Light Box Realty Real Estate Blog

Movoto just announced that Chesapeake, Virginia is the third most boring place to live in the country.  We disagree.  They based their assessment on the following criteria:

Nightlife per capita (bars, clubs, comedy, etc.)

Live music venues per capita

Active life options per capita (parks, outdoor activities, etc.)

Arts and Entertainment per capita (movie theaters, festivals, galleries, theaters, etc.)

Fast Food restaurants per capita (the fewer the better)

Percentage of restaurants that are not fast food (the higher the better)

Percentage of young residents ages 18 to 34 (the higher the better)

Population density (the higher the better)

True, Chesapeake is not full of live music venues or clubs.  However, if you are looking for a great place to raise a family and be within 15-20 minutes of everything listed above, then Chesapeake  is the place to live.  It is also known for a low crime rate, great schools, nice parks and easy access to the water.

Here are a few quotes (taken from a Facebook response to this article) from Chesapeake residents:

They apparently aren’t creatures that can create their own fun with what we have!!! I love Chesapeake!

I will taking boring over sketchy.

for as much as there are things to do in norfolk and Portsmouth, both of those cities have way too much crime! They are not an ideal place to live. I’ll stick to Chesapeake! AND I’m born and raised in NYC… Chesapeake is a safe place to live with everything fun in other “cities” we want usually within 15 to 20 

minutes. Now thats the best of all worlds!

Great place to raise a family! I wouldn’t live anywhere else, and I have had the opportunity to! 

People need to get out and enjoy the finer things in Chesapeake. Northwest river park, dismal swamp canal trail, chesapeake city park, bobs fishing hole , oak lake park. The real estate company that did this assessment must be basing it on instant gratification rather then quality pass times.

Source:  WAVY -TV 10 Facebook page  and http://www.movoto.com/blog/top-ten/most-boring-cities-in-america/

Chesapeake has many wonderful homes for sale.  There are beautiful estates and luxurious waterfront homes.  You might not find the country’s best nightclub, but you can find your next luxury home.

June 6 is National Donut Day.  The orgins are attributed to the Salvation Army when young women gave donuts to the troops during World War I.  Whatever the orgin, today is the day to celebrate the donut.  Many national chains and local gourmet donut shops offered free donuts today.  I stopped by a new gourmet donut shop today – Amazing Glazed.  It is located on Johnstown Road in the Great Bridge section of Chesapeake.

Amazing Glazed is a different shop.  They offer two flavors of cake donuts a day.  Today it was chocolate and vanilla.  They make them to order – read HOT.  You can choose from eleven different frostings and 21 toppings.  Next, select a drizzle.  Many people like the vanilla donut, with maple frosting and topped with bacon.  Another popular choice is a chocolate donut with marshmallow frosting, graham cracker topping and chocolate drizzle.  Today until 10:00 am, each person could have a free glazed donut.  Amazing Glazed was filled with customers ready to celebrate National Donut Day.

The shop has several tables so you can enjoy your delicious donut with coffee and friends.  You can also take a box to go.  Trust me when I say you will want more than one and you will want to make a return visit.

Visit their website at www.AmazingGlazed.com. 

This weekend is the 38th annual Norfolk Harborfest.  The downtown Norfolk waterfront will be filled with nearly half a million visitors to see the ships, entertainment, bands and family activities.  Two of the highlights for the event include the Parade of Sail on Friday and the largest fireworks show on the East Coast on Saturday evening.  According to Festevents, the Harborfest Parade of Sail, under the direction of the Virginia Pilots Association, will enter the Downtown Norfolk Harbor on Friday, June 6th at Noon. The fleet will include tall ships, character vessels, sleek power cruisers, sailing craft, antique and classic wooden boats, military vessels and tugs.  Representatives from area yacht and boat clubs will also participate.  For more information on the Parade of Sail,go to  https://festevents.org/events/current-events/38th-annual-norfolk-harborfest-presented-t/parade-sail/. If you want an up close look at the visiting ships, plan on a ship tour.  Ship Tours: Ships will be open for public tours on Saturday June 7 and Sunday June 8 (some ships may be open for limited hours on Friday following the Harborfest Parade of Sail). Public tours begin at Noon on Saturday and conclude at sunset, unless otherwise posted at the ship.  Visitors are requested to wear flat shoes and be able to manage walking up and down access ramps and ladders. Strollers must be left on the dock.  Source:  Festevents

The other event not to be missed is the Norfolk Harborfest fireworks.  The show is scheduled for Saturday night at 9:30 pm and fired from a barge on the Elizabeth River.  One of the best ways to view this show, the largest fireworks display on the east coast, is by boat.  

