Real Estate Showcase - December 2023

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Wednesday, December 27, 2023 See Page 8

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REAL ESTATE SHOWCASE

Wednesday, December 27, 2023

Harrisonburg, Va.

Rezoning Explored For Housing Developments

By ASHLYN CAMPBELL Daily News-Record

As the year ends, Harrisonburg and Rockingham County are making final decisions for 2023 on rezoning to bring new housing developments into the area.

Rockingham County heard two big rezoning applications from developers in November and December, approving one housing rezoning request and declining the other.

Over 25 acres were approved to be rezoned from general agriculture to a planned neighborhood north of Stone Spring Rd and west of Spotswood Trl in Rockingham County. The development plans, submitted by Freeman Station LLC., propose up to 330 residential united made up of 150 townhouses and 180 one and two-bedroom apartments.

According to the meeting minutes from the Rockingham County Planning Commission, the site is in the Stone Ridge Neighborhood Center Transect Zone of the Stone Spring Urban Development Area Plan, intended for higher-density mixed-use developments.

The proposed plan depicts a 10-footwide multi-purpose trail, which is consistent with the Stone Spring UDA Plan and would contribute to pedestrian and bike trail expansion. The minutes state that the project would take 6 to 10 years to develop.

The board of supervisors ultimately voted down the second rezoning application that proposed a 500unit apartment complex in December.

The proposed complex was between Stone Spring and Ridgedale Roads.

Middbleburg Real Estate Partners

FAIR-HOUSING NOTICE

We are pledged to the le�er and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing opportunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support adver�sing and marke�ng programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, na�onal origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap.

All real estate adver�sed herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to adver�se any preference, limita�on or discrimina�on because of race, color, religion, na�onal origin, sex, elderliness, familial status or handicap, or inten�on to make any such reference, limita�on or discrimina�on.’ This newspaper will not knowingly accept adver�sing for real estate that violated the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings adver�sed in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis.For the hearing-impaired, call (804) 367-9753.

E-mail fairhousing@dpor.virginia.gov.

Web site: www.fairhousing.vipnet.org

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CALL 540-574-6200

LLC requested to rezone 31.5 acres of land from general agriculture rules to planned multi-family. The proposed plan was split into two phases, the first 252 garden-style apartments and the second 148 townhouse-style apartments.

The planning commission declined to recommend the new apartments due to traffic concerns, WHSV reported.

The board of supervisors declined the zoning request. Rockingham County Planner Kayla Yankey said.

The Harrisonburg Planning Commission and City Council also heard several development applications throughout November and December, with the last requests for 2023 heard on Dec. 19.

The first request presented on Tuesday introduced a project to provide 21 townhome units to extend the

adjacent approved townhome section of Cobblers Valley in the county.

The second presented a similar project, proposing up to 41 units of townhomes to extend the adjacent townhome section of Zephyr Hill in the county. Both of these proposed rezonings would provide for “planned vehicular and pedestrian activity” within the two communities with no additional points of access to Pear Street.

Both projects applied for rezoning and special use permits. The planning commission will hear the presentations on Dec. 19 and then will vote on whether or not to recommend approving the request to the city council.

Contact Ashlyn Campbell at 540-5746278 or acampbell@dnronline.com | Follow Ashlyn on Twitter: @A__Campbell

Local Realtor: Median Home Prices Are Increasing Despite Lower Sales

By ASHLYN CAMPBELL Daily News-Record

In Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, median home prices are rising even with lower sales, according to data published by local realtor Scott Rogers and the Virginia Association of Realtors.

Every month, Scott Rogers, an associate broker with the Funkhouser Real Estate Group, publishes data from the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Association of Realtors and shares his analysis. In December, he shared that despite the lower number of home sales, prices were increasing.

Harrisonburg and Rockingham County aren’t alone.

According to the Virginia Association of Realtors’s October report 7,764 homes were sold across Virginia, a 12.1% decrease in sales compared to last October. The report found that most regional housing markets in the Commonwealth were in a cooldown for October, with three areas — including Harrisonburg — seeing the sharpest slowdown.

The October report said activity in Virginia’s housing market continues to be constrained.

“The 2023 housing market in Virginia continues to be the slowest in more than a decade as rising mortgage rates and tight supply are keeping buyers and sellers on the sidelines,” The report states.

Both Harrisonburg and Rockingham County also saw a decrease in November. Rogers found that November was the slowest month in 2023 for the two areas.

