Courthouse Estates Market Report: 6 month - Courthouse Estates Homes for Sale - Neighborhood Information        LP = Listing Price    SqFt = Square Feet    SP = Sales Price     SP/LP = Sales Price  to Listing Price     LP/SqFt = Listing price per Sqare Feet SP/SqFt = Sales price per Square Feet     DOM = Days on the market * Days on the market does not take in to account prior listing attempts. * Sales Price to Listing Price does not take in to account prior price reduction.  Only the last price offered. Information Deemed Reliable but not guaranteed. Information courtesy of REIN Real  Estate Information Network **Statistics are based on REIN member listings and may not represent the total number of units in this area To SELL or BUY  Real Estate in Virginia Beach, or Hampton Roads visit... 09/02/2010

Middle Plantation is a neighborhood in the Little Neck area of Virginia Beach. There are over 450 homes ranging in size from 2200 square feet to over 8000 square feet. At the time of this post there are 9 active listings in Middle Plantation with one being a foreclosure and one being a short sale. Since January 1st, 8 properties have sold in the neighborhood ranging in price from $470,000 to $920,000. Enjoy the video below which shows a sampling of Middle Plantations beautiful homes. 09/01/2010

Bishopsgate is located in the Little Neck area of Virginia Beach, Va. It is a community of approximately 112 luxury homes ranging in size from 2700 square feet to over 7900 square feet. There are currently three active listings in this community. There is one home under contract at this time. It is 3358 square feet and its list price was 569,000. Since January 1st, three homes have sold ranging in size from 3000 to 4549 square feet and sales prices from 520,000 to 610,000. With interest rates at historic lows, now is a great time to move up to your dream home. Contact me today to see any Virginia Beach Luxury Home. 08/31/2010

We Buy Houses - Virginia Beach Real Estate Professionals: There are several small things that lie around the house that adds personality to the overall feel of the house. When you decide to sell, you do not need to go in for a complete re-vamp of the house. However, you will have to invest some time and money into repairing certain things to make a better sale. Selling your house in a bad condition can only work against you. This is because you will get bad quoted for the house if it is in a bad condition. Investing a little in sprucing up the place can go a long way in making your get a better profit out of the sale. However, this investment does not have to be elaborate. You just need to take care of the glaringly loud details of the house and replace them with convenient inexpensive ... 08/25/2010

Looking for a great start home?  Recently married, just starting off?  There a 78 homes for sale in Virginia Beach between 60K  to  $100K.  Imagine owning a home for less than renting one, and having the ability in a couple of years to turn it into a rental property, that is income producing!   It is time to take advantage of the low rates and the great deals that are out here. First time home buyers, using an FHA loan need to have only a 3% down payment, a credit score of 620! Take a look at some of the homes for sale in Virginia Beach:  If you are moving to Virginia Beach, or looking for a reason to call Virginia beach home cosider these facts: The median household income is $65,000 higher than the US Median household income of $55,000.  Homeowners enjoy a low real estate tax rate of ... 08/19/2010

After the proverbial real estate bubble popped, the fed and the banks restricted loans to such a degree only those with high credit scores could hope to purchase a home.  Things have changed, but it seems that most people are unaware of the changes.   Currently one of the easiest loans to qualify for are FHA loans require a minimum of a 620 score, less than 5% down ( currently at 3.5% ), steady employment for the last 2 years with equal or increasing pay and the new payment shouldn't exceed 30% of your gross income.  The FHA has increased two key features of an FHA loan the Private Mortgage Insurance went from 1.75% to 2.25% and the down payment may increase from 3% to 5%.   They have also decreased maximum closing cost assistance to the buyer from 7% to 3% So, how do these changes comp... 08/18/2010

As an analytic personality, I really like to look at what is happening in the markets that I provide service to, I generally want to no more about what is happening in terms of sales, pending sales now and contrasted to the year before.  When I look at these number I am also looking at other indexes such as the DOW and S&P, the Fed and treasury policy.  They all directly affect the real estate market, but they also affect the home buyer and seller.  For example interest rates are at the lowest point since we started to keep track in the 70's.  A strong home buyer can get a loan in the 4's, but as evident in the number of sales, home buyers in Virginia Beach are not scrambling to take advantage the low interest rates.  In June 2010 there where 208 single family homes sold with a median s... 08/17/2010

Sean Schroeder, Realtor with The Real Estate-Xchange  Real Estate Video Marketing One of the many services that I provide, at no extra charge, is a video tour of your home. utilizing up to 20 pictures and narration, this video is syndicated on youtube, The local MLS, as well as the National Listing service. Sellers, home buyers want to see lots of pictures before visiting a home, my video tours are a great alternative to simply presenting static pictures.  View an example of this service.    To schedule a free home sellers appoint call Sean Schroeder, Realtor with The Real Estate-XChange.  Utilizing modern technology, including video presenations and tours of your home to find you a home buyer!       08/09/2010

Keller Williams Realty offers an intense 8 week coaching/training for real estate agents and we are already into week #7.  So far the agents are getting more listings and sales and making more contacts every week.  Some are having breakdowns - and others are having break throughs.       08/03/2010

Commerical lending seems to be opening up a little. i have seen some of the rules being relaxed mainly with a owner occupied property. As commerical property goes the buyer needs to be a real person but the property will be what is looked at more than anything else and the use of the properties. Second would be what the building will be supporting. They are also taking a good look on multi properties where the buyer is part of the business moving in. 08/02/2010

