Walter Grewe III, Realtor, SFR, A-REO Roanoke Homes and Real Estate

The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center and Grandin Court Elementary, as part of Doubletree's award-winning Teaching Kids to CARE®, are collecting non-perishable food items in the One Can Fight Hunger Food Drive to donate to Feeding America Southwest Virginia Food Bank from October 18, 2010 through December 18, 2010.

The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center and Grandin Court Elementary are teaming up to bring attention to the increasing hunger issues facing our community and are collecting non-perishable food items in the One Can Fight Hunger Food Drive to donate to Feeding America Southwest Virginia Food Bank from October 18, 2010 through December 18, 2010.

Through collecting non-perishable food items and a unique matching contribution program by Doubletree Hotels with World Food Program USA, students nationwide will be empowered and inspired to consciously make a difference for their communities and the world â€" all at the same time. For every non-perishable food item collected, Doubletree will donate US $0.10 to World Food Program USA, where kids will be helping other kids globally through the United Nations World Food Program School Meals Initiative.

Zoo Boo ! Saturday, October 30, 2010 1:00 PM - 4:00pm at Mill Mountain Zoo, Roanoke Va.

Vinton Fall Festival and 5K Run/Walk - Saturday, October 9, 2010 from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

A annual festival that is the 2nd Saturday in October. The event starts with a 5K Run at 8:00am. After the 5K run, you can enjoy a pancake breakfast at the VFW pn Lee Ave.

The festival is held in downtown Vinton with portions of walnut Ave., Lee Ave., S. Maple St., and S. Pollard St. closed to traffic and filled with Crafters, Business Expo, Health and Safety Section, food vendors and other activities.

There are two stages (one located across from the farmer's market and the other stage is at the corner of S. Poplar St. and W. Lee Ave.) with entertainment of a musical variety as well as the popular ‘Doggy Pageant'. We will feature a Monster Truck ride for all ages located on the Vinton Ford Motor parking lot. There is a busy Children's Activities area located in the Vinton Baptist Church parking lot.

The Vinton Police always host fun and educational activities for all ages. The farmer's market activities include local crafts and vegetables judged by a master gardener's group. There are a variety of food vendors to choose from and over 75 craft vendors to explore and shop from.

Downtown stores and restaurants are open for the day and enjoy about 10,000 visitors at the festival. The day ends at 4:00pm.

A fantastic opportunity for homebuyers in Roanoke Va.!

Fannie and Freddie Offering Hard-to-Beat Deals !

Beginning this week, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are trying to sell off 150,000 foreclosed homes by offering low down payments, no requirement for mortgage insurance, and up to $30,000 added to the mortgage for renovations.

In some neighborhoods, these properties undercut the average listing by $100,000.

Fannie and Freddie already have repaired the biggest problems with the property including roofs, plumbing, and electrical work.

Buyers who plan to live in the properties get a 15-day chance to view the homes before investors can purchase them. Investors with cash will likely snap up any properties remaining at the end of the grace period.

"Our goal is to recover as much as we can to offset our loss and not to be low balling properties just to move them," says a Freddie Mac spokesperson. "We absolutely have no motivation to be leading a downward spiral in home prices."