The 2012 numbers are in and it's official.  The Winchester, VA real estate market is improving.  During the tenuous days of 2012, it was difficult at times to know which way things were heading, but the raw data now clears that up for us.  The market is heading up! The completed real estate transactions for 2012 came in at 1333.  That's a 4.8% increase from 2011.  Of that number, 180 closings were short sales and 273 were foreclosures.  Short sales were up from 2011 by 6%, but foreclosures showed an adverse relationship.  The 2012 foreclosure rate was down 27%.  That's good news for the market overall.  The absence of foreclosures may signal that the worst is over. There were 375 properties sold as foreclosures in 2011.  The market was still feeling the impact of the market collapse of ... 01/07/2013

Real estate sales in Oakdale Crossing have mirrored much of the City of Winchester throughout 2012.  This beautiful neighborhood has seen its share of foreclosures and short sales, but overall, the majority of it's 2012 sales were fair market sales.  That's an improvement from the years since the market decline in 2008. Of the 12 houses sold in Oakdale Crossing in 2012, 66% were fair market sales.  There were 2 short sales and 2 foreclosures sold.  That's encouraging as we enter into 2013.  The neighborhood has been a very desirable place to live because of the beautiful homes and because of its proximity to just about everything.  When the market crashed in the Fall of 2008, there was wide concern within the Winchester real estate market that falling real estate prices would bring abou... 01/05/2013

It's that time of year where lights fill neighborhoods; flashing, flickering and glowing everywhere.  It's beautiful.  Ironically, Christmas lights can reveal electrical problems with your home, or they can create them.  So far this season, we've answered two service calls related to Christmas lights. The first one came in with this description:  Half of the lights and receptacles were no longer working and the homeowner could not find the cause.  The cause?  The cause was a couple dozen interior styled extension cords plugged together and lying on the ground outside.  The cords were exposed to water every time it rained.  They were plugged into an exterior receptacle that was GFI projected.  It tripped early on and continued to trip every time it was reset.  Exterior lights need to be ... 12/23/2012

If you're thinking about buying a foreclosure in Winchester VA, there are certain things you should know.  Foreclosures can be great buys, and many of them are listed at bargain prices.  But, and there is always a but, foreclosure purchases do have characteristics that aren't always like fair market sales. A foreclosure becomes known as an REO (real estate owned) once the homeowner has lost it and the lender has taken control of it. Most consumers don't know the difference, so "foreclosure" is often used to avoid confusion. A foreclosure is typically sold "as-is".  That may mean that some repairs will NOT be made.  Lenders will usually take care of any problems that could be considered a hazard.  For instance, an electrical meter has been tampered with and someone could stick his hand i... 12/21/2012

One of things I love about living in the Shenandoah Valley is the small town feel in a community with all of the conveniences of the big city.  This morning, I was running between stops and I needed to make up a little time, so I took a back road.  I was driving along enjoying the farms and the quiet, and along came a pair of horses pulling a small cart (much like a sulky, with big wheels).                                      In 5 minutes or less, I could be in the middle of town from that country road, and from the middle of town, I could be in the peaceful countryside where horses still travel the roads and farmers wave and say, "Good morning."  It's a wonderful place to live, raise kids and work.  If you're looking for your own little piece of heaven, Winchester, VA might just have ... 12/20/2012

The Sandy Hook disaster has a lot of people talking.  Many are expressing their total shock and horror at the evil of this event.  There are others bloviating who are completely unqualified to analyze this young man's motives, mental state and plan.  I'm not sure a high number of talking heads who don't know what they're talking about should be explaining to the grieving public the whys of this event. Some will use this event as a springboard to bring up gun control again.  It always becomes a punching bag for activists on that side of the argument.  Everyone will deal with the events in his/her own way.  At the Cooper house, we will pray, go to a TV coverage blackout and we will grieve.  There is no level of understanding this young man, no debate on the rightful ownership of firearms ... 12/14/2012

Thinking about purchasing a house sometime soon? If you are, please be aware that unless you are paying cash, you will need to secure a Mortgage. Additionally, it should be noted that it isn't always an easy thing to get a Mortgage, so you must be prepared.One of the ways to be prepared is in knowing certain mistakes to avoid in the process. In fact, here is an excellent article posted by Success Mortgage in Winchester, Virginia: Go HERE ------->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>   Mortgage Mistakes To AvoidWhy should you take a moment and read the above article? Simple - Knowledge in reference to the process can be powerful when buying a house. Hopefully the knowledge you gain from the above posting, will help you to Avoid These Mistakes When Preparing To Secure A Mortgage. 12/04/2012

