Ashburn, VA Market Report – 7/19/10

Supply and demand are both growing in Ashburn, reflecting a growing economy and increased consumer confidence. According to the statistics, we have a balanced market with just under a four month supply. The conventional wisdom is that a balanced market has a six month supply. So the current direction on prices is still indicating up.

• Homes for sale: 511 (up from 497 in May  and up from 433 one year ago)
• Homes sold: 133 (about the same as May’s 131 and up from 123 in May 2009)
• Average sold price: $441,119 (down a bit from last month at $451,953 and about the same as $440,838 in May one year ago)
• Average days on market: 27 (the same as in May, but way down from 62 one year ago)

27 days on the market! A few years ago a 27 day average would have prices rising two percent or more per month. While fundamentals never change, there are times in every kind of market when things just get a bit out of whack. It happened in 2003-2006 when prices got bid to very high levels. While the statistics reflect a stable market, which is based on a comparison of month to month and one year ago, if we look back 18 months, we can see how far prices have come from their bottom in December 2008.

But c’mon, 27 days on the market?! When market times get that low and inventory is under four months, it is safe to forecast big price jumps. So that is my forecast.

Market report provided by David Hess, Executive Vice President, Avery-Hess, Realtors.

Search for Homes in Ashburn, VA: www.averyhess.com

Caroline County, VA Market Report – 7/16/10

Boy are we living in interesting times!  Our market has been all over the place this year!  We started off the year with snowy weekends which then moved on to the February blizzard!  We then experienced the frenzy of activity from Buyers qualifying for the tax credit.  Then May 1st came around and the market came to a screeching halt.  June was a welcome change and we started to have more of a normal activity level.  Looking at the activity over the past year, things for the most part remain relatively unchanged.   Here is a snapshot:

The most noticeable change is the drop in new listings.  Inventory has declined all across the Fredericksburg region.  When inventory decreases so does the average days on market for homes that are listed on the MLS.  We will need to see a continued reduction in inventory before our market starts evening out.  While we still have a long road ahead of us, the decrease in inventory makes this market a little bit better for Sellers.  Sellers that are priced right, show well and are in good locations are selling their houses for close to their list prices and quicker than in seasons past.

Market data and commentary by Amy Cherry Taylor, Business Manager and Realtor at Avery-Hess, Realtors.

Search for homes in Caroline, and the all of the DC Metro: www.averyhess.com

Leesburg, VA Market Report – 6/17/10

After being overly stimulated by government interference into the real estate market via the various tax credits, the market is returning to a normal balance of supply and demand and normal negotiations between buyers and sellers.

The figures below reflect the Leesburg, Virginia market during the month of May 2010.

• Homes for sale: 618 (down from 646 last month, and down from 643 one year ago)
• Homes sold: 91 (down from the tax credit induced frenzy  of 108 last month)
• Average sold price: $417,479 (down just a smidge from $420,963 last month but still up from $385,551 same time last year.)
• Average days on market: 59 (up from 55 last month and way down from 113 one year ago.)

Increasing consumer confidence combined with historically low interest rates have combined to help make it fun to trade up to a larger house again. Homeowners with equity are finding good demand for their homes and are happy with the supply of higher priced houses they have to choose from. Prices in Leesburg reflect this new healthy and stable market.

Market data and  commentary provided by David Hess, Executive Vice President and Managing Broker.

Search for homes in Leesburg, and all of the DC Metro: www.averyhess.com

Sterling, VA Market Report 6/8/10

The following represents the real estate market in Sterling, Virginia:

• Homes for sale: 470 (up from 460 last month and down from 507 one year ago.)
• Homes sold: 121 (up from 111 last month but pretty stable compared to one year when there were 123 sales)
• Average sold price: $328,097 (up from $318,038 last month and $286,037 one year ago. +14%)
• Average days on market: 23 ( down from 30 last month and very stable so far in 2010, down from 86 one year ago)

Here we are Post-Tax Credit. The predictions of Doom & Gloom seem not to have panned out. Folks are still buying and selling as they have for generations, without government subsidies. Today’s prices are still great values and affordability is at historic highs due to exceptionally low interest rates. Sterling has been an active market and the price increases and reduced selling time are proof of that.

It remains a fact that the market bottomed in December 2008. Buyers who have purchased since then have been rewarded with increasing equity from price increases as well as paying down a small part of their mortgage each month with every payment.

Commentary and analysis provided by David Hess, Executive Vice President.

Search for homes in Sterling, VA and the entire DC Metro: www.averyhess.com

Ashburn, VA Market Report – 6/2/10

• Homes for sale: 516 (up from 458 last month and up from 479 one year ago)
• Home sold: 116 (up from 109 last month and up from 93 in April 2009)
• Average sold price: $429,339 (big jump from last month at $405,379 and $406,660 one year ago)
• Average days on market: 55 (up from 49 days last month but down from 84 one year ago)

Supply is growing, but so is demand. A six month supply is considered a balanced and healthy market. At the present rate of sales Ashburn has just over a four month supply. That is bullish for rising prices. And with interest rates at or below 40 year lows, there is still room for this rally to run.

Market report provided by David Hess, Executive Vice President, Avery-Hess, Realtors.

Search for Homes in Ashburn, VA: www.averyhess.com

Bristow, VA Market Report – 5/27/10

Bristow still has just a four month supply of homes for sale. Six months worth of housing inventory is considered a balanced market by economists.  This low level of inventory keeps pressure on prices in an upward direction.

Below you’ll find a report of the previous month’s housing market in Bristow, Virginia:

• Homes for sale: 172 (up from 157 last month and 148 in March, way under the 196 of one year ago)
• Homes sold: 40 (very stable over the past 14 months)
• Average sold price: $331,155 (up from $308,271 last month, and almost the same as $329,655 from one year ago)
• Average days on market: 28 (down from 56 in April and down from 71 days one year ago)

Bristow’s prices bottomed out around December 2008, moved up steadily during 2009 and have started to stabilize in the first four months of 2010. At under $350,000 and selling in about a month, houses in Bristow continue to offer good value for buyers which is why the number of transactions have been so stable. Bristow remains an affordable and in-demand place to live. With interest rates remaining in the high 4% to low 5% range, affordability is very high. Thus Bristow has a robust real estate market.

Market data and commentary provided by David Hess, Executive Vice President and Managing Broker.

Search for homes in Bristow, and all of the DC Metro: www.averyhess.com