Fredericksburg Housing Market Sees Increased Sale Prices, Lower Inventory Levels

April 15, 2013

Long & Foster Market Minute® reports show tightened inventory in March

The greater Fredericksburg, Va., real estate market, including Fredericksburg City and Spotsylvania, Stafford, Culpeper and Caroline counties, experienced many positive trends in March compared to the same month in 2012, according to The Long & Foster Market Minute® reports. Home prices increased in most of the Fredericksburg region, and inventory continued to fall, according to data.

The Long & Foster Market Minute® reports are compiled from data from residential real estate transactions within specific geographic regions, not just Long & Foster sales.

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Active inventory levels throughout the entire Fredericksburg region continued to decline in March versus the same month last year. According to the data, Culpeper and Spotsylvania counties saw active inventory decreases of 27 percent and 23 percent, respectively compared to March 2012. Inventory also decreased by 18 percent in Stafford County and 5 percent in Caroline County.According to March data, median sale price increased throughout most of the Fredericksburg area with a 14 percent increase in Spotsylvania County. Caroline County experienced a 10 percent increase year-over-year, while Stafford County and Culpeper County saw an increase of 9 percent and 7 percent, respectively.

The number of homes sold in the Fredericksburg region varied when compared to the same month in 2012. Culpeper County saw a significant increase of 48 percent in the number of homes sold, while Stafford County experienced a 27 percent increase when compared to a year ago. The low number of homes sold can be partially attributed to the extremely low levels of inventory in the area.

“Spring is finally here, along with an uptick in activity in the residential real estate market in the Fredericksburg region. With improving market conditions – including stronger than expected job growth, and rising affordability and consumer confidence – potential buyers and sellers are using this opportunity to explore what their market has to offer,” said Jeffrey S. Detwiler, president and chief operating officer of The Long & Foster® Companies.

“While inventory remains low, limiting the number of options for would-be buyers, the Fredericksburg market is experiencing some positive trends such as appreciating home prices and decreasing average number of days on market. These are all promising signs for the Fredericksburg region’s local housing market, and provide a prime opportunity for fence-sitters to fulfill their dreams of homeownership.”

The Long & Foster Market Minute® is an overview of market statistics based on residential real estate transactions and presented at the county level. The easy-to-read and easy-to-share reports include information about each area’s units sold, active inventory, median sale prices, months of supply, new listings, new contracts, list to sold price ratio, and days on market. Featuring reports for more than 500 local areas and neighborhoods in addition to more than 100 counties in eight states, The Long & Foster Market Minute is offered to buyers and sellers as they aim to make well-informed real estate decisions.

The Long & Foster Market Minute® reports are available at www.LongandFoster.com, and users can subscribe to free updates for the reports in which they’re interested.