Brick’s Blog

     Whatever landscape architect is responsible for the popularity of this tree should be drawn and quartered. While I am delighted when these snowballs blossom, it is only because they are harbingers of so many other truly beautiful plants springing to life this time of year. My personal favorites - wisteria and forsythia. Purple and yellow trump white every time. If you like white blossoms, nothing beats our state tree, the dogwood. 

     Other than this one flash of color, what is the bradford pear good for? Can’t climb it. Besides the branches being too close together, there is no tree more brittle. Good shade tree? Maybe, provided they have been spared from wind, snow and ice and you’re under 5 feet in height. Fortunately, I think the Bradford pear’s popularity is finally waning. Twenty years ago, it seemed every office park and residential neighborhood was awash in them, but since their brittleness manifests itself at about 15 years; we’re seeing less and less of them. Good riddance. 

     If you’re a gardener, you’ll love this property located at 7587 Studley Road, Mechanicsville, VA 23116. (Take Atlee Road off 301 and then an almost immediate left on to Studley.) A 3/4 acre paradise, which is on the verge of exploding with color as we have more warmer days. As vibrant as the exterior is, you’ll love the palette of colors found inside. Offered at $284,500, this brick ranch has 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, formal rooms, a remodeled eat-in kitchen, cozy den with corner fireplace and gas logs, a 13′ x 27′ garage, and best of all - a Sun Room and twp-tiered Deck overlooking the rear yard oasis. Structurally and mechanically, this home is in A-1 condition with new windows, new a/c and so much more. BTW, Mrs. Clean is definitely in residence here!

     You’ll find a VISUAL TOUR here. There will be an Open House, this Sunday, March 25, 2007, from 2 p.m. - 4. p.m.

      I report monthly (this month very late)  to Realty Times the market conditions for Richmond area. Below are this month’s comments for February:

     That it is post ides of March and I am just reporting my monthly marketing conditions for the Greater Richmond area, should be a good indication of what our market is like here. Daily I am seeing increasing activity, which should guarantee the “Spring Market” that was absent in 2006. February numbers support that conclusion with sales and pending contracts surpassing their 2006 counterparts and only slightly lagging the record 2005 pace. While our inventory levels are up slightly, pricing remains strong even though days on market have increased.

     With the increased inventory levels, Buyers continue to enjoy multiple choices and the freedom to make their decision at their own pace. For Sellers, their days on market have substantially increased, since obtaining the requisite number of showings to garner a contract takes longer due to all of the inventory options. While this condition is frustrating for Sellers, they must keep their perspective and realize the end result is still the same and their property will sell. The only difference from our recent boom market is that Sellers must keep their property in top showing condition longer due to their property showings being spread out over a longer period.