Boaters packages are available for the entire weekend.  Advanced reservations are strongly recommended.  https://festevents.org/boater-info/boater-packages/

For a full schedule of events, go to https://festevents.org/events/current-events/38th-annual-norfolk-harborfest-presented-t/norfolk-harborfest-stage-schedule-2/

Hampton Roads is perfect for boat lovers.  There are various waterways (rivers, bay, sounds and ocean) and numerous marinas in the area.  If you already have a boat, here are a few marinas in the area:

Virginia Beach

Inlet Station Marina.    www.rudeemarina.com  They offer accommodations for yachts up to 100′.  Rudee’s and Rockafeller’s Restaurants on premises and it is within walking distance to the beach and boardwalk.

Lynnhaven Municipal Marina.  http://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/parks-recreation/beach-boat-facilities/pages/lynnhaven-municipal-marina.aspx  The marina offers 50 boat slips that are rented on an annual basis from July through June to both recreational and commercial boaters with craft 36 feet in length or less.

Fisherman’s Wharf Marina. www.fishermanswharfmarina.com  It is the largest marina in Rudee Inlet.  It also offers quick access to the beach and boardwalk.

Long Bay Pointe Marina. http://www.longbaypointemarina.com The 215-slip marina can accommodate boats from 20 to 200 ft.  Floating docks with full-length fingers allow ease in boarding.  They are ADA compliant.

Lynnhaven Marine Boat Motel.   www.lynnhavenmarine.com The Lynnhaven Marine Boatel and Indoor Dry Storage Facilities is a fully enclosed, state-of-the-art facility with a capacity of 600 boats. 

Norfolk

Little Creek and Bay Point Marinas.  www.littlecreekmarina.com These marinas have direct access from the Chesapeake Bay.  There are 120 slips at Little Creek and 314 slips at Bay Point; all with floating docks.  A dry storage building has rack space for 224 boats.  The marinas also offer free wifi.

Waterside Marina is located in the heart of Downtown Norfolk.  www.watersidemarina.com 

Portsmouth

Tidewater Yacht Marine. www.tidewateryachtmarina.com This marina has 300 deep-water slips in the basin with  100 slips available for transients.  There are six mega yacht slips 130′.

Ocean Marine Yacht Center. www.oceanmarinellc.com The marina has 122 boat slips to 60′ and the dry storage building has 320 spaces for boats up to 40′.

It is the time of year when people are planning their getaways.  Our area is a major tourist destination but some of us want to getaway from here.  One of my very favorite weekend getaways is Fredericksburg, Virginia.  It is less than three hours away and an easy drive if you stay off Interstate 95.  We head north on Rt. 17.  It is a town steeped in history from both the Revolutionary War and Civil War.  The historic area has great shops, coffee bars combined with quaint bookstores and great restaurants.  Our favorite place to stay is at Lavender Heights Bed & Breakfast located in nearby Falmouth.  The innkeeper is a retired Marine who will insure you have a relaxing stay.

If you want to head south for the weekend, Edenton, North Carolina is another quaint town and is less than two hours away.  It is a waterfront town that also has great restaurants and shops.  Edenton is a town rich in history.  There is a walking tour that you can follow at your leisure.

Closer to home is Yorktown, Virginia.  You can head to this historic area just for the day.  Yorktown River Walk area has great dining and a quaint, clean beach.  The area has beautiful York River views and the three masted schooner sunset cruises.  Of course is also a historic area and part of the Historic Triangle (which includes Jamestown and Williamsburg).

http://www.fredericksburgvabedandbreakfast.com/ 

If you are looking for something exciting to do this summer, there is a new adventure park in Virginia Beach.  The Adventure Park at Virginia Aquarium opens Saturday, May 31.  It is located on five wooded acres on the Virginia Aquarium’s  campus and has more than 170 platforms installed in trees.  These are connected by cables, wood, rope and zip lines.  There are 13 trails for ages 5 to adult.  According to the Adventure Park, each trail has varying difficulty levels from beginner to expert.

