Time to break out the scarves and sweaters...fall is officially here! If working and learning from home has the whole family itching for an escape, venture out of the house to check out some of the fun events happening throughout the RVA area this fall.
Drive-In Movies at West Broad Village
For an old-fashioned movie night under the stars, head to the drive-in movies at West Broad Village in Glen Allen! Each showing features a different spooky, family-friendly flick to get the whole family ready for Halloween. Tune into the movie from your car's radio, bring some snacks and enjoy! Tickets are free and spots must be reserved ahead of time. Movies are shown on October 2, 9, 16, and 23, starting at 7:30pm.
RCI Builders & Hickory Hill Fall Festival
Join RCI Builders at Hickory Hill for a Fall Festival on Saturday, October 24th from 1-5pm. Tour RCI's beautiful model home while enjoying live music and food available from Boka Tako Food Truck. The kids will enjoy the bounce houses, hayrides, pumpkin decorating and more! The festival is free, but they do request nonperishable items to donate to Moments of Hope Outreach. It is sure to be a day full of fun!
Virtual Richmond Folk Festival
While the Richmond Folk Festival will not be happening in-person on Richmond's waterfront this year, you can still enjoy new musical performances, cooking demonstrations and other fun family activities! The festival will take place virtually from October 9-11, and is completely free. In the weeks leading up to the festival, head to Brown's Island for an engaging scavenger hunt or to participate in Kevin Orlosky's interactive art installation. During the festival, visit RichmondFolkFestival.org to livestream the event!
Skinquarter Farms Pumpkin Patch
It's not fall without picking pumpkins! For the complete pumpkin picking experience, head to Skinquarter Farms in Moseley. This family-owned farm and produce stand offers pick-your-own-pumpkins, hayrides, a corn maze and more! Pumpkins are reasonably priced at 69 cents per pound and they even offer discount weekends based on the location on your driver's license. The pumpkin patch is open 7 days a week throughout the season!
Gourds, Goblets and Ghouls Festival 2020
For a fun day and spooky night, book a ticket for the Gourds, Goblets and Ghouls Festival at Hanover Vegetable Farm in Ashland! Kids will love the petting barn, corn maze and pumpkin picking, while guests over 21 will enjoy wine, cider and beer from local vendors. When it gets dark, the Red Vein Haunted House will be open for a good scare! Sponsored by Hometown Realty's own Liz Chambers and Steve Pace, this festival takes place on October 10th and 11th. You won't want to miss it!
Richmond's culinary scene has grown rapidly over the last few years to become a 'foodie' destination. Ranked at number 39 on the New York Times list of top places to visit in 2020, Richmond has gained national attention as a place to eat incredible food, discover history and soak in a vibrant arts and culture scene. With so many quality restaurants in town, how do you choose where to go? We asked our Hometown Realty agents to find out their favorite places to eat, drink, and be merry in RVA.
Eat:
Feed Your Soul
Our agent Dionne Hawkins-Burley loves Mama J's; a family-owned and operated restaurant in Historic Jackson Ward with what Dionne describes as, "good ole southern cooking." Widely renowned for their extensive a la carte menu, the restaurant boasts some of the best soul food in the city with southern classics like fried chicken, crab cakes, collard greens and more. Hometown's Sarah Kennedy enjoys Mama J's for their comfort food, and declared they have a "strong mac and cheese game." For food that makes your mouth water and feels like home, don't miss Mama J's.
415 N 1st St
Richmond, VA 23219
Pan-Asian Flare
Recommended by Carytown agent Leslie McRaney, Osaka Sushi & Steak offers steak and seafood entrees as well as some of the best fresh sushi in RVA. Perfect for date night, Osaka provides a nice atmosphere and creative cocktails to pair with their variety of pan-Asian dishes. To sample their tasty dishes for a deal, visit between 5-7pm daily for happy hour specials on food and drinks. Just a few minutes outside of downtown Richmond at the River Road Shopping Center II, Osaka is an experience you're sure to enjoy.
