Virginia Beach Real Estate Magazine - January/February 2017

3 QUESTIONS TO ASK REGARDING REAL ESTATE SEMINARS 

ISSUE 3 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017 

3 Tips For 

Investing In A 

HOTEL 

2 

Thoughts On 

RECEIVING MAIL 

From Real Estate 

Agents 

5 RULES FOR 

Dogs & 

Condos 

4 Questions To Ask When 

Retiring Using 

REAL ESTATE 

3 Guidelines For 

REAL ESTATE 

CONTINGENCIES 

A 6-PART OVERVIEW OF BORROWING MONEY PRIVATELY 

Jan/Feb2017 

1

2 

Jan/Feb2017


3

WHAT’S INSIDE 

8 

7 editor’s note 

3 Questions To Ask 

Regarding Real 

Estate Seminars 

2 Thoughts 

On Receiving 

Mail From Real 

Estate Agents 

12 

15 

4 Questions To Ask 

When Retiring Using 

Real Estate 

3 Tips For Investing In 

A Hotel 

19

5 Rules For Dogs And 

Condos 

24 

28 

A 6-Part Overview 

Of Borrowing Money 

Privately 

3 Guidelines 

For Real Estate 

Contingencies 

4 Tips For Finding 

The Right Agent 

34 

31 

3 Places To Get Moving Boxes For Free 

A 3-Part Guide To Selling Homes Efficiently 

2 Pointers On The Types Of Home Loans 

3 Things To Know About Dealing With 

Difficult Neighbors 

PAGE 40 

PAGE 44 

PAGE 48 

PAGE 50

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January-February 2017 

Editor 

Benjamin A. Whiteley 

Writer 

Irene D. Brown 

Head of Creatives 

Nyvia Ross 

Graphic Designer 

Michael Juanson 

Digital Property Managers 

Maharlika Matutinao 

Layla Anaya 

Digital Property Assistants 

Krystine Sitjar 

Warren Nietes 

EDITOR’S NOTE 

Online Presence: 

Facebook 

Google+ 

Twitter 

Tumblr 

Pinterest 

For advertising concerns 

please contact Hilton Earle at 

hiltopenterprises@gmail.com 

Welcome to the third issue of Virginia Beach Real Estate Magazine! As editor of our 

team’s magazine, it’s my pleasure to take you through what’s new in our latest release. 

If you’re looking to learn more about getting involved in real estate in the Virginia Beach 

area, you couldn’t have found a better resource. 

In this issue, we discuss topics ranging from the efficient sale of homes all the way to 

getting moving boxes for free. Whether you’re looking to buy or sell, Virginia Beach Real 

Estate Magazine is here to provide the guides and advice that will help you to make 

educated decisions. We believe that when it comes to real estate, there’s no such thing 

as being too well prepared. 

We also tackle some topics that often fly under the radar, such as investing in a hotel, 

moving into a condominium as a dog owner, and dealing with difficult neighbors. Even 

the little things make a big difference; if you don’t believe 

it, take a look! 

Virginia Beach Real Estate Magazine 

content cannot be copied or reproduced 

in any form without the written 

permission of the publishers. Virginia 

Beach Real Estate Magazine editors and 

publishers shall not be held liable for 

any unsolicited materials. All prices and 

specifications published in this magazine 

are subject to change by manufacturers, 

agency and retailers. 

Thanks for reading, and be sure to check out our next 

release! 

Regards, 

Benjamin Whiteley 

BENJAMIN A. WHITELEY 

Editor 



7

3 QUESTIONS TO ASK REGARDING 

REAL ESTATE SEMINARS 

by 


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Here are a few questions to ask yourself before attending any real estate 

workshops. The last thing you want is to become victim to a straight up scam. 

Even though real estate 

may be an extremely 

good investment vehicle 

worth considering, some 

individuals are now giving 

real estate seminars in southeastern 

Virginia outrageous get rich quick 

guarantees. A lot of people are drawn 

to the chance of earning thousands 

on a property after investing a small 

amount of cash. You can wind up 

investing many hundreds and possibly 

thousands for these kinds of real estate 

seminars in the Virginia area that tell 

you there’s quick money in real estate. 

While some real estate seminars 

are legit, some are really a rip-off. 

Certainly, you can find legit workshops 

that educate investors in the real estate 

industry without making guarantees 

of quick wealth. Tread very carefully 

if you see ads promoting investment 

secrets and techniques and risk-free 

investments for these real estate 

seminars in southeastern Virginia. Below 

are a few questions to ask yourself before 

attending any of these workshops. 

8 


When you are looking for an investment real estate property but are having problems, consider a 

private lender. Here’s what you need to know. 

 

1 

CAN THE SPEAKER BACK UP THEIR 

CLAIM WITH REAL EXPERIENCE? 

The actual speaker must be able to 

provide real proof that he or she has 

used the information he or she is offering 

to make a living. Good information and 

recommendations about the speaker 

should be supplied with accurate contacts 

that can be investigated further. Be wary 

of speakers who use religious beliefs in 

order to gain credibility. 

