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Housing Virginia Archived News & Press - 2009

Planning Future Development in Reston No Easy Task
FairfaxTimes.com, December 29
(RECAP: In response to efforts outlined for the Reston Master Plan Special Study Task Force, the Alliance of Reston Clusters and Homeowners has proposed a number of draft principles to guide the work of the task force.)

Fannie, Freddie Backstop May Foreshadow Mortgage Forgiveness
Business Week. December 28
(RECAP: The U.S. Treasury Department's expansion of its capital backstops for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac may foreshadow a shift in the government's mortgage- modification tactics.)

Mortgage Anxieties Mean Limbo for Fannie and Freddie
Business Week, December 28
(RECAP: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the linchpins of the American housing market, continue to bedevil the U.S. financial system.)

Windfall for Biscuit Run Developer? Tax Credits Could Become Cash
Charlottesville Daily Progress, December 28
(RECAP: The developer of the 1,200-acre, 3,100-home Biscuit Run project south of Charlottesville could receive tens of millions of dollars in state income tax credits that could later be sold for cash, if negotiations with Virginia officials to donate the property as a state park succeed.)

FBI Deluged by Fraud Cases from Real Estate Bubble
The Virginian-Pilot, December 28
(RECAP: The criminal cases against Brian W. King and Ronnie E. Brodie are typical of what the FBI is seeing as a result of the rise and fall of the real estate market.)

Smart Upgrade Choices in a Buyer's Market
HamptonRoads.com, December 27
(RECAP: With 1,164 homes sold in the region last month, Hampton Roads' housing sales are up 87 percent from November 2008, according to the Real Estate Information Network Inc., the local multiple listing service.)

After Denials, Military Aid for Home Sellers Reboots
The Virginian-Pilot, December 27
(RECAP: To qualify, homes owned by service members must have had a decline in value of at least 10 percent. Additionally, the city or county in which the home is located must have seen at least a 10 percent decline in overall real estate values.)

Americans Increase Spending, but Not on New Homes
Kttc.com, December 26
(RECAP: Americans are starting to spend a bit more money, but not enough to power a strong economic recovery.)

Richmond , Petersburg Programs for Homeless Get $2.8 million in U.S. Aid
Richmond Times-Dispatch, December 25
(RECAP: President Barack Obama left a $2.8 million gift for the Richmond region and its homeless population just before Christmas. The Obama administration announced renewal funding for a dozen area programs to assist the homeless in the Richmond area and three more in Petersburg .)

Obama's Home Loan Modification & Refinance Program for Struggling Homeowners Classified, December 24
(RECAP: There has been news about President Obama declaring facts about his administration's $75 billion plan to refinance and modify millions of mortgages. If you a troubled homeowner, you can officially begin contacting lenders asking for a home loan modification or a mortgage refinancing.)

Regulator Approves Millions for Fannie, Freddie Execs
The US Daily, December 24
(RECAP: The top U.S. housing regulator said on Thursday it approved 2009 pay packages of up to $6 million each for the chief executives of government-controlled mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.)

HUD to Assist Homeowners Facing Problem Drywall
RealEstateRama, December 23
(RECAP: HUD announced that FHA-insured families experiencing problems associated with problem drywall may be eligible for assistance to help them rehabilitate their properties.)

Leesburg Still Pricey Place To Live
Leesburg Today, December 22
(RECAP: The Town of Leesburg 's housing prices continue to outpace the incomes of the average person, according to results gleaned from the Town Plan Monitoring Report.)

Roper Brothers a Casualty of Housing Downturn
RichmondBizSense.com, December 22
(RECAP: Petersburg-based Roper Brothers Lumber Company sold construction materials to builders for 100 years. It even survived the Great Depression. But the recent downturn in the real estate market finally did it in.)

High Cost of Housing in US, Unable to Buy or Rent
Voice of America , December 22
(RECAP: Owning your home was once part of the American dream. But that dream has faded because of the economic recession in the United States . Millions of Americans have been unable to pay the mortgage on their houses and have had to leave them. Without a home of their own, many people are now renting, but this also can be difficult financially.)

Dowtown Revitalization: Time for Action
Augusta Free Press, December 21
(RECAP: Waynesboro could potentially receive up to $1 million in funds towards downtown revitalization.)

