“World's Most Complete Neighborpedia”
Explore:   What's happening in your neck of the woods?

Jeremy Hart

What's The Best State for Business in the US?

07-24-09
Jeremy Hart

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.

Here's How To Get Your Mortgage Under $1000 a Month

12-16-08
Jeremy Hart

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
DLenders Home AloneOWN
:

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!

So Easy A Caveman Can Do It

12-16-08
Jeremy Hart

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.
Caveman
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.

NEWS FLASH: NRVLiving's Abandoning Real Estate, Moving Into Apparel! Video at 11!

12-08-08
Jeremy Hart

Natasha Ryan and NRVLiving 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!
:)

Ten Easy Ways To Save Green This Winter

12-04-08
Jeremy Hart

Make A Difference 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):


  1. Seal duct work - this is the number one way to conserve energy during the winter. Duct work can leak heated air into the attic or crawl space if all the joints and intersections are not sealed with foil-backed tape or silicone caulking. (which is another reason Mt. Tabor Meadows is so unique)
  2. Seal air leaks to attic - seal all holes from pipes and wires that run in and out of the living space. This includes light fixtures, pipes, wires, attic stair openings.
  3. Seal fireplaces - never use a fireplace as a heat source for your home. Even as a supplemental heat source, the cold air introduced to a warm home through an open flue isn't as efficient as sealing off a fireplace and using the primary heat source. For natural gas fireplaces, turn off the pilot light when not in use.
  4. Lower thermostat - in the winter, set the thermostat between 65 and 70 degrees during the day and to 58 degrees at night or when away from home for several hours. Keeping the temperature at 70 degrees is recommended for homes where there are elderly or infants. (this can be hard to maintain in homes that take a long time to heat - a programmable thermostat might help as it allows the home to begin heating at a prespecified time of day)
  5. Lower water heater to 120-125 degrees - many water heaters are automatically set at 140 degrees. Lowering the temperature on your water heater will reduce the amount of fuel needed to heat the water.
  6. Change furnace filters every month - This is the number one reason for furnace breakdowns. Inspect heating and cooling equipment annually. Have a professional check and clean furnaces once a year.
  7. Weatherstrip doors and windows - inspect doors and windows for air leaks. If you can see daylight around a door or window frame, then it needs sealing. Air leaks can be sealed with caulking or weather stripping.
  8. Insulate water pipes coming from the water heater - insulate the first three to six feet of cold and hot water pipes near the water heater. Insulating all hot water pipes is not necessary if pipes are loDog in a blanket-1 cated in an attic or crawlspace.
  9. Add an insulation blanket to your water heater - wrapping the water heater with an insulation blanket can save heating money by slowing the drop in temperature from the hot water tank as it sits unused. Inexpensive insulation kits are available at most home improvement stores.
  10. Add insulation to attic - when adding insulation, start at the top and word down only after eliminating air infiltration. (I've had clients do this and it drastically reduced their heating and cooling bills)

What are YOU doing to save money on energy costs this winter?