My New Blog

Sometimes the LORD shows us the light when we least expect it!

Isn't it amazing how sometimes the LORD shows us the light when we least expect it.  I was in the middle of a pity party this morning when I stumbled across a blog that changed my whole attitude and now I am more focused on what God can do through me rather than having a pity party!

The blog that I read is about Joseph Pratt, an amazing blind man who is a very successful REALTOR. Joseph had an accident that caused him to be blind.  His family and friends had a 24 hour prayer vigil while he was in the hospital.  Joseph Pratt beat the odds and walked out of the hospital rather than becoming a vegetable as the doctors had predicted!

This man experienced a mirculous healing.  So I am very thankful the for what the LORD did for Joseph!  Maybe someone else who is reading this blog needs to be reminded that sometimes the LORD shows us the light when we least expect it!

If you would like to know more about Joseph Klatt, you may want to visit his website: www.klattrealty.com

Technician tried to scam my client out of over $4000

I recently posted a blog about how a pest control company technician tried  to scam my client out of over $4700.  

The URL's to read Part I and II of the three part blog are at the bottom of the page.

Fortunately, I was able to intervene and prevent the scam.

Last week I had the annual termite and moisture inspection done on my home.  (This inspection was not done by the pest control company than the one that tried to scam my client.)  I told the technician about the attempted scam. To my surprise, he asked me if XXXX XXXXXXXXX was the pest control that had tried to scam my client and he said that he had heard similar stories about this pest control company in the past.  The fact that my technician guessed the name of the other company based on their bad reputation shows that people will find out about companies that pull these types of scams. It also shows just how olow some people will go to get money.

http://activerain.com/blogsview/1367713/-technician-tried-to-scam-my-client-out-of-over-4-000-

http://activerain.com/blogsview/1369028/technician-tried-to-scam-my-client-out-of-4-000-part-ii

It is possible to sell a house quickly in this market!

Although the housing market in Williamsburg has suffered more than other areas of Hampton Roads, may I just say that it is possible to sell a house quickly in this market.

Yesterday I called an agent for feedback for a listing of mine that she had shown last week. During our conversation, I told her that I had noticed she has a listing on the same street as the listing of mine that she showed.  It was under contract within less than a week.  Her comment to me about this listing was that she told her sellers if they wanted to sell quickly they needed to price the house lower than any of the competition.

The house was priced at $259,500 which is about 15% to 20% less than most of the competition.

The good news for sellers in the Williamsburg area is that it is possible to sell a house quickly in this market.  The bad news for sellers in the Williamsburg area is that the low prices on houses will lower the value of your house.

So if you want to list your home for sale  in Williamsburg Va:

• Listen to your REALTOR and price your house competitively
• Be willing to negotiate
• This is not a good time to test the market.

Be objective about selling your Williamsburg area home, and ask yourself what would you do if you were a buyer in this market?

All Real Estate is local and Williamsburg Va is no exception. 

A recent article in the Daily Press contrasted the Williamsburg Va housing market with the housing market in Hampton Roads Va specifically the peninsula. 

This article in the Daily Press gives data illustrating the fact that all Real Estate is local and Williamsburg Va is no exception.

The differences in the two markets are partially due to the demographics of the two areas.  Many homes in Williamsburg Va have been either retirement homes, second homes or investment homes.  The second home/investment home market has almost completely stopped.  A large portion of homes that are sold on the Virginia Peninsula are for military families who usually relocate every three years. This factor probably kept that market a little more stable than the Williamsburg housing market.

So how can knowing that all Real Estate is local and Williamsburg Va is no exception help you?  If you are a buyer interested in property in Williamsburg, Va, buy now!!!!!  This is the best buyer's market in nearly 50 years! 

If you have any questions about the Williamsburg Va area contact Sybil Campbell, REALTOR at 757-897-5889 or by email.

My least favorite time of the year.

This is my least favorite time of the year because my personality type is simply not inclined toward accounting or any type of bookkeeping.  That is one of my areas of weakness. 

On the other hand, my strengths are sales and marketing, negotiating, working with people, and being creative or thinking outside the box. 

I once had a friend say to me, "Sybil, you don't think outside the box, you don't know there is a box!"

So here I am again sitting at my computer during my least favorite time of the year.

I once again have to sit down and record all of my expenses and mileage for last year and get the information to our CPA to file our income taxes. 

Now don't get me wrong, I love being a REALTOR®. I love working with people and helping them find their dream home or sell their current home so that they can move on to their next stage in life. 

