The real estate market is continuing to change.  Home prices are starting to rise, very slowly, and many homes have multiple offers within a few weeks of being listed.  Buyers need to stay on top of listing inventory if they want to get the home of their dreams.  Are you curious to see how much house you can get for your money? Where here’s a sampling of what $250,000, the medium sales price of a home, can get you in the Fredericksburg area. 
 

Fredericksburg City

2101 Washington Ave Fredericksburg VA 22401

$239,900 – 2101 Washington Ave 

Listed by C21 New Millennium 

4 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, off-street parking, close to schools, canal path, and Rt.1 

Sold “as-is”, home warranty provided 

Standard Sale 

Stafford County

5 Zinc Drive Fredericksburg, VA 22405

$250,000 – 5 Zinc Drive 

Listed by Long and Foster 

5 bedroom, 3.5 bathrooms, hardwood floors, sunroom, finished basement 

Off of Rt. 17 near Geico, convenient to shopping and I-95 

Standard Sale

Spotsylvania County

6216 Salisbury Drive Fredericksburg, VA 22553

$259,000 – 6216 Salisbury Drive 

Listed by Remax Supercenter 

4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, unfinished basement, over-sized garage 

Off of Courthouse Rd, close to schools and shopping 

Potential Short Sale 

Caroline County

18068 Coolidge Lane Bowling Green, VA 22427

$249,900 – 18068 Coolidge Lane 

Listed by Virginia Capital Realty, LLC 

4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, upgraded large kitchen, sunroom, basement 

Off of Rt. 301 

REO/ Bank Owned

King George

6206 Dawes Drive King George, VA 22458

$249,900 – 6206 Dawes Drive 

Listed by Exit Realty Expertise 

3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, granite countertops, extra large family room 

Commute to Fredericksburg or Waldorf, Maryland easily 

Standard Sale

All information believed to be accurate, but not guaranteed.  All data current as of 08/30/2012.  Data subject to change without notification.  Information provided as examples of homes in the $250,000 price range in the Fredericksburg area.  Information pulled from MRIS.  Homes selected for feature at random. 

Interested in seeing more listings in the $250,000 price range?  Interested in scheduling a showing for any of the Featured Properties?  Feel free to contact me at Sarah@SarahiouslySpeaking.com.

Some of our regular visitors may have seen that the Word Press software got hacked, and we are in the process of restoring and rebuilding.  The site is pretty much functional as it was before.  I still have some glitches to workout, but the primary features of our site are back up and running.  Thank you for your patience.

The look of the site will probably change in the next couple of weeks, but now we are more worried about getting the tools all working again.

The 4th of July is a fantastic time to be in and around the Fredericksburg area.  The rich Revolutionary War history and Fredericksburg’s part in masterminding and securing America’s freedom makes this our own special holiday.  If you are looking for something to do this weekend, here is a list I’ve compiled.

Stafford County

“The Complete History of America” Musical performed at the Riverside Dinner Theater. 

Friday, July 2- Sunday, July 4  (6:30pm dinner seating)  Tickets:  $42

www.rsdinnertheater.com/dt/upcomingspecialevents_2.aspx

Fabulous 4th of July at Ferry Farm

Saturday, July 3  (10am-5pm)  small admission fee

Interact on an 18th century farm while farm workers perform daily tasks around George Washington’s childhood farm.  Learn how the Patawomeck Indian tribe functioned in the 16oos.  Enjoy crafts, games, and live music.  Food vendors will be on site.  Trolleys will be running from the Fredericksburg City street festival, as parking is limited at Ferry Farm.

www.ferryfarm.org/events.html

Stars and Stripes Weekend at Potomac Point Winery

Wine tours and wine tastings will take place all weekend long at regular fees.  The band Blackstone will be playing on Sunday from 1-5pm.  A special July 4th menu is available for purchase. 

Saturday, July 2  (11am-9:30pm)       Sunday, July 3  (11am-6pm)

Spotsylvania County

Independence Day Kickoff Celebration – at Lake Anna Winery

The vineyard will feature live music, lite appetizers, and wine sold by the glass.  The $10 admission includes a winery tour and a souvenir wine glass. 

Friday, July 2 (6-10pm)

www.lawinery.com

Stars and Stripes Spotsylvania Spectacular

A fun event for all age groups.  Come and enjoy pony rides, moonbounces, a petting zoo, a tour of the historic Spotsylvania Courthouse and 1855 jail, and much more.  There will be 3 stages playing Bluegrass music, and the night is finished with a huge fireworks display!  Vendors will be on site for food and drink sales.

Saturday, July 3   (3-10pm)

www.spotsylvania.va.us/

Fredericksburg City

33rd Annual Rappahannock River Raft Race sponsored by the Fredericksburg Jaycees

Come watch this very entertaining and traditional Fredericksburg event.  Prizes will be awarded in several categories.  The race starts at 11:30am at the Port of Falmouth Park on River Road in Stafford and will end at approximately 4pm at the City Docks on Sophia Street.  If you are interested in participating please contact the Fredericksburg Jaycees at fburgjayceescdvp@gmail.com.  Entry fees do apply. 

Saturday, July 3

Fredericksburg City Heritage Festival

The always fun Heritage Festival will take place over two days this year since July 4th falls on a Sunday.  The traditional street festival will be on Saturday, July 3 from (10am-4pm).  The Heritage Day Parade will begin at 9:30am on Carolina Street and is still looking for entries for this year’s parade.  The parade is limited to bikes, strollers, wagons, and walking. 