2 

IS PROPER INFORMATION 

PROVIDED PRIOR TO THE SEMINAR? 

The majority of ads regarding a real estate 

seminar have a tendency to pinpoint the 

good things without providing real info. 

A lovely picture of prosperity and luxury 

will be painted without having any real 

information about how to actually get 

there. Good real estate seminars should 

provide you with details on what you 

would have to do to make a profit, as well 

as mistakes you should steer clear of. The 

objectives and the discussion points of the 

workshop should be clearly spelled out in 

advance about real estate. 

3 

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE. 

WHAT SUPPLIES ARE PROVIDED? 

Many workshops offer publications 

as well as compact disks for sale. Ensure 

that the materials provided are helpful 

and also written by well-known authors. 

Read the first few pages and also go 

through the table of contents. This can 

provide you with a good concept about the 


9

material plus what it really 

addresses. A great number 

of real estate seminars 

are just used as avenues 

to sell a lot more books as 

well as CDs while offering 

no real information. 

Real estate seminars that 

give overstated results 

as well as out of this 

world profits for a small 

investment will be a straight 

up scam. Legit workshops 

are going to focus on giving 

you step-by-step guidelines 

and solutions without 

making wild promises. 

Proper references will be 

given, and speakers are 

going to be well-known 

successful people inside 

the real estate industry. 

10 



11

2 THOUGHTS ON RECEIVING MAIL 

FROM REAL ESTATE AGENTS 

by 


Follow Us: 

If you receive some mail from a real estate agent, don’t always assume that it’s 

junk mail. You may be missing an outstanding opportunity, and here’s why. 

When you begin showing an interest in real estate and start talking to a few 

agents, you may start receiving some mail about open houses or new houses 

available in your area. Even if an interest hasn’t been shown, you will receive 

some mail from agents from time to time to let you know about different 

properties on the market. While you may not be interested in the properties 

that are brought to your attention, they could serve as excellent reference points for the 

properties that you are interested in. 

12 


Selling your home to the right buyer is easy when you know how to avoid negatively affecting how 

much you get from the sale. Here’s how to get started. 

 


1 

WHY AGENTS SEND MAIL 

Real estate agents send mail to you 

to show you why they should be your 

real estate agent when you are ready to 

purchase or sell a property. They do it to 

spark the interest in the home they are 

advertising. And lastly, they do it to make 

you think about real estate in general and 

whether you are ready to sell or buy a home. 

Real estate agents don’t send out pieces of 

mail very often and only do so when there 

is a particular property that they’d like 

to share. Sometimes, something special 

comes on the market that is a good price 

or has a certain quality that makes it stand 

out above the rest. If you do receive some 

mail from a real estate agent, don’t always 

assume that it’s junk mail. You may be 

missing an outstanding opportunity that 

the agent wants to let you know about. 

2 

SELLING YOUR PROPERTY 

A real estate agent may decide 

to send out a promo piece about your 

property to help sell it. This is a costly way 

of advertising, however, and is only used 

in certain circumstances. You can talk to 

your Virginia Beach real estate agent and 

find out whether there is a plan to use 

a mailing for your home to help it sell. 

Getting the word out is the name of 

the game when it comes to real estate 

marketing. Mailing out a promotional 

piece is one of the many strategies that 

your real estate agent may use to help sell 

your property faster and more efficiently. 


13

14 


4 QUESTIONS TO ASK 

WHEN RETIRING 

USING 

REAL ESTATE 

These are the questions to ask 

yourself that will help determine 

what kind of accommodations you 

should be planning for in retirement. 

by 

Irene Brown 

Follow Us: 

Alot of people do not factor 

in Virginia Beach real estate 

when they are planning for 

their retirement. Money 

and income are the main 

focus for retirement planning, but real 

estate also plays a very important part 

of the process. If you are financially set 

up for retirement, where do you want 

to be and what kind of lifestyle do you 

want to be living? The answers to these 

questions will help determine what 

kind of accommodations you should be 

planning for in the future. 


15

Would you rather spend a fortune on specialized moving boxes, or snag some free ones that are just 

as good? Here’s how to get it done. 

 


1 

WHAT LIFESTYLE DO YOU 

ENVISION FOR YOUR RETIREMENT? 

A lot of people think about retirement and 

make travel plans. If you can see yourself 

traveling in your golden years, you may 

want to think about owning a condo. This 

will give you more freedom to travel than 

having the responsibilities of a home to 

leave behind. 

2 

DO YOU WANT TO RESIDE IN THE 

SAME NEIGHBORHOOD? 

You may have built up your own 

community of friends or even family in 

your neighborhood and may want to 

remain there for as long as possible. If this 

is the case, you may want to start looking 

for a bungalow in the area if you don’t 

have one already. In your older years, you 

16 


may not be able to manage stairs as well as you can now and will appreciate having to 

navigate one floor only. 

