Get better gas mileage
The Sierra Club blog has a few tips on maxing out your miles per gallon with their post: The Green Life: Max Your MPG
Technorati Tags: hypermilers, gas prices
Upcoming foreclosures for sale
I have two foreclosures that will be on the market soon. They are vacant and being evaluated now for pricing but I wanted to give everyone a heads up if you or someone you know may be interested.
The first foreclosure is in Blue Ridge (Botetourt County) in the Rainbow Forest area. It is a 3 bedroom, 3 bath ranch with a full basement (50% finished). The basement has a fire place and the kitchen in this home is enormous. It also has a two car garage and is at the end of a cul-de-sac just off of Mountain Pass Road. Price to be determined but it’s sure to be a bargain in this popular neighborhood. A few minor repairs and it’ll be a show place. (This property is now for sale. See it here.)
The second foreclosure is in NE Roanoke City in Read Mountain Estates off of Old Mountain Road. It is a 4 bedroom, 2 and a half bath Colonial with nice level yard and great landscaping. It features skylights, walk-in closets, a large island in the kitchen and a quiet dead end street in another popular neighborhood. The price on this home is also to be determined but no doubt it’ll be a bargain too. The last foreclosure I sold in this neighborhood sold for way below the market value.
Would you like to make $1500 per second?
The Washington Post is reporting on Exxon Mobil’s second quarter earnings for 2008.
Exxon, that great behemoth of carbon fuel producers earned $11.68 billion (yes, BILLION) which factors out to about $1,500 per second over the last three months.
I have no problem with a business making profits. I own stocks so I like to see business make money. But when these oil-cartel-flunkies are decrying they have no control over the price of oil, then how can they produce such record profits? If their own costs have truly gone up, and they have raised their prices to protect their profits, then you would expect them to continue along a profit line, but this is blatant abuse of the American consumer.
This second quarter profit is “the biggest quarterly profit ever by any U.S. corporation” [emphasis added] according to the reporter. At a time when our country is suffering, people are losing their jobs due to company cuts, homeowners are losing their homes to foreclosure and hard-working citizens can’t afford to put gas in their cars, I call it criminal that a company like Exxon could produce a record profit like this one.
Where are our politicians/protectors now? (On vacation starting tomorrow…) We need to call them to task to regulate these abuses. There are some initiatives out there, but as usual, partisan lines are getting in the way. It’ll be a great day when our representatives actually look out for us, and not their party platforms. I don’t care what side of the aisle you’re on, when Americans and our economy are suffering, we need to come together.
You can read more here, here and here.
No parking
Roanokers love the Grandin Village. It’s a great place to have dinner (all local restaurants), catch a movie at the Grandin Theatre, shop at the Natural Foods Coop and stroll down the sidewalk.
And it’s the sidewalk that is the subject of this email. I was picking up a pizza from Grace’s Pizzeria (one of the two best pizza joints in Roanoke) and as I was walking out, I couldn’t help but notice this large SUV parked directly on the sidewalk. The hilarious part is the sign right beside the offending vehicle.
So all you bicyclists and skateboarders keep off the sidewalk. The SUVs need the space. :o)
What do you mean all the copper plumbing was cut out?
I recently was showing a foreclosed home to a client in the Hollins area when we walked into the master bathroom and noticed the toilet was in the bathtub. Okay, a little strange but not too crazy for some of the foreclosures out there. We peered down the round hole in the floor where the toilet used to be and what did we see? The basement. (Normally you’d expect to see the all black interior of a pipe.)
Wow we said, what happened to the pipe? Of course I went downstairs and started poking around and every bit of copper pipe that used to be in the house WAS GONE! Someone had used a hacksaw (and a very poor hack job it was) and cut out all the copper lines. The only thing left were the ties that had held the pipe to the floor joists and some scorch marks where someone had done some soldering in the past.
What a disaster for the selling agent who hadn’t noticed it!
What’s the point? Caveat emptor.
When buying a foreclosed home, it’s extremely important to have an experienced foreclosure agent on your side to not only represent you but also to look for problems (like this one) that rear their heads with these homes. AND bring on board an experienced home inspector who spends more than 30 minutes in the house.
2008 Roanoke Arts Festival
Public service announcement:
The second annual Roanoke Arts Festival, re-timed this year to help celebrate the opening of the new Taubman Museum of Art, will be held Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 8-9 with free and ticketed events and activities to appeal to a wide range of audiences.
The 2008 Roanoke Arts Festival will complement the museum’s grand opening weekend and once again pay tribute to arts of the region and beyond with a host of rich offerings capped by a performance by Country-music legend Crystal Gayle. The Festival will include a free downtown rock ‘n’ roll concert, great Bluegrass music, a musical puppet show, an exposition of the culinary arts, theatrical performances, classical music and more.
The Festival will also serve as the grand finale to “40 Days and 40 Nights,” a celebration of arts and culture with daily activities and exhibits coordinated by the Arts Council of the Blue Ridge.
