john vandersyde: Stonewall Court – A Brief History
- 02/25/11 08:00 AM
At the declaration of World War II in 1941, the nation was put on alert for foreign invasion. Over the entire country, on the East and West Coasts, groups were formed for the safety and protection of people in all communities. Men and women were selected from each neighborhood to form a Civil Defense Patrol. In the Court, it was decided a meeting place had to be found where the workers could hold gatherings and to store equipment. One of my former listings, the dwelling known as 345 Lexington Road, was chosen because it had a basement, and was one … (2 comments)
john vandersyde: 574 Raleigh Manor Road, Henrico VA 23229
- 11/18/10 09:08 AM
ON THE LAKE - Under construction to be completed in the spring of 2011 - Bradford Grand II with a stately Georgian "A" elevation. Over 4700 sq ft NOT including attic or 2354 sq ft unfinished basement with full bath rough-in. A few of the upgrades worth mentioning are the grand morning room addition, 2 ft. study extension, 4 ft. family room extension, first floor full bath, stair & Railing upgrades, approximately 150 feet of lake-front yard, and exceptional Level III standard finishes that include irrigation, aggregate drive way, brick and Hardiplank, granite kitchen, hardwood first floor, ceramic tile baths and … (1 comments)
john vandersyde: The Garage is Often Overlooked and Under Designed
- 11/17/10 05:28 AM
Unless someone is an automobile enthusiast the garage in residential construction doesn't get the attention it deserves. By today's automobile standards the car barn is too small; the inside space, the doors as well as the area required to access it are just a few of the considerations that are often overlooked or under-considered by the common builder, and I believe most often done in an effort to cut costs. We also stretch and pull our homes in so many directions further infringing on auto space without any compensation or adjustments. We as consumers should be asking the question, why … (0 comments)
john vandersyde: Quote for Today
- 11/17/10 03:23 AM
"Somebody Just back of you while you are fishing is as bad as someone looking over your shoulder while you write a letter to your girl." Ernest Heminngway This just struck a chord with me today which compelled me to share it. Have a great day! … (1 comments)
john vandersyde: Who are the Real Estate Experts?
- 10/06/10 09:21 AM
These days with the unique nature of our housing market it sometimes feels presumptuous to proclaim to be an expert in anything related to real estate. Our business of buying and selling homes is so kinetic, with a fluidity that is constantly changing and evolving, that it requires vigilant, almost daily monitoring in order to truly be called REALTOR®. Many people don't realize that every licensed real estate agent cannot legally use the term "realtor" in order to identify themselves. Over the years that term has often been universally used to refer to any person selling real property. And while all … (1 comments)
john vandersyde: Who Is Saying It is Time To Buy a Home? EVERYONE!
- 09/22/10 06:34 AM
"Enough with the doom and gloom about homeownership." - WSJ 9/16/2010 WOW! If that quote was attributed to the National Association of Realtors or the National Association of Home Builders, it would have been quickly dismissed. However, it was the Wall Street Journal that was calling for the end of the ‘doom and gloom' talk surrounding real estate. We are finally seeing a powerful backlash to all the recent claims that homeownership should never have been part of the American Dream. It is about time! The WSJ has been posting on the financial advantages and the other non-financial benefits of homeownership for … (0 comments)
john vandersyde: The Fall Harvest Also Applies to Housing
- 09/20/10 08:11 AM
Mark your Calendars! According to the U.S. Naval Observatory, autumn begins on September 22 at 11:09 PM EDT; it's just about official, summer 2010 is over. The Autumnal equinox is coming, and you can feel it in the onset of that brisk autumn air, as well as with the number of home sales hitting the streets! September marks the official kick-off of the fall real estate market, and in Richmond, Virginia we are beginning to see the signs of the new housing inventory offering purchasers and sellers a second chance to reap the benefits of the second gathering. Like the change … (0 comments)
john vandersyde: Richmond's Small Town Charm Offers Hope & Optimism
- 09/09/10 07:56 AM
Ann and I just went over to the Libbie Market to grab a quick bite to take back to the office. The wonderful thing about Richmond is the fact that almost anywhere you go you are all but certain to run into someone you know. Well today is no exception. We ran into a friend of mine from college. She owns and manages a small placement firm that specializes in finding work for mostly mothers that have so much to contribute to the work force, but also wish to manage their families in addition to generating an income. The almost unexpected … (2 comments)
john vandersyde: Follow up Post - What's the wait . . .
- 09/09/10 06:50 AM
As a follow up to my blog post yesterday 9/8/2010 regarding "What is the wait in Richmond Real Estate" - regarding "low interest rates", the Long & Foster Marketing Minute provides the following example: "Let's talk about the "missed opportunity" on the tax incentives. Let's say first-time home buyer couple is looking at taking a 30-year loan on a $340,000 home, which was the average Long & Foster sale price in July. If they had purchased in early April, in time for the $8,000 credit, the interest rate probably would have been around 5.25 percent. If that same couple bought today … (0 comments)
john vandersyde: What is the wait in our Richmond Real Estate Market - today?
