WHO WILL BE THE LAST REALTOR® SITTING? WHEN THE MUSIC STOPS, WILL YOU HAVE A CHAIR?   Wikkipedia says... Musical chairs is a game played by a group of people (usually children), often in an informal setting purely for entertainment such as a birthday party. The game starts with any number of players and a number of chairs one fewer than the number of players; the chairs are arranged in a circle (or other closed figure if space is constrained; a double line is sometimes used) facing outward, with the people standing in a circle just outside of that. A non-playing individual plays recorded musicor a musical instrument. While the music is playing, the players in the circle walk in unison around the chairs. When the music controller suddenly shuts off the music, everyone must race to sit... 09/26/2008

  5 TIPS for a Smoother CLOSING Just  as there are things that buyers can do to insure a smoother settlement, preparation will also benefit the seller.  Here are a few of the most common last minute snags:           1.  If you are moving out of town, be sure to have your closing documents prepared in advance.  If you are already living in a different area, allow ample time for turnaround on overnight deliveries.  An original, properly notarized deed will be required for closing. Most localities require that the documents  are signed with BLACK INK.  I know a story of out of town sellers who returned a deed signed in green ink!  The closing attorney in Poquoson could not record it.  So, be sure to clarify signing instructions with your settlement agent.  Also, if your deed has been signe... 09/25/2008

  "TODAY SHOW" in WILLIAMSBURG VIRGINIA Today, I was in COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG waiting for AL ROKER and MATT LAUER at 5:30a.m.  Along with my fellow REALTORS® of LIZ MOORE and ASSOCIATES, signs in tow with coffee and donuts, we waited patiently for our moment of fame on the TODAY SHOW!!  I woke up at 4:30a.m. so I could have enough time to put my face on...just in case I got a closeup:o) UPDATE:  HERE'S MY PICTURE...LOOK HOW HAPPY I AM AT 5:30 IN THE MORNING!! EARLY MORNING PICTURES...        Colonial Horse & Buggy LOCAL WEATHERMAN                                                 Girl in Colonial dress        GEORGE WASHINGTON OR AL ROKER!!!                  IT'S MATT LAUER!!!                       The crowd was great. We had so much fun!! Folks with voting signs, lots of students from Wi... 09/24/2008

  GHOST WALKS in WILLIASMBURG TAVERN GHOST WALKS in WILLIAMSBURG VIRGINIA Take a chilling prowl through Colonial Williamsburg's Historic Area on a Tavern Ghost Walk.  Your guide will tell dramatic tales of the ghosts that are said to still haunt modern Colonial Williamsburg's taverns and sites.  The Historic Area is full of current accounts of mysterious 18th century ghosts and the occasional story of familiar contemporary spirits.   Guests on the family friendly ghost walk will each receive a collectible souvenir pin to commemorate the tour.  The tour is offered in the evenings this fall beginning at 7 o'clock.  The tour begins at Shields Tavern and are $12 for those age 12 and over and $7 for those between ages 6 and 11.  Free for children under 6.  Call 1-800-HISTORY for your reserva... 09/23/2008

  COLONIAL HERITAGE WILLIAMSBURG NEIGHBORHOOD COLONIAL HERITAGE is an active adult gated community for age 55 and better!  Located minutes away from COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG and PRIME OUTLETS as well as many other cultural and historical attractions. 695 Acres of lush greens and beautiful homes.  There traditionally styled luxury homes, carriage homes and villas that surround 170 acre Arthur Hills golf course.  The amenties: Heritage Clubhouse - 25,000 square foot elegantly appointed which features social, recreational and cultural events year 'round, a grand ballroom, fine and casual dining, card and billiard rooms, a library with computer stations, woodworking shop, arts and crafts room and a full time activities director; Four tennis courts; Athletic club; indoor and outdoor pools and c... 09/22/2008

