Where to Find the Right Second Home in 2009

The real estate market reflects the economy and times are very uncertain right now. However, for some buyers this is the perfect opportunity to find their dream home at amazing prices and in amazing locations.

Many people are taking the opportunity to buy a second or even third home. It takes careful consideration, though, to get the best deal. It is smart to use a talented and knowledgeable agent who can help you through the process and ensure that you will get the house you want for the price you want.

Vicki Millehan can walk you through every step of the process. Plus, she is located is the heart of one of the best areas for new home buying. Smith Mountain Lake is one of those ideal real estate areas because it is a paradise location that has not yet been discovered by the masses.

According to experts, areas like Smith Mountain Lake are the spots to shop for those second and third home purchases in 2009. The most popular areas have pretty much bottomed out and great deals are few and far between, but in lesser known areas, like Smith Mountain Lake, the deals are abundant.

Are you thinking about getting a second or third home in 2009? Have you set your heart on buying in an area that is perfect for vacationing any time of the year? If you said yes, then Smith Mountain Lake is your place to be. You get everything you want in a home and location, but at prices that can not be beat. Contact Vicki and let her get you that home you’ve been dreaming about. Smith Mountain Lake offers beautiful new and recently built homes right along the lake. If you’re looking for a business opportunity, there’s even a winery for sale!

What’s So Great About the Smith Mountain Dam?

It’s hard to miss the Smith Mountain Dam. It is, after all, why there is a Smith Mountain Lake. It should be no surprise that it is a treasured landmark and a popular attraction in the area.

Owned by the Appalachian Power Company, the dam opened in May, 1976 to serve as the main source of power in the area. Damming the Blackwater and Roanoke Rivers created a 32 mile lake which offers great recreational opportunities, but the dam itself is interesting as well. The dam welcomes you to tour the visitor center where there is an abundance of information at your disposal. In fact, over one million people have toured the dam since it opened.

The visitors center offers an audio-visual presentation that shows the dam being built and there is a mural on the wall that shows how the Smith Mountain Gap looked before the dam was built. Today that gap is filled with water, thanks to the dam.

You can learn more about how the dam works by inspecting the model that shows how water is pumped and stored. Plus, there are additional exhibits that explain how electricity is generated from the dam. It is an overall educational experience for everyone.

The Smith Mountain Lake Dam is open everyday during Daylight Savings Time from 10am to 6pm. All other times of the year the dam operates from 9am to 5pm on Tuesday through Saturday and is closed on Sunday and Monday. It is a good idea to call to confirm the operating hours before your visit. You can also make reservations if you have a large group.

The Smith Mountain Dam is located on the eastern edge of the lake in beautiful Smith Mountain Lake. You can easily find this charming town just off Rt. 751. You will probably fall in love with the laid back atmosphere of the area, the miles of trees and, of course, the glistening lake, so if you think you may just want to spend more time here then give Vicki Millehan a call. She is the local real estate expert that can help you to find a home right in the heart of this paradise.

Do You Really Need An Agent to Buy Your Smith Mountain Lake Home?

Buying real estate may seem simple on the surface, but it is not something that everyone can handle on their own, especially when looking for a second home or out of state property. Buyer’s agents are here to help you through the buying process and to ensure your best interests are at the forefront of every deal.

Many people figure they can buy real estate without any assistance. Many times, the idea behind it is to save money. You may think you are getting an agent when talk who has listed a property, but that person is actually working for the seller. In the end, though, you could actually end up paying more money, far more money, than you would have if you had just used a buyer’s agent in the first place.

Doing a purchase on your own involves many more tasks than just finding a piece of property and putting in your bid. You will also need to know how to:

- evaluate properties

- evaluate a fair price

- create documents

While it is possible to do all of this yourself, it is not easy. You will spend a lot of time doing research. Wasting all this time may just mean you lose out on the property of your dreams because instead of being out there looking for real estate, you are stuck inside at a computer doing research.

Using a buyer’s agent is not a requirement, but it is a smart choice. When you choose an agent, though, choose carefully. You want an agent that will work for you. You want an agent who is going to be out there, finding good deals and finding you what you want. You want an agent that is as excited and vested in your purchase as you are. You need Vicki Millehan.

Vicki throws herself into every part of your real estate search, from beginning to end. She will do everything she can to ensure you get the best deal on the best property. She has the knowledge and the skills to do the best job. Vicki knows the diverse properties available in Smith Mountain Lake and will do all the leg work so all you have to do is decide which one to buy.

