Brick’s Blog

     I have just listed this 2 story transitional in the King’s Charter subdivision of central Hanover County. Here’s a link to a Visual Tour for the property. When I say this house is "light and bright", I am not kidding. Throughout the house, there are sunburst transoms that rest atop double/triple windows. There are two bays on the rear elevation that simply flood the home in natural light, while the use of columns, 9′ ceilings and wide casements guarantee that none of this light is lost.
 
     There is a Florida Room off the rear that overlooks an unbelievably private yard. This time of year you really have to search to even see a neighbor! Upstairs 3 of the 4 bedrooms have 10′9" ceilings. Both baths have separate water closet/shower areas which are illuminated by skylights. 

     Oh, the yada yada on the home - 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 3,112 square feet (the garage has been finished as a rec/office/flex space). The list price is $389,000. If you’re not familiar with King’s Charter, it is located off Exit 86 (Atlee) exit of I-95 N. You can enter the community from Sliding Hill Road. There are also 2 community entrances off of Atlee Station Road.

     King’s Charter has 2 community centers with pools, tennis courts, basketball courts, tot lots, etc. The full amenity package is here. This home is located at 9196 Kings Charter Drive, which is a block away from the Lakeview Recreation Center in King’s Charter. When I went by earlier today to restock fliers in the information box in front of the home, there were numerous people fishing in Finger Lake, which is small lake in King’s Charter available to the home owners of the community. Finger Lake is just a block away as well.

     Call me, if there is any interest in seeing this lovely home. My contact info can be found at the Visual Tour.

     What is it about Hardee’s that makes you ever return? It must be the forgiveness factor inherent in Southerners. Or maybe a little bit of regional pride. After all, Hardee’s was the the South’s first fast food chain. Hardee’s has good fried chicken, honest to God southern elixir, sweet tea, and according to their commercials (and my taste buds), homemade biscuits. Just writing about those biscuits makes me want to head to Hardee’s. And don’t forget, it was a long time NASCAR sponsor with a car and a race long before corporate America and Wall Street discovered NASCAR. 

     The other thing Hardee’s has is Southern service. I’m not talking about that "yes ma’am" "y’all come back" service, but that "we’ll get to it when we’re ready" Southern service. Com’ on, you Southerners, you know what I am talking about it. We all have those special service suppliers who we tolerate despite constantly being disappointed by them. They’re like our eccentric uncle or aunt, who says anything that crosses their mind and typically does at the worst possible time, but we still love them. If you ever eat at Hardee’s, you know the service ain’t lightning quick, but they do have good food and it’s usually worth the wait.

     Yesterday, I was headed to the 55 + neighborhood near Virginia Center Commons where I am the site agent. I normally like to arrive there a little before noon so that I can put out my "open" flags and also do a little stage setting on the model. This morning, I was low on gas so I got off at the Parham exit of I-95 to fill up. Knowing there was a Hardee’s around the corner on Route 1, I decided I’d go through their drive through. Besides it was only 11:40 and even with Hardee’s notoriously slow service I figured I had plenty of time. 

      As I pulled into the drive through there was already a car at the order box, whose order was quickly taken. I pulled up and also got my order taken promptly, too. It was then that I saw there were 3 cars in front of me, but since it was only 11:42, even if I waited 10 minutes I figured I could still be at my post by noon. The first indication that today might be a little different was at 11:45 when the driver of  car # 2 (and I ain’t talking about Rusty Wallace) got out of this car and jumped up and down a little. I figured he was just stretching his legs. At 11:48 when he got out of his car again and asked car # 3 (and this wasn’t Dale Earnhardt) to back up and let him out, I just figured we must have some impatient Yank who’d never experienced the Hardee’s wait. Anyway, didn’t his departure just insure I’d be taken care of sooner? I was # 3 now.

     At 11:52 I thought "Boy, that must be some order car # 1 is getting." Since it was a pick’em up truck, I guessed he was getting lunch for his whole crew. Surely it couldn’t be much longer, because there were hardly any cars in the parking lot. It was then that I had a flashback to a month earlier when I had ordered in at this same Hardee’s and had experienced a wait of about 10 minutes. 

