Peggy's Ponderings at the lake

Grand Lake Homes You Can Buy Today! Grand Lake, the largest lake real estate market in Oklahoma, is home to more than 34% of all residential lake real estate listings in the state, according to LakeHomes.com’s 2019 Summer Lake Real Estate Market Report . The lake’s approximate 440 homes for sale total nearly $235 million in combined listing value, representing 47% of Oklahoma’s overall $426 million lake home market value.   Homes in the Grand Lake market have an average list price of roughly $478,000 this summer. However, current property listings range from $38,000 to $3.9 million in price, offering potential Grand Lake homebuyers a wide variety of properties to shop. Inventory price distribution data provided by LakeHomes.com reports 71% of all lake homes for sale on Grand Lake this summer are listed for below $500,000. Homes listed for between $500,000 and $750,000 represent 17% of current Grand Lake residential inventory. The remaining 12% of properties are ...

High water at Grand Lake reach the steps to this deck in Grove earlier this month. Fighting the Flood Flood-Friendly Improvements and Repairs for Your Grand Lake Home By Peggy Kiefer-Steed & Dezirea Burnett Water levels on Grand Lake have continued to go down in recent days, and finally past the 750 ft. mark. As of 10 am Friday morning, the lake level was 748.49, still 9.49 feet above full pool of 739. So far, the flooding has claimed dozens of properties, rendering some uninhabitable while others remain simply marred by debris. According to Markwayne Mullin’s website, 27 counties in Oklahoma have been designated for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Individual Assistance: Alfalfa, Canadian, Craig, Creek, Delaware, Garfield, Kay, Kingfisher, Logan, Mayes, Muskogee, Okmulgee, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Payne, Pottawatomie, Rogers, Sequoyah, Tulsa, Wagoner, Washington, and Woods.              ...

Beauty through a photographer's eyes Peggy Kiefer-Steed We certainly do not lack beauty here in the foothills of the Ozarks. The lake provides colors and reflections. Like a mirror, the water captures the amazing colors of the sunsets and storms. Wildlife is so abundant that seldom a day goes by without seeing a turtle or a fox. Cows and horses of course, and birds with such vibrant reds and blues. For someone that grew up in the city, I can’t help but be in awe of it all. And fortunately, there are many professional and amateur photographers at Grand Lake willing and techno-savvy enough to share their photos on Facebook and Instagram. With their permission, I am sharing some of these stories with you. Photo thanks to RC Livesay RC Livesay has been giving us updates on an eaglet. Recently he tells the story of the now teenage bird and his encounters with her. Thanks to his patience and diligence, he was able to capture her. I love this story and I believe that t...

A thought about lake hospitality   These Pelicans were sitting on a log at 250 Rd in Hickory Grove. Watching nature? Fishing? The past couple weeks I’ve seen many somewhat nasty posts on Facebook and I’ve heard people here at the lake complaining about the boats on the water even though it might not be safe due to the recent storms and flooding. This has me worried about our hospitality skills. Personally, I don’t think we need to be so judgmental towards our visitors. I remember what it’s like and having traditional get-togethers on Memorial Day and Labor Day. And going away for two weeks because that was all the vacation time we had. I know some people aren’t going to be happy with me but, full-timers, please be more understanding! You get to go on the water anytime you want. A lot of the boaters on the lake are weekenders or just here for a once a year get-together.   Of course, they are going to try to get on the water! You bet they are going to wa...

For some people luxury means LUXURY! They may have a big beautiful home, with top of the line appliances, designer interiors, and manicured landscaping. Their home was built, designed and created by high-end designers, engineers, and architects. On the lake, luxury might mean a massive covered dock with a beautiful boat (probably a yacht) and several pwc’s all new and shiny. This place of luxury is probably on Duck Creek, just because that’s where homes like this are supposed to be. My friend's infinity pool looking over Duck Creek. This luxury is for sale. Or it could be a huge home in Governor's Retreat where you live and all of your friends and family come to stay. You like to DIY so this house has your thumbprints on it everywhere. Nothing designer, just comfortable. It’s clean when the grandkids aren’t there (except my office, of course, oh wait it’s my dream, not my house…yet). Refrigerators are full of beer, soda, and water. And yes refrigerators plural bec...

My age is starting to hit me and not necessarily in a bad way. I’m 56. It sent shivers up my spine when I wrote that just now. Not in an “oh God I’m old” way, but in a “wow, I can’t believe it” way. My future hair In the last 6 months, I started having panic attacks, bought a pair of bifocal glasses, and started planning my retirement. I also decided to give up the bi-weekly hair appointments to cover the gray and just embrace it. We’ll see how long that lasts, but for now, white, platinum hair is in! I’m not talking about retirement savings. I’m talking about mental retirement. Relaxing. Actually relaxing and being happy. I recently read an article in AARP, yes that over 50 magazine, that showed me that Roman and I are going to be ok in retirement. I’m ready for the next chapter. Here’s my plan. I can work until I die as a Realtor and I probably will. I get so much pleasure from helping clients buy a dream home. That can be selling a home that’s too big and never used an...

ADIOS BUGS, HELLO FALL! I believe I can see the colors changing on the redbud tree as I stare out the front window in my office/dining room/ library/study & multipurpose room. The place where I do most of my work. I know in the Spring you can look out the window here and watch the grass get greener and greener as it rains. Today, the day before Autumn I can see the leaves on the tree turning yellow. Many days this summer when I was hot and bug-eaten from showing houses or working in the yard, I would decide I was done with this place! Done! I thought it was time to pack up and move back to the coast where the weather is always perfect and bugs hardly exist. Even getting off the boat I was slapping mosquitos off! Seriously, why does a seed tick even exist? Or any tick for that matter? And mosquitos? How do they contribute to the world? Well adios, bugs and hello Fall!  As far as real estate goes, this was a busy year for me, though quite different from last year (my best ye...