If I Had Three Extra Hours a Day...

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If I had 3 extra hours a day, I'd volunteer again to coach a youth sport in our community. For 15 years, I was able to give back to our community and coach four different sports- Football, Basketball, Baseball, and Soccer. The best part about it of course, was being able to be involved in our three children's experience in playing a youth sport. It was also very rewarding for me - being a positive role model for those kids. I really miss being able to have the time to volunteer my time for this important role model position, but we've all had to put more time into our work because of the tougher real estate market...

My wife and I always taught our kids that participating in a sport growing up is more than just being on a team and an activity to be involved in. There's alot of lessons to be learned about life. Things like Discipline, Teamwork, Sportsmanship, and Respect. Being part of a team and practicing hard, you learn how to develop a work ethic, how to be a good teammate, how to deal and overcome adversity. On one of our Pop Warner football teams, our chant at the end of our huddle before the game was "Pride, Respect, Love, Protect, Togetherness!...We are SAINTS!"

When I coached a team, I always stressed that we were not there just for winning. We wanted to take care of the little things - work hard, and the bigger things would eventually happen. Some teams were really talented and we did win a few championships, others were not so good and we used it as an opportunity to draw parallels to life, and how this was a good character builder. Some years I had kids play on my team that had no way to practice, so I would go pick them up for practice and some games. Having played sports since I was eight years old, I always felt everyone should have the chance to experience the positive benefits of "being on a team" at some point in their childhood. It broke my heart when some couldn't because of family issues.



I tried to stress the importance of character, integrity, and sportsmanship. It didn't really matter at that level whether we son or lost that game - what really mattered is how you act while you were out there on the field. That's what mattered. People a year or two from now will not remember the score of the game, they might not even remember who won. But what they WILL REMEMBER, is how you acted while you were out there on the field. They'll say, "Wow, that kid was a great kid...he/she always gave their BEST and I was always impressed with them".

I loved making a difference in the kids' lives and I tried my best to look at the BIG picture. It's very rewarding for me to see them today in high school, college, and some have gone on to their careers in the workplace. When I see them around town, I love hearing, "Hey Coach, how are you?". I miss those moments of being that positive role model, but there is a great sense of pride for me to see that I may have made a positive difference in their lives.



This was one of my basketball teams that I took to a Virginia Tech Hokie Club dinner one time when the head coach, Seth Greenberg, from Tech came to town. It was the first time most of my kids had been to an event like this. What a great memory for them and for me.



With the state of the economy, our slow real estate market, my job has required that I do more with less at work. I need more hours in a day to really do things I love. In those 15 years of coaching youth sports, I was fortunate that our business was thriving and I could volunteer my time and energy for coaching. Yes, if I had three hours a day extra today to do something extra, I'd be thankful to be a coach again for kids in my town of Smithfield, Virginia. I do miss it.

5 Reasons to Relocate to this Waterfront Community in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia

Many propsective homebuyers are now just starting to look for a new home for 2011. They've been waiting on the sideline for several years, and they realize that now is the best time in decades to buy a new home. If you're looking to make a move to the Hampton Roads area of Virginia this year, be sure to check out Founders Pointe, located in the Hampton roads area of Virginia.

Here are my TOP 5 Reasons to Relocate to Founders Pointe:

1. ATTRACTIVE LOCATION

Founders Pointe is located in the Carrollton area of Isle of Wight County, which is part of the Hampton Roads region. Although, Isle of Wight County is on the western edge, it's easy to get anywhere, and it's nicely removed from the city. You can also rediscover a small town atmosphere as Founders Pointe is near the historic town of Smithfield. Incorporated as a town in 1750, Smithfield is well known to have one of the best preserved historic districts in the country for a town reflecting different periods of historical architecture. there are landmarks like St. Luke's church built in 1632, and the Smithfield Inn & restaurant built in 1752. Another favorite tourist spot is the Smithfield Station.


It only takes ten minutes to reach the Hampton/Newport News area via the James River bridge. Oh yes, those who grea up on the "Peninsula" (a stretch of cities along a peninsula of land that is bordered by the James, Hampton Roads, and York Rivers), think that Isle of Wight is "way out". In reality, Isle of Wight is on the "mainland" and it offers a more quiet, peaceful lifestyle, the lowest tax rate in the region (.52/$100), and it is central to the Southside Hampton Roads cities and the Peninsula.

