About Fauquier County, VA

Real estate might be bad shape in other areas of the country, but in Fauquier County prices are stable to trending up since they bottomed in 2009.

No...it is not a buyer's market. We are often contacted by folks who want to know where the bargains are...where they can buy a house for 75% of market value.

I usually say that central Florida looks good right now.

The market is actually very balanced between buyers and sellers at the moment, with each having about the same amount of negotiating power.

Homes in pristine condition and correctly priced favor sellers. Homes that are not so hot favor the buyer.

Makes sense eh?

As you can see from the graphs below, this year Fauquier homes are selling in less than 150 days on average ( with the exception of February 2011) at between 87% and 97% of seller's original list price (OLP).

And that is the average for ALL home types, styles and condition including short sales and foreclosures.

An Ohio Realtor friend of mine tells me that 6 Months is his average days on market in his area. Ouch.

Having attended more than 25 foreclosure auctions on the courthouse steps in various NOVA counties...

...let me tell you...even THERE it takes great patience and perseverance to get a property (whose interior you have not inspected by the way) at 85% of re-sale value and that is BEFORE you spend a ton of money fixing it up.

So when you set out to buy a Fauquier County home, be realistic and be mentally prepared to operate within local conditions.

We are not Florida, Michigan, California or Nevada. We have half the national unemployment rate and the area continues to attract residents from all over the world in droves.

It is not unusual for there to be multiple offers on correctly priced homes in great condition, especially in the $250k and under bracket in the spring and summer markets.

As an example of Northern VA market strength, the Brambleton community in Loudoun county has sold 400 new construction units so far this year and new home construction is having a banner sales year all over Northern Virginia.

The Fauquier County real estate market bottomed in 1st quarter 2009 and has been trending up to flat on average .....with the seasonal price fluctuations that you can see below...high in summer, lower in winter.

Will the trend stay up? No one truly knows. As a home buyer, all you can do is evaluate your personal economic and family situation over the next 4 to 5 years and check the current and historical market statistics.

Then make the rent versus buy decision based on the information you have gathered.

That is all any one can do.

Check out the data below and stop by monthly for updates.

Fauquier County Virginia an hour from the White House

Silo in the Valley. Shot from Skyline Drive National Park

Between

"Christmas In Music", a long running annual concert will be presented again this year at the Warrenton United Methodist Church. The dates are December 1 & 2, 2011 at 8 pm. Additionally, on the 3rd of December at 4 pm.

Tickets are 8 dollars in advance and 10 dollars at the door.

By the way, this Chorale has been entertaining the community since 1953. There will be handbells, organ, youth chorale and more. The Warrenton Chorale - A Christmas Concert You Won't Want To Miss. For more information click on the link below.

Warrenton Chorale Christmas Concert

Off Route 55 Warren County VA.

If you visit the Washington DC/Northern Virginia area, head out 4 lane route 66 to take in Skyline Drive National Park, BUT come on back route 55 which more or less parallels 66 for Virginia scenes like this.

Take the side roads and see one of the oldest states in the union.

Virginia has more high tech jobs per capita than any other state in the country BUT the majority of our commonwealth still looks like this.

Come on and see us. We'll leave the light on for you.... and don't forget, Virginia is the mother of US presidents. 4 of the first 5 came from the state

For more photos of Virginia farms and land come visit Around Virginia, a little photo site we are putting together of shots we take as we move about our Commonwealth.

https://sites.google.com/site/aroundvirginia/