To my Southern Friends, this is a great opportunity for those that live in the South.  

 This info reblogged by The Hampton Roads Real Estate Lady!

 Via Homes for Heroes, Inc.:
Homes for Heroes is asking our affiliates and friends of heroes to search your databases, to recommend a family for the February 2010 episode ABC’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition. This is of extreme urgency. We will need this in the next day or so. For the February episode, we are looking for someone in the Texas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama or South Carolina areas. Please forward any names support@homesforheroes.com Here are some of the criteria:

Its ALMOST OFFICIAL !!!!!  The Senate indicates that First time Homebuyers Tax Credit will be renewed until at least April of 2010! This is Great news! Here are the biggest changes: The credit would be cut slightly to a $7,290 cap. Income eligibility for first-time home buyers would stay the same, but it would rise for step-up buyers to $125,000 for individuals and $250,000 for couples. This is the biggest change: The credit will also be expanded to include so-called step-up buyers who have lived in their current home for at least five years. At this time, it is believed that the credit will allow anyone purchasing (even if the property is not closed) a home by April 30, 2010 to participate and receive the full credit available. The credit will be continued (but reduced by 2% each 90 days) through the end of 2010! The credit will be slightly lessened, but it will be renewed and this extension should allow the market to continue to recover into and through next summer’s selling season. Of course, there’s always the possibility that it could be renewed at that time, as well. Here’s the text of the story as reported in Bloomberg News today: Senate Democrats on Board with Credit Extension Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) says Senate Democrats have agreed to extend the first-time home buyer tax credit. The latest version extends the program to home sales signed – not closed – by April 30. Purchasers would have another 60 days to close the sale. This info passed on by Dee Dee Jones Wainwright Real Estate The Hampton Roads Real Estate Lady!

Need to be walked thru the home buying process?  Looking for Down Payment or Closing Cost Assistance?  Want info on First Time Home buyer programs? 

If you would like to hold a free homebuying class at your church or nonprofit organization please feel free to email or call me! 

Add Virginia Beach and Chesapeake Homeowners to the list of those complaining of Chinese Drywall found in their homes.  Residents have joined for a lawsuit against the local supplier, contractor and Chinese manufacturer of the drywall. The suit is one of several locally connected to the use of Chinese-made wallboard.   Chinese-made drywall, which has been the focus of complaints in several states by people who say it emits a corrosive gas that damages household electrical systems and causes respiratory problems.

The local Virginia Beach couples are out of thousands from replacing appliances, they all have experienced bouts of sickness, and the inconvenience of a nagging egg like odor has made their homes difficult to live in.  They have asked the CPSC to investigate.                                              

According to CPSC, To date, the CPSC has received over 365 reports from residents in 18 States and the District of Columbia who believe their health symptoms or the corrosion of certain metal components in their homes are related to the presence of drywall produced in China. State and local authorities have also received similar reports. We received our first incident report from a consumer on December 22, 2008. The majority of the reports to the CPSC have come from consumers residing in the State of Florida while others have come from consumers in Alabama, Arizona, California, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia.

Consumers largely report that their homes were built in 2006 to 2007, when an unprecedented increase in new construction occurred in part due to the hurricanes of 2004 and 2005.Common features of the reports submitted to the CPSC from homes believed to contain problem drywall have been:

• Consumers have reported a “rotten egg” smell within their homes.
• Consumers have reported health concerns such as irritated and itchy eyes and skin, difficulty in breathing, persistent cough, bloody noses, runny noses, recurrent headaches, sinus infection, and asthma attacks.
• Consumers have reported blackened and corroded metal components in their homes and the frequent replacement of components in air conditioning units.

 For more info visit http://www.cpsc.gov/info/drywall/index.html

This info brought to you by The Hampton Roads Real Estate Lady! Dee Dee Jones Wainwright Real Estate

http://DJonesRealEstate.com

The Chesapeake Jubilee is May 14-17 ,

This event will be held at Chesapeake City Park, of South Greenbrier Pkwy near Kempsville, This fun family friendly event is geared to all Ages.  There will be rides, food, giveaways, and more food.

Amusements of America provides us with the largest array of traveling carnival rides and games east of the Mississippi!

Known for its great fireworks show.  This is a must see event.  The fireworks will be Saturday the 16th, at 9pm.  Bring your lawn chair and a blanket and listen to live music all day and the headliners below.   

Announcing the musical lineup for the 2009 Jubilee

The greatest living exponents of Jamaica’s reggae tradition provide a dynamic start to the 2009 Chesapeake Jubilee. It promises to be an unforgettable evening of music as the Wailers perform the legendary “Exodus” album.

Brandishing heavy guitars and an unabashed fetish for British Invasion Pop, The Smithereens carved their niche on album rock radio and earned a reputation as a great concert attraction with sizzling pop songs including: “A Girl Like You,” “Only A Memory,” and “Blood and Roses.”

