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Agriculture Keeps Albemarle Scenic

Albemarle County is known for its scenic vistas of pastures and rolling hills. The healthy local agricultural industry helps keep the open acreage necessary for this rural beauty. The county of Albemarle which surrounds Charlottesville ranks 8th in Virginia in total farm acreage. According to the 2002 Census of Agriculture, the county has 177,445 acres in production.

The fastest expanding agricultural business in the area is grape production and wine making. Albemarle County ranks first in the state with about 435 acres planted in grapes.

The horse industry is another important agricultural business in Albemarle County. In 2001 horse sales in the county were estimated to total $7,849,000 and there were estimated to be about 7,000 horses in the county with a total worth of $90,886,000. This would place Albemarle third in statewide ranking.

Another large scale agricultural industry in the county is beef cattle farming. In 2002 Albemarle had sales of $5,968,000 in beef cattle which came from 481 farms. There are about 22,725 head of cattle in the county.

As you can see from this data, Albemarle County has the vital agricultural economy necessary to preserve the rural beauty of the area.

The above information was provided by the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Pam Dent, e-PRO, SRES(R)
Real Estate III
Charlottesville, Virginia
434 906-0161
www.JumpintoGreenerPastures.com
www.activerain.com/blogs/pamdent

So You’re Selling Your Virginia Horse Farm

Horse Farms in Louisa County VASo you’re selling your Virginia horse farm? You have decided to list your horse farm for sale; you have found the best REALTOR to market your property; with the advice of your real estate agent you have priced your home properly for the Charlottesville Virginia real estate market. Now all that’s left to be done is to put the sign up and the buyers will beat a path to your door. Right?…Wait a minute…you are forgetting a crucial step.

In order for your home to sell

Louisa County VA Horse Farms for Sale

in today’s competitive real estate market you need to have the combination of the home that is in the best condition at the best price in the best location. Well, we can’t change the location, and you have priced your home correctly, but the savy seller will also make sure that their property is in the best condition possible.

There are a lot of articles that sellers can read to learn about how to prepare their house for sale, but a Virginia horse farm is more than just the house and there is more to readying a horse farm for sale. Many buyers who are looking for an equestrian property will not even look in the house until they have first determined that the fields and horse facilities will suit their horses needs.

In addition to getting the home spiffed up, there is work to be done on the land and barns. The following are some things to do to make your Charlottesville Virginia horse farm look its best:

Bushhog your fields
Weedeat under fencelines and around structures
Repair fencing, replace any broken boards and repaint fences
If the driveway is unpaved, grade and add more gravel if necessary
Drag the riding ring and repaint the jumps
Keep the stalls clean and well bedded
Remove any cobwebs in the barn
Sweep and rake the barn aisleways daily
Clean and declutter the tack and feed rooms
Make sure the equiptment shed and hayloft are clean and orderly
Get rid of any broken and unused farm equiptment

Now you are ready for your real estate agent to put up the for sale sign and start showing your home to buyers, knowing that you have done everything possible to make sure that your Virginia horse farm is the one that sells.

Virginia Horse Farms In The Spring Real Estate Market

My Top 8 Ways To Get Ready For Spring On A Virginia Horse Farm

Contact

Pam Dent

, e-PRO, SRES, NHD, REALTOR®, Real Estate
III, Charlottesville, Virginia at 434
960-0161 to buy a property in the following areas in Central Virginia: Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Keswick, Glenmore,
Ivy, Crozet, Earlysville, Free Union, Cismont, Scottsville, Fluvanna County,
Troy, Palmyra, Lake Monticello, Louisa County, Louisa, Mineral, Spring Creek,
Orange County, Gordonsville, Orange, Barboursville, Greene County,
Ruckersville.

View all of the Charlottesville Virginia
homes for sale.

View my website Charlottesville Horse Farms
or visit my other blog Charlottesville
Real Estate Talk for more information on

Charlottesville

Virginia

horse farms, homes, events and real estate.

Albemarle County Land Preservation

Albemarle County Land Preservation. Albemarle County in Central Virginia is known for its rolling hills, pastoral views, and scenic landscape. This rural countryside has become Virginia’s brand. Albemarle County horse farms are some of the most beautiful in the United States.

At the same time the Charlottesville Virginia area has repeatedly gained national acclaim as one of the best places to live in the United States. As a result we have seen an influx of people eager to share the Virginia country lifestyle. The big problem is how to allow reasonable growth while keeping the rural character of the region that makes it so special.

