Harrisonburg Real Estate Guru

The Best Client is a Happy One

Harrisonburg Real Estate Guru

I really love this business.  The best part for me, is when I get feedback from a satisfied client!  I set my personal standards for quality representation extremely high because I think my clients deserve to have an agent who:

•  returns their calls promptly
•  keeps them in the loop with frequent multiple contact channels
• gives them honest and easily understood feedback about market conditions without a bunch silly charts and graphs
• gets them quick and reliable results

Let’s face it, you have many choices.  You can choose anybody to market and sell your home, or you can choose to hire a proven and reliable professional who will work diligently to further your financial goals.  My business is about long lasting relationships and important connections. If you are buying or selling a house in Harrisonburg, or the surrounding areas, you owe it to yourself to be represented by a proven professional.  Call me!

Barry Suttles – Realtor

540-246-5666 anytime mobile

New Homes Group – Kline May Realty

http:\\www.BestValleyHomes.com

Preston Lake

Buying and Selling Homes in the Harrisonburg Area

From farm field, to idea, to conceptual drawings, to reality, Preston Lake is a community in Harrisonburg, Virginia…. a master planned community of unparallelled uniqueness. 

Master Planned communities are common in the U.S., but the idea in Harrisonburg is a new one.  Having housing plats, office parks, recreational parks, along with commercial centers all in one big beautifully manicured location is coming to our area. Generally a master planned community is distinguished by the large size and the number of amenities and conveniences. Communities incorporate extensive recreational options like lakes, golf courses, and expansive parks with bike paths, and jogging trails. However, the typical subdivision may have much smaller parks and recreation areas, and the size of the local neighborhood will be much smaller than found in a place like Preston Lake.

This video is of our first Charleston model. It has sold recently and we have a new model home at 3376 Charleston Blvd

Charleston on the Lake

Call Barry Suttles for more information 540-246-5666

Willow Ridge – Harrisonburg’s Hidden Jewel

Harrisonburg Real Estate Guru

Where’s this beautiful community that everybody’s talking about….Willow Ridge?   Willow Ridge is tucked back in an enclave all it’s own in Harrisonburg, right off Pleasant Hill Road.

Georgeous Home at Willow Ridge - Barry Suttles - Realtor

There is something you’ll notice, a certain something that you realize, when you pass through this community. It must be the subtle ambience or the feel of security, the quality of life that people experience in this place that sets it apart.  From the streetlights and sidewalks, to the architecture, to the very people who choose to live here, it is different at Willow Ridge.  Maybe it is the fact that this community was inspired by a woman who is the builder/developer of Willow Ridge?  Maybe it is because there is a real sense of community and closeness that is unique here? No matter what is is, it is palitable and waiting for you at Willow Ridge.

$8000 Housing Credit Explained

Taken from a report by the National Association of Realtors.  

Bringing the Dream of Homeownership Within Reach

As part of its plan to stimulate the U.S. housing market and address the economic challenges facing our nation, Congress has passed legislation that grants a tax credit of up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers.

Here is more information about how the 2009 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit can help prospective home buyers become part of the American dream.

Register for Sept. 3rd  Research First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit webinar (Aug. 24)

Who Qualifies?

First-time home buyers who purchase homes between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009.

To qualify as a “first-time home buyer” the purchaser or his/her spouse may not have owned a residence during the three years prior to the purchase.

Which Properties Are Eligible?

The 2009 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit may be applied to primary residences, including: single-family homes, condos, townhomes, and co-ops.

How Much Will the Credit Be?

The maximum allowable credit for home buyers is $8,000. Each home buyer’s tax credit is determined by two factors:

The price of the home—the credit is equal to 10% of the purchase price of the home, up to $8,000.

The buyer’s income—single buyers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000—may receive the maximum tax credit.

If the Buyer(s)’ Income Exceeds These Limits, Can He/She Still Get a Credit?

Yes, some buyers may still be eligible for the credit.

The credit decreases for buyers who earn between $75,000 and $95,000 for single buyers and between $150,000 and $170,000 for home buyers filing jointly. The amount of the tax credit decreases as his/her income approaches the maximum limit. Home buyers earning more than the maximum qualifying income—over $95,000 for singles and over $170,000 for couples are not eligible for the credit.

Will the Tax Credit Need to Be Repaid?

No. The buyer does not need to repay the tax credit, if he/she occupies the home for three years or more. However, if the property is sold during the three-year period, the credit will be recouped on the sale.

If you are ready to buy your first home in Harrisonburg or the surrounduing area, call me at 540-246-5666.  Time is running out on this tax credit and there is some doubt that it will be extended.

Barry Suttles – Realtor

Housing is Getting More and More Affordable

Fixed 30 year Interest Rates at 4%???

Who would have thought that we would see interst rates so low?  Certainly I did not.  I refinanced my home several years ago as I watched the rates slump to 5%. I locked in my rate and slyly grinned, “We’ll never see interest rates this low again”, I thought to myself.

Well believe it, or not, we are seeing what I sincerely believe are the lowest rates we will see.  Couple that with slightly lower home prices in our area and add in the $8000 tax credit for first time buyers and you get an affordability index that is hard to beat.  People who thought they could not afford a home are now in the game because of these factors.  That is the good news, but here’s the bad. 

Purchasers are now required to have more money down in many cases and your credit score must be good……really really good to get the best rates.  It makes sense.

If you are confused about these things, don’t be alarmed.  I can help.  I have been working with buyers and sellers for years and I can make your experience a great one.  I am a full service agent and I believe that hard work will result in happy clients.  Call me and we can chat. 

Barry Suttles – Realtor

540-437-3671

Smart Housing For Your Student in Harrisonburg

How To Avoid Paying Rent For Your College Student

Many students at JMU, EMU and Bridgewater College, come to Harrisonburg each year and look for reasonably priced and safe housing.  Many of those same students soon find out how difficult it is to find both together.  College is expensive enough; so if you can save some money, why not? 

Some smart parents are finding that it may make more sense to purchase a property and take the advantages of home ownership for the 4-5 years of college.  Purchasing a townhouse, or small home can make it a financially smart move. Allowing your student to rent a room to a roommate or two, can offset some of the mortgage payment but care must be taken to obey the local zoning rules. Also, there is a certain risk along with the headaches that go with rentals, but with the help of a great real estate agent, and that of your financial adviser, you can make this arrangement work for you.  Imagine looking back on the 4 years of school your son or daughter spent here and calculating that you actually came out ahead.  It can happen.

Best to begin the search with the help of a professional

There are lots of companies who can help you buy and sell real estate in the Harrisonburg area, but you should always do your due diligence and get the help of a professional full time agent.  Also, work with a CPA or other financial expert and run the numbers. It’s not necessarily for everyone. But if this arrangement works for you, you can do much better than throwing your rent money away each month.

Wrappping Up

Making your son or daughter a landlord while juggling the responsibilities of college life may not be for everyone, but if you work it just right it could help defray the high cost of a great education.

Barry Suttles – Realtor

www.BarrySuttles.com

www.ProvidenceValley.com

www.KlineMay.com