By Les Christie, CNNMoney.com staff writer The lowest foreclosure rate recorded by RealtyTrac among the 100 metro areas surveyed was in Richmond, Virginia. It had just one for every 2,319 households, about the same as a year ago and a rate barely more than 1 percent of Stockton's.Foreclosure rates for top 100 metro areas. Rate RankMSAForeclosure Filings1 filing for every #HH%Δ from First Half 20061STOCKTON, CA8,169272562DETROIT/LIVONIA/DEARBORN, MI28,70529993LAS VEGAS/PARADISE, NV22,928311424RIVERSIDE/SAN BERNARDINO, CA41,351331985SACRAMENTO, CA20,516362416DENVER/AURORA, CO23,84242117MIAMI, FL20,27546748BAKERSFIELD, CA5,365472229MEMPHIS, TN10,800491710CLEVELAND/LORAIN/ELYRIA/MENTOR, OH18,8445010611FORT LAUDERDALE, FL15,720507212ATLANTA/SANDY SPRINGS/MARIETTA, GA36,502541713FORT WORTH/AR... 09/03/2007

A big merger will cost Richmond area about 2,000 jobs. Wachovia has announced it will either eliminate or move about 2,000 positions that are in the Richmond area.It's part of the Wachovia Securities merger with the brokerage firm A.G. Edwards, and brokerage headquarters move to St. Louis. Wachovia Corp. is buying A.G. Edwards in a $6.8 billion deal.Wachovia Securities has employees in its downtown riverfront office and in Innsbrook. When it does move to St. Louis, it will leave some unoccupied lots office space.About the residential housing market, more houses to sell, The good thing is they will not be leaving at the same time. Most houses are expected to sell in 4 to 6 months, Buyer's market!! 09/01/2007

**Open House SATURDAY 8/4 2-4pm** 3 bedroom/ 2.5 baths charming brick and slate home in desirable Windsor Farms.  Newly priced at $599,000 with $2500 in closing costs for an acceptable contract closing by 8/31.  This home is an absolute steal for under $600,000 in one of the most desirable West End neighborhoods.  It is within walking distance to hundreds of restaurants and shops in Richmond's trendiest shopping district.  Most recent appraisal was at $618,000.  Comes with a tax abatement and home warranty.  For more information and photos visit http://www.erinbarton.com/ and http://www.227gunclubrd.com/   08/03/2007

Just Listed:Charming 3 bedroom and 2.5 bath cottage in desirable Windsor Farms.  Tons of architectural details including built-ins and french doors.  Fully renovated kitchen with granite and stainless appliances (brand new stove and microwave).  New 200 amp electrical service with updated recessed lighting.  Freshly painted inside and out.  Beautiful hardwood floors throughout (tile in kitchen and baths).  Newly finished sunroom with slider to oversized deck with built in benches, planters, and pergola.  Huge yard, front and back.  Slate walkways.  Tax abatement.  Close to everthing, highways, downtown, and walk to Carytown!  For more information see www.erinbarton.com or www.227gunclubrd.com.  This house is perfect for the discriminating buyer! 07/12/2007

I just finished staging a fairly small home which had great "bones" but just needed a little finesse.  I love it when I get this kind of vacant home to stage.  I was able to use all my own inventory and did not have to rent any furniture from a rental company, saving the homeowner money.  After staging several homes lately with built-in bookcases, I've decided that bookcases are inventory eaters!  I have nothing left!  I'm curious how much inventory you all put in bookcases... am I doing too much?          Judy Heinrich Home Staging & RedesignProviding professional home staging services to the greater Richmond, Virginia area.  07/03/2007

When renovating your home, it a good idea to consider the resale value of your improvements.  Most people turn first to kitchens and baths excepting the highest return there.  But in Richmond, Virginia, the two renovations that bring the highest percent of cost recovered at resale are basement remodels (105%) and vinyl siding replacements (103%).  The top 10 renovations based on average cost recovered at resale in the Richmond are: 1.  Basement remodels -- 105% 2.  Vinyl Siding replacements -- 103% 3.  Siding replacement with foam-backed vinly - 97.7% 4.  Attic bedroom remodel - 97.3% 5.  Bathroom addition - 96% 6.  Minor kitchen remodel - 95% 7.  Siding replacement with cement siding - 92% 8.  Bathroom remodel - 90% 9.  Window replacement (vinyl) - 89%10.  Major kitchen remodel - 88%10... 04/07/2007

There has been quite a bit of noise lately about payday lenders and their very high (some would say "predatory") interest rates.  Last Tuesday, 12/5/06, House Bill 619 was defeated in the Virginia House of Delegates.  The purpose of the bill was to repeal the Virginia Payday Loan Act of 2002, which had exempted these payday loans from the maximum interest rate of 36%. Anyone with a checking account, an ID, and evidence of a job can borrow against their next paycheck, with a "payday loan".  The concept is simple enough, and sounds like it does the job exactly as the payday lenders proponents say it does.  They say that these loans help people in real financial distress dig themselves out of a hole. The problem is that the interest rates and the policies are set up such that cause these i... 12/15/2006

Condos, condos, condos....  If you read this blog at all, then you know my viewpoint on the ongoing fad of converting everything to condos.  (and if you don't, then just keep reading) I don't have a lot to say about it right now, but I wanted to point you to an article on MSNBC.com from a couple of weeks ago: "Scramble for affordable apartments" -- and especially to this quote from the article about residential condo development:In smaller markets such as Portland, Ore., Richmond, Va., and Omaha, Neb., demand has outpaced development.I've been saying it for a while, but it's nice to have something in the news backing me up on it.   To read other comments on this post, visit Richmond Business & Commercial News!  11/29/2006