3 

WOULD YOU LIKE A QUIET COUNTRY LIFE? 

Some people that have lived and worked in the city throughout their lives plan a 

quiet retirement in a rural area outside the city. If this is the case, your Virginia Beach 

real estate agent can point you in the direction of certain areas that are lower in price 

and have a strong senior community. 

4 

CAN YOU ENVISION A RETIREMENT COMMUNITY? 

You may or may not want to be surrounded by other seniors when you’re 

older. Some seniors prefer to live in a community with both older and younger 

people and families. Some people prefer the quiet surroundings of other seniors. 

Retirement planning involves more than financial planning. You also need to look at your 

Virginia Beach real estate retirement goals and based on your budget, find the right type of 

community living. Planning it out will make everything easier when the time comes to move. 

It will make your retirement less stressful and a more relaxed state of affairs when you have 

decided where you want to live and the lifestyle you want to live when you are retired. 


17

18 


3 TIPS FOR 

INVESTING 

IN A HOTEL 

by 


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Ever considered owning a hotel? These are the things to consider when 

entering the industry because it is far different from other businesses. 

Customer traffic 

is what holds 

together the 

hotel industry, 

which can be 

the biggest possible investment 

no matter what city 

you live in. Hotels are very 

different than the other 

main types of commercial 

properties within the city 

limits. Hotel investments 

can be very profitable 

and have many benefits. 

Traveling is something 

that will always be around 

because people always 

feel the need to explore 

and change their scenery. 

The constant and never-ceasing 

stream of tourists 

traveling about the 

country is what creates 

such a thriving and profitable 

market for hotels. 


19

1 

PARTNER UP 

Often, these types of real estate ventures are very expensive and cannot be handled 

alone. It may be in the best interests of the investor to get a partner to do business 

with. Financing can be made a lot easier when divided into sections for the different parties 

involved. When it comes to the city of Virginia Beach, hotels that are for sale are far 

beyond the average person’s budget. 

2 

HOTEL AMENITIES 

Some hotels have 

special things about them 

that make them stand 

out from the rest. Large 

swimming pools, special 

gyms, fancy restaurants 

and valet parking areas 

create an environment 

for travelers that is worth 

the extra money. 

Neighbors can and most definitely will have an either positive or negative effect on potential 

homebuyers. Here’s what you need to know. 

 

3 


RISKS OF OWNING A HOTEL 

With all the benefits of owning a hotel come severe and very real risks. Always 

consider these risks since they may be very harmful to your bank account. Low vacancy 

rates, inflation, and interest rates are some of the risks involved in owning a hotel. One of 

the more common risks is the low vacancy rate, which can mean a steep drop in monthly 

income. This is the most serious threat that the hotel industry faces nowadays. It is very 

important to know how to handle this situation before entering this type of industry. 

Keep in mind that there are a lot of things that you need to consider when entering the 

hospitality industry because it is far different from other businesses. Despite these risks, 

you have to keep in mind that a hotel business carries a lot of benefits, including the 

potential for a very lucrative income. 

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23

5 RULES FOR 

DOGS & CONDOS 

by 

Irene Brown 

Follow Us: 

When it comes to moving into a condo as a dog owner, it’s imperative that you 

find a condo that welcomes dogs with open arms to protect yourself. 

If you are thinking about buying 

a Virginia Beach condo and 

currently own a dog, there are 

some things you are going to 

have to look into first. Some 

condominiums allow dogs and some don’t, 

and you are going to have to find a condo 

that welcomes dogs with open arms to 

protect yourself in the future. 

24 


When these aspects are easy to see, you’ll know you’re dealing with a real estate agent who is a winner. 

 

 


1 

THE POLICY MAY BE CHANGING 

You see, while some condos say that 

they will accept dogs, some really don’t 

welcome these animals, and in some cases, 

there may be things going on behind the 

scenes to change the dog policy. 

2 

A DOG CAN BE A BIG 

PROBLEM FOR CONDOS 

An uncontrolled dog can really wreck 

havoc on a condominium building. If an 

elevator is carpeted, it doesn’t take long 

for stains to appear from dogs that can’t 

wait to get to the bottom and head outside. 

If the elevator is floored, small puddles 

can appear out of nowhere and be left 

unhandled by inconsiderate dog owners. 

3 

FIND OUT IF THERE ARE OTHER 

DOG OWNERS 

Make sure that the dog policy in the 

Virginia Beach condo you are looking 

at is supported by most of the condo 

dwellers. A good way to find out about 


25

this is to ask how many owners have a 

dog. Dog owners will support a dog policy. 

You do not want to move into a Virginia 

Beach condo where dogs are allowed in 

but are frowned upon. You want to be 

welcomed into the new building as a dog 

owner. 

4 

INTRODUCE YOUR DOG 

TO YOUR NEIGHBORS 

The best thing you can do is find a building 

that is dog-friendly and introduce your dog 

to your neighbors as soon as you move in. 

