Archive for the 'Communites to Visit' Category
Meteoric Fall in Prince William Prices Lead to Scorching Summer Sales
August 15th, 2008 Categories: Focus on Prince William
Scientist around the world are studying the phenomena of global warming and wondering why the temperature around the world is rising. Perhaps they should take a look at the meteoric fall of prices in Prince William County leaving the county the hottest real estate market in Northern Virginia.
Even though the press likes to focus on the negative on aspects of the market the buyers who are out today are not flip and run investors. It is also interesting to notice the distribution of price ranges. The majority of the sales aren’t at the lowest price point of available homes but closer to the mid-point of prices.
Sales over $500,000 are still happening and the majority of the homes sold in this price range are the newer homes in the western Prince William County cities of Bristow, Gainesville and Haymarket.
The price volume of sales is up 22.5% from the same time in 2007 and the number of homes sold is up 95.5%. This is as always tempered with the fact that average sold price is down 37.3%. The majority of new loans used to purchase properties were FHA and VA and there were 52 all cash transactions recorded in the MLS as well.
The sales numbers this fall are going to be the one that we are going to be looking be paying close attention to. With the changes in the FHA loan programs, the elimination of the down payment assistance programs and how first time buyers view the $7500 tax credit will begin to be reflected in our sales in late September and October.
For now buyers who have been sitting on the fence have an opportunity to make a grab for homeownership in an area that is offering some of the best values in Northern Virginia.
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It’s New, It’s Huge and It’s Extraordinary
June 18th, 2008 Categories: Focus on Prince William, Out and About
Our stomachs were rumbling and when we opened the refrigerator door all we found was a bottle of ketchup and a can of tuna fish. We were desperate and knew that the time had come; we had to make a trip to the grocery store. Our mailbox had been filling with coupons and store specials from some new comer to the area and we decided oh what the heck lets check them out.
So off we went for what we thought would be a simple run to the grocery store. As soon as we pulled into the parking lot I was ready to run the other way. But I was outvoted and in we went. It was HUGE. I’m talking MEGA. And it was crowded. I can’t remember the last time I saw that many people at the grocery store at one time. Especially on at noon in the middle of the week. Don’t these folks have jobs somewhere?
Could I find goat cheese? Yes about 10 varieties. Could I find seafood? Absolutely and some of it was not anything I had ever seen in this part of the world before. Vegetables including the “dreaded” tomatoes, with “it’s okay to eat these signs”, were front and center. The list of what you could find or not because the store is so big is incredible.
Despite my protests we managed to spent time checking out what we might want to eat should we want to get a bit more exotic than our easy and light summer cooking. The thought did cross our minds to pull up a chair at the seafood bar and have some oysters but we grew up with the mindset that you don’t eat oysters in a month without an “r” in it so we passed. Plenty of other folks were filling up the chairs both at the seafood bar and at the outside patio with prepared sandwiches.
So what is this new and extraordinary addition to Prince William County? It is Wegmans. Part of the new and upscale stores planned for the Shops at Stonewall situated between Route 1 and I-95 off of Nebesco Road. If the crowds at Wegmans are any indication of how long the residents of Prince William County have waited for the store to open, then the county planners have made the right decision.
It might take me a little while to get up the courage to fight the crowds again. In the meantime we have enough food to keep us happy for awhile.
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What is Hot in Northern Virginia Besides the Weather?
June 13th, 2008 Categories: Auctions & Foreclosures, Buyers Corner, Focus on Prince William, Local Market Updates
Sales in Prince William County would be the answer. Sales may be stagnant in other parts of Northern Virginia but buyers are flocking south to Prince William to take advantage of the lower prices and great bargains in the area.
Check out the total sales comparisons between 2007 and 2008 in two zip codes in Prince William County.
So why the sudden interest in Prince William County? Obviously it is due to the significant price drop which has happened over the past year.
Neighborhoods in 22191 include both the newer subdivisions of Port Potomac, Belmont Bay, Rippon Landing and River Oaks. Older neighborhoods such as Georgetown Village, Marumsco Woods and Newport have been some of the hardest hit with foreclosures. Neighborhoods in 22193 include Dale City, Lake Terrapin, Winding Creek Estates and Pearsons Landing.
Does this mean that Prince William County is out of the woods yet? No as there are still a significant number of properties for sale and there is anticipation that more foreclosures will be coming on the market through the summer. However as new properties are listed the expectation is that we will see additional price reductions in certain neighborhoods in Prince William County creating even more values for savvy home buyers.
