Tere Rottink

665 Newtown Road,Virginia Beach, Virginia, 23462

I came back to Virginia at the end of 2001. Having been here before, and learned the military wife way of making friends quickly, I was glad to be back in Hampton Roads, ( Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Newport News, Hampton and Williamsburg.) I even loved my house that eventually got to small for us. But, one of the happiest times regarding Hampton Road's that made me feel this is home was when my husband came home with the news that they were opening a Colombian Restaurant. That same night we went to check it out, and it turned to be still work in progress. They offered us FREE morcillas and arepas. Humm. Since then, they have done a few changes with the menu, but the food continues to be pretty good. They have two large screen TV where they have Colombian TV all the time, and on futbol ( soccer season ) They play the games. These brings so many memories.

The decorations are still simple, but do remind me of a simple restaurant in a small town In Colombia where they have the best home cooked meals.

El Desordenrecently received their liquor license, so you can have your choice of alcohol drinks. They also carry Colombian beer and Aguardiente ( Firewater ). I absolutely love their fruit juices, not smoothies, fruit juices that take me back to my childhood.

El Desorden has great weekly specials for a very affordable price $7.00 I have been there every day of the week, and they are all good. I called today, and they are in the process of changing their menu. It sounds all good, still very Colombian.

Their chicken rice is great, and all of their desserts are very tasty. If you don't know anything about Colombian food, don't think Mexican, it's nothing like it. Try a simple empanada, or any of their appetizers.

The only suggestion that I have for the owners is to bring the baked goods. When they do, I will blog about them.

To buy or sell Real Estate in Virginia Beach, or Hampton Roads visit my website. http://www.tererottink.com/ visit my Blog at http://activerain.com/blogs/teresells4u

In Virginia we have an additional form called AICUZ. I have never had any questions asked from sellers or buyers regarding this form, but alas, I have a seller who sold properties in the past in this area, and has had a hard time understanding why he has to sign this disclosure, when his house in not located in the noise or crash areaof the local airport.

I had to do a little research, as I couldn't remember much details from our real estate licensing class, and this is what I came up with.

If you bought or sold a house since 2005 you signed this form at some time during the transaction. I have attached a link to the form.

AICUZ Form Notice that right at the top it says: [ If the real property is not located in a Noise Zone and/or Accident Potential Zone (APZ) the use of this from is not required.]

But this is misleading as what the actual Virginia Code says is:

§ 55-519.1. Required disclosures for properties located adjacent to a military air installation.

The owner of residential real property located in any locality in which a military air installation is located, or in any adjacent locality, shall furnish to the purchaser on a form provided by the Real Estate Board, a written disclosure stating that such property is located in a noise zone or accident potential zone, or both, as designated by the locality in its official zoning map. Such disclosure shall state the specific noise zone or accident potential zone, or both, in which the property is located according to the official zoning map.

(2005, c. 510.)

What triggers the AICUZ Form is not the proximity to an Airport, but proximity to a Military Air Installation. I am glad I called my broker, as he directed me to this simple information.

After reading all the comments on when or what should be disclosed to buyers, I am left wondering, if we are being fair to the buyers we are supposed to be representing.

In the consumer disclosure form in my area it repeatedly puts the burden on the buyer to do all of the research on the property they intend to buy. An agent mentioned that in New Jersey, they can only refer them to the website.

The disclosure form in Virginia continues to change/evolve, and it has more information on to where to get this information. For example the Megan's law gives a phone number and the website to go do the research. The previous form only gave the website. It also gives more contact information on where to look for environmental issues etc.

I made a few phone calls to profesors of ethics in my area, and was able to speak to one of them. What I came up with that conversation is that since we are in a lawsuit friendly society, we have to think in moral, ethics and what the law requires us to do or not.

If we help the buyer do the research, (which is what a I have been doing) and later on they find out that there was wrong information, you may/will be liable. It is best to have the buyer do all of his/her own research.

The reason that I started doing this for my buyers was because they were in town for a weekend, knew absolutely nothing about the area, and they are relying on me for advice and information.

I have talked to my broker, spoken with a few agents and the ethics professor. My conclusion is that morally I should be helping them do this research, if they are in a position which doesnt' allow them to do the research themselves. eg.. staying at a hotel, buying sight on seen etc

Legally, I feel that to protect my self I will let them do all these research themselves, by giving them the information from the first conversation in which I get the job, as their real estate agent. That is: explain the consumer disclosure form in its entirety before we go look at properties. This way, I will be assured that they know what their responsibilities are in the transaction.

Once the contract is signed and accepted, if that consumer disclosure is signed and the buyers do their research later to find out that there is a sex offender next door, major enviromental issue etc... IT IS TOO LATE.

I just came back from court. This is the story of how tenants can live free in your investment property.

These are the same tenants that inspired me to write: Finding the right tenant.

A tenant moves in and has 5 days to report anything that has to be fixed. They complaint: it is to cold, so I bring them spaces heaters the next day. They don't turn on the water, so they burn the water heater. I fix the water heater. On the first of the month when the rent is due the lady calls me hysterical telling me that some one broke in the place. In the police report that I finally saw today, the policeman writes that the point of entry was the bedroom window and there are no finger prints at all. He also writes that the tenant is unemployed. I called the man that does all my repairs the night of the supposedly break in;he tells me he is on his way, but never shows up until the next morning. He closes the hole with a piece of wood and informs me that the window was broken from the inside out. We look for a window that will fit that hole, but it is an old window, so finally three days later we install a new window and just make the hole to adapt.

By this time the tenant calls the city inspector which condemns the house for lack or water. There are other repairs that need to be done, and he gives me 4 days. I do all the repairs in the time allotted. The story continues.....but to make the story short, they stay in the place for another month and a half.

The judge a very old man Robert F. Babb rules for the tenant awarding me no money for rent or damages. Very happily looks at me and says, I award Zero money because this is to CONFUSING. (I do know people in their 90's who are sharp beyond belief. Unfortunately this judge doesn't appear to be in this category)

He did not ask me or the tenant any questions. I tried to ask what is confusing, but by this time the policeman is walking towards me to escort me out the door. I am told I need to appeal. Spend another $108 in court fees plus I think at this time, I would have to hire an attorney to recover the $2000 plus these people owe me. The attorneys fees will be $800.

I AM DEVASTATED TO THINK THAT IN THIS COUNTRY THE LEGAL SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK. If the judge doesn't understand what he has in front of him, he needs to ask questions.

I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS. I AM SO UPSET, I NEED TO VENT.