51 Ways to Make Your Home Sell Faster - Tip #7

Back into Spring with the latest of our tips to make your home sell faster!





Homes for Sale in the Belmont Neighborhood
Luxury Homes for Sale in Charlottesville


Quinton Beckham
Keller Williams Realty
434.242.6212
www.select-homes-charlottesville.com 

The Best Little Market in Belmont

If you're a resident in the Belmont Neighborhood than you have surely been to the C'ville Market, and if you haven't , then you need to give it a stop. Located near the intersection of Carlton Road and Carlton Avenue, the C'ville Market is in the same shopping center as Belmont Pizza and Pub.

As the retail arm of Cavalier Produce, they have all of the most fresh local produce and maintain their motto, "If it's in Season, we have it!" You won't find a huge store when you walk in, but rather a rather unassuming market that has a great selection of not only local produce, but meats produced by local farms as well. Breads by local mills and bakeries and a great selection of chocolate of all varieties positioned near the check out registers so that, on the rare occasion you have to wait to check out, you can survey just what chocolate you want to take home with you to go with those fresh strawberries and that bottle of wine from their extensive selection.

CLICK HERE to go to the C'ville Market Home Page

Locally owned and operated by Steve and Denise Yetzer, the Market has a strong focus on supporting
their local community that can be seen in the Local Artist Wall behind the register, their support of non-commercial public radio as well as the local ASPCA. Now, I am always one that loves to have local businesses, with local products that support their community, and because of that I never mind paying a little extra to keep the economy that I live and work in strong. But at the C'ville Market, you can step out the door with a bag of groceries that is not just full of variety but also very inexpensive! You can't do your full spectrum of shopping their - if you need a ton of cleaning products or expect to be able to pick up a package of lightbulbs and a quart of motor oil with your asparagus and gallon of milk, then this may not be the place for you. But for your regular day to day picking up things on the way home from work and stocking the kitchen pantry, this is a great stop that you should check out. And don't forget to look up their deal on Cardagin, you can get a free reusable grocery bag as a part of their commitment to the environment AND $5 dollars off any purchase of $25 or more, once a month, every month. And that's just the beginning.

So, if you are a Belmont Resident who hasn't been to visit the C'ville Market, you need to make a stop and check it out, I think you'll be surprised.

And if you are not a resident of Belmont but would like to be, check out the links below for homes for sale in the City of Charlottesville.

Belmont Homes for Sale
Condos in the City of Charlottesville
Johnson Village Homes for Sale


Keller Williams Realty - Charlottesville
Quinton Beckham
1885 Seminole Trail, Suite 100
Charlottesville, VA 22901
434.242.6212
www.select-home-charlottesville.com

Park, Shop, and Help Feed your Community

Headed downtown to walk the Mall, see a show or enjoy some dining? You can help your local community as you park!

From March 25 through April 1, the Charlottesville Parking Center will be holding a food drive benefiting the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. The Food Bank serves as an emergency food assistance agency that helps more than 120,000 Virginians have enough to eat, every month. The Three CPC parking lots will boxes for you to deposit non-perishable goods, canned foods and cash as you enter or leave the parking areas for the Water Street Garage, Water Street Lot or Main Street Garage.

So celebrate the nice weather we are having this weekend, go to the mall and do a little window shopping or have a nice meal and then help your community on your way out! Every donation helps and CPC makes is simple for you to be a part of keeping your community healthy and fed!

Charlottesville Homes for Sale
Belmont Neighborhood Homes for Sale
Estates for Sale in Charlottesville

Courtesy of Keller Williams Realty
Quinton Beckham
434.242.6212
www.select-homes-charlottesville.com

Charlottesville Community Supported Agriculture

The Bellair Farm in Albemarle County, VA has a history dating back to the 1700's. As a part of its current mission to "develop an ecologically sound plan for Bellair Farm so it can be sustained as an agricultural, historic and natural resource benefitting the local community" the Bellair Farm is now offering participation to the community in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.

CSA Programs allow members of the community to participate in the support of, and directly benefit from, local farms by purchasing shares of crops to be grown that year. It benefits both the farm and the community as the person purchasing the share in advance gets the produce at about half of the market price. It benefits the farm by allowing them to have monetary resources when they most need them - in the spring when farmers must buy seeds and equipment for the coming season - without having borrow money from lenders. The community benefits by having a direct connection to a local food source, maintaining agricultural land and otherwise providing for a more stable and sustainable local economy.

Bellair Farm's CSA Program comes at a cost of $600 per share. This can be billed wherein the buyer sends in a $100 deposit and then pays off the remainder in two equal installments. Each week the shareholder can pick up their share of the crops either at the farm or on a designated day or time at a market in town. Bellair Farm's plan seeks to provide 360 pounds of produce for each shareholder. From 12-20 different types of vegetables are available each week and you have an opportunity to choose what comes in your weekly share so that you have items you will actually use.

Bellair Farm grows its produce using organic standards and a respect for the land.

For more information or to sign up, visit www.bellairfarm.com or call 434-262-9021.

