So you’re looking at buying a waterfront home in the Northern Neck of Virginia, are you? Great, it will likely be one of the best decisions of your life. This being said, many waterfront shoppers are unaware of some of the things to look for when choosing property, and the following list is meant to help you know exactly what to ask when speaking with an agent regarding the property.

5 Major Mistakes of Buying Waterfront in the Northern Neck

1. Is the Water Deep Enough?: Yep, believe it or not, sometimes people by homes on water where they think they’ll be able to dock their boat, only to find that the depth of the water is not enough. As you might imagine, this can be a disaster. I’ve also seen many occasions when homeowners had to base when they dock their boat on when the tide was in and when it was out. Obviously, such a situation is rather inconvenient to any boat owner.

2. What are the Property Set-Backs?: Ever since the Chesapeake Bay Act went into effect, waterfront property owners in the Northern Neck have been burdened in many ways. The main problem with the Bay Act is that it does not allow for new structures to be built within the 100’ setback. This means whether you want a pool, addition to your home, or any other ‘permanent structure’, you’re likely out of luck…unless it can fit beyond the 100’ mark.

3. Impervious Cover: This is the second half of the Chesapeake Bay Act and it’s a major problem for some homeowners, because the bill says that you’re not allowed to cover more than 18% of your property with ‘impervious’ material. Such material includes homes, driveways, garages, decks, patios, etc. You can probably imagine that many homes in the NN are already beyond the 18% mark, which means these homes can no longer add impervious items to their property.

4. Is There a Home Owner’s Association?: Although HOA’s are not very common in the NN, they still exist in certain subdivisions and developments. This being the case, make sure you’re very aware of the HOA rules before you sign the dotted line.

5. Is a Dock Allowed?: In some parts of the NN, dock permits can be difficult to get. And because every waterfront homeowner usually wants a dock (assuming one is not already there), finding out the dock regulations and requirements is very important when deciding on which property to choose.

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So you’re thinking about buying a waterfront piece of property in the Northern Neck of Va are you? If so, I can certainly understand, my grandfather built our cottage on the Potomac River in 1948 and it without question has blessed out family of over 60 years now.

Believe it or not, many people, because they’ve never lived on the water, aren’t quite sure as to what to look for when buying property in the Neck. So the following list is meant to help even the most novice of waterfront property shoppers know what to look for when considering such an important investment that will likely bless your family for many, many years to come.

7 Things to Look for When Buying Property in the Northern Neck of Virginia

1. Water Depth: It’s one thing to have waterfront. It’s another to actually be able to bring a boat in and out of  your dock area. Many rivers in the NN are plenty deep enough to accommodate most boats. Notwithstanding, there are quite a few properties that will only allow for very small boats and skiffs because of the shallow nature of the water.

2. Dock/Pier: Does the location have an existing dock? You can imagine, this is very, very important. Getting a dock permit for your property is no guarantee, especially with the all the new Bay Act regulations, so this is certainly something to check on. Also, is the dock built so as to always be above flood heights or is it so low that it must be replaced often? Note***A floating dock will take care of this issue.

3. Is the Property Vulnerable to Flooding: As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, my family has had a place on the Potomac for over 60 years. And for all the wonders of this lovely cottage, it has been flooded in recent years due to a few hurricanes. This is why you should always make sure the land of the property is elevated enough so as to not have to worry about super-high tides, like ones seen in a hurricane.

4. Beach Front: Beaches are wonderful, but many waterfront properties in the Northern Neck do not have them. In fact, the general rule of thumb is that properties on the Potomac River have sandy beaches and land on the Rappahannock does not. Obviously, this does vary case by case though.

5. Are There Set Back Issues?:  Currently, the Chesapeake Bay Act prevents construction of almost any new structure within 100’ of the Bay, it’s rivers, and just about all other bodies of water. This being said, take this law into consideration if you’re planning on adding on to the home, adding a swimming pool, or anything of that nature.