     Okay, there goes car # 1 with his one bag and one drink. A few minutes pass and car # 2 departs. Also a small order. I’ll be headed north soon I thought, as I pulled up to the window with my exact change ready. When I handed the cashier my money, I glanced at the clock and it was now 11:56. So what, I’ll be 5 minutes late and this experience will make just make for more fodder when I joke about Hardee’s service with some good ole boys. 

     Now that I’ve got a clear view inside through the drive in window, I can see there’s only 1 cashier at the counter plus the cashier handling the drive through window. Typical Hardee’s with only 1 counter cashier I mused, since I was sure if I went across the street to the McDonald’s I would have found at least 3 counter cashiers at their post since at least 11:30 for the lunch rush. 11:58 there goes a different employee who looks like she’s on bathroom duty, since she was carrying a roll of paper towels. You just know there’s no Hamburger College for Hardee’s like at McDonald’s!

    Since the radio is tuned to WRVA a sole bell begins to toll for the VA Tech Victims. Boy, that makes you think as the bell tolls on and on. Soon a different employee appears from the back and takes a position beside the chicken and biscuit station. He’s not doing anything, he’s just standing there. Must be on break. The drive through cashier assists the counter cashier distributing a few orders. Of course, I am ready to explode. For even Hardee’s this is unbelievable.

     I mutter a few goosefahbahs (you know, from Adam Sandler’s movie, Anger Management) and actually begin to entertain the thought that I’ll walk inside and confront the manager. What I’ll need for this confrontation will be some validation of my actual wait as I watch the drive through cashier post a few order slips above the food distribution area. Ah hah, there’s my proof. Hopefully, she’ll place my slip inside my bag with the order. Surely that slips must be time dated from when I placed my order some 20 minutes early.

     From the radio, the Rush Limbaugh theme begins as the drive through cashier finally hands me my order. If you’re a Rush listener then you know it is 7 minutes past the hour. I quickly glance in my bag, but don’t see my desired proof to go confront the manager. Besides I’m really late now and I need to wolf this food down so that I arrive at my new home site running. As I maneuver my way up Route 1, cursing each traffic light, I reach the bottom of my food bag and feel a piece of paper. There it is my VALIDATION - actual proof of the time warp that Hardees has held me in. I rip it from the bag only to discover the time date reads 11:56.

     Now, wait a minute. Hardee’s couldn’t time stamp things by when you paid for them, could they? You’d never get anyone through the drive through, if the order wasn’t started until your reached the window. And this really wasn’t a receipt since it didn’t show any prices just items. Maybe this is a Hardee’s corporate strategy to postdate everything so it looks like you didn’t really wait. Or maybe those 2 stoners who are featured in Hardee’s current radio commercials are really part of the management team. I need to do some further investigation on this. I think I’ll hit Hardee’s tomorrow for their 2 egg bacon and cheese biscuit special for $2.22. You know they only charge me a 25 ¢ for my senior coffee! 

Well, as promised here it is! A comparison of 1st quarter sales for 2007, 2006, and 2005 for Central Virginia Multiple Listing Service. And guess what? It’s just like I thought it would be and have been soapboxing about forever.

2007 is off to a great start, which exceeds 2005. The above numbers apply to single family residences and do not include condominiums or townhouses. Unfortunately in 2005 and most of 2006, condominium and townhouse sales were not reported to the Virginia Association of Realtors, but frankly I do not believe those numbers would dramatically change the above figures. Yes, we have more inventory on the market and therefore due to more choices, the days to sell will be longer, but the end results remains the same with the home selling. So when when you hear doom and gloom national report or even state reports on the housing market, remember Brick’s mantra "Does Not Apply to the Richmond Real Estate Market!" Now call me and let’s get out there and look at some property, because the longer you wait the more expense it will be.

     If the devil is in the details, than this home needs an exorcist! It is not often that you have the pleasure of offering for sale a property where you need to consult your architectural dictionary about every component of the home. Now that my memory has been recently refreshed on various terms, let me tell you about 3805 Barrington Hill Drive. The brick Georgian with a hipped roof is situated on one of the most private lots in Barrington. The main structure has quoins and limestone keystones over all windows on the front elevation with 3 dormers at the roof. The attached ell, that houses the garage, has a clipped gable. You’ll love the look from the street.