Hours of Operation:

Open weekends for General Admission Fridays 1PM-11PM, Saturdays 9AM-11PM, and Sundays and Holidays 9AM-7PM.

Open 7 days a week for Group Reservations.

Summer Schedule

Open 7 days a week:

Monday-Thursday 9AM-11PM

Friday-Saturday 9AM-11PM

Sunday 9AM-7PM

Fall Schedule

Open weekends for General Admission Fridays 1PM-11PM, Saturdays 9AM-11PM, and Sundays and Holidays 9AM-7PM

Open 7 days a week for Group Reservations

All dates and hours listed are subject to change

Ticket Pricing

Age 12 & older: $51

Ages 10–11: $45

Ages 7–9: $41

Ages 5 – 6: FREE (Each child must be accompanied on course by an adult. One adult per child)

Twilight Special (Age 7 and up) - Available last three hours of the day and valid for the remainder of that session. $36

A ticket is not required if you are observing or accompanying a climber.  There are benches located throughout the park for your comfort.

For more information, go to

http://virginiabeachadventurepark.com/

Source:  The Adventure Park at Virginia Aquarium

If you are considering buying a house with or pool or installing a pool to your existing home, there are several things to consider.  First, there are the operating costs.  Purchasing the chemicals to maintain it yourself is an expense or you can choose to hire a company to maintain it for you.  Running the pumps, lights or heater will add to your monthly utility bill.  Periodically, a pump might break or the liner might tear.  New liners can run $10,000.  You also must maintain the pool deck (normally concrete).  If you are installing a pool, you also must consider the cost of the fence if there is not already a fence.

Some people think a pool will add to the resale value of a home.  Are you willing to pay an extra $40,000 for a house because it has a pool?  Most likely not.  Rarely, do people see a return of their investment.  Some people install pools when their children are young but no longer want the expense or maintenance once the kids are out of the house.  Others may not want to buy a house with a pool because they have very young children.  You may find a few families who will jump at the chance to own a home with a pool.  Another option is to buy in a neighborhood with a community pool.

Either way, make an educated choice when considering a house with a pool.

Source:  Wall Street Journal www.wsj.com

This week, Virginians are encouraged to prepare for hurricane season.  Virginia has declared May 25 through May 31 as Hurricane and Flood Preparedness Week.  According to Governor Terry McAuliffe’s statement,  he encourages every resident to prepare.  “I hope every Virginian will take action and make use of the Hurricane Preparedness Tax Holiday to get ready for the storms that we know will come our way this year.”  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced yesterday that it anticipates three-to-five hurricanes to hit this season, and one or two “major” hurricanes. The National Weather Service is anticipating a “below normal” hurricane season, but  NWS scientists are still  urging caution.

Individuals and families should have an emergency kit of supplies, starting with three days’ of bottled water and non-perishable food; a battery-powered and/or hand-crank radio with extra batteries to hear emergency information.  Other items to include are flashlights and extra batteries, a first aid kit and an extra supply of prescription medicines.  A written family emergency plan is also important.  For more information on making a family plan and putting together an emergency supply kit, go to www.ReadyVirginia.gov.

The following is a list of qualifying items.

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS SALES TAX HOLIDAY APPENDIX — LIST OF QUALIFYING ITEMS May 25 – May 31

Sales Price of $60 or less The following hurricane preparedness items may be purchased exempt of the Retail Sales and Use Tax during the “Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday,” provided that such items have a selling price of $60 or less per item.

