Harrisonburg and Rockingham County Real Estate Resource | Property Search | Homes for Sale

Harrisonburg Radon - Test for it!

Kai Degner (Kline May Realty) — Tue, 07 May 2013 19:37:58 -0700

Probably one of the only justifiable strikes against Harrisonburg’s natural setting in the lovely Shenandoah Valley is the degree to which the underlying bedrock spews out radon, a radioactive gas that the EPA identifies as the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Harrisonburg and Rockingham County both lie within the EPA’s Radon Zone 1 – areas of highest potential for unsafe radon concentrations in homes.

An odorless gas responsible for an EPA-estimated 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year, radon isn’t something you want to have around in your house in unsafe levels. Accordingly, when you buy a home in Virginia, purchasers have the option to add a radon test contingency to their purchase contract. Benjamin Meredith, owner of the Rockingham County and Harrisonburg home inspection company Building Knowledge, estimates that about half the buyers he works with decline this test.

Regardless of whether you’re purchasing a home in the Harrisonburg area, or simply living in one, Meredith recommends that everyone test for radon. While he does do radon testing for clients, Meredith says the inexpensive test kits available at home improvement stores also work well. A standard radon test typically involves simply leaving a test device in the home for several days, sending it to a lab for analysis and waiting on the results.

Continue reading this article about Radon in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County.

Kai Degner, REALTOR

Kai Degner & the LiveHB Homes Team

Serving Harrisonburg and the central Shenandoah Valley
Kline May Realty (540) 437-3507 Kai.Degner@KlineMay.com

www.LiveHB.com features Kai Degner's Harrisonburg real estate resources, property search, and 365 Things To Do in the Shenandoah Valley.

VIDEO: Harrisonburg: We Need More Homes For Sale! See Market Report.

Kai Degner (Kline May Realty) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 17:31:02 -0700

The Harrisonburg real estate market is showing signs of life, and we're beginning to have a new (good) problem: their are not enough homes for sale in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. What a turn around from just a couple years ago.

See a two-minute Harrisonburg Real Estate Market Report in the embedded video.

We are seeing a drastic reduction of homes on the market compared to three years ago. More homes sold in March 2013 than any March since 2008. First quarter home sales in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County are a 19% increase over the same time in 2012. There were also more contracts ratified for homes in March 2013 than in the month before the 2010 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit, which is a remarkable milestone on the market's path back to a healthy level of activity. This means the coming months should continue to have many homes sold, compared with recent history.

This means now is the best time in years to put your home on the market. Contact us for a free consultation about your home's value in today's market.

Home buyers: are you frustrated? You are not alone! There just aren't as many homes on the market right now. Be sure to let us know what specifically you are looking for so we can set up you up custom, automatic updates so you don't miss an opportunity. Also, be prepared with a pre-approval letter from a bank if you are seriously considering purchasing a home. Be in touch!

Kai Degner, REALTOR

Kai Degner & the LiveHB Homes Team

Serving Harrisonburg and the central Shenandoah Valley
Kline May Realty (540) 437-3507 Kai.Degner@KlineMay.com

www.LiveHB.com features Kai Degner's Harrisonburg real estate resources, property search, and 365 Things To Do in the Shenandoah Valley.

Harrisonburg Basements: Wet and Wonderful

Kai Degner (Kline May Realty) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 11:48:53 -0700

"Harrisonburg Basement: Wet & Wonderful" originally written by Andrew Jenner for LiveHB.com

In an uncertain world, take comfort, perhaps, in these simple, immutable facts: basements will get wet, but water can be controlled.

“I want people to go into buying a house understanding that the basement will be wet,” says Benjamin Meredith, owner of Building Knowledge, a home inspection company that works in and around Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, Virginia.

In extreme cases, water in basements means running water and puddles. In better instances, where proper precautions have been taken during and since construction, the “wet” in basements will amount to nothing more than water vapor seeping through the foundation – easily controlled with a dehumidifier.

Meredith says his clients are often shocked by straight talk about wet basements,

particularly clients interested in finishing the basement space to some degree. At the same time, he adds, basements – be they wet or very wet – can be soundly finished so long as a water control plan is in place.

That water control plan in a well-constructed and well-maintained home may simply be using a dehumidifier to capture incoming water vapor. A house with a swampy, puddle prone basement will take a little more effort and attention. As a first course of action, Meredith recommends starting outside. Gutters and downspouts need to be in working order, channeling water out and away from the foundation (a 1-inch rain can send about 1 gallon per square foot of roof area down toward your foundation). Exterior grading also needs to slope away from the house in all directions for at least several feet.

If water intrusion remains a significant problem despite proper exterior controls, a French drain (basically, a trench filled with porous material) around the inside of the basement to channel water to a sump pump is one effective, if more involved, solution. One word of strong caution from Meredith: paints, even ones designed to “lock” moisture out of spaces, is never part of effective water control in a basement.

With proper precautions, Meredith adds, happy life in a finished basement is entirely possible; his own basement at home is a finished example. His best advice to homebuyers: don’t rush into a basement-finishing project. Spend some time in the house, see how the basement behaves during a downpour, and plan for water control accordingly.

When it comes to inspecting homes with already-finished basements, Meredith estimates he sees evidence of inadequate water control in at least half of them. Regardless, taking measures to identify, address and prevent water-related problems should be part of everyone’s plan when buying a house with finished basement space.

Read the rest of "Harrisonburg Basement: Wet & Wonderful" originally written by Andrew Jenner for LiveHB.com.

Kai Degner, REALTOR

Kai Degner & the LiveHB Homes Team

Serving Harrisonburg and the central Shenandoah Valley
Kline May Realty (540) 437-3507 Kai.Degner@KlineMay.com

www.LiveHB.com features Kai Degner's Harrisonburg real estate resources, property search, and 365 Things To Do in the Shenandoah Valley.

Harrisonburg HVAC Maintenance

Kai Degner (Kline May Realty) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 10:04:05 -0700

This article about Harrisonburg HVAC maintenance is from LiveHB.com.

Like most critical infrastructure in a home, the HVAC system – that’s “heating, ventilation and air conditioning” – generally exists out of sight, its major bits hidden away in basements, attics and inside walls. Because heating and cooling account for more than half of the energy consumption in the average home, out of sight shouldn’t also mean out of mind, says Jay Monger, the co-owner of Excel Steel Works and manager of the company’s Harrisonburg, Va.,-based heating and cooling division.

To keep energy bills low, and to keep equipment in good working order for as long as possible, Monger recommends regular servicing. It’s something that very people actually get around to, he says, and it’s a way to save yourself a major unexpected expense and headache down the road.

Another major reason not to neglect routine servicing: you don’t want to be one of those desperate people begging for an HVAC contractor ASAP when something conks out during a July heat wave.

“Something that’s identified as a minor problem in the spring can become a major problem when it’s 105 degrees,” Monger says.

To catch these minor problems – e.g. low Freon, dirty evaporator coils – before they get major, Excel is now offering yearly preventive maintenance agreements, which include routine service visits and a spot at the top of the priority list during an HVAC emergency.

While it’s difficult to quantify the savings that routine HVAC maintenance will return in the form of lower energy bills, they can be significant. Dominion Virginia Power takes HVAC performance seriously enough that it offers its electricity customers a $90 rebate to have their systems serviced by an approved contractor (Excel has just joined that list).

