Paul Goodloe McIntire's Belmont Legacy

His name and contributions surround us, but few outside of Charlottesville Historians know just how much of an impact that Paul Goodloe McIntire had on the shape of the city. Born in 1860 in the City of Charlottesville, McIntire attended the University of Virginia for only one semester before leaving in 1880 for Chicago "...to earn some money." He worked first as a coffee salesman (Barista's of the city should puff out their chest at that!) and later as a stockbroker. He then moved to New York City where he bought a seat on the New York Stock Exchange and between the years of 1901 and 1921 amassed a fortune. Never forgetting his home town he used his wealth to beautify the city, purchasing land to become parks and adding sculptures for all of Charlottesville's residents to enjoy.

Just some of his notable gifts include the Statues located in Lee and Jackson parks - parks placed on land that he purchased and donated to the city for this purpose. One of his donations that any traveler or resident will recognize is the statue of Meriweather Lewis, George Rogers Clark and Sacajawea that stands at the intersection of Ridge and McIntire Roads at the primary traffic gateway to the Downtown Pedestrian Mall. Another statue of Lewis and Clark stands at the intersection of Jefferson Park Avenue and West Main Street; a gift he made to the University of Virginia.

In addition to Lee and Jackson Park, McIntire also gifted the land that has become Washington, McIntire and Belmont parks. Homeowners in Belmont note Belmont Park to be one of the finest parks in the City of Charlottesville.

The 3.1 acres of Belmont Park is bounded Stonehenge Avenue, Rialto Street and Druid Avenue. The park contains a full basketball court, benches, swing set, playground equipment, large Oak Trees for Shade and a courtyard with shelter for outdoor concerts. When driving by Belmont Park, Residents and visitors alike have their attention drawn to the latest addition, the "spray ground" that allows children to enjoy an afternoon playing in the various water spouts while staying cool. The spray ground is operated by touchpad, recycles the water it uses and is open from 9am to 8pm during summer months.

From UVA dropout, to coffee salesman to philanthropist, McIntire's is a story that could easily be repeated today and Belmont Homeowners enjoy the legacy of his generosity to this day.

For more information on Charlottesville City parks and trails, CLICK HERE

For more information on Paul Goodloe McIntire, CLICK HERE

If you are looking to -
Buy a home in Belmont or the City of Charlottesville
Sell your Charlottesville Home
Or have other questions about Real Estate
Please click the links above or contact me directly

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

Will 20% soon be the new minimum down payment for a mortgage?

Several government agencies are reviewing data to determine what will be the minimum down payment required under the new Qualified Residential Mortgage (QRM) guidelines scheduled to be revealed in the next few months. In the original Mortgage Market Note issued by the FHFA, it was suggested that loan-to-value (the percentage of the overall purchase price that was being borrowed) was a major factor in determining if a loan would default:

"For most origination years, requirements for borrower credit score and loan-to-value ratio are the factors that most reduce the ever-90-day delinquency rate of mortgages acquired by the Enterprises that would have met the proposed QRM standards"

The note then went on to make the following proposal:

"An LTV ratio qualified residential mortgage must meet a minimum LTV ratio that varies according to the purpose for which the mortgage was originated. For home purchase mortgages, rate and term refinances, and cash-out refinances, the LTV ratios are 80, 75 and 70 percent"



For the complete article, click here: http://www.kcmblog.com/2013/01/23/will-20-soon-be-the-minimum-down-payment-on-a-home/



Basically, the note suggested that a 20% down payment should be the new guideline for Qualified Residential Mortgages. Now, no one can know for sure what the final requirements will be. Bloomberg reported last week:

"The six regulators drafting the separate QRM rule, including the Department of Housing and Urban Development, The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and Securities and Exchange Commission, must decide whether to include such a requirement - and whether to make it less than the 20% they originally proposed."

What could these new regulations mean for the average home buyer? Certainly there is a growing portion of the Charlottesville Area Home Buying population for whom a requirement of 20% down payment could, unintentionally, lock them out of homeownership as a whole. More and more of those who are approaching Real Estate Agents to buy a home are those who are renting. As rents have climbed dramatically over the last few years, this has seriously impacted the average Charlottesvillian's ability to set aside money month after month in pursuit of that often elusive down payment. Their first and best method to take advantage of the currently reasonable home prices and excellent mortgage rates is to seek out a Mortgage program that allows them to own a home for only 3-5% down.

Should the new QRM guidelines require a 20% down payment on what would be a very large percentage of mortgages, we could see a slowing of the Real Estate market as a large portion of potential buyers are trapped in rentals that are costing a larger portion of their monthly incomes.
For now, this has not happened and we can hope that the regulators will keep in mind that much of America can not put away a 20% down without the tax advantages of homeownership.

