When you're ready to buy a home, there's a long laundry list of things to consider to help you make the right choice. An excellent school district is one of those things. Even if you do not have children at home, you want to purchase a home in a neighborhood with quality schools, not only for any potential future children you have, but also to increase the potential resale value and the speed of sale of your home in the future.
For those shopping for a home in Augusta County, VA, the local school district is one of the area's biggest draws. Strong schools help families feel comfortable moving to the area, and also help improve the resale value of their homes. One of those schools, Riverheads High School, was recently awarded national recognition by being named a 2015 National Blue Ribbon School.
Riverheads High School in Augusta County was one of only seven public schools across the state recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2015. This award is considered a prestigious recognition of excellent academics. Both public and private schools with superior academics or who demonstrate dramatic student achievement gains are eligible for the award. In total, 285 public schools in the country were given the award this year.
Specifically, Riverheads High School received the award because of high standardized test scores for its students. In the most recent school year 88 percent or more of the students passed the tests in every subject area, and that is a high number compared to national averages. Riverheads High School also boasts a 14 percent AP participation rate and received a Bronze medal from U.S. News and World Report's Best High Schools list.
If you are considering buying a home in Augusta County, this news is beneficial to you. If you have children, then you benefit automatically because the schools you will be sending your children to are gaining national recognition for excellence.
If you do not have children, you still benefit from strong schools. Strong schools are a sign of a strong, well-educated community base. They also make your home easier to sell in the future and drive up property values. Finally, strong schools can help protect a neighborhood from the natural up and down nature of the real estate market. Homes in neighborhoods with good schools tend to hold their value better even in difficult economic times.
Remember, even if you don't have kids, someone in the future who is considering buying your home might. Strong schools make your home more appealing and easier to sell. Contact the team of professional REALTORS® at Old Dominion Realty to buy a home in Augusta County.
Congratulations! You found your dream job. What you didn't expect was to leave your home and to relocate to an entirely new city. Whether your move is across the state, country or even the globe, it brings a number of challenges beyond simply changing your street address. Learning about a new community, tackling a new culture, and moving a long distance is stressful. Here are tips from the Relocation Services Team at Old Dominion Realty to make the transition easier.
Green living is a popular topic these days, and for good reason. We're better equipped than ever to see the benefits that environmentally friendly habits have on our surroundings, and there's a real public push toward greater efficiency at home. The real secret to the popularity of going green, however, is that it will also save you money. Ahead, we'll cover why that's the case, along with how you can take advantage of the environmental and financial benefits of green living.
Going green is really about improving efficiency, so you can make the biggest early gains by targeting the home systems that are traditionally less efficient. Your heating and cooling system is the perfect place to start, because there are a few simple fixes that apply to nearly every home. The best part? Most of our green living tips are inexpensive to implement, and will be a boon to your budget long-term.
Even just a few short years ago, it would have been hard to imagine saving the environment and saving money at the same time. Green living is more than a passing trend. It's here to stay, and you won't have to change your lifestyle to feel the benefits.
Are you searching for the perfect home to create your own green-living oasis? Old Dominion Realty, serving Virginia and West Virginia, offers everything you need for a seamless home-buying experience. Contact our experienced REALTORS® for answers to all of your big questions, and begin the journey to your dream home.