The forward thinking Realtors are learning to get ahead with smart phones and access on the go. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reports that the markets and real estate are finally starting to pick up.  Actually 28% of Realtors were using them in 2007, in 2008 that figure jumped to 42%. Buyers today expect Realtors to be as wired and connected as they are. Smart phones are not a luxury, they are essential.  Did you realize that 80% of home searches being online. This typically generates some sort of notification to the Realtor, who in turn replies via smart phone. Today's buyer expects a response in 30 minutes or they move on to someone who is more responsive to their needs. Most users are now seeking and asking about more mobile applications to make their job easier. At the... 11/18/2009

January 23, 2010 will bring a new and exciting social media event/convention to Virginia Beach.  Social Media @ the Beach will be held at Peabody's and will feature a day packed with great information for both the social media novice and expert alike. Keynote speaker Jeff Turner will headline the event.  Jeff is an internationally known social media educator and we are so fortunate to have him coming from California for our event. Of course, in the spirit of other notable social media events and conventions, we have a designated charity:  Mothers Fighting for Others (MFFO).   So, mark your calendar and visit the website to register for THE social media event in Hampton Roads for 2010!   11/17/2009

Not much damage in the Glenwood area of Virginia Beach after the Nor'easter.  There were some fences down, Independence Blvd had a high water area but nothing like happened in the last tropical storm we had.  Most of the damage was due to the 75 mph wind that blew for a while.  Luckily we don't live in one of the areas affected by the tides. http://www.geneallen.com Come and see ALL the Homes for Sale in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, as well as the rest of Hampton Roads. This site is updated daily with new real estate listings, pictures and other information vital to your home search. 11/15/2009

This has to be the worst storm I have seen flooding wise, since I moved to Virginia Beach in the late 1970's.  A strong Northeaster, remnants of TS Ida, pounded Virginia Beach from November 11th through November 13th, 2009.  Massive tidal flooding occurred in the Lynnhaven River Basin along with endless heavy rain, winds up to 70 mph, and unprecedented Chesapeake Bay wave action.  This combination led to the worst storm in years.       Bubba's Crab House was substantially flooded.             Surf's up at Chick's Oyster Bar                   The old Duck-In site on Friday                         Flooding on Shore Drive Thursday afternoon          My old Boston Whaler rides it out (in water right of center)             This one wasn't as lucky!     Cape Story Beach access ramp at Sandalw... 11/13/2009

Robings still have to eat in the Noreaster in the Glenwood area.  I was getting ready to take out a big weed in my yard that supplies berries for the birds because it had fallen over due to the cold weather.  The storm came so the plant stayed.  Lucky for this little fellow because he came and gorged himself on berries.  http://www.geneallen.com Come and see ALL the Homes for Sale in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, as well as the rest of Hampton Roads. This site is updated daily with new real estate listings, pictures and other information vital to your home search.   11/13/2009

Beach officials and four Cape Henry property owners and condominium associations have been locked in a dispute over the land for several years. The city needed the recreational and construction easements over the property so that the Army Corps of Engineers could pump sand from a dredging project onto the beach from the Lesner Bridge to First Landing State Park. The sand replenishment project is making remarkable progress. They have moved from the Lesner Bridge (Chesapeake Beach) towards Cape Story, currently between Jade and Kleen Streets. 11/10/2009

About a week ago I bought a new car. I have to confess I always cringe at the thought of visiting the lot. My past experiences have affected my perception of the car buying experience. In the past I go out with high hopes of finding the car I like, with the options I desire for a fair price. All seems well until I am stuck in a cramped 8x8 room with this person. On the lot, they were kind and considerate; inside the games have just begun. They tell me they have to get with their manager to ensure they can do the price and options I want, which by the way, wasn't an issues outside.So, a couple of weeks ago, we started the search process. We thought we found the car locally, but the salesman said they were firm on the price, so we decided to pass. My husband and I surfed the net and found... 11/10/2009