Running a real estate practice is a lot like running any retail business. Problem is there are a lot of people doing real estate and owning and operating a small business that have no clue as to what they really need to be giving, doing and focusing on.   That focus ... the customer ..... what they want. This past week I stopped into my favorite (or was my favorite) local coffee shop at the beach, Va Beach, Va. .... I have been going there since 2004 when I moved to Virginia Beach ... moved kinda cold turkey from metro DC and started selling again from scratch.  I've gotten a fair amount of business, sitting in the cafe .... 1.5 blocks off the boardwalk.  Most morning's (not now) you can find me there, sipping Seattle's Best, glancing at the local paper, and chatting with the other loca... 07/31/2010

Virginia Beach home values are on the rise...or are they? The best answer to that question is "yes", "no" and "maybe so". Now Dawn Miller of DawnMillerHomes.com has created a free resource to help you really get that question answered and with the most up to date information! Virginia Beach home values can be instantly obtained by going to a customized website just for Virginia Beach home values. Real estate values in the Virginia Beach area are determined by home sales in specific areas and in specific price ranges during specific periods of time. While one area of Virginia Beach may be on the rise, other areas may not be. Get the right information, right now! A new, free website, VirginiaBeachHomeValues.info, offers consumers an instant home value of your home's estimated worth. Upon ... 07/26/2010

I was standing in my yard the other day with my Panasonic DMC FZ 18 and remembered why I like it so well.  I took these three pictures in my backyard in Virginia Beach without moving or changing lens.  They were done in automatic mode.  It is truely an amazing camera that starts at 28mm and goes way out to about as far as one can see.     The golfers are in the center of screen even though you can't see them   07/25/2010

I have a weed in my backyard in Virginia Beach that comes back every year,  I keep it because it feeds the birds berries in the fall and winter.  My yard always has birds in it.  This year something is feeding on it at night.  I never see them during the day.  I suspect is the catapillars that feed on my citris plant next to it.  I will probably move it next year.  The citris plant doesn't get ate nearly as bad so I am not sure. Below is what the plant should look like.  Then what it does look like.  Then piles of what the critter leaves behind and then what I think is the critter but I am not sure.   07/25/2010

HOT, HOT, HOT!! Wow, it is HOT in Virginia Beach! A tenant in one of the homes I am the property manager for in Great Neck called me at 5:20 p.m yesterday (Saturday), to say that her air conditioning had stopped working.  I stopped by her home and found that the air handler in the attic was working, no condensation issues there, but was blowing warm air.  The outside unit of the heat pump was not working, I checked the breakers then determined we needed to call an expert. I had an HVAC technician to the property before 10 p.m., less than 5 hours after the tenant reported the problem (on a Saturday night, on the hottest day ever!) Thank You American Mechanical - for prompt service at a fair price. Click "RENT IT" Plate to Visit Mark's Rental Page.  Mark And Dede Moore Residential Sales a... 07/25/2010

Cypress Point is one of my favorite neighborhoods in Virginia Beach. This is a place where you can find a wide variety of homes at many price points.  The homes surround a golf course and the community ammenties include a club house with a massive swimming pool.  Cypress Point is very conveniently located to the Naval Base at Little Creek, the Norfolk Naval Base or even the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, Virginia.  Below you will find a ten and a half year trend report for detached homes in the neighborhood which illustrates the strength of the market in Cypress Point.  Please note that this is a neighborhood that has bucked the trend of declining sales values per square foot!  In addition, the current list prices are below the sales prices. Now is a great time to buy in Cypress Po... 07/24/2010

I have Karl's Mortgage Calculator on my DROID for my buyers' in Virginia Beach.  Selling real estate means having lots of gizmos with you.  Before smart phones I had to carry along my mortgage calculator and as fate would have it, it wasn't always with me.  My DROID is always by my side and so my calculator is.  Now my buyers' always know what the mortgage will be on a given house.  You can find Karl's Mortgage Calculator for your DROID at the APPBRAIN store or at www.DrCalculator.com 07/19/2010

I have been taking buyers out for years and having men wanting a "Man Cave".  You know the big hulking room you can put a home theatre in or fix the car or play pool.  Now I was reading in our local paper about a lady in Virginia Beach making a "Girl Cave". A "Girl Cave" could be something simple according to Betsy DiJulio.  She converted a former guest room into a "Girl Cave" by adding a nice looking sleep sofa, dresser, end table, lamp and a t.v. .  Now she has a room for guest to relax in, sleep in and for a place to get away while the husband does sports in the family room.  I guess now we need to put a new field in our listings for "Girl Cave" 07/16/2010

  This is a great mouse for Techno People still living in prehistoric times.  I know it will work great in my real estate office in Virginia Beach as some of us are still trying to get caught up. 07/15/2010

I've come to realize that "divas" and "driveways" don't mix. One of the most challenging situations that can be faced is dealing with a "diva / prima donna" as a neighbor. Diva or Prima Donna by today's definition are one who behaves as a goddess or queen. Both the terms "diva" and "prima donna" are now used disparagingly for someone who acts overly entitled. The last thing we want to do when we return home is to have our lives intruded upon by thoughtless a neighbor. The golden rule states we should do unto others as we would have them do unto us; however it also says to turn the other cheek. At first we attempted to "turn the other cheek" which only seemed to prolong the misery. One month after they moved in,(note they've only been here for 2 months) one of their guests hit my husband... 07/14/2010