Routine HVAC maintenance that homeowners can and should do themselves pretty much begins and ends with regularly replacing air filters, says Excel service manager Brandon Stonesifer. In general, he says, the higher-quality the filter, the better, and the more often you change it, the better (there are potential caveats to this related to the performance of individual HVAC systems that are best discussed with your contractor).

Read the rest of this article on Harrisonburg HVAC Maintenance at LiveHB.com.

Kai Degner, REALTOR

Kai Degner & the LiveHB Homes Team

Serving Harrisonburg and the central Shenandoah Valley
Kline May Realty (540) 437-3507 Kai.Degner@KlineMay.com

www.LiveHB.com features Kai Degner's Harrisonburg real estate resources, property search, and 365 Things To Do in the Shenandoah Valley.

Cracked Concrete in Harrisonburg?

Kai Degner (Kline May Realty) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 09:57:22 -0700

"Cracked Concrete in Harrisonburg?" Originally posted at LiveHB.com.

Click to enlarge

Harrisonburg winters can be tough of concrete. Concrete can deteriorate over time from the ravaging effects of moisture, ice, and salt. In many cases, you can repair and renew concrete rather than replace it, and achieve a beautiful new look that will last much longer.

Due to demolition expenses, replacement costs are greater than concrete repair, so your best value is to restore the concrete if possible. “We can make that call after we’ve seen the situation,” says Joe Friesen of Design Concrete Builders in Harrisonburg. Joe is the son of Eugene and Phyllis Friesen, of the family-owned business that serves the greater Shenandoah Valley.

Decorative concrete can be applied directly over plain concrete. A concrete-polymer blend is overlaid on the surface of the existing concrete, one-fourth to three-eighths inch thick. The concrete and polymer base material seals the surface. There is color in the concrete, and some people choose to use a sealer that has color in it as well.

With the overlay, the damage is repaired and the concrete appears new again. The concrete-polymer blend is more resistant to salt and will have a greater resistance to deterioration.

Stamped patterns in the concrete overlay can give the surface an appealing texture. Concrete can have the look of stone or tile, without the high cost and the long-term maintenance of tile grout that deteriorates. Friesen says, “You can get the look of tile with the durability of concrete.”

These pictures show “Before and After” a Harrisonburg-area concrete restoration. Before, concrete steps are badly deteriorated by weather. After, a decorative concrete overlay gives the look of tile, finished with a concrete sealer. “The stamped, decorative concrete speaks for itself,” says Friesen.

Design Concrete Builders can repair concrete sidewalks, steps, driveways, floors, patios, and walkways, and even swimming pool decks that are especially susceptible to moisture. Friesen says a restoration of residential concrete typically takes a few days to a week.

See the rest of this article at LiveHB.com.

Kai Degner, REALTOR

Kai Degner & the LiveHB Homes Team

Serving Harrisonburg and the central Shenandoah Valley
Kline May Realty (540) 437-3507 Kai.Degner@KlineMay.com

www.LiveHB.com features Kai Degner's Harrisonburg real estate resources, property search, and 365 Things To Do in the Shenandoah Valley.

441 Diana Ct, Harrisonburg, VA

Kai Degner (Kline May Realty) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 08:39:51 -0700

441 Diana Ct in Harrisonburg is a perfect home for a buyer wanting lots of space in a low-maintenance, move-in ready home priced UNDER $200,000.

The price has been reduced to $199,000!

Over 3,000 square feet on this FIVE (5) level, renovated duplex - an amazing amount of space and privacy for a home! Quiet cul-de-sac with amazing views and one-of-a-kind layout. Two bedrooms upstairs with a master suite and hall bath. Spacious kitchen with brand new granite counter tops and appliances, complete with naturally-lighted eating area. Spacious Great Room for living, dining, and/or guests on kitchen level (walk-in level). Family room level with half bath and access to a deck with a view of the mountains. Bedroom, full bath, and den/living room level. Finish-ready basement with walk-out entry and roughed-in bath (make 4.5 baths!). Perfect for the home buyer wanting convenience to Harrisonburg, Bridgewater, Dayton, Staunton, etc. Immediate access to Rt 11 & I-81 Exit 243.

441 Diana Ct is listed by Kai Degner & the LiveHB Homes Team at Kline May Realty.

Call or text to schedule a showing at 441 Diana Ct!

Kai Degner, REALTOR

Kai Degner & the LiveHB Homes Team

Serving Harrisonburg and the central Shenandoah Valley
Kline May Realty (540) 437-3507 Kai.Degner@KlineMay.com

www.LiveHB.com features Kai Degner's Harrisonburg real estate resources, property search, and 365 Things To Do in the Shenandoah Valley.

10 St. Patty's Day Parties in Harrisonburg, VA

Kai Degner (Kline May Realty) — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 15:45:43 -0700

We posted Harrisonburg St. Patrick's Day Party locations over at www.LiveHB.com - it will be a green town this weekend!

Harrisonburg residents are making the City greener week-by-week, pursuing bike lanes, backyard business gardens, and energy-efficiency projects - but this weekend, the City is green for a different reason. St. Patricks Day is here, and many fine establishments have special events planned. Here' s a short list of Harrisonburg St. Patricks Day events - if you know of others, add them to the comments!

Corgan's Publick House - THE Irish Pub in Harrisonburg

They're getting the party started early according to their website: "Corgans' opens at 8am with Irish Breakfast, Green Beer, Irish Coffees and more! Live Music throughout the day, DRINK Specials and Irish food specials, and lots of Irish CHEER!! Come early, stay late. CHEERS to the best holiday going!"

Jacktown: Billy Jack's and Jack Brown's

HDR has a nice summary of downtown Harisonburg St. Patricks Day options, including how Jacktown is celebrating: "Jack Brown’s and Billy Jack’s will take part in this joint celebration beginning at 11am. These neighboring bars will offer different specials to keep patrons entertained throughout the day. Jack Brown’s will have a keg of Porterhouse Broan Blazer, as well as Irish-style craft beers like reds and stouts. Of course, it wouldn’t be a complete celebration at Jack Brown’s without a creative interpretation of the hamburger to go along with the holiday- cue the Lucky Leprechaun Burger- your classic burger topped with Wagyu corned beef. Not to be outdone, Billy Jack’s will be serving Guinness all day plus featured beers like Smithwick’s, Bass, and Magners Cider with their signature Irish inspired sandwich of the day, the Reuben."

Capital Ale House - A Statewide Celebration

Harrisonburg's Capital Ale House will join with the four other CAH locations. "The 11th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration will be held at all five Capital Ale House locations. Over the years this event has grown to become one of the biggest and best St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Virginia! ... We will have over 10 different Irish & Scottish Ales on tap and at least ten more in the bottle.

Along with our regular menu we will be serving our new Irish menu for 2013 that will include traditional Irish fare. Here is a sample menu: Tender corned beef and cabbage, Dill and Irish whisky cured salmon on crisp potato cake and chive cream, Pan seared flat iron steak on boxty cakes and a clover honey and Jameson’s Sauce, Whisky Barrel Roasted Salmon with shrimp and Crab Stuffing on Champ, Bread and butter Pudding with Barley Malt Glaze."

