INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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Welcome to the first issue of Haymarket Homeower—a bimonthly newsletter

dedicated to the upscale and luxury housing market in Haymarket and surrounding towns. As a long time resident of Haymarket and over twelve years of real estate experience in the area, I have watched our population expand tremendously with the development of several spectacular communities. These communities have some of the finest homes with exceptional amenities and the most scenic vistas in all of Prince William County and beyond.

With this new population has come more development—fields turned into shopping plazas, roads widened and several new schools and churches built. As much as I tend to resist change, I’ll have to admit I like having three frozen yogurt shops to choose from, extraordinary pastries and a new movie theater in town—it’s all good.

Best of all, with growth comes new families, new culture, talent, business and more—all contributing to the vast richness of our area. This has prompted me to create Haymarket Homeowner—a publication for

the discerning homeowner. Here you will find real estate market trends, featured properties, community highlights, local business spotlight, tips and advice and my personal favorite picks.

While this newsletter focuses on upscale residential living in the Haymarket area, my

real estate expertise is certainly not limited to this demographic. I have

had the good fortune of working with many clients over the years in other counties, in all price ranges, both residential and commercial—which has all

contributed to my experience and extensive knowledge in the

real estate business. Please feel free to contact me if you

have an interest in contributing an article to Haymarket Homeowner.Bryan Garcia, Associate Broker EXIT Heritage Realty BryanGarcia@exitheritage.com

Introducing Haymarket Homeowner: a newsletter dedicated to upscale living in

Haymarket, Virginia and beyond

January | February 2014

Haymarket and Gainesville saw a substantial rise in upscale home prices and

home sales in 2013

Three ways to improve your home while

supporting the local community

Top 5 New Year's resolutions for dogs

Bryan's favorite game day recipe

Beat the rush: 5 reasons to sell now

2013 real estate summary

BRYAN GARCIA"Haymarket Real Estate Guy"

Associate Broker EXIT Heritage Realty

EXITgarcia.com703-517-2574

HOMES

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Just Launched!HaymarketHomeowner.comA website dedicated to the upscale and luxury

housing market in the Haymarket area.

COMMUNITY MARKET WATCH

Haymarket population grew

+321.5%from 5,702 residents

in 2000 to 24,034 current

UPSCALE LIVING IN BEAUTIFUL HAYMARKET, GAINESVILLE AND BRISTOW, VIRGINIA

Haymarket Homeowner

With the rise and fall of interest rates and the uncertainties of the national economy, both Haymarket and

Gainesville have fared well over the past couple of years—at least in the real estate market. Haymarket and Gainesville saw a significant increase in the median sales price as well as the number of homes sold for four bedroom houses, which generally fall into the upscale or luxury category.

The proof is in the numbers. Based on data collected from RBI Real Estate Business Intelligence, the figures showed a substantial rise in these two towns.

I took a snapshot of the Median Sales Price—from January of 2012 to December of 2013—for four bedroom houses. While sold prices tend to fluctuate up and down monthly during any given period, a two year comparison provides the broad picture indicating a steady rise.

Haymarket had a +30.5% increase in its four bedroom median sale prices moving from $446,250 in December 2012 to $582,500 in December 2013. Gainesville saw a +12.2% increase moving from $396,800 to $445,000 in those same months.

You will see in the charts that Haymarket had more fluctuation than Gainesville. This could be due to the fact that inventory was low for four bedroom homes. Either way, there is still an upward trend over the last couple of years.

Another good sign for Haymarket and Gainesville is the number of four

bedroom homes that sold. In a December 2012 and December 2013 comparison, Haymarket had a +40% increase with 10 sales in December of 2012 and 14 in 2013. Gainesville had a +33.3% increase with 15 in 2012 and 20 in 2013. Keep in mind, December is one of the slowest months in any market.

Another indicator of improvement is the DOM or the number of days a house is on the market before it sells. As we near a new spring market, the figures on the left show the month of April for the past three years and the DOM for that month.

The trend is showing that four bedrooms houses have generally sold faster each year. Haymarket did have a high number in April of 2013 but things picked up quickly as the June 2013 Days on the Market (DOM) figure was down to 28 days.

Please note, some of the figures in this report compare December 2012 numbers to December 2013 numbers and do not necessarily represent the 2012 to 2013 yearly comparison.

MARKET WATCH

Haymarket and Gainesville saw a substantial rise in upscale home sale prices and number of sales in 2013

Haymarket saw a

+30.5%increase in the

Median Sales Price of 4 bedroom houses in

December 2013 compared to December 2012

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Trending Towards Spring 2014

Average Days on the Market (DOM) for a

4 Bedroom HouseGainesvilleApril 2011 ................. 76 DaysApril 2012 ................. 35 DaysApril 2013 ................. 18 Days

BristowApril 2011.................. 38 DaysApril 2012 ................. 73 DaysApril 2013.................. 23 Days

HaymarketApril 2011 ................. 52 DaysApril 2012 ................. 36 DaysApril 2013 ................. 82 DaysSource: RBI Real Estate Business Intelligence

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Haymarket Median Sales Price (4 bedroom)

Gainesville Median Sales Price (4 bedroom)

What's selling in my neighborhood?

