Coastal Virginia Beach Vacation

Vacation in Virginia Beach this summer in a family friendly vacation spot.

Virginia Beach is packed with oceanfront hotels along the huge concrete boardwalk with all kinds of Free Entertainment, Parks,Music, Movies for kids on the beach at night, Magic Shows and much more.

Not far from the resort area there are many other nearby things for every family member to enjoy. A few examples are Charter Fishing, Jet Skiing, Paddle Boarding, Kayaking, Golfing choices including Top Golf, Indoor Skydiving, Para-sailing, as well as Dolphin Tours, Ocean Breeze Water Park, Go Carting, The Boardwalk Art Show, and many others – I am sure that I did not include anywhere near all of them.

Now, if by chance the busy boardwalk is not for your family, Virginia Beach has multiple Camp Ground Locations for the budget vacation. Of course a favorite is, for example, a Large Private Beach Home where multiple families can share the cost.

The Vacation Investor.

Some families who live within 200 miles of the beach and go this route, purchase one as a second home and block out the weeks they want for themselves and rent the remaining weeks to other families. This option makes a great investment for the future by having a low cost place for the family with other families paying your mortgage. If you think about it that is why so many are available for rent.

January is when reservations start rolling in for the summer, and some guests even reserve the same week for the following year before they go home. Make your reservations early – some places offer early bird discounts!

Have you thought about purchasing a Vacation Beach Home?

Get in touch with one of The Choose A Home Team Realtors today! We would love to meet with you and show you what is available that fits your needs. Some of our clients like small one or two bedroom condos where the cost is low, and let the family share it at different times during the summer. Splitting time depending on who has time off. Others, especially those from the DC, Maryland and Richmond area, often buy the larger beach properties at what we refer to in Virginia Beach as the North End (quiet and above the resort strip), Croatan (commonly referred to as the quiet family oriented Locals Beach), Chic’s Beach on the Chesapeake Bay, and for those that want to be away from it all, Sandbridge Beach.

Retiring in a few years? Why not buy a second or an investment home at the beach now?

Coastal Virginia Beach VacationDon Maclary2019-05-31T16:39:13+00:00

How Are Those Knees Handling The Stairs?

Aging Knees Create an increasing Demand Of Single Story Homes.
When Is The Right Time To Think About Logical Real Estate Choices?

Over the last several years we have seen an increased demand for single story homes, and first floor Master Bedrooms.

Our aging population does not always like this. However it but a bad knee or a hip problem are often a part of the aging process. This makes a two story home a painful difficult place to recover from something like a hip or knee replacement. Stairs are not your friend, In a home you pay for the square foot the space they take and then assume the liability for people, kids and adults alike falling down them.

Two story homes are more of a builder budget idea than a love for the design.

Every home needs a piece of land to be built on and land costs money. Therefore a piece of property large enough for a 2500 square foot ranch with a 2 car garage will often be torn down and replaced with two 2100 square foot homes with a one car garage. Now as a consequence potential clients wanting to downsize fear selling the large 2 story home they love. And not being able to find a suitable replacement.

Create A Logical Plan That Makes Economic Sense.

Everyone does not fit in the same basket as there are many factors to consider such as health, both physical and financial. The size of the family and future needs. The world of real estate is not what it was in the past leaving the smartest of people unable to make the right choices simply because they don’t know what the choices are. Many wait to they are not able to physically make any changes and wind up in places they are not comfortable with. Don’t let this happen to you set up a time to discuss logical options you may have. Free information is will often help to avoid the costly consequences of the status quo.

How Are Those Knees Handling The Stairs?Don Maclary2019-05-22T12:10:30+00:00

Best Place To Watch The Super Bowl

Same Question Every Year, Who’s hosting the Super Bowl Party?
Make this year your year to buy a home worthy of Hosting the party!

Every year the super bowl comes around and you wind up at a house you would rather not be at because they own the best place that has the parking and entertainment space to host a party. Sports bars are fun but at the end of the night check your wallet, The average couple that frequently visits a sports bar spends about the same per month as a mortgage payment on a modest home and then go home to an apartment where they continue to pay the landlords mortgage.

