Buying a home? What is the process?Buying a home is one of the most exciting and sometimes horrifying experiences adults face. It can be exhilarating in the beginning, labor intensive in the middle and exhausting by the end. Some deals just go that way, but not every deal needs to wear you out by the end. If you are armed with information, buying a home can be a smooth and fun experience. Let me show you how.Buying a home: Step 1The first step in buying a home is financial. You need to know where you are financially to make an offer on a home. The process starts by looking at your finances and determining if you're in a place to buy a home. You may be able to do that with a lender, but you can also talk to a credit counselor to figure out what your financial commitments tell you about a... 07/23/2017

Winchester-Frederick County, VA Mid-Year Real Estate Report - 2017Up NumbersThe Winchester-Frederick County, VA mid-year real estate market continues to shine. Some numbers are up and some are down, but they're all good. That is welcome news for buyers, sellers and homeowners in general. The total number of sales in the Winchester-Frederick County, VA mid-year real estate market was 840 compared to 806 in 2016. That is not a major change, but it is a number heading in the right direction. It is consistent with the national average of 6% appreciation.The one number that is the most impressive is the average sale price. The 2017 mid-year sales price average was $265,500 while 2016 was $255,034. The same period in 2015 was $242,578. That's a nice consistent progression over the past three ... 07/06/2017

When buying a home in Winchester, VA, there certain things you'll want to consider.  Some things are obvious, and some are easy to overlook in the excitement of a new home purchase.  For instance, your considerations may be,1. How much can I spend?  That's something you will need to know before you ever get in the car to look at a property.  There is no sense in looking at a $500,000 house on a $125,000 budget.  How much can you spend?  You will want to talk to a loan officer before you get to far into your search.  He/she can help you determine how much you can afford to spend on a new home.  Your Cornerstone agent will need to know that information when you meet.2. What do I really need?  Want?  When buying a home in Winchester, VA, you need to know how many bedrooms, bathrooms, etc.,... 06/25/2017

Winchester Distressed Properties Are No Longer DistressingThe good news for the Winchester-Frederick County, VA real estate market just keeps rolling in. It's safe to say that Winchester distressed properties are no longer distressing most home-owners. What is a distressed property? A distressed property can be a short sale or a foreclosure (or REO, real estate owned).A short sale is a property the lender gives the home-owner permission to sell below the current loan balance. Many homeowners who bought in the pre-recession years, bought their homes at a premium price. For instance, a home that sold for $400,000 in 2006 lost value during the recession, and owners who carried those mortgages found themselves in trouble in 2008 and beyond.Winchester distressed properties: What are they?The... 06/20/2017

Winchester-Frederick County, VA Real Estate Market Update - May 2017The Winchester-Frederick County, VA real estate market continued to strengthen in May 2017. Sales are up, prices are up, distressed properties and days on the market are down. Those are all great details for sellers in the Winchester-Frederick County, VA real estate market.The current inventory of available homes in the Winchester-Frederick County, VA real estate market is steady at 531. The local market thrives in the 500-600 available homes range and this market is thriving. The number of pending sales is at 283.Winchester-Frederick County, VA Real Estate Market by the NumbersThere were 182 home sales in May 2017. That compares to 178 in 2016, 153 in 2015, and 154 in 2014. The trend is up and so is the average sales p... 06/11/2017

I share this blog each year at this time because every war casualty in this country is a tragedy. I also live in the south, and this event is part of our remembrance of those who honored their call, even if it was for a failed and misunderstood cause.  June 6th is remembered for the D-Day invasion of western Europe, but in Virginia, and the other southern states, it has a second meaning. June 6th is the day that the southern war dead are remembered.Many years just before the 6th of June, ancestors, community groups and history buffs line the Mt Hebron Cemetery with hundreds of Confederate flags. The union dead are buried across the street in their own cemetery, and their memorial day is associated with the national Memorial Day, but the Confederate dead are not included in that remembra... 06/10/2017

5 Tips for Selling Your Winchester - Frederick County, VA HomeSelling your Winchester - Frederick County, VA home does not have to be difficult, and with a few simple tips, you can do it quickly and for top dollar. Selling your home starts well before you place it on the market. It's a process, that if followed, can pay big dividends. Here are a few tips:When selling your Winchester - Frederick County, VA home, remove obstacles.What does that mean? Remove anything that will give the buyer a reason to drop the price, low-ball the offer, send an encyclopedia of repair requests or just expect a better deal because of the overall condition of the home.It would pay to have a home inspection before listing your home, but if you don't want to do that, walk through the house and look for everyt... 05/29/2017

