Archive for the 'Focus on Prince William' Category
Click for details on schools, shopping, commuting and homes for sale in Lake Ridge in Prince William County VA.
If you are interested in learning about the Lake Ridge community give me a call to discuss your needs. No hassle, no pressure just straight talk about whether now is the time for you to buy a new home in Lake Ridge or any where in the Northern Virginia area.
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Is Woodbridge Inventory Low or Are We Imagining It?
February 26th, 2010 Categories: Focus on Prince William, Local Market Updates
There is constant chatter among agents and buyers that the inventory for detached homes in Prince William County is at an “all time low.”
Though Woodbridge inventory for detached homes and townhouse is down from the 2008 and 2009 it isn’t at an “all time low” for this decade.
What makes the lower inventory harder for Prince William County buyers to take is that of the 218 detached home listing posted in the MRIS in January only 128 of those listings are for “regular” sales (not a short sale or foreclosure.) Townhouses are hit even harder with only 50 of the January listings carrying the regular sale tag.
For buyers who are hoping to get a home under contract by the April 30th deadline for the extended tax credit and settled by the June 30th the low inventory means moving quickly when new listings come on the market. But remember don’t make a hasty decision that you may later regret. Make sure you are writing your best offer and including the right contingencies designed to protect you.
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Welcome to Port Potomac in Woodbridge VA
February 21st, 2010 Categories: Buyers Corner, Focus on Prince William
Port Potomac is one of the popular new Prince William County Communities designed and developed in the last few years in Prince William County. Multiple builders including Ryan Homes, Drees Homes, NVR and Kettler Brothers have helped shape Port Potomac.
Port Potomac features easy access to the Rippon Landing VRE, I-95 and PRTC commuter lots. The neighborhood is also popular with military families stationed at Quantico, Fort Belvoir and the Pentagon. Nearby shopping includes the Potomac Mills Mall and the new Stonebridge Shopping Center with Wegmans grocery store and the new Zoes Kitchen
If the Port Potomac neighborhood sounds like a good fit for you give Cindy Jones a call at 703-346-2213. Let me give you a tour of available homes for sale. No hassle, no pressure just straight talk as whether now is the right time for you to buy a new home in Port Potomac.
Port Potomac Homes for Sale
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Who Says MLS Photos Aren’t Important?
February 9th, 2010 Categories: Focus on Prince William, Selling Thoughts
If you are thinking about listing your home in Northern Virginia soon or your home is already on the market and you wonder why you aren’t seeing much in the way of traffic one of the reasons could be the lack of MLS photos. With over 85% of all buyers starting their search for a new home on the internet the lack of photos can make them pass your home by or drop it to the bottom of their must see list.
Anyone who has watched the news about the “snowpocalypse” in Northern Virginia knows that buyers and there agents have been hampered in showing properties for the last few days and may for the next few as well. However that didn’t stop one agent and their buyer from sending in an attractive offer on my new listing in the Port Potomac neighborhood Prince William County VA.
The buyer has not set foot in the home but is familiar with the neighborhood and the model. Her tour of the home has been through my photos in the MLS and my video tour posted on my blog. They knew they loved the neighborhood and after viewing the photos they knew the home was in good condition and was the right one for them.
If your are talking to agents who say photos don’t make a difference they obviously do. Say NEXT and call an agent who knows that photos DO help sell houses in today’s Northern Virginia real estate market.
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River Falls in PW County Neighborhood Tour
February 2nd, 2010 Categories: Buyers Corner, Focus on Prince William
If you are looking for luxury living in a Woodbridge VA community close to shopping, restaurants and multiple commuting options to DC then River Falls should be on your must see list.
During the summer months residents can enjoy the community swimming pool, tennis courts, Old Hickory Golf Club and plenty of nearby parks. Take in a Potomac Nationals game at nearby Pfitzner Stadium or a concert at the Sean Connaughton Plaza at the Prince William County Government Center.
