Currently The Lake Ridge Virginia area has over 43 Single Family Homes for Sale.

If you are pre-approved for a home priced between $400,000 and $700,000 then chances are you will find what you are looking for in and around Lake Ridge Virginia.

Currently there are 43 single family homes for sale in that price range!

This home looks brand new....I currently have this one listed for $450,000. The home is huge!

The smallest homes have at least twenty one hundred square feet and many or larger and some boast as much as six thousand finished square feet. Best of all, I have seen so many that have been updated with new kitchens, and baths and even though many of the homes are over twenty years of age, I can show you homes that are move-in ready show stoppers.

I've been a local real estate agent for over twenty years specializing in the 22192 zip code area. It's where I live, work and play. Lake Ridge has been and continues to be a wonderful area for those commuting to Washington DC, Chrystal City Virginia, The Pentagon, Fort Belvoir, Quantico Virginia area's.

Why....because it has three ways out of the community. It is not land locked. We have Old Bridge Rd, Smoketown Rd and the Prince William Parkway all heading to I-95 north or south. Best of all we have rush hour commuter bus service, slug lines at the park and ride lots and a huge concentration of commuters heading to each location daily. So no matter if you choose to drive, take the bus, join a van pool or slug a ride. Getting to work is easy from the Lake Ridge Virginia area.

To view all the homes currently listed in Woodbridge Virginia right now that are Actively For Sale.. simply follow this link

Heading to Fort Belvoir Virginia? The base is approximately twelve miles from the Lake Ridge Virginia area. Check out the homes for sale near the base then decide if Lake Ridge is a good fit for you Homes for sale near Fort Belvoir VA

Heading to Quantico Marine Base? Well that is about ten miles from Lake Ridge Virginia. Check out the homes for sale in Triangle, Quantico, Dumfries and Woodbridge Virginia. VIEW HERE

***note, this post was written on April 28th, 2012. Inventory levels are up this week in Lake Ridge as more and more homeowners who plan to relocate when school gets out. This is the best inventory we have had in months! Now is the time to buy.***

For those of you thinking of selling your home OPEN HOUSES are a great place to start. In fact this weekend in the Lake Ridge Virginia area to date their are 17 OPEN HOUSES scheduled.

        Open 1-4 pm on Sunday March 25th..

           We hope to see you there...

If  you have been dreaming of owning a single family home on a cul-de-sac lot backing to tree's in the Lake Ridge Virginia area, then you may want to look at this beautiful home in Westridge Subdivision.

You decide....if you want to come take a look.

As you can see this is a goregous home that has been well cared for by the current owners. This home is avaialble for immediate delivery. Homeowners are moving up to a larger home within Westridge. They absolutely love the neighborhood. ( That should speak volumes to anyone thinking of buying a home in Westridge)

The house has three finished levels, a walkout basement. In the basement there is a nanny suite complete with full bath and a gas fireplace. On the upper level you will be find hardwood floors, a wonderful custom breakfast bar for those everyday pull up a chair and let's talk moments! ( Love it)

You will find a formal living room, formal dining room with views of the surrounding woods, a family room with woodburning fireplace ( that's rare these days) and a well appointed kitchen. Walk out to the deck overlooking the fenced back yard.

Upstairs you will find remodeled baths and four bedrooms ( one is being used as an office right now)

This home has seen many,many upgrades over the most recent years such as new windows, new HVAC Unit, new roof, and new patio. You even get to keep the Hot Tub

This home is priced at $400,000.

Let us know when you would like to see it. Call 703-590-2252

2011 was our best year in real estate for the past six years. OMG!!! It feels so good to say that. As 2011 comes to end, many of us take time to reflect. I'm doing  so, by rewarding myself with a well deserved week off durning the holidays to recharge, reflect and to re-tool for the upcoming year.

