Joey's Blog

Short Sales in Northern Virginia Will Be Around For A Long Time.

Joey Remondino Broker, GRI, E-Pro (StoneHouse Realty Inc) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:01:19 -0500

Oh yes, we all better get use to short sales since they will be around in large volumes for at least the next three years. In the not so distant past, agents and buyers have shunned the short sale property's as the red headed step child of the sought after REO property (a foreclosed home). With the REO's now selling at a break neck speed in Prince William and Fairfax county short sales have stepped into a more favorable light than in the past.
......A side note for those who have not read my previous blogs, if you are not at the court room steps buying property then the correct term to use is Real Estate Owned or REO. A foreclosure is the legal proceeding initiated by a creditor to repossess the securing collateral for a loan in default.

A short sale is when the owner is selling their home or property for less then what is owed on the loan secured by said property. The challenge with this process is the fact that the mortgagee or lender has to approve the acceptance of less money then what is owed to them to release the lien. This process can be a very long one, for more on how long a short sale can take in Northern Virginia refer to my article Please Do Not Give Up: Short Sales Do Close.

There are two reasons that short sales have become more of a viable option for buyers and agents over the past few months in Northern Virginia. The first one is the fact that REO's appear to be in a shorter supply recently because they are so aggressively priced which brings out deal seeking investors or buyers. This causes them to generate multiple offers and sell fast, and creates more aggressive buyers who loose out on multiple properties. With most buyers once they have lost multiple bids on real estate they become more aggressive with the next property negotiation. This is good for our future economy as long as it does not create another irrational exuberance that got us here in the first place. These buyers look more to other options to purchase and low and behold short sales become that option.

With short sales becoming a better option for distressed sellers then foreclosure, more are being listed everyday. This combined with the fact that buyers are willing to make offers on short sales, aka pre-foreclosure, banks have been forced to approve more and more short sales. This leads me to the second reason why these sales are a more viable option for buyers, banks are getting better and more open to approving these deals. When the real estate market started to collapse banks and/or lenders did not know how to deal with short sales nor were they staffed to handle the volume. Now that we are several years into this mess, the banks/lenders have staffed the loss mitigation departments and have processes in place to approve these kinds of deals.

The real estate market in Northern Virginia as a whole is near or at the bottom when it comes to prices. Refer to my article Home Prices Hit Bottom, so I can impress upon you the fact that real estate is local. There are still many people who are out there making their payments but are very upside down on the value of their home. This is due to the fact they pulled money out of their equity or purchased the home when prices where at or near their peak in 2006. Prices will eventually start to increase again at a normal rate so unfortunately many people may be upside down for several more years. This means over the next few years the owners who get a divorce, transferred, or loss of a job will have to short sale. All the professions associated with real estate including buyers and sellers will have to become familiar with this kind of real estate transaction because they will be around in large numbers for a while.

Joey Remondino is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. Specializing in residential homes in Northern Virginia including Manassas City, Manassas Park, Prince William, Fairfax, and Fauquier County. Trained and experienced expert in Relocation, Short Sales, REO's, foreclosures, investments, and any other residential real estate. Joey can guide you through the home buying or selling process.

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area with no sales calls from an agent, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot

Home Buyers Making Multiple Offers on Real Estate in Manassas and Prince William County

Joey Remondino Broker, GRI, E-Pro (StoneHouse Realty Inc) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 15:49:36 -0600

I prefer to sit down with all prospective buyer clients before we ever look at any homes in order to set their expectations of the home buying process. Most people watch the news, talk to their neighbors and chat with co workers about the real estate market and where it is heading. This makes it easy for most to draw simple conclusions on how to negotiate or what should or shouldn't happen while attempting to buy a home, foreclosure, REO, short sale or investment property. Home shoppers conclusions are therefore normally drawn from inexperienced people who get their information from other uninformed people, national news or HGTV. Home buyers should be aware of two critical points, the first is to hire a knowledgeable Realtor and always, always remember real estate is local.

Everyone is aware of the current economic collapse and the volatility of the stock market which was evoked by the real estate debacle. What most do not know or keep up with is exactly when did this precipitous fall in prices begin? The answer to this is as vague as a politician during elections since real estate is local and it depends on the individual market to determine exactly when prices began to fall. We can see the first signs of the market beginning its downturn in Manassas City, Manassas Park and much of Prince William County about April of 2006 when home inventory skyrocketed. We do not see this begin in any part of Fairfax County until late in 2006 and even later inside the beltway. When you do more detailed analysis and take a deeper look you can even see dramatic sale price difference from neighborhood to neighborhood in close proximity. This is one reason why it is detrimental to utilize the services of a knowledgeable agent who is familiar and can effective analyze the local market.

Now that I have explained that that markets can be dramatically different and change quickly we will touch on the main point of this article. Believe it or not, for at least the past 6 months homes in Manassas, Manassas Park and much of Prince William County have been generating multiple offers. A townhome in Manassas that clients I represent, who are investors, made an offer on was priced aggressively and generated 28 other offers in only 10 days. This is very unexpected and hard to believe for many home buyers and investors looking to buy over the past few months. This kind of market can generate asking price or above asking price for aggressively priced homes. Some buyers I have worked with made offers on several homes before they realized that the well priced homes were selling for at least asking price. There are homes on the market that are overpriced so it is important to employee an agent you trust. In case you do not trust your agent have them put together a CMA (Comparative Market Analysis) to show the details on the specific neighborhoods current home sale trends.

There are many opportunities in the Manassas and Prince William real estate market to search for the perfect home or investment property at a great price. With the right agent, a little research and some patience it will not take long to take advantage of the current prices.

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area with no sales calls from an agent, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot.

Joey Remondino is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. Specializing in residential homes in Northern Virginia including Manassas City, Manassas Park, Prince William, Fairfax, and Fauquier Counties. Trained and experienced expert in Relocation, Short Sales, REO's, foreclosures, investments, and any other residential real estate. Joey can guide you through the home buying or selling process.

Home For Sale in Dominion Valley, Haymarket Va

Joey Remondino Broker, GRI, E-Pro (StoneHouse Realty Inc) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:08:58 -0600

Joey Remondino | StoneHouse Realty Inc. | 703-586-7226

5800 Amelia Springs Cir, Haymarket, VA

WOW, what a price for a home in Dominion Valley Country Club.

