No Ifs, Ands or Putts About It!

Photo by Robert Ruggiero on Unsplash

 

You are living out your lakeside dreams here at Richland Chambers aren’t you? The water is fantastic, the fish are biting and your boat has never been happier! So, what’s missing? If you love to hit a few balls now and again, then you might be worried you’ve had to give up your golf in exchange for your new lake life. 

 

While we may not have a golf course here on the lake proper, we have compiled a list of golf courses within an of the lake (more or less depending on what part of the lake you live on.) So, don’t despair! You can pull out your clubs, dust off those golfing shoes and get ready for some un-fore-gettable day golfing trips. And after you’re all tee-d out, you can spend your evenings back here on the lake, looking at your own little slice of heaven! We would love to hear back from you if you've played any of the courses we have have listed. Links are listed down below!

• Corsicana Country Club
• The Oaks Golf Course
• Kings Creek Golf Course
• Indian Oaks Golf Course
• Pinnacle Golf & Boat Club
• Cedar Creek Country Club
• Athens Country Club
• Pine Dunes Golf Course
• Wildcat Golf Course
• The Old Brickyard Golf Club
• Waxahachie Country Club
• Tri-County Golf Club

First time buyer...20% down? Myth or Truth?

Is a 20% Down Payment Really Necessary To Purchase a Home?

There’s a common misconception that, as a homebuyer, you need to come up with 20% of the total sale price for your down payment. In fact, a recent survey by Lending Tree asks what is keeping consumers from purchasing a home. For over half of those surveyed, the ability to afford a down payment is the biggest hurdle.

That may be because those individuals assume a 20% down payment is necessary. While putting more money down if you’re able can benefit buyers, putting 20% down is not mandatory. As Freddie Mac puts it:

“The most damaging down payment myth—since it stops the homebuying process before it can start—is the belief that 20% is necessary.”

If saving that much money sounds overwhelming, you might be ready to give up on the dream of homeownership before you even begin – but you don’t have to. According to the Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the median down payment hasn’t been over 20% since 2005. It may sound surprising, but today’s average down payment is only 12%. That number is even lower for first-time homebuyers, whose average down payment is only 7%.

Based on the Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends Report from NAR, the graph below shows an even closer look at the down payment percentage various age groups pay:As the graph shows, the only groups who put 20% or more down on average are older homebuyers who likely can use the sale of an existing home to fuel a larger down payment on their next home.

What does this mean for you?

If you’re a prospective homebuyer, it’s important to know you don’t have to put the full 20% down. And while saving for any down payment amount may feel like a challenge, keep in mind there are programs for qualified buyers that allow them to purchase a home with a down payment as low as 3.5%. There are also options like VA loans and USDA loans with no down payment requirements for qualified applicants.

To understand your options, you do need to do your homework. If you’re interested in learning more about down payment assistance programs, information is available through sites like downpaymentresource.com. Be sure to also work with a real estate advisor from the start to learn what you may qualify for in the homebuying process.

Bottom Line

Don’t let the myth of the 20% down payment halt your homebuying process before it begins. If you want to purchase a home this year, let’s connect to start the conversation and explore your options.

Sip, Savor, Repeat.

Angelita Vineyard & Winery

Located in the quaint town of Angus, Texas you'll find the only vineyard & winery in Navarro County, Angelita Vineyard & Winery. In just 30 minutes, you can travel from Richland Chambers Lake to this boutique winery & vineyard for a unique experience not found anywhere else around our lake community. With a indoor tasting room and an outdoor patio area, there's plenty of space to enjoy the events that they often host and the live music that is frequently found on site. 

For your sipping pleasure, you'll be able to enjoy a generous selection of award winning red, white, blush and sparkling wines along with a delectable selection of appetizers. They have designed an experience combining fine winemaking with Texas hospitality...the perfecting pairing if you will. 

Great wine always begins with a great story. In 2010 Beverly & Rodney Spahn wanted to find a way to use their land in a unique way and this a vineyard was born. In the spring of that year as the first vines were planted, Rodney's mother Angelita passed away after a battle with illness and the Spahn family named the vineyard in her honor. She is remembered as a hard working woman, overcoming insurmountable obstacles to flourish and become a nourishment to all those around her...much like the vines that bear her name. 

