Last June I sold new condo's to three widows. The buyers are all friends, ready to downsize and all  had homes to sell.  By July, two of the homes were under contract to investors and one would be bought by a mall developer. By September 2007, all three ladies would be able to close and move in at the same time. They were thrilled. Unfortunately, there were three final walk thru's, but only two closings. Just before the third, a major investor in the mall project suddenly passed away leaving the developer without financing. The buyer's sons weren't comfortable with her buying the condo without the sale of her home. The daughter's wanted her to go ahead with the purchase and rent out her house. We talked about a bridge loan and she anguished over what to do. For several more months she w... 09/20/2008

Pattie Romano posted a blog titled  it's time to 'move on' from remembering those lost on September 11?  and pointed us to a website dedicated to remembering the 2996 victims of 9/11. If you go to the site, you will have the opportunity to honor one of the victims of that horrific day. Project 2,996 is an online initiative to get people to learn about--and remember--the victim's of 9/11. Please take time to remember the victims and their families. We should never forget. I chose to honor:   Mari-Rae Sopper             Lieutenant (Retired), United States Navy Age 35 Santa Barbara, Calif. American Airlines Flight 77 Passenger Mari-Rae Sopper was one of the passengers aboard American Airlines flight 77 which crashed in the Pentagon 7 years ago. She traveled with her cat Sammy and boarded t... 09/10/2008

Landlord beware. I used v-Flyer to post one of our investment properties for sale and/or lease and got a call from a woman who was relocating from another state. She was so personable and wanted to lease the home and purchase one down the road. They sent a nice letter with their security deposit, would be arriving in one week and would sign the lease then. PERFECT. UNTIL I received a call this morning from their previous landlord. Apparently this couple destroyed their property: trash was thrown out windows into the yard, there was feces on the walls, urine soaked carpets, damage from their dogs, bounced checks. They took items belonging to the owner, etc. Over $12,000 in damages. This couple was suppose to meet with my husband this afternoon. How did the previous landlord find me? Turn... 09/09/2008

  The owners have found there new home and are ready to move! This beautiful contemporary home is listed at $250,900 and features:   Three Bedrooms, Two Baths 1900 Finished Square Feet Campbell County location Brookville School District Private Setting -SIX Acres Horses are Allowed Cedar and Stone Exterior         www.lynchburgmls.com, MLS # 241310. For more information or to set up a showing, contact:   Debbie Malone, Realtor (R) RE/MAX 1st Olympic 20395 Timberlake Rd Lynchburg, Va 24502 (434) 546-0369 malone1981@aol.com 09/09/2008

THIS HOME IS READY FOR NEW OWNERS! Take a video tour of this home featuring:   Three Bedrooms Low maintenance Ranch style  Refinished oak hardwood flooring Evington, VA, located just outside the city of Lynchburg Campbell County tax rate of .43 per $100 assessed value Brookville School District Brick Exterior Full walkout basement Fenced backyard Convenient to Roanoke & Lynchburg 1 year old heat pump 1 year old electric hot water heater   www.lynchburgmls.com, MLS # 241957. For more information or to set up a showing, contact:   Debbie Malone, Realtor (R) RE/MAX 1st Olympic 20395 Timberlake Rd Lynchburg, Va 24502 (434) 546-0369 malone1981@aol.com       09/07/2008

   LYNCHBURG - VA HOUSING MARKET REPORT SEPTEMBER 2008 ACTIVE LISTINGS                       1996 ABSORPTION RATE                           6.83 MONTHS AUGUST STATS:                           SOLDS                                                  205                                   Avg Days on Market                         144                                  Avg Sales Price                                   $173,287.00                                  Sales Price to List Price %               98.83% (based on information from the Lynchburg Association of REALTORS Multiple Listing System) Posted by:KATHY CARSON, RE/MAX 1ST OLYMPIC, LYNCHBURG, VA    09/04/2008

Some pointers from Seth Godin and some trends i spot with well-read blogs http://www.marketing-helper.com/?p=16  08/29/2008

