prince william county foreclosures: Despite Rumors There Are Prince William County Foreclosures Available To Buy - 09/06/12 06:33 PM
Though the number of foreclosures in Prince William County VA has been on a steady decline over the last three years it doesn't mean they have dried up completely.  
 

The question buyers need to ask themselves is whether a foreclosure is still the best deal they can find on a home? Unfortunately this is another time when I have to say "it depends." Tomorrow my buyer is closing on a foreclosure in the River Oaks neighborhood in Woodbridge. The final sales price falls in the middle of similar townhouses sold in the neighborhood in 2012.  Just as with a … (6 comments)

prince william county foreclosures: Checking Out The Latest REO Listings In Prince William County Virginia - 10/29/11 05:18 PM
Even though the weather outside is frightful and some of Northern Virginia is seeing an rare October snowstorm it didn't keep me from heading out to show Prince William County REO properties.  We gave our buyers a warning when we saw the weather report...bundle up....as most REO properties are without electricity and heat.
Now there are always a few surprises when you are showing REO's.  Some of them make you back out the door but then there are the ones that make you say "I wonder what they were thinking?"  In this case it was a rambler on a nice 1/3 … (6 comments)

prince william county foreclosures: Dear Mr. Lender-I Was Going to Show Your Listing Today - 02/15/10 04:07 PM
However when my buyers and I arrived we couldn’t get to the front door. I know it we have had an unusual amount of snow this year in Northern Virginia but buyers are still out looking for homes.  In fact they are out in droves trying to find homes to put under contract before the current tax credits expire at the end of April. You have a listing agent who you have put in charge of taking care of your listings for you.  As you can see by the lack of footprints in the snow that not only are the sidewalks … (27 comments)

prince william county foreclosures: Belmont Bay-Tomorrow is Auction Day for River Club 2 - 12/03/09 01:28 PM
Anyone driving through Belmont Bay this week has seen the flurry of activity around the River Club 2 Condominium building.  A now defunct Comstock project the 19 remaining unfinished units in the building along with 84 development lots are being auctioned off Friday December 4th at the Prince William County Courthouse in Manassas.
Many buyers think the auction is for individual condo units.  It is not.  The auction is for the entire remaining 19 units as a parcel and the development lots as a separate parcel.  If a winning bidder is interested in buying both packages they will have that option to … (4 comments)

prince william county foreclosures: Prince William County Buyers-What About Those Permits? - 05/05/09 07:27 PM
A few days ago in a post "House Flippers Beware-Do You Know about the 90 Day FHA rule"  I mentioned a couple of the issues that investors and buyers were encountering when trying to flip or buy a flip in this market.
The second issue we are now finding is that the properties are being renovated without permits.  Now I understand if you are just putting in new kitchen cabinents or re-tiling a bathroom you don't need a permit.  But most of the "flip" properties are going through serious rehab.  New electric, new plumbing, new kitchens, new bathrooms or new windows … (6 comments)

prince william county foreclosures: House Flippers Beware-Do You Know About the FHA 90 Day Rule? - 04/30/09 08:14 AM
You just got a great deal on a foreclosure or short sale property in Prince William County.  You brought in your crew to renovate and now it is ready to go back on the market.  But who can you sell it to?Recently my buyers have encountered two properties in Woodbridge that were pristine and within their price range.  They were excited and ready to write an offer.  However both properties were flips and didn't qualify for FHA financing.  Since a large percentage of buyers in our area, especially at the lower price points are using FHA loans those newly purchased and … (10 comments)

prince william county foreclosures: Is the Market About to Be Flooded with Foreclosures….Again? - 04/18/09 06:26 AM
Most of the larger banks put a moratorium on foreclosures last fall and the impact could be seen throughout Northern Virginia.  Inventory decreased, bidding wars started and houses flew off the market.  Now the floodgates of foreclosures appear to be ready to open again.  And this time some analysts are suggesting up to 700,000 homes could be in this next round of foreclosures. 
"J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., Wells Fargo & Co., Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac all say they have increased foreclosure activity in recent weeks. Those companies say they have lifted internal moratoriums which temporarily halted foreclosures." WSJ 4/15/09Driving … (17 comments)

