Lake Home Builders and Realtors
by Linda Salisbury
Lake Anna at dawn at Sycamore Shoals (photo by James Salisbury).
Alluring Lake Anna in Central Virginia has attracted visitors, campers, fishermen, and those involved in many water sports since Virginia Electric Power Company – now Dominion Power Company – activated its first two power plants 53 years ago. The water from the lake was channeled into large tunnels and is still used for cooling the reactors. Heated water is then released into a separate part of the lake to cool as it moves downstream and is eventually diverted into the main lake. Thus, the private, warm side of the lake was created where no commercial developments (such as stores) could be built. Housing and personal docks are fine, however.
Building homes on either side of Lake Anna quickly grew.
Development of the lake cleared 1,300 acres of farms, roads, buildings, and timber to build a large dam to create the lake. Land on either side of the lake suddenly became valuable. With the demolition of former roads that had connected Spotsylvania and Louisa counties, New Bridge Road (Route 208) was built to connect the two areas.
Real estate agents saw opportunities to help newcomers find places to build or rent.
Many current builders and realtors know the area well and have enjoyed the lake themselves, often for decades. Eric Henry – president and owner of Spartan Homes – and his daughter Krista Layman – now office manager – said that the lake area was quieter and more rural when they arrived in 2004. Henry is a Master Builder and a National Green Building Standard Green Certified Professional, setting a high standard for quality construction.
“More and more families are looking for an energy-efficient, eco-conscious home,” Layman explained. She said that the business “also includes her brother Matthew Henry, who is the superintendent, and two field guys,” and added, “over the years, we’ve built not just homes, but a life here – raising our family, growing our business, and becoming part of the community.”
“Spartan Homes builds custom homes and specializes in remodeling and renovating existing places, such as expanding a lake cottage for a growing family or transforming a weekend retreat into a full-time residence,” Layman explained.
The demand for Spartan’s services and for other builders as well has been strong. “This year’s market is incredibly active, with more families than ever choosing to build or invest at Lake Anna,” Layman said. “We’re seeing strong demand for outdoor living like covered porches, lakeside decks, and outdoor kitchens.”
Krista Layman and her father, Eric Henry, showcase Spartan Homes at a realtor event. Henry is the president and owner of the company, and Layman is the office manager (submitted photo).
Spartan Homes recently finished this house in the Waters subdivision on the warm side of the lake (submitted photo by HD BROS for Spartan Homes).
Realtor Libby Sandridge agrees with Spartan Homes’ positive view of the housing market in both building and home sales at the lake. She has lived and worked selling properties in the three counties surrounding the lake for two decades. Currently, Sandridge is working at one of the Berkshire Hathaway Home Service offices. She is also very active in community events, is a current member and past board member of the Lake Anna Business Partnership, and is currently serving on the board of the Foundation for Lake Anna Emergencies Services.
As of July, Sandridge had a good feel for how the year had been so far in real estate. “New homes are selling and builders are still building spec homes, but I am seeing that starting to slow down a bit,” she said. “STR (short term rentals) investors are buying up the large waterfront homes, so that is one of the big trends since the pandemic.”
Regarding the market, Sandridge noted that in August, “We are actually in a strange market; not totally a sellers or buyers market due to interests rates and higher inventory (has more than doubled since last year), making it tougher for sellers due to more competition and homes sitting on the market longer. I am also seeing list prices dropping, mostly due to sellers listing too high, like in 2022.”
As for sales and prices, Sandridge had additional thoughts about this past summer. “Home prices have reached some of the highest levels ever at the lake,” she said. “Currently at the lake [this past summer], we have 127 homes available. Sixty-one are waterfront and 66 are lake-access. The waterfront homes range from $399,000 [plus].”
Krista Layman’s brother Mathew Henry is pictured with trainees for Spotsylvania Fire Stations 1 and 5. The trainees used one of Spartan’s recent constructions for training to see behind the drywall (submitted photo).
