Free Boats At The Ridge Boat Show & Spring Home Tour
Free boats Lake Martin!!
Russell Lands’ big event is the Russell Marine In-Water Boat Show and Spring Tour of Homes at The Ridge. It is scheduled for two weekends, April 28 & 29 and also May 5 & May 6.
For the past couple of years, Russell Lands has done a couple of the Tour of Homes deals per year at The Ridge. This year they are combining it with a Boat Show at the Ridge Marina, hence the lengthy title “Russell Marine In-Water Boat Show & Spring Tour of Homes.”
Basically you can go out to the Ridge Marina and test drive some boats. I understand they
will have ski boats, Hurricanes, pontoon boats, etc. Then, you hop in the car and go on the Spring Tour of Homes at the Ridge. Each of the featured homes will have a nice new boat parked out front.
Here it is - the payoff – the “free” boat – : “if you buy one of the nine feature(d) homes you will also receive a brand new boat from Russell Marine.”
Considering that the nine featured homes are all priced at over $1 million, the “free” boat is a nice gesture, but it’s not like it’s worth 10% of the home’s value or anything.
But, if you or any of your loved ones need a house and a boat, and would like to buy one (or all!) nine homes, and would like to receive one or nine “free” boats, just give me a call, I would be glad to arrange it!
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Lake Martin Real Estate Spotlight: The Ridge
Hey Lake Martin Fishermen - Live Bait For Sale!
Lake Martin live bait fishermen have a new spot to buy bait. Kowaliga Live Bait And Tackle is open for business. The new store on Kowaliga Road (aka Highway 63) is south of Kowaliga Bridge. In fact, it’s just south of my office, a tad north of the intersection with Highway 229.
The other day while driving to my office, I saw their sign, and I was so surprised that I chuckled. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I can’t remember the last time a new bait shop opened on Lake Martin.
Then, I was surprised that I was surprised. Why not a new live bait shop? Lake Martin has 700 miles of shoreline spread over 40,000 acres, and great fishing. So why isn’t the live bait industry thriving right now?
When I was growing up on Lake Martin, if you wanted to fish, most of 
the time you used bait. You could stop by any old fillin station and at the very least they would sell crickets and worms. It was commonplace. In these days of clean, sparkly, mega-marts that sell hamburgers, haircuts, sub sandwiches, and also gas, the live bait selection has suffered. You really have to hunt around to find it. And even then, it’s hard to find the OSHA-defying oily tubs packed with minnows, and the stench, activity, and din of a room full of crickets. To me, surviving a trip to the bait shop was half the fun of fishing.
Lake Martin is changing. Is it just me, or are there really fewer live bait fishermen out there today? The fish are still there. Are they only being pursued by the plastic worm wielders and buzz bait boys? Or are the fishermen being replaced by boaters? I don’t fish as much as I used to; work is my excuse. I’m looking forward to fishing a lot more this summer with my sons.
Incidentally, isn’t it also a sign of the times that the live bait guy has protected his business by forming an LLC? Really - an actual legal entity was formed for the purposes, I assume, of “sellin crickets, worms, & minners.” I applaud Kowaliga Live Bait And Tackle, and wish them the best of luck. The next time my boys are at the cabin, our first trip will be to this new live bait guy.
If you have a tip on where else to find good bait – leave a comment / reply to this post and let us all know where to go…
Lake Martin Real Estate Spotlight: The Ridge
Russell Lands has developed neighborhoods on Lake Martin for over thirty years, but its newest, The Ridge, is vastly different from any one it has done before.
Russell Lands has gated communities like Willow Point, and the Ridge is near to its other developments of Windermere, Windermere West, and Windover. But The Ridge is a totally new animal. Here are 5 Things That Make The Ridge Different:
1. Heavy emphasis on selling through approved builders - Russell Lands started this Lake Martin trend a few years ago with Phase I of The Ridge, and continues it with Phase III. They sell a certain number of lots to “approved” builders, who build spec houses and then turn around and sell them for the builders. In prior developments, they sold almost 100% to the end homeowner. The use of approved builders gives them much greater control over the quality of the homes. They also get a lot of design consistency on the look of the homes by also having “approved” architects. I think this also drives up the price so that their initial offering lot price to homeowners is pretty high. As far as I can figure there is no real “pre-construction” pricing.
