Date Archives: April 2018

You probably never made a conscious decision to stay a renter forever. Sometimes it just happens. You lease a nice apartment and settle into a renter's lifestyle. You pay your bills and build your savings along the way. But then what? Do you stay a renter forever or take the homeownership plunge? 

Our REALTORS® work with many first-time home buyers. We believe there are lifestyle, financial, and personal signs that tell you when the time is right to buy a home. Here are five situations to consider. 

1. Your Rent Is Enough to Make a Mortgage Payment
   If you're renting an apartment in a nice neighborhood, you are more than likely paying at least $1,000 per month. While $1,000 a month won't pay for a big beautiful dream home, it's enough to pay the mortgage on a cozy little place of your own.
   
   
2. You Have a Cash Cushion
   Of course, the mortgage payment is just a part of it. But you're in great shape if you have cash enough for a down payment, closing costs, packing, and moving. Once you're settled into your home, you must also pay property taxes, higher utility bills, furnishing costs, maintenance expenses and more.
   
   If you qualify for a loan backed by FHA, VA, USDA, or other special home-buying programs, their lower down payments and interest rates may allow you to hang onto some of your money.
   
   
3. Your Neighbors Push Your Buttons
   When you live in close quarters with so many other families, you get used to conditions you don't like. You learn to tolerate heavy feet upstairs, babies screaming downstairs, loud music next door, and smokers in the hallway. When all that neighborly activity begins to irritate you, at some point you'll want peace and quiet and a space of your own.
   
   
4. You're Tired of White Walls
   When you rent, you make a phone call and a maintenance crew fixes the plumbing or shovels the snow. Your landlord does these things because the space you rent doesn't belong to you.
   
   That means you can't necessarily remodel the kitchen or install designer bathroom fixtures. And if you dare to paint the living room walls, you might lose your security deposit. When you get tired of these restrictions it could be a sign that homeownership is a better idea.
   
   
5. You Want to Build Equity
   As you work hard to earn a living, you're not thinking about enriching your landlord. But that's exactly what you do each time you pay rent. When you own instead of rent, you build your own net worth.
   
   A recent Federal Reserve Bulletin, Changes in Family Finances, cites a rise in home equity as a factor for families that saw an increase in net worth. While homeowner's wealth increased 15 percent over the past several years, renter's net worth fell by 5 percent.
   
   

If you're a renter, we can help you decide if homeownership is the right option for you. Contact Old Dominion Realty if you plan to buy or sell a home or if you want more information about the communities we serve.

Spring came to Virginia a little late this year, but now that it has finally arrived, we're ready to take full advantage. Our homes in Petersburg, WV are surrounded by beautiful parks, quiet streets and the gorgeous rolling countryside on the banks of the Potomic River. It's a great place to enjoy some time in the outdoors, and with the Spring Mountain Festival set to arrive in Petersburg soon, our REALTORS® are ready to do just that.

26th Annual Spring Mountain Festival - April 26 -29

Every year, the Spring Mountain Festival marks the unofficial arrival of spring to the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia. It's a perfect opportunity to experience Grant County living at its best.

This year, the 2018 Spring Mountain Festival is set to take place from April 26 to April 29, and includes a wide range of events and festivities. The festival is open to all visitors free of charge, and offers an incredible opportunity for locals and tourists alike to experience what it's like to live in Petersburg.  

2018 Festival Events and Attractions

The Grant County Chamber of Commerce invites everyone to enjoy this year's Spring Mountain Festival. The festival is centered around Petersburg City Park, but you'll find fun things happening all over town. Be sure to get there early on April 26t so you don't miss out!

Highlights of the festival include carnival rides, games, an antique car, truck and tractor show, live entertainment on the festival stage and Civil War train rides. An incredible variety of food and drink vendors will be there as well. The festival also includes a flea market, where you'll find everything from local arts and crafts to antiques, plants and flowers from local growers, and a wide assortment of unique and hard-to-find items. There will be a parade on Saturday as the official launch of the festival. 

Living in Grant County

Surrounded by the stunning natural landscape of the West Virginia mountains, our Grant County homes offer the best of small town living and wild mountain scenery. From Petersburg's charming and vibrant downtown to the many nearby state parks, national forests and recreation areas, there are endless ways to enjoy Grant County. Stop by the Spring Mountain Festival this spring to experience it for yourself!

