About James City County, VA

Ask almost anyone who lives here and they will tell you that Williamsburg Virginia is a great place to live and play.

Many people come to Williamsburg for the historic tours or to take the family to Busch Gardens or Water Country.

Now that summer is over, you may wonder what there is to do In Williamsburg. Of course the historic attractions are still open and the cooler weather of Autumn make a trip to some of the outdoor living museums much more pleasant.

Busch Gardens is open every weekend through October 31st with Hallow Scream. This year Busch Gardens, under new ownership, will be open on the weekends for a Christmas celebration through December.

There are several festivals this weekend also.

There is an art festival in Colonial Williamsburg, a crab festival in West Point,

and a Scottish festival at Rockahock to name a few.

If you are a golfer there are numerous golf courses here.

Williamsburg has several gated golf course communities .

The weather here allows for playing golf most of the year. So if you are looking for a great place to live, or retire or for a second home.

Consider Williamsburg, I would highly recommend it!

Our favorite time of the year to visit Busch Gardens starts this weekend. With two boys who are 10 and 11 we can now take in all that Howl-O- Scream has to offer. I will say if you have younger children quite a bit of Howl-O Scream might be too scary at night-ime.. To help parents decide what to see and do the attractions and shows are rated for their scare factor.

Howl O Scream at Busch Gardens Williamsburg is open from Sept. 25 - Nov. 1, 2009 every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Now entering it's 11th year the fright fest for 2009 will feature 18 scare zones, haunted attractions and Halloween-themed live shows. Fifteen of the attractions are completely new.

Read more here http://williamsburgsrealestate.com/2009/09/22/howl-o-scream-busch-gardens-williamsburg-opens-this-weekend/

This post was authored by local resident and REALTOR, John Womeldorf. John is known around town as Mr. Williamsburg, for both his extensive knowledge of Hampton Roads and the historic triangle, and his expertise in the local real estate market. His websites, www.WilliamsburgsRealEstate.com and www.MrWilliamsburg.com, were created as a comprehensive resource about living in Williamsburg and Hampton Roads, with the hopes of selling a house now and again. You can reach him at 757.254.8136 or John@MrWilliamsburg.com.

Question ...does your company have a website? Yes, www.MrWilliamsburg.com I want to rent a home at first (with patio or small courtyard or yard....for my very small dog) and be near Colonial Williamsburg and a great gym. The gym is critical....I go three times a week! And I would like to work in Colonial Williamsburg. And somehow, meet people and make friends my age....50's and 60's. Rent needs to be under $1500 a month.....and I have seen some things on a realtor's site in Jamestown Farms , whatever that is. The treet is Gaslight Way...and the listing says it is in Williamsburg. Is that a good idea for a single woman living alone, with only dog and cat for company? I have made the mistake of being too isolated before and it was very lonely and really deadly. What is Newtown? The home you asked about on Gaslight is in the Waterford section of Powhatan Secondary, great neighborhood with both families, individuals and retirees. Powhatan is one of the most conveniently located communities in the entire county. Within walking distance are a major department store ( Target), a major food store,( Ukrops) several pharmacies, a full-service gas station, two major bank/lending institutions, eateries, novelty stores, and service establishments such as video rental and parcel mailing. Within a few miles is The James City County Rec Center it offers a great gym with fitness equipment, indoor pool, indoor track, racquetball, basketball, fitness programs and more. Ironbound Gym is another popular workout spot located nearby in New Town. New Town has become the center of Williamsburg/ James City County. It is a Traditional Neighborhood Development ( TND) Everything is walk-able. Within it are 24+ places to eat, a 12 screen movie theater, Barnes and Noble, Several Coffee Shops, a bakery, Trader Joes, other retail stores, banks, doctors offices, dentist offices and much more. Housing options in New Town range from town-house style apartments to town–homes ( Oxford) to detached homes, to midrise condos. Prices in New Town range from $200’s to over $500k. Apartments rent for $1050 for one bedrooms, and $1250 for two bedrooms. They do accept pets. There was one home in Counselors Close for only $1425. I almost never see rentals that nice that close to CW. Quaint little village like community only a few blocks to Merchants Square and all of CW. That along with a few in Powhatan for $1500 or less might be worth considering.

If you are interested in purchasing investment property in Williamsburg Virginia you should be aware of the laws in James City County which affect rental properties. In James City County, is is illegal for more than three unrelated people to live in a house together. Allowing more than three unrelated people to live in one dwelling may eventually become a reality in the city of Williamsburg, but the administrative hoops and the cost landlords will face are likely to discourage conversion of existing properties. Stay tuned for updates about this law and other laws affecting rental property.

Some complexes also have a rental cap. That means that they only allow a certain percentage of properties within that complex to be rented.

No matter where you are thinking of investing in property, you should check out the local laws related to rental and investment properties.

