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

Don't Miss Berkshire Hathaway's Luxury Open House Tour!

When it comes to your new home at the Lake of the Ozarks, you deserve the best of the best. You deserve a comfortable, beautiful place to come home to after a long and busy day - a place that just as easily lends itself to entertaining all of your guests as it does enjoying quieter time with your immediate family. If you are in the market for new home at the Lake, I (along with the rest of the team at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Lake Ozark Realty) would like to officially to invite you to a one-of-a-kind event you won't want to miss: our Lake of the Ozarks Luxury Home Tour!

Berkshire Hathaway's Luxury Home Tour

There has never been a better opportunity to buy a luxury home at the Lake of the Ozarks. When you attend our Luxury Home Tour, you will get to view over half a dozen of the phenomenal luxury homes we currently have for sale. A Lake of the Ozarks real estate agent will be positioned at each of the properties to answer all of your questions and provide any additional help you may need.

• Date: Friday, May 27th, 2016
• Time: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
• Location: Various luxury homes for sale at the Lake of the Ozarks

The tour will kick off at main office, located at 101 Crossings West Suit #202 in Lake Ozark. You can meet us there, or you can join us at the various properties for sale. Get directions to the homes for sale here.

Featured Luxury Homes

5 Bedrooms ~ 6 Bathrooms ~ 7,800 Square Feet ~ $3,100,000

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6 Bedrooms ~ 9 Bathrooms ~ 8,300 Square Feet ~ $1,686,271

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5 Bedrooms ~ 6 Bathrooms ~ 4,950 Square Feet ~ $1,299,999

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4 Bedrooms ~ 4 Bathrooms ~ 4,044 Square Feet ~ $799,900

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5 Bedrooms ~ 4 Bathrooms ~ 4,500 Square Feet ~ $774,000

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5 Bedrooms ~ 5 Bathrooms ~ 4,686 Square Feet ~ $689,900

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4 Bedrooms ~ 4 Bathrooms ~ 2,800 Square Feet ~ 575,000

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Contact Me For More Information About The Open House Tour!

Don't miss out on this one-of-a-kind of opportunity to view over half a dozen luxury homes for sale at the Lake of the Ozarks in just a few hours! If would like more information about this tour, contact my office at 573-365-6868 or call me directly at 573-280-0484. I look forward to seeing you there!

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

7 Home Staging Mistakes

Staging can make or break the sale of a home. If you don't dedicate any time and effort to staging your home, buyers may scratch it off their lists before even giving it a chance. If you go overboard on your staging efforts, on the other hand, buyers may assume that you are trying to cover up an undesirable aspect of your home. In order to sell your home at the Lake of the Ozarks quickly, you'll want to find the proper balance.

An Overview Of Home Staging

To put it simply, home staging is the art of designing your home to make it appealing to a wide range of potential buyers. Typical guidelines often include cleaning, decluttering, and generally neutralizing your home. As with most things, however, there is a right way and a wrong way to go about staging your home. I've included a few things not to do below.

Staging Mistakes

1. Failing To Deep Clean
When I say that cleaning your home is a normal part of the process, I'm referring to cleaning your home like you never have before. Every square inch should be addressed, all the way down the the baseboards, walls, doorknobs, and windowsills. The work won't be over after your initial deep clean, either - you'll want to do a quick surface cleaning every time you open the house for a showing.

2. Leaving Your Family Photos On Display
The idea of staging your house is to create a neutral space that your buyers can imagine themselves calling home. If they are surrounded by pictures of your family and your friends, they may find it difficult to image the space as their own. Successful staging typically involves tucking all personal items out of sight, including family photos, wall art that includes your name and/or initials, and drawings done by your kids.

3. Covering Up Serious Flaws
Though the point of staging is to make your home appealing to as many buyers as possible, attempting to disguise or cover up serious flaws in your property may hurt your efforts in the long run. Chances are good that the issues with your home (if any) will be discovered during the home inspection anyway, so you'll be better off being upfront and honest with your buyers about any potential issues from the get-go.

4. Over-Decorating Your Home
Never underestimate the power of empty space. Yes, you want to decorate your home to show off its best features, but you shouldn't get so caught up in the process that you forget to leave certain walls blank and certain surfaces empty. Empty space makes your home seem bigger, whereas clutter (even clutter that was originally designed to be aesthetic) can make even large homes start to feel small and cramped.

5. Cramming All Your Extra "Stuff" In The Garage
What do you with all the things you remove in the process of decluttering? Some people assume that they can stuff it all in the garage - since garages are typically used for storage anyway, their buyers won't care if it's messy and over-crowded, right? Unfortunately, that may not be the case. Large, spacious garages are actually becoming prime selling points, and piling yours from floor to ceiling may hurt your efforts. You will probably be better off renting a storage unit to store all your extra belongings until you are ready to move into your new home.

6. Using Strong Scents
It's true that homes that smell pleasant often sell more quickly than homes that don't. However, you should work on creating a smell that, while appealing, is predominantly subtle. Some people are sensitive to strong scents, and they may not appreciate a home that smells as though it was blasted with air freshener a few moments before. Additionally, buyers may view strong scents as an attempt to cover up something negative, like mildew or the sewer.

7. Displaying Controversial Items
If you are an avid hunter, you may have taxidermy proudly displayed in your home. If you are a devout Christian, you may have crosses and other religious artifacts displayed as part of your home decor. There is certainly nothing wrong with displaying items that are dear to you when the home is your own, but it may be wise to remove items that could be viewed as controversial by some once you start opening your home to potential buyers. Some of your buyers could be vegetarian, for example, and they may not be comfortable being surrounded by taxidermy. You don't want to lose out on a potential sale just because someone felt uncomfortable in your surroundings!

