Sellers finally got some good news locally this week. Centex announced that they are cancelling plans to build Freedom Place in Bealeton. It was going to be a 350 unit development and it DEFINITELY was NOT needed!

Listening to some of the comments from some county officials you'd think someone had made off with the family silver! This is another example of county officials paying more attention to big builders and developers than to their own local taxpayers. They should have been sending big bouquets of flowers to Centex along with a thank you note!

The truth is that when the housing market turns around the big builders and developers will be back knocking on the county's door, wanting to do business. But right now, local builders can easily fill the demand for new construction, assuming there's still a gap after you consider all the unsold new construction still sitting here! And local homeowners who are trying to sell their homes in a miserably soft market definitely don't need more competition from builders!

The announcement by Centex this week is a huge help for homeowners in both Fauquier and Culpeper counties. It protects the value of your home. Considering that we're still likely facing oodles of foreclosures hitting the market in the next year, this is very, very welcome news. You might want to get out those thank you notes and start writing!