I have been part of the military family for most of my life and understand the challenges of moving every couple years. My experience has given me a different perspective on the buying/selling process as well as a level of compassion and understanding that will help you navigate this transition.
Buying and selling a home can be one of the most stressful times, while also one of the most rewarding experiences in someone’s life. Having a trusted REALTOR who brings you a team of people to help you through the process to minimize the stresses and maximize the rewards will make this process even smoother.
We will use the latest technologies to effectively promote your home or find a new one. We will use data driven decision making processes to make sure that you are receiving the maximum value in your transaction. We will not just look at the home, instead we will look at the schools, parks and shopping so you will know the area you will be calling home and can make the best decision for your family.
Together we can make the process an exciting and enjoyable one that maximizes your value. I look forward to working with and for you!
Nancy Shingler
CBE Stafford – 100 Parkway Blvd Stafford, VA 22554
Meet Regina
I vividly remember when I bought my first home in 2008, my agent made me feel as if I were his one and only client. Ever since that experience, I wanted to be a real estate agent. My goal in real estate is for all of my clients to know that their wants and needs are my top priority. A few of my strongest qualities are being able to communicate with people , problem solving, and maintaining my composure in stressful situations, and my ability to create thoughtful solutions in seemingly hopeless situations.
I have called Northern Virginia home since 2014, and I love living here (minus the traffic, of course)! I reside in the Stafford area with my husband Courtney and our two children Courtney II and Gaia. I love living here and watching our children grow up.
I have ten years of experience as an educator, for which, I have earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Growth and Family Development from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, I have a Master’s of Arts in Early Childhood Education and an Education Specialist Degree in Administration and Supervision both from Union University. I enjoy reading, traveling, and spending time with my family.
I soon look forward to meeting with you and helping you find the home that instantly makes you feel at home.
Regina Van Buren
CBE Stafford Office – 100 Parkway Blvd Stafford, VA 22554
The leaves may be turning red and gold but there are still a few nice weekends left to take a leisurely walk through our local parks and let the kiddos run wild on the playground! Luckily for you, we’ve done the hard work of picking out the most fun playgrounds, most unique recreation areas and overall best parks in the area! Our picks were chosen because of their unique amenities, awesome playground equipment, convenient bathrooms and adjacent sports fields! These aren’t ranked but if you want to go test out how cool each of these parks are, be our guest and report back!
Curtis Memorial Park in Stafford is perfect for your more adventurous excursions! It’s a beautiful wooded park with the usual nature trails, picnic shelters, baseball diamond, playground, volleyball and tennis courts, but it’s also got a SKATE PARK!! as well as an Olympic-size swimming pool and wading pool with water umbrella for children. Check out the 91-acre fishing lake and 18-hole public golf course while you’re there!
Kenmore Park is in the heart of downtown Fredericksburg, on the corner of Kenmore Ave and Mary Ball Street. There’s something for the whole family here with 8 tennis courts, a tennis practice wall, basketball court, soccer field, children’s play equipment, and a toddler play area. It’s also within walking distance to the City Dog Park and the Canal Path, which is a shady, paved path perfect for strollers!
Old Mill Park is another awesome downtown Fredericksburg park, right on Caroline Street! If you’re looking for scenic views of the Rappahannock while you play on the soccer field, Old Mill Park is for you! It has convenient restrooms, playground equipment, and picnic shelters for when you’ve had enough exercise. You might notice a few old buildings near the park—the “Old Mill District” still contains a few structures related to the area’s once prominent mill industry, like the old Myers and Brulle’s Germania Flour Mill. There are QR codes along this trail with links to informational pages, if you’re interested in the history of the area!
Alum Spring Park is Fredericksburg’s best-kept secret located at the end of Greenbrier Drive! It is wooded so it stays cool even on the hottest days, has a fitness trail, a renovated picnic shelter, picnic tables, restrooms, grills, play equipment, and walking paths. These amenities are awesome but the park itself is actually really historic! Not only was the “alum spring water” supposed to have curative powers that almost turned Fredericksburg into a health resort, but the area was use
d as a hospital during the Revolution and eventually a gristmill and a sawmill! Find out more about the colorful history of Alum Spring Park!
Loriella Park is in Spotsylvania, just off Leavells Rd. This park takes advantage of its wide open spaces by featuring one of the area’s finest disc golf courses! Disc golf is easy to play and a cheap way to while away an afternoon! Loriella Park also has a public pool, baseball diamond, 2.9 miles of wooded trails, a shaded playground with infant swings, lighted tennis courts, a covered picnic area located next to the playground and restrooms.
Patriot Park is a massive park located right behind the Ron Rosner YMCA, in Spotsylvania. It has baseball diamonds, basketball courts, a 3.1 mile fitness trail, multi-purpose fields, a large enclosed playground with infant swings and a covered picnic area with restrooms. Not only does Patriot Park have all the usual bells and whistles, it also has a giant amphitheater where concerts are held during the summer!
