How Much House Will $500K Buy in Northern Virginia?

How Much House Can You Buy for $500,000 in Northern Virginia?

Northern Virginia is next door to our nation's capital, yet it has a character of it's own. With a geography that ranges from world-class technology centers to historic cities and towns—urban corridors to rural countryside—Northern Virginia offers unparalleled options for jobs, education, recreation and culture. Therefore, it is a great place to live!

So, what kind of home will $500,000 buy in Northern Virginia and what are the features? For comparison, I've chosen five towns—Alexandria, Fairfax, Ashburn, Haymarket and Warrenton—and randomly picked five nice, single-family homes from each town in this price range that are currently on the market (as of 12/10/2013).

You will see there are similarities in these homes, however if you are searching in this region, you will find that the differences appear in square footage, acreage and distance to Washington, DC, so it all depends on what your priorities are. All of these cities and towns boast great school systems, amenities and have seen positive trends in the real estate market.

1. Alexandria, Virginia

Alexandria, Virginia is an independent city located along the Potomac River, six miles south of downtown Washington, DC. The historic center of Alexandria, known as Old Town, is the third oldest historic district in the United States. Old Town is known for it's pubs and restaurants, shopping, art scene and waterfront harbor.


3300 Battersea Lane, Alexandria, VA 22039 - $499,900
4 Beds | 2 Full, 1 Half Baths | 1,658 sq ft | .31 acres
Courtesy of Long & Foster Real Estate

See Full Details & Photos
See all Homes for Sale in Alexandria, Virginia

See All 5 Towns

10 Newest Luxury Homes for Sale in Gainesville, VA

The 10 Newest Luxury Homes for Sale in Gainesville, Virginia

Each week I post the Top 10 Newest Listings for Haymarket, Gainesville, Bristow, Manassas and Warrenton, Virginia and the smaller, surrounding towns of Nokesville, Catharpin and Broad Run.
If you are looking for a luxury home (over $700,000) in Western Prince William County, Gainesville is a great choice. Gainesville is conveniently located near major routes (I-66, Rt. 15 and 29) and offers an array of shopping plazas, a Wegman's, a new movie complex, several restaurants and three golf courses.

Here is MY PICK for the Gainesville Luxury Home for Sale with the NICEST YARD:





4818 Strawberry Drive, Gainesville, VA 20155
$825,000 - 5 Bedrooms, 3 Full, 2 Half Bathrooms
Courtesy of our friends over at RE/MAX Gateway

 

To schedule an appoinment to view this home or any other home in Gainesville, call or text Bryan Garcia at 703-517-2574.

 

See the 10 newest LUXURY homes for sale in Gainesville, VA as of December 2, 2013

10 Most Incredible Dining Rooms in Northern Virginia Homes for Sale

10 Incredible Dining Rooms in Northern Virginia Homes for Sale

Just in time for the holidays! If you are in the market to buy a home in Northern Virginia and entertaining dinner guests is a big priority for you, here are some incredible dining rooms worth looking at! All of these homes are currently on the market in Northern Virginia as of November 22, 2013. Okay... some of these homes are a little pricey, but it's still fun to look.

I picked 10 random houses in the Northern Virginia region with dining rooms of various architectural and decorating styles. Take a peek, you'll find that the other rooms in these homes are pretty amazing as well.

Here is MY PICK for the 10 most AMAZING dining rooms in Northern Virginia Homes for Sale:


2547 Halfway Road, The Plains, VA 20198
$15,000,000 - 6 Bedrooms - 5 Full, 1 Half Bath
Courtesy of Sotheby's International Realty

5 Reasons to Sell Your House Before Spring

5 Reasons to Sell Your Prince William or Fauquier County House Before Spring

REPRINT - Courtesy of The KCM Crew on November 19, 2013

Many sellers feel that the spring is the best time to place their home on the market as buyer demand increases at that time of year. However, the fall and winter have their own advantages. Here are five reasons to sell now.

1. Only Serious Buyers Are Out

At this time of year, only those purchasers who are serious about buying a home will be in the marketplace. You and your family will not be bothered and inconvenienced by mere 'lookers'. The lookers are at the mall or online doing their holiday shopping.

5743 Pignut Mountain Drive, Warrenton, VA Real Estate and Home for Sale

5743 Pignut Mountain Drive, Warrenton, VA 20187-  $411,000

Breathtaking country roads take you home to this lovely 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath brick ranch home nestled in a wooded lot on over 11 acres in the Mount Pleasant Estates. Sitting atop a Northern Fauquier County ridge, this location still provides easy access to I-66 and the Haymarket exit for shopping, entertainment and recreation. Spacious rooms, fresh paint and solid hardwood floors throughout provide a comfortable main level living floor plan.

