John Coley's (lakemartinvoice) Blog

Lake Martin and Alabama have won a victory in the long running "water war" with Georgia and Florida.In this press release, Governor Bob Riley calls it "the most consequential legal ruling in the 18 year history of the water war."What happened?CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT

Alabama Governor Bob Riley has recently played a huge role in lobbying FERC on behalf of Lake Martin's water level.  He is also Alabama's most visible representative in the ongoing "Water Wars" - the struggle of Georgia, Florida, and Alabama to determine the future water usage of each state, and ...

The Lake Martin real estate market suffered a major slowdown in 2007 for a variety of reasons.  I dug through the sales results in the Lake Martin MLS to attempt to cut through the gossip and analyze the numbers.In 2007, the number of Lake Martin waterfront homes sold was about 35% less than in 2...

 Trillium, one of Russell Lands' more mature Lake Martin developments, is located just west of Kowaliga Marina.  Along with Willow Point and The Ridge, Trillium has some of the more high end homes on Lake Martin.Trillium was one of Russell Lands' first neighborhoods that were completed in differe...

The Lake Martin real estate market has not really felt a direct effect of the mortgage meltdown yet.  Sure, the subprime fiasco has caused conventional and jumbo rates to rise, but I consider that indirect.  By direct effect I mean huge waves of foreclosures from high risk loans, and we haven't r...

Lake Martin's drought of 2007 created some low water levels and has exposed many spots that are shallow water hazards.  As of this writing, the Lake Martin water level is at 474.7 feet - about 5 feet below the normal winter water level, and 15 feet below normal summer level.  If you have been aro...

Lake Martin's Sand Island has been battered by erosion and losing real estate for many years. Alabama's 80 year record drought exposed a land bridge and afforded area developer Russell Lands an opportunity to drive to it and make repairs.I rode out there on Friday, December 14, 2007.  It was pret...

Life as a Lake Martin area realtor means I hear (and try to answer) lots of questions.  One I get regularly is:"I saw on CNN where home prices in (fill in here with name of huge city 3,000 miles away) are down 75%.  All the sellers are being foreclosed on their sub prime mortgages.  It's spreadin...

Ever been lost around Lake Martin?  Has anyone given you bad directions to their cabin and frustrated you by relying on the term "can't miss it?"  If you were looking for 1135 Lakeview Drive, Dadeville, how would you like to be able to see this map on your cell phone:  Download Google's Maps for ...

One of Lake Martin's newest developments - Eagle's Point - has a model home that is ready to see plus several other spaces for lots.Located at the easternmost end of Coosa County Road 20, Eagle's Point has big water views looking southeast at the junction of Parker Creek and Kowaliga towards Will...