Your Favorite Style Home in Your Area - 05/31/07 01:40 PM
The other day I was speaking with my friend (and ActiveRain contributor) Jim Crawford; the Brooklyn born displaced resident of Atlanta.  He told me that he was "Doing an Ed DeChristopher."  "What in the world is that?" was my response.  "Driving around and taking pictures of different things and different homes in our area." he answered.
Another inspiration for a blog.  Why not solicit photos from ActiveRain bloggers?  Ask them to submit a photograph from their area of operation.  That photo can be your favorite style home in your area; a landmark in your area; a nice looking building in your area; … (4 comments)

What's Going on in Fredericksburg Va? - 05/30/07 10:10 AM
In case you could not deduce from this cartoon, I have been busy the last few days trying to restore information to the hard drive of my laptop computer.  As a result, blogs from Fredericksburg VA have been delayed a bit.  My trusty laptop that I have been carrying back and forth from home to work every day for the past two years.
About four months ago, after talking with my friend Angus Woodbury, I heard about a program that would save me work if my hard drive crashed.  I subscribed to the service he recommended and it made the whole process … (3 comments)

Memorial Day 2007 - 05/26/07 05:36 PM

Memorial Day 2007
  
Parades.  When I was a boy growing up in Peekskill NY there were parades all of the time.  At least it seemed like there were to me.  I loved them.  I loved the music.  I loved the horses.  I loved the fire trucks.  I loved to see the Peekskill Military Academy cadets in their blue uniforms and white hats.  I loved just about everything that the parades brought us.  I loved parades.
We had parades on Memorial Day (the day when we remembered those that had died at war while protecting our country).  We had parades on Independence Day (we … (7 comments)

Should I Upgrade The Countertops In My Home? - 05/22/07 09:03 AM
Yesterday a client here in Fredericksburg VA asked me that question.  They are not, at this point, selling their home but they may at some point.  Resale homes for sale in our area do not normally have upgraded countertops unless they are fairly new or if the owners have had new countertops recently installed.
Naturally, they would like to know if it would increase the value of their home.  Specifically, will it increase the resale value?
Their countertops are "builder grade" laminate (trade name of Formica is often used to describe them).  They are toying with either granite, Corian, Silestone, or some other synthetic other than laminate.
Their home … (48 comments)

Staging - Newest of Fads in Real Estate Sales? - 05/18/07 06:31 AM
Have read several of the postings here on Active Rain regarding staging a home for sale.
Also heard discussions about the subject while at a meeting of the CyberProfessionals® in Albuquerque earlier this month.  Came back home to Fredericksburg VA ready to implement some of the ideas I had learned amongst some from some of the industry's best and brighest.
Suggested to my associate (and daughter) that she look into attending a class on "staging" homes.  She asked "What more is there to it than telling someone to get rid of some of their "junk", cleaning out their closets, and rearranging their furniture to … (13 comments)

Stone River Community in Stafford County VA - 05/18/07 06:11 AM

Stone River is a Planned Unit Development (PUD) in Stafford County VA.
Stone River is conveniently located along US Route 1 between Garrisonville and Stafford Courthouse.  And most importantly, it is located just a few miles south of the US Marine Corps Base at Quantico.  Many Marines stationed at Quantico live here and some that commute to Washington DC live here as well.
Stone River is located about 12 miles north of Fredericksburg VA.  As such, homes for sale in Stone River and the rest of Stafford County are among the least expensive in Northern Virginia.
We have been fortunate over the years to … (2 comments)

We Are Up To Our Ears With Real Estate Agents? - 05/15/07 12:10 PM
Just finished writing a blog on another real estate blogsite  and I think you may find it ineresting.  It takes a few minutes to get that blog published so I hope it is done by the time you want to read it.
Our geographic area of Fredericksburg VA (which includes the City of Fredericksburg VA, Spotsylvania County, Stafford County, King George County, and Caroline County, is growing at an alarming rate.  As you might expect, the number of real estate agents and brokers is growing disproportionately fast as well.
Our little historic region has about 1800 members in the Fredericksburg Area Association of Realtors®.  … (10 comments)

Mothers Day - 05/14/07 05:55 AM
May 13, 2007; Mothers Day!
Unlike for most of you, I am sure, Mothers Day became a decision making day for us here in Fredericksburg VA.
Decided not to spend the day at work but rather, to spend it doing something my bride of 49 years would enjoy.  She has always liked photography but just recently became interested in digital photography.  With it being such a beautiful day, we decided to make a visit to a local attraction that I had never seen.
Belmont was the home to one of the early 20th Century's prominent artists, Gari Melchers (1860-1932).  Melchers was born in Detroit MI … (8 comments)

