The Berra's Lake of the Ozarks Real Estate Blog

*Waterfront home sales for April, 2009 hit 62, up from 30 waterfront home closings in April. This is still below the pace of 2008 when there were 74 closed waterfront sales at the lake in the month of May.

*Off-water home sales were off just slightly when comparing the past 2 months. There were 45 closed sales in April and 44 closed in May. May of 2008 had 63 closed sales of off-water homes.

*Condo sales for May of 2009 are up from April of 2009. There were 43 closed condo sales in May compared to 30 closed condo sales in April. May's numbers for 2009 of 43 closings are well below the 64 condos that closed at the Lake in 2008.

Traditionally, the month of May has higher sales numbers than April, due to the more favorable weather and increased traffic. But across the board, the actual number of closed sales is down from 2008. This data is taken from the Bagnell Dam Association of Realtors MLS.

If you have a specific question about the market in your neighborhood or condo complex, give as a call and we can research that for you.

Thanks.

Mike & Susie Berra

Fire at Summer Place Condos:  A lightning strike at Summer Place Condos recently destroyed 8 units in one of the waterfront buildings. No one was injured. There was minor damage to an adjacent building. According to one witness, there were 22 emergency vehicles at the complex at one time. "With the resources they had available, they did an excellent job of containing the fire and preventing it from spreading to the neighboring building".

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New Highway 5 to Open Soon: Motorists eager to travel nearly seven miles of newly constructed Route 5 from south of the Niangua Bridge will be soon getting their wish. Crews are hard at work getting the final grading, pavement striping, guardrails and signs completed. According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, the new portion should be open at the end of the month. There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday June 29 at 10:30 a.m.

Lazy Gators, located at the 7 mile-marker on Horseshoe Bend has caught the attention of the Camden County Planning and Zoning Department. The county has posted a cease and desist ordering the owner, Gary Prewitt, to shut down this entertainment spot. Planning director, Chris Hall, said Prewitt has been operating under catering permits from the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Tobacco to sell drinks. But Hall also says that this property is zoned residential and does not permit this type of venue.

Prewitt, owner of both Shady Gators and Lazy Gators, obviously disagrees. Lazy Gators is not only open for business, but Prewitt is challenging the legality of planning and zoning. He has filed suit against the county and is asking for $2.7 million in damages.

June 12, 2009: Dog Days Canine Cannonball - Dog Days Bar and Grill, Jeffries Road in Osage Beach.

June 13, 2009: Lake of the Ozarks Swing Dance Club - Camden County Museum, Linn Creek, MO

June 14, 2009: CADV Golf Tournament (Citizens Against Domestic Violence) at Old Kinderhook Golf Course and Resort in Camdenton, MO

June 16, 2009: Lake Area Community Orchestra Concert - Eldon Air Park in Eldon, MO

June 19, 2009: Linn Creek/Osage Beach Lions Gun Show - Lions Building, Airport Road in Osage Beach, MO

June 25, 2009: Cherokee Fly-In - Grand Glaize Airport, Osage Beach, MO

June 27, 2009: Emerging Artists Show - Sturdevant Gallery, Osage Beach, MO

Do you know how many holidays you could be celebrating in the month of June?

You probably did not know that June is "National Candy Month", "National Smile Month", "National Soul Food Month", "National Steakhouse Month" and "Potty Training Awareness Month".

You can also celebrate some of the weekly observances that June has to offer.

June 7-13 is "National Headache Awareness Week."  June 6-15 is "International Clothesline Week". June 21-27 is "Carpenter Ant Awareness Week", and June 25-28 is "Watermelon Seed Spitting Week".

Some of the special days this month are June 5, which is "Doughnut Day". June 10 is "Ball Point Pen Day". June 16 is "Fudge Day". June 20 is "World Juggling Day". And June 22 is "Stupid Guy Thing Day". Top off your month on June 30 with "Leap Second Time Adjustment Day".

Wow! What will July and August bring?