See more photos of Pignut Mountain Drive

Search all MLS Homes for Sale in Warrenton, VA

Bryan Garcia specializes in helping folks buy and sell real estate in Northern Virginia. His area of expertise is Prince William County — Haymarket, Gainesville, Bristow, Manassas,Warrenton and surrounding communities.

110 Withers Mill Rd, Huntly, VA Real Estate and Home for Sale

110 Withers Mill Rd, Huntly, VA 22640 - $250,000

 
Savor the great outdoors and MAGNIFICENT views from the wraparound porch of this quaint, two bedroom ranch home. Located on nearly four acres of land backing to the Rappanhannock River, horses are welcome, fishing is nearby and there is plenty of space to expand and spread out. Enjoy quiet living with easy access to Front Royal (under 10 minutes), Routes I-66 and 211 for shopping and entertainment. This home, less than 10 years old, provides comfort and modern amenities.
 
See more photos of Withers Mill Rd, Huntly, VA

Bryan Garcia specializes in helping folks buy and sell real estate in Northern Virginia. His area of expertise is Prince William County — Haymarket, Gainesville, Bristow, Manassas, Warrenton and surrounding communities.

10 Newest Luxury Homes for Sale in Nokesville, Virginia

10 Newest Luxury Homes for Sale in Nokesville, VA as of November 13, 2013

Each week I post the Top 10 Newest Listings for Haymarket, Gainesville, Bristow, Manassas and Warrenton, Virginia and the smaller, surrounding towns of Nokesville, Catharpin and Broad Run.
If you are looking for a luxury home (over $700,000) in Western Prince William County, Nokesville should not be overlooked. Nokesville is conveniently located near major routes and shopping —yet it offers tranquility and home lots with generally more acreage.

Learn more about the Rollins Ford/Vint Hill Extension Project

Here is MY PICK for the Nokesville Luxury Home for Sale with the MOST UNIQUE ROOMS:

See This Beautiful House

See all 10 newest LUXURY homes for sale in Nokesville, VA as of November 12, 2013

Home for Sale Under $275,000 - 16012 Tiffany Lane, Haymarket, VA - Well Maintained Ranch

Not a foreclosure or short sale! Here is a wonderful opportunity to own a well-maintained, single-family, three bedroom ranch home on a half acre+ lot in Haymarket, Virginia for under $275,000. Tiffany Lane is one of just a couple single-family detached homes for sale in Haymarket in this price range.

16012 Tiffany Lane, Haymarket, VA 20169 - $274,900

Warrenton, VA Area Colonial Home - 4 Bedrooms, 1 Acre, Hardwoods Throughout - REDUCED to $350,000!

Catlett, Virginia Home for Sale - Here is a wonderful opportunity to own a single family, four bedroom home on a one acre wooded lot in beautiful Fauquier County for under $350,000.

3305 Daffan Drive, Catlett, Virginia 20119 - $350,000

House Hunters NOVA | Best Real Estate Search Website in Northern Virginia

The Best Way to Search the Internet for Houses for Sale in Northern Virginia

Are you addicted to House Hunters and other HGTV shows?

Do you love to search real estate websites to see which houses are for sale in your neighborhood, your dream neighborhood or just to peek inside for decorating ideas?

Are you in the market to buy a home and find yourself spending way too much time online when you should be working, doing other things or even sleeping?

If you answered yes to the last two questions, you don’t need a rehab program you just need a good real estate website. If these searches are consuming your precious time, at least make sure you’re using a website that’s fast, up-to-date, allows custom local searches and best of all—provides good pictures!

If you ARE searching for a new home, you’ll want to see new, local listings the day they go on the market. Furthermore, you don’t want to waste valuable time looking at homes that may be under contract or even sold, which is often the case with many well-known web sites like Zillow and Trulia.

EXITGarcia.com is the premier real estate website for searching for homes in Northern Virginia.

HERE'S WHY

Top 10 Luxury Homes for Sale in Manassas, VA

10 Newest Luxury Homes for Sale in Manassas, Virginia as of November 1, 2013

If you are looking at Luxury Homes in the Western Prince William County area of Virginia, Manassas should be on your list. Luxury homes in Manassas range in price from $600,000 to $1 Million Dollars. There are currently 37 homes in this price range.

