Livin’ the Lake Lifestyle: 4th of July Fireworks

Another blog in our “Livin’ the Lake Lifestyle” series helps showcase some events and attractions in the area.  Your trusted real estate agent at the Lake of the Ozarks is here to help ensure you enjoy this upcoming holiday weekend. When thinking about the Fourth of July, fireworks is usually the first thing that comes to mind. We have compiled a list of fireworks in the area to make it easier for you to enjoy the beautiful booms! (Firework information from FunLake.com.)

Old Kinderhook

Date: Friday, July 1st
Time: 5:00 pm; Display begins at dusk.
Location: Hwy 54, West of Camdenton to 20 Eagle Ridge Rd.
Fun Fest with Fireworks Show, Entertainment and Kids Activities.
Parking is limited; Arrive early.
Call for details: 573-317-3560

Bear Bottom Resort

Date: Saturday, July 2nd and Monday, July 4th
Time: 9:45 pm Both Nights
Location: View by Land at 123 Bear Bottom Drive or by Water at the Osage Arm 38MM.
Parking is limited; Arrive early.
Call for details: 573-374-6905

Freedom Celebration at Windermere

Date: Saturday, July 2nd
Time: All Day – Fireworks 9:00 pm
Location: Windermere Conference Center; 1600 Koehler Drive in Roach
Recreation, old-fashioned games, bar-b-que supper, music, and more all day. Fireworks at 9:00 pm. $5 per carload. There is a fee for some recreation/food.
Phone: 573-346-5200

Fireworks at The 5MM

Date: Saturday, July 2nd
Time: 9:30 pm
Location: View this professional fireworks display by water only at the 5 Mile Marker. Rain Date scheduled for July 3, 2016 at 9:30pm.
Call for details: 314-323-2034

Captain Ron's Bar & Grill

Date: Sunday, July 3rd
Time: 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Location: Captain Ron's Bar & Grill; Hwy 5 to Lake Road 5-50 to 82 Aloha Lane
Parking is limited; Arrive early.
View by water at the 34.5 Mile Marker
Call for details: 573-374-5852

Playin' Hooky Fireworks Cruise

Date: Monday, July 4th
Time: 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm
Location: Departing from Millstone Marina at 18096 Hwy O in Gravois Mills
$25 per person
Call for reservations and details: 573-434-2627

The Lodge of Four Seasons

Date: Monday, July 4th
Time: Display begins at Dusk
Location: The Lodge of Four Seasons; 315 Four Seasons Drive in Lake Ozark
View by water at the 13 Mile Marker
Call for details: 573-365-3000

Celebration Cruises

Date: Monday, July 4th
Time: 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm
Location: Jeffries Rd to 5076 Davis Drive in Osage Beach
View The Lodge of Four Seasons fireworks display from the water at the 13 Mile Marker, aboard the Celebration Cruises yacht.
Call for reservations and details: (573) 480-3212

Tan-Tar-A Resort

Date: Monday, July 4th
Time: 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Location: Tan-Tar-A Resort; Hwy KK to 494 Tan Tar A Drive in Osage Beach
Viewing by land on the Tan-Tar-A property reserved for resort guests only.
View by water at the 26 Mile Marker.
Call for details: 573-348-3131

Tropic Island Cruises

Date: Monday, July 4th
Time: 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Location: Tan-Tar-A Resort; 494 Tan Tar A Drive in Osage Beach
View the Tan-Tar-A Resort fireworks display from the water at the 26 Mile Marker, aboard the Tropic Island Cruises yacht.
Call for reservations and details: 573-348-0083

City of Eldon

Date: Monday, July 4th

4th of July Parade begins at 10:00 am; Downtown Eldon Fireworks begin at dusk; 

Eldon Model Air Park
Call for Details: 573-392-2291

Lake Valley Country Club

Date: Monday, July 4th
Time: Fireworks display begins at dusk.
Location: Lake Valley Country Club; 367 Blair Ave in Camdenton
Call for more info: 573-346-7218 

The most popular way to celebrate Independence Day in the United States is to watch firework displays. There are many of these displays to choose from at the Lake of the Ozarks. You could even catch a different show every night this holiday weekend! Fourth of July Fireworks are just one of the many reasons this is the best place to live! After the run activities this weekend, you may consider moving here. I would love to help you find your dream home at the Lake of the Ozarks. Have a fun and safe Fourth of July weekend!

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

Incredible LUXURY HOME For Sale In Sunrise Beach

Imagine...

You're finally home after a long day at work, ready for a relaxing evening at home. You get to enjoy a delicious dinner in your beautiful kitchen, followed by a glass of wine on your back deck overlooking the Lake of the Ozarks. If you feel like it, you may even go for an evening boat ride. On the weekend, you will get to enjoy long hours of fun in the sun from your private two-well dock - did we mention it's situated on a deep water cove? Life doesn't get much better than this!