Tracking Stimulus Money Locally
Charlottesville News & Arts, December 21
(RECAP: While the benefits of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), a.k.a. the stimulus package, are being debated in Congress and around the country, for one city agency, that money has helped push forward important projects that would otherwise be left untouched for years.)

Only 24% of Eligible Getting Mortgage Modifications
eCreditDaily, December 21
(RECAP: The underperformance focus of the government's primary mortgage-relief program has centered on how many payment reduction trials have been made permanent. But the larger question is why only one-in-four of those eligible are getting any help at all.)

Fannie, Freddie Halt Holiday Foreclosures
Financial News USA , December 21
(RECAP: Mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are suspending foreclosures and evictions for about two weeks in a temporary break for borrowers during the holiday season.)

Home Buyers Need Good Credit Score
USA Today, December 21
(RECAP: Credit scores have never mattered quite as much as they do now. The higher standards could frustrate buyers hoping to take advantage of low interest rates, depressed home prices and generous tax breaks that were recently extended until next spring. Even buyers who qualify for a mortgage might find they're ineligible for the best rates because lenders have tightened their standards across the board.)

Mortgage Interest Rates as Low as 2% ... if You Can Land the Loan
Wallet Pop, December 21
(RECAP: If you're struggling to make home-mortgage payments and losing your home is a real possibility, some banks are offering sweet deals on loans, some with rates as low as 2%.)

Housing Costs Rising for Families
Washington Examiner, December 21
(RECAP: Housing has become less affordable, despite skyrocketing foreclosures and plummeting home prices, according to a new report.)

What Happens to Housing's 'Turnaround' When Uncle Sam Backs Out?
Daily Finance, December 20
(RECAP: Many are heralding the recent blip up in housing starts as evidence that housing is "turning the corner." But let's not forget that unprecedented government intervention throughout the mortgage and housing industries is the only thing keeping these markets afloat.)

Richmond Habitat Starts Virginia 's First Community Land Trust
Richmond Times-Dispatch, December 20
(RECAP: Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity has created the first community land trust in Virginia . Because the land will be owned by the trust, homebuyers will lease the land for a nominal fee and take out mortgages for less than what it would cost if they were to buy the land and the house.)

Economy Stalls Fourth Phase of Town Center Plan in Virginia Beach
The Virginian-Pilot, December 20
(RECAP: The next phase of Town Center , which includes a hotel, boutiques, apartments and an office tower, has stalled. The project, which was planned for two city blocks, has become the latest victim of the down economy.)

New Exmore Apartments Open
Delmarva Media Group, December 19
(RECAP: Crispus Attucks Apartments have been completed and are open for business. The 22 apartments include 12 three-bedroom units, and 10 two-bedroom units. Five of the apartments are fully handicapped accessible.)

Foreclosure Rate in Lynchburg Area Increases
The News & Advance, December 19
(RECAP: The number of homeowners defaulting on their mortgages and losing their homes in the Lynchburg area has spiked this year.)

A Bright Spot in Housing Industry
The Virginia Gazette, December 19
(RECAP: Affordable housing is now available in James City County due to historically low interest rates and deflationary values in house prices.)

Decision on Funding for NHTF Deferred to 2010
from National Low Income Housing Coalition's Memo to Members, December 18
(RECAP: The end-of-the year push to get the long-promised $1 billion for the NHTF through Congress got caught up in the complicated negotiations between the Senate and the House on defense appropriations and other items with legislative deadlines.)

HUD Issues Notice Implementing Protections for Section 8 Tenants in Foreclosed Properties from National Low Income Housing Coalition's Memo to Members, December 18
(RECAP: HUD published notice PIH 2009 - 52 (HA) on December 15, providing public housing agencies with guidance on how to implement the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act and the tenant protection provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.)

Holiday Cheer: Citigroup Suspends Foreclosures for 30 Days
The Christian Science Monitor, December 17
(RECAP: Starting Friday, Citigroup is giving some 4,000 homeowners 30 days without the threat of being evicted or foreclosed on. Both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are planning to announce moratoriums on evictions for the holidays. Many other financial institutions are expected to follow suit in the days ahead. )

GRTC Sells Property Near Fan to RRHA for $5.4 Million
Richmond Times- Dispatch, December 16
(RECAP: The GRTC Transit System has placed the future of its coveted, century-old headquarters near the Fan District in the hands of the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority.)