Back in 2008 when the market bottomed out, I only made $45,000 gross working full time in real estate. I barely held on, while other real estate companies were folding and agents were seeking full time work, I dug deep, learned how to change with the times, the technology and embraced social media and the Internet as the new, new. This year Erick and I were the top producers at Exit 1st Choice Realty in Woodbridge Virginia helping buyers and sellers navigate this challenging real estate market here in  Prince William County Virginia. While others are struggling, our tenacity to stay positive, and strive for excellence is what help us succeed.

The most rewarding things I did in 2011.

• I took a weeks vacation with my husband Bill to Aruba in February. Check out these photo's. We stayed at the LaCabanna Timeshare. They are totally renovated. For $1100 you can rent a one bedroom unit for a week! Direct flights from Dulles Airport make this an no brainier vacation get-a-way. Email me if you have questions. ( this falls into the category of pay yourself first.- What a treat!)
• First, the cutest and most rewarding thing I did, was I inspired a young person! Watch this video,it is one of my clients sons who went house hunting with us and I never so thankful to have my flip video in my purse to capture this. To his mom's surprise, Ethan bounded down the stairs when he heard I was at the front door while she was on the phone!

• Hearing from one of my settled customers that "life is so good" in her new home. She said "Peggy  the boys go out to play with the others in the neighborhood after school and well it's dark before I see them. They are exhausted when they come inside. This is exactly what I was hoping to find..Thank you..Thank you! "  For a Realtor is doesn't get much better than that.
• I mastered the Domino Effect Closing Boot Camp- I did it to myself-LOL!!!  read more here
• I helped several homeowners who were upside down on their mortgages successfully get approved to sell by Short Sale:
• Gales Ct, Manassas Virginia - the homeowner was upside down by $180,000 on her one bedroom condo. In the end her short sale was accepted with no deficiency. Wells Fargo Short Sale
• Forge Drive- Woodbridge VA-homeowner had lost her job and they could not make it on his income alone. Interest rate on loan was excessive, modification trial failed...before they lost the home we were able to get Wells Fargo to agree to the short sale.
• Kings Crest Drive- Stafford Virginia-homeowner was in total distress. Could not make payments. Bank of America approved his short sale in less than 90 days! No deficiency.
• Pondwater Ct- Sellers were transferred and were really upside down paid over $850,000 in the height of the market and current appraised value was only $575,000. Luckily they qualified for the HAFA Short Sale Program. It took awhile but the home closed! No deficiency from Bank of America.
• Alaska Rd- homeowners modification failed, and so we listed his home by short sale. Chase Bank...we received two offers and one is pending short sale approval now.
• I learned my marketing knowledge can work for Estate Sales as well. My homeowner needed to downsize..my marketing brought the crowds in.
• I was once again reminded how couples need help to find the right home. Watch as I explain how I helped a couple who had two completely different idea's of the perfect home and how I solved their real estate challenge. They had been through hell and back before they met me! Listen as explain
• And last of all, I have been giving back and training the newer agents how to get the same results that we are getting. One thing I love about being with Exit Realty is everyone supports each other and shares. If you are an agent reading this...learn why being at Exit has changed everything!

Now to end with another positive note. In 2011, our real estate team did handful of  short sales or foreclosures. The bulk of our business was "Regular Owner, Healthy Real Estate Transactions right here in the Lake Ridge, Woodbridge, Manassas Virginia area!" I will venture to guess that 2012 will be a similar year. If you are thinking of selling your home...make sure you beat the rush...Spring Market heats up here by March 15th through May 30th. Miss that window...your home may go unsold until 2013. Call me..703-851-3085 let's come up with a plan that works for you.

Finally it's SOLD!  I have been  assisting a family in the Westridge Subdivision with the sale of their home. The sellers called me after they had watched Erick and Company recently list and sell two homes in the acreage section off Tilney Ct . Both Tilney Ct sellers had tried sell and failed, prior to hiring  Erick and Company .

