WHY is 2009 a GREAT Time To Be A SENIOR? 2009 is a GREAT time to be a SENIOR because Social Security benefits will increase 5.8%!!  Courtesy of Uncle Sam, in January over 50 million Americans receiving Social Security benefits will benefit from this 5.8% raise, which is the largest since 1982.  So, way overdue!  Medicare also announced that for the first time in eight years, your Part B monthly premium (which covers doctors & outpatient services) will NOT GO UP next year.   Every year since 1975, Social Security has given automatic cost-of-living adjustments to keep up with inflation. For 2009 the adjustment is a 5.8% increase.  This means that the "average" monthly Social Security check for an individual will go from $1,090 to $1,153 - an increase of about $63. The average retired co... 10/30/2008

  FUN DAYS in NOVEMBER! VOTE!  November's BIG Day! One of the most important days in America happens every four years in November.  It's a presidential election, with Election Day occurring TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4.  Later this month is Thanksgiving, another great American tradition and an oh-so-yummy day!   According to Brownielocks.com, November is designated as Family Stories Month, National Georgia Pecan Month, I Am So Thankful Month, National Peanut Butter Lovers Month and Vegan Month.   There are also many special weeks.  They include Pursuit of Happiness Week (8-14), World Kindness Week (10-17), National Game and Puzzle Week (23-30), and Better Conversation Week (24-30). Here are some more special days in November: 2        Cookie Monster Day 3        Clichè Day 6        National Men ... 10/29/2008

Many people start their tour of Colonial Williamsburg at the wonderful and interactive Visitor Center, or if you are more adventurous, like myself and already have a background in history, try driving directly into Historic Williamsburg and do some exploring on your own. Be prepared for large groups most times of the year including LARGE groups of children. Below are a few images taken on a recent excursion to Williamsburg.   Below is The Public Hospital for Persons of Insane and Disordered Minds. This building was the first devoted solely to the treatment of mental illness in the new world. The first patient was admitted October 12, 1773. The architecture of the building matches closely the Wren Building at the nearby College of William and Mary.     Among the many period reproductions... 10/27/2008

  FREE SEMINARS for ADULT CHILDREN & THEIR AGING PARENTS at Williamsburg Landing It is nationally estimated that one in every four persons is providing or has provided care for a relative or friend age 50 or older.  Williamsburg Landing is offering free seminars on important topics for adult children and their aging parents. HEALTHY LIVINGNovember 6, 2008Helps family members understand the importance of good nutrtion, physical activity and socialization for the aging. HOUSING & SAFETYNovember 20, 2008Provides an overview of housing options and terms for aging parents as well as safety issues in the homes of aging. FINANCIAL & LEGAL PLANNINGJanuary 15, 2009Assists family members in financial planning, long-term care needs and organizing important family documents and financial records. P... 10/25/2008

  MORE COMMON MLS ABBREVIATIONS IN WILLIAMSBURG VIRGINIA Searching for a home can be stressful, especially if you do not the terms for commonly used abbreviations.  How many times have you've been searching on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service)  and didn't know what  3BR 2.5BA, 2LV. COL meant?  (That is a 3 bedroom, 2 and a half bath 2 level colonial home).  Or have you read the For Sale section of the classifieds in your local paper and wished you had a guide for all the abbreviations?  Well, wonder no more!  Here is a list of commonly used MLS ABBREVIATIONS.  I hope you find it useful and if you're moving to WILLIAMSBURG VIRGINIA or the Hampton Roads area, I'd be delighted to help you find your home.     FARM        Farmhouse FFBR First Floor Bdr FHA Forced Hot Air FLR Floor Furnace F... 10/24/2008

  SALUTE to VETERANS in COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG SALUTE TO VETERANS on NOVEMBER 11, 2008 (My birthday, yes a shameless plug!) at 4:30p.m. or 1630 hours (for the Military-minded folks) Will be held in COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG.  The parade is open to ALL VETERANS.  The admission is free November 7 - 11 to Active duty military, reservists, retirees, veterans and their families, including families of currently deployed troops with appropriate I.D. Tickets available only at on-site ticket sales windows.   For more info, visit www.history.org Courtesy of Yvette Smith, SRES® REALTOR®  and Proud U.S. Army VeteranWILLIAMSBURG REAL ESTATE757-753-74725350 Discovery Park BlvdWilliamsburg Virginia  23188YvetteSmith@AtHomeInWilliamsburg.com   10/23/2008