Albemarle County Homes for Sale
Homes for Sale in Cherry Hill
Farms and Estates for Sale in Albemarle and Charlottesville

If you are looking to Buy a Home, Sell a Home, or Invest in Real Estate - CALL ME!

Quinton Beckham
Keller Williams Realty - Charlottesville
1885 Seminole Trail, Suite 100
Charlottesville, VA 22901
434.242.6212
www.select-homes-charlottesville.com

51 Ways to Make Your Home Sell Faster - Tip #6

In our ongoing series on 51 Ways to Make your Home Sell Faster we now reach Tip #6



Homes for Sale in Charlottesville, VA
Homes for Sale in Belmont 
Luxury Homes for Sale in Charlottesville, VA

Quinton Beckham
Keller Williams Realty - Charlottesville
1885 Seminole Trail, Suite 100
Charlottesville, VA 22901
434.242.6212
www.select-homes-charlottesville.com

Charlottesville Real Estate in 2013

We have been saying it for weeks now, months even - The Real Estate Market is Picking up, getting stronger and moving faster. So lets take a look at Charlottesville and see how it's doing compared to  last year...

So what does this mean? I am not a statistician, but I can tell you what I see in my own business and that of my office and associates. 

Properties Sold - 

The beginning of 2012 saw a lot more movement by investors snapping up properties that were short sales or foreclosed on. These were not first time home buyers, but investors or those whose financial status was such that they were "looking for a deal" on a house. January of this year also saw a lot of that leftover inventory being taken. This is the last movement of investors who are looking for properties to flip or rent out before they number of them on the market decreases. 

Days on Market

Yep , things are picking up speed. Although there are still a lot of people who are unemployed or under-employed, there is still an overall decrease in unemployment and an increasing confidence in the economy as a whole. Combine this with continued mortgage interest rates at record lows and the average family or first time home buyer has an opportunity to break out of being trapped in a rental market and get that very first home of their own. I have clients who make the average amount of money for the area (about $25,500 per year) and others who are making six figures and have been renting. No matter where they fall, they are recognizing the unique opportunity that exists right now: 

Homes that have not regained their prior price tag and interest rates that make buying with a monthly payment that is the same or lower than renting. 

Median Prices

Everywhere you look, the number of distressed properties is decreasing and Charlottesville is no different. For them to decrease, they must be sold. The low prices on these homes water down the overall median prices, which is why we see a little bit of a drop in January 2013. But hold on to your checkbook, because I would predict that as these properties continue to disappear and the pace of the market as a whole picks up, we will see that Median price continue to climb - and at a pace that we have not seen for years. 

So why should you care? 

All of this means that no matter who you are or what your circumstance is, you have an opportunity to move from renting to owning, from being packed into a smaller home to upgrading to a home that better suits your family. It means that the economy and the Real Estate Market is set to let you explore making some personal gains and gaining some tax advantages that you can not have renting. 

And one quick note about Short Sales

And if you are reading this and angry at the predictions because you are still in one of the homes that is upside down, there is some good news for you as well. There are still those families out there that are in homes that are deeply underwater - by $30,000 to $100,000. The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act, originally scheduled to expire on December 31, 2012, was extended through the end of 2013. WIthout this important piece of legislation if you did manage to short sale your home and get out from under a crippling mortgage you then got hit with a tax on the amount of debt that was forgiven. Let's say you sold a home for $100,000 to avoid a foreclosure but had a mortgage note of $200,000. On your taxes at the end of the year you had to claim $100,000 as income, as a gift from your lender, and then be taxed on it. (This is an oversimplification, see your tax professional for details about your particular situation.) The point is, you have a chance to get out from under the mortgage, have the difference in debt forgiven AND not be taxed on it. Your best shot to do this is in the time between now and August. 

Points to Take Away

- Thinking you can not afford a home? 

You may be wrong. Make an appointment to see your lender or call your REALTOR to see who they would recommend you talk to. You might be surprised at the opportunities that exist for you. 

- Ready to upgrade your home? 

Talk to your REALTOR. The timing could not be better as there more families out there that could afford to buy the home you are in and better opportunity for you to upgrade the home you live in without a huge increase in your payments. 

- Stuck in a home that is upside down? 

Again, talk to your REALTOR and let them recommend some Attorneys or CPAs to talk you through your options - this may be your last best option for getting out of an upside down home, taking a break for a few years and then purchasing a home again in 2015. Three years sound like a long time? It may not be when you look at how long it would take the home you are in to regain the value it had when you bought it. If you bought at the peak of the housing market, this could be especially true for you. 

See City of Charlottesville, VA Homes for Sale

Homes for Sale in Belmont

Condos and Townhomes for Sale in Charlottesville

Quinton Beckham

Keller Williams Realty - Charlottesville

1885 Seminole Trail, Suite 100

Charlottesville, VA 22901

434.242.6212

www.select-homes-charlottesville.com

51 Ways to Make your Home Sell Faster - Tip #5

Number five in our continuing series of simple tips to make your home SELL!
And yes, we started playing with the special effects...

