Dunbarton Single Family Home Report: July-September 2022 (3rd Quarter)

Dunbarton Single Family Home Report: July-September 2022 (3rd Quarter)

Perspective is everything, isn’t it? After a weekend of monsoon-like rain after Tropical Storm Ian moved by, a little bit of drizzle and overcast skies almost feels cheerful. Sometimes it take a little bit of the undesirable for us to appreciate what we have, or had.

In this edition of the Dunbarton Single Family Home Report the focus in on the most recent sales in the neighborhood from July to September. Those sales alone, out of context don’t give nearly enough information. That’s why they are combined with one year’s worth of Dunbarton detached home sales dating back to October 1, 2021 when the six and twelve month data points are broken out. For now, let’s take at a look at the most recent detached home sales in Dunbarton for the third quarter.

Two out of four sales sold at their list price. Two sold below their list price, one significantly below list price. (As a point of information, list price above is the original list price a property has when it first hit the market.) This is a departure since last report when only one Dunbarton detached home sold for list price and the remaing six sold above list price. Another difference in the sales reported for the third quarter is that only one had single digit days on market. That was the majority of sales last report. The market is shifting.

When the six and twelve month data points are pulled out to produce the updated year’s worth of Dunbarton single family home sales, we still see a picture of a seller favored market.

Starting with the sold price column, both the six month values are above their respective twelve month values. The gap between the twelve month average and the six month average is definitely tighter than we saw last report. The gap between median values is a tad more. Values are not yet showing a downward trend in the long haul, but sellers pricing high, banking on extreme buyer demand, may be disappointed when they face price reductions to get under contract. The rise of mortgage interest rates, while not directly affecting would-be buyers who come to Dunbarton and other fifty-five plus communities with cash or exceptionally large down payments, is likely to affect the sale of those buyers’ existing homes. Interest rates for a thirty year fixed mortgage are now at 7.5%. That decreases buying power for the lower down payment buyers that are buying those existing homes of would-be Dunbarton home buyers. Likely the effects will be seen in coming reports, but it may not be terribly dramatic.

Seller subsidy is where we learn how much closing cost help Dunbarton detached home buyers were able to negotiate from their sellers. Only one sale out of four gave seller subsidy. Closing cost help is largely not a concern for Dunbarton single family home sellers. The amounts given over the last twelve and six month periods, when averaged for the number of sales, is minscule. Better indicators are the median values at zero. That means the majority of Dunbarton detached home sellers gave no seller subsidy in both time frames. Odds are good a Dunbarton single family home seller would not be troubled with this request.

When it comes to days on market, the six month average marketing time shows a longer period of time to go under contract compared to the twelve month average marketing time, but only by two days. The median values are still at four days. Even with the increase in average marketing time, a well prepared, properly priced and professionally marketed home will not linger on the market.

If you placed you Dunbarton detached home on the market, priced to current conditions, you could reasonably expect it to take about two weeks to go under contract. As discussed above, seller subsidy would be a low probability request from buyers. More importantly, the days of multiple offers and waiving every conceivable contingency are gone. The market is acting more measured. Buyers are taking their time to act, being much more deliberate in their actions. It is likely a home buyer would want a home inspection at a minimum.

The next Dunbarton Single Family Home Report will be out in January. Until then, I wish you every happiness the upcoming holiday season has to offer. As always, if the need to sell your Dunbarton home arises, I would be honored to help you figure out your place in the market. My business runs year round, making my sellers the max the market will allow in any season or any conditions. Put my over seventeen years experience as a Top Producing Bristow Real Estate Agent to work for you and your sale will be handled with the utmost priority and respect.

Chris Ann Cleland 
Associate Broker, Licensed in VA
Long & Foster Real Estate
703-402-0037, ChrisAnn@LNF.com
www.SellingBraemar.com
www.UncompromisingValues.com
www.ChrisAnnCleland.com

Dunbarton Single Family Home Report: April-June 2022 (2nd Quarter)

Dunbarton Single Family Home Report: April-June 2022 (2nd Quarter)

If you have been watching the news, no doubt you are hearing of increased mortgage rates and predictions of a real estate crash. In this edition of the Dunbarton Single Famly Home Report, we will take a look back at the second quarter of the year, which is when the steep mortgage interest rate increases took effect. Specifics on the detached home sales in the neighborhood from April to June will be shared as well as a look back at the six and twelve month data points that indicate market trends. Let’s get right to it.