Winchester-Frederick County, VA Home Sales for the First Third of 2017The Winchester-Frederick County, VA home sales for the first third of 2017 have been on a consistent growth trajectory. Sales have climbed 4% year to year, and there was a 2% drop in distressed property sales.  Currently, distressed property sales make up 9% of total sales,  and that has become an average based on total yearly sales for the past two years. The first third of 2016 included 11% distressed sales. It's encouraging to see distressed property sales finding a floor after the high numbers during the recession.Average Prices of Winchester-Frederick County, VA Home SalesThe average home price has also increased in the first third of 2017. Home prices have risen 4% over those of 2016. That brings the average hom... 05/03/2017

"George Washington slept here" is a common phrase used when some institution is trying to gain notoriety for the guests who used its facility. To have evidence that George Washington, our nation's first president, slept in your establishment is an incredible feather in your cap. In Winchester, VA, George Washington did more than sleep, he lived her for much of his younger life. In the Digital Encyclopedia of George Washington, Dr. Curtis Morgan, Jr. writes, "For a decade, from 1748 until 1758, George Washington spent more nights in Winchester than any other place besides his home. Washington spent the most formative period of his life in Winchester. There he learned geography and topography, raised, commanded and supplied troops (including troublesome militia), built and managed a fort,... 01/22/2017

Canter Estates, Stephens City, VA Real Estate Year in Review - 2016Canter Estates is on the east side of Stephens City, VA. It's a highly desirable neighborhood with a variety of housing styles. Custom builders, such as, KHovnanian and Ashbrooke Homes have shared in the construction of many, if not most of the homes built there.The neighborhood boarders Rt 522 which is a connecting highway between Rt 66, Rt 50, I81, Rt 55 and Rt 340 which makes Canter Estates a commuter's dream. Within a few minutes, a homeowner who commutes into the DC Metro area can be on a highway leading to their destination. It also gives southern and northern commuters the same advantage.Canter Estates by the numbersCanter Estates saw an incredible jump in home sales in 2016. Homes sales were up 142% from 2015 wit... 01/21/2017

The Blue Ridge Housing Network is a non-profit organization in the northern tip of Virginia. BRHN partners with the Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA) to help first-time buyers find affordable housing. Their primary mission is stated as, "Our main focus is to identify housing needs and gaps and to find ways to fill those gaps. We want to find ways to provide safe, decent and affordable housing to the Northern Shenandoah Valley area." My friend, Lorie Noakes, is the executive director of BRHN, and she also serves as one of the instructors in their seminars. Lorie provides an opportunity for first-time buyers to learn the buying process through her all-inclusive home-buying seminars. The seminars cover topics such as: Personal Finances Credit Reports Role of the Lender Working ... 01/19/2017

Oakdale Crossing, Ravenwing and Raven Pointe Housing Review - 2016Oakdale Crossing, Ravenwing and Raven Pointe are the trifecta of great housing in Winchester, VA. These three neighborhoods flow seamlessly from and to the other on the east side of Winchester, VA. They have all been highly desirable since the first footers were dug in the late 1990s.One of the great attributes of these three neighborhoods is the quality of the custom-built homes. They are not like many neighborhoods that offer a few options but end up looking more like a cookie cutter was used and not a custom builder. There are two-story colonials, spacious ranch homes, and cape cod styles.Oakdale Crossing, Ravenwing and Raven Pointe - by the numbersThroughout 2016, only 17 homes were sold in this 400 plus community. Of... 01/18/2017

2017 Real Estate Trend in Winchester-Frederick County, VAThe real estate trend in the Winchester-Frederick County, VA market shows a slow steady increase in 2016 over the 2015 market. That's good news for the 2017 real estate market. Eight out of twelve months in 2016 exceeded the market of 2015, which was also a move up from 2014.What affects the market trend?The only issue the 2016 market dealt was the election cycle. Whenever there is a contentious presidential election, the Winchester-Frederick County, VA market tends to become skittish close to voting day. The 2012 market followed that pattern, and 2016 did as well. Once the election was over, the market returned to its upward trend.In most years, April through September trend up. January - March are still in the throes of cold day... 01/17/2017

