Virginia Real Estate Blog: November 2008

I had a lovely walk around Ghent on Thursday. The houses, churchs, and street scenes were captured on camera! See below!  Lots of houses and condos for sale in this part of Norfolk.

Hampton Roads Real Estate

Just a short note to say THANK YOU TO ALL OF MY CURRENT, PAST, and FUTURE clients during this thanksgiving weekend!  Enjoy your day, be safe whereever you are, and give thanks for all you have in life! 

Norfolk and Hampton Roads Real Estate

Blogs about Norfolk and Hampton Roads

For something fun to do with family and friends on Thanksgiving... Try MacArthur on Ice!  Go Skating!

There are many historic neighborhoods in the tidewater, Hampton Roads area of Virginia. One that I particularly like in Port Norfolk in Portsmouth. Here are some of my reasons:

1.  Affordable living - home prices are in a great range for our market - I showed a property to a young couple this week that is about $215,000, almost 3,000 square feet, can be a duplex or single family.  Wow!  what a great price.  And potential for historic district tax credits!

2.  Character - the homes in this historic district are mostly turn of the century or early-mid 1990s. Very cool construction and architectural features - wood floors, picture rails, front porches, claw-foot tubs,the list goes on!

3.  Neighborhood- This waterfront community is great for dog walking, There are playgrounds, schools, and shops in the area. And it is a great location - Just 5 minutes to downtown Norfolk (granted this changes with traffic in the mid-town tunnel) and easy access to highways.  Walk or ride your bike to the Portsmouth Naval Hospital...

So, overall, check out the www.portnorfolk.org for more information.  Don't miss this:

The 2008 Holiday Tour of Homes, in Historic Port Norfolk, is coming December 7, 2008 from 3-7p.m.

TO search all homes in Hampton Roads including Portsmouth, Norfolk Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and Beyond!

I signed up to plant wetlands with grasses this morning. Yesterday I thought the organizers were crazy! It would be freezing!  And they wanted us at the waters edge putting plants in the ground???

It turned out to be a gorgeous morning. Yes there was a definite chill in the air -- about 40 degrees F. But the sun was shining and the people were friendly, and the coffee was hot at 8am! 

Here is a similar group from a previous outing, but imagine our volunteers in winter coats, hats, and gloves. We spent a bit of time helping rescue boots from the mud too! 

Thanks to National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for funding. Project partners include The Virginia Zoo, Bay Environmental, NOAA Restoration Center, The City of Norfolk Bureau of Environmental Services, Keep Norfolk Beautiful, Elizabeth River Project, Lafayette Wetlands Partnership, and Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

It was great to meet so many neighbors trying to preserve the rivers. I got to talk to a couple of really interesting folks who are concerned about the area and volunteer time not only with CBF, but the Lafayette Wetlands Partnership (thanks John), the Zoo (thanks Mark) and Elizabeth River Project (thanks Pam). Also, it was good to meet Todd who has started his own business advising homeowners on how to care for their wetlands -- isn't not as simple as just putting up a bulkhead! 

For information on homes in our vast area -- wetlands optional -- I can help.  Search here !

I was just doing some looking for homes throughout the southside. I think I just saw the deal of the day in Norfolk.

This is a home in Ghent Commons. It is a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home built in 1981. There is a garage and a small fenced yard.  Now for the best part.... It is priced $40,000 lower than the other home currently for sale in the neighborhood AND it is under $280,000!  This is the first time a home has sold under $300,000 in Ghent Commons since 2004!  (this home is a foreclosure, and like many foreclosures, is sold as-is, and may need some work)

If you are looking for convenience (walk to downtown, the Chrysler Musuem of Art, the YMCA, etc), and potential, look at this home! 

Search for homes in Hamton Roads and Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk and Portsmouth!

Check out this cool new website.  What a great way to search for what you need - pulls in google results, Yahoo results, YouTube!  and more!

www.leapfish.com

This year's Fair Trade Festival will be held on December 1st and 2nd in Norfolk Virginia at the Downtown Farmer's Market site outside the MacArther Center Mall.  If you're in the area, please come by to check out what Fair Trade is all about.

The Fair Trade Festival is transforming the Hampton Roads area by increasing consumer demand for fair trade and responsibly produced products.  Since the Festival's inception 5 years ago, availability of fair trade products has grown from one retailer to more than 40 around the Hampton Roads area, a total increase of more than 4000%. 

Consumers, who would have had to order fairly produced coffee, tea, or chocolate, can now buy it in a store or restaurant in their neighborhood, thus supporting the local economy as well.  Other products such as fruit and clothing may follow suit.  The increased availability of fairly produced products, like the presence of farm markets, increases the attractiveness of the area to thoughtful and responsible consumers.

There are lots of great condos and homes for sale within walking distance of Macarthur Center Mall and throughout Norfolk and Hampton Roads. If you need to buy or sell property in the Hampton Roads area, I can help! Ask me about homes that healthy and environmentally friendly!

I had the pleasure of seeing Hampton Roads from the air today. I was flying home from a trip and the path of the airplane was wonderful -- over most of southside Hampton Roads. One thing came to mind... ITS THE WATER, PEOPLE! You can even see it using google maps...
View Larger Map
Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me but next time!!! By the way... this is a fun way to check out Ocean View and Norfolk Real Estate! If you are relocating to Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake or anywhere in Hampton Roads, call me! I will give suggestions on what to look for from the air!

The Virginian-Pilot announced today (and other newspapers too, I suspect) that the Foreclosure rate was up 25% nationwide in October 2008 compared to October 2007.  That is a big jump.  We are seeing the effects here in Hampton Roads as well and my thoughts go out to everyone struggling to make a mortgage payment, keep on track with bills, save money, or hang onto a job. It is a challenging time but one that will pass, I am optimistic.

In the meantime, if you are considering buying a home or investing, now is a great time! We have almost 700 properties to choose from that are bank-owned, government-owned, or listed as short sale or compromise sales throughout Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Chesapeake.  If you want to know more about that, please contact me.

Here is a chart of List Prices -- Buy a home for less than $15,000!  Find out what $1 Million will buy for a foreclosure in our area!  The choices are there... Not to mention the other homes for sale by people who need a larger home, smaller home, or are relocating -- those homes are available too!

Data from Real Estate Information Network on November 12, 2008

With the onset of colder weather here in Virginia (well, maybe not today, it is 65 degrees and gorgeous outside!), I wanted to remind you that if you have a drafty house you may as well burn money to keep warm!  Consider spending a few hours this week on an energy audit for your home!  Sealing drafts around windows and doors, installing insulation, and correcting other household mistakes, can save you money! 

For an energy audit checklist go to the EPA website.  You can also hire someone to help. See my blog on Blower Door Tests and energy audits.   Feel free to call or email me for an Energy Savers Handbook from the Department of Energy! 

For real estate in Hampton Roads including Norfolk Suffolk Chesapeake Virginia Beach and Portsmouth, I am happy to help!