Mid Year Update
It is hard to believe we are already halfway through 2019. The two questions that I have are; where does the time go and where is the housing inventory? The number of houses in Northern Virginia remains extremely low – 20% below last year and nearly 33% from two years ago. The inventory with the lowest levels is in the first-time home buyer price range which is basically houses and condos priced below $350,000. At the time of this newsletter, there are only 717 properties for sale in all of Northern Virginia in this price point. These homes are flying off the market with an absorption rate resulting in a .75 month’s supply of housing. As such, we are seeing multiple offers as there just not enough supply for the number of buyers in this market. To climb the pricing ladder, we will see the month’s supply and inventory rise. As a comparison, houses priced between $350,000 and $500,000 have a .83 month’s supply with only 872 houses for sale. The $500,000 and $750,000 priced houses have a 1.2 month’s supply with 1,252 currently on the market. Both of these numbers are low, historically speaking, so don’t be alarmed if you are thinking of selling your house. Where we see the market slowing is in the $750,000 and above price point. In this price point, we have over a 3 month’s supply of inventory with 1,683 houses for sale. This is obviously a larger price range, but shows the higher you go, the longer it takes to sell. I have mentioned many times, if a house isn’t compelling – it isn’t selling and the best way to make it compelling is price. If you are considering selling in any of these price points, please call me to learn how to best position your house to sell for the most money in the least amount of time. So, what does it mean for buyers? There are opportunities in the market to own but you need to be strategic in doing so in every price point. It is important to utilize the services of a professional to negotiate for you to get you into the home you desire and to think outside the box for creative ways to dig up inventory. If you are considering becoming a home owner for the first time or if you are moving up or down, give me a call to learn how this can be done for you.
It’s a good life.
Chris
Local Events
Don’t miss out on any of the exciting events in Northern Virginia!
Purcellville Wine & Food Festival
Fairfax County
Calling all sports fans! Stop by the CSA Sports Memorabilia Show
Dulles Expo Center: 4320 Chantilly Shopping Center, Chantilly;
July 12-14; Times vary; $5-$20
Meet your favorite sports legends. Athletes that plan to be in attendance include boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather, Washington Redskins Hall of Fame quarterback Sonny Jurgensen and Super Bowl XL MVP Hines Ward. Pictures and autographs are additional.
2nd Saturday Art Walk
Workhouse Arts, Lorton, July 13th, 6pm – 9pm.
On the second Saturday of each month, the Workhouse Arts Center hosts a fun evening featuring art and music. View artists creating art in the studios or exhibiting in 12 campus galleries. Enjoy live performances of dance, cabaret, comedy, big band, jazz, and theater. Indulge in classes in the art of mixology or cuisines from around the globe. Free to attend.
Loudoun County
Annual Purcellville Wine & Food Festival | July 13th, 2pm – 8pm
Dillon’s Woods in the Fireman’s Field Complex, Purcellville, VA
Wineries and vineyards will be sampling a wide array of varietals helping you taste and learn about each one. Nominal fee for tasting. Bring the whole family and enjoy the beautiful outdoors and all that this event has to offer. Even your leashed, friendly dogs are welcome, however they cannot ride the shuttles and the park is not equipped with pet watering stations or rest areas. Each winery, food, or merchandise vendor sets their prices and you pay them directly. Tickets will be sold for beer. https://www.purcellvillewineandfood.com/
Loudoun County Fair – July 23rd – July 28th
Loudoun County Fairground – 17558 Dry Mill Road, Leesburg,
Adult Ticket Needed for Ages 13 and Up | Age 5 and Under Always Free | Tuesday is Senior Day – Wednesday is Children’s Day | Parking Pass $5, Good all week! http://loudouncountyfair.com/
Prince William County
158th Anniversary of First Manassas
Manassas National Battlefield, July 21st – 7am – 5pm.
Join park staff to commemorate the 158th anniversary of the First Battle of Manassas (Bull Run) with a variety of 60 – 90 minute historian led walking tours and living history demonstrations. Free to attend and explore.
