Sources told the Navy Times that only a fraction of those sailors — roughly “300 to 350” will actually qualify to retire through the 15-year option.  So if only roughly 300 sailors who were cut through the fleet’s enlisted retention boards will receive the new, early 15-year retirement option recently approved by Congress. What happenes to the other 2600 if they can not find new employment?

These are a few of the questions I have had

1. How do I sell a home that is worth less than my mortgage balance?

2. How do they pay their mortgage or even rent a home with no employment?

3. How can they find out if they will qualify for a short sale?

4. If they took the Tax credit and it hasn’t been three years do they have to pay it back or pay taxes on it?

This is just a few questions ERB Sailors will be asking me and others as their official departure day draws closer.

I spoke to one sailor who said “When reenlisted in the Navy I thought my contract would be honored for the 4 years I re-listed for and I planned my life and bills accordingly.  I never thought I would be forced out and amongst the unemployed.”

I spoke to another sailor that says ” My only hope for employment is to leave the area I must consider selling my current home even if it means as a short sale.”

Most bought their home with a VA loan but each lender and loan type has its own guidelines for short sales so it is not a 1 + 1= 2 situation

If you are a ERB sailor needing to sell your current home give me a call and lets discuss your options.

Sat Feb 11 th,2012         930-230pm- LUNCH INCLUDED -

Greenbrier Chesapeake Library Meeting Room

1214 Volvo Parkway, Chesapeake, VA 23320 Come learn about the buying process from beginning to end. There will be a loan officer, a real estate agent, a home inspector, and a title agent, on hand to give you valuable information and answer your questions.

If you are serious about buying a home in 2012 then this class is designed for you. Find out how to get preapproved to buy, how to make an offer, and what to expect in the closing process.

A pizza lunch is included!

Call, text, or email TODAY to RSVP, leave name and phone number.

Must RSVP to Dee Dee Jones 757-831-8294 call, text, or email djoneshomes@gmail.com

Another great reason to move to Virginia beach it was rated The Best Run City!!!!

 24/7 Wall St. ranked 100 cities from the best to the worst run.  

Listings- 

Residential active listings decreased, 17.3% year-over-year, to 12,162 (November 2011) from 14,698 (November 2010).

Under Contract (Pending) Residential Sales-

Total residential under contract sales increased by 34.8% as compared to November 2010 (1,510 vs. 1,120).

Sales

Total property sales and total residential sales increased when compared to November 2010 showing increases of 9.4% and 9.3% respectively.

Inventory

There is currently 8.15 months’ inventory of residential homes on the market in the Hampton Roads area, a slight decrease from the previous month and down 20.95% from November last year.

What does all this mean, Things are better since 2010 but we are not out of the woods yet.   As of Nov 2011 there are 14,909 properties for sale in Hampton Roads including both Southside and the Peninsula. The new focus for sellers for 2012 is to make their home marketable focusing on presentation and upgrades. But Price is still the most important indicator- you must price it correct for your subdivision.  Appraisers ARE using foreclosure and short sale comps from the last year of sales and this can further drive prices down.  You have to be smart with upgrades, fixups, and remodeling just to sell because dollar for dollar return will not be the case.  Kitchens and Baths still yield the best returns but focus on what is doable for your budget.  It is possible and sometimes more advantageous to just sale as-is but remember you will need an as-is price

The numbers above are skewed because they do not clarify if he property sold was a foreclosure, resale, or short sale and this can and will make a difference.  The best advice is focus on the comparable market analysis study the competition and read the full listing sheets on sold sales.

For a Free Comparitive Market Analysis on your Hampton Roads Home contact me!!!

It is up to you  the choices are endless.  I have small homes, tall homes, condos, townhomes, and single family homes, water front homes, mountain homes, valley homes, and even farm and ranch homes.  Virginia Beach, Hampton, and Norfolk Beach homes or Suffolk, Chesapeake and Portsmouth Dream Homes.

If you need help picking out the ultimate gift, If you need to get preapproved, or if your ready to write a contract contact me Today!  Do not procrastinate any longer!!!!!

STOP MONKEY-ING AROUND AND GET THAT HOME SOLD ALREADY!!!

You Must be 110% Motivated!         

Dedicated to the process!

Must be Cooperative and Compliant with banks demands!

Must be ready to sell and redy to move!

Willing to use Dee Dee Jones to list your home!

If your hanging on to your home by a limb.  Call me today and lets discuss a Short Sale!!

1. Low interest rates Nationally     

2. Great inventory in Hampton Roads Cities

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

That Brand is branded in your mind instantly.

Liberty Tax Service is the name of the company and they provide tax services to Hampton Roads residents and businesses.  They were recently featured in INC. 500 Magazine as one of the top 10 Top growing franchises.   Capitalizing on the many business professionals out of work they have been able to grow at a trail blazing rate and keep profits high.
New Franchisees see the potential for high sales volume in an industry that has not been hit hard by the recession and are flocking to explore the company.  Specials such as “No Franchise Fees” and start ups for less than $2500, No Inventory are attractive and helpful to new business owners.  

How do they do this- John Hewitt CEO says ” We eliminate the franchise fee and charge a higher royalty rate allowing new owners to get a franchise for $2500.00.”

