Friday Fotos:  Cannon Barrel Who'd have thought that the barrel of a cannon could be such a work of art?  I found this on a recent visit to Yorktown, Virginia at the site of the British surrender to the American troops after the final battle of the Revolutionary War.  Something tells me the French had something to do with its manufacture.    If you are planning a move to or from the Washington, DC area, I can help!  I am licensed in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.  You may call, email or text me at:  Housepat@mac.com, 202-549-5167 SEARCH ALL LISTINGS IN THE DC METRO AREA CHECK OUT MY LATEST BLOG IN THE WASHINGTON POST! 05/25/2012

Last week, we visited Yorktown, Virginia, which is the site where the British surrendered ending the Revolutionary War.  After walking around the monument and the pretty town, we went down to the waterfront.  And there she was!  A three masted tall ship called The Alliance. Now she looks really, really old.  But the ship was actually built in 1995.  She has been sailing ib the York River for the last seven years.  You can hop aboard for one of her several cruises a day or even charter the boat for a special occassion.   Hmm.  Think th4e captain performs weddings?  And if so, are they valid for longer than the duration of the cruise?   If you are planning a move to or from the Washington, DC area, I can help!  I am licensed in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.  You may ca... 05/20/2012

7 Reasons to Buy a New Home in a Planned Community Why have planned communities become so popular in today's economy? Yes, people are building and buying new homes again in Virginia, and we're excited about what's going on in our four East West Communities in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. Homebuyers are finding out that it is a great time to build after comparing their options with the other possibilities in the marketplace. There's a definite resurgence of interest in building a new home in our market, so I've listed 7 reasons why people are buying new homes in planned communities today. 1. Sense of place, Belonging. There are many reasons why today's homebuyers are seeking planned communities as a place to call home. Many of today's homebuyers in the Hampton Roads area of Virgin... 02/05/2012

Eagle Harbor Schools Earn State Awards The two elementary schools that serve the families of Eagle Harbor have both earned Virginia Index of Performance (VIP) awards from the Virginia Board of Education. Westside Elementary, 4th through 6th grade, was recognized with the VIP Excellence Award. This honor goes to schools that have met all state and federal accountability benchmarks for at least two consecutive years and have made significant progress toward goals for increased student achievement and expanded educational opportunity. Carrollton Elementary, Pre-Kindergarten through 3rd grade, received the Competence to Excellence Award, the third-tier award in the program. The Competence to Excellence Award recognizes schools and districts that have met all state and federal benchmarks for... 01/22/2012

Taking Community Fun to the Extreme – Residents Take The Plunge Bright and early on January 1st of every new year, the bravest of souls gather at the Founders Pointe Residents Club to take the plunge. The Polar Bear Plunge, that is! Off they go, one by one, down the 100 foot slide and into the frigid waters of the community pool. The chilly participants all received a free t-shirt and their picture on the Founders Pointe Facebook page. Check out all of the fun activities planned for this neighborhood club. There is definitely something for everyone on the yearly calendar of events at Founders Pointe!    For Information about East West Partners’ waterfront communites, visit www.eastwestcommunities.com. Discover the best in lifestyle communities at Founders Pointe, Eagle Harbor, Liberty R... 01/09/2012

Crafters Marketplace Visit the Founders Pointe Residents’ Club from 12 noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, December 3rd and find the perfect unique holiday gift, or something special to treat yourself! A wide variety of local crafters, artisans and vendors will be on hand to showcase the best of their collections. Choose from Willow House, Avon, Stella & Dot, Party Lite, Pampered Chef, as well as hand-made jewelry, exquisite photography, holiday decorations and more. Refreshments, including homemade soups, hot chocolate, sodas, chips, popcorn and more, will be available for sale with all proceeds the Isle of Wight Food Pantry. A Select-A-Prize Auction with prizes donated by each of the Marketplace participants will also benefit this worthwhile cause. In addition to the Marketplace festivities, ... 11/29/2011