4BR/2.5BA Townhouse

offered at $299,900

Year Built	2006
Sq Footage	2,528
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Floors	3
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	4,425 sqft
HOA/Maint	$304 per month

DESCRIPTION

What an opportunity to own a home in sought after Dominion Valley Country Club for an unbelievable price. This home has all the updates to live in style including granite in the gourmet kitchen, mocha cabinets, ceramic tile, vaulted ceilings and much more. There is plenty of space in the huge bedrooms and a relaxing patio to enjoy morning coffee while looking over a serine pond. This opportunity will not last long at this price.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Fireplace
High/Vaulted ceiling	Walk-in closet	Hardwood floor
Tile floor	Family room	Living room
Dining room	Breakfast nook	Dishwasher
Refrigerator	Stove/Oven	Microwave
Granite countertop	Basement	Laundry area - inside
Balcony, Deck, or Patio	Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Guest parking	Clubhouse	Swimming pool(s)
Tennis court(s)	Golf course	Lake
Playground	Gated property	Secured entry

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

Gourmet kitchen with upgraded Mocha cabinets.

Cozy gas fireplace.

Family room is open to the kitchen.

Home includes crown molding and chair railings.

Relaxing master bathroom has hand laid ceramic tile.

Feel more secure with a fully gated neighborhood

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Joey Remondino

StoneHouse Realty Inc.

703-586-7226

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jan 22, 2009, 11:49am PST

New Condos in Manassas Virginia, Lee’s Commons

Joey Remondino Broker, GRI, E-Pro (StoneHouse Realty Inc) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:13:44 -0600

I do get asked the question a lot whether a new home is a good deal or is resale the best rout to go. The answer to this is based off individual needs but when it comes down to just price a resale home normally wins out. This is not the case when it comes to the pricing of the new condo subdivision Lee's Commons being built in Old Town Manassas. The current pricing on these units are very aggressive and are just priced slightly above Foreclosures, REO's and short sales in the area.

Ryan Homes the builder of these condos have not sold many units lately and that is what I believe the reason for the aggressive pricing. I believe the lack of sales has to do with the simple fact they do not have a model on site yet. This will change soon since the model should be done and decorated by the start of next year. I of course recommend before stopping in to any new builder sales office to employee a Realtor to go with you. There are many reasons why a buyer should have an agent and they can be found in this article, Negotiating with New Home Builders in Northern Virginia.

The resale value should remain strong on these units in the future due to the fact of all that Old Town Manassas has to offer. Those commuters that do not want to fight traffic have the VRE within walking distance to these condos. There are also plenty of attractions and restaurants that are within walking distance which makes it attractive to those who want to save on gas. The popularity of True walkable Communities have increased of the past few years and will continue to do so, For more information on the Old Town Manassas area take a look at this article, Relocation information on Manassas Va.

Those buyers looking for a good value on a new condo should consider the Lee's Commons community. Please contact me if you need to employ an agent to help negotiate and understand the pitfalls of the builder's sales contract. Remember the builder will pay the agents commission.

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the DC Metro area with no sales calls from an agent, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot.

Joey Remondino is a full time Realtor and Broker Specializing in residential homes in Northern Virginia including Prince William, Fairfax, and Fauquier Counties. Trained and experienced expert in Relocation, Short Sales, REO's, foreclosures, investments, and any other residential real estate. Joey can guide you through the home buying or selling process.

What Is The Federal Rate Cut?

Joey Remondino Broker, GRI, E-Pro (StoneHouse Realty Inc) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 20:45:49 -0600

The Federal Reserve cut rates on October 29th to 1% to help the struggling market, but how does this help the consumer?
This is lowering the short term interest rate which in turn will cause banks to lower their prime rate, usually within a few hours or days. This directly affects most car loans, credit cards, student loans, home -equity lines of credit, and home equity loans (aka second mortgages). The one type of loan this does not directly affect is the fixed rate mortgages many people use to purchase homes. These loans are tied to the 10 year treasury bound which fluctuates based on economic outlooks and/or inflation. What this means is even if the Fed lowers short term rates fixed mortgage rates can go up or down, and with this cut they did take a modest up tick.

Arm's, Adjustable Rate Mortgages, are influenced by either Treasury averages or LIBOR depending on the loan and bank; Therefore, many of these loans lowered by their next adjustment in November. These are the basic principles that cover the majority of consumer loans but in no way encompass all loans products available.

Let's hope this helps the struggling market because with the rate now at 1% there is not much lower it can go.
To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the DC Metro area with no sales calls from an agent, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot.

Joey Remondino is a full time Realtor and Broker Specializing in residential homes in Northern Virginia including Prince William, Fairfax, and Fauquier Counties. Trained and experienced expert in Relocation, Short Sales, REO's, foreclosures, investments, and any other residential real estate. Joey can guide you through the home buying or selling process.

Time to Buy a Home in Northern Va. Especially Prince William County and Manassas.

Joey Remondino Broker, GRI, E-Pro (StoneHouse Realty Inc) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:49:24 -0600

The late summer and early fall have been a blur for me with all the buyers and investors looking for foreclosures, REO's, short sales, or whatever deal they can get their hands on. With the credit crisis and the prices that have rapidly declined over the past year or so the deals are plentiful and ripe for the picking. Many agents in the heat of the market can attest to the fact that many properties are receiving many offers and getting over asking price. This however is a result of banks pricing homes so low in order to create a bidding war among aggressive buyers. I personally have several investors and buyers who have lost bids on multiple homes due to the competition that is growing ever larger.

The question I am sure you are asking, is this the bottom of the housing market collapse? Unfortunately the answer to this is as ambiguous as the two Presidential Candidates are when asked a direct question. The answer is yes and no and depends on one obvious but important factor. It depends on the neighborhood.

Many of the home prices in Prince William County, Manassas City, and Manassas Park have been driven down more and faster then most Northern Va. areas because of the huge number of foreclosures and short sales. The reasons for the large numbers of distressed properties are many and very depending on opinion. Whatever the reason the point is some neighborhoods and areas have higher concentrations of distressed homes which cause these areas to be priced lower due to competition. An analysis on how much some of these homes would cost to build shows a price higher then the current list price which makes a good buy.

