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Kyle Busch can move right into the thick of the NSCS standings with a fifth straight win at the Toyota Owners 400.
Share on Facebook Tweet post(4) + CommentsKyle Busch will shoot for his fifth consecutive win at the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond International Raceway in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series action on Saturday.
More: NASCAR Richmond 2013Busch won the 2009 race, then known as the Your Name Here 400, on his 24th birthday, and hasn't lost since. Last year's version, raced under the Capital City 400 banner, saw Busch beat out Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart for the top spot.
Matt Kenseth won the pole position for this year's event amid controversy after being docked 50 points for an illegal engine part. He'll be joined on the front row by Brian Vickers, who is filling in for the injured Denny Hamlin.
Jimmie Johnson holds the top spot in the NSCS standings, entering the race with 311 points. Kasey Kahne, Brad Keselowski, Greg Biffle and Dale Earnhardt Jr. round out the top five. Kenseth was in eighth place before taking the penalty, which dropped him to 14th.
Start time, TV: 8 p.m. ET, FOX
If you are considering selling your property in the Richmond area, ask me about a free competitive market analysis and our latest internet marketing systems. If you are considering purchasing a home in Central Virginia, I can help you find your ideal property to fit your lifestyle and budget.
You're only a click away from the guidance you need to navigate you through the real estate process and help you with all of the details before, during, and after the sale. I look forward to the opportunity to earn your business.
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EXIT Realty is the fastest growing company in the history of real estate.
When I think of building a new home for myself and my family, the first thing that comes to mind is a big, honking, six-burner, stainless steel commercial-style range with dual ovens, a warming drawer, and more knobs and dials than the cockpit of a 747.
But that’s me.
You’ve got your own vision of Shangri-La: A totally kicking laundry room with plenty of storage and — oh yes — a skylight! Or a master bedroom blissfully isolated from the hubbub of everyday family life.
That’s what’s great about buying a home before it’s actually built. You can dream big, and your options are almost limitless.
But your budget isn’t.
So what to choose?
After years as a builder and cabinetmaker, I’ve learned a thing or two about upgrades. So here’s my advice on choosing upgrades:
Go for Higher-End Kitchen Cabinets
Credit: Standard Pacific Homes
Put your upgrade money here and you’ll never regret it. After all, your kitchen is where you and your family spend lots of time, and you’ll want it to be functional, durable, and a joy to be in.
Moving up from standard cabinets to semi-custom gives you way-better construction and longer-lasting finishes. You’ll get a wide range of colors and styles to choose from, lots of storage options, and long-lasting details such as dovetailed drawer joinery and cool hardware.
For bells and whistles, you can get extra-tall upper cabinets that reach all the way to the ceiling. You’ll nab extra storage space, plus you won’t have to dust the tops.
Spring for premium hinges and drawer slides. Soft-close door and drawer hardware stands up to abuse for many years, and will help keep your upgraded cabinets in top shape.
Choose Wool Carpeting
Credit: Standard Pacific Homes
The better the carpet, the better it’ll stand up to traffic and maintain its good looks. You’ll also get a wider choice of styles and colors.
The majority of Millennials are strongly interested in becoming home owners, according to a survey from national home builder PulteGroup.
The PulteGroup Home Index Survey found 65% of renters ages 18-34 with an income of more than $50,000 want to buy a home.
Most of them plan to be coupled in their home with 76% indicating they will live with a spouse or significant other. Among those not moving in with a significant other, 22% anticipate having a roommate, including a friend, parent, in-law, grandparent, or sibling living with them.
“Millennials have witnessed the housing boom and bust, but still believe home ownership is a good investment,” said Fred Ehle, vice president for PulteGroup. “Consistent with other third-party research that shows more than 90% of Millennials plan to buy a home someday, we see a lot of young adults who are making financial sacrifices to afford a place of their own.”
Millennials View a Home as an Investment
More than 50% of Millennials reported that the desire to own/build equity was the primary reason for purchasing their new home. The second largest reason, at 12%, was that Millennials were tired of apartment living.
Millennials overwhelmingly want an open/layout space in the kitchen and family rooms for entertaining family and friends.
In addition to the obvious home features, including sleeping, eating, and bathroom areas, Millennials rated the following aspects in a new home as extremely important/very important:
84% said ample storage for daily items 76% said space for TV, movie, sports watching 73% said the entry to the home 63% said outdoor living/deck 36% said the ability to conduct business from homeIf you are considering selling your property in the Richmond area, ask me about a free competitive market analysis and our latest internet marketing systems. If you are considering purchasing a home in Central Virginia, I can help you find your ideal property to fit your lifestyle and budget.
With the economy stabilizing, Americans are feeling, once again, the bite of the moving bug.
Nearly half of Americans (47%) say they feel more comfortable purchasing a home today than at any other time in the past five years, results of a new survey by Mayflower show. And nearly a third say they are now ready to make a move.
Compared to first quarter 2012, residential moves were up 16% in the historically slowest moving months — January through March.
