pool and club house.  These amenities, along with the tennis courts, walking trails, and soccer field, make this a very popular spot for buyers.  The entrance to The Waters is on Kentucky Springs Road (Route 652) and is recognizable by its white rail fence and signage.   With land encompassing both sides of Kentucky Springs Road, The Waters is one of the largest subdivisions on Lake Anna.  It has lots ranging from just under an acre to 10 acre parcels.  All of these have been sold by the developer with re-sales being the way to ownership. Re-sale lots and re-sale homes are scattered thr... 04/02/2010

Windwood Coves, at Lake Anna, Virginia, has it all.  One of the largest communities here and one of the older ones, Windwood Coves has made a name for itself.  Without a doubt it has one of the nicest common areas around the lake.   For those of you that do not know what a common area is, it is a waterfront lot in a community that has been reserved to allow access to the lake.  Common areas vary from one subdivision to another.  The one in Windwood Coves has some very nice amenities for the property owners.  There is a very large beach, a volley ball court, playground, tennis courts, and both a large and a smaller pavilion. Windwood Coves Waking Up to the Sunrise There are only a few gated communities at Lake Anna and Windwood Coves is one of them.  There is also a sentry building at th... 03/27/2010

Wondering what's new at Lake Anna?  Well today as I was coming around the bend on New Market Road heading for the 208 Bridge, I saw a huge crane and knew the skyscraper was in the making. Yes, we are getting a full blown skyscraper at Lake Anna.  It will be all of two (2) stories high.  Yes, that's right, two stories high.  However, at Lake Anna that comes close to being a skyscraper.  Don't forget we're country out here. Lake Anna's shoreline in this area is filled with waterfront homes and a couple of marinas and other businesses, all rather low vertical spaces.  Now that is about to change.  A new building is being constructed along the shore next to the bridge.  It will house some offices and a couple of restaurants. all   Lake Anna Island Shops will provide space for a Health Club/... 03/24/2010

Do you work with window shoppers or only buyers?  Do folks pretty much have to commit to buying in order for you to give them the time of day? I like window shoppers.  I like buyers too. You never know what word or phrase is going to catch someones attention.  We hear all kinds of advice about key words and yes, they do help you get noticed but never forget it is how you present yourself and what you are willing to do for your customers (that will hopefully become clients) that can make a big difference. Last evening I had a call.  The woman calling is from Northern Virginia and she and her family have been down to Lake Anna a couple of times boating.  They are interested in exploring their options here.  She readily admitted that they did not have a huge amount of money to spend (not t... 02/23/2010

Now is the time to find out what activities are planned in our area for the upcoming holidays.  These are just a few.  Others will be mentioned in future posts.  See how many you can fit in your schedule. Louisa is Ready to Start Celebrating Louisa's Christmas parade, with an expected 40 floats, will start at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, December 5.  The parade will begin at the corner of Patrick Henry Drive and Cutler Road turning left on Main Street to Fredericksubrg Ave. and then back to the fairgrounds.  There will be approximately 45 vendors including First Fruit Ministry which will be conducting a raffle/food drive to benefit the Community Cupboard.  Every two cans of food donated will entitle the donor to one ticker for a drawing to be held at 4:00 p.m.  Entrants must be present to win t... 12/04/2009

FAAR's (Fredericksburg Area Association of REALTORS) Sixth Annual Cereal drive is underway. With 38 real estate companies collecting donations of cereal and/or money, we are well ahead of last year when there were 27 companies.  Area food banks will benefit from the efforts of REALTORS in your communities. Please be as supportive as you can be. The economy has been hard on many of us and yet there are those that have been affected even more.  Food banks are there to help these neigbors and often provide the food that makes a difference between hunger and a decent meal.  RE/MAX Edge, located at 5205 Courthouse Road at Lake Anna, is one of the collection points. You may drop your donations there if you live or visit that area.  RE/MAX Edge is donating all of the cereal and monetary donati... 10/13/2009

Margaritaville comes to Lake Anna by way of the Lake Anna Business Partnership (LABP).  There is still time to make plans to attend this fun event which is being held tomorrow evening, Saturday, Sept. 26th. The Business Partnership is starting off the new year with a membership drive.  For anyone in business in the Lake Anna area or wanting to do business here consider joining.  If you have not done so already this is the perfect time to see what the Partnership is all about. The focus is stated on the Web site and sums up the aim of this organization. The Lake Anna Business Partnership is an ideal forum for networking with your fellow local business people.  The LABP wants to help you grow your business by connecting members in a congenial environment where they can exchange business c... 09/25/2009

While some of us may think of rainy days as days to snuggle up on the couch and read a book, others say this is a good time to be out fishing. Those of us at Lake Anna are no different.  Some of us do not venture out on those drizzely days unless it is absolutely necessary.  However, we too have our exceptions. A couple of days ago I was out doing some real estate related tasks.  It was not the prettiest day as we were having more of the rain we need to keep our lake filled to the brim. As I was passing over one of Lake Anna's bridges I noticed a couple of men fishing.  This is a common sight on bright, sunny days as well as on  cloudy, rainy days. This time I decided to take some shots.  It is very possible that many people thinkof Lake Anna, and having a good time down here, when the ... 04/17/2009

One of the attractions of Lake Anna is its rural setting.  Lake Anna is surrounded by Spotsylvania, Louisa, and Orange counties although most of the lake is within the first two.  Located out in the country, public services are not available.  Homeowners rely on well and septic fields in place of public sewage and public water.  Most of the septic fields are gravity feed while others are pump up systems with holding tanks.  Site evaluation and soil assessment may determine that neither one of these systems is viable.  At that point alternative septic systems are generally considered.  I should add that some property owners elect to use an alternative system for ecological and/or aesthetic reasons.  These systems generally require less space which can mean fewer trees destroyed on heavil... 02/03/2009

2008 - During the past year we saw a slow down in the real estate market across the board.  There were 50 Lake Anna waterfront homes sold between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008. The least expensive home was located at 200 Lakeview in Aspen Hill Subdivision.  This home was initially priced at $444,900.  Then it was reduced to $424,900 and finally to $174,900.  It sold after 356 days on the market for $179,900.  The remarks in the listing state that the home was priced according to the apparent condition and was being sold as is.  Buyers were advised to obtain requirements from the county on prior permits.  The house had 115' of waterfront and 1800 sq. ft. of interior living space.  (See least expensive home sold in 2007.) The most expensive waterfront home sold last year sold for ... 01/24/2009

When you have lived at Lake Anna for a while, you learn to adjust to a slower pace and you learn to love it.  We even have patience when we hear that there are going to be some changes.  While you may see nothing but open space in this photo, those of us with vision see Cutalong, one of the new projects proposed for our area.  These 1,000 acres are going to be turned into a very desirable community and retail center. Cutalong will be Lake Anna's first Golf and water oriented community.  It is well into the planning stages and a number of people have put in their reservations for the opportunity to have a spot in this one-of-a-kind community proposed for the lake.  The biggest distinction is the planned championship golf course.  Although we are fortunate to have Tanyard Country Club in ... 12/29/2008