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Stop What You Are Doing and Sell Your House: Inventory is Still Very Low in Northern Virginia

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Allegiance, Managing Broker/Branch Vice President

Three and a half months ago, I wrote Stop Thinking About It. It's Time to Sell Your House. Inventory is Very Very Low in Northern Virginia

I'm not one of those agents who's constantly running around saying "It's a good time to buy.  It's a good time to sell," everyday, everywhere, to everyone.

When asked whether it's a good time to buy or to sell, I always answer with the lawyerly answer "It Depends!"  It always depends on your personal and financial situation and on your life and goals.

However, if you've been considering selling your home, or you HAVE to move, it's time to repeat the advice in my earlier post.

Inventory of homes on the market is up just slightly from then and mostly due to the seasonal slowdown in home sales during the Winter and the grinding halt of business in early February due to the historic snowfall we had in our region.

Stop & SellHere's the advice I gave before and I'll repeat here.

If you've been thinking about selling your house in Northern Virginia, follow these four important steps:

  1. Stop what you are doing right now.  Seriously.  Stop!
  2. Stop "thinking" about selling your house.
  3. Tidy up the house.
  4. Call me to help sell your house.  (Call today at 703-626-0715)

Why?

Northern Virginia Housing inventory is at low levels.  A "normal" or balanced market means that there is 6 months of inventory of houses on the market.  More than 6 months inventory favors buyers who have lots of homes to choose from.  Less than 6 months inventory favors sellers who can take advantage of the lack of inventory to entice the buyers to buy their home.

In Northern Virginia, housing inventory is still VERY low.

Consider:

City of Alexandria:

  • 519 homes on the market
  • 865 sales in last 6 months or 144 Alexandria home sales/month
  • Currently ONLY 3.6 Months of housing inventory in Alexandria, VA (compares to 2.4 in early Decembrer 2009)

Arlington County:

  • 635 homes on the market
  • 1,182 sales in last 6 months or 197 Arlington home sales/month
  • Currently ONLY 3.2 Months of housing inventory in Arlington, VA (compares to 2.4 in early December 2009)

Fairfax County:

  • 2,611 homes on the market
  • 7,271 sales in last 6 months or 1,211 Fairfax County home sales/month
  • Currently ONLY 2.15 Months of housing inventory in Fairfax County, VA (compares to 1.77 in early December 2009)

McLean, Virginia (location of my RE/MAX Office):

  • 189 homes on the market
  • 301 sales in last 6 months or 50.2 McLean home sales/month
  • Currently ONLY 3.77 Months of housing inventory in McLean, VA

Okay, review the 4 steps above.  I'll have my cell phone in hand all month.

Oh, one more reason to get started now: Buyers have until April 30th to take advantage of the extended homebuyer tax credit.  You might be able to take advantage of the move-up tax credit yourself.

It's possible that In Just 50 Days Your Home Will be Worth $8000 Less! 
Actually, now we're at T-minus 45!

Comments (5)

Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Does low inventory indicate a seller's market?

Mar 16, 2010 10:19 AM
ASHEVILLE REALTY REFERRAL RESOURCE 828-776-0779
REAL ESTATE REFERRAL NETWORK - Asheville, NC
CONTACT janeAnne365@gmail.com

I'm sending this along to a friend in VA.

Mar 16, 2010 10:27 AM
Sandra Paulow
Aspen Properties, Inc. - Pinetop Lakeside, AZ
REALTOR, Associate Broker, GRI, SFR

I wish we could say inventory was low in our area.  I'm afraid the opposite it true.  Send some of those buyers out to Arizona will you???

Mar 16, 2010 11:18 AM
Kate Elim
Dockside Realty - Spotsylvania, VA
Realtor 540-226-1964, Selling Homes & Land a

Hi Brian..New inventory is still low here at Lake Anna.  We have a number of houses that have been on the market for some time.  Some have come down in price while others are resisting the drop that is likely needed.  What we need are new listings.  Some of my buyers have exhausted the current market are waiting to see what's coming.  So am I.

I think I might write a post about this for my area.  Thanks for the idea.

Kate

 

Mar 16, 2010 03:40 PM
Eleanor Thorne
Equity Resources - Cary, NC
Advantage Lending 919-649-5058

You are in a UNIQUE PLACE!

Mar 17, 2010 09:08 AM