Real Life in Richmond Virginia

Funny things happen when you are looking at a home to buy and you love it to death but you just can’t pull the trigger.  Something is holding you back in buying that home. WHAT?  Then all of a sudden you get a call from your buyers agent you ahve been working with and they tell you that the house you LOVE, is already under contract.  Then you say to yourself now I really want that house! 

Then as a listing agent I get the call from the buyers agents telling me that if something happens with the current contract please let meknow my folks really like the house and want to purchase. I say alright but good luck.  most likely in this situation the slow to pull the trigger buyer is going to loose out on getting the home they really want or better yet thought was a really good deal (price and condition.) 

If you are a buyer and in the market to purchase a home in Richmond, VA or other good real estate markets around the country, then you need to ask yourself these questions. 

1. Am I pre approved for a loan and now what I can afford?

2. Do I have a job? which mean you got pre approved with a lender in the first place

3. Do I like the house and the area?

If you and answer yes to all these questions then you need to pull the buying trigger and go for it. As the saying goes, You Snooze, you Loose! 

Remember, the first buyer got the deal you thought you were going to get but you waited to long.

Had this question asked to me from a client of mine that is married and closing on a new home in Richmond, VA in a week.  These are the options my client gave me:

•  Tenants by Entirety with the right of survivorship
•  Joint Tenants with the right of survivorship
•  Tenants in Common
•  Individual (fee simple) ownership

The greatest thing about Father’s Day is waking up in the morning to your little boy bring you breakfast in bed. The joy of father hood and spending time with family and watching you little boy grow up is priceless.  It certianly puts buying and selling homes in perspective and that our future is about 4 years old. 

So to all the Dads out there HAPPY FATHER’s Day and spend every moment you can with your children.  Take the time and try to see the world thru a kids eyes and you will be amazed. 

Take time to thank someone you might know who has served for our Country in the past and current.  Without their service we would not be the Country we are today.  We can all live the American dream and buy real estate, live in fancy homes and eat cheeseburgers today. 

THANK YOU !!!!

It seems that  Henrico County and the City of Richmond have an issue with accounting.  Due to this there is a vote going out to Henrico County residences to get their address changed to Henrico, VA. Henrico says they are loosing $5 million in annual tax revenue because of the following reasons. 

1. Purchasing a computer on line from an out of state company. The company collects the sales tax and sends it to the State Department of Taxation and labels the sale as having occured in “Richmond, VA.  consequently the wrong locality receives this money. 

2. Sales Tax of large retailers paid by out-of-state business offices

3. Catalog Sales

4. Certain Vehicle Leases

5. Companies Leasing Business Equipment such as copiers.  -  If I owned a business and leases products why would I not know where my business is? 

The zip codes that are in question are 23075,23228,23229,23231,23233,23238,23242,23250,23255,23288 and 23294.  Roughly 80,000 residents.

The reasons the county gives you for the change is a bit weird and unusual.  If I buy a car and I live in Henrico why would I even think of telling DMV to register it in the City of Richmond even if my address is Richmond,VA  sometimes I wonder if folks really know what the heck they are doing.  

Second, If I live in Glen Allen, how does that revenue get to Henrico rather than Richmond.  How does everyone else out of state or in state know that Glen Allen is in the county of Henrico.  Why would Glen Allen not change to Henrico, VA as well.  That way everyone knows where they live. 

What about the folks that live in Chesterfield that have a Richmond, VA adress.  Are they going thru the same bs that Henrico residents are going thru? 

And yes if you tell me a zip code I can tell you what county it is in and what the mailing address is.  And so can the USPS along with every online business and manufacture.  Zip codes are coded and are specific to counties and towns across America.  That is why it is so important to have the zip code on your letters. 

As a REALTOR, I get the question asked to me all the time.  What are the county taxes for this home?  They are differnet for each county.  Heck, buying a coke at 7-11 in the city is more than buying that same coke in Henrico County.     

Last but not least, if the City of Richmond and Henrico County cannot come up with a way to resolve this issue without a name change then how do you think they will do when it comes to Regionialization and the many cooperative efforts that have but a strangle hold on the growth of this Capital Region. 

http://www.co.henrico.va.us/  To read more about this possible name change.

Home Sellers Guide

There are a number of steps to selling any house. Experience has taught us that every home sale is unique. Yet every sale — from putting the house on the market to settlement day — shares a common process.

The Home Sellers Guide is designed to help you understand the selling process beforehand. This inside know-how will help you make smart decisions every step of the way — and set aside any worries you may have from the beginning.

Of course, this short guide cannot answer all your questions. For specific answers to your specific situation, I encourage you to contact Wes Atiyeh for additional questions. 

I will be happy to share my expertise. After all, I want you to get the best selling price in the shortest time. Every advantage is yours when you do business with Wes Atiyeh, REALTOR. 

for more informaiton click on this link for details.  http://isellrichmondhomes.com/SellersGuide.aspx#top

the market is ever changing.  Pricing is key in today’s market.  Getting your house ready is also a key.  I have been working with a couple for some time now and the first thing I told them was to get your finances and your home inshape.  A lender does one and the REALTOR can help with the other.  Having your ducks in a row is key to buying in a market that has slowed and it takes longer to sell a home then before. 

So don’t wait till tomorrow what you can do today. 

Welcome to WordPress.com. This is your first post. Edit or delete it and start blogging!