Homes for Sale in the Belmont Neighborhood of Charlottesville, VA

Homes for Sale in Redfields Neighborhood of Charlottesville, VA

Luxury Homes for Sale in Charlottesville / Albemarle

Keller Williams Realty - Charlottesville

Quinton Beckham

1885 Seminole Trail, Suite 100

Charlottesville, VA 22901

434.242.6212

www.select-homes-charlottesville.com

51 Ways to make your home sell - Tip #4

The fourth of our weekly installments on 51 ways to make your home sell faster



Homes for Sale in Belmont Neighborhood of Charlottesville, VA
Homes for Sale in Rugby Neighborhood of Charlottesville, VA

Quinton Beckham
Keller Williams Realty Charlottesville
1885 Seminole Trail, Suite 100
Charlottesville, VA 22901
434.242.6212
www.select-homes-charlottesville.com

Think you can't get a home loan? Think again

I think what is probably the most frequent fear of first time home buyers - or rather, those who dream of being first time home buyers - is that they won't be able to qualify for a mortgage.

I think most of us have been there at one time or another; whether you were a teen-ager sitting across from the car salesman or you have just been through the wringer with the economy and are trying to get out of paying high rents for something that is not yours, the fear of being turned town for a mortgage can paralyze you into not even trying.
Just this week I had a meeting with  a family that was in a similar position. They had owned a home that was their 'dream home.' But then there was a flood. After the flood there was mold. The wife slipped and fractured her hip, requiring she be on temporary disability for six months. When they went to call their homeowner's insurance company, the company didn't know who they were. Lo and behold, after having had their mortgage sold off from company to the next a few times, there had been a mix up and the premiums that should have been protecting their home against just such a disaster were not being paid by the latest company to own their home.
After numerous phone calls and an attorney they did the only thing they could do to escape the black mold that was rising out of the basement and into their home: they left.

They called me not too long ago after having found me online and you could hear the emotion over the phone as they told me their story. They had left the home they owned and moved into a home that they are still leasing, but now the owner of the home that they are leasing wants to sell and they need a place to live. After talking to them I explained that the best thing to do was to come in to the office, meet with our mortgage officer - movement mortgage, a great company that we work with who keeps an office right with us to help our clients - and to just take a look and see what things looked like.
The couple was nearly tearful as they explained their story to us and gave us permission to check into their credit history and see what was possible.
Lo and behold, they are not that bad off. Yes, their old home shows negatively on their credit, but it was nearly three years ago that this happened and otherwise, they have good income, decent credit and can make some small changes that will allow us to get them into a home of their very own. Many handshakes and hugs later, they left with a plan to do some simple things to raise their credit scores and help them put money away to pay closing costs. It helped too that the husband had served in the Marines and they qualified for a VA loan.
In about three or four months, we should be able to have them in a home that they can own again, along with all of the tax advantages that go along with it and the simple pride of having a place to call their own.
What's the moral of this story? Simply this: No matter how bad you think things are, not taking the time to pre-qualify always works against you. Even the worst of credit can be repaired and a good lender has loan officers that can give you a plan, a time line and some hope. And who knows who these loan officers are? You REALTOR.
Think you can't buy a home because of your credit, you income or your past? You might be surprised. But you won't know if you don't ask.

If you want to know if you can own a home of your own, call me, I can help.

Homes for Sale in the Belmont Neighborhood of Charlottesville, VA
Homes for Sale in the Rugby Neighborhood of Charlottesville, VA
Resources and tips for Home Sellers in Charlottesville

Quinton Beckham
Keller Williams Realty Charlottesville
1885 Seminole Trail, Suite 100
Charlottesville, VA 22901
434.242.6212
www.select-homes-charlotteville.com

Coffee, Routines and the Betrayal of Small Appliances

Yesterday I woke up at 5am - my usual time - and stumbled into the kitchen to hit the start button on the coffee pot that I had set up the night before. I pushed the button and the face of the coffee pot lit up with it's cheerful morning light. I am always pleased with its little LED glow; the promise of hot coffee, buzzing synapses and the jolt to full consciousness so that I can face my day is exactly what everyone should be greeted with in the pearly pre-dawn light. I stood there in the fuzzy pants and sweatshirt that I had thrown on before making the trek to the kitchen and stretched and yawned as I waited for my pot of ambition. 

Considering that I was only half-conscious it took me more than a few minutes to realize that I was not hearing that happy little burble of hot water pouring through ground coffee beans. My still sleep addled brain wondered at the lack of sound. Was I losing my hearing? Had last night's water had such  wonderful viscosity that it was simply sliding noiselessly through the filter and other mechanics of my early-morning-make-me-smart machine. I pushed the button again turning it off. Then turned it back on. I put my hand on the hot plate to see if it was warm (not the best move, but hey, I was not fully awake yet) and all I could feel was the cold dread of a coffee pot that was not going to work. 

Like a Comcast repairman, I unplugged it, counted to thirty and then plugged it back in. Pushed the button. No warmth. No water moving through coffee grinds. No love. 

My hands and feet went numb, there was darkness stirring at the edges of my vision and leaned on the edge of the counter unable to move or react. HOW COULD I START MY DAY IF THERE WAS NO COFFEE?????? 