People are now realizing that some property is selling at prices that are equal to or cheaper then renting. For example there are townhomes in Belmont Station in Manassas Park selling around $175,000 that were selling just a few years ago in the $380,000 price range. (You can find a mortgage calculator here to find your monthly payment.) These homes are within walking distance to the Manassas Park VRE station which makes them more desirable for renters or buyers. I believe that the bottom of this neighborhood has been reached. In the past 4 months homes that were aggressively priced from 155,000 to 175,000 in this neighborhood have gone under contract in the matter of days. Many of these homes had multiple offers placed on them and generated contracts at or above asking price. These homes last sold in this price range in the year 2000 and 2001 before the "irrational exuberance" in the housing market. I have also discovered that in the last three months the average days on the market for homes sold in this neighborhood has been only 26 days.

This is an example of just one neighborhood, I am aware of many more in the area that are without a doubt at or very close to bottom. Please remember this may very based on neighborhood and condition of the home and there are areas that have more room for a price decline. You can also find a report I was interviewed for in the Washington Post discussing the same topic.

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the DC Metro area with no sales calls from an agent, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot.

Joey Remondino is a full time Realtor and Broker Specializing in residential homes in Northern Virginia including Prince William, Fairfax, and Fauquier Counties. Trained and experienced expert in Relocation, Short Sales, REO's, foreclosures, investments, and any other residential real estate. Joey can guide you through the home buying or selling process.

Please Do Not Give Up: Short Sales Do Close!

Joey Remondino Broker, GRI, E-Pro (StoneHouse Realty Inc) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 08:26:28 -0500

Those of you who have read My Blogin the past are aware that I have been away for 5 months. This is forever in the fast moving no stop world of blogging, but it was required for the benefit of my clients. In this time I have been very busy selling and buying real estate in Northern Va for my clients who are first time home owners, investors, home sellers, and yes selling foreclosures for the banks I work with. The most time consuming client I work with these days are my short sale clients.

I have continued this past spring and summer working with owners who have found themselves upside down in their home. This is a very upsetting for those owners who have to sell their homes due to job loss, divorce, transfer, medical challenges, or many other reasons. I have been working with these clients in Prince William County and the buyers who want to purchase a short sale. The process of getting these sales approved has not become any easier and even with some lenders like Countrywide and Citi Mortgage it has even become more difficult. I have written posts in the past about What is a Short Sale and What Price to Offer on a Short Sale and in all of them I have stressed patience.

The most important aspect of short sales for buyers, sellers, and agents alike has been and will continue to be patience. Lenders, investors, loan servicing centers and banks are slow to respond, loose paperwork, disconnect calls, and plain just do not care for the plight of the individual home owner. This puts the burden of responsibility on the home owner and Agent to be tenacious and constantly call the bank for daily updates on progress of the approval. Sellers need to make sure they hire a local short sale expert who will work hard to get the home under contract and the deal approved by the note holder. The seller also needs to be involved with the process by calling and sending requested paperwork, multiple times.

The home owner who wants to attempt a short sale also has to have a legitimate reason to have to sell their home. These reasons I mentioned earlier including divorce, income loss, rate adjustment, medical bills, transfer, or just can't afford the payment. The agents who are putting short sales on the market just because the owner does not want to be upside down are hurting the rest of the market. These short sales will not get approved and will waste the time of buyers, their agents and is leaving a bad taste for short sales.

I have closed every short sale I have put on the market up to the writing of this article. (I hope I didn't just jinx myself) Each of them had a legitimate reason to sell and the owners were involved in the long process of getting them approved. I have only had one that was relatively simple and that loan was serviced by Aurora Loan Servicing but the rest were very challenging and time consuming. The longest approval process has taken me 150 days to get the property approved and settled and took a great deal of patience and hard work the owner and my part. This deal just closed last month and if you want to see his recommendation letter just click here.

Short Sales do close and will continue to close as long as the listing agent is tenacious and all parties are patient.

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the DC Metro area with no sales calls from an agent, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot.

Joey Remondino is a full time Realtor and Broker Specializing in residential homes in Northern Virginia including Prince William, Fairfax, and FauquierCounties. Trained and experienced expert in Relocation, Short Sales, REO's, foreclosures, investments, and any other residential real estate. Joey can guide you through the home buying or selling process.

Recommendation From a Client

Joey Remondino Broker, GRI, E-Pro (StoneHouse Realty Inc) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 11:37:15 -0500

Here is a recommendation from a recent client, I hope I can live up to it.

This letter is to recommend Joey Remondino as the realtor of choice.

I came to Joey after a web search for realtors who perform short sales. I placed calls to several realtors, leaving voice messages for each. Joey responded immediately and we engaged in a lengthy conversation during that initial phone call. I was impressed with his detailed knowledge and professional manner from the start. I also contacted three references, all of whom gave Joey high praise. Joey is personable and he knows his business. He is a consummate professional who understands the market and is aware of current trends and factors that could affect the sale. I interviewed several realtors in my home. Joey was the most well prepared of them all. He was early, impeccably dressed, and had prepared a detailed market analysis and strategy of his approach to sell my home. I had a list of prepared questions and he answered them all. He arranged his schedule to fit my needs, not only for the initial interview, but during our entire relationship. He and I were a team, working together for a common goal. He is excellent with communication, always returning messages in a timely manner and keeping me informed of the absolute latest developments, something that is critical in conducting a short sale. In short sales, there can be many tripping points that can derail the process, and Joey stayed on top of things during some challenging periods.

After a review of his plan and my decision to go forward with Joey, we placed my home on the market in February 2008. After receiving an immediate offer, Joey went into high-gear. Due to the sheer volume of short sale requests, lenders are overwhelmed with paperwork and cases to process. There are frequent missed phone calls and incomplete faxes, with the consequences being delays in processing and approving the short sale as the foreclosure deadline approaches. Joey is keenly aware of this and is a tenacious agent for his clients. He spent countless hours on the phone staying on top of the lender and negotiating deadlines and agreements with the lender and buyer. It is no exaggeration to say that Joey was the glue that held together the delicate short sale that led to my successful outcome. I cannot state in strong enough terms my complete satisfaction with his handling of my sale, and I offer my highest possible recommendation for Joey Remondino for any real estate needs you may have.

Please feel free to contact me at any time - it would be a pleasure to answer any further questions you may have.

Sincerely,

Jed C. Kane

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the DC Metro area with no sales calls from an agent, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot.

