County Notices: Parks & Recs office moving; Splash pad closing for season
Obenshain releases statement on the 2022 model policies on the privacy, dignity, and respect for all students and parents
Warren County students escape serious injury in 1-81 crash, bus driver charged
Early voting begins Friday, new same-day registration begins October 18
Ho! Ho! Ho! – Time again for Front Royal Light Fight
Additional Public School Budget requests approved as part of Supervisors Consent Agenda
County Planning Commission recommends data center zoning ordinance amendment to allow data centers by right in industrial and light industrial zones
After hour delay to achieve a quorum, council quickly approves three CUP requests, two for Short-Term Rentals, before convening to work session
Broadband service expansion timeline, costs presented to supervisors prior to Closed Session, including discussion of ‘abolition’ of a sanitary district and non-annexation agreement with Town
Town to spend nearly $33,000 on new compensation study
Town Talk: A conversation with Police Chief Kahle Magalis, Capt Crystal Cline, Guardian Score
Town Talk: A conversation with Lt. Robbie Seal and Sgt Terry Fritts – Warren County Sheriff’s Office
Town Talk: A conversation with Fern Vazquez, Christy McMillin-Goodwin, and Rick Hewett – CHEO Community Garden
Town Talk: A conversation with Tony Carter, Archivist – Warren Heritage Society
Town Talk: A conversation with Michelle Ross, Michal Ashby and Erin Rooney – Samuels Public Library – September Activities
Hometown Faces: Meet Scott Reid
Hometown Faces: Meet Suzanne Silek
Hometown Faces: Meet John Marlow
Hometown Faces: Meet Harry Bowen – soon to be 100
WATCH: Faces of Our Valley – Selah Theatre Project, Glory Bea!
Front Royal Town Council Candidates Forum held at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church
Local Republican James Bergida enters race for Virginia Senate District 1
Meet the Candidates: Delores R. Oates, Virginia House of Delegates, District 31
Meet the Candidates: Merritt Hale, US Congress, 6th District
Lance Allen announces candidacy for Virginia’s First Senate District
Constitution Day attracts scores of families, scholars, veterans and Revolutionary War reenactors
Ho! Ho! Ho! – Time again for Front Royal Light Fight
This week’s showtimes at Royal Cinemas as of September 22nd
SAR presents Girl Scouts with Flag Retirement Certificates
FRWRC kicks off Annual Appeal with the Women’s Faire & Share this Thursday
Smithfield, VA man arrested for soliciting underage victims in Front Royal
Six arrests in forged gaming ticket scam announced by FRPD
Skeletal remains found in suspicious circumstance identified as Shannon Lee Fox
Ressie Jeffries Elementary School placed in lockdown
Front Royal Police respond to brandishing incident at Royal Plaza
Smithfield, VA man arrested for soliciting underage victims in Front Royal
POLICE: 7 Day FRPD Arrest Report 9/12/2022
POLICE: 7 Day FRPD Arrest Report 8/29/2022
POLICE: 7 Day FRPD Arrest Report 8/22/2022
POLICE: 7 Day FRPD Arrest Report 8/15/2022
Legal Notice: Hydroelectric application has been filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection
EDA: Request for Qualifications for the provision of debt collection legal services
EDA: Invitation to bid; roof replacement
Special Commissioners Sale Saturday, October 5, 2019: Two adjoining tracts 42 & 41 acres
Front Royal Town Council accepting resumes for vacant council seat
UPDATE: Paving continues on North Royal Avenue
Town Notice: Road closure – North Commerce Avenue, 6th Street to Royal Avenue; paving continues
Town Notice: Road closure – North Royal Avenue and 6th Street
Town Notice: Paving on North Royal starts July 18
Poe joins EDA civil defendants in motions to nullify civil liability verdicts; Tran counsel granted additional time to file their motion to overturn jury verdict
FR-WC EDA finalizes $5.7-million sale of Baugh Drive warehouse to Shahi Foods
Warren County EDA tackles multi-faceted August meeting Action Agenda
EDA Board Chairman Jeff Browne reacts to July civil litigation results ordering total of over $13.35 million paid to the County Economic Development Authority
Jury awards WC EDA $11.9 million-plus in civil compensatory claims against ITFederal and Truc ‘Curt’ Tran
EDA Board Chairman Jeff Browne reacts to July civil litigation results ordering total of over $13.35 million paid to the County Economic Development Authority
