Sincerely Story House

Charlottesville Christmas Tree Recycling Program Begins Saturday!

By combining forces with the Charlottesville Curb Side Pick-Up Program, the two programs collected over 5,600 trees in 2008, yielding approximately 268 cubic yards of mulch. According to the City Public Works Department, their curbside pick up will be the week of January 11, 2010.

… Shortly after the City’s curbside pick up, the County and City Parks & Recreation crews will team up to chip the estimated 2600 trees at Darden Towe Park.

…Both the County & City programs require that all decorations, stands and nails be removed from the Christmas trees.

Free mulch will be available to citizen by February 1, 2009, at Darden Towe Park.

Posted on December 24, 2009 Leave a Comment

Before beginning a new home improvement project- Check this list!

Screen shot 2009-12-23 at 10.27.37 PM.jpg Before choosing which home improvement project you will take on next, check out this list for a national survey on which improvements are the most valuable and will produce the highest return on investment. The survey is broken down region-by-region and then parsed into large metropolitan areas; the closest to us in terms of size, location, and economy being Richmond. Take a look, you may be surprised at what you find! 2009 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report

Posted on December 23, 2009 Leave a Comment

Stocking Stuffers for Real Estate Aficionados

From the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, A fun list of reading for those of you on the market for a home in 2010;

Nolo’s Essential Guide to Buying Your First Home, Ilona Bray, Alayna Schroeder, and Marcia Stewart, Nolo publishing, $24.99 This Sold House: Staging Your Home To Sell in Today’s Market,Diane Keyes, Third Child Press, $14.95 If I Had A Hammer: More Than 100 Easy Fixes and Weekend Projects, Andrea Ridout, Collins, $17.95 New Classic American Houses: The Architecture of Albert, Righter & Tittmann, Dan Cooper, Vendome Press, $50 Country Color: Perfect Palettes for Every Room, Judith Miller, Vendome Press, $35

Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Lynn Underwood (12/20/2009) [From REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Stocking Stuffers for Real Estate Aficionados ]

Posted on December 23, 2009 Leave a Comment

According to NAR, 4 out of 10 Recent Buyers Used FHA Loans

FHA loans used to evoke lots of negative connotations, a few of which were; lots of extra requirements, much longer time to process, and stringent and difficult home inspection standards. … According to the most recent REALTORS® Confidence Index, 39 percent of recent buyers purchased a home with a Federal Housing Administration-insured loan. REALTORS® who took part in the November survey also reported that the number of first-time home buyers continued to climb to 51 percent. “FHA helps provide affordable mortgage financing to home owners, particularly first-time home buyers who are so important in drawing down inventory to help stabilize the current housing market,” said NAR President Vicki Cox Golder. “These recent survey results reaffirm that, despite its current challenges, FHA is a critical part of the American housing fabric.” —NAR [From REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-4 out of 10 Recent Buyers Used FHA Loans ]

Posted on December 23, 2009 Leave a Comment

What is a strategic default?

A strategic default is the decision by a borrower to stop making payments on a home mortgage despite having the financial ability to make the payments. Usually this occurs after a substantial drop in the house’s price such that the debt owed is considerably greater than the value of the property, and is expected to remain so for the foreseeable future.

… As discussed in CRS Course-111 on Short Sales and foreclosures, a strategic default will likely effect your credit score negatively by 140-150 points and will also result in 5-7 negative marks on your credit. This is likely going to be more detrimental than going through the process of a short sale or a loan modification, but is said to not effect your credit score as negatively as filing for bankruptcy. … Before making any decision to pursue a short sale, a foreclosure, a strategic default, or to file for bankruptcy, it is in your best interest to consult with a licensed Realtor, your tax accountant, and an attorney.

Posted on December 23, 2009 Leave a Comment

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Sincerely Story House

Charlottesville Christmas Tree Recycling Program Begins Saturday!

Before beginning a new home improvement project- Check this list!

Stocking Stuffers for Real Estate Aficionados

According to NAR, 4 out of 10 Recent Buyers Used FHA Loans

What is a strategic default?

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