Jay Hurst

According to the statistics of The Northern Virginia Association of Realtors® in May 2009 home sales activity for Northern VA were up from this time last year. This area includes Fairfax and Arlington counties, the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax and Falls Church and the towns of Vienna, Herndon and Clifton.

 A total of 1,803 homes sold in May 2009, a 4.6 percent increase above May 2008 home sales of 1,724. There was also a decrease in the inventory for the same period. This is good news for sellers.

 The good news for Buyers is the sales prices continue to remain lower than those realized last year. The average sales price in May fell by 9.5 percent from May 2008, to $433,257, compared with last May's average of $478,672.

There was a very small drop off however in the outlieing areas of Prince William, Loudoun and the Greater Piedmont counties) forthe same period. This is showing us what we see every day, and that is the economic recovery started inside the Beltway, and is working its way to the suburbs.


We are also seeing certain areas like North Arlington making a very fast comeback, and for the most part that area has started showing new growth. This is very good news for all.

Many times when we are researching listings for a buyer, we see homes for sale that have maybe one or two photos. In some cases this is so the listing agent can get calls on the property. They do not want to show too much unless they can qualify the person who is looking.

I have always felt this was a disservice to the selling homeowner. Sometimes they may not want their home "plastered" all over the Internet, but our school of thought is that the more that see the property, the better the chance the perfect Buyer will connect with the Seller.

We have our own professional Photography Studio that we use for every listing no matter how large or small. Talley Hurst Homes maximises the photo usage on over 15 Web Sites and also makes sure the images are used in print. The Studio uses the finest equipment including processing software for panoramas and podcast movies.

If your agent does not offer this type of service - just drop us a line to hear our proposal for selling your home.

We are happy to announce a recent adjustment made to the pricing of this perfect example of a large single family
Home in Reston, Virginia. Reston is the Nation's premier planned community, with a constant evolution of shopping,
office, and excellent schools.

After the first phase of building, the area saw more upscale shopping, with the addition of the Reston Town Center, and
many office parks. Then we saw more upscale condo development near these areas.

This contemporary is in the Fox Mill Woods section of Reston. Just south of the Town Center, it is found in one of the first wooded
areas set apart from the higher density areas. It has its own private shopping plaza, and also schools and links to mass transit.

The owners are ready to move now. Please give us a call if you would like a tour of 11820 Grey Birch Place.

Recently, we listed a nice 4 bedroom Contemporary for sale in Reston, Virginia. Having worked with the owners for over a year on their prospective
new home search, we wanted to move this home quickly. The Sellers were two very busy people, and needed our help with staging the home.

Just about every home needs some type of help before it is listed for sale. More so than in the past, your home must compete directly with homes
where either a professional stager has been hired, or it is newer construction. The most important piece of advice we can give you is listen to your
Stager.

Talley-Hurst Homes provides this as a service to ALL of our home sellers. It is a free service. There can be some inital resistance to change the way the
home is decorated, but it is very important to understand that the minute you make the decision to sell, it is not longer your home. Getting a seller
to fully buy into that logic can be a little frustrating for us, but we explain what a typical Buyer is looking for. That is just another reason to have a professional
Agent helping you.

When the time comes to sell, ask the agents you are considering if they offer Staging a home.

JH

Open House today!

Great Home located in the Fox Mill Woods section of Reston, Virginia.

Close to neighborhood shopping, this contemporay home

boasts large living spaces and natural light. A fenced back yard is ready for gardening, or play sets,

and has room for a swimming pool to be added.

This well kept home has been professionally painted from top to bottom, inside & out.

The kitchen has been updated with an island & newly installed ceramic tile floor, SS appliances

& silestone counters. The open floor plan leads to the family room with fireplace flanked by two

sets of doors leading to deck. The walk out Rec room features a second fireplace, and sitting area.

Updated with brand new w/w carpet on upper & lower levels. Hardwood floors main levels.