Date Archives: December 2019

Our REALTORS® know getting a mortgage on the best terms is something all buyers think about. That's especially true of first-time buyers! When you're exploring the best Richmond homes for sale, sound financing means peace of mind.

Luckily, the mortgage process is a lot easier than it seems at first!

The more you know, the simpler it is to get a mortgage loan you can be happy with. We'd like to address one of the most common questions about home financing our team gets: The difference between pre-qualifying for a loan versus receiving pre-approval.

Pre-Qualification and Pre-Approval: What's the Difference?

When it comes to getting a great home loan, starting sooner makes life easier.

Prequalification and preapproval are steps you take to smooth the path to your final loan package. You can think of one of them as the trial run, while the other is the "real deal."

Pre-qualifying can happen in a matter of minutes the first time you talk to your lender. You discuss your finances and get a ballpark estimate for what loan amount you can expect. It's not necessary to document your income, and you're not committing.

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There is plenty to celebrate as the year comes to a close, especially in the Richmond area!  As the year winds down and 2020 is set to begin, the following venues are the perfect place to say farewell and adieu to the past and welcome in the new year.

1. New Year's Eve Moonlight Masquerade - DoubleTree Hilton, 1021 Kroger Center Blvd, Richmond, VA 23235
   If you are looking for a fancy yet affordable way to ring in 2020, this event is for you! The DoubleTree Hilton knows how to do New Year's right. Their Moonlight Masquerade starts at 9 pm and goes until the wee hours of the morning. Early bird tickets are just $45 per couple. Dressed in semi-formal attire, you will spend the night enjoying fabulous music, delicious appetizers, and lots of fun and frivolity. Book a room before you go, and you can save yourself a trip home and treat yourself to a fabulous night you won't forget. 

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For first-time buyers, furnishing a new home is equal parts fun and intimidating. Give a gift this holiday season that will help warm up a new home.

Get holiday gift inspiration from this baker's dozen list of holiday gifts for first-time homebuyers compiled by our REALTORS®.

1. Throw Blankets and Pillows
   You can never have too many throw blankets and pillows. Create a new look in five minutes just by changing them out based on season, theme, or mood. Throw blankets and pillows also create a cozy, comfortable ambiance.
   
   
2. Pizza Baking Stone
   A pizza baking stone lets first-time homebuyers maintain the regular pizza night schedule without denting the budget. Great for baking homemade bread as well.
   
   
3. Meal Delivery Service
   When the pressures of work and home get to be too much, cooking is the last thing on your mind. Make it more comfortable with a gift card for Blue Apron, HelloFresh, or another convenient meal delivery service. For those stressful days, go with a gift card for a restaurant delivery service like DoorDash or Uber Eats.
   
   
4. Instant Coffee Maker
   Today's K-cup coffee makers deliver a fresh cup of java instantly with no guesswork. Include a K-cup sampler of different brands and flavors so they can expand their coffee horizons.

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Are you trying to decide between the gorgeous Richmond homes for sale right in the city or in one of Richmond's delightful suburbs? Although both are great, according to recent reports, many people including millennials are choosing homes in a suburban area. Our REALTORS® give five reasons why suburbs are gaining popularity and benefits you'll enjoy with suburban living.

1. Lower Cost of Living
   This first reason plays a huge role in suburbs rise in popularity! Homes are often far less expensive in the suburbs, but that's not all. You'll also pay less for many other things like meals and entertainment. There's a good chance your property taxes will be lower too! A lower cost of living allows your budget to go further for your household and alleviates financial stress. 

2. Less Crime
   Smaller towns often have less crime than you'll find in the big cities. If you're looking for a safe, quiet neighborhood where you'll feel comfortable taking walks in the evening or letting your kids play outside, a suburb might be right for you.

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During this time of year, people gather to give thanks for all the good in the world and Napier ERA agents & staff are working hard to create that goodness. This giving season, Napier ERA is giving to organizations that serve Central Virginia with donations of food, toys, hygiene products, and technology. We love our community and we're not afraid to show it!

Our offices have been busy with donations to fantastic charity – Toys for Tots! Every Napier ERA office is an official drop off zone and we are loving seeing the boxes get filled. Books, toys, bikes and more will be collected from our offices on December 13 – make sure you drop off your donations before the official collection date so we can get these goods in the hands of Virginia's kids. We also have quite a few agents contributing to the Chesterfield Christmas Mother project, building boxes of toys and goodies for children to enjoy during the holidays.

Our offices have also been collecting donations for Tech for Troops – an organization dedicated to giving veterans and their families the technology and skills they need for a modern world. We've collected dozens of tablets, phones, computers and other electronics to aid their mission and support veterans in our community. If you have donations, take them to your favorite Napier ERA office and we'll get them to Tech for Troops to support their mission of helping veterans.

And how could we forget our friends at Backpacks of Love? BPOL is a Powhatan organization whose mission is to serve children by assisting with health and hunger. Not only are our offices collecting peanut butter for their food donations, our Powhatan agent Mike Williford has teamed up with Phillip Coon of C&F Mortgage and Jessica and Jason of Grey Ridge Builders to donate over 800 dental hygiene packs for Central Virginia kids! These donations will go from Goochland to Chesterfield and beyond thanks to our good friends at Backpacks of Love.

It's our pleasure to have worked in this area for over 60 years and giving back is part of who we are. The Richmond Metro area is a wonderful place to live and we're happy to do our part to make it even better!

When you're selling a home, every detail matters. From the smallest closet wall to the largest exterior wall, you need to showcase your property as well as possible. Upgrading appliances, repairing fixtures, and renovating rooms can increase your home's value. But don't overlook completing painting projects that can transform your house into a buyer's dream. Our REALTORS® have identified these four simple painting projects that you can easily accomplish before you list your home.

1. Consider Painting Exterior Features
   While you can certainly paint your full exterior, you can make the outside of your home look fresh and new without such a large project. Consider washing your exterior walls to let the color shine. Then apply a new, complementary color of paint to the front door, the railings of your porch banister, your window shutters, or other notable features.

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