I didn't understand. This coffee pot and I have a great relationship. For years it has been my friend and confidante, alwasy gretting me in the morning and helping me to get started, to move, to think. It listened when I complained about life and relationships and gave me wise counsel to move forward with life and not to look back, to set goals and work steadily towards them, to honor my emotions but not let them rule me. How could it just sit there with that look on its little electronic clock face and refuse me now? 

Hurt and disillusioned, I went and laid back down on my bed. As I stared in mute disppointment I could hear my iPhone buzzing as the morning emails began to arrive. I was stuck. Motionless. Unable to open my laptop to blog or post an ad; to check on any of the deals that were in negotiation. 

Taking a deep breath, I got up. I checked the coffee pot again.

Still broke. 

I laid back down. 

As the room brightened with the rising sun, I forced myself out of bed, showered angrily and drove to Shenandoah Joes and ordered coffee to drink as I sulked on the used sofa in the corner and read every bit of bad news CNN and USA Today had to offer on my iPhone app. 

I did eventually break myself out of it (I am sure the coffee and Shenandoah Joe's helped) and managed to get to a meeting on time, sign a listing agreement, ratify one contract for a buyer and get an offer on another listing of mine. All in all, I survived and it ended up being not such a bad day. When i got home last night I went to get a glass out of the cubbard and happened to glance up. There, staring accusingly at me, was my old fashioned French Press coffee pot. **sigh** 

So what's the point of this little drama of my life? As I sit at the counter this morning sipping the amazingly good coffee from my French Press I am reminded that although routines are wonderful things - they help us to build happy and productive habits, after all - that we must also be prepared to improvise and felx when life throws us things that were not in our plan. If we are ready for our routine to go awry, then perhaps we will be more open to other solutions. Any agent who has weathered the bursting of the bubble can tell you, its about reading the changes and following them, not about succumbing to them and that paralysis is the worst reaction of all. 

So, when you feel your business (or your life) changing and the routines that have served you for years are no longer working, look in your mental bubbards for the french press and do not give in to the paralysing emotions that may occur - there is a solution out there, if we let ourselves think of it. 

And of course, If you are looking to buy a home, sell a home, or invest in Real Estate, please call me. I will grab a cup of coffee for us both and work to get you the best deal possible!

Luxury Homes for Sale in Charlottesville
Homes for sale in Belmont Neighborhood of Charlottesville
Homes for Sale in Rugby Neighborhood of Charlottesville

The Beckham Team
3510 Remson Court, Suite 301
Charlottesville VA, 22901
434.242.6212
www.thebeckhamteam.com

REAL ESTATE IS BACK

Data provided by ActiveRain, the #1 social community for real estate professionals.

Luxury Homes for Sale in Charlottesville / Albemarle
Homes for Sale in the Belmont Neighborhood of Charlottesville

Quinton Beckham
Keller Williams Realty
1885 Seminole Trail, Suite 100
Charlottesville, VA 22901
434.242.6212
www.select-homes-charlottesville.com

51 Ways to make your home sell - Week #3

The third of our Short Weblogs with tips to help you sell your Home faster!

Click the links below for:

 All Homes for Sale in Charlottesville
Homes for Sale in Belmont
Homes for Sale in the Rugby Neighborhood
Homes for Sale in Redfields

For more Information or a Home Sale Consultation, Contact me:

Quinton Beckham, Keller Williams Realty
1885 Seminole Trail, Suite 100
Charlottesville VA, 22901
434.242.6212
www.select-homes-charlottesville.com

Top Ten Remodeling Values for Your Home

No matter who we are, we fix up our homes and then when we go to sell them, we want to get our money back. Now, we all know you don't get it ALL back, but here's a look at the top ten ways to increase the sale price of your home with a remodel and what you can expect recoup:

Selling your Home in Charlottesville? I can help you get the most for your home!

Search Homes for Sale in Charlottesville, VA

Search Homes for Sale in the Belmont Neighborhood of Charlottesville

Quinton Beckham

Keller Williams Realty

1885 Seminole Trail, Suite 100

Charlottesville, VA 22901

434.242.6212

www.select-homes-charlottesville.com 

51 Weeks of Tips to Sell your Home - Week #2

I know many of these tips seem silly as you listen to them and you think, "what? no buyer would ever notice that..."

But I dare you, go look out of your windows before you hit the play button, look carefully, then come back and watch...





And as always,
If you are looking to Buy a Home in Charlottesville,
Sell your Home in Charlottesville
Or Invest in Real Estate.

I want to help!

Quinton Beckham
Keller Williams Realty
1885 Seminole Trail, Suite 100
Charlottesville, VA 22901
434.242.6212

www.select-homes-charlottesville.com

Let's Talk about Short Sales... But only for 2013

While perusing Facebook and catching up in what my friends across the country were doing I ran across one Tucker Griffin and Barnes' postings which talked about the Debt Forgiveness Act. Forgive me if I sound like I am quoting, and I guess in many ways I am, but Bill tucker is a lawyer in Charlottesville with over 30 years experience leading the Firm's Real Estate Group in all manner of Real Estate related issues. Tucker Griffin and Barnes is an excellent firm with a stellar reputation that, despite being a full service law firm, has managed to stay focused on their community.

