One of my favorite investors rented a U-Haul in Virginia Beach this morning to move a couple of appliances.  He was quoted a price for the day, mile, and told to bring the truck back with the same amount of gas in which he left.  He drove a total of 13 miles.  Before he returned the truck, he stopped and put $5.00 of gas in the truck.  Seems like it would be enough, right?  No!!!   He was told that he would be charged a $30.00 service and $4.00 a gallon if he did not put more gas in the tank.  He went back and spend another $13.00.  That is a total of $18.00 for 13 miles.  At $3.12 a gallon, that is 5.77 gallons of gas that had to be put back in the tank.  That means that the truck is using .44 gal per mile.  There is no truck in the world that should run that bad, and if so, U-Haul nee... 03/20/2008

I've heard that the Kempsville Pony Field near the intersection of Kempsville Road and Princess Anne Road will soon be gone!  The field has been there since 1959!  The new field is going to be called Providence Park which is located on Providence Road near the intersection of Providence and Indian River Rd.  I'm sure there will be many memories shared about the days at Pony field! 03/20/2008

     As a home inspector I have seen a lot of "handyman" repairs on a home that don't really cut it.  Most of the time I just chuckle to myself and note it in the report.  But when I come across discrepancies caused by a licensed contractor, I get very frustrated. I recently inspected a home where, in my opinion, the contractor caused serious damage to the home and failed to inform the home owner. BTW this wasn't just damage, but a MAJOR safety hazard for whoever was in the home.      In the picture below, you can clearly see the broken drain pipe and the resulting spill into the crawlspace. This crawlspace was not very clean yet this piping was sparkling clean. When I asked the home owner, he said it had been recently replaced. After it was replaced, some termite damage was discovered ... 03/19/2008

I found this website downforeveryoneorjustme  and thought I would pass it on.  If you are having problems with a slow Internet or site (like Rain on weekends) you can go there and see if it is the site or your Internet.  Not sure how it works but you put in the site you are concerned about and it will tell you if the site is slow or if it is your computer.   http://www.geneallen.com/  Come and see ALL the Homes for Sale in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, as well as the rest of Hampton Roads.  This site is updated daily with new real estate listings, pictures and other information vital to your home search.Google gene allen 03/19/2008

THIS IS REALLY JUST A PRACTICE.  I AM NOT REALLY SURE ABOUT ALL OF THIS, BUT WANTED TO THANK NAOMA DORIGUZZI WITH WACHOVIA MORTAGE FOR INVITING ME TO JOIN ACTIVE RAIN AND THANKS TO HER HUSBAND CHARLIE FOR INTRODUCING.  NAOMA IS A SWEETHEART AND GREAT TO WORK WITH!!  I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING NEW PEOPLE HERE, BOTH PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY!!  O'SULLIVANS WARF WILL BE OPENING SOON ON GREAT NECK ROAD IN VIRGINIA BEACH.  THIS WILL BE IN THE OLD ISLA BUILDING AND WILL ALSO HAVE ON AND OFF PREMISES CATERING.  THE OWNERS ARE GREAT GUYS AND THIS WILL PROVE TO BE THE NEW HOT SPOT IN GREAT NECK. 03/18/2008

I caught this coming from my office the other day.  It was about 5 pm.  The moon is over the Atlantic iOcean n Virginia Beach.  This area has a lot of jets flying over but none today.  What a striking difference in the sky from my sunrise or sunset picture.http://activerain.com/blogsview/423416  http://www.geneallen.com/  Come and see ALL the Homes for Sale in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, as well as the rest of Hampton Roads.  This site is updated daily with new real estate listings, pictures and other information vital to your home search.Google gene allen  03/18/2008

Virginia Beach, VA real estate new construction continues to be thriving. Many builders offer incentives such as closing cost assistance and upgrades. Builders are eager to help you find your dream home or condo. Wouldn't it be great to have a new home or condo in Virginia Beach? There are approximately 80 new construction developments in progress. Prices on Virginia Beach new construction real estate start at under $200,000 and exceed $1,000,000. Also, mortgage programs and rates are still affordable as you are in control in this buyer's market. FHA, VA, and VHDA all offer different, but excellent real estate mortgage programs for Virginia Beach, VA. See special programs offerred to those using USAA or Navy Federal Credit Union incentives.The area is a great place to live an... 03/17/2008