These talented singer-songwriters bring their amazing “A Place to Land” tour to Chesapeake. Come hear the future of country music as Little Big Town’s highly acclaimed album comes to life with a thrilling live performance on the Bagley Stage at City Park.

If you think you are the grill master on the 15th & 16th there will be a bbq cookout.  Over $10,000 in cash and prizes are up for grabs.

From funnel cakes to smoothies, the Jubilee has food for everyone’s taste

this info brought to you buy Dee Dee Jones The Hampton Roads Real Estate Lady, http://DJonesSellsHomes.com

Ok it is Wednesday but here are Tuesdays title tips from Fran The Title Man but its worth the read.

From time to time I like to pass on some practical suggestions that we glean from seeing a number of Real Estate closings pass through our system…  

Keeping in mind ‘Real Estate is local’, and as such, real estate transactions are subject to local laws and customs…thus, practices may differ from region to region even within a State…!  

1. If you hire an attorney to guide you through a transaction, be sure to employ them BEFORE you sign any legal documents, especially an agreement of sale…!!!  

2. Be prepared to document all funds required in a transaction…’mystery’ monies often will negate a transaction from closing…so providing bank statements detailing recent deposits will expedite greatly your closing time…!  

3. When shopping for a mortgage, please don’t use ‘quoted interest rates’ as the sole determinant of your final choice of lenders…interview loan officers until you find one you trust…then stick with him/her…!  

4. Select your own choice of settlement service providers…don’t buy into that ‘one stop shopping’ ploy…if someone wears more than one hat in a real estate transaction, chances are they have multiple agendas, which may not place you at the top of their ‘care list’…!  

5. In real estate transactions, where so much of your time and money are invested, there are no such thing as ‘dumb questions’…there are, however, ‘dumb answers’, so don’t be afraid to ask questions of the many real estate professionals involved in a typical real estate transaction…and don’t wait until the last minute…if something is bothering you that you don’t fully understand, raise a flag and get an answer…  

Finally, use these tips and be assured that in spite of what you may read or hear about real estate professionals, the majority are concerned consumers just like you and me…!!!

 

 

 brought to you buy Dee Dee Jones The Hampton Roads Real Estate Lady!

My AR associate JL Boney III, from South Carolina gave 10 reasons that are great for anyone who is on the fence to read.  With a little humor the point is well made so I am sharing his post with you.

Spring in Hampton roads

Its that time of year time to declutter, spring clean, put your house on the market and get it Sold. If you are thinking of selling a home in the Hampton Roads area this year the time to get started has come. Looking for great home selling tips and Real Estate advice, then look to my fellow Active Rainer

– That British Agent from Maywood, NJ Sheldon Neal- Sheldon recently shared the following Active Rain Blog. This is great real estate advice for even Hampton Roads Sellers to follow so I am passing it on. The Hampton Roads Real Estate Lady.

3) Have a Family Meeting ! Selling your home will affect everyone under your roof in different ways. It is important that you are all together for support and assistance. There will certainly be packing, moving, & cleaning, & possibly painting and other tasks, so rally the troops and make sure everyone is on the same page. (Pizza or chinese food are often good incentives for jobs well done !!) … and if there are children in the family, they may need a one on one chat in private just to check-in and make sure they are doing OK – moving house, possibly away from their friends, their school, and their comfortable neighborhood, can often be particularly scary for kids – and a friendly check in from time to time from mom or dad, letting them know it’s all going to be OK, can often ease that anxiety.

4) Choose a Realtor NOW ! – Don’t wait until the week that you want to list your home. Here’s why. Typically your local, knowledgeable Realtor can help you with your preparation, and make sure you are focusing your energy on the most beneficial tasks to get your home in ship-shape for listing ! There are sometimes decisions that homeowners make, which actually hurt the desirability of their home to most potential buyers – so set up your Realtor interviews now, find out how they plan to market your home, and once you select a Realtor, schedule a time to sit down with them as soon as possible to go over a PRE-LISTING Gameplan !

5) Take a Deep Breath ! – You are just taking the first steps, but starting out on the right foot can often lead to a smoother, less stressful journey though your real estate transaction.

6) Do a ‘Home Walkthrough’ – with your Home Sale Notebook ! — Go room by room, and jot down things that you feel need to be done before you can list your home. These things may include removing and storing excess clutter or un-needed furniture, fixing or replacing broken blinds, light switches, closet doors, noting rooms or furniture that need to be painted, jot down which rooms may have carpets that need cleaning, or even replacing. Hardwood floors are a desired floor covering for many buyers right now, so it is important that even if you have carpets, that you know whether there is hardwood underneath the carpet or not. Note your findings down in your notebook and go over them with your chosen Realtor at your PRE-LISTING Gameplan meeting !

