Consignment Bargains

Tour de Consignment
Oh my how in the world did I miss this great tour bus ? Seems it was a hot item and sold out pretty quickly.
Tickets were 75 per person for a luxury tour bus food goodies and a tour of this great shops

Boulevard treasures
Double take
Chic cheap resale boutique
Echoes of time costumes and vintage clothing
B. Original
The Knapsack Children consignment
Ditto Backatcha Boutique
VB repeats

The number of resale stores has grown by 7% the past 2 years. Studies show 15-18% of Us consumers will shop at a Thrift store annually and 12-15 % will patronize consignment reslae shops.

How do you feel about consignment stores ? Im the youngest of 4 so 2nd hand and hand me down was pretty much what I got most of my like anyway. As an adult with a good income I was able to start buying retail and for a while it was fun. Over time I would walk the mall or major department store and realize we all look like the maniquines dressed and there was nothing unique or exciting. I also realized the hefty price tag and thats when I started heading back to my old ways. Consignments and Thrift is not just for clothes, some people find it hard to dig through piles of stuff to find a treasure. I have found some amazing things at the stores like

Cashmere Sweaters
Real Silver Candle sticks
Beautiful basket
Art and stunning frames
Sewing material and art supplies
Pink Depression glass
Leather purses
Tons of Princess House
A lid for my crockpot that broke
I normally will buy clothes from stores like
Talbots
Ann Kline
Nordstrom’s
Sacks
Jones
Diana Buckman
Lilly Pultzer
Any more ! !!!!
It does take some time to look at things and you have to be patient but you can find some amazing home decor for your home and high end clothing for you !

National Housing news

National Housing news
Source:3-27-12 The Virginia Pilot Business today
February sales contracts dipped.05 % from January’s 97 index . That had been the previous 2 year high. A reading of 100 or higher is considered to be a health market. These stats only help determine the health of the market. It can take about 60 days to close on a mortgage and its not a completed deal till the mortgage is closed.

Identity protection

Identity protection

Im pretty certain my readers don’t know this about me but when I read recent article and I heard a news story I felt the need to at least open the door to my VA friends.
Im a prepaid legal member and I have the options to assist in helping others get this policy as well. I don’t push it and i don’t talk about it a lot but I know the value.
I have a policy that covers family as well as my business.

A recent artical by Carolyn Shapiro in the Virginia Pilot highlighted this gorwing issue and it made me think to share this program here on my blog. I dont like to approach people with the sales tactic ” Would you like to buy insurance”. We all know that answer to that is 95% ar resounding NO . However when put in a manner that does make you think deeper about the protection and the world we live in now you might actually consider at least asking more quesitons.

The FTC received more complaints about Identity theft then any other type of problem in 2011. This was the 12 consecutive year this has been the #1 issues for complaints.
FTC reports 279156 complaints about stolen personal information. Virginia ranked 5th in genral fraud complaints. That number for Va identity complaints was 5416.

Medical fraud is starting to become one of the fastest growning theft. I had never thought about it till I was introduced to some terriable stories of how it affected people. There is also Postal fraud.

If you want to know more about a very very low cost option that not only monitors your identity on many levesl like Medical, Postal and Financial fraud and it will RESTORE your indentity not just motitor it send me a mesage. I would be happy to send you a DVD you can watch in the privacy of your own home then meet with you about questions. This is not the same as your bank or credit card and this is not like that company I think its called safe lock or something. Its much deeper and more aggressive back by the company that the government used to pursue Sadam Hussains finances .

New program for Military member and Short sales.

New program for Military member and Short sales.

Are you in the Armed forces and have PCS orders over 50 miles from your current residences ? Is your local market in the dumps and everything around it short sales, distress, bank owned and bargain ? A new program has been announced by President Obama to help up to 3 million service members. The link below will take you to the official press release.

Hampton Roads is full of Military members who are in the middle of this crisis. If you are currently a homeowner and have PCS orders up to 50 miles out of the area PLEASE call me TODAY . I can help get your home sold and save your credit.

Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).
If you have a loan with Bank of America, JP Morgan, Citgroup Wells fargo or Ally Financial you may qualify under this new ruling.

The mortgage servicers who signed the settlement have agreed to review their files for violations of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). They will give monetary relief to those families who saw their homes taken from them in violation of the SCRA, or who did not receive the SCRA interest-rate reduction to which they were entitled. In one way the settlement goes farther than the SCRA: it protects from non-judicial foreclosure all military homeowners who are deployed to a combat zone, even if the mortgage was not obtained before the servicemember entered active duty. If you feel that your rights were violated by one of the mortgage servicers in the settlement you can call the Justice Department at 1-800-896-7743. But you don’t have to call in order to get the help offered by the settlement, and you shouldn’t give information or money to anyone who says they will help you get in on the settlement! If the banks in the settlement owe you money they will try to find you; you don’t need to fill out an application or file a claim.

The settlement also has provisions for military homeowners who get Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders. The banks will provide short-sale agreements and deficiency waivers to those servicemembers who were forced to sell their home at a loss due to a PCS and were not eligible for the military’s Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP). This will help servicemembers who were underwater on homes they bought between July 1, 2006 and December 31, 2008, or who received a PCS after October 1, 2010.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/03/06/help-military-homeowners

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/03/06/fact-sheet-president-o

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/03/06/what-you-need-know-about-todays-housing-announcement

• Providing Relief for Servicemembers Forced to Sell Their Home at a Loss
Due to a Permanent Change in Station: Under the Department of Defense’s
Homeowners’ Assistance Program (HAP), some servicemembers who are forced to
sell their home at a loss due to a Permanent Change in Station (PCS) may be
compensated for the loss in their home’s value. Under this settlement,
servicers will provide short sale agreements and deficiency waivers to those
servicemembers who were forced to sell their home for less than they owe on
their mortgage due to a PCS, but who are not eligible for HAP. This means
that the benefits of that program will finally be extended to servicemembers
who bought their homes between July 1, 2006 and December 31, 2008, or who
received a PCS after October 1, 2010.

