Links below provide information on properties sold in North Stafford (22554, 22556) in January 2012 as reflected in our regional MLS, MRIS(r).  If you need additional information, please contact me at IreneWard@remax.net.

Single Family Homes

Townhomes

Other

Irene Morales Ward 

Capital Economics. an independent global macroeconomic research and consulting firm,  reported on January 13, 2012 that as banks begin to lend more freely, housing sales appear to be rebounding.  A few key changes are helping make this possible.

• Stabilizatoin of mortgage lending guidelines
• A loosening of available credit
• An increase in the amount loaned from 3.2 times borrower earnings to 3.5 times
• Loosening loan-to-value ratios (LTV) are noted in the report as the “clearest sign yet of an improvement in credit conditions.”  Banks are now lending 82% LTV as opposed to 74% LTV back in mid-2010.

While these modest changes will not have a significant affect on housing price gains, they will allow a greater number of home buyers to enter into the housing market.

When choosing an area to call home, not many of us will envision a time in our lives when being within close proximity to a trauma center will become a matter of life and death for us.  However, there are many times – unexpected, horrible times – when a close-by trauma center will become just that – the difference between life and death.

Mary Washington Hospital’s Trauma Center is a Level II Trauma Center “providing comprehensive trauma care to patients with life-threatening injuries. Injuries occur from many mechanisms including motor vehicle crashes, motorcyle crashes, falls, pedestrian injuries, bicycle crashes, and sport injuries as well as from penetrating injuries such as gunshot wounds and stab wounds.”

Virginia has 14 designated Trauma Centers (Map & List)

5 – Level I Centers (highest Level)

Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital
Inova Fairfax Hospital
Sentara Norfolk General Hospital
University of Virginia Health System ( Charlottesville)
Virginia Commonwealth University Health Systems ( Richmond)

4 – Level II Centers

Lynchburg General Hospital
Mary Washington Hospital ( Fredericksburg)
Riverside Regional Medical Center ( Newport News)
Winchester Medical Center

5 – Level III Centers

Carilion New River Valley Medical Center (Christiansburg)
CJW Medical Center – Chippenham Campus ( Richmond)
Montgomery Regional Hospital ( Blacksburg)
Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital
Southside Regional Medical Center ( Petersburg)

Source: http://www.vdh.state.va.us/OEMS/Trauma/TraumaCenters.htm

Irene Morales Ward, Realtor

Northern Virginia Real Estate

This article in The Washington Post is an excellent “reality check” for those looking to buy a deal/steal in this area.  It won’t be easy!

One of the primary reasons I moved to Stafford County, Virginia was because I wanted my children to have a safe environment in which to play and exercise. Some of my fondest memories as a child were of climbing apple trees in our neighbor’s yard, riding bikes, hiking through the woods, and pick up games of softball and kick-the-can during the spring, summer and fall. I wanted no less for my children.

Stafford County is centrally located between Washington D.C. to the north and the State Capital of Richmond to the south. The County is about 15 miles long from north to south and approximately 17 miles wide from east to west. The County begins from its northern tip at Exit 148 (South Quantico gate) off of I95 to its southern point just north of the Rappahannock River at Exit 133 off of I95. It borders the Potomac River and King George County to the east, Fredericksburg City and Spotsylvania County to the south, Fauquier County to the West, and Prince William County to the north.

Potomac Creek at Sunset

Stafford enjoys the some of the state’s largest virgin forestland at Crow’s Nest. The County had officially petitioned the condemnation of this ecologically sensitive area in November of 2006 to be used solely “for a public park for passive recreational purposes”. “Virtually the entire Crow’s Nest peninsula is forested with a mature stand of mixed hardwoods that is considered one of the finest, if not the finest, example remaining in the coastal plain.” The Northern Virginia Conservation Trust

Crow’s Nest

When I first came to Stafford County 1n 1988, I was captivated by the mix of suburban familiarity with area shopping, entertainment, and dining, and the charm of the predominantly rural and agricultural landscape. Today, while much has changed, our children’s recreational facilities have seen a tremendous shot in the arm by our local Representatives and Board of Supervisors.

Whether you enjoy history, museums, art and music, playgrounds, sports fields, swimming, boating, golfing or hiking, you will be pleasantly pleased with the wide variety of options and the high quality facilities available to you.

Irene Morales Ward, Northern Virginia Real Estate
www.IreneMoralesWard.com

This is great news for the economy and housing in Stafford County and surrounding areas. As you drive through the county, you are much more likely to see signs for New Homes and MODEL HOME OPEN! There are currently about 28 new homes’ communities in Stafford County and the building starts are a wonderful sign for economic prosperity and more stable, and dare I say it, increasing housing prices.

