Real Estate News About Woodbridge Virginia and Surrounding Communities: January 2010

Woodbridge Real Estate News About Western Bypass That Will Reduce I-95 Congestion

You'll Get To The Pentagon, Crystal City, Fort Belvoir, And Downtown From Woodbridge, with less traffic.

Western Bypass Will Be A Win-Win For Travelers And You Commuters

North/South Long-Distance Trucks And Travelers Get Speedy Route Past The Region On The Bypass

Separating North/South Travelers From I-95 Commuters Means Less Congestion For Commuters 

I-95 is "Main Street" for highway travelers up and down the east coast, from Miami to Maine. 

Vacationers from Cape Cod driving to Myrtle Beach for a week of golf mix with locals getting to and from work.

Folks from Myrtle Beach travel north in summer to vacation on Cape Cod, mingling with commuters just trying to get home after a tough day at the office.

You want less time on the road, and save fuel.

The need for a western regional bypass was established in 1950.

Numerous state and regional studies over the past 60 years have reaffirmed that need.

THAT'S RIGHT!!  60 YEARS OF NUMEROUS STUDIES, BUT NO ACTION!!  WE NEED ACTION RIGHT NOW!!

Washington Post, "An Ambitious Gridlock Remedy", from May 5, 1990. The sub-heading says, "As Beltway Groans Under Traffic Burden, Bypass Plan Dusted Off". It is about the proposals for an eastern bypass and a western bypass of the D.C. area.

SEE!!  A 20 YEAR-OLD STUDY AND NO ACTION, NO CONSTRUCTION, NO ROAD, NO RELIEF FOR YOU!

EACH STUDY IS EXPENSIVE!!  BY THE TIME THE BYPASS GETS BUILT, THE PRICE TAG FOR ALL THE STUDIES COMBINED WILL LIKELY BE GREATER THAN THE PRICE TO BUILD THE DOG-GONE ROAD!! 

CALL, FAX, AND EMAIL YOUR DELEGATE RIGHT NOW AND TELL THEM TO BUILD THE ROAD!!
"Dear Delegate, here are two options for building the bypass... pick one and go".

House of Delegates Bill 2019 (HB 2019) enacted last year required the CTB (Commonwealth Transportation Board) to identify and develop improvement plans for Corridors of Statewide Significance.

The recently CTB-approved Virginia Transportation 2035 (VTrans2035), a statewide transportation plan providing additional capacity to move traffic around the Washington area and connect Dulles Airport with I-95 and other parts of the Commonwealth by the year 2035.

Fairfax Delegate David Albo has introduced legislation directing the CTB to move a Western Bypass closer to reality.

Bill Number: HB 277 Will Get The Western Bypass Started, Your Support Is Needed To Pass The Bill

Chief Patron: Delegate Dave Albo

Co-Patron: Delegate Tom Rust

Description: Requires the Commonwealth Transportation Board to establish a Washington Bypass transportation corridor.

Text: to read the complete text, click here.

Committee Assignment: House Transportation Committee

Act Now:

• YOU... YES YOU...  Click the links below to send your email to support for HB 277 to your legislators working for you in Richmond.
• 
  Pick up the phone, call your delegate's office and register your support for HB 277.
• 
  Print the email you just sent to your delegate, and fax it to your delegate's office.
  
• For House Transportation Committee contact info, click here. (Includes a link to send an email to all House Transportation Committee members.)

• For a sample message, click here.

The House Transportation Committee is expected to consider this bill soon.    
A Washington Bypass is Critical to Regional Mobility, Prosperity, and Dulles Airport's Future.
Urge House Transportation Committee Members
To Vote "Yes" for HB 277


The Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance is the only organization focused solely on making better transportation a reality for Northern Virginia citizens and businesses.

Opportunities Are Everywhere...We Can Help You Find Your Dream Home.

Erick Blackwelder or Peggy James of Erick and Company - Exit 1st Choice Realty, Woodbridge VA. Realtors®, call 703-590-2252  list your property for sale or to  purchase a property in Lake Ridge, Westridge, Old Bridge Estates, River Falls, Middle County, Cannon Bluff, Meadowbrook Woods, Blooms Crossing, Manassas Park, Beaver Creek, Hunter's Ridge, Brittany,  Manassas, Montclair, Dumfries, Occoquan, Dale City, Nokesville, or anywhere in Prince William County.