- 09/08/10 11:32 AM
The Richmond, Virginia metropolitan region of Long & Foster Real Estate met today for a Town-hall gathering. Several hundred local real estate agents, brokers and sponsors attended this special event which spent much of the morning commenting on the state of the company and the realities of real estate in our market sphere. The most important message I took away from all this is, of course, that with the amazingly low interest rates available to consumers today, and the apparent stabilization of real property in our area, it is perhaps the most affordable time in our history to purchase a home. So … (0 comments)
john vandersyde: Seventy Five years of Richmond's Historic Preservation
- 08/31/10 10:56 AM
This year is the seventy fifth year that officially marks the foundation of historic preservation in Richmond, Virginia in 1935. Laying the ground work for preservation in the 1920's and 30's, "Mary Wingfield Scott, Elisabeth Scott Bocock, Louise Catterall and Mary Reed contributed significantly to the increased appreciation for Richmond's built environment through research, publication, postcards and walking tours". It wasn't until 1935 when an important historic structure, the Adam Craig House, was threatened with demolition that the idea of preservation as a practice was established. It was Mary Wingfield Scott who formed a committee in order to purchase … (1 comments)
john vandersyde: Home Trends; Quality over Quantity:
- 08/27/10 10:06 AM
As the nation continues to recover from the effects of a troubled economy, home sizes have trended downward for the first time in three decades. More Americans seem to have also adopted a longer-term perspective, as homes that are smaller in scale are generally more affordable to maintain over time and have less impact on the environment. However, they are not necessarily less expensive to purchase. Many are situated in prime locations and include more high-end features. Findings of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Home Design Trends Survey suggests that home buyers as well as renovating homeowners are choosing more … (0 comments)
john vandersyde: Top Influences in Selecting a HOME
- 08/23/10 07:18 AM
A Richmond, Virginia neighborhood can be every bit as important as the dwelling itself - at least according those of us polled. The 2009 National Association of REALTORS ® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers Reported the results of a survey of consumers and real estate agents regarding top influential characteristics in selection a home. Considered by 64% of individuals when deciding where to live, quality of neighborhood was one of the most cited factors. Additional attributes that those surveyed deemed important are: Convenience of Job: 50% Overall affordability of Homes: 43% Convenience to family and friends: 38% Quality of … (1 comments)
john vandersyde: Making a Difference at the Central Virginia Food Bank
- 08/23/10 04:55 AM
Thanks to the efforts of our clients this summer, Virginia Properties contributed 1,185 pounds of food AND over $500 in cash to the Central Virginia Food Bank. As a result, we are able to provide more than 3,600 meals for hungry folks in our area of Richmond. This is a meaningful contribution during difficult times, and we wish to extend our most sincere appreciation to all of our clients and friends - Thank you!
… (0 comments)
john vandersyde: Richmond’s Virginia House & Architect William Lawrence Bottomley
- 08/20/10 11:57 AM
Perhaps my favorite Richmond Virginia architect is William Lawrence Bottomley, although Richmond was not his true home. Bottomley designed numerous meaningful and historically significant homes in Richmond, but it is perhaps a lesser known fact that he contributed to what many might consider a modest detail of importance at Virginia House. One of Richmond Virginia's most interesting and historic homes sits overlooking the James River at the back of the exclusive Windsor Farms neighborhood. Virginia House completed construction only months prior to the stock market crash of 1929, and is a tale of romance and interest on its own. … (0 comments)
john vandersyde: Do-it-Yourself is Overrated!
- 06/07/10 10:36 AM
I am a home project, died in the wool, do-it-yourself fanatic, so I believe anyone can take on whatever house improvement task they set their mind to - if they are committed. What people need to realize is that when I take on a project it's usually because I want to; when a home owner decides to make an improvement it's usually because they have to fix something as they're getting ready to sell their house. In this case it's no longer an enjoyable hobby, and the task can quickly feel like a burden rather than an escape. Many sellers are … (2 comments)
john vandersyde: Is there Sustainable Growth in Real Estate?
- 05/12/10 04:07 AM
According to investment experts like Warren Buffett and Bruce Norris, as well as many real estate educators and market economists, and even the assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, David Stevens, there is perceived sustainable growth in the housing market. The key to all if this of course is security in the job market leading to greater consumer confidence, as well as consistently stable, and remaining relatively low, interest rates. I can't honestly imagine it's all that simple, but after observing first quarter sales increases in Richmond, one begins to wonder if the tide in real … (1 comments)
john vandersyde: How Do Teams in real Estate Work?
- 03/17/10 04:12 AM
I love my wife Ann, who is also my business partner; she does all the honest-to-goodness work while I write articles about real estate or the housing market and purport to be an "expert" at something. She is decently civil about the whole thing too, and complements me by saying how we each contribute different things to the job, which is after all why we work so well together. I have decided to politely agree with her on this point. I am blessed because I know that, while there are a number of successful husband/wife teams in real estate, there are … (2 comments)
john vandersyde: Web-cast Social Networking – Meaningful or Mind-boggling?
- 02/05/10 03:26 AM
Just this week I attended a "social networking" seminar with four-hundred of my favorite local realtors. It was a company event sponsored by our principal broker, Long & Foster. I'm not sure what was anticipated by the other agents in the room, but I was quite frankly surprised by some of the presentation. I consider myself to be relatively computer literate. Computer savvy may be pushing it, but I manage myself online fairly well, and I'd venture say, as well or better than a lot of Realtors who do it themselves. I manage & maintain accounts on Facebook, Trulia, Active Rain, … (4 comments)
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