I am spending the week in beautiful Amelia Island Florida!  I lived here for 26 years before moving to Williamsburg, Va.  I have some wonderful friends and family here and feel so fortunate to be able to visit here as often as I do.  I am staying with some friends who live in the lovely Carlton Dunes condominiums. This evening while we were having a light dinner at the Golf Club of Amelia Island, I ran into several old friends.  There is an old saying that once you have been to Amelia Island you get sand in your shoes and you will always return!

How will we know that the market has hit bottom? 

The word has always been that we won't know when the market has hit bottom until it has been there for a while and then started picking up again.  A look at the months supply of inventory in our Williamsburg Va market seems to indicate that maybe we have hit bottom.  Our inventory is lower than it has been in over a year indicating that the market may be heading to a more balanced state.  I hope for the sake of our economy that the market has hit bottom!

Home ownership is good for everyone.  Hopefully some of the people who have sold their houses as a short sale or lost them to a foreclosure will be brave enough to dive back in to home ownership as soon as their credit scores will allow them to do so.

I thought I would share my New Year's Eve dinner menu with you!

My brother and his wife are coming for the weekend, so I wanted something that I could have ready to go on the grill shortly after they get here so we can relax and visit with each other.  I found a great recipe for London Broil on line so I thought I'd give it a try.

I know that London Broil is not a traditional New Year's Eve dinner, but I will add the Black eyed peas!

Carol It's hard to believe you have been gone a year!

As the year 2011 is quickly coming to a close, I have been reflecting on things that happened during this very eventful year of my life.  Many of you already know that I lost my beloved older sister, Carol on the day after Thanksgiving of 2010.  I lost my younger brother Phil on July 23, 2010 also. 

If I had my way I would have not suffered any of these losses, but I know that God has strengthened me this last year and will use these losses to bring praise and glory to HIS name! 

My sister suffered polio, breast cancer (twice), one radical mastectomy, one lumpectomy, broke the leg that was not affected by the polio, developed Gillian Beret Syndrome in 2004 and as a result was restricted to a wheel chair for the last 7 years of her life.  Her final battle was with Ovarian Cancer!  If she sounds like an inspiration, please read the following: tribute to my older sister's memory.

Carol, I love you! It's hard to believe you have been gone a year!

My house is under contract.

I haven't been posting much on Active Rain lately.  My personal life has been really crazy lately.  I have my own house on the market and it is now under contract!  We had seven showings in the first month and then nothing at all for the next 4 weeks.  Fortunately it showed two more times during the next week and an offer came through, it was a nice Thanksgiving blessing, especially since I have lost two precious siblings during the past year. 

You might be inspired by this Tribute to my sister Carol Lane.

Please pray for a smooth closing and for me to sens God's peace during this holiday season.  I will try to cling to GOD and trust Him, it will be a wonderful Christmas blessing if the house sells.  Fortunately we are making money and do have quite a bit of equity in the house.

Some things that make me laugh out loud are things my grandchildren have said:

One evening my older grandson was watching TV.  We were preparing dinner before putting him to bed.  There was a program coming on that he wanted to watch, so he said, "I'm hungry and I'm going to be hungry until at least 8:00, 7:00 central time!"

One night my older granddaugther noticed how obedient my daughter's dog is. Amazed, she said, "He does everything you say."

I recently asked my younger grandson if he likes school, he said, "Honestly, no it's boring!" He is being tested for the gifted program!

Once my younger granddaughter told her dad, that I was putting bubbles in her eyes.  He got concerned thinking that I had soap in my eyes.  She was 2 at the time and forgot that I told her they were "contact lenses".

There will be an Open House on the York River Saturday October 22 from 1 to 4.  Stop by to view this lovely waterfront home and have a snack.

The address is 163 Riverview Plantation Drive.

If you have dreamed of living in a waterfront home in Williamsburg, this home could be your future dream home!

Priced at only $799,000 this stately all brick home offers traditional styling, hardwood floors, pella windows and cherry cabinets. It has almost 3000 square feet of heated living space and the lot is almost an acre.  The walk out basement gives lots of options for additional living space!

Click on the link to view the MLS information on 163 Riverview Plantation Drive.

This blog was written by Sybil Campbell

Don't miss the open house in Cromwell Ridge October 18 from 11:30 until 1:30  Stop by to tour this lovely town home at 3904 Cromwell Lane, just off of Monticello Avenue.  Enjoy subway, sandwiches, chips, dessert and iced tea.  Enter to win a $25.00 gift card.  This property is absolutely georgeous with a beautiful brand new custom kitchen.

Click on this link to view the MLS report for 3904 Cromwell Lane.

Bamboo, wood laminate or engineered hardwood, which of these would be best in a rental property?

I own a rental property in north east Florida near Amelia Island.  The house is ten years old and the builder grade carpet is pretty much shot.  I am about to have the carpet replaced and possibly the kitchen floor as well but leave the carpet in the bedrooms. 

So I thought I would take a poll as to which of these choices bamboo, wood laminate or engineered hardwood would be the best and most cost effective for me.  I plan to keep the house for the next 5 years and then possibly sell it.  Any of these floors will add value to the house, but I want to make sure that they will last as well.  I am leaning toward either a hand scraped or distressed type of engineered hardwood.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Waterfront Home in Williamsburg Virginia

Are you looking for a waterfront home in Williamsburg Virginia? Look no further.  This home has everything a discriminating buyer would want:

• Custom kitchen with stainless appliances, venetian gold granite counters and center island with prep sink.
• Large two story great room with views of Powhatan Creek
• Park like setting in back yard
• Almost full acre
• Arbor and rock walk way to the dock
• All brick exterior
• Composite deck with screened porch and balcony
• Custom window treatements
• Downstairs master and additional downstairs guest room suite
• Office
• Large dining room accomodatea a banquet sized table

To see the MLS information on this waterfront home in Williamsburg Virginia click on this link:

This home is listed by Sybil Campbell REALTOR®

757-897-5889