Exit Realty Internation Is An Active Participant In Habitat for Humanity

Erick Blackwelder Is An Active Participant In Habitat For Humanity

Exit 1st Choice Realty Woodbridge Will Help Blitz-Build An Entire One In A Day In Orlando Florida

Exit 1st Choice Realty Volunteers Will Help Build FOUR (4) Homes Each Day With Habitat Orlando

Exit 1st Choice Realty Volunteers Will Fly Down For Blitz-Builds Jan 28, Feb 25, Mar 20, Apr 24

Have You Promised The Family A Trip To Disney World?

Plan Your Trip To The Land Of The Mouse Around One Of The Build Dates And Let The Family Participate

Your Family Will Have Fun, Build A Life-Long Memory, And Give A Deserving Family A Dream-Come-True

Opportunities Are Everywhere...We Can Help You Find Your Dream Home.

Erick Blackwelder or Peggy James of Erick and Company - Exit 1st Choice Realty, Woodbridge VA. Realtors®, call 703-590-2252  list your property for sale or to  purchase a property in Lake Ridge, Westridge, Old Bridge Estates, River Falls, Middle County, Cannon Bluff, Meadowbrook Woods, Blooms Crossing, Manassas Park, Beaver Creek, Hunter's Ridge, Brittany,  Manassas, Montclair, Dumfries, Occoquan, Dale City, Nokesville, or anywhere in Prince William County.

Equal Housing Opportunity

Woodbridge VA Real Estate News About Faster FHA Foreclosure Sales For You

You Can Buy FHA Foreclosures Without The Wait In Woodbridge VA

Woodbridge Home Buyers Get Easy Foreclosure Homes For Sale

Woodbridge Home Loan Expert Explains How You Can Get A Foreclosure In Woodbridge Fast & Easy

Howdy Folks,

Take three minutes out of your day to read a quick, power-packed explanation of new FHA guidelines that I got today from Tom Halfpap at Suntrust Mortgage.

Tom was already among the most sought-after loan officers in Woodbridge, 20+ years ago, when I left Fortune 500 America to start my own real estate company.

You must remember, not all loan officers are alike, they are not cookie-cutter stamped out of one mold.

The ordinary loan officer has, on average, just three (3) years experience. 

The mortgage business is demanding.  The business is fast-paced, over-regulated, complex, and often quite complicated.  

Only smart and tough people like Tom Halfpap, with superior math skills, plus good "people" skills to THRIVE over 25 years in mortgage banking.

Tom got the early scoop on new rules from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that shall make it easier to buy an FHA foreclosed home.

So I did a copy/paste of Tom's inside scoop into my blog. 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

New HUD Policy Created to Allow Quicker Foreclosure Re-sales!

Effective February 1, 2010 the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will relax FHA rules that prohibit insuring mortgages on homes that are owned by the seller for less than 90 days - a move that could help expedite the rehabilitation and resale of foreclosure properties.

In a housing market where tighter lending requirements have made FHA financing the only option for some buyers, this 90-day policy has (1) kept some homebuyers from being able to purchase affordable homes and (2) prevented the quick resale of foreclosed properties, which affects the ability of communities to stabilize and rebuild.

Research has shown that the buying, fixing, and reselling of foreclosed properties is often achieved in less than three months time.

The temporary waiver, which will expand access to FHA mortgage insurance to many, will be in effect for a period of one year, unless extended or withdrawn by the FHA.

With this in mind, now may be an excellent time to contact clients who have recently purchased a foreclosed property and those who may be on the fence about purchasing a foreclosure as a short-term investment.

"FHA borrowers, because of the restrictions we are now lifting, have often been shut out from buying affordable properties," said FHA Commissioner David H. Stevens. "This action will enable our borrowers, especially first-time buyers, to take advantage of this opportunity."

To ensure FHA borrowers are protected from inflated prices, the policy has certain restrictions, including:

• All transactions must be arms-length and there can be no identity of interest between the buyer and seller.
  
  
• If the sales price of the property is 20 percent or more above the seller's acquisition cost, the lender must meet specific conditions for the waiver to apply.
  
  
• The waiver is limited to forward mortgages, and cannot be used under the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) purchase program.

You can read the full text of the waiver on HUD.gov.

Sincerely,

Tom Halfpap
SunTrust
(202) 716-6052
thomas.halfpap@suntrust.com

Opportunities Are Everywhere...We Can Help You Find Your Dream Home.

Erick Blackwelder or Peggy James of Erick and Company - Exit 1st Choice Realty, Woodbridge VA. Realtors®, call 703-590-2252  list your property for sale or to  purchase a property in Lake Ridge, Westridge, Old Bridge Estates, River Falls, Middle County, Cannon Bluff, Meadowbrook Woods, Blooms Crossing, Manassas Park, Beaver Creek, Hunter's Ridge, Brittany,  Manassas, Montclair, Dumfries, Occoquan, Dale City, Nokesville, or anywhere in Prince William County.

