The new Immigration Law in Alabama has some requirements that may catch you by surprise!  You must have proof of citizenship to conduct business at any Courthouse in the State.  For example, if you need to renew the registration for your boat or apply for homestead exemption, you must prove you’re a U.S. citizen.

If you reside in Alabama and have a VALID AL driver’s license, your citizenship can be verified through a state website.  However, if you reside in another state or you do not have a valid Alabama driver’s license, you must present a copy of your birth certificate or a passport to prove U.S. citizenship.

One of my clients lives in Georgia and was on his way to the Tallapoosa County Courthouse to renew the sticker on his mobile home.  He brought his birth certificate, and decided to bring his wife’s too.  As it turned out, his wife’s name was also listed on the registration.  He couldn’t obtain the new sticker without proof for both of them!

So – be aware and be prepared!

You may be hearing from your mortgage company that your property is in a flood zone - and that you need flood insurance right now!  In a nutshell, FEMA has issued new flood maps for Tallapoosa County.  This has already been done in Elmore County.  Just about anyone who owns property that touches Lake Martin may be in a flood zone.  If you have a mortgage - be prepared!

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Purchase FEMA Flood Insurance (available through most insurance agents)

2. Hire a surveyor or civil engineer to do an elevation survey and apply to FEMA for an exception.

3. Once you receive the exception, cancel your flood insurance for a full refund!

Yes, it’s a lot of trouble but this is the way to resolve the issue.

July 4th has come an gone…and folks on Lake Martin had a blast over the long weekend.  The weather was hot, the afternoon showers came and went, the boat parade was fun, the fireworks were awesome, and there were cookouts everywhere!  In addition, great progress has been made in removing debris along the shoreline following the April 27 tornado.

Besides enjoying the best holiday on the lake, I, and many real estate agents were fielding phone calls and showing property to visitors.  It doesn’t get any better than this!  We do know how to celebrate the nation’s birthday at Lake Martin, and we love helping people find just the right spot.

If you missed this holiday, don’t worry - we have plenty of other weekends and a long season to enjoy the lake.  As we like to say…”if you’re lucky enough to be at Lake Martin, you’re lucky enough.”

On April 27, an F4 Tornado hit Pace’s Peninsula on Lake Martin.  As volunteers for Pace’s Point Fire and Rescue, my husband and I saw the devastation first hand.  Approximately 50 homes were badly damaged or destroyed in our area.  While there were some injuries, there were no fatalities on Pace’s Peninsula.

The response to our community by volunteers was amazing. Pace’s Point Fire and Rescue in concert with Voluntary Organizations Assisting in Disasters (VOAD) processed over 80 requests for assistance and sent out over 400 volunteers in the days following the storm.  The work is still in progress; however, cleanup and rebuilding will take a long time.

The storm path came across the lake from Children’s Harbor to Windermere to Paces Peninsula.  The majority of the home and business owners I’ve spoken with plan to rebuild.  Prior to the storm, property sales on Lake Martin were strong.  This activity only slowed for a day or two and folks continue to inquire about property here.

The lake is full and Memorial Day is just around the corner…so give me a call and we’ll find the cabin or castle of your dreams!

Yes, the water level is rising and folks are shopping for great buys on Lake Martin.  There are quite a few properties to choose from - but it’s important to know what you want.  My favorite saying is - you can get the house OR you can get the lot - but probably not both.  That holds true unless your price range is unlimited.

So, learn about the lake - and find out what you like:  a big view, a quiet cove, flat terrain or a mountain-top retreat.  Will you be boating and swimming - or just looking at the water?  Remember - age can dictate your needs:  young children and older folks may have different requirements! There are lots of things to consider.  One thing is certain.  Lake Martin has something for everyone!

Area residents have always known that Lake Martin is a treasure.  Now it’s official!  Governor Bob Riley and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management have declared that Lake Martin is a Treasured Lake.  This is a new designation created by ADEM and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that will apply to lakes that meet special quality standards for cleanliness and nutrient enrichment.  Actually, the Governor signed an executive order creating the designation Treasured Alabama Lake.  And, Lake Martin is likely the first lake in the state to achieve this status.  While this is great news for Lake Martin, it’s just not a surprise to those of us who love the lake!

Tradition says that we all need to start shopping now for Christmas!  This year, it seems that Alabama Power is helping us start the season right.  Because we’ve been in near drought conditions, the power company has announced that they are taking steps to conserve water in its reservoirs.

Alabama Power is reducing water flows at the dam and requesting a variance to allow higher winter pools at Lake Martin and other lakes in the state.   This will help to avoid the extremely low water levels that occurred in 2007 in the event of dry conditions this winter and next spring.

So??  The water level won’t be quite as low, and it may start rising sooner.  if you have dock and seawall work - you’d better get to it!  If you’re shopping for property, you may not get to see it with the water all the way down.

Regardless of the water level, Lake Martin is always beautiful and we’re so thankful!

Your friends and neighbors are not always what they seem.  For example, if your community is protected by a volunteer fire department there is a good chance that one of your neighbors serves the community in this capacity.  Here on Lake Martin we say “when you call 911, you’re calling your neighbor”.

Volunteers probably have a “real” job doing something totally unrelated to fighting fires or answering medical emergencies.  But when the call goes out, even at four o’clock in the morning, they respond.  These organizations always need help.  If one is in your neighborhood, think about lending a hand.

Some of my friends are not neighbors.  They either have become my friends because they hired me as their real estate agent looking for that perfect lake house.  Or, they have been a long-time friend “on the lake” or at church and when they decide to sell their home they call me for help.  I have so many friends in both categories, it is truly a blessing.

Summer is winding down, Labor Day is almost here.  2010 has been a great year for Lake Martin.  The water level has been very close to full all season long.  AquaPalooza 2010 on Lake Martin was a great success with approximately 20,000 attendees and 2,000 boats.

Real estate sales on Lake Martin have remained strong.  Activity has been heavy in August and looks to continue this trend in September.  For those who love to crunch the numbers:  the average sale price is 9% higher than last year while the average listing price is 4% lower.  There are 2% less homes on the market this year but we’ve had 5% more sales than last year.  This is great news for both buyers and sellers.

If you’ve ever thought about owning that get-away second home on the lake or you’re close to retirement and need the perfect retirement location, NOW is the time to be visiting Lake Martin.  I have over 40 listings to show you or, after visiting my website and searching the entire Lake Martin multiple listings, I’ll show you any property for sale on the lake.

As they say on TV, “Come on down“.  Or as we say here at the lake, “Jump in, the water is fine!”