Dee Dee Jones Real Estate Blog: March 2009

Looking for Spring and Summer Activities for your kids and family to do! 

Chesapeake Park District put out the Spring Summer 09 Leisure Guide today.  You can pick one up at any Chesapeake Recreation City or go to  http://www.chesapeake.va.us/services/depart/park-rec/leisureguide/Spring_Summer2009.pdfto view or print the pdf.  You will find activities for toddlers thru senior ages and for boys and girls.  Dance, Gymnastic football and use of the gym are my families favorite activities. 

For those of you new to the area Chesapeake and Virginia Beach have two of the areas best park and recreation programs.  Check out the link and register early because classes do fill up.  You can go to the main website http://www.chesapeake.va.us/and view the pdf or there is also instructions on how to receive a guide by mail.

This information brought to you by

The Hampton Roads Real Estate Lady

Dee Dee Jones

Wainwright Real Estate

Buyers stop standing on the side lines playing double dutch.  If you do not know when to jump in, The Time to buy a home is now.  You keep thinking next month, next week, or next year you can get the best home or best rate, and best deal.  You don't realize the best time is now before you throw away more money renting. 

Reasons to Jump in the market now:

1. Rates are great.  I know every year you see ads that say rates are the lowest they have been in years.  Well it is true. Rates are the lowest they have been in years.

2. Great deals are out there.  There are many owners that will pay your closing cost, pay discount points, or even give you furniture.  The deals are out there and you need a good agent to help you find them.

3. Loans, even with all the problems banks, brokers, and mortgage companies have had many are putting together great loan packages for buyers.  But you have to jump in by calling a loan officer to get preapproved not just prequalified. Which will give you even greater purchasing power.  And remember they are also competing for business so you may be able to negotiate fees and rates depending on the company you choose.

4.  Inventory, You have choices in this market.  You do not have to settle for anything.  Resale homes by desperate sellers, relocating sellers are the best deals.  Foreclosures, REO properties, and repos are out there but may take special financing.  Short Sales can be great deals if you have the time to wait out the process. A good agent can show you your choices and help you make a good decision.  Your loan type may dictate what properties you can view.

For information on Buying a home in Hampton Roads 7 cities call me The Hampton Roads Real Estate Lady!  or if you need help finding a great competent agent in another city or state contact me.

Dee Dee Jones

Wainwright Real Estate

http://DJonesSellsHomes.com

Ok, I was working and watching ELLEN this am and, P Diddy is explaining to her what Twitter is and how he now has 100,000's of followers.  He tweets that he is sitting with her to show her an example on how to do it. So then she plays a game with some viewers and mentions that Vizio the tv company is giving away a million dollars worth of Flat screen 55 inch tvs, go to http://vizio.com.  They have a link to share the sweepstakes with your myspace, twitter, and facebook audience.  When I log on to Twitter, it says temporarily over capacity.  I think is this directly related to Ellen's show.  The power of TV is awesome. 

It is amazing that with Twitter you can reach out to all your followers in seconds. 

The power of new social media is exploding and for those of you who fought against Internet advertising you will be left behind if your not on Twitter, linked in,Myspace, Facebook, create your profile and get cracking.  A good agent in 2009, will be using these tools to market homes, you can share videos and pictures, and contact your sphere of influence with no pressure.  Do not let this FREE technology pass you by.

Dee Dee Jones

The Hampton Roads Real Estate Lady

http://DJonesSellsHomes.com

After a day of showing property in Hampton Roads I was left baffled at how many sellers do not bother to unclutter  or just simply clean up their homes.  I went to a home in Norfolk, VA in which I literally stepped over underwear to show the bathroom and had to tell my clients to imagine a shower with out hanging bras.  I had gave a days notice so this was not a last minute appt.  We looked at a few more homes then wandered in a home in Chesapeake, VA that had to be owned by a person with  DISPOSOPHOBIA the fear of getting rid of stuff.   This is not the actual home but it looked this bad. 

It only takes a moment to council sellers on the proper way to show a home so it will Sell.  This is a buyers market and appearance is everything.  Take the time to clean of the counters and refrigerator.  Its Spring the best time of the year to clean out drawers, closets, and get rid of stuff even furniture you do not need.  If its in good shape sell your stuff on ebay, or craigslist. 

For more info on the proper way to sell your home call

Dee Dee Jones

Wainwright Real Estate

The Hampton Roads Real Estate Lady

http://DJonesSellsHomes.com

I am originally from Southern California, I have lived in Louisiana, Illinois, and now Virginia.  Today, was so funny. It finally snowed in Hampton Roads, VA and you would have thought the world was coming to and end.  The News talked as if the mother of all storms had hit.  School District started calling at 5:45am that school would be on a 2 hour delay.  Two of my kids school buses never showed up.  I just knew that I would go out side to see my car buried in 4 inches of snow. I thought I would need to fine my ice scraper and shovel.  To my surprise I was greeted by a very cold wind, a half inch of snow, and a thin layer of ice.  The neighborhood looked slightly powdered in sugar. So that made my 3 kids extra excited. 

My youngest do not remember Illinois having to shovel snow and spinning on black ice which is the worst thing.  But I know by 5pm this snow will be melted and gone for another few years.  There were reports of 39 accidents in Hampton Roads.  But, In the end the North East, Mid West, and even the Carolinas would be laughing at what we call a snow storm down here in the 7 cities.  Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach.

Dee Dee Jones

Wainwright Real Estate

The Hampton Roads Real Estate Lady

http://DJonesSellsHomes.com