Fannie, Freddie Overseer Said to Consider Seeking More U.S. Aid
McFarlin & Geurts, December 15
(RECAP: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's federal regulator is renegotiating the companies' financing plan with the U.S. Treasury Department and may seek an increase to their $400 billion federal lifeline before the end of the year, according to people familiar with the talks.)

County Breaks Ground on Silver Trail Subdivision
VaNcNews.com, December 15
(RECAP: Brunswick County applied for, and was awarded, a Community Development Block Grant from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development in the amount of $700,000. The grant will be used to help fund the Silver Trail Subdivision.)

OPINION: Fairfax County Needs a New Affordable Housing Policy

FairfaxTimes.com, December 8

(RECAP: As we face the twin challenges of tighter county budgets and greater demand for human services, we need an "affordable housing" policy that focuses our available resources on those most in need.)

Habitat House Going Green

NBC 29, December 8
(RECAP: A Habitat for Humanity house in Charlottesville is going green.)

Public Housing Redevelopment Close to End of Planning Stage
C'ville Weekly, December 7
(RECAP: The redevelopment of the city's public housing stock is nearing the end of its planning stage. Consultants who have been working on revamping Charlottesville 's old and battered sites presented a draft master plan last Thursday that calls for the complete redevelopment of Westhaven and the rehab of Crescent Hall among other projects.)

Comments Sought on Public Housing Mortgage Program Proposal

NLIHC Memo to Members, December 7
(RECAP: HUD will accept comments on its proposed Public Housing Mortgage Program until January 31, 2010. The PHMP, which allows housing agencies to mortgage public housing properties and use the funds to develop or rehabilitate affordable housing, was authorized by the 1998 Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act.)

Low Income Veteran Housing Development Bill Introduced
NLIHC Memo to Members, December 7
(RECAP: Representative Albio Sires (D-NJ) introduced H.R. 4156, the "Increasing Housing Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2009" on November 19. The bill would create a $2.4 billion loan program for developing supported housing for veteran households that would provide development and rental assistance funding to for profit developers.)

NHTF Allocation Formula Released; State Estimates Available
NLIHC Memo to Members, December 7
(RECAP: The proposed regulations governing how NHTF funds will be allocated were published in the Federal Register on December 4. The regulations were developed by HUD.)

Rental Housing Affordability Gap Increased For Lowest Income Families In 2008; Data Reinforce Need for NHTF
NLIHC Memo to Members, December 7
(RECAP: NLIHC released a new research note on November 30 detailing the extent to which the rental housing shortage for the lowest income households worsened from 2007 to 2008.)

Arlington Sued Over Alleged First Amendment Violation
The Washington Examiner, December 7
(RECAP: A longtime Arlington resident has filed suit against the county, claiming that a plan for apartment buildings to be constructed above a church is a violation of the First Amendment.)

Development Authority Director Looks to the Private Sector but Rules Out Widespread Building at Fort Monroe
Daily Press, December 6
(RECAP: Bill Armbruster, a former military man who is overseeing the departure of the Army from Fort Monroe , is planning for an uncertain future.)

With a Little Help, They Have Home of Their Own
Fredericksburg.com, December 5
(RECAP: Thanks to a new program authorized under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, the Parkers and their children now have more space.)

LETTER: 4-person Bonanza
The Virginia Gazette, December 5
(RECAP: Allowing four unrelated persons to live in an apartment or condo is a bad idea for Williamsburg , but if City Council votes to allow it, I may be able to profit.)

Housing Rehab's Price Tag a Big One
Daily Progress, December 4
(RECAP: The document's draft financing plan assumes that if the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority's housing stock was expanded from 376 to 558 units - containing a mix of new and rehabilitated public housing plus affordable and market-rate rentals and homes - the cost would run up to more than $115.5 million.)

Foreclosures Can Offer Deals, but Buyer Beware
New York Times, December 4
(RECAP: Despite the seemingly high inventory, anyone considering buying a distressed property should heed the classic warning: Caveat emptor, or let the buyer beware.)

The Rebirth of Real Cooperation
Alexandria Times, December 3
(RECAP: When the Arlandria Chirilagua Housing Cooperative took definitive shape in the early 90s after a 10-year organizational effort, its residents hoped to stomp out the evictions, rent increases and utility hikes plaguing the low-income development on the Northeast fringe of the city. Thirteen years later, the ACHC has seen internal tumult among its members.)