But most home prices continue to climb in Virginia, the Virginia Realtors report found, including Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. In the data published by Rogers, the median sales piece for all residential sales in the area increased by 10% from January to November 2022 to January to November 2023 — from $299,900 to $330,000.

Rogers’s full monthly market report and analysis of the market can be found at https://www.harrisonburghousingtoday.com/blog/category/monthly-market-analysis/ Contact Ashlyn Campbell at 540-5746278 or acampbell@dnronline.com | Follow Ashlyn on Twitter: @A__Campbell

Harrisonburg, Va.

REAL ESTATE SHOWCASE

Wednesday, December 27, 2023

3

Some Fresh Ways To Repurpose A Formal Dining Room Metro Creative Services

Formal dining rooms are no longer a must-have among home buyers. Reports on the decline of the formal dining room appear to have been premature, as many real estate professionals have noted that some clients still insist that a home must have such a space. However, many agents also report low demand for formal dining rooms.

Beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder regarding formal dining rooms. Buyers and homeowners who see these rooms as unnecessary can consider the many ways to transform them to better suit their needs.

• Playroom: Parents of young children know that kids have a way of taking over living spaces in a home. If the living room has been overtaken by toys, homeowners can consider converting their formal dining room into a kids’ playroom. Formal dining

Metro Creative Services

A seldom-used formal dining area can be converted into a game room with a few simple touches. rooms tend to be spacious places that can accommodate a large dinner table, a bar and a buffet table. That means there is ample space for a kids’ toy chest, bookshelf, crafts table, dollhouse, and more.

• Home office: The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way many

modern workers go about their typical workday. Millions of workers now work from home at least a few days a week if not full-time. When the pandemic began, that led to a space crunch, particularly in homes with more than one working adult. Workers who have been using the formal

dining table as a desk for years can now fully commit to repurposing the room. One factor to keep in mind is whether or not the room will need a door. Some formal dining rooms already feature pocket doors or even French doors, but many do not offer any such privacy. A door installation could increase the price tag associated with repurposing the room, but the end result could be well worth the additional costs.

• Game room: A large formal dining table might be similar in shape and size to a pool table, but pool players will need some space around a pool table to ensure they aren’t putting holes in the surrounding walls each time they pick up a cue stick. If pool doesn’t tickle homeowners’ fancy, then a room devoted to gaming, complete with a flat screen or two on the wall and some new gaming chairs, can be a great way to repurpose the space. Modern parents often play video games

alongside their children, making this a great way to create a fun and family-friendly space in the home.

• Reading room: Devoted bibliophiles may aspire to turn their formal dining rooms into spaces tailor-made for curling up with a good book. Book lovers often lament they lack the space to display all of their books, so this idea can provide the perfect solution to that problem. Replace existing furnishings with some bookcases and a comfortable reading chair and then sit back and crack open a good book.

Homeowners who want to go the extra mile can convert the room into a traditional English library, complete with wood-paneled walls, a fireplace, a floor globe, and leather furniture.

There’s no end to what can be done when homeowners decide it’s time to convert their formal dining rooms into spaces they’re likely to use more often.

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REAL ESTATE SHOWCASE

Wednesday, December 27, 2023

Harrisonburg, Va.

5-Month Skid In Home Sales Gets Snapped In November LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes rose in November, ending a five-month skid, as easing mortgage rates provided some breathing room for homebuyers.

Existing home sales rose 0.8% last month from October to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.82 million, the National Association of Realtors said Wednesday. That tops the 3.78 million sales pace economists were expecting, according to FactSet. Sales were still down 7.3% compared with November last year, and are down 19.3% through the first 11 months of 2023 compared with the same period last year.

The pickup in sales helped push up home prices compared with a year earlier for the fifth month in a row. The national median sales price rose 4% from November last year to $387,600.

The modest increase in sales arrives with mortgage rates in decline after a sharp runup that sent borrowing costs on home loans higher. The rising cost of borrowing money compounded hurdles for buyers because there are so few homes on

the market, sending home prices higher as well.

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage has eased after climbing to 7.79% in late October to its highest level since late 2000.

The average dropped to 6.95% last week, according to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac. “Home sales always respond to lower interest rates,” said Lawrence Yun, the NAR’s chief economist, adding that he has “no doubt” that home sales have hit their low point in the current housing market cycle.