Between the beginning of April and end of June, there were seven single family detached homes that sold in Dunbarton. Final sold prices ranged from $501,000 to $665,000. The details of all seven sales are listed below.

The sale in pink type was a seller I represented. I was so pleased to help the seller of 13248 Ormond Drive from listing preparation advice to light staging and professional marketing that resulted in far more than she ever dreamed she could get for her home. And she got it only one offer! That’s when you know you have driven up buyer enthusiasm to the top of the market. What makes me just as happy, though you don’t see it represented in the list above, is that six out of seven of these sellers were represented by my chosen brokerage of Long & Foster Real Estate. Being affiliated with such a well respected, local firm has been paramount to my own success in the real estate industry. It is nice to see that Dunbarton sellers also appreciate a quality brokerage with top notch agents.

Taking the seven Dunbarton single family detached home sales and combining them with the sales going back to the third quarter of 2021, our six and twelve month data points are updated. Those market markers are posted below.

Starting the sold price column, the health of Dunbarton single family detached home values is evident when comparing the six month average and six month median values to their respective twelve month values. Each of the six month value is substantially higher than their twelve month counterpart. This means Dunbarton home values are continuing to push up. Not a surprise to those professional, local agents who know that the majority of buyers in the market for one of these homes is coming with a substantial down payment on a small mortgage, or with one hundred percent cash. Mortgage interest rate increases do not affect the qualification of the vast majority of Dunbarton buyers.

Seller subsidy, also known as closing cost help to buyers, is rare in Dunbarton. Most home sellers are never faced with having to give any closing cost help. However, one seller out of seven in the last quarter gave $2,500. Looking at that listing online, it is likely due to some outdated finishes in the home that needed attention. There is only so much buyers are willing to pay a premium for in a seller’s market. Homes do best when they are freshened up prior to listing. Then again, it could have been a repair credit. Another seller in the last six months gave $375. That is an amount commensurate with a home inspection repair. The overall message to would be Dunbarton single family home sellers is that in the last twelve months, only two sellers out of twenty-three have had to give anything to their buyers for closing cost help. It is unlikely any Dunbarton seller would have to give any seller subsidy, particularly if properly prepared for market.

Days on market tells us how long it took Dunbarton single family home sellers to go under contract. The median marketing times in both time periods is stable at four days. However, the six month average is a day longer than the twelve month average and registers at six days. Again, looking at the most recent sales, there is only one seller out of the bunch that didn’t get above list price, gave seller subsidy and took twenty days to go under contract. Listing preparation and professional marketing are so important.

If you placed your Dunbarton single family home on the market, priced to current conditions, you could expect it to be under contract in less than one week. You could also expect to give nothing in seller subsidy. Furthermore, rising mortgage interest rates (still historically low, by the way) are not affecting the Dunbarton real estate market.

The next Dunbarton Single Family Home Report will be out in October. Until then, if you find yourself in a position to sell, do not hesitate to reach out for your no obligation consultation. The market for Dunbarton home sales is not at all seasonal. There are buyers looking year round. The key to maximizing the sale of your home is to hire a professional, local agent who will give you advice on proper listing preparation and professionally market your home. I am happy to put my years of experience and marketing skills to work for you.

Chris Ann Cleland 
Associate Broker, Licensed in VA
Long & Foster Real Estate
703-402-0037, ChrisAnn@LNF.com
www.SellingBraemar.com
www.UncompromisingValues.com
www.ChrisAnnCleland.com

Dunbarton Single Family Home Report: January-March 2022 (1st Quarter)

Dunbarton Single Family Home Report: January-March 2022 (1st Quarter)

Welcome to the first edition of the Dunbarton Single Home Report. I have been compiling reports for the all ages sister community of Braemar since 2005. As I encounter more and more buyers and sellers in the active adult communities in the area, I thought it would be helpful to publish this report quarterly. It will focus solely on the detached single family home sales in Dunbarton. This particular edition covers the first quarter of 2022, during which time there were six homes that sold. Details of those sales are listed below.

