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Local Love: What Made You Fall In Love with Your Neighborhood?
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what it is about your hometown or favorite neighborhood that really made you fall in love with the place… Was it the charming Main Street or the easy access to awesome shopping? What about the local playground or the incredible library? Whether you’re moving to the area soon or have lived here for years, our agents had plenty to say about why they fell in love with their particular corner of Northern Virginia!
Location, Location, Location
For some agents, location and proximity to local amenities is key. Alison Rabak from our Gainesville office talks about her dreamy neighborhood layout, “I fell for our new neighborhood because of its location! My kids walk to school and there is a path around a pond that connects to restaurants, shopping, and a movie theater.” Maya Bonello of the Rubio Group in our Stafford Office took resale value into account: “My husband is in the Military and we didn’t know if this is the place we would stay forever. But we knew location mattered to us – personally and also for resale. We wanted to be in an established area with great schools, a welcoming neighborhood, and a home walkable to parks and shopping centers. Fairfax City gave us just that. We couldn’t be more in love with the area.”
Love At First Sight
Just like a great love story, sometimes the final decision is based entirely on a feeling! Stafford agent Terin Merriman “fell in love with Stafford because it has a country feel. Backroads with gorgeous views, horses and cows!” While Gainesville agent Vera Boujaoude was mainly interested in a particular school district, “We fell in love with our neighborhood because…when we came to see the home, we noticed tons of kids our kids’ ages on our same street. We felt like we were home!”
Easy Like Sunday Morning
Latana Locke, broker of our King George and Colonial Beach offices, was won over by the low maintenance and friendly vibe of Hopyard Farms: “We love Hopyard Farms! We moved from a large lot with lots of leaves and leaves and leaves. My husband is retired and he wanted a smaller yard and easy walking areas. Hopyard is perfect—great neighbors, rural but not too far from town. We bought just over two years ago and love it here.”
Let Us Play Matchmaker
Whenever you find “the one,” we’re here to help! Spotsylvania agent Sarah Hurst says “One of my favorite things is when clients just absolutely fall in love with a neighborhood and you can just see it in their eyes. It can be due to the school systems, the layout, the community amenities, or the warm feeling that it provides them with comfort and amenities. I believe that when a client falls in love with a neighborhood, the rest of the process can go pretty smoothly and we are just waiting for the right house to come onto the market that will become their forever home.” If you think you’ve decided on your perfect neighborhood but there aren’t any active listings at the moment, contact one of our agents to set up an automatic alert so that you’ll be the first to know when your dream home hits the market!
Four CBE Agents Elected to 2019 FAAR Leadership
We’d like to congratulate all FOUR of our agents elected to the Fredericksburg Area Association of Realtors Leadership Team, including Drew Fristoe as 2019 FAAR President! We’re so proud of all of you and looking forward to celebrating with everyone at the Installation Ceremony on December 6th at the UMW University Center. Get to know the new Leadership Team here!
Drew Fristoe, President
Raised in Fredericksburg, VA, Drew graduated from the University of Mary Washington in 2006 with a B.S. in Business Administration. A first-generation real estate professional who was licensed in 2008, Fristoe is active in his state and local association as well as the National Association of REALTORS®.
Drew chaired the NAR YPN committee Advisory Committee in 2018 and is also the co-founder of the Fredericksburg Area Association YPN, which Drew chaired in 2012, and the co-founder of the Virginia Association of REALTORS® YPN. He has served on the Virginia Association of REALTORS® Information Management Committee. In addition to chairing the Fredericksburg REALTORS® Foundation in 2011 and 2012, Fristoe has also worked on the Federal Political Coordinating Team for 1st District Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA) since 2009.
Arlene Mason, President-Elect
“It gives me great pride and satisfaction to be associated with such a wonderful group of professional REALTORS®” says Arlene. She feels that she has gained so much personally by networking and serving with other dedicated, caring and giving individuals. She says that “the return on the investment of your time will far exceed your expectations.”
