“We were just ready to have a vacation home,” says Joy Fletcher. She and her husband Mark looked for more than a year before they found just the right one on West Point Lake. The Fletchers have more than 20 rental houses, and they knew that when they found the right lake house it would be a good investment. “Lake property will only go up in value,” Mark said. They bought their home in 2007.
Why West Point Lake? The Fletchers like to hunt and fish. “There’s a lot of public land to hunt on for both big game and small. I used to fish a lot of tournaments on the lake as well. Joy and I won a Guys and Dolls tournament several years ago and won $1,000,” Mark said with a laugh. They keep a bass boat and a jon boat down at the lake, and since they live in Palmetto, it’s the closest lake to home.
Why this house? The Fletchers were particularly interested in a house with views down to the lake. Because the entire shoreline is U.S. government property and managed by the Army Corps of Engineers, there are setbacks where no structures can be built. The underbrush can be cleared on this property, but no trees larger than 4-inches in diameter can be removed. The Fletchers found a house sitting on the middle of three adjacent lots where Joy can sit in the living room and see the water.
How did they find it? Joy talked to a number of Realtors and found someone who knew of a property that sounded right. The owner planned to put it on the market in another year or so, but eventually sold to the Fletchers. “In real estate, it’s often about networking and knowing the right people,” she said.
The house works well for them. The two-level house features a living/dining area on the main level with master bedroom and bath. Upstairs a loft with bunk beds overlooks the living area, and there’s another bedroom and bath. The Fletchers use the basement for boat storage and there’s a workshop area. Sliding glass doors across the back of the house open onto the deck. That’s where the Fletchers spend much of their time, grilling out and enjoying the views. The gently sloping lot leads down to the dock. The three lots total about 1 1/2 acres.
How often can they get there? The Fletchers’ home in Palmetto is just an hour away from the house, which is in Alabama. Joy manages their investment property so she can get down there for a quick break. “Sometimes I just go down for the day. It’s so close, I can just go for the afternoon if I want to. It’s a pretty drive and I don’t even have to get on the interstate. Sometimes I just go down there and read on a nice sunny day.”
Retirement soon for Mark: Mark has spent 36-plus years working with Owens Corning in Fairburn. He looks forward to retiring next month and having the flexibility his wife enjoys.
At a glance
Community Information
West Point Lake is managed by the Army Corps of Engineers and the shoreline is owned by the federal government. The Corps is responsible for managing the reservoir and its surrounding, publicly owned land. The property line is well marked, with red stripes painted on trees along the line.
Realtor Thomas Sauls with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers worked with the Fletchers. “Right now there are over 40 properties available ranging from $120,000 to $1.25 million. At the lower price range, you’ll get a very rustic two-bedroom one-bath cabin with few if any amenities,” he said. A recent sale at $82,000 came with no dock and difficult lake access.
If having a dock is important, and one has not already been permitted for the property you’re considering, Sauls says it’s important to verify with the Army Corps of Engineers that it is possible to get a permit. Some lots are adjacent to shallow areas of the lake, and the water simply isn’t deep enough for a dock. The lake does have public access boat ramps and local marinas will let you rent a slip space, so a dock may not be necessary to enjoy boating on the lake.
Sauls says the average sales price on home sites now is $278,000 and the average listing is $300,700.
Getting there
Take I-85 south to Exit 18 (Ga. 109, Lafayette Parkway). Turn right and go through LaGrange. Continue on Ga. 109 to central West Point Lake. Just outside LaGrange, U.S. 29 goes to the southern part of the lake. Take Ga. 219 from the middle of LaGrange to the northern part of the lake.
Information
http://westpt.sam.usace.army.mil
http://agents.metrobrokers.com/thomas.sauls
For sale
$143,600: 0 County Road 266, Lot 3, Five Points, Ala. Furnished three-bedroom, two-bath home with storage building and dock.
$275,000: 217 Highland Trail, LaGrange. Recently remodeled four-bedroom, 2 1/2-bath home. No dock built but has dock rights.
Recently sold
$300,111: 207 Thomas Drive, LaGrange. One acre property, three-bedroom, two-bath home with double deck/double slip dock. Sold in August.
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