2. The Ridge Marina - Russell Lands owns plenty of marinas around Lake Martin, but The Ridge Marina is the only one that is inside the gates of one of their developments. It is a safe bet to say that The Ridge Marina is one of the largest marinas 
on the lake. The marina is close to Chimney Rock by water. They sell gas, they have a huge line of boats that they sell, and also sell boating and skiing accessories. Another big part of their business is boat storage. You can rent a wet slip (a parking spot at a dock), but they are more expensive and rare than dry storage. Dry storage is where they stack your boat on a huge rack inside their warehouse. When you are ready to go, they come pick it off the rack with a forklift and put it in the water. No matter how many times I see that it still makes me nervous. They are adding on to the dry storage. A company official was quoted as saying the The Ridge Marina will have the “biggest dry storage east of the Mississippi.” That’s big, friends.
3. The Ridge Club - Russell Lands is currently building a 9,000 square foot clubhouse called The Ridge Club. While Willow Point has its Golf and Country Club, Willow Point residents are not necessarily members of the club, and vice versa. In the Ridge, however, part of the homeowner association dues pays for membership to The Ridge Club. Planned amenities include swimming pools, tennis courts, 
athletic fields, children’s play center, workout / cardio center, and a bar and grill. From what I hear they have commercial lots set aside for possible restaurants, etc. See the construction progress photos on the left. It looks like it will be as nice as promised.
4. Off water activities - Usually, in Lake Martin new construction developments, merely token emphasis is placed on off-water lots and properties. At The Ridge, Russell Lands attempts to offer something to do off of the water, and (I assume) by association, raise 
the value of off-water residential lots. They have designed sidewalks all through the Ridge, which is very different for the lake. They also have cut in extensive walking trails through the woods around The Ridge. I hear that the ultimate plan is to be able to walk, run, or bike on trails from The Ridge to Willow Point. Look at a Lake Martin map to appreciate how huge of an area that is. They also have plans for a town center located on highway 63, close to Windermere Road, that will have kitschy shops, a high end grocery store, and a gourmet restaurant. (I will post more news as they confirm the details.)
5. Marketing and Events - Russell Lands has promoted The Ridge like no other Lake Martin development. If you haven’t received at least 3 mailers on it, you should have your feelings hurt, because they sent them to everyone in the area that pays taxes and has a pulse. They also have been all over the home design type magazines. Their homes have had multiple spotlights in Southern Living Magazine, and had tons of other regional media attention and write ups. They also have really played up the Spring and Summer Tour of Homes. This spring they have even tied the events in with a boat show at The Ridge Marina. I have to hand it to them, it works. In the past ten years Lake Martin has gone from a regional treasure to getting attention on a national level. This was due in large part to Russell Lands’ tirele$$ promotions.
If you wonder how long this will last, check the map. They are selling Phase III now, with (I guess) a couple more phases left up the sleeve for The Ridge. Then it’s on to the next big thing. Does anyone have a guess on where the next one will be? Comment below!
Why I Give Away The Milk For Free
The Lake Martin Real estate market, like every other one in the country, has changed irreversibly.
When my father Walter started in the business in 1973, the process was pretty much the same as when my grandfather Temple founded Coley Real Estate in 1953. If you were a seller in the Lake Martin Area, and wanted to know what your home or lot was worth, you had to call an agent. In 1953, in what is now the Lake Martin Area, there were two agents. In 1973 I think there were three. The process was - you called an agent, made an appointment, and physically came into the office. Then you two would discuss your home. He would tell you what home sales trends were. There was no Lake Martin Multiple Listings Service. No Lake Martin Homes Magazine. Certainly no Internet. You were totally dependent on the keepers of the information, the real estate agent.
Now, obviously, it is all different. A Realtor’s office is no longer a thickly 
walled, heavily guarded fortress of information. The web has enabled (almost) perfect information about sales prices and trends. The MLS (Multiple Listings Service) web site is open to the public and easy to search.
So why do you still need a realtor now? Especially if you’re a seller - you don’t need an agent if Lake Martin is still such a seller’s market, right?