Gas Prices - 05/13/07 07:11 AM
Just finished reading and commenting on my friend Kristal Kraft's blog about gas prices  on Active Rain.
Have been thinking a long time how we are being set up by the financially well off petroleum industry.  I have read their rationale about their losses caused by hurricanes, rising costs of importing crude, etc.  Nonetheless, the shareholders continue to see increased dividends in their distributions.  CEO's continue to make millions of dollars (inspite of claims that profits are falling), and blind trusts grow at alarming rates.
Given all that, we still buy gas much cheaper than do our colleagues in Europe and other parts … (16 comments)

Fredericksburg Va Real Estate - 05/11/07 09:53 AM
Although I tout my blog as being "Musings about historic Fredericksburg Virginia . . ." think it is time to get back to some information about the Fredericksburg Va real estate market.
An excellent indication of the health of the real estate market is how long it takes homes to sell.  There certainly has been a significant change in this over the past year or two.  Unfortunately, it seems to be taking more and more time to have a home sold today than it did a few years ago.  Our local MLS, the Metropolitan Regional Information System (MRIS) has begun publishing graphs … (3 comments)

Timing Is Everything - 05/09/07 05:56 AM
Have been in the real estate business in the Fredericksburg Virginia area since 1989.  Have been trying to assist sellers and buyers in Spotsylvania County, Stafford County, King George County, Orange County, Caroline County, and the City of Fredericksburg since then.
Am not much for superstitions but . . .
Why is it that when you take time to relax and/or leave town, things start to get really busy?
About a week ago I listed a townhome that was in need of some cosmetic repairs (well maybe a few things were a bit beyond the "cosmetic" stage).  The owner, a previous buyer client … (11 comments)

Signs of the Times - 05/08/07 09:14 AM
My friend Linda Davis has a blog on some cute signs she observed while attending the CyberProfessional conference in Albuquerque.
On the ride back to Fredericksburg VA from Albuquerque, I had an opportunity to take a picture of a very interesting comment imprinted on the seat in front of me.  Hopefully, you will be able to read the comment:
Guess it is easier to fasten your seat belt while seated than it is to fasten it on your way to the lavatory!
Unfortunately, I could not get a picture of another sign that was over the isle right next to my seat.  Nonetheless, I … (3 comments)

Fredericksburg Virginia Real Estate Broker Goes West - 05/08/07 08:09 AM
Last week we traveled out west to Albuquerque New Mexico for a gathering of the CyberProfessionals.  This august group meets twice a year and this time it was at the Sandia Resort and Casino.  The resort sits at the foot of the Sandia Mountains.
CyberProfessionals gathered in Albuquerque to share ideas about how they could enhance the service we provide to our clients.  This meeting was rich in ideas!  Came away from the conference with plenty of new ideas; some have already been implemented!
On Saturday my wife Carol and I took a trip north to Santa Fe.  On the way up we … (10 comments)

The Beauty of Virginia - 05/02/07 07:08 AM
The time is approaching, rapidly I will tell you, for you "Baby Boomers" to make an extremely important decision in your life (or lives if appropriate).
Retirement is just around the corner and you will have to decide where you want to live.
We in the real estate profession have experienced the trauma associated with this decision many times over.  Not necessarily with ourselves but with previous clients/customers.
Now the shoe is about to be put on the other foot.  Where will you, real estate professional, decide to retire?  For many there will be no relocation necessary or desired.  Some of you, however, will … (4 comments)

Public Perception - 05/01/07 07:01 AM
Ladies and gentlemen of the public lend me your ears.
In spite of what your perception of what a real estat agent may be, please do not judge us by the actions of a few.
We come from many walks of life.  Some of us have a past that is golden and some of us do not.  Many are women and some are men.  Some of us have families to support and others of us do not.  Several of us have jobs during the day other than real estate and others of us do it full-time.
I write this article because of a recent … (6 comments)

 
Ed-2007

Ed DeChristopher, CRS©,Fredericksburg VA

Fredericksburg, VA

More about me…

Fredericksburg Realty, Inc.

Address: 910 Princess Anne St, Suite 211, Fredericksburg, VA, 22401

Office Phone: (540) 368-3900

Cell Phone: (540) 295-3515

Email Me

Musings about historic Fredericksburg Virginia in general with specific focus on homes for sale in Fredericksburg Virginia and the local real estate market. <!-- Start of StatCounter Code -->


Links

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog