About Albemarle County, VA

Located just east of the Blue Ridge mountains in central Virginia is Charlottesville Virginia and many people know that Charlottesville Real Estate is some of the most desirable in the country.

With incredible mountain views, about 45 minutes to skiing and just a few hours to the eastern seaboard. We are located where Thomas Jefferson decided to build his home, Monticello, a must see when touring Charlottesville Virginia.

Washington DC area is over two hours away and we feel that this is actually a benefit to our area. It is close enough to visit and tour, but not close enough to make our area a bedroom community.

There is a JUMBO loan option for our Veterans and it is truly amazing.

The standard VA loan program offers 100% financing up to $417,000. However, a Veteran can go above $417,000 with a down payment!

I recently pre-qualified a veteran for a purchase price of $584,000 with a rate of 3.875%! SunTrust gave the client back $7,300 as a lender credit to reduce closing costs, WOW.

Sandra S. Madison

Senior Mortgage Loan Originator

NMLS # 43902

(434) 566-2420 direct line

www.suntrustmortgage.com/smadison

SMART DIY landlords and professional property managers know that PREscreening tenant prospects saves EVERYONE and $$$.

Having a PREscreening phone script or e-mail response is KEY to starting this process and the questions and responses will assist landlords/property managers in determining if the NEXT Step is appropriate.

Although my rental inquiries usually come through my website with some PREscreening questions, I like to ask them again just in case.

1) When are you moving? If their answer is vague or more than 30 days off from the available date of the property they are inquiring about, I tell them I need the property rented sooner than that.

2) How many people in their family? If they start with adults and then kids and then one-on-the way, then the size of the available property should be up for discussion.

3) Do you have pets? When they respond and say YES, I have learned to then ask HOW MANY? and then WHAT KIND? Several property managers require photos of pets to accompany application paperwork. I frequently ask to see photos on their phone and then show them my 2 dogs.

4) A biggie that often does not get answered until it is too late is HOW MANY CARS do you HAVE? For PUDs/HOAs with limited or assigned parking, this is a BIG DEAL so knowing these rules as well as local ordinances about "over-night" parking is key as when it is too late, it is REALLY TOO LATE!

PREqualifying rental prospects saves them and YOU time if the property or circumstances do not meet their needs.

I'm mentoring a local real estate firm with their property management program. Their sales agent/property manager wanted to know HOW I get such high rents for my rental homes?

I had to think about it and realized that I KNOW the CURRENT * often weekly * RENTAL MARKET and I KNOW that the RENTAL VALUE is in the CONDITION of the property and the TIME it is AVAILABLE.

These issues are RARELY in the mix for buying a home because the reward for the Seller to give the Buyer occupancy on their timeline is included in the negotiations - not so with a rental property.

The CONDITION of a rental property needs to be VERY GOOD to EXCELLENT and I have the ability to make that happen * AND IT NEEDS TO BE CLEAN.

Sales agents used to dealing with owner-occupied homes for sale often do not advise their clients to DEclutter or CLEAN much less get rid of the pet smell or diaper pail.

If they transport this lack-of-concern or temerity in dealing with owners to their RENTAL listings, they will be disappointed in the quality of tenants and rents they can attract.

YES~! I can get EXCELLENT rental rates for my clients' property because I PRICE it RIGHT; have QUALITY marketing; and I require that the property be IN EXCELLENT condition when it is shown.