Other Lake Anna realtors have also had a longtime love of living and working at Lake Anna. Realtors Jamie Brown and Kelly Bladen, team members, work out of a different Berkshire Hathaway Home Services office than Sandridge. They are also long-time residents of the lake area. Brown moved to the lake in 1989 and Bladen in 1999.
“I have been a part timer since the 80s and more regularly since 1999 when I met my husband,” Bladen recalled. “We have been full timers since 2014 when he retired from the federal government and I began telecommuting. I did all types of computer and end user support… This is a good second career for me. I like putting the pieces of the puzzle together.”
Brown sees Lake Anna as a unique region for real estate. “I see we are more in a buyers’ market, with a lot more inventory on Lake Anna than last year,” she explained. “I believe prices may have come down slightly because it seems to be a buyers’ market; however, we differ from a lot of areas, because I truly believe Lake Anna still remains a secondary-home market and still very desirable for second homes and investors.”
“There are roughly 70 active and pending listings on the waterfront of Lake Anna [during this past summer],” she added. “Days on the market average 23-27, with prices still above the million dollar range. My best guess is we are down by about 11 percent from median price this year than we were last year.” She sees the average sale price around $650,000.
Also, Brown explained that she has been “seeing some new faces around the lake, especially golfers that are testing out the course at Cutalong.”
The Cutalong development is a professional 18-hole golf course and marina on the Mineral side of the lake. As it is built out, it will also include a large housing community and other amenities. Other attractions at the lake include Lake Anna State Park with is camping areas, ten miles of frontage on the lake, a beach, hiking trails, and accommodations for people with various disabilities. It also offers nature programs and information on the gold-mining history of the area.
Bladen agreed that Cutalong is an exciting development for the area. “Cutalong has certainly been a boost for the local economy,” she said. “Cutalong is just starting to open up building lots at the golf course. There is one model home there that is being used as an office, I believe. The developers and builders have taken over the original construction trailers, and they are operating from there.”
Waterfront restaurants are enjoyed by boaters and those arriving by vehicles. In the nearby town of Louisa, residents and visitors can enjoy the popular arts center and historic museum. The Lake Anna Winery, Coyote Hole Cidery, and several breweries are all places to visit.
Although most of the area’s activity is during the warm summer months, winters provide some ice on the lake, and boaters enjoy rafting with friends and celebrating the rich colors of fall. Spring brings vibrant new growth and colorful flowers from fruit trees and redbuds.
New attractions at the lake include recently-opened restaurants plus long-needed high-speed internet services available in more areas around the lake and county. This makes the region more attractive for people working from home to stay connected with their offices.
Brown said that the appeal of the lake is personal. “Back in the ’80s, my children were little and wanted to camp,” she recalled. “We went and pitched a tent on Lake Anna, and that was the end of it. We were hooked. They learned to ski, knee board, jet ski, etc. We met so many people that share the same passion and beauty of Lake Anna.
“To this very day, we have decades of great relationships and friendships,” Brown continued. “Lake Anna has this huge energy and feeling of home. It has grown since the ’80s but still has the country vibe, clean air, and the feeling of home. What always amazed me is it’s only 80 miles from our nation’s capital. You could still work up north or down towards Richmond and be home every day.”
Layman summed up the general sentiment shared by both area builders and realtors. “Even with all that growth, the heart of Lake Anna remains the same,” she said. “It’s still a place where families unplug, unwind, and reconnect. We’ve made so many memories here – teaching our kids to swim off the dock, hosting family cookouts, late-night bonfires – and we love helping others create that same kind of lake life.”
“Spartan Homes may be a small operation, but we take pride in every detail,” Layman continued. “We’re honored to be part of the Lake Anna story, one home at a time.”
Fifty-five decades after the lake officially opened, it continues to grow in popularity and new amenities. Lake Anna has not lost its allure.
In addition to the builders and realtors interviewed for this article, numerous hard-working individuals around the lake help residents find or modify the homes of their dreams everyday. For a complete list, turn to the directory in the back of this edition and check out the sections entitled “Builders/Contractors/Handyman Services/Custom Builders” and “Real Estate Agents/Real Estate Brokerages/Development Companies.”
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