Dixon Park is the City’s newest park, just a few minutes from the heart of downtown. With 1.5 miles of walking trails, a big pool that’s super popular in the summer, playground equipment, multiple sports fields, restrooms and nature preserve areas, there’s plenty of room to roam! Make sure to snap a pic with the cool sculpture at the entrance—one of the many sculptures that just popped up all around Fredericksburg, thanks to the Fredericksburg Arts Commission’s new Public Sculpture project!
The artist, David Boyajian, and “Dancing Milkweed IV”
Let us know if you have a favorite park that should be added to this list and what makes it so special!
If you’re thinking about buying a home in the next year or so, visiting an open house can be a great way to find out what you do and don’t like, how much house you can afford and really need, and what neighborhood or general area you’d like to live in. If you’re closer to making an actual purchase, open houses should be treated as a fact-finding mission. Either way, here are our best tips for making the most of an open house!
Do Your Research
Rule out any potential deal-breakers and don’t waste your time visiting those homes. If you know that you really need a home with a garage or you want to live in a walkable neighborhood, don’t fall in love with a home at the open house that you won’t be happy actually living in. There are plenty of websites that have information about homes for sale, but if you want to make sure that the listing you love has the most updated information, check out our home search or get Homesnap on your phone.
Scope Out The Competition
Obviously if you’re approved for $250k, don’t waste your time going to a $550k open house. But a little bit of research and number-crunching can help you look at potential homes more critically. Knowing what houses priced $50k higher or lower than your target price range look like will help you appreciate homes that are priced appropriately.
Take Notes and Pictures
Bring a way to take notes—whether that’s your phone or an actual notebook—so you can remember specifics about the house that aren’t in the listing or that would help you make a decision later. Having your own notes and thoughts about the home will be a huge help, especially when you are planning on hitting multiple open houses in a weekend.
Use Your Senses
Try to go beyond just looking at the layout of the house or the color of the walls. Listen for traffic noise, check out the condition of nearby homes, notice any smells or mold in basements or kitchens, open closet doors and look inside cabinets—these little things will have a big impact on your life in the house.
Ask The Right Questions
Ask the showing agent how many days the home has been on the market. If it’s a high number, the sellers may be more willing to negotiate. Find out whether there is an HOA, if the home has any issues that the sellers are aware of and what improvements have been made to the home. These questions will give you a better idea of the monthly costs of living there as well as any potential repairs you may need to make. Very perceptive buyers will be able to tell from the agent’s answers whether or not the sellers are “motivated” (read: desperate).
Open Houses can be exhausting, especially if you are hitting multiple homes in one day. Don’t get discouraged, and try to evaluate each home as impartially as possible. You’ll see plenty of homes you don’t like before you find out what you really need in a home. It’s fine to use these open houses as opportunities to learn about that area’s market and gather data that will inform your future home purchase.
Hello All! I go by Mike Heath and I am a 38 year old with a passion for sales. I am a huge people person and love to interact especially when it comes to business. I have been happily married for 10 years to my wife, Suzanne. We adopted our 2.5 month old son, Elijah Ray Heath, and love him with all of our hearts. We also have our awesome 9 yr old pup named Ryleigh who just loves everyone. We currently own a home in Stafford, VA.
I have been working in Information Technology in the private sector as well as for the DoD and VA departments since graduating from Virginia Tech, but took a break in 2014 to get my Real Estate license. When it comes to business, I am a hardworking, accomplished, innovative and successful Real Estate Agent. No matter what realm I am working in, I take initiative and have a strong sense of integrity and work ethic. I have a solid and comprehensive understanding of what it takes to successfully direct real estate deals from the initial contact with clients to financial assessment, negotiations and successfully closing transactions. I stay committed to my clients from start to finish, for all their needs, as well as creating cost-effective solutions and delivering projects on schedule and within budget for our Veterans. Ultimately, my passion is Real Estate sales and I believe that Coldwell Banker Elite will take me to the next level.
Imagine the leaves crunching under your feet, a family of swans swimming past your living room window, and access to tons of amenities like a gorgeous clubhouse and golf course…now imagine this community was full of affordable and well-kept houses. At the Lake of the Woods, this isn’t an unrealistic dream—it’s everyday life for the families loving the picturesque lake lifestyle only a few miles from Central Park and I-95.
The Lake of the Woods is a gated, secured community with two lakes, a golf course, clubhouse with a restaurant, an equestrian center, their own fire and rescue department, and walking trails all within the gates. Whether your family is into boating, water sports, golfing, horseback riding or simply soaking in the natural splendor—it’s all there at Lake of the Woods. The best part of living in the Lake of the Woods isn’t even the great location or the luxurious amenities, it’s the wonderful people and sense of community. Aside from being able to meet friendly people out walking dogs and exploring the fitness trails, there are over 60 clubs and organizations to get involved with!
My favorite part of the community is the equestrian center! All the horses are happy and healthy, and I had a lovely time just hanging out and giving all of them some pats and neck scratches! It was such a perfect way to de-stress on a fall day! The stable offers riding lessons for kids and adults as well as boarding, if you are looking for a convenient place to keep your horse!