The following homebuilders are currently building in Stafford County:

1. Ryan Homes – Southgate, Brentsmill, Rappahanock Landing, Woodstream
2. KHovnanian Homes – Seasons Landing, Leeland Station, Leeland Station Active Adult
3. Centex (Pulte) – Stafford Lakes Village
4. Del Webb (Pulte) – Celebrate Virginia Active Adult
5. Drees – Hills at Aquia, Poplar Estates
6. Atlantic Builders – Richland Forest, Widewater Village, Oakley Reserves, Turney Estates, Queensguard
7. Quaker Custom Homes – Smith Lake Estates
8. Brookfield Homes – Woodstream Metropolitan Townhomes
9. Richmond Homes – Moncure Estates
10. SYG Homes – Brooke Ridge, Tavern Gate
11. Augustine Homes – Millstone at the Glen, The Glens, Colonial Forge at Augustine, Hills atAugustine Homes – Millstone at the Glen, The Glens, Colonial Forge at Augustine, Hills Aquia
12. WRB Homes, Inc – Wood Landing Estates
13. Hour Homes – Seasons Landing

Remember, NO ONE will be representing your best interests at a new homes’ builders office. Hire a competent, experienced Realtor(r) as your Buyer’s Agent to make sure your rights are protected.

Irene Morales Ward
REMAX Distinctive
Northern Virginia Real Estate
IreneWard@remax.net

http://blogs.fredericksburg.com/businessbrowser/2012/01/18/local-homebuilder-area-housing-market-has-bottomed/

The community itself greets you with stone pillars on either side of a quaint, paved road lined with Willow Oaks.  Board fencing delineates the horse pastures and there is an abundance of common area to use for horseback riding, playing baseball or driving a few golf balls.

The community is separated into two sections.  Section one consists of 16 lots, a barn with a tack room, electricity, stables, and storage facilities.  Section two consists of 24 lots, a barn with electricity, stables and board fencing.  All lots are from 10 to 12 acres in size with shared common areas.

Section one leads to Spillman’s Point which is used as a common area to launch boats, jet skis, or just take off on your canoe.  Directly to the North of Potomac Creek is Crow’s Nest.  A beautiful, protected area of virgin forestland populated by endangered plants and wildlife.

Originally subdivided back in the 80′s, Potomac Creek’s developers had high hopes of making it a boaters haven.  While plans to install a marina were unsuccessful, many lot owners have private docks for boating out onto the Potomac River.

If you have any questions about this community or would like information on other Equestrian Communities in Stafford, please contact me – 540-371-6157.

www.IreneMoralesWard.com
Northern Virginia Real Estate

PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.

www.IreneMoralesWard.com

Having lived here for the last 25 years has given me a different perspective than those newly transplanted here from various parts of the country.  I suppose those relocating from rural parts of the country think the summer traffic here is a joke – certainly not sustainable.  This couldn’t possibly happen every week, can it??  You betcha!!

Twenty years ago, there were about three or four lights along all of Route 1 from Quantico down through South Stafford.  It was an easy and reliable alternative when things got congested on I-95….which back then certainly wasn’t nearly as often as it is now.  Still, it was a good option whenever the brake lights came on.  Today, with the continued growth in both North and South Stafford, those quiet Rt 1 drives home seem like an eternity away!

“Summer” traffic used to start on late Friday night into early Saturday morning.  By mid-afternoon Saturday, the roads were clear and it was business as usual.  Today, “summer” traffic starts the first weekend the weather hits 70 degrees or higher!  I’m not sure where these people are going, but the “weekend” starts on Wednesday afternoon and doesn’t end until Saturday night, sometimes Sunday.  You don’t know whether they are coming or going!

Cars loaded with bikes, coolers, and boogie boards are heading south towards VA Beach or the Outer Banks while others choose the Maryland and Delaware beaches in which case those loaded up cars are heading north on 95.  Either way, points in Stafford can become parking lots.  This is especially frustrating when it’s 97 degrees and you are going 15 miles an hour with only 1 more exit to go…..but it is 6 miles away!

So you can imagine the relief many of us feel to know that VDOT is making the following improvements to help relieve some of that congestion and ultimately make our commutes north and south on I-95 a bit more tolerable.

