Articles Tagged "Moving"
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Love Where You Live: Ashland, VA
Nestled just a few minutes off Interstate 95 sits Ashland; a picturesque Virginia town that evokes nostalgia and oozes small-town charm. But don't be fooled by Ashland's quaint appearances; this growing town boasts a lively food scene, a bustling college and a welcoming, active community.
An Amtrak train passes through Downtown Ashland. "Roll One by With a Cup of Coffee" by BobWilcox is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0"
Located in Hanover County, Ashland is only 16 miles north of Richmond making it a refreshing place to live outside of the city. Originally developed by the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad as a mineral springs resort, Ashland has remained known for the railroad; the tracks run right through the center of town. Ashlanders are proud of their trains and even have a street festival to celebrate them! Ashland Train Day is an annual event in Downtown Ashland where families come from all over to listen to music, eat local food and watch trains roll through town. In the summer, Ashland celebrates the strawberry harvest yearly with the Ashland Strawberry Faire. This free, community event supports local non-profits and raises scholarship money for Hanover County students. The festival draws upwards of 20,000-30,000 people every year and over 300 different vendors.
The Ashland Theatre is a landmark in the town, known for screening films and hosting live music.
In addition to festivals, Ashland enjoys a variety of activities year-round. Concerts, art exhibitions and events are frequently offered at Randolph-Macon College, a private liberal arts college located right in town. Budding astronomists can take advantage of the college's Keeble Observatory on Wednesday nights when it is open and free to the public. For a night on the town, the recently restored Ashland Theatre screens first-run films and serves as a venue for live music.
If it's fresh air you're looking for, you won't be disappointed with Ashland's parks, trails and nature activities! The highlight of Ashland's park system is Carter Park, complete with a picnic area, playground and junior Olympic sized swimming pool. Local parks also offer hiking trails, the most popular located at Poor Farm Park with a moderate loop through the woods.
Iron Hourse Restaurant sits right next to Ashland's railroad.
Despite being a small town, Ashland still has plenty of excellent dining options for any occasion. Iron Horse Restaurant's modern Southern cuisine and al fresco dining make a perfect spot for date night, while Homemades by Suzanne is a local favorite for a weekday bite to eat. Craft beer has also made its way to Ashland, with the help of Center of the Universe Brewing Company. While their taproom is a couple of miles outside of downtown, their sister company Origin Beer Lab is located right in the center of town, making it easy to grab a pint before dinner at one of Ashland's delicious restaurants.
Ashland, Virginia is a charming town that many have chosen to call home. An easy commute from Richmond, it provides residents with a close-knit community just 20 minutes from the amenities of the city. If you are interested in relocating to Ashland, be sure to contact our Hometown Realty office in Downtown Ashland, where one of our knowledgeable agents can provide more insight into the town where they love working and living!
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Why You Should Consider New Construction for Your Next Home
(RCI Builders)
When looking for a home, buyers frequently tend to overlook new construction. But there are many reasons why you should consider new construction when looking for your next home. Increased regulations and building codes have led to higher quality products, superior safety standards and improved energy efficiency ratings. If you're looking for a new home, check out these reasons why to consider new construction.
1. Find the Perfect Home Without the Rush
The housing inventory of resale homes remains low and highly desired homes can get snapped up quickly. As a buyer, this means staying on your toes and potentially competing with other offers when the perfect home comes on the market. New construction allows you to slow down during your home search and focus on identifying the elements you're really looking for in your next home. Then when you're ready, you can sign for a house that has all the features you desire.
2. Opportunity for Floor Plans That Suit Your Needs
Every buyer is looking for something different when it comes to the functional space in their home. More and more homebuyers prefer open, fluid floor plans compared to the separate rooms that were popular decades ago. Building a new home lets you pick a floor plan that fits your needs, whether it's a formal dining room, a spacious master bathroom or a playroom for the kids.
3. Ability to Customize and Upgrade
Choosing a floor plan is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to customizing a newly constructed home. Building a new home offers a variety of options for design from countertops and kitchen islands, to flooring and tiling. New homes also offer the option of integrating Smart Home Technology, which many older homes may not be properly wired to accommodate.
4. No Hidden Flaws or Deferred Maintenance
Buying a resale home always bears a risk of running into hidden flaws or underlying issues that can cause problems later. New construction eliminates all uncertainties and ensures that your home will be up to date with all safety standards and building regulations. From the start, you will know the condition of every element in your home and have confidence that the home will perform well.
5. Quality of Home Construction
Homebuilding materials and methods are constantly evolving and improving. When you build a new home, you can be confident that it has been designed and built using the latest technology, equipment and techniques. The home will be inspected several times throughout the process, so you can have peace of mind that your home meets all standards and is constructed with the best resources available.
6. Lower Maintenance Costs
Brand new appliances, wiring and technology in your home means lower maintenance and upgrade costs in the first several years of homeownership. A resale home will require more upkeep and see higher maintenance costs as the home is older and already bears some wear and tear. Most builders will also provide warranty options for new homes, further eliminating future maintenance costs and giving you less to worry about for the next few years of homeownership.
7. Increased Energy Efficiency
Advances in technology have led to increased energy efficiency in newly constructed homes. These can include more efficient windows, appliances, HVAC systems and more. Combined with new building and energy codes, these advances make newly built homes some of the most energy efficient homes on the market.
Building a new home can seem daunting, but there are many benefits to choosing new construction over a resale home. If you're interested in building or purchasing a well-crafted new home, RCI Builders offers a wide variety of options to fit your needs and budget.
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A Seller's Market in Central Virginia !!
A Great Time to be Selling Your Home!!
Top 10 Cities where Homes are Vanishing Fastest.
9. Richmond, VA (According to Realtor.com)
Median list price: $311,500
Decrease in inventory: -36.8%
Drop in square footage on the market: 4,192,000
The job market in the capital of Virginia is on a tear, and so are home prices—up 7% in August year over year, after a 9% jump the year prior. And around 1 in 3 homes in Richmond end with multiple offers.
The amount of lost inventory in Richmond is equivalent to more than eight James Monroe Buildings, the tallest building in the city. (It's a 29-story office tower with about 500,000 square feet of space.)
The housing shortage would be even lower if home builders weren't putting up new homes at a frantic pace. New construction accounts for 27.6% of homes in Richmond for August.
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Why You Should Sell Your Home in 2018
From US News and World Report:
https://realestate.usnews.com/real-estate/articles/why-you-should-sell-your-home-in-2018
