So the debate rages on—Where is the best place to buy waterfront property in the Virginia area?

The selections are many: The Eastern Shore, the Tidewater/Va Beach Area, Lake Anna, etc. And although these places are certainly wonderful spots to consider, each has their own set of drawbacks when compared to what has possibly become the most popular spot in Virginia to find the best waterfront properties: The Northern Neck.

As most know, the Northern Neck  is a true ‘neck’ of land that is surrounded by the Potomac River on one side and the Rappahannock on the other, with the Chesapeake Bay meeting the end in the town of Reedville/Fleeton Virginia.

So the question is why is the Northern Neck so popular? Here are a few reasons as compared to some of the other popular locations mentioned at the top:

1. No traffic: That’s right, none. No tunnels to travel under (64 is awful if you’re going to the Tidewater area on a Friday afternoon). No bridges to cross with major tolls and bottlenecks (Eastern Shore). To this day, the Northern Neck has very little traffic issues because it has not been commercialized whatsoever, a fact that is appealing to many, many people.

2. Access to major Rivers and the Bay: Unlike Lake Anna, which is simply a lake, the Northern Neck is within striking distance of huge bodies of water with the two major rivers and the Bay being right there.

3. Within 3 hours of almost everything: Whether you’re coming from the Richmond area (about 70 miles), Fredericksburg (about 65 miles), or all of Northern Virginia (Less than 100 miles), the Northern Neck is a short drive from every major part of the state. This fact is especially appealing to grandparents who might have one set of children in the Richmond area, and another in Northern Virginia. With its easy location, the NN is ideal for such situations.

4. Reasonable Pricing: As we all know, the closer one gets to Northern Virginia or the Va. Beach area, the more the property costs go up while the size of the property actually goes down. This is not an issue in the NN though, where land is still plentiful.

Although there are certainly many more reasons the Northern Neck has become known by so many as the best waterfront property in Virginia, this list is a good start. But check it out for yourself and visit the Northern Neck and all its treasures soon.

There are many advantages to building a home on a lot rather than buying a home on the northern neck. Why should you look for a Lot to build on in the northern neck rather than an buying an existing home? 

1) Your house is truly, your house. You can tailor the floor plan, kitchen layout, color themes, and window design to your specifications. All too often someone buys a home and says, "We really like this house except..." When you build your own house, you'll be able to say, "I love my house, no exceptions!" One example is the kitchen. Kitchens have been traditionally smaller in size, but as we now socialize more in the kitchen, you can talor the layout to your needs.

2) No need to renovate. The costs involved in renovating an existing home are already tied into your house. Rather than re-roofing, re-painting, putting in hardwood instead of carpet - tile instead of laminant, you work with your builder to build the home the way you want it, where you want it. 

3) Fewer 'bugs'... literally and figuratively! There are no hidden problems, mice, bugs, mold, etc. and the possibility of these future problems is reduced as well. Some homes have inconvenient Waterfront properties can be more prone to some of these problems that are very avoidable by building a new home. 

4) Efficiency. Homes today are built much more energy efficient than ever before. Your energy costs can be significantly reduced by building a new home. Also, there will be less repairs costs; the appliances, pump, well, HVAC, and roof won't need repairs for years. 

5) Security. Most builders of new homes will offer a one year warranty incase something isn't built to specifications or there is a malfunction. This significantly stabilizes your monthly costs for the extent of the warranty and in the next five to ten years.

Building a home can be a great experience that makes your dream home a reality. To find out more about building a home on the northern neck, or to check out what Packett Properties has to offer, visit The Landing At Totuskey Creek. 

Framing your new home is an exciting time as the home will seemingly rise from dust. Framing a house usually takes a couple weeks (depending on the size of the house and size of the crew). So each day, you'll see it grow. This is the first time you'll also get to 'see' the house actually come to fruition. 