The new data are also consistent with other national data showing continued rises in existing home prices and sales. Growth appears to be the strongest in the West, where the Mayflower data showed 54% of survey respondents are now comfortable purchasing a house.
The data reflect an easing of the wariness Americans have felt in recent years in the aftermath of the bursting of the housing bubble in 2008.
Among those now interested in searching for a new home within the next year, the survey showed the desire for a new or better home is the leading motive. Other important motives include a desire for a more attractive neighborhood and the desire to become a home owner.
Most mobile are the young, with half of Millennials (18-34 years old) more receptive to buying a home than renting and looking to move within the next year. While younger consumers would be more likely to move due to a change in employment or a growing family, half of adults over the age of 65 would consider moving in the next year because of retirement.
If you are considering selling your property in the Richmond area, ask me about a free competitive market analysis and our latest internet marketing systems. If you are considering purchasing a home in Central Virginia, I can help you find your ideal property to fit your lifestyle and budget.
10 Foolproof Vegetables for Container Gardening
Published: May 11, 2012
By: Danielle Beurteaux
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Outdoors Landscaping & Gardening Plants & Trees Want fresh veggies but don’t have a back 40, the time, or the know-how for a full-size vegetable plot? Container vegetable gardening is the answer. Effort:Low 1-2 hrs. (planting 3 containers) Investment:Low $10-$15 (pack of 3 seedlings) Added to Binder Print EmailBroccoli, cabbage, eggplant, and tomatoes all grow well in containers. Image: Erin Darling
No matter how small your space or green your thumb, growing vegetables in containers is an easy introduction to the national grow-your-own trend. When there are fresh veggies right outside your back door, why buy from a store?
Top reasons to grow veggies in containers
minimal space needed hardly any weeds no back strain watering is easy growing your own food saves moneyMary Moss-Sprague, master gardener and author of Stand Up and Garden (Countryman Press, 2012), grows all her vegetables in containers after a disease ran rampant through her garden soil and decimated her tomato plants — a non-problem with containers because they don’t share soil.
“I’m never going back to growing things in the ground,” she says.
Tips for container gardening
Containers: Any container will do, as long as it’s deep enough for the plant (check the seed packet). Just drill ½-inch drainage holes in the bottom.
Moss-Sprague suggests snagging 5-gallon food buckets from your grocery store or deli, or asking your neighborhood garden center for 5- to 7-gallon grower’s pots — both are free. Before using, wash out the container with a gallon of water mixed with a cup of chlorine bleach to kill off any lingering bacteria.
Soil: All-purpose soil is pretty goof-proof. But don’t use topsoil — it won’t work because it doesn’t have the required nutrients.
Weird Real Estate Facts You (Probably) Never Knew: Google's Goats and More
By HouseLogic | Posted Aug 7th 2012 2:00PM
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1341352001
By Courtney Craig
We bet some of this trivia about home and habitat will stun you:
1. Google rents goats to do its mowing.
Rather than use gasoline-guzzling, noisy mowers at its Mountain View, Calif., headquarters - the Googleplex -- Google has been known to keep its lawn coiffed with rent-a-goats.
Google rents goats from a cool company called California Grazing, which swears it can maneuver a herd of goats through crowded city streets. It's an eco-friendly approach to landscaping -- and you can't beat the cute factor.
2. Swedes and Danes use dead bodies to heat their homes.
It's an idea that makes a lot of sense when you think it through. Crematoriums heat up to 2,000 degrees, which can be a lot of energy going to waste -- until someone got the bright idea to pump that heat into local energy companies, where it's used to warm homes.
3. In parts of Germany and Poland, when a couple marries, guests break a whole lot of porcelain.
And leave it to the couple to clean up. They do this right in front of the bride's home, usually the night before the wedding. It's called "Polterabend" and it's meant to symbolize the struggles the new couple will face as they build a home together, with an emphasis on working together through those struggles.
If you're invited to participate, make sure you break only porcelain (old toilets welcome) and not glass, which stands for happiness, and therefore should never be broken.
4. Brass doorknobs disinfect themselves.
It's called the oligodynamic effect: The ions in the metal have a toxic effect on spores, fungi, viruses, and other germs -- eliminating the nasties within eight hours.
Flying Squirrels are in third place and 1.5 games out of 1st place, they are an exciting team and need their fans out to cheer them on, see the shedule below to get tickets to the next game and info on the team.
