Virginia Real Estate and Musings: January 2008

I remember back when we had the gas crisis during the Carter Administration.  I remember sitting in the line at the gas station with my Dad hoping they still had gas when it was our turn.  I remember my parents talking to their friends about having gas stolen out of their gas tanks.  Lastly, I remember my father reciting off to my Mom the number of gallons and price per gallon and milegage used since the last fillup so they could calculate the gas mileage.

Then, my Dad drove home the "Orange" one day.  It was a 1978 Honda Civic Hatchback in bright orange with black vinyl seats.  He traded in his beautiful, blue Chevelle convertible to drive the ugly orange Civic and save gas money!

As I got older, I observed my Dad making a conscious effort to drive to work on a certain route to hit the least expensive gas station when it was time for a fillup.  My thoughts were usually that of bewilderment, "Why is saving a few cents so important to him that he actually notices gas prices and goes out of his way to get the best price?"

So, being the rebellious soul that I am, I pretty much never paid attention to how much I was paying for gas.  I didn't really care what the gas mileage sticker at the dealership stated.  I drove a gas guzzler and was proud of it.

That all started to change the day I paid $75 to fill the tank.  I've since researched how to get more mpg out of my car.  I even found a cool button on my dash that tells me the current mpg and I'm learning how different driving habits make it skyrocket and fall to almost nothing.  Lastly, I am actually paying attention to how much I pay for gas and I cringe each and every time.

In my research, I heard about a great tool for finding the best gas prices.  Here is a link to a current map of the prices in Virginia Beach.  I hope you find it helpful and save a few bucks.  It would make my father happy!

http://maps.google.com/maps/mm?ie=UTF8&hl=en&ll=36.859296,-76.074486&spn=0.125262,0.31929&z=12&om=0

Tina in Virginia

Just because the previous and/or current owner of your home is not required to have flood insurance does not mean you will not be required to get it.  Flooding is the #1 natural disaster and most insurance policies do not cover flood damage.  In addition, if you are in an area that gets hit by flooding and qualifies for federal assistance, the assistance is usually in the form of a low interest loan which must be paid back.

Per FEMA, 30% of all flood insurance claims are filed by people living in low to moderate risk areas!  So, flood insurance isn't only needed by those who are required to get it by their mortgage companies.

Go to www.floodsmart.gov and enter your address to check your property's risk level.

If you are renting, make sure first of all that you have renters insurance (it's very inexpensive) and also check to make sure your belongings are insured against flooding.

If you live in a condominium complex that is located in a flood zone, your complex's master insurance policy will most likely include flood insurance; however, you will still need to check your personal property policy to see if it protects you against flooding.

Flooding can be caused by things other than natural disasters!  A neighbor's leaking pipe, backed up drain lines, heavy rain combined with slow drainage - these can also cause substantial damage.

When a hurricane or tropical storm has formed, there is usually a moratorium placed on insurance policies in the areas which could be affected.  Since we are not in hurricane season right now, it's a great time to update your insurance and make sure you and your family are adequately covered!

To get more information on insurance, please contact me and I will be happy to put you in touch with a reputable insurance professional who can answer all of your questions.

Tina in Virginia