There is only one sale that stand out. It is the sale at 12849 Dunbarton Drive that was the only home to sell below its list price, give any seller subsidy (closing cost help to the buyer) and took three weeks to go under contract. All of this things are contrary to the other five sales of detached homes in Dunbarton during the first quarter of 2022.

Taking these first quarter 2022 sales and combining them with the second, third and fourth quarter sales from 2021, I extract six and twelve month data points to track market trends. Those market markers are seen directly below.

Let’s first look at the sold price column. Here we see both the six month average and six month median sold prices are higher than their respective twelve month values. This means that Dunbarton single family homes are continuing to gain value. No surprise there given the extreme lack of inventory and heightened buyer demand.

Seller subsidy shows us how much closing cost help Dunbarton buyers were able to negotiate from their sellers. The six and twelve month average seller subsidy values show very little. In fact, in twenty-two sales in the past twelve months, only one the one sale listed above at 12849 Dunbarton Drive gave any seller subsidy at all. Likely, the small dollar amount of $375 was a credit for a repair or walk through issue. More importantly, twenty-one sellers in twelve months gave nothing.

Days on market shows single digit days down the line. Certainly, a one day longer marketing time from the twelve month average to the six month average is nothing to think twice about. Dunbarton homes are in high demand and selling fast.

If you placed your Dunbarton home on the market, priced to current conditions, you could expect it to be under contract in less than one week. My latest listing at 13248 Ormond Drive took only two days to go under contract. And as discussed earlier just a couple paragraphs above, you could expect to give nothing in seller subsidy.

The seller’s market we are experiencing, particularly in Active Adult neighborhoods, is not likely to be impacted at all by the sharp increases in mortgage interest rates. Most buyers in these communities are either coming with cash, or a very low mortgage. Mortgages in many cases, are expected to be paid off when the family is sold, if that has not yet happened at the time of purchase. A fifty-five plus buyer is well established and typically asset rich.

When it comes time to sell you Dunbarton home, relying solely on market demand is a poor strategy if you are looking to maximize the return on your investment. Too many sellers are leaving money on the table, even during this insane seller’s market. The only way to guarantee your top position in the market is to hire your listing agent wisely. What I offer is listing preparation advice and recommendations, professional marketing and skilled negotiation.

The next Dunbarton Single Family Home Report will be out in July. Until then, please let me know if I can be of assistance. I would be honored to help you through the sale of your home when the time comes.

Chris Ann Cleland 
Associate Broker, Licensed in VA
Long & Foster Real Estate
703-402-0037, ChrisAnn@LNF.com
www.SellingBraemar.com
www.UncompromisingValues.com
www.ChrisAnnCleland.com

Dunbarton Single Family Home First Quarter Review 2017

Dunbarton Single Family Home First Quarter Review 2017

Spring has finally sprung in Bristow, but the cold overnight temps over the last few days may have you going back and forth between your heat and a/c.  Does make for some great days to open up the windows and let in some fresh air.

Right now, it’s time for the first quarter check up on Dunbarton single family home values.  Let’s get right to it and see how the first quarter of 2017 compares with the first quarter of 2016.

HOMES SOLD

3 homes sold in the 1st quarter of 2017

6 homes sold in the 1st quarter of 2016

Clearly, the first quarter of 2017 is not starting out gang busters for number of sales compared to the previous year.  But is it affecting prices?

SOLD PRICES

High Sold Price:  $399,900 in 1st Q 2017; $449,900 in 1st Q 2016

Low Sold Price:  $335,000 in 1st Q 2017; $335,000 in 1st Q 2016

Median Sold Price: $385,000 in 1st Q 2017; $349,000 in 1st Q 2016

Average Sold Price:  $373,300 in 1st Q 2017; $370,400 in !st Q 2016

Well this feels better than just looking at the number of sales.  Sure the highest sold price isn’t as high as it was in the first quarter of 2016, but the median and average sold prices are higher.  That means the demand is raising prices.

CLOSING COST ASSISTANCE

Another aspect of analyzing home sale data is looking at closing cost assistance that sellers give buyers.

