Lake Lanier Real Estate Today! A Look At Prudential Georgia Realty's Home Selling Presentation

If you haven't spoken to us about listing and selling your Lake Lanier real estate, we want to encourage you to take a look at our Lake Lanier home selling presentation!  We strongly believe that no real estate broker will present your property in more media and provide greater exposure to your home than Prudential Georgia Realty!  This digital presentation will give you a starting point of what to expect when we list your Lake Lanier home for sale.  We start with the programs outlined in this presentation and then add the skills, expertise and knowledge of our local Lake Sidney Lanier Homes team to produce the finest results for selling your property in today's challenging market.  Please take a look at the following presentation, and allow us the opportunity to present our entire real estate selling solution to you when you are contemplating the sale of your Lake Lanier area property.

Prudential Georgia Realty Digital Listing Presentation:

Lake Lanier Real Estate Today! Looking At 100 Ruby Lane In Dawsonville, GA.

As you probably know by now, I make it my business to watch and understand the real estate market here on Lake Lanier.  Part of that process includes staying up to date on the latest listings to hit the market on the lake.  This weekend, I was excited to see a really nice property in Dawsonville listed by my colleague Janie Simmons at Prudential Georgia Realty.  The property is located at 100 Ruby Lane, and is notable because of its excellent lot and view.  This home is a three bedroom, two bath house built in 1977 on a lot that is quite level and features a very nice grass to water backyard.  Few lots on Lanier will have the fantastic views and easy approach to the lake that these homes on Ruby Lane are known for.  The other big plus about this location is the neighborhood features homes that are estimated at values more than twice that of 100 Ruby Lane.  To have the opportunity to acquire such a gem of a property at the listed $379,000 is a rare chance that you should strongly consider if you desire a premium lot with a quaint lake home in a fantastic location.  Take a look at the following link for more details and photos on this really special Lake Lanier home and please let us know if we can share in the joy of showing you what a great lakefront environment is all about!

100 Ruby Lane, Dawsonville, GA. 30534


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Lake Lanier Area Dining In Buford At Rico's World Kitchen!

The rains didn't stop us from enjoying a fantastic evening last night in Historic Downtown Buford near Lake Lanier.  We ventured across Buford Dam into Gwinnett County and headed to Rico's World Kitchen for dinner!  Well, the rave reviews were true, as Rico's World Kitchen did not disappoint.  While Historic Downtown Buford did not seem overly crowded, Rico's was packed.  Many of the diners were enjoying meals on the outdoor patio, until the rains came and everyone had to move inside.  This restaurant is really unique!  Think hot new dining spot in a restored old-time gas station or corner store!  If you've ever dined at Pure Taqueria in Alpharetta, the concept is the same.

The menu at Rico's is diverse and the beer and wine selection is as well.  Both are top notch!  We enjoyed samplings of steak, shrimp, crab cakes, and fried green tomato salad.  Of course, I can't forget the coconut cake for dessert!  In keeping with the theme, the beers and wine are "worldly" as well.  Really nice offerings from Europe, Asia, South America and of course the U.S.  Rico's is high-end food in an eclectic, casual atmosphere at a very reasonable price.  They post their dinner specials on their Facebook Page.  A great idea that is clearly approved of by their Facebook followers!  I mention this because their website menu appears to show mainly lunch fare.  We'll be returning to Rico's soon, and we'll get photos before the rains come.  But for now, be sure to visit Rico's World Kitchen in Historic Downtown Buford for an excellent evening dinner!

Lake Lanier Real Estate Today! A Look At Pathways And Steps On The Government Shoreline Of The Lake!

