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Winchester, VA Real Estate News

By Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV, Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro
(Cornerstone Business Group Inc)
On this Memorial Day weekend, I would like to thank all the men and women who have defended this country from its start to the present day.  It is not without great sacrifice and dedication that you have put your lives in harm's way for the promise of a peaceful return to a more simple life.  Those of us who have benefited from your commitment salute you and humbly thank you for your selfless acts.One of the greatest conversations transcribed during war came at the battle of Gettysburg between Colonel Arthur Freemantle and Brigadier General Lewis A. Armistead (a notable Virginian).  That conversation is played out in the movie, "Gettysburg."  Armistead reveals, in this short discourse, the very heart of Virginia.  But, this dialog could have played out on a hundred battle fields since t...
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By Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV, Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro
(Cornerstone Business Group Inc)
The Winchester, VA real estate market has a broad array of home prices. There is truly something for everyone. There are 206 properties in Winchester, VA in the $251000 - $350000 price range. Of that number, only 4 are foreclosures and 4 are short sales.The average price for a listed home in this price range is $305422. When you're ready to buy or sell a home in the Winchester, VA real estate market, give Cornerstone Business Group, Inc., a call. We are your local real estate sales pros.Available Winchester, VA Homes from $251000 - $350000 - May 2015
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By Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV, Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro
(Cornerstone Business Group Inc)
The number of distressed properties in the Winchester, VA real estate market are declining monthly. That's a great sign for home sellers in the area, but that doesn't mean that there aren't bargains still out there. There are still 41 distressed (foreclosed/short sale) properties available on the Winchester, VA real estate market.Cornerstone Business Group, Inc., is your "go to" real estate company when it comes to distressed properties. We've negotiated many distressed properties and we can help you navigate the distressed property market. When you're ready to buy or sell a home in the Winchester, VA real estate market, give Cornerstone Business Group, Inc., a call. We are your local real estate sales pros.Available Foreclosed and Short Sale Properties in Winchester, VA - May 2015
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By Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV, Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro
(Cornerstone Business Group Inc)
The Winchester / Frederick County, VA real estate market moved sideways in April 2015. There was no radical change in volume of sales, days on the market or average price. The only noticeable change was in distressed properties. There was a 6.3% drop in foreclosures and short sales.April 2015 saw 124 sales. Of that number, 4 were short sales and 10 were foreclosures. April 2014 had 125 sales. Five of those sales were short sales and 17 were foreclosures. That's a 36% drop in distressed properties year to year. If there is good news in the April 2015 sales, that's it. Fewer homes were distressed, meaning more home sellers were able to sell their homes with profit potential than a year ago. A better historical view of where the market is may come from April 2013 and April 2015. There were...
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By Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV, Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro
(Cornerstone Business Group Inc)
Winchester, VA is a beautiful community nestled between the Blue Ridge Mountains at the top of the Shenandoah Valley. It's within 70 miles of Washington, DC. In many ways, it has become a bedroom community for the Metro area. For those who live in Winchester, it is a slice of heaven. It's more quiet than it's eastern neighbors, but it hosts many of the same amenities.Winchester City has a population of approximately 26,000 and Frederick County has approximately 76,000. The median age is 35.6 with a 51.3% female and 48.7% male population. Median household income is $46,000, and the cost of living is lower than the Metro area, so incomes are in line with the cost of living. The unemployment rate currently averages 7.2%.Winchester is a well educated community. Twenty percent of residents h...
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By Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV, Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro
(Cornerstone Business Group Inc)
The Winchester, VA City real estate market is fighting its way to a meaningful stability. The number of listings are down, the number of days on the market are down, the sold prices are up, but the number of sold properties is down. The high inventory of 2014 is coming back into parity for a healthy market. The uncertainty in the national and local economies does have some buyers and sellers sitting on the sidelines again. When you're ready to consider selling or buying a property in the city of Winchester, give your Cornerstone Business Group, Inc., agent a call. We'll help you navigate the uncertainties of the real estate market.   View Mike Cooper's Market Videos
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By Beth Paisley, Winchester Virginia 540-327-2813
(Long and Foster Webber and Associates,480 W Jubal Early Dr #100, Winchester, VA 22601)
Vacations are a time to relax and escape from regular life. When you're miles from home, the last thing you want to worry about is the safety of your home in #WinchesterVA. If you plan on taking a vacation this summer (or any time this year), here are some simple tips on prepping your home for a vacation.Stop Your Newspaper and MailOne sure sign of being absent from your home is a pile of newspapers in the driveway. Contact your newspaper delivery person and stop service while you're gone. If you don't have a locked mailbox, contact the post office and have them hold your mail. You can also ask a trusted neighbor to collect mail, newspapers and deliveries and have him/her hold them for you until you're back.Park Your Car in the GarageThe last thing you want is to get home from a vacatio...
