REQUIREMENTS: All real estate brokers and sales agents must be licensed by their state. Although the rules and regulations of individual states vary, most require educational courses, a written examination, and license renewal every 1 or 2 years. Usually between 30 and 90 hours of formal coursework are required in topics such as real estate principles, contracts, and ethics to ensure that the agent has a thorough knowledge of the fundamentals and legal aspects of the field. Many states also have a continuing education requirement. In addition, many agents are members of the National Association of Realtors, an organization designed to provide an exchange of ideas to improve the industry as needed in order to protect the consumer and provide quality service.

SERVICES PROVIDED: A good agent wears many hats and is knowledgeable about many aspects of real estate. An agent handling your Virginia Beach real estate business should:

• be familiar with your target area

• represent a buyer or seller in the purchase or sale of real estate

• search for suitable buyers and/or properties

• assist in procuring financing for your Virginia Beach real estate
  

• examine comparable sales to determine fair market value

• ensure that all terms of the contract are met

QUALITIES TO LOOK FOR: You will want someone who:

• is organized

• is knowledgeable about the business

• is confident in his abilities

• is skilled in negotiations, contracts, and financing

• acts in your best interest

• is ethical and trustworthy

• maintains confidentiality

• is open in disclosing pertinent facts

HOW THE AGENT IS PAID: Since all agents work with a broker, they are paid a portion of the sales commission (commonly paid by the seller). Percentage divisions of the commission vary, but often office costs, such as advertising, are deducted from the agreed upon amount. Neither the buyer nor the seller pays the agent directly.

It is important that you choose a real estate agent wisely and that you establish and maintain a good working relationship with him/her. Carefully check credentials, ask about services provided, and determine his familiarity and success in the area before signing any agreement.

APPLIANCES are, of course, the most familiar to us when we consider energy output. True, they are not free or inexpensive, but they can be a real drain on your money if they do not function efficiently. Those that have earned the Energy Star have met the EPA standards for energy-efficiency and are recommended.

Refrigerators account for about 15% of your total electricity bill, but newer models use far less than those manufactured years ago. Consider the size you need when purchasing a new to avoid wasting energy cooling nothing.

Dishwashers offer opportunities to save, too. Run them only when they are full and scrap the dishes prior to washing so that you can use the light or normal wash cycle. Also, set the drying cycle to air dry to say energy.

Microwaves and toaster ovens are good alternatives to the use of a large oven in your Virginia Beach home, especially for smaller meals. You might also look into the use of light ovens (similar to a microwave but browns and roasts like a regular oven), induction cooking (extremely efficient because all the het goes into the food), and solar cookers (free and clean energy for slow cooking).

COOKWARE: Selecting the correct size, shape, and type can also prevent energy waste.

1. Remember to use the smallest pan you need for the dish you are making since smaller pans take less energy to heat up.

2. Put the pan on the burner that fits it best. Make sure the pan covers the burner without going more than an inch beyond it. If the burner is wider than the pan, you are wasting energy. Remember that smaller burners use less electricity.

3. Every type of heating element on an electric cook-top (coils, solid disk elements and radiant elements under ceramic glass) will work significantly more efficiently when the bottom of the pan is flat. In fact, the most efficient pan has a slightly concave bottom, which flattens out when the metal heats up. The more rounded or warped the pan, the less direct contact it has with the burner so the harder the element has to work to heat up the pan. For that reason, those old battered pans from the ’50s you’ve been using may be costing you money.

4. Copper-bottom pans heat up faster than other pans, and those made of cast iron retain heat better than others.

5. The tighter the fit on the pot lid, the less heat escapes.

6. Using glass or ceramic pans in the oven allows you to turn the temperature down about 25 degrees Fahrenheit and still cook the food in the same amount of time.

7. Pressure cookers, which build up steam pressure, reduce both cooking time and energy use.

Stay tuned for part II of Save Energy and Money In The Kitchen Of Your Virginia Beach Home.

Before undertaking such a project, you should first decide on a location and then make a master plan, one that can be implemented in steps. Select a space that can be easily viewed from your home’s interior so that it will feel like an extension of your house. Easy access to the space from the house is also preferable.

The size and scope of an outdoor living space can vary greatly, ranging from a screened in porch to a large area featuring a spa or pool. Whatever the size, however, you will want to consider function, features, furniture, and flora.

