College GAMEDAY is a Good Lesson in Branding and Marketing 101

 

  ESPN College GAMEDAY came to Virginia Tech this past Saturday, and left town impressed with the Hokie Nation's enthusiasm and their upset victory over the #1 ranked Duke Blue Devils. I made the five hour trip to Blacksburg (left home at 3:30 am) so I could join my daughter in the awesome showing of school spirit. For more information about the GAMEDAY event.


 

The first ESPN commentator to enter the Cassell Coliseum was Digger Phelps, the former coach for Notre Dame and now a full fledged television celebrity. Digger immediately worked the crowd and got the Hokie Nation fully worked up in a frenzy, at 9 am on a Saturday morning. It was amazing to watch the behind the scenes efforts to pull off the two hour ESPN show (the first hour is on ESPU). Digger came over and asked me to help get the crowd pumped up for the background shots. he had me orchestrate the top five Virginia Tech cheers after the marching band led each segment with different fight songs. (Virginia Tech is a former military school and there's a lot of traditional songs and cheers)

After practicing wiht the crowd for almost an hour, I was a little worried we wouldn't have enough energy and "gas in the tank'...but I was wrong. Check out this video of the crowd when the show's producer said "Action!"... Cassell Coliseum Comes Alive.

ESPN is only visiting 12 college campuses this year and they know how to put on a good show. If you're on College Gameday, it's a sign that your program has arrived and you are relevant to the college basketball world. It was definitely fun to watch the production aspect of the event, but it was fun being on the court leading cheers with the students as well.



Having ESPN on campus was a huge two hour informercial for Virginia Tech, which is located in the small town of Blacksburg, amongst the mountains in southwest Virginia. Seth Greenberg is building a program and brand that is appealing to alot of people today. There's a strong sense of pride and friendliness in this college town and the ESPN commentators felt it.

Digger Phelps was so excited about the level of enthusiam that he even predicted the Hokies would knock off the top ranked Dlue Devils...and Digger was right. Virginia Tech beat the #1 team in the country Saturday night 64-60 for the fourth win over a top ranked opponent in school history. After the game, Greenberg commented, "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, let's live in the present."

For more about the ESPN College Gameday visit, check out The Collegiate Times article.

 

Posted by Mark

Find Southern Charm in this Virginia Waterfront Community, plus a resort-syled clubhouse & pool.

Ready to step back in time? Rediscover a small town atmosphere in this new waterfront community, Founders Pointe, in the Smithfield area of Virginia. Superb quality appointments and modern luxury can be found in this classic Traditional style home by ABT Custom Homes- 105 Ships Landing, Carrollton, VA is currently listed with East West Realty for $575,000.

• 10' ceilings on the main floor, spectacular master suite offers views across the street of Batten Bay.
• Family entertainment/media room is located over the garage.
• Gourmet Kitchen, top of the line appliances
• Cozy Family Room, detailed trim and custom cabinetry/built-ins
• First floor bedroom/bath
• Two-story covered front porch with beautiful views of the observation pier and the James River
• Kid Cave over the garage with gaming areas for children's recreation.
• Equipped with indoor and outdoor audio visual with hidden ceiling and wall speakers
• Fully custom designed master closet.
• European-style shower with drying area.
• Covered back porch-outdoor grill and patio area

Founders Pointe, a waterfront community centrally located in Hampton Roads, and discover the perfect pairing of yesterday's hometown feeling with today's convenient lifestyle.

Surrounded by natural beauty and complemented with thoughtful community amenities, Founders Pointe is the ideal setting for you to live your dreams. Classic architectural styles offered by ten highly acclaimed builders allow for personalized touches that create your custom built home the way you've always envisioned it. Or, select from a variety of model homes already built. Either way, you're sure to find your dream home in Founders Pointe. To tour the community's homes and to see available homes for sale, visit the Founders Pointe Interactive Map. Click here to see available homes for sale.

With quality custom homes from the upper $400′s to over $1 million, this community provides you with not only the home of your dreams, but the opportunity to live the lifestyle you have always dreamed of living. Founders Pointe is centrally located to all of Hampton Roads, near the historic town of Smithfield, just 3 miles south of the James River Bridge in the Carrollton area of Isle of Wight County - a quick 10 minute drive to the Peninsula or 25 minutes to downtown Norfolk.