If you are looking for a new career call 800-790-3863 or visit Libertytaxfranchise.com

Blackbeard Point in Hampton , Va. Was named for a pirate named Blackbeard whos head was cut off in battle and was then stuck on a pole to warn other pirates.  Many people have sited this pirate roaming the Chesapeake Bay for his head today………

Cavalier Hotel, Virginia Beach- A ritzy hotel built in 1927 and often frequented by celebrities from Al Capone to Woodrow Wilson.  A previous owner of the hotel shot himself.  The sightings are mainly of a cat and a black man wearing a hotel uniform standing at the 6th floor saying “You do not want to go up there, there is ghost up there”.  Front desk employees get reports of seeing the cat or the employee daily.

Chesapeake, VA- Elbow Rd- Its reported that if you go to the area that curves by the lake at the Virginia Beach city line, sit on the hood of your car at midnight  you will see wet footprints of a little girl approach your car.  This is the ghost of a little girl that drowned while her father was fishing.

Chicks Beach, Virginia Beach, VA- Fire station- firefighters report seeing the ghost of an ex-firefighter in the station.  As well as sirens sounding by themselves, doors slamming, and alarms sounding for nor reason.

Dam Neck base Virginia Beach, VA- there are barracks called the “finger barracks”.  In Dec 1999, 5am in the morning there was a sighting of a slender transparant and naked slender woman who walked straight out from a wall thru a shower and down the hallway.  She was spotted by sailors taking showers.

Fort Story, Virginia Beach- is the base for some Army and Navy personnel.   Located near Shore Drive is Coast Artillery Rd.  Apparently, a ghost of a soilder who committed suicide is often seen roaming the wetlands area.

Fort Monroe, Hampton, VA Now Veterans Hospital- In 2005 a veterans hospital opened in Hampton.  Before it was a veterans hospital it was a hotel called the Chamberlain for Ft Monroe military base.  The top floor of the hotel was deemed haunted by several apparitions and was close for that reason.  No confirmed reports from patients of the veterans hospital on recent paranormal activity.

Gloucester, VA – Roswell Plantation- This historic mansion was once known to be the”largest and finest” of all plantation homes.   The home was originally built in the 1600′s and has been lived in by many families.  It burned down in 1916 and was deemed a landmark.  So what is strange several walls are still standing today.  Visitors and grounds keepers report many strange occurrences by the ruins or by the original families grave yard still located on the property. Strange noises, sounds of slaves, drops in temp of more than 15 degrees are reported.  Often ghost hunters camp out to see the ghost of a young woman walk down the steps EVERY night. Ok but look at the photo do you see any steps….

Norfolk City Jail, this will give you a reason to walk the strait and narrow.  Many night workers in the jail report sitings of a dead inmate roaming the halls on various floors….

Norfolk, VA-, Gresham Dorm, ODU- In 2003 a woman and her husband was gunned down in front of the dorm.  The killers were never found.  The woman is often seen roaming around bleeding trying to find her husband.  No sightings of the husband but the sightings are always reported in November which was the month they were killed.

Poquoson, VA – Poquoson Ave is said to be haunted at the intersection near CHurch St.  Located near a morgue ghost are sights roaming the road.  Many have reported to police a woman in a nightgown asking them to use their phone to call her husband and then she vanishes.

Portsmouth, Va- Olde Town- There is no doubt of Olde Town’s haunts people sell out an annual ghost walk to hear the tails. Most famous the Lady in White on Court St.  The womans husband had an accident involving the water, the sightings state the woman takes off running down court st and jumps in to the water.  This is reported to police every time there is a full moon. Her image has been so real there are reports of grown men trying to jump in the water to save her.

Princess Anne Country Club Virginia Beach, VA- Several spirits haunt the 100 year old clubhouse including a ghost in a case that sends guess running thru the hotel in fear and a disappearing bride that is usually sighted in the bar area.  maybe the sighter is just drunk……….  But employees complain of old time music being played in rooms and the sound of dinnerwear being clanged and tabless being set for dinner. Rumors stait the hotel also has an underground bunker.

Surry, Va – Bacon;s castle- Many regularly report sighting a fireball rising up from a nearby cemetary circling the castle, entering a chimney, and disappearing into the basement. 

USS Caron Norfolk, VA was decommissioned and sank.  Was it because it was an older ship we have lots of older ships.  Or was it because they were reports of a Gunner’s Mate Chief, that was killed in an injury on the ship, was seen plain as day in his khaki uniform inside the gun mount he was crushed in.  Sailors who had duty would complain and report the sitings often and the ship was later sunk. Coincidence?

USS Cole Norfolk, VA  Many sailors recently report hearing their name being called when they are alone in the hall of heroes or the mess decks.  Also sailors report their tools move by themselves in the engineering space.

USS George Washington  Norfolk, VA  Is said to be haunted by the unusual a man, a dog and a little girl.  Sailors report sightings and an overwhelming feeling of being watched.

Williamsburg, Va- I found so many haunted places in Williamsburg that I couldnt keep up

 Governor’s Place Green- haunted by a little girl

 Ironbound Road Recreation Center- reports of a baseball paying ghost

 Kings Arm Taveerns- A friendly poltergeist that helps the staff and blows out candles

 Magazine Building- A ghost of a soildier is seen walking and putting his gun away

 The Mill- Home of Williamsburg’s first serial killer

 Peyton Radolh House- over 20 years of sightings

 William and Mary College- Tucker hall- Ghost of a girl who was murdered sighted 

 Williamsburg Theatre- haunted by a ghost of a union soilder

 President’s House Wren Building- Haunted by a french soildier of the revolutionary war who died there.  

OKay now I am freaked out- to all you ghost hunters good luck ………………………………..