  Great Places to RETIRE in WILLIAMSBURG Is it time for you to retire?  Are you searching for the perfect place.  Well search no more!  WILLIAMSBURG VIRGINIA is THE place to RETIRE!  If it's an Active Adult community that you're seeking, it's right here in Williamsburg.  Colonial Heritage is a 55 and better active adult community.  Read more on Colonial Heritage here! Located less than ten minutes from Williamsburg’s historic area, you’ll find a distinctive, new continuing care retirement community: WindsorMeade of Williamsburg. There are 206 beautiful acres and miles of walking trails.  It boasts a 2400 square feet of private clubhouse.   The location makes this an ideal community for life-fulfilling retirement. A pedestrian-friendly, walking community, WindsorMeade is located just min... 10/23/2008

  COMMON MLS ABBREVIATIONS IN WILLIAMSBURG VIRGINIA Searching for a home can be stressful, especially if you do not the terms for commonly used abbreviations.  How many times have you've been searching on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service)  and didn't know what  3BR 2.5BA, 2LV. COL meant?  (That is a 3 bedroom, 2 and a half bath 2 level colonial home).  Or have you read the For Sale section of the classifieds in your local paper and wished you had a guide for all the abbreviations?  Well, wonder no more!  Here is a list of commonly used MLS ABBREVIATIONS.  I hope you find it useful and if you're moving to WILLIAMSBURG VIRGINIA or the Hampton Roads area, I'd be delighted to help you find your home.     1C,2C 1 or 2 Car Garage 1LV,2LV #Living Levels ALM Aluminum Siding APPR Agency Approve... 10/22/2008

Did you know that the builders at one of Williamsburg's gated communities are offering to pay the buyer's mortgage for one full year?  Unbelievable!  The builders want to sell some of their brand new homes that are in inventory so they are offering to pay the mortgage for the first year.  The only requirement is that the sale must close before Thanksgiving.This commmunity has a beautiful clubhouse and work out room, swimming pools, tennis courts, and a golf course.  Most of the homes have all upgrades such as a two sided fireplace, cherry cabinets, top of the line appliances and granite counter tops.   10/15/2008

  PRE-APPROVAL PRE-QUALIFICATION WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? Pre-Qualification is a great beginning to your new home search.  It is an informal discussion between borrower and lender.  The lender estimates the amount that you can borrow based solely on what you tell them about your income and assets.  The lender does NO verication and is not bound to make the loan when you're ready to buy. Pre-Approval gives you the most power in your real estate transaction.  Going through the pre-approval process is a sign of your seriousness to the sellers.  It places sort of a Good Borrowing Seal of Approval on you.  Pre-approval means that you have met with a loan officer, your credit files have been reviewed and the loan officer believes you can really qualify for a given loan amount with one or more ... 10/14/2008

  NO, IT'S NOT WORTH THE PAPER IT'S WRITTEN ON! Everyone is familiar with the expression that "it's not worth the paper it's written on!"  In the world of real estate, nowhere does that hit home more than with mortgage pre-qualification letters!  In the competitive climate of our current sellers' market, having a strong pre-approval letter by a respected local lender can mean the difference between getting your purchase offer accepted or rejected.  Realtors appreciate the importance of a reliable evaluation of the purchaser's ability to fulfill the terms of the offer, and will recommend that sellers favor prospective buyers with credible letters.  Particularly at risk are private sellers (for sale by owners) who lack the experience to evaluate prequalification letters.  A recent study c... 10/13/2008

  A BLOG WITH A CAUSE Hello BLOGGERS & BLOGGERS-TO-BE!!  BLOG ACTION DAY is October 15, 2008.  What is a blog? Wikipedia says...A blog (a contraction of the term "Web log") is a web site, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. "Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.Many blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject; others function as more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages and other media related to its topic. The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs... 10/12/2008

  BEYOND BOOBS in WILLIAMSBURG VIRGINIA presents  A PINK CARPET EVENT To Premier...A CALENDAR TO LIVE BY 2009 A Very Special Project ot Save the Lives by Increasing Breast Health Awareness Wednesday October 15th, 20086:30 P.M. - 9:00 P.M. Williamsburg Chrysler Jeep Kia Showroom3012 Richmond Road WILLIAMSBURG VIRGINIA $50 per person - includeds a calendar(Tax-deductible portion of each ticket is $35) Visit www.beyondboobsinc.org  for more information.   Courtesy of Yvette Smith, SRES®  REALTOR®WILLIAMSBURG REAL ESTATE757-753-74725350 Discovery Park BlvdWilliamsburg Virginia 10/11/2008

  Mr. & Mrs. Seller, Here's What I Will Do as your REALTOR® Inspired by a true story...   1.  I will communicate with you weekly via telephone.  I realize we are in a technology savy world now, but I know you need to hear me tell you that I'm doing everything possible to sell your home. 2.  I will give you feedback from the agents who have shown your home.  Yes, it is difficult to track down the agents sometimes.  They show so many homes.  But I will make all efforts to talk to them. 3.  I will tell you what you NEED to hear, not what I think you'd like to hear.  As painful as it may be at times, I am going to always give you my honest, professional opinion.  If we need a price reduction, then that is what I will tell you.  I will not beat around the bush because I am afraid of loosing ... 10/09/2008