Despite the recent decline, the average rate on a 30-year home loan remains sharply higher than just two years ago, when it was around 3%. The large gap between rates now and then is contributing to the low inventory of homes for sale by discouraging homeowners who locked in rock-bottom rates two years ago from selling.

Homebuyers in many markets continue to face a low inventory of available homes for sale. There were 1.13 million homes on the market by the end of last month, down 1.7% from October, but up 0.9% from November last year, the NAR said. Before

the pandemic, there were roughly twice as many homes on the market.

The available inventory at the end of last month amounted to a 3.5-month supply, going by the current sales pace. That’s down 3.6% from the previous month, but up from 3.3% from November 2022. In a more balanced market between buyers and sellers, there is a 4- to 5-month supply.

“If the inventory levels were, say, 30% or 40% higher, surely home sales would be probably 10% or 20% above what (they are) today,” Yun said. “A lack of inventory is clearly holding back some of the sales potential.”

Homebuyers still had to navigate a competitive market due to the shortage of properties on the market, especially the most affordable homes.

Homes sold last month typically within just 25 days after hitting the market, and about 19% of properties sold for more than their list price, a sign that many homes are still receiving multiple offers, the NAR said.

First-time homebuyers who don’t have any home equity to put toward their down payment have had a particularly tough

HOROSCOPES

time getting into the housing market this year. They accounted for 31% of all homes sold last month, which is an improvement over 28% in October, but still well below the 40% of sales they’ve typically accounted for historically.

The pullback in mortgage rates in recent weeks has echoed a decline in the 10year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing loans. The yield, which in mid October surged to its highest level since 2007, has been falling on hopes that inflation has cooled enough for the Federal Reserve to shift to cutting interest rates after yanking them dramatically higher since early last year.

Housing economists are generally forecasting that mortgage rates will continue to decline in 2024, helping lift home sales after a dismal 2023.

Yun is forecasting that the a 30-year home loan will average 6.3% next year.

He’s also predicting sales of previously occupied U.S. homes will climb 13.5% next year to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.71 million, and expects the inventory of homes on the market will climb 30% to around 1.5 million by summer.

ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20

VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22

AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18

TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21

LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23

PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20

GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21

SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS

CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22

SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21

LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23

CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20

People may not be available this week to get together, and that is perfectly fine by you, Aries. Solitude is just what you can use right now after a busy stretch.

Taurus, expect a delay or two this week as those who you are expecting simply keep you waiting and it’s very frustrating. This will be a lesson in patience for now.

Gemini, you may envision a plan in your mind, but now it is up to you to move it from your thoughts and into the reality of coming to fruition. It will take a little time.

Cancer, give yourself some time to have fun and play around. The inner child in you needs the opportunity to explore and try new things.

You’ll have plenty of chances.

This week may bring many different feelings to the surface, Leo. You may not be ready to explore all of your deep emotions just yet, but you can start by being honest with others.

Virgo, empathy may inundate you this week, as you are in tune with the feelings of many different people. Others will appreciate your thoughtfulness in the days to come.

You have many chores on your list but things keep pulling you in different directions, Libra. if you can’t focus on something difficult, try a creative pursuit.

Scorpio, you may find if you look ahead that there are really no pressing matters on your calendar. This gives you the perfect opportunity to have an outing and enjoy yourself.

Past memories could put you in a funk, Sagittarius. Rather than dwell on what may have happened, think about the future in your control.

Focus your energy on ideas this week, Capricorn. You might not be changing the world, but each innovation you think up will have a positive impact.

Aquarius, do not let moments of self-doubt derail you. Now more than ever, you need to believe in yourself. Think of this as a test that you can ace.

Pisces, if you do not like what you are or where you are going right now, you have an opportunity to make any changes you want.

This may be the ultimate resolution.

DEC. 24 DEC. 25 DEC. 26 DEC. 27 DEC. 28 DEC. 29 DEC. 30

Ricky Martin, Singer (52) Annie Lennox, Singer (69) Kit Harington, Actor (37) Walker Hayes, Singer (44) Denzel Washington, Actor (69) Jude Law, Actor (51) Tiger Woods, Athlete (48)

Harrisonburg, Va.

REAL ESTATE SHOWCASE

Wednesday, December 27, 2023

5

LEAVE IT TO A PRO

Metro Creative Services

Homeowners can be forgiven if they’re not able to keep up with the latest interior design styles. That’s the job of a skilled interior designer.