In Lake Lanier real estate today, I thought that it might be wise to examine one of the most common questions that I am asked as a real estate agent when I am showing properties on Lake Lanier.  Whether it be land, lots or homes, most Lake Lanier real estate backs up to property owned by our federal government and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  It is typical to walk to the back of a given private property and notice boundary markers and survey pins which designate the separation points of privately owned property and government land which is between the private land and the waters of Lake Lanier.  We often casually refer to this government land as "Corps Property", "Corps Of Engineers Land" or "Guvmunt Land"! (-:

Most potential real estate buyers on Lake Lanier will eventually ask what their personal rights are in regard to this property that separates the private land from the water.  Normally, my immediate response to this is NONE!  Well, it's not your land!  But if you have a dock permit that is granted with the property or home that you purchase on Lake Lanier, you will have some ability to access this government land by creating and/or maintaining a foot path from your private property (Lake Home) through the Corps' Property and down to your dock on Lake Lanier.  So, the questions regarding the government land often range in topics from "Can I cut trees?", "Can I clear and undercut?", "Can I mow?", Can I pave a sidewalk?", "Can I clear a path for my car to get to my dock?", "What can I do on their land?", "Do I maintain it?"  The best answer to these and many more questions on this topic can be found in the 2004 Final Lake Lanier Shoreline Mangement Plan.  You'll find so much information and guidance in this plan, that you'll soon learn that you and your neighbors might not be following appropriate guidelines.  For this reason and more, you should read the Plan.  So, our exercise for today is to read this excerp regarding proper guidelines for pathways and steps along Lake Lanier's shoreline, courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers Mobile District.  Please enjoy!

15.3.11 Pathways and Steps

Meandering pedestrian pathways may be created for access to the permitted facilities at no

fee. Pathways will follow a meandering route that conforms to the topography as much as

possible to help prevent erosion, avoid the need for removal of vegetation, and prevent the

construction of bridges or steps. All work will be completed with hand tools only unless

otherwise authorized in writing by the Operations Manager. If surface treatment is required

to prevent erosion or fill depressions, wood chips or on-site forest litter are recommended. If

erosion is evident due to continued foot traffic and water run off, intermittent water breaks

may be necessary.

If slopes prohibit safe access by means of a natural path then steps or a bridge creating the

least environmental impacts may be authorized under permit with a fee. Materials used to

create these structures must be properly treated and environmentally friendly, no wood

treated with arsenic will be authorized. All steps must be constructed of at least eight (8)

inches wide by six (6) inches high material without borders. Every effort should be made to

prevent continuous running steps. Steps may not be elevated nor create a boardwalk. Steps

or landings may not be erected in a manner to create patios. Unless the steepness of the slope

dictates it or handicap needs demand it, steps should be constructed without handrails. All

steps must be constructed at contour or ground level. If backfilling is required, the surface

treatment must be wood chips or similar mulch. Landscape timbers are not authorized for

step construction due to safety considerations.

Footbridges may only be authorized if there are no other alternatives to provide safe access.

Footbridges may not exceed four (4) feet in width. All foot bridges more than four (4) feet

above the surface of the ground must have a handrail. The rails shall be 36-48 inches high

with an intermediate guardrail approximately one-half the distance below the top rail. The

pathway permit does not convey the right to use equipment or construct any other structure

unless specifically authorized.

Pedestrian access lighting may be installed underground following the meandering footpath.

Permit holders are required to use mushroom style lighting, not to exceed a height of two (2)

feet. See Exhibit 3, " Requirements for Installation and Use of Electric Service on

Government Property at Lake Lanier". Existing pathway lighting not meeting this standard

will require replacement upon repair.

Natural pathways are considered unsafe when the terrain is too steep to safely access the

shoreline, thus requiring improved steps. Pathways must remain free of stumps, snags and

other tripping hazards. Steps are considered unsafe and unauthorized when poorly placed or

constructed so that the step is loose; or when materials are defective damaged, or decaying.

Lake Lanier Real Estate, Waterfront Lake Lots, And A Lake Property Sale!

We had another great day in Lake Lanier real estate yesterday, as we closed on a very nice Lake Lanier waterfront lot in Murrayville, Georgia.  This was a great deal for our buyer on a gently sloping lot listed at about .28 acres with a single-slip dock in place.  The original listing date was September 2010, so this lot was on the market for a long time, just like so many other lake lots.  Why such a great deal?  Well, consider the history.  This Lake Lanier lot sold for $160,000 in 2007, and our buyer picked it up as a short sale yesterday for a very cool $62,900!

Full Listing Report & Photos For 7731 Elm Circle, Murrayville, GA.

