Latest Posts from Our Blog
10 Innovative Ways You Can Swing a Down Payment on a Home
According to the 2016 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers report by the National Association of REALTORS®, first-time homebuyers typically financed 96 percent of their home purchase. And although 20 percent down payments are rare among first-timers, they continue to cite saving for a down payment as the most difficult step in the homebuying process. […]
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184 Steps: The Transaction Checklist
REALTORS® perform a myriad of tasks to ensure that the home buying process goes smoothly for their clients. This list was originally prepared by the Orlando Area Association of REALTORS®. The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) presented it to Congress to demonstrate all the tasks that real estate professionals must do to close a single […]
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Two Local Realtors®, Plus Three Educators, Equals Exponential Support for Richmond Public Schools
A few months ago, local Realtors® Scott Garnett and Alyse Marshall-Auernheimer, and local educators Jen Ramachandran, Keri Treadway, and Elsa Woodaman came together to build an organization that will serve as a conduit for community support of Richmond Public Schools. The organization, called Building a Better RPS, organizes group projects, fundraising events, and sponsorships to […]
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South of the James
Pick a Saturday to venture across the Boulevard Bridge toward Westover Hills and you’ll discover the expansive South of the James Farmer’s Market. Located in beautiful Forest Hill Park, the producer-only market – meaning that all products for sale must be handmade or homegrown in Virginia by the vendor – is one of few Richmond […]
Read MoreInnsbrook After Hours
Fans of the Innsbrook After Hours concert series will now be able to enjoy shows for just a little bit longer. The Henrico Board of Supervisors recently approved a plan permitting concerts to end at 10 p.m. on non-school nights – thirty minutes more than the previous allowance. Capacity at the venue will also grow […]
Read More5 Reasons to List Now
Lowered inventory = less competition Regional home prices have stabilized Interest rates are favorable to buy Our region is attractive to homebuyers Warm weather = increased foot traffic Printable Infographic:
Read MoreResolved to Own a Home or Save for One in 2016? These Two Programs in Virginia Can Help
The First-Time Homebuyer Savings Plan A law that took effect in Virginia about nineteen months ago makes it possible for aspiring home owners to invest up to $50,000 in financial institutions like credit unions and banks or directly in mutual funds, brokerage accounts, or almost any other financial vehicle and declare them first-time homebuyer savings […]
Read MoreVHDA Mortgage Credit Certificates- Boost the Tax Benefits of Owning a Home!
The Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) program from VHDA could save first-time home buyers thousands of dollars by reducing the amount of federal income tax owed. Unlike an income tax deduction, an MCC is a dollar-for-dollar credit against your federal income tax liability: The credit is equal to 20 percent of the annual mortgage interest you […]
Read MoreFHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums Reduced This Week
What this Means for Homebuyers This week, a new annual premium rate of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) took effect, which reduced mortgage insurance premiums by 0.5 percentage point, from 1.35 percent to 0.85 percent. According to the FHA, this policy will translate into a $900 reduction in the annual mortgage payment for a first-time […]
Read More2014 Year End Housing Market Report Signals Momentum into 2015
According to a 2014 annual and fourth quarter housing market report released today by the Central Virginia Regional MLS, regional home sales activity for the year grew 2.6 percent from 2013, fueled largely by job growth twice the long-term annual average and economic recovery to levels higher than before the recession. Sales in the region […]
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