You can let them know that your dog is safe 

and introduce yourself as a responsible 

dog owner that will do everything possible 

to keep the interior of the building free 

of any doggy messes and will take full 

responsibility of your pooch outside as 

well. 

5 

MAKE SURE THE POLICY 

STATUS IS STRONG 

Unless you are prepared to have to give 

up your dog at some point, you’ll need to 

make sure that the policy to allow dogs 

into the Virginia Beach condo building is 

strong and will probably remain in effect 

for many years. This is the best way to 

avoid a problem in the future if you are 

committed to your loyal canine companion 

and don’t want to have to move out of the 

condo later on. 

26 



27

A 6-PART OVERVIEW OF 

BORROWING MONEY 

PRIVATELY 

by 


Follow Us: 

When you are looking for an investment real estate property but are having 

problems, consider a private lender. Here’s what you need to know. 

When you are looking for real estate for investment purposes, and you are 

having trouble borrowing money from the bank or other financial institutions, 

you may have to consider your other options. For some, these options might 

include not getting their ideal house or investment property. For others, they 

may contact a private lender. Should the lender feel interested and believe 

that the venture is relatively safe, they may lend you the money. 

1 

PROMISSORY NOTE 

A promissory note is one of the papers that you will need to sign 

in order to obtain the loan. It is the agreement that has been reached 

by both parties and is considered a legal obligation once signed. The 

note contains important details about the transaction for both parties. 

You will have to pay back the amount loaned and interest in the time 

stipulated on the note. 

28 


Here are a few questions to ask yourself before attending any real estate workshops. The last thing 

you want is to become victim to a straight up scam. 

 


2 MORTGAGE 

This is another document included that 

ensures that you live up to the agreement 

and meet the required deadlines. This is 

known as the mortgage, and usually lists the 

Virginia Beach real estate you are purchasing 

as security in the event you fail to make your 

payments. There are a few things to consider 

including in the note if you are buying a 

house through a private lender. 

3 

A SUBSTITUTION OF 

COLLATERAL CLAUSE 

The substitution of collateral clause means that 

should you wish to sell the property before the 

note has been paid off, you may substitute another 

property or asset of equal value. This means that 

if you are unhappy with your purchase, and wish 

to get rid of the investment or dwelling, you will 

be able to under the substitution of collateral 

clause. This is providing you have the collateral. 


29

4 

PREPAYMENT CLAUSE 

The prepayment clause is something 

that is very important in terms of paying 

off your loan and saving money. Over years 

of paying the money back to your private 

lender, the interest will amount to thousands 

of dollars. Having the prepayment clause 

included means that you can pay the note 

off before full maturity of the loan and save 

a lot of money in interest charges. 

5 INSURANCE 

You should include both the buyer and 

seller when you are looking for insurance 

for your real estate property. The policies 

should be separate with an owner’s title 

policy and a lender’s title policy. 

6 

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT 

Another thing that you should 

include in the agreement is a 

disclosure statement. This statement 

basically informs your lender of your 

exact intentions for the property. 

When you are looking for an investment 

real estate property, but are unable to 

obtain a loan from a financial institution, 

you may want to consider going through 

a private lender. The promissory note, 

mortgage, insurance and the note’s 

contents and clauses are what protect 

you and the lender from being cheated 

out of money, and keep everything legal 

and binding. 

30 


3 GUIDELINES FOR 

REAL ESTATE 

CONTINGENCIES 

by 

Irene Brown 

Follow Us: 

Contingencies are commonly found in many real estate contracts and can either 

act as a small or a major setback to the sale. Here’s what you need to know. 

Acontingency is a condition that is written into a Virginia Beach real estate 

contract. Examples of some contingencies include a home inspection, home 

appraisal, a condition that the buyer’s original home sells or that the buyer 

can come up with a mortgage. Contingencies are commonly found in many real 

estate contracts and can either act as a small or a major setback to the sale. 

1 

ONE EXAMPLE OF A CONTINGENCY 

An example of one contingency would 

be a buyer putting in an offer that is based 

upon mortgage approval. If that buyer does 

not get approved for a mortgage, the seller 

is able to accept any other offers put in. 

The example above is pretty cut and 

dried. Either the mortgage is obtained, 

or it isn’t. Things can get much more 

complicated if a contingency was put into 

the contract that the Virginia Beach house 

must have a satisfactory inspection, for 

instance. If any type of problem shows 

up during this inspection, the buyer 

can simply walk away from the sale or 

choose to negotiate with the seller. 

The seller has the option of fixing up 

the problems found during the home 

inspection or reducing the price if he 

wants to go further with the sale. Both the 

buyer and seller can choose whether to 

negotiate or not. 


