Harrisonblog

People, Places, Events, and Issues in Harrisonburg
(with an emphasis on real estate)

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How to Follow (or Subcribe to) a Blog

February 19th, 2010 by Lisa Oates · No Comments

Subscribing to, or following, a blog can be very handy. It allows you as a reader to have all of a blog’s posts in one spot, along with any other blogs you follow, so that you aren’t having to navigate through the web to each blog you love every day. In other words, bring all [...]

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Tags: Uncategorized

To Rent Or To Buy? That Is The Question.

February 16th, 2010 by Lisa Oates · 1 Comment

Many first time home buyers — and even some folks who have owned in the past and are currently renting — are just unsure about whether or not they should purchase a home. It is important to weigh your options before purchasing because it is likely the largest purchase you will make in your life.
So, [...]

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Tags: Buyers · Tools

First Step To Going Green: Find Your Carbon Footprint

February 10th, 2010 by Lisa Oates · No Comments

Going green is a big deal, believe it or not. It is important to keep our earth clean so that future generations will be able to enjoy it as much as we have. The first step to understanding how to improve the environment around you is to find your carbon footprint. How much carbon dioxide [...]

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Tags: Issues · Tools

Drinking Water Quality in Harrisonburg

January 4th, 2010 by Lisa Oates · No Comments

You’re thirsty. You grab a glass from the cabinet, walk over to your kitchen sink, and fill ‘er up. Ever wonder what goes into that glass? An Environmental Working Group website now gives users the ability to see what chemicals and/or contaminants are in your drinking water, by searching by zip code. We did a [...]

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Tags: Tools

How to Qualify for Energy Efficiency Tax Credits

October 30th, 2009 by Lisa Oates · 1 Comment

We’ve posted a lot about the first time home buyer tax credit lately, but what about some other tax credits related to real estate? Energy efficiency can not only gain you tax credits, but also confidence in that you are helping the environment, and energy savings long-term.
We came across this really cool guide to energy-efficiency [...]

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Tags: Issues · Tools

Easy (and Cheap) Ways to Update Your Home

October 20th, 2009 by Lisa Oates · 1 Comment

I enjoy home decorating and making our house feel more like a home, and with that, making every dollar count! There are many things you can do to update your home on the cheap, while making it look like you spent a lot of money. Here are just a few ideas to get you started [...]

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Tags: Tools

Real Estate Maps Showcase Home Values, Neighborhood Info, and More

September 3rd, 2009 by Lisa Oates · No Comments

Maps, back in the day, were used primarily for navigating from Point A to Point B, but since the online world has become this diverse, interactive playground full of really cool tools, maps have taken on a whole new role. Maps can show us information about neighborhoods, schools, home values and how they’ve changed over [...]

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Tags: Tools

Calculate How Planting That Tree Will Benefit Your Wallet And Quality of Life

July 31st, 2009 by Lisa Oates · No Comments

Are you wondering how to save some cash, go green, and cool down? Plant a tree (or two or three)!
I read about this awesome tree calculator in Better Homes & Gardens. Simply visit the website, enter your zip code, the type of tree you are thinking of planting, and the size of the tree. It [...]

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Tags: Tools

Virginia Homeowners Alliance Redesign

July 24th, 2009 by Lisa Oates · No Comments

You may remember our previous post introducing the Virginia Homeowners Alliance program (January 2009). This program has only grown in popularity since its inception, and because of the increasing demand for quality content regarding real estate, and helpful tips for home buyers and sellers, the site has undergone an exciting redesign!

If you are a homeowner, [...]

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Tags: News · Tools

Cost of Living in The Shenandoah Valley

July 22nd, 2009 by Lisa Oates · 1 Comment

Moving to a new area can be overwhelming. It can be difficult to figure out how your new lifestyle will compare to your old one, especially in terms of cost of living. To help, I’ve put together a little chart comparing different areas within the Shenandoah Valley. This will assist you in determining where exactly [...]

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Tags: Issues · Places · Tools