Posts in category 'Buyers'

I work with a lot of families who are relocating to the Roanoke Valley from other parts of the country, and they always have lots of questions about the area, of course. I tell them all that I can. After all, showing off my hometown is one of my favorite parts of the job.

So for those families I haven't met yet, I thought I'd put together this list of six reasons you should consider making the Roanoke Valley your home.

1. Low cost of living: Time after time, Roanoke is shown to offer the best value of any metro area in Virginia and many popular metro markets in the region. As of Feb...

Click Here to Read More...

UPDATED 8/10/18

Homebuyers have access to more information than ever about the real estate market, individual properties and the homebuying process. If you've been doing your research, I'm sure you're finding all kinds of things, both helpful and not so much.

That's why I want to invite you to a homebuying seminar I'm hosting with a colleague this month. It's called "Buying a Home? Tips and Tools for Success." I'll be joined by Karen Hankins, Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group's Western Region business development manager.

Our goal is to sort through the information that's out there and share with you the best of what we know from our combined decades of experience in the real estate and mortgage industries.

T...

Click Here to Read More...

Throughout this month, we marked National Homeownership Month. At the same time, the National Association of Realtors published the results of a survey that asked if a high rate of homeownership strengthens a community. Sixty-seven percent of respondents said high homeownership rates do strengthen communities "a great deal."

I agree.

Owning a home instills pride, which can lead homeowners to feel more connected to their neighborhoods and to care more about the future of their communities. It's one of the reasons I love helping buyers find their next homes.

The Virginia Housing Development Authority's mission is to make homeownership more accessible through programs that help people achieve that big milestone. These are just some of the resources available:

Homebuyer education: A free online or in-person class offer...

Click Here to Read More...

Just like any industry, real estate is full of terms to which many folks haven't been exposed. When searching for a new home, you might run across a property for sale that is described as a "short sale" or "foreclosure."

Sometimes you get lucky, but often these homes aren't in the best shape. These types of sales usually accompany some sort of financial hardship on the part of the seller, who hasn't necessarily had the money to spend on maintenance and upgrades.

Still, short sales and foreclosures can be excellent opportunities, particularly for investors who intend to rehab them and then sell or rent them, or buyers who want to take on fixer-uppers for themselves. Either way, it's important to understand the difference between the two before you buy.

Short sale

A shor...

Click Here to Read More...

Even with home prices rising slightly in some areas around Roanoke, there remains a solid demand among buyers to purchase second properties. I'm a big fan of second homes if the purchase makes sense for you. Because no matter how you intend to use the property, the right second home can be an excellent investment in your financial future.

Before you jump in, let's talk about some of things you should do to ensure you have a clear idea of your options.

Determine the purpose of the property

Very often, I'm working with clients from out of the area who are looking for a retirement (or vacation-to-retirement) home. Perhaps they have family in the area and want to get back this way to be closer to children and grandchildren. In fact, it's sometimes the children who contact me first.

In these...

Click Here to Read More...