31

2 

UNDERSTANDING CONTINGENCIES 

It is always important that you understand these Virginia Beach real estate 

contingencies before signing any contract. This is where the help of a good real estate 

lawyer comes into play. If there is anything you don’t completely understand about 

the contract, you can get it clarified with your lawyer. Contingencies can sometimes be 

worded using legal terms that you do not comprehend, and once you have signed the 

contract, you cannot claim ignorance later if you did not fully understand part of it. 

A home mortgage loan is a huge undertaking, and you should make a wise choice that ultimately puts 

you at ease. These pointers will help you do just that. 

 

3 


UTILIZING YOUR AGENT 

You can ask your Virginia Beach real estate agent how to proceed if 

negotiations are needed due to a contingency. Your agent is a skilled negotiator 

and will do everything possible on your behalf to get you the best deal possible. 

This is the time when you need to keep an open line of communication with your 

Virginia Beach agent. Things can happen quickly during negotiations, and he needs to 

know exactly where you stand at all times so that he can do his best to close the deal 

on your behalf. 

32 



33

4 TIPS FOR FINDING THE 

RIGHT AGENT 

by 

Irene Brown 

Follow Us: 

AVirginia Beach 

real estate agent 

is usually a part 

of a team working 

out of one office. 

Together, the team has put 

together their own expectations 

of what they expect from each 

agent as far as professionalism, 

customer service, team 

commitment, and dedication 

to excellence. When you visit 

one agent in the office, it is a 

reflection of the whole team’s 

values and integrity. You’ll 

know you’re dealing with the 

right agent when the following 

aspects are in place. 

1 

When these aspects are easy to see, you’ll know you’re dealing with a real 

estate agent who is a winner. 

CUSTOMER SERVICE 

A Virginia Beach real estate 

agent should make you feel that 

you are always important and 

special. You should never feel 

rushed in any conversations 

you have with the agent. If the 

person you are talking to is 

busy, he will politely tell you that 

34 


When it comes to moving into a condo as a dog owner, it’s imperative that you find a condo that 

welcomes dogs with open arms to protect yourself. 

 


he will call you back as soon as possible. He 

wants to give you the time you deserve to get 

your questions answered, and he also wants 

to give you his full and undivided attention. 

Contacting your real estate agent should be 

very easy. You should have access to his cell 

phone and be able to contact the agent by 

email whenever you want. You should expect 

a quick response to your communication for 

the most part. 

2 PROFESSIONALISM 

A Virginia Beach real estate agent 

should act professionally at all times while at 

the same time being personable. It is amazing 

when you find both of these qualities packed 

into the same person because it means that 

he will be able to relate to both buyers and 

sellers while at the same time getting the 

business at hand done. 

3 

DEDICATION TO EXCELLENCE 

The real estate team and the office 

should always be dedicated to excellence 

in all their dealings. When you see this 

listed as one of the agent’s top priorities, 

you’ll know that this person will step up 

to the plate for you and do everything 

possible to make your Virginia Beach 

real estate transaction as smooth and as 

profitable as it can be. 


35

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4 

TEAM COMMITMENT 

There may be times when 

you have to contact the real 

estate office and the agent is not 

available. It is at these times when 

you will see the quality of service 

provided by all the other agents 

on the team. You will be treated 

with the utmost respect, and your 

message will be forwarded to your 

Virginia Beach agent right away. If 

you have to visit the office for any 

reason, you will feel welcomed and 

treated as a special client by all. 

When you find all of these traits 

in a Virginia Beach real estate 

agent that you are talking to, 

you know that you have found 

a winner. The most important 

thing you can have on your side 

is a real estate agent that really 

cares about your situation and is 

willing to give it his all. 

38 



39

3 PLACES TO GET MOVING 

BOXES FOR FREE 

by 

Irene Brown 

Follow Us: 

Would you rather spend a fortune on specialized moving boxes, or snag some 

free ones that are just as good? Here’s how to get it done. 

If you are planning a Virginia Beach move in the near future, here are some 

helpful tips to help you find some free moving boxes. You can end up 

spending a fortune on specialized new boxes or take a look at some free 

ones that are just as good. 

40 


1 BOOKSTORES 

When you think about it, books must 

arrive at the bookstore in perfect condition 

in order to be sold. This means that the 

boxes need to be very sturdy in order to be 

able to transport all of that weight. Most 

Virginia Beach bookstores will be sending 

their boxes to be recycled anyway, so it 

doesn’t hurt to ask for boxes there. The 

best thing to do is to call them up and 

ask them when they are getting their next 

delivery and ask if they would be willing to 

part with their boxes. You can call up a few 

bookstores at a time and make a plan to 

pick up the boxes on the scheduled date 

of a book delivery. This will give you a load 

of free boxes that you can use for your 

Virginia Beach move. 

These are the questions to ask yourself that will help determine what kind of accommodations you 

should be planning for in retirement. 

 

2 


CLASSIFIED ADS 

Take a look through the free classified ads for Virginia Beach on the Internet and see 

if anyone has packing boxes listed. Most people are willing to get rid of these boxes for 

free and are anxious to see them leave their house once their move has been completed. 