Joey Remondino is a full time Realtor and Broker Specializing in residential homes in Northern Virginia including Prince William, Fairfax, and Fauquier Counties. Trained and experienced expert in Relocation, Short Sales, REO's, foreclosures, investments, and any other residential real estate. Joey can guide you through the home buying or selling process.

9111 Ewell St, Manassas Va 20110

Joey Remondino Broker, GRI, E-Pro (StoneHouse Realty Inc) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:02:01 -0500

Joey Remondino | StoneHouse Realty Inc. | 703-586-7226

9111 Ewell St, Manassas, VA

One level living commuters dream, walk to Old Town and VRE.

4BR/2.5BA Single Family House

offered at $389,900

Year Built	1950
Sq Footage	2,629
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Floors	1
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	.44 acres
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

THIS IS IT, the opportunity to live in Old Town Manassas and walk to all the attractions it has to offer. Walk to excellent restaurants, shopping, city parades, and events at the Harris Pavilion. A commuters dream, to enjoy coffee on your screen porch then walk to the VRE for a relaxing traffic free commute. This one level living home on a large beautiful lot will not last long.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Fireplace
Hardwood floor	Family room	Living room
Dining room	Breakfast nook	Dishwasher
Refrigerator	Stove/Oven	Microwave
Attic	Washer	Dryer
Laundry area - inside	Balcony, Deck, or Patio	Yard

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

Large Beautiful Lot

Huge family room with lots of natural light

Walk to VRE for a stress free commute

Relaxing screened porch

Shed/Workshop with electricity

Cozy wood burning fireplace

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Joey Remondino

StoneHouse Realty Inc.

703-586-7226

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Aug 15, 2008, 4:49am PDT

8936 Yellowleg Ct Gainseville Va 20155

Joey Remondino Broker, GRI, E-Pro (StoneHouse Realty Inc) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 08:29:57 -0500

Joey Remondino | StoneHouse Realty Inc. | 703-586-7226

8936 Yellowleg Ct, Gainesville, VA

4 spacious bedrooms with a finished basement with room to grow.

4BR/3.5BA Single Family House

offered at $319,000

Year Built	2005
Sq Footage	Unspecified
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	3 full, 1 partial
Floors	3
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	5,980 sqft
HOA/Maint	$166 per month

DESCRIPTION

STOP YOUR SEARCH, you have found a beautiful home at a price you can not pass by. This home has the space to grow with 4 spacious Bedrooms a huge finished basement with a 5th room to use as you see fit. Entertain in this bright kitchen that looks over the family rm. Enjoy the fruits of your labor while you take in a cup of coffee on the relaxing porch. Do not miss this one.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Walk-in closet
Hardwood floor	Family room	Living room
Bonus/Rec room	Dining room	Breakfast nook
Refrigerator	Stove/Oven	Microwave
Attic	Basement	Laundry area - inside
Balcony, Deck, or Patio	Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Garage parking	Clubhouse	Swimming pool(s)
Tennis court(s)

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Joey Remondino

StoneHouse Realty Inc.

703-586-7226

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Aug 15, 2008, 4:07am PDT

Please Forgive Me!

Joey Remondino Broker, GRI, E-Pro (StoneHouse Realty Inc) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 08:58:02 -0500

I want to beg for forgiveness from those of you who visit my blog for consistent articles about real estate, my life, or my occasional Soap Box tirade. I have done little to no blogging the past month and a half, but I promise I have good reasons.

The great thing is with the spring market ramping up I have been very busy since the start of March with listings, buyers and contracts. This seems to be a prelude to a busy spring and summer market for me here in Prince William County.

The other major project I have been working on is my revamped web site that will be up and running on the 22nd of this month. The large amount of content and local information has been keeping me busy and taken up my normal blogging time.

I again ask for your forgiveness and hope you will continue to come visit. I will also let you know when my web site is complete so I can get some good feedback.

Mayfield Trace Community, Manassas Va.

Joey Remondino Broker, GRI, E-Pro (StoneHouse Realty Inc) — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 15:11:27 -0500

The Mayfield Trace community is located in Prince William County near Manassas Virginia just off of Prince William Parkway/ Route 234 Bypass. Pulte Homes began construction of the first single family homes in 2005 and is currently offering new home construction starting near $369,000. The community will consist of over 200 homes when completed including a tot lot and walking trails winding through the neighborhood.

Mayfield Trace is conveniently located near all the necessities required for a fast paced life and for those times needed to just slow down. With the commuter in mind the community is close to the VRE commuter train for a stress free and traffic free commute to Washington DC or other places in Northern VA. Those who decide to brave the traffic the PW Parkway/ 234 Bypass allow easy access to Interstate 66 and 95.

Manassas City is just a few minutes away with dinning, entertainment, shopping and all the other necessary business to live a modern life. Old Town Manassas is a perfect place to dine and enjoy a stroll among the shops or take in an event at the Harris Pavilion. There are activities to fit anyone's lifestyle including the Old Dominion Speedway and Prince William fair grounds to just name a few. The outdoors activities close by include golf courses, Prince William Forest National Park, and Signal Hill Park all just a few minutes away.

Public Schools for Mayfield Trace

(Schools territory subject to change by the school board)

Bennett Elementary School

Parkside Middle School

Stonewall Jackson High School

For a list of Private Schools in the area please contact Me at 703-586-7226 or Joey@CallJoey.com

The homes in the community can satisfy the pickiest home buyer with diverse floor plans and affordable prices. The standard home style is Colonial with open floor plans from about 1,900 to over 4,000 Sq ft of finished space and all have basements that may or may not be finished. The standard lot size for most of the homes is ¼ acre with a few approaching ½ acre, just enough for some elbow space and not too much maintenance.

Pulte Homes can build a new home for you from any of their six floor plans or you can find a few resale's on the market. Which ever a buyer is looking for they should have REALTOR represent them through the transaction since Virginia is a buyer beware state. Those buyers looking for a new construction home should know that prices are negotiable and can find some tips in this article, Negotiating With New Home Builders. The home buyers for existing homes can find good deals in the Mayfield Trace neighborhood witch include REO's/ foreclosed homes and short sales. Those looking to buy or sell in Mayfield Trace can contact me for a free consultation.

For a New Home Search on the MLS Please Click Here.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood and with no sales calls from an agent sign up here at MLS Market Snapshot.

