Just wanted to invite everyone to join us at La Taza next Saturday! My mother owns La Taza Coffeehouse in Charlottesville, Virginia and she is holding a benefit for the Sustainable Farmers in Guatemala!  Should be a great time.. AND its for a good cause, what else could you ask for!?See you all then!Thanks,Valorie Ford - Real Estate III Charlottesville                    Belmont Boil In support of the Sustainable Farmers in Guatemala At La Taza Coffeehouse                                                                  Saturday October 6th                                                        An All Day Music Festival Noon - 10pm                                                                                      Music from....                                                          ... 10/02/2007

GREAT news!  I just found out, last night at 5:30 pm, that I was pregnant.  My husband and I are officially expecting our first child and the excitement is definitely there...but the "uh ohs" have already started sinking in.  My husband and I just moved to Charlottesville, Virginia the end of last month from Jacksonville, Florida.  Our home in Florida currently is being rented and we are living in a little cottage on my family's farm (may I emphasize the word "little"!).  My husband is still searching for a job...no health insurance...he is supposed to have an offer today on one of his final jobs, but what about preexisting?  Oh no!  I am so nervous that I haven't gotten started yet selling real estate in Virginia...no cash flow...no home!  Now we are going to have a baby!?  I am usuall... 09/18/2007

Could the soft market possibly be due to a decline in housing affordability?  Possibly...  This coming fall will mark the one year anniversary of the housing markets fall from grace.  The more optimistic predictions had this fall as being the beginning of the road to recovery!  I sure hope so.  Most prognosticators, however, are saying that the housing market is not quite finished softening and nearly every week we hear something more about a further downturn, more subprime problems, woe to the real estate world...  The latest puts the bounce-back beginning closer to the end of 2008.One of the latest sob stories to be added to the mess is that of declining home affordability.  What!? you might ask.  Well, I agree.  This might sound counterintuitive...why am I stating that homes are LESS... 09/17/2007

What is green?  Currently there is no national green building standards for anyone to consult, and with interpretations all over the board in an industry as diverse as construction, that is a question that many have been asking as all things green have been soaring!     The National Green Building Standard has been aiming to set the record straight, at least by the standard and definitions of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the International Code Council.  Since this past March, the two groups, with the aid of remodelers, builders, code/government officials, green suppliers and others (yes, this does worry me a bit!)...they have been putting together a point base system for certifying homes as green (of course with some flexibility for regional variations).  You can... 09/17/2007

I just recently moved from Jacksonville, Florida to Charlottesville, Virginia.  Florida is a FULL disclosure state.  Virginia...is not.  Virginia STILL allows dual agency, but they will not allow a licensed mortgage broker to sell a home and do the mortgage!  (They can in Florida)  In Virginia, there are no HOA disclosures, seller's disclosures, CDD fee disclosures...Nothing!  What the heck!?  I asked my broker here about it, and he said that no one in Virginia likes to disclose ANYthing.  The only way they disclose something is if there is a material defect that is obvious.  Otherwise they are mum.  Caveat emptore he says...  He believes that there is legislation that is going to require real estate agencies to come up with their own disclosures in the very near future.  Is this common... 09/16/2007

OPEN HOUSE TODAY FROM 1-4 pm!!!                                 Today is the day!  I am hosting an open house TODAY! at 1800 Jefferson Park Avenue in Charlottesville, Virginia.    Visit http://www.1800JPA.com/  for more information!  This is a condo conversion community with great potential and GREAT views!  HUGE swimming pool, great for Spring and Summer months!  This place is really going to be something special.  Stop by and see me from 1-4.  People with ties to UVA get a $5000 discount!  09/16/2007

Did you know that you are supposed to remodel your home no more than 7 years from your last purchase/remodel?  After seven years, everyone needs to reevaluate how dated his/her property has actually become.  With homes going green, new insulation methods, seer ratings on HVAC units, new roofing materials etc. everyone needs to make sure that they stay on top of the ever changing housing market!  Remember those mirrored walls?  Full wall paneling?  Tab shingles?  Go textured walls!  Architectural or even metal roofing!  The options are endless.  If you wait much longer than 7 years, remodels can get much more expensive... systems can start failing and what was once just a thought all of the sudden becomes a necessity.  Everyone deserves to be in a nice home.  Why not remodel your current... 09/14/2007