What makes this listing different is , the homeonwers were upside down.The challenge was they had two loans. Bank of America is the first loan and USAA is the junior lien holder ( aka-the second trust mortgage) As luck would have it, the sellers were eligible for the HAFA Program. This is a huge advantage for the seller  since Bank of America participates in the HAFA program and if the homeowner qualifies, Bank of America automatically waive any rights to a deficiency. It is important to request the HAFA package asap.

We listed the home and as luck would have it, the home received two offers within 20 days. A cash offer for $350,000 from an investor group ( don't get me started this is a great topic for another blog post) that the seller quickly rejected. And a very reasonable offer from a VA Buyer which the seller negotiated and finally accepted. This process may have been quicker if we could have submitted the HAFA Package prior to listing. We did not have any problems with value, since I make sure the home is listed at market value regardless if it is a short sale or not. It is my duty to get the seller as much as I can for their home and to do my part to protect neighborhood home values.

As we entered the eighth month, everyone nerves were beginnng to fraye. This short sale is proof Bank of America, still has major kinks in the short sale process. Bank of America has outsourced the HAFA approval process to UTLS. So not only did we have to get the short sale request approved through Bank of America we had to  wait for Bank of America to get the HAFA approval from UTLS.  Then we needed to get the lender in second positions ( USAA)  to agree to the short sale as well.

Over the summer months the sellers received approval for the HAFA program and received notice they would  receive a $3000 moving incentive.  Now all we had to do was wait for Bank of America and USAA to grant the short sale approval request and issue the seller their short sale approval letter. Finally in November it happened we had both shorrt sale letters in hand! Everyone was thrilled!  The buyers, the sellers, the buyers loan officer, the title company, the home inspector, the buyers agent and myself finally were able to exhale.

Settlement was scheduled for Thanksgiving Week. The buyer loan was locked and all contract contingencies were removed according to the terms set forth in the contract.  Both moves were set up and utilites were transfered, everything was going according to plan.

Then a BOMB WENT OFF! 

What happened? 

Bank of America rejected the final Hud-1 in the last hour!  Bank of America/HAFA will only allow $6000 to be paid to the Junior Lein holder (USAA) and USAA wanted over $13,000. Sellers were willing to pay, but Bank of America would not allow the Junior Lien holder to get anymore than $6000 period. The seller had to wire voluntarily the addition money between $6000 and the $13,200 to USAA. Unfortuntely, the USAA decision maker was on leave during the Thanksgiving Holiday week.  No one else in USAA could or would take responsibility of simply crediting the seller's loan balance and drafting the revised short sale letter to reflect the payment the seller made to allow everyone to settle on November 23rd. No one would answer until the following Monday.Worse, Bank of America's short sale approval letter was scheduled to expire on November 25th, 2011.  The title company  requested  Bank of America extend the short sale approval letter the very day they rejected the Hud-1, because we were coming up on the Thanksgiving Weekend. The response was...that can take up to ten days to complete that task. "Seriously? Are you kidding me? What are the buyers and sellers to do? What about the lock-in. No one at the bank seemed to care. No One...it will get done when it gets done. No one seems to care about the human toll of their lack of action!

A week passes, and no response to the calls to Bank of America. Trying to unturn every stone, I decide to Tweet the Bank of America Help Team on Twitter. I was pleasantly surprised to get a response quickly. In fact, "I am thrilled to say that the Bank of America Twitter Help Team was able to get a supervisor to call and expidite our transaction." Fast forward a week......

Great news for all! We  went to Settlement Today! Bank of America forwarded the revised short sale letter last week and so did USAA! Whew, that was a tough one.

Note: Not all short sale transactions are as challenging. I have helped homeowners short sell from start to finish in 90 days. However, Bank of America short sales always make me the listing agent feel like I must defend my reputation as a good listing agent.

Erick and Company has a wonderful track record to get homeowners under contract and settled quickly. Review our RESULTS here.  Typically when we list a home for sale and the home goes under contract, the process is very straight forward. Follow the terms of the contract, remove the contingencies, negotiate and head to settlement.  As you can see...buying or selling a short sale takes a great deal of patience for all involved.