New I-95 HOV/HOT Lanes Project
The new I-95 HOV/HOT lanes project will create approximately 29 miles of HOV/HOT lanes on I-95 from Garrisonville Road in Stafford County to the vicinity of Edsall Road on I-395 in Fairfax County and includes:

• Constructing two new reversible HOV/HOT lanes for nine miles from Route 610/Garrisonville Road in Stafford County to Route 234 in Dumfries, where the existing HOV lanes begin
• Widening the existing HOV lanes from two lanes to three lanes for 14 miles from the Prince William Parkway to approximately two miles north of the Springfield Interchange in the vicinity of Edsall Road
• Making improvements to the existing two HOV lanes for six miles from Route 234 to the Prince William Parkway
• Adding new or improved access points in the areas of Garrisonville Road, Joplin Road, Prince William Parkway, Fairfax County Parkway, Franconia-Springfield Parkway, I-495 and in the vicinity of Edsall Road.

The new HOV/HOT lanes project will no longer include the originally planned construction of six miles of HOV/HOT lanes on I-395 in Alexandria or Arlington County or upgrades to key interchanges at Shirlington and Eads Street in Arlington County.  Those lanes will continue to be restricted to HOV, transit, eligible hybrids and motorcycles during rush hours.

However, VDOT is advancing plans to construct a new ramp at I-395 and Seminary Road for the Mark Center, concurrent with the HOV/HOT lanes project. The ramp will be open to HOV and transit only.  Construction on the ramp could begin as early as 2012.

VDOT will also expand park-and-ride lots and fund other local transit improvements to maximize the benefit of the new HOV/HOT lanes network.

Drive Safely!

Irene Morales Ward, Realtor (r)

REMAX Distinctive

Northern Virginia Real Estate

www.IreneMoralesWard.com

I recently sold a property to a very young and excited couple who were purchasing for the first time.  Giving them the keys after settlement made me a little melancholy.  Did they really understand what was ahead for them?  Could they really appreciate the scope of what was about to happen?  And let’s face it – this was more than just a purchase.  It was the beginning of their lives together as a family.

As Realtors(r), we oftentimes live vicariously through our clients’ lives.  When I was watching them go through the home for their final walk-through inspection prior to signing papers, my mind was brought back to my own first home.  I didn’t see it as a “property” or “investment” when my husband and I bought it.  It was where we were going to raise our family.  Watching them run the dishwasher and open and close windows and doors, I was transported to another place and time.

I could distinctly hear my very young daughter at the age of two tell me she was afraid to sleep alone and could she please sleep with me.  I could feel her creep into my bed in the middle of the night and almost feel the heavy heart I had some 22 years ago when I had to gently take her back to her “big girl” bed to sleep on her own.

I saw my 10 month old son running up our front yard dribbling a soccer ball – yes, you read it correctly.  He was quite advanced.  At 18 months he would throw baseballs to our Labrador mix, Lady, who obediently fetched every single one he threw – no matter where it landed.  I heard his very high pitched voice telling her “GOOD WADY!” and I could clearly see her wagging her tail in eager anticipation of the next throw.

I heard the laughter of my 6 month old daughter as she opened her very first Christmas presents.  Little did anyone in my home know that Daddy had to work the midnight shift on Christmas Day so we celebrated two days later so we could all be together.  I remember it well.

I remember my father sitting in my kitchen drinking coffee waiting to enjoy Christmas at home with my family for the first and last time.  I remember the joy in his face when we went to Mass and my children were so well behaved.  I remember coming home and making a huge feast that filled our bellies and our souls.

I remember the heartache coming home from the hospital after I miscarried…my dog, Lady, keeping vigil by my side as I wept.  But I also remember the enormous joy watching my children play and swim during those hot summer days in a little plastic pool in our less than manicured backyard.  I remember the time PopPop nearly fell in that little pool when my son squirted him accidentally with the garden hose and the hysterical laughter that followed!

I remember the dinners burned, the boo boos kissed, the late nights walking the long family room in our basement with a sick child, the Halloween costumes made by hand, the Easters hunting eggs, the many Happy Birthdays sung, the music played and dances danced, games played and lessons learned, the bedtime prayers and the I love yous that were always said.

I remember……and I’ll never forget – any of it.

I pray that every young couple entering their first home can sit down and appreciate the “moments” that make up a lifetime.  They are what make life worth living – those moments.  Not the furniture that fills the room or the cars parked in your driveway.  It’s the moments between the ones you love – in your FIRST HOME! Your FIRST LOVE!

Irene Morales Ward, Realtor (r)

REMAX Distinctive

Northern Virginia Real Estate

www.IreneMoralesWard.com