  LAW & ORDER SVU...My Sister's Run In with the "LAW"   First a little history...My baby sister, PENELOPE (yes it is her real name) is a traveling registered nurse specializing in obstetrics (helps deliver babies).  She's been to Texas (delivered one of the Polygamist compound babies there), California, now she's in The Big Apple, New York City. She's star struck, yes she is!!  She is also a HUGE fan of LAW & ORDER SVU.  So, as she is living the Sex in the City lifestyle (the glamour, not all the racey stuff, Mom would kill her!), she's thinking..."Gee, I hope I catch a filming of LAW & ORDER SVU!"  Voila, there she had it!  She stumbled on a shooting of a scene from her favorite show!!  Like a star-struck fan, she asked if they would take pictures and they obliged!! Here she is with ra... 10/08/2008

  SHORT SALE REPRESENTATION by LYTLE LAW, P.C.  Available in WILLIAMSBURG, NEWPORT NEWS and HAMPTON VIRGINIA   For my Real Estate Closings, I use LYTLE LAW, P.C.  Because of their professionalism and unequivocal expertise, I know that my buyers and sellers will confidently seal the deal!  LYTLE LAW, P.C. has announced that it now represents SELLERS and AGENTS in short sales.  They will do the following...                    *     Meet with the sellers.                   *      Gather all required information and documentation.                   *      Submit a complete package to the lender.                   *      Manage the process.                   *      Keep everyone informed.                   *      Handle negotiation.                   *      Protect your commission. AND...the... 10/07/2008

  TRICK or TREAT HOURS IN WILLIAMSBURG and NEWPORT NEWS VIRGINIA In WILLIAMSBURG, trick-or-treat begins at 6p.m. and ends at 8p.m.  Participants must be 12 years old and younger to participate. In Newport News, trick-or-treat will be from 5p.m. to 8p.m.  Children beyond the 7th grae or 13 years of age may not participate in trick-or-treating.  An adult should escort small children and older children should go in large groups. Be advised that if there's no porch light on, you can assume that those folks are not participating in trick-or-treating.  I cannot recall so many rules to trick-or-treating when I was a child.  I trick-or-treated past the 7th grade.  Who's to say a 10th grader shouldn't have fun trick-or-treating?  Well, at least I still get to experience the fun of Halloween...th... 10/03/2008

  HALLOWEEN IN WILLIAMSBURG VIRGINIA Looking for something to do with the children this fall?  Or do you need political relief and want to have some fun?  Well, don't you know that there's always plenty to do in Williamsburg!  The seasons change in Williamsburg, but the FUN doesn't stop!! October 1-31  Halloween with Virginia's James River Plantation.  Take haunted tours and have candlelit dinners.  There are ghostly and spirited activities to suit every taste.   On the October 4,11,18,24-25, you can experience an evening of spiritied tale telling in Williamsburg's James River Plantation country on the James River Plantation Progressive Ghost Feast Tour & Dinner.  Hear Legend of Rippons Run, visit the Harweek graveyard and hear of the Beechwood Tragedy.  Each house tour is alternated wi... 10/03/2008

  MOVING to the CITY OF WILLIAMSBURG? If so, here are some important phone numbers that you may need... ELECTRICTY                           1-888-667-3000 NATURAL GAS                       1-866-229-3578 TELEPHONE         Residential                           757-954-6222         Business                              757-954-6888 H20/SEWER                               757-220-6140 TRASH COLLECTION              757-220-6140 MOTOR VEHICLES                  757-253-4811 VOTER REGISTRATION          757-253-686 TAX INFO                                  757-220-6185 PUBLIC LIBRARY                    757-229-7645 NEWSPAPER         Daily Press                         757-247-4800         VA Gazette                        757-220-1736 POLICE                                    757-220-2332 (Dia... 10/01/2008

  JAMES CITY COUNTY WILLIAMSBURG VIRGINIA COMMUNITY PHONE NUMBERS Electricity                 1-888-667-3000 Natural Gas               1-888-229-3578 Telephone       Residential            757-954-6222     Business                757-954-6888 Water/Sewer             757-253-6800 Trash Collection     BFI                        757-898-5488     Waste Mangement 1-800-877-7531     Suburban               757-220-2846 Cable TV                    757-224-1111 Motor Vehicles         757-253-4811  952 Capitol Landing Road Williamsburg   Voter Registration    757-253-6868 Tax Information        757-253-6650 Public Library           757-259-7720 Newspaper     Daily Press            757-247-4800     Virginia Gazette    757-220-1736  (local Williamsburg newspaper) Police                        757-2... 09/28/2008