           If you need help selling your home by short sale, call me...I can help. 703-851-3085.

As you drive down the street here in Lake Ridge Virginia on any given weekend you see bandit signs in the median strip that says "Lake Ridge Foreclosures". Kind of makes you the driver think, we must have a lot of foreclosures in the area if someone has a spent a lot of money having all those signs printed up to boast about it. Right?

Wrong...!

Overall, Lake Ridge Virginia has had a total of 109 homes go to Foreclosure this year that have appeared on the MLS System For Sale. Now that's not a lot when you consider, Lake Ridge Virginia has more than 7000 homes!

Currently there are 19 Active Foreclosure Homes For Sale In Lake Ridge Virginia. That said there are many more short sale opportunities in the Lake Ridge Virginia area for those who are thinking of buying a home.

Call me crazy, however I do not make you the reader sign into a website to get access to short sale and foreclosure homes. Simply view the list of foreclosure homes below. I will trust that if you need my help, and my twenty years of negotiating skills you will ask. I'm here to help you. I have been assisting Lake Ridge Virginia home buyers and sellers for over twenty years. ( gosh...that makes me sound old!) LOL!!!

• Foreclosure Offerings- Prince William County Virginia VIEW HERE
• Short Sale Opportunities-Prince William County Virginia VIEW HERE

If you're looking for a fresh cut Christmas Treein the Woodbridge Virginia area, treat yourself and head on over to Lake Ridge Nurseryin Lake Ridge, Virginia. The nursery is owned and operated by Susan and Donny Gray. Every year this  place gets better and better. This year they have an entire greenhouse filled with decorated tree's. Shop right from the tree's, purchase pre-lit Christmas Tree's as well.

Here's what's happening this week at Lake Ridge Nursery.  A few days before Thanksgiving the big truck rolled hauling the Christmas Tree's.The day before Thanksgiving the workers were positioning them all in place.

It was as if the Santa's elves came in overnight and the very next day, this is what Lake Ridge Nursery looked like. When I visited today, the Christmas Tree's are all lined up and displayed so you can walk around each one. This makes picking out the "perfect tree "so much easier. All the lights are hung above so don't hesitate to go in the evening hours.

Lake Ridge Nursery has a huge supply of small and large fresh cut Christmas Tree'sand they also sell     Pre-lit Christmas Tree's. You will also find Christmas Ornaments, decorated trees and so much inside. Susan and Donny have assembled a gorgeousgift shop as well.  So the next time you pass by Lake Ridge Nursery pull in and see "what's new" inside!

         Inside you will find:

• A huge selection of Vera Bradley
• John Medeiros jewerly
• Troll Beads and Charms
• Holiday Flags
• A Huge Selection of Christmas Ornaments
• One-of-a-kind clothing, coats, shoes & acessories
• Fragrances, lotions & soaps  
• Handmade pillows, totes & dish towels
• Impulse Items Galore!

     Gift Shop Hours:

     Monday through Saturday,

     8:00 AM - 8:00 PM    

     Sunday, 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Lake Ridge Nursery is located at 3075 Old Bridge Rd, Lake Ridge Virginia 22192

 If you or anyone you know need real estate advice or would like to sell or buy a home. Contact me direct at  703-851-3085 or contact me by email 

 Contact Peggy James or Erick Blackwelder  of Erick and Company of Exit 1st Choice Realty, Woodbridge VA. Realtors®, call 703-851-3085 (Peggy) or 703-590-2252 (Office).If you are a homeowner who has a home to sell, we have  buyers ready and waiting for nice homes to come on the market. Give us a call and we can "GET YOUR HOME SOLD FAST" to list your property for sale we service  Lake Ridge, Westridge, Old Bridge Estates, River Falls, Middle County, Manassas, Manassas Park, Haymarket,Montclair, Dumfries, Occoquan, Dale City, Gainesville, Aquia Harbor, Garrisonville and Triangle area's . 
                                
