All posts by John VanderSyde

John VanderSyde: A native of Virginia’s Commonwealth, John graduated from Virginia Episcopal (High) School and attended Randolph-Macon College where he received a BA in English and Minored in Studio Art. John’s post-graduate studies took him to The Catholic University of America where he received his Masters of Architecture. A licensed Architect (RA) as well as a REALTOR® & Associate Broker, John began his career in 1986 managing residential construction and development. Specializing in high-end custom residential homes and renovation, John has an extensive knowledge of the housing industry. Years of construction management and contract negotiation provide additional skills necessary to work in his client’s best interest. John truly brings unique skills to the real estate industry, performing at the highest level of real estate sales. Ann VanderSyde: Ann was born in Japan the daughter of an Air Force family. She settled in Virginia’s Commonwealth as a child, living in the Northern-Virginia area. She graduated from Bishop O’Connell High School and attended Georgetown University where he received a BS in Psychology. Ann’s post-graduate studies took her to George Washington University where he earned her MA. A Licensed Therapist, Ann worked as a lead therapist for the DC Commission of Mental Health Services for five years. She relocated to Richmond, Virginia in 1993 where she immediately established a successful small business with an extensive focus in design and interior consultation that lasted for almost fourteen years. Ann’s experience provides additional skills needed to perform at the highest level of real estate sales. Ann & John live in Richmond, Virginia with their three children.
Tips and Advice

Who are the Real Estate Experts?

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These days with the unique nature of our housing market it sometimes feels presumptuous to proclaim to be an expert in anything related to real estate. Our business of buying and selling homes is so kinetic, with a fluidity that is constantly changing and evolving, that it requires vigilant, almost daily monitoring in order to truly be called REALTOR®.

Many people don’t realize that every licensed real estate agent cannot legally use the term “Realtor” in order to identify themselves. Over the years that term has often been universally used to refer to any person selling real property. And while all licensees are required to take continuing education classes mandated by their state licensing board, Realtors are generally required to have additional training that extends to conduct, ethics and consumer protection, and who are members of the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

But the idea of being a real estate professional implies so much more than being educated and trained to transact property. There are certain traditions that are universal to people in sales, but in real estate, perhaps more than in most other sales positions, it is also the ability to communicate and maintain relationships that determines who the real experts are. Probably because of the very personal nature of our homes, real estate agents often become entrenched with the people they are entrusted to help find their next place to live, and grow, and love.

The true real estate experts are the ones you as the consumer trusts; the one who will listen to you, will put your needs first, is experienced and knowledgeable in your market, and who conducts themselves in an ethical manner. Don’t stop searching until you find the expert meeting your strict criteria.

Meeting Client Needs

Ann & John VanderSyde – Virginia Properties 2009 Sales Team of the Year. (804) 282-7300

VA Character

The Fall Harvest

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   Mark your Calendars! According to the U.S. Naval Observatory, autumn begins on September 22 at 11:09 PM EDT;   it’s just about official, summer 2010 is over. The Autumnal equinox is coming, and you can feel it in the onset of that brisk autumn air, as well as with the number of home sales hitting the streets!

 September marks the official kick-off of the fall real estate market, and in Richmond, Virginia we are beginning to see the signs of the new housing inventory offering purchasers and sellers a second chance to reap the benefits of the second gathering. Like the change of seasons influencing harvest time, these annual cycles also influence home sales. September, October and into November is the second hottest time of year to buy and sell following the robust and often frenzied spring housing market.

 Historically, the Autumnal Equinox becomes synonymous with not only the completion of the harvest, but also the end of summer. The full moon associated with the fall equinox is known as the Harvest Moon and sometimes as the “Wine Moon” because this is also the time of year when grapes are harvested and the process of making wine begins. In past times, many farmers would harvest their crops by the full moon, using the light from the moon to extend their gathering time. This final gathering of the crops and the beginning of preparations for the long winter that lay ahead marked a time of thanksgiving for all that Nature has given her children and for the completion of another turn of the Great Wheel of life. Although the Autumnal Equinox falls in September and not November, the connection to the harvest and the fall highlight similarities to our modern Thanksgiving.