For more information, call Donita Frantz or Mark Edwards with East West Realty in the Smithfield/Suffolk area at  (757) 238-9009. The Information Center is open daily. New homes and waterfront homesites are now available. Interior lots start at $90,000.

Thinking About a New Home in 2011? Tips on selecting your plan and your builder.

How do I select my builder and what new home plan should I pick? Now's a great time to be building a new home as the prices to build are lower than they have been in years. Some customers are finding out that they may be able to build the home they want at a better price than some of the existing resale homes. There's never been a better time to custom build the home of your dreams.

The Riverfront at Harbour View sets a visionary new standard for planned communities in the Mid-Atlantic and across the country. Whether you select a custom-designed home, or an elegantly-appointed condominium, you'll enjoy all the comforts you need and the style and quality you'll find nowhere else.
Carefully selected builders are invited to create homes of timeless design and sought-after features. Homes at The Riverfront are distinguished by spacious floorplans, luxurious amenities, uncompromising construction, made all the more spectacular by river, golf, lake, marsh, or meticulously landscaped park views.



The Quality You Demand, The Peace Of Mind You Seek
The homes in The Riverfront at Harbour View are designed and custom built to create an overall architectural appeal that is immediately sensed when you drive through the community. The variety of home plan sizes, styles, and designs are limitless.  Let our award-winning team of custom builders help  create the home of your dreams. There are many advantages that come from working with a preferred builder in a quality master planned community.

Prior to construction, each home plan is submitted to The Riverfront Architectural Review Board for approval. Here the exterior of the plan is reviewed, including  design elements,  exterior finishes, site plan, and landscaping design. The creation and enforcement of these standards helps to protect the investment of every homeowner in the community.



Many of these home designs are from nationally renowned architecture firms. You can select from the our featured builders' custom plans or from nationally awarded home designers such as -Frank Betz Associates, Inc., William E. Poole Designs, Inc., Stephen Fuller, Inc.,  Living Concepts, and Garrell Associates, Inc. Many of the new homes are designed by the builder's local architect, but many originate from one of the plans from a national plan design service.

To check out the availablr new homes at the Riverfront, http://www.the-riverfront.com/our-homes/available-homes/



Featured Builders
If you are ready to start your home buying process, you couldn't be in better hands than you are at The Riverfront. A collection of imaginative homes are being built by a carefully selected group of Hampton Roads' finest builders. You can choose from a wide variety of styles and floorplans - all of which feature the latest innovations in new home construction. We are proud to have the following featured builders for you to choose from in The Riverfront.

• ABT Custom Homes, Inc
• Birdsong Builders, Inc
• Cohen Homes
• Emerson Builders, Inc
• Hohmann Builders, Inc
• Norman Miller Custom Builder
• Sadler Building Corporation
• Sasser Construction, LLC

Ready to let your imagination soar? Take a ride with us over an expanse of rolling greens where nature provides the perfect backdrop for The Riverfront playground. Step out of your living room and into the great outdoors for a tranquil sunset today, and perhaps a round of 18 holes tomorrow.

*Video requires Adobe Flash Player.   


 East West Realty, Mark Edwards - Hampton Roads area of Virginia

TechSideline.com: Tech Goes To Texas For Third Commitment

TechSideline.com: Tech Goes To Texas For Third Commitment

105 Watch Harbour Court, The Riverfront - dailypress.com

105 Watch Harbour Court, The Riverfront - dailypress.com

Ever use Your Neighborhood Clubhouse? What are the Benefits of a an Active Community Club?

The Riverfront at Harbour View community creates a resort lifestyle for its residents through the many first class amenities it provides.  But it's the human element that really brings it all to life.  Anyone can build a swimming pool, playgrounds, even waterfront parks, tennis & volleyball courts, and babbling brooks, but the programming of these facilities is the vital component that creates that sense of community people are yearning for.