1 out of 3 sellers gave closing cost help in 1st Q of 2017

4 out of 6 sellers gave closing cost help in 1st Q of 2016

Looks like sellers in the first quarter of 2017 had a better shot of not being asked for closing cost help this year.  That’s part of the current high market demand.  The more buyers are competing for listings, the less likely they are going to ask for things like closing cost help.  The one that did give help this first quarter of 2017 gave $6,085.  So that would be a worst case scenario if you were thinking of selling anytime soon.

MARKETING TIME

And the last aspect of analyzing home sale date is to find out how long it is taking to sell homes.  So how long is taking to sell a single family home in Dunbarton?

Highest Marketing Time:  43 days in 1st Q 2017; 189 days in 1st Q 2016

Lowest Marketing Time:  7 days in 1st Q 2017; 4 days in 1st Q 2016

Median Marketing Time:  27 days in 1st Q 2017; 72 days in 1st Q 2016

Average Marketing Time:  26 days in 1st Q 2017; 84 days in 1st Q 2016

As I would expect in a market where buyer demand is outpacing supply, the first quarter marketing time for Dunbarton single family homes this year is shrinking overall compared to last year.

If you have been thinking of making a move, selling during a time of low inventory is a great strategy.  Call me to find out other home selling strategies that I can put to work for you.

Chris Ann Cleland

 Associate Broker-Licensed in VA

Long & Foster REALTORS®, Manassas VA

703-402-0037, ChrisAnn@LNF.com

www.SellingBraemar.com

Dunbarton Single Family Home Year in Review 2016

Dunbarton Single Family Home Year in Review 2016

Last year (2016) was my first giving you stats for single family home sales in Bristow’s only active adult community of Dunbarton.  Of course giving you stats for 2016 without some point of reference is rather meaningless.  While we walk through the stats, we’ll be making
comparisons to 2015.Dunbarton Single Family Home

HOMES SOLD

21 homes sold in 2016, 11 of those had basements

33 homes sold in 2015, 20 of those had basements

There was definitely more sales activity in 2015, than we saw last year.  However, that may not be unexpected.  Take a look at the number of sales broken down by quarter.

1st Quarter:  6 sales in 2016, 8 sales in 2015

2nd Quarter:  7 sales in 2016, 8 sales in 2015

3rd Quarter:  7 sales in 2016, 9 sales in 2015

4th Quarter:  1 sale in 2016, 8 sales in 2015

Notice anything there?  It’s pretty obvious that our 2016 sales performance in the 4th quarter of 2016 was way down compared to the previous year.  The major event that happened during that time last year was our Presidential election.  Every four years, we go through this slowing as we approach a Presidential election.  Assuming most years are like 2015, any time of year is a good time of year to sell your Dunbarton home.

SOLD PRICES

High Sold Price:  $457,000 in 2016, $450,000 in 2015

Low Sold Price:  $322,500 in 2016, $309,000 in 2015

Median Sold Price:  $365,000 in 2016, $368,500 in 2015

Average Sold Price:  $374,433 in 2016, $372,600 in 2015

Despite having fewer sales in 2016, it appears Dunbarton single family home values are holding steady and edging forward ever so slightly.  The only price that isn’t higher in 2016 is the median.  And it is only $3,500 down from last year.

CLOSING COST ASSISTANCE

Sellers want to know when they sell their home is they should expect to shell out money for buyer closing costs.  Let’s see the trend.

7 of 21 home sellers gave closing cost help in 2016

17 of 33 home sellers gave closing help in 2015

Seems that the likelihood of a seller having to give closing cost assistance to a buyer is decreasing.  In 2016, the average closing cost assistance totaled $2,365.  The highest amount given was $10,440.   The lowest amount given, of those that did give, was $5,000.  The median amount of those that gave was $6,000.  So even if your buyer did need closing cost help, odds are it wouldn’t be crippling.

Dunbarton Sign Fall 2015

MARKETING TIME

Besides knowing if they will have to pay a buyer’s closing costs, sellers also want to know how long it’s going to take to sell their home.  Here’s a comparison for you:

Highest Marketing Time:  240 days in 2016, 276 days in 2015

Lowest Marketing Time:  0 days in 2016, 4 days in 2015

Median Marketing Time:  22 days in 2016, 49 days in 2015

Average Marketing Time:  64 days in 2016, 69 days in 2015

Looks like the time it took to sell a Dunbarton home in 2016 was faster than it had been the year previous.  Might have to do with the lack of inventory in the neighborhood compared to 2015.