 

MY PICK for BEST WATERFRONT Luxury Home for sale right now in Manassas, VA:

See this Home and All 10 Newest Luxury Homes for Sale in Manassas, VA

10 Newest Homes for Sale in Warrenton, VA

The 10 Newest Homes for Sale in Warrenton, Virginia as of October 29, 2013

Here is a Warrenton, VA Home for Sale right now with FIVE FIREPLACES:

 

See this property and the the 10 NEWEST HOMES for Sale in Warrenton, VA

10 Newest Homes for Sale in Haymarket, Virginia

10 Newest Homes for Sale in Haymarket, Virginia as of October 25, 2013

Here is MY PICK for the Haymarket Home for Sale with the BEST WINE CELLAR:



See full story and 10 Newest Listings in Haymarket, VA

Upscale Home Sales Prices Increase in Haymarket, Virginia

Over the Past Two Years, Haymarket, VA and Surrounding Towns Have Seen a Significant Jump in Upscale Home Sales Price

In the midst of the political bickering in Washington, the rise and fall of interest rates and the uncertainties of the national economy, Haymarket, Virginia and surrounding towns have fared well over the past two years—at least in the real estate market. Haymarket and the surrounding towns of Gainesville, Bristow, and Warrenton, Virginia have seen a significant increase in home sale prices as well as in influx of new commercial and retail development.

Haymarket, VA shows a 34.4% increase in Median Sales Price for Upscale Homes

Bryan Garcia specializes in helping folks buy and sell real estate in Northern Virginia. His area of expertise is Prince William County — Haymarket, Gainesville, Bristow, Manassas, Warrenton and surrounding communities.

Call or text Bryan today 703-517-2574 or email BryanGarcia@exitheritage.com anytime.

         

10 Newest Homes for Sale in Bristow, Virginia

SEE 10 Newest Houses for Sale in Bristow, VA as of October 23, 2013

Townhouse Sales Strong in Bristow, VA

In the past year – from September 2012 to September 2013 – townhouse sales have increased 43.8 percent in Bristow, Virgina (from 16 to 23 sales tranactions). The chart below shows a two year period with monthly fluctuations, however you can see the steady rise over time. Learn more.

Learn About the Rollins Ford Extension Project in Gainesville, VA

The Rollins Ford Extension will provide a direct, four-lane divided roadway between Linton Hall Road in Gainesville, through the Glenkirk and Morris Farm communities (Songsparrow Drive and Yellow Hammer Drive) to Vint Hill Road in Nokesville. Currently, the only routes to Vint Hill from Linton Hall are either Glenkirk Road (indirect) or Sudley Road in Bristow. Rollins Ford will be between them coming out near the Prince William Golf Course on Vint Hill Road.

See how the Rollins Ford Extension will Affect Gainesville, Bristow and Nokesville, VA

10 Newest Homes for Sale in Gainesville, Virginia

SEE 10 Newest Homes for Sale in Gainesville, Virginia as of October 18, 2013

Here is the LEAST EXPENSIVE home for sale in LAKE MANASSAS - and it is SPECTACULAR:

3305 Daffan Drive, Catlett, VA | Real Estate and Homes for Sale

3305 Daffan Drive, Catlett, Virginia 20119 - $350,000

Price Reduced! Here is a wonderful opportunity to own a single family, four bedroom home on a one acre wooded lot in the Warrenton area of beautiful Fauquier County for under $400,000. Nestled in a cul-de-sac neighborhood with no HOA, this home is still close to major routes and shopping. Features include spacious rooms on two levels, a side loading 2-car garage with windows and rustic character throughout.

Just Listed! 14502 Awbrey Patent Dr, Centreville, VA | Real Estate & Homes for Sale

14502 Awbrey Patent Drive, Centreville, VA 20120 - Home for Sale - $429,900 
 

Bryan Garcia, Realtor is proud to offer this wonderful opportunity to own a single-family, three bedroom colonial home in a great commuter location for under $450,000.

Garcia Gazette October 2013 - Haymarket VA and Beyond Real Estate News

Real Estate News and Market Trends for Haymarket, VA and Beyond

 

The October 2013 issue of The Garcia Gazette is out! This issue features whimsical stories about October and the Fall season, a list of local Fall Festivals, good-to-know articles, real estate trivia, market trends and more.

Download October 2013 Issue

The Process of Buying a Home

The Process of Buying a Home in Northern Virginia and Working with a Realtor

Searching for a home is fun. Buying a home is a little more involved. Making the smart move of choosing a Realtor® to guide you is one of the first steps toward finding the right home and making an informed decision. A Realtor will make sure your best interests are considered every step of the way.

How much house will $500,000 buy in Northern Virginia?

I have created this infographic to help you understand the home buying process. Once you find the right home, the process doesn't end there — you are just getting started with the steps leading to a successful closing day.

How Much House Will $500,000 Buy in Northern Virginia?

Real Estate and Homes for Sale in Northern Virginia

Northern Virginia is next door to our nation's capital, yet it has a character of it's own. With a geography that ranges from world-class technology centers to historic cities and towns—urban corridors to rural countryside—Northern Virginia offers unparalleled options for jobs, education, recreation and culture. Therefore, it is a great place to live!