Jury awards WC EDA $11.9 million-plus in civil compensatory claims against ITFederal and Truc ‘Curt’ Tran
EDA civil liability defendant ‘Curt’ Tran on witness stand for over 4-1/2 hours as trial heads into final day
EDA vs. Tran/ITFederal civil liability and counterclaim trial heads into third day with defense poised to call final series of witnesses
First day of $11-million EDA vs. ‘Curt’ Tran civil liability trial concludes
Chamber welcomes Kells Belles to Front Royal
Chamber welcomes Garcia & Gavino to Front Royal
Local Senior Center reopens with new location and new name
Quality Title moves to a new home in Front Royal
Grand re-opening & ribbon cutting at Royal Cinemas
Sixth District Perspectives with Congressman Ben Cline – September 21, 2022
Rep. Price and Senator Warner applaud passage of the Joint Consolidation Loan Separation Act
Warner & Kaine secure nearly $135 million for Virginia in Senate FY2023 budget bills
Warner & Kaine celebrate Inflation Reduction Act becoming law
Warner & Kaine announce more than $2.1 million in funding to address COVID-19 in rural Virginia communities
Manchin permitting reform bill includes approval of Mountain Valley Pipeline
U.S. House passes bill reforming Electoral Count Act to stop Jan. 6 repeat
U.S. Senate report says government failed to count deaths of incarcerated people properly
Va. Rep. Good joins GOP drive to criminalize gender-affirming care for transgender youth
An ‘unprecedented flood’ of book bans engulfs U.S. school districts, PEN report says
State Superintendent: 2022-2023 ratings show accreditation standards unreliable measure of school performance; Governor responds
Governor Youngkin’s K-12 digital mapping program supports best in class technology to protect Virginia schools
Miyares and Beamer lead effort to help protect 340,500 middle school students in Virginia this year.
Spanberger and Good clash over transgender kids and more Va. headlines
Virginia’s rule on legislators leaving districts could add more intrigue to 2023 elections
Playoff Game 2 : Front Royal Cardinals vs Woodstock River Bandits – July 27
Rescheduled: Front Royal Cardinals vs Strasburg Express – Monday, July 25
Front Royal Cardinals vs Purceville Cannons – Thursday, July 21
Front Royal Cardinals vs New Market Rebels – Sunday, July 24
CANCELED: Valley Baseball League: All Star Game at the “Bing” – Sunday, July 17th
WCHS vs William Monroe – Girls Volleyball – September 20, 2022
WCHS vs Handley – Girls Volleyball – September 19, 2022
WCHS vs Harrisonburg – Girls Volleyball – September 15, 2022
WCHS JV vs Fauquier County – September 14, 2022
WCHS JV Football: Warren County vs Strasburg – September 8
Skyline High School Graduation – Saturday, May 28, 2022
Skyline High School Class of 2021 Graduation Ceremony
Baccalaureate service for graduating seniors
Skyline vs Independence High School, February 12, 2021 at 6 PM in the third round of the Region 3B Basketball Tournament
Skyline vs James Monroe High School, February 9, 2021 at 6 PM in the second round of the Region 3B Basketball Tournament
Warren County Middle School vs Skyline Middle School – Girls Basketball, October 4, 2021
Warren County Middle School vs Frederick County Middle School – Girls Basketball, September 27, 2021
Warren County Middle School vs Daniel Morgan Middle School – Girls Basketball, September 23, 2021
Warren County Middle School vs Admiral Richard E. Byrd Middle School – Girls Basketball, September 20th, 2021
Warren County Middle School Academic Honors Ceremony – 8th Grade
Warren County Middle School vs Skyline Middle School – Girls Basketball, October 4, 2021
Skyline Middle School Academic Honors Ceremony – 8th Grade
Skyline Middle School Academic Honors Ceremony – 7th Grade
Skyline Middle School Academic Honors Ceremony – 6th Grade
Skyline Middle School vs Daniel Morgan, June 3rd – Girls Volleyball
Hilda J. Barbour Elementary School – 5th Grade Graduation Event
WATCH: E. Wilson Morrison Elementary School – 5th Grade Graduation Parade
WATCH: Ressie Jeffries Elementary School – 5th Grade Graduation Parade
WATCH: Leslie Fox Keyser Elementary School – 5th Grade Graduation Parade
Question: In 2020 I lost my job and went into bankruptcy. But now I am back on track and I would like to buy a house. Is it even possible to get a mortgage?
House selling: should you ever disclose the details of a competing offer?
Good news for buyers as home prices cool
Should you buy an existing home or build new?