If you are thinking of selling your Dunbarton home, give me a call for a free market Chris Ann Cleland, Braemar Real Estate Agent, 703-402-0037analysis.  We’ll drill down and see what comparable properties sold for, and what your competitors are asking in their list prices.  Since 2005, I have been a full-time, professional Bristow Real Estate Agent.  Helping Dunbarton home owners sell is one of the favorite parts of my job.

Chris Ann Cleland

 Associate Broker-Licensed in VA

Long & Foster REALTORS®, Manassas VA

703-402-0037, ChrisAnn@LNF.com

www.SellingBraemar.com

www.UncompromisingValues.com 

Dunbarton Single Family Home Report: September-October 2016

Dunbarton Single Family Home Report:  September-October 2016

The trees are quickly shedding their leaves as we approach the end of November. Thank goodness the early nightfall that late fall and winter bring are mitigated Dunbarton Single Family Homeby the sparkling holiday lights that neighbors put up every year.  It is hard to be in a bad mood when you see holiday lights.  While our minds may be getting into holiday mode, it is time to take a look back at Dunbarton single family home sales during the months of September and October and determine how values are faring.

There were only two Dunbarton single family homes that sold between the beginning of September and end of October.  One sold for $365,000, the other for $369,900.  The average of the two sales gives us our new average market value for a Dunbarton single family home of $367,450.  That’s a drop of 6.5% in average market value since last report.  Then again, last report there were five homes that sold and some were up there in price.  Compared to this time last year, the average market value is down only slightly over 2.5%.  Please remember that we are talking averages.  When it comes to pricing a particular home, Listing Agents like myself will compare you to homes that are similar in size to yours.

Dunbarton Single Family Home Report:  September-October 2016

If you placed your Dunbarton home on the market, priced to current conditions, you could expect it to be under in an average of five days.  That’s pretty fast!  Don’t be surprised if the holiday months increase that time.  You may also pay an average of nearly 1% of the sales price in closing cost help for the buyer.

The next Dunbarton Single Family Home Report will be out in January.  In the meantime, I wish you all a very Happy Holiday season.  And when you are ready to list your Dunbarton home, give me a call for a free market analysis of your specific home’s value and a discussion about what I will do to get your home sold.

Chris Ann Cleland, Braemar Real Estate Agent, 703-402-0037Chris Ann Cleland

 Associate Broker-Licensed in VA

Long & Foster REALTORS®, Manassas VA

703-402-0037, ChrisAnn@LNF.com

www.SellingBraemar.com

www.UncompromisingValues.com 

 

To see the Dunbarton Duplex Report for September-October 2016, click the link.

Dunbarton Single Family Home Report: July-August 2016

Dunbarton Single Family Home Report:  July-August 2016

Fall is beginning to show its colors in Bristow.  Of course, the thing I dislike about Dunbarton Single Family Homeautumn is that the brilliant red, orange and yellows on the trees is very short lived.  Nonetheless, fall is here which means summer is over.  That gives us the opportunity to look back at the months of July and August and see how the single family home market in Dunbarton fared the last two months of summer.

For starters, there were five Dunbarton single family homes that sold from the beginning of July to the end of August.  The high sold price was $457,000 and the low sold price was $330,000.  The average of all five gives us our new average market value for a Dunbarton single family home–$393,200.  That is up over 10% since last report’s average market value, but compared to activity from the same time last year, it’s down nearly 1.5%.

Dunbarton Single Family Home Report: July-August 2016

If you placed your Dunbarton single family home on the market, priced to current condition, you could expect it to be under contract in an average of just over nine weeks.  And judging by the five sales in this report, you wouldn’t have to given any closing cost help either.

The next Dunbarton Single Family Home Report will be out in November.  Until then, when you are ready to list your Chris Ann Cleland, Braemar Real Estate Agent, 703-402-0037Dunbarton home, give me a call for a free market analysis of your specific home’s value and a discussion about what I will do to get your home sold.