     Inside is just a feast for the eyes. The millwork is simply exquisite. In the formal areas, the casings around the doors and windows are fluted. The casements between rooms are all capped with pediments with dentil accent. Dentil is also the principal element in the multi member crown molding. When you transition to the informal areas, the casings become striated. Most transitions between formal and informal are accomplished by 15 lite french doors with transoms. The family room is huge, the kitchen is divine, and the patio off the rear is unbelievable.

A VISUAL TOUR is here. There will be an open house on Sunday, April 15th from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Oh, the yada yada on the property - 4 bedrooms with finished 3rd floor, 3.5 baths (wait until you see them), priced at $869,000.

     One of the great aspects of my profession is that you get to interact and know families. I have a special affinity for mothers of all boy families. You see I am one of 4 boys and there is no question that my mother deserved sainthood. Let me give you an example why.

     Mother’s birthday would be tomorrow, April 9th. Mother grew up in Chicago and was extremely proud of her New England ancestry. And like so many Northerners, not afraid to express her opinion. On the other hand, all of her sons are die hard Southerners. For a true Southerner, April 9th is the day Ole Dixie died. The day of RE Lee’s General Order 9. The striking and furling of the battle flag. Appomattox.

     For so many years, we, boys, would spend April 9th regaling the virtues of the South. Of course, we knew it was Mother’s birthday, but being true Southern men we could not be caught dead expressing any unmanly sentiments to our mother. Mother would endure this for most of the day until her glint of Irish heritage could take no more. We boys would then be treated to a complete dissertation on the superiority of our Northern heritage. Maybe this is really why we did this every April 9th.

     Anyway, Mom, Happy Birthday. I am still working on that sainthood.  

     If Tim Kaine was a Virginian and had attended Virginia’s public schools, then he would have gotten a good dose of Virginia history since it is taught (at least when I was coming along) in 4th grade, 7th grade and then once more in 11th grade. Much like his fellow Minnesotan, Hubert Humphrey, who always had a solution for a problem we didn’t have, Kaine’s recent attempted mandate to ban smoking in restuarants just shows his disconnection with Virginia and especially Richmond.

     Just look at some of the great institutions of this town (i.e., Medical College, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, T.C.  Williams School of Law, etc.) and you will find a largesse based on tobacco. Is there any doubt why Philip Morris chose Richmond for its corporate headquarters? Tim, there’s a reason why there’s a middle school and a major artery in Henrico named John Rolfe. And Tim, get a clue, Varina wasn’t named for Jefferson Davis’ wife.  

      I report monthly to Realty Times the market conditions for Richmond area. Below are this month’s comments for March:

      Like Howard Beale, in the 1976 movie, Network, “I’m mad as hell and I am not going to take this anymore.” Well, Brick, you are an old curmudgeon; so what is it this time? It’s all this hubbub about sub prime mortgages. First, it was the years of predicting a housing bubble. Then it was the dire market reports all during 2006. Well, here’s what I want you to do from now on.

      Whenever you hear, see, or read anything about the housing market, I want you to envision a blinking red disclaimer of “DOES NOT APPLY TO THE RICHMOND REAL ESTATE MARKET” scrolling across your mind. The market here is fantastic. While inventory levels are high, activity is robust. Yes, days on market is up, but it is completely a factor of the inventory levels. More important numbers such as sales price/list price ratio shows insignificant pricing discounts. Dollar per square foot cost is and has been constant with modest increases. At mid-month, I will blog about the first quarter of 2007 in comparison to the same quarter in the record year of 2005 and 2006. If I have read my tea leaves correctly, I am confident that I will be reporting better numbers than in 2006 and ones rivaling 2005. Visit BrickSmith.com at mid-month or subscribe to my blog by visiting my site now.

 

     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 increased, since obtaining the requisite number of showings to garner a contract takes longer due to inventory levels. 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. And Buyers, don’t think the old rules don’t apply. The best properties still sell immediately. The old adage of “If you have to sleep on it (your decision), you won’t sleep in it (the home)” is as true today as it has ever been.

I also report statistics (i.e., average sales price, sales price to list price ratio, days on market, average size, and average dollar per square foot costs) for various submarkets (i.e., Chesterfield, Glen Allen, Mechanicsville, and Midlothian.) If you have an interest in these stats, you may find them here. You will need to scroll down beyond the generic introduction.