Have you been thinking about living in Williamsburg, Virginia? Well, you’re in good company because we’ve thought about the same thing over the years. Stick around because this video is going to tell you all that you need to know about the real estate market. The school systems. And we’ll give you our top six things to do whether you’re visiting or you’re moving there and it starts right now. I’m Jonathan, and this is my lovely wife and partner extraordinaire, Rachel. We are local real estate brokers right here in Hampton Roads and your insider into all things real estate.
Williamsburg History
So Williamsburg, a beautiful and historical city in Virginia, it was the capital of Virginia Colony from 1699 to 1780 and played a significant role in the American Revolution. It forms what’s called the historic triangle together, along with Jamestown and Yorktown. Its heart is Colonial Williamsburg, a historic district of Living History Museum where actors in period costume depict daily colonial life in the streets, stores and workshops. It offers a unique juxtaposition of contemporary and everything. Thank you! So it’s contemporary and historical experience for all ages, and we seriously considered moving there.
Homes in Williamsburg
And frankly, the only reason why we didn’t because we wanted to be close to our family. But in terms of desirability as a place to live and southeastern Virginia, it is at the top of our list, which is a great Segway Jonathan or a favorite subject which is real estate. Yeah. So simply put, the deal with Williamsburg real estate is inventory is low, demand is high and values continue to rise. And that’s been a trend for a long time. There’s two primary factors that keep inventory low and demand so high.
The first is that new construction has been really low, specifically in the last five or six years. But for a long time, new construction has not kept up with the demand for Williamsburg. So without a ramp up in new construction, there’s going to continue to be a supply shortage for that for the demand. So that means inventory will remain low and value will continue to see increases. So the other factor is demographics, specifically the baby boomers. The median age of greater Williamsburg is significantly higher than the surrounding areas. So by and large, the baby boomers are remaining in their homes longer.
We see it on a regular basis that they’re staying in their homes. Even if the home is too big because they’re anticipating adult children coming to move in with them, they’re doing additions or children are coming to live nearby. So they’re simply not going to deal with the hassle of selling their home and moving if they don’t absolutely have to, especially in a market where finding a replacement home is extremely difficult. So they’re not listing a lot of their homes, they’re holding on to it. So we see prices continuing to trend upward for the foreseeable future. As of this video, the median listing home price in Williamsburg is 375,000, so that’s up about 12% year over year. The sale to list price ratio is about 101%.
Essentially, what that means is homes are going to contract right at or just above where they’re being listed as long as they’re being marketed properly, which is an important caveat. The median days on market is 20 days for single family detached and 26 days for townhomes and conifer for attached real estate. And that’s compared with 32 and 34 days time on market at this time last year in Greater Williamsburg. So that’s a lot of information. Bottom line is strong sellers market, low inventory, a lot of demand and prices will continue to go through the roof there.
Williamsburg Schools
In our opinion, what’s up with the schools? So schools, I like to talk about schools, you guys, because you know, it’s important to the moms. But Williamsburg and James City County Public Schools, locally known as like WJ, CC or WJC, is combined public school division, which serves the independent city of Williamsburg and James City County. Don’t forget that so as of 2020, has approximately 11,300 students in that district. There are 16 schools in total. It’s nine elementary schools, four middle schools and three high schools. Most of the schools in the county are considered to be above average institutions.
In fact, the public school system there has been ranked among the top five systems in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the top 15% nationwide, according to Expansion Management Magazine. There are also some unique benefits and program opportunities to consider as well. Like there’s two regional governor schools in the area and, according to their website, serve gifted and talented students. I mean, those are their words, not mine, but it’s definitely something to consider. One of the better resources to check out. As always, we always tell you to check out greatschools.org, so make sure you check that out. Yeah. Now let’s get into some of the top things that we love to do. We’re local yokels, so we had a bunch of different stuff there.