• Artificial ice, blue ice, ice packs and reusable ice

• Batteries (excluding automobile or boat batteries), including o AAA cell o AA cell o C cell o D cell o 6 volt o 9 volt o Cell phone batteries

• Any portable self-powered light sources including o Flashlights o Lanterns o Glow sticks

•Tarpaulins, plastic sheeting, plastic drop cloths, and other flexible waterproof sheeting

• Bungee cords, rope

• Ground anchor systems or tie down kits

• Ratchet straps

• Duct tape

• Carbon monoxide detectors • Smoke detectors • Fire extinguishers

• Gas or diesel fuel tanks or containers

• Water storage containers

• Nonelectric food storage coolers

• Bottled water

• Manual can openers

• Portable self-powered radios (including self-powered radios with electrical power capability) • Two-way radios • Weather band radios and NOAA weather radios

• Storm shutter devices

• Cell phone chargers

• First Aid Kits

Sales Price of $1,000 or less

The following hurricane preparedness items may be purchased exempt of the Retail Sales and Use Tax during the “Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday,” provided that such items have a selling price of $1000 or less per item.

• Portable generators and generator power cords

• Inverters and inverter power cables

For the 2014 Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday period and all subsequent periods, gas-powered chain saws with a selling price of $350 or less and chain saw accessories with a sales price of $60 or less may be purchased exempt of the Retail Sales and Use Tax.

The following is an all-inclusive list of the items that are deemed “chain saw accessories”: • Chains • Chain saw bar and nose lubricants • Two-cycle motor oil • Chain sharpeners and files • Bars • Wrenches • Carrying cases and scabbards • Safety apparel, including chaps, gloves, hearing protectors, helmets, and protective glasses • Repair parts

The Virginia Department of Taxation’s Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday Guidelines and Rules are available online at http://www.tax.virginia.gov/site.cfm?alias=HurricanePreparednessEquipmentHoliday.

For additional information on hurricane preparation, visit the Virginia Department of Emergency Management website at www.vaemergency.gov.

A few simple steps can make a difference in protecting your home.  With the weather being warmer and homeowners out doing yard work, now is a good time to do a thorough perimeter check of your house.

Make sure your house numbers are easily seen from the road by first responders.

When you are out doing yard work, be sure your shrubs are trimmed back around windows and doorways.  Remove any limbs that cause shadowed areas on your pathways.

Make sure all your doors are locked and you have secure deadbolts on all doors leading to the outside.

Keep your curtains and blinds closed at night and when you are not home.

If you will be going on vacation, place a hold on mail and newspapers.  Ask a neighbor to check for packages that may be delivered in your absence.

Install motion sensor lights and program them to turn on when people approach the house.

According to the Virginia Beach Crime Prevention Unit, don’t leave empty boxes from high-dollar  items such as TVs and computers along the street on trash day.  That is advertising you have expensive items in your house.  Instead, cut up the boxes and put them in your recycling can.

A barking dog can scare off thieves and alert you.  Any size dog can work as an alert.

Virginia Beach Police Crime Prevention Unit also recommend you copy all the serial numbers from items of value and take pictures – this includes any valuables you keep in the shed or garage.  You can store the information on your computer, but keep a hard copy in case your computer is stolen.

Remember to speak to your children about safety and security.

Source:  Virginia Beach Police Department, Crime Prevention Unit http://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/police/opsdiv/Pages/prog-safety.aspx

Many areas have experienced heavy rains recently and some homeowners might be wondering if they need flood insurance.  After all, hurricane season starts next month.  You might assume your homeowners insurance covers flooding.  Most of the time, this is not true.

Some homeowners might also assume that federal disaster assistance will be available if their homes flood.  This is also not the case.  Federal disaster assistance generally is a low interest loan to help cover flood damage, but is does not necessarily cover your losses.  Keep in mind, these loans are only available if the president formally declares a disaster.  This loan must be repaid.

If you live in area that has a relatively low risk of flooding, you might consider flood insurance.  Your rates may be very affordable and you are eligible.  Flooding does occur in low risk areas.  Poor drainage and rapidly accumulating rainfall are just two reasons for flooding.  Some mortgage lenders may require flood insurance even if you are in a low risk area.

Flood insurance is mandatory for buildings in high-risk flood areas.  You can contact your insurance agent or company to found out more information about flood insurance.  According to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), many private insurance companies offer Excess Flood Protection.  This policy provides limits above those offered by the NFIP.

Source:  www.floodsmart.gov/floods