Clementine Cafe - The DJ Party

The Do Downtown blog also describes Clementine Cafe's basement (i.e. Ruby's) plans: "Clementine Cafe will be celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day with a dance party twist. Starting at 9pm until midnight, house DJ Neals Barkley ... will spin a mix of Irish drinking songs and party classics. When you need to cool off from the dance floor, grab a couple baby Guinness shots or O’Hara’s draft for $3 and a variety of other Irish bottles like Smithwick’s and Harp for just $2."

Quaker Steak and Lube - St. Patty's Bash

These guys and gals are really building the anticipation: there's an active countdown on their website ticking second by second towards their party. At 10pm Saturday, though, things start with the "Painting O' the Patie." Nothing else is really described on their website, so I'm picturing booze amidst a spinning Harley.

Artful Dodger

No holiday weekend is complete without a party at the Artful Dodger. In typical fashion, they stretch the reason to party into as many nights as possible, beginning Friday.

See the rest of the locations over at LiveHB.com: Harrisonburg St. Patrick's Day

Kai Degner, REALTOR

Kai Degner & the LiveHB Homes Team

Serving Harrisonburg and the central Shenandoah Valley
Kline May Realty (540) 437-3507 Kai.Degner@KlineMay.com

www.LiveHB.com features Kai Degner's Harrisonburg real estate resources, property search, and 365 Things To Do in the Shenandoah Valley.

New Listings in Harrisonburg

Kai Degner (Kline May Realty) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 18:07:59 -0700

Looking for the latest listings in Harrisonburg, Virginia? LiveHB.com has a constant list of the newst homes on the market in the Harrisonburg area. Here are the newest listings and homes for sale in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County.

See a home you're interested in? Call us to schedule an appointment or to ask for more detailed information!

Here are four new Harrisonburg and Rockingham County listings from this week (Click for listing broker information and details!):

$339,000

2252 Kerns Rd
Dayton, VA 22821

Listing #: 81581

$279,000

103 Millers Rd
Bridgewater, VA 22821

Listing #: 80202

$234,900

375 Acme Company St
Broadway, VA 22815

Listing #: 81580

$210,000

3547 Pleasant Valley Rd
Mount Crawford, VA 22841

Listing #: 81576

New Land Listings in Harrisonburg

New Farm Listings in Harrisonburg

Kai Degner, REALTOR

Kai Degner & the LiveHB Homes Team

Serving Harrisonburg and the central Shenandoah Valley
Kline May Realty (540) 437-3507 Kai.Degner@KlineMay.com

www.LiveHB.com features Kai Degner's Harrisonburg real estate resources, property search, and 365 Things To Do in the Shenandoah Valley.

WANTED: Harrisonburg Homes for Sale!

Kai Degner (Kline May Realty) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 10:55:29 -0700

Original post about the Harrisonburg and Rockingham Real Estate Market at www.LiveHB.com.

The Harrisonburg and Rockingham Real Estate Market has a (good) problem: there are not enough homes on the market to satisfy the current demand!

Take a look at the chart below from the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Real Estate Market Report for January-February 2013. As you can see, there are 201 single family and townhome properties for sale in Harrisonburg. Keep in mind, this is the total for all the different price ranges. I have been working with a number of home buyers over the last few months and we're feeling some frustration that there aren't many choices in the Harrisonburg or Rockingham County Real Estate Market right now - and the data shows we indeed have fewer choices than in recent years!

In Harrisonburg, there were 201 homes and townhomes on the market in February 2013. Two years ago, there were 301 - that's a 50% increase in homes on the market!

Harrisonburg and Rockingham County real estate inventory trends follow what's happening nationally (see below).

So what's the lesson here? If you are thinking about selling your home, it may be there is pent up demand from buyers for exactly your home.

Some people ask, "Shouldn't we wait until the Spring?" My answer, "It's Spring now!", and, even if we were speaking a month ago, I'd say, "Nope, you will have less competition the earlier you list your Harrisonburg or Rockingham County home for sale - why wait until there's more competition to sell your home?"

We are slowly moving towards a sellers market - a healthier position than the real estate market has been in for years!

Call me today to get the conversation started about taking advantage of this window to sell your home - or send me an email at Kai@LiveHB.com!

Kai Degner, REALTOR

Kai Degner & the LiveHB Homes Team

Serving Harrisonburg and the central Shenandoah Valley
Kline May Realty (540) 437-3507 Kai.Degner@KlineMay.com

www.LiveHB.com features Kai Degner's Harrisonburg real estate resources, property search, and 365 Things To Do in the Shenandoah Valley.

Harrisonburg Home Inspection 101

Kai Degner (Kline May Realty) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 08:40:15 -0700

This article about Harrisonburg Home Inspectors was originally published at www.LiveHB.com, Harrisonburg's Home Page.

Harrisonburg Home Inspectors are a critical component to a residential real estate transaction. This is the first in a series of articles that will feature one home inspector, Benjamin Meredith of Building Knowledge.

After you enter a contract to buy a home in Harrisonburg, one item on the pre-closing checklist will be the home inspection (unless you actively decline one). The typical purpose of the home inspection is to make you, the buyer, aware of any “structural or mechanical defects” with the house before you complete the purchase.

“I’m going to treat my buyer like I would if I’m doing an inspection for a relative,” said Benjamin Meredith, owner of the Harrisonburg and Rockingham County home inspection company, Building Knowledge.

During a typical inspection, which starts at $275 for a home smaller than 1,500 square feet, Meredith will spend several hours working his way from the roof down toward the basement, looking inside and out for problems. About 75 percent of what he finds has to do with water. Rotting wood, leaking roofs, foundation cracks and wet basements are some examples. That evening, he’ll write up his findings – and there will be findings of some sort in every house – and send you an electronic report in PDF, complete with descriptions and digital photographs of any issues he identified.

If, like most buyers, you’re with him during the inspection, he’ll also take the opportunity to give you some pointers on home maintenance, energy efficiency and other ways to make life in the home comfortable and healthy.

While Meredith will assess the home’s condition as best he’s able, the home inspection process is inherently limited by the fact that he can’t do anything invasive – the home’s still not yours yet, and the owner isn’t going to like it if your home inspector knocks a hole in the wall. If there’s insect damage inside a wall cavity, Meredith will do his best to spot indications of that. But even a state certification (a voluntary credential not carried by all home inspectors) doesn’t give him the ability to see through walls. Determining the full extent of a problem can also be difficult.

“Sometimes I can only see the tip of the iceberg,” he said.

Regardless of what exactly Meredith discovers during a home inspection, his job is simply to make you a better-informed buyer. Decisions about whether you’ll ask the seller to fix anything, or renegotiate the price, or even walk away entirely, are up to you and your Harrisonburg REALTOR, based on what the inspection has revealed.

Kai Degner, REALTOR

Kai Degner & the LiveHB Homes Team

Serving Harrisonburg and the central Shenandoah Valley
Kline May Realty (540) 437-3507 Kai.Degner@KlineMay.com

www.LiveHB.com features Kai Degner's Harrisonburg real estate resources, property search, and 365 Things To Do in the Shenandoah Valley.

Should I test for Lead-Based Paint in Harrisonburg?