What does this mean to someone seeking to Buy a Charlottesville Home? Don't wait until the market changes, home prices go up or mortgage rates rise. Meet with a qualified Real Estate agent and get a check on your finances, credit scores, housing needs and determine if you can get out of the rent trap.

What could this mean to someone seeking to Sell their Charlottesville Home were it to go through? Certainly, nearly every offer has some request for the seller to cover a portion of the closing costs, generally 1-3%. Expect to see those become necessary in order to get cash strapped buyers through the mortgage process and qualified for a loan. For those wanting to upgrade their homes or needing to sell property at all, the market continues to have many opportunities to attract buyers and a mortgage structure that is attractive to a larger percentage of home seekers than ever before - waiting too long to put your home on the market could see those buyers dry up and create a market that has fewers buyers, who are more sought after.

If you are wanting to:

Find out if you can Own a Home in Charlottesville
Buy a Home in Charlottesville
Sell your Charlottesville Home

Please contact me, I want to help!

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

Confused by Mortgage Lingo... here's some help!

I can well remember when I first started in college back in... well, let's not say how long ago that was, it was more than a little while... when I first started learning all the terms I would have to know to be in healthcare and not look like an idiot it felt like I was having to learn a second language. And in some ways, I was. It took years to sling those words and phrases and initials around like a pro. I am still of the belief that those words and abbreviations exist in healthcare so that your doctor can talk about you, right in front of you, without you knowing what he is saying.

Frequently, sitting across from a loan officer feels exactly the same way. They throw around words and abbreviations and phrases like they are talking about breakfast cereal and we smile and nod, afraid they will think we are not financially savvy and then walk away not really sure what the heck it was they said. This can make the pre-approval process a frightening thing, as though we are being asked to lay out the most private details of our life so that someone can judge us. It can be a very daunting process to go through, especially if it is your first time or you aren't sure that you will qualify. So, to give you a chance to speak the language like a pro and, more importantly, really understand what they are talking about - I give you the Glossary of Mortgage Terms!

For the complete glossary from The Mortgage Professor, click here. 

Some of my personal favorites:

JUMBO MORTGAGE
Though at first glance you might think that this is a mortgage that comes with large fries and bucket of coca-cola, it is, in fact, not. Jumbo mortgages are those mortgages whose total amount are higher than what Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac are allowed to purchase. Though there are some exceptions to these rules, generally these are homes that need to be purchased with conventional loans.

MAXIMUM LOCK
Though this sounds like some action-adventure movie, it is, in fact, a very important thing for potential home buyers to know. When purchasing a home you and the lender "lock-in" the interest rate according to the prevailing rate at the time the home goes under contract. As everyone who has purchased a home recently knows, your expected date to close and the actual you close can be extremely different. The maximum lock is the longest period of time that a lender is willing to "lock in" that particular interest rate for you. Good stuff to know as a purchaser.

NOHO
No, this is not the next up and coming neighborhood in Manhattan. This is Lender speak for someone who does not have the finances currently to become a Homeowner. Mainly, they are living paycheck to paycheck and therefore are too great a risk. I have to admit, I have been a NOHO at certain points in my life. If you think you are a NOHO, contact me so that I can set you up with people can help you to get out of that rut and into better credit, financial health and out of NOHO status.

PAYMENT SHOCK
This is one of my personal favorites. I tend to have payment shock every time I half-fill my small hand carried basket at Whole Foods and then get to the register and see that my small stock of specialty items has reached a triple digit price tag. But in mortgage speak, Payment Shock is generally referring to sudden increases in ARM payments that surprise homeowners when whatever index the ARM is tied to climbs dramatically in a short period of time. Though not something many people have been afraid of lately, this is still something that can occur when interest only mortgages finally convert to including principal.

SWING LOAN
No, this is not some tawdry loan hanging out in hot tubs and seeking to flirt with properties that already have a mortgage of their own. Rather this is loan that banks sometimes offer to help homeowners who are seeking to switch homes but need the proceeds from the sale of their current loan to close on their new home who are needing to close on the new home and their current home hasn't closed yet. Also referred to as "bridge-loans" as they bridge the gap between the two closing dates.

I hope that this may have shed some light on "Mortgage Speak" for you and even, perhaps, generated a chuckle or two.

If you are looking to Purchase a Home in the Greater Charlottesville Area, Sell a Home in the Greater Charlottesville Area or Invest in Real Estate - I would very much like to be the agent that helps you in this endeavor. Please check out my website www.select-homes-charlottesville.com or click on the embedded links for more information and resources for sellers and buyers.

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

Homer Simpson sells home to Moe the Bartender...