Search River Falls Homes for Sale
Luxury Homes in Woodbridge VA ($500,000+)
For more information on new and resale homes in the River Falls Community in Woodbridge VA give me a call at 703-346-2213. Lets talk about whether it is time for you to move up to a new home. With great prices luxury living in River Falls has never been more affordable. No hassle, no pressure just straight talk as to whether now is the right time for you to buy a new home in River Falls or anywhere in Prince William County or the Northern Virginia area.
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Real estate statistics are one indicator of what is happening in Prince William County VA. There is no doubt that declining inventory had an impact on the increase in prices. For sellers considering putting a home on the market in the next few months there are buyers who are looking to be under contract by April 30, 2010 in order to take advantage of the first time homebuyers or repeat buyers tax credit.
The numbers on these charts are for detached homes in Prince William County VA.
If you are considering selling your home in Prince William County VA in 2010 give me a call at 703-346-2213. Let’s talk about the data specific to your neighborhood.
***Stats provided by NVAR and the MRIS***
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Prince William County Schools Win Excellence Awards
January 25th, 2010 Categories: Focus on Prince William
Congratulations are in order for four Prince William County Schools on their 2010 Virginia Govenor’s Award of Excellence.
Bristow Run Elementary
Old Bridge Elementary
Springwoods Elementary
Swans Creek Elementary
The award orginally started in 2007 by the State Board of Education requires that schools meet achievement goals for two consecutive years. The award looks at reading success, math achievement and graduation rates (for high schools) as examples.
All of these schools have either an 8 or 9 ranking on the Great Schools website as well. Many of the clients I work with who are relocating to Prince William County refer to this site prior to a housing hunting trip to the area.
Additionally a number of Prince William County Schools won VIP Award Status
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As 2009 has come to a close it is a time to take a hard look at some of the real estate statistics for the Woodbridge VA area. One of things I’ve been tracking this year is the type of financing that buyers are using.
There is little doubt that FHA loans have topped the list as the most popular loan. With down payments for FHA loans currently at 3.5% and many sellers contributing toward a buyer’s closing costs it makes sense that FHA would be the easiest loan for most buyers.
Investors continued to be a major force in the Woodbridge market with cash purchases, though not all cash buyers have been investors. I’ve been involved in multiple cash transactions where the purchasers sold other property and decided that the best use of their proceeds was to buy with cash.
As the market heads into 2010 and rumors continue to float that FHA may change the minimum down payment to 5% it will be interesting to see two things:
1) Will sales slow if the minimum down payment is raised?
2) Will a new low program emerge from “conventional” lenders that will offer an alternative?
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Listing Your Home for Sale-A Market Report is Not a CMA
January 1st, 2010 Categories: Focus on Prince William, Selling Thoughts
If you are planning on listing your home in Woodbridge Virginia for sale in 2010 you are probably searching the web for information on the value of your home. There are plenty of sites including the Prince William County real estate assessment sites and Zillow that can give you a rough idea of one type of value for your home.
You can also find dozens of sites where you can read the latest for your neighborhood. Market reports are easy for any Realtor® with access to the MLS to create. In fact the MLS can do most of the work for you with just a few easy data selections.
Pick a neighborhood, a type of home (detached, townhouse), garage or no garage, throw in a date range and the system will create a market report for you. The report can also include a comparison of time frame so you can get a general idea of whether values are up or down.
A Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) on the other hand is a different type of report. It is specific to the value of your home. It is based on a thorough evaluation of the pluses and minus of your home as compared to another similar home in your neighborhood. Is your home a detached, colonial with 4 BR’s and 3 BA’s in Westridge? Then a CMA is going to start with looking specifically at the same style and model.
Then a CMA will go deeper. Have you upgraded your kitchen with granite and have new Stainless Steel appliances? Does your home have a walkout basement? How about hardwood floors? All of these can add value to your home above a similar home without them. And of course it could work in the opposite direction if you are missing those items.
If you are reading local market reports and see that the average home in your neighborhood is selling for $500,000 remember this may not be the value of your home. Make sure before you decide on list price for your home that you contact an agent familiar with your neighborhood who will take the time to visit your home and provide you with a CMA. Check to make sure the numbers they are using are within the last 90 days and that the basis for the CMA is an apples to apples comparison.
Pricing your home correctly is a major step to putting the SOLD sign in your yard.
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