I just got home from the best open house ever held at Bowlers Mill Lake Estates in Louisa County, Virginia.  Tonight's event was a broker's open house designed to introduce this exceptional community to the Realtors. 

What ingredients combined to make this the best open house ever?

• Picture a perfect summer evening
• The next ingredient is a beautiful natural setting
• There is a band playing sort of a blusey country rock
• Excellent barbeque is on the menu
• Don't forget a fire and smores for dessert
• Add in 4 wheelers for fun while touring the lots
• And the best part was kayaks to paddle around the picturesque lake and view the lots from the water

Paddling around the peaceful, scenic lake made me want to buy a waterfront lot so that I could enjoy kayaking every evening.  I was totally sold on the lifestyle.  Will I recommend this special community to my clients?  You bet!

Bowlers Mill Lake Estates consists of 25 wooded homesites ranging in size from 3.1 to 26 acres on the Bowlers Mill Reservoir.  The lots are priced from $79,500-$275,000 and you may bring your own builder.  The community is located in Louisa County 3 minutes from the town of Gordonsville and 25 minutes from Charlottesville, Virginia.

Click here to search all of the lots currently on the Central Virginia real estate market.

If you would like information on the Charlottesville, Virginia real estate market or the surrounding counties of Albemarle, Louisa, Fluvanna, Greene or Orange, I would be glad to talk with you.  Whether you are interested in buying or selling, I would love to use my professionalism and attention to detail to help you with your real estate needs.

Pam Dent, e-PRO, SRES, NHD
Real Estate III
Charlottesville, Virginia
  434 960-0161  
www.JumpintoGreenerPastures.com
www.CharlottesvilleHorseFarmsandCountryHomes.com

Charlottesville, Virginia has been included on many national lists of the best places to live in the United States.  It is also a popular tourist destination.  The area abounds with natural beauty, a rich historic legacy, a multitude of outdoor activities, and many cultural events. 

The following are my personal top five things to be sure to include in any trip to Charlottesville:

1.  A visit to Thomas Jefferson's home Monticello has to top the list.  Not only is the historic home beautiful architecturally, but it is full of Jefferson's many inventions.  By the end of the tour you will have a feel for Jefferson the Renaissance man.  Also there are tours of the gardens, grounds, and the slave community.  After touring Monticello, take time for a trip back in time and a southern lunch at historic Michie Tavern.

2. No visit to Charlottesville is complete without a tour of The University of Virginia.  UVA was founded by Thomas Jefferson and the central part of the University consists of the Rotunda and Lawn which date from Jefferson's time.  Due to the presence of the University area residents are able to partake of many educational opportunities as well as theatre, concerts, sporting events and art exhibits.

3. Charlottesville, Virginia is located in the middle of the central Virginia horse country.  The rolling countryside sports many scenic horse farms.  There are many events available for area equestrians to participate in ranging from foxhunting to horseshows, trail rides and polo games.  Many of these are open to the public.  One of the most popular is the Foxfield races.  There is a spring and a fall race meet.  Come to the races to enjoy the excitement of steeplechasing at its best.  Or have fun socializing and tailgating on a beautiful day in the Virginia countryside.

4. Albemarle County is home to many wineries, and grape production is a major agricultural industry in
Central Virginia.  One of the most fun ways to tour the countryside is to take a wine tour.  There are 26 wineries within a 30 minute drive of Monticello, so you have a lot to choose from.  A few of these are White Hall, Horton, Barboursville, Jefferson, and Keswick Vineyards.  Many have special events through the year as well.  For example, in August the Barboursville Vineyards hosts Shakespeare in the Ruins, where on a summer evening you can enjoy a picnic and wine, set among the ruins of the old manor house and see a Shakespeare production under the stars. 

5. Charlottesville and Albemarle County are located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  A favorite area destination on a beautiful day is the Skyline Drive which runs along the top of the mountains.  There are many scenic overlooks from which you can either look across to Charlottesville or, on the otherside of the mountains, a panorama of the Shenandoah Valley is visable.  For the more energetic, there are many hiking trails of varying difficulty.  Be sure not to forget to pack a picnic.

Pam Dent, e-PRO, SRES
Real Estate III
Charlottesville, VA
  434 960-0161  
www.JumpintoGreenerPastures.com
www.CharlottesvilleHorseFarmsandCountryHomes.com

Housing constitutes a major cost included in a college education.  Previously the choices were to either live in a dorm or rent.  Now we are seeing an increasing number of parents who have decided that it makes sense to buy a condo for their college age children and rent out bedrooms to their child's friends to help pay the mortgage.  Then when the student finishes school the parents either sell the unit or keep it as a rental. 

The parents consider this as an investment rather than just shelling out money for rent with no return.  This option is especially popular with grad students.  The growing phenomena has fueled condominium construction and condo conversion in the Charlottesville, Albemarle area of Virginia over the past few years.

We are also seeing amenities in these condo projects that are geared toward the student market.  For instance the Eagles Landing project on the east end of Charlottesville has the following amenities to entice students and young professionals:  a free shuttle to the  University of Virginia grounds and to Piedmont Virginia Community College, a pool, volleyball and basketball, fitness facilities, a clubhouse with a computer lab, gameroom, and study and conference rooms.  Another difference in these units is the fact that all of the bedrooms are the same size with no master and a built in computer desk in each room.

I think that this is a growing market in our college town that will continue to play a role in local real estate sales.

Pam Dent, e-PRO, SRES
Real Estate III
Charlottesville, Virginia
434 960-0161
www.JumpintoGreenerPastures.com
www.Charlottesville.virginiablogpage.com