You may drop off boxed cookies or your donations to either of our offices prior to March 15th.  Your thoughtfulness will be a sweet memory and just another reminder of how much we appreciate their service!  Last year, the Military Team collected 200 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies to send overseas and hopes to increase that number in 2011.  For more information, email psc@lizmoore.com .

The Liz Moore Insider is the corporate blog for Liz Moore & Associates.  Designed by Liz and her marketing team to serve as a library of resources, tools, and ideas for our agents and staff, the Liz Moore Insider offers a “sneak peak” into our company and culture.  To schedule a confidential interview or to request information about a real estate career with Liz Moore & Associates, you can reach Liz at liz@lizmoore.com, or Lynnette Tully, our Chief Online Strategist, at lynnettetully@lizmoore.com.  Or, call us any time at 757.873.2707 in Newport News, or 757.645.4106 in Williamsburg.

Four lucky winners will sail away on a luxury cruise to paradise! Just buy or    sell a Liz Moore listing in 2012 and you’ll be entered to win… the more you sell, the better your chances. All aboard for the free vacation of a lifetime! For more details, email CruiseDirector@lizmoore.com.

The Liz Moore Insider is the corporate blog for Liz Moore & Associates.  Designed by Liz and her marketing team to serve as a library of resources, tools, and ideas for our agents and staff, the Liz Moore Insider offers a “sneak peak” into our company and culture.  To schedule a confidential interview or to request information about a real estate career with Liz Moore & Associates, you can reach Liz at liz@lizmoore.com, or Lynnette Tully, our Chief Online Strategist, at lynnettetully@lizmoore.com.  Or, call us any time at 757.873.2707 in Newport News, or 757.645.4106 in Williamsburg.

With no tax credit stimulus in the marketplace this past year, we held our own.  One can conclude that compared to an artificially inflated market last year, a flat market in 2011 was a positive sign of slow but determined recovery.  At Liz Moore & Associates, we were fortunate to enjoy a positive sales trend that began in July and continued for the last 5 months of 2011.

The market is definitely favoring sellers who are positioned properly – those who are aggressively priced and in move in condition are now selling in less than 4 months on average.  This is despite 3 times as much available inventory, which won’t dramatically decrease any time soon, thanks to the continuing onslaught of foreclosures. This  underscores the importance of proper pricing, and investing the sweat equity in making necessary cosmetic improvements prior to putting your home on the market.

 Here is what I see in the coming 12 months:

Interest Rates are likely to increase slightly, although not a lot.  It’s logical to me that the basic principles of economic theory apply…so, as the economy begins to gain momentum, interest rates are bound to lead the way.  Although this is good news for our stock portfolios, it will have an adverse affect on home sales.  Although consumer confidence will increase with the recovering economy, fewer buyers will be able to afford what they want, with the combination of rising interest rates and tighter lending guidelines.  My message here remains the same as last year:  If a home purchase is on your New Year resolution list, buy early in the year, as interest rates have a much greater impact than most realize.

Consumer Confidence will grow as the economy slowly shows signs of recovery.  As we have learned from market cycle history, the first buyers back in the market are investors, and we are seeing that now, particularly in the lower price ranges.  The next wave of buyers will come as consumers realize that interest rates will rise, and moves need to be made ASAP to take advantage of what has been a 4 year streak of historically low rates.  As a result, we will see sales increase slightly over 2010-2011 levels.  The National Association of REALTORS is predicting a modest 5% gain in national sales this year.  I believe we will enjoy a slightly higher gain in our local markets, perhaps as much as 7-8%.

Foreclosures and REO inventory will increase in 2012, as the banks continue to sort through the regulatory mess that they have created over the past 2 years.  The good news is that we are much wiser and more prepared, and agents are able to guide clients through the process much more efficiently than we did when the foreclosure crisis began.  As a result, inventory levels will remain high; however, aggressively priced homes in move in condition will continue to sell in reasonable time (3-5 months).

Prices will remain stable.  Prices are neighborhood specific, and some areas are definitely balancing faster than others; however, I believe that we won’t see any dramatic changes (up or down) in our local median sales price this year (or next, for that matter).

If a move in 2012 is on your New Year resolution list, I would love to recommend the right agent to make it happen!  Just contact me at 757.645.4106 or liz@lizmoore.com.

The Liz Moore Insider is the corporate blog for Liz Moore & Associates.  Designed by Liz and her marketing team to serve as a library of resources, tools, and ideas for our agents and staff, the Liz Moore Insider offers a “sneak peak” into our company and culture.  To schedule a confidential interview or to request information about a real estate career with Liz Moore & Associates, you can reach Liz at liz@lizmoore.com, or Lynnette Tully, our Chief Online Strategist, at lynnettetully@lizmoore.com.  Or, call us any time at 757.873.2707 in Newport News, or 757.645.4106 in Williamsburg.

The Liz Moore Insider is the corporate blog for Liz Moore & Associates.  Designed by Liz and her marketing team to serve as a library of resources, tools, and ideas for our agents and staff, the Liz Moore Insider offers a “sneak peak” into our company and culture.  To schedule a confidential interview or to request information about a real estatecareer with Liz Moore & Associates, you can reach Liz at liz@lizmoore.com, or Lynnette Tully, our Chief Online Strategist, at lynnettetully@lizmoore.com.  Or, call us any time at 757.873.2707 in Newport News, or 757.645.4106 in Williamsburg.

We’ll be making a special delivery to The Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters on December 7th!  Help us bring a little joy to the kids.  We will be collecting toys at the Liz Moore offices from November 15th – December 5th.

See below for the toy drive wish list, or download a copy here.

