lake wylie

Upcoming Boat Parade on Lake Wylie

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One of the highlights of the Christmas season in Lake Wylie is the annual “Lights on the Lake” boat parade.  Launched from T-Bones on the Lake, the brightly lit boats sail towards the Buster Boyd Bridge, circle around in front of Riverpointe, and pass by the Lake Wylie boat landing.  Most of the crowds gather along the shorelines of Lake Wylie near the boat landing, and cheer favorites as they sail by.

In the past couple of years, the event has grown, with “Christmas by the Lake” set up waterfront at the boat landing.  Various businesses and churches offer free hot chocolate, campfires for roasting marshmallows, a live nativity scene, and live music.

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Boat entries are judged based on creativity, theme, and showmanship.  New participants are encouraged! Just sign up with the Lake Wylie Chamber to register your entry.

Tips for photographing the parade along the waterfront:  use a tripod if possible.  You’ll want to shoot with a high ISO, because you’ll need to shoot with a speed at least 1/125 of a second, as the boats are moving.  Shoot without a flash.

Hope to see you at the parade!  For more Lake Wylie holiday events and the best Lake Wylie real estate information, visit TheLakeWylieMan.com.

 

Should I give my home listing a rest over the holidays?

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Thanksgiving, holiday parties, Christmas, company, New Year’s festivities, snow . . . all can make showing your home a bit tricky during the winter months.  I am often asked by Lake Wylie homeowners whether or not to keep listing their home over the holidays.  Some sellers choose to take their homes OFF the market during this season.  In fact, home-for-sale inventory on the MLS always drops during the months of November – January.

However, buyers ARE still active during these months.  Some take advantage of school and holiday vacations to visit and search for homes, preparing for a relocation after the first of the year.  For other buyers, the winter time search fits in with their life change needs.  For local waterfront buyers, a winter time purchase means that they’ll have their new lake home to enjoy during the whole spring and summer season!

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Homes dressed up for the holidays can be warm and inviting, and the buyers enjoy seeing homes with festive decor.  With shorter daylight hours, however, agents need to be aware of when a home will show at its best.  For instance, if the home is waterfront on Lake Wylie and has a beautiful lake view, the agent will want to make sure to show it in daylight hours, particularly if they want to walk to the dock and show the outside features of the property.

What to do when company is in town?  With our Charlotte MLS, showing restrictions are not a problem to set up.  Let your listing agent know which days or times are inconvenient for showings.  Agents and buyers understand that there will be more restrictions than usual during the holiday season, and can often accommodate alternative times in the showing schedule.  Communication is the key!

Thanks for reading, and visit my Seller Resources page for more advice on selling your home and other Lake Wylie real estate topics!