Panasonic has come out with the FX 35.  It has a 25 mm lens that has virtually no lens distortion and does away with some of the other problems associated with the Kodaks.  Here is a picture of a picture that shows no distortion.  The left picture is a Canon SD 870 with a 28mm lens and the right is the Panasonic with a 25 mm lens.  Notice how bowed the Canon picture frame is compared to the Panasonic.  If you want a wide angle lens and missed out on the Kodak, here is your chance.Here is a press release.http://www.dpreview.com/news/0801/08012918panasonicfx35.aspHere is a picture next to the Canon.  The Panasonic is on the left.As you can see they are both very small and compact.When you are buying the camera, don't forget one of these beauties.  It is your SD card that turns into a USB ... 03/16/2008

Virginia Beach Real Estate Market Is Different This was the headline of a recent advertisement in the VirginiaPilot... Our Real Estate Market Is Different.The ad continued to read:It is important not to interpret current home prices and home price appreciation only in the context of the housing market of 2004-2005. Over the long term, home prices in Virginia have increased moderately -- and steadily.In the 1990s, home prices in Virginia appreciated at an average of about 2% annually. From 2000 through the 2nd quarter of 2006, average price increases were about 12% annually. In the third quarter of 2007 (latest data available) the house price index for Virginia shows home prices up 3% compared to the 3rd quarter of 2006. The average sales price for Virginia Beach real estate appreciated ... 03/15/2008

Here are two pictures from some wide angle point and shoot cameras.  What the pictures are showing is the distortion in the lens at wide angle.  The Canon SD 870 is a 28 mm lens and the Panasonic FX 35 is a 25 mm lens.  There is some in camera processing in the Panasonic to get rid of the distortion.       Canon SD 870   Panasonic FX 35 http://www.geneallen.com/  Come and see ALL the Homes for Sale in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, as well as the rest of Hampton Roads.  This site is updated daily with new real estate listings, pictures and other information vital to your home search. Google geneeallen   03/15/2008

According to an ODU study, the local real estate market here was spared some of the harshness in other parts of the country.  In new homes, Virginia Beach took a big hit in building permits, down 48.1% from 2006.  Overall for the region it was 31%.  The situation is expected to correct itself some towards the middle of the year as demand catches up.  With so few permits last year there aren't homes for buyers to purchase this year.  We should see the end of discounts or at least a slowing down of them.  Most of the new homes purchased last year fell in the $300k to $499k price range.  For monthly figures, new home permits were down 19% in January for the area and 40% across the country.  Quite a big difference.  Rent is increasing.  That might go to the fact that people aren't buying an... 03/15/2008

 It's funny I get asked this question almost every day!There are many stories and articles out there posted by bloggers, news media, analysts, agents etc that try to give a 10 page essay on the market and if its time to buy a house or refinance.  I don't know about everyone else but I like to keep things super simple (K.I.S.S - Keep It Super Simple) We have so many different generation gaps now a days and everyone being the expert we miss the bottom line here.Can you use a lower payment?Do you have equity in your house?Do you want to pay off bills or get cash out?Want to lower your rate by 2%?Need to convert to a FIX RATE MORTGAGE?Bottom line is this, everyday is a good day to refinance if you NEED IT.  Yes there are people out there who don't need to refinance or use their equity but n... 03/14/2008

I took these two pictures behind my house.  This is actually looking down the 5th tee at the HoneyBee golf-course in Virginia Beach.  When I go to list the house I will use this for one of my pictures.  The pictures were taken just seconds apart.  The first picture was metered for the sun and second for the trees.  It is just a matter of pointing the camera at the trees and pressing the shutter halfway and then moving the camera back to the sky.  The real color is inbetween and a HDR would probably have been the way to go but I just love the colors as is.http://www.geneallen.com/  Come and see ALL the Homes for Sale in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, as well as the rest of Hampton Roads.  This site is updated daily with new real estate listings, pictures and other information vital... 03/14/2008

