It is that time of year! Spring is in the air, the flowers are in bloom, and Peter Cottontail will be hopping down the bunny trail before you know it!
This year, there is a new Spring event planned for children and grandchildren (preschool age – age 12) of residents in Ford’s Colony!
The1st Annual Colony Kids Spring Fling and Easter Egg Hunt!
When? Saturday, April 23rd, from 1-4pm.
Where? Westbury Park (near the pool)
This event is full of fun activities, including: clay pot decorating, spring herb garden plantings, cookie decorating, egg hunt, refreshments, raffle, and more!
This is an RSVP event, and early responses are welcome. To send you response, simply send an email to: Lisas222@cox.net with the number of children who will be attending the event, and their ages.
You bet! And there are a good many of them that now have some fun neighborhood events to look forward to!
The Ford’s Colony ‘Colony Kids’ is back in action! Ford’s Colony is home to many kiddos and they need fun things to do just like their parents. The Homeowner’s Association just announced that there are four planned activities this year for kids under 12 years of age.
Spring Celebration & Easter Egg Hunt
July 4th Pool Party/Pizza Party
Trunk or Treat Halloween Event
Holiday Celebration & Brunch with Santa.
They are looking for additional volunteers who would like to help out with the program and may also have ideas to for future events.
From the HOA:
If you are interested in participating in any of the above events, or in joining the Colony Kids Activities Team (next meeting is Feb. 9th at 8:45am at the S&T Club), please call or email your contact information (name, address, email address and phone number ) to:
Lastly, keep your eye out for upcoming information via email and Talk of the Colony regarding these events, so we can have a great turnout from the parents and kids of Ford’s Colony!
Thank you Deborah Huckins and committee for organizing these awesome and fun events for the Ford’s Colony kids. Your time and efforts are appreciated.
Looking to get involved in Ford’s Colony? Without a doubt, there is SOME club or some activity for everyone who may want to get involved in the neighborhood. Don’t miss the Club Fair that will be held TODAY January 12,2011 at 7:00 at the Swim and Tennis Club.
From the Ford’s Colony Home Owner’s Association:
Whether your interests are artistic, recreational, musical, educational or purely social, there are residents here doing it. Come out for the fun and light refreshments!
Gift Certificates for Great Meals at Local Restaurants will be Raffled Off!!
What a great opportunity to meet your neighbors and have some fun too. (And maybe win a gift certificate for a restaurant).
So how many homes ARE for sale in Ford’s Colony? We are beginning 2011 with 124 homes ‘active’ on the Williamsburg MLS. 105 of those are single family DETACHED homes. 19 of those are ATTACHED (condos or townhomes) properties. There are currently 7 additional properties detailed as under contract and pended. Those are homes that are set to close. (There are a few more detailed as ‘under contract’ but may have contingencies that are yet to be remedied like a home inspection, buyer financing, third-party bank approval or sale of the buyer’s own home. Those homes are counted in the 124 homes that are active on the market)
The number of homes on the market is actually down significantly from some of the peaks that we saw in inventory in 2009 -2010. The number of re-sale properties actually spiked to the low 200’s (ACTIVE resale on MLS) so a number as low as 124 is really good. Also consider that Ford’s Colony has over 2400 completed home sites which would equate to roughly 5% of the market for sale.
Dont miss the FORD’S COLONY PARADE OF HOMES TOUR this weekend!
Don’t miss the Parade of Homes this weekend October 30 from 10-3 and Sunday October 31 from 11-3. Liz Moore and Associates will have 15 fabulous homes open to tour. There will be refreshments provided as well as an opportunity to win a gift card to Opus 9.
Other brokerages may also have homes on tour so this should be a great opportunity to be able to view Ford’s Colony properties for sale.
In particular, don’t miss 112 Castel Pines (listed at $725,000) or 161 Southern Hills (listed at $425,000). They are both BEAUTIFUL homes that are sure to please!
Please stop by the John Pott Guardhouse or any of the featured properties above to get a map of all of the homes open. Open properties should be easily identified by balloons on the front of the homes. Please feel free to call me at 757.503.1999 or email me (deelyn@lizmoore.com) for more information or directions.