So, what kind of home will $500,000 buy in Northern Virginia and what are the features? For comparison, I chose five towns and randomly picked five nice single-family, detached homes from each town in this price range that are currently on the market (as of 9/10/2013).

You will see there are many similarities in these homes, however if you are searching in this region, you will find that the differences appear in square footage, acreage and distance to Washington, DC, so it all depends on what your priorities are. All of these cities and towns boast great school systems, amenities and have seen positive trends in the real estate market.

Great End Unit Townhouse For Sale Under $230,000 - 16998 Point Pleasant Lane, Dumfries, VA 22026

Here is a great chance to own an end unit, three bedroom, three finished level townhouse for under $230,000 in a great neighborhood with lots of amenities. This home is conveniently located right next to I-95, minutes to the VRE and just 31 miles to Washington DC. And, it's just a short stroll to the swim and racket center. 

16998 Point Pleasant Lane, Dumfries, VA 22026 - $229,900

Improve Your Home AND Give Back to the Community

The real estate market in Prince William County, Virginia is now experiencing positive trends in home sales and you may be thinking about selling your home. If not, you may just be ready to clean out or change things up a bit. Either way, your efforts can help support our local community.

Bryan Garcia and some real estate agents from Exit Heritage Realty in Haymarket recently spent some time volunteering at Habitat for Humanity in Manassas. The mission of Habitat for Humanity is to eliminate poverty housing and make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. They learned first hand how this worthwhile organization can always use volunteers and is in great need of household items and supplies.

Here are three recommended things you can do to add value to your home and prepare it for sale while also supporting local organizations like Habitat for Humanity

Manassas, VA Leads the Pack in Prince William County Home Sale Prices

In the past year, from July 2012 to July 2013, Prince William County in Virginia has seen a substantial increase in home sale prices. Data shows the Median Sales Price for all home types and all zip codes combined during this period increased 17.29%. In Prince William County, the Median Sales Price in July, 2012 was $277,000 and in July, 2013 is was $324,900*.

What is the difference between Median Sales Price and Average Sales Price?



Leading the pack in this trend is the zip code 20109 in Manassas, VA which saw a 45.4% increase from July 2102 to July 2013.

4 Spectacular Golf Course Communities in Haymarket, VA and Homes for Sale

Haymarket, Virginia is home to four spectacular golf courses. And near them are some of the finest properties in the region. These upscale communities with amenities like pool clubs, tennis and fitness centers offer homes ranging from efficient townhouses to sprawling estates — all in an area set amid the gorgeous landscape of the rolling hills of Virginia's hunt country rich in history and scenic spendor. Whether you are a first-time home buyer or an active 55+ adult, Haymarket is a place you can call home even if you don't hit the links.  

"Golf courses sell real estate and that's why they're built." ~ Ed McMahon

 

Townhouse Sales in Prince William County, Virginia Still Strong

For the past three years, the Median Sales Price of attached townhouses in Prince William County, Virginia has seen a steady increase. This means the demand for townhouses has also increased.

   

How do we know the demand has increased? We look at the average number of days a house in on the market before it sells. In Prince William County, the Average Days on Market for attached townhouses in July 2013 was 21 days up just slightly from May 2013 which was only 16 days – the lowest number in the past five years. In June of 2008 the number of days on the market was 115.

VDOT Gainesville Improvement Project - What Will It Look Like?

The VDOT Gainesville Improvement Project in Prince William County, Virginia is Making Good Progress

If you live in the Gainesville, Haymarket or Bristow area of Prince William County in Virginia, you have been impacted by the VDOT Gainesville Improvement Project. This project—the new Route 29/Linton Hall interchange—is one of the largest construction projects currently underway in Virginia.

If you are thinking about moving to this area or plan to live here for a while, this is good news!

For the past several years, the community has experienced traffic delays due to intersection lights, daily trains, Route 29 distance travelers and rapid growth to the region. This change is welcomed.

See all Homes for Sale in Gainesville, Virginia

Buying a House in Prince William County, Virginia

Should I Wait to Buy a House in Prince William County, VA?

Should I wait to buy a house? Will prices go down? Will the economy weaken? Will interest rates stay this low?

These are all good questions to ask yourself if you are in the market to buy a new house. However, if you asked yourself these questions about a year ago (June 2012), the answer to all them would have been "no" — at least as the market has proven in Prince William County, Virginia.

The data is out and over the past year the Average Sales Price for a home (attached and detached combined) in Prince William County rose 9.87%. In June of 2012 the Average Sales Price was $320,868.  In June of 2013 it was $352,542. That's significant.



See the full article