Real Estate at Lake of the Ozarks: 2015

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

5 Unbeatable Perks of Living on the Water

Let's be honest - there's nothing quite like living on the water at the Lake of the Ozarks! The Lake Area is unique in that it offers many different types of housing opportunities, including waterfront homes, interior homes, rural homes, and homes in densely populated neighborhoods. Each different style of home comes with its own set of perks, but today your local real estate agent at the Lake of the Ozarks is here to explore the benefits of living on the water.

Spoiler alert: they're hard to beat!

Want to see the rest of this gorgeous waterfront home at the Lake of the Ozarks?
Call 573-280-0484 to schedule a showing!

#1: You Have Your Own Free Swimming Pool!
Private swimming pools are a blast, but they're expensive to install and expensive to maintain. Public swimming pools are fun, but repeatedly paying for admission (or buying season passes for everyone in your family) can add up quickly. When you live right by the water, though, you and your friends and family get free access to the Lake of the Ozarks all year long! Say goodbye to the days of waiting for the public pools to open and dealing with heavy crowds... You'll be able to swim on your time, every time.

#2: You Have Access To Affordable Boat Storage
You can own a boat even if you don't live on the water, but that typically requires paying for storage somewhere else - all year round. You need somewhere to store in it safely during the winter months, but you also need a place for it to stay in between summer excursions. When you live on the water, you can have your own private dock or a slip in a community dock, so your boat will have a convenient place to live all year long!

#3: "Staycations" Are Better Than Ever
We all need a chance to get away from everything and reset sometimes. Most of us think that we need to do this by traveling, but vacationing at home can be just as therapeutic - especially if you live somewhere as scenic and beautiful as the Lake of the Ozarks! People travel from all over the surrounding states to stay at the Lake... why not stay home and let yourself enjoy it, too? If you live in a waterfront home at the Lake of the Ozarks, you won't have to go anywhere else to relax!

#4: Your Family And Friends Will Come To You
Are you tired of always packing up and driving to different cities from family gatherings? If you have a lakefront home, chances are that it will be a favorite among your friends and family and they will come to you instead - especially for summer events!

This view could be yours! Contact Susan Spica to schedule
a showing of this waterfront condo at the Lake of the Ozarks

#5: The View From Your Home Will Be Incredible
Living on the water at the Lake of the Ozarks will mean different things depending on the season, but one thing will remain constant all year long: the outstanding view. Being able to look out over the beautiful water every day will help you relax, and having a great view adds value to your home. If you decide to move, your view will be a great selling point for your home.

Convinced? I can help you find your new waterfront home at the Lake!

I have over twenty-five years of experience in real estate at the Lake, and I would love to use that experience to help you with the search for your next home! If you're interested in viewing waterfront homes for sale at the Lake of the Ozarks, give me a call and we can get started!

Susan Spica, Professional Realtor

BerkShire Hathaway HomeServices
101 Crossings West, Ste. 202
Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Office: (573) 365-6868
Susan's Cell: (573) 280-0484
Gina's Cell: (573) 889-9477

Friday, March 20, 2015

4 Key Questions For Your Mortgage Lender

For most of us, buying a home at the Lake of the Ozarks would not be possible without the help of a mortgage lender. Because lenders are such an important part of the home buying process, it's important to find a lender you are confident will be able to best meet the needs of you and your family.

It's important to meet with multiple lenders so you can get competitively priced interest rates, but this will also let you get to know multiple lenders so you can find someone you feel comfortable working with. As you interview different lenders, here are a few key questions to ask.

1. What Types Of Mortgage Loans Do You Offer?
There are about as many different types of mortgage loans as there are different people buying homes. Each type of loan comes with a different set of requirements, a different set of policies, and a different payment structure. Your lender should be able to help you understand the different types of loans available and determine which type will best fit your needs.

2. What Will My Interest Rate Be?
When you get prequalified, your lender will be able to give you an estimate of the interest rate you qualify for. Keep in mind that the rate quoted to you during the prequalification process is not guaranteed; you have to get farther along in the process before your rate will be locked in. Even though it won't be guaranteed yet, though, it's important to ask different lenders what types of rates they will be able to get you so you can compare quotes.