The pros and cons of refinancing your mortgage
OPEN HOUSE: 159 High Point Court, Front Royal – This Saturday, April 2nd
House for sale: 159 High Point Court, Front Royal
House for sale: 104 Foam Flower, Lake Frederick
Property for sale: 425 N Royal Ave, Front Royal – Watch the tour!
House for sale: 361 Walnut Drive, Front Royal – Watch the tour!
Start your day with a smile
Start your day with a smile
Start your day with a smile
Start your day with a smile
Start your day with a smile
Remembering the comic strip loved by millions
Apple orchards make fun outings
A beginner’s guide to wild turkey hunting
The first day of autumn is September 22
The infamous chorizo tweet and what it teaches
2015 Ford F-150
2015 Cadillac Escalade ESV Premium
2017 Toyota Corolla LE CVT
2011 Toyota Sienna Limited 7-passenger
2011 Chevrolet Silverado1500
The Abortion Decision II
The Abortion Decision
Price of Progress
Religious Intolerance 2022
To Censor or not to Censor, that is a Difficult Question
The Cracked Acorn: Am I Crazy?
The Cracked Acorn: The Bible
The Cracked Acorn: The Un-Truth
The Cracked Acorn: Wealth
The Cracked Acorn: Time Wings
Should I Choose Passion or Duty?
Why we should be ‘Babyish’ in Love
The School of Life: How to Stop Playing Games in Love
The School of Life: How You Can Be Too Clever
9/11: a personal memoir
Looking Back: A Mothers Revenge – Hannah Duston
Ben Franklin and his miraculous lightning rod
The Year Without A Summer : “Eighteen Hundred & Froze To Death”
America’s veterans remembered and honored for their service across the years
How much do you know about Veterans Day?
5 meaningful ways to celebrate Veterans Day
5 ways to celebrate Veterans Day
The 11hour of the 11th day of the 11th month – Veterans Day 2020
FRWRC kicks off Annual Appeal with the Women’s Faire & Share this Thursday
Real Estate and Community News (August/September 2022) with Jen Avery, REALTOR
Real Estate and Community News (July/August 2022) with Jen Avery, REALTOR
Donations to aid Kentucky still accepted at Aders Insurance Agency
Rugged Terrain Crossfit takes home the trophy at the Waggin’ for Dragons 2022 race
The Rotary Club of the Northern Shenandoah Valley hosting blood drive
Help replenish the blood supply after holiday weekend
Community Blood Drive to be held this Wednesday, March 3rd
Santa Claus is coming to Town, Warren County!
A “COVID Christmas” message from Santa
Warren Heritage Society announces the publication of their newest book, “Coming Together”
Send bracelets to quarantined residents of Commonwealth Assisted Living in Front Royal through WeAreSPACE.org
Warren’s Heritage: Native American History-Part 10
Warren’s Heritage: Native American History-Part 9
Warren’s Heritage: Native American History-Part 8
Breakfast with Barry Lee – Dishing out ample servings of positivity, humor, and community spirit.
4 strategies for retaining your employees
Odd jobs: How the mud man makes baseballs fly right
Cloud computing: the environmental impact of the virtual world
How buying local can help your business
Before Amazon, Sears disrupted retail
4 strategies for retaining your employees
Tips for negotiating a salary proposal
Demand for truckers is on the rise
Immigrants: transfer your skills to boost your career
4 little-known jobs in agriculture
3 environmentally friendly food-packaging options
How to know if you’re buying local food
Local producers: Barriers to buying local
Apple and salt pork pie satisfies the sweet tooth
How to safely handle and cook poultry
3 questions to help you learn more about barn cats
4 farm safety tips
Agriculture: What does it mean to “make the rounds”?
What’s community-supported agriculture (CSA)?
How to safely handle and cook poultry
September is Cholesterol Education Month: Time to check up on LDLs and HDLs
Meat diet draws fire; proponents defend
Astronauts lose bone in space
4 tips for a successful manicure
Overview of the main types of diabetes
Gourds make fun holiday projects
How ceiling fans can save you money every season
Trendy colors in 2022-23
Sick building syndrome: symptoms and prevention
4 ways to store your kitchen knives
Is 70 the happiest age?
Alcohol consumption as a senior: 3 risk factors
10 ways for seniors to keep busy
5 ideas for a dream retirement vacation
4 symptoms you shouldn’t ignore
Create your own book in 5 steps
Do you know Louis Braille?
5 tips for camping in your backyard
3 ways to have fun with soap bubbles
How well do you know your summer sports?