This Lake Lanier waterfront lot is located at 7731 Elm Circle in Murrayville.  It is a cove lot on the northern end of the Chestatee River in Hall County.  Now, before you rush to quick judgement about the ease of purchasing a Lake Lanier lot at a steal of a price, consider your financing or your ability to buy without financing.  This is one of the main reasons for the pricing.  It is still fairly difficult to obtain financing on raw land and lots.  Unless you are getting a very short term loan from your bank or building immediately on the lot via a construction loan, you'll probably need to pony up the cash!  A HELOC could be an option as well.  Without a doubt, market conditions and sales of Lake Lanier lots are still very much affected by the limitations in available financing for these kinds of properties.



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So with all of that said, now is a great time to buy waterfront lots on Lake Lanier!  The deals are there and it is a buyer's market.  However, just remember to have your financing ready or cash in hand before you start down the road to buy one of these very nice properties.

View Lake Lanier Lots And Land For Sale! 

Lake Lanier Real Estate Today! Lake Lanier Homes For Sale In Buford!

Today in Lake Lanier real estate, we noticed a very tempting lake home purchase opportunity on the south end of the lake.  Our daily searches alerted us to this striking home that has just hit the market and appears to be a very good opportunity to own a luxurious, modern home on the south end of Lake Lanier.  This stunning lake home is located on a gorgeous waterfront lot, with nice privacy, and includes a pool and dock permit.  We're referring to the following new Lake Lanier listing located at 6299 Old Shadburn Ferry Road in Buford.  Special offer guidelines do apply to this foreclosure home, but view the listing links and let us know if you would like to schedule an appointment to see this beautiful Lake Lanier home.

Buford is a great location on Lake Lanier and offers a wonderful historic community with lots of recreation and dining options.  We've posted in the past about Lake Lanier Islands and downtown Buford offering fantastic night life, recreation, etc.  With that in mind, we feel compelled to show you some of the Lake Lanier homes currently for sale in Buford.  Today's search shows 17 Lake Lanier houses for sale in Buford ranging in price from $179,000 to $2,800,000.  With a location close to I-985, McEver Road and Buford Hwy., this area provides quick access to major highways for driving south to Atlanta and the North Atlanta suburbs of Norcross, Duluth, Suwanee and Dunwoody.  Take a look at these links for more information about Buford.

City Of Buford
Buford Local Area Information
Buford Wiki
Buford Map & Photos

GAR Reports Home Prices In Georgia Edge Higher For The Third Month In A Row!

Yesterday, I received this letter from the Georgia Association Of REALTORS regarding the current state of the real estate market in Georgia.  This report is extensive and outlines many factors associated with our state's real estate market.  The data provided is very impressive and informative.  Please read the following opening and follow the link to the full report.

Home Prices in Georgia Edge Higher for the Third Month in a Row
16 Jul 2012 - 
We’re halfway through 2012, and what a year it’s been. Residential real estate has finally taken some meaningful strides toward recovery, and they’ve all been self-powered without divine (or governmental) intervention. Yes, there have been some head fakes in the past, but there's real reason to believe that market turnaround awaits us. Beyond home prices, key metrics to watch include Days on Market, Percent of List Price Received and Months Supply of Inventory. Locally, several indicators showed improvement. Let's see what the rest of our local data has to say.

New Listings in the state of Georgia decreased 16.4 percent to 11,623. Pending Sales were up 21.8 percent to 9,730. Inventory levels shrank 31.5 percent to 48,344 units. Prices moved higher. The Median Sales Price increased 4.5 percent to $114,900. Days on Market was down 15.3 percent to 81 days. The supply-demand balance stabilized as Months Supply of Inventory was down 42.8
percent to 6.6 months.

We seem to be at a critical inflection point in our attempts to spur more hiring. Job growth provides the dual benefit of stimulating new household growth as well as relieving distressed homeowners. There's also the positive feedback loop of housing creating jobs and jobs creating housing. Keeping the affordability picture afloat, the Fed has vowed to keep interest rates around 4.0 percent through mid-2013.

Click here to see the full report for June

Lake Lanier Real Estate's High End

Today in Lake Lanier real estate, we are looking at the high end of the market.  Specifically, this would be Lake Lanier homes in the $3,000,000 price range and higher.  Our FMLS searches show a total of only six homes for sale on Lake Lanier in this price range.  Here's a look at these most expensive lake homes that are currently on the market!