For investors, who are looking to buy and hold for a few years, and particularly buyers who are looking for a new home that falls well within the limits of a FHA or VA loan there are terrific homes and neighborhoods to explore. From the starter home in Lake Ridge to the luxury mansion in Haymarket you can find a deal in Prince William County.
If you are interested in exploring your options in Northern Virginia give me a call. I’ll travel the highways and back roads of Prince William County looking for a deal for you.
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One Bad Apple Doesn’t Spoil the Whole Bunch-Or Does It?
May 21st, 2008 Categories: Auctions & Foreclosures, Buyers Corner, Focus on Prince William
On a regular basis the local press focuses on the negative aspects of the current market in Prince William County. Buyers call to ask about the area and say we have heard the Prince William County is a “bad place to live.” It is an assumption that keeps many people from making an exploration through the great neighborhoods and communities that stretch across the entire county.
For those that aren’t familiar with Prince William County, the first thing to realize is how big the county is. It stretches from the Potomac River at the eastern border and to the west the start of the Blue Ridge Mountains. That is a total of 348 square miles. To put this in perspective Prince William County is about ¼ the size of the entire state of Rhode Island. To try and say that the entire county is a bad place to live would be a stretch of grandiose proportions.
So how do you put a “bad market” in perspective in a county as large as Prince William is? You break it down into small and manageable sections and then you start to decide if the market is really bad or is it a great opportunity for a smart buyer to find a nice home at a reasonable price? Every buyer has a choice to make. They can wait for the market to “hit bottom” not knowing where the bottom is, they can stay closer to town and pay more for smaller space or they can decide that a deal is a deal and look past the press.
In the past few weeks my buyers have found great deals in Prince William County, in neighborhoods that have been overlooked by other agents because of the “stigma” attached to the county. Buyers are not only buying foreclosures but they are also buying new construction and waterfront condos too. It isn’t an all or nothing proposition when it comes to what you can find.
So in the case of Prince William County the bad press makes potential buyers relocating to the county think that the entire 348 square mile area should be avoided. This is as far from the truth as still believing that the world is flat. With its rich history, diverse neighborhoods and substantial commuting options buyers need to consider whether they may be shorting changing themselves by not taking a look around. Don’t let the press scare you away. It might not be the place you decide you want to live but you might be surprised by what you find.
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A Million Dollars In Springfield VA-Who Could Have Imagined
February 7th, 2008 Categories: Focus on Fairfax County
Sometimes it is hard to imagine how far an area has come when you know the long term history. For some of the original buyers in Springfield, Virginia it may be hard to believe that the new homes being built just off the Fairfax County Parkway are selling for well over $1 million dollars.
This week I had prospective buyers checking out Belmead at South Run 
Crossing a new luxury home development by Van Metre homes in Springfield Virginia. The homes are grand and as can be expected with Van Metre the standard features are what you would expect for homes at this price point. Granite kitchen counters, luxury master suites, hardwood floors, fireplaces, brick and much more. The wine cellar is optional!
Within walking distance of the huge South Run Recreation Center, easy access to Burke Lake Park, the Huntsman Shopping Center across the parkway and within 15 minutes of the Springfield metro, the neighborhood has a lot going for it. The 95 homes have been on the planning books with Fairfax County for a long time. When the trees came down at the corner of Huntsman Blvd and the Parkway last year it was sad but the development is planting mature trees to help bring the green back to the area for new homeowners.
With this new development, Springfield has 12 homes in the MLS for over $1 Million. Last year there were 12 sales of properties over $1 Million. So for the old timers who moved to Springfield when the house prices were as low as $16,500 for a Virginia Rambler the changes are mind boggling.
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Move to Fairfax County, right outside of the Nations Capital and you will find yourself right in the middle of it all. With our rich history dating back to the 1600’s, our top notch school system, world-class shopping and access to the monuments and museums in DC you can always find something to do.
With Fairfax County’s recognition in 2007 as one of the nation’s top digital communities, recent ranking in the top 5 school systems in the US and Forbes naming the county #1 nation in median income it is no wonder that the residents are proud to call the area home.
With all of the history you can find throughout the county you can spend plenty of weekends exploring historic mansions, churches and towns. If the great outdoors is more your speed then you need over a year to hit every one of the 380 parks on 20,000 acres operated by the Fairfax County Park Authority.