Kai Degner (Kline May Realty) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 08:30:37 -0700

This Harrisonburg Lead Based Paint article was intially published at LiveHB.com.

Thanks to mandatory notification laws, lead paint is a topic that frequently comes up when you buy a house in Harrisonburg or Rockingham County. Because lead makes for a nice coat of paint, it was once widely used in American homes. But because it also poses considerable environmental health risks, particularly for children, in whom it can cause permanent neurologic and developmental damage, lead-based paints were banned for residential use in the U.S. in 1978.

That means if you buy a home that was built before 1978, there’s a chance it contains lead-based paint, said Benjamin Meredith, whose company,Building Knowledge, does home inspections in and around Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. The older the house is, the greater the likelihood of it having lead-based paint; according to the EPA, lead-based paints are found in 24 percent of homes built between 1960 and 1978, and up to 87 percent of homes built before 1940.

The only sure way to know is to test the walls, ceilings, trim, floors, railings and anything other surface inside or out that may have been painted before the lead-based paints ban. Due to the time and expense involved, this sort of test isn’t part of the standard home inspection before closing on a house, Meredith said.

Instead, he recommends a conservative approach: if the home was built before 1978, assume there’s lead-based paint in it. That certainly doesn’t mean you can’t live there safely and happily, though. Lead is only hazardous when ingested, either by eating paint flakes, as young children occasionally do, or inhaling paint dust.

Read the entire Harrisonburg Lead Based Paint article was intially published at LiveHB.com.

Kai Degner, REALTOR

Kai Degner & the LiveHB Homes Team

Serving Harrisonburg and the central Shenandoah Valley
Kline May Realty (540) 437-3507 Kai.Degner@KlineMay.com

www.LiveHB.com features Kai Degner's Harrisonburg real estate resources, property search, and 365 Things To Do in the Shenandoah Valley.

Central Shenandoah Valley Home Search Options

Kai Degner (Kline May Realty) — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 18:55:49 -0700

The LiveHB Homes Team offers everyone a basic search and advanced search feature for Harrisonburg and Rockingham County real estate, but sometimes it's nice to browse through some pre-determined search result pages. Here are a number of such pages - have fun and let us know if we can help!

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Kai Degner, REALTOR

Kai Degner & the LiveHB Homes Team

Serving Harrisonburg and the central Shenandoah Valley
Kline May Realty (540) 437-3507 Kai.Degner@KlineMay.com

www.LiveHB.com features Kai Degner's Harrisonburg real estate resources, property search, and 365 Things To Do in the Shenandoah Valley.

Harrisonburg is a Mountain Bike Mecca!

Kai Degner (Kline May Realty) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:41:43 -0700

Harrisonburg is an IMBA Ride Center (Photo Courtesy of HarrisonburgTourism.com)

Mountain biking in the Harrisonburg area continues to be recognized, most recently by the International Mountain Biking Association identifying Harrisonburg as just one of seven Ride Centers® in the WORLD! (OK, there's only one city not in the USA, but we call it the World Series in baseball, don't we?).

Specifically about Harrisonburg, IMBA says there is a diversity of trails for every type of rider.

"Want to take a novice rider for a spin in the center of town? Head for the Rocktown Trails at Hillendale Park and follow the green loops. Step things up with the blue- and red-blazed trails and you'll find more gnar than you'd expect in a city park; it's the embodiment of IMBA's "stacked loop" approach to providing progressive levels of challenge in a small area. Continue exploring in and around town and you'll access everything from two full-on Epic trails (the Southern Traverse and Spruce Knob) to flow trails at Massanutten Resort. Not interested in buying a resort pass? If you're willing to join the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition and log 8 or more hours of volunteer trail building time, you can ride for free." Source

According to the IMBA Ride Center website, "The Ride Center® designation represents IMBA’s Model Trail recognition for large-scale mountain bike facilities that offer something for every rider. Bring your full arsenal of bikes to these destination-worthy areas. From backcountry adventures to shuttle-served gravity trails, and from expert-only to family-friendly, you’ll encounter the best the sport has to offer."

Visit #26 Mountain Biking for more information about local mountain biking resources in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County.

Virginia.org has an overview of mountain biking options here. The Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition is probably the best resource for learning more about all the biking opportunities the area has to offer. You can also go into the bike shop in downtown Harrisonburg, Shenandoah Bicycle Company, as well as others in the area for terrific assistance in finding a trail that suits your experience.

Originally posted at www.KaiDegner.com.

Kai Degner, REALTOR

Kai Degner & the LiveHB Homes Team

Serving Harrisonburg and the central Shenandoah Valley
Kline May Realty (540) 437-3507 Kai.Degner@KlineMay.com

www.LiveHB.com features Kai Degner's Harrisonburg real estate resources, property search, and 365 Things To Do in the Shenandoah Valley.

Aaram Millones, Harrisonburg REALTOR

Kai Degner (Kline May Realty) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:58:28 -0700

The Kai Degner Homes Team is pleased to have Aaram Millones, a Harrisonburg REALTOR ready to help clients buy and sell homes.

Aaram Millones, REALTOR (540) 810-8744 - Aaram.Millones@KlineMay.com

Aaram Millones has years of experience serving the Harrisonburg-Rockingham area. A man of many talents, Aaram is fluent in Spanish and English, an avid soccer fan, and the founder of Earth & Tea Café, a popular restaurant in downtown Harrisonburg. Millones invites customers and clients to call him for all of their real estate needs.

Aaram’s education is in accounting and business management. Aaram can be of great assistance to both buyers and sellers of homes in the Harrisonburg-Rockingham area.

SPANISH

Aaram Millones, Realtor con años de experiencia sirviendo las áreas de Harrisonburg y Rockingam. Un hombre de muchos talentos, Aaram habla con fluidez el Español e Ingles, y es un fan fanático del futbol, también es fundador del Earth & Tea Café, un popular restaurante en el centro de Harrrisonburg.

Millones los invita a todos sus clientes y amigos que lo llamen para cualquier consulta de Bienes Raíces. La educación de Aaram consiste en Contabilidad y Administración de negocios. Millones puede ser de gran ayuda para las personas que desean comprar o vender casas en las áreas de Harrisonburg y Rockingham.

Kai Degner, REALTOR

Kai Degner & the LiveHB Homes Team

Serving Harrisonburg and the central Shenandoah Valley
Kline May Realty (540) 437-3507 Kai.Degner@KlineMay.com

www.LiveHB.com features Kai Degner's Harrisonburg real estate resources, property search, and 365 Things To Do in the Shenandoah Valley.

Harrisonburg Craigslist Rental Scam

Kai Degner (Kline May Realty) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 22:28:58 -0700

There is a Harrisonburg Craigslist scam underway that relies on current real estate listings. I'm filling in for a fellow real estate agent while she is on vacation and fielded two strange inquiries today about a property she is helping sell. Two people sent emails asking whether this 4-bedroom, 3-bedroom home in Harrisonburg is indeed for rent for $500/mo, as advertised on Craigslist. It is not, and it is clearly a scam. Be alert - here's how it works:

An advertisement is placed on Craigslist, soliciting inquiries for a home on the market at a "too good to be true" rental rate.

