Charlottesville, Virginia is best known for its dynamic setting at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. People are drawn to the dramatic vistas, the rich, gently rolling pastures and great hardwood forests. This well watered countryside also offers the opportunity for waterfront living in several different modes. Virginia Beach is about two hours away making it an easy day trip from Charlottesville but not a commutable distance by most standards. Waterfront living around Charlottesville is typically around one of our reservoirs or one of the many private lakes in the area. Lake Monticello and Lake Anna are both large man-made lakes with waterfront homes and lots for sale.
Lake Monticello is a large private lake in Fluvanna County and is well developed with lake- front and interior lots. It also has a private, gated community with an 18 hole golf course and swim and tennis facilities. In addition, it has a good marina and is the closest lake to Charlottesville that is large enough for power boats and water skiing. Lake Monticello is quite affordable considering all its amenities with single family homes beginning in the mid 100’s and lake- front homes from around $400,000. Lake Monticello is only thirty minutes from Charlottesville and is a popular location for retirees and families working in Charlottesville.
Lake Anna is the second largest lake in Virginia with over two hundred miles of shoreline. It is in Louisa and Spotsylvania County and is one of the most popular recreational lakes in the mid Atlantic known for exceptional boating and fishing. Much of the lakefront is private with some truly spectacular homes which usually include boat houses and docks. There is also public access at several marinas, and a very nice state park with camping and boat launching.
Larger properties, land, farms and estates often have water features including farm ponds or lakes or frontage on one of the many rivers that flow through the Piedmont on their way to the Chesapeake Bay. Rivers and streams with their moving water add an interesting dynamic to a property with their ever-changing moods and act as a magnet to wildlife in the area.
With the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic ocean just two hours away, our abundant lakes, reservoirs rivers and streams, Virginia offers endless opportunities for waterfront living and recreation. Take a look at our search results below to see all the waterfront opportunities that await you in the Charlottesville area.
About the Author: John Ince has been specializing in Charlottesville Real Estate brokerage for nearly 30 years. Following a ten year career training, breeding and showing Arabian horses, he joined Charlottesville’s leading farm and estate firm in 1983 and developed his niche around Charlottesville horse farms and the beautiful farms and estates in the seven counties surrounding Charlottesville. John founded Charlottesville Country Properties Ltd. in 1998 and joined the team at Nest Realty as a country property expert in 2012.