Close to Camdenton, Missouri and far beneath the ground lies the most beautiful, natural wonderland that any could imagine.  Bridal Cave, located in the heart of Lake of the Ozarks has been rated one of the most scenic caves in America.   Bridal Cave boasts more onyx formations than any other cave or cavern.  Each day visitors are able to tour the pristine beauty of stalactites and stalagmites that are thousands of years old.  The recently discovered underground waters of the crystal clear Mystery Lake is one of the highlights of the tour.  One of the most interesting things about this underground treasure is how the cave got its name. The Osage Nation, a tribe of Native Americans moved into the area that is now Lake of the Ozarks in the early 1600's.  French explorers, Jacques Marquet... 03/07/2010

Staying Abreast of New Online Technologies to Help Clients Buy and Sell Homes at the Lake of the Ozarks.  Now more than ever before, an agent needs to know how to use online technology to best represent the interests of her clients.   Online marketing, professional networking and other real estate trends change and adapt consistently -  and so does Melody! (This post originally appeared at www.PostcardsFromTheLake.com) 01/14/2010

Sales of Single Family Residences Rise For 2nd Straight Month Sales of Single Family Residences Rise For 2nd Straight Month A snapshot taken of the market activity for Camdenton home sales in recent months gives rise to optimism. The number of home sales in Sept and Oct show improvement over the extemely disappointing summer sales season. Many first-time homebuyers hoping to take advantage of the $8000 tax credit currently scheduled to expire in November likely account for much of the increase. We will all, no doubt, be watching closely to see where the real estate market goes from here as we enter what is traditionally the slowest home-buying season in Camdenton.   (This post originally appeared on Melody's blog "www.PostcardsFromTheLake.com) 11/01/2009

Camdenton Real Estate Office Shows Big Promise   Big changes don't come easily to me, and the decision to leave real estate giant RE/MAX for a small, privately-owned real estate office was no exception.   (That big RE/MAX balloon had become quite the security blanket for me these past years!)   Then one day in a middle of a meeting it struck me that fear and doubt were keeping me from making the change I really felt compelled to make.   With that realization the decision to make the change immediately followed.   And my enthusiasm has grown every day since. Thanks to the internet and computer technologies, the selling of real estate has changed dramaticly these past 5 years.  Expensive brick and mortar, franchised real estate offices are likely to be replaced with innovative, creative a... 11/01/2009

Some of The Nicest Servers in Town! Camdenton's China Town Restaurant Located on Hwy 54, west of the square, China Town restaurant is the place to go for great service at lunch time.   I often eat there weekly, and never have I had poor service or delay. Ordering from the lunch menu is not only quick, but inexpensive!  For less than $5, I can order an entree that is not only tasty and satisfying, but requires a doggy bag. If you're looking for something quick, tasty, and served with a smile, you'll like this place.   See more of my restaurant reviews at  "Lake Area Restaurants" .  It's a new and developing category at www.PostcardsFromTheLake.com, so recommendations or review requests are appreciated. (This post originally appeared on www.PostCardsFromTheLake.com ) ShareThis 08/08/2009

 El Caporal offers authentic Mexican fare  Camdenton has voted YES for this new restaurant, and I vote YES for their burritos.   This place is definitely here to stay.  Open for lunch and dinner, it's located E. of the square on Hwy 54 in Camdenton.  It's close to my office, so call me and I'll meet you for lunch! Sent from my iPhone 07/16/2009

  Locals and tourists at Lake of the Ozarks enjoy park.   Located north of the square in Camdenton, the city park offers 120 acres of fun and relaxation for people of all ages. This brief video tour of the park offers a taste of what you’ll find there. If you enjoyed this post and would like to see more as they are posted, subscribe here to be notified of new ones by email. As always, your comments are welcomed. (This post originially appeared at:  www.PostcardsFromTheLake.com) 06/12/2009