Virginia Beach VA real estate is taking longer to sell in the strong Buyers market we are in, than it did a few years ago. Most Sellers are concerned about the longer market times and how they get get a fast sale. As they say, time is money and if a home sits on the market longer than the average market time, it ususally doesn't bring as high a price. Many Sellers want to know how can I get my home sold fast. The most important decision you will make when selling your home is the agent you choose to work with. Their expertise and guidance from pricing, to marketing, to staging is invaluable and can make or break a sale.Selling fast was important to Garen & Anna Marshall when they sold their home and moved to Northern VA. Here is what they had to say about Dave Macklin and the Butler Tea... 03/14/2008

While in 2000 we by definition experienced a recession, not many people felt it.  The housing boom was just beginning and many were moving up, or at least felt like it.  It seemed everyone learned about it after it was long gone. Now all the experts seem to be tiptoeing around the official declaration, so as not to exacerbate the current economic recessionary trend.  In my opinion, if the masses think we are experiencing a recession, it is a self-fulfilling prophecy of sorts.  Certainly as agents we feel like we are in one.  But comparing today's market directly with the one from 2-3 years ago is not really fair, as that market was very unusual. We are now hearing the word "stagflation" again, which is defined as slow economic growth and rising unemployment, possibly including recession... 03/14/2008

Ocean Park is a neighborhood located in the northern part of the City of Virginia Beach.  It is bordered to the east by Lynnhaven Inlet, to the north by the Chesapeake Bay, to the south by The Lynnhaven River, and to the west by Pelican Dunes/Aeries on the Bay neighborhoods.  It consists primarily of single family homes, duplexes, duplex condos, and townhomes (Mariner's Landing).  There are a few undeveloped lots remaining as well.  Ocean Park began to take shape in the early 1900's.  With the construction in the 1950's of the first half of the Lesner Bridge over Lynnhaven Inlet, came vehicular traffic on Shore Drive.  For decades it has been the home of the Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad. In the 40s and 50s, more small beach cottages were built often with 2 bedrooms and 1 bath.  A r... 03/13/2008

Yippee...Kempsville Va. Beach is finally getting a WAWA...maybe soon we can finally save a few cents on gas!! 03/13/2008

Tips to ensure your Virginia Beach home sells for top dollar The average market time for Virginia Beach homes is 78 days. If a home has been on the market for awhile and hasn't sold, the first thing many agents think is, the home is over priced, but this is not always the case. In today's competitive buyers market, condition may be the problem. Buyers are not as willing to accept a home that is not in tip-top condition, as they were a few years ago. The reason a home does not show well may have nothing to do with its appearance, but rather the impact it has upon a buyer's sense of smell. Below are tips to ensure your Virginia Beach home sells for top dollar by passing the "odor test":Try sprinkling a bit of baby powder on the pillow covers before putting the case back on. For persistent... 03/12/2008

Apartment complexes are offering personal trainers for residents.  For free.  On site personal training is a perk in complexes like Pembroke Lake as well as six other complexes managed by Great Atlantic Real Estate.  With all the competition for housing, amenities is what sets the complexes apart.  Pools, clubhouse and tennis courts are now standard.  Now they are featuring fitness centers, tanning beds, movie theaters, DVD rentals and continental breakfasts.  The personal trainer may not help attract new tenants but it should help retention and in apartments, that is the key.  http://www.deniseallen.com/  Come and see ALL the Homes for Sale in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, as well as the rest of Hampton Roads.  This site is updated daily with new real estate listings, pictures a... 03/12/2008

Finally I almost ride over the I64 bridge on Providence Rd.  I say almost because the city is making plans to replace the old dirt path with a 5 foot wide concrete sidewalk.  The sidewalk will be on the southside of Providence and will include railings and guardrdrails.http://www.deniseallen.com/  Come and see ALL the Homes for Sale in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, as well as the rest of Hampton Roads.  This site is updated daily with new real estate listings, pictures and other information vital to your home search.Google denise allen 03/12/2008