FUNCTION: Most outdoor rooms begin as an extension of your kitchen and include some type of grill, space for food preparation, and often a small refrigerator or modular cabinetry.  Other defined areas may include a conversational grouping, a quiet secluded spot for reading or resting, or an area set aside for family activities such as badminton, croquet, or playing in the sandbox or on children’s equipment. Spas and pools generally define their own space.

FEATURES: The features you choose for the outside room of your Virginia Beach home will do much to enhance your enjoyment and use. Current favorites include pergolas, cabanas, gazebos, and arbors for shade; fire pits or fireplaces for warmth in chilly months; stationary benches or wall seats; and fish ponds, rain barrels, and fountains which reuse natural rainfall and provide soothing sounds to foster relaxation.

In terms of both practicality and appearance, lighting is another important feature. Not only will it allow use of your outdoor space at night, it will also increase the aesthetics of the area. Low-voltage up-lighting (lights in or on the ground) and down-lighting (lights mounted in trees) are each effective in highlighting areas of interest. The use of LED lights or spotlights is becoming quite popular, as is specialty lighting such as Chinese lanterns, strings of themed lights, and underwater lighting.

FURNITURE: Basic furniture pieces usually include a table and chairs for dining and extra chairs for seating. Chaises, umbrellas tables, and side tables are also of value, and              separate spaces are sometimes defined by the addition of outdoor rugs and carpets, now available in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors–all weather-resistant!  In addition, a new generation of outdoor fabrics has arrived, providing many style choices for outdoor decorating. The non-fade, weather resistant materials are quite durable and easy to clean with just soap and water.

FLORA: The use of low-maintenance and native vegetation will do much to add to the beauty to your outdoor space. In-ground or container plants can be used to define different spaces, bridge the space between your house and the outside room, invite birds and butterflies to your yard, and provide shade, color, and fragrance. Water plants are also becoming popular and are virtually maintenance-free.

As you create your outdoor paradise, keep in mind that not only are you investing in many years if enjoyment; you are also increasing the resale value of your Virginia Beach home.

Whether your desire for a new look inside your Virginia Beach home is because of the arrival of summer or because you hope to hasten the sale of your house, you may be considering repainting in the near future.

While paining can be a long, and sometimes unrewarding, task, professional painters and expert “do-it-yourself-ers” alike agree on ways to make the process less frustrating and more likely to produce a finished product you’ll be proud of. Basically, these tips center around organization, preparation, and patience.

1. GET ORGANIZED

• Purchase all necessary supplies in advance. Include paint, brushes, rollers, and drop cloths on your list. Most pros advise using a canvas drop cloth because it absorbs drips and spills better than plastic, can be more easily contoured around corners, will lie flatter, and can be reused often. Consider buying a canvas runner (4’x15’) which can be more easily moved.

• Set up a work station in the middle of the room. This is the place to keep your paint, brushes and rollers, spackle, hammers and screwdrivers,  cleaning rags, plastic sheets and bags, painter’s tape, paint can opener, etc. Think of everything you might possibly need while painting and gather them together in this one place.

• Take everything down from your walls. Remove furniture completely or, if that’s not possible, move it all to the center of the room and cover with a cloth.

• Remove all hardware from the surfaces to be painted in your Virginia Beach home. This includes switch plates, outlet covers, doorknobs, and light fixtures.  Place the pieces from each one in a separate small plastic bag and label each one

2. TAKE TIME TO PREPARE

• Patch all cracks and holes before painting.

• Apply blue painter’s tape around doors and windows.

• Prime the walls! This step is key to good results since primer blocks stains from bleeding through, improves adhesion of the main coat, reduces blisters, and generally     assures one-coat coverage of the topcoat.

• Tint the primer or use a pre-tinted primer. This is a especially helpful if you are using lighter colored paint to cover dark walls in your Virginia Beach home.  Tinting can be done by mixing a small amount of your topcoat color with the primer. (Be sure you don’t mix latex and oil-based paints together!)

Handy hint: You can eliminate the strong smell of paint by adding a drop of vanilla extract to both the primer and the topcoat.

3. INVEST IN HELPFUL ACCESSORIES

• Use a roller extension pole. A telescoping pole will do away with the need for a ladder and will allow you to reach those high places without much exertion.