“This year’s Festival – timed for the museum’s opening and this historic moment for the arts and culture for our region – is a great way to celebrate all facets of the arts,” says Susan Jennings, Roanoke’s public art coordinator. “The 2008 Roanoke Arts Festival will extend this excitement onto the streets of downtown Roanoke and into venues in Roanoke Valley.”
“With the Taubman Museum opening its doors as one of the most impressive museums of its kind, we felt the Arts Festival should tie into that spirit and welcome visitors to explore not just the visual arts, but music, drama, film – even the culinary arts,” adds Festival manager Rick Salzberg.
As the final touches are being made to this year’s schedule, planning already is under way for the third annual Roanoke Arts Festival, scheduled to be held next fall.
“With strong interest and broad audience appeal from our inaugural Festival last year, we’ve heard from fans of the arts from throughout Virginia urging us to offer even more choices in years ahead,” Salzberg says. “That’s why we’re already looking ahead to next year, when we will resume a four-day Festival.”
The 2007 Arts Festival was recognized as one of the year’s best festivals by the readers of City Magazine, and even nationally renowned performers lauded the Festival.
Visit the website for more information: www.RoanokeArtsFest.org/
A new design and I’m back from a break!
Well, it’s July, life is good and summer is in full swing. The waves are calling, folks are traveling (maybe not as far as normal with the price of gas!) and I’m back from a “blogging break” with a new site look and some new features coming down the pike for the site.
Every time I turn on the television, there’s bad news about the economy, real estate and the foreclosure crisis. There is truth amongst all the scare mongering, but it’s not all doom and gloom. Houses are still selling. If you’re looking to sell your home and buy a new home, it’s a good time. If you’re a first-time buyer with decent credit and income, it’s a great time to buy! So what are you waiting for?
How to buy your first home…and why.
Buying your first home is a great financial decision for most people. It can, however, be a very intimidating move without the right knowledge and guidance. There are many financial advantages including tax deductions, and building valuable equity in your home but other aspects as well including pride of ownership. So without any further ado, let’s go to it.
- Develop a relationship with a reliable real estate agent.
While this very first item may seem self-serving (since I’m a real estate agent), it is however a very essential first step. By working with a real estate agent from the beginning, you can develop a professional relationship with them and have a person you can rely on to guide you through the entire purchase process from qualifying for a loan, searching for to coordinating the closing of your new home. AND, as a home buyer, your real estate agent will be paid in most circumstances by the seller. It doesn’t cost you anything. - Get yourself pre-qualified for a mortgage.
This may seem like putting the cart before the horse, but by pre-qualifying you empower yourself to back up your offer with the ability to close quicker than someone who has not taken this first step. The option to close quick can often help your contract win out over another contract, especially if the seller is motivated. Also, by pre-qualifying in advance, you know exactly how much you’ll be approved to purchase which can be helpful during the search process. - Do your research.
Work with your real estate agent to help them know what you’re most interested in. What neighborhoods do you prefer? If you have children, do you have a school district preference? Is your commute time to work important? Do you absolutely hate split foyers? You’re trying to figure out the “deal killers”. What does your new home have to have and what, if it were missing, would immediately change your mind about that house? The answers to all of these questions will enable your real estate agent to better refine their search process for you and send you the most relevant listings that meet your needs.
The next post in this series will be what to look for when you’re touring homes with your real estate agent.
Love from The Roanoke Times and AP
There’s an article in today’s Roanoke Times quoting me as a source. I received a call yesterday from a reporter at The Roanoke Times looking for real estate data on home sales in the Roanoke Valley.
We have a large amount of inventory currently for sale as compared to previous years but, as I mentioned in the article, I have already noticed a significant upswing in sales and buyer inquiries since the middle of February. Things are beginning to look up!
It’s a great market to buy a home for you and your family.
It’s a beautiful day
Just wishing everyone a happy day. Spring is almost here and I’ve already noticed the number of phone calls I’ve received have increased significantly and my web visitors have doubled in the last month!
Folks are looking to buy and sell real estate this year, contrary to the nay saying we hear in the media.
Virginia real estate developers restricted from removing trees
Last week Virginia Governor Tim Kaine signed a new bill into law that will require Northern Virginia real estate developers to preserve a specified percentage of original trees on the land they intend to develop. The bill is intended to help with air quality improvement with additional benefits being preservation of wildlife habitat and storm water runoff filtering.
The law may not have much bite though in a much-needed area of Virginia. According to this story in the Washington Post, “The bill takes effect July 1, but local jurisdictions can choose whether to follow it.”
Treeless neighborhoods having a lasting impact according to Virginia McGuire who lives in Northern Virginia-
“I keep getting upset with my kids when they try to climb a tree,” said McGuire, who is also chair of Leesburg’s Environmental Advisory Commission. She’s worried about the trees being hurt. “You can’t spare any.”