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By Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV, Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro
(Cornerstone Business Group Inc)
The Winchester, VA real estate market continues to evolve in the new economy. Overall sales have increased 13% from the same period in 2014, and distressed property sales were down 3%. The available inventory has also retreated from 2014. Local available listings came in at 650. That number is still slightly above an aggressive seller's market, but it is within reach of equilibrium between buyers and sellers.The interesting numbers between 2014 and 2015 are the percentages of distressed properties. At the end of the first quarter of 2014, sales were 266, short sales 4% and foreclosures 15%. The same quarter of 2015 showed 307 sales, 4% were short sales and 13% were foreclosures. A negligible difference year to year.The average price of homes sold in the first quarter moved up 4% from $2...
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By Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV, Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro
(Cornerstone Business Group Inc)
I always love the opportunity to teach a Virginia Housing Development Authority seminar. The classroom is full of first-time home buyers. Some are pretty savvy on the process, and some are hearing the process for the first time.  VHDA offers financial assistance to first-time buyers. Lori Nokes, with the Blue Ridge Housing Network, coordinates area seminars for this group of first-time buyers, and Mike Cooper, with Cornerstone Business Group, Inc., Mark Lynch, with Prime Lending and Jim Pope, with RGS Title partner together to teach the Realtor, lending and closing side of the process.  It's great to see the class come to an understanding of the process. It's a long day with 6 - 45 minute classes and lunch, but the instructors use graphics, class interaction and a little humor to move t...
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By Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV, Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro
(Cornerstone Business Group Inc)
Sellers, there are more expenses to selling your home than commissions if you're not ready to sell. One of worst things a seller can do is overprice his/her home when it first comes on the market. A small overage is one thing, but when that overage hits 10, 15, 20, 30% and beyond, it's like burning dollars in your furnace to stay warm. What are the unrealized expenses of overpricing a home? I only say unrealized because it seems that sellers are the last ones to realize the costs of overpricing. Let's assume the house is in good condition, ready to show and is in a good location, but it's priced too high. What are the unrealized costs? The monthly expenses of maintaining a home that could be used in purchasing a new home. (Electricity, water, heating fuel) The other periodic expenses th...
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By Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV, Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro
(Cornerstone Business Group Inc)
The City of Winchester, VA (22601) saw a substantial change in its real estate market in January 2015. The dollar volume of real estate sold within the city limits rose 37.81% over the same period in 2014. The median price range was $220,824. That is up from $187,000 just a year ago (a 31.54% increase). That's good news for would-be sellers. The average days on the market lingered around 89 days, just one day off of 2014's DOM. Of the 22 properties sold in January 2015, 6 were on the market 31-60 days. Five sold in less days, and 11 sold in more days. The next largest block of days on the market were 121-180 (6). Only one exceeded that number. The surrounding county is showing similar numbers, adding to the local real estate market improvement. Frederick County, VA zip code 22602 saw a ...
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By Beth Paisley, Winchester Virginia 540-327-2813
(Long and Foster Webber and Associates,480 W Jubal Early Dr #100, Winchester, VA 22601)
 It is time now to look objectively and unemotionally at your home in #WinchesterVA. Look at it no longer as your home, but as a product to be marketed, a product for sale. Be aware of what you can and cannot change about your home. This knowledge will allow you to concentrate on those items that will bring the highest rewards. First ImpressionsThe first thing a potential buyer sees is your home from the street - the first impression called "curb appeal." Take care to: Remove any junk or clutter from the yard. Have a clean, crisp lawn (a bit of fertilizer makes for a greener lawn). Trim shrubbery and hedges. Wash decks and porches and make sure they are stained or painted. Clean and paint or stain your front door. All exterior lights should be operational. Exterior windows should be cle...
