Ever wondered what the best state to start a business in is? I'm sure you can guess, given I'm living and working in Virginia, but here's an interesting look at WHY Virginia continues to win these awards.
See the video at NRVLiving.com.
Looking to buy a house in Southwest Virginia? Perhaps you've been looking at homes in Christiansburg, or in Radford, and you just don't think you can afford it. I'd remind you that the opportunities are there for buyers right now for two reasons - (1) the inventory available, and (2) the rates that local lenders are willing to lend at. Let's look at the numbers ...
Assuming a house is priced at $150000, and the interest rate is 5.00% (the current USDA rate), here's how your monthly payments would break down on a home in Christiansburg purchased for $150000 with NO MONEY
DOWN:
Principal & interest: $805.24
Prop Taxes (estimate): 114.83
PMI (None with USDA): 0
Total Payment: $920.07
Imagine - a $150000 mortgage for less than $1000 a month. And it's important to note that this is a USDA loan, with a secure 30-year fixed rate and NO prepayment penalty. STILL think you can't get a loan? I promise you that it's still easier than you think. Contact me, I'll help you search for your best option with local lenders who have money to lend.
This can work well for many buyer profiles, but what one buyer often has a job, credit and no money? Recent college graduates. Virginia Tech and Radford alum, let's see how we can make this work for you!
I've been meaning to put this post out there for quite some time, then a month or two ago another agent did something similar and so I figured it was probably time to move it up the To-Do list.
A lot of people ask me "when's that house down the street going to sell?", or "how much did that two-story on Main Street sell for?" While I'm glad to tell you, there's a way you can find out even faster. If you'll email me your name, email address and the neighborhood you live in, I'll set up a search in the MLS that'll email you every time a property in your neighborhood comes on and off the market. You'll be the first to know when it this the market, the first to know if the price changes ... be the envy of all your friends! Don't worry - by providing your email address I won't be spamming you, or sending you cutesy recipe cards in the hope that you'll remember my name. If it helps, I won't even save your address.
I've just found that if you're interested in following the values in your area, this is a good, real-time way to do that. I've set it up for myself to track my own neighborhood, and those of some of my former clients, and can do the same for you. Just email me and I'll set it up; I hope you find it useful.
Out of the Absolutely-Positively-100%-Without-A-Doubt-Shameless-Promotion-And-I-Don't-Care Department comes this post ...
Last week Jay Thompson in Phoenix talked about how he was paying models across the country to show off his "Phoenix Real Estate Guy" t-shirts. Jay is known far and wide as THE Phoenix real estate dude in, well, Phoenix, and now he has the models to prove it.
Which got me thinking ...
I haven't mentioned in a very long time that NRVLiving Real Estate has things for sale. We have for a long time, actually. Shirts ... and mugs ... and stuff for kids ... and it's Christmas, don't you need to pick up some last-minute gifts for the special pet in your life?
It's true, the NRVLiving Real Estate Group has it's own store, and you can buy all kinds of things there that are emblazoned with our very own NRVLiving logo. I mean, look at that smile on WDBJ7's very own Natasha Ryan as she shows off her new t-shirt (and ignore the doofus behind the bubble)! Don't you want that same sense of excitement?!
Seriously though, we do have a store. And it's not to put money in our pockets, either - we're an entrepreneurial bunch here, but not quite like that. See, we don't talk about the ways we're involved in the community very much, but one of the things I AM proud to talk about is our involvement with a local child care center, the Valley Interfaith Child Care Center. The folks involved with this center are very dedicated to their mission ... taking care of children from low-income, working families throughout the New River Valley, so that Mom and Dad can get back into the workforce. One of the many ways we support this group is through the NRVLiving Store - 100% of all profits we make go directly back to the center. It's not much, I promise you, but every little bit counts.
All kidding aside, if you'd consider supporting the Valley Interfaith Child Care Center through our store we'd greatly appreciate it. And if you'd like to discuss other ways you might be able to support, either through volunteering your time and talents, dedicated giving, etc., let me know - I'd be glad to tell you more about what we're doing. The needs are great, for sure - thanks for considering how you might give back.
NOW GO GET YOUR SHIRTS! :)
It's the winter time - duh, it's cold outside - and many folks are looking for inexpensive ways to save dollars AND energy in their homes. I came across this list from GreenCville.com and thought I'd repost it (italics are mine):
What are YOU doing to save money on energy costs this winter?
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