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Sign of the Times in Real Estate in the Maryland and Virginia Suburban Market

By
Real Estate Agent with Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate 303829;0225082372

A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY FOR 55 AND OVER ADULT LIVING IN LOUDOUN COUNTY VIRGINIA.

SOLD OUT??  No.  Just shut down by the builder.  This is not the only location in the Maryland and Northern Virginia real estate market that has shut down.  Hopefully, it's temporary. 

The builders' web for this community says "SOLD OUT".  Instead, the site looks like what it is, an shut-down, unfinished building site.

The site plan called for about 50 lots to be developed into these lovely homes for seniors.  But, due to the depressed real estate market, the builder has closed down and the remainder of the undeveloped lots are not in production.  For how long?  Who knows.

A lovely new home community in Round Hill Virginia also closed.  Only 4 of about 18 lots were built out and sold.  This is a lovely community that really slowed down when gasoline reached $4.00 a gallon, which affected most real estate in the "outer suburbs", those counties that are not contiguious with Washington, D.C.  We noticed the dramatic slowdown a year ago and it hasn't improved since.

However, since the ActiveAdult real estate market has held up across the country, we really thought that this little community in Lovettsville would survive.  Not so. 

Sign of the times. 

 

Lovettsville real estate

 

 

Lovely condo homes for seniors in Lovettsville offered quiet living with views of the Blue Ridge, close to the town center and beautiful interiors. 

 

Closed.

 

 

 

Ridgeview Estates Closed

 

 

 

Community in Round Hill, Loudoun County, Virginia.  Lovely wooded lots about 2 acres, beautiful homes.

 

Closed.

 

 

 

 

It appears that the best buys now are the short sales, foreclosures or resales where the owner has relocated and the property is vacant.  It was only time before the builders had to closed some of these locations down.  I suspect that they are concentrating their personnel resources in communities that are selling well enough to justify the investment.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988, E-mail.

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Comments(14)

June Tassillo
Owner/Broker RE/MAX Elite Realty - Franklin, NC
Let me help you with the next phase of your life!

This is sad to say the least.  Here in the Mountains of NC are Subdivisions with promised ammenities that are not there.  2005/2006 they popped up everywhere and lots of raw land just sitting or a few homes built in it and thats it.  My husband  has a Spec Home in one of them that I have on the market now.  We are a small Custom Home Builder and before its all over it just might break us.  I don't know what its going to take to sell my home.   It will be a year in Feb. we finished our last home that was a contract.  So, I do know the sellers pain personally and the Realtors pain too!

I still stay POSITIVE NO MATTER WHAT :o)

Jan 31, 2009 09:42 AM
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Lenn, but what happens now with the HOA or Condo fees?  There's a few areas in our area where the builder pulls out and the county is really sticking it to the few owners.

Jan 31, 2009 09:48 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Hi Lenn!  This is very sad and, certainly, a sign of the times.  We have noticed that our resales are being 'saved' by the builders who have slowed or stopped speculative building in our area.  The resales tend to be moving a bit better now.  It's still a shame because the senior areas are still moving and you would think that those areas would remain open for more sales.

Debe in Charlotte

Jan 31, 2009 09:49 AM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Gabe.  I thought about the condo fees in the seniors community in Lovettsville when I drove there to get the photo. 

I don't believe that a sufficient number of units were completed for the condo to be turned over to the owners.  The builder Lennar, will just have to subsidize it for a while, I would guess.  I don't really know.  The only one for sale is a FSBO. 

The community in Round Hill doesn't have an HOA.  That's KHovanian and they will maintain the lots, just not selling anything.

Jan 31, 2009 09:52 AM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

June.  This isn't the only location around my area with empty lots not selling.  I had a builder begging me to help him sell some waterfront and water oriented lots last week.  No way.  That market, second homes is dead for quite some time. 

 

Jan 31, 2009 09:53 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Lenn I qualify!!!!!!!!!

But of course I don't look like I would qulify for the type of housing yet .......... LOL

Jan 31, 2009 10:45 AM
Lisa Hill
Florida Property Experts - Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Beach Real Estate

This is so sad. And I'm surprised too. Good senior communities are non-existent in our area, except for mobile and manufactured home communities. It stinks when a single one is lost.

Jan 31, 2009 04:22 PM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

George.  You surely do not.  I suspect that many of us qualify.

Lisa.  It is sad.  This is lovely housing. 

Jan 31, 2009 09:31 PM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Debe.  There is a need for home builders to remain viable.  Don't forget that the craftsmen and other employees of the building industries are home buying consumers too.

The builders are more than a corporation.  They are housing consumers too.

 

Jan 31, 2009 09:39 PM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

June.  Stay positive, save your money and stay out of the mall. 

My advise to real estate agents for the next couple of years.

 

Jan 31, 2009 09:40 PM
Chip Jefferson
Gibbs Realty and Auction Company - Columbia, SC

Stay out of the mall? No way that's happening LOL. Actually I am a blessed woman and don't need much. I have all I could dream of.

This site is happening all over America. So sad!

Jan 31, 2009 09:51 PM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Laura.  Good for you. 

I can live very simply too.  But, then there's the mortgage and gasoline and the elec. bill.  What is that dang thing continuing to increase???? 

Jan 31, 2009 10:25 PM
The Somers Team
The Somers Team at KW Philadelphia - Philadelphia, PA
Delivering Real Estate Happiness

It is certainly rough out there for everyone.  Some people think the homebuilders are the villians as they did overbuild.  This is also happening with private developers as well.  Hopefully when things turn around these sites can be finished.  Until then, we will just continue to see more of these types of sites. 

Feb 01, 2009 12:40 AM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Christopher.  The home builders are my friends.  They employ many trades and construction workers, office folks and more.  They also build new stock to keep our housing industry moving and current.

If owners want to compete, they can.  Clean the thing up and price it right.  Many buyers don't want to wait for new contruction.  Agents who don't want new home competition are not thinking about the future. 

Feb 01, 2009 12:57 AM