A Revenue-Generating Opportunity Could be Yours in Virginia Wine Country

The Savoy-Lee Winery is on the market. Because it produces wine in state-of-the art facilities, it is promoted, in the words of the owner David Wood, as a turnkey operation "for someone looking for a revenue generating lifestyle." Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains on 117 acres, with a fully stocked 7 acre lake and a 3500 sq. ft. house, the winery is currently producing about 1200 cases but was built to support 5000 - 6000 cases per year.

Starting a winery is not an impulse decision, made by an impartial investor looking for a quick profit. Years of study and careful planning precede the first planting. Using digitized maps for grape growing suitability from Virginia Tech, David Woods spent 2 years searching the Eastern side of the Blue Ridge Mountains for a piece of property that met the requirements for growing grapes. In 2000, he bought the property in Huddleston and for first planting of grapes. Over the course of the next three years, he strategically planted a variety of grape, starting with Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and small quantities of Merlot, Traminette, and Chardonel. Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chambourcin were planted over the next two years.

The growing seasons of 2003 and 2004 were very difficult due to the unusually large amount of rainfall, but in December, 2003, the winery won its first award - a bronze medal for their "homebrew" 2002 Woodstock Merlot. The winery building, to include the rough-in construction of the tasting room, was completed during the summer of 2004. The first crush took place in September, 2004 - right around the time the winery received its winery license from the Federal TTB and from Virginia's ABC Board. In 2005, Savoy-Lee Winery released their 2004 Chardonnay, 2004 Echo Forest Red, and 2004 Cabernet Franc.

In April, 2006, Bedford County Wine Trail was set to showcase the effort of several Bedford County wineries. This brought tourists to the wineries to taste the wine and spread the word. Savoy-Lee also attended their first wine festival, the James River Wine Festival in Richmond, Va. They won a bronze medal in the 2006 Virginia Governor's Cup Wine Competition for their 2006 - Johnson Mountain Picnic Series - Red.

By November, 2007, the tasting room in the winery was completed. This beautiful room accommodates wine tastings several times a week and for special occasions and is a great location for wedding and other events.

Wineries usually take about 10 years to make money from their production; Savoy-Lee is nearly at that point. Since it has been making prize winning wine from the beginning, the winery is on course to increase production to meet the growing demand. Sales currently come from the tasting room visits and events, festivals, and internet sales. At this point, the winery does not work through a distributor for commercial sales, but this is the next step.

Due to family reasons, Woods is selling the winery. This property offers a unique opportunity to an entrepreneur who seeks a lucrative and challenging future in a calm and beautiful environment. Vicki Millehan of Smith Mountain Lake can fill you in on how this winery could be yours before the fall crush.

Want to see more information about this property? See the website at www.savoy-lee.com and our previous posting at Savoy-Lee Winery.

Smith Mountain Lake State Park - Our Town’s Playground

Smith Mountain Lake State Park is a place where you can enjoy it all. From the water to the history, there is a little bit of everything within the park. You can do the traditional park-like activities, meaning hiking and fishing or you can try something new, like testing your wilderness skills or visiting an exhibit on the folklore of Smith Mountain Lake.

Smith Mountain Lake State Park was developed in 1967, after Appalachian Power dammed the Roanoke River in Smith Mountain Gap, near Huddleston. The company donated a parcel of land for the park and the State of Virginia bought the rest. In 1975, the construction began and, finally, in 1983 the park was officially open to visitors. Ever since then this place has been swarming with people taking advantage of all the various things to do.

During the heat of summer you will find many sunbathers and swimmers enjoying the park’s 500 foot beach. On any given evening you will smell the burning campfire, and maybe even hear some campfire tunes coming from the 50 primitive campsites or the 20 cabins. Can’t you just picture yourself jumping in for a refreshing swim? Maybe you’d feel more at home singing along by the campfire while roasting up a marshmallow.

Smith Mountain Lake Park is a great example of how enjoyable and varied the Smith Mountain Lake area is. This park reflects the natural beauty and the laid back atmosphere of the whole town.

Perhaps you would like to stick around and enjoy the park and the town all year long or maybe you just want to check it out a little more. Either way, you need some one to show you around town. Vicki Millehan is one of the area’s top real estate agents and she has chosen this lovely place to call home, so let her be your guide. Vicki will be more than happy to tell you all about what it is really like to live in Smith Mountain Lake and find you a great Virginia property here.

House Hunt from the Deck of the Virginia Dare

What is the first thing you think of when you think about Smith Mountain Lake? The lake, of course! Shopping for a new home in Smith Mountain Lake can be a spectacular experience if you check out lake front homes from the deck of the Virginia Dare.

The Virginia Dare is a 19^th century side paddle wheeler. It will take you on a 2-hour cruise along the lake, starting near the State Park along 10 miles of shoreline in Smith Mountain Lake.