  UNDERSTANDING REAL ESTATE AGENT COMMISSION Real estate brokerage companies and their agents typically charge for their servies on a commission basis.  That commission rate is negotiable, of course, but each company typically establishes a commission schedule in order to be fair to clients and to ensure overhead and costs are covered - just a Wal-Mart does.  If you are selling your home, seemingly the smart thing to do would be to just negotiate or choose the lowest commision rate. Right:?  Well, not necessarily. Generally speaking, there are two "sides" to a commission, the listing side and the selling side.  The listing agent, the one marketing the property, offers to pay the buyer's agent a share of the commission if the buyer agent produces an acceptable buyer.  Of course, those fe... 09/21/2008

  WILLIAMSBURG NEIGHBORHOOD THE VINEYARDS     THE VINEYARDS is a prestigious, private neighborhood of luxury homes on large lots.  It has wide winding streets with beautiful brick homes and yards.  Many estate type entrances and wooded lots.  The exclusive WILLIAMSBURG WINERY is right next door. The neighborhood is just a hop, skip and jump from all WILLIAMSBURG shopping and restaurants. There are approximately 100 homes built from 1990 to present.  The prices range from $750K on up.  Amenities are pool, clubhouse, playground and tennis courts.  The Homeowner Association has quarterly dues of $375. There are currently 6 homes for sale in The Vineyards.  They range from $650K to $1.25M.  There have been  2 homes that sold within the last year, 1 at $750K and 1 at $910K.     Courtesy of Y... 09/20/2008

  A Buyer Agent …why every HOME BUYER needs one! SMART BUYERS NEVER BUY A HOME ALONE! Buying a home is probably the most important purchase you will ever make. Do you want to go it alone? Until a few years ago, home buyers had no choice. They decided upon a home to buy and negotiated the contract without representation. Now you, like the seller, can have someone on your side looking after your best interests. 71% of home buyers surveyed in a recent Gallup poll for the National Association of Realtors said they would use a Buyer Agent the next time they purchased a home.   There are literally hundreds of decisions to be made in the average real estate transaction. You proabably do this...what?  Every 7 years or so?  REALTORS® do it every day...And are pretty good at it!   Courtesy of Yve... 09/19/2008

  NBC's TODAY SHOW IS COMING TO WILLIAMSBURG VA!!! On Wednesday September 24, 2008, the NBC's TODAY SHOW will be in Colonial WILLIAMSBURG!!! Matt Lauer and Al Roker will broadcast live from the Historic Area from 7 to 9 a.m.  Virginia is a battleground state in the upcoming presidential election and the TODAY SHOW is featuring key swing states all next week. The TODAY SHOW will broadcast live from outside the Colonial Capitol on Duke of Gloucester street. Governor Tim Kaine is scheduled to be an interviewed guest.   You can be a part of the audience welcoming MATT and AL and their guests to COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG.  The live broadcast will be at the south gate of the Capitol beginning at 7 a.m., but come early to get a good view!  The TODAY SHOW has an audience of more than 7 million view... 09/19/2008

  SPITFIRE ROTISSIERE                 A GREAT PLACE TO EAT BAR B QUE IN WILLIAMSBURG VIRGINIA Who would think that tucked away in Colonial WILLIAMSBURG is one heck of a bar b que spot...SPITFIRE ROTISSIERE!  Established by Cody Reeves and co-proprietor Steve Rhodes (owner of WILLIAMSBURG EVENT RENTALS), Spitfire Rotisserie is a place "where everyone from builders to busy working mothers can stop by and quickly pick up a delicious, hearty meal."  The concept is natural, healthy, fast and convenient.   Of course I can't leave out DELICIOUS and YUMMY and OMG, THIS IS SOOO GOOD!!!  FACT:  SPITFIRE ROTISSIERE has a smoker that can cook 400 whole chickens in an hour!!  Imagine that!!                                                                       The menu consists of what else?  BAR B Q... 09/18/2008