There are also environmental groups in Virginia Beach that congregate on the Internet, 

and they are constantly putting up ads for free stuff. If you don’t see an ad for free 

moving boxes, you can join the group and put up an ad for boxes wanted yourself. This 

is a great group to get involved with anyway since a lot of people get rid of a lot of good 

second-hand items for free that are still in perfect shape. 


41

3 

DEPARTMENT STORES 

If you have a Virginia Beach move that is coming up very quickly, 

and you need boxes right away, your best bet is to head to a department 

store and talk to the manager. Department stores get a lot of deliveries, 

and chances are you can head home with a load of boxes on the same day. 

Buying boxes for a Virginia Beach move is something new on the scene. 

Your parents and your grandparents never spent money on boxes 

for their moves. Things got damaged back then, and things still get 

damaged during moves today. As long as you carefully select your 

boxes and only choose the strongest for your fragile items, your move 

should go without a hitch. 

42 



43

A 3-PART GUIDE TO 

SELLING HOMES 

EFFICIENTLY 

by 

Irene Brown 

Follow Us: 

Selling your home to the right buyer is easy when you know how to avoid 

negatively affecting how much you get from the sale. 

No matter what 

the Virginia 

Beach real 

estate market 

is in your 

neighborhood, you can 

get your house sold to the 

right buyer. To do this, all 

you need to do is avoid the 

common selling mistakes 

that can affect how much 

you get from the sale, and 

make selling your property 

a nightmare. 

1 

THE OUTSIDE OF 

THE PROPERTY 

It is a common mistake 

when selling Virginia Beach 

real estate to focus on the 

inside of the property and 

forget the outside. To make 

a good first impression, 

it is important to ensure 

that the outside is also well 

44 


If you receive some mail from a real estate agent, don’t always assume that it’s junk mail. You may be 

missing an outstanding opportunity, and here’s why. 

 


done and appealing. When potential buyers 

drive in to view the property, the outside of 

the property will be their first impression. 

An unkempt garden with overgrown trees and 

shrubs will hide the beauty of the property 

and turn off potential buyers. Manicure the 

lawns and use outdoor furniture to enhance 

the beauty of the property. 

2 

FAILING TO STAGE 

Staging Virginia Beach real estate is 

vital when selling the property to get the 

maximum profit possible. In order to sell 

a property, it is important to highlight the 

good points of the property and engage 

the imagination of potential buyers. 

Staging allows the seller to show potential 

buyers the potential of the property. 

It is important to realize that buying is an 

emotional decision. You have to engage the 

emotions and imagination of the potential 

buyers to help them visualize how the property 

will look with their furniture in place. 

3 

SELLING PROPERTY WHEN IT 

IS IN A POOR STATE 

You cannot expect to sell property that is 

in a poor state at a premium price. The 

state of the property will have a direct 

impact on the selling price. Potential 

buyers will quickly lose interest when they 

see the condition of the Virginia Beach 


45

eal estate property. A property 

with visible maintenance problems 

simply means that there are more 

problems in what cannot be seen, like 

structural issues or roofing problems. 

Removing clutter from all the rooms 

will make the rooms look bigger while a 

fresh coat of paint will brighten up the 

rooms. Arranging furniture creatively 

and removing personal items like 

photos will help buyers envision 

the home as their own. You may 

consider borrowing or renting good 

furniture to create the desired effect. 

Selling Virginia Beach real estate 

involves appealing to the emotions of 

potential buyers, so they will want to 

invest in that property. If the house 

is not selling, instead of reducing the 

asking price, work on the property 

to make it more appealing and 

attractive to buyers. 

46 



47

2 POINTERS ON THE 

TYPES OF 

HOME LOANS 

by 

Irene Brown 

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A home mortgage loan is a huge undertaking, and you should make a wise choice 

that ultimately puts you at ease. These pointers will help you do just that. 

If you have made the 

decision to buy a 

residential property in 

Virginia Beach, this is 

probably one of your 

biggest lifetime decisions. This also 

means that you will need to make 

a decision based on the amount of 

money you need to pay as monthly 

repayments for the duration of your 

loan, which could be as long as 30 

years. You will need to examine your 

home loan choices very carefully. 

Don’t ever make a hasty decision 

before you obtain several quotes 

since a wrong choice could set you 

back thousands of dollars in the 

long run. Take a look at several 

factors you need to consider when 

obtaining a home mortgage loan for 

your Virginia Beach home. 

1 

COMPARE RATES 

Be sure to compare the various 

rates that are available. Different 

Virginia Beach financial institutions 

will have competing interest rates. 

48 


Contingencies are commonly found in many real estate contracts and can either act as a small or a 

major setback to the sale. Here’s what you need to know. 

 


You may discover Bank A with much better 

rates of interest on a home loan for a 15- 

year term, while Bank B may offer you even 

better rates if you obtain a mortgage for 

30 years. You should analyze your ability to 

make payments on a home loan and search 

for a Virginia Beach bank with the best rates. 

