Dreaming of lake life? Then you better put Smith Mountain Lake on your shortlist! Known as the “Jewel of the Blue Ridge Mountains”, Smith Mountain Lake will live up to that description and more. Ranked as one of the top lakes for bass fishing, Smith Mountain Lake is able to offer a wide price range of housing options in western Virginia’s biggest playground.
The first rule of real estate is: Location, Location, Location! The advantage of Smith Mountain Lake is that it is convenient to larger towns and cities yet offers a small town feel- no matter which community you choose. It’s the quality of lifestyle that Smith Mountain Lake offers its residents and vacation goers alike that draws its 18,000 permanent residents to the area.
Everything from golf, historic sites, the Appalachian Trail, Blue Ridge Parkway, a ski resort, caverns, speedway, wineries, and the list goes on. In addition there are numerous local events, cultural attractions, shopping, dining and other fun filled activities to partake in. Not to mention the natural beauty of the lake and its surrounding area that will have you wanting to stay and explore more.
Here’s how Smith Mountain Lake compares to its closest competitors-
Lake Norman, Lake Anna and Hyco Lake
Lake Norman:
- Location: Just North of Charlotte, NC
- Size: 520 miles of shoreline covering 32,510 acres
- Elevation: 760 ft.
- Known for: Largest manmade lake in the Carolinas
- Water depth: 35.5 feet on average, with maximum depth of 110 feet
- Average number of visitors per year: Not published
- Average temperature: 80’s in the summer and high 40’s in the winter
- Towns/ Subdivisions: Cornelius, Davidson and Huntersville
- Counties covered: Catawba, Iredell, Lincoln, and Mecklenburg counties
- Types of lots: Wooded and open, waterfront, water view and water access
Lake Anna:
- Location: Mid-way between Washington D.C. and Richmond, VA
- Size: 200 miles of shoreline covering over 13,000 acres
- Elevation: 265 ft.
- Known for: Second cleanest and largest freshwater lake contained entirely in Virginia
- Water depth: Max depth of 80 feet
- Average number of visitors per year: Around 200,000
- Average temperature: 82 degrees in the summer and average in the 30’s and 40’s in the winter
- Towns/ Subdivisions: Over 120 subdivisions line the shores of Lake Anna with a public and private side of the lake
- Counties covered: Lousia, Orange and Spotsylvania counties
- Types of lots: Wooded and open, waterfront, water view and water access
Hyco Lake:
- Location: 15 miles south of the Virginia border in North Carolina
- Size: 120 miles of shoreline covering approximately 3,750 acres
- Elevation: 420 ft.
- Known for: Also known as the Carolina Power Lake
- Water depth: Max depth of 49 feet, 30 feet on average
- Average number of visitors per year: Around 200,000
- Average temperature: Mid 80s in the summer and mid 40s in the winter
- Towns/ Subdivisions: Over 33 different communities and subdivisions around the lake
- Counties covered: Caswell and Person counties
- Types of lots: Wooded and open. Many areas around the lake are not developed.
Smith Mountain Lake:
- Location: Southwestern Virginia
- Size: 500 miles of shoreline over 20,600 acres
- Elevation: 794 ft.
- Known for: Largest man-made lake in Virginia and largest lake contained entirely in the state of Virginia
- Water depth: 55 feet on average, with maximum depth of 250 feet
- Average number of visitors per year: Between 16,000 to 18,000
- Average temperature: 79 degrees in the summer and 38 degrees in the winter
- Towns/ Subdivisions: Encompasses the communities of: Moneta, Union Hall, Penhook, Huddleston, White House and Goodview
- Counties covered: Bedford, Franklin and Pittsylvania Counties
- Types of lots: Wooded and open, waterfront, water view, and water access
Live the lake lifestyle and enjoy having Smith Mountain Lake out your back door. The area is able to offer the lowest rate of personal property taxes as compared to the other lakes as well as lower rate of real estate taxes.
Top 7 reasons to put Smith Mountain Lake on your short list:
- Low cost of living
- Awesome properties at great values
- Southern hospitality
- Temperate climate
- Small town feel
- Unlimited activities
- Gorgeous scenery
I provide real estate services for over 20,000 acres of Smith Mountain Lake & beyond! If you are dreaming of living the lake life, whether through a vacation home or as a full-time resident contact me, Debbie Shelton, to learn more about the area and to schedule your private tour.