 If is interesting to see how these seasonal cycles are often mirrored in our modern lives. The change of seasons that influence our life styles and purchasing trends today are somewhat similar to the way we all used to live when the change of seasons actually dictated how we live. It makes one wonder if the two are somehow linked?

For more info about the Autumnal Equinox:   The time of year when night and day are of equal length in all parts of the Earth is known as the “equinox”. The word equinox comes from a Latin words meaning “equal night.” Autumnal equinox is the beginning of autumn. It occurs on September 22nd or 23rd.

  If you are interested in exploring more, here are some sites with more detailed explanations of the equinox:

 http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/astronomy/AutumnalEquinox.html

 http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-autumnal-equinox-of-2010

 http://www.infoplease.com/spot/equinox1.html

Local Richmond

Richmond’s Small Town Charm Offers Hope & Optimism

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 Ann and I just went over to the Libbie Market to grab a quick bite to take back to the office. The wonderful thing about Richmond is the fact that almost anywhere you go you are all but certain to run into someone you know. Well today is no exception. We ran into a friend of mine from college. She owns and manages a small placement firm that specializes in finding work for mostly mothers that have so much to contribute to the work force, but also wish to manage their families in addition to generating an income.

 The almost unexpected thing came out of our conversation when I asked how her business has been. She, by the way, has adorable twin boys that you can imagine demand much of her attention. Regardless, she said business has been amazingly good. She continued to say that the number of people she places has been great, and, here is the really wonderful news, that the number of companies contacting her for help has also increased this summer.

 After all the negativity and hesitance I get when asking “how’s business”, I was momentarily shocked by her response. Then delight and confidence seem to fill up inside me as if to say, “see, there are good things happening in the work force today; I wonder why we don’t hear more stories like this one from our media outlets?”

 I like getting the good news and spreading the word about good fortune and hope. It makes me feel good, and I like feeling good. Hopefully this will inspire you have a great day and pass on your good news to others, increase your productivity, and improve your business. Who knows, this small town might just start a trend that proves a positive approach to living can jump-start our economy. I’m firmly committed to it, how about you?

Market Conditions

Follow-up Post, What’s the Wait . . .

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As a follow up to my blog post yesterday 9/8/2010 regarding “What is the wait in Richmond Real Estate” – regarding “low interest rates”, the Long & Foster Marketing Minute provides the following example:

“Let’s talk about the “missed opportunity” on the tax incentives. Let’s say first-time home buyer couple is looking at taking a 30-year loan on a $340,000 home, which was the average Long & Foster sale price in July. If they had purchased in early April, in time for the $8,000 credit, the interest rate probably would have been around 5.25 percent.

If that same couple bought today and locked in a rate around 4.5 percent, they would save more than $130 per month on the mortgage payment compared to the early-April purchase.

Even if they only live in the house for 10 years, they would save more than $16,000 in interest. These record-low interest rates mean buyers “match” the $8,000 they would have gotten in tax incentives if they live in the house just five years.”

Consider spreading the word and sharing the secret that the media seems to conveniently overlook. There is good news in the real estate market, and as professionals it is our responsibility to send the message in order to combat the lingering negativity in our marketplace.

Facts & figures courtesy of Jeff Detwiler, president and COO of Long & Foster Real Estate

Market Conditions

What is the Wait in our Richmond Real Estate Market?

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The Richmond, Virginia metropolitan region of Long & Foster Real Estate met today for a Town-hall gathering. Several hundred local real estate agents, brokers and sponsors attended this special event which spent much of the morning commenting on the state of the company and the realities of real estate in our market sphere. The most important message I took away from all this is, of course, that with the amazingly low interest rates available to consumers today, and the apparent stabilization of real property in our area, it is perhaps the most affordable time in our history to purchase a home. So what is everyone waiting for?

Well, first, this premise presupposes that one has a relatively stable/secure job, ensuring enough confidence and providing proper financial wherewithal to make the next step into home ownership – or to make a move-up purchase. This is without a doubt a HUGE obstacle for anyone to see beyond, and if you’re risk adverse, it may not be manageable. But is the risk any greater today than four years ago when lenders were literally giving away mortgage loans while home prices continued to skyrocket through the heavens? Honestly, I just don’t get it!