5023 Huguenot Road
Richmond, VA 23226
"mamma zu" by bionicteaching is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
A Tried & True Richmond Experience
Richmond staple, Mamma Zu, has "probably the best Italian food in the world," according to our agent Katharine Walton. If it's impeccable service and ambiance you're looking for, you might want to search elsewhere. But for pasta, meat and seafood dishes that are food-coma inducing, Mamma Zu cannot be beat. The restaurant does not take reservations and during popular times it fills up rapidly, with lines forming out the door, so when visiting be prepared for a potential wait. However, if you're willing to brave the crowds and brusque staff, you will be rewarded with a decadent meal that will bring you back time and time again.
501 S Pine St
Richmond, VA 23220
Drink:
Come for a Coffee, Leave with a Pastry
Looking for a bite to satisfy your sweet tooth? Look no further than Sugar & Twine; a delightful Carytown coffee shop with sugary treats that complement their locally roasted coffee. Frequently crowded for good reason, this cozy shop offers teas, hot cocoa, espresso and a variety of coffees to satisfy the whole family. Don't leave without trying one of their flavored biscuits or a savory breakfast sandwich. A favorite of multiple Hometown Realty agents, Sugar & Twine is the perfect place to start your day.
2928 W. Cary St
Richmond, VA 23221
Coffee with Community
Named after R&B artist Maxwell's first album (and highly recommended by agent Dionne Hawkins-Burley), Urban Hang Suite is a "social café" that offers coffee, teas and a range of delicious salads, sandwiches, soups and more. The ambiance of this café is almost as much of a draw as the food & drink, with beautifully curated décor and a welcoming atmosphere that encourages you to strike up a conversation while you wait for your drink. Whether you're just stopping in or lounging for a few hours, Urban Hang Suite provides tasty provisions in a community environment.
304 E. Broad St
Richmond, VA 23219
Hardywood Brewery in Richmond, VA. "Hardywood" by Sky Noir is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Be Merry:
Venture Outdoors
Need an escape from the city? Venture out to Hardywood Brewery West Creek, recommended by our agent Richard Hanson. Boasting some of the best craft beer in Richmond, Hardywood Brewery also aims to "brew with purpose" using local products, preserving the environment and participating in community engagement. The West Creek location not only offers all of their top-notch beers but includes a taproom, outdoor patio, beer garden and offers tours of the production facility. Sit back and enjoy a Capital Trail Pale Ale at this destination brewery.
820 Sanctuary Trail
Richmond, VA 23238
Hoppy Happiness
For another born and bred Richmond brewery, head to Triple Crossing for beers that range from classic to experimental. Agent Brooks Snead prefers the newer Fulton location to the Downtown one but Triple Crossing's high-quality beers can be found at both. At the Fulton spot, be sure to grab a Neapolitan-style pizza from the kitchen and wash it down with their flagship IPA, Falcon Smash.
5203 Hatcher Street
Richmond, VA 23231
Hometown Realty Celebrates 30 Years ----
In the Summer of 1988 Bonnie and Mike Chenault knew there was a better way to sell Real Estate. It just wasn't available in Central Virginia. So thirty years ago they left Bowers, Nelms and Fonville and opened the doors to Hometown Realty.
Bonnie was the Broker and her son, Mike, was her first hire. The rest is history. Now Mike Chenault, Todd Rogers, Rodney Chenault and Deane Cheatham have taken the reigns. Hometown has grown to become the second largest real estate firm in Central Virginia and the largest independent firm in the state.
Now with over 300 agents, Hometown has offices in Richmond, Mechanicsville, Ashland, Glen Allen, Chesterfield, Prince George, Farmville, Tappahannock and Ladysmith. Hometown Realty will close over 3300 transactions in 2018 and Hometown has specialists in almost every facet of the Real Estate business - new home construction, residential re-sales, land sales, commercial sales and property management.
"30 years is a long time…I knew if we could attract great people, provide them with exceptional training and follow the Golden Rule we could turn this into something big" said Mike Chenault. "We are very fortunate and tremendously thankful to be in this position. We look forward to the future and are extremely excited to continue to serve the needs of buyers and sellers in the area."
Top 10 Cities where Homes are Vanishing Fastest.
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.
We would love to help you discover what your Home may be WORTH !!