Joey Remondino is a full time Realtor specializing in residential homes in Northern Virginia including Prince William, Fairfax, and Fauquier Counties. Trained and experienced expert in Relocation, Short Sales, REO's, investments, and any other residential real estate Joey can guide you through the home buying or selling process.

127 Manassas Dr Manassas Park Va

Joey Remondino Broker, GRI, E-Pro (StoneHouse Realty Inc) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:39:55 -0500

Joey Remondino | StoneHouse Realty Inc. | 703-586-7226

127 Manassas Dr, Manassas Park, VA

This Will Sell Fast.

3 Bdrm Single Family House

offered at $115,990

Year Built	1955
Sq Footage	936
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	1 full, 1 partial
Floors	2
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	7,954 sqft
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

THIS ONE WILL SELL FAST AT THIS PRICE. This home is in good shape with windows, roof, HVAC, kit cabinets, floors, and appliances having been remodeled in the last five years. This one is a great opportunity for investors or a home owner close to Manassas Park shopping and dinning. Bank Owned and sold “AS IS-WHERE IS”. Bank Addm required with all offers. Earnest Money held with Listing Broker.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Hardwood floor
Tile floor	Family room	Refrigerator
Stove/Oven	Washer	Dryer
Yard

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Joey Remondino

StoneHouse Realty Inc.

703-586-7226

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Mar 18, 2008, 8:30am PDT

4 Bedroom 2.5 Bath Single Family Home In Morris Farm, Gainesville Va

Joey Remondino Broker, GRI, E-Pro (StoneHouse Realty Inc) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 10:42:04 -0500

Joey Remondino | StoneHouse Realty Inc. | 703-586-7226

14282 Sharpshinned Dr, Gainesville, VA

This Home Has All The Upgrades To Live In Style.

4 Bdrm Single Family House

offered at $339,900

Year Built	2006
Sq Footage	2,600
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Floors	3
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	7,135 sqft
HOA/Maint	$154 per month

DESCRIPTION

WOW, What a price on this 2 year old home with all the upgrades on a premium lot. This one has it all in order to live in style including crown molding, recessed lighting, hand set ceramic tile, gleaming hardwood floors, and much more. Entertain in the gourmet kitchen with stainless appliances, Corian counters, and upgraded cabinets or the open family room off the kitchen with a cozy fireplace. Do not let this home pass by.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Fireplace
High/Vaulted ceiling	Walk-in closet	Hardwood floor
Family room	Living room	Bonus/Rec room
Dining room	Breakfast nook	Dishwasher
Refrigerator	Stove/Oven	Microwave
Stainless steel appliances	Attic	Basement
Laundry area - inside	Balcony, Deck, or Patio	Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Clubhouse	Swimming pool(s)	Tennis court(s)
Playground

OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES

Maintenance Free Vinyl Siding

OSB Sheathing With House Wrap

Relaxing Front Porch

75 Gallon Quick Recovery Gas Hot Water Heater

Asphalt Driveway and Concrete Walkways

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Joey Remondino

StoneHouse Realty Inc.

703-586-7226

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Mar 18, 2008, 6:16am PDT

9584 Wheats Way Manassas Park

Joey Remondino Broker, GRI, E-Pro (StoneHouse Realty Inc) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 13:42:56 -0500

Joey Remondino | StoneHouse Realty Inc. | 703-586-7226

9584 Wheats Way #63, Manassas Park, VA

3 Bdrm Condo

offered at $229,900

Year Built	2006
Sq Footage	1,298
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Floors	2
Parking	Unspecified
Lot Size	Unspecified
HOA/Maint	$175 per month

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Walk-in closet
Hardwood floor	Tile floor	Family room
Dishwasher	Refrigerator	Stove/Oven
Microwave	Granite countertop	Laundry area - inside
Balcony, Deck, or Patio

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Seller contact info:

Joey Remondino

StoneHouse Realty Inc.

703-586-7226

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Mar 10, 2008, 9:37am PDT

A Letter to People Who Hate REALTORS!

Joey Remondino Broker, GRI, E-Pro (StoneHouse Realty Inc) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 07:14:24 -0600

Dear Haters,

I can appreciate the issue you have with bad REALTORS, God knows how many I have had to put up with and educate while doing a deal with them. Ignorance, greed, and corruption come in all shapes, sizes, and professions including but not limited to doctors, lawyers, factory worker, REALTORS or even Jeopardy champions. Whatever the profession, there are always some who are only looking out for their best interest or they just don't care about others.

I will be the first to admit that some of the transactions I deal in go down without a hitch. Everything from finding or listing the home, to contract, to settlement, to years later there are no problems or issues with most. (This does not include finding a buyer for a listing which is one of the hardest tasks.)

A manual on anything from removing a person's appendix to replacing leaky pipes under a sink can be found. Anyone could do these things as long as it remained a standard procedure that is in a manual. The big challenge is if it is not a standard or normal issue, the 20% of things that could arise may suddenly wreak havoc on someone's life. Without methere, these problems have a better likely hood of happening. They also may become issues that can only be solved in court when they could have been preempted by me. I get paid to guide my client's through the entire process with as little stress and problems as possible. I also get paid for my knowledge and experience to recognize those 20% of transactions that could be problems. I work to take care of them before they become issues that cost my client time and money in the future.

I am in no way guaranteeing that no issues or problems ever arise with the transfer of real estate because sometimes they will. Come to think of it neither a MD nor attorney can guarantee any outcome in their fields either. Most people though, want to forgo the risk and time necessary to do it themselves and pay a REALTOR. Those of us who are full time professionals do many transaction per year where the average person does one every 7 years.

Please do not cast the same light on all agents as those few greedy, corrupt, and ignorant ones out there doing bad business. I along with my fellow REALTORS will continue to work hard long hours to improve our respective community's. We are here and available to help you maneuver the process of buying or selling when you run into challenges on your own.

Sincerely,

Joey Remondino

REALTOR, Broker, GRI, e-Pro

StoneHouse Realty Inc.

Negotiating With Builders of New Homes in Norhtern Va Part 1

Joey Remondino Broker, GRI, E-Pro (StoneHouse Realty Inc) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 12:15:21 -0600

We have all done it, driving around Northern Va. on a weekend afternoon and spotted the flags waiving in the air distracting us from our destination. The loved one in the seat directly next to you points and says, "Let's go take a look inside." There it is just around the corner a spanking brand new home that is so nice it is obvious no one actually lives there. As you walk into the front door the fresh scent of cookies or the aroma therapy candle puts all your other senses at ease. The sales representative is on the phone and appears very busy but kindly acknowledges your presence. They point towards the stairs and tell you to go ahead and take a look inside.

