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It's early Super Bowl Sunday as
I start to write this newsletter and I’m sure by the time I actually
finish the game will be over. I’ve got tons of things to do this morning
starting with a breakfast in White Stone, then church, and then 4 hours
before kickoff the guys I watch the game with start getting together.
I’m going to fool you this month
and talk about real estate before fishing. Activity has started to pick
up here in the Northern Neck and if this year is anything like past
years (including the last 2) then I expect even more people will start
to look in February.
The most action in the real
estate market today is refinancing. I receive several calls from
appraisers each week asking my opinion about certain properties.
Interest rates are lower and
when I talk to the mortgage writers they tell me that although they are
writing a lot they are having trouble getting to closing. Okay money is
harder to get now than it was several years ago but (expletive word)
isn’t that what has created this problem today.
My clientele is not like most of
the market. I have been trying to think if I have ever sold someone
their first home. I honestly can’t think of ever having done that but I
have sold many of my clients their first second home or what they expect
to be their final home.
The point I’m trying to make
here is this. For the type of clients that I have looking for Northern
Neck property there is relatively cheap money out there if it is wanted.
The other point is that it is a Buyer’s Market and some great deals can
be had. Take a look for yourself and search the
Northern Neck MLS. Even
better give me a call and if I’m near a computer then we can search
together.
Its 4:30 Monday morning, the
game is over (what a great game), I’ve got my second cup of coffee, and
I am trying to get this out before another busy day.
If you are looking for
waterfront property here in the Northern Neck or if you already own
property here then PLEASE read this as I think this is an issue that
should concern everyone that has an interest in the Chesapeake Bay.
As most that receive this
newsletter know I use to be a full time commercial waterman. Today I
still put out a few crab pots and try to oyster a couple of weeks each
year. What you probably don’t know is that I am vice-president of the
Virginia Waterman’s Association. I hold this position today not for the
work I do on the water but because I have great concern for the waterman
and the Chesapeake Bay.
In the late 1800’s there were so
many oysters in the Chesapeake Bay that they could filter the entire bay
in less than a week. Records show that known oyster catches in that time
period approached 200 million pounds annually. By the early 1900’s these
known catches were down to 100 million pounds. Obviously the industry
was being over harvested and regulations were needed.
Regulations were put in place.
From 1930 to the present day records have been kept that show annual
catches. Through the 30’s and 40’s the catches were 50-60 million pounds
annually and because of management and regulations the industry was
coming back. By the late 50’s catches were approaching 80 million
pounds.
By the 60’s things started to
change as 2 diseases that affect the mortally of the oyster were
discovered in the Bay. Catches started to decline. In the mid 80’s the
disease, Dermo, spread through the Bay at such a rapid rate that by the
early 90’s the annual harvest was under 10 million pounds. Today it is
hardly measureable.
If I’m boring you and you want
to start searching the
Northern Neck MLS go ahead BUT I beg you to keep
reading.
Tuesday I was in Deltaville when
I got a phone call from a member of the waterman’s association who told
me he saw an ad in the paper about 4 public input meetings concerning an
oyster hatchery in the Northern Neck. All 4 meetings were to take place
that week with the first being in Lancaster County at 4pm that day.
I attended the meeting where I
learned for the first time that several oyster packers who have control
of 1,000’s of acres of Virginia’s public bottom (oyster ground) had been
working with the Northern Neck Planning Commission since April to
achieve a public grant. This grant is for a feasibility study to
determine if it is a need for a high tech oyster hatchery that would
produce quality oyster larvae. The goal of this hatchery is to revive the oyster
industry in the Northern Neck and create 200 – 250 jobs.
A representative of the oyster
packers gave a presentation where it was said that this hatchery would
produce billions of quality oyster larvae.
After the presentation the floor
was open for comment. My question was if the goal was to revive the
oyster industry and billions of larvae would be produced what percent of
this was going to go on the public bottom, the bottom that is not only
for the waterman to work but for any resident of Virginia.
The following morning I was
approached by one of the oyster packers who told me that his
representative reported to him that the input meeting went well except for the
waterman, Ken Smith who asked what the waterman might be able to
achieve from the hatchery.
After this confrontation I
decided to attend the next input meeting. After the presentation and the
floor was open for comments. I made the following comments.
That the Virginia Waterman’s
Association is in favor of a hatchery but we have concerns among which
A.
If the goal is to revive the industry is that
goal to bring the oyster back to its
1.
1800’s population
2.
It’s population between the 1930- 1960
3.
Or is it to produce product for a few
B.
Our next concern, is this hatchery going
to produce corporate oystermen? Are these 200-250 jobs going to be for
1.
The Temporary Immigrate Labor that these
companies bring in each year or
2.
Are they going to be for Virginians
C.
Because of these concerns I asked that
1.
A waterman be included in the study and
2.
That someone without an economical interest
but an ecological interest be included in the study.
I truly believe if the oyster
can be revived in the Chesapeake Bay that the bay can be saved and
cleaned but politics are complicated. Do you think the states along the
Gulf of Mexico want to see the Chesapeake Bay once again have an oyster
industry?
On the 26th of
February at the Marine Resources Commission more regulations are going
to be put on crabbers because of the decline in crabs but “The Blue Crab
Regulatory Review Committee” which has members from both VMRC and VIMS
state in their report that:
“Ongoing losses in submerged
aquatic vegetation (SAV) that serves as primary nursery areas for
juvenile crabs and reduction of oyster reefs that provide food and
refuge for age 1+ crabs evidently impede the growth of this stock. VIMS
indicates there is evidence of high mortality rates of juvenile crabs
tied to the loss of SAV, and this loss has a direct impact on
recruitment to age 1+.”
Did you know that the oyster can
filter the nitrates that are killing this aquatic vegetation?
Think about it. If there are
more oysters you will be able to catch more crabs from your pier.
Do you think this hatchery and
all studies funded by grants should be for the benefit of all Virginians?
I’m off my soap box now. If you
received this newsletter and have a concern about the Bay and the oyster
then please forward to this to someone who you think might care.
If you have already moved here
you probably know someone who is an oyster gardener. If so please
forward this to them.
If you would like to be kept
advised about this issue and the Virginia Waterman then please
email me
Did you know that other
countries have gone through the same problems with the oyster that we
face today?
Did you know that they
reintroduced the oyster and the biggest problem that occurred was the water
quality got too clean?
Did you know that legislators
would rather you not know this because then the funding for some
polluters might be reduced?
Politics!
Here is a link to my
"February
Real Estate Update":
This Newsletter is full of interesting and useful information that I
think you will enjoy whether you are a buyer, seller, homeowner, or
renter.
This month's issue includes topics such as:
"Home Selling Tips For Spring Buyer's Market"
"Are You Leaving a Tax Deduction on the Table?"
"Five Reasons Houses Beat Stocks"
"Provide An Honest, Complete Mortgage Application"
"Six Signs It's Time For Home Buyers To Buy"
Plus a roundup of January real estate activity as well as much more
advice and information.
Now you can
search the MLS and
call me please. I need some sells. Local politics don’t pay well.
Have a great day, |