3. Are There Fees For Paying Off My Loan Early?
When you take out a loan to buy property at the Lake of the Ozarks, you will most likely end up paying several thousands of dollars in interest by the time it's all said and done. You can reduce the total amount of interest you pay, however, by putting extra money towards the principle amount on your home loan and paying it off a little early. Some loans charge additional fees if you pay your loan off early, though, so it's important to find out if you will be able to make additional payments or not.

4. How Quickly Will My Loan Be Approved?
There's no definite answer for this, but you will be able to get a general timeline based on your lender's response. Some types of loans usually take more (or less) time to be approved than others, but sometimes you will even receive different timeline quotes from different lenders for the same type of loan. If you have a general timeline for your transaction, it's important to find the lender who will have the best chance of meeting your deadlines.

Good luck!
Ultimately, the choice of your lender is entirely your own. Asking these questions will get you started in the right direction, but eventually it is up to you to find someone you trust.

Please keep me in mind when you are ready to start touring homes! I would love to serve as your Lake of the Ozarks real estate agent.

Thursday, March 12, 2015

The St. Patrick's Day Parade is on Saturday!

Calling all Lake of the Ozarks residents AND visitors! The 31st Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade returns to the Lake on Saturday, May 14th. This wonderful family-friendly event is always a huge hit among vacationers and residents alike, and this year should be no exception!

Photo Credit: www.FunLake.com

St. Patrick's Day Parade at the Lake of the Ozarks

Businesses from all around the Lake Area are busily decking out their cars, motorcycles, trucks, and even boats in the brightest greens they can find in preparation for the parade this weekend. Up to 5,000 people will line the Strip and watch the parade go by - so why not be one of them?

Saturday, March 14th, 2015
Bagnell Dam Strip
1:00 PM

We think of parades as a great attraction for family's with young children, but the truth is that parades are appealing to people of all ages. Grab your kiddos, your wife, your husband, your friend, your parents, or your grandparents and head out for an afternoon filled with fun for everyone.

Photo Credit: www.FunLake.com

Thinking About Relocating To The Lake of the Ozarks?

As an experienced Lake of the Ozarks real estate agent, I am well-equipped to help you find your dream home at the Lake. If you're thinking about buying a home, feel free to stop by my office so we can discuss your options. I'm in the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Building located on Crossings West in Lake Ozark, right next to the Break Time gas station. Give me a call to set up your appointment!

Monday, March 2, 2015

Top 7 Tips To Sell Your Home FASTER

People decide to sell their homes for any number of reasons, but there is one thing that all sellers have in common - they all want to sell their homes as quickly as they possibly can. Selling your home quickly requires dedicated effort and a successful strategy, but it can definitely be done. With 25+ years of experience in real estate at the Lake of the Ozarks, I have put together a list of the top seven tricks to sell your home quickly.

1. Hire A Professional To Photograph Your Home
In real estate, pictures are truly worth thousands of words. If you want to sell your home quickly, it is absolutely critical that your listing be accompanied by high-quality, professional photographs - and lots of them. At the very least, you should have pictures of all major areas (bedrooms, kitchen, and bathrooms) and any unique selling features your home may have (such as a spectacular view or a large outdoor patio).

2. Ask For The Right Price
Pricing your home correctly can be a challenge, but it is very important. If you price it too high, you will eliminate potential buyers who are working with a specific price range. If you price it too low, you may scare off potential buyers who assume that something is wrong with your home. I can provide you with a free market analysis to help you price your home right - the first time. Check out my website to learn more: http://realestatelakeozark.com/selling-your-home.html

3. Devise An Exit Strategy
When potential buyers come to visit your home, it is imperative that you give them the space they need to envision the home as their own. This means that you, your family, and your pets must not be present. Being able to vacate the premises on short notice will make it easier for real estate agents at the Lake of the Ozarks to show your home to potential buyers - and, consequently, to sell your home faster.