The home is the most beautifully decorated home you have seen with all the upgrades and more. Every single light is on and the shades and curtains pulled back. The soft music in the background you barely notice but it puts some energy in your step. You admire the perfect décor as you take mental notes and begin to place your own furniture in each room. The bathrooms, kitchen, and closets are perfectly organized exactly they way you imagined your own. You stroll down to the basement and find candy for the eyes and soul, the most cozy entertainment room you have ever experienced. The wet bar, pool table, exercise room, and that big screen plasma or projection TV you always wanted in your own home.

With a bit of excitement in your voice you walk back to the main level as the Sales Rep greets you with the biggest smile. They begin to tell you how busy and crazy things have been lately. The sales rep explains the special prices and incentives they are currently having that weekend and begins to ask you non threatening questions. You politely answer all the questions they ask since they have been so nice to you. This is when most buyers give away important confidential information.

You have been had, bamboozled, just plain hoodwinked.

But at least you feel good about it.

I want to start by saying the sales representative is not on your team, their salary, commission and bonuses get paid by the builder. This is the number one reason why you should always visit a model home with a knowledgeable REALTOR by your side and who you have signed a buyer's agreement with. (Plug for my expert services) The new builder will not lower the price of the home because a buyer does not have an agent. If they say they will lower the price it is an amount they will lower whether a buyer has an agent or not.

If you do or have gone into a builders model and you have registered without an agent not all is lost. Contact an agent and give them the scoop and have that agent call the sales rep to see if you can now get representation.

Negotiating with New Home Builders in Northern Va. Part 2

For a free market report on listings and sales in Northern Virginia and with no sales calls from an agent sign up here at MLS Market Snapshot.

Joey Remondino is a full time Realtor specializing in residential homes in Northern Virginia including Prince William, Fairfax, and Fauquier Counties. Trained and experienced in Relocation, Short Sales, REO's, investments, and any other residential real estate Joey can guide you through the home buying or selling process.

Negotiating With Builders of New Homes in Northern Va. Part 2

Joey Remondino Broker, GRI, E-Pro (StoneHouse Realty Inc) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 12:14:19 -0600

Are New Builders Really That Busy?

The answer to this is yes and no, let me tell you why. There are some communities that do sell quickly for many reasons including price and/or location. The thing is the Sales Rep is trained to make prospective new home buyers feel a sense of urgency. The buyers who feel like they are going to loose a particular lot or price are more likely to sign the dotted line faster. The community may not be selling fast at all and the odds of this are good given the market in Manassas, Prince William County and most of Northern VA.

A Model Home

The model homes for most of the new builders in Prince William and all of Northern Va. have all the upgrades possible. Many of new models even have upgrades that a home buyer can not even purchase from the builder. We all have also seen the impeccable décor of these homes that are done by professional decorators. This is done to make the buyers subconsciously think the home they purchase will look like this one. These are also the reasons people are more willing to spend more on a new home.

Negotiating

There are few new home builders including Toll Brothers , Ryan Homes, Stanley Martin, Pulte, NV Homes, Richmond American, Beazer, Lennar, Drees, Centex, or Brookfield that will not negotiate. This is the case if they are selling slower then expected and is true for much of Northern Virginia. A buyer can only negotiate if they are willing to walk away from the deal and not be tied emotionally to the outcome. Here is an article that will help prospective buyers with this called The First Rule of Negotiating Home Sweet Home.

New home buyers in Manassas, Prince William County and Northern Va can negotiate on two different fronts. The first is the most obvious which is the base price of the new home. Most builders in today's market will negotiate; the sales rep just will not tell you that. The other is negotiating free upgrades that are not included in the base price. This will only work if the home has not yet been built. The home builders will sometimes have a home that is or almost complete and in this case the upgrades have been picked. The key is to make sure the sales rep knows you are willing to walk away because of other available new homes or resale's in the area.

The Builders Contract

The home builders contract is mostly in favor of the builder who wrote the contract. There are a lot of things in this contract a prospective purchaser should be aware of before signing. To give an example, most new builder contracts have a long window of time to have the home completed by. I have seen them as long as two years guaranteed to have the home built. Usually the settlement date that is in the contract to purchase is an ESTAMATED date. Of course it is in the best interest of the builder to make the date because that is when they get paid. This is why it is good to have an agent that represents you there to explain anything that you do not understand.

New homes are a pleasure to own because of the style and upgrades a buyer gets to pick and the fact that it has never been occupied. There are also drawbacks to living in a new community especially if it has not been completed. This is why it is good to do the necessary research before buying and have a REALTOR representing your interest.

Negotiating With Builders of New Homes in Northern Va. Part 1.

To search the MLS in Northern Virginia for new homes click here.

For a free market report on listings and sales in Northern Virginia and with no sales calls from an agent sign up here at MLS Market Snapshot.

Joey Remondino is a full time Realtor specializing in residential homes in Northern Virginia including Prince William, Fairfax, and Fauquier Counties. Trained and experienced in Relocation, Short Sales, REO's, investments, and any other residential real estate Joey can guide you through the home buying or selling process.

Relocation Package For Manassas and Manassas Park Va.

Joey Remondino Broker, GRI, E-Pro (StoneHouse Realty Inc) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 09:02:50 -0600

If you are relocating to Manassas or Manassas Park in Prince William County Va. Below are articles describing the area and many of the activities. You will find specific information about some of the larger neighborhoods and the benefits that come with living in those communities. I am constantly adding new neighborhoods and other useful information to this resource for those moving to the area, so please visit often.

I am Currently creating a resource for all of Prince William County and other areas in Northern Virginia and they will be available in the near future. Those buyers relocating soon please contact me and I can send you information on the area of your choice in Prince William County or other areas in Northern Virginia that are not yet available.

Please contact me for more information or my assistance and expertise to make your transition to the area as smooth as possible.

Manassas Virginia Relocation Package

Wellington Community in Manassas Va. Relocation Package

Sumner Lake Community in Manassas Va. Relocation Package

Manassas Park Virginia Relocation Package

Blooms Crossing Community in Manassas Park Va. Relocation Package

Manassas Park Station Community in Manassas Park Va. Relocation Package

For a free market report on listings and sales in the Manassas Park Community or anywhere in Northern Virginia and with no sales calls from an agent sign up here at MLS Market Snapshot.