2 

COMPARE TYPES OF MORTGAGES 

There are also various types of 

mortgages for your home in Virginia 

Beach, and you should compare them 

carefully. If you do not have a big budget 

for a home loan repayment, try to avoid 

an adjustable rate mortgage since it can be 

quite risky. If you are the type that avoids 

taking risks, you should consider a fixed 

rate mortgage that is essentially safe from 

rises in interest rates. The different kinds 

of mortgages available all have benefits 

and drawbacks, and it is best to ask your 

Virginia Beach loan officer for assistance. 

He will be able to figure out the very best 

loan deal according to your current needs. 

Remember that a home mortgage loan is 

a huge undertaking, and you should make 

a wise choice that ultimately puts you at 

ease. Take your time to analyze each and 

every quote for a mortgage before signing 

on the dotted line. Investing your hard 

earned money in purchasing a Virginia 

Beach home will be rewarding for you and 

your family in the future, that’s for sure. 


49

3 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT DEALING WITH 

DIFFICULT NEIGHBORS 

by 


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Neighbors can and most definitely will have an either positive or negative 

effect on potential homebuyers. Here’s what you need to know. 

Everyone knows how kind 

and friendly neighbors can 

be. There are also, however, 

neighbors that can be quite 

a problem. Perhaps the 

neighbors are fond of keeping junk 

piled up on their front lawn and around 

every single available space they have. 

Whatever the case may be, always realize 

that neighbors can and most definitely 

will have an either positive or negative 

effect on potential homebuyers. 

1 

FACE TO FACE 

Dealing with the problem means 

coming face to face with the neighbors. 

Always be kind and respectful as they 

do live nearby and are quite capable of 

making your life worse. When a problem 

arises with a neighbor, try to see things 

from their perspective and work things out. 

Very often, issues that could have been 

resolved quietly and peacefully develop 

into large fights that go back and forth 

50 


Ever considered owning a hotel? These are the things to consider when entering the industry, because 

it is far different from other businesses. 

 


simply because one person decided to be 

rude. Even if emotions are flying high and 

the neighbor’s dog dropped a surprise on 

the front lawn once again, take a minute to 

collect your thoughts and feelings before 

approaching the source of the problem. 

2 

GETTING TOUGH 

If the neighbors are proving to be 

obnoxious and are ignoring polite requests 

for a peaceful settlement, it may be time to 

start getting tough. One way is through the 

authorities. This is only for larger problems 

that may in some form be breaking the 

law. Municipal regulations can very often 

be quoted to make the problem go away. 

Most of the time, being a good neighbor means 

others will be nice as well. Being friendly and 

welcoming newcomers in the area can be 

very rewarding. Having good relations with 

neighbors means that when issues arise, a 

calm and fair settlement can often be reached 

with little to no trouble whatsoever. 

3 

YOUR HOME SALE 

You will have to talk to your real estate 

agent about any neighbor difficulties in case 

the topic of conversation comes up between 

you and a potential buyer. He will let you 

know how to deal with the topic and handle it 

cautiously. You simply wouldn’t believe how 

many people will ask about the neighbors. 


51

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53

City Of Virginia Beach, Virginia 

Event Calendar January 2017 

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

HARRY C. MANN: 

NORFOLK 

PHOTOGRAPHER 

9am - 8pm 

WORKSHOPS 

AT THE SUFFOLK 

CENTER FOR 

CULTURAL ARTS 

to 26, 10am - 1pm 

PHILADELPHIA 

MUMMERS NEW 

YEAR’S DAY 

PARADE 

to 2 April, 

12pm - 4pm 

PHOTOGRAPHY 

TALK PART I: 

BETTER PHOTOS 

FOR THE 

BEGINNER AND 

THE AMATEUR 

6pm - 7:45pm 

MUSE JANUARY 

READING #1 

7pm - 9pm 

RESUME 

ROUNDUP 

10:30am - 11:30am 

GIRL SCOUT 

COOKIE PROGRAM 

to 26 Mar, 

4:15pm 

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 

COASTAL VA 

WINTER BRIDAL 

SHOWCASE 

12pm - 4pm 

TIDEWATER 

VOICES ORAL 

HISTORY TALK 

2pm - 3pm 

PHOTOGRAPHY 

TALK PART II: THE 

CAMERA AND 

LENS AS YOUR 

TOOLS 

6pm - 7:45pm 

HARDCORE 

TRAVEL: TRAVEL 

HACKING, 

STUDYING 

ABROAD & MORE! 