Homes for Sale in the Belmont Neighborhood of Charlottesville

What he pointed out in this posting was that the Debt Forgiveness Act has been extended to December 31, 2013. This allows homeowners who are are at risk of foreclosure - upside down on their mortgages and going through financial issues that could make them fall behind on payments - to have an opportunity to sell the home they are in while avoiding being taxed on the "forgiven" debt. This is an incredible boon to any family that is feeling trapped in a home that they bought at the peak of the market that they can no longer keep up with after the recession.

For the full posting from Tucker, Griffin and Barnes, click here. 

If you or someone you know is falling behind on their mortgage payments or at risk of foreclosure, a short sale offers you unique opportunities to get a fresh start without having to file bankruptcy or pay an enormous tax bill. For more information, contact me at 434.242.6212 and I strongly recommend that you read the link above.

Condominiums for sale in the City of Charlottesville

If you are looking to Buy a Home, Sell a Home or Invest in Real Estate, call me -

Quinton Beckham
Keller Williams  Realty
434.242.6212
www.select-homes-charlottesville.com

Mortgage Rates Decline - Home Buyers Rise

If you were paying attention this week you saw that mortgage rates declined once again. A 30-year fixed rate had risen to 3.56% but yesterday reached the low of 3.51 - just a few tenths of a point from the all time low of 3.31% (click here for the full article from USA TODAY.) New home sales jumped 16% in January over December and the number of people who signed contracts to purchase resale homes also rose, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Following this increase in demand, home prices also rose. All based on purchasing power.

NAR tracks the Pending Home Sales Index which measures the number of homes that are placed under contract. Although this does not measure actual sales, it is a good indicator of consumer confidence. This has seen a relatively steady climb over the last 12 months with a good jump in January. NAR offers this data to the public and you can view it by clicking here. Additionally, overall financial forecasts remain on the upswing with unemployment dropping, mortgage rates making modest climbs to reach break into the 4% territory in the fourth quarter of the year. This data can be seen by clicking here.

Overall, this continues to be a good home buying season for everyone involved with rising home prices benefitting sellers, decreasing unemployment putting cash in the hands of more consumers and low mortgage rates keeping homes affordable for anyone who is seeking to upgrade their home or get out of renting and become a homeowner.

If you are interested in becoming one of those homeowners, click this link to see all properties for sale in the City of Charlottesville, Virginia.

If you have questions on buying or selling a home, you can check out my website or contact me directly at 434.242.6212

Quinton Beckham
Keller Williams Realty
434.242.6212
www.select-homes-charlottesville.com

51 Ways to Make Your Home Sell Faster - Week #1

The first in a series of WebBlogs about making your home move FASTER from listing to Sale!



Looking to buy or sell a home in Charlottesville? I can help.

Click here to see Featured Properties for Sale in Charlottesville, VA


Quinton Beckham
Keller Williams Realty
434.242.6212
www.select-homes-charlottesville.com

Believe it or not, it's a good time to sell

In case you haven't noticed, Winter is winding it's way to a close and Spring is just around the corner. And as plants get ready to end their restless slumber and spring forward into the air, home buyers are stirring too. Spurred on by forecasted changes in mortgages rates and pending changes in FHA rules and costs, home buyers are seeking to get a home before the prices have fully recovered and while mortgage rates remain at their historic lows.

What they are finding is this: There aren't a lot of homes on the market.

While new home sales are starting to pick up again, builders remain cautious and many homeowners are still underwater on their mortgages making selling their home something that they are not optimistic about. The nation now has a 4.2 month supply of homes on the market; meaning that if sales continued at their current rate, we would be out of homes in 4.2 months.

Nationwide, nearly 28% of homeowners owe more than their home is worth, according to data from market watcher Zillow. And if you look at homeowners who don't have at least 20% in equity, that number climbs to 45%. So what does this mean for you?

Click here to see Homes for Sale in Charlottesville

For buyers

If you have been thinking that now is the time to get the best mortgage rates and better pricing per square foot on a home of your own, you are right. The market made a lot of gains last year but homes can still be found that are a great deal and the low mortgage rates mean that you can afford more home for your monthly payment. Some buyers who wouldn't have even been able to qualify for a mortgage of $250,000 because of interest rates making their monthly debt too high five years ago are finding that they CAN qualify because the payments are actually less than what many of them are paying for rent. It's still a great time to buy, but if you see that home that meets 90% of your needs, you better jump on it, there just aren't a lot homes out there and finding that "perfect" home in the price range you can afford isn't likely to happen. 

For Sellers

If you have some equity or just have a real reason to move, then you shouldn't wait. You are much more likely to get close to your asking price now than if you wait until the market picks up in Spring and Summer and the competition grows. Although many buyers are aware of the lack of inventory, they are not wanting to wait and maybe miss a chance to make a great buy at a low interest rate. Listing now can make you one of the few homes available that many buyers are in competition for. Add that to the fact that the REO or distressed home market (those in short sales or foreclosures) is drying up, and you have an opportunity to snag that smart buyer who knows today's market conditions won't last. 