On the lighter side of Real Estate news, the Los Angeles Times reports that Dan Castellaneta who does the voice for Homer Simpson on "The Simpsons" sold his home to Hank Azaria, who voices Simpsons' bartender Moe.


His Pacific Palisades home sold for $5.5 million, following a $200,000 price reduction prior to Azaria purchasing it. There was no mention of whether or not there was free beer or the settling of old bar tabs as a part of the sale.

For the full article, click here: http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/22/simpsons-real-estate-deal-homer-sells-home-to-moe/?iref=allsearch

Castellaneta and his wife Deb Lacusta - a television writer herself - have lived in the 4,414 square foot, 4 bedroom, 3 1/2 bathroom home for five years.

I doubt very much that this will have any impact on anyone who is looking to Buy a Home in Charlottesville or Sell a Home in Charlottesville. However, having been a fan of the Simpsons going back many years, I could not help myself and had to include this in my blog somewhere.

Should you wish to sell or buy in the Greater Charlottesville Area, please feel free to contact me for assistance. I promise, I will not try to mimic any voice from the Simpsons...

CLICK HERE to see homes for sale in the Rugby Neighborhood of Charlottesville.

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

Mortgage Rates Remain at Record Lows

According to the associated press, the average rate on 30-year fixed mortgages inched down toward its record low this week, helping to keep home buying affordable. 

Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac Says the rate on the 30-year loan dipped to 3.38% from 3.40% last week. This is slightly above the 3.31% rate reached in November, the lowest on recrods dating back to 1971. The average on the 15-year fixed mortgage remained unchanged at 2.66%. The record low being 2.63% In all of 2012, the average for a 30-year fixed mortgage was 3.66%, the lowest annual average in 65 years, according to Freddie Mac. 

Cheaper mortgages are a key reason the housing market began to come back last year and continued low rates promise continued recovery in the housing market for 2013. With these rates in mind, moving away from renting and into homeownership remains the best choice for consumers. 

If you are looking to buy a home in Charlottesville, Sell a home in Charlottesville or invest in real estate, contact me and let me help you make it happen! 

Quinton Beckham

Keller Williams Realty 

434.242.6212

www.buyorsellhomescharlottesville.com 

www.select-homes-charlottesville.com 

Google and NAR release study on Digital Home Buying

As more and more americans access internet on the go, on the job and sometimes, even while driving - the number of homes buyers that start and end their home search online is increasing.

A study performed collaboratively between Google and the National Association of Realtors shows that, "Nine in 10 home buyers today rely on the internet as one of their primary research sources, and 52 percent turn to the web as their first step."

Certainly no shock to any family that has teen aged children in it, the digital revolution is over and the internet has one. You find it in phones and offices and planes and cars - just seems to make sense that it would make its way into the home market.


Other interesting facts noted in the study:

Top 5 new home buyer activities on mobile devices: 

1. 51% - Read general home information
2. 48% - Get directions in order to visit a home
3. 44% - Compare prices
4. 35% - Compare Features
5. 35% - Search a listing company's inventory

Places where new home buyers use their mobile devices

77% - At home
31% - At work
28% - While waiting in line
27% - At a restaurant
26% - At someone else's home

Days of research before new home shoppers take action on a website

40% - 120 days
17% - 60 days
7% - 30 days
4% - 3 weeks
3% - 2 weeks
5% - 1 week
24% - Same day

Percent of age groups who registered to buy or sell a home on a website

8% of 18-24 year olds
31% of 25-24 year olds
21% of 35-44 year olds
19% of 45-54 year olds
14% of 55-64 year olds

Percentage, by category, who used the internet to search for a home

First time buyers - 47%
Senior Buyers - 75%
Vacation Home Buyers - 93%

Yes, the internet is here to stay and it is slowly taking over the way we search for where we want to live and what we are going to buy when we get there. Speaking of, why not take a gander at one of my websites...

www.buyorsellhomescharlottesville.com
www.select-homes-charlottesville.com 

Quinton Beckham
Keller Williams Realty
434.242.6212

US Home Prices Continue To Surge

For nine straight months home prices have been in the positive and the gains are only getting larger. November shows a 7.4% jump from a year ago, according to CoreLogic. Most had predicted prices gains at a modest five percent for 2012 but the market is outpacing those expectations.

"As we close out 2012 the pending index suggests prices will remain strong," wrote Mark Fleming, Chief Economist for CoreLogic, in a release, "Given that the recently released Qualified Mortgage rules issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau are not expected to significantly restrict credit availability relative to today, the gains made in 2012 will likely be sustained into 2013."

This is certainly reflected in the Charlottesville Real Estate Market where gains and numbers of sales have continued to show gains. Just six States showed drops in pricing, and Virginia wasn't one of them.

