Virginia Real Estate

There is hardly a state in the U.S. with a more distinguished heritage and historical significance than that of Virginia, home of the American Revolution. Feisty, patriotic, and unwilling to succumb to those who would inhibit their new-found freedom, Virginia’s state motto is “Sic semper tyrannis,” or, “Thus always to Tyrants.”

Virginia is rich in a proficient history and consequently its culture reflects that legacy.  In 2007, Jamestown commemorated it’s 400^th birthday within the Jamestown-Williamsburg-Yorktown triangle. This blockbuster quadricentennial was enthusiastically celebrated with thousands of participants every day in a three-day-long festival that celebrated the foundation of America as we now know it, with reenactments, fireworks, treasure hunts, tours, demonstrations, and keynote speeches by speakers (President George W. Bush spoke on the final day) and visitors, the most significant visitor of whom was Queen Elizabeth II, who, on May 03^rd, arrived and was given a welcoming speech by Sandra Day O’Conner, the former Supreme Court Justice.

Since the start of Jamestown as the first American settlement, Virginia, also one of the original thirteen colonies, has only become a more and more admirable state, taking it’s victorious stand against tyranny and enslavement to the throne, watching its citizens spur world-altering events starting with the successful birthing of the English settlement of Jamestown, the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth rock, events such as the Great Awakening, the Boston Tea Party, and the signing of multiple documents that altered the course of history.

The Mount Vernon home of President George Washington (built in 1743 for George by his brother Lawrence, where he lived until his death and burial on the grounds in 1799) is located just under two hours north of Richmond, and proves to be a huge tourist attraction to students and families with school-aged children. It’s beautiful, Georgian architecture is stunning, and the original wooden home was preserved by limestone.

Another obvious attraction is the architecturally splendid home of Thomas Jefferson, known as Monticello. It is supposed that in the spare moments he rarely had, Jefferson (who spent years in hermitage, and kept mostly to himself, especially after the death of his wife Martha) would busy himself by “playing” with his house and adding and reconstructing here and there. Jefferson was well known as an outstanding prolific writer, having had a hand in penning the Declaration and the Constitution, but it is not commonly known that he wrote multiple letters to his daughter, Martha, whom he affectionately addressed as “Patsy”, admonishing her in the ways of a lady and nobly fulfilling his paternal duty via mail when his duties called him to leave his daughters (they were assigned a caregiver by the name of Mrs. Thomas Hopkins, mother of a friend). His portable writing desk is currently on display at the Smithsonian Institute.

Aside from George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, another 6 presidents (William Harrison, James Madison, James Monroe, Zachary Taylor, and John Tyler) have been born from this beautiful state, not to mention the many, many statesmen and political leaders who were brought up with fiery independence burning in their breast – indeed, Virginia is known for the large portion of American leaders that rose up and wrote the Declaration of Independence(John Locke, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, etc.), the constitution (James Madison, Thomas Jefferson), who made stirring speeches (Patrick Henry, “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death”), who wrote pamphlets to expand their cause (Thomas Paine, “Common Sense”, Benjamin Franklin, “A Dissertation upon Liberty and Necessity, Pleasure and Pain”) who were born or lived in this state, and Virginia’s subsequent state nickname is unsurprising: “Mother of Presidents”.

            Virginia is also the home of numerous significant iconic figures, including William Clarke, Meriwether Lewis, Robert E. Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Shirley McLain, and Sam Houston, to name a few. Speaking of actors, story after victorious story has been filmed in Virginia, from the moving 1970 story “Remember the Titans”, the imaginative, historically-fictitious “National Treasure”, and it’s sequel, which drew inspiration from the lives and times of history that Virginia took part in.  

            Americans move to Virginia for many different reasons – many assume that a state with such an incredible culture and history of individuals of character must subsequently be the perfect place to raise a family. For conservative Christians who are interested politics, the well known Patrick Henry College, the “Harvard for Christians” is a huge draw. For those politicians or those interested in politics, and looking for political opportunity. Northern Virginia provides a short commute to Washington D.C. Charlottesville, home of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, has been approved by most residents to be a wonderful, friendly place to live, wholesome for the most part. Those looking to buy here will find extreme housing prices, based primarily on the type of home you’re looking for – because in Northern Virginia, Charlottesville has it all. However, unless you are affluent, is difficult to truly experience and appreciate the small town to its fullest extent – though the physical size is nothing to write home about, the commercial leasing and renting is highly priced and you will be hard pressed to enjoy a night on the town when your wallet thins out.

In early 2010, the real estate market in Northern Virginia and the D.C. area was already beginning to look a little bleak; the inventory levels for Arlington and Northern Virginia were reported to be at their lowest since August of 2005. Arlington has since seen a peak in inventory, which occurred around the middle of April, and it was the highest peak for that time of year, when measured against 2009, 2008, and 2007.

In Arlington, residential sales have remained fairly stable, dipping the most in January and February of 2010, with sales rising slightly in May against the same timing of the previous year. However, in overall Northern Virginia, this inventory increase barely topped last year’s average, and was significantly below the averages of 2008 and 2007.  The same statistical pattern is shown for Northern Virginia’s pricing, as well, with 2010 currently averaging above the path that 2009 led, yet significantly below the two years prior.