How to choose a birdcage
Things to know before adopting a shelter pet
Shedding in dogs: what you need to know
Preventive care: How to keep cats and dogs healthy
5 tips for driving with your pet this summer
Virginians would accept no less than $265 each in airline compensation for flight cancellations, survey reveals.
5 ideas for a dream retirement vacation
5 passport tips
How to prepare for a solo trip
5 good reasons to book your cruise early
How to inspect your vehicle’s oil in 7 easy steps
5 car noises you should never ignore
Today’s economy dictates a new way of driving
One flaw made Tesla’s autos easy to steal
Slow down!
10 activities to enjoy the fall colors
The first day of autumn is September 22
4 farm safety tips
5 car noises you should never ignore
Demand for truckers is on the rise
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Yes, it is possible to get a mortgage after bankruptcy.
For a conventional mortgage, a lot depends on the type of bankruptcy. For Chapter 7 bankruptcy (you’ve sold your assets to discharge your debts as much as possible), typically, you have to wait four years, but it is possible that your situation could qualify as extenuating circumstances.
For Chapter 13 bankruptcy (you’ve completed your debt repayment plan), you generally need to wait two years from the discharge date. This period is shorter for FHA, VA, and USDA loans.
You’ll also need a 620 minimum credit score for a conventional loan, so keep your balances low on credit accounts and always pay on time. For FHA loans, a credit score of 580 is permissible, and your score could be as low as 500 if you have a 10 percent down payment.
You’ll need a cash down payment. With FHA loans, this could be as little as 3.5 percent.
Another type of loan can benefit people coming out of bankruptcy if they have cash on hand. The non-qualifying mortgage loan (non-QM) is suitable for people in special circumstances, typically self-employed people who don’t have pay stubs but do have a lot of cash and a high credit score. It can also benefit those with cash and a high credit score but a recent bankruptcy.
In 2022, here were the characteristics of the typical non-QM loan:
* Average credit score was 771
* Average down payment 24 percent
* Average Debt-to-Income (DTI) ratio was 37 percent
You generally need a DTI of 43 percent or less to finance a house. A good DTI is about 35 percent or less. You calculate DTI very simply: Monthly debt payments divided by gross income. Add up all the payments you make in a month, including student loans and child support, but don’t include utilities, groceries, and gas.
House selling: should you ever disclose the details of a competing offer?
A credit card doesn’t count as an emergency fund
Managing your finances during a pandemic
McDonald bankruptcy filing removes her from EDA civil suit – July 2022 dates set for remaining civil defendants’ trial
House passes Cline’s Small Business Reorganization Act
Cline, Cicilline introduce bipartisan Small Business Reorganization Act
Exorbitant bankruptcy costs hurt small businesses
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If you’re selling your home and have several interested buyers, find out if disclosing the amount of a competing offer could help you get the best price.
Who can disclose this information?
Depending on your state, your real estate broker may not be allowed to tell other buyers the amount of a competing offer. However, they can disclose how many other offers are on the table.
If you’re selling your home privately, the decision is yours. You can either tell potential buyers what others have offered or keep this information to yourself.
Why should you share this information?
If you choose to share these figures, you may want to do so after shortlisting the best bids to see if any buyers wish to increase their offer. You could also remain open throughout the entire process and provide this information upfront to anyone interested in putting in an offer.
The first option may allow you to sell your home well above the asking price. The second option may reduce the number of potential buyers but increase the competitiveness of their offers.
Whatever you decide, consulting a professional will help make your sale successful.
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The red-hot real estate market is slowly cooling as sellers in big markets lower their prices, according to brokerage firms.
Notable in the market are urban areas in California and Utah, where prices were often set unrealistically high, Redfin reports. The highest number of price drops on homes occurred in July in Boise, Idaho, where sellers lowered prices on 70 percent of homes for sale. In Salt Lake City, 56 percent of sellers lowered their prices in July. In fact, more than 15 percent of home sellers dropped their prices in July throughout all metro areas.
This trend may well affect areas throughout the country.
Rising interest rates have cooled expectations across the board. Rates that remained under 4 percent since 2019 are rising to about 5 to 6 percent. As buyers become a little less available, this should mean that the supply of houses on the market will rise.
Sellers should expect to see their homes on the market for 30 days or more, and they should price their homes in line with the market from the start. Some sellers showed unrealistic expectations about what prices their homes would fetch, Redfin says. Part of that problem was the seller grapevine, with people listening to the prices neighbors were getting on their homes and trying to win big themselves.
For now, even with higher interest rates, buyers should begin to have more choices and better prices.
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Do you want to become a homeowner but can’t decide if buying an existing home or building a new one is the best option? Here are a few things to consider.