  Why It's Important to Have Happy Residents in Your Community  Looking for a new home in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia? (Check out Eagle Harbor- new homes from the $300's.) The Graystone neighborhood at Eagle Harbor offers quality custom homes on privately wooded homesites less than 13 minutes to Hampton and I-664 in North Suffolk.     Ever wish you knew more about a neighborhood or builder to help your customer or client from out of town know if it's the right community or home for them? Residents can definitely be a big help to you when you're showing a potential new homeowner around the neighborhood that you're selling new homes in. How? Through testimonials. What are testimonials?   Testimonials are persuasive opinions from others that help you sell your product or a portion o... 11/25/2011

Graystone is an intimate neighborhood within Eagle Harbor, near Smithfield, Virginia, featuring wooded homesites in a custom home setting. This new selection of home designs showcases distinctive architectural styles which can be customized to suit your family’s needs – with elegant details including wide front porches, stone accents, and spacious outdoor living spaces. Eagle Harbor has three times been selected "Community Of The Year" by the Peninsula Housing & Builders Association. Its charm encompasses not only the quality and diversity of homes featured in this unique community, but also in the lifestyle that is experienced by those choosing to live here. 13302 Beacon Hill Way, Eagle Harbor                                         $439,900 5 Bedrooms, 3.5 Baths, 2780 square feet of ... 10/12/2011

TOUR FIVE NEW MODELS THIS WEEKEND at GRAYSTONE at Eagle Harbor near Smithfield, Virginia. Hours: Noon to 5pm. Sidewalk-lined streets, beautiful homes, and a one-of-a-kind recreation area come together to make Eagle Harbor a truly unique community. Whether you select a graceful single-family home or a convenient condominium, you'll enjoy all the comforts you need - and the style and quality you've been looking for. And it's centrally located to all of Hampton Roads. We invite you to come experience a neighborhood you'll cherish for a lifetime - Eagle Harbor. Sasser Construction13390 Country Walk Circle • $439,900 Orleans Homebuilders13421 Riverbirch Trail • $379,900 E.R.Lenz Construction22360 Moss Creek Circle • $409,900 Sadler Building Corp.13302 Beacon Hill Way • $439,900 Birdsong Bui... 10/04/2011

Loking for a new home in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia? (Check out Eagle Harbor- new homes from the $300's.) Ever wish you knew more about a neighborhood or builder to help your customer or client from out of town know if it's the right community or home for them? Residents can definitely be a big help to you when you're showing a potential new homeowner around the neighborhood that you're selling new homes in. How? Through testimonials. What are testimonials?    Testimonials are persuasive opinions from others that help you sell your product or a portion of it.How should they be used? –Building trust & rapport in initial interview –Build interest before they see the property –To sell your features & benefits of your homes and community –Overcoming objections or anticipating their ... 06/29/2011

Looking to build a new home and need a house plan? Look no further than this waterfront community in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. Surrounded by natural beauty and complemented with thoughtful community amenities, Founders Pointe is the ideal setting for you to live your dreams. Classic architectural styles offered by ten highly acclaimed builders allow for personalized touches that create your custom built home the way you’ve always envisioned it. Or, select from a variety of model homes already built. Either way, you’re sure to find your dream home in Founders Pointe. To tour the community’s homes and to see available homes for sale, visit the Founders Pointe Interactive Map. Click here to see available homes for sale. Floor Plans Whether you choose a Southern Living® design by... 06/24/2011

There's no place like home! Tour six brand new models for sale in the new Founders Pointe waterfront community near Smithfield, Virginia this weekend. In addition, you can see our new Sales & Information Center model home which features a "Wizard of OZ" themed room. One visit to our game room, and mom & dad won't be able to get their kids to leave. To find out more about our models open for tour, visit www.founderspointe.com.   Discover the latest trends in new home construction while you experience this waterfront community. You'll find six exquisite homes on beautiful, wooded homesites by the area's finest builders. Homes featured on tour: 213 Summerhouse Lane; Emerson Builders @ $459,900112 Richmond Way; Orleans Homebuilders @ $499,875102 Carter's Creek Lane; Sadler Building Corpora... 05/21/2011