It is named after Virginia Dare who has become a legendary literary figure. The first white child born in the Americas to English parents, she was a resident of the lost Roanoke Colony on Roanoke Island, now part of North Carolina. The fate of Virginia Dare has been the subject of many literary, film, and television adaptations. Her name graces many tourist attractions in Virginia and North Carolina, as well as many products.

The Virginia Dare cruise offers a festive atmosphere that is open all year round for sightseeing cruises, charters, and special events such as weddings. Built in 1989, the boat offers a panoramic view from its enclosed decks so you can see every detail from the beautiful scenery to the amazing houses along the water front.

There is no better way to really get up close and check out a range of homes in Smith Mountain Lake than by sightseeing on the Virginia Dare. You can check out the homes and then speak with Vicki Millehan about what you liked and what you didn’t like. This can help you and Vicki to figure out what type of home you want. It is a fun way to shop for your Smith Mountain Lake home.

Embrace a Great Opportunity in Virginia Wine Country

Virginia is for lovers as they say - but it's also for people who love good wine. No visit to Smith Mountain Lake or anywhere else in Virginia would be complete without a trip to "wine country" - actually nine regions throughout the state. With over 140 wineries, Virginia is finally reaching its promise as the wine producing center that early settlers had hoped it would be. Only California, New York, Oregon, and Washington currently have more wineries, and the fine and varied output of local vintners has found it way to the White House during the events surrounding President Barack Obama's inauguration and has won praise from Bon Apetit magazine and Martha Stewart.

The founding fathers of Virginia saw wine as key to the state's economy and made it a law that every male settler had to plant 10 vines and tend them. Disease killed off the vines which were supposed to produce enough wine to supply the British Empire. Tobacco became the new hope for Virginia, but many people tried to cultivate European vines, including Thomas Jefferson and George Washington. All attempts were unsuccessful but native American grapes produced award-winning wines by the late 1820's. At the Vienna World's Fair in 1873 a Virginia Norton wine was named "best red wine of all nations"; the same wine also won a gold medal at the Paris World's Fair of 1889 when the Eiffel tower was constructed. When vintners later found that American and European vines could be grafted, the industry saw steady growth - which was derailed by Prohibition. In the late 1950's, local vintners began experimenting with the hybrids again - with great success. This time, industry growth has been skyrocketing as the number of wineries have increased. There is a serious marketing efforts underway to promote the wine industry.

The state has nine wine regions, which makes a trip to wine country a must for vacationers and a popular destination for locals as well. Tucked in the Central Virginia Region (CVA), the area is set along the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It includes a small ridge known as Southwest Mountain, the site of Thomas Jefferson's Monticello home, where he tried for years to grow European grape varieties that would make good wine. When local vintners started using native and hybrid grapes, they found that the area yields wonderful variety of wines that include: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chambourcin, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Malbec, Muscat Canelli, Muscat of Alexandria, Norton, Orange Muscat, Petit Manseng, Petit Verdot, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Rkatiteli, Sauvignon Blanc, Seyval Blanc, Syrah, Tannat, Touriga Traminette, Vidal Blanc, Viognier, and Zinfandel.

Among the 33 wineries in the CVA, there is the Savoy-Lee Winery in Huddleston, VA, 30 minutes from Roanoke, Lynchburg, Bedford, and Faith Mountain Lake. Small and family owned like many in the area, the Savoy-Lee Winery was built to produce high quality wine. The first grapes (both American and hybrid) were planted in 2001; within a year a variety called Woodstock Merlot won a bronze metal in local competition. The first crush occurred in 2004. Currently, the winery produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Traminette, Chardonel, and Viognier -plus prize-winning local varieties of red, white, and blush in the Johnson Mountain Picnic Series.

Carefully planned since 1998, the winery is positioned for growth. Due to family circumstance, the winery is now up for sale. (See the listing at http://activerain.com/blogsview/1074688/savoy-lee-winery.) Fully outfitted with a vineyard, winery, tasting room, and private home, the winery sits on 117 acres which include a lake. With a planned production of 5,000 - 6,000 cases per year, Saxon-Lee was also laid out to accommodate tourists and local events such as weddings - three strong income streams for a potential owner.

The property offers a prospective owner a unique business opportunity in a beautiful area of Virginia. For information, please contact Vickie Millehan at (540) 520-2401 or by emailing her for more details. You can also see more information about the winery at http://www.savoy-lee.com/.

Help Pay the Mortgage by Renting your Smith Mountain Lake Home

Does your idea of the perfect vacation spot include water sports, fishing, golf, and plenty to do in the area? Do you enjoy escaping for long weekends to a serene place where you can enjoy your favorite pastimes amidst friendly local resident? Long term, do you see yourself retiring to a place this?