A licensed REALTOR® since 2004, Arlene received her associate broker’s license in 2014. Since 2004, she has been involved with various FAAR committees and then decided to take the next step to serve on the Board in 2013. She has served on FAAR’s Board of Directors for the past 5 years, Treasurer for 2 years, and Vice President for the past 2 years. She is also a proud graduate of the Virginia Leadership Academy Class of 2013.
Arlene would like to offer a challenge to her FAAR friends . . . “Become involved – it will open doors for you, and both you and your business will prosper.” She will be honored to serve as President-Elect in 2019 and looks forward to getting know more of her colleagues.
Carol Sondrini, Director
Carol Sondrini is an energetic, positive, team-player who is very involved as a mentor in the Massaponax office and in FAAR. She is a member of the FAAR Education Committee and an elected Governor on the Realtor’s Foundation because she believes deeply in helping others. She serves as the Kitchen Coordinator for Love Thy Neighbor in King George.
She is excited to use her position on the FAAR Board to contribute to the vision moving forward in order to positively impact the members and the community. She hopes to help bring a larger awareness of FAAR to our area.
Deb Ellis, Director
Deb Ellis has been in our local market since 2004. Deb is active in the community from co-founding the Owen Lea Foundation to volunteering hours of service to local non-profits. She is passionate about education and bringing higher standards to the industry, as a member of the FAAR Education Committee and an instructor.
As the VP of Residential Services, she coaches, supports and mentors agents and brokers leading them to success. She desires to see
the same in all agents and by joining the board, she can have a positive impact. Exceptional service has been her ethos in the industry.
We are also incredibly thankful for Clay Murray and Ben Keddie’s service at FAAR as 2018 Directors and look forward to honoring them on Thursday! We are so lucky to have such a large presence in the Fredericksburg Area Association of Realtors!
How To Sell Your House Fast
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1. Clean It Up
There’s no beating around the bush, the house needs to be clean. If you’re not sure if your house is passably clean, get a friend to give you an honest opinion or just hire a cleaning service. Ideally, decluttering and deep cleaning should happen BEFORE listing photos are taken. Don’t make potential buyers have to imagine what the house might look like tidied up–get rid of clutter both inside and outside the house and put some elbow grease into making the place sparkle! Cabinets and drawers should be wiped down, any scuffs removed from the walls and kitchen appliances polished. Shampooing your carpets or mopping the floors can make a big difference!
2. Consider Staging
3. Professional Listing Photos
4. Make It Available
5. Price It Right
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This Weekend in Fredericksburg: March 10-11
SATURDAY
9:30am: Plant-Based Brunch, Film & Discussion: “What the Health”
Central Rappahannock Regional Library: Salem Church Branch
What the Health is a groundbreaking film that exposes the collusion and corruption in government and big business that is costing us trillions of healthcare dollars, and keeping us sick. The film is a surprising investigative documentary that will be an eye-opener for everyone concerned about our nation’s health and how big business influences it. Bring a friend! All are welcome!
All Weekend: Fairfax City Restaurant Week
Fairfax Area Restaurants
Take a bite out of Fairfax City! Get to know our diverse, independent and evolving culinary scene. Dine out at participating Fairfax City restaurants March 4 through 10, 2018 for special value 3 course meals and dine-in specials.
1pm: Spring Fling Soapmaking Class
The Crafty Cottage
We’ll be making 3 kinds of soap: Spring (Lavender, Spearmint & Orange), Clary Sage, and Rosemary Lemon! All three of these are beautiful for springtime. The Spring soap is a very moisturizing favorite of ours. Clary Sage is one of my personal favorites because I adore Clary Sage which is just so soothing! And Rosemary Lemon is refreshing, cleansing, and aromatic! These are hot process soaps and there will be 3 crock pots brewing at once. This is a demonstration of how to melt, mix, cook, color, flavor, and mold the soap. It will then need to sit molded at least overnight. The soap will need to be picked up the next day, or the next weekend, after sitting in the molds and being sliced. The cost of this class is $30, and you will get the recipes and 1 bar from each batch. This class may be paid for ahead of time via PayPal (kcam583600@aol.com) or at the beginning of class.