All parties involved in the Ford’s Colony Country Club Bankruptcy proceedings will report back to the Norfolk Bankruptcy Court on November 4, 2010 after a little over a 30 day mediation period. The parties last met at the end of September and the Judge hearing the case requested that parties consider mediation to avoid the process becoming further bogged down in legal processes. Club manager Steve Dreybus stated “we believe that our financial and operational plan is sound, viable, and in the best long-term interest of our membership and the property owners living in Ford’s Colony. It is important that our members stay involved and work through the Creditor’s Committee to ensure that your voices are heard and your interests are protected.” The ultimate goal, of course, is to secure a formal plan of reorganization. Once that has been determined then creditors can vote upon the plan. This has surely been a painful process for the Country Club and it’s members. The good news is that the Club and it’s creditors are working through the mediation process and will hopefully come to a resolution as to the best way to pull the Club out of the quagmire. As far as the neighborhood is concerned, it is surely important to distinguish the Ford’s Colony Home Owner’s Association from the Country Club. Unlike our neighbors in Governor’s Land, there is no mandatory social country club membership. The two groups (FCHOA and FC Country Club) certainly have some duplicate members, but the majority of homeowners in FC do not belong to the Country Club. For prospective residents the distinction is an important one. The most important point to make is that of the “Big 3” gated and golf course communities in Williamsburg not one has been without an ‘issue’ of some sort over the last 12 months. Kingsmill has dealt with the uncertainties of the In-Bev acquisition of Anheuser-Busch and what will surely be the subsequent sale of the neighborhood. Governor’s Land has faced issues with their mandatory social country club membership and the dues associated with the membership. What to expect? A failure on the part of the Country Club benefits no one. Let’s hope that a prior statement made by Mr. Dreybus will hold true: “As mentioned in past updates, the Club and Prudential were close to an agreement at the outset of this process.” If they were close to an agreement at the outset, then surely an agreement can be reached during this mediation process that will allow for the Club to recover- in the best interests of the Club’s members and its creditors as well as the neighborhood as a whole.
The October 2010 Talk of the Colony is here! Included in the latest issue is an update on the newly renovated Swim and Tennis Club. It was beautifully re-done. The Interior Designer that was chosen to assist in the remodel was Tidewater Interiors– one of my favorite and one of the very best in the ‘Burg.
Don’t miss the article “Still Living in Interesting Times” on page 3 written by Norman Beal, vice president of the Board of Directors of the Ford’s Colony Home Owner’s Association. He provides a positive take on what is certainly ‘interesting’ times for everyone in the country – including Ford’s Colony. We have terrific leadership in the neighborhood which will help us as we emerge from hard times into the easier days that have got be ahead. (Just not sure when!)
There are 119 single family detached homes on the Williamsburg MLS for sale in Ford’s Colony. Those homes are priced between $359,000 and $2.950,000.
There are 20 attached homes (condos/townhomes) on the market priced between $289,900 and $539,500.
There are 10 homes that are under contract and PENDING. (Should be ready to close with no contingencies) Those that are pending are priced between $285,000 and $925,000.
During the last 30 days 4 properties have closed in Ford’s Colony:
168 Alwoodley: 3 Br 2 1/2 baths, 2420 sq ft.. Sold for $414,900
1 Bonyman Ct: 4 Br 2 1/2 baths, 2400 sq ft. Sold for $415,000
104 Gleneagles: 4 Br 3 1/2 baths 3062 sq ft. Sold for $475,000
105 Dornoch: 4 Br 3 1/2 baths 3654 sq ft. Sold for $550,000
Housing numbers from the Talk of the Colony:
Another item that is ALWAYS of interest in the monthly Ford’s Colony September Talk of the Colony is the “New Starts” (i.e. the recently approved new home construction). ECC has identified 2 new starts in the neighborhood. Both of these homes are being custom-built for homeowners. (As opposed to a builder speculative build).
We currently have 2240 single family homes completed, 80 townhomes completed, 12 condos completed for a total of 2332 dwellings in Ford’s Colony.
There are 31 homes currently under construction and 12 condos currently under construction.
The September issue of the Talk of the Colony was delivered in my newspaper box on the first of the month as it is every month. There are some great articles included as well as notices of meetings of various clubs throughout the Colony. Of note, the FCHOA Board of Directors will be meeting Sept 20 at 1:00pm and Sept 23 at 2:00 pm. The Agenda and prior meeting minutes can be found on the neighborhood website at FCHOA2.org.
From the Board editorial page Ron Smith, resident and Director-at-Large has again contributed information on the governance of the Fords Colony Home Owner’s Association. Mr. Smith advises of the ‘checks and balances’ that are instrumental in all forms of our National and State levels of government but also in the Home Owner’s Association governance. The bottom line? Our membership (the homeowners) can elect and can remove Board members. The Board acts as one body with a majority rule. Mr. Smith correctly asserts that the ULTIMATE check and balance within the HOA is the continued participation of the home owners (the members) in the ‘affairs of the Association’.
