UNDER CONTRACT: Spring buying season has begun!

We have a whopping 5 properties under contract this week. Go Team! Some of them have only been on the market a short time.  You can definitely tell the Spring buying season is just getting started!

400 Lakeside Blvd

13401 Little Horn Ridge

409 Brook Road

2505 Mountain Ash Circle

1309 Stoneycreek Drive 

Team Member Highlight: Cory Smith

As Clocktower Realty Group continues to grow, we are thrilled to welcome new members that bring great assets to our team!  Starting with Cory, a great individual all around, he is amazing at providing a one-on-one customer service experience!  His positive outlook brightens up everyone's day!

Cory Smith — Realtor

Cory, a Richmond native, believes that clients can become lifelong friends when you have the right attitude, approach, and preparation.  He is a true “people” person, with an unstoppable positive attitude. He strives to provide excellent service for his clients, so everyone involved feels like they’ve won.  “I see the good in people and love helping as much as I can,” he says about his approach to Realty.  Having spent 6 years as a sales manager, his ultimate goal is to treat everyone with the respect and courtesy they deserve, especially during one of the largest financial decisions a person can make in their lifetime.  Keeping in constant contact with his clients before, during and after is a big deal to Cory, who believes keeping his clients educated and involved will help them make the best decisions. In his free time, Cory loves to spend time with his wife and son who alway come first and are his daily motivation.  He gets out to the golf course whenever he can and can give recommendations on the many great restaurants throughout Richmond.  He is always up for new challenges both personal and professional.

WCR Educational Luncheon: Spotting Hidden Dangers

Part of the great pleasure of being the President-Elect of the Women's Council of Realtors in Richmond is our dedication to continually educating the Professional Real Estate community on how to better serve our clients!  Today's luncheon was so informative, giving us the tools to spot "hidden dangers" in homes and protecting our clients from what they might mean for the buyer!  Thank you to the Stamie Lyttle Company, Davey Tree Experts and Ansell & Associates for your contribution and expertise! 

Realtor Fest 2016!

                                           
                                         

                                                    
Our team had such a great time at Realtor Fest yesterday!  A great event put on by the Richmond Association of Realtors, it's always a great place to connect and learn about all the new products being offered in the business and how are colleagues are innovating new ways to help their clients!  Clocktower Realty Group helped to "man" the booth of the Women's Council of Realtors!  Thanks to everyone who helped and for making it a fun day!

OPEN HOUSE WEEKEND!

We have two Open House showings for you this weekend!

Saturday 1pm - 3pm

7247 South Drive
Richmond, VA 23225
2 bedroom
2.5 bath
$225,000

This charming renovation has all the upgraded features.  Granite countertops and hardwood floors are accentuated by handcrafted touches like the handpainted vanity sinks and the Hickory cabinetry in the kitchen.  It's located in beautiful Stratford Hills neighborhood and minutes away from the James River.


Sunday 1pm - 3pm

4848 Bristol Circle
Williamsburg, VA 23185
3 bedroom
2.5 bath
JUST REDUCED
$325,000

 

Meticulously maintained colonial with tons of upgrades! Outside trim has been freshly painted. You'll enter through a bright foyer with Transom windows. New chair rail and crown moulding have been installed throughout! Updated kitchen includes ALL NEW appliances including a Gas Stove, dishwasher, Koehler faucet, disposal, quartzite countertops and subway tile backsplash. Kitchen opens to family room with gas fireplace, TV niche, crown, chair rail, lots of light and a door to  the rear deck. Formal living room features carpet, lots of light and plenty of space. The formal dining room boasts a tray ceiling with chic chandelier. Master bedroom features large master closet (and additional storage space) & Ensuite Bath w/Double Vanity, NEW fixtures (including faucets and lights), NEW ceramic tile, NEW Koehler tub, faucet, shower head, subway tile (in shower/tub) and  large linen closet. 2 additional upstairs bedrooms with closets, chair rail, crown moulding and fun light fixtures. Hall bathroom boasts NEW ceramic tile, faucet and fixtures. NEWER dual zone HVAC units. NEW NEST thermostat. A large rear wooden deck looks out to spacious 2/3 acre yard (that goes behind the fence and is fan shaped). New french drain.

Clocktower Realty Team Meeting!

After such a busy and record-breaking summer, we are excited to get "back-to-work" so to speak as the fall season so often motivates us to do!  We are pleased to welcome all the new members of our team with their unique talents as this company grows into its full potential!  But as hard as we work, we always make time to have fun - Happy Birthday to of one of our original team members, Enrique Mendez of Design by E!

Congrats on Reaching Your Goals!

Congratulations to Matt Hovey and Kristina Davis! Clocktower Realty Group is all about making things happen, and we do every day because of agents like you!

Happy Hour Open House, TONIGHT!

Check out our newest listing tonight at Open House Happy Hour from 4 pm - 7 pm!  This gorgeous home in Church Hill is near parks, restaurants and the best RVA has to offer.  It's modern updates and brand new roof make this a must-see!  Refinished floors, 9-foot ceilings, granite countertops, recessed lighting and a stunning backyard are just some of the reasons to check this property out TONIGHT!

517 N 29th St

Country style porch to relax on and watch the foot traffic.

A beautiful foyer and open floor plan give this home lots of natural light.

Beautiful pendant lighting highlights the dining space.

A stunning kitchen with recessed lighting, pendant lighting and lots of natural light as well! Stainless steel appliances and granite countertops makes this kitchen a stunner.