4. Give Every Room A Purpose
Do you have an extra room downstairs that you've been using as storage? It's time to clean it out and give it a specific purpose. Part of successfully staging your home is showing potential buyers how they could use the space in the home to its fullest potential. For example, set up your extra rooms as offices, reading nooks, crafting rooms, or workout rooms. The goal is to show potential buyers the limitless possibilities of the home.

5. Kick Up Your Curb Appeal
With springtime finally upon us, it is a great time to work on boosting your home's curb appeal. Plant some flowers, give your front door that fresh coat of paint you've been putting off, and power wash your driveway and your siding. Not only will this ensure your home makes a great first impression with the people who come to tour your home - it may also help you attract more interested buyers who just happen to drive past your home!

6. Advertise, Advertise, Advertise
Potential buyers won't come tour your home if they don't know it is for sale! It is important to market your home both locally and on all major real estate websites. Posting about your home being for sale and any upcoming open house events on your personal Facebook page or other social media accounts and buying ads in the newspaper can be great ways to get the word out. If you sell your home with Susan Spica, your home will also be listed on our website and our social media channels. We can help you ensure that your home is marketed aggressively and effectively.

7. Time Your Listing Effectively
The time of year (and even the day of the week) you choose to list your home can actually have a significant impact on how quickly it sells. Spring is historically the best season to list your home, because this is when most home buyers begin actively searching for homes. Homes typically receive the most visibility during their first few months on the market, so it's important to time your listing correctly.

Contact Sue Spica To Sell Your Home Today!
With springtime upon us and the housing market is on the climb, NOW is the perfect time to sell your Lake of the Ozarks home. Contact my team to get started!

Monday, February 23, 2015

Raising Your Credit Score - What NOT To Do

It's never too soon to start working on building a great credit score. Having a strong credit rating is essential in order to secure low-interest home loans for you and your spouse, which makes buying a home at the Lake of the Ozarks MUCH more affordable. Raising your credit score takes time, so it's time to start preparing now if you're planning on buying a home in the next few years.

There is a right and a wrong way to go about raising your credit score. If you're trying to increase your credit rating, make sure you DO NOT do the following:

(Don't) Only Pay The Minimum Balance On Your Credit Cards
Your credit rating reflects how accountable you are at paying your bills on time. When you're applying for a home loan, mortgage lenders want to know they can count on you to pay them back for the money the initially spend on your home. Only paying the minimum balance on your credit cards makes it look like you cannot be trusted to make full payments, which will cause your credit score to drop. You should pay your credit card bills in full every month.

(Don't) Run Up High Balances On Your Credit Cards
This tip can seem confusing at first. It is a good idea to use credit cards and pay them off in full every month, because this shows creditors that you can handle debt responsibly. However, it is not a good idea to max out your credit limit every month. In fact, you should ideally only use 30% of your credit limit. For example, if your credit limit is $2,000, you should keep your outstanding balance at $600 or less.

(Don't) Run Up Small Balances On Multiple Cards
Your credit rating is supposed to tell lenders how responsible you are with your money. Having outstanding balances (even small ones) on multiple cards can make it look like you do not manage your money wisely. Pay off these extraneous balances and choose one or two cards to use exclusively in the future.

(Don't) Apply For New Credit Frequently
When you take out a loan for a car, open a new credit card, or take out a mortgage loan, it looks like you're doing so because you cannot afford to make these purchases without assistance. In some cases (such as car loans or home loans), this is probably true - and that's okay. Opening these new lines of credit causees initial hits to your credit rating, however, so do not apply for for new credit back to back. Space out your applications for new credit over time.

(Don't) Take Your Time
Rest and relaxation is wonderful, but it has its time and place. If you're applying for a new loan, it's important to act quickly. Every time a lender checks your credit score when qualifying you for a loan, your credit rating drops a little. Creditors understand the importance of shopping rates, however, so they have instituted a new policy to allow for this. Under the new agreement, multiple lenders can view your credit rating in a specific amount of time without hurting your score. Your credit rating won't be hurt by multiple lenders looking into your credit score, then, as long as they all do so within that window. When shopping for interest rates, act quickly.

I hope you find these tips helpful!
Working on your credit score now will better prepare you for purchasing a Lake of the Ozarks home in the future. When you're ready to start looking for homes in Lake Ozark, Osage Beach, Eldon, Linn Creek, or Sunrise Beach, give me a call! I look forward to helping you find the perfect home for you.