                                 Sunday is the day!  I am hosting an open house THIS Sunday at 1800 Jefferson Park Avenue in Charlottesville, Virginia.    Visit http://www.1800JPA.com/  for more information!  Some of the condos have amazing views of the stadium or phenomenal views of Hilltop Farm.  HUGE swimming pool, great for Spring and Summer months!  This place is really going to be something special.  Stop by and see me this Sunday from 1-4.  People with ties to UVA get a $5000 discount! 09/14/2007

As many of you know, I recently moved to Charlottesville from Florida and have started my real estate career ALL over again. :)  With a new place, comes a new home.  I have been exploring the option of building a new home, as my father is a contractor.  See Jeff Easter Remodeling'sActive Rain blog...  We have researched prices, plans, lots, access etc. and have found the perfect lot to put our new home on (whatever model we so choose!).  New home prices can range from $200-$500 PLUS a square foot dependent on quality.  Guess what!  Modular only will run you, on average, from $40-65 A square foot!  They are actually better built homes AND can be customized to fit exactly what you want and need!  Also, if you find ANY plan that you just fall in love with, there are companies that can buil... 09/13/2007

What a GREAT time of year for remodeling!  The housing slump and down market means more jobs for remodelers!  People realize that their dreams of selling their home and moving into their dream home are dashed.  What do we do now you ask?  Remodel your current home into your DREAM home!  Below are some examples of jobs we have done... **I apologize for the size of the bathroom pictures.  You can see them better on my website at http://www.jeffeasterremodeling.com/                     BEFORE                                                   AFTER                                BEFORE                                                  AFTER                    BEFORE                                                                       AFTERBathrooms... If you can't sell...like your location ... 09/12/2007

 Below is an educational excerpt from an article featured in In The Kitchen.  Are YOU ready for your next remodel?? ***I interviewed remodeler Jeff Easter for the May issue of In The Kitchen.  In that issue, we talked about the role of a remodeler, and when and why one should consider remodeling. I was impressed with the quote he used from coach Lou Holtz, "If you want to be successful in life, give people what they want, better than anyone else can." This has been Jeff 's business mantra for over 25 years.  His vision as a remodeler is backed up by sound financial wisdom-"The return on a remodeled kitchen is 120% or more." He feels that with today's technological capabilities, clients deserve a virtual walk through; to that end, he uses a number of high-tech visual tools to present his... 09/10/2007

Well well WELL!  Hello Fellow Charlottesville Realtors, Buyers and Sellers!  I have been running my fellow Real Estate III colleague, Charles McDonald, all around Active Rain changing my Florida profile to Virginia, then saying the heck with it...I will just keep my Florida and start a new Virginia account!  My goodness!  So this has been my first semi real week of work...I have been running around trying to tie up real estate deals in Jacksonville, start prospecting in Charlottesville and wouldn't you know...getting a plane ticket BACK down to Jacksonville this coming Saturday...(so much for UVA vs. Duke)  Changing territories is never easy!  I wrote a post about a week ago that pertained to dusting off the old prospecting notes and starting all over from scratch.  It has proven to be ... 09/07/2007

I need new clients!  I am a Charlottesville native that moved away, and like everyone else, came back!  I have been practicing real estate in Jacksonville, Florida for the past 2 years, mortgages for 4.  I'm the full package!  Don't be shy.  Let me wow you with my real estate prowess and put you in a new home, or sell your old today!  You can visit my old website at http://valorieford.directhomes.com/ to see the last of my Jacksonville inventory.  My Virginia website should be up and running soon!  Give me a call today! :)  I wont disappoint... 09/07/2007

Interesting and Fun Facts about Charlottesville, Virginia  Charlottesville is a magnificent city that is surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains and located within the confines of Albemarle County, Virginia.  The city is named after Princess Sophia Charlotte of Mecklenburd-Strelitz, the wife of King George III of England.As of 2005, Charlottesville's city proper only had a population of 40,437.  Even though the city of Charlottesville and the county of Albemarle are two separate and legal entities, the Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the two as far as population.  That brings the total population to a busling 118,398!  Wow!  Back in 2004, Charlottesville was ranked as the number one BEST place to live in the United States in the book Cities Ranked and Rated  by Bert Sperling and Pet... 09/07/2007