Free Bingo At KMart! Looking for something exciting to do on Tuesday mornings!  Super KMart at Klin Creek is offering FREE BINGO, every Tuesday morning starting at 9:00a.m.!  They are giving away $5.00 gift cards!  Doors open at 8:00a.m. store closes at 10:00p.m.  Remember the games starts at 9:00a.m. so come early!  Location:  Super KMart 5007 Victory Blvd Yorktown Virginia, 23693.             If you are ever in the market to sell or purchase real estate, contact me today, I would be happy to assist!  Looking for your dream home start your search here www.thebesthomesinva.com.       05/03/2011

Hohmann Builders is raising the bar in Isle of Wight County with a beautiful new home built in Founders Pointe, the resort-like waterfront community in Carrollton. The two-story Frank Betz Associates design, named the Abberly, is the first single-family home in Isle of Wight County to earn EarthCraft certification. At first glance, the home looks like many of the other homes lining the curved streets of the picturesque community. It has a stately exterior with a combination of stone and Hardiplank siding, and rich colors that blend in with the natural surroundings of the home. The interior boasts exquisite finishes such as granite countertops, custom cabinetry and a stone fireplace in the two story great room.So, what separates this home from others in Isle of Wight County? The attentio... 09/25/2010

I just want to share a little story with you.  I have a good friend, we'll call her Connie.  Now Connie and her patient husband Juan decided they had to have a particular house in a particular neighborhood in York County in Hampton Roads.  This property is a great buy, about $50,000 less than it could have sold for if it wasn't a short sale.  So where's the problem? Now Charlie, the listing agent, sounds like he has it all together.  He's in touch with the bank often, things are moving right along, painting us a promising picture.  So Connie and Juan do their inspections and appraisal all based on Charlie's confidence that the written short sale approval is going to be here any hour.  That was 2 months ago and poor Connie and Juan are still shacked up living back home with her parents. ... 08/28/2010

  Real Estate News | Frank McLawhorn | ZipRealty March 2010   View My Profile franklin.mclawhorn@ziprealty.com www.ziprealty.com Attention Real Estate Investors: Anti-Flipping Rule SuspendedBy Evelyn FieldingReal estate investors and house flippers all over the United States are celebrating: HUD has suspended its anti-flipping 90-day seasoning rule for a year. This means you can buy a HUD-owned home and flip it immediately to an FHA insured buyer-no need to hang on to the property (and a mortgage) for three full months, or turn FHA-insured... Read More   Invest in Kitchen or Bathroom Remodeling to Sell Your Home By Stephanie SmithMaybe it seems counter-intuitive to invest in remodeling your home just before you put it up for sale, but wise remodeling choices offer a great return on inve... 03/04/2010

http://fmclawhorn.ziprealtynews.com/ 10/26/2009

3 closings on friday. crazy hectic 08/26/2009

Buy Now and Get an $8,000 Tax CreditBy Deanna Lynn SlettenPhoto: © Steve Jacobs - iStockphoto With only a few months left to take advantage of the first-time homebuyer tax credit, now is the time for serious buyers to purchase a home. Until December 1, 2009, first-time homebuyers can receive a tax credit of 10% of the home's value up to a maximum of $8,000 if the sale of the home closes before the deadline. In this buyers market of low interest rates and an abundance of homes for sale at affordable prices, the extra incentive of the tax credit gives first-time homebuyers the chance of securing the home of their dreams at a price they can afford. What homes qualify?Buyers who haven't owned a principal residence home in three years can qualify for the tax credit. Any home purchase qualif... 08/04/2009

even treasury secretary geithner's house isn't selling: http://bit.ly/WtZik 06/04/2009