Equal Housing Opportunity

Real Estate News About Woodbridge Virginia And Prince William County

See How You Can Stay Cool While Others Get Stuck In Boiling Hot Traffic

Creative Carpooling Option From Woodbridge VA

(Tee-Hee!)

My silly sense of humor made me write this post with this photo.

Feel free to pass this photo around.

Did this post tickle your curiosity?  CLICK HERE to send your question.  Answers shall be sent by email ONLY, unless you specifically ask for phone call.

You can get computerized, automatic, customized FREE ALERTS by email when new listings of homes that fit your wish-list are posted on the Realtor's MLS.  You'll find out about the newest listings before most Realtors know about them.

That way you'll know when your dream home hits the market.

Opportunities Are Everywhere...We Can Help You Find Your Dream Home.

Erick Blackwelder or Peggy James of Erick and Company - Exit 1st Choice Realty, Woodbridge VA. Realtors®, call 703-590-2252  list your property for sale or to  purchase a property in Lake Ridge, Westridge, Old Bridge Estates, River Falls, Middle County, Cannon Bluff, Meadowbrook Woods, Blooms Crossing, Manassas Park, Beaver Creek, Hunter's Ridge, Brittany,  Manassas, Montclair, Dumfries, Occoquan, Dale City, Nokesville, or anywhere in Prince William County.

Equal Housing Opportunity

President Lyndon Johnson lead a vigorous campaign through the halls of Congress that lead to Fair Housing legislation.  The Republican Party members in Congress backed Fair Housing, while most of the congressional Democrat Party members opposed Fair Housing.  Johnson, a Democrat, worked the phones day and night, calling congressional Democrats, calling in favors that persuaded enough Democrats to cross party lines and vote for Fair Housing, and against their party leaders. 

2009 Sales In Woodbridge Make Real Estate News Across The State

Real Estate News For Woodbridge About Homes Listed And Sold

Foreclosure And Short Sales In Woodbridge Virginia

Howdy Folks, and welcome to a new year, and a new decade.

My crack team of skilled staffers assembles a snapshot of numbers for the previous year.

My top-notch staff of seasoned veterans pulled the numbers are pulled from our local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) that is, in fact, the Metropolitan Realtors Information Service (MRIS).

What a good lookin' bunch of folks.

Why do we pull numbers from MRIS?

Every home listed for sale by any Realtor, at every office, for every company in the region, MUST enter the information about all homes for sale under "ACTIVE" status in MRIS.

When the home sells, Realtors MUST record the actual SOLD price in the listing, along with the contract date, the closing date, seller-paid buyer closing costs, and move the listing from "UNDER CONTRACT" to "SOLD" status.

When an ACTIVE listing is taken off the market at the seller's request, those listings are moved to "WITHDRAWN" status.  In other words, the owners gave-up, quit, and chose to stay in their homes until the market meets their price.

When an ACTIVE listing agreement between owner and broker reaches the end of the period to which seller and agent agreed, the listing automatically moves itself to "EXPIRED" status in MRIS.

Homes that are temporarily taken off the market for a few days or a couple of weeks, the listing is moved from ACTIVE to "TO" status.  For example seller asks the broker to move his house to TO status include a wide array of personal seller situations: the end-of-year holiday season when the house may be full of house guests, or gift wrap and baking cookies make a mess; a burst pipe summons a batallion of contractors to repair the damage; Mom & Dad want two weeks of uninterrupted peace and quiet when a new baby comes home.

Home builders typically pay an agent a flat fee to list homes "UNDER CONTRACT" while the builder is in the process of constructing their homes on behalf of folks who have contracted for a new home.

Finally, 2009 was the first year that MRIS tracked a full year of homes sold after foreclosure, plus homes that are sold by short-sale. 

So without further fanfare, let's see those numbers for Prince William County

12,723 homes were put up for sale between January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2009.

In 2009, 6,831 homes SOLD and settled in Prince William County.  So roughly 50% of all homes that were listed as ACTIVE at some time in 2009 actually sold and settled. 

On December 31, 2009 2141 UNDER CONTRACT, pending settlement.

We add the 6,381 SOLD homes to the 2,141 homes that were UNDER CONTRACT pending settlement on December 31, 2009, and we see that the market ABSORBED 8,522 ACTIVE listings.  

That yields an Annual Absorption Rate of 67% throughout the year 2009, meaning that 67% of homes listed ACTIVE in 2009 were chosen by ready-to-buy home buyers.