Many REALTORS®  are not good at accounting and paper work and some are not extremely organized, but they love working with people and are good at sales!

So here I am sitting down on February 27th working on my filling out my spreadsheet with all of my business related expenses and adding up my business miles.  That is why this is my least favorite time of the year!

If you need to sell or buy a house please call me!  Sybil Campbell 757-897-5889 I have plenty of time to get this done or I can always file for an extension!!!  LOL!!!

email: sybilcampbell@cox.net

Homeowners with Chinese drywall

Attention homeowners with Chinese drywall! 

I recently posted a blog More good news on Chinese Drywall but I soon learned that what I had originally thought was good news for homeowners with Chinese drywall was really not as good as I had originally thought it was.

I received a call from a local homeowner who owns a home with Chinese drywall who had seen my blog and was calling to give me a little more informtion about what I thought was good news for homeowners with Chinese drywall.  The report stated that money was being made available from the state disaster relief fund to help homeowners with Chinese Drywall.  The fact that there is only $150,000 available from this fund according to the local homeowner who called me made me realize that the news I at first thought was good for homeowners with Chinese drywall was actually not that good after all!

So is there real help out there for homeowners who own homes with Chinese drywall?  I can imagine how frustrating this situation must be.  For most people, their home is their biggest investment and now their biggest investment is poisoned and cannot be sold without extremely costly repairs.  How tragic!!

So, is there help for homeowners who own homes with Chinese drywall?  I suspect there are class action suits in many of the areas where Chinese drywall was used.  If you know of any resources please either leave a comment or a link to the resource on this blog for everyone to see, or contact me, Sybil Campbell REALTOR at 757-897-5889 or by email.

If you are a looking to buy a home in Williamsburg, Va or the Hampton Roads area, you need to know which subdivisions have homes with Chinese drywall.  I will also be happy to share any information that I have with you.

Sybil Campbell, REALTOR®, ABR, SRES 

Long and Foster REALTORS®  

(757) 897-5889

WHATEVER THE DIRECTION SYBIL CAN HELP YOU

LOCATE THE HOME OF YOUR DREAMS  

                                                                                
www.buywilliamsburghomes.com

sybilcampbell@cox.net

licensed in the commonwealth of Virginia

Dinner and a movie in Williamsburg Va

Did you know you can have dinner and a movie in Williamsburg Va under the same roof?

The Movie Tavern at High Street is an eight screen dine-in cinema in the middle of the retail section of High Street.  In addition to the typical pop corn, pizza, nachos and candy that you can purchase in a most movie theatres, the Movie Tavern at High Street offers burgers, wings, sandwiches, salads and other light meals.  The beverage menu at the Movie Tavern includes beer and wine along with your favorite soda, lemonade or bottled water.

So the next time you want to have a fun night out, why not go out to dinner and a movie?

For more information about Williamsburg Va, contact Sybil Campbell at 757-897-5889 or by email at sybilcampbell@cox.net.

Foreclosure or short sale in Williamsburg Va

If you are interested in purchasing a foreclosure or short sale in Williamsburg Va, you might need a REALTOR to help you. 

Many economic forecasters are predicting that more homes will be in foreclosure before the end of 2010.  A foreclosure can be a great deal for a buyer. In order to find the best price on a foreclosure a buyer should have a REALTOR who will be ready to assist them in writing an offer as soon as that great deal comes along.

If you are looking for a foreclosure or short sale in Williamsburg, Va, Sybil Campbell can send you the latest information.  

Contact Sybil Campbell at 757-897-5889 or by email at sybilcampbell@cox.net.

You may see letters and symbols behind an agent's name and wonder, “What do the letters behind a REALTOR'S® name mean?”

It is important to understand that there is a difference between being a REALTOR® and merely  holding a REAL ESTATE license or being a REAL ESTATE agent.

Only a REALTOR® can use this logo: 

In order for a REAL ESTATE licensee or agent to use the REALTOR®  symbol, the licensee must be a member of the National association of REALTORS®. A REALTOR® is bound to a Code of Ethics that does not apply to all individuals who can legally assist someone in the purchase or sale of real property.

Accredited Buyer Representative: This term  used for an agent who has completed the course work and demonstrated experience acting as a buyer's representative under the supervision of a managing broker. This designation is awarded by the Real Estate Buyer's Agent Council (REBAC).

Why is it important for your agent to be an accredited Buyer Representative?  An agent cannot earn the ABR designation without having represented buyers in transactions that closed within the 18 months prior to completing the ABR course work.