Contact Old Dominion Realty to learn more about finding your home in the Petersburg, WV area, and to find out about all the upcoming events in Grant County. Our team is dedicated to helping you find your dream home and making it your own.

If there are two things that go better together than cold beer and live music, we haven't found them yet (though, rest assured, we have our best people on it). Until then, the Rocktown Beer and Music Festival is about as good as it gets, bringing its namesake brews and tunes to Harrisonburg, VA every year to great acclaim. This year's festival is right around the corner, and our REALTORS® recommend that you check it out. 

Rocktown Beer & Music Festival - a Harrisonburg Tradition

The Rocktown Beer and Music Festival is now in its 8th year, and it continues to grow. Every year, rain or shine, this event brings 3,000 beer and music fans to Downtown Harrisonburg's Turner Pavilion and Park for a day of fun and festivities. This year, the festival hits Turner Pavilion on Saturday, April 21.

The festival got its start in 2011. Tim Brady, the founder of Pale Fire Brewing Co. and one of the founding fathers of the Rocktown Beer and Music Festival, envisioned a homegrown craft beer festival in Harrisonburg that highlighted the city's vibrant community and growing craft beer scene. The addition of a musical component was a natural fit, and the festival has evolved over the years to feature an eclectic assortment of bands ranging from country and Americana to indie and alternative rock.

Beer, Music, and Community

The 2018 Rocktown Beer and Music Festival is just days away, and it promises to be one of the best yet. Indie rockers The Trongone Band, singer-songwriter ADAR, and modern folk revivalists Illiterate Light are set to perform this year, joining the deep ranks of incredible talent that has graced the stage at past Rocktown festivals, including the likes of Nikki Lane, The War On Drugs, and The Steel Wheels.

Of course, it wouldn't be a "Beer and Music" festival without beer, and craft brew enthusiasts are unlikely to walk away disappointed. The festival will highlight beers from more than 30 craft breweries, including locals like Three Brothers Brewing Co. and Pale Fire Brewing Co. as well as dozens of incredible brewers from across the country. Whatever your craft beer style of choice, you'll have an incredible variety of new and exciting brews to choose from.

Tickets on Sale Now

Your ticket to the Rocktown Beer and Music Festival includes ten 4 ounce pours—your bracelet will be marked each time you have sample—along with a souvenir 5-ounce sampling glass, sampling of 76-plus craft beers, and access to the full day of live entertainment. There will also be plenty of vendors offering food and drinks at an additional cost. Tickets are available online until 3 PM on the day of the festival.

Old Dominion Realty is committed to not only helping you find the best homes in Harrisonburg, but also enjoying your life here to its fullest.   Contact Old Dominion Realty to start your search for a home in Harrisonburg and to learn more about this event, and other great events that are coming up in the Harrisonburg, VA area.

Are you ready to put on your running shoes, spend some time with the community, and support a great cause in the process? Then we hope to see you at the Shenandoah Valley Autism Partnership's 11th Annual 5K Run/Walk for Autism! Every year, this well-attended local event provides an opportunity to raise autism awareness, raise funds for the Shenandoah Valley Autism Partnership, and bring the community together. Many of our REALTORS® with their families and friends will be hitting the streets to participate in the 5K Run/Walk for Autism, and we've got all the details on how you can join us for this wonderful, local event. 

Hit the Streets of Harrisonburg for the 5K Run/Walk for Autism in 2018

The Event: Shenandoah Valley Autism Partnership 5KRun/Walk for Autism
Where: Eastern Mennonite University Commons in Harrisonburg, VA
When: Saturday April 21, 2018
Key Times: Check-In/Walk-Up Registration (7:15 AM), Introductions (9:00 AM), Start of 5K Walk/Run (9:30 AM)

11 Years Strong for the SVAP 5k Run/Walk for Autism

Every year around this time, residents from throughout the Shenandoah Valley come together in Harrisonburg to support the Shenandoah Valley Autism Partnership's 5K Run/Walk for Autism, and raise money for a cause that touches so many of our hearts. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 68 children is diagnosed with Autism, which can cause a wide range of developmental challenges. This year's event will be the 11^th Annual Run/Walk for Autism, and support only seems to grow stronger with each passing year.