Yes sports bars are fun but think about having only your group of friends bring a dish and a six pack for the evening in your den. Think about investing in your future instead of paying rent for your landlord and supporting the local bars.

Before another year goes by and we are ringing in 2019 consider sitting down with a member of The Choose A Home Team or take our Free Home Buyer Class and learn about our little to no money down options for you to become a home owner.

You don’t make it to the super bowl without a solid game plan and you don’t secure your financial future without a game plan. You may decide your not ready to be a homeowner yet however years go by fast and you should at least develop your game plan.

It costs nothing but a little of your time so the best place to start is contact us today and set an appointment

Best Place To Watch The Super BowlDon Maclary2019-02-10T21:35:31+00:00

Rent to Own – Good Idea or Bad Move?

Rent to own sounds like a good solution to some with little to put down or poor credit right? (WRONG)

The Choose A Home Team @ Howard Hanna Real Estate offers a free home buyer class. Programs available to assist people with little or no money down if your in a poor cash flow position. More importantly do you qualify for credit. We work with lenders who help with the credit repair process.

Let our team find you a house for sale that you can afford.

When you enter into a house for sale rent to own contract more often than not the only party that benefits is the person selling the home. In most cases a portion of the rent is held toward the purchase of the property and is non refundable. If you do not buy that property. Example a place that might normally rent for $1000 a month would be $1200 and $200 of it would apply to purchase. Of coarse 1 year later the owner collected $2400 of your money and if you still do not qualify for a mortgage your out that money.

We on the Choose A Home Team encourage you, weather your ready to buy a home now or not to sit in on one of our First Time Home Buyer Classes. Helping you to develop a plan for your future. Many websites are out there that make the Home Buying Process appear to be a simple do it yourself project. It is by nature a very simple process but not if you do it yourself. Please take the time to meet with a member of our Team and learn the ropes of home ownership.

Rent to Own – Good Idea or Bad Move?Don Maclary2019-02-09T14:33:59+00:00

Best New Years Resolution For Any Family

The Best Gift Anyone Can Provide For Their Family Is A Home!
An Apartment or rented house is a building in which your family resides for a short time and then moves on.

The purchase of a home starts a journey of memories and in most cases long term friends.

Owning a house is an investment in your families future both financially and emotionally, A place you call home and over time will own without a monthly payment.

Each year that passes and you have paid the mortgage for the landlord was a temporary roof over your head with no return on your contribution. Some will always be renters and that’s OK. Others will make a New Years Resolution to Break out of the pack and become a homeowner in 2018.

Make this the year your family plants roots in the foundation of a house!

For tough loans with scores under 600

Click in the link and get qualified.

Best New Years Resolution For Any FamilyDon Maclary2019-02-18T16:05:29+00:00

Walk the Virginia Beach Boardwalk Art Show

Howard Hanna Realtors Will Be At 27th Street for the 2018 Boardwalk Art Show Answering Questions.
Artist’s from all over will be displaying fabulous art for you to view or purchase on the Virginia Beach Boardwalk, If you have not been in the past make it a point to attend this year.

Next Year look for us at the East Coast She Crab Soup Classic

The Choose A Home Team will be staffing this event with enough Realtors to answer questions about today’s real estate market and how it may affect you.

1 Inventory

2 Available Low Or No Money Down Programs

3 Free Home Buyer Classes

4 Listing Your Home For Sale

5 Joining Our Team Of Realtors

6 Relocation Assistance

Bring your questions and talk with one of our Howard Hanna Realtors.

Military? Ask for one of our Military Relocation Professionals

Walk the Virginia Beach Boardwalk Art ShowDon Maclary2019-03-09T00:33:31+00:00

Take a Minute and Give Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Choose A Home Team Gives Special thanks

to our friends and clients who faithfully support Our Team of Realtors.

As we express our gratitude, we will never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. These words were written by John F Kennedy our 35th president was part of a Thanksgiving address to the nation. Then as it is now. These words are used to convey our gratitude and appreciation for the things we have. The life we live, the freedoms we very much enjoy and our family ties.

