Date Archives: May 2018

The warm, wonderful days of summer are just around the corner, and that means children throughout Augusta County will be looking for fun activities to keep busy when school is out. Fortunately, there are plenty of great summer camps in the area that allow your kids to enjoy the season in a safe, active setting, make new friends, and pursue their passions. Our real estate agents are here to help you prepare for the season, with a guide to five of the best summer camps in the Staunton, VA area this year.

Summer Fun: Where to Find 5 Great Camps for Augusta County Kids

1. Staunton-Augusta YMCA – 708 N Coalter St., Staunton
   If you researched the area while shopping Staunton homes for sale, you may have already heard about some of the great programs that the local YMCA has to offer. Throughout June and July, kids can enjoy summer day camps at the Staunton YMCA, which include swimming, sports, games, field trips, and plenty of opportunities to make new friends. YMCA summer camps also offer affordable weekly fees, with eight weeks of camps this summer.
   
   
2. Boys & Girls Club of America – 302 E Wayne St., Waynesboro
   Any family searching for Waynesboro homes for sale will love having the local Boys & Girls Club of America close to home, in part thanks to all of the great summer activities that the club provides. Boys & Girls Club camps balance fun and education, with programs geared toward both younger children and teens. Kids will have the opportunity to participate in physical activities, experience the arts, learn more about healthy living, and even prepare for potential future careers.
   
   
3. Camp LIGHT – 107 Creative Works Rd., Waynesboro
   The team at Camp LIGHT has a simple but powerful mission – to love, inspire, give, hope, and teach to both at-risk youth and children with special needs in the Staunton area. Camp LIGHT offers seven camps throughout the summer, where kids will have the opportunity to play, learn, and grow in a safe, supportive setting. Activities include gardening, time with animals, art, aquatics, theater, sports, and so much more. Camps here have no enrollment fee, and adults are welcome to get involved as volunteers.
   
   
4. Fisherville UMC Child Development Center – 1600 Jefferson Hwy., Fisherville
   The Fisherville United Methodist Church Child Development Center is a big attraction for families shopping for Fisherville homes and provides plenty of fun activities for kids once you move to the area. Fisherville UMC summer camps offer 13 weeks of programming, with a unique theme for each week of camp. Some of the most popular themes include Summer Science, Junior Detectives, Master Builders, and Hysterical Histories & Other Tall Tales.
   
   
5. Staunton Recreation and Parks Summer Camps – 1000 Montgomery Ave., Staunton
   Simple, safe summer fun is the name of the game at Camp Staunton, run by the passionate team at the Staunton Parks and Recreation department. These affordable, local summer camps offer a mix of outdoor exploration, physical activities, learning, and field trips to fun, unique local destinations. Camps are divided by age, to ensure that each child can make the most of their favorite activities. You can choose to pay Camp Staunton's affordable fees by the week or pay a one-time fee for eight weeks of action-packed summer fun.

Still searching for the perfect home that allows you to enjoy all that the Staunton area has to offer year-round? Our team would love to help! Contact us at Old Dominion Realty to buy and sell homes throughout Augusta County.

We're On the Grow and On the Move

Exciting news – that's for sure!  Old Dominion Realty has been growing.  So much so we found ourselves in need of more space for our Augusta County real estate office.   

Not to worry, we didn't go far.  You'll find us at our brand new office location in the Myers Corner Community located at 19 Myers Corner Drive, Suite 101 in Staunton, VA.  Myers Corners is a mixed-use development with a 30-acre business park and a residential community located in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

Why Myers Corner?  It's pretty simple:  Our team wanted a larger office space in a high-profile location with easy access to major routes like Interstate 64, Interstate 81, and Route 250, but close to home.  And Myers Corner was the perfect fit.

If You Build It, They Will Come

Moving to a new office is no small task and neither is building it.  With more than a year invested from start to finish, we broke ground for our new location Summer 2017.  There's a ton of work that goes into the designing, planning, building, and moving to a new business home.  We officially unlocked the doors to our new office in April of this year.

Here are some photos of our new space while under construction:

It's Time to Celebrate

Old Dominion Realty and the Greater Augusta Chamber of Commerce will be celebrating the grand opening of the new office location on Wednesday, June 6 with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Open House beginning at 11:30 am to 5:00 pm.  The public is invited to attend the event.

Old Dominion Realty has partnered with Woody's Culinary Skills & Food Service Training (a part of the Woodrow Wilson Vocational Program) to provide refreshments after the ceremony for guests.  Woodrow Wilson Vocational Program provides workforce training, education, and support for its students that result in industry-recognized credentials and competitive employment opportunities in the local community.

Time to Meet our Neighbors

While Myers Corners is a relatively new development in our local community, it has already caught the attention of numerous businesses including Fishersville Family Pharmacies, 7-Eleven, Bankers Insurance, Farmers and Merchants Bank, Prosperity Home Mortgage, F&M Mortgage, Comprehensive Health Systems, PLC and many more. 