Homeless Activist Wants Former Hampton Armory Building to be Used as a Winter Shelter
Daily Press, December 3
(RECAP: The Rev. Jim Rudisill says homeless people will hold regular prayer meetings and vigils outside the boarded-up building on North King Street until the city takes seriously a request to open it up as a winter day shelter to get people off the streets.)

Silverwood Acquires 305 Affordable Apartments in Seven Corners, VA
LHB Communications, December 3
(RECAP: Silverwood Companies of Reston , Virginia has led a group of local investors, including David Mayhood of McLean, VA, in acquiring The Fields of Westover, a 305-unit low-income apartment community located at 2913 Peyton Randolph Road in Falls Church , Virginia .)

Rates on 30-year Mortgages Set New Record Low

Star Exponent, December 3

(RECAP: The average interest rate for a 30-year mortgage dropped to a record low of 4.71 percent this week, pushed down by an aggressive government campaign to reduce borrowing costs.)

Five Historic Norfolk Buildings. One Vision for New Housing.
The Virginian-Pilot, December 3
(RECAP: The South Carolina developers who plan to renovate the 100-year-old Union Mission into a 90-unit apartment building say they also want to transform four other historic buildings into affordable rental housing.)

Houses, Lots Stay Mired in Limbo as CM Development Case Drags
The Virginian-Pilot, December 3
(RECAP: Norfolk 's Lindenwood neighborhood has attracted drug users and vagrants, trash and trouble.)

$27M Takes VA Multifamily
GlobeSt.com, December 2
(RECAP: Kettler has sold a local apartment building called Fields at Westover. The 305-unit complex traded for $26.7 million to Silverwood Cos. Jeff Kunitz. This trade is the latest example of VHDA's stepped-up support--at least anecdotally--of multifamily sales in Virginia that have an affordable housing component.)

Homeowners' Smart Guide to Loan Modification
MSNBC.com, December 2
(RECAP: The Obama administration's Making Home Affordable program was looking like another government failure, but its numbers have improved sharply, with 650,000 borrowers getting trial loan modifications and 375,000 eligible to convert to permanent modifications by the end of the year.)

November 2009

The Coalition's Legislative Committee has been hard at work refining the 2010 Legislative Agenda. There are seven items identified as legislative priorities for the coming year:

A Workforce Housing Trust Fund for Virginia
Enabling Legislation for Local Housing Trust Funds
Guidelines for the Assessment of Affordable Housing
Restoration of Cuts to Indoor Plumbing and Homeless Assistance
Include Affordable Housing in Urban Development Areas (UDAs)
A Housing Policy for the Commonwealth
Foreclosure Notification

To view the Talking Points that the Committee has worked with our lobyyists to develop, click here. You can also learn more about the legislative agenda by visiting the Virginia Housing Coalition's home page.

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Last week Virginia held elections for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and all 100 seats in the House of Delegates. The end result was the first republican sweep of all three statewide offices since 1997 and significant republican gains in the House of Delegates. Coming on the heels of the election of President Obama, where he became the first democrat to win Virginia since Lyndon Johnson, and after two consecutive democratic Governors, Virginia held true to its peculiar tradition of electing a Governor of the opposite party as the newly elected President. Below is a breakdown of each race and a House of Delegates overview.

Governor
Bob McDonnell defeated Creigh Deeds by 18 points (58.64% to 41.23%). This was McDonnell's lead in the most recently released polling prior to the election. Several factors contributed to McDonnell's impressive performance. Most analysts agree that McDonnell ran a superior campaign while the democrats suffered from a depressed base which failed to turn out at 2005 levels when Time Kaine defeated Jerry Kilgore.

Lieutenant Governor
Bill Bolling, the incumbent Lieutenant Governor, defeated Jody Wagner by nearly 13 points (56.41% to 43.51%). This was the closest of the races and Wagner was actually the top vote getter for the democratic ticket gaining over 35,000 more votes than Deeds.

Attorney General
Ken Cuccinelli defeated Steve Shannon by 15 points (57.52% to 42.39%). This was a hotly contested race and the most bitterly fought of the three statewides. Analysts predicted this to be closer than it was and felt it to be the best hope for a democratic victory.

House of Delegates
This was a banner election for House republicans as they gained a net of six seats (8 new seats and 2 losses). Several of the republican pick-ups were very close and will fall under the automatic recount provisions. Interestingly, several of these wins took place in Northern Virginia which is widely considered to be a democratic stronghold. Relevant changes in the majority are listed below:

Losses

Robyn Abbott (D) defeats Phil Hamilton (R, incumbent)
Torian (D) defeats Lopez (R) This was an open seat formally held by Frederick (R).

