Where is the nearest airport to Smith Mountain Lake? How far are the nearest major cities? These are common questions from people thinking about buying real estate at Smith Mountain Lake. There are 2 airports within 1 hour of the lake, and 7 airports within 4 hours. Visit https://smithmountainlake.homes/nearest-cities-airports/ for links to airports, maps, and … Show
Nearest Cities and Airports Read More » How to Increase the Value of a Smith Mountain Lake HomeBy Smith.Mountain.Lake.Real.Estate.Agent | October 26, 2022 Every homeowner wants the value of their home to go up. But other than just “waiting” for the market, what else can you do? Although house updates and renovations will of course add value, for homes at Smith Mountain Lake, it pays off to take a somewhat different approach. The top 3 things that impact … How to Increase the Value of a Smith Mountain Lake Home Read More » Should I Buy an SML Home Above or Below the Bridge??By Smith.Mountain.Lake.Real.Estate.Agent | September 21, 2022 Well first off, what on earth am I talking about?? What is “the bridge,” and what do I mean by “above and below?” To clear that up a bit, let’s look at a simple map of SML. Below is a map I marked up myself, which can also be viewed on the website at https://smithmountainlake.homes/about-sml/ … Should I Buy an SML Home Above or Below the Bridge?? Read More » Overview of Real Estate at Smith Mountain LakeSmith Mountain Lake waterfront real estate is available in many varieties, from small condos under $100,000, to breathtaking mansions for millions, along with everything in between. So there's a home for every budget. Situated in Virginia's Blue Ridge mountains, Smith Mountain Lake's 500 miles of shoreline offers a wide selection of waterfront property. You can choose a private, quiet home in a cove with just a few neighbors in sight, or live in a well-planned community with amenities such as swimming pools, fitness facilities, covered boat slips, golf courses, and even an equestrian center. Smith Mountain Lake real estate can be seen in the following waterfront areas: Moneta, Huddleston, Hardy, Union Hall, Penhook, Wirtz, and Goodview. Each area offers a great selection of waterfront property for sale. And each town does have it's own "personality." A good realtor can show you these homes, and provide important information which is unique to the Smith Mountain Lake real estate market. They should also be able to answer your questions, and even give you an informative tour of the area. If you might fly to visit Smith Mountain Lake, you may be interested in this recent article I wrote which details the nearest cities and airports: https://smithmountainlake.homes/nearest-cities-and-airports/ How homes at Smith Mountain Lake have changed over timeThe composition of homes at the lake has gone though an evolution of sorts through the years. Real estate at Smith Mountain Lake in the 1960's and 70's was comprised mostly of small lake cabins and mobile homes used as summer getaways, typically built on lots with breathtaking views. From the 1980's and beyond, real estate here has transformed, and now includes many subdivisions with typical suburban homes, condo developments, and multi-million dollar mansions. Each year you can tour some of the lake's nicest homes by attending the Smith Mountain Lake Charity Home Tour, held every October. The Smith Mountain Lake community has recently grown into a favorite place for transplants to move to and live permanently. Virtually all owners of Smith Mountain Lake real estate are from somewhere else originally. This makes for a very friendly community, as there are no "outsiders," and most people feel right at home in this happy, relaxed, and safe community. The lake remains a popular destination for vacationers as well who may never purchase real estate here, but who simply enjoy the beauty of Smith Mountain Lake, and the atmosphere of sun and fun people have enjoyed here for decades.