>>>>> There Are Several Benefits Of Working With An Interior Designer

Metro Creative Services

Homes require an investment of time, energy and money. The payoff of those investments is substantial, and the benefits of home ownership are more profound than even longtime homeowners may recognize.

A 2016 report from the National Association of Realtors indicated that home ownership boosts kids’ performance in the classroom, leads to greater participation in civic and volunteer activities and improves health care outcomes, among other benefits. With so much to gain from home ownership, it’s no wonder so many people across the globe are willing to commit the time, energy and financial resources necessary to own their own homes.

Homes are undoubtedly a point of pride for millions of homeowners, and

that sense of fulfillment is even greater when interiors are up-to-date and welcoming. Home trends come and go, and busy homeowners can be forgiven if they’re not able to keep up with the latest interior design styles. That’s the job of a skilled interior designer. Working with such professionals when redoing a home’s interior can make all the difference and increase the already profound sense of pride many homeowners have in their homes.

• Interior designers can help narrow down the possibilities. A simple internet search prior to beginning a home renovation project will turn up millions of results. That can leave homeowners’ heads spinning as they try to identify their own style and plan a project that coordinates with their preferences. Experienced interior designers can help homeowners identify their style and of-

fer practical insight as they work with clients to choose elements to incorporate into spaces they aspire to renovate.

• Interior designers can ensure a room doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb. Just because a design looks good on the internet does not mean it will work well in every home, particularly if only one room is being renovated. Interior designers recognize that and can steer homeowners in the direction of designs that will fit the larger theme of the home while still offering a fresh look and feel.

• Interior designers can save homeowners money and headaches. Renovation projects can be pricey, and that price tag only goes up when mistakes are made.

Interior designers advise clients on furnishings and other design components, and that advice can save homeowners money in the long run. Furnishings may be returnable, but such returns typically

come with sizable fees. By directing clients toward furnishings and other components that fit the overall design scheme, interior designers are saving homeowners the cost and headaches associated with fixable yet expensive mistakes.

• Interior designs are up-to-date on the latest trends. Real estate and design trends come and go, and dated designs can adversely affect what homeowners recoup at resale. Homeowners who want to update their home interiors with the ultimate goal of selling their homes can work with experienced interior designers who know which trends are in and which are out. That knowledge can make it easier and more lucrative to sell a home.

Homes are a significant investment, and investing in the services of an experienced interior designer can ensure homeowners maximize the value of their homes.

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Wednesday, December 27, 2023

REAL ESTATE SHOWCASE

Harrisonburg, Va.

CLUES ACROSS

1. Droops 5. Subatomic particle 10. Not in danger 14. Nursemaid 15. Black band worn in mourning 16. Long song in opera 17. Edible seed of a Philippine tree 18. Chicago political family 19. Pursues pleasure from one place to another 20. Appetizer 22. Hill (Celtic) 23. Simple shoe 24. Songs to one you love 27. Secret activities 30. Upset 31. Popular hot drink 32. Body art (slang) 35. Fired 37. Blood relation 38. Identical 39. Porticos 40. Partner to cheese 41. Type of sword 42. Enough (archaic) 43. Surface layer of ground 44. Cotton fabric woven like satin 45. Choose for a post 46. Father 47. Tell on 48. Indian title of respect 49. Fonts 52. Fencing sword 55. Mock 56. Vaccine developer 60. Atmosphere surrounding a person or place 61. Marten with a short tail 63. Chinese temple 64. Invests in little enterprises 65. Popular cut of meat 66. Charity 67. Iron-containing compound 68. River in Northern Europe 69. One point east of southeast

LUES DOWN

1. Exhausts 2. Genus of fish related to gars 3. Impudent behavior 4. Adherents to Islam 5. They come after A 6. Spoke 7. Room to receive guests 8. About opera 9. End-blown flute 10. Heroic tales 11. Member of a Semitic people 12. Dog’s name 13. Opposite of west 21. Political divisions in ancient Greece 23. Ocean

25. Cool!

26. Young woman about to enter society 27. One from central Caucasus 28. Indian city 29. A way to serve ice cream 32. Emaciation 33. Escort aircraft carrier 34. Italian city 36. Mythical settler of Kansas 37. Unhappy 38. High schoolers’ test 40. Measured in pace 41. Satisfies 43. Gullible person 44. Enclosed space

46. Substance used to color something 47. Shirt type 49. Discover by investigation 50. __-Castell, makers of pens 51. Semitic Sun god 52. Grads wear one 53. French river 54. Part of a cap 57. Digestive fluid 58. Metrical foot 59. Body part 61. Very fast airplane 62. Supplement with difficulty

Harrisonburg, Va.

