Thanks to Google maps, there is now a handy map that will show Virginia residents where they need to go to vote this Election Day.  Simply enter your street address and your polling place will pop up along with directions you can print out, download, etc. as well as a list of the candidates who are running.    ************************************************************************************** Tina Merritt and the ALL757 Network can be reached at email:  tina@tinamerrit... Read Full Story

  Via Anne Marie Malfi, Real Estate Marketing Consultant/Virtual Asst, Bucks County,PA (Malfi Marketing Solutions ~ for real estate professionals):This community is full of people who are always looking to make a difference to the people who hire us to provide real estate services, in our communities or to those special people in our lives. This idea was shared with my  11 year old daughter (Sarah) from a teacher in her school.  My daughter has been actively looking for ways to get invol... Read Full Story

  Via Kryste Adams - Central Oregon Real Estate (Fred Real Estate Group *Bend-Redmond-Sunriver-LaPine-Sisters):Good News for First Time or Second Time Home Buyers in Bend, Oregon  - Updates on Extending the $8,000 tax credit for First Time Home Buyers According to CNBC, the extension of the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit is making progress.  The most recent update has the $8000 tax credit extended through the end of April.  In addition, the Bill will included a credit f... Read Full Story

Isle of Wight County is about to lose a major employer.  International Paper announced the closure of their plant in Franklin. The layoffs will begin November 7th and continue through spring until the plant is permanently closed.  The closure will effect 1100 employees. Virginia is seeking aid for the workers under the federal Trade Adjustment Assistance Program.  In addition to the 1100 workers, it is estimated that another 2400 workers could be hurt.  Those workers inclu... Read Full Story

I heard a very sad story earlier this week.   A father opened up a savings account for his son at a local bank.  The son was leaving for college and the father wanted to be able to deposit funds for his son.  The account was in the names of both father and son with the father's good intention of providing spending money to his son when needed. The son got mixed up with a bad kid.  The kid opened up a checking account at another local bank.  The kid wrote a bunch of ch... Read Full Story

blacksburg brew doo tomorrow...woo hoo! Posted via email from tinamerritt's posterous Read Full Story

Educating Real Estate Agents On How To Use Modern Technologies To Better Their Business Will Never Be The Same! On November 17th, 2009 dozens of the most respected educators in the real estate industry converge to host the first of its kind, Virtual Real Estate BarCamp. Virtual Real Estate BarCamp is a 1-Day Learning Extravaganza. From 9am until 4pm PST, three concurrent webinar "rooms" will each host 9 different sessions, for a total of 27 different presentations. There is something for ever... Read Full Story

The Chesapeake Redevelopment and Housing Authority oversees the HOME Investors Partnership Program.  This program assists qualified residents in the City of Chesapeake with the following: Down payment/closing cost assistance to qualified homebuyers for the purchase of affordable single family residences.   Low interest/deferred loans, to qualified homeowners, for improvements to residential structures to correct violations of applicable housing codes and standards   Low ... Read Full Story

Effective October 19, 2009, unsupervised minors are no longer permitted in the MacArthur Center Mall in Downtown Norfolk after 5pm. Yes, ID's will be checked and extra security is on hand to enforce the new regulation.  Teens found in the mall unsupervised after 5pm will be escorted to their "accompanying adult" or escorted out of the mall. According to mall officials, the new rule is to help keep shoppers safe and kids out of trouble.  In recent years, the number of minors "hanging... Read Full Story

ThinAir Wireless has created an app that many real estate professionals may find useful.  Offender is an application that searches around your current location or another address for registered sex offenders. Since the app was released on June 2, 2009, they have seen over a million downloads.  There are 2 versions:  a limited free version and $1.99 for the full version.  The app has also cracked the iTunes top 10 list in popularity a few times. Read more at:  Wo... Read Full Story