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

10 Clever Ways To Make Small Living Spaces Seem Larger

Size does NOT equal comfort! Just because your home or condo at the Lake of the Ozarks is small does not mean it has to feel cramped. Your local real estate agent at the Lake of the Ozarks is here to help you maximize your living space with these simple (but brilliant!) suggestions.

1. Don't Box Yourself In

Open up your space as much as you can. Consider knocking down a few walls to make rooms larger, or put panes of glass in between rooms instead of solid walls. Creating sight lines to different spaces will make your rooms feel bigger. Adding windows to let more light in will also add perceived space to your home.

2. Break It Up

Depending on the layout of your room and the purpose it serves, it could make more sense to buy multiple smaller pieces of furniture instead of one big one. This is especially true for high-traffic areas, such as living rooms and dining rooms. Rather than purchasing one huge coffee table, for example, consider purchasing two smaller, more portable tables.

3. Stick To The Bare Necessities

If your the room is not a high-traffic area, on the other hand, you might be better off investing in two or three large pieces of furniture and leaving it at that. This piece of advice mostly applies to bedrooms, where all you really need is a bed, dresser, and maybe a chair.

4. Keep It Neutral

Bright, bold colors can be fun - but they can make rooms appear smaller than they already are. Neutral and soothing hues, on the other hand, can calm the eye and make the room appear more spacious.

5. Maximize Vertical Space

When space is limited, don't waste it by leaving unused space above your furniture. Cabinets and bookshelves can be stretched all the way to your ceiling, which will give you more storage space and give your room a taller appearance. You can also use artwork or curtains to create vertical lines. The higher your ceiling is (or appears to be), the bigger your rooms will feel.

6. Give Your Furniture A Dual Purpose

Why not get the same piece of furniture to serve multiple purposes? If you're working with small rooms, don't waste space by buying extra pieces of furniture. Your table may be able to double as a desk, and your couch may be able to double as a guest bed. You can also invest in hollow ottomans to turn seats into storage spaces.

7. Take Time To Reflect

When it comes to the art of maximizing space, mirrors are incredible tools. Strategically placed mirrors can add interest and practically double the perceived size of any room.

8. Clear Your Surfaces

When every inch of your shelves, desks, tables, and other surfaces is covered, rooms appear cramped. Choose a few key items to leave on the surfaces and stow the rest away out of sight. Your rooms will feel larger and relaxed almost instantly.

9. Take Advantage of Layers

No, the benefits of layering do not only apply to clothes. Use layering to maximize your living space by stacking features on top of one another. For instance, consider investing in a dresser/bed combo that has the bed on top of a set of shelves or drawers. This especially great for kids' rooms.

10. Put In An Outdoor Patio

Creating usable space outside will make the overall living space of your home feel larger, without requiring additional square footage. Putting in wooden decking or laying down paving stones and adding a table and chairs is all it takes.

Do you have more ideas? I'd love to hear them!

As one of the most experienced real estate agents at the Lake of the Ozarks, I am always looking for ways to help my clients achieve ultimate satisfaction with their homes and condos. If you have any other great ideas for maximizing living space, I'd love to know!

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

7 Interior Decorating Ideas That Won't Break Your Bank

Let's be honest. We all want our homes to beautifully decorated - but we don't all want to spend the money to get it there! Luckily, there are several ways you can spruce up your homes at the Lake of the Ozarks without breaking the bank.

Accent With Paint
Giving your walls a fresh coat of paint is one of the cheapest (and easiest) ways to give your home a facelift. If you're looking for a way to add a polished look to certain rooms, consider making one wall a darker or lighter shade of the main color - or choose a different hue entirely! The accent walls will add a fun, updated feel to your rooms.

Upcycle Old Bottles
"Upcycling" refers to the process of repurposing old materials to create something new. Upcycling is a cost-effective way to come up with unique home decor items. Turn empty glass bottles into fun vases or unique, eye-catching centerpieces all on their own by filling them with paint and then dumping the paint back out. After the paint dries, the bottle will appear to be an new color! Set your new vases on tables, bookshelves, or along the top of your kitchen cabinets.

