Summer is a wonderful time to work on those to-do lists around your Smith Mountain Lake home! Getting the painting, siding, roofing, and window repairs done are definitely easier when the skies are clear. Making your home more energy efficient - while you're working to make it more attractive and comfortable - is always a great idea. Here are a few tips if you are thinking about making your home look hot this summer! If you are using a contractor to do the work, be sure to do your research! Check with friends and neighbors to see who they used. Unfortunately, there are many scammers who "were doing a job in the neighborhood and had extra supplies" and have a «great deal» for you. Try to stick with licensed contractors! What should you look for in a contractor? There can be quite a bit o... 06/16/2010

It may seem a little early to start planning, but the Fourth of July is one of the most popular holidays on Smith Mountain Lake! In an area surrounded by living history, you have a lot to choose from during the holiday weekend. If you are planning to enjoy the Annual Fireworks show from the water and need to rent a boat, you may want to call now for reservations. Many of  the boat rentals along the lake have already started waiting lists for the weekend. The same goes for accommodations. The time to book is now! The over the water fireworks are scheduled to begin at 9:30pm on July 3rd at Parkway Marina. The viewing area for boats is off of Saunder's Point. One of the things to remember when you are out enjoying the show is the no-wake tradition in the viewing areas. Captains are asked t... 06/13/2010

The last few years, those buying Smith Mountain Lake homes have seen some of the lowest interest rates in over twenty years. Last Friday, 30 year mortgage rates hit a record low of 4.375%. While the home buyer tax credit may have expired for all but some members of the military, low interest rates are a great reason to consider buying a home now. The time to take advantage of these low mortgage rates is now! The best thing about the lower interest rates; you can get more home and spend less of your dollars. Besides the type of loan you get, the interest rate has the greatest impact on what you will end up spending on your home. Recently, we discussed mortgage loan points in Basics of Buying in Smith Mountain Lake. Just as a review, these are a simply a fee you pay upfront to receive a l... 06/09/2010

On Sunday, June 20, we will all say a hearty "thank you" to the dads who have taught us so much! The last thing Dad may need is another tie, and if that is the case, then Smith Mountain Lake can set you up with a great Father's Day present for your Dad! Here are just a few suggestions. Let There Be Golf Smith Mountain Lake is one of the Mid-Atlantic's most popular golfing destinations. Golfers can enjoy wooded fairways and vibrant greens running right up to the water's edge.  It doesn't matter if Dad is a beginning golfer or an expert, Smith Mountain Lake has a place for him to play! The lake has an 18-hole PGA Championship course, The Water's Edge. This is a very tough course, so if Dad is looking for a challenge, he need look no further! If you need a course that caters to every level... 06/01/2010

Smith Mountain Lake is known as the "Jewel of the Blue Ridge Mountains". Beautiful shorelines and spectacular mountain vistas can be seen from almost any home in the area. Temperate weather and friendly neighbors make Smith Mountain Lake a great place to call home. There are over 500 miles of shoreline on Smith Mountain Lake, spanning several counties. Tucked into the Blue Ridge Mountains like a hidden treasure, there is no better place for the perfect escape! Once you have had a chance to visit, you will understand why there is little doubt as to why so many people buy homes here. The types of real estate available in Smith Mountain Lake are very diverse. Some properties are vacation or second homes.  Others belong to year-round residents. That is one of the benefits of the area. It is... 05/23/2010

Summer is fast approaching Smith Mountain Lake and Bedford, VA. Just looking around the neighborhoods, you can see the season getting ready to begin. Boats are being prepped for the lake and students everywhere are counting down the last days of school before summer vacation. One of the favorite signs of the changing season is the smell of food on the grill, and that means one thing! - it's BBQ time at the Sedalia Center!! The 5th Annual BBQ at the Sedalia Center is on Saturday, May 22nd this year. Lovers of barbeque will descend on Big Island VA to sample some fabulous food! Located just 12 miles from Bedford, the festival will go on whether it rains or shines! If you want to sample some of the best slow cooked barbeque pork in the area, there won't be a better place to be. Now, these ... 05/21/2010