Dogwood Parade in Camdenton is a favorite of locals and visitors Area residents always look forward to signs of spring each year, evidenced most noticably by the early redbud blossoms, and followed shortly thereafter by the dogwoods.   Most years the dogwood blossoms coincide with the Dogwood Festival (April 16-19) which is a favorite local draw for residents as well as tourists.   It always has been a favorite of mine. There's nothing like a small town parade - with the marching bands,  the floats, and of course, the Shriners!    As always, there's the annual craft fair, the carnival, art show, 5k run, the annual Band Boosters silent auction and golf classic, music, and more - a little something for everyone.  It's a weekend I enjoy every spring as it reminds me of earlier and simpler ... 04/04/2009

  New Conventional Mortgage rates for Residential Real Estate    March 19, 2009   SERVICE RETAINED LOANS   30 YEAR RATE       4.625%                   APR 4.691% 20 YEAR RATE       4.625%                   APR 4.716% 15 YEAR RATE       4.375%                   APR 4.489%    RURAL DEVELOPMENT                 4.750%                APR 4.817% 100% LOAN - 30 YR. FIXED SELLER CAN PAY ALL OF BUYERS CLOSING COSTS INCOME GUIDELINES AND 2.00% USDA GUARANTEE FEE APPLY    **NOW ACCEPTING MORTGAGE PRE-APPLICATIONS ONLY @ www.fnb-lakeozarks.com** **Quoted rates are subject to change without notice** **Document origination fee of $250.00 on all loans unless otherwise stated** **Loans in excess of 80% loan value require private mortgage insurance, which will increase the Annual Percentage Rate over th... 03/19/2009

Winter weather stalls real estate showings for a few days.   Aside from a few cold days here and there, the Lake of the Ozarks area has had a fairly mild winter this year. But this week we finally got to experience some of the delightful aspects of winter with our first snowfall of any significance.   Today by noon all my neighbors and myself had shoveled our drives, cleaned off our cars, and taken a few minutes to talk about the weather - wondering how many more days until Spring. But I, for one, am really appreciating a quiet day at home catching up on so many of the chores that are left for these types of quiet days. Before this weather pattern moved in, I had been as busy these past few weeks as I generally am during the summer months with new listings and working with motivated buy... 01/28/2009

Many religions offer ceremonies for spiritually clearing homes.   Having lived in New Mexico for many years, with its convergence of so many rich cultures and traditions,  I have attended a number of house-warming ceremonies in which homes were blessed and cleared of any possible negative energies. I recalled some of those practices today in conversation with a couple who were interested in a home for sale, but who didn’t like the idea of buying a home in which the former owner had passed.  They hadn’t heard of house blessings before  and so I offered to research some of the customs I have witnessed, and write about them. From what I have experienced personally, whether the ritual is conducted by a Catholic priest, some Buddhist monks, a Shaman, or the homeowners themselves (as may be e... 01/17/2009

First National Bank in Camdenton posts lowest rates in 37 years!   Every cloud has a silver lining, and here is the upside to our down market: First National Bank in Camdenton has posted interest rates below 5% for fixed rate loans including USDA first-time home buyer loans.    These rates are the lowest recorded since Fannie Mae began its weekly survey 37 years ago.    This means that it’s a great time to consider refinancing (In addition to interest rates, it’s important also to weigh the refinancing costs and the tax impact from reducing your mortgage interest deduction.) It also means it’s a great time to buy.  Local lenders are lending even after many of the nationwide lenders have said “no”.  Plus housing prices are roughly 10% less than this time 18 months ago. Will prices and ra... 12/19/2008

Short term real estate forecast for the Lake of the Ozarks is anyone's guess.  In a typical market, it's always easy to predict home-buying patterns in and around the Lake of the Ozarks and to advise homeowners accordingly. Typically, at the first sign of spring, inventories will begin to swell in anticipation of the busiest season.  By mid-summer, even though inventories are lower,  homeowners and agents will begin to consider price reductions, as they ready their properties for the savvy end-of-season bargain hunters. From Mid-November thru February agents would be spending more weekends at home finishing long-neglected projects, getting their records ready for tax season,  and flying south to enjoy a couple weeks at their favorite beachfront resort. That's the way it tends to go in a... 12/15/2008