Seniors Real Estate Specialist:  This designation is awarded to agents who have completed the training program regarding service to those age fifty and older. This designation is awarded by the Senior Real Estate Specialist Council.  Click on this link to read the objectives that are covered in the two day SRES course.

Sybil Campbell is a REALTOR® and holds the ABR and SRES designations. She will complete a course on Foreclosures and short sales in March 2010.

Sybil is a member of the Virginia Association of REALTORS® and the Williamsburg Area Association of REALTORS®.

Contact Sybil Campbell by mobile phone 757-897-5889 or visit her website.

Sybil Campbell, REALTOR®, ABR, SRES

Long and Foster REALTORS® 

(757) 897-5889

WHATEVER THE DIRECTION SYBIL CAN HELP YOU LOCATE THE HOME OF YOUR DREAMS 

                
www.buywilliamsburghomes.com

sybilcampbell@cox.net

licensed in the commonwealth of Virginia

More good news on Chinese Drywall

I hears some more good news on Chinese Drywall this morning on the local news.  According the the local NBC affiliate WAVY news 10 there is legislation going on in Richmond that would offer help to homeowners who own homes with Chinese drywall.  The legislation which passed the house unanimously last night would approve allocating funds to help homeowners who own homes with Chinese drywall to be taken from the state disaster fund.

If you would like more information on Chinese Drywall, check out the following links:

Update on Chinese Drywall

Signs you may have toxic drywall

Chinese Drywall is causing problems

The nightmare that homeowners face

Chinese Drywall found in homes in Newport News

More information on Chinese Drywall

Signs you may have toxic drywall in your home

For more information on Real Estate in the tidewater area of Virginia contact Sybil Campbell  757-897-5889

Good news about Chinese Drywall is not good enough.

Yesterday I posted a blog More good news on Chinese Drywall but I soon learned that the good news about Chinese Drywall is not good enough.  About fifteen minutes after I posted the blog yesterday I received a call from a homeowner who owns a home with Chinese Drywall. She had received notification from a google alert for Chinese Drywall about my blog.  When she read my blog she immediately called me to enlighten me about the situation.  The money available from the state disaster relief fund to help homeowners with Chinese Drywall is $150,000. There are hundreds of homes in Virginia with Chinese Drywall; $150,000 is not enough to provide relief to the home owners.

So is there an answer for these homeowners?  I don't know. I do know that there is a class action suit in Virginia and I suspect there are suits in other areas of the country.  If you have any ideas of things that will help, contact me.  I will put you in touch with a homeowner who has Chinese Drywall to offer our help!  

Call Sybil Campbell 757-897-5889 if you have ideas.

Homes for sale in Governors Land in Williamsburg Va

There are currently 42 homes for sale in Governor's Land in Williamsburg Va.  These homes range in price from $449,900 to $8,900,000.

I toured a home located on Whittakers Close in Governors Land this week and was quite impressed with its potential.

This is the best home buy in Williamsburg for the week beginning February 7, 2010.

The lovely brick colonial home features a first floor master bedroom, laundry rooms on first and second floor, a large garage that has room for a third garage bay. 

The home has over 3100 square feet, four bedrooms, three full baths and one half bath.  You will love the light and bright kitchen with granite counters and the private back yard.

Click here to view the listing for this home in Governor's Land.  You can view all  homes for sale in Governors Land and all Williamsburg MLS listings on my website.

For more information about Governors Land click here.

Sybil Campbell regularly chooses a best home buy in Williamsburg.

Foreclosure in Governors Land:

The property at 1916 Miln House is a foreclosure in Governors Land, a gated community in Williamsburg Va. 

View the MLS information here.

This home is priced at less than $128 per square foot, which makes it a great investment. If you want to live in the prestigious subdivision known as Governors Land at Two Rivers or perhaps use it as a second home, this property should be on your short list. 

Are you looking for privacy, security, a gated golf community, an owners club with marina, work out room, restaurant, tennis and pool?  Look no further, Governors Land has all of this and more.

If you are looking for a good investment property this foreclosure in Governors Land should be on your short list!

No matter the direction or type of property you need, Sybil Campbell can be your guide.  Check out related blogs here.

Housing market report for the middle Atlantic region

Long and Foster has just released a housing market report for the middle Atlantic region.  To view this report click here. In this report you can find data about the number of housing units sold over the last nine quarters.

An overview shows geographical housing markets as either declining, neutral or advancing.

You will find data about the number of houses sold, the market trends, and the ratio of sales price to list price as a percentage.

To see the latest data about home sales in Williamsburg Va. and the surrounding areas, click here.

Sybil Campbell

urhomecompass.com