Another day - another contract. It's a great day. Another day, another incomplete contract. Why is that? Why can't we get a contract that is complete, with all the proper addendums, and with all of the information filled in. And legibly. By the time this thing has been faxed back and forth a couple of times, it is almost impossible to read it. I know, in my listing it says "EMAIL ALL CONTRACTS TO.....", but nobody sees that. And why can't agents use AUTO CONTRACT? There - got that off my chest. I feel much better. Thanks.  The Wallace & McGrath TeamKevin McGrathColdwell Banker Elite"Selling Homes In The Fredericksburg Virginia Area"www.fredva.com  11/13/2007

Often I will meet an agent, and after a casual conversation, we will exchange cards. How many times have I had to look at the card, look at the agent, then look at the card again? The internet is a great tool; we can have all kinds of pictures out there. Pictures of us. Lots of potential clients see us before they meet us. I wonder what they think when they see us on the internet and yet when they open they door it looks like we have aged 10 years?Is business so bad agents can not afford to get a new picture every couple of years?The Wallace & McGrath TeamKevin McGrathSelling Homes In The Fredericksburg Virginia Areawww.fredva.com  11/12/2007

The "I'm Sending Over An Offer" Call I get them all the time now. "I am going to write on your listing and send it over". OK - great I say. Please feel free to call me at any time, with any questions. Here is my fax and my email, and again, I am always available for any questions.And that is the last I ever hear of it. Is there some point to this? Are they testing their cell phone signal at my expense? Do they think I will get all excited, then do an emotional crash and burn when they fade away, and then get my client to lower the price? Or are they just practicing their agent-to-agent communication skills?I don't know about the rest of you, but my feeling is - if you have an offer - send it on over. I will present it to my client immediately, that I can promise you. But don't call me j... 11/11/2007

I saw a story a while back in, I think 60 Minutes ?, and I had someone tell me the other day that they were coming into our market (Northern Virginia). No big deal; to me it is no difference than if any other broker opened up in town. I think selling homes is still a person to person business, but I am curious if anyone has run across them, and if so, what was the experience like? Kevin McGrathThe Wallace & McGrath TeamSelling Homes In The Fredericksburg Virginia Areawww.fredva.com  11/11/2007

I get them all the time now. "I am going to write on your listing and send it over". OK - great I say. Please feel free to call me at any time, with any questions. Here is my fax and my email, and again, I am always available for any questions.And that is the last I ever hear of it. Is there some point to this? Are they testing their cell phone signal at my expense? Do they think I will get all excited, then do an emotional crash and burn when they fade away, and then get my client to lower the price? Or are they just practicing their agent-to-agent communication skills?I don't know about the rest of you, but my feeling is - if you have an offer - send it on over. I will present it to my client immediately, that I can promise you. But don't call me just because you "think" you might wri... 11/11/2007

Realtors - Do Some Of Us Expect Something For Nothing? I have a dog. Sometimes I think I have trained him; sometimes I think it is the other way around. As you can see, he lives a very hard life. Anyway, as I was working around the house today, and as I fed him what seemed like his 42nd snack of the day, it got me to thinking. When he does something good, I give him a treat. That comes from training. I get that. But lately it seems like when he comes in from outside, he expects a treat. When I get up in the morning, it seems that in his mind he has accomplished something, and he expects a treat. Sometimes, when I merely wander into the room, I can see him eyeing the treat jar.Have we, as realtors, become like my dog. Do we expect a treat just because we take the listing? When I search t... 11/10/2007

I have a dog. Sometimes I think I have trained him; sometimes I think it is the other way around. As you can see, he lives a very hard life. Anyway, as I was working around the house today, and as I fed him what seemed like his 42nd snack of the day, it got me to thinking. When he does something good, I give him a treat. That comes from training. I get that. But lately it seems like when he comes in from outside, he expects a treat. When I get up in the morning, it seems that in his mind he has accomplished something, and he expects a treat. Sometimes, when I merely wander into the room, I can see him eyeing the treat jar.Have we, as realtors, become like my dog. Do we expect a treat just because we take the listing? When I search the MRIS and I see a listing with no pictures, I think o... 11/10/2007