For the full article go to: http://oxstones.com/us-home-prices-surge-despite-distress/

If you are looking to Buy a Home in Charlottesville, rising prices and continued low mortgage rates should be cues that waiting around for things to get better is not the way to go. Investors are still out there looking to take up properties that can be part of the still lucrative rentals market, so there is competition for an inventory that is not going to get bigger in the near future. Though more homeowners are Selling their Charlottesville Home, there are still a lot of competitive buyers out there looking to get the best homes at the best prices while this confluence of events continues.

If you are renting, go see a Local Real Estate Agent and see what you can do to get into a home now while the prices are still low and the mortgage rates are so very inexpensive!

And, as always, if you are looking to Buy a Home in Charlottesville, Sell a Home in Charlottesville or Invest in Real Estate Property, contact me for a meeting on first steps to move you forward!
I am here to help!






Quinton Beckham
Keller Williams Realty
434.242.6212
www.buyorsellhomescharlottesville.com

CAAR Releases 2012 Report

CAAR has published their report on the state of the Charlottesville Real Estate Market.
If you are Buying or Selling a home in the Charlottesville area, you should take a look!

The brief notes are as follows:

Prices are starting to climb. 
The median sale price was $260,000 for the fourth quarter of 2012, the highest fourth quarter showing since 2008.

Sales Volume is increasing. 
The fourth quarter of 2012 saw over 600 sales, nearly a full hundred transactions over the same quarter last year.

Overall, 2012 topped 2011 with an added 343 sales. Of note, Fluvanna had a 26.6% increase in sales, closely followed by Charlottesville with a 25.3% increase in sales.

Inventory remains low. 
As buyer confidence and access to credit increases, it is outpacing the number of home owners who have enough equity to make it profitable to list their home. Those sellers are out there, just not in as great a number as they were prior to the market collapsing.

So what does all this mean? 
If you are a buyer, the good news is that you can get credit and the home market is recovering - so the good investment of homeownership remains a great choice. However, you are not going to have your choice of homes out there that have similar appearance and amenities in a variety of neighborhoods. It's important that every home buyer be sure of what is truly important and necessary in their home and not get distracted by things that are not real "deal-breakers" as they search for their new home.

If you are a current homeowner and have some equity - the day to sale will continue to contract as more buyers enter the market and competition for your home will pick up. It also means that if you are looking to use that equity to upgrade - or even just get out of a home that you do not really like to get one you do - you need to start that process before the inventory drops low enough that you don't have a choice to go to.

For Complete Report go to: http://caar.com/files/market/01_2012/2012%20Year%20End%20CAAR%20Market%20Report.pdf

For assistance with Charlottesville Real Estate, Buying a Charlottesville Home or Selling your Charlottesville Home, call me and lets talk about your particular needs and wants and make a plan for what is best for you. One thing is certain, once mortgage rates begin to climb, you won't see them this low again for a long, long time. Those rates make this market a real bargain for those wanting a home or wanting to upgrade the home they live in.

Quinton Beckham
Keller Williams Realty
434.252.6212
www.buyorsellhomescharlottesville.com

Five tips to Sell Your Charlottesville Home

Without a doubt, the Real Estate Market in Charlottesville and the surrounding area is picking up. Just this last weekend I did an Open House at one of our Brokerage's Albemarle Homes for Sale and in just 2 1/2 hours had EIGHT couples come in to view the home! That's an amazing amount of traffic and a wonderful sign for the local Real Estate Market Conditions. Of those eight visitors, five were couples who were renting who had decided that they could no longer pass up the amazing mortgage rates we are enjoying right now and had decided to stop paying too much in rent and invest in their own home.

But what if your home for sale in Charlottesville isn't selling? The most recent CAAR data is showing homes in the area are taking an average of about 110-125 days to sell. Some of the lower priced homes are going much faster, higher priced homes taking a touch longer, but what if it has been six months and your home is still on the market? Here are some tips to help renew interest in your home and move it - and your life - along.

1. DO A VIDEO WALK-THROUGH
 Fire up the smart phone, iPad or digital camera and walk through your house with it. Look around and document the house as though you were potential buyers seeing the house for the first time. Now sit down with your family and watch the video. Does it look clean and uncluttered? Are you distracted from the main focal points that  add value to the home by too many items on the kitchen counters? Is the garage or storage area neatly done? Despite it being winter, does the lawn and curbside of your home look clean and cared for? Do you have a wall of family photos with children making funny faces that you (and only you) get a chuckle out of every time you see them? Take the time to clean up the items that draw attention away from your home's value. Potential buyers are not buying your industrial style mixer or your memories - they are looking to make their own. Providing a "blank canvas" gives them a chance to imagine their own items in the house and their own pictures on the wall. Any clutter should be cleaned up and put away - it makes the house "feel" uncared for and can effect you getting offers and the price that they come in at.

2. DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO BE AWAY FROM THE HOUSE WHEN THERE ARE SHOWINGS OR OPEN HOUSES

We all want to stick around and hear what potential have to say about our home, but we shouldn't. You have an agent to give you any feedback they give. If you stick around the buyers are not going to spend enough time and look at the things that really interest them because they will feel too awkward. When you are at a friends house for a party you never search through their kitchen cabinets "just to see" because it would be too awkward. You go to their bathroom and sneak a peek in their medicine cabinet. That same social taboo holds true for buyers seeing your home. If you are gone they are more likely to ask their agent the right questions, right there and look at the things that are important to them before they leave. If they leave without having answers they are much more likely to assume the worst and rule your home out. This also lets them have any conversations they need to have with their agent without feeling a need to whisper. These are paramount to a successful showing to sell your Charlottesville home.

3. MAKE IT IKEA
When we go through ikea we see a perfect example of staging. There is furniture and other items set out to make us imagine the room, but it is all against a white backdrop and there are no pictures of the sales agents smiling at their cake-covered child at their first birthday party. If you really love love love purple and so you have painted the rooms in your house eight different shades of it, you might consider the investment of a couple weekends or $500 dollars to have someone come in and paint it a neutral color. Just like clutter, too much of a personal touch and the potential buyer can not imagine themselves in it. It may have been your home for ten years, but you are wanting to make it someone else's now, so give them the chance to think of it that way. No one will complain about seeing white walls, but you might pick up on their shuddering as they see the grape colored family room that really makes your heart pitter-patter. Research shows, homes with white exteriors sell faster. For internal colors, try white, off whites or pale greys.


4. ENLIST YOUR FRIENDS
We all depend on our friends for a multiplicity of reasons. Why not make them your very own free marketing team? In this age of connectedness when there are not more than six degrees of separation between us and the paper-boy in China, surely you are just two coffee chats away from the friend who knows someone who knows someone whose cousin is just DYING to live in your neighborhood. It really is all about networking and Real Estate Agents who are good do this all the time. Send your friends out and let them know how you "really need to get your house sold and do they know anyone who is looking to buy?" Remind them regularly (you can really drive the point home by always noting the great features of your home when they are visiting, "And these extra studs right here that we added stopped the car that UVA student was driving from making it into the living room. This house is SOOO safe!")
And when your friend does know someone who is interested, SEND THEM TO YOUR AGENT or give the information to your agent. You do not want to be the one trying to negotiate the sale of your own home. For one, you agreed not to. For two, agents can spend years building up experience that makes them able to get you the best deal for your house, don't throw that away in a moment of desperation.

5. AND FINALLY, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY

The one greatest secret to selling your home quickly is that it is ALL about price. Price fixes everything! In fact, I think that deserves saying again, it is ALL ABOUT THE PRICE! If your home is not selling you and really need to sit down with your spouse or significant other and talk about what you really want. Are you needing to move cause you are too far from work and the drive is stressing you out and making you want to do mean things to your dog with a fork every night after dinner? Do you need out from under the mortgage that is killing your finances now? Have you found the perfect home to move to but need the down payment to come out of the house you have? Figure out what you really need out of the house you are selling. Too many home sellers lay awake at night dreaming of what they will do with the money they get when they "make a killing on the sale of their house." They dream of an extra $5000, $10,000 or even $50,000 dollars and how that will make their lives so much better.
The truth is, you probably aren't an investor and the average sale price in the Charlottesville area is about $350,000 give or take a bit. You aren't going to be able to retire off of the extra thousand dollars you get by sticking to your guns and turning down offers or refusing to negotiate. You listed your Charlottesville home for sale for a reason, and you need to stick to that reason and not drum up others that make it impossible to accept reasonable offers.

Ask your agent to show you the comparisons that they used when they first talked about the price with you again. Look at other houses that are for sale on www.buyorsellhomescharlottesville.com and see what houses like yours are going for and then be realistic about the condition of your home. If the roof needs some fixing, you might need to drop that price some. Homes that are not listed with a competitive price get ruled out by buyers before they have even seen the home. If you can't get them in the door, you can't sell your home. If you can't sell your Charlottesville home, you can't get that new house you found that you really want.

Agents really do want to help you and have you feel good about your transactions with them over the years. After all, the best customer is one who would recommend their agent to a friend or relative. But agents can't do it all for you. Taking a bit of time and reviewing some basic tips can go a long way towards making your home sell and sell fast!