Turn Plates Into Wall Decor
Bright dinner plates aren't only fun in the kitchen. Hanging bright plates in unique arrangements on the walls can be a unexpected way to add some life to your rooms. Feel free to use plates of different sizes, colors, and even textures. You can hang them by attaching wire plate hangars to the backs and hanging them on nails.

Make Your Walls Picture-Perfect
Photo collages add beautiful, personalized flair to any room. Put some of your favorite photos in picture frames of varying sizes and colors and hang them on the wall in any arrangement you choose. Both you and your guests will love looking at all your photos!

Step Back and Reflect
Looking for a way to decorate and make your rooms seem more spacious? Hanging mirrors is the way to go! Mirrors add light, interest, and (depending on their size) can practically double the apparent size of any room. Dress up old, hand-me-down mirrors by spray painting the frames in the colors of your choice.

Treat The Windows
Window treatments add an element of class to any room. You don't have to empty your wallet buying curtains, though - large swatches of semi-sheer fabric from any craft store draped around a curtain rod can be just as effective. Choose colors that blend with the overall decor theme of the room, or choose a different color to brighten things up!

Maximize What You Already Have
Some people don't even realize the decorative potential of objects that they have scattered around the house. Here are some quick-hitter ideas for decorating your home with things you already have:

Pile books horizontally with their spines facing towards center of the room. If they're books you rarely read, consider placing a small vase or some other centerpiece on top of them.
Cluster candles of varying shapes and sizes in small arrangements. These arrangements can be used as the main centerpiece(s) of your dining room table or as stand-alone features on end tables or shelves.
You've looked closely at everything you have inside, but have you looked outside? Cut sprigs of wild flowers or even small branches arranged in vases can be a fun, temporary way to add a little extra life to your home.
Dust off old maps and hang them on walls. With today's GPS technology, few people have any need for paper maps in the car - but they can be a great way to add interest to your rooms.

Friday, February 6, 2015

Take A Tour Of Our NEW Website!

I have an exciting announcement! I've recently launched a brand new website featuring great information about my real estate services at the Lake of the Ozarks. The website is designed to be a resource of prospective home buyers and home sellers alike. Here's a quick overview of the different information our new site has to offer.

HOME PAGE

This page offers everything you need at one glance. Buyer resources, seller resources, real estate resources, and links to more information about the beautiful Lake of the Ozarks are all at your fingertips.

FEATURED REAL ESTATE

On this page, you can find photos and descriptions of the properties I'm currently selling. If you're in the market to buy a home, be sure to check back often to see if any new properties have been added!

SEARCH REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

If you're looking to buy a home at the Lake of the Ozarks, this page is a GREAT resource. From this page of our new website, you can search all homes for sale at the Lake of the Ozarks (no matter who the listing agent is). You can also narrow your search be certain criteria, such as location, price range, and even the years they were built.

SELLING YOUR HOME

This page offers helpful resources for people trying to sell their homes. It explains how my 25+ years of experience selling real estate at the Lake can help you sell your home quickly and easily. It doesn't matter whether you are selling a waterfront home or condo, a second-tier property, or a small farm - I can help you!

Check out great real estate listings (like this one!) on our website.

BUYING A HOME

This page has great information for anyone thinking about buying a home at the Lake. I've been around the real estate scene at the Lake for a long time, and I would love to help you find your dream home at the Lake of the Ozarks! I know the area and am well-equipped to assist you in your home search. Commission for real estate agents is typically paid by seller, so I will probably be able to work with you at no cost to you!

ABOUT SUSAN SPICA

In order to better help them sell and/or buy their homes, I believe in getting to know my clients as well as I can. That process begins by giving you all the opportunity to get to know a little bit about me, first! This page on my website tells you about my experience and how I can use it to help you.

CURRENT LAKE MARKET INFO

Before you can know how to price your home or what price to offer as a interested buyer, you have to know the local market. This page offers immediate access to current real estate data for the Lake of the Ozarks, as well as future updates.

Stop By and Check It Out!

