Category — Press Releases

The Smith Mountain Lake 2012 Golf Invitational, sponsored by Prudential Waterfront Properties, will be held Monday, May 14th at The Waterfront Country Club. This tournament consistently hosts a full field of fine golfers representing a wide variety of businesses from the Smith Mountain Lake region.

The 18-hole-event-format is Captain’s Choice four-person Best-ball with cash and prizes awarded. Players receive coffee, continental breakfast, driving range balls, green and cart fees, snacks, beverages, prizes and an Awards Luncheon.

Top team wins the Annual Tournament Cup Trophy. 1st, 2nd and 3rd team scores will receive Pro Shop certificates prizes of $400/ $300 /$200.

All players have an opportunity to win CASH prizes: $250.00 Signature Sponsor Cash prize at designated hole, $150.00 Closest to the Pin, and $50.00 Cash door prize at the Award Luncheon.

Hole-In-One – 2012 Sea-Doo G series Personal Watercraft – Hole #8, Sponsored by Webster Marine; 2012 Chevrolet Malibu – Hole #13, Sponsored by Woodall Chevrolet

Putting Contest – Four player golf package at the Homestead – value $850.00 Sponsored by Blue Ridge Copier

If you’re interested in playing in the Smith Mountain Lake 2012 Golf Invitational, please contact the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce at 540.721.1203 or email your response to: jims@visitsmithmountainlake.com.

Make Any Size Your “Super” Size

Whether moving across the street or across the country, when there is a change in the size of a living space, there is a lot to think about with many pro’s and con’s to consider. Finding the right sized space is easier if you consider your lifestyle now and how it might change in this new space. Understanding your reasons, hopes and goals in transitioning to the new sized home is the biggest key to your success. The clearer and better prepared you are to transition to the new sized home, the bigger benefits you will receive in the short term. You can fix your errors over time, but often there are costs associated with that, so getting things “right” in the beginning is worth your time and effort.

Money – value or savings, often top the list for a size change. Often, people downsize thinking that they will save money; some people take equity from their larger home and use that money for other ventures. Upsizing during a buyer’s market can get you a good deal on a larger home. Either way, if money is the focus, remember that as you look at the home. Sometimes the savings is not as big as you think, or you can quickly get in over your head. A smaller home in a more desirable location might cost you more than your large home in a less sought-after area.

Lifestyle – changes in family size, job status, retirement or health top the list for lifestyle changes that prompt size changes. While money may still play a role, if your reasons for changing the size of your home are “lifestyle related” then you will want to keep this focus.

Upsizing

Many housing markets are providing buyers with opportunities to “upsize” – getting more house for the money and great values for the housing dollar. Going up in size when you have been living in a small space can be quite appealing, though surprisingly there are some challenges, too.

Pros

• Finally – you have more storage and space to move!
• Additional bathrooms allow more privacy and easier morning routines
• Additional bedrooms ease strain on family members and encourage guests
• Larger kitchens enable cooks to do their job with ease
• Added space can accommodate a home business or hobbies
• Larger homes also often have added amenities like larger lot size, lawns and landscaping in addition to more space inside the home

Cons

• In a larger home there may be more walking, more stairs, and facilities may or may not be as convenient
• Costs of heating and cooling will be higher
• Maintenance costs are often higher
• Property taxes may be higher
• More and possibly larger rooms may require more furniture or the scale of the furniture that you do have is off – so additional decorating expenses will be incurred
• Attics, basements, garages, sheds and storage areas need to be organized, and sometimes heated, cooled, or dehumidified to prevent items stored there from becoming ruined
• Lawns, landscaping and larger lots require care and maintenance which can be costly and a lot of work

Suggestions:

If you are upsizing at the same time that a family or friend is downsizing, you might walk into a great deal on furniture, tools, lawn-mowers or other must-haves for your new home. Check out Craigslist and local garage sales to score great finds and help you to get to know the new neighborhood. Weigh the cost and benefits of moving furniture long distances. Treasured family heirlooms will likely remain on the moving list while less favored items may not be worthy of moving. And, don’t forget rentals – there are actually places that can rent furniture while you make up your mind about what you want or can afford.

