Why Resort-Style Communities Are Drawing Buyers to Smith Mountain Lake
Wednesday, May 6th, 2026
Gretchen Tipps
Luxury communities at Smith Mountain Lake continue to evolve as buyers look for more than just a waterfront address.
The Reason Homes Feel Like They Cost So Much (It’s Not What You Think)
Monday, October 27th, 2025
Gretchen Tipps
Scroll through your feed and you’ll see plenty of finger-pointing about why homes cost so much. And according to a national survey, a lot of people believe big investors are to blame.
Even though data shows that’s not true, nearly half of Americans surveyed (48%) think investors are the top reason housing feels so expensive (see graph below):
But that theory doesn’t actually hold up once you look at the data.
A Second Home Might Be the Missing Piece in Your Retirement Plan
Wednesday, August 6th, 2025
Gretchen Tipps
Are you wondering if you’re on track to retire someday?
According to Intuit, 69% of people say today’s financial environment makes it tough to plan for the future, and 68% aren’t sure they’ll ever be able to retire. That’s why many people are exploring new ways to build stability and long-term income.
And that’s where real estate comes in.
It feels like everything is getting more expensive these days. That’s because inflation has remained higher than normal for longer than expected – and that’s impacting the costs of goods, services, and more. And with rising costs all around you, you’re probably questioning: is now really the right time to buy a home?