• Rather than using a roller tray (so easily spilled or jostled), look into getting a paint grid for use in a 5 gallon bucket. The grid fits into the bucket, removes excess paint from the roller, and eliminates the need for cleaning each time you stop painting.

4. PLAN FOR THE FUTURE

• Remembering what colors you have used and when is important. Writing this information on the paint can is one way to job your memory, but a better way may be to write all the pertinent information on a piece of masking tape which you adhere to the back of a light switch.

Another tip: before you put the paint away, pour some into a small jar for touch-ups later on.  Of course, you must label these jars, too.

So, organize, prepare, and be patient–and enjoy the fresh new look inside your Virginia Beach home!

What’s your Virginia Beach home worth?

However, now it’s midweek, and the house has fallen back into its “lived in” state. Clutter abounds, dishes are in the sink, laundry has piled up, and toys have proliferated overnight. What a time for your Realtor to call to tell you that she wants to show your Virginia Beach home to very serious buyers in two or three hours! What to do? First, don’t panic. Take deep breath, walk through the house to identify trouble spots, and make a mental plan following these handy guidelines.

REMOVE CLUTTER FROM ALL FLAT SURFACES. It’s amazing how quickly items accumulate on the kitchen counters, coffee and side tables, bathroom vanities, dressers, desks, and nightstands and how negatively this disarray affects a buyer’s impression of your home. Straighten papers, put books on bookshelves, stack dishes in the dishwasher, collect newspapers, magazines, and sundry items in shopping bags or pillowcases and stash them–neatly– in your garage or storage shed–or even in the trunk of your car!  Do not try to hide gathered items in your closet or cabinets because people touring your home will definitely be opening the doors to those areas. Also, be sure that your stairs are clear and clutter-free and that piles of dirty laundry are hidden from sight in the washer and/or dryer.

DUST, SWEEP, AND VACUUM. Don’t forget mirrors, wood furniture, or television and monitor screens in your dusting efforts. Also be aware of the need to remove animal hair from sofas and chairs (and perhaps the animals could stay with a neighbor during the visitation). In the living room, arrange area rugs and fluff throw pillows.

MAKE YOUR KITCHEN AND BATHROOM SPARKLE. A quick once-over with Windex will polish your appliances, glass doors on the microwave and cabinets, and chrome faucets.. “Scrub” the sinks/shower/tub with a spray product especially designed to rapidly remove a grimy film and produce a shine. Replace “used” towels with clean ones.  Too much personal “stuff” on the refrigerator door?  Take it off.

LET THERE BE LIGHT; Turn on all your lights and open curtains, drapes, and blinds. Apply a quick cleaning spray and wipe any really dirty windows, and, weather permitting, open a window or two for some fresh air. You might also burn lightly scented candles or spray the house with Fabreeze or a similar product to remove potential odors.

CHECK ON CURB APPEAL: Remembering that the exterior of your Virginia Beach home and your yard create the first impression for home buyers, clear all walkways and porches (and sweep if necessary). Remove all toys, sports equipment, lawnmowers, rakes, etc. Pick up any litter or animal waste on the premises. If you have the time, give your plants a quick spray with the hose.

And there you have it! In a rather short amount of time and without backbreaking effort, your house has re-assumed its show-worthy state of Sunday, and you can be confident that the potential home buyers won’t realize that they were “unexpected” and that they will be duly impressed with the condition of your Virginia Beach home.

What’s your Virginia Beach home worth?

The age of formality and overindulgent features has gone by. Buyers of  Virginia Beach real estate are giving up formal dining and living rooms and passing on libraries, parlors, and studies, opting instead for casual great rooms in which to entertain and enjoy family togetherness. Features currently in demand include the following:

STORAGE SPACE: A double car garage is a must since most homeowners use half of it for storage. Ditto for walk-in closets, a basement or attic, storage space  under stairs, and pantries.

ROOMS: The kitchen (with an island), family room, and master bedroom remain the three most important rooms, and they will most likely increase in size. Living and dining rooms, however, will tend to disappear. Another growing trend is a first floor master bedroom suite, a feature especially desired by seniors.

TECHNOLOGY READINESS: The majority of buyers want cable/satellite readiness and high speed internet access. Also valued are homes wired for surround sound, an HD feed, and in-wall speakers.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY: In addition to energy-saving appliances, potential buyers are looking for Virginia Beach real estate that has high-efficiency insulation and windows. Also popular are built-in recycling bins and tankless water heaters. In addition, stone and brick exteriors are preferred.

