Author Archive

How Much Can I Negotiate?

By Sarah Stelmok From http://sarahiouslyspeaking.com • Jan 24th, 2012 • Category: Blog Entries.Local, RealEstate.Local

TweetSo, whose market is it anyway?  Is it a buyer’s market?  Or, is it a seller’s market?  I’ve been saying it for 4 years now, it’s neither.  It’s a bank’s market.  This is not to say that banks are coming out rosy in real estate transactions.  Many banks are still losing money on individual transactions., even [...]



October 2011 Market Statistics

By Sarah Stelmok From http://sarahiouslyspeaking.com • Nov 16th, 2011 • Category: Blog Entries.Local, RealEstate.Local

TweetOctober was none too shabby.  Low interest rates are fueling the market right now.  It will be interesting to see what happens to the market as banks release more of their foreclosure inventory.  The REO properties are coming.  The market inventory should increase after the holidays and we could see prices dip to stay competitive.  [...]



Redfin’s Scouting Report Debaucle is Over

By Sarah Stelmok From http://sarahiouslyspeaking.com • Oct 5th, 2011 • Category: Blog Entries.Local, RealEstate.Local

TweetJust a few days ago, Redfin unveiled it’s newest, latest, greatest thing in real estate – The Scouting Report.  The Scouting Report ignited a firestorm in the real estate community almost immediately.  What seemed to be designed to help consumers evaluate turned out to have alot of bugs and inaccuracies.  Redfin admitted, a day after [...]



Bed Bugs. Who Pays?

By Sarah Stelmok From http://sarahiouslyspeaking.com • Oct 4th, 2011 • Category: Blog Entries.Local, RealEstate.Local

TweetI know you’ve heard about the great bed bug infestation that has hit the United States.  Well, it looks like it has finally made its way to Fredericksburg.  There has been an uptick in bed bug reports to landlords and doctors across the area.  The important thing to remember is that bed bugs are not a social [...]



August 2011 Market Statistics

By Sarah Stelmok From http://sarahiouslyspeaking.com • Sep 28th, 2011 • Category: Blog Entries.Local, RealEstate.Local

Tweet I’m giving August a thumbs-up, but barely… just barely.  Inventory is pretty low, which is actually a good thing as we head into the fall selling season.  However, rumor has it that banks are releasing a new wave of REO properties in the next month or two.  This should create longer days on market and more months’ inventory.  Unfortunately, [...]



There Are No Short Sale Experts

By Sarah Stelmok From http://sarahiouslyspeaking.com • Aug 22nd, 2011 • Category: Blog Entries.Local, RealEstate.Local

TweetI get a ton of emails from all over the United States regarding short sales.  In most of the emails I am referred to as a “short sale expert.”  I always cringe at this term.  “Short sale expert.”  BLECH.  What is that anyway?  I also find it fascinating that any real estate agent would want [...]



Furry Friday!

By Sarah Stelmok From http://sarahiouslyspeaking.com • Aug 19th, 2011 • Category: Blog Entries.Local, RealEstate.Local

TweetYou know what the best feeling in the world is?  Giving a deserving cat or dog a forever home!  This week Sarahiously Speaking is featuring two animals who have been at the Fredericksburg SPCA for over a year.  It’s time these furry friends found a permanent home! Meet Lemoncello!      Lemoncello is a 2 [...]



Ferry Road Closed August 16-23

By Sarah Stelmok From http://sarahiouslyspeaking.com • Aug 16th, 2011 • Category: Blog Entries.Local, Events, RealEstate.Local, Stafford

TweetUpdate 08/19/2011 – Ferry Road has been reopened!  Work has been completed early and the road is now open to all traffic! This road closure will probably affect more people than one would imagine.  Ferry Road will be closed August 16-23.  The railroad tracks near the the McDonald’s just feet from the Rt3/ Ferry Road intersection [...]



July 2011 Market Statistics

By Sarah Stelmok From http://sarahiouslyspeaking.com • Aug 12th, 2011 • Category: Blog Entries.Local, RealEstate.Local

Tweet Fredericksburg City: 57 days on market – this is 78 days less than in July 2010 Sellers received, on average, 92.5% of their list price when the home sold There is 6.76 months of inventory on the market 17 homes sold in July 2011 – this is the same as July 2010 The most popular price range was $200,000-$299,999. The median sold price was $265,000, compared to $283,250 in July 2010. Financing [...]



Fredericksburg City Business Operates Under Different Set of Rules

By Sarah Stelmok From http://sarahiouslyspeaking.com • Aug 11th, 2011 • Category: Blog Entries.Local, RealEstate.Local

TweetI’m sitting in my family room at 8:55pm listening to construction vehicles two blocks away.  Some may wonder why I’m listening to construction vehicles at 8:55pm.  Well, the City of Fredericksburg has decided that it’s time to dig up the parking lot at the Dorothy Hart Community Center on Canal Street.  Having just renovated my [...]