Gains

Morefield (R) defeats Bowling (D, incumbent)
Villanueva (R) defeats Mathieson (D, incumbent) / Headed to automatic recount
Garrett (R) defeats Valentine (D, incumbent) / Headed to automatic recount
Greason (R) defeats Poisson (D, incumbent)
Comstock (R) defeats Vanderhye (D, incumbent) / Headed to automatic recount
Anderson (R) defeats Nichols (D, incumbent) / Possible recount
LeMunyon (R) defeats Caputo (D, incumbent)
Stolle, Chris (R) defeats Bouchard (D, incumbent)

If you have any questions or would like more information regarding the elections, results, or the recount proceedings please contact the Coalition offices.

Obama Administration Announces State and Local Housing Initiatives
National Mortgage Professional, October 19
(RECAP: As part of its comprehensive plan to stabilize the U.S. housing market, the Obama Administration has announced a new initiative for state and local housing finance agencies (HFAs) that will help support low mortgage rates and expand resources for low and middle income borrowers to purchase or rent homes that are affordable over the long term.)

U.S. Launches Aid For State, Local Housing Agencies
Reuters, October 19
(RECAP: The Obama administration on Monday launched a program to help the depressed U.S. housing market by effectively allowing state and local housing finance agencies to borrow from the U.S. Treasury.)

Va. Beach Winter Shelter Program Opens This Week
The Virginian-Pilot, October 19
(RECAP:) Year-round, homeless people in the city have some options for shelter, including the Judeo-Christian Outreach Center and the Samaritan House. The winter shelter program, which takes about 60 adults a night, will open on Wednesday and run for 24 weeks. But demand outpaces supply and is increasing.)

County Mulls Once 'Unthinkable' Cuts
Charlottesville Daily Progress, October 17
(RECAP: The ailing economy has Albemarle County officials contemplating once "unthinkable" financial adjustments that could include a real-estate tax rate increase, employee reductions and delays or reductions in infrastructure projects.)

$75,000 Grant to Subsidize City Living for Police Officers
Charlottesville Daily Progress, October 17
(RECAP: The Charlottesville Area Community Foundation on Friday announced a $75,000 Catalyst Grant to help city police officers find housing in Charlottesville .)

Figures Differ, but Impact of Problem Remains
Daily Press, October 17
(RECAP: Getting an accurate count of the number of homeless people at any given time can be difficult because estimates vary depending on the methodology.Any figures, however, can reflect the depth of the problem locally, statewide and across the nation. )

Kincora Hearing Draws Few Speakers, but Concerns Remain
Leesburg Today, October 16
(RECAP: What could be one of the biggest land use decisions of this Board of Supervisors' term drew only a few speakers during its first public review at the Planning Commission public hearing last night.)

Virginia Housing Development Authority Offers to Purchase for Cash Certain of Its Outstanding Bonds
PR Newswire, October 16
(RECAP: VHDA announced that it is offering to purchase for cash certain of its outstanding Commonwealth Mortgage Bonds upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in VHDA's Invitation to Bondholders dated October 16, 2009. )

HUD Awards $2.4 million in Housing Counseling Grants to 22 Housing Counseling Organizations in Virginia
RealEstateRama, October 16
(RECAP: Virginia families facing foreclosure, seeking affordable rental housing, or hoping to buy their first home will have a greater opportunity to find housing, or keep the homes they have, because of $2.4 million in housing counseling grants announced today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. )

RRHA Sets Open House at Randolph Model Home
Richmond Times Dispatch, October 16
(RECAP: The Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority hosted a fall open house at a model home in the Randolph community. )

Local Senior Citizens Look for Clarity on Housing
Daily Herald, October 15
(RECAP: When Eunice Smith of Woodbury Apartments saw her rent increase, she didn't understand it. She moved from a two-bedroom unit in subsidized housing to a single bedroom unit and yet was paying more money than she had previously. Again, she didn't understand why.)

Mixed-Use, Affordable Apartment Community Breaks Ground in Clarendon's Urban Village

Earth Times, October 15

(RECAP: The Views at Clarendon Corporation announced construction will commence in November 2009 on the Views at Clarendon, a mixed-use, mixed-income development that marks a significant step in addressing Arlington , Virginia 's affordable housing shortage.)

