News About Real Estate and Sports in the Hampton Roads Area

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Ever want to own a Parade of Homes model home? Here's your chance!

Founders Pointe has been selected by the Peninsula Housing & Builders Association to host the 2013 Parade of Homes model home extravaganza next April 13th - 28th. Founders Pointe is an award winning, waterfront community in the Carrollton area of Isle of Wight County, near Smithfield, Virginia. Now's a great time to visit Founders Pointe and select your new home plan to be built in this unique opportunity.

Nicely removed from the city, Founders Pointe is convenient to all of Hampton Roads, just 3 miles from the James River Bridge, 12 minutes to I-664 and the Harbour View area, and 25 minutes to downtown Norfolk. This waterfront community was host to the first ever Spring Homearama model home show in 2010, and has been twice awarded "Community of the Year" by the Sales & Marketing Council of the PHBA.

The Lot Draw for the Builders will be held June 28th at Founders Pointe, and Builders will select which homesite to build their showcase home for next April's home show (April 13th-28th). East West Communities will release two new cul-de-sacs for the Parade of Homes for the builders to create another dream streetscape. Settler's Ridge and Batten Cove are waterfront cul-de-sacs that overlook Batten Bay and the James River, a spectacular setting for next April's event. Lots start in the low $100's and homebuyers are able to be involved in the plan selection process.

Potential homebuyers can be involved in building their dream home as one of the Parade of Homes models by contacting their REALTOR® or one of the Founders Pointe new home representatives. It's a great opportunity to take advantage of a wonderful value and live in one of the best new neighborhoods in Virginia. Founders Pointe features resort style amenities, a clubhouse and lakefront pool, miles of leisure trails, and an 844' Observation Pier. The Parade of Homes participating builders will unveil their selected house plan and selected lot later this summer.

Aerial of Founders Point | Peninsula Parade of Homes

Tens of thousands of people typically attend annual model home shows like the PHBA's Parade of Homes and TBA's Homearama model home show event. It's a chance for Builders to showcase the latest in new home designs, new home trends, interior home furnishings, new home technology, and creative landscaping & backyard creations. Big Home Shows (an affiliate of the Tidewater Builders Association) will work in conjunction with the PHBA on the April 2013 Parade event.

East West Communities hosted a PHBA Parade of Homes event in Gatling Pointe South in 1993, which won a Gold Award from the National Association of Homebuilders as the Best Home Show of the Year. (55,000 people visitors toured the fifteen Southern Living homes built that year) Besides the Spring 2010 Homearama at Founders Pointe, East West also hosted two Homearama model home shows in The Riverfront at Harbour View in 2001 and 2011. (Both shows brought over 190,000 spectators to The Riverfront).

The renderings above are Frank Betz Associates, Inc designs.

For Information about East West Partners’ communities, visit www.eastwestcommunities.com. Discover the best in lifestyle communities at Founders Pointe, Eagle Harbor, Liberty Ridge, and The Riverfront at Harbour View. East West Realty Sales Centers are open 7 days a week on-site. Equal Housing Opportunity

Tension, cares, and worries. They all dissolve in the water...

Tension, cares, and worries. They all dissolve in the water

There's something about rivers that cleanses the soul, heightens the senses, and rejuvenates the spirit. So it comes as no surprise that living next to one, close enough to actually walk right up to the river's edge and jump in any way you want, any time you want, is well out-of-reach for most of us. Until now.

Now there's Gatling Pointe South. Beautifully located where the James and Pagan Rivers meet, Gatling Pointe offers the best in waterfront living. Everything from a neighborhood yacht club restaurant, a riverfront pool complex, a 68 slip marina, tennis & volleyball courts, childrens' playgrounds, and a trail system that connects everything.

Originally developed by East West Partners, Gatling Pointe and Gatling Pointe South are now established waterfront neighborhoods and adjacent to the historic town of Smithfield. Four building lots are currently available for sale and a few quality homes currently available for resale. Check out this video of one of the waterfront lots currently for sale.

If you're relocating in the Hampton Roads area, contact an East West Realty agent for more information about the available properties in Gatling Pointe and our other East West Communities.

At Gatling Pointe, you can sail, ski, swim, fish, or just sit back and watch the grass grow.

Nicely removed from the city, Gatling Pointe is located just 15 minutes to the Peninsula (Newport News/Hampton), 20 minutes to I-664 in the Harbour View area of Suffolk, and just 35 minutes to Downtown Norfolk. Many families are willing to drive an extra ten minutes a day to come home to a community that has so many fun things to do. The Family Membership to the Gatling Pointe Yacht Club is only $85/month and there are a few boat slips available at the marina (20'-50').