7 KEY FACTORS : What drives Smith Mountain Lake real estate prices?A description of the 7 key factors that drive prices of Smith Mountain Lake real estate (you might be surprised!). When touring Smith Mountain Lake homes for sale, consider the following factors to be a fully informed buyer. Price Factor # 1: View, View, View! Once you buy a property at Smith Mountain Lake, you can actually increase the value of your real estate by improving the water view. How? I talk about that in this recent blog post: How to Increase the Value of a Smith Mountain Lake Home Price Factor #2: Slope Price Factor #3: Waterfront
Price Factor #4: The Home Price Factor #5: Location, Location, Location Price Factor #6: Cove versus Main Channel Price Factor #7: Lot Size Renting your Smith Mountain Lake HomeIf you're planning to buy a house or condo and then offer it as a vacation rental to help pay expenses, be sure to first check county regulations, as there are varying rules about renting your Smith Mountain Lake real estate. Bedford County allows short term rentals (as short as 1 night) for any type of home. Franklin County is more restrictive; they allow many condos and townhomes to be rented short term, but only a small number of houses (it depends on the zoning the home has). Pittsylvania County, which covers only a tiny part of Smith Mountain Lake, also allows short term rentals for any type of home. It's best to check with a knowledgeable Smith Mountain Lake realtor to clarify whether a home can be rented or not. A good one can provide this information for you in short order. How much can I rent my Smith Mountain Lake Home for?Given the wide variety of Smith Mountain Lake real estate, rental rates also vary considerably. During peak demand periods in the summer, a smaller condo or townhome may rent for around $1,000 per week, whereas a large mansion may rent for $5,000 per week or more. Rates you can charge are less during lower demand times of the year however. The very highest rents are charged during 4th of July week. To see current rates for rentals, check these popular sites, which we have already defaulted to Smith Mountain Lake: VRBO.com-Smith Mountain Lake and Airbnb.com-Smith Mountain Lake. What are the best times of year to rent my home?The "high season" at Smith Mountain Lake is mid-May to mid-September. These 16 weeks are the prime rental weeks, the most in demand, and when you will make the majority of your annual rental income from your waterfront real estate. There are some other times of year when homes can be rented, such as holidays, but your primary income will be earned during these warm weather 16 weeks. You rental income will vary from season to season, and that of course has to do with the weather to some degree. For a relevant discussion about weather at Smith Mountain Lake, you can read this article recently posted to the blog, Weather at Smith Mountain Lake. If you buy a waterfront home at Smith Mountain Lake and decide you want to be aggressive about renting it, you should plan to start marketing it January 1 for that year, as many people make vacation plans well in advance. You can realistically expect to get 10-12 weeks rented the first year. After 2-3 years, you may be able to get up to 16 solid weeks or more, as you will have some repeat renters that come back every year. Will I make money by renting my Smith Mountain Lake property?This is a common question. The answer is yes and no. Although there are rental properties that earn enough income to pay the mortgage, all expenses of ownership, and still provide positive cash flow for the owner, this is relatively uncommon at SML. For most homeowners who rent their Smith Mountain Lake real estate, the rental income is a primarily a way to defray the cost of ownership, vs. produce positive cash flow and make a profit. That said, renting is an excellent way for many people to own a beautiful Smith Mountain Lake home that they otherwise could not afford. If you want to produce positive cash flow with Smith Mountain Lake real estate, you'll want to look for a large home that can accommodate the highest number of people possible. This is best achieved with a home that uses public water, but the majority of Smith Mountain Lake homes are served by septic systems. The size of a home's septic system determines how many people can stay there. The rule is 2 times the number of bedrooms the septic system can service. For example: a home with a 3 bedroom septic system can legally accommodate 6 people overnight, but no more. Knowing this, a homeowner we know built a beautiful Smith Mountain Lake home with an 8 bedroom septic system, specifically to be able to rent his home to large groups (16 people at a time in this case). This home regularly produced a net profit for the owner each year, while still fully paying the mortgage. There is a lot to consider when renting your home, but a realtor familiar with Smith Mountain Lake home rentals can help you navigate this sometimes complex endeavor. What is the best area of Smith Mountain Lake?Huddleston is where you'll find Smith Mountain Lake State Park, which ranks consistently as the most visited area attraction. Visitors can explore more than 1,200 acres of land, participate in numerous water activities such as swimming from the 500-foot sandy beach, boating and fishing.
Is Smith Mountain Lake a good investment?Aside from picturesque views and the boundless choice of outdoor activities, the real estate market in the community is thriving. Waterfront properties are perennially desirable. As such, homeowners in Smith Mountain Lake are known to enjoy a hefty return on investment on their purchases.
Can you live on Smith Mountain Lake?Waterfront living in Smith Mountain Lake: Real estate and lifestyle. SML has grown as a community over the last few decades. Today, it is considered one of the most desirable places to live in Virginia because of the lifestyle and sense of identity of the area.
Is Smith Mountain Lake clean?Q: Is Smith Mountain Lake clean? A: Yes, but with temporary exceptions. Heavy storms can agitate fecal coliform settled on the lake bottom – usually in shallow areas where waterfowl feed or breed, and occasionally near campgrounds and farm land.
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