REAL ESTATE SHOWCASE

Wednesday, December 27, 2023

7

PRACTICAL VALUE

>>>>> Some Situations Are Suited To Use Self-Storage As A Solution

Metro Creative Services

When organizing a home or apartment, homeowners and renters are often confronted with a stark reality: they have more stuff than space. Storage issues tend to snowball as individuals acquire new items without discarding old ones.

Few people may consider a home addition or upgrading to a larger home to address their storage situations, as those can be costly solutions to problems that often can be solved with a less significant investment.

Self-storage facilities are a practical and simple way for homeowners and renters to solve the problem of having too much stuff and too little space.

Such facilities can accommodate individuals in various situations, making this an ideal option for anyone looking to organize their homes without getting rid of their possessions.

Organizing A Home

Perhaps the most common reason to rent a self-storage unit is to create space in a home and make it feel less cluttered. Clutter isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a potential mental health hazard. A 2016 study from researchers at the University of New Mexico found that clutter was negatively related to a psychological sense of well-being. Ridding a home of clutter may create greater feelings of happiness. Individuals who want to see if this approach works for them can rent a self-storage unit, where they can keep items that might have sentimental value but little practical value.

Metro Creative Services

Self-storage facilities are a practical and simple way for homeowners and renters to solve the problem of having too much stuff and too little space.

fact, a 2019 report from the National Association of Realtors indicated 47 percent of buyers feel a well-staged living room had a significant effect on how they viewed a home. Staging typically involves removing excess furniture and knickknacks to make rooms appear Selling A Home Real estate professionals more spacious and free-flownote that staging is an import- ing. Sellers can temporarily ant part of selling a home. In rent a self-storage unit where

they can keep extra furnishings and other items so the rooms throughout their house are less cluttered and more appealing to prospective buyers.

Renovating A Home

Every homeowner who has lived through a renovation project is likely aware of how claustrophobic a home can feel once the project commences.

Cramped quarters and little room to move around can turn the weeks spent renovating a home into an exercise is stress management. Prior to a renovation, homeowners can rent a self-storage unit so furnishings in the room or rooms that will be renovated are not crammed into bedrooms, hallways and other living spaces. Most storage facilities offer temporary

unit rentals that can make it much easier to navigate home renovations.

These are just some of the situations when renting a self-storage unit can make life easier and a little less cramped.

Homeowners and renters are urged to consider self-storage solutions if and when things start to feel a little claustrophobic or crowded at home.

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Wednesday, December 27, 2023

REAL ESTATE SHOWCASE

Harrisonburg, Va.

370 Neff Ave., Suite V, Harrisonburg, VA 22801 O 540-442-7000 C 540-476-1216 | F 540-442-7009 www.trobaughgroup.com

SOLD

UNDER CONTRACT

3375 Wellsleigh Place, Rockingham

1130 Frederick Rd, Rockingham

1786 Fadley Road, Weyers Cave

1368 Bluewater Road, Rockingham

UNDER CONTRACT

SOLD

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202 Bartley Street, Dayton

1905 Cumberland Dr, Rockingham

3768 Boundary Run Rd, Gum Spring

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381 North Main Street, Mount Crawford

548 E. Wolfe Street, Harrisonburg

556 E Wolfe Street,

TBD Maury Mill Road,

BEAUTIFUL CONDITION WITH STEP BACK IN TIME! Welcome to this Harrisonburg Verona INCREDIBLE FLEXIBILITY! This main 1920’s charming Bungalow conveniently This 1938 brick home has stood the Attractive gently rolling 1.34 acres street well loved home is immaculately located in the city of Harrisonburg. This test of time, still attractive, still inviting, on established gravel lane with only cared for from the beautiful oak eclectically decorated gem boasts hardwoods to the sparkling baths. 4 its own unique character, making it a it has most recently been a rental one other home on the road. Call bedrooms, 3 full baths. MLS#: 647473 one-of-a-kind home. 3 bedrooms, 3 full property.4 bedrooms, 2 full baths. your agent for details. MLS# 647290 MLS# 645739 $310,000. baths. MLS# 644135 $329,000 $449,900 $81,900.