New home
The cost of building a home can quickly escalate when choosing the finishings. Keep in mind that you must also pay taxes on the value of the purchase. However, you can be sure you’ll move into a home that suits your tastes.
Additionally, building a new home requires you to be involved in the entire process, mainly because you must make various decisions and supervise the construction. Delays can also sometimes push back your move-in date.
Finally, although you may have more land options in a developing area, remember to ask about future road and service developments to avoid unpleasant surprises in a few years.
Existing home
When you buy an existing home, you generally get what you see. However, you may have to factor in renovation costs for things like new windows and updated plumbing. You may also have to set aside your style preferences and visualize the property’s potential during viewings.
The amount of time you invest in buying an existing home depends on how many properties you visit and the extent of the renovations you want to make.
In addition, buying an existing property gives you the advantage of starting out in an already well-developed neighborhood. However, this may limit your options.
Once you’ve decided, contact a real estate broker or developer to make your project a reality.
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Many homeowners refinance their mortgages to free up extra cash for large projects. However, before making this decision, you must understand the implications. Here’s a look at the advantages and disadvantages of mortgage refinancing.
The advantages
Mortgage refinancing allows you to borrow large sums of money at a lower interest rate than most personal loans and credit cards. This type of financing is beneficial for urgent and costly home repairs like fixing a leaky roof or unstable foundation. The money can also be used to buy a car or contribute to a retirement savings plan. Additionally, many people refinance their mortgages to help consolidate their debts and pay less interest.
The disadvantages
You must keep in mind that the money obtained through mortgage refinancing is debt that’s secured against your home. Therefore, if you run into major financial problems, you may find yourself without a home. While your lender might not mind if you borrow $50,000 against your home to pay for a trip around the world, you must ask yourself if it’s worth the risk. It’s also important to ask your creditor about extra costs associated with refinancing.
Talk to a local mortgage broker to make an informed decision.
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House-hunting is exciting. However, don’t allow your enthusiasm to make you lose sight of the realities of your financial situation. It’s not enough to qualify for a mortgage. You must also ensure you can make the payments over the next 15, 25, or 30 years. Here are a few things to consider to avoid running into trouble.
The one-third rule
Many financial professionals advise against spending more than one-third of your net income on your mortgage payments. You may be able to afford a larger payment, and your lender may agree to modify your agreement. Still, you should give yourself a buffer to ensure you have money on hand for an emergency.
Total debt
You must consider all your debt when determining much you can afford to pay towards your mortgage every month. This is a significant factor for financial institutions and helps them determine how much they’ll let you borrow. For example, if your mortgage, car, and credit card payments take up half your net monthly income, the bank may consider you a high risk and lend you less money.
Other costs
Always keep in mind that the cost of buying a house doesn’t stop at the mortgage. You must also factor in expenses like maintenance, repairs, and municipal taxes when making your calculations.
Get personalized advice from a financial or real estate professional to avoid costly mistakes.
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According to the July 2022 Virginia Home Sales Report released by Virginia REALTORS®, there were 11,346 homes sold in Virginia in July 2022. This is nearly 26% fewer than July 2021, the sharpest year-over-year drop in more than seven years. Overall, sales activity has been moderating from last year’s level in Virginia since last fall.
While total sales activity continues to slow down considerably, home prices in the market are still climbing. At $385,000, the July median sales price in Virginia rose nearly 7% from a year ago, a gain of $25,000.
While the price trajectory is still creeping upward, indicators suggest that the upward pressure is easing. “In most price segments, homes are still selling for more than the listing price, on average. However, that ratio has been inching down for several months,” says Virginia REALTORS® 2022 President Denise Ramey. “We aren’t seeing quite as many bidding wars as we did just a few months ago, and we expect price growth will moderate even more as the market activity continues to cool.” The average sold-to-ask price ratio across the state was 101.2%, down from 102.4% last month (June 2022), and down from 101.8% last July.
While Virginia’s statewide inventory of homes still remains low, in many local housing markets around the commonwealth, the supply of active listings is growing. About half of all counties and independent cities in the state had more active listings at the end of July compared to a year ago.
“The expanding supply is good news for buyers in the market,” says Virginia REALTORS® Chief Economist Ryan Price. “Buyers’ purchasing power has been impacted by elevated inflation and rising mortgage rates. The slowdown in sales activity we’ve seen in many areas of the state is resulting in a buildup of available homes.”
The Virginia Home Sales Report is published by Virginia REALTORS®. Click here to view the full July 2022 Virginia Home Sales Report.
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