Get a free up-to-date MARKET SNAPSHOT emailed to you with:

• Full details about all the homes for sale or recently sold in your neighborhood

• The prices they sold at

• Number of days they were on the market

Email your request to: BryanGarcia@exitheritage.com

public at a forty to ninety percent discount off retail prices. Those proceeds then go towards the building program.

2. DeclutterCleaning out is always a great way to start the new year. If you are thinking of selling, one big thing home buyers look for is storage space. Make sure your closets, garage and kitchen cabinets are organized neatly and not overflowing. Yes, buyers do open cabinets! Gather unwanted clothes and accessories in decent condition and donate them. You can drop these items at Goodwill or the Salvation Army in Manassas. Winter coats, especially for children, are in high demand. Visit OneWarmCoat.com for local coat drives.

For the kitchen, if you have an abun-dance of canned goods and food supplies

Some real estate agents from EXIT Heritage Realty in Haymarket recently spent some time volunteering at the Habitat for Humanity Prince William County. EXIT Realty has a long history with Habitat for Humanity and has been an enthusiastic corporate sponsor of several home builds over the years.

The mission of Habitat for Humanity is to eliminate poverty housing and make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. The folks at EXIT have learned first hand how this worthwhile organization can always use volunteers and is in great need of household items and supplies.

Whether you are thinking about selling your home or just getting ready to do some Spring cleaning, here are three recommendations to add value to your home or prepare it for sale while also supporting local organizations like Habitat for Humanity.

1. Update Your Kitchen The added value of kitchen remodeling varies from home to home. That said, the kitchen is still the heart of the home and most buyers will say it is the most important. A full remodel isn’t necessary, but some changes like replacing appliances, changing out counter tops, sinks or cabinets and updating lighting can increase value.

All of these replaced items can be donated to Habitat for Humanity if they are working and in decent condition. Habi-tat does have guidelines—like appliances should be five years old or less—so check the website at Habitatpwc.org for details. Items that cannot be used directly in home building are sold at ReStore to the general

Three ways to improve your home or prepare it for sale AND give back to the local community

not expired, box them up and bring them to the Haymarket Regional Food Pantry on Washington Street in Haymarket.

Items from your garage and basement from past renovation projects may also be of great value to Habitat for Humanity. Doors and windows, unupholstered furni-ture, plumbing supplies, electrical wiring and flooring can all be used.

3. Don't Decorate, UNdecorateWhether you’re selling, remodeling or just simplifying your living space, excessive decorating reflecting your personal style and an overabundance of ‘things’ should be removed. This will improve the overall appearance of your home and let potential buyers envision the space as their own.

You may not be ready to part with some of these personal treasures so store them neatly in boxes tucked away. If you have no problem letting go, support local businesses while earning some extra money. The Very Thing Consignments in Haymarket or Stuff! in Gainesville will accept a wide range of household items and you’ll receive percentage of the sale. These items can also be donated to Goodwill or Salvation Army.

Visit EXITGarcia.com/Community for contact information for the organizations and businesses mentioned in this article.

COMMUNITY

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Singapore Party Drumettes

I will not suddenly stand straight up when I’m lying under the coffee table.

I will no longer be beholden to

the word ’squirrel’.

I resolve to get a bite in on that doc who gives me a shot every year.

I will break into the pantry and decide for MYSELF how much food

is ’too’ much.

And the Number 1 New Year’s Resolution made by dogs ...

I will NOT chase the ball until I see it leave the hand!

Top 5 Dog New Year’s Resolutions

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3

4

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GAME DAY PICKS

These chicken wings are easy to make, taste great and are good as leftovers after game day.

INGREDIENTS:• 5 pounds of fresh or frozen uncooked

(thawed) chicken drumettes and wings. If purchasing fresh, cut off the wing tip portion of chicken wings and discard.

• 3/4 Cup Soy Sauce• 1/4 Cup Red Hot Sauce• 1/4 Cup Vegetable Oil• 1/4 Cup Honey• 1/2 Teaspoon Ginger• 1/2 Teaspoon Garlic Powder

DIRECTIONS:1. Combine all ingredients into a

marinade and place into zip lock bag with chicken pieces (it may take 2 bags).

2. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or overnight.3. Preheat oven to 425F. Spray baking

dish with nonstick cooking spray or line with aluminum foil. Add chicken and brush generously with marinade. Discard remaining marinade.

4. Bake wings, turning once for 30-40 minutes, or until done and a deep golden brown.

Enjoy!

Many home sellers feel that Spring (April to June) is the best time to place their home on the market as buyer demand increases at that time of year. However, Winter and early Spring have their own advantages. Here are five reasons not to wait and to consider selling now:

1. Less CompetitionHousing supply shrinks during the winter. The choices for buyers are limited. Don't wait until the spring when all the other potential sellers in your neighborhood put their homes up for sale.

