Located in central Virginia along the Blue Ridge Mountains, Smith Mountain Lake is equidistant from Roanoke and Lynchburg.  We’re a short 4-hour drive southwest of Washington D.C. and two hours north of Raleigh, NC.

Vacationers come from all over the world to fish, enjoy numerous water sports and play on our 500 miles of shoreline. They usually end up discovering many unexpected delights. Friendly people and genuine hospitality make everyone feel welcome and there’s always something new to do. World-class historical sites, unique shopping opportunities from antiques to art galleries, the latest fashions, fantastic dining and entertainment options, and simply sitting back and enjoying the glorious scenery make everyday complete. Sound too good to be true? Just wait until you see our beautiful sunsets at Smith Mountain Lake.

Once you visit, you’ll want to make Smith Mountain Lake your home. In fact, our little community of 22,000 has grown in large part to the many vacationers who have decided to relocate permanently. The temperate weather, our central location along the East Coast and a small town atmosphere make Smith Mountain Lake an excellent place to raise your family, start a business, or just kick back and relax.

Smith Mountain Lake, it really is closer than you think! Contact Prudential Waterfront Properties at (800) 858-4653 for your FREE Smith Mountain Lake Visitor’s Guide and new DVD for Newcomers or visit http://www.smithmtnlake.com/contact.htm

Backed by NAR’s robust arsenal of resources, the comprehensive consumer site incorporates all aspects of homeownership, from planning and organizing projects to empowering users to engage in housing advocacy issues.

HouseLogic helps consumers view their home through a financial lens and make smart, informed investment decisions. For example, families can set goals for saving money or increasing home value and track the progress of those goals online.

The free Web site also provides credible, timely news and articles. Registered users can share their own insights and find information on taxes, home finances and insurance, as well as home improvement advice and how-to’s.

HouseLogic can also be customized for individual homeowners depending on their home project skill level and geographic location. Visit www.houselogic.com to try it out for yourself.

The time-honored open house event remains a terrific way to expose your property to many consumers and gain distinction from the competition. While your real estate professional will advertise and manage the event, it is up to you to ensure that your home is seen in the best light possible. Remember, you only have one chance to make a first impression, so approach your open house event as your property’s showcase. Here are several ways to make your property shine, inside and out.

Start with the outside. Do a visual check of the front of the house from across the street. Does your property have curb appeal? It should look inviting, with a trimmed lawn and flowerbed and a freshly painted front door. Polish door handles and knockers and replace worn items such as a rusty doorbell. Consider adding a new doormat and flowering plants at the entrance. Don’t forget to wash your windows and clean any oil or rust spots from the driveway. 

Be sure to inspect the side and back yards. Add some flowering plants to the back as well. Clean and rearrange the outdoor furniture to look inviting. Put away gardening tools, and tidy around the grill area.

Now focus on the inside of the home where cleanliness, space, smell and lighting are vital. First get your house in tip-top condition by cleaning and clearing away clutter. Steam clean and vacuum the carpet. Make sure your floors are waxed and shiny. Touch up nicks on walls and make sure the porcelain sinks and tubs and metallic fixtures shine.

Be conscious of any lingering odors such as smoke, pets or strong-smelling foods. You may need to air out your home prior to your open house event. Consider grinding fresh lemons in the garbage disposal. And don’t forget to empty all trash containers.

Look at your countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms and the tops of your bureaus. Do they seem cluttered? Clear away and store as much as possible. You want your home to seem spacious.

Next, set the mood. Let your prospective buyers picture your home as their own. Rearrange the furniture so that rooms look more spacious, or consider removing furniture and accessories.

Lighting is also important to creating a desirable atmosphere. Bright lights provide a cheerful environment and make a small space appear larger. Pull back all the drapes and open the blinds. Turn on all the lights. Make sure all light sockets have fresh bulbs. Use softer lights for rooms in which you want a warm, cozy feeling.

Don’t forget little touches such as fresh flowers, lighted candles in the bathrooms, new logs in the fireplace, or a bowl of fresh fruit on the kitchen counter. You may even want to set your dining-room table with color-coordinated table settings.

Home buying is steeped in emotion. Sellers shouldn’t rely on buyers to use their imagination; they must capture buyers’ imagination. Remember that buyers may see seven or eight homes in a single day. The most memorable home will be the one that seemed the brightest, the most spacious and the most cheerful.

Contact a Prudential Waterfront Properties Realtor today at (800) 858-4653 or visit www.smithmtnlake.com to make sure your home stands tall in a competitive market!

This year is especially beneficial for people who are in the market to buy a home, thanks to the $8,000 first-time buyer credit and the $6,500 tax credit for repeat buyers.

Current homeowners can benefit, as well. Tax credits are available for owners who undertake certain projects to improve the energy efficiency of their home, including replacing exterior windows, skylights and doors and installing efficient heating and air conditioning systems. Certain home improvements may qualify for as much as 30 percent of the project cost, up to $1,500.

Homeowners also enjoy a mortgage interest deduction; allowing them to deduct all the interest paid on up to $1 million in mortgage debt.

Talk to a Prudential Waterfront Properties Realtor® about tax credits associated with homeownership. You can also visit www.houselogic.com/articles/claim-your-residential-energy-tax-credits/ for detailed information about qualifying energy improvements.

Smith Mountain Lake Dam Visitors Center, Phone: 540.985.2587

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_Mountain_Lake

According to the National Association of Home Builders, the green homes market is expected to increase to 10 percent in 2010.

Ninety percent of recent home buyers believe energy efficiency is a very important factor when shopping for a home. Buyers who placed a priority on energy efficiency were also more likely to value other environment-friendly features, such as proximity to parks and public transportation, and existence of sidewalks in the neighborhood.

Would you like to learn more about how popular are environment-friendly homes are at Smith Mountain Lake and surrounding areas? Talk to a Prudential Waterfront Properties Realtor to find out which energy-efficient features buyers are most interested in and talk to homeowners who “went green” to see if they found it cost-effective and beneficial.

In addition, The National Association of Realtors (NAR’s) Relief Foundation is contributing $550,000 to relief of victims of the Haiti earthquake, and is calling upon its 1.2 million members to help. Part of the contribution came from Lowe’s, a partner of NAR’s REALTOR Benefits Program, who donated $100,000. $50,000 will go to the Harvest of Haiti program, which was founded by a 2007 REALTOR® Magazine Good Neighbor Awards winner, Patrick Moore. The program supports orphans, delivers clean water and provides medical care in Haiti for approximately 3,500 people every year. Moore is currently planning his 64th trip to Haiti to deliver six months worth of food to an orphanage in Anse Rouge and help residents in and around Port-au-Prince.

Existing-home sales rose 5 percent in 2009, and December 2009 sales were 15 percent higher than December 2008. This suggests many areas around the country are showing glimpses of a balanced turnaround for sellers.

Housing inventories have steadily declined – an indication home prices in many areas have stabilized and could soon return to normal appreciation patterns. Buyers still have good choices but are purchasing near the bottom of the price cycle with historically low mortgage interest rates. The first-time home buyer tax credit has also been a key motivator in moving sales along.

In addition, current homeowners who are in the market to buy a home can qualify for up to $6,500 if they have a contract in place by April 30, 2010, and close by June 30.

Ask a Prudential Waterfront Properties Realtor® how selling conditions in your area compare to a year ago. Have prices increased? Is buying activity strong?