Tina Merritt - Virginia Beach Real Estate

Could you live in a 700 square foot house?  How about a 70 square foot one?

Tumbleweed Houses takes "cozy" to a whole new level.  Founded by Jay Shafer in 1997, Tumbleweed reduces your cabon footprint....radically.  Starting at $36,997 for 65 square feet, these homes are not inexpensive (that's $569/sq ft!).  Why are they so expensive?  According to the website:

"Our portable homes are made from quality materials; and the materials alone typically cost $200 per square foot of house. The house is finished with hardwood floors, pine walls, built in cabinetry, stainless steel counter and more. Our homes are fully insulated with double pane windows and an adequate heater. Many other “competitor” homes don’t include the proper insulation and heating, and a therefore subject to condensation. Our homes focus on the details that make it more than four walls and a roof. We make each door by hand because you just can’t buy the right door for a house like this. Windows are special order items that give the house a timeless look. The porch posts are detailed, and the siding reflects the overall quality of the house."

At 65 - 140 square feet, Tiny Tumbleweed homes do not require a building permit as they are considered travel trailers.  For those who just can't go that small, Tumbleweed does offer their own version of the McMansion....at a whopping 837 square feet!

Could you?  Would you?

Tuesday, January 20th 2009 will go down in history in our area. Not because of the inauguration though....

Monday, January 19th was all abuzz in Hampton Roads, Virginia. When I went to volunteer at the preschool across the street, I asked these sweet children if they knew of the "big event" taking place the following day. All their hands went up but they couldn't hold in their excitement as they simultaeously yelled out, "It's going to snow tomorrow!".

Yes, in Virginia Beach, it seems that getting snow is a more exciting event than getting a new President.

On the Monday evening news, the top story was the upcoming storm which included "team coverage" spread throughout Hampton Roads. They covered it all.....how VDOT was preparing to sand the roads that night, how landscaping businesses were putting plows on their trucks to help with snow removal, how the temperatures were dropping by the nanosecond and the "storm of the year" could be upon us soon!

Now, keep in mind, our "storm of the year" was predicted to bring 1 - 5 inches of white stuff. Wednesday's forecast pushed temperatures back up into the 40's so any accumulation we received would be gone the next day.

I woke up at 6am. Looked out the window. No snow. My 6 year old son woke up. He looked out the window. His eyes filled up with tears.

We turned on the TV to see where our snow was. (It MUST have gotten lost!). Fear not, our local weatherman assured us, the snow was still coming. Some nasy coldfront from the north was getting in the way of our sweet southern snow and it would be here momentarily. Then, I noticed the alerts streaming across the bottom of the TV screen. Was I really seeing what I thought I saw? Were the schools really closed?

Yes, 90% of the schools in our area closed. Now, please remember, there wasn't even a flurry coming down in our area. No rain, no snow, no ice. But, our schools were closed.

So, we bunkered down and waited for the storm.

And waited...........

Maybe we'll get an inch or so.......

And waited..........

Maybe we'll get flurries..............

And waited..............

One flurry?...........Rain?...............ANYTHING?????????

Nope. Nothing. Nada. Nil.

The sun came out. Kids were out riding their bikes. Neighbors were walking their dogs. The wind picked up a little and a few surfers went out into the ocean. Just another normal day in Virginia Beach.

Tina in Virginia

I fully understand that many agents feel that if all real estate professionals talk about the market being great long enough, people may start to to believe them and actually buy a house or two. My opinion is that this false-sense of market security is backfiring on the profession. A client recently asked me, "Do real estate agents EVER say it's not a good time to buy?".

The reality is that the economy is not good. The real estate market is pretty dismal. History tells us that this slump is not going to go away in a few weeks. It may take years. That's reality.

It's also the reality that shelter is a basic necessity in life. Food, water and shelter. So, even though someone may not WANT to buy (or rent) a home, they HAVE to.

So, the answer is no. It is not a great time to buy a house. The market stinks. HOWEVER.....

1. The tax benefits to owning a home are still intact.

2. If a buyer is patient, not picky and chooses a well educated, experienced negotiator as an agent, they may be able to get a fantastic deal.

3. Interest rates rock right now - if you have good credit.

4. Sellers will pretty much give you the sun, moon and the stars if you will buy their house. If they won't, their next door neighbor probably will.

5. If a buyer can get a house at a good enough price, they may be able to ride out further market decreases without losing their arse.

My answer? It's not a good real estate market. But, if buyers are careful and work with an agent who guides them correctly, they can obtain a necessity in life for a great price.

Tina in Virginia

A few weeks ago, I was giving a presentation to the Long and Foster Norfolk office and I had the good fortune to meet Brian and Debbie Foxwell of Solar Time Signs.

The sign company we have been using for years is....well...let's just say.....adequate. Yes, they install our post signs. Yes, they are usually up within 7-10 business days. However, they just don't seem to care too much about what the product looks like. The signs are often damaged, posts not painted well and installed so poorly that the slightest breeze sends them to an awkward angle.

Brian and Debbie, as Realtors themselves, experienced the frustration we have all been living with regarding our signs. Fortunately for all of us, the Foxwell's decided to do something about it and formed Solar Time Signs.

Solar Time Signs goes the extra mile in customer service, a quality product and quality installation and take-down.

For example:

1. They confirm receipt for your sign order and keep you apprised of the installation progress.

2. Brian drives a clean truck & trailer and dresses professionally with a logo'ed shirt.

3. After Brian digs the hole for the sign, he takes the dirt with him so as to not leave a pile in the yard.

4. When the sign is removed, they fill the hole back up.

5. Brian builds the signs himself to withstand the elements.

6. The upper sign rider is secured by metal pins and the rider doesn't blow off.

7. The large sign is doubly secured to prevent it from being damaged or falling off.

8. Brian will take the riders from your temp sign and move them to your post sign. He will also remove your temp sign if you desire.

9. Brian will install a sturdy flyer box, with or without a solar light, to the sign. The box is secured with one way screws so it won't be stolen. There is also a plastic sleeve to hold one flyer so the box never loks empty.

10. Want Brian to fill your flyer box? Just send him your flyers prior to installation!

11. Solar Time Signs offers signs with or without a solar light. The light doesn't require any maintenance on your part and is operated by sunlight. Once it gets dark, your sign will be illuminated for up to 6 hours. The light is strong enough to draw attention to the sign but suttle enough not to disturb the neighbors.

The cost for Solar Time Signs is only a few dollars more than our current company. The service and quality make the additional investment well worth it. My clients have been very happy with their signs - especially that the signs can easily be seen at night.

Currently, Solar Time Signs services Southeast Virginia and Northeast North Carolina. Hopefully, the Foxwell's will find much success and be able to expand their business across the Commonwealth of Virginia and into North Carolina and beyond! Even better, they are members of Active Rain! You can view Debra's profile here.

Tina in Virginia