About Charlottesville's Forest Lakes

The first edition of our Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate iPhone app is alive and well. But it’s not a ‘real estate’ app in the traditional sense, ie: pushing listings to your iPhone. It’s a buyer centric app designed to solve a few pronounced challenges faced during the physical expedition through open houses. And that’s the key with the iPhone platform- pick a few things that are already challenges in real life. Take something you do manually today, and make it automated, seamless, instinctive. I've tried it and it does seem to be a fun and effortless way for buyers to keep track of what they have seen.

The warmer temperatures have brought, along with seasonal allergies, a sense of hope and perhaps a flurry of optimism to the housing market. Last month, as home buyers felt a sense of urgency to take advantage of the tax credit and an influx of foreclosed homes lured them to the market, pending home sales shot up 8.2 percent, marking the largest margin increase in more than eight years and making this year’s spring selling season better than last year’s. Of course, many wonder how the market will react once the tax incentive ceases to exist. More jobs and economic growth, however, could continue to propel a housing recovery and the return to normal household formation rates.

On another upbeat note, some argue that the immense concern in the housing market may be misplaced. Total sales are only 10 percent below their long-run average and foreclosure-mitigation programs are likely to keep inventory from immediately flooding the market. In other good news, a survey from Fannie Mae found that nearly 70 percent of respondents believe putting their savings in a home is a relatively safe investment. I agree! Buy low, sell high.

Yesterday Real Estate III just got a whole lot better by joining forces with media giant - the Meredith corporation (www.meredith.com) and Realogy (www.realogy.com) the brand leader in real estate excellence to create Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate III. The ownership of the company stays the same and will retain the best of a family owned business and will now combine this with the corporate horsepower of the Better Homes and Gardens network.

In a few short weeks summer will be upon us. For those of us in the northern Albemarle county area there is a great alternative to lying around making your own gravy. Chris Green Lake, which is just a couple minutes from Charlottesville Albemarle Airport, offers boating, swimming, fishing, hiking, and picnicking.

Hours of operation are daily 12:00pm to 7:00pm. (from Memorial Day weekend through the summer swim season, except on the days when Albemarle County Schools are in session).

Canoe rental is $5,00 per hour (cheap).

Fishing: A Virginia State Fishing License is required. A wheelchair-accessible fishing pier is
available. All bass 12 to 15 inches must be released immediately. Five bass per day limit. All other State Regulations apply.

Amenities: 3 miles of trails; wheelchair-accessible playground; 8 tables and 5 grills scattered throughout the park; seasonal restrooms; 2 picnic shelters with open grills and electricity.

For the uninitiated, Fridays After Five is a free family oriented event that takes place in in downtown Charlottesville every Friday during the spring, summer and fall. It's a casual block party with live music, great food, local culture wine and brews. It's a great way to experience the wide diversity and eclectic nature of our populace. It's fun, be there or be square. The Charlottesville Pavilion has announced the first part of this season’s Fridays After Five lineup. Fridays After Five starts April 16 with the music of the Chickenhead Blues Band. The free shows begin at 5:30 p.m. and are open to listeners of all ages.