Partner Spotlight
A spotlight on one of my valued partners in real estate.
David Green, Vice President of Walker Title
I started in the title industry in 1986 and have been with Walker Title from its start in 1994. WALKER TITLE, LLC is a full service title agency and settlement company specializing in both residential and commercial transactions in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area. Walker Title has 21 real estate title professionals and 3 offices to service its customer’s needs. Our experienced staff can assist you in handling any real estate transaction, which includes house purchases, refinance, land acquisitions, construction loans and complex commercial transactions. Our dedication to customer service makes Walker Title’s settlement and title insurance services second to none. We can provide you with the knowledge to make your real estate transaction a smooth and pleasant experience from contract to close.
David A. Green
Walker Title, LLC
11781 Lee Jackson Mem., Hwy., #300
Fairfax Va 22033
(703) 563-6182
www.walkertitle.com
[email protected]
Recipe Corner
Hawaiian Chicken Skewers
www.delish.com
Prep time 25 minutes
INGREDIENTS:
· 1/2 c. barbecue sauce
· 1/3 c. soy sauce
· 1 tbsp. rice wine vinegar
· 2 tsp. sesame oil
· 2 cloves garlic, minced
· 1 tbsp. ginger, minced
· 1 tsp. honey
· kosher salt
· 1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
· 2 chicken breasts, cut into 1″ pieces
· 2 c. cubed pineapple
· 2 green bell peppers, diced
· 1 red onion, diced
· White rice, for serving
· 2 tsp. cilantro
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat grill or grill pan on medium heat.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together barbecue sauce, soy sauce, vinegar, oil, garlic, ginger and honey until completely combined. Season with salt and red pepper flakes.
3. Build skewers by alternating chicken, pineapple, peppers, and red onion. Place on a baking sheet and pour over half your marinade.
4. Place skewers on preheated grill, and brush with reserved marinade. Cook five minutes and flip, brushing the other side with marinade as well.
5. Cook five more minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
6. Serve with white rice and a sprinkle of cilantro and enjoy!
6 Things You Can Do to Welcome a New Neighbor
Being happy at home is not just about your house and yard, it’s about your neighbors, too. And when someone new moves in next door, it stands to change your well being…for better or worse. That’s why taking a few proactive steps with new neighbors can be so important for setting the stage for a long and pleasant relationship. You don’t have to become best friends, but coexisting peacefully is a priority, so try these steps to start things off on the right foot:
Introduce yourself right away…without being invasive. It may seem obvious, but in today’s isolated age where we value our privacy, we often tend to keep our distance for too long. So don’t delay in making a simple introduction to your new neighbors – but don’t be invasive. No need to invite them over, just a simple hello and welcome to the neighborhood will do. Let them know to feel free to knock on your door or call should they need anything.
Take care of any border mess. If you’ve been neglectful about leaves or overgrowth between your two houses, now’s the time to take care of it. Perhaps your former neighbors didn’t mind, but tidy things up to
prevent any issues with the new neighbors.
Be respectful about events. If you’ve got a party or event approaching that will involve music, noise or extra cars on the street, let your new neighbor know in advance. They will appreciate the heads-up, and perhaps this is an opportunity to invite them over if the occasion warrants.
Be an information source. If they’re brand-new to your town, provide some helpful information, such as which day recycling is picked up, where the school bus stop is, how late the convenience store down the road stays open, the best local dog park, etc. The inside track on the ins and outs of a new neighborhood are always appreciated.
Answer any questions they may have about their house. If you were friendly with your former neighbor, you may be able to answer questions they have about the home they just bought, so be as forthcoming and helpful as possible. If you’ve resided in the neighborhood for some time, you may be able to offer insights on renovations they’re considering, as well.
Welcome them with goodies. Go old school. You can’t go wrong with baked goods and a bottle of wine!
Looking to find new neighbors by selling your home? I’d be honored to help! Please feel free to reach out to me so we can talk about your specific situation.