2. The Process Will be QuickerOne of the biggest challenges during the 2013 housing market was the length of time from contract to closing. Due to rising interest rates, banks have been inundated with both purchase and refinancing loan requests. Both of these slow in the winter cutting timelines and frustration to both buyers and sellers.

3. Now is a Good Time to BuyIf you are moving up to a more expensive home, consider doing it now. Prices are projected to appreciate by over 25% from now to 2018. You can also lock-in your 30 year housing expense with historically low interest rates right now. There is no guarantee rates will remain at these levels in months or years to come.

4. The Serious Buyers Are OutIn the middle of winter, only those purchasers who are serious about buying a home will be in the marketplace. You and your family will not be bothered and inconvenienced by mere 'lookers'.

5. It's Time to Move OnLook at the reason you are considering selling in the first place and decide whether it is worth waiting. What is your reason? A new job, commute, downsize or to be closer to family? Is it worth it to you to wait until Spring or even further out? If you are ready now, then selling now before the busy spring market has advantages.

Beat the Rush: 5 Reasons to Sell Now

Visit our website:StorageinHaymarket.com

We sell moving supplies!

Dave Wolf, Property Manager haymarketselfstorage@live.com

6600 James Madison HighwayHaymarket, Virginia 20169703-754-0445

SOLD MARCH 2013This is how many homes

sold in March of 2013 (meaning they closed in March so they were on the market during the

winter months):

Haymarket: 45 homesGainesville: 47 homes

Bristow: 52 homes

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TIPS & ADVICE

What are HYPERLOCAL real estate market trends and how can they affect my home value?

We often hear about national real estate market trends in the news or regional trends in areas like Metro DC or Northern Virginia. In general, these trends have been positive over the past two years, which is good.

The real estate market, however, varies by region and can differ considerably from town to town, even neighborhood to neighborhood. Therefore, the value of every home is different. The data and statistics in this report is HYPERLOCAL which means I pull information specific to our towns (Haymarket, Gainesville and Bristow) and neighborhoods.

To give you an idea of the differences, here is a comparison for one year for these three regions (ALL home types):

Median Sold Price 2013 Year End Percentage of Change:

Mid-Atlantic Region: +7.14% Prince William County: +12.7% Gainesville, VA: +8.09%

Upon request, I can provide data specific to your neighborhood and home. Email your request to: BryanGarcia@exitheritage.com

Ask Bryan...

Haymarket HomeownerUPSCALE LIVING IN BEAUTIFUL HAYMARKET,

GAINESVILLE AND BRISTOW, VIRGINIA

HOME SALES

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Haymarket Homeowner is published bimonthly by Bryan Garcia, Realtor®. It is printed by Piedmont Press of Warrenton, VA and mailed to over 3500 households in Haymarket, Gainesville and Bristow, Virginia.

For information about advertising or articles, contact BryanGarcia@exitheritage.com.

© Copyright 2014 Bryan Garcia | Exit Heritage Realty. This information is solely advisory, and should not be substituted for legal, financial or tax advice. Real estate market information is obtained from third party sources. Publisher is not liable for accuracy of any data or statistics. If your home is currently listed with another broker, this is not intended as a solicitation of that listing.

2013 HAYMARKET GAINESVILLE BRISTOWMedian Sales Price % Change from 2012

$445,000 +.23%

$399,950 +8.09%

$365,000 +4.29%

DOM (Days on Market) % Change from 2012

63 -21%

46 -16.36%

29 -25.6%

Number of Units Sold % Change from 2012

503 +18.35%

621 +4.47%

551 +14.55

2013 Real Estate Sales SummaryHere are the real estate sales Year End Results for ALL home types in Haymarket, Gainesville & Bristow and the percentage of change from 2012:

What's the difference between Median and Average Sales Price?The Median Sales Price, when talking about real estates sales, is generally more accurate than the Average Sales Price.

The Average Sales Price is the sum of the total dollar volume divided by the total units sold. The Median Sales Price is the sales price at which half of all sales are above and half of all sales are below. It's helpful to think of it as the "mid-point." The Median Sales Price is often a better indication of the market than the Average Sales Price, especially when a few sales may distort the Average Sales Price.

Here's an example: Ten houses are sold in an area. One sold for $1,000,000 and nine sold for $250,000. The Average Sales Price would be $325,000 and the Median Sales Price would be $250,000.

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Commitment Bryan Garcia is friendly, trustworthy and makes client relationships priority.

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Bryan Garcia, GRIAssociate Broker

Call me for a free, no obligation

consultation.

703-517-2574

BryanGarcia@exitheritage.com www.EXITgarcia.com 15030 Washington Street Haymarket, VA 20169 | 703-753-9100 EXIT HERITAGE REALTY

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Independently Owned and Operated

15030 Washington Street Haymarket, VA 20169

703-753-9100Independently Owned and Operated

EXIT HERITAGE REALTY

BRYAN GARCIAAssociate Broker

www.EXITgarcia.comBryanGarcia@exitheritage.com

703-517-2574

Haymarket HomeownerUPSCALE LIVING IN BEAUTIFUL HAYMARKET,

GAINESVILLE AND BRISTOW, VIRGINIA

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Debut Issue!local news you can use