Representation! When buying or selling real estate it is very important that you understand 
the different types of representation. Your REALTOR®, at the very beginning of your relationship, should explain what this means. However, if you have an understanding before then you will be even better prepared to make the right decision.
When I first began working in real estate, back in 1986, all REALTORS® represented the seller. The agent working with the buyer was not representing the buyer. Rather, they were sub-agents to the seller’s agent. Soon after, buyer’s representation began to creep into the way we did business.
Buyer representation was resisted initially by some agents as it meant a change in the way they were accustomed to doing business. Others embraced it readily as it really reflected the way they would prefer to work with buyers. This meant that they were no longer sub-agents for the seller. Instead they were legally and ethically able to advise buyers on price and other negoitation factors vital to a contract.
Be sure when working with a REALTOR®whether you are buying or selling, that you fully understand the role your agent will be performing. You are the one that makes that deterination. You select the type of representation you want. The choice is absolutely yours, not the agents. Make sure it is what is in your best interest.
If you would like to learn more about the types of representation you may select in a real estate transaction I would be more than happy to provide you with that information.
Posted by kateelim on June 25th, 2008
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Looking for something interesting to do this weekend? Here are some fun choices of things to do at Lake Anna State Park.
Friday, June 13
1 pm Panning for Gold Free
2 pm Goldmine Tour **
4 pm Story Time in the Woods **
7:30 pm Campfire
Saturday, June 14
1 pm Panning for Gold Free
2 pm Goldmine Tour **
4 pm Operation Nature **Share an appreciation of our world and its environment with others through a “make it and take it” community service project!
7:30 pm Movie Free - Meet at the Visitor Center. The Lorax by Dr.Seuss, Theodor Seuss Geisel
Sunday, June 15
1 pm Stampmill Sam’s Gold Adventure $5pp
** These program fees are $2 pp, $6 per family
Posted by kateelim on June 12th, 2008
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Make Father’s Day even more fun for that special Dad in your life.
Make time on Sunday, June 15th to come to the beach area at Lake Anna State Park. As you watch nature’s beautiful sunset over the lake, relax, sit back and listen to the musical wonders of The Company Store.
The Company Store stocks and delivers American-made string-band music with an energy and enthusiasm sure to satisfy the pickiest of ears and shuffle the clumsiest of feet. Featuring robust fiddlin’, exuberant singin’, and family humor. The Company store is a crowd favorite whereever they set up shop!
We are so fortunate to have them here at Lake Anna. Be sure to take advantage of this treat.
Be sure to bring your lawn chairs and blankets.
This is the type of entertainment the whole family will enjoy. Bring the neighbors too. The program begins at 5:00 p.m. and is over at 7:00 p.m.
A Thank You to Jo Finch, President
Friends of Lake Anna State Park
for the above information
Posted by kateelim on June 12th, 2008
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When the real estate market was busy, busy, busy and the prices were going up year after year many were wondering where the good old days had gone.
They were nostalgic about the low rates of yesterday and the big inventory of homes on the market.
What do we have right now? Low interest rates and a big inventory. Prices have dropped dramatically in the past two years. Those that are waiting for even lower prices may be in for a surprise if the market turns around.
How will they know when the market has bottomed out? I am in the business and there is no way I would predict when that will happen or if it has happened.
What I am saying is that the only way we know is when we are all looking over our shoulders down the road saying, ” Why didn’t we buy back then?”
Why doesn’t everyone buy at the bottom and why do some people buy at the top? It is not because they knew. It was because they made the decision at that particular time given the information they had or the circumstances they were in at that point.
There is not much if any possibiity that someone buying now will be buying at the top of the market or even close to it. That has come and gone. Has the bottom? Do you want to risk missing it?
If you have been thinking of buying here at Lake Anna or elsewhere do the best you can to find what you want and realize how fortunate you are to be a buyer in a buyer’s market.
Posted by kateelim on June 11th, 2008
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One of Lake Anna’s big pluses is that we (property owners) do not have to worry about flooding. What a plus that is when we see the current television coverage from the mid-west that is suffering from flooding in many places. Wisconsin, Iowa, and other states are experiencing terrible flooding and the threat of even more.
Lake Anna’s water level is controlled. There are times that we have not been exactly thrilled about that especially when we are going through a dry spell. Virginia Dominion controls how much water goes over the dam and there are times we would like to see more left in the lake for our benefit. Yes, we do become concerned when the water gets lower and we worry that we may begin to have problems boating and all the fun that entails: fishing, water-skiing, tubing and just cruising around.
Comparing the low waters we have experienced a couple of times, with the threat of a flood, puts things in perspective.
Not having to worry about flooding is a great relief. That also means that we do not have to worry about flood insurance. That has become a nightmare for many property owners. For one thing it is often very difficult to obtain, it can also be very expensive.
Fortunately Lake Anna is at a very good level right now. However, when it does drop some and it will, we should remember how lucky we are.
Posted by kateelim on June 11th, 2008
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Last summer I took two clients to lunch at a restaurant here at Lake Anna. At the end of the meal I realized I did not have my wallet, which meant no money or credit card. How embarrassing! I approached our waitress/cashier, explained my situation and was immediately told not to worry, to just come back and pay the bill another time. Now this was not the owner or manager telling me this…it was a young woman, who had never set eyes on me, and I did not want her to risk losing her job.I insisted she keep my digital camera. She must have realized that it was like offering up my cat or dog. (My children will never forgive me if I compare it to them.) She refused, I insisted, she refused, I left the camera. After all, how does she explain away an unpaid bill?
Once more it brought home to me why I love this place where I live.
The bill (plus a mighty fine tip) was paid the next day and the camera retrieved but the good feelings remain. Can you imagine the impression that made on my clients? I’m not talking about the one my clients (and yes they are still clients…not former) had of me but what they thought of my neighborhood.
Lake Anna has become a big neighborhood for me. It is 17 miles long with over 250 miles of shoreline and over 120 subdivisions. None the less, it is my neighborhood.
When I tell clients that Lake Anna is a wonderful place to live, I mean it.
I do not recommend leaving your wallet at home. You may not be so lucky!
Posted by kateelim on June 10th, 2008
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You are invited to a very special Tea Party. Yes, it includes everything a great tea party normally has….tea, a large selection of tasty treats, nice people, beautiful decorations and entertainment. There will even be a silent auction of unique and desirable items. But it is much more than that.
This Tea Party is the only fund raiser for the Louisa Home Delivered Meals Program. “Meals on Wheels“, which provides 64 Louisa residents with a meal a day, often the only one they will have.
Eleven volunteers deliver the meals, along with milk and Ensure if needed. Participants are mainly home bound, living alone and/or in financial need. There is always a waiting list for this program since there is not enough money to pay for all residents in need.
Funding for this program comes through Jefferson Board on Aging and the Louisa Board of Supervisors but is also dependent on donations. So by attending the Tea Party, you will have a wonderful time and help provide your fellow citizens with their meal for the day.
The Tea Party will be held at the Betty Queen Center on Fri. June 20 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Reservations are nice but not required. The $8 ticket will help this program continue.
If you would like to donate to this program but cannot attend the Tea Party or want to reserve a spot, call Leslie at 540-967-4435.
Donations are also needed for the silent auction. Please help by donating baked goodies or a treasure you no longer want. Every bit will help provide the hungry with a meal.
I would like to thank Gail Martin for sharing
this information with me.
If there is any news that you would like to share
please let me know and, if appropriate,
I will be more than happy to post it here.
Posted by kateelim on June 8th, 2008
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