Virginia Sporting Estates

Local Media Watch – BIA/Kelsey » Blog Archive » Realtor.com: IPhone App Boosts Phone Calls to Realtors

murdochm — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:18:40 +0000

My contract with Verizon and the fact that the service is so much better keeps me from the IPhone, but I think there is a lot to be said for emerging real estate apps. People with Iphones are insanely resourceful.

Local Media Watch – BIA/Kelsey » Blog Archive » Realtor.com: IPhone App Boosts Phone Calls to Realtors.

Board Fencing

murdochm — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 19:29:00 +0000

Many farm and estate properties in Virginia are bordered by board fencing or fencing of some sort. If it’s primarily a cattle farm, you might see high tensile fencing which is wire strung tight between pressure treated posts, or you might see barbed wire. Mostly what you’ll find is board fencing, either three boards or four. Typically this pressure treated pine or oak boards. The posts are driving into the ground with a post pounder or in some cases and auger is used but that can disturb the ground more and the posts may not always be as secure and therefore the fence not as strong. I prefer rounded posts at 4-5″ as they are less likely to hold surface water behind the boards and they tend not to warp or break as easy as square posts. The boards and posts are invariably stained or painted. This is a very traditional look for Virginia horse farms and in some areas the you will find consistently the same color fencing. Keswick, Virginia is recognized for all of the white fencing as you pass through one estate property after another. I admit that I am partial to the black board fencing as it disappears a little more into the landscape. Either way, the great thing about owning a big place is that you can paint your fence however you like, but as far as horse fencing goes, a traditional board fence seems to work best and that means, vinyl and and electric tape (hot tape) is not desirable and looks cheap. There is a security (peace of mind that your animals are safe) and texture (looks good) to board fencing. It will be more labor intensive than other things over the years but it’s the best solution for livestock and the reason you see it everywhere. The cost for board fencing can range between $2-$5/foot and there are many variables with installation and treatment that can impact the finished cost. Depending on your area in Virginia, I can always make a recommendation about who you should use to build yours.

Board Fencing in Virginia

The iPad and Realtors: A Match Made in Heaven — Seeking Alpha | Virginia Sporting Estates

murdochm — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 19:03:53 +0000

The iPad and Realtors: A Match Made in Heaven — Seeking Alpha | Virginia Sporting Estates.

Charlottesville Tomorrow News Center: Biscuit Run bought by Virginia to create new state park in Albemarle

murdochm — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:05:03 +0000

This is a very interesting result to major real estate transaction and a commentary on the direction of downward market. Biscuit Run was once the the last developable tract in the county. Things have changed.

Charlottesville Tomorrow News Center: Biscuit Run bought by Virginia to create new state park in Albemarle.

Charlottesville Tomorrow News Center: Supervisors oppose “eastern bypass” and other VDOT recommendations for U.S. 29

murdochm — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:00:46 +0000

This is another move by VDOT that makes very little sense to me as trucks are already using Rt. 15 for the very purpose that they want to create this road. Let’s keep the countryside green.

Charlottesville Tomorrow News Center: Supervisors oppose “eastern bypass” and other VDOT recommendations for U.S. 29.

Signs of Real Estate Market Bottoms

murdochm — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:55:35 +0000

Signs of Real Estate Market Bottoms.

This is a pretty good list of indicators. As one client told me last year,["the plane has crashed in the desert, and we're hiking out. Youwon't realize how hard and how long you hiked until civilization is on the horizon and you know you'll be okay. Right now it's hills, hills and more hills."] Are we there yet? I couldn’t tell you if we were.

Turning Point

murdochm — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:36:33 +0000

I just heard about a small tract of land selling in the $650,000 price range and while that might not sound big, that would signify a change in direction or “shifting winds” of the real estate market. We’ll soon see.

Despite the huge crowd, U2 delivers up-close show | Charlottesville Daily Progress

murdochm — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:33:07 +0000

This is a “big-time” event anywhere on the Planet. Yes, In Charlottesville we had a front row seat. Not bad at all.

Despite the huge crowd, U2 delivers up-close show | Charlottesville Daily Progress.

MAY DAY!

murdochm — Thu, 28 May 2009 14:04:43 +0000

This is section of my blogging is never what I would call official but conversational with regard to the remarks I add about Real Estate related thoughts. I’m not going to wow anyone with statistics but report from “The Field” the general mood and feelings of things. The title here is enough of a cry for help. I’d say things have gone from worse to even more disheartening. What i had hoped to see a vibrant spring of folks shaking off a miserable winter collapse and just a few brave buyers emerging and willing some sellers into making deals happen. I’ve seen very little if any of this happening. I can reference a couple transactions personally but must acknowledge that May was a let down from the hope that the mood would brighten. As we move into Summer and transactions are few and far between I must say the outlook until next fall is bleak. Precious little happens in the summer months and all reports are negative. Alas, this market teaches us about ourselves - like a man looking into the abyss, I rely on character to see me through.

In other news, we’ve had substantial rains this spring and quite a bit of cool weather in Virginia. That should bode well for hay cuttings this year, most I’ve talked to have too much hay on their hands already. Nights are warming now and Virginians are comforted by sweaty evenings, bullfrogs by the ponds and honeysuckle you could practicly taste as you breath it in on an evening walk. There are worse places one could find themselves in a recession.

From the field I encourage all to look hard at buying property in Virginia.

Realtors® See Buyers Returning to Market

murdochm — Thu, 14 May 2009 20:30:15 +0000

As I’ve been saying this is a time of great opportunity. Never a better time to buy!

Realtors® See Buyers Returning to Market.