  WILLIAMSBURG AREA GOLF COURSES DAILY FEE COURSES The Colonial     Par: 72; Yardage:  6,885; Architect:  Lester George; Green Fees:  $36-$75; Phone:  757-566-1600Colonial Heritage      Par: 72; Architect:  Arthur Hills; Phone:  757-229-5205The Golf Club at Brickshire     Par: 72; Yardage:  7,291; Architect:  Ault, Clark & Assoc./Curtis Strange; Green Fees:  $45-$65; Phone: 804-966-8218TheTradition Golf Club at Kiskiack     Par:  72; Yardage:  6,775; Architect:  John Lafoy; Green Fees:  $40-$85; Phone: 757-566-2200The Tradition Golf Club at Royal New Kent     Par:  72; Yardage:  6,965; Architect:  Mike Strantz; Green Fees:  $69-$99; Phone: 804-966-7023The Tradition Golf Club at Stonehouse     Par:  71; Yardage:  6,963; Architect:  Mike Strantz; Green Fees:  $69-$99; Phone: 757-566-1138W... 09/17/2008

  DRUM ROLE PLEASE....ROYAL TREATMENT?  WHOSE THE TRADER IN WILLIAMSBURG VIRGINIA? Here's what's happening in our neck of the woods! Saturday September 27, 2008 is FOODAPALOOZA!!  This exciting event will benefit the WILLIAMSBURG area MEALS on WHEELS and is being sponsored by TownBank of WILLIAMSBURG. FOODAPLOOZA consists of 2 events:   1.Kids Culinary Contest.  All chefs 9-18 years old, come show off your skills and win a chance to talk shop with one of the world's foremost chefs, Darren McGrady.                                                                2.  An evening with Royal Chef, Darren McGrady, personal chef to Princess Diana.  Watch Chef McGradt prepare recipes from his cookbook, Eating Royally, for your dinner as he shares stories about Princess Diana. The Trader is... TRA... 09/16/2008

  THE TOP 8 INTERIOR ITEMS THAT BUYERS REALLY NOTICE! 1.  Buyers take special notice of LIGHT & BRIGHT homes.  Buy high-intensity light bulbs, clean light shades and covers. 2.  Buyers notice especially CLEAN homes.  Give your home a GOOD cleaning from the top to bottom.  Make sure you get those windows, tubs and toilet areas and appliances. 3.  Buyers notice CLEAN WINDOWS, fresh window treatments. 4.  Buyers notice SPACIOUS ROOMS.  Remove unnecessary items that don't fit in or that are TOO LARGE for the room. 5.  Buyers notice FRESHLY CLEANED carpets and waxed floors.  Replace or repair damaged areas of the floor. 6.  Buyers notice colors that will BLEND with the decor and furnishing.  A fresh coat of paint goes a long way!  Think whites or off-whites or beige.  These type of  colors w... 09/14/2008

  BACK TO SCHOOL IS FUN FOR ALL! They've been back in school nearly three weeks and having a Carnival already!!  School is great, especially at WILLIAMSBURG CHRISTIAN ACADEMY in WILLIAMSBURG VIRGINIA! Williamsburg Christian Academy is a private, Christian school in Williamsburg Virginia.  WCA starts at Pre Kindergarten and goes to the 12th grade.  You can learn more about WCA here!                                  A good time was had by all!!  Food, fun and fellowship, what more could you ask for!! Courtesy of Yvette Smith, SRES® REALTOR®WILLIAMSBURG REAL ESTATE757-753-747www.AtHomeInWilliamsburg.com 09/13/2008

  9/11/01 I can't believe it's been seven years since September 11, 2001.  It seems like yesterday to me.  Why, you ask?  Because I was at the Pentagon on that day.  Here's my story: At that time, I was an Active Duty servicemember in the United States Army.  I worked as a Radiology Technologist at the DiLorenzo TRICARE Health Clinic in the Pentagon.  DTHC is an outpatient clinic that had radiology, lab, optometry, occupational health, podiatry and a few more ancillary services.  We treated Active duty servicemembers as well as staff that worked at the Pentagon.  We performed minor surgeries on an outpatient basis.  We had just moved into a new, state-of- the-art facility in 2000. The day started just like any other Army day.  PT (physical training), which consisted of a run, some push-... 09/11/2008

