The Definitive Guide · Fourth Edition

Don't buy at Smith Mountain Lake… until you read this book

Waterfront property carries nuances that can cost you dearly. Before you buy at the lake, read the book Smith Mountain Lake buyers trust first.

  • Avoid the mistakes that haunt unprepared buyers
  • Understand docks, water depth & true property value
  • Learn the lake before you love the listing
Prefer the paperback? Order it here →
20+ yrs
On the Lake
207 pages
The Definitive Guide — 4th Ed.
HGTV
House Hunters — Featured
Paul Moore, author and Associate Broker, Smith Mountain Lake Paul Moore
Meet the Author

The man who wrote the book on Smith Mountain Lake

For more than two decades I've helped people buy and sell on this lake — long enough to watch good, careful buyers make expensive mistakes that a single honest conversation could have prevented. So I wrote it all down.

The Definitive Guide is everything I'd tell my own family before they bought here. Read it first. Then, if you'd like a hand from someone who actually lives and works here, my team and I are available.

20+ Years on the Lake Associate Broker, Wainwright & Co. Realtors Only lake Realtor on HGTV's House Hunters Author, The Definitive Guide (4th Ed.)
— Paul Moore
▶ Watch Paul's HGTV House Hunters episode →
Live From the MLS

Featured Homes & Lots for Sale

Hand-picked Smith Mountain Lake properties, updated as the market moves.

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Every way to own the lake

Why the book exists

Buying waterfront blind is expensive

Two similar-looking homes on the same cove can differ by hundreds of thousands of dollars — for reasons you can't see in listing photos: dock rights, water depth, slope, shoreline length. Paul has watched well-meaning buyers make costly mistakes here for 20+ years. That's why he wrote it all down.

"A lot of well-meaning buyers have made mistakes buying at Smith Mountain Lake. Don't let that be you."— Paul Moore, Author
See what the book covers →
The Definitive Guide to Smith Mountain Lake Real Estate
Inside the Guide

Everything you wish you'd known before buying on the lake

Smith Mountain Lake has quietly become one of the East's most sought-after destinations — but waterfront property carries nuances that can seriously affect value and quality of life.

"A lot of well-meaning buyers have made mistakes buying at Smith Mountain Lake. Don't let that be you."— Paul Moore, Author

Written by Paul Moore, this 207-page book distills 20+ years of lakefront expertise into a clear, practical resource — yours free as a PDF — with an audiobook edition available.

Life on the Water

Learn the lake before you buy here

Your questions, answered — straight from Paul's book
Free Online Course

The Smith Mountain Lake Buyer's E-Course

Many buyers take their first step by "attending" our free buyer's course — right at their own computer, at their own pace. When you're done, you'll be armed with information that can:

  • Help you save thousands on your waterfront dream home
  • Make your real estate purchase quick and easy
  • Help you avoid buying a home you'll regret
  • Give you ideas for improving your view, getting the best boathouse and much more
Don't buy at Smith Mountain Lake…

…with us or any Realtor — until you take this free online course.

Take the Free E-Course
Our Team

Local experts who live what they sell

What people say

Trusted by buyers, owners, and industry leaders

"Paul Moore knows Smith Mountain Lake real estate as well as anyone in the business. His depth of knowledge and integrity are exactly what a buyer or seller wants in their corner."
David StevensFormer Federal Housing (HUD) Commissioner · Former Senior VP, Freddie Mac · Retired President & CEO, Mortgage Bankers Association

"I was skeptical it would just be a marketing pitch — but found a great deal of genuinely valuable information."

— Brian Bissell

"The guide answered questions we didn't even know we needed to ask before buying on the water."

— The Riedinger Family

"Straight, honest advice from someone who clearly knows this lake inside and out."

— J. Ridgely
Read all client testimonials →
Fresh from the Lake

Smith Mountain Lake real estate news

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Start with the book. It's free

The complete 4th edition PDF — delivered instantly to your inbox. Audiobook edition available too.

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Prefer to talk it through? Call us today — (877) SML-HOME
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📘 Don't buy at Smith Mountain Lake until you read this book. Free for Smith Mountain Lake buyers.
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