For first time home buyers, purchasing a home can be one of the most exciting and scariest things will ever do. But, with a good real estate agent at your side, it should never be confusing! One of the most common questions first time buyers have is, "What is it I am paying for at closing?" Let's take a look at the basics of buying in Smith Mountain Lake. One of the first things you will see at closing is the information concerning your mortgage. Some mortgages have something called "points." Points are simply a fee that you pay upfront so you can receive a lower interest rate for the life of your loan. Basically, you are paying a portion of interest upfront. How Points Work Let's say you are borrowing $100,000 for your new home. Your lender has set your loan up with a low interest rate... 05/15/2010

As a Franklin County native, Catina has commitment which is unparalleled. She approaches each real estate transaction with practical sensibility. "My clients hire me for a reason" she states. "I take their interests very seriously". Catina's bottom line is top priority. "If I dont do a good job, people wont refer me". Catina has a proven track record of 89% referrals. Catina is a consistent top producer within her company Lake & Land Realty and within the Roanoke Valley Association of Realtors, which she has been placed in the top 5% of all Realtors! She has won numerous awards for Top Producer and continues to pursue more real estate education to stay at the top of the real estate industry! You have to be a strong personable and creative negotiator in order to succeed. I'm very proud o... 05/08/2010

One of the biggest questions any seller has is; "How long will it take to sell my house?" There is so much is tied into the answer. Like when to put an offer on another house and how soon you might be moving? Pricing your Smith Mountain Lake home right is the first step in a fast sell.  The Power of Price In the current market, there are homes that are snatched up in less than 30 days and others that linger on the market for months. Two houses may even be comparable in size, features and updates but one home is priced $5000 less than the other. Of course the home with the lower listing price will stand out from the rest, but it may also include a larger buyer pool than the more expensive home.    Perfect Price Finding the perfect price for your home can be done! Your realtor can help yo... 04/30/2010

One of the biggest questions any seller has is; "How long will it take to sell my house?" There is so much is tied into the answer. Like when to put an offer on another house and how soon you might be moving? Pricing your Smith Mountain Lake home right is the first step in a fast sell.  The Power of Price In the current market, there are homes that are snatched up in less than 30 days and others that linger on the market for months. Two houses may even be comparable in size, features and updates but one home is priced $5000 less than the other. Of course the home with the lower listing price will stand out from the rest, but it may also include a larger buyer pool than the more expensive home.    Perfect Price Finding the perfect price for your home can be done! Your realtor can help yo... 04/30/2010

One thing most sellers are painfully aware of is the number of homes on the market today. Whether you are selling your lakefront home on Smith Mountain Lake or a home in the country, one thing remains true; staging your home for your Open House will help it sell. In today's market sellers need to pull out all the stops if they want to sell their home quickly. Most buyers are interested in a home that is ready to move into. In the cash strapped society of today, people want to have some recovery time after purchasing a home before they begin to spend more money on upgrades. By staging your home, you are putting the best foot forward at your Open House, making a good impression puts you one step closer to an offer. Recently we have talked about decluttering your home; staging takes it fur... 04/13/2010

It is that time of year! April 7th, you can start enjoying the wildlife of Smith Mountain Lake aboard the Virginia Dare! On the first Wednesday of each month, you can learn about the local wildlife while enjoying a cruise on the Lake! You can learn about the flora and fauna of the area and even learn a little more about Smith Mountain Lake State Park! On the Wildlife Wednesdays, a Smith Mountain Lake State Park nature interpreter will be on board to help narrate the noon cruise! Cruises leave the dock at noon on Wednesday and boarding starts at 11:30am. You can choose to cruise for lunch or just as a sightseeing tour. The Virginia Dare will also be hosting an Easter Cruise this year. Spend the afternoon with the Easter Bunny out on the water! A meal is included in the ticket. Bring your... 03/31/2010

One of the nice things about owning a vacation home on Smith Mountain Lake is that the mild climate normally allows for year round use. Unfortunately, not everyone can take advantage of that and some are only able to use their home during the warmer months. If you fall into the last category, the time has come to get your lakefront home ready for the summer season! Packing for the first trip If you winterized your vacation home at the end of summer last year, you may have taken your linens home with you. When you are rounding everything up to bring back to the lake, don't forget extra towels and linens for guests. If you are going to be using your home frequently over the summer, you may want to restock all toiletries and cleaning supplies you will need. Luckily, Smith Mountain Lake is ... 03/30/2010