Does that sound like a scene you could get used to? If you are longing to experience the joys of waterfront living at the Lake of the Ozarks, I've got just the home for you.

160 Springridge Lane
Sunrise Beach,  MO 65079
MLS #: 31112580
$895,900

This custom-built property is the perfect definition of a luxury home at the Lake of the Ozarks. Recently updated with new interior and exterior paint, this home is move-in ready so you and your family can immediately enjoy all that living at the Lake has to offer. The layout includes three waterfront en suites, a large kitchen with dining/sitting space, and a spacious living room. The list of benefits this home provides goes on and on...

• Extensive landscaping
• All-new lakeside windows
• Additional parking pad
• New screened porch
• Walls of windows
• Spectacular waterfront view

With several bedrooms and bathrooms, this home is perfect for raising a family, entertaining guests, and anything else your heart desires.

• 4 bedrooms
• 4.5 bathrooms
• 4,206 square feet
• 123 feet of gentle waterfront
• 2 well dock
• Swim deck

The deep water cove is perfect for swimming, boating, tubing, and any of your other favorite waterfront activities. On a quiet day at the Lake, you could even enjoy a quick spin on a kayak, canoe, or stand-up paddle board. The possibilities are truly endless!

Contact Me To Schedule A Showing!

Homes like this don't come around very often - don't miss out on the opportunity to call this home your own! If you would like to see all that this lakefront home for sale in Sunrise Beach MO has to offer, call me at 573-280-0484 to schedule a showing. I would love to help you turn this dream home into your home!

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

4 Amazing Things About Homeownership

There really is nothing like the incredible pride, satisfaction, and joy that comes from owning your own home! Homeownership offers emotional and financial benefits that cannot be found anywhere else. As your trusted real estate agent at the Lake of the Ozarks, I am honoring National Homeownership Month by dedicating today's blog to some of the incredible things owning your own home has to offer. You might be surprised by some of them!

1. YOU (And Only You) Get To Call The Shots
As soon as you sign your name at the closing, you can officially wave goodbye to your days of having to check with your landlord before making any decisions about your living space. You and your family will get to be the ones who decide what color to paint the walls, what pets you wish to have, what upgrades you want to make, etc. Trust me - after months or years of renting, this will be a very welcome change!

2. You Build Equity
"Equity" is the dollar value of your home that you actually own. It can be determined by subtracting your outstanding loan balance from your home's current market value. Every time you lower your outstanding balance by making a mortgage payment or increase your home's value by performing upgrades, you build equity. This equity becomes a major financial asset - in fact, it is the sole reason that homeowners' net worth often far outweighs that of renters.

3. You Create A Better Environment For Your Children
If you have kids, ensuring that you provide a safe, nurturing environment for them to grow up in is probably at the top of your priorities list. Did you know that children of homeowners often perform better in school, have fewer instances of teenage pregnancies, and tend to grow up to be more financially successful adults than children of renters? Most people attribute these extra successes to the stable, consistent environment they get to grow up in. 

4. You Will Be More Engaged In Your Community
Studies show that people who stay actively involved in their communities tend to lead happier, longer, more fulfilled lives. Studies also show that people who own their homes tend to be more actively involved and invested in their communities than those who rent. By owning your home, you will probably increase your connection to your local community - and possibly extend your life in the process!

Celebrate National Homeownership Month:
Buy Your First Home At The Lake!
While these things certainly provide great examples of some of the benefits of homeownership, the list doesn't stop there. Owning your own home also provides an opportunity for a sort of "forced savings" - when you make your monthly mortgage payment every month, a portion of that comes back to you in the form of equity. Homeowners also get to enjoy the added social and emotional benefits that come from knowing their space is truly their own. 

If you have been thinking about buying a house at the Lake of the Ozarks, now is the perfect time to turn that dream into a reality. Contact me to schedule private showings of some of the homes for sale in Osage Beach, Sunrise Beach, Camdenton, Lake Ozark, Linn Creek, Eldon, or any of the surrounding areas. I would be thrilled to help you buy your first home at the Lake of the Ozarks!

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

Hot Summer Nights at the Lake Of The Ozarks

Summer at the Lake of the Ozarks - there really is nothing like it! People come from all over the Midwest to take advantage of all that our beautiful area has to offer in the summertime. With countless fun events, spectacular scenery, beautiful second home opportunities, delicious restaurants, and an endless list of other local attractions, it's easy to see why the Lake of the Ozarks was recently voted the #1 Recreational Lake in the Country by USA Today Reader's Digest!

Photo Source: FunLake

Summer 2016 continues to gain momentum, and the event calendar is filling up quickly. This weekend marks the return of one of the Lake Area's most highly anticipated summer events. Hot Summer Nights takes to the Historic Bagnell Dam Strip this Friday Night... Will you be there to join in the fun?