Someone responds, and receives an answer like this:

Hi Thanks for your e.mail, it is in [address omitted], Harrisonburg VA 22802pet friendly! LOCATION! - Impeccably maintained This Fabulous Property Better!! Great Opportunity! Outside is Great, inside needs TLC. Great views! New heat pump 7/11. Great remodeled home in established family neighborhood. Convenient to EMU and on city bike trail! Open floorplan with hardwood floors on main level. Partially finished basement, sunroom with hot tub, storage galore! New waterproofing with French drains-warranty conveys. Fenced backyard, cedar closet in basement, new windows and off street parking. ! A must occupy! and its for Immediate Occupancy.

We wish for someone to occupy this space as i will like to bring to your notice that my husband who works with Schlumberger was recently transfered to England. We had to move some days ago with our 3 year old girl.

We wanted to sell the place initially but due to the sharp fall in the price of houses recently, our lawyer adviced us to seek the option of renting since we will even be away for a long time and since we might be moving to the place when we arrive in the next couple of years.

We intend renting from here as we would send the keys and paperworks to you so you can take possession if we conclude.

Its a lovely place, so we will require you get back if you are really interested as we intend leasing this house to a responsible and neat person(s) who has the fear of God and will treat this house as his or her own.

Get back to me so i can know your plans as the place is absolutely clean and note that there's a $500 security deposit plus a $500 months rent.

Best Regards

A follow up email with some basic questions from the local person wondering if this is legit generated the following response:

How is your day going? Like i said in my mail, we had to move in a hurry. We are a small happy family who look forward to having a good person occupy. For security reasons, we had the place locked and the keys are here with us. We shall send the keys to your address if you are serious about renting since we can't do a showing as a result of our absence.
You can drive by the place immediately at your earliest convenience. At this point, if you want to proceed, then call me eitherways on 011 44 70457 54507 or +44 70457 54507( don't forget the plus sign), brief me about yourself and have a little chat. Then you are to also provide one or two references, your move in date, your full name, address and phone number for effective correspondence.

Best regards

p.s:I suggest you get a calling card since it is evident that you dont have international call access from your service provider. Follow the instructions on the card and dial 011 44 70457 54507 also note that there is a 5-6 hr difference in timing as England is ahead in timing so you dont get to call in a bad time.

Still looking forward to renting to you

When pressed again for wanting to speak to someone local who knows this "owner," the person sent this response:

Hello,We are positive that the distance will not cause some barrier what so ever as with the internet we can settle our business. Unfortunately We have been disappointed before, by some peoples we trust in the states. So the only person we trust in the state right now that you can meet, has informed us that he has traveled to the Dominican Republic for a professional course. Yes we hope to be in the states in a couple of months (three months to be precise to engage the service of a broker who will handle maintanace if need be)

This is clearly a scam, and anyone using Craigslist in Harrisonburg should be alerted that it is happening. Always call a real estate agent to find out the "real deal" on any property, and be immediately suspicious of any email communication from overseas. For anyone selling their property, be alert that someone might be using your property as a cover for a rental scam like this.

Kai Degner, REALTOR

Kai Degner & the LiveHB Homes Team

Serving Harrisonburg and the central Shenandoah Valley
Kline May Realty (540) 437-3507 Kai.Degner@KlineMay.com

www.LiveHB.com features Kai Degner's Harrisonburg real estate resources, property search, and 365 Things To Do in the Shenandoah Valley.

Harrisonburg Streams Council Meetings Online

Kai Degner (Kline May Realty) — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 16:09:58 -0700

I'm excited to write this post, having been anticipating the day when I and residents in Harrisonburg could not only stream online live city council meetings but also easily access archived video. This past Tuesday marked the first live-streamed Harrisonburg City Council meeting. But, there are some very exciting and useful tools in addition to simple streaming.

The platform city council is using lets users take out snippets of the meetings and easily get links and embed code to share a specific portion of the meeting with friends via email, in social networks, and on blogs.

The video tool allows users to not only see the video, but access the same documents received by council and skip to agenda items of most interest.

Check it out - here's where I mentioned these new tools at the end of Tuesday's meeting (I admit, it's not the most exciting cinematography!).

Press Release from the City of Harrisonburg:

July 11, 2011 For Immediate Release ...

Harrisonburg Partners with Granicus to Stream Public Meetings Online

City strengthens government transparency with access to live and archived meetings on its website

Harrisonburg, VA – Beginning on July 12, 2011, residents can watch city council meetings live and on demand through the city’s website at www.HarrisonburgVA.gov/agendas.

Streaming meetings allows residents who are unable to attend live or watch through the public access channel to view meetings when convenient.

Increasingly over the years, streaming video of council meetings has been something that our community has requested,” said Mayor Richard Baugh. “This addition to our capabilities will help us reach more of our citizens on their schedules and with the ability to focus on the issues that matter to them. It will help us continue our efforts to increase transparency and civic engagement.”

Harrisonburg recently deployed Granicus’ Open Platform and Government Transparency Suite, providing citizens with searchable archives of public meetings and events.

Viewers will have access to supporting materials (displayed alongside the video) and the ability to jump to particular items of interest through the documents and an indexed drop‐down box below the video. Archived meetings are available as MP3 (audio) and MP4 (video) downloads. Viewers can also share videos over popular social networking sites as well as copy and embed portions of a meeting, or an entire video, through the player itself.

A number of Virginia communities are already using Granicus to share video with their communities, including Charlottesville, Lynchburg and Blacksburg.

About Granicus

Granicus is the leading government cloud computing provider for transparency, efficiency, legislative management and citizen participation solutions in the U.S. It offers the first cloud platform and product suites designed specifically to help government agencies establish meaningful connections with citizens.

Granicus hosts the world’s largest government‐exclusive webcasting network, streaming over 30 million webcasts and serving more than 900 clients spanning all 50 states.

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Kai Degner, REALTOR

Kai Degner & the LiveHB Homes Team

Serving Harrisonburg and the central Shenandoah Valley
Kline May Realty (540) 437-3507 Kai.Degner@KlineMay.com

www.LiveHB.com features Kai Degner's Harrisonburg real estate resources, property search, and 365 Things To Do in the Shenandoah Valley.

I want you at Valley 4th in downtown Harrisonburg" - Kai Degner

Kai Degner (Kline May Realty) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 12:23:50 -0700

Valley 4th in downtown Harrisonburg is largest Independence Day celebration in the Shenandoah Valley. Come downtown on July 4, 2011, for a full program including the reading of the Declaration of Independence, a 4th of July Parade, food, and fireworks.

I'll be in the dunking booth from 3:00-3:30 for anyone wanting to try their aim!

Valley 4th is organized by the Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance and sponsored by a number of community businesses and organizations.

See the full schedule for July 4th in downtown Harrisonburg at KaiDegne.com!

Kai Degner, REALTOR

Kai Degner & the LiveHB Homes Team

Serving Harrisonburg and the central Shenandoah Valley
Kline May Realty (540) 437-3507 Kai.Degner@KlineMay.com

www.LiveHB.com features Kai Degner's Harrisonburg real estate resources, property search, and 365 Things To Do in the Shenandoah Valley.