The VA compromise sales has been the way to help the Veteran in the past here is link to help you understand that option. http://www.valoans.com/va_article.cfm?id=103

I feel bad for Portsmouth

I feel bad for Portsmouth

DISLCAIMER- this is just an opinion about what I read and see in the local paper and not to offend any resident of the city.

This poor city seems to be fighting for its life. Weekly I see stores about business failures, taxes, mis management , tolls . The most recent story I read today is about property values dropping. Normally I would say this is helpful for the long term resident who plan on staying in there home. If you look deeper dropping property values does nothing for them. Its only going to burden the city with more revenue loss and not a assessment rates might have to increased to balance the difference. Maybe Im simple minded but all this did was take the home sale values and drop them even more so when you do sell you have to take less.

Local business are footing the bill on the in crease of taxes. I can see this as a hit to any new business and growth in the city. Its so sad its a cycle that keeps them suppressed. How is Portsmouth going to fix there issues ? I don’t know that answer to that I know know maybe they need better leadership or people with better vision for the resolution

There are some positive notes for the city.
Foreclosure decreased annually from 585 to 495
Real Estate transfers increased from 2866 from 2649
Average days on the market dropped from 119 to 101
Median sale price dropped from 178300 to 166,00

Home values dropping dropping dropping

Dropping dropping dropping

Assessments are dropping like dead flies on a summer day in every city in hampton roads. This is a great for those of us who plan on never moving. For the poor souls who need to sell this could be a fatal blow to the sale.
Chesapeake values have declined by 3.8%. This is the 4th straight year in a row theses declines have happened the assessment year of 2009-2010 it had dropped 5.5%.
The good news for Chesapeake the city manager said there will not recommend a tax rate increase to make up to for the lost revenue
Some areas did get an increase in value areas like Plantation lakes and Western Branch subdivisions.
Stats
Foreclosure decrease from 1003 to 772
Average home price $338,27.00 for a new home & $284,195.00 for an existing home

I love the TIDE – Bring it to Virginia Beach !

I have a question. When do you think the Tide will be extended to Virginia Beach ?

Amazing growth in ridership for the light rail is proving to be a success. It was estimated about 2900 people would ride it daily. What’s happening is over 4600 on weekdays and 4800 on Sundays are taking advantage of the new public transportation. I personally have been on it up to 10 times I love it and I wish Virginia Beach would extend it all the way to the beach. It would be amazing if it went to some of the military bases.

Do you ride the light rail, if so what impact has it had on your daily life ? I recently had a daughter move with to a new apartment with in 3 blocks of the light rail. I love it, I park at the Newtown lot and ride all the way to EVMS to visit her. With the cost of gas and parking It saves me money, wear and tear on my car and the stress of traffic. I plan to ride the tide every time I head to norfolk if I can. Its a great way to relax and avoid traffic problems.

Foreclosure and renters

Consumer Protection bill HB1110

Share with me your thoughts on this subject.

If a home is foreclosed on and has a person renting it still in a lease should the bank have to honor that lease as long at the renter is paying the rent ? This is one bill that is being investigated currently and would keep banks from tossing the renter out once the foreclosure has taken place. On the surface I see it as a good policy. Tell me something that you think could be bad about it and lets have a conversation.
Im a Realtor in Hampton Roads and I see this happening all the time. I have not taken a long hard looked at the pros and cons of keeping the lease in place. I do know that when you sell a home with a lease the new homeowner has to honer that lease. I would think its good practice to have the same policy with the bank takes it over. It the renter is in good standing and is willing to stay it might help the bank buy sometime on the sale of the home.

Bakers Crust bargain !

Bargain eats !

Bakers Crust has a program called TAKE ME OUT TUESDAY that offers assorted dishes priced at $8.00.
The program is designed to get people to enjoy eating out earlier in the week rather then waiting to the weekend. The menu includes 5 signatures pizzas and 2 pasta entrees, pair this with some wine and beer specials and you have a great date on a budget.

Weekdays from 430 to 6 you can enjoy a number of appetizers at $5 and $4 bruschettas. has a program called TAKE ME OUT TUESDAY that offers assorted dishes priced at $8.00. The program is designed to get people to enjoy eating out earlier in the week rather then waiting to the weekend. The menu includes 5 signatures pizzas and 2 pasta entrees, pair this with some wine and beer specials and you have a great date on a budget. Weekdays from 430 to 6 you can enjoy a number of appetizers at $5 and $4 bruschettas.

Do you need a job ?

Do you need a job ?
There is good news and bad news on that topic. For the first time in 3 years we have record low unemployment in the US. Since January 2008 when the unemployment rate started to climb we are finally seeing some progress in the job market. January 2012 was the month that brought the lowest percentage rate in 3 years. 243,000 new job were added last month in the US.
Lets hope to see the same trend in February. Some believe it was inflated by seasonal jobs due to warm weather. Construction job contributed greatly to the increase. Other areas of job growth were manufacturing and professional positions such as accounting and engineering , leisure and healthcare.
Recovery was officially declared in June of 2009 from the recession but to stay on this trend we will need 100k jobs a month added.

My recap on a story in the Virginian Pilot 2-4-12