World class entertainment hits Fairfax County every summer at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts the only performing arts park operated by the National Park Service. With its great lawn a picnic and a concert are a fantastic way to spend an evening. George Mason University Center for the Performing Arts and Little Theater of Alexandria are among just a few of the other local county venues. It goes without saying that just across the “border” in DC you will find the Kennedy Center and other theaters featuring touring productions of Broadway plays.
Neighborhoods and housing choices in Fairfax County are varied. You can find just about anything you are looking for. Whether it is a newer planned community, historic communites or a mid-century modern neighborhoods it is all available. With pubic transportation such as the Metro, VRE, our unique “slug” lines or the beltway, almost any location you choose will give you a variety of ways to get to where you are going.
So if a move to Fairfax County is in your future give me a call. As a native of the area I’ll be glad to show you around and help you find the best new home for your needs.
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As you drive around many older neighborhoods in Fairfax County Virginia you see street after street where both the booming real estate market and potential oversight by the local zoning authorities have created neighborhood nightmares. Whether it is the McMansions sitting next to the original single family homes or where zoning violations are evident the question becomes can these neighborhoods be saved?
Having grown up in the area and watched some of these Fairfax County neighborhoods go from quiet “country” hamlets to full blown subdivisions it is sad to see the transformation. Yesterday I was driving through one area to check in on some original neighbors and began to wonder what it would take to put things right again.
Now don’t get me wrong I’m not against progress and most of these older homes are obsolete by today’s building standards. However when there are no community standards for expansion then you end up with neighborhoods that have little appeal to anyone. The larger McMansions were not truly built to be large single family homes and the smaller homes now surrounded by them bring little interest from younger buyers who might have considering purchasing them with plans to update or undertake a reasonable rennovation.
Unfortunately, it seems that the only thing that can be done is for a smart developer to come in and rebuild the entire community. Does that sound like a radical choice? If you had asked me that question a few years ago I would have thought NO. Now as I look around at the number of homes in foreclosure, the original homes that can’t be sold and the look of neglect that is creeping into the streets of these neighborhoods it could be that the answer is very different.
Many of these neighborhoods are close to public transportation, county parks and plans for revitalization of the shopping areas are already approved. With raw land close in being harder to come by it makes me curious as to how long it will take for a smart developer to figure out how ripe these neighborhoods are for the picking and start quietly buying up the foreclosures and getting their plans in order to rebuild when the market rebounds.
So I’ll be standing by, checking the tax records and county planning maps to see if there are others who are thinking the same way I am. In the meantime it is a sobering view of what happens when no one is minding the store! Neighborhoods with no identity!
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Military Relocation-Inside the Gates of Fort Belvoir
January 17th, 2008 Categories: Focus on Fairfax County, Military Relocation
Yesterday was the day that most military members dread, waiting at the ID office to get your updated cards for your new post and new tags for your car. Fortunately for me they Fort Belvoir ID office takes appointments and my wait to update all my information only took an hour so I didn’t have to waste the entire day. It gave me a chance to look around and see what was new on post.
One of the things that strikes most people with PCS orders to Fort Belvoir is how big the base actually is. With 8,600 acres Fort Belvoir is one of the largest installations in the Military District of Washington and houses multiple commands including other branches of the US Armed Forces. The largest and best known commands on post include the Department of Defense agencies such as the Defense Systems Management College and the Defense Mapping School.
When you drive through Tulley Gate (where you will need to register your car) one of the first things you see are the signs for the Accotink Bay Wildlife Refuge which has well marked trails and plenty of wildlife for the whole family to enjoy. If you aren’t in to walking outdoors the two fitness centers or two 18 hole golf courses might be more what you are looking for.
Over the last few years base housing at Fort Belvoir has been going through a significant upgrade. Newer neighborhoods have been built to replace some of the smaller outdated homes and historic neighborhoods refurbished. In fact if you didn’t know you were on post when you see the first of the new neighborhoods you would think you were in Cameron or Lorton Station just a few miles away. With small shops set around the different neighborhoods you can grab a Starbucks or a sit at an outdoor café for a bite to eat.
The historic neighborhoods built in the 1930’s feature Colonial Revival homes with slate roofs, dormer windows and tall brick chimneys. And just like the Lustron homes that graced Quantico, Fort Belvoir also had a prototype home built as well. In 1948 in conjunction with Higgins Industries a “Thermo-Con” cement home was built on base. Though only one house was built it was considered important enough historically to be placed on the Virginia Landmarks Register and is used to today for guest housing.
