Archive: Jul 2011

1. On The Radio

   July 28, 2011 9:30 pm Leave a Comment

   I was recently asked to be on the radio. Michael Guthrie, CEO and managing broker of Roy Wheeler Real Estate does a talk show every Saturday morning on WINA 1070 AM. He noticed that there was a lot of talk going on about my new Senior Living Community going up in the heart of Old Trail Village, by the village center, in Crozet Virginia. He was curious about how The Lodge at Old Trail was going to integrate into an already bustling area in Old Trail.

   As I mentioned on his show, The Lodge gives the area a multi-generational mix that is so important to the community. Its so nice to be able walk out our front door and go to Trailside Coffee to get your ‘cup of joe’ and the morning paper. Sometimes you might even run into your son or daughter taking grandchildren to school. Its all right there. Its not a chore to have the kids come out to the country to see you. And when your kids and grandkids go on a trip there is so much to do in and around Crozet. Time just flies until they come back. You have your own activities and schedule and hopefully you can fit them in!

   Just wanted to post the podcast for those that are interested:

   [audio:http://lodgeatoldtrail.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/3027311.mp3|titles=David Hiliard Interview, Real Estate Matters, 1070 WINA Radio]

   I want to thank Michael for letting be on his show. Truly an informative show about, not just what Roy Wheeler is doing, but actually about the whole market. Its nice to have someone that is an authority on Real Estate Matters and isn’t always trying to sell.

2. Downsizing, what a mess!

   12:49 pm 3 Comments

   

   My wife and I moved very recently. We left a beautiful house in Baltimore, MD to move to Charlottesville, VA. The reason for the move is to build a senior Living community, The Lodge at Old Trail, located in the middle of Old Trail Village in Crozet, VA. I mention that for two reasons. The first reason, because I am downsizing just like many seniors who will move into my community. The second reason, I am renting instead of owning, as with the Lodge at Old Trail, which is a rental community not a buy-in.

   

   It’s funny. You speak to many people about downsizing, but if you are not doing it yourself you really can’t understand what people are going through. What will fit where? What should I give away? What should I try to sell? What should I just throw away (the coffee tin of all different size nails?) There are so many issues to think of, not to mention when I do move to a new place will I make new friends?

   Well, I am here to tell you that I feel better. We did give some things away, we did figure where the furniture we really liked fit, we did sell a couple of things and I must say I did throw away the tin of nails. And yes I did meet nice a gentlemen that was cutting his lawn that welcomed me to the neighborhood. All a good start.

   We live in a house half the size of our old house and everything fits. I think it is more that we as a family are really the most important fit. My wife and three children are happy wherever we are and that is the most important part. It is a freeing feeling not to have so much baggage. You don’t always need so many choices. To be happy and healthy are the two most important choices and when you make the choice to be happy everything else works.

   

   The other part of moving is now I don’t own anymore, I rent. That is not to say I still don’t change the faucet when it starts leaking or fix the door when it doesn’t shut right. I like to do those things and I am sure my landlord is happy I can do repairs, but the worries of owning the house and all the bills, the land taxes, the insurance are lifted. I now have more time just to walk my dogs and tend the tomatoes I planted in the community garden. My golf game….I think that will always be a worry!

3. Growing like the Garden and the Sunflowers, The Lodge at Old Trail!

   July 20, 2011 6:31 pm 2 Comments

   

   

   Every day I wake up early, and the first thing that I see are the sunflowers in my field. I stroll to my garden and marvel at the tomatoes, cucumbers and watermelons exploding with growth. I then drive over to our new Senior Living Community, The Lodge at Old Trail, and contemplate which is growing faster. The Lodge’s second floor is being framed right now. To think that only a few short months ago we were just coming out of the ground. The similarities are maybe too cliché to mention, so I won’t.

   

   As we harvest our vegetables during the summer, and watch the doves fly in September over our sunflowers, we will be that much closer to having a roof over our heads at The Lodge. As with the garden, we will work over the winter to plan for our planting season in the spring. For The Lodge, the work we do under the roof during winter will prepare for the newest senior community in the Charlottesville area to open its doors in the spring. There is so much interest in The Lodge….. people are sending deposits to move in and become part of this growing community.

   

4. Lodge At Old Trail Construction Video

   July 15, 2011 4:04 am 2 Comments

   This video shows the latest construction photos of The Lodge At Old Trail, a senior community in Charlottesville, VA. Learn more about this active, vibrant new development in the multi-generational community of Old Trail at http://lodgeatoldtrail.com.