I said bird "feeder" not "bird" feeder. I need to be careful in how Iemphasize My words.  When I put out my bird feeder in the back yard the idea was to feed the birds bird seed.  Apparently this young Osprey (I think) has decided that I meant "bird" feeder and the bird feeder was meant to feed him.  He has taken several small birds from my backyard.  This is the first time I have seen one up close and personal.  He is maybe 15 feet from my window.  He lives high atop a power pole about 1.2 mile from my house in Glenwood on the Honeybee Golf Course.  He seriously needs to join his buddies in going south for the winter (see the last picture). http://www.geneallen.com Come and see ALL the Homes for Sale in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, as well as the rest of Hampton Roads. This sit... 11/09/2009

Anyone thinking about looking for a getaway place to relax from the stresses of everyday life. If you live on the East Coast area especially you might want to consider Virginia Beach, Va. It's centrally located, has 4 seasons, but none extreme, and prices are now are very reasonable. You have the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay for Beach lovers, sailing, deep sea fishing , plenty of seafood restaurants and eclectic eateries and history all around (Williamsburg,Yorktown, Norfolk etc) More and more people from the Richmond area of Va, as an example, (about a 2 hour drive away) are finding the advantages of our area. If you would like to find out more about the possibilities, go to my local real estate site  www.googlejim.com   At Sandbridge (in Virginia Beach) at a newer condo developme... 11/09/2009

Hooray!!!!! The $8,000 Homebuyers Federal Tax Credit has been extended and much, much, much more!!  President Obama signed the bill that includes extension and expansion of the Homebuyer's Federal Tax Credit on November 7th, 2009. In this Homebuyer Federal Tax Credit part of the bill, funding will be available for Home purchases up to May 1, 2010. Home Buyers who have ratified/binding contracts in place as of April 30, 2010 will be allowed an additional 60 days to complete the transaction. The Homebuyers Federal Tax Credit remains at $8,000 for first-time Homebuyers and Homebuyers who have not owned a Home in the past 3 years. In addition their is a new $6,500 tax credit for repeat Homebuyers who purchase between December 1, 2009 and May 1, 2010. Repeat buyers must have lived in their H... 11/07/2009

Yes, yes, and yes!!!! The Bill that includes The Homebuyers Federal Tax Credit has been passed by the Senate and the House and, as the MBA ( Mortgage Bankers Association) indicated in a release today that "we anticipate that President Obama will sign the bill in very short order"!! Great news for many many Homebuyers and definitely this bill includes more Homebuyer's then ever before. See below for information on this part of the bill that was included in a Blog I sent out on 11/05/09.  "In this Homebuyer Federal Tax Credit part of the bill, funding will be available for Home purchases up to May 1, 2010. Home Buyers who have ratified/binding contracts in place as of April 30, 2010 will be allowed an additional 60 days to complete the transaction. The Homebuyers Federal Tax Credit remain... 11/06/2009

The Homebuyer Tax Credit has extended and expanded for Virginia Beach residents.  It has been extended to include current homeowners.  The following are features of the new bill: •·Deadline for current credit is November 30, 2009. •·Deadline for new and improved credit is April 30, 2010, as long as the home is under contract by that date; deal must close within 60 days. •·Eligibility and amount of new credit: •-$8,000 for first-time homebuyers (those who have not owned a home in the last three years). •-Up to $6,500 credit for homeowners who have lived in the home they are selling, or have sold, as a principal residence for five consecutive years in the past eight.  •·Buyers with income exceeding $125,000 for single and $225,000 for married couples are not eligible.  •·Homes valued at m... 11/06/2009

Recently a Salem Lakes resident called me very frustrated with the City's system for collecting trash. She stated that at the rear of her parcel is an easement owned by the city. Apparently someone in the neighborhood seems to think it's a place to dump garbage, recliners, tires, etc. The resident called Bulk Trash Pickup and was told that they would not pick it up unless it was in front of a home, to call the Department of Neighborhood Preservation. So the resident called the Department of Neighborhood Preservation for the City of Virginia Beach and was told "we cite the residents closest to the debris". This resident stated to the city employee that "she was not the one who dumped the debris, but was looking to have it cleaned up". As we discussed the situation she stated she was told... 11/05/2009