prince william county foreclosures: Not all Prince William County Foreclosures are Biohazards - 04/06/09 05:51 PM
The press loves to focus on the negative.  The housing market is in shambles and all foreclosures are a wreck or so they want you to think.  For those of us who are in the trenches everyday we know that there is another side to the story.  In Prince William County (VA) there are buyers out in droves looking, making offers and closing on homes everyday.  And there are plenty of homes that are not only move in ready but in some cases they are spectacular.Buyers can find deals on foreclosures in any price range including the upper brackets.  If you … (6 comments)

prince william county foreclosures: Another Family Makes a Move-A Few Foreclosure Reminders - 03/23/09 06:01 PM
The landlord didn't say a word but the notice tacked on the front door said it all.  The mortgage wasn't being paid and the bank was giving notice of the pending foreclosure action.It isn't a new a new phenomena, in fact I first wrote about this back in October 2007  when one of my clients experienced the shock of a foreclosure move.  Fast forward and the notices are still arriving on door throughout Northern Virginia.  Along the way I've learned a few things to try and help my rental clients avoid this mid-lease move or protect their credit rating when the … (10 comments)

prince william county foreclosures: Prince William County Inventory-What's Missing From Our Numbers? - 03/18/09 07:06 PM
Currently the MRIS data shows that the number of new listings in our area is down.  Okay that should be good news.  However along with every set of data comes the back story.  In the case of lower inventory some of that back story has to do with foreclosure listings.  Last fall Freddie Mac along with other lenders put a moratorium on new foreclosure proceedings until the economic stimulus packages worked their way through Congress.  Only those properties that had already been through the foreclosure process made their way to the MLS and not even all of those have been listed.For … (16 comments)

prince william county foreclosures: Jazz Up Your Walls-A Little Graffiti Art Will Do - 12/03/08 03:00 PM
The house was unassuming from the outside.  A typical Prince William County brick front colonial with a great lot.  Nothing unusual on the main level and since it was a foreclosure the buyer's expectations weren't set to high.  Upper level had 4 nice size bedrooms and other than a little clean up the house was receiving two thumbs up.Then we ventured to the lower level recreation room.  This was obviously the party room in the house.  At first glance the thought was perhaps vandals had come into the house.  But then we realized that the graffiti was there on purpose.  All … (16 comments)

prince william county foreclosures: Lake Ridge-Affordable Homes in Prince William County - 11/18/08 08:41 AM
Are you looking for a neighborhood that offers you good schools, close by shopping and multiple commuting options to DC and other points?  Then you need to take a look at the affordable homes in the community of Lake Ridge in Prince William County.  Since many of the best values are in bank owned properties and the condition can vary, our team regularly tours foreclosure properties to determine condition and whether those properties should be on a short list for our investors, contractors or first time homebuyers.  Yesterday the foreclosure tour of Lake Ridge included three detached homes.  They ranged in … (2 comments)

prince william county foreclosures: Woodbridge Foreclosures-Are You Looking for A Nice Kitchen? - 11/13/08 02:30 PM
Even though there have been a few tongue and cheek Prince William County foreclosure posts there are also homes with a kitchens that any chef would envy.  So if you are looking for a nice kitchen with a home attached to it let these examples show you that they are out there.    Today my clients settled on this terrific townhouse in Woodbridge.  Who could complain about a huge granite island, stainless steel appliances, wood floors and a wet bar for $400,000? 
 