Click here to see what your Charlottesville Home is Worth

For the complete article in USA TODAY, click here

Call me for more information on making the market work for you,

Quinton Beckham
Keller Williams Realty
434.242.6212
www.select-homes-charlottesville.com

Five Reasons to Buy A Home Now

Wondering if you should wait longer for a "better" market to purchase your new home? Think again, your best bet for a good buy, good rates and a home you can keep for a while could be right now. Based on prices, mortgage rates and soaring rents, there may have never been a better time in real estate history to purchase a home than right now. Here are five major reasons purchasers should consider buying:

Supply Is Shrinking

With inventory declining in many regions, finding a home of your dreams may become more difficult going forward. There are buyers in more and more markets surprised that there is no longer a large assortment of houses to choose from. The best homes in the best locations sell first. Don’t miss the opportunity to get that ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ buy.

Click here to see Condominiums for Sale in the City of Charlottesville

Price Increases Are on the Horizon

Prices were expected to bounce along the bottom this winter. However, many pricing indices (examples: CoreLogic, FHFA, LPS, Case Shiller) are reporting that prices are continuing to rise.

Rents Are Skyrocketing

Rents historically increase by 3.2% on an annual basis. A study issued earlier this year projects rent increases of 4% for the next two years. Trulia recently reported that rents this year have actually shot up by 5.4%.

Interest Rates Are Projected to Rise

The Mortgage Bankers Association has projected that the 30-year mortgage interest rate will be 4.4% by the end of 2013. That is an increase of approximately one full point over current rates.

Click here to see Homes for Sale in the Redfields Neighborhood of Charlottesville

Buy Low, Sell High

We would all agree that, when investing, we want to buy at the lowest price possible and hope to sell at the highest price. Housing can create family wealth as long as we follow this simple principle. Today, real estate is selling ‘low’. It’s time to buy.

And of course, if you are looking to buy a home, sell a home, or invest in real estate in the greater Charlottesville / Albemarle area - call me - I can help!

Quinton Beckham

Keller Williams Realty

434.242.6212

www.select-homes-charlottesville.com 

For the original article, click here

Wednesday's Child, full of woe...

So you've done it, you made the plunge, chose a Real Estate Agent and you are putting your home on the market; you are ready to get it out there and don't want to wait another day! But maybe you should.

One thing that every Real Estate Agent knows and lives by, the longer your home is on the market, the less likely you are get your asking price. Days on Market is the holy grail of negotiating and one of the few unarguable points in determining the how close to your asking price that first golden offer is; the longer on the market, the less likely it is you will get the price you ask for.

In this era of online everything there is simply one magic day for marketing a home and getting the most bang for your electronic debut - Friday. According the Real Estate Analysts Redfin, homes listed on a Friday garnered 99.1% of their asking price in the actual sale. (Remember folks, that is an average, your individual experience will absolutely vary according to the market you are in, your home itself, the neighborhood and local trends.)

Homes for Sale in the City of Charlottesville, Virginia

Nailing the day that a home listing hits the internet is crucial according to Glenn Kelman, President and CEO of Redfin, which covers 19 markets in the U.S. "You get four times the traffic on the day of debut than any other time of the week, and you only get one chance," he says, "Soon, you're yesterday's news." Properties listed on a Friday also sell the fastest, average days on the market being only 81 days.


But what makes Friday so special? Richard Ryan, Professor of Psychology at the University of Rochester says that adults typically work a Monday through Friday workweek (adults who are NOT real estate agents, I should add) and are more upbeat and enthusiastic on a Friday. They also tend to report more energy and vitality on the weekends which could make them more proactive in actually seeing your home or making an offer.

Homes for sale in the Belmont Neighborhood of Charlottesville

So if Friday is the best day to debut, what is the worst? Sundays. Homes that debut on a Sunday end up selling, on average, for 98.4% of asking price. That could be a difference of nearly $5000 on a $500,000 home. Sunday listings have to sit around for a few days before people start lining up home tours for them and by that time, newer listings may make the Sunday debuts seem stale.

Now you can't hang your entire marketing plan for selling a home on the day of the week, but in this market of ups and downs and low inventory and competitive buyers, we certainly can take every little bump to help us that we can get. The number of factors that go into a home sale are so numerous as to be immeasurable, one of the many reasons you need a Real Estate Agent to help you navigate it and get the best price and best net proceeds for your home.

As always, if you are looking to Sell a Home in Charlottesville, Buy a home in Charlottesville or want to Invest in Real Estate, email me or give me a call, I would love to be the agent that helps makes it the absolute best experience for you possible.