About Old Dominion Realty

Old Dominion Realty continues to serve the local Eastern West Virginia and Central Virginia Shenandoah Valley communities with excellent quality service for home buyers and sellers alike.  We are a full service, established firm with five office locations across Virginia and West Virginia. In an ever-changing real estate market, there has been one constant for over 50 years--Old Dominion Realty. Simply stated: We are built on integrity with proven results.

Nestled in the Shenandoah Valley between the rolling peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the city of Harrisonburg is known by many as a great outdoor destination. But for those in the know, it's also one of America's great under-the-radar foodie towns. Since you're looking for Harrisonburg homes for sale, we just thought you should know.

If you're not yet familiar with all the reasons Harrisonburg is one of Virginia's unofficial food capitals, you might want to stop by on May 19th. That's when Harrisonburg's Downtown Dinner Party hits town, and it's close enough that we can already taste it!

Harrisonburg Downtown Dinner Party

On May 19th, Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance (HDR) is celebrating its 15th anniversary by throwing a festive, food-filled party in the heart of town. For the last 15 years, HDR has been working tirelessly to rejuvenate Downtown Harrisonburg, and the results are visible everywhere you turn. We can't think of a better way to celebrate than by gathering in Downtown Harrisonburg and checking out some of our city's best food!

The Harrisonburg Downtown Dinner Party takes place at Turner Pavilion and Park from 7 PM to 11 PM on May 19th. The event will transform the pavilion into an elegant setting with 15 curated bar and tasting stations offering the best selections from some of Downtown Harrisonburg's most exciting restaurants.

And the food is just the beginning at this event, which is being put together in partnership by HDR and the event team from Sub Rosa Supper Club. Downtown Dinner Party will feature craft cocktails, music by DJ Ryan Clark, the Rosy Co. vintage photo booth trailer, and more – including 15 incredible experiences that will be auctioned off to the highest bidder.

More Fun and Food in Harrisonburg

Harrisonburg, VA has been a great food city for a long time, but it's just beginning to get the recognition it deserves. The surrounding Shenandoah Valley was once known as the "Breadbasket of the Confederacy" for its rich farmland. Restaurants here were serving farm-to-table long before farm-to-table was cool.

Our city has been listed on Virginia's state travel blog as one of fifteen noteworthy "Foodie Towns to Try," and one look at Harrisonburg's lineup of restaurants will make it clear why. We encourage you to come and see for yourself – and Downtown Dinner Party is a great opportunity to do so!

Contact Old Dominion Realty today to learn more about life in Harrisonburg, VA. Whether you're here for the food, the mountain scenery, the small-town charm or the abundance of hiking and biking trails, our REALTORS® are committed to helping you find your dream home in Harrisonburg!

Use Your Tax Refund for Your Down Payment

If your tax return is burning a hole in your pocket, there are endless ways you could spend it. Sure, you could go on vacation, or splurge on that latest gadget you've had your eye on, but there's a better option.

If you've been dreaming of finally becoming a homeowner, your tax refund could offer a real opportunity. Our REALTORS® have a few ideas on how you could use your refund to make home ownership a reality once and for all.

Put it toward your deposit

The more you are able to put down as a down payment for your new home, the less you'll end up paying in interest in the long run. You'll also be less likely to have to pay for private mortgage insurance if you're able to put down the recommended 20 percent down payment. When you get your tax refund, create a separate savings account for it so that you won't be as tempted to spend it. You may even gather a little interest if you let it sit for a while.

Pay off your debts

Debt makes it hard to qualify for a mortgage, especially credit card debt. Using your tax refund to work on paying off your credit cards and other debts will help boost your credit rating, which will make it easier to qualify for a mortgage with a rate and terms that you can live with.

Apply it to closing costs

Some new homeowners are shocked to learn that closing costs, including attorney fees, appraisal and inspection fees, title insurance and escrow costs, often add up to a substantial chunk of change. In a lot of cases, these costs must be paid upfront rather than being rolled into your monthly mortgage payments. Your tax refund can be a great way to take care of closing costs.

Put it toward taxes and insurance

Once you own your home, there's still property taxes and homeowners insurance to think about. Putting your tax refund toward these future costs is a great way to ease the financial burden of homeownership.

Build your emergency fund

The costs of owning a home don't end when you're handed the keys and open the door. There are ongoing expenses, many of them unforeseen, that often catch first-time homeowners by surprise. It's important to have a nest egg saved up to deal with the continuing costs of homeownership, and your tax refund can really help out. From monthly mortgage payments and utility bills to unexpected hardships, such as the loss of your job or a sudden and expensive home repair, you'll be glad you had some money tucked away.

Contact Old Dominion Realty today to learn more about how you can put your tax refund to good use. Whether you're planning on buying or selling a home, we're here to help!