May 2013 Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | 2013 2012 2011 2010 =Home =Away =Home Exhibition =Away Exhibition =Buy Tickets =Promotion =MiLB.TV All times ET. Subject to change. Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 @ BOW 7:05 PM 2 @ BOW 11:05 AM 3 vs TRN 7:05 PM 4 vs TRN 6:05 PM 5 vs TRN 2:05 PM 6 vs BOW 6:35 PM 7 vs BOW 6:35 PM 8 vs BOW 6:35 PM 9 @ ALT 6:30 PM MiLB.TV 10 @ ALT 6:30 PM MiLB.TV 11 @ ALT 6:00 PM MiLB.TV 12 @ ALT 1:00 PM MiLB.TV 13 @ HAR 7:00 PM MiLB.TV 14 @ HAR 7:00 PM MiLB.TV 15 @ HAR 10:30 AM MiLB.TV 16 17 vs ALT 7:05 PM 18 vs ALT 6:05 PM 19 vs ALT 2:05 PM 20 vs TRN 6:35 PM 21 vs TRN 6:35 PM 22 vs TRN 6:35 PM 23 vs TRN 6:35 PM 24 @ ALT 6:30 PM MiLB.TV 25 @ ALT 6:00 PM MiLB.TV 26 @ ALT 6:00 PM MiLB.TV 27 @ ALT 12:00 PM MiLB.TV 28 @ NBR 6:35 PM 29 @ NBR 6:35 PM 30 @ NBR 10:35 AM 31 vs ERI 7:05 PM
21115 Chesdin Ct All brick, Waterfront home on Lake Chesdin! Prepare to be blown away by the amazing renovations inside this almost 5,000 sf property over the last five years. The open floor plan is perfect for entertaining and taking in the views- large picture windows, hardwood floors and a huge stone fireplace with gas logs. The living area opens in to a large (18'xl8') screened porch that will become your summer retreat with plenty of room for alfresco dining and soaking up the fresh air and lake views. The kitchen has been updated with an Old World ambience including new cabinets, appliances and Corian countertop. Take your… pick of the master suites on the 1st and 2nd floors, both with great views of the lake and custom designed master baths. The upstairs master has a see-through fireplace that can be enjoyed while relaxing in your luxury bath with jetted soak tub or while curling up with a good book in bed. And the 13 x 13 walk-in closet is a dream come true. Elegant stand-alone marble-top vanities adorn 3 of the bathrooms and a laundry shoot is an unexpected treat. The walk-out basement provides more entertainment space with a wet bar, pool table, exercise room and cozy family room with another huge fireplace with gas logs. This house has tons of storage including a separate storage room in the basement and another large room over the garage. Outside, your own personal boat dock and beach area will provide hours of fun while fishing, boating or swimming. Worked up an appetite? Use your barbecue pit for a neighborhood cookout or enjoy some fruit from your own fruit trees. Other updates include new roof in 2008, new air handlers and A/C unit in 2013. Just in time for Spring. Don't miss another minute of lake-front living!
It is a time to sit back and enjoy and great glass of local wine and flavor as well as enjoy the company of the people of the great county of Powhatan. There will be many local wineries and food vendors and crafts, don't miss this great event, mark calenders now!
October 19th
The Powhatan Chamber of Commerce
is very excited to present Powhatan’s "4th Fridays" for a 2013 concert series. This concert series will offer family and friends an opportunity to gather together and enjoy music, food and fun. Each event will feature a live band, and food & beverage vendors will be on site, as well as children’s activities.
The Powhatan Chamber is an association of business, professional and civic minded members who promote the free enterprise system, economic growth and the prosperity of Powhatan County. Local charities will receive $2 per attendee and our local businesses will have a chance to promote.
An exciting season is ahead and we look forward to seeing you there.
Parking will be at the rescue squad lot which is adjacent to the Village Meadow.
Event Information: - Each event will feature a live band, and food & beverage vendors will be on site, as well as children’s activities. Doors open at 5:30pm and close at 8:30pm. Tickets are $5 (kids under 12 get in free) and they will be sold at the event only. Beer and wine will be available for sale, no coolers please. No weapons, coolers or umbrellas permitted. All bags are subject to search upon entry. No tailgating. Service animals only. Events are at the Village Meadow: 3920 Marion Harland Lane, Powhatan, VA 23139. Get directions here. → If you would like more information, please contact Iris Woodson at 598-2636.www.greathomesva.com Q1 2013 CVR MLS Market Statistics Report Released
First Quarter Central Virginia Housing Market Report Beckons Sellers to Come Forth
The first quarter of 2013 brought the good news of a continued decline in the national unemployment rate and final numbers released in mid-March showed stronger job growth in the Central Virginia region over the last year than anticipated. From March 2012 through March 2013, the region added 8,700 new jobs—47 percent more than the 23-year average. This strong job growth has spanned almost all sectors of the local economy; boding very well for the region’s housing market.
Home sales and sale prices were up through the first quarter of 2013 across the Central Virginia market. The total number of homes sold during this quarter was 2,630, an increase of 7 percent over the number of sales during the same quarter in 2012. Chesterfield and Henrico counties led home sales this quarter, each posting double-digit growth.
Price appreciation, resulting from increased demand and declining inventories, was also seen widely across the region. The average sales price in the region was up 11 percent over the same period in 2012 and the median price was up 4 percent. Most notably, the average sale price was up in the City of Richmond by 24 percent over the first quarter of 2012, while the median price was up 28 percent.
The average days on the market has been steadily declining and the sales-to-list price ratio in the region was 0.97 during this quarter—meaning the average sales price was 97 percent of the average list price and, on average, sellers have been able to get very close to their asking prices.