Do some planning for your new space. Magazines and the internet are filled with ideas that may provide inspiration for you, or consider working with an interior designer. Take photos of the new space and measurements of the rooms so you can better understand the opportunities and constraints of your new home. Consider the condition of the walls and floors, windows and lighting as you go. Painting and work on the floors is much easier to achieve if the room is already empty. For improvements, if you can make decisions on color and materials, and schedule workers, completing improvements prior to moving in can save a lot of time and effort.

If you have never owned a home before, it can be a big task to take on a large space. Often your realtor will know of reliable professionals to help accomplish home improvements. Your excitement and enthusiasm will take you far, and remember: you don’t have to do it all at once. Create a prioritized list for the new space, knowing you still have your day-to-day life to live while getting settled in your new home.

Downsizing

Sometimes a desirable location translates to a smaller home, or perhaps you are consciously choosing to reduce your space. Whatever the case, if you are moving from a larger home to a smaller one, chances are “stuff issues” will top your list. Knowing this when you are looking may be useful for you to see how much you can fit into the new space and what you need to part with. For some people, this is an emotional time. Falling in love with the new space can be a key to success. Your realtor can help you to find the right small space for you, only you can find the right space for your stuff.

Pros

• Finally – you are not paying to heat and/or cool rooms that you rarely use!
• It is convenient to have rooms closer together – often there is less walking
• There is less to clean and to organize
• Maintenance chores are often less, with smaller rooms, fewer windows, floors, less roof, etc.
• Perhaps you are seeing a reduction in property tax or mortgage
• Often you have less to take care of in the way of property and landscaping

Cons

• Often you have to make some tough decisions regarding “stuff”
• Your furniture might be “off” in scale, better suited to a larger home
• Fewer bedrooms and/or bathrooms sometimes require planning for family and guests
• Cooking in a smaller kitchen is different, and storage for kitchen tools and food might require thought

Suggestions:

Enlist the help of a professional. Recent trends in lifestyle management have spawned personal and professional coaches, as well as professionals who help with organization and clutter management. These professional organizers make it their business to know the best way to clear your closets, storage areas and generally handle and manage your stuff.

If you feel overwhelmed and can afford their help, they might even save you money in the end by reducing the need to rent storage, saving you from moving unneeded items, and helping you sell some of the more valuable things. And, while they are not interior designers, professional organizers have seen a lot of homes and know the most attractive ideas for using your space. If you are trying to sell a larger home while planning for the move to your smaller space, professional organizers can also aid you and your realtor in staging the home you are selling, gaining you twice the return on their services!

When downsizing, consider the features of the home that you use the most. Will you be doing the same things in the new home, or is there going to be a lifestyle change, too? Ensure that you compare what you are currently doing in each of these areas, and how that will have to change in the new space.

In the kitchen: If you are currently using many different kitchen tools, but moving into a home with a smaller kitchen – will you need to get rid of tools? Or will you find or create storage space in the new kitchen? Perhaps you are moving to a place with great restaurants – but can you afford to eat out a lot? Often you will need to plan for less pantry space, too.

In bathrooms: You will often be faced with towel and linen storage designed for a smaller dwelling, and vanities that are in keeping with smaller spaces. This can translate into crowded medicine cabinets and stuffed drawers, so even everyday things like personal care products become “stuff issues.” Consider buying smaller containers and filling them from larger bottles – your small space doesn’t have to be crowded if you can plan and get creative. Keep only the best of your towels and linens, and that which you really need.

Changing the size of your space may or may not benefit you financially, but the change in lifestyle will not be missed. It is an opportunity to re-evaluate your belongings and your relationship with the space you have and use. Sometimes, it even means looking at the way you do things, and why. Changing the size of your space is essentially an opportunity to get to know yourself all over again, in a very conscious way. Tackling these challenges and viewing them as opportunities will result in a new home that is suited to you and your needs. Bigger or smaller, be sure you make it just like you want it.