Cheapest Property in Harrisonburg: 1346 B Hunters Road

Kai Degner (Kline May Realty) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 18:38:57 -0700

1346 B Hunters Road Hunters Ridge Harrisonburg (Source: HRAR MLS)

1346 B Hunters Road in Hunters Ridge wins the prize this week for the lowest priced property in Harrisonburg. Listed at $49,900 in the HRAR MLS, 1346 B Hunters Road has four bedrooms and two baths and is listed in good condition. Further description from the MLS listing is:

Walking distance to JMU. Fully furnished. Basketball & Volleyball Courts. Recent upgrades include: new water heater (2008), new dishwasher (2008), new clothes dryer (2008). Rental income approx. $250 to $275/bedroom/month. $4,500 allowance at closing toward carpet, flooring, and/or 4 bedroom to 2 bedroom conversion.

Interested in taking a look at this property - or any other property in Harrisonburg? Contact me.

I can help you purchase 1346 B Hunters Road or any other property in the area.

1346 B Hunters Road is listed with Massanutten Realty.

For a list of the five most affordable properties on the market in Harrisonburg or Rockingham County RIGHT NOW, email me at Kai.Degner@KlineMay.com.

Kai Degner, REALTOR

Kai Degner & the LiveHB Homes Team

Serving Harrisonburg and the central Shenandoah Valley
Kline May Realty (540) 437-3507 Kai.Degner@KlineMay.com

www.LiveHB.com features Kai Degner's Harrisonburg real estate resources, property search, and 365 Things To Do in the Shenandoah Valley.

Cally's Out, Capital Alehouse In Harrisonburg

Kai Degner (Kline May Realty) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 13:57:01 -0700

Originally posted at KaiDegner.com

Well, the weekend rumors are confirmed: Cally's will become another location for the Richmond-based Capital Alehouse. Renovations will begin July 12, with an opening expected on Harrisonburg's Court Square in October.

Harrisonburg marks the fifth location for the Capital Alehouse, with others being in Richmond, Innsbrook Fredericksburg, and Midlothian. It also marks the only non-locally owned chain restaurant in downtown Harrisonburg since (I think) the Daily Grind had a coffee shop on Court Square. I'll certainly miss Harrisonburg's Cally's (which I still call Calhoun's most of the time), and having locally-brewed beer on tap. That said, I've enjoyed my experiences at other Capital Alehouse and will be curious how the renovations and new menu impact downtown.

Here's the press release, from VAcraftBeer.com:

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Matthew Simmons
Phone-804-822-3072
matt@capitalalehouse.com

June 16, 2010
www.CapitalAleHouse.com

Capital Ale House announces an agreement has been made to open our company’s fifth restaurant to be located at 41-A Court Square, Harrisonburg, Virginia 23801. This location is the current Cally’s Restaurant and Brewing Company.

Capital Ale House will take possession and begin renovations on July 12, 2011 with a projected opening in October 2011.

This location will employ 70 staff members and will feature more than 100 fine ales and lager beers from Virginia and around the world on draught, two dining areas, banquet space, darts and billiards and a rooftop deck.

We are proud to join the many great restaurants, shops, galleries, museums, theaters and historic landmarks that make Downtown Harrisonburg a thriving destination.

For more information please contact Matthew Simmons.

Kai Degner, REALTOR

Kai Degner & the LiveHB Homes Team

Serving Harrisonburg and the central Shenandoah Valley
Kline May Realty (540) 437-3507 Kai.Degner@KlineMay.com

www.LiveHB.com features Kai Degner's Harrisonburg real estate resources, property search, and 365 Things To Do in the Shenandoah Valley.

Virginia ActiveRainers: I'm on the Governor's Foreclosure Task Force

Kai Degner (Kline May Realty) — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 23:54:31 -0700

Virginia ActiveRainers: What are your foreclosure experiences?

I was honored to receive a call on Thursday stating I have been appointed to Governor McDonnell's Foreclosure Task Force as the Virginia Municipal League's representative. The Foreclosure Task Force, "serves as an advisory group to the Governor, and its findings and results will help inform the work of the Governor’s Housing Policy Initiative." The next meeting is Tuesday in Richmond.

About 18,000 foreclosured properties were on the market in Virginia in March 2011 (Source: VHDA).

My involvement in the Governor's Foreclosure Task Force comes about after having recently attended the Virginia Municipal League's Legislative Policy Committee meeting. As a city council member, I represent Harrisonburg on this VML committee, which focuses on promoting, amending, or defending against the passage of policies by the Virginia General Assembly depending on their impact on local municipal governments. At that meeting, the committee was presented with a budget analysis and projection. The bottom line was this: local government revenues will recover much more slowly than state revenues.

At the state level, tax revenues are largely from sales tax and income tax. The "ups and downs" of these revenue sources are felt just months, maybe even weeks, after the state's economy ticks up or down. This is in stark contrast to local government revenue, which comes in much larger proportion from property taxes. Property taxes are based on assessments, which we know lag behind because homes are only reassessed in many Virginia communities every two years (Harrisonburg is now reassessing annually). So, if prices are on the upswing, local governments don't see higher revenues until two years later. However, if they are on the downswing, property owners can feel frustration that assessments seem higher than the market value of the property.

In Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, for example, we've seen about an 8% drop in average home prices in the last two years. That's much better than the national average over the same period of time, but it's still significant: as real estate is reassessed, the new property assessments will reflect the lower average prices - and local property tax collections will reduce accordingly.

Harrisonburg's 2011 Adopted Budget projects real property taxes to total about $22.8 million. An 8% reduction would be $1.8 million. Rockingham County's 2010-11 Budget projects $64.7 million collected in general property taxes. An 8% reduction in these revenues would mean about $5.2 million fewer dollars.

Indeed, the Daily News-Record reported on November 23, 2010, that, compared to 2009, "single-family homes [in Harrisonburg] declined 1.4 percent and townhouses dropped 0.3 percent, according to city officials." As reassessments continue, it can be expected that they will continue to decline. (Keep in mind, these are averages. Some subdivisions have decreased much more, while others have increased slightly in value. From the same DNR article, "Old Town's assessed value increased by 0.8 of a percent.")

If home prices were to begin rising today, assessments - and property tax revenue - wouldn't correspond for another year or two. So while the local budget did not see an immediate decline in property tax revenue in 2008, it will see a decline for a couple years past when traditional economic indicators (sales and jobs) turn around.

Keep in mind why this matters: the general rule is that property taxes are the primary way for municipalities to fund education. Indeed, the same Harrisonburg budget that projects $22.8 in property tax revenue includes $24.9 million budgeted for Harrisonburg schools - over 90% of school funding is provided by property taxes. Declines in property tax revenue thus have the potential to negatively impact resources available for perhaps the important investment communities can make: educating our youth.

So, given that foreclosures are a major negative driver of home prices and eventual lower assessments (read: school funding), working to remedy and expedite the lengthy, convoluted, and error-ridden foreclosure process should be a top priority for those in local government. Consider this recent scenario in Harrisonburg (true story):

A Harrisonburg property owner could no longer pay her mortgage, and put her home on the market about a year ago. It became clear given current market rates, it will likely sell as a short sale. This means the market value would be less than what the property owner owes the bank. In this scenario, the lending institution needs to give a "third party approval" for any offer less than what is owed to them. The property had two offers, both well over $100,000, for the better part of six weeks. The bank never responded to these offers, and the property was auctioned off at the Court House steps for $75,000. The result was a foreclosure and much higher deficiency for the property owner and depressed property values for the nearby homes (yes, the bank also lost over $25,000 but I'm less concerned about that). All because the bank, for whatever reason, wouldn't process or accept the higher short sale offers.