Experience a wine tasting with keepsake glass, book a private wine tasting for you and guests or schedule a wine tasting event for a large group. The winery also can accommodate parties and special celebrations.

If you'd like to take home some of this local flair with you, you can shop in person or online. Curbside delivery is available, as well as home delivery (within certain distances.) You can visit Angelita Vineyard & Winery on social media by clicking these links: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

Make sure to plan a time to go out and visit this local destination. If you ever visited make sure to leave a us comment below and tell us your favorite wine!

 

Marina Life on Richland Chambers

 Photo by: Eric Muhr

Excited to plan a day trip to Richland Chambers Lake to put your boat in the water? We are so excited to have you! Our lake boasts great boating conditions year-round. Nothing beats pulling into one of the four marinas we are proud to host here on our lake for a bite to eat at one of our local restaurants or docking up for a weekend getaway while staying at a cabin lakeside. From sailboats to fishing boats and everything in between, Richland Chambers Lake has a marina to suit every need. Check out these options before you hitch up and head out. 

 

·      Sunset Cove Marina: this marina boasts a store, grill, kayak and paddle boats rentals, boat ramp, pier, wifi, laundry facilities, RV park and pavilion rental. (903)872- 2300 https://sunsetcovecorsicana.com

 

·      Oak Cove Marina: here you’ll find boat ramps, store, restaurant, campground/RV park, motel, pier, boat rentals, gas fill ups, and wifi. (903)872-0888 http://www.oakcovemarina.com

 

·      The Harbor:  at this marina you’ll have access to a restaurant, gas fill ups and boat ramp. (903)874-7000  https://www.facebook.com/theharborcorsicana

 

·      Fisherman’s Point Marina: a stop at this marina will give you a campground/RV park, café, store, boat ramp, kayak and canoe rentals and cabin rentals. (903) 389-5218 https://www.fishermanspoint.com 

 

Still considered a relatively quiet, undiscovered lake near the DFW metroplex, Richland Chambers Lake is perfect for fishing boats and speed boats. We also have what is considered the largest inland sailing basin in the state of Texas due to a large east to west run on the Richland Creek arm of the lake. You can read more on sailing here http://richlandchamberslake.blogspot.com/2013/12/sailing-on-richland-chambers-lake.html at RCL. We have plenty of quiet coves for fishing, as well as quiet waters for kayakers and canoers. We really do have something special for everyone. Come out and see what living the lakeside dreams looks like. We are happy to have you!

Camping on Richland Chambers Lake

 

Photo by Cristofer Maximilian on Unsplash

Camping on Richland Chambers Lake

The great outdoors. Nothing beats getting back to one with nature. Camping allows you to experience the world around you raw and unchanged. You may prefer a sleeping bag in a tent lit with a lantern. Or perhaps your vibe is a cozy RV, with a comfy mattress and some of the luxuries of home. Either way, removing yourself to a place of quietness and reflection amongst the trees or waterside by a lake affords you the opportunity to disconnect from your everyday life and reflect on something other than your normal hustle and bustle. 

 

Here at Richland Chambers Lake, located in Navarro and Freestone County, there are multiple options for camping. If you’re ready to pitch a tent or hook up your trailer then check out the following camping communities. Don’t forget your fishing gear and your boat as Richland Chambers is well known for excellent fishing and boating options!

 

Wooded Acres Campground 903-599-2314

Sunset Cove Marina – Campground & RV Resort 903-874-2300

Fisherman’s Point Marina & Resort 903-389-5218

The Boat House 903-875-1500

Oak Cove Marina & Campground 903-872-0888

Pelican Isle RV Resort 903-396-7777

 

The Richland Chamber Lake community welcomes you to experience all we have to offer, so come on out! Even if you live local, come experience your favorite lake in a new way and live the lakeside dream.

RIchland Chambers Lake Summer Market Makes a Splash!

