Classical music fans in Central Virginia love September. So do some of the finest classical musicians in the world. For fifteen years now, Charlottesville natives Timothy Summers and Raphael Bell have brought the two together for the Charlottesville Chamber Music Festival, two weeks’ worth of stimulating concerts of classical music for small ensembles. The eight […]

These days it is not unusual for lenders to require a down payment of as 20 percent on the purchase price of a home. This makes a lot of sense from the lender’s point of view for several reasons. First, buyers who can save that 20 percent show they handle their finances well. Second, with […]

Nationally the commercial market continues to recover, according to Lawrence Yun, the National Association of REALTORS® Chief Economist.  Yun predicts an improving commercial market, with the multi-family sector leading the way based on what he expects will be an expanding GDP, an easing in commercial lending and continued job growth. The Charlottesville Market Hock Hockensmith, […]

Staunton hasn’t heard about “the death of classical music.” The little Shenandoah Valley city with the handsome, historic downtown and the rich reputation for the performing arts celebrates a living tradition each summer with the Staunton Music Festival, drawing larger crowds each year for dynamic and innovative chamber music concerts. The 2014 event, August 15-24, […]

According to a recent Gallup poll, the average American retires at age 61.1 That’s at least five years away from collecting full Social Security retirement benefits, not to mention pensions, which typically begin at age 65, when available. Collectively, these programs can account for a significant share of retirement income. According to the Social Security […]

Each summer we highlight the many outstanding private schools in our seven-county readership area. We are pleased to enable these schools to shine a light on their extraordinary accomplishments, helping readers to get a flavor of the type of private school opportunities available to their children throughout central Virginia. Here are the schools that replied […]

Energy-saving upgrades such as weather stripping compact fluorescent light bulbs, low-flow faucets and showerheads, and lifetime air conditioning filters can save you up to 25 percent annually on your utility bills. Here are some energy-saving tips you can apply to your home. And these don’t cost a lot of money, either. Immediate insulation A good […]

Once upon a time prospective homebuyers asked their agents to search the local MLS and find the listings they thought their clients would like best. Back then only REALTORS® had access to MLS information, and buyers who wanted to be more independent had to rely on print ads, open houses or just driving through neighborhoods […]

At Louisa County Public Schools, we know that each student is capable of learning, achieving, and succeeding. We know that graduates need to be prepared for the workforce as well as the classroom. We know that a child is much more than a score on a standardized test. Through innovation, compassion, and hard work, Louisa […]

Several years ago Walk Score.com named Charlottesville the Most Walkable City in the Commonwealth of Virginia. What exactly does that mean? “A Walk Score,” explains REALTOR ® Jim Duncan of Nest Realty, “is a ranking algorithm for a home and it depends on pretty much everything people want to walk to—grocery stores, entertainment, schools, restaurants, […]