Families relocating from out of the area don't mind a 20-25 minute drive into work, and they prefer to live in a community with more to offer than just a house in a typical subdivision.



Founders Pointe is located on the point of land on the left situated just to the southeast of the James River Bridge and just west of the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge tunnel. Founders Pointe is just 10 minutes to the Peninsula, I-664, and only 25 minutes to Downtown Norfolk. To see a map of where Founders Pointe is located, visit http://www.founderspointe.com/our-location/conveniences/.



2. Overall Neighborhood Concept and the Resort Style Amenities



The centerpiece of Founders Pointe are the exceptional resort-style recreational amenities the community has to offer. Rarely, does a neighborhood with only 300 homes have a clubhouse and pool, but to find it on the scale of the Founders Pointe Residents' Club, that's truly unique. (Monthly Association dues are only $87/month which includes maintenance of the common area and access to the amenities.)

• Residents' Club with swimming pool and 112′ water slide
• 844′ observation pier offering panoramic views of Batten Bay and the James River
• Three miles of biking/walking trails and sidewalks
• Playground and sand volleyball court
• Full-time Activities Director coordinating year-round events for all ages.
• In addition to hosting sporting and fitness activities, the clubhouse serves as a center for holiday celebrations, themed social events for adults, and special interest clubs. A full-time activities director  keeps the community's social calendar full with a year-round schedule of exciting events. The clubhouse's swimming pool and waterslide is augmented by a children's playground and sand volleyball court. Both children and adults make use of the network of nearly three miles of sidewalks and walking trails that wind throughout the community. An observation pier overlooks Batten Bay, with views reaching to the James River and the Hampton Roads. Founders Pointe provides a nurturing environment in which children can thrive and adults can relax. Whether you are young, or simply young at heart, going outside to play is conveniently rewarding.              

                                                                                                                     

3. Quality Homes, Distinctive Architecture

East West Communities, our community development team, spent alot of attention to the overall architectural theme and streetscape early on in the development process. Detailed front porticos, large front porches, proper symmetry and proportion- all all important aspects of creating an attractive streetscape, no matter what cul-de-sac or street you're on the the community.

          


A Preferred Builder team of ten quality homebuilders have helped carry out the vision of developing one of the most attractive and best looking neighborhoods in our region. You'll find a wide variety of distinctive home styles such as English Cottage, Craftsman, American Traditional, Colonial, and European Transitional style. Since our grand opening in the spring of 2005, over 150 families have decided to relocate to Founders Pointe. Founders Pointe was selected as "Community of the Year" twice by the local homebuilder association. You can see the beautiful homes on the Interactive Map.

         

4. Sense of Place, Community

We often hear that one of the main reasons 150 families have relocated to our community is the real sense of community they find in their neighborhood. From the stone front entrance monument, past the well landscaped parkway entry, to the lakeside clubhouse and pool, and along the winding pathway to the observation pier on the river, visitors will quickly realize they have arrived at one of the most attractive neighborhoods in the Hampton Roads region.



The friendly front porches, well landscaped common areas, and the winding sidewalks also help add to the neighborly feel that our residents talk so much about. The roads that lead to Founders Pointe are lined by trees and some spectacular views over the waterways which also gives our commuters a chance to unwind on their way home.

Once home, residents enjoy the various activities found at their neighborhood clubhouse which overlooks a lake and a well landscaped trail system. There is also access to the river for all residents at the observation pier. We often hear, that's it's worth an extra 10 minute drive home to get home, where residents enjoy the spectacular views across the water and the marsh that surrounds the tributaries leading out to the James River. The experiences our families have with their children and grandchildren rival those at some of the great resort destinations.



5. Timing- Unique Opportunity, Beautiful Waterfront Property

With the low interest rates and the aggressive new home pricing by our builders, now IS a great time to buy a new home! Timing is also excellent because of the early stage of construction for the community. There's a great team of builders offering top quality amenities in their new homes with seven new home plans now under construction for sale for this spring season! Homesites start in the $90's and new single family custom homes start in the $400's- an excellent value!
Finding a waterfront location so close to the major employment centers like Founders Pointe is rare and a unique opportunity. Be forewarned, one visit to see Founders pointe, its distinctive new homes, the resort style amenities, the gorgeous views, & the surrounding area, - you're likely to want to drop anchor here for good.

Visit www.eastwestcommunities.com for more information about other East West communities in Virginia.

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.