The next big change coming to Fort Belvoir will be the new state of the art hospital to replace DeWitt Hospital. When the announcement was made in 2005 that Walter Reed Army Medical Center would be closing it was obvious that the current facilities (where my daughter was born) would not support the almost 85,000 military and civilian patients that the area has. The new hospital will have 1.2 million square feet of space and have the facilities to support all of the new technologies needed for a leading medical facility. The new hospital will open in 2010.
So that is a quick tour inside the gates of Fort Belvoir. There is a lot to see and do when you get here both in and outside the gates. If you have orders to head to Fort Belvoir this year give me a call. I’ll be glad to help you with all of your questions about the area and show you around.
© Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. Cindy Jones.
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Historic Churches in Northern Virginia-Fairfax Station
December 15th, 2007 Categories: Communites to Visit, Out and About
One of the nice things about living in Northern Virginia is all of the history that you can find throughout the area. There are the well known sites such as Mount Vernon and Gunston Hall and then some smaller sites that if you didn’t know the history of our area you might just pass them by. Today we are going to take a look at two historic churches in Fairfax Station just minutes from the hustle and bustle of Burke Center and downtown Fairfax.
The first church, St Mary of Sorrows was started in 1858 and dedicated in 1860 by the Bishop of Richmond. Built primarily by the Irish railroad workers who were working nearby, the church is built from lumber from the forests that surround the area and the only item that was purchased for the building was the church bell.
During the civil war the church was used as a field hospital for casualties awaiting transportation out of the area on the railroad and it is here that Clara Barton is said to have started the plan that would later become the Red Cross. After the war St. Mary’s continued to be a drawing place for the growing Fairfax Station and Clifton communities and today the church is a popular place for weddings and masses because of its location and history.
The second historic church in Fairfax Station is Jerusalem Baptist Church originally formed in 1840. The congregation first met in what was then known as Paynes Church which had been constructed in the mid 1700’s as an Episcopal Church.
After the civil war when all Church of England structures were forfeited to the states the congregation of Jerusalem Baptist Church was able to buy the building for their own use.
The original church had been the first brick church built in Fairfax County but during the Civil War the building was torn down to use the bricks to build fireplaces in homes used by the for Union Soldiers over the winter. After the war the congregation began to rebuild and in 1866 built the white clapboard church that stands today.
What is interesting about both of these churches is their contribution to Fairfax Station during the civil war and beyond. Changing from places of worship to hospitals, their cemeteries being used by both Union and Confederate soldiers (later most of these graves were moved to Arlington National Cemetery) and the fact that the buildings remain today as places of worship and celebration despite the development of the area.
So if you are out driving around and you see these two small white churches on Route 123 (Ox Road), take a moment to stop and check them out. They are a big part of the local history and something you might just pass by without a second thought.
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Taking in a Breath of Fresh Air in Fairfax County
November 14th, 2007 Categories: Focus on Fairfax County, Out and About
A lot is written about the traffic congestion in Fairfax County and it is true we do have our share of jammed roads during rush hour but we also have a huge amount of green space to enjoy when we aren’t fretting about getting to work.
One of the best known parks in our area is Burke Lake Park right off of Route 123 and a few miles from the City of Fairfax. With over 850 acres including a 220 acre lake there is plenty for everyone to enjoy. For the walkers, joggers and bikers the 5 mile dirt loop around the lake is a great way to take in all of the vistas. 
For the youngsters the miniature train ride chugging along at 10 MPH is a hoot.
Want to get in a round of golf? You can do that too at the 18 hole Par 3 course.
My son and his friends are big fans of the Frisbee golf course, though for the life of me the fun of trying to throw a Frisbee through a hoop eludes me! For the young and young at heart stop by and give the Carousel a whirl.
For the guys who like to fish you can rent a small electric powered boat or canoe and cast your line. Make sure you have a valid fishing license. It’s the law!
One of the best things about the park is that no matter what season you go you will find the park well maintained and friendly park staff around to help.
Burke Lake Park is just one example of the benefits of living in Fairfax County. With over 25,000 acres of parkland maintained by the Fairfax County Park Authority you can find a park just around the corner from almost any neighborhood in the county. If you didn’t wear yourself out from playing in the park or over indulge with your picnic then you can head just a few miles down the winding road to Clifton or south to Historic Occoquan to finish off the day.
Enjoy yourself and see you around the park.
Map of Park Activities
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