Recently, Chris Dibling-West and eight of her 10 grandchildren loaded up the car and headed west for Lake Martin in Alabama. It was a quick trip — no more than three days — but no less fun. Traveling with her grandkids and, in this case, a few of their friends, the 58-year-old Woodstock, Ga., grandmother said, is a chance to tune in<!--more--> and rediscover that awesome feeling she and, hopefully, her grandchildren get from just spending time with each other. “It’s not so much about the destination as it is … (0 comments)
Hampton-COLISEUM CENTRAL HOLIDAY PARADEDate: Saturday, November 19, 2011Time: 9amLocation: Coliseum Central Coliseum Drive at Hampton Roads Center ParkwayHampton, VA 23666Norfolk - 27TH ANNUAL GRAND ILLUMINATION PARADEDate: Saturday, November 19, 2011Time: 7:00pmLocation: Streets of Downtown Norfolk
Chesapeake - 2011 CHESAPEAKE ROTARY CLUB CHRISTMAS PARADE
Date: Saturday, December 3, 2011 Time: 6:00 PM Location: Starts at Great Bridge Middle school and goes to Chesapeake library
Virginia Beach - HOLIDAY PARADE AT THE BEACH Date: Saturday, December 3, 2011 Time: 5:30 PM Location: Travels North on Atlantic Avenue from 15th to 25th Street. <!-- google_ad_section_end -->Hampton -23rd Annual … (0 comments)
Mortgage rates posted mixed results this week, but the benchmark conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rates fell to a record low of 4.41%, according to Bankrate.com. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.43 discount and origination points. The previous record low of 4.42% was set in October and November of 2010. The average 15-year fixed mortgage increased to 3.63% while the larger jumbo 30-year fixed rate bounced to 4.94%. Adjustable-rate mortgages were mostly lower, with the average 5-year ARM dropping to 3.12% and the 7-year ARM sinking to 3.27%. Both are record lows. Prevailing economic concerns … (1 comments)
chesapeake: You Can't Fool a Dumb Blonde!
- 07/27/11 11:59 AM
Last year I replaced all the windows in my house with that expensive double-pane energy efficient kind, and today, I got a call from the contractor who installed them. He was complaining that the work had been completed a whole year ago and I still hadn't paid for them.
Hellloooo, just because I'm blonde doesn't mean that I am automatically stupid. So, I told him just what his fast talking sales guy had told me last year, that in ONE YEAR these windows would pay for themselves! Helllooooo? It's been a year! I told him. There was only silence … (1 comments)
chesapeake: SAVE $$$$ BY REPAIRING WINDOWS
- 07/22/11 11:23 AM
Repairing worn windows, rather than replacing them, can save you thousands of dollars Perhaps your wood sashes are cracked, peeling, and prone to rattle in the wind. Or the insulated glass in your vinyl casement is “blown”—filled with foggy condensation. Maybe your aluminum slider gave up sliding years ago. You’ve got a window problem, and you know it’s going to cost you. Confronted with such ills, many home owners leap to the conclusion that it’s time to replace their windows. That’s an expensive proposition: A double-hung 3x5-foot vinyl replacement runs about $525 installed. While it’s an investment that’ll pay off if … (2 comments)
chesapeake: 9 Tips to Protect Your Identity During a Move
- 07/19/11 01:41 PM
Moving to a new home can expose you to the risk of identity theft, so take precautions to guard your personal information as you finance your new home, close and open new bank or utility accounts, pack, and move. "Identity thieves are pervasive and creative in finding opportunities to steal information, and something as simple as forgetting to forward mail can put a consumer in jeopardy of identity theft," said Steve Schwartz, executive vice president of Intersections Inc., a consumer identity protection firm. Schwartz offers these nine tips for keeping identity thieves at bay during and after a move: Submit … (1 comments)
chesapeake: Half Hairathon! Two Cool Gals!
- 06/28/11 12:49 PM
I know I should be writing about something real estate oriented, but gosh darn, sometimes I just don't feel like it. Besides, when I've shown a heaping number of homes in the heat over the last several days, I just don't have much to say. That was, until I ran across this photo on facebook of a couple of gals giving it their all in their personal battle against cancer. They told me they got alot of thumbs up during the half hairathon! Love it, love it, love it! Two cool gals!
Ladies, you R-O-C-K!!!
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chesapeake: 45% Better Communication = Beach Angel?
- 06/19/11 04:14 AM
I have been listing and closing short sale properties for a while. I would call myself a seasoned short sale agent. I have worked with most of the larger banks in this concern. My specialty is helping military sellers who have been re-stationed, many times have never missed a payment, but are thousands of dollars under water, due to the changed market conditions. Never, in the last two years, have I had a negotiator directly contact my clients for add'l information and thereby bypassing me, the agent of record with client authorization. Navy Federal Credit Union did so this past week and … (1 comments)
chesapeake: Lost Generation
- 06/15/11 07:43 AM
I ran across this video and thought it was very appropriate for this time of year: Graduation Though my daughter has already graduated from Virginia Tech, I still LOVED this video. I'm sure many of you may have seen it, but for those who haven't: ENJOY!
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chesapeake: Escrow Accounts:What's the deal?
- 06/09/11 10:25 PM
Does your escrow account ever cross your mind? Probably not. But forgetting to monitor it can lead to lost money and a big headache. Your lender must send you an escrow account statement annually, and refund any available balance if you sell your home or refinance your mortgage. Image: Thomas Northcut/Digital Vision/Getty Images If you have a home mortgage escrow account, you pay one-twelfth of your annual property taxes and home insurance costs as part of your monthly mortgage payment. You likely find it so handy, you don't even think about what you're paying into this de facto savings plan. … (0 comments)
chesapeake: Understanding Energy Ratings for Windows and Doors
- 05/24/11 10:27 AM
Just because windows or doors are Energy Star-labeled doesn't mean they're eligible for the maximum $500 federal tax credit. And with costs running about $500-$1,000 per window including labor, it's wise to know something about the scientific lingo and numbers on the product labels you're likely to encounter. Here's your pro-level label-decoding guide so you can be sure you're buying qualified products. Which labels matter? The two labels you should look for: The U.S. Department of Energy's blue-and-yellow Energy Star label, which specifies the climate zones the product is certified for, and the white National Fenestration Rating Councillabel. Nonprofit NFRC … (2 comments)
chesapeake: How to work with your loan servicer to prevent foreclosure
- 05/16/11 10:25 PM
If you are worried about making your payment a couple of weeks later than usual, you should immediately let your loan servicer know when you will be making the payment. Make sure the servicer has documented the anticipated date you will be making the payment. If you are unable to make your mortgage payment: 1. Don't ignore the problem.The further behind you become, the harder it will be to bring your loan current and the more likely that you will lose your house. 2. Contact a housing counselor.Housing Counselors can help you understand the law and your options, organize your finances … (0 comments)
chesapeake: What affects credit scores?
- 05/10/11 01:25 PM
You have to keep your credit score up in case you want to take out a second mortgage or home equity line of credit (HELOC), or get the lowest premiums on your home owners insurance. Here's the 411 on how various money management tactics goose up or ding your credit score. More money improves your credit score False. Your level or sources of income don't affect your credit score, although lenders may look at it when making loan decisions, according to the Fair Isaac Corp., the company that issues the commonly used FICO credit scores. Ownership of several credit cards can … (1 comments)
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