VHDA Launches Debt Program for Affordable Deals
GlobeSt.com, October 15
(RECAP: The Virginia Housing Development Authority has closed one deal under a tax-exempt bond financing program that is designed to recapitalize affordable housing that needs capital improvements. Foulger-Pratt's $26-million acquisition of the Fields at Landmark was financed through the program.)

Bozzuto Group Breaks Ground on The Views at Clarendon in Arlington County
Washington Business Journal, October 15
(RECAP: Bozzuto Development Company and Chesapeake Community Advisors will finally break ground Saturday on The Views at Clarendon in Arlington . The $40 million development will include 46 market-rate apartments and 70 affordable rental units that will be a mix of studios, one, two and three-bedrooms.)

Politics and Proffers
Bacon's Rebellion, October 14
(RECAP: Recently, the proffer system and its perceived strengths and weaknesses have been the source of much discussion. While the majority of the discussion has centered on cash proffers and specified non-cash contributions, the proffer system goes further and can actually force choices on consumers, contribute to sprawl, drive up the cost of housing and distort market choices in what should be a free market.)

Foreclosures Taper Off, but Effects Could Linger
Daily Press, October 14
(RECAP: The number of Peninsula-area properties dealt foreclosure-related filings tapered off by 8.3 percent between the second and third quarters. But the foreclosure wave sweeping the nation isn't expected to end any time soon. James V. Koch, Old Dominion University president emeritus and an economics professor, predicts foreclosures to continue into 2011, when maturing adjustable-rate mortgages are expected to peak locally. )

AHC Opens Affordable Condominium Project in Arlington County
Washington Business Journal, October 14
(RECAP: Arlington 's "it" affordable housing developer, AHC, Inc. has delivered a 10-unit condominium building in Nauck - the largest affordable homeownership project in the county in over 4 years.)

Hampton Roads' Legislators Tackle Mortgage Scams
Daily Press, October 13
(RECAP: As the housing crisis ripples through the economy and panicked homeowners face foreclosure, one advocacy group in Virginia is seeing an ominous rise in scam artists. Now state lawmakers in Hampton Roads are taking aim.)

Graduates Students' Needs in Housing Must be Priority
Virginia Tech Collegiate Times Online Edition, October 13
(RECAP: As a master's student and member of the Graduate Student Assembly, I care a great deal about the maintenance of a thriving graduate community at Virginia Tech. One of the most important things that can be done to continue the great work that has made the graduate student population so vital for this institution is to provide more appropriate housing opportunities.)

Mentally Disabled Deserve Dignity
The Daily News-Record, October 12
(RECAP: While the New Market town council recognizes the rights of people with disabilities to live in the community of their choice, residents of the Pleasant View subdivision continue to voice their opposition.)

Housing for Homeless Project Faces Financial Hurdles in City
Charlottesville Daily Progress, October 11
(RECAP: Charlottesville 's planned housing for homeless people is facing a funding dilemma. Setting aside federal Housing Choice vouchers that are seen as key to building the city's first studio apartment-style facility for the region's homeless is proving to be an arduous task, officials say.)

Home Sales, Prices Up Across Northern Virginia in September
Sun Gazette Newspaper, October 11
(RECAP: Home sales, average sales prices and median prices across Northern Virginia in September all posted gains from a year before, while the average number of days homes spent on the market was down, and the average sales price was a larger percentage of original listing price.)

Inventory Remains High; Prices Down
Charlottesville Daily Progress, October 9
(RECAP: Home sales this year in Charlottesville have fallen by more than 27 percent from the same period in 2008, and average median prices for homes sold across Central Virginia have dropped about 20 percent, according to a new Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors market report. )

Real Estate Market Looking Up
Ashburn Connection, October 8
(RECAP: This year, 970 foreclosures have been filed through August, and the anticipated drop from the recent two years has Realtors looking forward with hope that the local market may be bottoming out and likely to start showing significant improvement relatively soon.)

No Homes on Church Property
Greene County Record , October 8
(RECAP: A plan to bring affordable senior housing to Stanardsville has been aborted due to a breakdown in communication between Grace Episcopal Church, the town council and the Jefferson Area Board for Aging.)

More Existing Single Family Homes, New Townhouses and Condos Sell
Centre View, October 7

(RECAP: Some portions of the Fairfax County real estate market have improved over last year, while others continue to decline, according to data released by the county's Department of Management and Budget in September.)