At The Riverfront Swim Club, it's the full time Activities Director that functions as the heartbeat of the community, bringing it all to life.   Summertime fun at the pool is only a small portion of what this popular club offers its members.  The year-round activity calendar includes something for just about every age, interest, activity level, and social appetite.  For the grown-up crowd, events like wine tastings, book clubs, BUNCO groups, games nights and Friday Cheers let residents get to know their neighbors and enjoy a night out without ever leaving the neighborhood.  Children and families take advantage of events just for them, including kids camp, dive-in movies, kids night out, Easter egg hunts, Halloween costume parties and so much more.  And they don't forget the athletic crowd either, fostering active play with volleyball and tennis tournaments, 5K races, swim team, golf clinics, and of course, the infamous, Polar Bear Plunge into the pool each January.



With this recipe for success, The Riverfront Swim Club was awarded the national Premier Recreation Operation Award from the RCRA (Resort & Commercial Recreation Association). The award recognizes excellence in development and promotion of quality recreation programs and services.  The Riverfront was the first residential community in the state of Virginia to receive this national award.  
The Riverfront Swim Club truly embodies the old adage "know your audience" in everything they do, by offering diversity and creativity in their programs, and a friendly staff who will always call you by name.
Successful club operations benefit everyone -- enhancing new home sales and property values by creating sought-after places to live, and establishing tight-knit active communities of happy residents, that will continue to thrive year after year.

 

The Riverfront at Harbour View community is another quality community by East West Communities.

 

7 Reasons Why it's a Great Time to Buy a New Home

After receiving an overwhelming number of comments (most positive and a few negative) about recent positive economic forecasts for the Hampton Roads region of Virginia, I decided to follow up and list my top 7 Reasons why the timing is right to buy a new home. (Note: my comments are general observations, and not an individual directive to all potential buyers.) My top 7 reasons to buy a new home are:

1. Price adjustments have been made. I have seen new home constructionpricing from our featured builders adjusted down to pre-2005 levels in many of our new home communities. We saw a dramatic increase during the huge three year boom here in Virginia, and new construction prices had increased because of supply & demand and the fact that building supplies and labor were up. The last couple of years has helped to bring building material levels down and builders are getting competitive pricing from their subcontractors in recent months. (This will go up as the sales continue to rise, and we're already hearing that price increases on some building supplies will happen this spring)

2. Interest rates are still low, for now.Mortgage interest rates are still phenomenal and it make sense to take advantage of the low fixed rate mortgages while you can. The slight uptick in rates are a potential sign that we may have seen the rates bottom out. Folks waiting for the interest rates to go lower may get caught waiting too long. (I'll defer to financial experts to jump in here)

3. Mortgage Interest Deduction and Tax Advantages. Home ownership is an excellent tax shelter and tax rates favor homeowners. As long as your mortgage balance is lower than the price of your home, mortgage interest is fully deductible on your tax return. Deducting the interest on your income taxes helps make the real cost of owning more attractive. Whether you buy new or existing, a home is a financial asset- you can take advantage of tax benefits.

 


4. Today's new homes are more energy efficient because they are better insulated, usually have better windows and more efficient HVAC systems. Energy Star rated appliances and other "green features" are being incorporated into new homes by many builders. Many existing homebuyers are paying more on utility bills and will need to spend more on energy-saving improvements to make them more comfortable and efficient. Though the price new construction may be more expensive than a resale home on the front end, a new home may need fewer repairs and/or replacements since everything is brand new.

5. Better design and better technology mean a more livable and appealing home for today's buyers. New and better ways of constructing homes are consistently being generated. Also, as consumer trends change, new construction should respond with floor plans to accommodate the changing customer needs that some existing homes do not include. If your builder is building the same home he was five years ago, it's time for a change. Some of the new home trends that are gaining popularity are drop zones off the garage entry, built-in niches for computers, cell phone charging stations, large floating kitchen islands open to the "Grand Room" (return of the old great room which is very connected to the Kitchen area), larger master showers, and flex space (a place for a media room or family entertainment room). There's less emphasis on custom trim, but more emphasis on quality Kitchen appointments and backyard gathering/entertainment and back porches. (Definitely need to have another post to list the latest trends)

6. Amenities. Many new-home communities offer resort style amenities, with acres dedicated to lakes, trails and parks. Our company has done focus groups with residents in our past communities to help determine what they value most in a new home community.  In all four of our communities in Hampton Roads area, residents can jog or bike along trails meandering through the landscape, go for a dip in the neighborhood swimming pool, and take advantage of the many activities and socials at the neighborhood clubhouse. Residents can discover many memorable experiences with their families at one of the waterfront parks or enjoy social interaction with new neighbors and friends. Having the luxury of amenities in your neighborhood may also increase your resale value and attract home buyers looking for that sense of community.