Winchester - Frederick County, VA Real Estate Sales - December 2016The Winchester - Frederick County, VA real estate market showed continued growth and stability in December 2016. Real estate sales were up 13.75% over the same period in 2015. Total sales for December 2016 were 155.Of that number, Frederick County had 124, or 80%, of the sales and Winchester City had 31. During the same period in 2015, sales were at 135. Frederick County had 120, or 89%, and Winchester City had 15.Dollars and centsThe Winchester City sales ranged from a low of $37,500 to a high of $789,900. The overall average for the city was $265,855. The county fared a little better with a low of $79,900 to a high of $720,000. The average was $278,609. The Winchester City average home was a 3 bedroom 2 bath home. The ... 01/16/2017

Winchester, VA Real Estate Sales Year in Review - 2016The Winchester, VA real estate market had a good year in 2016. Overall sales were 1732, which is only 13 less than 2015. That's less than a 1% pullback. It is consistent in a contentious election year to see sales slow down in the months leading up to election day. That happened in 2012, and it happened this year as well. The strength in the Winchester, VA real estate market can be seen in that pullback was minor. The 2013 market increased from the 2012 election year market by 11%. The 2011 market was behind the 2012 market by 6%, but it was also in the throes of the recession. More positive signsAnother positive sign of a strong real estate market in Winchester, VA is the presence of distressed properties. The 2015 had 13% foreclosu... 12/31/2016

Winchester - Frederick County, VA Real Estate Market Report - November 2016Well, there are 11 down and 1 to go. Months, that is. The Winchester - Frederick County, VA real estate market is back in stride after the election slowdown. November still had signs of an election hangover, but like an Alka Seltzer and a good nights sleep, time will cause that hangover  to fad away over the next weeks.Winchester - Frederick County, VA Real Estate Market: By the numbersThe overall sales for November 2016 (this would be homes contracted in late September, October and early November) were 140. That's a 10% increase from the same period in 2015. Of that number, Stephens City carried 20% of those sales. Frederick County had 114 sales, and the city of Winchester had 26.The only lagging number in local... 12/14/2016

Cornerstone Business Group, Inc., would like to welcome Lisa Cross as our new office administrator. Lisa comes to us from the banking industry. She has an excellent grasp on the business of banking which relates well to the real estate field. Lisa will be the face and voice of Cornerstone to those who are just getting to know us, and she is an excellent representative. We're honored and grateful to have her on-board, and we look forward to the contribution she brings to the company. Please join me in welcoming Lisa to the Cornerstone team.  12/02/2016

Get Ready to List Your Home in the SpringIf you plan to list your home in the Spring, there are steps you can take now that will help you get top dollar when it goes to market.Get Ready to List Your Home in the Spring by - Getting in top shape Have a home inspection that will show areas where you need to make repairs. Use your home inspection report to create a list of things you need to repair and start the process. Pace yourself through the months leading up to your list date, and do a few repairs each month to keep expenses down. Paint - paint is one of the cheapest and most valuable maintenance tools in your toolbox. Floors - make sure your floors are in excellent condition. If you need to change carpet, do that after you finish painting. If your floors are hardwood and need a littl... 10/05/2016

How is the Winchester - Frederick Co., VA real estate market doing? Third quarter 2016.How is the Winchester - Frederick Co., VA real estate market doing in the third quarter 2016? That depends on what gets you excited about real estate. The market is basically equal to a year ago. The few minor changes from the third quarter of 2015 and the third quarter of 2016 are minimal, but they are mostly positive changes.Lateral Movement is Better Than a Decline in the Winchester - Frederick Co. Real EstateThird quarter sales were down slightly in 2016. There were 498 in 2015 and 482 in 2016. The 3% drop in sales isn't significant. If that number doubled over the next quarter, it might be something worth watching, but a minor shift like that is not "concern" worry at this point.July - August hom... 10/02/2016

Winchester - Frederick County, VA Home Sales - August 2016Winchester - Frederick County, VA home sales for August 2016 showed a lateral move and not an up or down move. Total home sales for July were 172 with August adding 175. The percentage of REO and short sales (distressed properties) were 7% across both months.The average original list price to sale price for properties in August was 93.86%. July had a 94.90% original list price to sale price. The total days on the market was 59 in July and 53 in August. You can see how the data is near mirror image of each month.The only negative change took place in the average sale price. The average sale price of July sales was $278,182, but August fell to $252,870. That might make some potential sellers nervous, but they shouldn't be. Homes ar... 09/19/2016