The question I get asked most often has to be, "So how is the market these days?"  Even folks who aren't buying or selling a home want to know.  Why is that?  I believe its becuase the state of any local economy is largely influenced by how well the housing market is fairing.  And remember... all real estate IS local.  So let's see just how the market really IS doing these days.   One way to assess the market is to see what the average sales prices are this year versus the same period last year and the year before.  From June 1 through July 31 of this year, we closed on 489 residental properties, with an average sales price of $186,462.  For the same period in 2007 there were 548 homes sold at an average sales price of $187,657.  Backing up one more year, in 2006 the statistics for the ... 08/27/2008

Im going to be a first time homebuyer. Yes, congratulations to me. As a fairly new resident to the area, I didn't even know where to start! So what did I do? The VERY first thing was to get on Google, and start looking for sites that I could peruse houses in my area.  I found http://www.liveinlynchburg.com.  And of course... as soon as I tried to look for houses, it required my email address and phone number.  An hour later I got a phone call from Nannette Saunders who, if all goes well, will sell me my first home. So, here are a few things that she did right:  1. Search Engine Optimization: Her website comes up all over the internet. No matter what I did, I couldn't get away from it! Now when I WANT to find it, it is as easy as liveinlynchburg.com.  2. Localism.com: I'm not yet sure ho... 08/25/2008

The first Virginia Tech Football game against East Carolina is fast approaching. The season starts August 30, check out the 2008 Schedule. Don’t miss out- 2008 Hokie Effect Orange and Maroon T-Shirts are now available at the VT bookstore.   Short sleeve is $6.00 each, long sleeve $10.00 each. Buy one of each at the same time for $12.00 total. Come out and support Coach Beamer and Virginia Tech football. Available:     On Campus: University Bookstore Dietrick General Store HokieShop Stadium Stores Off Campus: Volume Two Bookstore       08/21/2008

I am getting in the twitter mode.  Finding a little time to play at it and learning the business promotion possibilites.  At first I just didn't get it.  I still don't undertand why folks follow me without any clothes on.  But, I've learned how to block them!  The Second Central Virginia tweetup is scheduled for Thursday August 28 at 5:45 p.m. at Hilton Garden Inn, Wards Road, Lynchburg.  RSVP by Tuesday August 26th via Twitter to Cheryl Smith or Lee Graham.  Call or text 434-258-2449.  I hope to see ya'll there! 08/20/2008

Buyer's remorse, everyone gets it from time to time.  Once all parties have agreed to the terms of a real estate transaction in the state of Virginia than it is a legal binding contract and the penalties of default could be very expensive.  Well, I sold this cute little lady a house.  It was a great corner lot with new windows, new air and heat systems, new laundry room, new roof and updated plumbing and electrical.  She got a great buy and a wonderful front porch to sit on.  It was an older home and had a lot of charm too! She was excited the day we made the offer and it was accepted!  She had looked at many homes and she had finally found the one! The next day she calls me.  "Nannette, I've been doing some thinking and I just don't think this house is for me.  I think this is the wron... 08/16/2008

MLS # 236960 - 106 Lemon Drive, Lynchburg, Virginia - Offered At $139,900! This great new contruction home has been recently staged by Shows Great Home Staging and Web Solutions.  During the month of August, just preview or show this great home and be entered into a drawing for a Carnival Cruise for 2.  More details and homes available at http://www.showsgreat.biz/cruise1.htm.    View Real Estate Show For more details about this great home please contact:Michelle AndrewsDawson Ford Garbee 08/16/2008

                    Just to be clear, I wasn’t snooping. I was cleaning up the files on my computer and I found one labeled Secret Fantasy. HELLO, where did this come from? Imagine my disappointment when “whisk the wife off to Paris for the weekend” and  “knock out her honey-do list” were nowhere to be found. THE BIG SECRET? -  Keep your picks from the other members of your Fantasy Football League. Now, I’m a good football wife; I read Sports Illustrated, the sports section of the paper and I know who the players are. I go through the Fantasy Football magazines with my husband and we watch the games together. I have my own Patriots foam head hat for crying out loud. We go to the selection party every year and there are several women in this league including my oldest daughter. While at ... 08/03/2008

