Author: Billy Hansen

I love to walk. I don’t need a lot of convincing to go take one. Whether it’s down the beach, across campus, on the trail, around downtown, or just through my neighborhood, I’m always up for a walk. My best days almost always start or end with a long walk together with my wife, Kathryn. For me, walking lowers my stress levels, clears my head, and helps me think better. While I start out most walks with a nagging problem on my mind, I end most walks with a way forward and an improved attitude. Do you need clarity...

How do you achieve long-term success without burning yourself out along the way? This question has been nagging at me the last few years. Short-term success, or the appearance of it, can be achieved with a few years of hard work and hustle, a carefully curated social media presence, or just the good fortune of being in the right place at the right time. But how do you build an enduring and rewarding career that is measured in decades? How do you become a respected master of your craft? How do you create a legacy and a body of...

I love spending time at the Jones Memorial Library. I love getting lost in the rich history of our area and going down the many rabbit holes that capture my imagination. My favorite collection to explore, both for work and for fun, is the Architectural Archive. While I had always heard that you could find original plans for old buildings and historic houses at the Jones, I never knew just how extensive their collection was until just recently. If you are in real estate, own a historic structure, love old houses, or just enjoy learning about the history of...

Tom just inherited his great Aunt Berta’s house in a small town in Virginia. Tom didn’t know her all that well, save for the few stories his mother told him. He knows even less about the area where she lived. Tom doesn’t have a clue about the condition of the property, the character of the neighborhood, or the state of the local market. All Tom does know is that the house is his responsibility now and that he’d like to sell the place reasonably soon with the least amount of headache. The house is a 1,600-square-foot, 1960s brick ranch...