The extension of the Homebuyer Tax Credit is seeming more and more probable. The Senate has been in negotiation on an agreement regarding the expansion and extension of this important issue and an agreement has been reached!. The extension is part of a larger bill that has not yet gone to a vote, however.  A Senate vote on the larger bill will happen in the Senate during the 1st week of November, 2009. The package will then go back to the House. The House is expected to accept the Senate amendments, vote on the package and send it to the President for signature. The underlying bill is an extension of unemployment benefits and other issues.  In this Homebuyer Federal Tax Credit part of the bill, funding will be available for Home purchases up to May 1, 2010. Home Buyers who have  ratifie... 11/05/2009

The Virginia Beach School districts maintenance division will soon break wind.  They are building a new facility on Harper's Road that will feature four wind turbines.  This will be a $20 million dollar 84,000 sq ft facility that will house the offices of the transportation personnel and buses.  The facility will be called the Pupil Transportation Facility. In addition to the wind turbines, the building will be naturally lighted and cooled, have a geotherma/solar heating and a grass covered roof.  In addition to all the new green stuff, there will be updated and modern equipment for the maintenance personal.  http://www.geneallen.com Come and see ALL the Homes for Sale in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, as well as the rest of Hampton Roads. This site is updated daily with new real ... 11/04/2009

Selling Your Home? Where to Begin... First Impressions Remember what first attracted you to your house when you bought it? What excited you about it most? When deciding how best to present your home for sale, it is helpful to try to get back into that buyer’s frame of mind. A spruced-up house makes a great first impression on potential buyers. An attractive property grabs their attention and makes them excited about finding a house that looks and feels well cared for. Because buyers believe they’ll encounter fewer problems if they buy it, your house becomes more appealing and stands out from the competition. So if you prepare your home correctly, you’ll save time selling it when it’s on the market. A good first impression makes an impact on a number of levels. It’s not just the way your... 10/31/2009

I took this photo a while back thought I would share it as I don't if we will get any good sunsets in Virginia Beach over the Oak Springs subdivision for a while.   http://www.geneallen.com Come and see ALL the Homes for Sale in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, as well as the rest of Hampton Roads. This site is updated daily with new real estate listings, pictures and other information vital to your home search. Google gene allen   10/30/2009

you should live here.......The Lagomar neighborhood in Virginia Beach continues to be a sought out area for real estate. I make the southeast section of Virginia Beach my home for many reasons. Why: 1. Great school system with Kellam and Ocean Lakes High Schools, Princess Anne Middle (great school, I know my son attends), and Redmill elementary. 2. Near two of the finest beaches on the East Coast, the resort area (Croatan and North End), and Sandbridge. Fine real estate adjacent to all these neighborhoods. 3. Minutes to many golf courses including Hell's Pt, Heron Ridge, the Signature, and Virginia Beach National. All offer golf course homes except Virginia Beach National. 4. Minutes to shopping at Red Mill Commons. (Walmart, Starbucks, Panera, Outback, Chili's, Havana's, Inlet Fitness,... 10/29/2009

Take a peek at the homes that sold in the Shore Drive corridor (Cape Story to Chicks Beach) of Virginia Beach, VA in September. Click here 10/28/2009

As with anything, the more initial planning you do the more time and money you'll save during the construction of the home. Here are a few ideas to consider when designing your new home Go for a small home in lieu of a larger one. Create multipurpose spaces such as homework area/craft stations or an office that doubles as a guest room. Build up not out. When building up, you minimize the size of the roof and the footings. Additionally, a multistory home also reduces the impact on the landscaping. Consider an addition to your current home. Remodeling your home is a form of recycling. Before assuming you need to build something new, consider putting an addition on your home instead. Take the money you save and put it into more energy efficient systems and/ or components, such as insulati... 10/28/2009