SUNDAY
11am: Bends and Brews at Adventure Brewing
Adventure Brewing Company (North)
Bend and Brews with Adventure Brewing!
Join Natalie Selent (200hr RYT) and Downward Dogwood at Adventure Brewing for a 1 hour yoga class, followed by Adventure Brewing Beer! (1 beer included in admission price).
Escape the cold and come sweat, stretch and sip some beers with friends inside a nice warm brewery.
Savasana and then a Stonewall Stout?
Backbend and then a Backpack Wheat?
This class will be suitable for all levels and we welcome any and all first timers!
11am: Street Racing Nights at Dominion Raceway
Dominion Raceway
We are back again this year with our friends from Modified DMV and are ready for a bigger and better year than last season. Come out on our true never prepped track for some true street 1/8 mile action. Bring your friends, bring your family, call out your rivals!! See who has the quickest car in a true street scenario where your tire and driving ability actually come into play!!! Don’t worry about you guys and gals that don’t like dig racing we also do low roll races too. Don’t be scared come out and enjoy some racing along with great food at 118 bar and grill located on the 2nd floor!!! $20 to race all day!!! $5 to spectate!!
5 Things To Do Before You Buy A Home
So you’re finally ready to buy your own home, congrats! It’s a big decision that can really impact your life and your finances. Here are our top five things to do before you take the leap to make sure you’re completely prepared!
Strengthen your credit score
Don’t know your credit score? If you’re thinking about buying a home in the near future—it’s time to find out! Try CreditKarma or any of the free credit reports to see what you may need to work on or if you’re in good shape! The better your credit score, the less you’ll need to pay for your home loan. The quickest way to improve your score is to pay down any credit card balances! You’ll also want to avoid applying for credit, for example, opening a new credit card or getting a car loan, until after you’ve closed on your new home!
Figure out what you can afford
Now’s the time to face the facts and be realistic. What’s your actual budget for purchasing a home? Conventional wisdom says that home expenses should only take up around 30-33% of your income each year. What will your monthly mortgage payment be, including interest, mortgage insurance and any HOA fees? An easy way to figure out what you can afford is by using Zillow’s Mortgage Calculator—easily adjust your purchase price vs down payment and see how it can affect your monthly payment. You’ll also want to set aside an emergency fund for unexpected repairs—especially during your first year! Once you’ve figured out what price range you can comfortably afford, stick to only looking at homes in that range.
Research different neighborhoods
You know your desired price range and what kind of home you’re looking for—now ’s the time to do your homework! Different areas and neighborhoods have their own character, benefits and drawbacks—consult your Realtor, websites like Niche, Crimemapping and Yelp, and if possible, drive through any neighborhoods you’re seriously considering at various times of day to really get a feel for them.
Save up
Keep in mind that the down payment is only one part of the costs you’ll need to pay upfront. Once you cough up that 10% down payment, you’ll still need to pay for any closing costs, necessary inspections, repairs or maintenance costs, the first few months of mortgage and insurance payments, and any moving costs. Closing costs can run anywhere from 2-5% of the asking price while typical home inspections are around $350-500. That’s on top of your down payment! With all that in mind, is your dream home still within your housing budget of 30-33% of your yearly income?
Connect with a lender
An experienced loan officer can be a huge help during your preparation period! They’ll help you figure out what loan product will be best for you and what you can do to improve your credit. Your CBE agent can recommend plenty of awesome loan officers and once you’ve got your pre-approval letter, you’re ready to tour homes and make an offer!
Buying a home (whether it’s your first or not!) is an exciting experience and can be immensely rewarding! All of us at CBE wish you the best of luck finding your dream home–don’t hesitate to reach out if you need help along the way!