Wanting to Buy a Home In Charlottesville?
Looking to Sell your Charlottesville Home?
I want to help!
Contact me
Quinton Beckham
Keller Williams Realty
434.242.6212
www.buyorsellhomescharlottesville.com

Kitchens in 2013 - Looks to watch for

Much like bathrooms, kitchens have been moving away from rooms that were built for work and utility and growing into the "heart of the home." Gone are the days of kitchens whose countertops proudly displayed all of the electric appliances and whose centerpieces were stoves that stood out. These have been replaced with kitchens that are open and uncluttered, appliances that blend into the cabinetry and countertops. Center islands and breakfast bars make the kitchens of today a place where family gathers as food is prepared and can spend time socializing in an environment that lends itself to being part of the living room.

If you are selling your Charlottesville home, remodeling your kitchen, looking to buy a home in Charlottesville, or just plain love seeing what the new trends are, here are some trends to watch for in 2013.

1. Modern Style

Kitchens are becoming increasingly modern in their styling. Lines are becoming simplified and offer up large open spaces that flow naturally into the living areas without walls or doorways to block sight or access. Less of a utilitarian room and more of an "annex" to the living room, they are gathering places that just call out for entertaining family and guests. 

2. Tucked-away Appliances

Appliance design has caught the trend and manufacturers are creating sleek models that blend into the rest of the kitchen, matching the finishes of the cabinetry and the countertops. Many appliances have moved to under the counter tucked away versions - like coffee pots or microwaves - and just about everything except the cooktop goes under the counter. This includes having appliances located under the center island such as trash compactors or mini refrigerators. 

3. LOTS and LOTS of light

Lighting has really stepped up its game in the modern kitchen. Gone are the days of a single, UFO sized panel of fluorescents over the center of the kitchen. This has been replaced with a mix of task lighting that focuses light on the areas where food prep is going to happen alongside more muted light such as under the cabinetry or canned lighting with dimmer switches so that the kitchen can remain a gathering spot without the harshness of direct fluorescents.  

4. Super-Sized Islands

"2013 kitchen design trends are moving away from dining rooms and towards eating, drinking and interacting in the kitchen itself, and a large kitchen island complete with bar stools is the perfect way to make this happen," according to HomeThangs.com. Islands have grown to meet the demands of style, socializing and function with electrical outlets being placed on the sides and lots of storage underneath. 

5. More style overall, neutral paint schemes and high gloss finishes

If you look at any featured kitchen, you will find a mix of high-end countertops, neutral or white paint schemes and back splashes that range from recycled glass to mosaic tiles giving it just a touch of decoration. The overall effect is to allow the kitchen space to stand alone when not in use, with clean and uncluttered countertops and aesthetic touches being added by back splashes that are also easy to clean. 

No matter what your particular tastes are, this room in the house is certainly a selling point for your home and a gathering place for your family. Construction and design experts have realized this and certainly, if you are a modern family with busy schedules and children you have known this for years. Nice of everyone else to catch up to the idea!

Are you looking to sell your Charlottesville Home?
Call me for a free market analysis of what your home is worth.

Looking at homes for sale in Charlottesville?
Let me help you find one that you love!

For any questions, please call me, I want to help!

Quinton Beckham
Keller Williams Realty
434.242.6212
www.buyorsellhomescharlottesville.com




For the full article, go to: http://styledstagedsold.blogs.realtor.org/2013/01/07/8-kitchen-trends-to-watch-in-2013/?om_rid=AAJ8zx&om_mid=_BQ7aJSB8wPnkIL&om_ntype=RMODaily

The Charlottesville-Romanov Connection

Charlottesville has a rich history that dates back to English Colonial times and includes such notables as Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, Edgar Allan Poe and William Faulkner. But unbeknownst to many, Charlottesville was also home to a Claimant to the Grand Duchy of Russia.


In July of 1918 the Bolshevik Revolution summarily executed the Czar and his family, purging the country of its de-throned monarchy. A mass grave was found in 1991 which held the remains of the Tsar, his wife and three daughters, but the bodies of Alexei and one of his sisters - either Anastasia or her older sister Maria, were not to be found.
Persistent rumors of her survival circulated for decades with multiple claimants to her legacy, most notable of which was Anna Anderson

Between 1922 and 1968, Anderson lived in Germany and the United States with various supporters and in nursing homes and sanatoria, including at least one asylum. She emigrated to the United States in 1968, and shortly before the expiry of her visa married Jack Manahan, a Virginia history professor who was later characterized as “probably Charlottesville’s best-loved eccentric”

Jack became interested in Anna - who was 21 years his senior - through Gleb Botkin. Gleb himself was the son of the late Czar’s family physician who had been killed by the Bolsheviks along with the Royal Family in 1918. Botkin had known Anastasia as a child and supported Anna’s claim to be Anastasia. Botkin had escaped Russia during the early months of the revolution and came to New York, later moving to Charlottesville to be near his Daughter. He also served as Jack’s Best Man in his wedding to Anna. 
Anna and her husband lived out their lives as Charlottesvillean notables, not just for her claim but also for their eccentricities. Anna believed that KGB was trying to kill her and, as one her many aversions, would not eat from anything metal. This resulted in their car being regularly littered with empty styrofoam trays The Daily Progress otes that Jack often ordered food from Ken Johnsons’s Cafeteria (located near what is now the site of Ruby Tuesday’s along Emmet Street) and would then stuff his pockets with condiments. He and Anna would then eat in in their car parked out side of the restaurant

They resided in a small Italianate house on 32 University Circle for their entire marriage, which ended with Anna’s death in 1983.


