Harrisonburg has been undergoing a lot of construction lately — downtown beautification, and road construction around the new hospital and the bypass from Route 42 to Port Republic Road — and more is planned. 1. NORTH VALLEY PIKE. The North Valley Pike Project is in the works. According to their...
Issues
Do We Have Good Schools in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County?
You may have heard about the new documentary coming into theaters soon called “Waiting for Superman.” It basically challenges the education system in the United States. Watching the preview for this movie made me think about the public school system in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. How do our schools...
Will Sales Tax on Real Estate Transactions Fund Health Care?
There is a rumor going around that a 4% sales tax (beginning in 2012) on real estate transactions will aid in the funding of the new health care reform. The truth is NO, there will NOT be a sales tax on real estate transactions; however, there will be a 3.8%...
What is Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)?
Private Mortgage Insurance, more commonly referred to as PMI, allows home buyers to obtain a mortgage with a lower down payment (typically less than 20% of the sales price). With PMI in place, lenders are insured against the risk of default on the loan. PMI charges are fairly minimal, running...
Rebates Offered to Virginians for Energy-Efficient Upgrades
Are you in need of a new appliance? Heat pump? Gas furnace? Well, now is the time to buy! Virginians are now (as of April 28th) being offered rebates for the following items, as long as they are Energy Star certified. (Note: there may be some exceptions. Do your research...
National Flood Insurance Program Reauthorized
Last week we wrote about the National Flood Insurance Program expiring at the end of March. Good news! Congress took action yesterday to reauthorize the program. The program reauthorization was made retroactive to March 28, 2010 so all transactions keyed during the program suspension period will be completed as requested....