Current Specific Needs

• Small boxes of crayons (4-8 crayons per pack)
• DVDs and PlayStation 2 games (new or used)
• 4”x 6” photo paper for printing digital pictures
• Craft supplies
• Groove-It and Bop-It
• Infant toys
• Infant crib mobiles – all plastic, no cloth parts
• Stain-glass paper for windows
• Birthday Gift Bags
• “Guess Who” Board Games
• Bubbles (small bottles)
• Only new, non-toxic paint, glue or craft supplies can be accepted.

Age Specific Items Needed

Infants (birth to 1 year)

Toddlers (1 to 3 years)

Pre-schoolers (4 to 5 years)

School Aged (6 to 12 years)

Adolescents (12 years and older)

You can help by bringing boxes of new Christmas cards to one of our drop-off  locations by November 11th.  For a list of drop-off locations, email us at insider@lizmoore.com.  Help us spread the word and collect more cards than ever this year!

The Liz Moore Insider is the internal  blog for Liz Moore & Associates. It was designed by Liz and her marketing team for our agents and staff, to serve as a library of resources, tools, and ideas.  Also, for our clients, prospective clients and others, it offers a “sneak peak” into our company and culture. For a confidential interview, you can reach Liz at liz@lizmoore.com, or Lynnette Tully, our Chief Online Strategist, at lynnettetully@lizmoore.com.  Visit our other virtual offices at The Savvy Real Estate Investor, The Savvy Senior, Ask a Guru, Get the Dirt, Williamsburg Neighborhoods, Liz Moore Military Team.  Or, call us any time at 757.873.2707 in Newport News, or 757.645.4106 in Williamsburg.

Through September 20th, you can cast your vote by going online to www.dailypress.com/choice or by texting “S57″ to 71593.

Make sure you vote for Liz Moore and Associates and help us get the word out to your friends and family! 

The Liz Moore Insider is the internal  blog for Liz Moore & Associates. It was designed by Liz and her marketing team for our agents and staff, to serve as a library of resources, tools, and ideas.  Also, for our clients, prospective clients and others, it offers a “sneak peak” into our company and culture. For a confidential interview, you can reach Liz at liz@lizmoore.com, or Lynnette Tully, our Chief Online Strategist, at lynnettetully@lizmoore.com.  Visit our other virtual offices at The Savvy Real Estate Investor, The Savvy Senior, Ask a Guru, Get the Dirt, Williamsburg Neighborhoods, Liz Moore Military Team.  Or, call us any time at 757.873.2707 in Newport News, or 757.645.4106 in Williamsburg.

When you PCS to Langley AFB, VA, you will find that our entire team understands that when a family member enlists in the military, the entire family joins.  Thank you for serving our Country and we look forward to serving your real estate needs!

Don’t forget to ask about our special One Dollar Move In program for our military clients!

The Liz Moore Insider is the internal  blog for Liz Moore & Associates. It was designed by Liz and her marketing team for our agents and staff, to serve as a library of resources, tools, and ideas.  Also, for our clients, prospective clients and others, it offers a “sneak peak” into our company and culture. For a confidential interview, you can reach Liz at liz@lizmoore.com, or Lynnette Tully, our Chief Online Strategist, at lynnettetully@lizmoore.com.  Visit our other virtual offices at The Savvy Real Estate Investor, The Savvy Senior, Ask a Guru, Get the Dirt, Williamsburg Neighborhoods, Liz Moore Military Team.  Or, call us any time at 757.873.2707 in Newport News, or 757.645.4106 in Williamsburg.

The Liz Moore Insider is the internal  blog for Liz Moore & Associates. It was designed by Liz and her marketing team for our agents and staff, to serve as a library of resources, tools, and ideas.  Also, for our clients, prospective clients and others, it offers a “sneak peak” into our company and culture. For a confidential interview, you can reach Liz at liz@lizmoore.com, or Lynnette Tully, our Chief Online Strategist, at lynnettetully@lizmoore.com.  Visit our other virtual offices at The Savvy Real Estate Investor, The Savvy Senior, Ask a Guru, Get the Dirt, Williamsburg Neighborhoods, Liz Moore Military Team.  Or, call us any time at 757.873.2707 in Newport News, or 757.645.4106 in Williamsburg.

Each year they spearhead the collection of boxes of blank Christmas Cards to mail to the troops by the end of

November, so that the men and women so far from home can send cards back to their loved ones.  In the Spring when the Girl Scouts hit the neighborhoods selling their cookies, they collect those boxes from friends, clients, businesses and churches to send to those overseas. 

This year, The Rondinellis and the Liz Moore Militray Team collected 200 boxes of Girl Scout cookies and shipped them to troops overseas. 

Heartfelt thanks are received from the troops each year, including a flag flown on a mission in Iraq.  However, the thanks the troops send cannot compare to the thanks the Rondinellis pack in those boxes of cookies and Christmas Cards.   Check out their website at www.aboxofthanks.com for information on how you can help.

The Liz Moore Insider is the internal  blog for Liz Moore & Associates. It was designed by Liz and her marketing team for our agents and staff, to serve as a library of resources, tools, and ideas.  Also, for our clients, prospective clients and others, it offers a “sneak peak” into our company and culture. For a confidential interview, you can reach Liz at liz@lizmoore.com, or Lynnette Tully, our Chief Online Strategist, at lynnettetully@lizmoore.com.  Visit our other virtual offices at The Savvy Real Estate Investor, The Savvy Senior, Ask a Guru, Get the Dirt, Williamsburg Neighborhoods, Liz Moore Military Team.  Or, call us any time at 757.873.2707 in Newport News, or 757.645.4106 in Williamsburg.