A beautiful Southern Living design on the 10th Fairway of the Blue Heron
As of today Tuesday, August 10, 2010, there are 122 single family homes for sale in the neighborhood. (This does not include lots, townhomes, or condos.) There is a price range from $349,900-$2,950,000. (Note- There are 2 homes in The Colony at that exact same price of $2,950,000).
The breakdown on the 122 homes:
Price ranges:
$349,900-$400,000 – 9 homes listed
$401,000-$600,000 – 59 homes listed
$601,000-$800,000 – 31 homes listed
$801,000-$900,000 – 8 homes listed
$901,000-$1,000,000 -3 homes listed
$1,001,000-$2,000,000 -11 homes listed
And finally there are 2 homes priced at exactly $2,950,000
Those under contract? There are currently 9 (nine) homes under contract. Those range in price from $354,900- $584,000. The lower priced home at $354,900 is a foreclosure on Walton Heath.
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.