7. Pride of Ownership. It is the American dream. There's no place like home, and it's a place to call your own. Long term home values will appreciate and increase* Owning a home makes economic sense for many people but it also helps instill a sense of pride. You can decorate it, landscape it, furnish it, and at the end of the day, gain a real sense of accomplishment and enjoyment from being the owner. You've worked hard, and you've earned it. so, go ahead, buy a new home, and make the place you live, the place you love.

For more information about new homes in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, please visit www.eastwestcommunities.com. *This post is not meant to give anyone any tax or legal advice for their particular situation. Pleas consult an attorney or tax accountant if you want legal expertise and advice. This commentary is an opinion only. 

 

Haven't You Always Wanted to Live on the Water? Here's Your Chance- PRICE REDUCED to $624,900!

Looking for ultimate privacy in a waterfront neighborhood where you can dock your boat, enjoy fun at a riverfront clubhouse & pool, live in a peaceful setting in a quality custom home neighborhood, at a remarkable price?  You've found it at Gatling Pointe at 106 Water Pointe Lane for only $624,900!

•Discover a stately setting on this one acre waterfront homesite in Gatling Pointe in Smithfield, VA, which overlooks Moone Creek and the Pagan River. Expansive water and marsh views, and ultimate privacy from the back deck. Located on a one of a kind waterfront lot in an award winning community

•Nicely removed from the city, rediscover a small town charm in the Water Pointe neighborhood of Gatling Pointe a waterfront community adjacent to Historic Smithfield, located in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. Residents enjoy a riverfront club and pool complex that offers swimming, tennis, volleyball, fishing, and of course, boating (deep water marina).



•Large Kitchen with center island, Granite counter tops, gorgeous breakfast room                             
•New Kitchen appliances, new light fixtures, and new carpeting upstairs
•Newly refinished Hardwood flooring covers the main floor, ceramic tile bathroom upstairs



•Two stairway design, oak treads, impressive entry, heavy moldings and trim throughout
•Sun Room offers panoramic and breathtaking views of the marsh, creek, and river
•Luxurious Master Suite includes a large jacuzzi, separate steam shower, separate closets, & an exercise room overlooking the water. Spacious bedrooms, walk up attic provides extra storage
•Central vacuum, wet bar, heat mirrored Hurd windows, and immaculate interior
•9.5' ceilings on the first and second levels, tastefully decorated throughout
•Two zone heating & cooling, natural gas heat and hot water, 3rd thermostat controls the large bonus room/entertainment room (currently used as a bedroom)
•Circle top windows accent the classic Georgian exterior, detailed brick work and cornice trim
•Enjoy the spectacular views from your back deck and virtually every room downstairs
Discover the Best in Waterfront Living at the Gatling Pointe Yacht Club and Marina. Visit www.gatlingpointe.com for more information about the restaurant, boat slips, and active calendar of events year round. You'll appreciate the view across the James River from the riverfront pool complex.



For more Information: Mark Edwards, East West Realty, 757-288-7584 or Donita Frantz, East West Realty at 757-371-3398. www.gatlingpointe.com


 

East West Communities' Builder Named "Southern Living Custom Builder of the Year".

SASSER CONSTRUCTION NAMED
2010 SOUTHERN LIVING ®BUILDER MEMBER OF THE YEAR

Suffolk, VA - Sasser Construction, under the direction of president Eric Sasser, has been named Custom Builder Member of the Year by the Southern Living® Custom Builder Program. Sasser Construction has been building quality homes in the Hampton Roads area for 25 years and was sekected to become a Southern Living® Custom Home Builder in the early 90's. The Falkirk Ridge Southern Living® Showcase Home is built in The Riverfront, an award-winning resort-like community in the Harbor View area of Northern Suffolk by East West Communities.