I would love for you to check out the new website when you have time! Find it at www.realestatelakeozark.com.

If you're thinking about buying or selling your home at the Lake of the Ozarks, please give me a call! I would love to help you with your real estate endeavors.

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

How To Choose Your Real Estate Agent

If you’re planning on buying or selling your Lake of the Ozarks home in the near future, finding a good real estate agent to represent you is absolutely crucial. A dedicated, experienced real estate agent in the Lake area will be there to help you, guide you, and fight for you. With so many dollars at stake, having this constant ally by your side makes a huge difference—but how do you find the real estate agent that is right for you?

If you’re preparing to buy or sell your home, take the time to interview a few different real estate agents so you can find one whose experience and personality will be a good fit for you and your family. Here are a few good questions to help you get to know your potential real estate agent.

If You’re BUYING A Home, Ask Your Potential Agent…

1. What Type Of Buyers Do You Prefer Working With?
Some real estate agents gear their approach towards a certain type of buyer, such as couples preparing to buy their first home or families looking for a second home at the Lake of the Ozarks. Make sure the real estate agent you choose has experience representing buyers in your position.

2. How Do You Prefer To Communicate?
Some parts of real estate transactions are incredibly time-sensitive. You don't want to risk missing out on your dream waterfront home because of a communication failure. Make sure your potential real estate agent will be easily accessible and will communicate with you via the method that works best for you.

3. How Do Your Final Sales Prices Compare To The Asking Prices?
As the home buyer, you usually will not have to pay the full asking price for your new home at the Lake of the Ozarks. An experienced buyer's agent will be able to coach you on how to negotiate the price to reach a number you and the seller are both satisfied with.

If You're SELLING A Home, Ask Your Potential Agent...

1. What Is Your Marketing Strategy?
Successfully selling your home is all about visibility. How will your real estate agent market your home? Can he/she guarantee your home will have great visibility on the market? How will he/she reach out to prospective buyers to promote your home? Make sure your agent's strategy aligns with your vision.

2. What Is Your Going Rate?
As the seller, you will typically be responsible for paying both of the real estate agents involved in your transaction - your listing agent and the buyer's agent. Make sure you know in advance what percentage of the price of the home you will be expected to pay to the real estate agents.

3. Do You Offer Any Guarantees?
If your home does not sell in a timely manner (or if for some reason you decide not to move) will you be able to cancel your agreement with your listing agent? How can he/she guarantee that your home will be sold? These are tough questions to ask and to answer, but it's crucial that you are both on the same page before you sign any contracts.

Contact Susan Spica For Real Estate At The Lake of the Ozarks!

If you're looking for a dedicated real estate agent at the Lake, I would love to set up a time to talk to you. With twenty-five years of experience selling real estate at the Lake of the Ozarks, I am well-equipped to help you and your family with your real estate transaction. I look forward to working with you!

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Tips for an Effective Final Walk-Through

Buying a home at the Lake of the Ozarks is such an exciting process! Your dream home is finally becoming a reality, and you can't wait to close and begin moving in. Your excitement and impatience is certainly understandable (and completely warranted), but it's important to make sure you're giving appropriate time and attention to each step of the home buying process.

One of those crucial steps is the final walk-through. The final walk-through is an inspection performed by you, the home buyer, a few days (or a few hours) before closing to make sure everything in the home is in the condition you agreed upon with the seller - that agreed-upon repairs have been made and that no new damages have occurred. You don't want to be caught with any unpleasant surprises!

As with most steps in the process of purchasing a Lake of the Ozarks home, there are certain tips and tricks you can use to make your walk-through more thorough and more effective. Here are some of the tricks I've learned as an experienced Realtor at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Bring your paperwork. All of it. Bring your contract, the home inspection report, and the seller's property condition disclosure form. You won't be able to address issues that were already identified and agreed upon in the paperwork, so having these documents along to refer back to is a good idea.

Check the lights. Flip on all of the lights (and the ceiling fans) in the house to make sure they're all working properly. If you want to be extremely thorough, you can bring something to plug into all of the outlets to make sure they work as well.

