Fredericksburg.com – Stafford growth led by BRAC, hospital.

Irene Morales Ward, Realtor

Irene Morales Ward

Northern Virginia Real Estate

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