Ford’s Colony really is fortunate in that so many folks DO participate and Do take advantage of the number of opportunities to stay involved in the management of the HOA. Certainly these folks ensure proper and fair management and future success of the neighborhood. Well done Mr. Smith!
Expect to be impressed! You won't be disappointed!
Experience the true embodiment of gracious Southern Living complete with a large wrap around front porch! This sophisticated and elegant home is inviting and yet comfortable, pristine and energy-efficient; this home may just be perfect.
Guests are greeted with a 2 story foyer with an elegant reverse staircase and beautiful moldings. The spacious great room with a cathedral ceiling offers tons of light, gas fireplace, ceiling fan and French doors with transoms that lead to a private screened porch.
The great room is open to a beautiful kitchen that offers granite countertops, a center island with bar, pantry, stainless appliances, double ovens, and a warming drawer and a generous eat in breakfast area. Just adjacent is the elegant dining room with tray ceiling as well as crown and chair moldings. The home also offers a formal living room that could also be used as an office or a music room. The distinctive casework throughout the home was crafted by a former 23 year Colonial Williamsburg carpenter.
The first floor master features a tray ceiling and French doors that lead to a covered deck and screened porch. The tiled master bath offers a neutral palate with dual sinks, jetted tub, and a tiled multi head shower. The entire first floor offers hard wood flooring in living spaces and tile in the bathrooms and utility room.
Upstairs you will find two generous bedrooms that both offer two closets as well as dormered windows. The bedrooms share a tiled full bath. The bonus room (or optional 4th bedroom) is fabulous with 2 ceiling fans, a half bath, surround sound wiring, as well as dormers with arched windows.
There is a huge walk out lower level that offers tons of potential! Constructed with Superior wall technology, . Currently, the spaces are utilized as an exercise room and a hobby room. This space could also be used as a billiards/ game room. There is a fabulous workshop/ office area that are perfect for woodworking or just heated and cooled storage space. There is also a full bath downstairs.
Additional features of this spectacular home: Tons of storage, upgraded lighting including Hinckley fixtures, upgraded plumbing fixtures, transom and arched windows throughout, a Williamsburg “holiday” switch, gas generator, irrigation system, water softener, and a hot water recirculation line. The lower level has been plumbed for a bar and is home theatre wired.
112 Castel Pines offers 5247 square feet, 4 bedrooms 3 full and 2 half baths. 3 Car garage! Offered at $725,000.
Thinking of moving to Ford’s Colony or just want to stay on top of what is going on in the neighborhood? The Talk of the Colony is a monthly newsletter that is distributed to all homeowners at the first of each month. The Newsletter is extraordinarily well done. In it you can find the latest information and news that you need to know.
The latest Talk of the Colony contains information about a ‘trial’ run of Wi-Fi at the pools. If you like the idea of the Wi-Fi at the pools you are encouraged to send your comments to the Board of Directors as well as the Technology committee. The network name is “FCHOA”. This is a great idea. I do hope that the ‘trial’ takes off and the wi-fi at the pools (both of them) continues.
There is also great information about the Swim and Tennis Club refurbishment:
The S&T Club refurbishment – It is underway and much dust has risen as the workers rip out the old ceiling, wallpaper, and lighting fixtures. Not to mention the work being done in the kitchen – new ovens, sink, faucet, counter tops, cabinet doors, and ice storage bin. It was certainly time for the renewal and we are incorporating more frequent funding into the capital reserve budget so that face-lifting may be done every ten years and an overhaul every 20. Seems the current heavy usage dictates a more programmed schedule that anticipates the needed renewals and we will plan that way in the future.
There is much more useful information on all clubs and their activities and meeting dates. Please check out the link below that will send you to a PDF of the August issue of The Talk of The Colony.
I hosted a seminar recently in Fords’ Colony that covered the most recent sales trends in Ford’s Colony. Home sales and home prices are always interesting and very useful information. Taken with a grain a salt, checking recent sales and comparing properties is as close as you can get to a “quarterly statement” on what could be your largest investment : your home. It is funny as I always hear people saying that they think that they are being “nosy” when they are curious as to what their neighbor’s home sold for, when in truth, you really should know the values around you. While you may not being selling your home right now, knowing the value of your home is just as important as knowing the value of your stocks/bonds or money market funds. The values of all certainly fluctuate but it is always good to know where you stand.
