Cvillian, 40-something, mother of 2; full-time Realtor, quasi-vegetarian & local foods devotee, rapidweaver, quilter; trying to find more hours in the day, like you.
Homebuyers often embark on their home search armed with a vision of their ideal property, a laundry list of features they'd love to find or can't live without.
Several bedrooms. Large kitchens. A yard big enough for a garden. But what if you prize home traits that extend beyond property lines? Good schools, ethnic restaurants or grocery stores a mere stroll away?
Divining this from the address on a home listing can be difficult, especially if you are moving to a new city. Fortunately, many Web sites are incorporating ways for users to pinpoint the neighborhoods and properties that might best suit their home needs and lifestyles.
The New York Times has picked up on something Nest's Jim Duncan has been talking about for 2+ years: walkability. Jim's site Real Central VA features a search which includes a Walkscore index and the Nest Realty Group site features a great Charlottesville/Albemarle Neighborhood Guide if you want to focus on lifestyle.
Over 300 Pollutants in U.S. Tap Water
Since 2004, testing by water utilities has found 315 pollutants in the tap water Americans drink, according to an Environmental Working Group (EWG) drinking water quality analysis of almost 20 million records obtained from state water officials.
More than half of the chemicals detected are not subject to health or safety regulations and can legally be present in any amount. The federal government does have health guidelines for others, but 49 of these contaminants have been found in one place or another at levels above those guidelines, polluting the tap water for 53.6 million Americans. The government has not set a single new drinking water standard since 2001.
Water utilities spend 19 times more on water treatment chemicals every year than the federal government invests in protecting lakes and rivers from pollution in the first place.
Based on these data, EWG believes the federal government has a responsibility to do a national assessment of drinking water quality. It should establish new safety standards, set priorities for pollution prevention projects, and tell consumers about the full range of pollutants in their water.
Because it has not, EWG launched a 3-year project to create the largest drinking water quality database in existence. This user-friendly, interactive resource covers 48,000 communities in 45 states and the District of Columbia.
Hearty congratulations to the partners of Nest Realty Group, Jonathan Kauffmann, Keith Davis and Jim Duncan: our firm snagged the #3 spot in this year's Albemarle Family Magazine reader chosen Favorite Awards for Favorite Real Estate Company: pretty awesome considering we're the new kid on the block!
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