Richmond Home Shopper

Tiger Woods Real Estate

Last June Tiger Woods won the United States Open at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, California basically on one leg. He had both a stress fracture and a torn ACL in his left leg and knee. After 8 months Tiger is back this week at the World Golf Championship Accenture Match Play at Dove Mountain, Arizona.  To mark his comeback I though it would be fun to take a look at a couple of Tiger’s homes. Read the rest of this entry »

Hot Property! River Road Corridor!

Executive Home in Riverlake Colony off River Road in Richmond’s West End. Tuckahoe/Maybeury/Freeman school district. Near Collegiate Schools, Country Club of Virginia and fashionable West End shopping areas.

Beautiful 5 bedroom brick front home features 9′ ceilings & hardwood on 1st floor, grand 2 story foyer with curved staircase and balcony overlook!

Master Bedroom with vaulted ceiling & fireplace, unbelievable Master Bath with fireplace! Read the rest of this entry »

National Real Estate News Update

Fears about the economy led to a stock market decline and pushed mortgage rates a little lower during the week. Even with Tuesday’s passage of the new $787 billion stimulus plan, economic growth forecasts from Wall Street economists and from the Fed were revised lower.

Wednesday, President Obama announced the $275 billion Homeowner Stability Initiative, which contained broad outlines of three major elements intended to help prevent foreclosures and falling home values. Read the rest of this entry »

Henrico School Redistricting Plan

In the fall of of 2010, Henrico County will open a new middle school and a new high school. Elementary, middle and high school bounderies for many of the county’s schools will be changed as a result. This no doubt is something residents are very interesed in and many are concerned. Anytime you change school boundery lines it leads to very passionate opinions and discussions to say the least. Some families don’t want the change and want to keep kids in the same school for a variety of reasons, others want their children to go to the newest and most modern schools in the county and feel slighted if they are left out. This is always a tough issue! Read the rest of this entry »

Obama’s Foreclosure Plan

President Obama to set aside $75 billion to slow foreclosures! Goal to bring mortgage payments down to 31% of income!

The Obama administration has rolled out a plan to help 9 million troubled homeowners modify their mortgages at a cost of $75 billion to  taxpayers. There are two parts of the plan to help:

#1  To help refinance 5 million home owners in trouble with loans owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

#2  To make loan modifications with government subsidies to lenders to reduce monthly interest payments.

Some highlights…. Read the rest of this entry »

Stimulus Falls Short For Real Estate

Late last week the House and the Senate agreed on a compromise $789 billion fiscal stimulus plan, which is expected to pass within days. The Obama administration estimates that the plan will create 3.5 million jobs. Both the House and the Senate had passed versions which were larger than the final compromise plan, and the reduction in scope helped mortgage markets. A smaller plan means that the government will have to issue less debt. Unfortunately, one of the spending cuts in the final plan was a provision for a $15,000 homebuyer tax credit, which came with an estimated price tag of $35 billion. This was a measure which experts say could have quickly energized the real estate markets. Instead, the government will leave in place an existing $7,500 tax credit, applicable to only first time homebuyers. The good news and primary change to the tax credit is that it will no longer need to be repaid. The estimated cost of this $7,500 tax break is less than $3 billion.

In the market for a home in the Richmond area?  Be smart and meet with a knowledgeable REALTOR and mortgage lender. Skye Bruce Properties, The Official REALTORS and Buyer’s Agents of RichmondHomeShopper.com has a support team of industry experts including mortgage lenders. Contact them today!

5 Ways To Control Your Homeowners Insurance Costs

Some great tips from the Richmond Farmers Insurance Team to control your Homeowners Insurance Costs. In our tougheconomic environment this is good advice.  Sometimes we over-look evaluating things like this which can save us hundreds of dollars.  It all adds up!

1. Shop around. Remember, cheaper insurance rarely means better insurance. Ask your friends, realtor, or mortgage broker who they recommend. Seek out a trusted professional to explain vital coverage differences.   You can also check the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (www.naic.org). They will have information to help you choose a reputable insurer in your state.
2. Raise your deductible. Deductibles are the amount of money you have to pay toward a loss before your insurance company starts to pay a claim. The higher your deductible is the lower your premiums are. A typical Home Owner deductible is $500. If you can afford to raise it to $1,000 you can save as much as 25% in your premiums. Read the rest of this entry »

Buy A House, Get A Free Dog!

The BLOG Entry That Made Us Famous!

Buy a house using a RichmondHomeShopper.com Buyer’s Agent and we will cover the adoption fee for the pet of your choice from the SPCA or other local animal shelter.  Not quite ready for a pet? We will make a donation instead.

At RichmondHomeShopper.com we wanted to create a fun promotion and at the same time do something positive for our community. A new home and a new pet just seems to go together!  Heck even our new President has promised his daughters a new dog when they move in the White House!

Contact Skye Bruce Properties, The Official REALTORS and Buyer’s Agents of RichmondHomeShopper.com to get started finding your new home! (and your new pet!)

Richmond Area Golf Course Real Estate: Country Club Fees

The first of a multiple article series on Richmond area Golf Course Real Estate…

Buying real estate on or near a golf course can be a very good investment and offer some great leisure perks.  We live on a golf course and love it.  As a golfer there is nothing better than slipping out for a few holes late in the day. Living on a golf course or in a golf course community can make coming home feel like coming home to a vacation at a resort.  In addition to golf, there is tennis, swimming, work-out facilities, club dining options etc.

This comes at a cost however, country clubs are not cheap and they are a luxury. Joining a country club is lifestyle decision for sure.  Most area private country clubs require an initiation fee to join and many involve a detailed membership application process.  Just because you have the cash doesn’t guarantee membership.  Most of the processes are pretty easy especially if you know someone who is a member, but a few require more work like letters of recommendation, interviews, etc. Read the rest of this entry »

MILLER and RHOADS Alive Again!

What a refreshing news story in the Monday business section of the Richmond Times Dispatch! The story outlined the new hotel and condo project in the old MILLER & RHOADS Department Store building.  Of late it seems like most stories of businesses, real estate, etc. are full of doom and gloom, but this story made me feel good.  As a native Richmonder it was always a little sad to drive past the closed MILLER & RHOADS Department Store.  Like many Richmonders the store took me back to my childhood with very fond memories of visiting Santa, having lunch in the Tea Room and experiencing “Downtown”.  I am really looking forward to checking out the “New MILLER & RHODES”! Read the rest of this entry »