7) Do a Repair Cost Analysis– This is often overlooked by sellers. But all the items that you note down from your walkthough, (or that are recommended by your Realtor) have a cost associated with them. Sometimes a lot of repairs or improvements can be done relatively inexpensively, but if you wanted to give your kitchen a ‘boost’ by installing a new granite countertop for example before putting it on the market, then you will need to know exactly how much that estimate will be, so you can confirm that it is within your budget to install. Keep track of all your desired improvements and their costs.

Plastic Tubs are your FRIENDS! — These 18 gallon containers that you can pick up from Target, Wal-Mart or similar stores, can make your life a whole lot easier – and if you check the Sunday Newspaper supplements, you can often find them on sale for just $3.99 or $4.99. Now cardboard boxes can be OK, but the plastic tubs are extremely durable, they stack well, and the most important thing, is that if for some reason the boxes are stored in a basement or place that may get a water leak of any description, the plastic tubs will almost certainly protect all your belongings inside – in that situation, a cardboard box will simply soak up the water and your belongings may be ruined…. this I can attest to from personal experience many years ago ! Now, I use plastic tubs without question

9) Consider PODS or a Storage Unit — Many sellers that understand the need to remove a lot of items or furniture from their home to give the best ‘first impression’ to anyone who walks through the front door, choose to store the excess items in a storage unit, or in PODS (Portable On Demand Storage).

10) Divide and Conquer ! — It’s much more difficult to do all the preparation on your own, so take that list of To-Do items and see who in your family, or which friends can help you. Again, it’s often good to have an offering of lunch or dinner at the ready ! – especially for the extra time consuming chores like room painting or packing a mountain of boxes !

11) Confirm and keep track of your next home. — Whatever your plans are for your next home, whether you have already secured a home to move into, or if you have to coincide the sale of your current home, with a purchase of a new home, make sure you stay in tune with the availability and timing.

12) PRICE IT RIGHT ! — When all your improvements are completed, and you are ready to list your home, sit down with your Realtor again and spend a significant amount of time digesting the market analysis your agent will provide. It is the single most important factor right now in positioning your home to sell as fast as possible. If you price it incorrectly, it can be a lost cause from the start. Determine the market value, and if you have the ability to list it a small cut below that price, you will draw the most attention possible right out of the gates !

13) Remind yourself that selling your home is a good thing ! – It may be easier to say this to yourself now, but it’s important to remind yourself of this periodically, even if the road becomes challenging at times. A way to keep focused and positive is to choose the right Realtor. They will be by your side from start to finish, so it is critical that you choose the best fit for your family and your intentions.

These thirteen tips will get you started on the right foot, and will help you organize your weeks leading up to putting your home on the market !

Contrary to many media reports out there, homes are selling right now !!!

… just make sure you do everything in your capabilities to make sure your home is one of them !

And remember your Realtor is there by your side, every step of the way !

Good Luck !

Did you know you can challenge your tax bill?

In Hampton Roads cities many homes are being appraised for less than there tax value for the first time in years. If you are in an area of declining value and you have proof or believe your tax assessment is to high you can call your city real estate assessor’s office to point out the discrepancy and challenge the assessment.

We all know lower taxes and lower interest rates can give us the lowest possible payment and many are taking advantage of refinancing their homes. In the past year, the median price for homes in South Hampton Roads has dropped 7.4 percent, according to our mls, Real Estate Information Network REIN, the Virginia Beach-based multiple listing service. Sales of existing homes also have fallen to unusually low levels.

For those of you looking to save money, after finding a qualified loan officer to assess whether you can or should refinance your home, do not forget to consider reviewing your tax bill and home owners insurance policy. Reducing these costs can save you hundreds more dollars a month. Or often times error such as wrong room sizes, square footage adjustments, and additions can be updated to make the bill more accurate.

To contact your local assessor in the seven cities click your city link;

CHESAPEAKE

NORFOLK

HAMPTON

PORTSMOUTH

NEWPORT NEWS

SUFFOLK

This info brought to you by

The Hampton Roads Real Estate Lady!

Dee Dee Jones

Wainwright Real Estate

http://DJonesSellsHomes.com

Chesapeake Leisure Guide

Looking for Spring and Summer Activities for your kids and family to do!

Chesapeake Park District put out the Spring Summer 09 Leisure Guide today.  You can pick one up at any Chesapeake Recreation City or go to  http://www.chesapeake.va.us/services/depart/park-rec/leisureguide/Spring_Summer2009.pdf to view or print the pdf.  You will find activities for toddlers thru senior ages and for boys and girls.  Dance, Gymnastic football and use of the gym are my families favorite activities. 

For those of you new to the area Chesapeake and Virginia Beach have two of the areas best park and recreation programs.  Check out the link and register early because classes do fill up.  You can go to the main website http://www.chesapeake.va.us/and view the pdf or there is also instructions on how to receive a guide by mail.

This information brought to you by

The Hampton Roads Real Estate Lady

Dee Dee Jones

Wainwright Real Estate