Chris Ann Cleland, Associate Broker-Licensed in VA

Long & Foster REALTORS®, Manassas VA

703-402-0037, ChrisAnn@LNF.com

www.SellingBraemar.comwww.UncompromisingValues.com

 

To see the Dunbarton Duplex Report for July- August 2016, click the link.

 

Statistics compiled using MRIS (Metropolitan Regional Information Systems.)

Dunbarton Single Family Home Values: March-April 2016

Dunbarton Single Family Home Values:  March-April 2016

It is time for another Dunbarton Single Family Home Value Report.  In this edition, we will focus on sales of single family homes in Dunbarton between the months of March and April.  Since this is only my second report in the series, we’ll only have reference to our Dunbarton Single Family Homelast report.  Data referenced for last year was run just for comparison’s sake, but does not exist in a stand alone report.

There were two single family homes that sold in Dunbarton between March and April.  One was a three bedroom, four bathroom Patuxent III with a finished basement that sold for $392,000.  The other was a four bedroom/three bathroom James Madison with a full, unfinished basement that sold for $420,000.  The average of both sales gives us our new average market value of $406,000 for a Dunbarton detached home.

Right off the bat, you have to realize that basements are not the norm for every Dunbarton single family home.  So when I tell that this new average market value is an 11% increase since last report, you have to bear in mind that many Dunbarton single family homes do not have a basement.  Our last report had five resales reported and two of them had no basement, two had unfinished basements.  So the comparison is not as broad a spectrum this report.  Compared to last year, however, values are up 6%.

Dunbarton Single Family Home Values: March-April 2016

If you placed your Dunbarton single family home on the market, priced to current conditions, you could expect it to be under contract in an average of 13 days.  You could also expect to pay an average of a little over 1% of the sales price in closing cost help to the buyer.

The next Dunbarton Single Family Home Report will be out in July.  Until then, when Chris Ann Cleland, Braemar Real Estate Agent, 703-402-0037you are ready to list your Dunbarton home, give me a call for a free market analysis of your specific home’s value and a discussion about what I will do to get your home sold.

Chris Ann Cleland, Associate Broker-Licensed in VA

Long & Foster REALTORS®, Manassas VA

703-402-0037, ChrisAnn@LNF.com

www.SellingBraemar.comwww.UncompromisingValues.com

 

To see the Dunbarton Duplex Report for March-April 2016, click the link.

 

Statistics compiled using MRIS (Metropolitan Regional Information Systems.)

Santa Brought This Dunbarton Home a Contract!

Santa Brought This Dunbarton Home a Contract!

13243 Ormond Drive went under contract on December 18, 2015.

On October 15th (2015,) I listed this Patuxent model in Dunbarton at 13243 Ormond Drive.  As the second listing agent, the listing came to me with 125 accumulated days on the market.  Thankfully, the Sellers understood that their list price needed adjusting after our initial discussion.  While they had been listed at $369,900 with their previous listing agent, we landed on $358,000 as a reasonable asking price.

One thing I uncovered during our comparable market analysis was the average marketing time for a similiar sized home in Dunbarton, at the time, was 46 days.  That gave the Sellers Kitchen--13243 Ormondand I a reasonable expectation of when we could expect an offer, if we were priced right.

The market did slow down a bit, as discussion of government shutdown came and went.  Meanwhile, always with a mind toward marketing, I did some preliminary staging and updated it as the listing lingered on the market.

On December 16th, after 62 days on the market, we got an offer!  It was a little longer than the average, but half the time of the previously unsuccessful attempt to sell.  Two days later, we were officially under contract.  You’ll have to stay tuned for the final details.

Chris Ann Cleland, Braemar Real Estate Agent, 703-402-0037Buyers don’t stop house hunting over the holidays.  In fact, traffic has picked up in Bristow as the year end holidays get closer.  If you are talking to an agent who writes off anything but the spring and summer selling season, you might want to talk with an agent that KNOWS the market is active year round in Bristow.

When you are ready to sell your Braemar or Dunbarton home, give me a call.  No One Knows Braemar Better!

Chris Ann Cleland, Associate Broker-Licensed in VA

Long & Foster REALTORS®, Manassas VA

703-402-0037, ChrisAnn@LNF.com

www.SellingBraemar.comwww.UncompromisingValues.com