 
 
 
Need a nice kitchen in a lower price range?  Then maybe the kitchen in this 3 BR/3 … (2 comments)

prince william county foreclosures: Prince William County-Belmont Bay Foreclosure - 11/10/08 06:46 PM
Buyers interested in purchasing a foreclosure property often wonder if you can find properties that are in good shape.  This golf villa in Belmont Bay isn't perfect but with 4 Bedrooms/3 Full Baths a garage and 2200 square feet it is a good buy.  Recently my clients had looked at a much smaller golf villa at the same price.  They liked this one enough that they decided to make an offer and we are just waiting for the final signatures from the bank.If you are a buyer who is considering buying a foreclosure in Prince William County give me a call.  I've … (8 comments)

prince william county foreclosures: Prince William County Foreclosures- Lake Ridge Properties Are Still HOT! - 11/03/08 03:28 PM
The details of the 700 Billion Dollar "bailout" plan and how it will help the average homeowner in our area is still unknown.   However that hasn't kept buyers sitting on the sidelines in Prince William County.  Prices in many communities are 50% off of the highs of 2003-2004.  Everything from almost new homes that only need cleaning to true contractor specials are available throughout the area.  For first time buyers can find a detached home in Lake Ridge under 300K and if you are looking for a Lake Ridge townhouse or condo you can easily find a property under 200K.  Investors … (2 comments)

prince william county foreclosures: REO “MYTHCONCEPTIONS” - 10/17/08 03:51 PM
It never fails when you get a group of buyer's together in Northern Virginia the talk turns to REO properties and the rumors that they have heard from their friends.  From experience this year working with buyers on REO purchases I've encountered the following "mythconceptions."
Banks will not turn on the utilities-FALSEVery few banks refuse to turn on the utilities and most of the larger banks such as Countrywide and IndyMac have the utilities on.  If they aren't a call to the listing agent should take care of the problem.  Don't take no for an answer and if they continue ask … (17 comments)

prince william county foreclosures: Everything but the Kitchen Sink-An REO Surprise - 10/03/08 10:22 PM
Just when you think you have seen it all in bank owned properties you can still be surprised.  This week while showing a newly listed bank owned condo in Northern Virginia my clients and I had to look twice before uttering the phrase "everything but the kitchen sink" applied to the property.
 Missing appliances aren't anything new.  In fact no appliances are often better than the ones left behind.  But all of the door knobs, plumbing fixtures, light fixtures, wired smoke alarms, built in medicine cabinets and even the cheap builder grade mirrors over the bathroom sinks were gone.  The only … (48 comments)

prince william county foreclosures: Buying Foreclosures-It Isn’t as Scary As You Might Think - 09/29/08 06:36 PM
Buyers who are considering purchasing a foreclosure property in Northern Virginia are often led to believe that the process is a complete nightmare.  In reality the process has a number of the same steps as buying any other property in the area.  The biggest difference is the bank addendums and your rights regarding inspections.It is okay to have questions, lots of questions, about buying a foreclosure.  When you start the process of buying a foreclosure keep a running list of the questions you have.  Read an article in the paper and you don't know what it means, write it down.   Has … (3 comments)

prince william county foreclosures: The Mailman Knows Where the Next Foreclosure Will Be - 08/25/08 08:43 PM
Think about it for a second.  If you want to know who is having trouble paying their mortgage the mailman may be the person to ask.  The mailman is the one that is delivering the overdue notices and demand letters from the lenders to the house.  It seems they should be the ones we should be asking what's going on in the market.  If all real estate is local then who is more local than the mailman?
This might seem a bit far fetched but it is it anymore far fetched than what the national news is reporting?  The balance of … (21 comments)

prince william county foreclosures: Foreclosure Tours from the Sublime to the Eeekkk - 08/17/08 08:27 PM

It is never a boring day when you head out to show Prince William County foreclosures.  Without pictures in the MLS you aren't sure if you are going to find a gem or a horror story.  Some days you get lucky and everything you show is in good shape.  On other days you wish you had stayed in bed.
Yesterday I only had two properties scheduled on the foreclosure tour.  One house was relatively new and the other about 10 years old.  My mold sniffing nose was on and so when we opened the door we were prepared to back away … (16 comments)

 
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Cindy Jones-Northern Virginia Real Estate & Military Relocation Services

Woodbridge, VA

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CJ Realty Group, Inc.

Address: 12804 Marblestone Drive, Woodbridge, VA, 22192

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