Lake Lanier Homes For Sale $3,000,000 And Higher

See anything in this group that you like?  It's the best of the best.  But what about sales in this price range?  Does anything ever sell that is this pricey on Lake Lanier?  Well, we searched the FMLS all the way back to 2007 before we could find a sale in this price range, so it is certainly not an active category.  Most months lately have been seeing sales in the $500,000 price range which has long been the sweet spot for median home prices on Lanier.

We had a great weekend on the water and hope that everyone is maximizing their enjoyment on the water this summer.  In the areas that I boated this weekend, traffic seemed unusually lite.  The weather most likely played a role as showers were expected both Saturday and Sunday, but actually tended to hold off most of the weekend.  We boated up the Chestatee River area to Thompson Creek and down to the south end of Lanier to areas near Six Mile Creek.  The sporadic cloud cover kept the temps from getting too extreme and  there were ever-present breezes that made it a fantastic boating weekend.  Here's a look at what we saw on Lake Lanier near Hwy. 53 and Boling Bridge.  Some of our prettiest pics in quite some time!

 

Lake Lanier Real Estate Market Report, Lake Level & Weekend Weather!

Today in Lake Lanier real estate, we're taking a look at how July is shaping up for Lake Lanier waterfront home sales.  In going about the process of shaping this outlook, we are looking at two sets of data.  Here are the links to the information that we are evaluating:

Lake Lanier Homes Under Contract

Lake Lanier Home Sales In July 2012 To Date 7/14

Now keep in mind that many of the month's closings will probably occur later in July, typically during the last week.  So far, however, Lake Lanier sales for July 2012 appear to be shaping up pretty well and seem to be in line with what we've been seeing this summer.  If you would like to have one of these market reports emailed to you directly, please let us know and we will send them your way.

On a different note, please notice the poll that we have posted in the right hand side of the blog.  We would like reader's feedback on their favorite Lake Lanier marina.  Can you help us out?  Simply check off your favorite in our poll, and we'll tally the results.

Will you be out on the lake this weekend?  It looks like the rain is dissipating, but there should be sporadic showers in the afternoon.  However, all things considered, we're thrilled to have the rainfall that we had during the week.  Our lake water level actually went up this week and that's great news!  See you at the lake!

Lake Lanier Weather Forecast

Lake Lanier Water Level

Lake Lanier Marinas & Athens Boat Club!

Do you boat on Lake Lanier?  Do you buy gas for your boat on the lake, or do you carry gas to your boat? If you buy gas from one of Lake Lanier's marinas, which is your favorite gas stop and why?  For a moment, forget the marina's food, beverages and other offerings.  Where is your favorite Lake Lanier gas stop that is on the water?

These are just a few questions that I have for those of you considering buying a home on Lake Lanier.  I know, this questioning sounds a bit crazy!  Consider the map of Lake Lanier marinas shown below.  Do you notice anything unusual?  Is anything missing?

One of the things that is often overlooked when doing a Lake Lanier property search is the nearest marina or gas stop location to the property.  Lake Lanier is a big lake, touching on five counties.  As the map shows, most of the marinas and gas stops are on the south end of the lake, south of Browns Bridge Road.  North of Browns Bridge, things become a bit less commercialized.  Marinas, food and gas stops are scarce.  You have a choice.  You can head up the Chattahoochee River towards Gainesville and enjoy Gainesville Marina and the wonderful dining spot at Skogies.  Or, you can head up the Chestatee River towards Dawsonville and enjoy the wonderful gas stop at Athens Boat Club. But you won't find a public restaurant here.  You'll only find the very nicest and kind folks serving up fuel for your boat, treats for your dog and friendly conversation.  I love Athens Boat Club and their great service!  My dog loves them too!  They provide excellent service to us folks that reside near the Chestatee River, Thompson Creek and Nix Bridge.  So, I think they need some publicity.  Which brings me to my next point.  They are not listed on the Google map of marinas on Lake Lanier.  If you're like me and you're a Fan of Athens Boat Club, let us know, join the Athens Boat Club Facebook Page and help get them on the map!

View Lake Lanier Marinas in a larger map