 One of my favorite things to do on a sunny day or warm evening is take a stroll down Caroline Street in Fredericksburg.  Lined with antique shops, historic buildings, museums, quaint dining, and quirky shops, you'll be amused for hours at the wonderful assortment of things to browse.After a quick stop at Ullman's and Crown Jeweler's (two of my favorite "stop-in-before-the-holidays-with-the-husband" stores), we were trying to decide on a place to eat.  Something quick, tasty, and no-nonsense was in order.  Today led us to a great little restaurant owned by a young chef raised and bred in F'burg, Daniel Battista.  The Old Town Grill and Café offered a nice menu of soups, salads, sandwiches and grilled items.  It's always busy at lunch with a pretty fast pace, simple décor, and a lot of t... 11/08/2007

I have been incredibly busy the past couple of weeks - in a good way, of course.  Lots of clients needed to see homes, listing appointments, calls to make, files to update, you know the drill.  But this past weekend I couldn't resist - I had to put it all away and get outside.My son is the youngest of 5.  As a 10 year old boy, he's incredibly aware of God's gifts - the beauty in a sunny day, the awesomeness of a heron flying across the creek, and the stillness of water.Our outing was to Crow's Nest by canoe, a place I've written about before.  We talked about Pocahontas' kidnapping, the Union Soldiers' encampments, and the two Civil War sites across the creek near our home.     "Belle Plains, which was a primary Union supply port during part of the 1864 Overland Campaign, is southwest o... 10/16/2007

Is it progress or not?  That's a pretty good question.As many of you probably know, the City of Fredericksburg Virginia is deeply rooted in history.  The city can trace its origins to the 1700's and there were many Revolutionary War heroes who were both born in or lived in it.Many of my prior blog subjects dealt with our history and architecture.There is an historic district in Fredericksburg; because this district is nationally recognized, there are covenants which apply to existing and future homes in the historic district.  Trust me, not all of the homes in the historic district are "old" by any measurement.  Consequently, it is possible to see modern structures alongside older homes.  There are many contrasts as a result.Take a look at this picture and see of which I speak!Sometimes... 10/04/2007

Homes for sale in Fredericksburg Virginia continue to stay on the market for longer and longer.  However, that is not the crux of today's blog.It appeared from my perspective that townhomes stay on the market for longer periods than detached homes in the same price range.  Not being totally convinced that my visceral feeling could be supported statistically, I went into our MLS system to see what the system would reveal.  I am going to conduct a similar study of homes for sale in Stafford County and homes for sale in Spotsylvania County.Ever feel like a complete dullard?  Well avid readers, this is not the first time I have felt that way.In the City of Fredericksburg there were 37 detached homes sold during the past 90 days.  The average days on the market for those sold homes was 124.D... 09/21/2007

One of the reasons I was compelled to move to the Fredericksburg area of Stafford was its close proximity to the historic city of Old Town Fredericksburg.  The museums, antiques, abundant little shops, cobblestoned sidewalks, and incredible charm were enough to win me over.  But there was another reason...the University of Mary Washington - or as it was formerly known prior to July 2004, Mary Washington College.Having come from the college town of Towson, Maryland  - home of the Towson Tigers - I had found a sense of comfort coming to this area over 20 years ago.  The large oak trees, the sprawling campus amidst a small city, the quaint coffee shops, and gorgeous sports fields, all drew me here like a magnet.  Fall in Old Town Fredericksburg was positively captivating and the University... 09/19/2007

The Riverside Dinner Theater has been providing local dining and entertainment in the Fredericksburg area since 1998.  The Riverside offers 36,000 square feet of space for dinner theater and conference facilities.  Located just off of U.S. Route 17 (Warrenton Rd) and I-95 at Exit 133 (Warrenton), it is mid-way between Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA.  The theater offers fun, family fare in a 100% non-smoking environment.The adult venue features classics of the musical stage while the Children’s Theater performs musical renditions of classic children’s stories.  Children’s Theater productions can be scheduled to accommodate large groups and tickets are discounted regardless of the size of the party.  Large parties must be sure to contact Riverside in advance to make appropriate reserva... 09/03/2007