Wrong- the value of a great agent lies not so much in the mere possession of the data (MLS #s), but in how you interpret it, and what you do with it.
It’s kind of like stock quotes. Closing sale prices of stocks and mutual funds are free and public information. When you pay a financial counselor to help you with your retirement savings, you are paying them to give you advice on how to interpret the data. The value isn’t the knowledge of what XYZ Company’s stock closed for on a given day. The value lies in knowing when and for how much to sell or buy and why. Could you imagine picking a financial counselor based solely on the fact that he has access to stock quotes? No, because a small mistake in interpretation can cost you lots of money.
The value of a great realtor lies not so much in telling you what the lake home on 123 Easy Street sold for, but how that relates to your lake home, or the waterfront lot / home that you want to buy. Next, a great realtor executes a marketing plan to go out and sell your property instead of merely sticking a sign in the yard.
So, when looking for a realtor to help you value your Lake Martin property, don’t pick one that guards information like the sacred scrolls. Pick one that is focused on you, that asks you questions about your want and your needs. The more questions a realtor asks you, the better chance that he can get a feel of how to best serve you.
I work extremely hard to help people get what they want, but I don’t work for free. I give away my advice and information on Lake Martin real estate because I want my clients to be a part of the sales process, not feel like I am posing as the wizard behind the curtain. After I give them the information for free, then I can focus on marketing their home uniquely or finding them the home that matches their exact tastes.
Lake Martin Sellers - Don’t Pick This Realtor
Let’s say you own waterfront property on Lake Martin, and want to sell it. Let’s also say that you have the good sense to hire a Realtor to help you list and sell it. What are your choices? Whom should you pick?
Selecting an average agent instead of a great one could end up costing you major dollars. You need to make sure to partner with one that fits you best.
Here are 5 Realtors that Lake Martin sellers should not pick:
1. Don’t pick The Part Timer. Would you let a part time financial guy manage your retirement account? Okay then. It may be easy to be average, but being great at selling real estate is tough work (even on Lake Martin). It is more than a 40 hour a week job to do things like talk to buyers, show properties, scout new listings, scour FSBOs, research property sales, and stay educated on licensing, contracts, housing laws, etc. The Part Timer has other priorities. You deserve better.
2. Don’t pick The Suck Up. Given the high value of Lake Martin real estate, a small mistake in selling your property can cost you thousands. Do you want your listing agent to tell you what they think you want to hear, or to tell you the truth? The Suck Up: “Sure, Mrs. Seller, I think it’s a great idea to have a palm reader on site to give mystical advice to buyers when they visit!” Puh-leez.
3. Don’t pick The Talker. Like any successful partnership, sellers and their 
listing agents must have great communication. Good communicators listen more than they talk. They ask a lot of questions, and then listen some more. Some agents think that everyone loves to hear them spout off about themselves. I happen to think that sellers want to hear about their own home, their own lot, and how their own problems will be solved.
4. Don’t pick The High Bidder. Most sellers only talk to one agent about listing 
their home. Be different. Talk to several, and pick the one that fits you best. Ask each Realtor to tell you what your property will bring on the market. Wise sellers don’t always go with the one who gives the highest number. Go with the one that backs up his / her number with solid, well thought out research. Like #2 above, The High Bidder will tell you what he/she thinks you want to hear – a possibly unattainable high price. After your home languishes unsold for months, The High Bidder might try and talk you down to a sensible number.
5. Don’t pick The Lowballer. Real Estate commissions are totally negotiable, no matter what conspiracy theorists tell you. When you hire a Realtor to sell your Lake Martin home, you two can agree to a commission of a penny or 300% of the sales price, whatever. The Lowballer will tell you he will charge you something less than 6% and give you the same service. Hey – maybe it will work out fine. But I am here to tell you that it takes money to properly sell a Lake Martin listing. Do you want someone who will simply stick a sign on the dock and hope someone else will sell it? During the listing interview, quiz The Lowballer on the marketing plan. Ask follow up questions. It’s the only way to separate the lazy or the cocky from those Realtors with A Real Plan.
Curious about what your Lake Martin property be worth, and how I would tailor a plan to sell it? Holler at me.