Simply rearranging furniture can have great effect!   Ten years ago I assumed that having a beautifully decorated or staged home required the assistance of a professional decorator or, at the very least,  making a trip to a furniture store and purchasing the nicest pieces my budget would allow.   Not so any more. Thanks to HGTV and Cable TV, anyone with a paint brush and an imagination can turn a ‘blahh' room into an "ahhh" room.   Oh, sure, it's still fun to buy exotic or expensive furniture.  But nowadays we realize that it's not necessary to spend a lot of money to have a beautiful and comfortable room. I have very little time these days to watch HGTV but there's one show I always TIVO: "Decorating Cents" with Joan Steffend.   The last half of each episode has a segment in which home... 12/10/2008

A drive down a lake road in Camdenton, Missouri  Fall is a favorite season of mine, and drives down quiet lake roads like this one easily show one of the reasons why.  Although the colors this fall weren't as particularly vibrant as usual, there's still such a a beauty to them - particularly in the light of an afternoon sun. But the beauty of Fall isn't all about the colors.  There's also a kind of quietness that comes along with the season that is so welcomed by me - particularly on the heels of a very active and busy summer.  And as much as I love the summer green, I love looking at the night-time sky through the bare limbs of the trees. Fortunately for me, my clients were as taken by the beauty of this sight as I was, and we all took a moment out of the car to appreciate it a bit. (t... 11/20/2008

District enrollment of k-12 students continues to increase.     4,335 were enrolled in the Camdenton Public Schools at the beginnning of the fall term this year, and breaks down by building as follows: - Camdenton High School  (grades 9-12)  1274 - Horizons (Alternative School)  (grades 10-12)  115 - Camdenton Middle School (grades 7-8)  685  - Oak Ridge Intermediate  (grades 5-6)  602 - Hawthorn Elementary  (grades 3-4)  505 - Dogwood Elementary  ( Pre-K-2 ) 812 - Hurricane Deck Elementary  ( Pre-K-4 ) 149 - Osage Beach Elementary  ( Pre-K-4 )186 - Juvenile Justice Center   (grades  6-11)  7  This year the District has expanded preschool services (3-4 year olds) to provide access to children with identified disabilities as well as those with minor developmental delays.  Total district ... 11/20/2008

Saturday morning fixture at Camdenton Square in Central Missouri closes for the season. Part of a favorite Saturday morning ritual of mine (from April - October) is to stop by the Farmer's Market at the Square in Camdenton to look for in-season fruits, vegetables, herbs and plants.   And even though we do have other good options at the Lake of the Ozarks, nothing in the area can compare to the quality of fruits and vegetables I find there.   Oh, sure. There's more to be found there other than food and plants: craftsmen bring chairs and other wood crafts, and there's lots of Ozark-inspired art and crafts and linens. But you know, it's more than just a place to buy stuff.   It's a gathering type of place where each week I'm sure to see someone I know who I  hadn't seen in months.   I gues... 11/05/2008

European-style castle ruins resting upon the highest bluff in the Lake area is the focal point of one of Missouri's most fascinating state parks.   Built originally by a Kansas City businessman the castle was first utilized as a mansion retreat, and later as a hotel. Gutted by fire in the 1940's, and purchased by the State of Missouri in the 1970's, the castle ruins inspire awe when viewed by land or water or sky. Located just 5 miles from Camdenton's Town Square, Ha Ha Tonka state park is a geographical wonderland of rock formations, bluffs, caves, sinkholes, hiking trails, springs and lush vegetation that has become a popular attraction for locals and tourists alike.   This park is a favorite place for me to steal away an hour or two in the afternoon when I'm in need of a bit of a re... 10/31/2008