Joey Remondino is a full time Realtor specializing in residential homes in Northern Virginia including Prince William, Fairfax, and Fauquier Counties. Trained and experienced in Relocation, Short Sales, REO's, investments, and any other residential real estate Joey can guide you through the home buying or selling process.

Adventures in Short Sales.

Joey Remondino Broker, GRI, E-Pro (StoneHouse Realty Inc) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:19:01 -0600

Holly Cow, how much time can one man spend sitting on hold with the lender. I think I have broken a few records this past week. I have a couple of listings that are short sale and they are currently under contract. I spend a lot of time calling them just to get no answer and get transfered multiple times.

I sat on the phone for a total of 1hour 22 min to find out from the bank that the short sale paperwork had not been processed. I was then told that they do not even consider a short sale until the loan is two payments behind.

It is amazing how overwhelmed the loss mitigation department are with the current market conditions across the country.

Wellington Community, Manassas Virginia Relocation Package

Joey Remondino Broker, GRI, E-Pro (StoneHouse Realty Inc) — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:31:26 -0600

The Wellington Community is one of the larger neighborhoods in the City of Manassas Virginia. The subdivisions first home was built in 1988 and continued until 2001 when the last Townhouse was completed. There are a large number of builders who constructed homes in the area from large companies, most will recognize, to some small local builders. The majority of the single family homes where built by Pulte, Van Metre, Fairfield, NV Homes, Stanley Martin, Springbrook and the elusive Tipco Homes (Only 5 Built) to name most. The 565 townhouses and 257 condominiums were mainly built by Ryan Homes and Comstock.

The style of homes in Wellington are predominantly Colonial homes, pictured left top, with a few unique styles like the Tipco Homes mentioned previously. (Pictured left bottom) Most of the homes in the neighborhood have basements with many having finished living space. The sizes of the homes vary from 1400 sq feet to upwards of 5000sq ft for some of the detached single family homes.

The prices in the Wellington neighborhood can fit many budgets depending on the style and size of the home a buyer wants. With the current market conditions there are aggressively priced homes in the area that are an excellent value. The buyers who have patience and are open to a little risk there are some REO/foreclosed homes and short sales available that are negotiable. I would recommend for buyers to have a knowledgeable REALTOR who is an expert in Manassas and experienced with short sales and REO's. (This is a shameless plug for my services) Here are some tips to help in negotiating the price for that dream home, What Price Do I Offer?

There are many activities for the active home owners that are included in the Wellington community. There is a pool at the community center with activities all summer long including the annual July 4^th party. The neighborhood has beautiful walking trails meandering through the community which you can find a map here. There are also multiple basketball courts, playgrounds and tennis courts available for residents of the community.

The Wellington Neighborhood is perfectly located close to shopping, dinning, multiple businesses, parks, and museums. Wellington is also close to Old Town Manassas and all it has to offer since it is a true walkable community. Those that enjoy fairs the Prince William County fair grounds, the largest county fair in the state, are just around the corner. The out doors type there is the Battlefield National park and Prince William Forest a short distance away with miles of trails and nature.

Commuters

Since Manassas is a suburb of Washington DC there are plenty of government and corporate jobs in Northern Virginia. This makes the commute very important and is why Wellington is in a great location. The community has easy access to route 28, Prince William Parkway and rout 234 which makes a short drive to Interstate 66 or 95. Wellington is also close to the VRE commuter train stop located in Old Town Manassas for a more relaxing and environmentally friendly commute.

Public Schools Serving Wellington

Wellington is governed by the City of Manassas which also makes it fall into the city school system. The schools will vary depending on which specific home a buyer is purchasing. The school lines may be changed at any time by the City of Manassas. The following public schools serve the Wellington community. Please contact me for a list of surrounding private schools.

Jennie Dean Elementary

Round Elementary

Grace E Metz Middle

Osbourn High School

Wellington is a community that can fit almost any buyer's needs moving to the area. There are many more activities and sites to be enjoyed in the area, too many to list. Please contact me and I will be happy to answer any further question about buying a home in Manassas, Prince William County or anywhere in Northern Virginia.

Search the MLS here for homes in Wellington and all of Northern Virginia.

HELP!!! I Need An Intervention.

Joey Remondino Broker, GRI, E-Pro (StoneHouse Realty Inc) — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:05:22 -0600

In the real estate business and in life we can experience a wide range of emotions in a single day. It is almost impossible for us to consistently stay balanced 24/7 without some outside intervention. This intervention can sometimes be caused inadvertently or with purpose. I personally would rather learn to stay balanced by my own choice and that is why I read quotes.

These quotes are some of my favorites and help me re focus on what is important when I get off balance. Some are good for business, personal, spiritual, or just plain funny. It is surprising how a few words and phrases spoken out loud and internalized can have such a profound effect. I hope you enjoy them and they are helpful for you, I am sure you have read or heard some of them.

"Attitudes are more important then facts" ---Dr. Karl Menninger

"Be fearful when others are greedy, be greedy when others are fearful" --Warren Buffett

"Do the thing you fear and the death of fear is certain." --Ralpf Waldo Emerson

"People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid." --Soren Aabye Kierkegaard

"In the end we will remember not the word of our enemies but the silence of our friends." --Martin Luther King Jr.

"Do, or do not. There is no try." --Yoda

"Men for the sake of getting a living forget to live" --Margaret Fuller

"The average person thinks he isn't" -Father Larry Lorenzoni

"Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws." -Plato

"God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh." --Voltaire

"The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good." -Samuel Johnson

Manassas Virginia Relocation Package

Joey Remondino Broker, GRI, E-Pro (StoneHouse Realty Inc) — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:09:50 -0600

I am biased when it come to Manassas City since my family calls it home. I have personally seen it grow and change since I was born in Prince William Hospital, all those years ago, which is located in the City of Manassas. I have lived in Prince William County for most of my life and is why I am an expert when it comes the area and much of Northern Virginia.