I Can Help You Identify Effective Staging Strategies!

As I said before, effective staging can make or break the sale of your home. If you are thinking about selling your house at the Lake of the Ozarks, contact me! In my 25+ years of experience in Lake of the Ozarks real estate, I have identified several different strategies that do (and do not) work for staging your home. I would be more than happy to share my expertise with you!

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

Farmers Markets at the Lake

Summer is finally here! After a long, sleepy winter, the Lake of the Ozarks is bursting with life. The weekends are once again filled with countless opportunities for fun and entertainment. As your trusted Lake of the Ozarks real estate agent, I have made it my mission to help educate you on all of the fun things to do in our beautiful area. This week, I want to fill you in on one of the fun events that will continue all throughout the summer - our local farmers markets!

Why Shop At A Farmers Market?

You could get your produce and groceries at the local supermarket, or you could shop at a farmers market on the weekends. While there is a undeniable convenience with shopping at a major grocery store, there is an equally undeniable charm with shopping at your local farmers market. You can trust that the food you purchase at the farmers market has been grown and prepared with the utmost care and attention to detail - and you can feel great about supporting local farmers in the process. (As an added bonus, the produce sold at farmers markets is often much cheaper than the produce sold at a typical grocery store.)

In addition to high-quality meats, vegetables, dairy, and baked goods, you can also get a number of other things at many farmers markets. Other vendors sell handmade jewelry, ceramics, and other crafts, along with potted plants, soaps, and any number of other different things.

Farmers Markets at the Lake of the Ozarks

There are actually several different farmers markets held all over the Lake Area, and they are officially open for the 2016 season! Choose which one to attend based on what fits best with your schedule and location:

Eldon Farmers Market
Rock Island Park in Eldon
Every Friday through August ~ 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Camdenton Farmers Market
In front of the Camden County Courthouse in downtown Camdenton
Every Saturday through September ~ 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM (rain or shine)

Osage Beach Farmers Market
Entrance to the Osage Beach Premium Outlets in Osage Beach
Every Saturday through September ~ 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Three Arrows Farmers Market
Three Arrows Store at Copperhead Trading Post in Eldon
Every Saturday through September ~ 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Support The Local Community At Lake Of The Ozarks!

No matter whether you're a local or a "weekender," the Lake of the Ozarks has so much to offer. If you are interested in buying a house at the Lake of the Ozarks and making the Lake Area a bigger part of your life, I would love to talk to you! I have been buying and selling Lake of the Ozarks homes for over twenty-five years, and I would be truly honored to help you find your dream home at the Lake. Give me a call to 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

Livin' The Lake Lifestyle: Bridal Cave

Several weeks ago, I introduced a new blog series that I've decided to call "Livin' The Lake Lifestyle." As your real estate expert at the Lake of the Ozarks, I have made it my mission to help educate you on all of the wonderful things our community has to offer. In this series, I'm featuring some of the unique features and attractions our beautiful area has to offer. This week, I'm continuing this effort by featuring one of our area's most spectacular natural attractions: Bridal Cave.

*Photos taken from www.facebook.com/bridal.cave.3

Bridal Cave Lake of the Ozarks

Nestled along the shoreline of the Lake of the Ozarks, Bridal Cave offers some of the most scenic vistas in our area - both above and below the ground. Above ground, they offer a gift shop, souvenir shop, hiking trail, picnic areas, and a dock. Below ground, the cave features one phenomenal feature after another - soda straws, giant columns, draperies, and more. Rated as one of the most scenic caves in America, the cave hosts thousands of visitors every year.

About Bridal Cave

Bridal Cave was first discovered by pioneering settlers. It was officially protected in 1948 and opened to the public for tours shortly thereafter. Today, guided tours leave every few minutes and last approximately one hour. The cave holds a steady temperature of 60° F, so it is pleasant to visit all year-round.

The cave originally got its name from the local folklore of a Native American wedding ceremony held within the cave sometime during the early 1800s. The cave's romantic origins hold true today, as over 3,000 couples have exchanged vows in the stunning Bridal Chapel. Countless additional couples have renewed their vows at the free event offered by Bridal Cave every Valentine's Day.

Mystery Lake

One of the cave's most famous features is shrouded in mystery and (aptly) named Mystery Lake. The Lake is 20 feet deep, and the waters are stunningly clear. The Lake gets its name from the slowly decomposing wooden ladder that is laying on the bottom of the Lake. No one knows how the ladder got there; there is no known record of a expedition that made it back far into the cave prior to the date the ladder was found. Not only that, but no one has been able to find a natural entrance to the cave leading to Mystery Lake that is large enough to fit wooden beams as long as the ones found in the cave. Experts are still researching and exploring in an attempt to find out the origins of the wooden ladder, but they have been searching for years already without any success.

Ready To Make The Lake Lifestyle YOUR Lifestyle? Call Me!

Though it's arguably the most famous cave at the Lake of the Ozarks, Bridal Cave is only one of several caves in the area. If you're a cave enthusiast, you'll have to also check out Ozark Caverns, Jacob's Cave, and Fantasy World Caverns. The countless natural attractions in our area make it an ideal location for any and all "outdoorsy types." To learn more about Bridal Cave, visit www.BridalCave.com

Interested in making the lake lifestyle a part of YOUR lifestyle? I would love to help you make that dream come true! Give me a call at 573-280-0484 to schedule showings of some of the homes for sale at the Lake of the Ozarks. I would be honored to assist in any way possible!

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