Date Archives: April 2019

Memorial Day weekend is just around the corner! There's no need to book plane tickets or a hotel room because there are plenty of great things to do right here in Shenandoah Valley. 

Our real estate agents all agree that the Valleyfest Beer & Wine Festival is one of Memorial Day weekend's best events. After all, what better way to kick off summer than to spend the day outdoors listening to live music and enjoying wine, ciders, and microbrew beers?

The event, which is in its 19th year, is extremely popular among both locals and visitors. Here's everything you need to know so you can make the most of your experience. 

Live Music

This year's event will feature a main stage and an acoustic stage. On the main stage, you'll find Americana bands YARN and The Judy Chops, solo acoustic performer Mike Davis, and funk, rock, and blues band Pebble to Pearl (P2P).

The acoustic stage features YARN Plays the Dead, Trail of the Lonesome, and Gypsy Town. Whether you're in the mood for high-energy performances or relaxing and soulful vocals, you're sure to find exactly what you're looking for. 

Food, Drinks, and Shopping

The festival will feature a large selection of beer, wine, and cider as well as food vendors serving up your favorites like kettle corn, burgers and fries, and even fried Oreos. When you're ready to take a break from eating and dancing, you can also enjoy shopping for unique crafts and gifts from the many local vendors. 

Getting There

Valleyfest Beer & Wine Festival is scheduled for Saturday, May 25th, from 12 p.m. until 7 p.m. It's held on the slopes of the Massanutten Resort and is expected to draw a crowd of over 4,000 people. 

Ticket prices are $25 each. Tickets for your designated driver and visitors under 21 are only $10, and children under 10 get in for free. All proceeds from the event benefit the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce. 

Your Shenandoah Valley Real Estate Professionals

Once you experience the great community vibe and get to know some of your potential new neighbors, you'll be more ready than ever to make this area your new home. We can help you find the perfect home in your ideal neighborhood. Contact us today to discuss your goals and get started! 

Before you start shopping for the right house, you have to shop for something else: the right mortgage. Pre-approval is practically mandatory if you want sellers to consider your offers, and comparing different rates and terms is just as important as comparing different properties. Because your rate will determine the size of your monthly payments for decades to come, you want to choose a loan with as little interest as possible. But do you know how lenders come up with this important number in the first place?

Many different factors and figures affect your interest rate, and you can't predict or control all of them. Our real estate agents want you to understand your fluctuating options when you know more about the math behind them. Here are some of the things banks and other lenders consider as they calculate interest rates for home loans:

Economic Trends (Supply and Demand)

Interest rates get higher when lenders take on additional risks, and some risks have nothing to do you with you. For example, are you buying a home in an unstable financial climate? Housing markets suffer, and layoffs are more likely during economic slumps, so lenders must take local and national trends into account as they consider their risks. That's why lenders usually follow the Federal Reserve's lead, lowering or raising interest rates as the federal rate changes.

Lenders also depend on a secondary market of bundled mortgage bonds, so their rates are influenced by the investors who will purchase your loan from them. These investors want high yields on the investments they make, and the laws of supply and demand apply to mortgage bonds too. Your lender wants a loan that will be profitable enough to attract investors, so they must take investors' risks into account.

Your Credit History and Amount of Debt  

How likely are you to make every mortgage payment on time, in full? Lenders only charge their prime rates (their lowest current rates) to borrowers with fantastic track records. That means your credit score and credit history will play a huge role in the rate you receive. Late or missed payments will make your rate soar, while a history of on-time payments will make lenders feel better about their risks. If you have an established relationship with your lender, that may boost your reliability too.

Of course, you also need the funds to make those payments. Debt-to-income ratio is just as important as your salary because it determines your available income every month. If you have a lot of outstanding debt, you're a bigger risk to lenders, even if your credit score is stellar.   

Price, Age, and Location of the Property

Already have an interest rate from a bank? Until you make an offer on a specific home, that number may not matter much. Lenders calculate a new rate for every loan, and yours will be affected by the value of the home you want to buy. For example, lenders look up historical data of similar houses in the area, considering the market value and recent selling trends. They may even offer different products for different types of structures or neighborhoods.  

Of course, the price of your house plays a big role too. While your down payment and closing costs will also affect the size of the loan, you should usually expect higher interest rates for homes with higher prices.

Are you ready to buy a house? At Old Dominion Realty, our real estate agents are happy to make this process as easy (and easy to understand) as possible, from mortgage pre-approval to closing day walkthroughs. Contact us to find an experienced agent near you.   

In observation of National Lost Dog Awareness Day on April 23rd, our real estate agents encourage the caring residents of West Virginia and Virginia to help their fellow neighbors reunite with their missing pets. Though many of these animals return home to their owners, some of them are abandoned and are discovered by our local rescue centers. After you buy one of our beautiful Virginia or West Virginia homes for sale, we invite you to visit a local adoption center and consider adding a four-legged friend to your growing family.