Prudential Waterfront Properties is pleased to present the 2012 After 5 Jive at Smith Mountain Lake summer concert series. The first outdoor event will kick-off on Thursday, June 7, 2012 with Project 4 Band performing at Westlake Towne Center, next to Kroger. Gates open at 5 p.m. with live music getting underway at 5:30 p.m. through 8:30 p.m. All proceeds will benefit the United Way of Franklin County.

Dates, bands and times for the After 5 Jive at Smith Mountain Lake concerts series are as follows:

Thursday, June 7
Project 4 Band
5 – 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, July 5
Super Hold
5 – 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, August 2
The Catalinas
5 – 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, September 6
Mark Roberts and Breeze
5 – 8:30 p.m.

“The After 5 Jive is a great local forum to bring the family and meet friends coupled with generating much needed dollars to benefit the United Way of Franklin County,” said Christopher Finley, Director of Marketing and Communications. Admission for Adults is $5. Children 10 and under are admitted free. “Come on out, kick back and enjoy the show!” added Finley.

Valid ID is required for 21 and older. A children’s play area along with food and drink vendors will be on site. Lawn chairs are welcome. Coolers, outside food or drinks, rollerblades, skateboards and pets are prohibited and not allowed. Events are subject to cancellation due to inclement weather. Bags are subject to be inspected.

After 5 Jive at Smith Mountain Lake is sponsored by Prudential Waterfront Properties, The Willard Companies, Carilion Clinic, Turner’s Building, Inc., Kroger, Ferguson Bath & Kitchen Gallery, Verizon Wireless Zone, Western Virginia Water Authority, Telemedia Productions, Smith Mountain Building Supply, Laker Media, WDBJ-7, Budweiser, and Coca-Cola.

The Willard Companies has purchased two properties including the existing pad for a second 48-unit condominium project at Bridgewater Pointe as well as Bridgewater Grande, a 30 acre track featuring 5,900’ +/- water frontage. The properties were purchased for $5.6 million and closed on Friday, March 30.

“We are very excited about being involved in future plans for a second tower at Bridgewater Pointe and the Bridgewater Grande development. These projects will bring economic development to the Smith Mountain Lake region, which has continued to rebound from the recession,” said Ron Willard, President of The Willard Companies. In 2010, The Willard Companies was involved in the marketing of the first tower, featuring 48-units that sold out in 2 ½ hours during a lottery style sale.

Development for the second 48-unit project will mirror the architecture of the exiting condominium tower and plans for Bridgewater Grande will include residential and commercial mix on 30 acres.

Willard started his development and construction company in 1973. “For us, the timing of this investment made excellent business sense. Not only were we able to purchase at attractive pricing, but the location of these properties are within a few miles from our office headquarters and in close proximity to all of our company subsidiaries,” said Willard.

The Willard Companies is the umbrella for Willard Construction of Roanoke Valley, Inc., Prudential Waterfront Properties, The Waterfront, The Water’s Edge and The Westlake Golf and Country Clubs. The company is involved in country clubs, building, developing, marketing and real estate. The Willard Companies is also affiliated with Westlake Towne Center, Westlake Cinema, Westlake Salon & Spa, Window and Door Design Gallery and Smith Mountain Building Supply. Visit online at www.thewillardcompanies.com.

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Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services announced its 2011 Sales Professional award winners at its annual convention in Orlando, Florida. Eight Prudential Waterfront Properties REALTORS® were recognized for exemplifying great sales measures in closed residential GCI or closed residential units for 2011. A breakdown of the awards winners are as follows:

Chairman’s Circle Platinum

Vicki Millehan / Debbie Shelton

Chairman’s Circle Gold

Jane Sullivan Horne

Leading Edge

Eric and Tom “Team” Fansler

Honor Society Award

Van Daniel

Michelle Turner

Dana Montgomery

“These award winners are ranked among the best of the best in the Prudential Real Estate Network. These REALTORS® are the consummate professionals, who work tirelessly to help their clients’ fulfill their real estate needs,” said Cathie Daniel, Principal Broker.

