I have been browsing through articles and blogs all day today about how evil it is for these cruise ships to stop in Haiti.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!!!!?????? One passenger aboard a ship that docked stayed on the ship in protest of the stop, and many are touting this man as a hero.  OH REALLY?  I'm sure many of you know by now where I stand.  Here is why.  If you are that torn up over the devastation in Haiti, which we should all be, don't get on the boat in the first place.  Royal Caribbean is docking 100 miles from Port of Prince, which is at minimum a 10 hour drive to the devastation.  I'm not saying that we should not feel for the people who have been touched by this earth quake.  As a matter of fact, we should do more than just feel for them.  We need to offer whatever support we ca... 01/19/2010

      "There is no place like home." This phrase conjures up feelings of comfort, safety, and security just to mention a few. To lose a home for any reason is a tragedy, but losing it through foreclosure is embarassing, demeaning and financially destructive.       The current crisis has created a situation ripe with fraud, mis information and confusion. Recently I have received the Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource certification, in doing so I have learned that there are alternatives to losing your home to your lender.       One of these alternatives is forbearance, under this plan the lender may allow the borrower to skip a payment or make a partial payment if the borrower can suggest a reasonable plan to catch up on the amount in arrears.       Reinstatement is similar to forbearanc... 01/17/2010

Nobody wants to "have" to sell their home but there are times when there isn't a choice.  When you are in that position you need an Full Time REALTOR that knows how Roanoke Virginia Short Sales work.  Not only do you need a REALTOR who has been trained on the Short Sale process but you need a REALTOR who has a CPA and an Attorney who are willing to help with the Short Sale process. I am Roanoke's first Certified Distressed Property Expert (Short Sale Trained REALTOR).  I am here to help you.  I do have a CPA and an Attorney that are willing and able to talk to you.  This is not something that you should try to do on your own or with a real estate agent that is not trained in the process.  Call or email me today.  It will not cost you a dime to investigate your options.  We can work with... 01/13/2010

Price: $174,000 FIZBER.com ID 13758636 Single Family with 3 bed, 2.0 bath, in 5234 Quail Hollow Circle Roanoke, VA, 24019 http://www.fizber.com/13758636/ 5234 Quail Hollow Circle - For Sale By Owner Property Details: Type: Single Family Address: 5234 Quail Hollow Circle, Roanoke, VA, 24019 Sq footage: 2200.0 Floors: n/a Bathrooms: 2.0 Bedrooms: 3 Year built: 1973 View full property details and seller's contacts. View more Virginia homes for sale. Homes for Sale by Owner. Description: Immaculate and upgraded 3 bedroom/2 bath tri-level home with large sun room. Located in terrific North Roanoke County location on quiet cul de sac. Approx 2200 square feet of living space. Many ungrades in fall of 2006, including new architectural roof, gutters, replacement windows, upgraded sun room, door... 01/11/2010

Before you put your home on the market, there are some things you can do to have your house stand out among the competitors.When preparing your home for being marketed, your first concern is the home's exterior. If the outside, or "curb appeal" looks good, people will more than likely want to see what's on the inside. Keep the lawn and landscape nicely manicured. Trim the bushes and season permitting, plant some flowers. Be sure your front door area has a "Welcome" feeling. A fresh coat of paint on the front door looks great. Of all the rooms inside your home, pay special attention to the kitchen and bathrooms. They should look as modern, bright and fresh as possible. It is essential for them to be clean and odor free. A fresh coat of paint just may do the trick. Have any leaky faucets... 01/10/2010

12/30/2009

Roanoke VA--thinking about a Short Sale? Need more information? Looking for a CDPE? Don't want to face foreclosure?There are many questions that residents of the Roanoke Area are contemplating right now.  Many have lost their jobs through corporate downsizing, company layoffs, closings or manufacturing jobs moving over seas or south of the border.  Even though Roanoke Virginia has maintained far better than a lot of the Country has, still many residents are finding that they can no longer afford their mortgage and are facing foreclosure.  There are options!  Damon Gettier was Roanoke Virginia's first CDPE, Karl Vandegriff (ex CFO for Carilion) who lives at Smith Mountain Lake and works both Roanoke and the lake was the second CDPE.  A CDPE is a Certified Distressed Property Expert.  A C... 12/29/2009