From US News and World Report:
https://realestate.usnews.com/real-estate/articles/why-you-should-sell-your-home-in-2018
Millennials buying Homes...
Hey Hometown Friends, we have a TEAM!!
9 Hometown folks have signed up to be a part of the Hometown Team for the Richmond Heartwalk!! Thanks!! Click on the eCard, or on the link, to see who they are and to support them WITH A DONATION!! Be sure to click on the 1 and the 2 under the list to see everyone.
http://www2.heart.org/goto/HometownRealty
On the 8th Day, God made a REALTOR(r)
(By Steve Harvey)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXQusdbG4vw&sns=fb
1st Time Homebuyers have made a huge positive impact on the Real Estate Market.
Would you like to find out how you can be one of them?
Great article on one of Richmond's Coolest Places to Visit:
http://www.richmond.com/business/local/article_30f334a1-db9a-5737-98ec-bfbe47c836a1.html
Richmond is the #2 Trendiest City in the US...
...In which to Buy a Home !!
http://www.realtor.com/news/trends/americas-next-trending-cities/
New Homes Market Growing
http://www.richmond.com/business/local/article_d3c5dd5c-9b9f-5b4b-a693-899d83df7d15.html
Home Sales Are Up 14%!!!
http://www.richmond.com/business/local/article_3c2cb2ce-37db-5755-98c8-4e6f8088fe94.html
Richmond is Predicted to be the 4th Hottest Real Estate Market in 2016 !!
Richmond Named one of Top 10 Mid-Sized Walkable Cities.
http://varbuzz.com/2015-11/richmond-named-top-10-walkable-mid-size-city/
A Positive Market Outlook for the next year or more.
http://rismedia.com/2015-10-04/real-estate-market-to-continue-economic-expansion-through-2017/
Va. home sales record strongest second quarter in seven years - By CAROL HAZARD Richmond Times-Dispatch
The Virginia residential real estate market saw its strongest second quarter since the 2008 recession, with sales volume reaching $10.6 billion, up 11 percent from the same period a year ago, according to a report released Tuesday by Virginia Association of Realtors.
The rise in dollar value was attributed to an increase in the number of homes sold, since the median sales... price — with half the homes selling for more and half for less — fell slightly.
The median price in Virginia was $259,990 in the second quarter, down 2.6 percent from the same period a year ago, according to the report. The number of sales statewide in the same time period rose 9.9 percent to 31,650. The median price rose in six of seven regions, including central Virginia, where it ticked up 5.7 percent in the second quarter to $219,000 from a year ago.
Central Virginia is made up of Richmond, the Tri-Cities and 18 surrounding counties. (The Richmond Association of Realtors reported last week that the median sales price was $223,530 for the 16-jurisdiction that makes up its Central Virginia region.)
The number of sales in the region during the quarter rose 13.9 percent from a year ago to 5,336, the Virginia Association of Realtors said. "The strength of these second-quarter results points to sustained improvement in Virginia's residential real estate market," said Deborah Baisden, president of the Virginia Association of Realtors.
Forbes Quotes LPL Research and says that Virginia is the best state in the nation to prepare for retirement. While it is not saying it is the best place to retire, it is the best place to get to that wonderful place called Retirement.
One of my favorite Historical quotes about our Real Estate industry:
WHAT IS THE REAL ESTATE BOARD?
"The Real Estate Board is to the Real Estate profession what the Bar Association is to the lawyer and the Medical Association is to a doctor. It is a force for good. It is a force for the betterment of its practitioners and the public they serve. In such an association there are crystallized the rules of conduct, the guides and standards of stern discipline, which proclaim to the community the sense of integrity and the high qualities and ideals which you demand and which characterize the service of men of good will engaged in an honorable profession."
Justice Frankenthaler of the New York Supreme Court 1930's & 1940's
In spite of 2 real estate recessions in the past 25 years, where prices declined for the first time in over half a century, homeowners in America still regard owning a home as an excellent investment. THEY ARE RIGHT!!. Home Ownership is probably the best, most stable and most practical investment anyone will make in the course of their lifetime.
Richmond-area home prices up 3.2% in Sept. from year ago - goo.gl/alerts/nncd
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