If your answer is “yes” to these questions, you are a good candidate for buying a vacation home. Yet you wonder if this is cost effective. Because the area is in great demand, Smith Mountain Lake is a great location for you and your family – and a great source of income when you aren’t using it. What you earn in rental fees will offset the cost of your mortgage or provide you with extra income each month.

Smith Mountain Lake is a vacationer’s dream. People flock here every year to enjoy the crystal lake, varied wildlife, and welcoming community. It is good place to stay when you want to explore local attractions. Owning a home here allows you a great opportunity to help out the vacationers and help out yourself. As we mentioned in our previous blog Smith Mountain Lake: A Place So Pretty You Might Want to Stay, the area is desirable all year round, even though “in-season” rentals are the most lucrative.

Why let your home sit empty when you can make money renting it to people who will jump at the chance to stay in your home? The homes in Smith Mountain Lake are, no doubt, beautiful and highly coveted, especially the lakefront homes or those homes tucked away along the tree lines that really draw attention.

Even if you do not currently own a home in Smith Mountain Lake, but are considering buying one then keep renting possibilities in mind. You buy a second home and it sits empty half of the year. That seems like a waste of money, but when you take the opportunity to rent into mind you can see how you can turn your second home into a money maker.

If you want to buying a home in Smith Mountain Lake, talk with Vicki Millehan now about the rental potential of your home. Vicki can help you to buy a home and rent your home out. Contact her today!

Smith Mountain Lake: So Pretty You Might Want to Stay

The stunning scenery of Smith Mountain Lake makes the area a magnet for vacationers all year round. It’s just a matter of when you want to come.

There are three main rental periods throughout the year in Smith Mountain Lake – peak-season, mid-season and low-season. Understanding each season will help you to make the best rental plans and ensure that you can find the property you want.

Peak-season is the busiest season and occurs from June to August. Waterfront rentals during this time run from $400 to $4000. The cost is generally determined by the size of the home and the included amenities, not as much by the location of the property. So, it is possible to find a nice, smaller sized home or condo right on the lake at the lower end of the price range.

Mid-season is the 4 to 6 weeks that proceed and follow peak-season. There is not as big of a demand for rentals during this time so prices should be very favorable. If you want to go all out you should be able to find some of the larger, million dollar, homes at great deals, too. Imagine how fun it would be to live in a million dollar home while vacationing. Also, the rental terms are more flexible. During peak you usually have very strict guidelines about check in and check out, but during mid-season things tend to be more laid back.

The low-season is, of course, the time outside of peak or mid-season. You will get the best deals at this time because demand is fairly low. You can find some amazing deals that will let you enjoy this beautiful area without the crowds of the summer visitors. With Smith Mountain Lake being beautiful year round, low-season is ideal for someone just wanting to enjoy the scenery. Expect great discounts of 20% to 50% on rentals. Something you could not afford during another time of the year may just be in your price range now.

If renting a vacation home here is great idea, how about buying one? Smith Mountain Lake is the ideal spot to make your home away from home. Aside from the beautiful scenery, we welcome visitors with open arms and make you feel like you belong here! Our low real estate taxes make a Smith Mountain Lake home a great place to rent out part of the year when you or your family aren’t using it. So, contact Vicki Millehan and get started today.

Sizzling Summer Homes in Smith Mountain Lake

When people vacation, they often flock to warm and inviting places like lakeside resorts. Though natural warmth and beauty are abundant, the atmosphere may be unwelcoming. It takes some of the fun out of vacation when the locals act like they wish you would leave.

This is not the case in Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia – not just a vacation destination but a community that envelopes visitors into the local community

However long you wish to stay – Smith Mountain Lake welcomes you.

There’s plenty to do in the area, all available to visitors. Once you visit Smith Mountain Lake you will see why it is called the “Jewel of the Blue Ridge Mountains.” Do not let this opportunity pass you by to enjoy a little Southern hospitality in gorgeous surroundings. .

You can enjoy the area in a wide variety of styles of homes, too, whether you prefer a small cabin by the lake or a large home nestled in the woods. During the peak season from June to August, you can get a lakefront home for about $400 to $4,000 a week. This includes options from a condo to a larger sized family home. You choose the home that suits your needs and desires.

For many people, once they see that Smith Mountain Lake is a friendly community where visitors are always welcomed, a vacation rental turns into a permanent home. Leaving Smith Mountain Lake is hard to do.

Finding a vacation home in Smith Mountain Lake is simple with the help of an area expert like Vicki Millehan.