“This was a farm, and there weren’t a lot of trees here, but there were trees here,” she said. “And there’s just nothing left.”
Another sign with a leaf motif announced the development’s name: Oaklawn.
North Roanoke County foreclosures for sale
There’s a nice little foreclosure that just came on the market in the Woodhaven area of North Roanoke County. I’ve personally inspected it and although, as with most foreclosures, it does need some repair work, it’s a great value. Here are the vitals-
- SOLD
- 4 bedrooms
- 2 baths
- 1660 square feet
- Full basement
- Huge deck in the back yard
- Tile floor in kitchen
- Central air
- Forced air gas heat
- $112,900
And here’s a foreclosed town home also in the North Roanoke County area. It’s vitals are-
- 4 bedrooms
- 2.5 baths
- 1924 SF
- Full basement
- Central air
- Forced air gas heat
- $134,900
Call me for a personal tour of either of them or to answer your foreclosure questions!
Old Southwest investments in Roanoke
It seems like lately that the Old Southwest neighborhood in Roanoke is one of the hot places to be and a great place for investment as well. Here’s your opportunity to get in on the ground floor with some properties that are ready to be taken over.
117 12½ Street SW, Roanoke
- $66,500
- A lot of refurbishing is already completed
- Great positive income rental potential and close to the bus line
- New roof, electric panel, siding, wiring, flooring, carpet, vinyl, etc.
- 4 bedroom, 2 baths
- Great Old Southwest style
609 Elm Avenue SW, Roanoke
- $82,500
- Doesn’t need many repairs, would make a great remodeling project
- Great architectural details, fireplace, old style windows, bonus attic space, dormer windows, etc.
- 4 bedroom, 1 and a half baths
- Classic Old Southwest architecture and style
1722 Patterson Avenue SW, Roanoke
- $85,500
- Needs a few repairs but not much
- Great positive income rental potential and close to the bus lines
- Lots of space, your tenants will love it!
What you don’t know about foreclosures (but should)
You see it on the news, cable television and infomercials-
Buy foreclosures at pennies on the dollar! Save big money in real estate investing with foreclosure short cuts!
I regularly sell and help people purchase foreclosures in the Roanoke Valley and surrounding counties. With all this experience I’ve learned a thing or two! Here’s the real skinny folks and a few things you need to know before thinking about buying a foreclosure-
- Foreclosures are often a very good deal but not the kind of deals you see on TV.
As an agent who regularly markets, services and sells foreclosed homes in the Roanoke area, I understand the process and while it is a foreclosure, the bank who owns it is trying to keep from losing as much money as possible. They do not sell for pennies on the dollar. - Foreclosed homes generally are in fair to poor condition.
It’s unfortunate; the people who lose their homes to foreclosure do so because they can’t afford their payments and therefore also can not afford to upkeep the house. Foreclosed homes almost always have maintenance needs and sometimes major maintenance problems. - Foreclosed homes are sold “as-is”.
The financial institutions who own these homes know they have problems and they aren’t going to spend time negotiating over carpet stains or damaged tiles. Before a foreclosed home is ever advertised for sale, it has gone through a rigorous valuation market analysis with the listing agent and other real estate agents who take these problems into account when suggesting a fair list price on the home. Hire a home inspector so you are less likely to be surprised with a problem after closing. Caveat Emptor! - Negotiating with the bank on a foreclosed property is almost the same as a private seller.
Low ball offers and unreasonable expectations are likely to be quickly rejected by the selling bank the same as you would on your own home. They are reasonable negotiators but not desperate.
So there you have it. A few tips from an experienced foreclosure agent. With all of that said, foreclosed homes are still a good deal and typically priced below the actual market value, and, the longer it’s been on the market, in most instances, the better the deal for you. Be smart though and consult with an experienced agent before buying any home, foreclosure or not.
Five things you might not know about me
Jeremy Hart asked Stuart Mease who tapped me for this meme as a way to share information from blogger to blogger to increase exposure and give a more personal touch to a blog. So here you go-
- I am an Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America. As a Boy Scout I was able to do a lot of amazing things and take some really fantastic trips to places like Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico!
- I spent almost 7 years in jail from 1998-2005. (I actually worked there as a magistrate!) One midnight shift I smashed a giant jail roach with a volume from the Code of Virginia, quite literally throwing the book at it.
- While in college I volunteered with the Roanoke County Fire & Rescue Department as a cardiac technician on the rescue squad. Saw many tragic things.
- We have a golden retriever named Rooster. He’s a mischievous fellow and likes to raid the laundry for his favorite item to play keep-away…our socks.
- I worked for 4 summers at Camp Bethel near Troutville on the summer staff. One of the things I enjoyed most was working as the naturalist and one of my assumed responsibilities was to rid the main areas of any snakes that wondered in. I was given the nickname “Snakeman” by the kids!
So it is now time to pass this along to someone else. I think I will tap Todd Hester and Rhett Fleitz.