 Whoa Nelly!!  The best way to describe the last few months for us and this market is Richland Chambers Lake Mania. 

As on August 10, 140 sold lake lot listings. And  53 pending lot listings  in last 60 days.

We have never seen anything like it and I am not sure if we ever will again! 

The amount of inventory built up over the last 10 years, quickly dissipated 

In a flurry of Covid 19 motivated escapes from the City and the perceived dangers there.

The travel challenges imposed on the masses have motivated buyers  to rethink a lake place,

A place away for the city….a place to go where they can work in a peaceful setting with an alternate reality.

Due to inventory shortages, and low mortgage rates, prices are up. Yet sellers are not selling and reluctant.

We are now in the dog days of summer(August) which has traditionally been a slower month to sell.  But not the case now! 

With the number of homes that went into forbearance for the Covid 19 Crises, we will begin to see foreclosures as early as next year.  This is will change our market.  But  for now, and for the lake area, traditionally foreclosures have not been

Part of our market and I hope it remains that way.

What does this mean for us?  Our lake is a changing.  Construction starts are way up!.

Boat traffic is up and we are seeing the changes before our eyes….

Richland Chambers Lake is no longer “The best kept secret in Texas”  

It is the place to go to escape!

If you need to buy or sale during this flurry of activity, there are a couple of things to remember.

If you are a buyer, it is important to research agents and hire someone that has local market knowledge.

There are many pitfalls that can be avoided by shopping with a a lake area expert that is in tune with the 

Ins and outs of all the different areas and subdivisions. 

If you are a seller, NOW  is  the best possible time to put your best foot forward and grab a buyer. 

 

We can help you navigate the process as painless as possible and help you in getting the best return 

For the investment you have made in your lake area property!

Call us if you are just tinkering with the idea, it may just be the time to make the move you have been contemplating!

According to Zillow, we have seen 25% less inventory the summer.  Some are thinking not a good time to sell..?

Julie Teel 8/2020

 

 

Richland Chambers Lake Level Nerd Alert!

If you've been on Richland Chambers very long you've seen  ups and downs, highs and lows and in-betweens.  Some folks came here and built just in time to see 5 tough years. While some have been here only long enough to enjoy very good years. One thing for sure, fluctuation is a part of life on RC Lake. Actually folks on pretty much every Texas lake experience fluctuation. When we have normal rainfall, lake levels are good.  Less rainfall means lower lake levels. It's really pretty simple. The Great State of Texas could not support even close to today's population without man made reservoirs catching the rainfall. The ability to store water in many places in the United States allows large populations to thrive. Our modern standards and lifestyle require vast amounts of the most precious natural resource we have, water.  Richland Chambers lake, like most every man made lake, has had its ups and downs depending on water falling from the sky.

Time on Richland Chambers can be measured by pre-March 11, 2015 and post March 11, 2015.

March 11, 2015 was the day the lake hit 315' and stayed after almost 5 long years of Texas drought. During the period from late 2010 to March of 2015 we experienced 3 of the lowest lake levels in the 30 year history of Richland Chambers. Then a lot of water fell from the sky and regularly continues to do so.
So here comes the nerd part... The average lake level during that time was 309', 6 feet low. Since March 11 2015 the average lake level has been 313', a level we can all appreciate. But,

Half of the time for the last 30 years Richland Chambers Lake has been less than 1 foot below Full Pool

The chart above is made up of 11,003 daily lake levels, dating back to Jan 1st 1990. The average of all of those levels is 313.01'. So can we say these last 4 years or so have been normal?
Since Jan 1st 1990 we have experienced 3274 days above 315' (full pool) and 5526 days above 314'.  
So half of the time for the last 30 years Richland Chambers Lake has been less than 1 foot below full. Think about that! 
313' and above - 6893 days and one more just for fun: 
Less than 3ft down, 8134 days or 74% of the last 30 years. 
So yes there have been and will be ups and downs in the life of the lake but remember, They built the lake here for a reason!

#richlandchambers. #richlandchamberslake  #richlandchamberslakelevel