Friday's After Five! Ever bored on a Friday?  You should stop by the Tiki Hut at La Taza Coffeehouse in Belmont, then walk on over to listen to live music at Friday's After Five on the downtown mall at the Pavilion!   Friday September, 07 SGGL What a great way to spend your evening.  I can almost guarantee you will see some familiar faces.  You can also look at the happenings posted in the C-Ville Newspaper or The Hook.  Every once in a while you will find some neat wine tastings, art gallery openings etc.  Check it out! Maybe I'll see you there! ;)Valorie Ford- Real Estate IIISpecializing in Charlottesville/Albemarle Real EstateSchedule Below... A Benefit for the Virginia Discovery MuseumDeedle Deedle Dees Friday, September 21 Budweiser Concert Series welcomesLucinda Williams with Char... 09/07/2007

The city of Charlottesville is nestled at the foothills (piedmont) of the Blue Ridge Mountains  in Western Central Virginia.  With over 40,000 inhabitants, it has earned the reputation of being one of the best places to live in the country.  In fact in 2004 it was voted THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE by Cities Ranked and Rated .  This included ranking and rating of over 400 metropolitian areas.    Charlottesville is small enough to offer that small town charm and diverse enough to provide lots of activities for everyone.  It is also a cityknown for it's historic attractions - it is home to Thomas Jefferson and his legacies which includehis home at Montecello and the top ranked University of Virginia.    It also has the homes of our 4th and 5th presidents James Madison and James Monroe.  These h... 09/06/2007

Almost 4 years and dozens of home sales later...I am finally returning to my home town of Charlottesville, Virginia from the sunny coastal city of Jacksonville, Florida.  I bring with me years of experience in several different types of markets that Charlottesville will never see.  (The beach market is a tough one to break in to!)  I am very excited about breaking back into the real estate industry.  It is always very humbling, but exciting none-the-less.  You start over with prospecting, mets and have not mets, rebuilding your database...  You dust off the old filing cabinet where you started filing prospects alphabetically so you had a paper and electronic copy.  I think that moving to a new market makes you realize how much of the fundamentals you start neglecting once you start rely... 08/31/2007

To the Active Rain Community- American Home Mortgage has ceased all operations and are exploring the possibility of liqiuidation as it cannot fund loans and are facing a Class Action Lawsuit (please read article below)!!   Please be sure to check with your LO's to see if they are approved or have loan commitment through American Home Mortgage.  These loans will not be able to fund, which means the loans will not be able to close.  If I can be of any assitance please don't hesitate to callRead about Class Action Lawsuit belowhttp://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/primenewswire/124240.htm Tue Jul 31, 2007 2:14PM EDTNEW YORK (Reuters) - American Home Mortgage Investment Corp, a struggling mortgage lender, said on Tuesday it can no longer provide funding for home loans and has hired a... 08/02/2007

Thank you for reading and contributing to my post.  Please check back soon as I try to post as frequently as possible.  Also note that all parts contained within my posts represent my own personal interests, opinions and passions both in and out of the Real Estate community.  May God bless us all in what we do. - Zach Dahl  07/10/2007

Due out this week - pieces of economic data set to be released...June 25, 2007:  Existing home sales which came in slightly below forecasts.  This, however, should not impact the bond market or mortgage rates significantly.June 26, 2007:  New home sales set to be released.  This data will have little impact on bond trading.Here's the one to watch - the CCI (Consumer Confidence Index) which is extremely important to the financial market because it measures consumer willingness to spend, which makes up 2/3 of our economy! June 27th, 2007:  May's Durable goods orders.  An assessment of the strength of our manufacturing sector, which is notorious for fluctuating adversely from month to month.  5 Year Treasury Note AuctionJune 28th, 2007:Federal Open Market Committee Meeting.  These board me... 06/25/2007