Heritage Festival 5 Mile – Saturday, July 3 (7:45am) at the Fredericksburg Visitor’s Center on Caroline Street    Registration is $20 pre-race day and $25 race day  Cash prizes will be given to the top 3 male and top 3 female runners.  http://www.racetimingunlimited.org/raceinfo/HF10Info.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

The fireworks will take place on Sunday, July 4 at Pratt Park. Music will begin at 8pm and fireworks will begin at dusk.  The Frederickbsburg Jaycees will be on hand selling glow-in-the-dark jewelry to help make the celebration even more exciting.   Be sure to bring your own refreshments and blankets and chairs to the fireworks display.   

Heritage Day Festival and 5 Mile Run – Saturday, July 3

Fireworks – Sunday, July 4

Fredericksburg City:

• 133 days on market – this is 40 days more than in September 2008
• Sellers received, on average, 84.67% of their list price when the home sold
• There is 8.89 months of inventory on the market
• 19 homes sold in September 2009 – this is 8 more than in September 2008
• The most popular price range was $250,000-$299,999.   
• The median sold price was $250,000, compared to $258,000 in September 2008
• Financing Terms:  Conventional – 13, FHA – 1, VA – 1, Assumption – 1, Cash – 3

Orange County

• 114 days on market – this is 60 days less than in September 2008
• Sellers received, on average, 88.92% of their list price when the home sold
• There is 13.09 months of inventory on the market
• 32 homes sold in September 2009 – this is 2 more than in September 2008
• The most popular price ranges were $140,000-$159,999
• The median sold price was $159,000, compared to $213,450 in September 2008 
• Financing Terms:  Conventional – 7, FHA – 10, VA – 4, Assumption – 2, Cash – 7, Other – 2

Spotsylvania County

• 83 days on market – this is 40 less than September 2008 
• Sellers received, on average, 93.24% of their list price when the home sold
• There is 6.42 months inventory on the market
• 140 homes sold in September 2009 – this is 21 less than in September 2008 
• The most popular price range was $200,000-$249,999
• The median sold price was $193,500, compared to $225,000 in September 2008 
• Financing Terms:  Conventional – 38, FHA – 45, VA – 20, Assumption – 10, Cash – 26, Other Financing – 1

Stafford County

• 57 days on market – this is 59 less than September 2008 
• Sellers received, on average, 95.22% of their list price when the home sold
• There is 5.50 months inventory on the market
• 145 homes sold in September 2009 - this is 4 less than in September 2008 
• The most popular price range was $200,000-$249,999
• The median sold price was $220,000, compared to $250,000 in September 2008 
• Financing Terms:  Conventional – 37, FHA – 49, VA – 43, Assumption – 2, Other – 1, Cash – 13

Prince William County

• 50 days on market – this is 59 less than September 2008 
• Sellers received, on average, 96.15% of their list price when the home sold
• There is 4.31 months inventory on the market
• 683 homes sold in September 2009 - this is 433 less than in September 2008
• The most popular price range was $300,000-$399,999
• The median sold price was $205,000, compared to $189,900 in September 2008
• Financing Terms:  Conventional – 165, FHA – 260, VA – 106, Assumption – 24, Cash – 121, Other – 6, Seller Financing – 1

Statistics provided and calculated using data supplied by MRIS.

Two important Spotsylvania County Supervisor seats are up for election November 3, 2009.  (There are actually 3 seats open, but only two seats have candidates with opposing views on this topic).  If you live in the Lee Hill District or the Battlefield District, you need to pay close attention.  In August, the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors voted to join the Virginia Railway Express, the VRE; the commuter train that allows Fredericksburg area residents an alternative to driving to work in DC every day.  This was a narrow victory, a 4-3 vote.  However, there is a caveat to this victory.  Most start dates for new projects is January 1 of the following year.  The VRE project start date was moved to February 15 by the current Board of Supervisors.  This allows the new Board, elected on Nov. 4, to overturn the VRE vote.  Yes, this is politics at its finest. 

Although there are many issues on the table for the candidates to discuss, it appears they are all talking about the VRE.  Spotsylvania residents have had the luxury of using the VRE by driving to the Fredericksburg City station or one of Stafford County stations.  This luxury has come at a cost to Fredericksburg City residents and Stafford County residents whose tax dollars go to pay for these stations.  Spotsylvania County has been asked to join the VRE system several times in the last 17 years, but until this last vote, the invitation has been declined.  A VRE station in Spotsylvania County will not only make it more convenient to commute to Washington, DC, it can also open Spotsylvania County to being a DC bedroom community.  Fredericksburg City and Stafford County have enjoyed increased home sale prices because of their proximity to a mass transit system.  I’ve personally had countless numbers of clients who refused to look at homes in Spostylvania because of their lack of a VRE station.  There is also talk of a high speed rail service that would go from Richmond to Washington, DC.  Spotsylvania would benefit from having a stop in their county to help attract visitors to their historic sites. 

Are there drawbacks from becoming a member of the VRE system?  Well, of course.  Somehow Spotsylvania will have to pay for this system.  New tracks will need to be laid.  (However, jobs could be created because of the work involved with getting the Spotsylvania station up and running).  How do you pay for the system?  Well, taxes.  It’s just the way government works.  Had Spotyslvania jumped on board with this project 5 years ago, the system could have benefited from the areas rapid growth.  Spotsylvania will need to start planning for smart growth along the VRE corridor.  No one wants to see Spotsylvania become overcrowded or have the County loose the small town feel it prides itself on.  Smart growth is key and a realistic strategic plan will go along way. 

Here’s how the candidates for the Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors plan to vote if elected:

Lee Hill District:                 DJ McGuire – against VRE                  Gary Skinner – for VRE

Battlefield District:           Chris Yakabouski – against VRE        Benjamin Pitts – for VRE

To get more information about where to vote and who you will voting for click here. 

This is a very important election for Spotsylvania County.  The outcome of the vote will determine the future of mass transit in the area.  Spotsylvania County residents need to consider the ramifications of not becoming a part of the VRE system.