A spectacular find in the Fontana neighborhood of Charlottesville Virginia. Fontana is conveniently located in Albemarle county and just minutes to downtown Charlottesville and UVA. Fontana residents enjoy fantastic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west and views of Monticello, Browns Mountain and Carters Mountain to the south. Enjoy great local shopping and dining in the downtown area or a short drive to the popular Hollymead Town Center. Fontana residents have an easy commute to many workplaces and Albemarle counties high ranking schools. Follow the link for the Albemarle county school scores. 

 Complimenting this open and bright brick front colonial are many elegant upgrades and features including a dramatic 2 story foyer, an abundance of windows with transoms bringing in all of the natural light, new lighting, gleaming hardwood flooring, crown molding and chair rails, slate flooring in the kitchen and breakfast nook, newer GE Signature stainless steel appliances with a gas range, freshly painted interior and brand new carpet for all four of the bedrooms and luxurious owners suite with a tray ceiling and attached bathroom. The main level features a bright living room, dining room, kitchen with a breakfast nook and bar which flows right into the family room with a gas fireplace. All four of generous sized bedrooms are located on the second level all with new neutral carpet along with the laundry room. The master suite features a tray ceiling, walk-in closet and an attached luxury bathroom with garden soaking tub, separate shower, dual vanities and a water closet. The nursery has French doors leading to an attached playroom. This room would also make a great study and library. The bedroom level laundry room provides access to the floored attic with pull down stairs for loads of storage space. All of this on a level professionally landscaped & fenced, private lot as the neighboring wooded lot is un-buildable. The side loading 2 car garage has a built-in workbench with cabinetry.

Side Load 2 car garage

Click Here for all of the details and photos.

Click Here for a virtual tour

To arrange a private tour and free consultation call or email me!

Sherry Hayward

Keller Williams Charlottesville

(703) 655-2223

shayward@kw.com

Interested in selling your Fontana home?

Follow the link for your house value!

How Much Home Can You Afford?

The single most important part of buying a house is figuring out how much you can realistically afford to pay. You'll have to take a good look at your budget, debts, credit reports, and credit score. Once you have a good picture of your financial status, start saving as much money as you can for a down payment, closing costs and other extra expenses that come along with buying a house. Extra expenses could include paying for a home inspection (around $300 - $500 depending on where you live) or hiring a moving company after the sale is final.

Depending on the condition of your finances -- if you have a lot of debt, errors on your credit report, or a low credit score -- getting ready financially could take six to 12 months or more! If your credit score falls below 620, lenders may see you as a risky borrower. This might mean you can only qualify for a sub prime mortgage (one with a higher interest rate). It might be worth your time to take a year and work on building a better credit report before taking on the responsibility of a mortgage. Also, if you qualify for a lower interest rate you could save thousands of dollars over the life of the loan. Be wary of companies that offer to repair your credit for a fee.

Determining a Mortgage You Can Live With

There are a few basic formulas commonly used by lenders to determine how much of a mortgage you can reasonably afford. These formulas are called qualifying ratios because they estimate the amount of money you should spend on mortgage payments in relation to your income and other expenses. It is important to remember that these ratios may vary from lender to lender and each application is handled on an individual basis, so the guidelines are just that - guidelines.

Generally speaking, to qualify for conventional loans, housing expenses should not exceed 26 to 28 percent of your gross monthly income. Monthly housing costs include the mortgage principal, interest, taxes and insurance. For example, if your annual income is $30,000, your gross monthly income is $2,500, and $2,500 x 28 percent = $700. So you would probably qualify for a conventional home loan that requires monthly payments of $700.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU SELECT A HOME THAT WILL MEET YOUR FAMILY'S NEEDS AND KEEP YOU HAPPY FOR YEARS TO COME.
When budgeting to buy a home, it is important to allow enough money for additional expenses such as maintenance and utilities. If you are purchasing an existing home, gather utility cost averages and maintenance costs from previous owners or tenants to help you better prepare for home ownership.

Generally speaking, if your finances are in decent shape, you could look for a home priced at two to three times your gross yearly salary. And while using mortgage calculators can give you a rough idea of how large of a mortgage you might qualify for, talking to a lender or mortgage broker in person will give you a more accurate figure.

For a personal recommendation to one of my mortgage partners call or email me!

Sherry Hayward

Keller Williams Charlottesville

(703) 655-2223

shayward@kw.com

 www.cvillehomesforsale.com