Manassas made its place on the map during the Civil War due to the two Battles of Bull Run with the first being the first major land battle of the Civil War. The Manassas Train station pictured above was a key cross roads for the trains that ran to Washington DC and south to Richmond. The battles took place a few miles away at Bull Run Creek and are now a national park with trails, museums, and plenty of history. The old stone house pictured to the left is located on the park and has the best winter sledding hill in Northern Virginia. The building was used as a hospital during the battle and also lent its name to our real estate brokerage firm StoneHouse Realty Inc.

The Manassas area is a suburb of Washington DC and includes the City of Manassas and surrounding Prince William County and both have their own Governing body. The state of Virginia is different then most states because some cities have their own governing body including police and schools separate from the surrounding county. Buyers relocating should remember this when moving to the area because a home can have a Manassas address but be governed by Prince William County.

Within Manassas is Old Town Manassas and is a true walkable community with excellent restaurants, shopping, and entertainment for everyone. There are holiday parades right through town, concerts and events at the Harris Pavilion, and many other activities. The commuter train VRE has a stop in Manassas for the commuters to Washington DC and other places in between. The commuter that prefer to drive have access to Route 28, Route 29, and interstate 66 to access all of Northern Virginia.

The housing in Manassas can satisfy the pickiest home buyers. The dominating style home is colonial but you can find just about anything with the right Realtor including ramblers, victorian, contemporary, cape cod and many more. There are new subdivisions being built and homes well over 100 years old all with small or large lots depending on the buyers needs. The home buyers looking for a good deal and can handle some risk there are short sale homes and REO/Foreclosed homes available. Home buyers looking to move to Manassas or Prince William County should consult a knowledgeable REALTOR to find the perfect dream home. (This is a shameless plug for My Services)

Those buyers relocating to Manassas with children will be happy to know some of the best schools in many categories are in the area. Below are links to the schools in the Manassas area including the City of Manassas Schools and Prince William schools covering the Manassas area. Please contact me for a list of private schools in the area.

Manassas City Schools

Prince William County Schools

There are many recreational activities to enjoy in the Manassas area and easy access to all that Northern Virginia has to offer. There is Prince William Forest that includes camping, miles of trails, and other activities through out the year. For those hot days of summer Splashdown Water Park is right in Manassas and also has sport fields available. There are plenty of golf courses near by with varying prices including Manassas Hills, Generals Ridge and Broad Run. The History buffs can visit the Manassas museum, Bull Run Battlefield museum, or travel into DC for a plethora of museums.

Manassas can fill the needs to satisfy the active lifestyle to the relaxed lifestyle and everyone in between. With Washington DC a short trip away all can enjoy its benefits but without paying the higher price on a home. The short distance to vacation areas or a train ride to New York City the conveniences of Manassas are boundless. Those that are considering relocating to Manassas, Prince William County or any where in Northern Va. please contact me, I am a relocation expert.

Communities in Manassas

Old Town Manassas

Sumner Lake

Wellington Neighborhood

To Search the MLS homes for sale in Manassas or anywhere in Northern Va go to http://www.calljoey.com/

For a free market report on listings and sales in Northern Virginia and with no sales calls from an agent sign up here at MLS Market Snapshot.

Joey Remondino is a full time Realtor specializing in residential homes in Northern Virginia including Prince William, Fairfax, and Fauquier Counties. Trained and experienced in Relocation, Short Sales, REO's, investments, and any other residential real estate Joey can guide you through the home buying or selling process.

Market report For Gainesville Virginia, February 2008

Joey Remondino Broker, GRI, E-Pro (StoneHouse Realty Inc) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 10:08:08 -0600

When preparing to sell a home it is very important to know how long it will take to get your home sold. This can be very useful information in several different scenarios. The first is if you are building a new home and it will be ready to close and move into on a exact date. Most builders will not give you this date until a month or two before settlement.

This date will also be important if you are relocating and need to be at your new job at a specific time. Most people need to be able to sell their current home before they can close on the next. This time frame is an average of course and you should make plans in case it sells sooner or later then the average home. The price on a home will also allow the home to sell faster or slower but you should consult a knowledgeable Realtor.

These are the days on the market for homes from January 16th to February 16 2008 in Gainesville Virginia.

The average home took 112 days to sell in Gainesville and the current homes under contract are higher at 129 days. The current 360 Active listings have been on the market for an average of 175 days. All of the days on the market have increased since last report. This tells us the average home is taking longer to sell since the active listings have a higher number of days on the market. A positive note for home sellers is the total number of homes on the market has dropped by just over 10% since last reported.

These numbers should give anyone selling a residential property an idea of what time it may take to get their property Sold. Some other statistics for Gainesville are:

January 16th-February 16th 2008

Average Sold Price: $375,385

Average Price of Homes Under Contract: $454,410

Number of Homes Sold: 25

Active REO's: 43

Active Short Sales: 27

With the number of short sales and REO's, 20% of active listings, this will cause a further drag on the prices in Gainesville and cause a continued down trend in prices. This can very from neighborhood to neighborhood please contact me for neighborhood specific information. If you need to decide if a short sale is right for you refer to my article HERE or contact me.

For a free market report on listings and sales in Northern Virginia and with no sales calls from an agent sign up here at MLS Market Snapshot.

Joey Remondino is a full time Realtor specializing in residential homes in Northern Virginia including Prince William, Fairfax, and Fauquier Counties. Trained and experienced in Relocation, Short Sales, REO's, investments, and any other residential real estate Joey can guide you through the home buying or selling process.

It's Not Presidents Day!.....Or is it.

Joey Remondino Broker, GRI, E-Pro (StoneHouse Realty Inc) — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 13:50:22 -0600

This holiday began as a celebration for our First President George Washington's birthday born February 22nd 1732. The day was celebrated before he was even President because of his success as general during our Revolutionary War. Officially the Federal Holiday is still considered "Washington's Birthday" but advertisers in the 1980s began to designate it "Presidents Day". This was done to celebrate all Presidents since so many states have different names for the holiday and celebrating different presidents.

The big reason of course is due to our 16th President Abraham Lincoln who was also born in February. In some states Lincolns birthday is celebrated on the 12th, the day he was born no mater what day of the week it falls. About 12 states or so have changed Washington's Birthday to "Presidents Day" or Washington and Lincoln Day". In Massachusetts the Day is designated as "Washington's Birthday" but the Governor of that state is required to make a "Presidents Day" proclamation honoring the past Presidents from that state. Now tell me that is not confusing.

The Great State of Virginia where I was born and currently reside in is also the State George Washington was born and here it is legally known as "George Washington Day".