My husband and I ran into Patti Avery this morning at brunch at The Neighbors Place. She's one of the local producers of the new Billy Graham movie The Early Years of Billy Graham. She was telling us about the premiere tonight at TRBC at 6pm. Several Liberty University students are in the movie and there will be a full length showing of the movie which is scheduled to be released to the general public this October. I was privledged to hear Billy Graham preach in person several years ago. He and his late wife Ruth have had an incredible impact on the spiritual lives of millions of people over the decades.   If you're in the Lynchburg area: Thomas Road Baptist Church is located off of Candler's Mountain Road, across from Applebee's and Candler Station Shopping Center. The  showing will be... 08/03/2008

Make plans to attend the 20th Anniversary of the Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival this coming September 27-28. Held at Lake Watch Plantation, tickets are on sale at the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce website at www.VisitSmithMountainLake.com. Participating wineries include Amrhein Wine Cellars, Barboursville Vineyards, Bright Meadows Farm, Chateau Morrisette, Davis Valley Winery, Delfosse Vineyard & Winery, Fincastle Vineyard & Winery, First Colony Winery, Hickory Hill Vineyards, Horton Cellars Winery, James River Cellars, Inc., Lake Anna Winery, Leogrande Vineyard & Winery, Peaks of Otter Winery, Piedmont Vineyards & Winery, Rebec Vineyards, Rockbridge Vineyards, Sans Soucy Vineyards & Winery, Savoy-Lee Winery, Tomahawk Mill Winery, Valhalla Vineyards, Veritas Vineyard & Wine... 08/02/2008

Are you looking for tickets to a concert, play or sporting event? With football season right around the corner,  we've been planning a trip to Massachusetts for the New England Patriots vs Baltimore Ravens pre-season game next week. We weren't happy with the seating choices we found on some of the ticket sites. For my first game at Gillette Stadium, I didn't want standing room only or nosebleed seats. Our daughter told us about this site www.stubhub.com and we were wicked happy to find third row, lower level tickets for less than face value.   The way stubhub works: Buyers choose available tickets, pay a fee equal to 10% of the ticket price, and a fee for shipping. Sellers set the price, pay a 15% fee to stubhub, are emailed a fedex label and ship the tickets to the buyer.   There are t... 08/01/2008

Do you have large trees on your lot that you want removed but you're afraid it will be too expensive? I have a recommendation for you- give Aubrey Wood a call at 434- 239-7398. I've known Aubrey Wood and his family for over 17 years and he's been the person we call whenever we've needed tree service. We had two TALL pines in our yard that needed to be removed after a recent wind storm blew through. One was leaning against another tree in the direction of our neighbors home and we were afraid it would fall at any moment. Though Aubrey was busy with insurance work, he made the time to come out and removed the trees in in sections. It was fascinating to watch. There were several huge trees blocking the view at our lake house. Most of them were close to the dock and walkway and we expected ... 08/01/2008

Some folks are fans of the FOX Channel.  I can't say I'm a real "fan" as I am not a T.V. watcher.  But, I do watch it as my loving husband is a fan.  So only by association am I a fan.  Now you can decide what you want about me based on my T.V. preferences if you choose. However, when it comes to real estate I am a huge proponent of NO SPIN REAL ESTATE!  I just got a call from a long time associate.  She and I did business together way before I was licensed.  She got a hold of some of my promotional material and called me because one of her clients needed a real estate question answered and she knew first of all I would know the answer and two would not give him a song and dance. Well, she knows me well.  I had to smile.  We took sometime to catch up on our lives and made a promise to k... 07/30/2008

It is a little complicated.   Water rights in the eastern half of the country are normally divvied up based on what is known as riparian rights.  Riparian rights means that the owner has the right to a reasonable amount of water that flows next to or through their land. In a land grant from the British Crown, the King gave Virginia the rights to the James River.  It has become an intrical part of the history and the success of Lynchburg.  The General Assembly created the James River Company and later the James River and Kanawha Company to build a canal in 1784.  Work on a dam across the river started in 1830 to provide water for residents.  In 1832 the James River & Kanawha Company was granted the rights to build dams and canals to divert the river's flow for navigation and other purpos... 07/29/2008