Test the appliances. Double-check that the air conditioning, heater, oven, refrigerator, water softener, dishwasher, and any other appliances included in the contract are functioning.

Check the walls and floors for any new damage. If the previous owners had not yet moved out when you first toured the home, they could have left some scratches or scuffs on the walls or floors as they moved their belongings out of the house.

Test the water flow. Turn on all of the faucets, flush the toilets, and run the water in the showers and bathtubs. If the refrigerator has a water/ice dispenser, you can test that too.

Take stock of what's in the home. Did the previous owners leave things behind that were not specified in the contract? If the items were not included in the contract (and you don't want them), you can require that the sellers remove them before closing.

Perform an overall sanity-check. The final walk-through is your opportunity to make sure everything is as you expected it to be. Walk through the home (and around the yard) one last time before you close to make sure that everything is as it was when you last saw it or as you and the seller agreed that it would be.

If you do it right, the final walk-through will ensure that you aren't stuck with any unpleasant surprises after you close on the home. Your Lake of the Ozarks Realtor will most likely be present during the final walk-through, so feel free to ask him/her for suggestions during the walk-through.

Looking for a new home at the Lake of the Ozarks? I would love to help you find your dream home! Contact my office to get started today.

Friday, January 16, 2015

Lake of the Ozarks Drawdown Has Begun

Ameren Missouri officials use Bagnell Dam to control the water level at the Lake of the Ozarks. In January and February of every year, officials lower the Lake's water level by several feet in order to prevent flooding when the spring rains hit.

If you are the proud owner of a waterfront home at the Lake of the Ozarks, there are certain steps that must be taken in order to protect your dock from damage during this annual drawdown. Here's a little bit of background information on the drawdown, and some suggestions for protecting your docks.

Annual Lake Drawdown at the Lake of the Ozarks

The ideal water level for the Lake of the Ozarks is about 660 feet above sea level. March and April typically bring heavier rains, so throughout January and February of every year, plant officials at Bagnell Dam lower the water level at the Lake to about 654 feet above sea level.

These numbers serve as general guidelines. Officials at Bagnell Dam must consider a wide variety of factors when choosing the exact water level, such as the demand for power generation and weather predictions.

Dock Preparation Methods

6 feet may not sound like a lot, but docks can suffer serious damage when the water level drops that much if proper preventative measures have not been taken. Here are some suggestions for protecting your docks from damage during the drawdown:

Lengthen dock cables to allow room for the dock to lower as the water level does
Make sure the pins and hinges connecting your dock to your seawall have proper leeway for the dock to drop down
Install a deicer to keep ice blocks from forming around your dock

Osage River Residents Need To Take Action Also

The Lake drawdown does not only affect people with lakefront properties. People who have docks along the Osage River (beneath Bagnell Dam) need to take action also in order to prevent damage to their property. If at all possible, most people recommend that you take your dock out of the river. If this is not possible, however, then you should lengthen your dock cables to allow the dock to move with the current. Just like the lakefront residents, you should also install a reliable deicer to prevent ice buildup around your dock.

Homeownership certainly comes with its fair share of responsibilities. When you live at the Lake, though, the benefits far outweigh the costs. If you are considering buying a home at the Lake of the Ozarks, please don't hesitate to give me a call! I would love to help you find your new dream home at the Lake.

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Protect Your Home From The Cold

These bright sunny skies have been lovely, but the biting cold weather has served as a reminder that winter (and all that comes with it) is still very much upon us. Harsh, cold temperatures can be very hard on your homes at the Lake of the Ozarks. As your trusted real estate agent at the Lake, I urge you to take precautionary methods to protect your homes (and yourselves) from this frigid weather.

Here are some of the steps I recommend taking to help protect your homes from the cold.

☃ Insulate exposed pipes with foam pipe insulation.

☃  Clean your gutters so water cannot pool and freeze in them.

☃  Remove/cover window air conditioning units.

☃  Fill any cracks and/or holes in the sides of your home with caulk.

☃  Add weather stripping around your doors to prevent losing warm air.

☃ Have de-icers on hand.

☃  Trim tree branches close to your home or where you park your car.