Just take one look outside and you can see that spring is making its debut in Smith Mountain Lake! This weekend the weather will be sunny and warm with temperatures in the 70's forecasted. Take advantage of the beautiful weather and spend some time outside spring cleaning! With the unusually heavy snowfall this year, you may find a few more things on your spring to do list, especially if you have your home for sale! Step One: Clean up debris! Living in the Blue Ridge Mountains can pretty much guarantee you have some leaves and sticks to clean up from the yard. While this may seem like a small thing, having a neat yard free of clutter and debris can make a big difference in your home's curb appeal. Don't forget to clean out from under ornamental bushes or hedgerows to give your lawn a we... 03/20/2010

Ok, maybe not everyone is Irish, but anyone CAN BE Irish for the day as Smith Mountain Lake celebrates St Patrick's Day. From family fun to great food, you can take your pick on how to celebrate! Here are just a few of the things going on at the lake! Take the whole family to the Hot Shots Family Fun center on Saturday, March 13th for a St Patty's Day themed day of fun. There will even be live music by the band Dragonfly! If you are looking for something a little more adult, head over to The Landing for their St Patrick's Day party! They will have drink specials and live entertainment! On March 17th you will find green galore throughout Smith Mountain Lake! You can start out the morning at the Bluebird Bakery and Grill for some green eggs and fried green tomatoes for breakfast. If you a... 03/11/2010

Smith Mountain Lake is a wonderful place to live! Granted, I may be a bit prejudiced having been a resident for decades! But many people have come for a visit and found themselves moving to this little piece of heaven in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Some purchase a vacation home and others become permanent residents in our community. Determining how and when you are going to be using your home is the first step to happiness on buying in Smith Mountain Lake! The first thing to ask yourself is what you are going to be using your home for. Is this going to be the place for a weekend getaway or is it a permanent residence? Or will it be both? Your vacation home can easily become your retirement lake home. Once you decide what you are going to use your home for, you can look at what you need fr... 03/05/2010

After the winter we have had, most of us would love to take a trip to warm and sunny Italy. But if you can't make it there, you can still enjoy the flavors of that country right here at Smith Mountain Lake. Benjamin's at The Pointe at Mariner's Landing will be having a "Taste of Italy" Wine dinner! Chef McGehee will host the third in his popular wine dinner series, "A Taste of Italy", from 6:30 to 9:30pm on February 27th. This five course meal will feature gourmet foods with wine pairings. There will also be an Italian dessert cooking demonstration that evening. If you want to make a weekend out of it, the Mariner's Landing is offering a couples' weekend discount. If you make reservations for "A Taste of Italy" Wine dinner you can receive an overnight rate of $49! Add in a few treatment... 02/23/2010

There are many reasons why people love Smith Mountain Lake. For some it is the mountain and lake views, still others love having a waterfront property with a private boat dock. But the answers you will hear the most seem to be golf and fishing! Weather permitting, both of these activities can be enjoyed all year around here at the lake, but with spring around the corner, you will start seeing more people venturing out on the greens with their clubs! If you are ready to pick up the game of golf this year, here are some of the reasons Smith Mountain Lake is the place to live! One of the Mid-Atlantic's most popular golfing destinations, the lake boasts some great courses! Golfers can enjoy wooded fairways and vibrant greens running right up to the water's edge! The area also has several co... 02/18/2010

Last post we started a House Hunting 101 refresher course for those who are in the hunt for the perfect home! Whether you are looking for a waterfront property on Smith Mountain Lake or a farm in the Virginia countryside, these are some basic tips to remember when you are out home shopping. Hopefully they will help you avoid some pitfalls along the way. Let's jump right back in! Lesson#3: Wait for the home that you really want! No one will argue with you that house hunting can be a roller coaster of emotions. Sometimes those emotions get the best of you and you just want to buy a house, any house, and be done with it. STOP! Take a moment, take a deep breath and remind yourself, you will be living in this home for the foreseeable future. Isn't finding a home that fits your family's lifes... 02/06/2010

There are many reasons why now is a good time to buy a house. Just to mention a few; interest rates are still at historic lows and there is time left to take advantage of the Home Buyers Tax Credit on that new Smith Mountain Lake home. But as you are looking for a home, there are a few things you should remember amid the excitement of the hunt! If you are in need of a House Hunting 101 refresher course, take notes! Lesson #1: Don't look at homes that are outside of your price range! This may seem like a no brainer, but from the current foreclosure rate, it would seem it bears repeating! When property values were high and mortgages easy to come by, there were many home owners who bought more house than they could really afford. This left many with no wiggle room in their budget for surpr... 02/04/2010