The Winchester VA real estate market slowed in November.  There were 89 properties closed in November.  That is down 24% from October 2012.  October closed 118 properties.  Ironically, October was up 6% from September.  Is it any wonder that individuals are having trouble timing the market? Distressed properties played a significant role in November.  Of the 89 properties sold, 31% were distressed properties.  Short sales made up 16 of those sales, and foreclosures made up the remaining 12.  The last week of the month closed 8 distressed properties, or 39% of closed sales.  Those distressed property numbers may sound high, but of the currently available properties, they only make up 15.5% which is trending downward. The 2012 Winchester, VA real estate market has had a whipsaw affect on ... 12/01/2012

  Black Friday isn’t just for toys and household goods.  Black Friday is also for houses.  There are 76 distressed properties available in the Winchester VA real estate market.  The Winchester / Frederick County area has 46 short sales and 30 foreclosures. The average short sale is $181,784, and the average foreclosure lists for $152,010.  Short sales range from $74,900 – $440,000.  Foreclosures listings range from $49,499 – $349,000.  There is something for every buyer. The local market has seen a 5 property drop in available listings from 478 to 473 since November 10, 2012.  There has also been a -1.2% change in the percentage of available distressed properties since the beginning of November. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by.  Distressed properties tend to be listed below marke... 11/23/2012

  The Winchester VA real estate market has added 43 new listings from November 11 through November 20, 2012.  That's 9 more new listings since the beginning of November.  The total number of listings available is 468, down 10 from the first 10 days of November.   The make-up of the new listings for the middle of November is 7 short sales, 5 foreclosures and 31 fair market properties.  Distressed properites make up 17.8% of the new listings.  That number is down from the 33% new distressed property listings in the first 10 days of November.  That's a good trend indicator for the local market. 11/22/2012

  It was the night before Thanksgiving, and all through the house, everyone was sleeping, even the mouse. They were dreaming of turkey, potatoes and dressing, macaroni and cheese and biscuits and blessings. Their plates would run over, but they would finish each bite in hopes of returning for seconds that night.   They would retreat to the sofa and drift off to sleep, the TV would blare, but they would not make a peep.  Before it was over, they would wake and eat pie, and when it was bedtime, they would let out a sigh. What a meal they had eaten, and a good time they had, their tummies were full and everyone glad.  For one day in November many thanks were remembered, and they planned to repeat it next month in December.                          11/20/2012

The Raven Pointe subdivision in Winchester, VA, is a beautiful area made up of a variety of home styles.  The homes are spacious and boast of many high end amenities.  From flowing floor plans to granite counters and gas log fireplaces, these properties are built for comfort, beauty and functionality.  The current neighborhood listings range in price from $359500 - $439000.  There is something for everyone.  All current listings have at minimum, 3 bedrooms and 2 baths.  Many of the current listings have more, and all offer beautiful curb appeal and easy access to local services, schools and highways.  It's a great place to live.  If you're in the market for a new home, Raven Pointe might just have the home for you.  Call your Cornerstone sales agent today to get more information.   11/18/2012

Cornerstone Business Group, Inc., has partnered with Moseley Real Estate Schools to become a real estate salesperson course provider.  Classes are held at 1437 Front Royal Rd., Winchester, VA.  The sessions are evening sessions to make it convenient for those who are working full-time day jobs. The classes are 12 weeks long and last 4 hours each class night.  Sessions start at 5:30 pm and end at 9:30 pm.  Classes meet Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. The format is informal with each topic of the book covered in class with class interaction and feedback.  Sessions are designed to help students learn the basics of the real estate industry while preparing them to take their Virginia state and National real estate exams.  Students wishing to take part in the Cornerstone real estate school sh... 11/17/2012