HOME OFFICES: Space in which to work from home continues to be in great demand. Most buyers will gladly exchange a third bedroom or dining room for a functional office.

OUTSIDE ROOMS: Quickly gaining in popularity is the creation of an outside room that extends the home’s living space and incorporates nature into one’s life. Most desired are outside kitchens and entertainment areas.

Being aware of new home design trends can be beneficial to both the buyer and seller of Virginia Beach real estate. If you are selling your home, it would certainly be in your best interests to incorporate some of the new trends into your home whenever possible and stress these features to potential buyers.

Those who earn an income, either part-time or full-time, by flipping Virginia Beach VA real estate, caution would-be flippers to understand the basics before beginning such a venture, they definitely need to:

• Assess their financial situation

• Have time available to renovate the property

• Possess good negotiation skills

• Have knowledge of what renovation entails and of building codes

• Have a practiced eye for evaluating potential value

• Do a great deal of research to learn about the industry

• Have a good sense of timing

Find trustworthy advisors, such as an agent, a loan officer, and a reliable subcontractor.

Of primary importance is that you have adequate cash available for escrow and loan fees, renovation supplies, subcontractor fees, monthly mortgage payments, insurance, and utility bills. Richard Davis, owner of Trademark Properties and creator of the reality show “Flip This House”, states that he has never seen anyone actually buy a house for no money down. It is also important to note that the FHA requires flippers to hold on to their Virginia Beach VA real estate for at least three months in order to qualify for FHA mortgage insurance. Remember that every day you own the property it costs you money.

Those owners of Virginia Beach VA real estate who wish to flip, far too often have no idea of the actual physical labor and time involved in replacing floors and roofs, installing plumbing, extensive painting, remodeling a kitchen or bathroom, or making major improvements to landscaping. While an owner can hire a subcontractor to do some of the work, that costs money and reduces the amount of the final profit.

Finding the right property is no easy task, either. Just because it is being foreclosed does not make it a steal, and even with a home inspection, problems may not show up until renovation has begun. A potential investor must also beware of being too optimistic about renovation costs or profits.

Time, too, is often of the essence. Once the investor finds a suitable piece of Virginia Beach VA real estate, he must move quickly to obtain a loan, order supplies, hire contractors, complete the renovation, advertise, and sell the house.

So, should someone give up the dream of flipping real estate? Not necessarily, say many experts. They do, however, advise investment property buyers to keep their steady job, with a guaranteed income and health insurance, while they experiment with flipping two or three houses a year. With adequate preparation and a little luck, full-time flipping may just be a possibility for the future!

Search all Virginia Beach VA real estate for sale.

These individuals/companies contact their unsuspecting prey in person or by mail, phone, or email. They advertise their services in all forms of media and far too often appear legitimate. They promise foreclosure prevention/rescue programs and sometimes seem to have government connections. At-risk owners of a Virginia Beach home must beware of the following scams as set forth by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency:

• Foreclosure “rescue” and refinance fraud. The scam artist offers to act as an intermediary between you and your lender to negotiate a repayment plan or loan modification and may even “guarantee” to save your home from foreclosure. You may be told to make mortgage payments to the scammer directly — along with significant, up-front fees — and be told that the scammer will forward the payments to your lender. In reality, the scammer may pocket your money and leave you in worse shape on your loan. The scam artist also may tell you to stop making payments or stop communicating with your lender. Don’t follow that advice.

• Bankruptcy scams. You may have heard that filing bankruptcy will stop a foreclosure. This is true — but only temporarily. Filing bankruptcy brings an “automatic stay” into effect that stops any collection and foreclosure while the bankruptcy court administers the case. Eventually, you must start paying your mortgage lender, or the lender will be able to foreclose. Bankruptcy is rarely, if ever, a permanent solution to prevent foreclosure. In addition, bankruptcy will negatively impact your credit score and will remain on your credit report for 10 years.
  
• Leaseback/rent-to-buy schemes. In this type of scam, you are asked to transfer the title to your home to the scammer, who will, supposedly, obtain new and better financing and/or allow you to remain in the home as a renter and eventually buy it back. If you do not comply with the terms of the rent-to-buy agreement, you will lose your money and face eviction. The agreement may be very hard to comply with, because it may require, for instance, high up-front and monthly payments that you may not be able to afford. In fact, the scammers may have no intention of ever selling the home back to you. They simply want your home and your money.
  
