Archive for September, 2009
Foreclosures Still Concentrated in Same Areas
September 10th, 2009 categories: Buyer Strategies, Mortgage & Finance
Chantilly area homeowners, especially those who may be dealing with the possibility of foreclosure, may have wondered where the foreclosures are concentrated. That story has not changed much. Once again, the country’s foreclosures are disproportionately concentrated.
If you check the RealtyTrac.comdata you will see that over half of the foreclosures nationally are still unfortunately happening in these hard-hit four states:
- California : 25.76 percent
- Florida : 17.4 percent
- Michigan : 5.4 percent
- Nevada : 5.0 percent
The others among the “Top 10″ states in which there were the highest number of foreclosures were Arizona, Illinois, Georgia, Ohio, Texas and New Jersey.
Compared to last August, foreclosures are up nearly 18 percent.
If it does not stretch things too much to see a silver lining in this foreclosure cloud, we can at least point to the fact that this large number of foreclosures is opening up unheard of opportunities for those able to buy. And that is what many buyers are doing. About one-third of all home sales are involved in foreclosure and distressed properties. Couple that with low mortgage rates and federal tax credits for buyers, and you have conditions that are encouraging buyers to take action.
If you want a bit more detail, you can check out the August 2009 report on the Realty Trac website. It includes foreclosure heatmaps and other trends
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Easy Way To Grow Tomatoes At Home: The Upside-Down Planter
September 9th, 2009 categories: Home Life
Not all Chantilly area home owners have the time or inclination for gardening, and not everyone has the backyard.
But there is one way to save money and enjoy the other benefits of fresh produce. For example, upside-down planters are an easy way to have your own fresh supply of tomatoes.
Doing so has several advantages:
- No weeds
- Rarely have garden pests
- Need only a tiny space
If you are interested, take a quick look at YouTube and you’ll find 105 How-To Videos or do a Google search and find a similarly large set.
If DIY is not your thing, check out the Hammacher Schlemmer devise.
It is an $80 product called The Upside Down Tomato Garden- shown in the picture to the right. It is about 25″ square at the base….so not much space required.
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Outer Banks (OBX) Real Estate for Investment or Retirement (Part 2)
September 8th, 2009 categories: Outer Banks Focus, PODCASTS
If you have ever considered investing and/or retiring in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, this set of podcasts on the OBX is just for you.
Many who have experienced its magic and charm have considered the possibility of either buying an investment rental property, or even retiring in the OBX area.
To give anyone from Northern Virginia and the DC Metro area (as well as our readers elsewhere) the opportunity to learn more about the Outer Banks investment and/or retirement possibilities and realities, we have launched a new blog feature, Outer Banks Focus.
We begin this new feature with a set of six shows with our strategic partner in the OBX, Barb Connery of REMAX Ocean Realty. Barb has over two decades of experience in making dreams come true for OBX investors, second home owners, and future retirees. She shares the “secrets” and insider insights that you probably won’t read in the marketing brochures.
In this episode Barb Connery shares the single most important mindset shift that successful investors must make before they buy OBX property. Many who are new to Outer Banks investment don’t know the “ins and outs” as well as they think they do. We also take a short tour of the incredible diversity of the OBX, from the wild natural sand dunes of the Four Wheel Area on down to the charm of Ocracoke.
Stay updated on investment and retirement insights through our new blog feature, “Outer Banks Focus.” We invite you to listen and get subscribed to Real Estate in Chantilly so you don’t miss a single information packed show.
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VIDEO: Will these tips save you $100 every month?
September 7th, 2009 categories: Home Life
Saving money is a hot topic these days. It usually requires deliberate effort, and some sacrifice. 
That said, with a little forethought, there are some easy ways to save.
The article this video was based on offers savings of $500 a month. That sounds a bit exaggerated, but any savings is a good thing.
The video is from NBC’s The Today Show, and has several excellent ways to achieve easy savings on items most people need. Definitely worth checking out.
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New Homes in Leesburg Area: Goose Creek Bend
September 6th, 2009 categories: New Construction
If you have an interest in new home construction in the Leesburg, Virginia area, I wanted to share information about a Brookfield Homes project that appears to be in a fairly early stage, yet is “open for business.”
The Goose Creek Bend community is being described as “an intimate enclave of single family homes situated on 1-acre, wooded homesites.”
These new homes, priced from the 600’s, will be located near the intersection of Sycolin Road and Belmont Ridge Road.
These are 4 and up bedroom homes with lots of room for customization to accommodate home buyer preferences.
I will keep you posted as house images and other information become available. In the meantime, let me know if want more information, or help getting more specifics from the good folks at Brookfield Homes.
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Outer Banks (OBX) Real Estate for Investment or Retirement (Part 1)
September 4th, 2009 categories: Outer Banks Focus, PODCASTS
Investing in the Outer Banks (OBX) of North Carolina is a dream that many have made into a reality.
In this new regular feature of Real Estate in Chantilly we launch our first episode in a series on how to start thinking about and planning for investment and/or retirement in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We interview our strategic partner in the OBX, Barb Connery of REMAX Ocean Realty. Barb has been helping investors and others achieve their OBX real estate goals for over two decades. She knows the “ins and out” of OBX property from top to bottom. In this series she shares what prospective buyers need to know about the actual realities of owning property in this area.
What has the real estate downturn done to property in the Outer Banks? What are the opportunities? How much have prices fallen off? What are the two very different real estate markets in the OBX?
This series of opening shows for “Outer Banks Focus” builds a good foundation for anyone who has considered investing in an OBX property for rental income or retirement, or both. We cover a set of key issues that investors and future OBX property owners will need to be keenly aware of before they begin their property search.
What is the special charm of this unique stretch of shore line? Why does it enchant visitors and cause some to act on their dreams? What does it take to move from dream to reality when it comes to owning a piece of the OBX magic? Listen and get subscribed to Real Estate in Chantilly so you don’t miss a single episode or blog post on your personal source for OBX information!
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Home Sellers Advantage: Improving Home Energy Efficiency (Part 5)
September 1st, 2009 categories: Home Life, PODCASTS, Seller Strategies
EPISODE 18 – REAL ESTATE IN CHANTILLY
Chantilly and Northern Virginia area home sellers looking for a competitive advantage in the marketing and sale of their home should take a good look at enhancing energy efficiency.
In this series of episodes with Ardently Green, Inc. founder, Bob Weatherwax, we discuss how enhancing your home’s energy profile can add value now, as well as give you one more advantage when it comes time to sell your home.
In Part 5 of this series we discuss the basics of alternative energy use for residential home owners. Solar, wind, and geo-thermal approaches are briefly discussed. Where do you start when considering these technologies? How practical are they for residential use? What do you want to make sure to know before starting an alternative energy application for your home?
Who should listen to this series?
Anyone anticipating the sale of their home within the next year, who sees energy efficiency as a powerful added selling point in the marketing of their home. Additionally, home energy efficiency is a win on several other levels. It helps home owners save money on escalating energy costs, provides a more comfortable and clean living environment, reduces the environmental impact of energy waste, and adds to the long term goal of national energy independence.
Before you sell your home, take a good look at how energy efficiency can play a role in your selling strategy. Or, if the sale of your home is not in the short term future, consider how these strategies can save money now and add value to your home when it does come time to sell.
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