1. Basset Rescue of Old Dominion – 3445 Seminole Trail, Charlottesville, VA 22901 
   Affectionately known as BROOD, Basset Rescue of Old Dominion is dedicated to finding loving and safe homes for the abandoned basset hounds of the greater Virginia, West Virginia and surrounding areas. If you've always wanted an adorable basset hound, feel free to give BROOD a call while you're shopping Charlottesville homes for sale.
   
   
2. Page County Animal Shelter – 1261 Goodrich Rd., Stanley, VA 22851 
   Page County Animal Shelter has a team of passionate individuals who work hard to make their organization a safe and caring center for homeless animals in need. Close to many Page County homes for sale, Page County Animal Shelter welcomes any individuals who can help them find homes for all of their sheltered pets.
   
   
3. Cat's Cradle – PO Box 2152, Harrisonburg, VA 22801 
   Although Cat's Cradle, located near our wide selection of Harrisonburg homes for sale, primarily cares for the cats of the Shenandoah Valley, they also offer a service that connects members of the community with pet owners that need to rehome their dogs. Find a furry new friend while helping your fellow neighbor find a new home for their pet.
    
4. Rockingham/Harrisonburg SPCA – 2170 Old Furnace Rd., Harrisonburg, VA 22802 
   The folks at Rockingham/Harrisonburg SPCA believe that adopting a shelter pet is an act of compassion. They help new owners by providing each animal with vaccines, flea/worm medication, and a microchip. Save a cute dog that was found wandering near Rockingham County homes for sale and give it a home of their own with help from the SPCA.
   
   
5. Shenandoah Shepard Rescue – PO Box 764, Stephens City, VA 22655
   Every dog deserves a home and the volunteers at Shenandoah Shepard Rescue are committed to pairing their rescued German shepherds and other shepherd breeds with responsible, loving homeowners. In an effort to rescue dogs from untimely deaths in shelters, SSR is trying to expand their reach well beyond the Virginia area. If you're interested in viewing Shenandoah County homes for sale with large backyards, SSR has plenty of German shepherds that would love to call your next property home.
    
6. Humane Society of Shenandoah County – PO Box, 173, Woodstock, VA 22664 
   Located just minutes from beautiful Woodstock homes for sale, the Humane Society of Shenandoah County promotes responsible pet ownership to limit the number of pets that enter into shelters. They provide veterinary assistance to pets of local residents and facilitate a spay/neuter program that can help decrease the number of future abandoned animals in the area. Help the Humane Society accomplish its goal by adopting one of their loving dogs.

National Lost Dog Awareness Day reminds us all that there are many beloved pets that have been lost, abandoned or born into homelessness throughout Virginia and West Virginia areas. However, April 23rd is also a day in which we can celebrate the reunion between lost dogs and their owners as well as shelter canines that find homes with new owners. For more information about VA/WVA shelters or to browse gorgeous area homes for sale, contact us today!

In Virginia, springtime brings warmer weather, plenty of sunshine, and thousands of beautiful flowers. Our real estate agents love showing properties this time of year, as potential buyers are often blown away by the gorgeous homes with stunning gardens. 

Every year, the entire state celebrates the beauty of springtime during Historic Garden Week. This year's event takes place from April 27th through May 4th. It includes 31 tours across the state and is expected to draw close to 26,000 visitors.

This annual event has grown in popularity during its 85 years and now features over 250 gardens, homes, and landmarks. Although all of the events are wonderful, the Staunton and Harrisonburg tours stand out from the rest. Here's why.

Staunton 

Hosted by the Augusta Garden Club, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary, the Staunton tour features five architecturally-renowned homes, four of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. One of the houses is a presidential birthplace, and another is a recently restored and rarely-opened residence designed by famed architect William Bottomley. During the tour, you'll also get a chance to view some gardens created by well-known landscape architects Arthur Shurcliff and Charles Gillette.

This tour takes place on Saturday, April 27th from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. While you're in the area, we suggest taking a drive around so you can look at some of the great Staunton Homes for Sale. We think you'll be impressed by what you see! 

Harrisonburg 

The gorgeous mountain views and rolling landscapes of Harrisonburg make this area a favorite among locals and visitors alike. The Harrisonburg Tour includes a 1840s farm where visitors can tour the Farmhouse, Bellhouse, and Smokehouse. It also features several other homes on the outskirts of town, each of which has a unique design and architectural components. At each location, tour participants will also have the opportunity to learn about specific styles of flower arranging.

This tour is scheduled for Wednesday, May 1st, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. It begins at the Spotswood Country Club where there will also be a "meet and greet" and book signing, light refreshments, and unique items for sale by local vendors. 

While you're driving through town, keep an eye out for Harrisonburg homes for sale. If you see some that appeal to you, contact us so we can arrange a tour. 

Your Local Real Estate Pros

At Old Dominion Realty, we're well-versed in all of the things that make the Shenandoah Valley area a great place to live. If you're interested in learning more about potential neighborhoods, contact us. We'll show you around and help you find the perfect place to call home.