Archive for September, 2008
August Marks 8th Consecutive Month of Improvement in Real Estate Market
September 29th, 2008 Categories: Real Estate News
In this time of financial uncertainty we feel rather fortunate to have a self-described ‘contrarian’ on our side. Tom Dellinger with LPL Financial has been working us since about 2001 and his steady hand has been particularly reassuring over the past year or two. Tom is always on the look out for the silver lining and he forwarded this report from Brian Postol at Jesup and Lamont, one of the nation’s oldest investment banks to us last week:
“A combination of existing- and new-home sales in August fell 13.4% year over year, which was a slight improvement over the prior month’s 15.5% decline. Although the year over year remains negative, one cannot disregard the fact that Augusts’ improvement - while gradual - marked the 8th consecutive month of improvement from the trough level experienced in December 2007 of a 24.6% decline.
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Virginia State Fair is More Than Just a Midway
September 28th, 2008 Categories: Things to Do
The Virginia State Fair, which opened this past Thursday in Richmond, VA is more than just another midway. In fact, it’s one of our all time favorite places!
In the past 15 years we have taken our children and their friends, our nieces and their friends, and our godchildren and their friends. In fact, when our daughter (now grown) had a visitor from another country we took him too. Next on our list - grandchildren.
Sure, there are corn dogs and funnel cakes and barbecue sandwiches - and the must have midway - but most of all it’s good, easy fun. The permanent site at the Richmond Raceway Complex, just north of the city, is large, incredibly well maintained and simple to navigate.
We visit all the exhibits from the Old MacDonald Baby Animal Farm to the rabbit and chicken houses to sheep shearing. The exhibits are very hands on and children and adults alike can hold a lop-eared bunny, a baby chick or even give milking a try.
It’s easy to forget - especially when one lives in Northern Virginia - that farms and livestock are alive and well in the Commonwealth. Visiting the exhibits is also a great opportunity to talk to the young 4H’ers who prepare all year to bring their prize animals to the fair.
So what are you waiting for? Click here for the full daily schedule and get yourselves on down the road for a day of Virginia State Fair fun. The fair runs through October 5 so you still have time . . .
Michael
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Stupid to Smart and Chic in Today’s Blog Roundup
September 25th, 2008 Categories: Blog Watch, House Calls
Today’s Blog Roundup:
Homeowners Wendy and Doug Grills in Clifton, VA submitted their “stupid” room to the Washington Post’s House Calls and came away with a smart, chic office. Click here to see the work of designers Patrick J. Baglino and Megan Blake.
Want to know more about the rapidly growing world of eDecorating and the world of Web-based designers? Click here and keep your eye for our young friends, Sherry and John, from Richmond, VA.
Need help with fall chores? Click here to reduce your heating costs, clean a chimney, install insulation, make your doors draft free or ready your garden for winter.
Want to turn flea market finds into something fabulous? Check out what Eddie Ross is doing.
Now, you may ask yourself - why is a real estate agent so interested in room makeovers, interior design, chores or flea market finds? I’m interested because they are all things that go towards making a house a home. Rarely does anyone move into a property (new or old) and not do something. Instead, it is that ability to see and think “what if” that can make the difference between a house bought and tenderly loved or a house unsold.
So look around and when you find something that has that “what if” quality, call me at 703.927.4554 and we’ll make it happen.
Michael
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