It is said all good things must come to an end. While this may not be true in all areas, with phenomenally low interest rates, it is true. Mortgage rates have been artificially low for the last twelve months, thanks to support from the Federal Reserve and U.S Treasury.

Last November, liquidity in the financial markets nearly evaporated in many respects, leaving mortgage companies with few buyers of mortgage backed securities (MBS). On many days the interest rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage was at or above 7.00% for a zero point loan depending on the lender.

The Federal Reserve announced a program where they would purchase $1.25 trillion of MBS on 11/28/08, causing mortgage rates to plummet. This program is scheduled to end in March, 2010 and the ultimate impact on interest rates is unknown. However, you can expect that rates will return to “normal” at some time in the future.

While it is not expected that rates will return to the average rate since 1971, a throat grabbing rate of 9.00%, many lenders are currently debating business plans for rates potentially increasing significantly from current levels next year.

The first thing a person who moves from the City of Lynchburg (or any other metropolitan area) to the country, like Campbell County or Bedford County is the weather

Country Dirt Road

As a resident or worker in city you probably spend most of the day indoors under artificial lighting, insulated from the climate by sealed and tinted windows and air-conditioning.  You  may imagine that when you move to wide open spaces you will delight in the smell of the earth after a light rain and thew warmth of the early morning sun shining on field and trees. But getting in and out of an isolated area on a slippery rutter dirt road in the snow and rain; trying to start your car in subfreezing weather; having your water pipes freeze; and keeping yourself and your animals warm are also a part of country life.

Urban expatriates often make the mistake of moving to an area where the weather is completely different from what they are use to and often find they are unable to adjust to the new climate.   I would strongly recommend that you spend part of each of the four seasons in the area – preferably a whole year if you intend to buy land in an unfamiliar area – to assure yourself that you are willing and able to keep yourself happy.

The climate in Lynchburg Va and the Central Virginia area is relatively mild.  Our highs in the summer generally average in the  80’s and in the winter high 30’s.  It does snow here.  We may get an average of 6″ of snow per year.  When it does snow you can expect the schools to close and for the grocery stores to be out of milk and other staples.

Our taxes are lower and one of the reason is because we don’t have the need to spend the money on expensive snow removal equipment.  Consequently when it snows often times roads don’t get cleared quickly.  In fact many times the snow is melted before the snow plows get to the back country roads.  This is why country folks have learned to stock up for weather.  You have been warned and remember you heard it here.

Our first snow 12-05-09.  It did not accumulate. We usually don’t get snow at all this early in the year.  Lynchburg gets an average of 6″ of snow a year.  Normally it doesn’t accumulate, however if it does it will be melted soon.  You can barely see the snow falling in the picture.  If you look closely you can see it.

First Snow Lynchburg Va

You can help beautify Lynchburg’s landscape and community by adopting as many flower beds as you like.  The Adopt A Flower Bed program is

Adopt A Flower Bed Program Lynchburg Va

available to all local citizens and business for a one year sponsorship time period.  You can adopt the entire bed or just a portion of it.  The flower beds include all summer annuals and spring bulbs.  When you choose to sponsor a flowerbed your sign is installed signifying to the rest of the community that you contributed to the beauty of the community.  Call the City Horticulturist for information and an adoption application at 434-455-4410.

Recently Lynchburg as had an influx of people.  Most of whom are attending one of the colleges here.  Some of them are their parents dropping them off at school.  I can always tell the traffic is a little heavier during the school year.

Lynchburg Virginia

I don’t think you can really call Lynchburg Va a college town.  But it is hard to avoid the classification.  With Liberty University, Lynchburg College, Central Virginia Community College, Randolph College, Sweet Briar College and a few more institutions of higher learning.

So now you are here, school has started, and you are “settled in”.  What is there to do?

There are no casinos, and Cattle Annies is the only real dance hall.  Riotous partying is still possible, but you may have to work a little harder at it here.

Your parents may have attended college here 29-30 years ago and they probably remember Lynchburg being restaurant deprived.  Not any more!  Lynchburg has over 100 places to eat with nearly anything you want to consume.

Lynchburg’s heart is leafy green.  The Blackwater Creek Natural Area includes hiking and bike trails near the center of town and there are enough of them to give even Lance Armstrong a work out.

There are many churches to chose from.  Folks don’t call this the city of churches for nothing.

It is easy to explore Central Virginia.  It is not that far to Roanoke, Charlottesville or even Washington DC.  These make great day trips.

One of my personal favorite things to do is take a drive up to the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trail which are only a short drive to the west.

For those of you seeking culture we have one museum for every five visitors in the Lynchburg area.  We are very big on history around here especially our own.

If you still can’t find something to do around here, you can always count roadkill.  Lynchburg may not have a wild nightlife, but we do have a lot of night wildlife.