• Fake “government” modification programs. Unscrupulous people may claim to be affiliated with, or approved by, the government or may ask you to pay high up-front fees to qualify for government mortgage modification programs. While government-supported mortgage modification and refinancing initiatives are legitimate, the scam artists’ claims are not. Keep in mind that you do not have to pay to benefit from these government programs. All you need to do is contact your lender or loan servicer.
• Debt-elimination schemes. Scammers may claim to be able to “eliminate” your debt by making illegitimate legal arguments that you are not obligated to pay back your mortgage. These scammers will provide you with inaccurate claims about applicable laws and finance, such as that “secret laws” can be used to eliminate debt or that banks do not have the authority to lend money. Do not stop making payments on your mortgage based on their claims.

Ways To Protect Your Virginia Beach Home:

• Be skeptical!
• Contact your lender before doing anything
• Make ALL payments to your lender
• Pay NO up-front fees
• Know what you’re signing
• Do NOT sign over your deed!
• Get promises in writing
• Ignore promises of quick and easy shortcuts

Where To Get Help:

• Contact HUD at (800) 569-4286 or (877) 483-1515
• Call (888) 999-HOPE for a HUD-approved foreclosure counselor

HAFA provides incentives to families to take advantage of selling their Virginia Beach home by means of a short sale (the home is sold for less than the value of the loan), or a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure (the home owner voluntarily gives the deed to the lender.

HAFA helps families quickly sell their Virginia Beach homes by giving them pre-approved short sales terms before listing the property. They are fully released from future liability for the first mortgage debt, and can receive $1,500 for borrower relocation assistance. HAFA also allows investors and servicers to receive financial assistance for administrative costs, processing fees, etc. The program sounds simple, but is actually quite complex with many guidelines and rules. HAFA officially began on Monday, April 5, 2010 and will end on Monday, December 31, 2012.

Here you can watch ‘An Animated HAFA Story’, an informative video explaining HAFA…

I am a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE), trained in helping families in distress avoid foreclosure. Are you or someone you know behind on mortgage payments? You do have options! A short sale may be what is needed to save your, your family and your credit. Please contact me anytime for a private consultation.

1. decrease the amount of their monthly mortgage payments
2. reduce the duration of their current loan, or
3. provide money for home improvements or other expenses. Interested? Read on…

Before you rush into refinancing your Virginia Beach real estate, be aware of two key strategies that will benefit you. The first is KNOWLEDGE. Carefully investigate the pros and cons of different refinancing features such as interest rate, closing costs and fees, and the term of the loan. Determine the purpose of your refinancing and the amount of savings and/or money you hope to gain from it. Examine your personal financial situation–now and in the future–to identify the best option for you.

Since refinancing is all about numbers, you will want to see figures in black and white before beginning the refinancing process. Online sources allow you to input your information re: the amount of the mortgage, the interest rate, the term of the loan, and fees to calculate your monthly expenditures and savings.

Research the advantages and disadvantages of a fixed rate and an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM). A fixed rate is usually for a term of 15 or 30 years, and the interest rate remains the same for the term of the loan. An ARM means that after 3 or 5 years your interest rate can change (usually going higher). If you are planning to stay in your Virginia Beach real estate for only a short time, an ARM may be beneficial for you.

If you currently have an ARM which has a relatively low rate of interest, but you are concerned about future increases, you might consider converting your current loan into a 15 or 30 year fixed rate mortgage. Or, since the difference between a fixed 15 year and a fixed 30 year interest rate is significant, you could save thousands of dollars by shortening the life of your present loan, often with only a slight increase in the amount of your monthly payment.

The second most important strategy is COMPARISON SHOPPING. It is imperative that you compare the rates and terms of several mortgage lenders. Again, online sources can provide you with multiple loan quotes. Beware of high refinancing fees or borrowing more than you need. Ideally, you should thoroughly investigate the rates, terms, and features of at least three lenders.

The key to finding the best refinancing situation for you is to obtain and understand your current mortgage information, assess your present and future financial status and needs, and comparison shop. You will most likely find that marketing conditions have made this a perfect time to refinance your Virginia Beach real estate, thus allowing you to escape high mortgage payments and/or make financially sound decisions for the future.