Halloween Happenings 2017
It’s the spookiest time of year in the Burg! Grab your favorite ghouls and gals and plan your Halloween with our comprehensive list of Halloween parties, festivals and events! We’ve sorted them out into: “Super Scary” which are best for adults and teens, “Not-So-Scary” for kids and families and “Running Scared” which are 5Ks and running events!
Super Scary
Meet the Ghosts- Oct 27-29 and 30-31
From its Colonial past to the horrors of four major Civil War battles, Fredericksburg is one of the MOST haunted cities in America! Let the costumed guide navigate you through the paranormal combining the past with stories and folklore of the still lurking dead! Call 540-226-8378 to schedule a tour.
Fredericksburg Visitor Center Parking Lot, 706 Caroline St.
www.fredericksburghauntings.com
Belle Grove Plantation Paranormal Spooktacular- Oct 28
Paranormal Investigation with a paranormal team. Special All Hallows Eve Investigation on Halloween.
Belle Grove Plantation. 9221 Belle Grove Drive, King George, Virginia 22485. 540-621-7340. www.bellegroveplantation.com
Carriage Ghost Tour- Nightly in October
Fredericksburg, “America’s Most Historic City,” is also considered to be one of the most haunted cities in the country. Join us to see if you can find any undead on one of our 60 minute carriage Ghost Tours through historic downtown Fredericksburg. This tour is appropriate for all ages, so bring the entire family to search for those who still walk the streets after death!
Fredericksburg Visitor Center. www.oldetownecarriages.com
Halloween Haunt at KD- through Oct 29, starting at 7pm
Features ghastly creatures emerging from the darkness, highly-intense and bone-chilling attractions and some of the most hair-raising rides on the planet like the Intimidator 305 and Dominator roller coasters! NEW attractions this year! This event is not recommended for kids.
www.kingsdominion.com/play/haunt
Not-So-Scary
Fright Night in the Burg- Oct 26 5-7pm
Celebrate Halloween w/ a fun filled carnival and costume contests at the Dorothy Hart Community Ctr. Ages 3 – 5 will compete for most original and cutest while ages 6 – 8 and 9 – 11 will compete for most original and funniest! A family costume contest will take place and only one will be crowned “Best in the ‘Burg!” Judging will start at 6:15 pm, so be on time! Pre-registration recommended. Cost: $6. One adult is free w/ each paying child. $2 for each additional adult. www.fredericksburgva.gov/parksandrec
Belvedere Plantation Fall Harvest Festival–Oct 28-29
Get lost in the Maize Maze or just take pictures at the Pumpkin Patch! There’s plenty of fun and barnyard games to keep everyone in the family occupied! There’s also wagon rides and roaring campfires to wind the day down! Open Weekends Sep-Nov 4 and Tues-Fri during the week!
http://belvedereplantation.com/fall-fun/
Treats in the Streets Downtown Fredericksburg-Oct 28 11-2pm
Trick-or-treating at downtown shops, and lots of fun at Riverfront Park! Learn safety tips for trick-or-treating and enjoy fun activities! Free!
Riverfront Park & Downtown Fredericksburg
4th Annual Fall Festival and Halloween Golf Cart Parade- Oct 28-29. 10 am – 5
The Colonial Beach Fall Festival includes craft and food vendors, pony and hay rides, games, inflatables, crafts, fire pit and ends with the Halloween Golf Cart Parade. Free!
Town Hill, Colonial Beach
F’burg Fall Family Festival- Oct 29 3 – 6 pm.
From hay rides to inflatables and carnival games, it’s fun for the entire family!
Spotsy Towne Centre. Free!
Spooky Stories- Oct 30 7pm
Listen if you dare to tales that will chill and thrill you, appropriate for grades K-6.