6. Is There a Boat Ramp Near By? Having waterfront and owning a boat go hand-in-hand in the Northern Neck, but don’t forget about how you plan on getting that boat into the water. Although many docks have boat lifts, it’s also very important to have a boat ramp nearby so as to easily facilitate putting your boat into the water.

7. Home Construction: Many homes on the water in the NN are of an older construction. This can be good or bad, but just make sure the home you buy is in great shape and will be good to go for many years to come.

So there you have it, 7 tips that should get you started in your efforts to find the right waterfront property in the Northern Neck area of Virginia. Good luck!

10 Reasons Why the Northern Neck of Virginia is Great for Retirees

You may have heard of them—Come Here’s. That’s right, if you’ve been in the Northern Neck of Virginia long enough; those persons that move to the Neck from other parts of the state are given this term of endearment. And how long is a ‘Come Here’ a ‘Come Here’? Ahh, now that is a good question. But this much is for certain—There are many, many folks coming here to the Northern Neck of Va to enjoy their retired years in the sweet serenity this area has to offer.

Personally, I grew up in the Northern Neck. In fact, other than college and a few other sabbaticals, I’ve been here my whole life. And during this time I’ve been able to learn from others, as well as my own experiences, why ‘The Neck’ is such an appealing place to retire.

1. The Slow Pace: When people retire, they want to relax, right? Well, the NN of Va. is certainly a relaxed pace. There’s very little hustle and bustle. No stress here folks.

2. No Traffic: Considering Northumberland County only as two stop lights at the time of this article, you can imagine traffic is not a big problem in this area. In fact, I’ve never experienced any type of traffic delay or jam my entire life in the NN. Hard to believe, isn’t it? Especially for those persons that are coming from the deadlock of 95 and NoVa, no traffic is a beautiful thing.

3. Great Eating: I’ve talked about this in other articles, but whether you’re looking for the good old home cooking of Newsome’s Restaurant in Burgess, or a fine dining experience like the one found at Trick Dog Café in Irvington, there are many great places to dine in the NN.

4. Rich History: Wow, where do I start with this one?? Whether it’s Washington’s Birthplace in Westmoreland County, or the Historic Reedville Fisherman’s museum, the NN is chock-full of great history where one can learn so much about the beginning of this great country.

5. Water, Water, Water: It’s called the ‘Northern Neck’ for a reason, right? In fact, with the ‘neck’ surround by the Potomac River, the Rappahannock River, and the Chesapeake Bay—there may be no better waterfront area in all of Virginia.

6. Boating/Fishing: Who doesn’t want to spend their retired years reeling in some of the best seafood in the world? Considering the town of Reedville was at one time the largest fishery in the word, there are plenty of wonderful fishing opportunities for any avid sportsman.

7. Lower Taxes: If you’ve ever lived in a place like Fairfax County, you know exactly what I’m talking about here. The NN is a tax friendly area for retirees, no doubt.

8. Parks: If you’re looking to reconnect with nature and all its beauty, such attractions as Westmorland State Park and Belle Isle State Park are perfect opportunities.

9. Historic Homes: Whenever there is rich history in an area, there follows right behind it a plethora of historical homes and buildings—something the Northern Neck is famous for.

10. Incredible Meeting Place for Families and all Generations: In 1948, my grandfather built a quaint cottage in the little village of Lewisetta, on the Potomac River. Since that time, all of his children and grandchildren have made thousands of memories by gathering together and taking advantage of the boating, the beach, the tranquility, and the beauty. In fact, just about every wonderful memory I have as a child takes place at ‘the cottage’. And with the ‘Neck’ only being a short distance from Richmond, Williamsburg, and Northern Virginia, it is the perfect weekend ‘getaway’ for any family.

So there you have 10 reasons why so many people retire to the Northern Neck of Virginia. If you’d like to know more information about possible places for your retirement home, please contact us at Packett Properties today.