Goodwill^®, Prudential Waterfront Properties, Earth Environmental and Civil, and Franklin Community Bank, in cooperation with Franklin County, will host the 4th Annual Franklin County E-Cycling Day on Saturday, April 21st from 8:30 a.m. – Noon at three locations.

This year’s locations include:

• Rocky Mount Goodwill store, 1045 North Main Street;
• Prudential Waterfront Properties, 13247 Booker T. Washington (corner of Intersection Rt. 122 and Rt. 616);
• Franklin Community Bank, 400 Old Franklin Turnpike, Rocky Mount.

Once again the E-Cycling Day will focus on the recycling of computers, computer equipment, small appliances, and electronics.  In addition, confidential on-site document destruction will be offered at the Franklin Community Bank location.

“In the past three years this event has been a very successful,” states Larry Moore, Assistant County Administrator for Franklin County. “By collecting and recycling computers, computer equipment, small appliances, and electronics, we have kept 15 tons of materials out of area landfills.  This year we expect another large turnout and hope to collect record amounts of items.”

The Franklin County E-Cycling Day is an extension of a Goodwill partnership with Dell Computers and an effort to increase awareness of recycling and green initiatives throughout the Franklin County area.  Since October 2008, through the Dell RECONNECT^TM partnership, computers and computer related hardware have been responsibly recycled by Dell with proceeds benefiting Goodwill job training and employment programs.

Acceptable items for the E-Cycling event include, but are not limited to:

• Computers and Computer Equipment of any brand in any condition: monitors, keyboards, CPUs, printers, scanners, fax machines, printer cartridges, computer cords, and any related computer equipment.  It is recommended that donors remove all data from hard drives and other storage media before donating.
• Small Appliances: toasters, microwaves, blenders, coffee makers, mixers, vacuums, food processors.
• Electronics: Clocks, radios, cell phones, PDAs.
• Paper: Shredding is available at the bank location only.
• Gently Used Clothing and Household Items: Clothing for the entire family and other items such as dishes, artwork, collectibles, etc.

In 2011, Goodwill kept over 14.3 million pounds of material out of local landfills throughout the 31 county, 14 city territory in Virginia.  Through successful salvage efforts, the organization works diligently to see that the community’s castoffs do not come back to harm the environment. The revenues generated through salvage and recycling operations support Goodwill programs, which train individuals and help place them in competitive, community employment.

Goodwill Industries of the Valleys, a United Way partner organization headquartered in Roanoke, serves 31 counties and 14 cities in the New River, Roanoke, and Shenandoah Valleys.  Its mission is to help people and families in our community achieve a better life through work and independence.  In 2011 Goodwill assisted 75,734 individuals and in this difficult employment market placed 2,111 people into jobs in the community.

For over 25 years, Prudential Waterfront Properties markets real estate throughout Smith Mountain Lake and the surrounding areas. As members of the Multiple Listing Service, Prudential Waterfront Properties REALTORS^® are able to assist buyers and sellers with all listed properties in a variety of price ranges and locations throughout the lake and surrounding areas. Prudential Waterfront Properties REALTORS^® are consistent leaders in sales as well as customer and client service.

Franklin Community Bank, N.A. opened its doors for business in September 2002. Part of its mission is to support through active participation the communities we serve along with providing the highest level of service to help our clients achieve financial prosperity. We invite you to visit with us at one of our 3 locations in Franklin County and you will see why “your bank is here.”

Earth Environmental and Civil, Inc. has been providing environmental and civil engineering service throughout the region for 22 years. With large company capabilities and small company accessibility, our Engineers, Geologist, Scientists, and Planners keep our clients satisfaction as their top priority. At EEC, our emphasis lies in our ability to consistently provide quality service while effectively meeting budgets and schedules. Our experience ranges from project conceptualization through initiation to implementation and finally, the satisfaction of project completion.