Porter Branch Library. librarypoint.org
Great Pumpkin Fest at Kings Dominion- through Oct 29
Kings Dominion is not all scary in the fall. It’s all fun and no fear. Our daytime Halloween-themed events on select Saturdays and Sundays are geared towards children and families. Your favorite rides are also open during the day in Planet Snoopy. Kids Costumes are encouraged!
www.kingsdominion.com/play/great-pumpkin-fest
Creepy Crawly Carnival at Massad YMCA
Halloween festivities will once again be at the Massad Y! Games, haunted house, wicked fairy tales haunted trail ride, obstacle course, hay maze, pumpkin carving & more! Carnival area with crafts, games, treats and dancing.
212 Butler Rd, F’burg, 22405. www.family-ymca.org/about-us/news-events
Trick or Treat Mt Vernon- Oct 27-28 3:30-6:30pm
Participate in a special scavenger hunt, take a wagon ride on the 12-acre field, and create a boo-tiful Halloween craft in this unforgettable evening. A children’s costume parade around the Mansion will begin at 5 p.m. and prizes will be awarded for most fang-tastic “George” and “Martha” costumes! Cost: $12/Adult & $6/Child. Buy tickets at www.mountvernon.org
Running Scared
Scare Away Dravet 5K -Oct 28 9a-noon
Let’s find a cure for this catastrophic form of Epilpesy and put Dravet Syndrome to rest. Dress up for trick or treating as there will be a costume contest and many other family friendly Halloween activities to be announced soon.
Old Mill Park. Register at https://dravetfoundation.rallybound.org/5k-for-dravet-virginia
One Eyed Zombie Terror Trail 5K -Oct 28 4-6pm
Grab your running gear, and prepare to run for your life. Chose to either be a survivor or a zombie as you navigate 5 kilometers of forest trails and roads, while negotiating obstacles. Zombies and survivors run on separate clocks, as the survivors get a 30 second head start and try to out run the living dead. Each runner will have a life belt, and the zombies will try to take flags from it. Each flag taken adds 5 seconds to the survivors time, and takes 5 seconds from the zombies time. Registration is $25 for both survivors and zombies. All proceeds benefiting Special Olympics. For more information contact Caledon State Park, or Justyn Cox the race director at 540-205-5300 or howlincoyote10k@hotmail.com
Caledon State Park, 11617 Caledon Rd, King George
Halloween 5K & Monster Mile- Oct 28. 7:30 – 10 am. Get EXCITED because the most spooktacular race in the Stafford area is back with a new course this year! Prizes for the top finishers and best costumes! Put on your favorite costume, lace up your running shoes, and join us for our 2nd Annual Halloween 5K and Monster Mile!
Jeff Rouse Swim and Sport Center. Sign up at racetimingunlimited.com
Top 5 Best Apps and Sites for Moving
1. ThredUp/ Letgo
Moving, while stressful, is actually one of the best times to evaluate your wardrobe and all your possessions—if you’re dreading moving it to your new home, it’s probably time to let it go. ThredUp and Letgo are both awesome for paring down your closet and letting your old unwanted items have a new life. Not only will you have less stuff to move, you’ll be able to make some cash!
2. Unpakt
Schedule and organize your movers all online with Unpakt! If ever a moving website could be fun to use, this one would be! They help you figure out how many boxes you’ll need based on what kind of items you have and the size of your home and then let you compare moving companies’ prices! You can book them online for your move and the price is guaranteed—not an estimate—which is great for budgeting ahead of time!
3. Sortly
Sortly is an awesome way to keep track of everything you own! Snap a picture of each of your belongings (or maybe just the ones most important to you!) and categorize them by room, box or any way you want. You can create searchable notes and tags to help you find things quickly and even mark boxes with QR labels to see what’s inside without digging through it! After your move, Sortly can be helpful when you’re figuring out how much you need to insure your home for—if you add the value of each of your items, it’ll total them up for you!
