ALMetro360 June 19

46 AL/ Metro360 www.almetro360.com LAKESIDE LIFESTYLES: A look at new trends making waves at Lake Martin by Melissa JohnsonWarnke T HE SELLING SEASON IS IN FULL SWING ON L AKE M ARTIN , WHERE CONVENIENCE , AMENITIES AND AFFORDABILITY ARE SWAYING NEW BUYERS TO PURCHASE THEIR LONG - AWAITED VACATION HOMES . he real estate market along Alabama’s Lake Martin is hot, quite literally. The warmweather beckons buyers to ramp up their search, making late spring through summer peak season for buying and sell- ing waterfront properties. Sonja Langham and her husband, Charles, are among the potential buyers on the search for their first lake home. Aside from the picturesque views of Lake Martin, their checklist also includes a turn-key home, since they don’t consider themselves fixer-uppers. They also want a location that gives them a sense of community. “We don’t want to feel isolated,” added Langham. That neighborhood appeal has become a big selling point for buyers around Lake Martin. Developments that offer op- portunities for connection as well as amenities to complement lake living, have become especially attractive with buyers. E MERGING T RENDS The trend is contributing to the popularity of newer com- munities like The Village at Lake Martin. Realtor team Windy Carter andMindy O’Brien of Three Sixty Resort Living market several lake properties, including those at The Village. They say most of their clients are ages 40 and up, and time is limited. “I always tell people it’s like condo living, except you have your own house,” said Carter. “The Village offers a community pool, fitness center, a private boat dock as well as lawn mainte- nance. When our potential buyers hear that their yard and landscaping is taken care of, that is huge for them.” Resting on nearly 200 acres on the shores of Lake Martin, The Village has a wide range of options and prices – from bun- galows and cottages to large luxury homes. Priced from the low $220,000s to more than $700,000, the community is de- signed by one architect and builder and boasts nearly 3,000 feet of remaining shoreline. While Lake Martin is known for having the largest concen- tration of luxury homes in Alabama, realtors like Carter and O’Brien say they’re seeing more families choose smaller homes to avoid some of the hassles of property ownership. The Village at Kowaliga Bay, another community Carter and O’Brienmarket, is a development of tiny homes. With a starting price of $168,000, these homes have a small footprint but still have water access and maintained amenities like lawn care, common docks, a boat ramp, boat storage, a pool house with restrooms and a kitchen, as well as a workout facility. The de- sign trend is taking hold in communities throughout the area, especially outdoor enthusiasts and younger buyers whose budg- ets are smaller. “The advantage to buying here is having a lake home at an T