On Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:19:06 -0400, "jamesgangnc" wrote:

I'm not particularly familiar with the wake forest area so I can't make any
specific recomendations. I do know that around here a lot of neighborhoods
have various restrictions on boats and rvs outside. My boat lives in the
garage so that hasn't been an issue for me. (Actually ours does allow it
but only if the boat or rv is not visible from the street OR any of the
neighboring lots but since these are 1/3 acre lots that's impossible to
meet.) A number of other ones near me allow it only if the boat or rv is
behind the front line of the house. That usually means extending the
driveway down the garage side. The older ones tend to have less. It's
about impossible to make a lot of changes to the convenants once a they are
in place. But you know what to watch for. There has been a lot of newer
development in north wake county and wake forest. One of the developers
tried to get permission to build a marina on that end of the lake and was
shot down resoundly. There is a lot of concern now about the recreational
load in the lake because it is also a water supply. Lake access is poor
close to the dam. The marina is on the durham end and the biggest ramps are
at rt 50. There is a couple more ramps about half way to the dam but they
are smaller. So if wake forest appeals be prepared to drive a bit further
to get to a ramp on falls.

Falls has been low before. We have droughts once or twice every 10 years or
so. I still used the lake but kept down towards the dam end. Jordam was
only down a few feet so if you are worried you might look over in chatam
county. Jordan is also a lot bigger than falls. Gaston is controlled and
never goes down but it is a bit over developed. Kerr fluctuates wildly
sometimes but it is only lightly developed. Everything near them is rural
or small town. Property on those lakes has seen a rapid rise in cost lately
even though the national market is soft. It started over in Charlotte 10
years ago or so on their big lake but seems to be starting here as well. I
have a small house on kerr and it has gone up almost 50% in 7 years. And
that is based on actual recent sales nearby. I was surprised because I
expecting nothing on the lake to sell for a while given the way the rest of
the market is acting. In the past vacation property was one of the first
things hit when the general real estate market had a downturn. Mayeb it's
different this time because the problems are mainly with marginal loans and
that's more in the starter home arena.

Thanks for all the info.

I'm wanting to stay to the northeast of Raleigh, just 'cause I've got
family in Richmond. I'm thinking of the Purnell area by Wake Forest, but
I've not been down to look at houses yet.

I'll probably have to find a place without all the covenants, etc. I
wouldn't mind pouring a pad next to a garage though.

I really appreciate your response. Thanks.

--
John *H*
(Not the other one!)