Home Buying
How and Where to Rent Your Summer House in Virginia Beach
With its long white beaches of fine sand, Virginia Beach is a top destination for tourists in the US. Over 13 million people visited this beautiful seaside town in 2015 (source, Smith Travel Research), and the trend is on the increase. This is not surprising at all: Virginia Beach has really got what it takes…
Read MoreSix Great Tips to Have Smooth Relationships with People Around you and Save Money too!
Homeowners have to deal with many people, from contractors to tenants to everyone else. Unfortunately, human relations are not an easy matter, as you have probably already learned from your past experiences. Misunderstandings and battles can make you pay a high price, especially if you end up in front of a court. So, how to…
Read MoreCork Furniture and Cork Flooring, a New Trend in Green Design
Healthy and beautiful, cork is not confined to the wine industry anymore. In the last decade, this green material has been increasingly utilized by interior designers, to the point that cork flooring and cork furniture are becoming trendy today. Its raw appearance immediately reminds us nature, and its granular texture is decorative in itself. Cork…
Read MoreLaminate Flooring Pros and Cons
Laminate flooring has been growing in popularity both in Europe and the US in the last several years. To have a quick idea of the success of this relatively new technology, consider that the global market for laminate flooring is expected to reach over 1.9 billion square yards by 2020 (source: Global Industry Analysis, http://www.strategyr.com/pressMCP-1166.asp).…
Read MoreMake Your Home Renovation Green
Thinking to renovate your home? Please do consider going green. Not only do you help to protect the planet through the utilization of eco-friendly green materials, but you will also save a lot of money in the long run. Although the upfront costs of a green home renovation can be a bit higher, owners are…
Read MoreWhat makes a Building Historic in Virginia?
We often read that Virginia is one of the richest states in historic buildings of the US. But what exactly is an historic building? Intuitively, we think of something very old. However, age is not sufficient, as there are some few other requirements to fulfill. Luckily, Virginia Law helps owners to give an answer to…
Read MoreWhat Are Historic Districts?
Norfolk has twelve historic districts (5 of them are designated locally) and Chesapeake has ten nationally registered historic districts, which makes them two of the richest American towns in historic buildings. But what are historic districts? And what does it imply to be the owner of a building or home inside these special zones? A…
Read MoreTenant Rights and Responsibilities in Virginia
What does it mean to sign a lease for a home or apartment in Virginia? The relationship between tenants and landlords is regulated by the “Virginia Residential Landlord and tenant Act” of 1974 (http://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacodepopularnames/virginia-residential-landlord-and-tenant-act/), in some federal laws, and in many local statutes and regulations. On signing a lease, you must be aware that you…
Read MoreIs Your Property in a Flood Zone? How to Find Out and What to do About it
Flooding is one of the most occurring natural disasters facing homeowners in the Hampton Roads area and many other areas in the United States. As a homeowner, your property may be at risk of water damage. Two things you can do to evaluate your risk are look at the flood zone map, and determine the…
Read MoreYour Relocation to the Norfolk Area: To Rent or to Buy Your New House?
The time of your permanent change of station to Norfolk/Virginia Beach has come and you have to relocate. Now, the great question is: to rent or buy your new house? Both options have their pros and cons. In a nutshell, renting means no maintenance costs (because it’s built into your rent), while buying is convenient…
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