  My wife works with me, but she also has her own Stampin' Up! business that she has a lot of fun with.  She was sharing one of her new items with me today, and I thought, that's too cool not to share.  Can you imagine sending a friend a Christmas card with a personal recorded message inside.  Then, can you imagine that you can mail that messge along with your card for the cost of a postage stamp.  It can.  The Talking Tag looks a lot like a QR Code, but when you scan it, it talks to you.  Check out her blog below and see what you think. I love the 21st Century! Posted on November 15, 2012 Click on the photo to view video. Wow – there’s so much news from Stampin’ Up! today!  First, we’re offering a new product from Sizzix – Talking Tags.  These are amazing.  You just download the app to... 11/15/2012

I've had a couple interesting experiences this week that have me wondering what has happened to our country.  I've been buying tires at a local company for 40+ years.  They've always been great, and I'm sure I've bought 500+ tires for the family vehicles and our company trucks.  I would imagine I've recommended them 100 times. This Tuesday, I called to check on availability and price for a few replacement tires.  The sales manager gave me a price and said they definitely had the tires in stock.  Great!  I set up an early AM appointment and dropped the truck off.  When I returned, the bill was much higher.  I asked what happened, and he proceeded to deny that he ever quoted the price I had on my note pad.  I had the price per tire, and then I had the price per tire mounted, balanced, new... 11/15/2012

The Winchester, VA real estate market is through the first third of November.  As of the 10Th of November, the local Winchester / Frederick County market has 478 properties available.  Eight percent of those properties were added in the first ten days of November.  Of the 34 properties added since November 1st, 33% are distressed properties, with the majority (9) being REOs. The current market is continuing it's overall trend of 17.3% distressed properties.  Short sales make up 47 current listings, while foreclosures (REOs) make up 37 properties.  These types of sales have changed places since the beginning of the 2012.  Short sales are taking a more prominent place in the local distressed market.  The rise of REOs during the first ten days of November is a trend to be monitored closely... 11/10/2012

I don't offer exercise, fitness and nutrition blogs very often, but I've come across a few things I'd like to share for those Rainers who are trying to get in shape and lose weight.  In late September I did an experiment on my own health and fitness that I'd like to share with you.  I've been a certified personal trainer and functional training specialist since the late 90s.  I'll be the first to admit, I'm my worst client.  I don't take on clients any longer because of my busyness with real estate and contracting, but I have a few tips I'd like to share with those of you who are trying to get beyond a plateau, have joint pain or find it nearly impossible to lose weight.  My son has a friend who was overweight and unable to get his weight under control.  He tried diets and exercise and ... 11/03/2012

The Winchester, VA unemployment rate dropped to 6.5% in the month of September.  That is an improvement of 1.3% since September 2011.  While the nation still hovers at 7.9%, Winchester is starting to feel a positive trend in employment. The surrounding county has also seen a minor rate drop since the same period last year.  Frederick County unemployment numbers came in at 5.3%.  That's a .1% change from August of 2012, but it's a .7% change from September 2011.   There has been a number of new businesses moving to the area over the past 12 months.  Unfortunately for many job hunters, they've offered more part-time work than full-time positions.  So, there is still sufficient room for improvement in the local economy, but any good news is welcome as we enter into the holiday season.  11/02/2012

The Oakdale Crossing, Winchester, VA, did not see a great deal of activity during the month of October.  There were no new listings brought online, and pending sales were 2 for the month.  No sales were closed in October.   Oakdale Crossing has been a highly desirable subdivision on the east side of Winchester.  The low number of properties in play in Oakdale Crossing may be a sign that the neighborhood has recovered or is recovering from the economic downturn of September 2008. The neighborhood is near numerous major highways, shopping and schools.  It has been a great place to buy since it's inception 18 years ago.  The low inventory of available properties is a good sign that home prices in the neighborhood will be rising in the near future.  If you're ready to sell in Oakdale Crossi... 11/01/2012

HP has a great commercial about a small fishing company.  In the commercial, there is a background chant of "It ain't what you do, it's the way that you do it.  It ain't what you do, it's the way that you do it.  It ain't what you do, it's the way that you do it, that's what gets results."  What a great line.  I love the premise of the ad. What separates the performers from the non-performers?  "The way that you do it," that's what separates them.  I was talking to a friend today and that concept came up.  I approach real estate a little different from my colleagues.  I'm a results driven broker.  That's the kind of people I want around me.  Too much of modern sales are centered around manipulating the client pool.  I'm not interested in trying to manipulate buyers and sellers into usin... 10/31/2012