As the population of rural landowners continues to age, we will see an increase in land transfer problems. There is a major difference in residential versus farm land values which can lead to increased development. After all the land is the farmer’s “401K” and it is necessary for to be able to preserve these Albemarle County farms. Additionally many of these Albemarle horse farms have been in the same family for generations, and the landowners are concerned with stewardship of the land for generations to come.

Some of the solutions, either implemented or studied, include agricultural use tax breaks, mandatory clustering, down zoning to reduce density, tax driven conservation easements, and the purchase and transfer of development rights. As you can imagine, each of these approaches would have an ecconomic impact. In addition, they tend to pit farmers, environmentalists and real estate developers against each other.

One of the continuing challenges for the community over the next few years will be to come up with policies which will satisfy these disparate factions and safeguard the rural beauty of Albemarle County.

Albemarle County land preservation is an issue that impacts all of us. We need to be actively involved in order to keep the balance between necessary growth and keeping the vistas of Albemarle County farms that we enjoy so much.

Albemarle County Earns An A For Preservation

Crozet Farm Earns Conservation Funding

Piedmont Environmental Council Preserves Albemarle’s Rural Heritage

Contact

Pam Dent

If you’re interested in purchasing a horse farm, please check out the Horse Farm Buyer’s Checklist!

View all of the Charlottesville Virginia
homes for sale.

View my website Charlottesville Horse Farms
or visit my other blog Charlottesville Real
Estate Talk for more information on

Charlottesville

Virginia

horse farms, homes, events and real estate.

Make Hay While the Sun Shines

While driving around the countryside on the last couple of weekends I have noticed a lot of beautiful hay being cut and baled in the fields of many Albemarle County farms. After a particularly dry winter, above average rainfall in April and May has "saved the day" and resulted in lush pasture growth. In fact we switched into such a rainy pattern that I began to worry that we would not have enough dry days in a row to be able to make hay. Luckily this has not been the case and it looks like area farmers have had the opportunity to bring in a good first cutting.

Now I’m keeping my fingers crossed for continued rain throughout the summer. After the past two drought years Central Virginia horse owners would like to see a year with a plentiful crop of good local hay.

Pam Dent, e-PRP, SRES(R)
Real Estate III
Charlottesville, Virginia
www.JumpintoGreenerPastures.com
http://activerain.com/blogs/pamdent

Market update – Albemarle County Horse Farms

In the current Albemarle County real estate market there are 29 properties listed for sale that are categorized as horse properties. Some have horse facilities already on them and some are listed as suitable for horses. These equestrian properties range from a house and fenced pasture on 2.12 acres listed for $189,900 to Old Keswick Farm, an established breeding facility on 547.4 acres offered at $13,500,000.

As far as horse suitable properties that have sold or gone under contract this year to date, there are currently two contingent homes, one listed for $399,900 with 7 acres and one at $695,000 with 19 acres. There is one farm that is currently pending consisting of a 4999 sq. ft. home and 68.69 acres which is listed for $2,350,000. So far in 2008, 6 horse farms have sold ranging from a 2 bedroom, 8 acre cottage which sold for $285,000 to a 4,000 sq. ft. home on 5 acres which sold for $929,000.

As you can see we have a wide range of property types and price ranges for the horse lover to choose from. So jump into greener pastures and enjoy the equestrian lifestyle of Central Virginia, and Charlottesville and Albemarle County.

Pam Dent, e-Pro, SRES(R)
Real Estate III
Charlottesville, Virginia
                              www.JumpintoGreenerPastures.com
                              www.activerain.com/blogs/pamdent
                              www.Charlottesville.virginiablogpage.com

Welcome to Greener Pastures

This is my first post in my Albemarle Horse Country blog.

Albemarle County is in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and is the county surrounding Charlottesville, Virginia. This is an area of rolling hills and pastoral scenery set in front of a mountain backdrop. There are numerous horse farms and large and small estates. There are also residential developments in a country setting with varying lot sizes.

The largest employer in the area is the University of Virginia which makes for a stable economy. The presence of the University also provides for a wealth of cultural activities. In addition opportunities abound for enjoying the outdoors from horseback riding, foxhunting, hiking, cycling, golf, tennis, soccer, lacrosse…the list goes on.

The area also has an extensive historical tradition and boasts being the home of three presidents.

Cental Virginia has a moderate climate with four distinct seasons and is a region of great natural beauty.

In succeeding posts I will explore the many features and events that life in Charlottesville, and Albemarle County has to offer.

Come home to Virginia.

Pam Dent, e-PRO, SRES
Real Estate III
Charlottesville, Virginia
www.JumpintoGreenerPastures.com
www.activerain.com/blogs/pamdent
www.Charlottesville.virginiablogpage.com