The clubhouse is really elegant, large enough to host meetings and has a nice restaurant inside! If you’re a fitness buff, there are plenty of walking trails, parks and a fitness center that is available to all residents. The golf course is especially picturesque and there are plenty of foursomes out on weekends, if you’re looking for a golfing partner! It’s especially easy to get out on your boat if your home is waterfront, but there are also plenty of launch sites and beaches for boating enthusiasts.
Lake of the Woods also has some really interesting history if you’re interested! There’s a Civil War Study Group formed by Lake of the Woods residents, and an excerpt about the area from “Germanna Road: Three Hundred Year History of Lower Orange County, Virginia,” by Peter Rainey notes:
“The community was developed in 1968 by Virginia Wildlife Clubs as a seasonal, weekend, or vacation spot. It borders the Germanna Highway, originally the path made by the inhabitants of Lt. Gov. Alexander Spotswood’s Germanna colony in 1714. Seventy years later, his grandson, Capt. John Spotswood, inherited all the land that includes Lake of the Woods and built his home “Orange Grove.” John served in the 10th Virginia Regiment, was wounded and captured in 1779, and paroled at the request of General Washington. Across Germanna Road lie the relics of the Vaucluse Gold Mine, which is the best known of the mines in the county’s largest gold producing area until 1848. Part of the area of Lake of the Woods was owned before the Civil War by mining companies, including the Orange Grove Mining Company.”
If you’re curious about living in the Lake of the Woods, stop by our Locust Grove office directly across from the front entrance of the Lake of the Woods for a map of the community or our beautiful website to see the latest listings!
As a member of the Coldwell Banker Elite team, I’m most excited about helping people on their personal homeownership journey. Whether you’re selling your home or looking for that perfect home to buy, I’ll listen to you first, and then we’ll work together as a team. Every home is unique…and so are you. Your needs and wants are what matter most in this process, and my focus will be on you. After 20 years of living and working in Fredericksburg and the surrounding areas, I’m confident that I will be an asset on your journey.
Prior to joining CBE, I spent ten years as a P&C insurance agent at a prominent local insurance agency. I’ve always believed that focusing on my client first and always is the key to building strong and lasting relationships. I’ll give you a positive can-do attitude, attention to detail, and persistence, and those will make the difference as I help you on your journey.
I’m originally from Orange, Virginia, and now live in Fredericksburg with my two teenage sons. I have a BBA in Marketing from the College of William & Mary. When I’m not watching football and college basketball, I enjoy running, playing golf, camping, and other outdoor adventures. I believe life is meant to be lived to the fullest, and that you should have that zest and passion in both your professional and personal lives. I look forward to working with you soon!
My name is Ayesha Raja and I was born and raised in Northern Virginia. I have lived in the North Stafford area for over 11 years and I love the Fredericksburg/Stafford community. I have worked in many different fields over the last 20 years that have given me the experience of strong customer service, loyalty, strong work ethics, the ability to relate to people, and much more. I love meeting new people and getting to know what their story is. What brings me the most joy is finding people what they are looking for in their dream home.
Please allow me to tell you a bit about myself! My wife, Teresa, and I have been married for 24 years and raised our two children in the Spotsylvania County area since 1994. After graduating from Chancellor High School, our boys both chose to attend West Virginia University “Let’s Go Mountaineers”; our older son graduated from WVU in 2015 and younger son a senior. We have a strong commitment to family!
I graduated from George Mason University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Administration of Justice. I spent 26 years in Public Service. I am a FULL TIME Realtor who consistently applies the same passion from Public Service to each and every client. I have been a licensed Realtor in the Commonwealth of VA since 2007. I’ve taken advanced training in real estate and have earned several national designations so my clients benefit from up-to-date, professional service and knowledge in this rapidly-changing real estate world.
I have earned the following from the National Association of Realtors:
*ABR [Accredited Buyer Representation]
*AHWD [At Home with Diversity]
*SRS [Seller Representative Specialist]
In February, 2016, The Gardiner Group, LLC was established as a business entity under the firm. Whether buying or selling a home, the Real Estate process can be complicated, tedious, intimidating, and overwhelming. For most people, it is the largest financial decision they will make and also one of the most exciting times in their lives and our goal is to simplify the process! My Real Estate passion is to provide my clients with a “stress free” process by providing superior service to them. I am a good listener, always focused on your goals, I promise to work diligently together, and I will consistently facilitate the resources necessary to meet your expectations.
The Gardiner Group believes in earning your business AND your trust!
Testimonials: See what our clients are saying! Please visit; www.zillow.com,www.trulia.com
Meet Frank
I am a lifelong Virginian, a loyal Redskins fan and a lover of all things Virginia from peanuts to wines to our amazing mountains and beaches. After graduating from VCU, I ventured off to serve in the Marine Corps for four amazing years. I am very proud of my Marine heritage and understand how hard it is to serve in all of our military branches. My civilian career took me all over the country until moving back to Virginia 12 years ago where I’m proud to call Fredericksburg home.
I have four amazing boys who are now either college graduates or well on their way to completing the task. In my free time I enjoy travelling, tail gating, exercising and partaking in some of the best wines that are produced right here in our own back yards.
I look forward to helping you find the home of your dreams whether you are moving cross town or cross country.
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