Three sizeable bedrooms, including a master suite with fireplace! Beautiful tiling and clawfooted tub in hallway bath.

Entertain, relax, garden, or cook-out - this backyard design is right out of a magazine!

15th Annual Pig Pickin' on the James

It's that time of year again! We have the 15th Annual Pig Pickin' for the Women's Council of Realtors!  Get your discounted tickets through September 3rd.  It's ALWAYS a great time with some amazing people! Some of the proceeds will be benefiting FeedMore, so get your barbecue on and have some fun for a good cause!

Congrats to $1 million in closed sales goal, Shondra!

Congrats to Shondra, our rising star of Clocktower Realty Group.  Her latest closed deal in Henrico has brought her to over $1 million in sales so far this year!  Her goal by the end of the year is to reach $2 million total.  More power to you - set goals and crush them! Keep up the good work, Shondra!

How Downpayment Assistance Programs can help you and why you should act NOW!

The VHDA is  changing the rules come September 7, 2016 when it comes to downpayment assistance programs.  Assistance for both FHA and traditional loans are being REDUCED.  However, you still have time to apply before the deadline!  Don't miss out on potentially thousands of dollars in purchase power by not taking advantage of these programs NOW!

How Downpayment Assistance Can Help You Foot the Bill for a Home
By Cathie Ericson of Realtor.com

House-hunting bummer: You’ve found the perfect home, and you’ll have no trouble covering your monthly mortgage and bills—but that 20% down payment is woefully out of reach. Could that mean you’re out of luck?

Not quite. That’s because there are 2,290 down payment programs across the country that can help—that is, as long as you meet eligibility requirements in terms of income, occupation, or credit. Yet many home buyers don’t even think about applying for down payment assistance, because they’re not aware of these programs or they assume they don’t qualify.

“Consumers do not know about these programs, and those that do assume it’s more difficult to get than it is,” said Jonathan Smoke, chief economist of realtor.com®. Read on to make sure you don’t miss out.

How much money can down payment assistance provide?

One study found that buyers who use down payment assistance programs save an average of $17,766. To reach this figure, these buyers save an average of $5,965 upfront at the down payment stage. Because this also lowers the amount of money they owe their lender, it means they save on average an additional $11,801 in monthly house payments over the life of the loan.

How can you find out if you qualify for down payment assistance?

While many down payment assistance programs are geared toward low-income home buyers, you don’t have to be destitute. Plenty of programs are geared to middle-income buyers as well. Yet a survey by NeighborWorks America found that 40% of respondents hadn’t received any information about down payment assistance programs for middle-income homebuyers, which could have saved them a bundle.

Part of the reason for the confusion might be because the programs are fragmented.

“Down payment assistance can come from many different sources, including the federal government, counties, and local communities,” says Chantay Bridges with TruLine Realty in Los Angeles.

There will be a list of qualifying factors, Bridges cautions, but a number of programs are available, including FHA and VA. Homes that are part of a Neighborhood Stabilization Program often qualify, as do homes purchased by teachers, firefighters, and other civic employees under certain programs. Many counties also offer down payment assistance to first-time buyers, who are defined as anyone who hasn’t owned a home in three years.

How to find downpayment assistance programs near you

A great place to start is Down Payment Resource, which offers a handy calculator that can show you what you may be eligible for. Many multiple listing services nationwide display a special icon on the listing of a property that might qualify for down payment assistance.

Many options are also listed by state, or you can check your state on the Department of Housing and Urban Development website.

Also check with your agent and lender for programs available in your specific county, because they change frequently—and these professionals should be up on the latest options.

To view the original article, click here.

Crossroads Art Center Featuring #RVAGuides Campaign Artwork

Calling all Realtors, lenders and fellow industry peeps making it happen: Get this on your calendars! TODAY,  July 15th the Crossroads Arts Center Open House & Reception featuring the artwork from the #RVAGuides Campaign!  The event will be going from 6 pm - 9pm.  For more info click here.

Set Goals and Crush Them!

We had a great Clocktower Realty Group team meeting today! We are just over the halfway point of the year.  Not only has my entire team beat their individual production of 2015 in the first 6 months of 2016, but this awesome lady has increased her business 10 fold!  That's why she gets the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize for production in the 2nd quarter!  We are killing it!  

There's nothing that goes farther than hard work and determination.  We are a team of elite agents that get things done, dream big, set goals and crush them!  Our "hustle" mentality, our volunteer spirit for bettering the community, along with our drive to deliver the best to our customers, I think is what really sets us apart from the competition, and why we have such great customers who want to keep coming back.

WCR Spring Luncheon!

It's time for Spring!  We've all been so busy already this Spring Real Estate Season, it will be great to catch up with other industry professionals to talk ideas, and hear from the guest speaker on how to make homes beautiful and bursting with curb appeal!

Our Best Month as a Team, Congrats to the Contest Winners

We had our best month so far this past March as a team with over 22 listings! That's a listing for nearly every day and like the old saying goes, you've gotta list to last!  I am so proud of everyone one of my agents and I love doing contests like these because I think it brings out the best in everyone!

Congratulations to all my winners!

1st Place - Kristina Davis

Out of 8 listing appointments, she was able to get 4 listings and a ratified contract from one of those listings!

2nd Place - Maurice McKenney

Out of 7 listing appointments, he was able to get 5 listings!

3rd Place - Matt Hovey

Out of 3 listing appointments, he was able to get 2 listings!