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By Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV, Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro
(Cornerstone Business Group Inc)
The Winchester (City), VA real estate market followed a typical seasonal pattern in the month of December. Inventory dropped slightly which is good for competitive sales. The total number of sales improved slightly from November. The period from Thanksgiving to New Years tends to be a little slower than most periods throughout the year. Homes stayed on the market a little longer than normal for this time of year, but here again, that is not a sign for concern at this point.  When you're ready to buy or sell in Winchester, VA, give your Cornerstone Business Group, Inc., agent a call for top quality service every time.    View Mike Cooper's Market Videos
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By Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV, Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro
(Cornerstone Business Group Inc)
Black Friday isn’t just for toys and household goods.  Black Friday is also for houses. There are 43 distressed properties available in the Winchester VA real estate market.  The Winchester / Frederick County area has 14 short sales and 29 foreclosures. The average short sale is $210507, and the average foreclosure lists for $141946.  Short sales range from $112000 – $332500.  Foreclosures listings range from $19,900 – $349,000.  There is something for every buyer. The local market has seen an increase in available listings since the summer. There has also been a considerable change in the number of distressed properties. Distressed properties currently make up 6% of the available listings. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by.  Distressed properties tend to be listed below market val...
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By Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV, Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro
(Cornerstone Business Group Inc)
 The October real estate update for Winchester, VA city has shown a market slowing and a reduction in available listings. The summer boom in available listings had a negative affect on market prices and sales. The reduction in available listings may drive prices up slightly as we enter in the cooler weather months.        View Mike Cooper's Market Videos
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By Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV, Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro
(Cornerstone Business Group Inc)
The Winchester, VA 22601 (city) real estate market slowed down a little in September. That's really not that unusual for this time of year. If the market stays slow in October we may be moving into the cooler weather hibernating mode early. Time will tell, but with low interest rates and a larger inventory, it's still a great time to buy.        View Mike Cooper's Market Videos
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By Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV, Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro
(Cornerstone Business Group Inc)
The Frederick County, VA real estate market had it's typical slowdown in September. During September, schools open, students go back to college and families begin preparing for the Fall and Winter. The dip in local numbers in September is not unusual. October will tell whether it's a trend or a seasonal blip. View Mike Cooper's Market Videos
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By Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV, Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro
(Cornerstone Business Group Inc)
I'd like to welcome Ekatrina Vasilyeva Wood to the Cornerstone Business Group, Inc., team. Ekatrina, or Katya as we call her, is an investor turned real estate agent. She brings a keen eye and years of investing experience to the table for her clients.  Having been a real estate investor, she has a knack for seeing things that many homeowners may overlook in the process of viewing a home. She rode along with me today while I was working with an out of the area couple, and on a number of occasions she was able to point out things the couple overlooked in the property. I appreciated her input quite a bit. She's enthusiastic and ready to help her clients find the home of their dreams. Katya is also bi-lingual. She speaks English fluently, and her native language is Russian. Her language sk...
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By Beth Paisley, Winchester Virginia 540-327-2813
(Long and Foster Webber and Associates,480 W Jubal Early Dr #100, Winchester, VA 22601)
Have you ever noticed how the terms "town house" and "condo" are sometimes used interchangeably? This is most likely because both types of housing structures may be governed by homeowners associations. That, however, is where the similarity between the two ends. Comparing condos with town houses is akin to comparing apples and oranges. When most consumers hear the word "condo," they picture a unit in a larger structure. For the most part, this is accurate. The problem, though, is that "condominium" is actually a form of ownership, not a type of structure. There are three major types of homeownership: Condominium Fee simple Cooperative Condominium owners own the interiors of their units and share ownership of the common areas. "Town house," on the other hand, describes a type of structu...
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By Beth Paisley, Winchester Virginia 540-327-2813
(Long and Foster Webber and Associates,480 W Jubal Early Dr #100, Winchester, VA 22601)
Winchester-Frederick County's roots lie in the apple industry, so it's no surprise that even today the rolling hills still feature family-owned farms and markets. Wile away an afternoon picking your own apples, sipping Shenandoah Valley wine, or enjoying a leisurely hayride.  Enjoy on-farm farm markets featuring fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables. Marker-Miller Farm Market bakery features their famous apple cider doughnuts, fresh pies and cakes, jams, jellies, and syrups. Fruit wines and wine tastings every weekend. Pick your own apples September and October. Enjoy fresh-pressed, flash-pasteurized apple cider and apple butter, and select a variety of apples in a gorgeous orchard setting! Find out why pick-your-own apples is a favorite activity in Frederick County. Rinker Orchard...
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