As we roll into December, most of us are looking forward to spending time with family and friends while celebrating the holidays, but we are also faced with the realization that tax time is fast approaching.  If you want to make your Georgia state income tax count for something, you may want to take advantage of the rural hospital tax credit program that the legislature has put in place.  This program allows a 100% tax CREDIT (not a deduction to income) to go to a rural hospital of your choice, including Lake Hartwell's St. Mary's Sacred Heart Hospital in Lavonia.   Individuals can receive a credit of up to $5000, and couples filing jointly can receive up to $10,000.  Click here for more information and to apply.

You guys know the song: "I am woman, hear me roar....." Meagan Ethell takes the mantra, "strong woman" to the next level. She is one of the world's strongest wakeboarders, male or female. As the temperatures have finally gotten cooler, I thought we should take a moment to look forward to the fun we could be having on Lake Hartwell next spring.   Now is the time to lock in your spot on the lake.  Click here to see if Meagan can land this trick.

Many lakefront restaurants shut down for the season, but we are fortunate that The Local Pub and Eatery in Anderson stays open year-round for dinners Wednesday through Saturday. The restaurant offers a full bar and a menu with many locally sourced options, including burgers, pizza, wings, steaks and seafood. The Pub also has an eclectic wine list, refreshing cocktails and lots of domestic, import and craft beer selections. Click here for hours, location and a full menu. Make sure to save some time to let us help you find your spot on the lake. We work year-round, too.

We have received quite a bit of interest in the release of our first three custom homes: The Choestoea, The Eastanollee and The Tugaloo.   Several of you have asked about a larger floor plan more suitable for full time living.  Today, we are releasing The Seneca.  This lodge-style plan has three bedrooms and two baths on the main level which all open to a huge great room.  But when the weather is nice, you will likely be enjoying one of the four patios, porches and decks overlooking the lake.  If you need more space, most lake lots will be perfect for a finished terrace level which has the same footprint as the main level.  To see floorplans and photos of a finished home, click here.   If you already have your lot and are planning to build, or if you need our helping finding the perfect spot, just reply to this note.

Last week, we went with some friends up to Northeast Georgia to visit some of the wineries there.   There is quite an industry burgeoning in the area fueled by couples selecting these locations for destination weddings.  Most of the venues are double-booked every weekend.  We had lunch at Wolf Mountain Winery.  The food was delicious and the wine was excellent.  We came home with the Howling Wolf Red which is a non-vintage Cab/Syrah blend.  It went well with the special salad of the day and a sausage and veggie pizza.  Prices were moderate considering the beautiful setting and views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Click here for a video taste of what to expect and plan a trip for a real taste.  Reservations are recommended.

Progress continues at the Lake Hartwell Dream Spot.  With the systems and sheet rock complete, attention now moves to trim and paint.  The exterior includes board and batten, shake shingles and stacked stone accents.  Inside, the sheet rock has been primed and the trim work is being installed.   Click here to see more photos and give us a call if we can help you find your spot on the lake.

158 homes were sold on Lake Hartwell in the third quarter of 2018 with an average sales price of $322,097.   The number of homes sold was nearly flat with the second quarter of this year, but over double the number from the same quarter of 2017.   The available inventory for homes was reduced by 12% over last quarter moving the absorption rate to 5 months.   The absorption rate is the number of months it would take to sell the existing inventory at the current rate of sales, with 6 months typically considered a balanced market.   This is the first time that our market has shifted to a seller's market in the ten years that I have been keeping statistics.   21 lake lots were sold with an average sales price of $118,619.  This number of lots sold was up 21% from last quarter, but the average sales price was held down by a couple of very low sales of inferior lots.  Based on current trends, if you are currently considering purchasing a lake property, now could be the best time to let us help you find your spot on the lake.

I am excited to announce that Lake Hartwell's best lakefront restaurant, Tilly's Tiki Bar and Grill, has announced that it will remain open on Thursday through Sunday throughout the year.  With cooler fall temperatures approaching (hopefully soon), having a meal or a draft beer on the covered patio overlooking the lake can make for an awesome afternoon or evening.   If you haven't visited Tilly's yet, now is a perfect time, and if you are a regular like me, you can now enjoy the restaurant year-round.  If you are visiting the area, make sure to save time to let us help you find your spot on the lake.

With October here now, our thoughts turn to pumpkin patches and corn mazes.  You will find lots of opportunities to enjoy these around Lake Hartwell, but my favorite spot is Denver Downs in Anderson.  Not only will you find pumpkins and a huge corn maze, but you can spend an afternoon taking advantage of all types of farm fun for one admission price.  If you have older young'uns that want to extend their fun into the evening, they also have the Harvest of Horror with multiple ways to raise the hair on your neck.  While you're in the area, save some time to let us help you find your spot on the lake.

With the house dried in and the plumbing and electrical completed, the Dream Spot was ready for insulation and sheetrock.  The owner elected to use Spider spray-in insulation in the exterior walls to make sure the house is air-tight, energy efficient and fire resistant.  The insulation was blown into the wall cavities prior to the sheetrock being installed.  An open cell spray-in insulation was used in the roof rafters to keep the unfinished attic up to 10 degrees cooler than using standard insulation above the ceiling.   I wasn't at the home during the installation, but this video shows the Spider installation if you are curious.  Let us know if you are ready to find your spot on the lake.