Many people don't see the value of a professional stager.  I guess the point can be debated back and forth.  I have seen many homes that were professionally staged and I do believe that it is a service that many home owners would do well to seek.  I think that many agents don't have the heart to have the honest conversations that are needed with sellers.   Above you will note the unmade bed with the backpack and boxers on it....wait till you see what is in the backpack!   Not exactly what my 83 year old client had in mind when she was looking in the bedroom! Sometimes I am confused as to what sellers are thinking!?!?!? I must admit that unfortunately in this market a lot of homes are sitting on the market far longer than usual...but hey!  If you want to sell your house it HAS to be in p... 12/29/2009

This blog was inspired by my good friend Renee Burrows. Renee's Blog can be seen here. This is a reminder that you really need to be pre-approved before you start looking for your Roanoke Area Home.  If you are paying cash then we simply need the proof of funds.  We will need your pre-approval or your proof of funds when we write an offer.  Banks, REO companies and Sellers will require proof of your ability to buy before accepting your offer. I cannot make appointments to show houses without an approval from a lender with an office in the Roanoke Valley area.  Roanoke Area agents have been burned too many times by Internet lenders, or out of town fly by night brokers to allow a contract to be signed without a local lender's approval.  It will save you a lot of time and grief to go ahead... 12/28/2009

Recently I called a past client to check in with her about two investment properties she had tried to sell in the past. She had been renting these properties for the past two years and I was calling to see if she had interest in placing them on the market again. Much to my dismay she told me that she had had to declare bankruptcy and both of the rental properties were in the process of being foreclosed on. When I first met this woman she had an extraordinary 840 credit score and was planning on retiring early. Since she has had these issues her credit score has been damaged severely and she told me that she doesn't know when she will retire. I asked her why she didn't call me to help her and she responded that she was just overwhelmed and didn't know what to do. Don't let this happen to... 12/20/2009

Re-blogged by 0 agents Great Local Painting Company for Roanoke, Salem, Vinton, Bedford, Botetourt, Franklin and Smith Mountain Lake! So, why do I take time to blog about a certain restaurant, a moving company, a painter, ect. the answer is somewhat self serving and relatively simple.....I blog about people who make me look good! I like to recommend businesses and professionals that have a history of making my clients and customers feel good about the decision they made to go to or use that person that I referred them to.  They take care of the customer the way they need to and want to be taken care of.  Ultimately, that makes me look good for taking care of my client. There are a ton of Painters out there, and it seems like they all live in the Roanoke, VA area.  When you paint your h... 12/18/2009

Since Childhood, I have always heard the saying: "Strike while the iron is hot".  This is so true of the real estate market.  Over the past few years here in the Roanoke, Virginia real estate market we have seen a great deal of inconsistency.  We will have a great month or two where buyers are out in force, then without warning, all of the home buyers will disappear.  A month or two later... out they come again.  With this in mind selling a home in Roanoke can drive you absolutely crazy.  Right now, for example, in the middle of December there seems to be an influx of buyers in the market.  These home buyers are not just the lookers of the past year, but seem to be taking action.  How long this will last no one knows, all I know that as home sellers and real estate agents, we need to ta... 12/17/2009

I didn't say it!  I feel it sometimes but I promise, this time it really wasn't me;) Columnist Marc Roth with Business Week wrote a good article in the December 7th issue.  Please follow the link below to read further.... Business Week Aricle It really is a good time to buy a house in the Roanoke Virginia area.  Listings are at an all time high.  There are a lot of foreclosures and short sales.  I would temper that with the disclaimer that foreclosures and short sales are not for every buyer.  Call or email today for a list of "distressed" properties.   Damon 12/16/2009

This blog was actually written by my good friend, Jody Bodeau.  It is a very informative blog.   Fannie Mae raised the bar for mortgage applicants this past weekend. Getting approved for a home loan just got harder. In its official announcement, Fannie Mae says the updates minimize long-term lending risks. If that's the case, this won't be the last guideline change Fannie Mae makes -- especially with loans defaulting at an above-normal clip. The immediate changes are major. The first pertains to credit scores. Effective December 13, 2009, the bulk of Fannie Mae's loans require a 620 credit score minimum. There are very few exceptions. A second relates to loans with private mortgage insurance. Homeowners whose loan-to-value exceeds 80 percent now have a choice: 1. Pay higher mortgage ins... 12/16/2009