This circumstance is inexcusable in my mind, foremost because of its detrimental financial impact to my constituents and their families, and furthermore because of its long-term impact on our available education dollars. It is a circumstance I have seen all to often from my front row seat as a real estate agent -and I can only imagine how often it plays out throughout the entire Commonwealth. One hint is included in the Review of Virginia Foreclosure Trends from the VHDA:

While delinquency levels have peaked and begun to decline, processing issues have caused foreclosure inventories to again grow. It will take substantial time to fully resolve the inventory of distressed loans and properties. - VHDA

I am eager to explore how the Commonwealth can address these processing issues, and the myriad of other issues associated with foreclosures. Thus, I am pleased and honored to bring the local government perspective to the Governor's Foreclosure Task Force on behalf of Harrisonburg and the Virginia Municipal League. I'm also looking forward to learning from the experienced members, who have been working on this issue for many years and decades.

For those of you interested in recent statewide data and trends, check out the March 15, 2011 Review of Virginia Foreclosure Trends from the Virginia Housing Development Authority.

I look forward to the latest numbers on Tuesday at the next meeting of the Governors Foreclosure Task Force.

What are your experiences with foreclosures in Virginia? What are your questions and insights?

Kai Degner, REALTOR

Kai Degner & the LiveHB Homes Team

Serving Harrisonburg and the central Shenandoah Valley
Kline May Realty (540) 437-3507 Kai.Degner@KlineMay.com

www.LiveHB.com features Kai Degner's Harrisonburg real estate resources, property search, and 365 Things To Do in the Shenandoah Valley.

What do you think about the Harrisonburg Amphitheater project?

Kai Degner (Kline May Realty) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:07:25 -0700

From Harrisonburg? Leave your comments about the Harrisonburg Amphitheater projcet at KaiDegner.com!

On Tuesday evening, Dave Miller presented to the Harrisonburg City Council a vision for an amphitheater in downtown. This presentation has been covered by both the Daily News-Record and WHSV since then, and I know it is sparking interest and questions among many people in the community.

The project proposal, in its current form, includes building a stage across from Blacks Run near the Harrisonburg Electric Commission on what is currently the Municipal Parking Lot. The stage location would place the audience of 3-7,000 people be on a new green space between it and the current Turner Pavilion (the Farmers' Market Pavilion). A new parking lot would be built on the other side of Turner Pavilion on the space commonly known as the, "grassy area across from the Daily News-Record."

The idea for an entertainment venue has been discussed for years, but this is the first time such a vision was officially presented to the city council for review. The presentation puts the vision "officially" into the public sphere so we can explore its feasibility and potential impact.

Judging by the calls and emails I'm getting, people are paying attention to the process surrounding the decision! The city council did not agree to commit specific resources to this project at this early stage, after seeing just for the first time this specific presentation and request. We are proceeding cautiously, and plan to discuss the matter again at our next city council meeting.

For me, like many people in Harrisonburg, there are a number of questions that need satisfactory answers.

What do city voters think about having an ampitheater and entertainment venue downtown?
How much will it cost the city tax payers?
What is a reasonable and conservative estimate of revenue and expense for operations?
How much private financial support is there for the project?
How can parking be accommodated - not just for normal uses but for the anticipated well-attended events?
How exactly would the lease and operation be assigned? Who owns the venue?
What have been the positive impacts and challenges with other such venues, like in Charlottesville?
How does such a venue contribute to the goal of revitalization of downtown?
Does such a venue support local businesses and jobs?
Are there different scales of the stage and build out that could be considered based on the costs and benefits (i.e. what would a two million dollar solution look like vs the proposed five-to-seven million dollar solution)?
How much tax revenue would the city collect from the economic impact of such a venue, and what might the payback time be for any investment the city might make in the project?
How many large events per year can we really expect to fill the venue? At what ticket price?
What will the traffic impact be during large events?
What will the noise impact be for surrounding neighborhoods?

Without satisfactory answers for questions like these (and other questions not listed), I do not anticipate the Harrisonburg amphitheater project will proceed. However, if there are reasoned and supported satisfactory answers and feasible solutions to the anticipated challenges, the Harrisonburg amphitheater venue ought to at least be given serious consideration - an "up or down" vote.

The challenge today is we don't have all the answers to these questions - indeed, we haven't even identified all the questions yet! For my part, I would like to see a path forward for doing this research and to get reasoned estimates and a comprehensive proposal in place. If that research shows the project is not viable for certain reasons, we can move away from the vision with a clear explanation of why. If that research proves a viable way for an amphitheater to function, a more comprehensive plan can be put forward to the public and to the council for consideration. At the next city council meeting, I anticipate we will discuss in more details how to best begin answering these questions.

In the mean time, I'm curious what your thoughts are on the Harrisonburg amphitheater project. A number of you are catching me at work or in our fine local establishments, and some have begun emailing. Obviously, feel free to continue to do that - but also feel free to leave your comments and thoughts over on the Harrisonburg Amphitheater post at KaiDegner.com. It's an important conversation and your input is valued.

Kai Degner, REALTOR

Kai Degner & the LiveHB Homes Team

Serving Harrisonburg and the central Shenandoah Valley
Kline May Realty (540) 437-3507 Kai.Degner@KlineMay.com

www.LiveHB.com features Kai Degner's Harrisonburg real estate resources, property search, and 365 Things To Do in the Shenandoah Valley.

Harrisonburg Home Builder

Kai Degner (Kline May Realty) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 19:29:27 -0700

Here are some wonderful green design layouts that can be built in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. Follow this links if you are interested in more information. (Good work, Charles)

Via Charles Hendricks (The Gaines Group, PLC Architecture and Design):

In an effort to answer the market demand for well designed semi-custom homes in the Harrisonburg market, we have developed a set of plans called the living series. This set of plans was done in partnership with A. M. Yoder in order to provide home owners with a lower cost option and not have to purchase the 'magazine' plans that are almost always a pain to build. These plans are already priced with an option to upgrade finishes and to customize.

For more thoughts on saving money, protecting the environment, and on architectural design visit my websites:

www.facebook.com/virginiaarchitect

www.harrisonburgarchitect.com

www.twitter.com/thegainesgroup

www.thegainesgroup.com

Kai Degner, REALTOR

Kai Degner & the LiveHB Homes Team

Serving Harrisonburg and the central Shenandoah Valley
Kline May Realty (540) 437-3507 Kai.Degner@KlineMay.com

www.LiveHB.com features Kai Degner's Harrisonburg real estate resources, property search, and 365 Things To Do in the Shenandoah Valley.

Harrisonburg-Rockingham Branding: Survey Results

Kai Degner (Kline May Realty) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 14:42:51 -0700

The Harrisonburg-Rockingham metro area is undergoing a branding exercise to determine how to introduce and frame the region in a concise manner that captures all of its many assets for working and living. Harrisonburg and Rockingham County released a joint statement today with the results of a branding survey that had 241 respondents. Here is the release in full.

