Walter Grewe III, Realtor Roanoke Homes and Real Estate

There are a number of ways to determine your home's value. The first item is to disregard your view of your home's worth and start considering what it is worth to a prospective buyer. Chances are you have invested a lot of time and money into fixing up your house to be the perfect home. A buyer doesn't share your memories or care about your financial situation. A buyer cares about the value of the home in his or her life.

The second item to consider is the comparative market analysis (CMA). This tool allows you to see what other similar homes have sold for in your area. Be sure to ask why certain homes were included on the CMA while others were not. The CMA is often a good tool to use to determine your beginning asking price. Consider going to open houses in your area to learn how other homes compare to yours. Remember to look at other homes with the impartial eye of a buyer, not from the view of a current homeowner looking to sell. Using the price per square foot formula is a good way to compare your home to others. This should not be the only determinant, but it can be helpful in setting a fair asking price.

The final item used to determine an accurate asking price is to consider add-on options. You may consider offering a lease-to-buy incentive, a quick closing date, or to assist in buyer financing. These added benefits could help you get a great price and help the buyer choose your home over another house.

In order to benefit from the "Move Up Buyer" tax credit, you've owned and lived in your home for a consecutive five out of the last eight years, and your adjusted household income doesn't exceed $125,000 if you file taxes singly or $225,000 if you are married filing jointly -- you can claim the credit as soon as you close on a qualifying house.

There is no "move-up" requirement in the new credit. In fact, homeowners who plan to downsize into a smaller dwelling may prove to be significant users of the credit, along with people who are moving because of employment changes. If you fit the criteria and are considering buying another house sometime in the coming year, you might want to speed up the process and sign a contract by April 30 and close by the June 30 expiration date

The festivities will take place on Saturday, March 14, 2009. The HomeTown Bank Celtic Festival runs from 10:00am - 5:00pm. The McDonald's St. Patrick's Parade starts at 11:00am. The Roanoke Valley Association of Realtors will be entering a float centered around "Going Green at Home".

Be one the thousands of people who come to enjoy the award-winning McDonald's St. Patrick's Day Parade. The parade features over 100 entries that range from clowns to dogs to Harleys to llamas; there is something for everyone to say the least including pipe and drum bands from throughout the region! come enjoy the Hometown Bank Celtic Festival featuring traditional Irish pipe and drum bands and dancers. Plus vendors will offer a variety of food including authentic Irish and Scottish fare and crafters will feature traditional Celtic goods including jewelry, handmade sweaters, and countless other crafts and products.

The entire Celebration will proceed rain or shine so make plans and dress accordingly. A portion of the HomeTown Bank Celtic Festival site will be covered with a "big top" tent so if the weather isn't cooperating you can still enjoy the entertainment. This is one of the largest St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the Mid-Atlantic region, and it grows larger every year! So bring your family, friends and neighbors to help make this a great time for everyone.

I am a fanatic for pork butt and beef brisket smoked and covered with spicy BBQ sauce. I stumbled upon Pitt Boss BBQ some time in the spring of 2007 and it has been an ongoing love affair ever since. As I became more of a regular patron I was befriended by the owner and his wife, James and Nickki Tedesco.

James graduated from Johnson & Wales University back in 1996 and married Nickki in October of 2007. After spending a few years as a professional skateboarder traveling the country with legends like Tony Hawk, Jason Lee and Mike Vallely, he decided to put his culinary training to work. Luckily for smoked meat junkies across the Roanoke region he decided to settle down and pursue life as a purveyor of bbq chicken, pork, ribs, beef and turkey, all of which is smoked onsite. Offering a selection of 5 different sauces, Pitt Boss can offer an taste to please almost any palate.

The current 28 seat Pitt Boss location at 3904 Brambleton Ave. Roanoke Va is soon the be replaced by a grander location a short distance away at 4301 Brambleton Ave. The new location will boast a 136 seat capacity, 14 televisions, an expanded menu, and onsite party catering capabilities. In recent years the intoxicating smell of their efforts has wafted through many downtown Roanoke festivals providing the citizens of the Roanoke Valley with the opportunity to indulge in some of the best BBQ I have ever eaten

Now entering his second decade of smoking meat James is well on his way to creating a must eat dining experience for BBQ lovers passing anywhere near the Roanoke area. The relaxed and inviting atmosphere harkens back to a time when restaurntuers greeted every customer as a friend and called many if not all by name. I have become a great fan of the folks as well as the food and invite you to visit with James and Nickki to experience it for yourself.

I have been seeing commercials for this on TV and decided to check it out and see what it was all about. I went to the website and this is a brief description.

From http://www.earthhour.org/about/

For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote - Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming. WWF are urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009.

VOTE EARTH by simply switching off your lights for one hour, and join the world for Earth Hour.

Saturday, March 28, 8:30-9:30pm.

Seems like a good idea to me.

This past Monday a friend and I climbed the 3.5 mile trail to McAfee Knob. It was my first time, but definitely not my last. We took the old fire road to start, it offers a wider track and less switchbacks than the trail. It was quite chilly as we began the 1,200 foot ascent, but I soon found myself feeling challenged by the steady climb.

We hiked steadily for about an hour and a half before reaching the objective and the hype was supported by the reality. Under an azure sky dotted with puffy clouds the Catawba Valley spread out below like a picture postcard. The wind was so brisk it made my face feel hard and tight, but the joy of being alone at arguably the most beautiful spot on the Appalachian Trail made it all worth it. We didn't remain long at the top because the wind chill made it to difficult, but it was so clear that we could see Sharp Top and Round Top rising off to the northeast.

As we started our return journey I wondered aloud to my companion," How can people not enjoy the woods?" I felt so exhilirated by our hike I have vowed to make a monthly ritual of exploring the natural beauty that abounds around the City of Roanoke.