Colombian Restaurant in Hampton Roads. "El Desorden" in Virginia Beach, VA - 03/27/09 11:33 AM
665 Newtown Road,Virginia Beach,  Virginia, 23462
I came back to Virginia at the end of 2001.  Having been here before, and learned the military wife way of making friends quickly, I was glad to be back in Hampton Roads, ( Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Newport News, Hampton and Williamsburg.)  I even loved my house that eventually got to small for us. But, one of the happiest times regarding Hampton Road's that made me feel this is home was  when my husband came home with the news that they were opening a Colombian Restaurant.  That same night we went to … (6 comments)

When to sign the AICUZ Form. - 03/26/09 10:01 AM
In Virginia we have an additional form called AICUZ.  I have never had any questions asked from sellers or buyers regarding this form, but alas, I have a seller who sold properties in the past in this area, and has had a hard time understanding why he has to sign this disclosure, when his house in not located in the noise or crash areaof the local airport.
I had to do a little research, as I couldn't remember much details from our real estate licensing class, and this is what I came up with.
If you bought or sold a house since … (2 comments)

When should the buyer sign the Disclosure Form - 03/24/09 11:17 AM
After reading all the comments on when or what should be disclosed to buyers, I am left wondering, if we are being fair to the buyers we are supposed to be representing.
In the consumer disclosure form in my area it repeatedly puts the burden on the buyer to do all of the research on the property they intend to buy.  An agent mentioned that in New Jersey, they can only refer them to the website.
The disclosure form in Virginia continues to change/evolve, and it has more information on to where to get this information. For example the Megan's law … (4 comments)

You can have your Ice Cream and eat it too. - 03/18/09 11:22 AM

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Is our justice system working? How a tenant can live free for three months on your property. - 03/17/09 10:08 AM
 I just came back from court.  This is the story of how tenants can live free in your investment property.
These are the same tenants that inspired me to write: Finding the right tenant.
A tenant moves in and has 5 days to report anything that has to be fixed.  They complaint: it is to cold, so I bring them spaces heaters the next day.  They don't turn on the water, so they burn the water heater.  I fix the water heater.  On the first of the month when the rent is due the lady calls me hysterical telling me that … (22 comments)

Lion in the city. #1 - 03/11/09 12:48 PM
 
 
 
 To see what happens here click on my next blog.       COMMENTS?  ANYONE OUT THERE?
Every so often I see images that can only come from Colombia.  As my mind is just randomly lost in painkillers, I figured I share. (read my previous blog)
 For those who don't know me, must everybody, I was born and raised in Colombia, South America.  I have lived in this country for 23 years, and while in the US I talk about back home as in Bogota, but while I am out of the country, I refer as back home to the US.
                                                    
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Humm.... what happened to the lion?......................#2 - 03/11/09 11:19 AM
Ok,  not so bad ha???   GOT YOU!!!
 COMMENTS?  ANYONE OUT THERE?
A little information on Bogota.
"Bogota is Colombia's capital, located at an elevation of about 2,650 m. / 8,660 ft. on a mountain rimmed plateau high in the Cordillera Oriental of the Andes Mountains. This gives it constant spring like weather."
Recently, through social networking, I have been in contact with friends from high school and relatives I never knew.  I am proud to be a Colombian-American.  My husband and children were born in the US.
                                                 
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Is AR bad for your back? - 03/11/09 10:24 AM
Yesterday I pulled a muscle in my back.  I had to go to the doctor as I was in insufferable pain.  I woke up and felt a little pull on my back, but with a busy day full of meeting I didn't give it a second thought.  By 12 noon I was at the doctors office.
I have spent so much time in AR reading, writing and learning that my back is reveling and telling me to go out more often.
How did I get there?  Well, I was trying to get to 10,000 points and to do that I have … (8 comments)

Suffolk, Isle of Wight and Smithfield, Virginia: 3 Year home sales report - 03/09/09 09:32 PM
Below is a look at the trend for the past three years in Suffolk, Isle of Wight and Smithfield, Virginia. These statistics are obtained from REIN, the multiple listing service and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed. They do include any foreclosed, short sale and Bank owned homes that were listed.
Please call me if you'd like to buy or sell your home in Suffolk, Isle of Wight and Smithfield, Virginia. I'd be happy to talk with you and help you determine the best pricing whether you are buying or selling. For more information, please visit my website . 
 
 
     
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$8,000 First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit - 03/09/09 08:16 PM
I have been trying to find an easy way to explain the $8,000 tax credit.  This article does a great job of explaining it for any body.

Via National Credit Fixers:
$8,000 First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit (edit/delete)
First-time buyers can claim a credit worth $8,000 - or 10% of the home's value, whichever is less - on their 2008 or 2009 taxes.
Yes if you have already purchase your home you can take the credit on your 2008 tax return.  Or if you have already filed your 2008 return and can file an amended return and take the credit now!.
 The … (0 comments)

Norfolk and Portsmouth, Virginia: 3 Year Market Repots - 03/08/09 08:30 PM
Below is a look at the trend for the past three years in Norfolk and Portsmouth, Virginia. These statistics are obtained from REIN, the multiple listing service and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed. They do include any foreclosed, short sale and Bank owned homes that were listed.
Please call me if you'd like to buy or sell your home in Norfolk or Portsmouth, Virginia. I'd be happy to talk with you and help you determine the best pricing whether you are buying or selling. For more information, please visit my website . 
 
     
      
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Chesapeake and Virginia Beach, Virginia: 3 Year Market Reports - 03/08/09 07:32 PM
Below is a look at the trend for the past three years in Chesapeake and Virgnia Beach, Virginia. These statistics are obtained from REIN, the multiple listing service and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed. They do include any foreclosed, short sale and Bank owned homes that were listed.
Please call me if you'd like to buy or sell your home in Chesapeake or Virginia Beach. I'd be happy to talk with you and help you determine the best pricing whether you are buying or selling. For more information, please visit my website . 
 
     
      
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Teaching a new driver in “Ditch” land. Will I survive this? - 03/05/09 05:24 PM
My 15 year old daughter Valerie is learning how to drive.  We live in the Great Bridge/Hickory area of Chesapeake.  We have been driving around the neighborhoods for at least a month now, and I felt brave enough in our way to Girl Scouts to have her drive.  I told her to go on to Centerville Turnpike.  AAAgghhhh!!!  What was I thinking?  Will my heart recover, and how did I ever learn how to drive.
 
Last February we had an especially cold day and my car and I ended up in the ditch.  I was going 10 or 15 miles … (11 comments)

Is it going to be a cold winter? - 03/03/09 07:09 AM
I have just translated this joke.  It appears to have come from out of the country, but I thought it was funny and appropiate for the times.

It was Winter and the indians in a remote reservation asked their new chief, if the coming Winter was going to be cold or mild.
Since this chief had been raised in a modern society, he never learned the old secrets or how to look at the sky, and couldnl't tell wether it was going to happen with the weather.
Just to make sure that his tribe was prepared, he told his members … (5 comments)

My home is worth what?... Should I walk, and give it back to the bank? - 03/02/09 10:01 AM
For the past few weeks, I have been receiving phone calls from distraught homeowners.....
It goes like this " Hi Tere, do you have a minute? (they feel they are imposing) I respond, sure what is going on.  ( I haven't heard from these friends, colleagues, church members or plain acquaintances for ever.  It is usually me making the Hello calls.)
Well, I just "received my home owners tax notice",  "Look at my property values on Zillow", "got the appraisal back ,as I am trying to refinance".......
"my house is dropping in price;  can you verify that this is true?"
I … (5 comments)