It is easy to get caught up in how fast the time goes by after Halloween. It seems like there is no distinction for Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving should stand out alone as a separate holiday. I was at a store the other day looking for Thanksgiving decorations and was told they do not carry any. They go straight from celebrating Halloween to the Christmas season.

I would like to remind everyone that there does exist a holiday between October 31st and December 25th. Please take the time to reflect on your blessings. You don’t appreciate something until you don’t have it anymore. Make your Thanksgiving dinner a place to create memories, and to celebrate good fortunes.

All of our Realtors at Howard Hanna wish everyone a healthy, happy and peaceful Thanksgiving season. Our Team appreciates your support. For our new clients we hope you enjoy your new home.

Our veterans have a special place in our greetings. They know all to well how it feels to be away from family and friends during a holiday. We hope that they have a chance to be united and celebrate the day with the thought that our continued support is with them.

We have already begun this seasons holiday festivities here in Coastal Virginia.

Examples are The Norfolk Parade of Lights, the holiday lights on the Virginia Beach Oceanfront Boardwalk and The Azalea Gardens lights will also soon be in full view. Take this opportunity to explore our area. Make some new memories for both the young and old, Family Friends or maybe even a Veteran spending the day alone.

Back to John F Kennedy’s quote. Do something this year to make a difference in someone’s life. Give to a charity, donate your time at a homeless shelter, or just spend more time with your family. Small acts of kindness like this are paid back to the giver in many ways. What goes around comes around really happens. May everyone enjoy a healthy and happy holiday season.

For future Home Buyers we offer a Free Home Buyer Class Once a month. Bobby Ashburner hosts this class in one of Beach Fords Conference rooms.

please give extra thanks to our active duty military and all of our Veterans when you see them.

Coastal Virginia is home to our largest Navy Base right Here in our backyard.

Take a Minute and Give ThanksSue Maclary2019-02-11T20:18:31+00:00

WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS TO BE AN AMERICAN.

WHETHER IT IS A FACT OR JUST MY OPINION,

I BELIEVE IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO BE AN AMERICAN.

We are all fortunate to be able to call ourselves Americans. It is very unfortunate that too many of our citizens take things like the freedoms we enjoy for granted today. Sadly you would think here in Coastal Virginia home to the largest Naval Base in the country people would be aware that freedom is not free. Citizens across our great Nation live in freedom unlike that of any other country.

Today I stopped to reflect on what Veterans Day signifies.

Veterans Day is commemorated every year on November 11, originally established in 1918 as Armistice Day which marked the end of World War I.

After the United States involvement in World War II and the Korean War. In 1954 Congress got together and authorized changing Armistice Day to Veterans Day.

By changing the name to Veterans Day we now honor all of our veterans who serve now or had served in the military. This was a welcome change by all who serve and have served in our armed forces past and present.

We are freely able to do and speak today with no hesitation. This would not be true without our armed forces. Our Men and Woman in the Military are amazing, brave, and selfless. They have served in our armed forces to protect the rights and freedoms that I and my fellow Americans enjoy. They have sacrificed and continue to endure hardships so that we can enjoy our freedoms.

Most of all I fully support all our Veterans who have served and will serve our country protecting the freedom we all enjoy.

As a proud member of a military family I am very aware of the deep devotion and dedication to our country and all it stands for. I am fortunate to have many close friends some of which are these Veterans.

It is imperative that we all take a moment and HONOR OUR VETERANS. They are all valiant warriors of the most powerful and highly respected military force in the world. I cannot express enough in words my utter gratitude for their courageous sacrifices. My wish for you all is a Happy Veterans Day and thank each and every Veteran of the United States of America, May God Bless all of you!

WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS TO BE AN AMERICAN.Susan Kent2019-02-11T20:19:46+00:00

Fresh New Look For Real Estate – On The Web!

NEW REAL ESTATE SEARCH TOOLS

To our many loyal clients and prospective Home Buyers and Sellers.

We are currently developing our new website ChooseMyHome.com for coastal Virginia Real Estate!