Secondly, the media seems to have cornered all futures in real estate. I think it is too easy to pull the media card whenever our woes exceed rational justification, but you have to admit there are no headlines out there promoting the long-term benefits of the current interest rate. As a fellow realtor mentioned this morning, we should be shouting about the best kept secret in the real estate market – low interest rates are far better than any tax credit the government can offer. Just do the math! But hush; don’t tell anyone, it’s a secret. Maybe then the public, and possibly the media, will take note and make a step toward home ownership and a sound life’s-investment.

I can’t say what it will take to help people feel better about real estate, but my business tells me that the housing market continues to improve. Someone must be feeling better about things, because the difference between what is going on today over just a year ago is astounding, and our numbers/statistics reflect this notion.  The caveat to this observation is that we need to continue looking forward and forget about what’s in the rearview mirror. The years of 2005-2007 are thankfully gone. There is a new reality out there now for all of us to observe, just ask your REALTOR®. The honest truth is always plain to see!

Tips and Advice

Home Trends; Quality over Quantity:

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    As the nation continues to recover from the effects of a troubled economy, home sizes have trended downward for the first time in three decades. More Americans seem to have also adopted a longer-term perspective, as homes that are smaller in scale are generally more affordable to maintain over time and have less impact on the environment. However, they are not necessarily less expensive to purchase. Many are situated in prime locations and include more high-end features.

    Findings of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Home Design Trends Survey suggests that home buyers as well as renovating homeowners are choosing more efficient floor plans with less square footage. This allows them to indulge their tastes for quality details, and upgraded features with a higher degree of personalization. This key consumer survey also captured the following trends in the home market place in vivid detail.

    New priorities trump old rules:  The prevalence of non-traditional, open layouts with spacious kitchen and family room areas continues. Today’s homeowners are looking for ways to maximize the square foot area of the homes, so larger, more gathering-friendly casual spaces are often replacing rarely-used formal living and dining rooms.

    Options create opportunities:  Many builders have incorporated flexible spaces that give buyers the option to dedicate a room to meet their specific needs and preferences or to serve multiple purposes. For example, a formal dining room calls for a chandelier and open access, where as double doors and built-ins can easily create a private home office or library in the same space. It is now also more common for the owners of older homes to alter their floor plans to work better with the way they live.

    Focus on accessibility, practicality, and storage:  A growing number of again baby boomers drive the preference for one-level or two-story designs with a master bedroom downstairs. Storage features such as large closets and rooms with built-ins maximize the use of space in a smaller footprint.

    Sketch – Floor Plan Can you believe the average size home in 1950 was 983 square feet?  In 1970 it grew to 1500 square feet; in 1990 it went to 2050 square feet, to a high of 2479 in 2007. It has been decreasing each year since to 2422 square feet in 2009, the most significant drop ever recorded.

Tips and Advice

Top Influences in Selecting a HOME

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   A Richmond, Virginia neighborhood can be every bit as important as the dwelling itself – at least according those of us polled. The 2009 National Association of REALTORS ® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers Reported the results of a survey of consumers and real estate agents regarding top influential characteristics in selection a home. Considered by 64% of individuals when deciding where to live, quality of neighborhood was one of the most cited factors.

Additional attributes that those surveyed deemed important are:

Convenience of Job:  50%

Overall affordability of Homes:  43%

Convenience to family and friends:  38%

Quality of the school district:  26%

Convenience to Shopping:  26%

Neighborhood Design:  23%

Convenience to Schools:  21%

   When searching for the ideal neighborhood, your real estate agent can be a valuable guide. Your agent can help identify a community that you will enjoy being a part of by assessing your needs and matching them to the locations that seem to be best fit.

Local Richmond

Seventy Five years of Richmond’s Historic Preservation

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This year is the seventy fifth year that officially marks the foundation of historic preservation in Richmond, Virginia in 1935. Laying the ground work for preservation in the 1920’s and 30’s, “Mary Wingfield Scott, Elisabeth Scott Bocock, Louise Catterall and Mary Reed contributed significantly to the increased appreciation for Richmond’s built environment through research, publication, postcards and walking tours”. It wasn’t until 1935 when an important historic structure, the Adam Craig House, was threatened with demolition that the idea of preservation as a practice was established.