How to Sign Up and What to Expect on Race Day

Are you ready to register, and support this great event? The easiest option is to register online, with online registration available until April 18, 2018. If you're not able to register ahead of time, simply show up at 7:15 AM on race day, and you'll have the option to register on-site. The registration fee is $20 for individuals, or $15 for each member of a team. There's an added fee of $10 for on-site registration, and it's all going toward a great cause.

The race will take you through the scenic commons of Eastern Mennonite University, and participants are encouraged to reach the finish line at their own pace. You'll have plenty of company if you want to run and try to beat your best time, but you're also welcome to walk at whatever pace is most comfortable.

Support a Great, Local Cause and Have Fun in the Process

The Shenandoah Valley Autism Partnership is dedicated to improving quality of life for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder. SVAP advocates for people with Autism, provides a support system, organizes events like the 5k Run/Walk, and offers networking opportunities for families and professionals. The 5K Run/Walk for Autism is the signature fundraising event of the SVAP, and a great opportunity to get involved with the cause first-hand.

Look for Old Dominion Realty at the 5K Run/Walk for Autism 2018

Our team is proud to support the local causes that make our corner of Virginia such a special place to call home, and we'll have plenty of team members at the 5K Run/Walk for Autism if you'd like to stop by and say hello. Look for Old Dominion team members Janet Harrison, Kari Miller, Linda Goodson, Kristen and Kendra Eppard, Suzanne Riddleberger, and Renee Whitmore at the event this year. We hope to see you there!

Are you shopping for homes in Harrisonburg, and looking to work with a local, knowledgeable real estate team? Contact Old Dominion Realty for all of your Harrisonburg real estate needs.

Staunton, Virginia is one of those lovely small cities that has something for everyone who is looking to buy a new home. From stately historic homes and quaint cottages to vibrant new neighborhoods, this city of just under 25,000 people has everything. And while you are looking for Staunton homes for sale, we at Old Dominion Realty want to make sure you see the best of what this area has to offer.

A Place Where Glass is Art

Getting to know a community will help you feel right at home and provide you with a list of fun and interesting places you can take all the visitors and guests who will want to visit you in your new home. In Staunton, when it comes to unique things to do, there's one place in the Wharf District that you absolutely have to see: Sunspots Studios.

Sunspots Studios has so much to offer. It's not only a wonderful gallery and shop, selling one-of-a-kind blown glass creations, but it's also a popular entertainment spot, featuring glassblowing demonstrations daily and a calendar of live music and performance events at their outdoor pavilion. It's truly a place where locals and visitors alike love to go.

Glassblowing Demos and Much More

Over 15 different artisans create fabulous works of art that are available for sale at Sunspots Studios. They are located at 202 S. Lewis Street in Staunton and are open seven days a week (closed on Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and  New Year's Day). Best of all, every day until 4 PM you can find at least three rotating artists showcasing their glassblowing expertise. The studio provides an opportunity for you to get up close and personal with these talented and creative artists who are hard at work making beautiful creations of blown glass. They make colorful and gorgeous vases in every size, intricate and unusual ring stands, hand-blown ornaments, tumblers, wine goblets and other glassware, and even jewelry.

The Shop at Sunspots Studios

The gallery and shop at Sunspots have an ever-changing array of blown glass treasures, which is why our REALTORS® are quick to point their clients in the direction of this incredible place when they are looking for a unique item or gift to celebrate the purchase of their new home. Our clients often ask us where they can find something unique to our area to take back to their family or friends who are babysitting, pet sitting, or house sitting while they are away, and Sunspots is just the place for a very special and meaningful gift.

Special Events

The last weekend in April is always special at Sunspots because that's when they host the Virginia Hot Glass Festival and the place literally lights up with artists from across the region, providing non-stop demonstrations and offering an array of lovely items for sale.

In addition to all of the beautiful artworks, Sunspots is a place where you can see live music, attend fundraisers and special events, and even buy fresh, locally grown vegetables, meats, soups and delicious baked goods during the Winter Farmer's Market, which is held each Saturday from December through March.

At Old Dominion Realty, we care about our clients, and we want them to be as happy living in our communities as we are. So if you are looking to buy or sell real estate in Virginia or West Virginia, contact us for expert help and agents who really care.