Ten years ago, Barbara Jean LeFon, principal broker-owner of Rivah Realty, spent a great deal of time explaining to potential clients where the Northern Neck was in Virginia. Not anymore.

"Interest in the area has increased," LeFon said. "Water is the drawing card. People want to be on the water. Those who can't afford to be on the water are buying into waterfront communities that have access to the water."

Riverwatch on the Piankatank River is one example of a waterfront community that caters to a variety of homeowners, from young families to retirees and second-home buyers.

Riverwatch fronts the Piankatank for three-quarters of a mile and also has frontage on French Creek.

Developed by East West Partners of Virginia, headquartered in Richmond, the approximately 374-acre community has 89 homesites -- 60 have already been sold -- along with a conservation area, swimming pool, club building, boat ramp, dock, and nature and walking trails. There is also a 4.5-acre fenced-in area that includes lockable community boat storage.

"The thing that draws people to Riverwatch is the location," explained Larry Kidd, vice president of sales for East West Realty in Gloucester. "It's only one hour to downtown Richmond and one hour or less to the Peninsula. It's just two hours to Northern Virginia."

Riverfront homes start around $1 million.

"All of the homes are custom built," Kidd said. "The community has architectural guidelines which is unique for this area. The smallest home is 2,500 square feet. Riverfront homes have to be 3,000 square feet."

Currently, there are nine homes in the community.

"Riverfront access is always what people are looking for," Kidd said. "If they can't afford riverfront, they want river access. Every home in Riverwatch has river access."

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Emily Carter, principal broker with Jim & Pat Carter Real Estate Inc. in the Northern Neck, sees a growing interest in the second-home market from homeowners in the Northern Virginia and Washington area.

"Many of these folks have been successful in their businesses or have inherited money," she said. "They are willing to invest more into and want more from a second home."

In late March, there were more than 70 properties on the market in the Northern Neck area listed for more than $1 million.

"The homes range from $1 million up to about $8 million," Carter said.

Last year, Carter sold a home in Mathews County for $2,550,000. The 12-acre property includes a 6,000-square-foot brick, Georgian-style home with sweeping views of the Piankatank River and deep water.

"Some people want deep water that can accommodate a yacht," Carter says. "Others want a sand beach. It's hard to get those two elements in the same property."

The young retirees who purchased the property were from the Hampton Roads area.

"The home went under contract in only four months," Carter said. "It was a newer home, which made the difference."

Homebuyers, even if they are in the market for a second home, are looking for upscale details such as granite counters, a spacious master suite and a two-story great room with fireplace. Decks, terraces and screened porches are also in demand.

Properties that include deep water have some of the highest price tags in the area.

"The deeper the water at your dock, the more expensive the property will be," LeFon said. "People who come here with boats want to be able to get their boat in and out no matter what time of day."

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The $2.75 million farmhouse that Carter sold this February included a pool and pool cabana. The 3,500-square-foot home also has a detached guest cottage with office space. The renovated farmhouse sits on 4½ acres on a creek that opens to the Piankatank River.

"The home has water views and a deep-water pier," Carter said. "The people that bought it were from Indiana. They wanted a retirement property, and they had been looking for a while."

The mindset of homebuyers who are looking for a second home or a retirement property is different from what it was in the past, when the only requirement was a cottage on the river.

"They didn't care what was inside," LeFon said. "Now they want a nice property. Something they can use year-round."