Hot Summer Nights at the Lake

Hot Summer Nights is a fun-filled family event that takes place on the Bagnell Dam Strip once per month in the summer. The first one kicked off in May, and the one for month is scheduled for this Friday, June 10th. The remaining Hot Summer Nights 2016 are scheduled for July 8th, August 12th, and September 9th. (It is always the the second Friday of the month.)

Hot Summer Nights on June 10th - "Rag Tops & T-Tops"

Each Hot Summer Nights event has its own specific theme, and the one for this coming Friday is "Rag Tops & T-Tops." If you own a vehicle with a convertible or T-top (and even if you don't), don't miss this opportunity to come cruise the Strip with your family and friends!

Photo Source: FunLake

This weekend's event will feature all kinds of great attractions for attendees of all ages. Here are a few of the things you have to look forward to:

• Car show featuring all makes and models of cars, trucks, and motorcycles
• Giveaways
• Shopping
• Dining
• Helicopter rides
• Face painting
• Pirates
• Clowns
• Live music and other entertainment

Best of all, admission to the event is absolutely free for the whole family! Parking is available on the street and in certain parking lots. For more information about the upcoming Hot Summer Nights, visit their website at www.HotSummerNightsCruise.com or like them on Facebook.

Why Not Call The Lake Of The Ozarks Your Home?

If you love coming to the Lake every summer, why not become a permanent member of our great community? Real estate at the Lake of the Ozarks is booming right now, with homes selling almost as quickly as they are listed. If you are interested in looking for a new home or condo at the Lake of the Ozarks, contact me to schedule some showings of the available properties. If buying a second home at the Lake of the Ozarks sounds more appealing than moving down here full-time, I would be happy to help you out with that as well. Either way, I would love to help you find your dream home!

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

5 Reasons NOT To "For Sale By Owner"

When it comes to selling your Lake of the Ozarks home, you have two options: you can sell your home by yourself, or you can sell it with the help of a real estate agent at the Lake of the Ozarks. Some people are tempted to sell it on their own so they can avoid paying the agent's commission, but homes listed as For Sale By Owner frequently take much longer and are much more of a hassle to sell - if they even sell at all. Here are a few reasons why selling your home on your own may be more trouble than it's worth.

1. Homeowners May Not Be Aware Of Everything That Needs To Be Done Before The Sale
Selling your home isn't as simple as sticking a "for sale" sign in the front yard and waiting for interested buyers to magically appear - there's a lot that needs to be done in order to sell your home quickly. Deep cleaning, decluttering, staging, boosting curb appeal, taking professional listing photos, and making necessary upgrades are just a few of the tasks that await the prospective home seller. Your real estate agent can help you identify which steps you will need to take and offer up-to-date strategies for approaching each of these tasks.

2. Homeowners May Not Appreciate The Importance Of Common Real Estate Timelines
Generally speaking, homes for sale at the Lake of the Ozarks get the most attention and foot traffic in the first thirty days that they are on the market. The longer they are listed for sale, the less money they will probably ultimately get out of the sale. Homeowners may not understand the importance of aggressively marketing their homes as soon as they hit the market, and can miss out on this crucial time period.

3. Homeowners Often Do Not Understand Real Estate Contracts
Anyone who has bought or sold a house before can attest to the fact that real estate transactions come with a lot of paperwork. Unless you have been closely involved in the buying and selling process for the past several years, it is likely that all of the contracts and other paperwork will make your head swim. Because she is constantly immersed in the paperwork, your real estate agent should be able to help you make sense of it all.

4. FSBO Listings Do Not Get As Much Exposure
Homes that are listed For Sale By Owner (FSBO) typically do not get nearly as much marketing exposure as homes that are listed with real estate agents. Agents add their homes to the multiple listing service (MLS), which allows them to be easily found by buyers. Additionally, their listings should appear on countless real estate websites, both locally and nationally. While there are a few websites that allow FSBOs to advertise their properties, many real estate websites restrict their listings to those with listing agents. Without a listing agent, you also won't get the benefit of an independent third-party going out of their way to market your property.

5. Homeowners Are Not Experienced Negotiators
Even if you are in sales or another industry that requires frequent negotiations, you probably have limited (if any) experience with real estate negotiations. There are so many different factors that affect the sale of a home, including appraisal, inspection, loan prequalification/pre-approval, title insurance, property survey, and more. Each of these different factors can affect the overall negotiation process. Having a real estate agent to guide and represent you through these negotiations can be a huge asset.

Don't FSBO - Call Me Instead!
Selling your house at the Lake of the Ozarks is big undertaking no matter what, but you can make the process easier on yourself by delegating a large set of the responsibilities to your trusted Lake of the Ozarks REALTOR®. To learn more about how I can help you with the process of selling your home, visit my website: RealEstateLakeOzark.com

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