6:30pm - 7:30pm 

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 

DOWNTOWN 

NORFOLK 

RESTAURANT 

WEEK 

12pm 

WOLVES: A 

VITAL ROLE IN 

NATURE - STILL 

THREATENED 

6:30pm - 8pm 

PHOTOGRAPHY 

TALK PART III: 

MAKING THE 

‘NEGATIVE’ 

6:pm - 7:45pm 

FREE SENIOR 

RESOURCE PANEL 

+ DINNER 

6pm - 8pm 

THE FOUR 

SEASONS 

| VIRGINIA 

SYMPHONY 

ORCHESTRA 

to 22, 

8pm - 10pm 

TRAVEL TALK 

WITH WORLD 

CLASS TRAVEL 

11am - 12pm 

22 23 24 25 26 27 28 

”CINDERELLA’S 

ADVENTURES” BY 

THE CHILDREN’S 

THEATRE OF 

HAMPTON ROADS 

12pm - 4pm 

BEGINNING TO 

ADVANCED 

WATERCOLOR 

CLASS 

to 27 Mar, 

10am - 1pm 

PUB TRIVIA NIGHT: 

90’S THROWBACK 

7pm - 9pm 

SNATO: 

THE MAGIC 

MARKSMAN 

7pm - 10pm 

TIDEWATER 

VOICES ORAL 

HISTORY TALK 

6:30pm - 8pm 

OPENING NIGHT 

OF MOCA’S 

WINTER/SPRING 

EXHIBITIONS 

6:30pm - 8:30pm 

2 YEAR 

ANNIVERSARY 

OF IFLY VIRGINIA 

BEACH! 

12pm - 5pm 

29 30 31

City Of Virginia Beach, Virginia 

Event Calendar February 2017 

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 

1 2 3 4 

WOLF TO WOOF: 

THE STORY OF 

DOGS 

to 14 May, 

9am - 10pm 

CLASSICAL 

MYSTERY 

TOUR | VIRGINIA 

SYMPHONY 

ORCHESTRA 

8pm - 10pm 

CATHOLIC 

CHARITIES’ MARDI 

GRAS GALA 

6:30pm - 11pm 

BACCHUS WINE 

AND FOOD 

FESTIVAL 

7pm - 10pm 

TAKE YOUR CHILD 

TO THE LIBRARY 

DAY 

10am - 5pm 

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 

HISTORY SPEAKS 

AT THE MOSES 

MYERS HOUSE 

1pm - 2pm 

BEGINNING TO 

ADVANCED 

WATERCOLOR 

CLASS 

to 27 Mar, 

10am - 1pm 

JAMESTOWN 

REDISCOVERY 

2pm - 3pm 

OCEAN 

FRONTIERS III 

WORLD PREMIERE 

6:30pm - 9pm 

MASTERS OF 

ILLUSION- BELIEVE 

THE IMPOSSIBLE 

7pm - 9pm 

SPECIAL GALLERY 

TALK: AFRICAN 

ART 

2pm - 3pm 

A NIGHT AT THE 

MOVIES | VIRGINIA 

SYMPHONY 

ORCHESTRA 

8pm - 10pm 

ART WALK AND 

TALK 

2pm - 3pm 

MILTON SUGGS, 

VOCALIST 

8pm 

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 

WINE, WOMEN & 

WEALTH 

5:15pm - 7pm 

SENIOR 

ADVOCATE 

SELF-DISCOVERY 

SERIES 

PRESENTED 

BY ATLANTIC 

SHORES 

10:30am - 12:30pm 

CMA ON SCREEN: 

TO SIR, WITH 

LOVE 

1pm - 3pm 

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 

SPECIAL 

GALLERY TALK: 

CONTEMPORARY 

AFRICAN- 

AMERICAN 

ARTISTS 

2pm - 3pm 

VIRGINIA BEACH 

RESTAURANT 

WEEK 

to 26, 

11am - 11pm 

NORFOLK 

SOCIETY OF ARTS 

LECTURE: SARAH 

GREENOUGH 

11am - 12pm 

INTRIGUE & 

IDYLL | VIRGINIA 

SYMPHONY 

ORCHESTRA 

8pm - 10pm 

AMERICAN 

CANCER SOCIETY 

NIGHT WITH 

THE NORFOLK 

ADMIRALS 

7:30 - 10pm 

BLUES 

BROTHERS BASH 

FUNDRAISER 

6pm - 11pm 

26 27 28 

FRIENDS OF 

HISTORIC HOUSES 

LECTURE 

2pm - 3pm

56 



57

TUNE IN 

FOR OUR 

NEXT 

ISSUE! 

The March / April edition of 


will be available instantly this spring 

for FREE! 

58 


• 3 MISTAKES PEOPLE MAKE 

SHOPPING FOR HOUSES 

• 4 REASONS TO HIRE A REAL 

ESTATE LAWYER 

• 5 TIPS ON HIGH MARKET REAL 

ESTATE AGENTS 

• 5 VITAL ASPECTS OF REAL ESTATE 

AGENTS 

• 6 AWESOME PERKS OF HIGH RISE 

CONDOS 

• YOUR 2-PART GUIDE TO MOVING 

WITH KIDS 

• YOUR 5-PART REAL ESTATE AGENT 

CHECKLIST 

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Virginia Beach Real Estate Magazine - January/February 2017

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