When we spread all 8,522 homes absorbed by the market across all 12 months in 2009, we see that, on average, 710 SOLD each month.  You and I know that some months are fast, others are slow, but the monthly average of homes SOLD in 2009 was 710 homes.

Conversely, 33% of Prince William County homes listed For Sale, in ACTIVE status in 2009 did not sell. 

For example, in 2009, 2,294  homes were WITHDRAWN from the market at the Seller's request.

On December 31, 2009, MRIS reported 87 homes as TO, temporarily off the market.

Over all 12 months of 2009, only 678 MRIS listings in Prince William County EXPIRED at the end of the listing period to which seller and agent agreed.

    Turning to the home builders, there are 191 new homes under construction on behalf of buyers who have contracted to have those homes built, chunked down hefty deposits, and who are looking forward to when their homes are complete.

Homes that were FORECLOSED by banks, then SOLD by the bank to the next owner add up to 2,866.  

Among the 8,522 that were absorbed by the market in 2009, roughly 33% of homes sold were bank sales of foreclosed properties. 

Homes SOLD by SHORT SALE in 2009 added up to 3187.   

Last, but not least, here is a HUGE bright spot of good news for potential home sellers in 2010.

1,084 homes are FOR SALE as ACTIVE listings across Prince William County as I tap this post on my keys.

That means we have roughly a-month-and-a-half of ACTIVE inventory FOR SALE in the County today.

It's a Seller's market.

Newly listed homes in tip-top conditions create an auction that attracts multiple bids from teeming hordes of ready-to-buy buyers withe FULLY APPROVED FINANCING.  No kidding.

I can point to sold homes in MRIS that attracted 5, 12, even 22 offers.

There are more buyers right now than homes for sale in Prince William County.

So if you have been thinking about moving at some time in 2010, call your Family Realtor today to get detailed facts about your specific neighborhood.

Did this post tickle your curiosity?  CLICK HERE to send your question.  Answers shall be sent by email ONLY, unless you specifically ask for phone call.

You can get computerized, automatic, customized FREE ALERTS by email when new listings of homes that fit your wish-list are posted on the Realtor's MLS.  You'll find out about the newest listings before most Realtors know about them.

That way you'll know when your dream home hits the market.

Opportunities Are Everywhere...We Can Help You Find Your Dream Home.

Erick Blackwelder or Peggy James of Erick and Company - Exit 1st Choice Realty, Woodbridge VA. Realtors®, call 703-590-2252  list your property for sale or to  purchase a property in Lake Ridge, Westridge, Old Bridge Estates, River Falls, Middle County, Cannon Bluff, Meadowbrook Woods, Blooms Crossing, Manassas Park, Beaver Creek, Hunter's Ridge, Brittany,  Manassas, Montclair, Dumfries, Occoquan, Dale City, Nokesville, or anywhere in Prince William County.

President Lyndon Johnson lead a vigorous campaign through the halls of Congress that lead to Fair Housing legislation.  The Republican Party members in Congress backed Fair Housing, while most of the congressional Democrat Party members opposed Fair Housing.  Johnson, a Democrat, worked the phones day and night, calling congressional Democrats, calling in favors that persuaded enough Democrats to cross party lines and vote for Fair Housing, and against their party leaders.  

Real Estate News About Ski Resorts Near Woodbridge

Woodbridge VA Ski Resorts

Erick Sends Greetings From Wisp Ski Resort After A Great Day On The Slopes

Relocating to Woodbridge, VA?  Love to slash the slopes on skis or boards?

Greetings from Wisp Resort, in the panhandle of Maryland, just 2.5 hours by car.  Yep, I'm at Wisp as I tap this post.  Had a great day on the slopes.

(Got a bunch of cool photos to post here, but I'm using a pal's PC, with Wondoze Vista, and Vista doesn't like my blog software.  Will add when I get home)

After dinner, we'll do some night skiing under the lights until closing time at 9 PM.

Going to Brenda's for dinner, just a few miles down Deep Creek Lake from our cabin.  Brenda's Italian food is better than best.  I'll get the Greek Pasta!

Other nearby ski resorts when you live in Virginia are Whitetail, Snowshoe, Canaan Valley, and Wintergreen.

Do you have a pilot's license?  Bryce Mountain offers a runway at the base of the slopes, just a 40 yard walk from tie-down to the lifts.  I've flow there many times; a 45 minute flight in my Cessna beats a 3 hour car ride!

Want to know more?  Send a reply to this post, or give me a call at 703-590-2252.

Tally Ho!!

Erick Blackwelder
Exit 1st Choice Realty
14029 Crossing Place

Woodbridge, VA  22192
Equal Housing Opportunity