Heather Gay, 31, formerly of Century 21 Team Real Estate in King George, had pleaded guilty in Stafford County Circuit Court of possessing drugs with the intent to distribute as an accommodation, as well as pleading guilty to petty larceny and unlawful entry.  The maximum penalty for the drug conviction is 10 years in prison.  She is free on bond and will be sentenced November 2nd.Court papers show that Gay claimed that she stole Lorcet and Dilaudid to pacify her mother's alleged drug and alcohol problem.  Prosecutor, George Elsasser, presented evidence that Gay had stolen 18 Dilaudid tablets and 56 Lorcet pills from a southern Stafford home she had been showing to prospective buyers.  She accessed the lockbox using her Supra key and had apparently been the only agent to have entered th... 08/27/2007

There are currently 38 active homes for sale in Idlewild, a new community in Fredericksburg Va.  In the past 90 days  2 homes have sold, and one is under contract.  This is a lovely community.  There is a pool, tennis courts, fountains, town center with shops, walking trails, exercise room, and tot lots.  The neighborhood was developed to look like a "town"  and is very charming.  When complete there will be 750+ homes.  I would guess it is 2/3 complete...but that is only a guess. So what does this have to do with foreclosures, and short sales?  Of the 38 listings 14 are bank owned or require a bank addendum!  37%     11 are builder specs or to be built!  29%     13 are what I will call "normal" listings!  34% The two that sold were also bank owned as is the one under contract. So if yo... 08/22/2007

Nestled on over 500 acres of rolling pastures and dense woods and trails, Potomac Creek Estates is privately situated to the south of Potomac Creek and surrounded by gorgeous countryside and farmland.  The community itself greets you with stone pillars on either side of a quaint, paved road lined with Willow Oaks.  Board fencing delineates the horse pastures and there is an abundance of common area to use for horseback riding, playing baseball or driving a few golf balls.The community is separated into two sections.  Section one consists of 16 lots, a barn with a tack room, electricity, stables, and storage facilities.  Section two consists of 24 lots, a barn with electricity, stables and board fencing.  All lots are from 10 to 12 acres in size with shared common areas.Section one leads... 08/22/2007

Homes for sale in Fredericksburg VA continue to be some of the best bargains in the Washington DC area.Fredericksburg is only 50 miles south of Washington and about the same distance from Richmond VA.  Thousands commute to jobs in the Washington area every day.The median price for homes that sold in Fredericksburg (that includes Spotsylvania, Stafford, King George, and Caroline counties) during July 2007 was $316,000.  That is good news for buyers and not so good news for sellers.  In July 2006 the median sales price was $339,950.  That is a drop of 7.05%!For more information about homes for sale in Fredericksburg VA you might want to visit this website. 08/20/2007

By Irene Morales Ward8/11/2007Having lived in the Fredericksburg area for nearly 20 years doesn't exactly make me an expert in Civil War history.  However, I do think it makes me something of an expert in another field - area food!Initially I didn't understand the hype and hysteria.  It was February when I first moved to South Stafford and the idea of an ice cream cone was not exactly top on my list of things to indulge in.  But it didn't take long for me to hear whispers from neighbors...its almost Valentine's Day!  Carl's will be opening.When I had the nerve to finally inquire about what "Carl's" was, my neighbors looked at me with a combination of disbelief and utter disgust.  "Are you kidding? You don't know about Carl's?"  "Ummmm, no.  Should I?"They immediately began describing th... 08/11/2007

For those of you that know me (or have seen me for that matter) it should be very apparent that I enjoy a good meal.Like many of my colleagues, I spend a lot of time eating in restaurants.  There are some that I frequent regularly (like once a week) and some that I avoid after one visit.  Naturally, I hear about good restaurants from my clients and friends.  One of my friends, Richard Kiehna of Colony Pest Control, recommended that I visit a new restaurant that had recently opened.  He and I had enjoyed lunches at several of the local restaurants in the area.Finally, I had the opportunity to visit bangkok boulevard to sample their fare.  My first visit was several months ago and I am sure that I have been back at least once a week since then.  Think I enjoy it?When I have people coming ... 07/19/2007

The Fredericksburg market is anything but normal this year. Months that are normally good have been slow, and the normal slow months have been good. July's temperatures have been hot and so has our market! Let's hope the trend continues into the fall months too. Our buyers are slow to make a decision, but they are making them. Interest rates have inched up every so slightly but our prices have come down considerably. Now is a great time to buy and even a good time to sell if you stay realistic.  We have heard a lot of negative press in the last 18 months as well as many heartbreaking stories but I think the sky is no longer falling. 07/15/2007