  ZOOTS for Everyone! Yesterday a very kind, customer service-oriented gentleman, Jeffery Wilson presented ZOOTS to my company.  I had never heard of it, but I quiclkly came to love the idea! ZOOTS is a dry cleaning service that comes to you...Home delivery!  They leave you a pretty puple bag, you put your clothes in it.  You leave it for them, they pick it up and dry clean it.  Then they bring it back to you.  What more could you ask for? To top it all off, ZOOTS cleaning is healthier and safer for the environment.  They don't use perchloroethylene, a primary solvent that's been identified by the EPA a a hazardous air pollutant. Convenience, reasonable cost, ZOOTS has got it covered.  I intend on being a repeat customer!! Courtesy of Yvette Smith, SRES® REALTOR® Liz Moore & Associates ... 09/10/2008

  WILLIAMSBURG  REAL ESTATE & MARKET HOMES REPORT for August 1 through September 1, 2008 Williamsburg Virginia consists of several counties.  They are James City, York and City of Williamsburg.CITY of WILLIAMSBURGBetween August 1, 2008 and September 1, 2008, there were 5 homes that closed in the CITY OF WILLIAMSBURG VIRGINIA. This is a decrease of 5 units as there were 7 homes that closed in August 2007.The Average Sales Price of the homes that closed in the City of Williamsburg Virginia for the month of August of 2008 was $379,280.The Average Sales Price of the homes that closed in the City of Williamsburg Virginia for the month of August of 2007 was $294,214.The Average Days on Market of the homes that closed in the City of Williamsburg Virginia for the month of August of 2008 was 100... 09/06/2008

  HAVE YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A STAR?   YOU CAN START HERE IN WILLIASMBURG VIRGINIA!  NOW IS YOUR CHANCE! The WILLIAMSBURG PLAYERS are holding audItions for a stage production of Father of the Bride.  They are casting for 10 males (teens to mid 40's) and 6 females (20's to 50's). Show dates are November 6 - December 6, 2008. OPPORTUNITY IS KNOCKING...ARE YOU GOING TO ANSWER? Courtesy of Yvette Smith, SRES® REALTOR® WILLIASMBURG REAL ESTATE 757-753-7472 Direct Line YvetteSmith@AtHomeInWilliamsburg.com 09/06/2008

  WILLIAMSBURG  REAL ESTATE & MARKET HOMES REPORT for August 1 through September 1, 2008 Williamsburg Virginia consists of several counties.  They are James City, York and City of Williamsburg.JAMES CITY COUNTYBetween August 1, 2008 and September 1, 2008, there were 53 homes that closed in the JAMES CITY COUNTY WILLIAMSBURG VIRGINIA. This is a decrease of 37 units as there were 90 homes that closed in August 2007.The Average Sales Price of the homes that closed in the JAMES CITY COUNTY Williamsburg Virginia for the month of August of 2008 was $368,000.The Average Sales Price of the homes that closed in the JAMES CITY COUNTY Williamsburg Virginia for the month of August of 2007 was $405,601.The Average Days on Market of the homes that closed in the JAMES CITY COUNTY Williamsburg Virginia... 09/06/2008

  WILLIAMSBURG  REAL ESTATE & MARKET HOMES REPORT for August 1 through September 1, 2008 Williamsburg Virginia consists of several counties.  They are James City, York and City of Williamsburg.YORK COUNTYBetween August 1, 2008 and September 1, 2008, there were 8 homes that closed in the YORK COUNTY WILLIAMSBURG VIRGINIA. This is a decrease of 10 units as there were 18 homes that closed in August 2007.The Average Sales Price of the homes that closed in the YORK COUNTY Williamsburg Virginia for the month of August of 2008 was $354,438.The Average Sales Price of the homes that closed in the YORK COUNTY Williamsburg Virginia for the month of August of 2007 was $446,722.The Average Days on Market of the homes that closed in the YORK COUNTY Williamsburg Virginia for the month of August of 200... 09/06/2008