HARRISONBURG, Va., June 15, 2011 – Respondents to an online branding survey identified the topographical beauty, values, sense of family and community, economic opportunity, and quality of life as the key attributes of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Metropolitan Area.

The findings are consistent with the results of more than 65 in-depth interviews and a subsequent brainstorming session with more than 40 area residents, which were conducted to aid development of a brand for the Metro Area.

A total of 241 respondents took the survey. The survey found:

Ninety-five percent (95%) of the respondents strongly or somewhat agree that the Metro Area is “among the most beautiful places to live.”
Nearly 90 percent (89.8%) of the respondents strongly or somewhat agree that the Metro Area “benefits from having a slower pace of life than larger cities.”
Nearly 84 percent (83.7%) of the respondents strongly or somewhat agree that “the beauty, the pace of life, the people, and the policies of the Metro Area contribute to its success in economic development and tourism.”

“The survey results show that residents appreciate the Metro Area on several levels,” said Joseph S. Paxton, Rockingham County administrator. “Now our challenge is to combine the beauty of the area, the character of its people, and the attractive economic climate in a brand that can be used to encourage tourism and invite outside businesses and industries to invest here.”

“In coming days, we will study the survey results carefully, work with the task group, and move forward with the Council and Board to develop a brand that accurately captures the unique nature of our community,” said Harrisonburg City Manager Kurt D. Hodgen. “The City and County also want to thank everyone who has provided opinions and suggestions.”

One survey question asked respondents to rate words and phrases that had been suggested by city and county residents for inclusion in a brand. The respondents gave high marks to terms that described the area’s location as well as words that characterize the community’s personality. The three terms rated the highest were “Virginia,” “Shenandoah Valley,” and “heart.”

The online survey was launched May 19, and city and county residents were invited to provide their input on a Metro Area brand. In addition to ranking certain terms, respondents also suggested new words and phrases that were not identified in the interviews and brainstorming session. Nearly half of the respondents submitted comments containing potential brands.

A brand is a critical component of a marketing campaign. A brand is a phrase, often depicted in a memorable graphic treatment, which captures the essence of a location, company, or product.

The Metro Area’s brand is expected to be finalized and unveiled later this summer.

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Kai Degner, REALTOR

Kai Degner & the LiveHB Homes Team

Serving Harrisonburg and the central Shenandoah Valley
Kline May Realty (540) 437-3507 Kai.Degner@KlineMay.com

www.LiveHB.com features Kai Degner's Harrisonburg real estate resources, property search, and 365 Things To Do in the Shenandoah Valley.

Checkered Cab is Newest Harrisonburg Taxi Service

Kai Degner (Kline May Realty) — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 16:58:29 -0700

Catching a taxi cab in Harrisonburg has never been easier, as a new taxi company has opened to serve all area residents, including James Madison University and Eastern Mennonite University. Checkered Cab is the newest Harrisonburg taxi cab service.

Russell Presnell, a veteran taxi cab driver in the Harrisonburg area, is the owner of Checkered Cab. “I wanted to open a taxi cab company in Harrisonburg that has high quality service to anyone at any time to get anywhere in the area,” says Presnell. “The difference for Checkered Cab is our drivers: who only hire the very best taxi cab drivers, drivers who have experience, love their job, and pride themselves in customer service.”

Besides the everyday uses riders might have for a taxi cab ride, the Checkered Cab website advertises some creative ways to take advantage of their service, including letting their driver drop you off and pick you up from a tubing trip on the Shenandoah River.

The bright orange-colored taxi cabs are hard to miss in Harrisonburg, especially while they wait for needy riders in downtown. The distinctive logo grabs people's attention, too. But that's not the only way Presnell is making his company stand out. Social media and short videos are part of the strategy.

The Checkered Cab Facebook page is approaching 100 fans already. Part of the Facebook appeal is short (less than a minute) videos with seemingly random snippets that interest the viewer just long enough before the ending logo, phone number, and narrated "Checkered Cab."

In addition the historic Harrisonburg video aimed at JMU graduation attendees (included in this post), one commercial shows Presnell offloading trash at the dump with French commentary, and another has directions for how to "renegade" a beer (with a reminder the drinking and driving is a no-no and Checkered Cab is ready assist anyone who needs a safe ride).

The Checkered Cab taxi service serves the Harrisonburg-Rockingham area.

Original Post is Checkered Cab is Newest Harrisonburg Taxi Service at KaiDegner.com.

Kai Degner, REALTOR

Kai Degner & the LiveHB Homes Team

Serving Harrisonburg and the central Shenandoah Valley
Kline May Realty (540) 437-3507 Kai.Degner@KlineMay.com

www.LiveHB.com features Kai Degner's Harrisonburg real estate resources, property search, and 365 Things To Do in the Shenandoah Valley.

Should you get a pre-qualification letter or a pre-approval letter?

Kai Degner (Kline May Realty) — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 14:28:28 -0700

Should you ask your lender for a "pre-qualification letter" or a "pre-approval letter" to know if you can buy a home in Harrisonburg or Rockingham County?

Assuming you plan to finance a portion of your purchase, you will want to meet with at least one mortgage lender or broker at the beginning of your process so you can know the answer to an important question: "How much money can will bank lend me for a home?" That dollar amount helps focus the home search.

There are many professional and qualified lenders in the local area who can evaluate your financial position and give you an idea of what you can pay to buy a home (contact us if you need a few suggestions for professional lenders).

Pre-Qualification vs Pre-Approval

It is common to confuse these two very different analyses. Pre-qualification letters and pre-approval letters are both useful, but only one carries with it the credibility of a full study of financial history.

“Pre-Qualification” - A Ballpark Estimate With some basic information about your income, credit history, and current debt, a lender can usually issue a pre-qualification within a day or so – sometimes within an hour. A pre-qualification is an educated guess about how much home you can afford to buy. It can be done in a quick meeting, over the phone, and even online - and it's usually free.

A pre-qualification is a starting point to understand how much of a mortgage you can afford, but it does not take all aspects of your financial history into account. It’s a ballpark figure, that can change with a more detailed analysis.

Because a pre-qualification is based surface level information - perhaps without any documentation, credit check, or proof of income - it should not be relied on as completely accurate.
“Pre-Approval” Letter - The Real Deal
A pre-approval letter carries much more weight and is an important step in buying a home in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County.

A pre-approval analysis requires documents such as tax records, proof of income, bank statements, credits reports, current debt-to-income ratio, and more. By the end of this pre-approval analysis, a lender can give a confident estimate of how much of a mortgage you can afford.

Showing a pre-approval letter to a seller can give them confidence in your offer to buy a home in Harrisonburg or Rockingham County.

So, if you are very early in your home search process and just curious about what you might be able to afford, get a pre-qualification letter. If you then plan to get more serious, contact the Kai Degner Homes Team to start your home search and simultaneously begin the process to get a pre-approval letter.

Questions about real estate in Harrisonburg or Rockingham County? Contact the Kai Degner Homes Team anytime!

Kai Degner, REALTOR

Kai Degner & the LiveHB Homes Team

Serving Harrisonburg and the central Shenandoah Valley
Kline May Realty (540) 437-3507 Kai.Degner@KlineMay.com

www.LiveHB.com features Kai Degner's Harrisonburg real estate resources, property search, and 365 Things To Do in the Shenandoah Valley.