             As I watched the late local news broadcast last night I learned that our friends at Appalachian Power were asking for a new rate increase.  Beginning Saturday, Appalachian Power Co. will charge an average residential customer a total of about 15.5 percent more per month for electricity -- a calculation based on a residential customer who consumes 1,000 kilowatt hours a month.               The first thought I had was, I'm going to the home improvement store and buying compact fluorescent bulbs for every fixture in my home. My typical knee jerk reaction to things. When I woke up this morning I had an inspired thought, go to Google and find some easy tips for lowering my consumption of electricity, so here are a few easy things I wanted to share with you.               Accord... 12/13/2009

No money down loans are available for Roanoke Virginia Home Buyers! There is a lot of good and bad information out there now about different loan programs available.  If you live in the Roanoke Virginia area and you need a No Money Down loan there are options!  The number one choice amongst lenders now seems to be the USDA Rural Development Loan.  I know some of you are thinking that is nice but I don't want to live in Botetourt County, Franklin County, Bedford County or Craig County.....well you don't have to!  For some reason our government thinks that Roanoke County is rural!  Yes, places as "rural" as Penn Forest and North Lakes qualify!  If you have any questions about whether or not an area qualifies please shoot me an email or give me a call.  I have a lender that can put the add... 12/02/2009

Great Local Painting Company for Roanoke, Salem, Vinton, Bedford, Botetourt, Franklin and Smith Mountain Lake! So, why do I take time to blog about a certain restaurant, a moving company, a painter, ect. the answer is somewhat self serving and relatively simple.....I blog about people who make me look good! I like to recommend businesses and professionals that have a history of making my clients and customers feel good about the decision they made to go to or use that person that I referred them to.  They take care of the customer the way they need to and want to be taken care of.  Ultimately, that makes me look good for taking care of my client. There are a ton of Painters out there, and it seems like they all live in the Roanoke, VA area.  When you paint your home or place of business... 12/02/2009

Roanoke area Licensed Radon Remediation (Mitigation) Companies Ok...so here is the long and the short of it....in Virginia you have to be a licensed Radon Remediator (Mitigator) to install Radon Remediation (Mitigation) systems.  There is a specific license for a Radon Remediator (Mitigator) in the State of Virginia.  To be Licensed you also have to be trained and certified through one of several organizations.  The company HAS to be LICENSED and CERTIFIED to be legal in the State of Virginia.  For some reason, many real estate professionals continue to suggest illegal "posers" who are not Licensed Radon Remediator (Mitigator's).  These "posers" tend to do lackluster, sub-standard jobs.  The issue for the consumer is that when these systems are done by the "posers" there is no recourse ... 12/01/2009

          I have been engaged in a 45 day process of helping my clients buy a bank owned property. It is a 100 year old farmhouse, partially remodeled, 5 acres, small pond, and 3 outbuildings.          The original list price was $179,900, we made our first offer after the price had been reduced twice to $154,900. It was a low ball offer, about 20% below the list price. The Management Company countered, we countered, they countered, we countered. Their last counter arrived on Friday evening, my clients stated their desire to "think about it" over the weekend. I contacted the listing agent and was told that the offer was only good for 24-48 and would expire by Monday. My clients felt pressured, we discussed it and much to my dismay they decided to walk away.            Fast forward to Tu... 11/29/2009

How you can never be late on a payment, never go over your limit....and have your credit score drop! Impossible you say?!?!?  This is what is happening every day in America!  For decades we have heard about how much debt the average consumer is in.  For years we have listened to financial gurus tell us to pay off our revolving debt....well....now you might just have to! With the credit crunch going on in America today it is imperative for the consumer to realize what is happening to their credit scores that is absolutely out of their control.  Your credit scores are determined by mathematical algorithms developed by FICA.  Those algorithms take into account the ratio of credit used to credit limit (you need to stay less than 50% if at all possible).  Here is the issue, credit card compa... 11/19/2009