After the collapse of communism in the Soviet Union, the locations of the bodies of the Tsar, Tsarina, and all five of their children were revealed and multiple laboratories in different countries confirmed their identity through DNA testing. DNA tests on a lock of Anderson’s hair and surviving medical samples of her tissue showed that Anderson’s DNA did not match that of the Romanov remains or that of living relatives of the Romanovs.
 So, if you ar looking at homes for sale inthe City of Charlottesville, take a close look, you might be buying a piece of history along with the home

Buying a home in Charlottesville

Selling a home in Charlottesville

Wanting information on Charlottesville Real Estate

Please contact me, I would love to be a help to you

Quinton Beckham

Keller Williams Realt

434.242.6212

www.buyorsellhomescharlottesville.co




Signs of a good neighborhood to buy in

I was out showing homes to some new clients of mine yesterday and the topic of what neighborhood to live in came up. It got me thinking about it and looking around for more information on how to do that. When helping someone buy a home in Charlottesville, I can't pick a neighborhood for them, we are not the same people and it could even be a violation of fair housing law. However, there are things that potential home buyers can look for when deciding where they want to live.

Certainly, choosing a neighborhood to buy your home in can be a very personal thing. What makes a neighborhood exciting to one person can make it unlivable to another. Do you want to not see your neighbors at all? Want to be close to Downtown Charlottesville or one house amidst Farms in the County? No matter what you choose, there is an intrinsic "feel" to a neighborhood that you have to take into account, but there are also simple signs to look for that wherever the neighborhood, it is one that can be a good investment and good place to live.

Some simple signs to look for can include, but not be limited to:

1. Are there children playing in the yards of homes or on the block?

No matter whether you think the kids are clean enough or well behaved enough, if there are children playing in the yards of homes and around the neighborhood, odds are this is a safe neighborhood. No matter what style of parenting your neighbors may promote, no parent wants their child hurt and seeing that they allow their kids outside to play is a sign that the neighborhood is a safe one.

For the complete article, please go to: http://rrea.com/blog/10-signs-of-a-great-neighborhood/

2. Green Space.
Are there parks and walking trails? Is there a playground and is it well cared for? Seeing these spaces that are set aside for use by pedestrians, children and the occasional health nut is a wonderful sign that you have found a neighborhood that cares for the well being of its residents. be sure they are well cared for and look to be in good repair. Active neighbors who enjoy life are good neighbors.



3. Well Kept Yards
Not every yard needs to be its own little botanical garden, but taking a look around and seeing the people are generally interested in the appearance of the front of their homes is an excellent sign. These are neighbors that will help to keep a neighborhood that is valuable, it speaks to responsibility and tells you that those homes are likely to be owned rather than just rented. Neighbors with good yards also have tools that can be borrowed - a bonus for new homeowners!

4. Is there activity on the sidewalks?
 Jogging, dog-walking, neighbors talking to one another. Seeing the neighbors out and about during the day, whether its jogging or dog walking is an excellent sign. People who are out and about automatically make friends with their neighbors, look out for one another and are more likely to keep the general safety of the neighborhood in mind. This helps maintain a friendly and healthy environment.





No matter what your particular likes and dislikes are for your neighborhood, taking a little time to do some basic research can help you enjoy your homes for many years to come and really fell at home in your neighborhood. Check out what's in walking distance, local stores and restaurants and see if they fit your idea of "home." Whether you want to buy a home in Belmont to be close to Mas and The Local or need a Farm in Albemarle county so that you can never hear your neighbors and always see the stars, what you want is out there and I want to help you find it.

Looking to:
Buy a Charlottesville Home
Sell your Charlottesville Home
Need market information

Contact me, I want to help!
Quinton Beckham
Keller Williams Realty
434.242.6212
www.buyorsellhomescharlottesville.com 

Real Estate Avoids the Fiscal Cliff!

For all of you who were nervous about buying a home in Charlottesville or selling your home in Charlottesville because you were waiting to see just how far down it was to the bottom of the fiscal cliff, there is good new. Stephen Fishman, a tax expert, attorney and  author of multiple books on tax law has summarized the impact of the new bill that takes us back from the “fiscal cliff.” 