         

As local inventory dwindles, those homeowners who opt to list their homes for sale now, may just be doing a " Happy Dance" in a few weeks. Especially, when the SOLD sign goes in the front yard. Days are market are starting to go down and the homes in good condition,priced at fair market value are selling faster these days. Most in less than 30 days.

For those of you who just starting the process of buying a home. The great news is all those homeowner's who have been on the market awhile are starting to realize today's buyer demand upgraded homes in good repair. Anything less will not do. And their have been many price drops. So if you've been eyeing a home that is just out of reach, it is time to strike before someone else does.

Here's an example of what is happening to home buyers right now in Lake Ridge.Just the other day, that happened to a family I was working with. We househunted on Sunday and by Monday the house they really liked and wanted to write an offer on, went under contract. So we're back to house hunting, waiting for that perfect end unit townhome to come on the market in Lake Ridge,Virginia. If you or someone you know owns a end unit townhome in Westridge, Ridgeleigh or The Glen please call me, I have a buyer.

Take a look at how four bedroom homes are increasing in value in the past year 

Woodbridge Recently Sold Homes

For more sales stats for the 22192 zip code area just follow this link

If you or someone you know has a home to sell, now is a great time. Call me, our real estate team has several qualified ready to go buyers just waiting for a nice home in Lake Ridge, Virginia.

Search MLS right now for Start Here

Call me at 703-851-3085 or contact me by email 

Contact Peggy James or Erick Blackwelder  of Erick and Company of Exit 1st Choice Realty, Woodbridge VA. Realtors®, call 703-851-3085 (Peggy) or 703-590-2252 (Office).If you are a homeowner who has a home to sell, we have  buyers ready and waiting for nice homes to come on the market. Give us a call and we can "GET YOUR HOME SOLD FAST" to list your property for sale we service  Lake Ridge, Westridge, Old Bridge Estates, River Falls, Middle County, Manassas, Manassas Park, Haymarket,Montclair, Dumfries, Occoquan, Dale City, Gainesville, Aquia Harbor, Garrisonville and Triangle area's . 
                                
         

Today I was preparing a few market snapshots for homeowners who have contacted me about the value of their homes located in the Westridge Subdivision and another off Davis Ford Rd area in Woodbridge Virginia. While doing that it occured that some homeowners still think the market is horrible and there is no money for high end homes.  Well, that is historical information!  Back in 2008 and early 2009 very few homes sold or even came on the market. Money was scarce.

However money has opened up, people are relocating and we appear to be in a somewhat normal spring market. Nothing as dreadful as that past two years.

Below is snapshot right from the Multiple Listing Service that shows you that thirteen homes priced about $485,000 are currently under contract in the 22192 zip code area. One owner has accepted a Contingent Offer and six homes are firmly in Contract Status. This means all contract contingencies have been removed the home appriased for contract price of higher and those homeowners will soon be heading to settlement.

The highest priced home Under Contract in the 22192 Zip Code area is $1,500,000! Half of the sellers have assisted with closing costs for the buyers and average time on the market until contract is less than thirty days!

Does this news surprise you? Have you been thinking of selling?

Let's talk real estate and market value and what it will take for you to sell your home. I'm only a phone call away. I am Peggy James, Erick and Company's Listing Specialist.

Are you curious what these homes have gone Under Contract? Take a look VIEW HERE

Do you need help selling your home? Listen to how Erick Blackwelder and Peggy James can help you get top dollar. Call us at 703-590-2252.

Let's talk, and discuss all of your options.

 You Can Reach me direct at 703-851-3085 or  contact me by email . 

Contact Peggy James or Erick Blackwelder  of Erick and Company - Exit 1st Choice Realty,14029 Crossing Place,  Woodbridge VA. 22192. Realtors®, call 703-851-3085 (Peggy) or 703-590-2252 (Office) to list your property for sale or to purchase a property in Lake Ridge, Westridge, Old Bridge Estates, River Falls, Middle County, Manassas, Montclair, Dumfries, Occoquan, Dale City, Gainesville area's.