In our little corner of the world we have several items to contend with: the general state of the economy and housing, the end of the government tax credits and, finally, more specific to Ford’s Colony is the announcement on April 3, 2010 that the country club had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. I always emphasize that the country club and the home owners association of Ford’s Colony are two VERY DIFFERENT and UNIQUE entities. The HOA in Ford’s Colony is alive and well and functioning as a very strong and healthy congruent group.
I took sales in Ford’s Colony for the prior 12 months (June 2009- June 2010) and studied what had sold, how much had sold and compared those sales prices to the assessed values.( I always tell folks that assessed value and market value are two different animals, however, it is useful to see how those two figures compare.) SO for purposes of not getting too long on evaluating numbers, I will divide my findings into a couple of blog posts. There are few folks that enjoy looking at numbers we all just want the bottom line!
Grits and Grasshoppers:
So the first question how were sales during the past 12 months and what was the impact on sales from the April 3 country club bankruptcy filing?
The months supply of inventory in FC went from 28.8 months of inventory to 24.8 months of inventory in 2010. So- while not a fun number to see 2010 IS better than 2009. Here is the most interesting statistic from the Months Supply of Inventory: during the month of April 2010, the months supply of inventory declined to 11.4 and then in May 2010 it declined to 10.5. In April there were 12 homes that went under contract and in May there were also 12 homes that went under contract. June saw a huge drop to 5 homes under contract. Those are VERY important numbers as the country club announcement of the bankruptcy protection plan was made on April 3! The numbers immediately following that announcement were the best of the entire 12 month time period. We do have to consider the tax credit stimulus during those months also which, in the short-term anyway, certainly gave a jolt of energy to sales. The tax credit ended April 30,2010. Home buyers had to be under contract by the end of April to qualify. We saw a lot of buyers rushing at the end of the month to be under contract which resulted in a ‘trickle around’ effect in May as those month-end April sellers then became our May buyers.
Bottom line? Sales seem to be more affected by the TAX credit ending versus any perceived issues with the country club. This is good news in and of itself.
NEXT BLOG: ASSESSED VALUE TO SALES VALUES in Ford’s Colony
For more information here are the charts for you:
The graph is difficult to read: it does show the trend of sales over the 12 month time period. Inventory declined (albeit slightly) year over year.
NEXT BLOG:ASSESSED VALUES TO SALES VALUES in Ford’s Colony
For more information on Ford’s Colony and other neighborhoods in Williamsburg, VA., please visit my website at www.PremierWilliamsburgRealEstate.com
Ford’s Colony is a beautiful gated and golf community that is centrally located in Williamsburg, Virginia. It is a popular community with about 5000 residents and nearly 2,500 homes. By the time the community is completely established there will be more than 7,000 residents living in 3,250 homes, condos and townhouses all encompassed on 3000 acres. The neighborhood is situated along winding roads that weave in and around three 18 hole championship golf courses all designed by Dan Maples. Other amenities include two Olympic-sized swimming pools (one with a zero depth entry) , a swim and tennis clubhouse, hard and clay tennis courts, a nature trail, play ground areas, biking and miles of walking paths.
The community is known for its rolling topography and abundance of trees, ponds, and wetlands. There is a strict “Environmental Control Committee” that works to not only maintain the integrity of the homes that are built but also to maintain the trees and green spaces on lots as homes are being built. This ensures that there is no ‘clear cutting’ and the natural beauty of the neighborhood is sustained.
Ford’s Colony is known for its very active homeowner’s association that sponsors a multitude of social clubs and activities. (Forty clubs at last count!) There is bound to be a club or interest group for just about everyone. Examples of some of the clubs include: many bridge groups, Colony Wine & Dine, Chess Club, bowling, Colony Kids, Afternoon Artists, Pilates Group, photography, travel club, mah jongg, fly fishing, Tai Chi, Model railroad club, theater club, swim team, and the list goes on! There is a club or group that has been started for just about every hobby/interest.
The mission statement for the Ford’s Colony Homeowners
The bridge at the Williamsburg West Pond
Association at Williamsburg: “To support the interests of its members; to preserve and enhance residents’ quality of life, property values and the natural environment; and to operate the Association’s services in a cost-effective manner.”
As a 14 year resident of Ford’s Colony, the HOA is very successful in accomplishing their mission.
For information on homes for sale in Ford’s Colony please click here.
It is that time of year! Spring is in the air, the flowers are in bloom, and Peter Cottontail will be hopping down the bunny trail before you know it!