Mercury College B.A.S.S., the premier college circuit of tournament anglers, announces its schedule and locations for the 2012 season. The College East Super Regional Bass Tournament is scheduled for April 13 & 14.

North to south, east to west, the circuit will cover regions that allow every style of angler to showcase his or her skills on the water.

Over 100 to 125 College teams from Texas to New York come to SML to compete for a chance to go to the Bassmaster Classic at Bridgewater Plaza, Moneta. Va. Tech alone has over 10 teams and bass fishing currently is the only nationally ranked sport that VA Tech has. Televised on ESPN U. “As a part of the team that helps bring tournaments to Smith Mountain Lake, Franklin County is extremely excited about the opportunity of hosting this tour. Fishing is big in southwest Virginia, but support of our college and university teams is even bigger. This tournament will be a tremendous plus to our community!” said Debra H. Weir, tourism/special events manager for Franklin County Commerce & Leisure Services.

For more information, visit http://www.bassmaster.com/news/2012-mercury-college-bass-schedule

Prudential Real Estate, a Brookfield Residential Property Services company, today released a new national survey showing that Americans are significantly more optimistic about homeownership than they were a year ago. According to the second-annual Prudential Real Estate Outlook Survey, a full 60 percent of Americans have favorable views toward the real estate market. That’s up 8 points since last year.

The survey shows that signs of increasing optimism are widespread:

• With interest rates at historically low levels, 96 percent agree or somewhat agree that now is a good time to buy.
• A full 70 percent of respondents have some degree of confidence that property values will improve over the next two years; with an 8 point increase in those very confident or confident compared to last year.
• 63 percent believe that real estate is a good investment despite the recent market volatility; that’s up 11 points from last year.

The survey confirms that despite the recession, homeownership remains a central part of the American Dream. Eight in 10 respondents said homeownership is very important to them; only 15 percent said the economic downturn made homeownership less important.

“Respondents told us what our sales professionals see every day that, despite recent market volatility, homeownership remains integral to the dreams of most Americans and that consumers’ confidence in the housing market is returning,” said Earl Lee, president, Prudential Real Estate. “This is good news for home buyers and sellers, communities and our economy as a whole. As more people look to take advantage of historic interest rates and prices, we believe the foundation for a sustainable recovery is in sight.”

The survey also highlighted strong ties between homeownership and the community: 77 percent agree that homeownership strengthens a sense of community with 87 percent agreeing or somewhat agreeing that neighborhood comprised of homeowners have a stronger sense of community than neighborhoods made up mainly of renters. This is critical in an environment where two in three respondents believe community feelings in America are declining.

Among the generations, 94 percent of respondents believe that finding the right home and community are crucial to helping their family be happy.   Only a small minority of older Americans said the recent housing crisis made homeownership less important to them. Nearly half Gen Y respondents said it made homeownship more important. Gen Y’ers are particularly optimistic about the road ahead with 72%  expressing favorable views about the residential real estate market.

“Characteristically, many of these consumers, particularly Gen Y, share a firm sense of family and community,” Lee said. “It’s not surprising now that they’re embracing homeownership to build on that sense.”

The survey also highlighted consumer caution in a recovering real estate market: 93 percent of respondents said that the housing crisis reminds them that they must be more careful about buying and selling property. More than 90 percent of respondents said a good real estate sales professional can help them make the right choices about homes and communities; and 71 percent believe good agent representation is more important than ever, up 4% from last year’s survey.

Methodology: Interviews with 1,251 Americans who are “in the market” to buy or sell a home were conducted online by Palisades Media Ventures and Penn Schoen Berland, between Feb. 10 and 20, 2012. Respondents are aged 25-64 with a household income of at least $50,000, and either recently bought/sold a home or are considering buying/selling a home. The margin of error is ± 2.8% for all respondents and higher for subgroups.

