Lake Country Visitor & Newcomer Guide 2009 - (Page 36) “The thing I hear most from newcomers to our area is that they ‘Love the stars.’ They say it is like a planetarium here.” –Wendy Smith, Exit Town & Lake Realty 36 ‘VERY AFFORDABLE’ Often, people choose the Lake Country for its various kinds of housing coupled with a laid-back lifestyle, says Angie Kellett, the economic development director for Mecklenburg County. “The housing in this area is very affordable,” Kellett says. “We have a lot of people coming in from Chicago and other areas with companies, and they’re amazed with housing costs.” Waterfront homes – on either Lake Gaston or Buggs Island Lake/John H. Kerr Reservoir – range from about $300,000 to more than $1 million. People who relocate to the Lake Country – es- The community spirit of all the pecially retirees – do not necessarily choose to live towns in Lake Country makes at a lakefront property, says Gwen Jones, the own- it a great place raise kids. er of Rainbow Realty at Lake Gaston, Inc. “We are selling properties in a price range of $150,000 to $300,000, and then we’re selling many above $1 million,” Jones says. “But some people who can afford to buy the million-dollar home choose the offshore environment. They’re willing to give up the water as long as they have water access.” agent who moved to South Hill in 1973, you’ll find houses at most any size you want. The Villages at Cross Creek in Roanoke Rapids offers town homes, patio homes, and lots available for single family homes and estates with a magnificent recreational area that will include a clubhouse and swimming pool. The neighborhood will also feature a park with pond and paved walking trails. This will provide for a quiet setting, yet in close proximity to local shopping and dining, and medical services. You can often find great deals – purchasing less expensive properties – by looking around the lake for subdivisions that offer a shared boat ramp and gorgeous lake views, says Pratali. In turn, the majority of the people who come to the lake will choose to be in a structured subdivision, Jones says. “They are older subdivisions, and they do have swimming pools. And they have access points to the lake.” ‘LIKE THE NATURAL SETTINGS’ Only a small percentage of land is available for building or buying a home on Buggs Island Lake/ John H. Kerr Reservoir, a body of water controlled by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The story is different on Lake Gaston, where you can own property on the shoreline, says Frank Malone, executive director of the South Hill Chamber of Commerce. Since the 1960s, when Lake Gaston was developed, Malone says, “virtually every farm path ‘BIG PLUS’ Many people seek offshore property in a subdivision that has lake access, Jones says. “And a big plus is a swimming pool.” Bracey boasts Tanglewood Shores, a place where all types of homes are nestled among rolling hills with plenty of trees. Tanglewood also offers amenities like a golf course, a swimming pool and tennis courts. Here, says Pratali a real estate Southern Virginia ⁄ Northern North Carolina’s Lake Country
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