It was Mary Wingfield Scott who formed a committee in order to purchase and preserve the Craig House. Located at 1812 East Grace Street, it was “the childhood home of Jane Craig Stanard, the subject of Edgar Allan Poe’s “To Helen,” the Adam Craig House was one of the few remaining 18th century structures in Richmond”. The then 145 year old home was saved from destruction and is touted as perhaps the oldest continuously occupied residences in Richmond today.

The Adam Craig House is listed again for sale by Virginia Properties, a Long & Foster Company; in August of 2010 this historic landmark is once again available for purchase in time to celebrate one of the most remarkable foundations in Richmond. Qualified purchasers can call for an appointment and the opportunity to own a significant piece of historic Richmond History.

Researched through the Historic Richmond Foundation, 4 E. Main Street, Suite 1-C, Richmond, VA 23219, www.historicrichmond.com

Local Richmond

The Virginia Center for Architecture

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Located on Monument Avenue

The Virginia Center for Architecture – Now on Permanent Exhibit:

The House That Pope Built

The Virginia Center for Architecture celebrates two years of bringing architecture to life with the opening of a permanent exhibit on its headquarters building, built in 1919 by architect John Russell Pope, FAIA.

The House That Pope Built includes photographs, narrative, and other educational media that shed light on the house — a 27,000-square-foot Tudor-Revival mansion — in addition to John Kerr Branch, the patron who commissioned its construction; the architect; the house’s interiors; its setting on Richmond’s historic Monument Avenue; and Compton Wynyates, the 15th/16th-century English country house that inspired the building’s design.

What else is going on at the Center? Take a look at our upcoming tours and other special programs

Check out the latest offerings from the VCA Museum Shop

On the Washington Post’s list of 5 More Reasons to Visit Richmond Now: The Virginia Center for Architecture!

See where Virginia’s buildings rank in the AIA’s poll of America’s favorite architecture

  
Tips and Advice

A First Impression is Often Your Best

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A strong presence is critical

Ann & John VanderSyde
                   InSydeHomes

First Impressions – Your House & Your Yard
   From My BLOG:   http://InSydeHome.Blogspot.com/

In real estate, like most things in life, you never get a second chance to make a good first impression. Remember that first date in high school? Or perhaps like me you’d just as soon forget about it! Well, trust me; a lot of folks out there feel the same way about YOUR house the moment they drive up to it. Unlike that first date, however, they will simply turn around and get the heck out of there as quickly as possible. If that happens, there will be NO second date!

It may be true if you put lipstick on a pig, it’s still just a pig. But I believe a house is a little different – for the most part anyway. It seems to me (as my managing broker likes to say) that “for every doghouse there is a dog”, but some lipstick goes a long way toward getting them to sniff around it, especially if you want to sell quickly for the highest and best price.

I constantly tell sellers that, according to statistics, the greatest “bang for your buck” is in landscaping and the yard. Every year, house trends show the money you put into your yard has the greatest dollar for dollar return on your investment. The first thing you need to do is get the purchaser inside. If they see a manicured yard and a well maintained exterior, they have a tendency to be more forgiving with the interior space that may not meet all their needs.

So, start by getting someone involved in sprucing up the yard. There are a ton of eager landscapers and yard-upkeep companies that can come in and bang out some improvements in no time at all. Have a plan and commit to making it shine; really make a difference. Get a couple of bids, and you’ll be surprised how reasonable it is. Not to mention the fact that you don’t have to lift a finger.

I know men & women who like to putter in the yard, but this in not the time. Get professional assistance that will make a quick and immediate difference in your home’s curb appeal. You won’t regret coming home after a day at the office to find a finished product. Your house will look markedly different, and will appeal more to purchasers looking at other homes that haven’t been touched.

You’ve heard it a million times, but this is the first step to making a strong “first impression” about your property. Otherwise, forget about a second date!

For more insight, information and any questions on this and other important issues, please contact your most valued real estate professional, we are here to serve you! 

Sources:  John VanderSyde, Architect & Associate Broker, Virginia Properties, A Long & Foster Company