It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

I don't know if you celebrate Christmas, so this may not apply to you. But since I was a child I've loved driving around to see Christmas lights. I get so happy when I see them start to go up in my neighborhood (yes, even if it's before December 1) and the more I see the happier I feel. It's like a jolt of holiday joy and I like to think the joy is contagious. My kids who look at me like I'm crazy, but that's not unusual and they're smiling so hopefully they're not planning to have me locked away when I exclaim, "OOOOOOHHH look at all the CHRISTMAS!!" and clap my hands like a little girl.

Anyway, if you love Christmas Light Displays as much as I do, here is a handy-dandy website where you can find displays near YOUR HOUSE! You just type in your zip code in the box in the upper left hand corner and decide how many miles you are willing to drive in the drop-down menu below.

I searched based on Chantilly, just because that's where my office is located:
http://www.christmaslightfinder.com/search.php

Some of them even have personal websites where you can learn more about the number of lights and how long it takes to put them up! One man on Collingwood Drive said it takes him 300 hours to put up his display!! (and that there will be no display at his house this year, here's hoping next year he's able to).

If you prefer not to drive through neighborhoods to see lights, there's always the Bull Run Festival of Lights which you can see in a park for a small fee. It's a great way to get into the Christmas Spirit...if that's your thing.

Home Prices are up!

I found this interesting article on Yahoo News today and I thought Virginia home owners might be interested in it. In summary it says that prices are up in many metropolitan areas and existing homes available for sale are at a 10 year low.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/home-prices-increase-most-major-140227717.html

This is great news if you have a home to sell, we've seen similar trends of prices moving up in many local areas especially closer to the beltway. And coupled with historically low interest rates it makes now a great time to buy! If you happen to be in the market.

Rates are still CRAZY LOW!

We've been watching interest rates for a while now, and so far they are still at historical lows. If you own a home and you're not upside down in value, this is a great time to refinance!

If you're looking to buy, don't wait! These rates won't last forever and if your credit is good you can afford a lot more home at 3.31% than you can at 4.5%.

See this article from Inman News for more information.
http://www.inman.com/news/2012/11/21/give-thanks-if-you-qualify-record-low-mortgage-rates

Giving Tuesday

Good Morning!
I hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving and a wonderful holiday weekend! Those of you fortunate enough to have some time off, I hope you enjoyed it. With all the talk of Black Friday and Cyber Monday I usually get excited to Christmas Shop, but this year I'm having a hard time getting into the shopping spirit.

Don't get me wrong, I love to give Christmas gifts, but looking at another toy my kids don't really need seems absurd when there are people in New York and New Jersey who would probably be happy if they could just get their power turned back on so they could have a hot shower.

Yesterday on I saw a post about Giving Tuesday, and I'd like to share the concept. There are about a million causes out there that could use our support and whatever your reason, whatever your connection to the cause I would love to see everyone give just $10.00 to the charity of their choice today.

Whether it's the Hurricane Sandy Victims through the American Red Cross, Saint Jude's, Susan G. Komen, PKD Foundation, or any other organization that is close to your heart for whatever reason. If today everyone gave just $10.00 I bet we could really make a difference. Nothing gets me into the Christmas Spirit faster than expressing gratitude for all we have by giving to those who have less.