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Prudential Real Estate is a Brookfield Residential Property Services real estate brokerage franchise company. Prudential Real Estate franchises are independently owned and operated. Companies are selected based upon outstanding performance records and high levels of customer service.

Prudential Real Estate provides franchises with business strategies using Operation Reviews as well as numerous benefits, including access to Prudential Real Estate’s Online Seller Advantage^® program, designed to provide real-time information to sellers with the touch of a keystroke, and Online Buyer Advantage®, which enables consumers to easily search for property in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Prudential Real Estate is one of the largest real estate brokerage franchise networks in North America, with more than 1,500 franchise offices and 50,000 sales professionals as of December 31, 2011.

Prudential, the Prudential logo and the Rock symbol are service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities and are used under license, with no other affiliation with Prudential.

Congratulations to Adam Lynch with Prudential Waterfront Properties, located at Smith Mountain Lake, who was elected as a new director on the Roanoke Valley Association of REALTORS board at a recent Installation and Awards Ceremony. Melissa Morgan of Renaissance Real Estate was installed as RVAR’s President. Also installed were Betty Kingery as President-elect and Donna Greer as Vice President. In addition to Adam Lynch, one other new director, Bryan Musselwhite, was installed. Jeff Snyder and Richard Wimberley were installed for a second term as Directors.

During his Real Estate career, Lynch has earned multiple real estate certifications including the Accredited Buyers Representative® (ABR), Graduate of Real Estate Institute (GRI), and Short Sales & Foreclosure Resource (SFR). Lynch is a member Virginia Association of REALTORS®, National Association of REALTORS®, and Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce. He is a graduate from University of Tennessee at Knoxville and earned a B.A. degree in History. Lynch is a native of and currently resides in Franklin County with his wife, Allyson.

‘Lake Effects,’ A Hallmark Movie Channel Original With An All-Star Cast Has Its World Premiere May 19

Scottie Thompson, Jane Seymour, Madeline Zima, Jeff Fahey, Ben Savage, Eyal Podell, Sean Patrick Flanery and Casper Van Dien Star

Hallmark Movie Channel announces the World Premiere of the Hallmark Movie Channel Original film “Lake Effects,” starring Scottie Thompson, Jane Seymour, Madeline Zima, Eyal Podell, Sean Patrick Flanery, Ben Savage, Jeff Fahey and Casper Van Dien premieres on the network, Saturday, May 19, 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7C.

“Lake Effects” is the story of a high powered attorney Sara (Thompson) who while on her way to the top reluctantly returns to her childhood home on the enchanting Smith Mountain Lake to attend her father’s (Fahey) funeral and help her sister Lily (Zima) and mother Vivian (Seymour) settle the family estate. While there, Sara’s love for the lake and the townspeople is reignited, and with the help of her father’s ever present spirit, Sara looks inward, discovers the importance of love and family, and gives her all to save the family’s beloved home.

The inspiration for “Lake Effects” comes from the real community of Smith Mountain Lake in Southwest Virginia where the film was shot.  Because Smith Mountain Lake residents were instrumental in the making of the film, producers of the film have pledged a significant giveback program which includes donations to clean and restore the lake and preserve its rich history.

LIFE OUT LOUD Films presents “Lake Effects,” a Sara Elizabeth Timmins Production.  Written by Scott Winters.  Directed by Michael J. McKay.  Music by Kazimir Boyle.  Executive Producers Bart and Lynn Wilner.  Produced by Sara Elizabeth Timmins.

Hallmark Movie Channel, the second linear channel from Crown Media Holdings, Inc., simulcast in SD (Standard Definition) and HD (High Definition), is a 24-hour cable network dedicated to bringing viewers family-friendly movies with a mix of classic theatrical films, presentations from the acclaimed Hallmark Hall of Fame library, original Hallmark Channel movies and special events. In today’s crowded television landscape, the network is a unique and captivating entertainment experience, providing programming families can watch together. It is now available in over 46 million homes. Crown Media also operates Hallmark Channel which provides a diverse slate of high-quality entertainment programming to a national audience of 87 million subscribers.