Quinton Beckham
Keller Williams Realty
434.242.6212
www.select-homes-charlottesville.com

Click here for the complete article from the WSJ

Keller Williams Realty Now #1 Real Estate Company in the United States by Agent Count
Company also announces franchise expansion into Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Turkey

DALLAS, TEXAS (February 17, 2013) — Keller Williams Realty, Inc. announced today that it is the largest real estate franchise company by agent count in the United States, with approximately 80,000 associates. In recent years, Keller Williams Realty has posted record growth numbers, surpassing RE/MAX, Century 21, and now Coldwell Banker to secure the industry’s top position. The news, based on publically available information as of February 6, 2013, was announced in front of more than 10,000 Keller Williams associates during the company’s annual convention in Dallas, Texas.
During his standing-room-only, annual State of the Company address, CEO Mark Willis made the announcement, stating, “Keller Williams associates: We are one family. We have one destiny. We share one thing ... We are America’s #1 real estate company by agent count!”
Willis also reported strong productivity gains by Keller Williams associates in 2012. Year over year, per-agent units increased 23 percent, closed volume was up 31 percent, and gross commission income rose 28 percent. Moreover, a record 91 percent of the company’s offices were profitable for the year. The company also announced its final profit share total for the year, which added up to more than $55 million in profits distributed to Keller Williams associates – an increase of 44 percent over the previous year.
Keller Williams Realty President Mary Tennant updated attendees on the company’s charitable 501(c)(3) entity, KW Cares, which in 2012 awarded $2.7 million in grants to associates and their families in need.
And finally, Keller Williams Worldwide President Chris Heller announced plans to expand into two new regions: (1) Germany, Austria, and Switzerland; and (2) Turkey. The company previously

announced global franchise agreements in Vietnam, Indonesia, and Southern Africa. Heller also extended a big welcome to more than 70 international guests who were visiting from 18 countries.
“One of the keys to Keller Williams Realty’s phenomenal success has been our ability to grow organically – from agent to agent, from market center to market center, from country to country – earning our reputation one person at a time,” Heller said.
Willis’ presentation was followed by a 30th anniversary party. The No. 1 announcement and celebration capped a remarkable year for the Austin, TX-based company:

• -  J.D. Power and Associates ranked Keller Williams “Highest in Customer Satisfaction” among both home buyers and home sellers.*
  
• - Keller Williams was ranked No. 9 on America’s Top 150 Workplaces – the only national real estate company on the list.
  
• - And in April, Keller Williams co-founder and bestselling author Gary Keller will publish his latest book, The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results.
  Willis thanked associates and implored them to “Never back down” from their new position as the largest real estate company in the United States: “Let’s celebrate tonight, but watch out, competition. Tomorrow we’re going to be working harder than we’ve ever worked before. The real prize we’re pursuing is to be #1 in agent count and transactions and volume all across the world!”
  
  *Disclaimer: Keller Williams received the highest numerical score among full service real estate firms for home buyers and home sellers in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Home Buyer/Seller StudySM. Study based on 2,994 total evaluations measuring five firms and measures opinions of individuals who bought or sold a home between March 2011 and April 2012. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed March-May 2012. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com 
• 
  
• Looking to buy a Charlottesville Home? 
• Sell your Charlottesville Home? 
• Invest in Real Estate? 
• 
  
• Call me and let me bring the strength of the Country's largest Real Estate Firm to meeting your needs!
• 
  
• Quinton Beckham
• Keller Williams Realty
• 434.242.6212
• www.select-homes-charlottesville.com 
• 
  
  

So you've closed on your new home... NOW WHAT?

You've searched and searched, previewed homes until your eyes have bled and finally (as your Realtor cheered and jumped up and down) found the home of your dreams, made an offer, made it through contract negotiations, home inspections and closing. You're done and ready to move in, right? Well, maybe. There are some things you still need to do to keep that home your "dream home."

Prepare for anything you want done before you move in

Rarely does a buyer get into a new home that is truly, completely, ready to go. As you have looked at the home and toured through it you have come up with a myriad of ideas about how to live in it. Where you will out the sofa, which rooms the kids will have, what color are you going to paint that room that has a shade of lavender rarely seen outside of an Easter egg. Which rug will cover that stain in the otherwise immaculate hardwood floors... 

If you want to get things done to your new home, the best time to do them is before you move in. Once you have removed your contingencies, the sellers have moved out and you are close to closing, get the contractors in the house that you are going to need to do work on the home to make it yours. Have the painter take a look and give an estimate, get that floor refinisher in to see the stain and tell you if he can fix it and how much it will cost, how long it will take. Your Realtor can be a great resource for small job contractors who can help you get all the minor repairs that weren't worth negotiating over but that you still want done. Work on a home is faster, cheaper and less headache if it can be done while the home is vacant. Nothing takes the fun out of moving into a home faster than sharing the space for the week with Joe the Plumber...

Click here to see Homes for Sale in Belmont, Charlottesville

Set up the utilities

We are so used to flipping a switch and the lights coming on that we forget that we really do have to get the utilities put into our name. Find out which companies serve your new community and call them in advance to be sure everything can move into your name seamlessly so that the first morning in your new home will be one that has hot water and hot coffee. Especially check for any cable or internet service. These vary widely based on where you live and nothing makes the teenagers whine more than not being able to Facebook, blog and play xbox live for the two weeks it takes to get the cable installed and working. 