Colonial Williamsburg
Number one is you have to experience colonial times. 18TH century Colonial Williamsburg is probably the place you visited in fourth grade if you’re anywhere around here, but you should go back and check it out again. It’s the world’s largest living history museum, with more than 40 sites and trades and two world class art museums. It’s full of like full on participation experiences, so stop by. Rahliegh Tavern and see the revealing the priceless exhibition highlighting efforts to tell the story of Williamsburg 18th century enslaved children, women and men take part in a dig into the past toward the laboratories in the Wallace collections and conservation building that examine and restore colonial artifacts.
It’s amazing for the adventurous you could sign up for ax throwing. We actually have an ax going target in our backyard inspired by Thank you, colonial Williamsburg. Do the axe throwing or learn how to fire a flintlock musket. How sick is that?
Williamsburg Amusement Parks
Number two, we want you to amuse yourself. So after a fascinating dose of history, it’s time for some fun, right? So who doesn’t love a day at an amusement park? There’s the Great Wolf Lodge, which is a kind of an amusement park, hotel resort type place. There’s obviously water country. There’s Busch Gardens, where new rides and old favorites will leave you smiling and just bursting at the seams with joy. Hopefully, if you have kids, it’s going to be an amazing time. Check out Finnegan’s Flier, the new swinging ride that takes your childhood playground experience to a ridiculous level.
It’s like two pendulum arms soaring 80 feet over the cliffs of the Celtic Coast and the park’s Ireland village at about 45 to 50 miles an hour. So it’s a blast a little daunting every time you step on it for, like the first time of the season. But if you can keep your eyes open, you’ll get a great view of the park and it is one of America’s most beautiful theme parks. We get season passes like every year.
Williamsburg Drinking Tour
Number three, you have to check out the watering holes in the greater Williamsburg area has a ton of tasty mix of breweries, distilleries and wineries. It offers the journey through the old and the new and exciting ways to make beer, wine and spirits. Check out the fun at relatively newcomers like the Virginia Beer Company or Precarious Beer Project. We’ve gone there very recently and played games.
That’s a lot of fun. Yeah. Oh, they’re nachos, anyway. Or check out staples like the Williamsburg Winery or Ale Works beer company. Leave the you know what? You can leave the driving to others by taking the Drink Williamsburg tour. So cheers guys.
American Revolution Museum
So at the American Revolution Museum in Yorktown, children of all ages, which is anyone under 120, will really enjoy identifying with the stories of ordinary people in a ridiculously extraordinary time, a time when subjects of a dictator, a king, a despot became citizens of a nation. So inside nearly every attraction is interactive outside their old fashioned interactive options as well. You could drill in an army encampment. You could help fire artillery. You can pick up a recipe from a colonial cookbook, and at the bake house, you can tend to the crops at a colonial era farm.
So just a ton of cool activities to do, and you’ll stay very active and engaged with all of the actors and performers. So number five, time travel and have back in time to the origin of the colonies at historic Jamestown. There you can talk with archeologists about their excavations on the exact site of the first permanent colony in America experience, the first Democratic Assembly and the Visit the Arcarium. It’s a museum that houses upwards of 2 million artifacts uncovered by the Jamestown Rediscovery Project that only began in 1994.
Living History Museum
Yeah, and for another view of time, you could drive over to the Living History Museum at Jamestown Settlement, where you can literally climb aboard replicas of the three ships that made the historic voyage from England in 1607. Visit the recreation of Powhatan Village and walk through a recreation of the original fort interacting with live interpreters.
Shopping in Williamsburg
Pretty cool. So number six, this is just kind of because this is an ode to you. We do. Yeah, yeah. Shopping, dude, right? The shopping the outlets Williamsburg outlet says Reebok that has Calvin Klein, Banana Republic, the coach, Oakley, Ralph Lauren, Waterford. What else, Rachel? There’s an Old Navy. Yeah, pretty much anything you can think of. You’re going to pay a lot of money in their normal store. You’ll go here. You could literally spend a weekend just shopping there. So awesome stuff for Williamsburg, we’re Jonathan or Rachel Beasley of That Fit Team.
We hope you like this video because we’re professionals in real estate and passionate about people. See you next week.
