new river valley: Step On Out In Blacksburg This Weekend
- 08/05/09 12:51 AM
Looking for something to do this weekend in the New River Valley? Want something a little different from the norm?Head out to Blacksburg this Friday and Saturday for the annual Steppin' Out festival. Read more, and get the full schedule, at NRVLiving.com ... … (0 comments)
new river valley: The State of the Market - November 2009
- 12/03/08 08:18 AM
Ever been in a candy shop? You know, the type where there are candies of all sizes, shapes and colors lining the walls? The shops where you shove a big metal shovel the size of Delaware into a barrel of assorted candies, and you come up with all different types of sweets? Yea - that's what the real estate market is like right now. It's not that it's a huge surprise ... the winter is always slower than normal, so we were prepared for that. I can't say anyone saw bailouts of the banks, the construction folks, the auto makers, the … (0 comments)
new river valley: News Ain't Just Broken On TV Any More
- 12/02/08 07:07 AM
A few weeks ago, I was contacted by WDBJ7's news anchor Natasha Ryan about a story she was writing on the online social media site called Twitter. Now, I've admitted my addictions here on the blog before, and it was interesting to see a local news outlet not only recognizing the power of the service but taking the time to investigate it further. Below is the final result, in two parts done on last night's broadcast: Certainly I feel the service is an invaluable tool - it helps me connect with friends, it's enabled me the opportunity to meet current and … (0 comments)
new river valley: Sustainability Week in Blacksburg - October 20-25
- 10/17/08 09:44 AM
I mentioned Sustainability Week recently, but there wasn't much information available. Now, there's a lot more. What is Sustainability Week? What's happening? Short version or long version. Why is this important? Taking care of our environment is more than a fad, it's the right thing to do. We have a legacy to leave - what will it be? If you enjoyed this post, why not leave a comment and subscribe via RSS or email here to be sure you don't miss the next post? … (0 comments)
new river valley: Why Does The Days On Market Statistic Matter?
- 10/07/08 05:43 PM
Later today, I'm showing a few homes to a nice couple from out of town. Like most folks who live elsewhere and are considering a move to the New River Valley, I've been emailing them listings for quite some time. I've previewed many of the homes beforehand, and all told we've seen a few dozen homes, at least, in the time we've been working together. I really like these folks, and always look forward to working with them. The right house hasn't come available yet, but we've got such a good rapport now that I think all three of us will … (3 comments)
new river valley: Virginia Tech Parents - Need Last Minute Housing?
- 08/19/08 10:25 AM
Virginia Tech parents, are you in a bind for housing this semester? Tired of paying rent, and would like to move your child into a place that actually EARNS you money every year?Whether your student is living on campus or off, most housing options have been decided at this point. However, there are some folks out there that still need housing in the Blacksburg area immediately, or are just fed up with the rental options. There ARE some options available, but we need to act quickly.If you need: a one or two bedroom place that's vacant and ready to go, low … (0 comments)
new river valley: Real Estate Taxes in the New River Valley
- 07/18/08 05:30 AM
Taxes. Everyone's got to pay them, and they never go down. That's the bad news. The good news is that by paying taxes, we're contributing to the infrastructure that makes the New River Valley such a great place to live. But how the heck do they come up with the amount you need to pay? Well, it's based on the rate that's voting on by the various municipalities, and they're detailed below. You'll note that some have TWO rates - one is the Town or City rate, added to the County rate. And should you need more information about a particular … (0 comments)
new river valley: Christiansburg Is Invaded By Bloggers
- 07/13/08 01:43 AM
Don't know if saw the article last month in the Roanoke Times about the number of Christiansburg residents who, according to the article's author, are "'pajamas journalists' -- keystroke correspondents eager to bestow percipience on the politics, issues and bones of contention rattling local government." Call them what you will, but folks paying attention to local issues and writing about them online is a good thing, in my opinion. It's another source of information, a different voice, and the anonymity of the Internet - whether that's truly a good thing or not - encourages conversation. So when I read the article … (0 comments)
new river valley: Have A Say - Get Involved
- 05/21/08 04:37 PM
The AEP Falling Branch-Merrimac Transmission Reinforcement Project is in need of public input. They've got a big long name to say that they need to add overhead electric lines through portions of Blacksburg, Montgomery County and Christiansburg. My question is ... why can't these be buried? They're burying everything else these days. Here's the text of the email I received: Appalachian Power announced a $15 million upgrade in the electric infrastructure that serves parts of Montgomery County, the Town of Blacksburg and the Town of Christiansburg. The company is in the initial study phase of the project which involves construction of … (0 comments)
new river valley: Do You Have Cooties?
- 05/08/08 02:19 AM
Regardless of where you stand on the BURG vs. First & Main debate going on in Blacksburg, I thought a post on a local blog, "Think, Christiansburg!", did a good job of looking at a broader picture - what are we doing to our region when we consider "development". Do I agree with every point in the article? No, but the point made in the third paragraph hits the nail on the head - empty storefronts add no quality or value to an area. Regardless, our elected leaders seem to be negligent at helping to find creative ways to combat … (0 comments)
new river valley: The State Of The New River Valley VA Real Estate Market - April 2008
- 05/08/08 01:55 AM
Continuing the theme from last month, movement in individual segments of the market but really no change in the market overall - despite MAJOR slowdowns in Dublin and Radford. March moved 133 properties to closing, while April increased that number to 141 properties that closed, yet overall the market stayed almost dead even with the previous month - 11.61 months of inventory, very much a buyer's market right now. The numbers bear out what we are feeling on the street right now ... increases in market time has led to numbers of homes for sale increasing, with very little improvement overall … (0 comments)
new river valley: Blacksburg VA Meals Tax
- 05/08/08 01:53 AM
That calzone you just ordered from The Cellar just got a little more expensive. Blacksburg Town Council just unanimously approved a $72 million budget for 2008-2009. The budget included a one percent increase in the meals tax, and utility bills will increase by just under $5. I wrote about this last month, and surmised that a one percent increase in the meals tax would pay the salaries of as many as ten new police officers. The new budget will increase the police force by four officers, one dispatcher, and a downtown cleaning crew. Great! But look at the disparity between … (0 comments)
new river valley: Is Customer Service Being Redefined?
- 05/08/08 01:51 AM
I'm a stickler for customer service, and probably a little tougher than most on what I expect from customer service. So when I experience service that really goes above and beyond, I want to tell people about it. In this case, I've had two situations that really impressed me. Earlier this month, I took a trip with some friends to go snowboarding in Colorado. Getting out there involved a lot of traveling - a very early start, three flights, and a few hours of layovers. When we got to the Denver airport though ... wow! If you've never been there, it's … (2 comments)
A look at Real Estate in the New River Valley of VA. Sometimes on topic, occasionally irreverent, always Real. That's why we're Real Estate. Simplified.
Looking for something to do this weekend in the New River Valley? Want something a little different from the norm?Head out to Blacksburg this Friday and Saturday for the annual Steppin' Out festival. Read more, and get the full schedule, at NRVLiving.com ... ;)
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