First and most importantly, the mortgage debt forgiveness act that was due to expire in December of 2012 is carried through to the end of the year. This ensures that anyone who is seeking principal mortgage debt forgiveness or needs to make a short sale, has the first $2 million of debt forgiven excluded from taxable income. 

Next in line of positives, and this is a big one if you are seeking to Buy a Home In Charlottesville, this bill resurrects the tax deduction Mortgage Insurance Premiums. This deduction had expired in 2011 but the new law extends it retroactively for 2012 and all the way through 2013. This is a huge bonus for new home buyers wanting to escape the rent trap and own a home and gain the other tax benefits as it makes using first time buyers programs that allow for less than 20% down be more affordable in the short term. 

In addition to various extensions to MID deductions, the $500 deduction for energy saving improvements remains intact through 2013, encouraging all improvements for those of you who want to be more Green in your home energy use. Need a new Dishwasher to make your home marketable? Save the receipt, its tax deductible up to $500 provided its certified Green! 

For the Full article, see Inman News at www.inman.com

If you are looking to: 

Buy a Charlottesville Home

Sell your Charlottesville Home

Get a Market Analysis of what your home is worth

Please contact me: 

Quinton Beckham

Keller Williams Realty 

434.242.6212

www.buyorsellhomescharlottesville.com  

Real Estate in 2013 - What has happened and what to expect.

What were the five biggest stories of 2012 and how do they effect Charlottesville Real Estate?

According the KCM blog, they are as follows:

Housing was a tailwind to the economy and not a headwind

That's right, housing helped the economy to pick up and did not drag it down. Despite claims by many experts that homes for sale  would not pick up until the overall economy picked up, housing has lead the economy and has been the only bright spot in an otherwise lethargic economy.

The Fed Remained Committed to Historically Low Mortgage Rates

If I haven't said it before, I should say it now, you will not find a better rate to purchase homes in Charlottesville! At the end of 2011 30 year mortgage rates were at 3.95% and everyone thought that there was only one way for these rates to go; up. But the Feds supported policies that kept rates down and this resulted in rates dropping to 3.4% by year's end. Truly, if you are looking to sell your Charlottesville Home, you have more potential buyers this year than you did last year, because they could afford the rates. If you are looking to buy a Charlottesville Home, you can get a lot more home for your house payment.  

Demand Remained Strong throughout the Year

Home sales numbers continued to increase throughout the year, supporting the belief that we believe in homeownership as a way to prosperity and an achievement of the American Dream. Even the last existing homes sales report of the year from the National Association of Realtors revealed that home sales were up 5.9% from the previous month and a whopping 14.5% form the same time last year. 

Inventory began Shrinking

Housing inventory dropped to its lowest level (4.8 months) since September of 2005, a 22.5% decrease compared to the same time last year. Why? Because more and more of the short sales and foreclosures are getting cleared from the market than are being added and more families are staying caught up on their mortgage payments. 

Prices first Stabilized and then Increased 

The biggest real estate story of 2012 is that Home Values as a whole turned the corner and headed upward. By the end of the year home values were up 10.1% compared to the end of 2011. Looking ot get that "stellar deal" on a Charlottesville Home for Sale? Better hurry up! 

And what should all of this makes us expect? 

Demand for Housing Will continue to Surge

The market has turned and all signs point towards buyer demand continuing to increase through 2013. Household formations have shot up to boom-time levels in 2012 and are projected to increase at an even faster rate in 2013. This could have an effect in prices as you seek to buy a home in Charlottesville and the supply is shrinking. 

Generations X and Y are proving their belief in Homeownership

Contrary to what many have hypothesized over the last few years, young adults (ages 18-35) are just as committed to homeownership as previous generations have been. Recent Studies have shown: 

- 43% already own a home

- 72% see homeownership as part of their personal American Dream

- 93% of those currently renting plan to buy a home

Move up Sellers will Return in Great Numbers

Over the last few years negative equity has prevented many from upgrading their homes to something more sizable or in a better location. However, as prices recover and the mortgage rates show no signs of skyrocketing, more and more families may realize that now is the time to pursue that bigger or better home. 

So if you are living in the Charlottesville Area, relocating or otherwise just wondering if you should continue to pay that rent that you are paying, now truly is the time to investigate becoming a homeowner and achieving all of the tax breaks and security that it provides instead of paying for someone else to own a home. 

For complete articles, go to: www.kcmblog.com

If you want to learn more about Charlottesville Homes for Sale, Buying a Home in Charlottesville or Selling a Charlottesville Home, please contact me, I am here to help! 

Quinton Beckham

Keller Williams Realty 

434.242.6212

www.buyorsellhomescharlottesville.com