4. MagicPlan
Let’s face it, once all your contingencies are satisfied, there’s not a whole lot for you to do besides pack until closing day. Use that hurrry-up-and-wait time to sketch out where your furniture will go, what decor should go where and what will make your new house flow as best as possible. Bonus: now you know exactly where certain boxes (and the super heavy furniture!) should go and you can label them for the movers so you’re not having to rearrange on the day of!
5. Updater
One of our favorite sites EVER! Updater makes transferring your mail, utilities and subscriptions to your new address a snap! Your CBE agent will put in your old and new addresses and voila! You’ll get a link to easily transfer over all of your mail and make sure your utilities are in order before the big day! A couple clicks and you’re done! Why isn’t everything this easy?
Moving soon and need an awesome checklist to make sure you’ve remembered everything? Check out our Ultimate Moving Checklist and download the room-by-room guide!
Home of the Week: 84 E River Bend Drive
After a long week of emails and meetings, feel the stress of modern life melt away as you pull up to your rustic retreat. Crickets sweetly chirping and the soft sighing of swaying trees around 84 E River Bend Dr is a welcome respite from the incessant dings and beeps of everyday life.
While away a quiet evening with a glass of wine on the generous front porch or host a fabulous dinner on the beautiful back deck— 84 E River Bend is made for al fresco entertaining. The property’s ample 3 acres affords your guests all the peace and serenity of the deep woods, even though you’re just minutes from Central Park and Cannon Ridge Golf Club.
Re-connect with nature before heading back out into the hubbub of city life—natural woodwork elements and hardwood floors throughout the home keep you grounded and light, while airy spaces help the home feel spacious and open.
Curl up on chilly nights in front of the wood-burning fireplace with a mug of hot cocoa or move down to the large basement with a playroom for family movie night. This truly unique home has plenty of space to relax with family and friends.
When it’s time to settle in for the night, there are four bedrooms to choose from, including one cupboard-room that kids will love! Listed for only $380,000, this rustic retreat is a hidden gem! If you’d like more information about this home or to schedule a showing, please contact Charlotte Rouse or any of our wonderful agents!
Charming Farmhouse: 6498 Byrd Mill Road
If you’ve been looking for a charming fixer-upper farmhouse with boatloads of character, you can stop looking! We’ve got exactly that on almost 2 acres for an absolute steal! Perfectly located between the cultural hubs of Richmond and Charlottesville, 6498 Byrd Mill Road is tucked away in a quiet corner of Louisa County.
This home is the textbook definition of “good bones.” At 82 years old, the home is ready for an interior cosmetic update–but at $120,000, even a first-time homebuyer can comfortably afford to remodel to their heart’s content. With 1,856 square feet, 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths, there’s enough room to spread out and really enjoy the property.
The exposed beams and white subway tile in the kitchen are enough to make Joanna Gaines swoon and the painted hardwoods in the secondary bedrooms lend a wistful nostalgia to the home’s atmosphere. If you can look past the paint color and see this home’s true potential, you could score an amazing deal.
Whether you’re an aspiring homesteader or a budding equestrian, there’s plenty for you to work with here! The property is home to a large barn, a tool shed and a chicken coop, all on 1.9 acres that back to fruit trees and a seasonal stream.
If you’d like to take advantage of this incredible bargain, please contact Alison Rabak at arabak@cbeva.com .
Home of the Week: 306 Caroline Street
Always wanted to own a piece of history? Nestled behind a brick wall, the Thornley House was built in 1851 and survived the Civil War. The Federal-style residence (with a splash of Italianate!) has 167 years of stories to tell, but with all updated bathrooms and a completely remodeled kitchen!
With three levels of beautifully preserved and updated history right in the heart of Downtown Fredericksburg, you’re just a half block away from the train station, restaurants and shops. Escape the summer heat in the private in-ground pool or just enjoy the secret garden in the backyard.
The attached in-law apartment and off-street parking are perfect for out-of-town visitors! 306 Caroline is listed for $999, 500 by Robin Marine. If you’d like more information about this truly historic property, please contact Robin or any of our Coldwell Banker Elite agents!