For the original article, click here. 

You have your new keys! WONDERFUL! Now change the locks. 

It's just better to assume that everyone and their brother has a set of those keys that are now in your hand. The listing agent likely made them available to a score of contractors, their assistant and God only knows how many copies the last owner handed out to family members and neighbors to be sure that they never got locked out. 

Be ready to hire a cleaning crew before you put one stick of furniture in

Most of the time, sellers have had the place cleaned after they moved out, but just in case, it might not be a bad idea to have a cleaning crew ready to do a thorough once over. Showing up on moving day with a car full of hungry family, boxes and hundred of pounds of furnishings only to find that every bug for miles around has decided to use your kitchen floor as their place to die can take the thrill out of that new home in ten seconds flat. Even if the seller did clean, for all you know they paid their fifteen year old nephew $40 to do it and their perspective of what "clean" is can be starkly different from your own. This is a small and inexpensive item that is better not left to chance and more easily done before you fill up the rooms. 

Click here to see What your Charlottesville home is Worth

Have a handyman or a small contractor on call

Moving in can take days or weeks depending on your particular tastes and personality and once the house has closed, it's all yours. Every square foot of joy and each and every scratch, dent or hole in the wall from dropping that family heirloom armoire made from leftover 1941 tank panels. Having a handy man identified who is ready to go can make your life simpler. If you have them identified already and know that they can do the touch ups or fix those small yes annoying items that are not apparent until after you try to move in. 

Taking just a little time to plan ahead can save you a ton of headache, remove huge amounts of stress from being prepared and make your overall experience a much, much more enjoyable one!

Click here to see all homes for sale in the City of Charlottesville

Quinton Beckham

Keller Williams Realty

www.select-homes-charlottesville.com 

Contemporary Design in Historic Belmont neighborhood

Anyone who has spent time in Belmont knows that it is a neighborhood that is on the move. Over the last decade it has seen the growth of some amazing restaurants in its central core and even had the area dubbed “Downtown Belmont.” The largest named neighborhood in the City limits, Belmont (or Belmont-Carlton, as it is often called) it has seen some dramatic changes in its housing and overall appeal.

Easily seen in the neighborhood is the prevalence of urban infill projects – taking those lots that are empty, underdeveloped or just in need of rehabilitation and using them for housing that is affordable and efficient. Residential housing in the Belmont neighborhood has a wide range of pricing – from as low as $150,000 for a single family home to as high as $500,000.

One such builder is architect Jared Metzger, managing partner of Metzger Design; a full service firm that provides the complete A to Z of development, architectural design, construction, project management and graphic design. A graduate of UVA, Jared has been a licensed Class A contractor for over eight years and a practicing architect for over 12 years. After spending some time with firms in Washington, D.C. and Charlottesville, he struck out on his own to establish Metzger Design.

“I always have enjoyed building things and actually got my undergraduate degree in fine arts, specializing in wood and metal sculpting,” Jared says, “ I wanted to find a practical application to sculpture and found architecture to be a great profession. In fact, I think architecture pushes my imagination even further, because its not only about form, but ultimately about function.”

Metzger design has done residential projects in the Belmont Neighborhood, with the second now offered for sale on Midland Street. “Belmont is in a great location; convenient to the downtown mall. The cultural and restaurant scene continues to expand with many of Charlottesville’s newest gathering spots in Belmont and continuing to expand eastward.” The Midland Street Homes offer 1470 finished square feet of living space containing three bedrooms, two and half baths. Metzger’s favorite part of the Midland Street homes,? It’s the eye-catching living area on the first floor that flows seamlessly from the kitchen. The high placed windows allow for natural light while preserving privacy and, in combination with the vaulted ceiling leading up the stairs to the second floor, give an incredible sense of space.

“As an architect, I was interested in getting into home construction to show homebuyers smart and efficient design was not out of reach. Such a huge percentage of homes built in today’s market are homogeneous and lack an identity; they do not relate to their environment or the uniqueness of the place they are built,” Jared points out.  Unlike other neighborhoods in Charlottesville, Belmont’s residents seem to be appreciative of the uniqueness of the homes there. In a fifteen-minute walk, one can see everything from historic architecture to contemporary home designs that capitalize on the views of Carter’s Mountain and the Rivanna River running adjacent to the neighborhood.

“Charlottesville has become a wonderful place to experiment with home design,” says Metzger, “buyers have become much more sophisticated and have learned to expect more. I think a lot of that is because of the variety of design firms that are active in the market. Metzger Design is committed to offering contemporary homes that are affordable to the average family.” With an asking price of $229,900, the Midland Street properties are a testament to that truth – the average mortgage on new homes in Charlottesville (the amount financed after any down payment) in 2012 was $247,537 according to Housing Intelligence. 

To see the latest Metzger Properties for sale, click the links below

1500 Midland Street

1502 Midland Street

Fo more information on Metzger Design go to: 

www.metzgerdesign.net

Click here for all homes for sale in Belmont.

Quinton Beckham

Keller Williams Realty

www.select-homes-charlottesville.com