☃  Set your thermostat high enough that your pipes won't freeze if you leave town.

☃  Seal holes around ceiling fans and light fixtures to keep warm air from escaping into the attic.

☃  Keep an emergency kit with batteries, flashlights, and a battery-operated radio.

☃  Make sure you always have enough food in your house to feed your family and your pets for at least three days.

Winter storms (or prolonged exposure to exceedingly cold temperatures) can take a serious toll on homes, so be sure to thoroughly check your homes for damage after particularly harsh conditions have passed. Do you have any other suggestions for keeping your home safe in cold weather? I'd love to hear your suggestions!

Friday, January 2, 2015

Buying Your First Home - 6 Tips

Buying your first home is a big step, and it can be a little scary. Even though they may want to purchase a home of their own, many people second-guess themselves, saying that they're surely not in the same position as most "real first-time home buyers."

While it can be easy to trap yourself in these limiting thought patterns, they're simply not accurate. In reality, buying your first home is a completely unique experience. There is no "one-size-fits-all" description of a first-time home buyer. If you're seriously leaning towards buying a home, chances are that you're ready - and it's certainly not too soon to start preparing. If you're thinking about buying your first home at the Lake of the Ozarks, here are a few tips to keep in mind.

1. Start Budgeting Now
It's never too soon to start a serious, detailed tracking of all your income and expenses. If you're planning on buying a home by yourself, then you'll obviously only need to track your own finances. If you're planning to buy a home with another person (even if you're not married), you should track your finances together. The sooner you get a better idea of exactly how much money you earn each month, how much you spend each month, and how much you earn each month, the sooner you'll be able to realistically identify what type of monthly mortgage payment you can afford.

2. Determine Your Top Priorities
When buying your first home, it's easy to get so swept up in the excitement of it all that you forget to stay focused. Help guard yourself from this common mistake by sitting down with everyone who will be a permanent resident of the new home and making two lists: one covering the things you absolutely require, and the other covering the things that you would like to have, but that aren't necessities. If you choose to hire me as your Realtor at the Lake of the Ozarks, send these lists to me and I will help you find several homes to look at that match your lists as closely as possible. We can begin narrowing down the search from there.

3. Homeowners Associations: Yes or No?
Deciding whether or not you would be willing to consider purchasing a home within a homeowners association can help you narrow your search ahead of time. Homeowners associations can be great organizations, but they're not for everyone. While they offer fantastic perks and benefits, they also require annual fees and include some restrictions on the types of things you, the homeowner, are allowed to do with your property. If you're looking at a home that is part of an HOA, it would be a good idea to familiarize yourself with some of its requirements and the benefits it offers.

4. Take Notes
As an experienced real estate agent at the Lake, I cannot stress the importance of note-taking enough. It seems hard to believe at first, but when you visit even just five houses, they start to run together. Was the spare bedroom upstairs in the second or the third house you toured? Which one had the stainless steel appliances? As you walk through different houses, write down everything that catches your eye - both positive and negative. When you leave the house, flesh out your notes as needed and then rank the home on a scale from 1-5 (5 being "love it"). Trust me, you'll really appreciate having these notes to review at the end of the day!

5. Remember: the Home is Only Part of the Package
When you buy a home, you're not just buying a home. You're also buying the location. It's important to like the house, but it's also important to like where it is. You could do a complete remodel of the house, but at the end of the day, it will still be in the same neighborhood. How do you feel about the houses that surround yours? What about the commute to work?

While we're on the subject, I want to bring up another important point. The view is another aspect of the areas surrounding your house, but unless you can also purchase the property that makes up your view, it's important not to buy the home for the view. When someone else owns that land, it can change. That peaceful, wooded cove could become the location for more condominiums. If you like the view, I strongly encourage you to purchase the property as soon as you can.

6. Relax - And Have Fun!
Most people think of buying their first home as this huge step - and it is. But that doesn't mean you can't have fun with it! Remember that everyone is on the same team. You, the sellers, the real estate agents, the mortgage lenders... everyone wants the sale to go through. Stressing out about things will only complicate the matter. Settle down, take a deep breath, and let's go find you your first home at the Lake of the Ozarks!