Rediscover a small town atmosphere in the charming town of Smithfield, and you'll also see why over 500 families have chosen to live in this award winning community. Be careful, one visit to Galing Pointe, and you'll just might want to drop anchor here for good.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

OpSail 2012

OpSail 2012 Harborfest, Norfolk, Virginia

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Video: 2012 Spring Commencement - Full University Commencement Ceremony | Virginia Tech

Friday, May 4, 2012

Sometimes We Do Learn Things From Our Kids

Sometimes We Do Learn Things From Our Kids. In the past few days, I've learned a lot from my sons, Tyler and Will (19 and 16 years old). I learned about their love for their friend who died Sunday, and about how they feel about one another and their friends. Live life to the fullest, enjoy every day of your life, don't sweat the small stuff, share good times with your friends and family, tell your friends you love them, learn to fly when you can...these are a few lessons that I have learned from my son, Tyler, who paid a tribute to his good friend, Ian Burgett, yesterday at Ian's funeral. Over 500 people showed up for this highly emotional funeral for an 18 year old Smithfield, Virginia high school senior, who was in a tragic car accident, early Sunday morning.

Tyler's friend, Ian, touched many lives in our small town, and he had a profound effect on the hundreds of friends that knew Ian. We will miss him dearly. I have posted Tyler's speech that he read to everyone yesterday...

My Ray of Sunshine; Ian Michael Burgett by Tyler Edwards

A subtle reminder of life’s everyday gifts can make all of the difference in how we live our lives and who we are as people. Today, I want to reflect. No, not in the sense of sorrow-filled remembrance, rather, I want to reflect my ray of sunshine, my memories of a person that serve as a source of charm, humor, compassion, and everyday miracles.

As we gather here today, I pray that we can see the silver lining that lies within my friend’s heart of gold. After all, Ian wouldn’t have it any other way. Ian’s radiant smile and glowing optimism has left an act that I’m afraid no one can follow. In fact, his happy-go-lucky nature can be summarized by my experiences with him on a sailboat. It was an extremely windy day (to say the least) and just as we were turning the boat, a roaring, howling wind lifted the boat out of the water, pre-empting the imminent demise of our dry clothing. Naturally, I panicked and worsened the situation. Meanwhile, Ian leaned over the rising side of the boat to act as a counter-balance to the forces of the wind. The boat quickly righted, and he uttered his proverbial catch phrase, “Don’t worry guys, I got this,” coupled with a perfectly timed flip of the hair…

It was then I realized that even the most minute acts of humor and optimism can amount to bright memories that turn into priceless treasures. These treasures that Ian has left us serve as a testament to his loving and giving nature. His spare time over the summers was spent helping those in need as he volunteered at the Riverside Hospital. For the 18 years that I knew Ian, I had never once heard him ask for anything in return for his acts of kindness, nor had I heard him complain. His generous soul can be attributed to his willingness to seek guidance and advice from his mother, father, friends, teachers; and especially the one he idolized the most; his brother…

Ian had a nag for brightening days with so much as a smile and a witty joke that always drew laughter. His calm yet charismatic voice commanded the room. His unparalleled charm has captured the hearts of all who have met him. Needless to say, he did this a little too well. I don’t want to speak for others, but Ian could literally convince me to do anything; including convincing me to happily pay for his McDoubles whenever we stopped at McDonalds.

Ian’s closest friends can attest to his uncanny ability to read body language and emotions. Ian was the best friend, brother, and son that anyone could ask for: he was always there to catch the first tear before it even had a chance to hit the ground…

It is for these reasons that Ian is my ray of sunshine. As the days go by, I will always treasure the memories that my friend that I love has given me. It is said that it takes seven years for rays from the sun to reach our planet… Correct me if I’m wrong, but if Ian was 18 years old, that’s at least 126 years of memories until I have to crack into all of the pictures and videos that he stars in.

I hope that we can all cherish a piece of Ian’s legacy in our hearts. Use it as guidance and solace. Who knows? Maybe those memories will hold us over until we can one day see him again.

Tyler Edwards (far left), 19 years old, is a freshman at Virginia Tech and is majoring in Building Construction. Ian Burgett (blue vest) was 18 years old, graduating from Nansemond Suffolk Academy this month, and was heading to James Madison University this fall.

For Information about East West Partners’ communities, visit www.eastwestcommunities.com. Discover the best in lifestyle communities at Founders Pointe, Eagle Harbor, Liberty Ridge, and The Riverfront at Harbour View. East West Realty Sales Centers are open 7 days a week on-site. Equal Housing Opportunity