Interestingly, framing hasn't changed very much over time. Old homes have many of the same framing concepts that we use today. While the materials (wood, sometimes metal) haven't changed, the tools have. You'll still see a hammer on the construction site but framing is much faster because of the development of nail-guns, air compressors, laser balances, and other technologically advanced tools.

 A good carpenter should not be over looked when building your home. After a house is built, it will shift, settle, and adjust; this adjustment will take 3 to 5 years to occur.  If you've used a good carpenter to frame the house, you'll save yourself a lot of headaches as cracks and splits in the walls and ceilings will be minimal, if non-existent. If you don't use a good carpenter, you'll spend thousands of dollars in repairs well after the home is finished. Do some research to find a good contractor that takes pride in their work.                                       

What better way to relax on your visit to the Northern Neck then to play around of golf? The Neck offers FIVE 18-hole golf courses to disolve all your frustrations (or create your frustrations depending on your play)! In planning your golf outing here is a guide to each of the five courses in no particular order: 

King Carter - Irvington, VA 

• Par 71 with 5 tees ranging from 6,802 to 2,116 yards
• 18 holes ranges from $35 to $50 depending on the season
• Fully-loaded Pro shop
• King Carter Cafe' serves lunch from 10:30am to 2:30pm

Quinton Oaks - Callao, VA

• Par 71 with 3 tees ranging from 6,132 to 4,957 yards
• 18 Holes ranges from $27 to $38 depending on the season
• Fully-loaded Pro shop
• Offers lessons and clinics
• Restaurant on site (hours unavailable)

Hobbs Hole - Tappahannock, VA

• Par 71 with 3 tees ranging from 6,607 to 5,666 yards
• 18 holes ranges from $37 to $45 ($22 - $30 if walking)
• Fully-loaded Pro shop
• The Sandbar Restaurant is open Mon-Sat 8am to 9pm, Sun 8am to 4pm (One of the best places to eat in Tappahannock)

Golden Eagle Golf Club at The Tides Inn - Irvington, VA

• Par 72 with 5 tees from 6,745 to 5,097 yards (including Championship tees at 7,025 yards)
• 18 holes range from $69 to $88 depending on tee time
• Lessons and Clinics available
• Part of Tides Inn which includes a Spa and Resort

Indian Creek Yacht and Country Club - Kilmarnock, VA

• Par 72 with 6 tees from 6,379 to 4,941 yards (Including Championship tees at 6,630 yards)
• No information on pricing available
• Part of I.C.Y.&C.C. which offers yachting, swimming, tennis, and fine dining

With five quality courses to play on the Northern Neck, this is the place to come enjoy waterfront living! Each course is uniquely situated to offer various highlights of Northern Neck living. We'll see you on the course!

"The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining" - John F. Kennedy (1962)

If you make a good decision when you first build a home, then you won't have to repair the roof that often. There are many different roof options you should consider so we'll review a few.

1) Good 'ol Shingles:

'Regular' or 3-tab shingles have the least amount of cost when roofing. They're made of asphalt, light (in weight), and rectangular. They usually get the job done for 15-20 years. As with all types of roofs, if you live in a harsher climate, the longevity goes down. If you don't want to be on your roof very often, this isn't the option to consider.

Architectural shingles (above) are a higher grade asphalt shingle that includes some type of reinforcement (usually fiberglass). These shingles are rated to last 25 to 30 years. They are also thicker and have a 'textured' look that covers up minor imperfections. These shingles will cost you about 25% more than regular shingles.

2) Metal

Metal roofing is a major upgrade from shingles. A metal roof is rated at 50+ years. They are more wind/water resistant and save an owner in heating and cooling costs. Many roofs are also made of recycled metal. There is a signifcantly larger upfront cost but you probably won't re-roof your home during your life time with a metal roof.

3) Others

There are several other ways to roof your home: Clay, Tar and Gravel, Wood Shingles, etc. but because they are less common in residential real estate this post won't review these.

Happy Roofing!