The showcase home, which boasts over 5,000 square feet and features an abundance of both outdoor and indoor entertaining space has currently drawn over 10,000 visitors and was the site for numerous community benefits, including a $10,000 "Vote for Your Favorite Charity" giveaway and a "Stock the Pantry" contest for the local Salvation Army. The home originally debuted in the May issue of Southern Living®.

Brent Warren, the former Southern Living® Builder Programs and Services manager commented, "We created this program as a service to our readers. We look for builders who can build a home using our quality partner products; a home that reflects a story you might see in the pages of Southern Living®." Warren added, "Sasser's Falkirk Ridge home in The Riverfront at Harbour View is an excellent example of what we are looking for in this program; the epitome of Southern style and grace."

Sasser Construction is dedicated to providing our customers a great experience, and that sincerity and devotion to quality construction has really made this building team stand apart in Hampton Roads. We feel very fortunate to have them as one of our Featured Builders. Eric Sasser has been building Southern Living designs in East West Communities since 1990.

The Southern Living® Custom Builder Program is an invitation-only network of nearly 100 builders across the country. Each member is hand-selected for their outstanding reputation, quality of design and construction, integrity, and stability in the locations they represent.

Southern Living® is a premier lifestyle and entertaining magazine of the South and the seventh largest monthly consumer magazine in the U.S. (based on readership). It reaches nearly 16 million readers each month and enjoys a circulation of about 2.8 million. To learn more about the Southern Living® Custom Builder Program, please visit www.southernlivingcustombuilder.com.

The Riverfront is located in the Harbour View area of northern Suffolk, off I-664, just south of the Monitor Merrimac Bridge Tunnel. For more information on Sasser Construction or East West Communities call (757) 638-9100 or visit the builder's website at www.sasserhomes.com or the developers's websites at www.the-riverfront.com or www.founderspointe.com.

Hampton Roads' Best Selling Custom Home Community in 2010

Best Selling Custom Home Community in Hampton Roads? It's not in Norfolk or Virginia Beach. It's in that "off the beaten path" location in ISLE OF WIGHT County (by the way, that's where Smithfield is located). With over 22 custom home sales, Founders Pointe is a shining example that the new home construction business is alive and well, and well poised for a return to normalcy in 2011. 

One visit to Founders Pointe and you'll discover the perfect combination of that hometown feeling mixed with today's convenient lifestyle.  Nicely removed from the city, yet centrally located in Hampton Roads, Founders Pointe offers the best in waterfront living and some of the finest recreational amenities in the region.  The new $2 million Residents' Club and pool complex, the three miles of nature trails and sidewalks, and the 844' Observation pier help make Founders Pointe one of the most unique waterfront communities in Virginia.



Homes are tucked into quiet lanes and private cul-de-sacs, made all the more inviting by marsh, creek and wooded views. Twice Selected "Community of the Year" by the local Homesbuilders Association, Founders Pointe offers a lifestyle and ambiance that can't be found in the city. Homesites range from a quarter of an acre to over one acre, while enhanced landscaping creates a welcoming streetscape as you drive down Founders Pointe Trail. Inviting, deep front porches and covered back porches beckon residents to linger and visit with family and friends.



There are many reasons why over 150 families have relocated here since the Grand Opening in 2005. One is the resort styled amenities and access to the waterfront. A full-time Activities Director provides an ongoing calendar of events, making it easy to meet your neighbors and make friends in your new community. Residents enjoy sliding down the new 112' water slide or walking along one of the leisure trails to the new community observation pier planned to be completed this summer. Homeowners will be able to  discover spectacular marsh and river views across the James River and Hampton Roads.

New custom homes are priced from the $450's to over $1 million (10 different homebuilders) offering you the chance to build your dream home and live the lifestyle you have always imagined.  Relocating families, retirees, working couples or empty nesters looking for that resort lifestyle with peace and quiet away from the hustle and bustle of a big city, but still close to the metropolitian area - you have found your home!



The brick and stone new home (pictured above) located on Patriot's Ridge is located on a one acre waterfront homesite and is currently available for $699,000. For more information about Founders Pointe, visit www.founderspointe.com. East West also developed the Gatling Pointe waterfront community located in Smithfield, three times selected "Community of the Year". A deep water marina and 68 boat slips are found at the Gatling Pointe Yacht Club which is located just six miles away.