Location, Resale and Staycation: Three New Buzzwords for Real Estate

By: Elaine VonCannon, ABR, SRES, REALTOR, NOTARY, PROPERTY MANAGER, TEAM LEADER, AWARD WINNER, RE/MAX Hall of Fame

For those who are buying a home right now, there are several important details on locating the best property that are being ignored and must be considered. Many homebuyers are looking for a primary residence. First time homebuyers are searching for a home to live in this year in order to take advantage of the $8,000 tax credit.

As I take homebuyers out in search of a residence, I have noted a pattern of behavior that is becoming more and more common. Homebuyers are looking for the deal of the century. They are basing their buying decisions solely on price. Yet as they focus on the best price that can possibly be negotiated, (which does matter) they lose sight of other parameters that need to be applied to the purchase of a home.

Purchasing a home in the right location for a person's chosen lifestyle, and eventual resale value, should be paramount in the homebuyer's mind. Yet price continues to be the main focus in buying property.

Short Sales and Foreclosures: Property Pricing Realities

It is true that pricing has been reduced on homes, especially in some of the larger markets, such as California, Florida, and urban markets -- where values have fallen dramatically. According to an article published by Les Christie on Money.com, "nearly 20% of the nation's home sales in 2008 were of bank-repossessed properties. Another 11% were short sales, in which homeowners owed more in mortgage debt than their homes were worth."

Between foreclosures and short sales there are good home buying deals to be had, but home buyers must remember that on these types of purchases banks will generally not go below 20-25% of appraised values.

In the case of purchasing foreclosed properties, homebuyers should be cautious about the condition of the home. If a homebuyer is purchasing a foreclosed property, it is wise to enter into the deal with capital for improvements, because these homes have been neglected due to lack of money. Some foreclosed properties have been intentionally damaged by angry homeowners who have had to abandon their homes under stressful financial circumstances.

With regard to short sales on homes, banks may take up to six months to approve a short sale. Some lenders are folding in the middle of the process, which adds more time to complete a short sale, because negotiations must begin again with the new lender.

Short sales and foreclosures do factor into property pricing. When a home in a neighborhood is sold for less than it is worth, pricing drops in that neighborhood.

So, with pricing in many markets at a three to five year low, why do home buyers continue to focus only on a great deal? Why have the cardinal rules of real estate purchases been pushed to the side? Location, resale values and lifestyle, which I refer here to as staycation, are just as important as price.

I will give an example of some of the major markets where I sell real estate, James City County, Williamsburg and Norfolk, and give a brief overview of how the rules of real estate purchase apply in these markets.

Williamsburg and James City County

For the avid golfer or person entering retirement, or even the family looking to raise children in a good schhool district, Williamsburg and James City County offer a wonderful lifestyle. There are numerous golf courses, dining, entertainment and continuing education opportunities. In addition Williamsburg and James City County offer one of the top school districts in Southeastern Virginia. In my experience over the long-term selling real estate in this market, resale values remain strong in well-established neighborhoods. In an age where the staycation, or staying at home during scheduled vacations, is becoming more common, Williamsburg has plenty of choices for quality entertainment. These include Busch Gardens and Water Country USA, Jamestown Settlement, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, and numerous outdoor festivals and events that are free and open to the public. All of these factors should inform the purchase of a home in the Williamsburg and James City County real estate market.

Economic, Commercial and Residential Development in Norfolk, VA

In Norfolk, Virginia, where I have closed several residential property deals recently, the opening of a light rail system with stations in Ghent, downtown, and South Norfolk, has created tremendous real estate opportunities in both the residential and commercial sectors. In neighborhoods where light rail train stations will be located, resale values on properties purchased are sure to rise eventually. There are several reasons for this upswing in value. Urban professionals and families are embracing this state-of-the-art transportation system, and public and private organizations and investors are preparing for the influx of new traffic by updating existing properties and committing to building new projects. Taking light rail will cut down on time spent in traffic jams, and leave more time for recreation and spending time with loved ones - a desirable lifestyle for many. With access to Chesapeake Bay Beaches, the Elizabeth and Lafayette Rivers, boating, swimming and recreating on or near the water are widely enjoyed in Norfolk, a world-class port city. Waterside is a main staging area for national and international festivals, and new light rail stations will be located nearby. Norfolk is an excellent place for a staycation. All of these factors should inform the purchase of a new home in this location.

In summary, location, resale, and lifestyle need to come to the forefront once again when individuals are deciding on where to purchase a home. Price will always be an important factor in the purchase of a home, but it should not be the only deciding point.

Elaine is a published author on real estate both commercial, residential and property management. Her articles are on her web sites for you to read and enjoy. Visit www.elainesrealestateinvirginia, www.voncannonrealestate.com and www.estatesinvirginia.com