Many of our loyal follows of the former website Chooseahomenow.com we hosted for many years helping people with their house purchases and still do. While it was conceived on an older computer platform lacking bells and whistles, it served its purpose.

Times have changed.

In today’s fast moving world, technology has advanced by leaps and bounds. By comparison to past years leaving us with inadequate capability for site improvement because of the original platform’s limitations.

It was clear a change was needed. We made the decision to move ahead to reflect today’s digital age and techie demands. Taking one more progressive step we in large part to take care of our current and future clients. As we have always done in person. The Choose A Home Team’s solid commitment to communication and service to our customers in Coastal Virginia. From the Virginia Beach Oceanfront to Suffolk our team is now expanding to the technological aspects of our business.

Notice that the wheels are now in motion. With a full scale production of a new modernized, user friendly website standing up to present day standards. And once again the expectations of our clients is underway. We are pleased to announce and welcome you to the launch with its fresh new look and feel!

Once the tweaks are made the plan is to then rework the old website. Bringing it to its maximum capabilities. Both sites will work together and not be going away. A close observation will ensue to see which site provides the better user experience for our clients.

Confident you will find the new website more intuitive and helpful, we encourage you to browse its pages as it evolves and invite you to stay awhile!

Watch the progress and stay tuned!

Our team is a group of well qualified Realtors with Howard Hanna, our home base is the Virginia Beach Laskin Rd. office and we serve all of Coastal Virginia

For new perspective Home Buyers we offer a Free Home Buyer Class to assist with your house purchase.

Fresh New Look For Real Estate – On The Web!Susan Kent2019-03-04T15:49:42+00:00

Welcome, Home to Our Military Men And Woman!

Always Remember Freedom Was And Is Not Free!

With great enthusiasm, All of us on the Choose A Home Team at Howard Hanna and local military Families

We want to join family and friends in a warm welcome back home to our soldiers! In recent weeks Homecoming celebrations have taken place all around Hampton Roads Coastal Virginia in honor of you, the dedicated men and women of our armed forces returning from deployments.

The Choose A Home Team is privileged to know so many in the military community, many are our close friends and clients. As we look forward to continuing to foster new friendships and client relationships with you – here is a little message from us to you.

WELCOME BACK and THANK YOU!’ to every service member returning to Hampton Roads! Here’s a big SHOUT OUT to each service member of our Armed Forces!

USS George H.W. Bush

After a lengthy seven-month deployment commencing January 21st, the USS George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group 2 with its crew of 7,000 soldiers are returning to Naval Station Norfolk on August 21st 2017. The aircraft carrier and its squadrons of Carrier Air Wing and staff, The destroyer Squadron staff and ships held joint exercises with the United Kingdom demonstrating the capability to deter and respond to possible threats. The carrier has supported operations against terrorist groups in the Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf.

USS Truxton

The guided missile destroyer based out of Norfolk deployed with the USS George H.W. Bush and returned home following a long seven-month deployment.

Destroyer Squadron 22

The Destroyer Squadron 22 had alternate ships which deployed at assorted times uniting with the Bush strike group, returning in June and July 2017.

USS Mahan: Returned June 20, 2017

Deployed on November 19th 2016 to support the 5th Fleet area of operations for seven months. Some are the USS Mahan (DDG 72), a guided-missile destroyer supported security cooperation efforts and maritime security operations. While on deployment the USS Mahan travelled over 50,000 nautical miles. They engaged in tri-lateral defense exercises with the Iraq and Kuwaiti Defense Forces. They also engaged in joint naval exercises with Great Britain, France, Australia, Denmark and other NATO partners. The destroyer returned on June 20th 2017 to Naval Station Norfolk.

You’ve made it home with great timing. How fantastic is it to be in Hampton Roads this time of year! Everyone can enjoy the last weeks of summer, plan some fun with the family. Maybe even hang out with the kids before they go back to school, help pack up older kids to college, and watch one of nature’s most incredible sights – the Total Solar Eclipse (well – partial Eclipse in VB – but still really awesome to say you got to see it)!

So enjoy the down time – we know you have earned it!

Welcome, Home to Our Military Men And Woman!Susan Kent2019-02-11T20:20:34+00:00