Atlantic Builders

Thoughts on the Local Housing Market

2012-01-24T10:21:00.002-05:00

There are many variables that we all know affect homebuilding production in positive and negative ways.

Some of the negative ones are large amounts of continuing foreclosure homes entering the resale market, tougher credit standards for potential new home purchasers and, for residential developers and builders, lack of equity (or negative equity) in existing homes that makes it tough for people to purchase move-up homes, and high unemployment and underemployment.

Some of the positives are historic low interest rates, increasing pent-up demand for new homes relative to population growth and long-term trends, costs to own are now favorable relative to renting, and nascent consumer confidence and employment improvements.

In the Fredericksburg region, we have more positives and fewer negatives than in almost all the other metro areas in the U.S. thanks to the high levels of employment from the federal government. We also have a relatively tight supply of resale homes in MRIS available. We have seen a bottom in home prices and some small movement upward. Ask anyone who has tried to purchase a reasonably priced home listed in MRIS in the past six months and they will tell you that the seller received multiple offers.

The most important factor in determining demand for homes in the Fredericksburg region in 2012 is job growth. Job growth creates new home demand and trumps other important factors like interest rates and affordability relative to existing homes. There will probably continue to be modest employment growth in our region in 2012. BRAC transfers seem to have ended but getting specific information about what to expect in the near future from BRAC has eluded me and everyone I know who tries to determine this.

Stafford County has been by far the strongest new homes market in the Fredericksburg region. This will continue. Outlying markets like Caroline, Orange, and rural Spotsylvania will continue to be weak. King George is also slow but has some steady demand from Dahlgren. Spotsylvania has limited closer in water and sewer lots developed and also struggles significantly with extra commute times relative to Stafford. Home prices bear this out. So do lot prices. For example, in the new Colonial Forge community, lots are under contract to public builders for about $150,000 each for Spring 2012. New lots coming online in Pelham’s East in Spotsylvania this spring are under contract for about $105,000 each to Ryan Homes.

Our company is taking the following actions to try to grow and compete in Fredericksburg in 2012:

We have learned that we are in the housing business and not just the new home business. Rental home demand is strong and we think this will continue. We just began building the first of 37 rental townhomes in the Belmont community in Caroline County. Union First Market Bank (the lender) and local developer Frank Sealy wanted to see progress on some of the few remaining finished lots in Belmont. By working with them to create rental homes, we can stabilize property values, complete homes on otherwise stubbornly vacant lots, and get construction going in an area where there is very little demand for new townhomes. We are actively looking for more rental townhome locations.

We are completing a new model home in Idlewild subdivision in the city of Fredericksburg. From it we expect to sell homes at $500,000+ in Idlewild and other upscale Spotsylvania communities such as Fawn Lake, Bloomsbury Farm Estates, and Breckenridge Estates where we have acquired home sites at favorable prices and can pass on the great values to our buyers. We expect to sell about as many homes, 45, as we did in 2011, but larger ones at significantly higher prices. Part of our strategy is out of necessity because the many national and public builders we compete with are purchasing the closer in water and sewer lots being developed in locations with 20+ at prices that do not work for our business model.

We continue to build in many locations in the Hartwood area of Stafford County on 3 acre + home sites from our model in Richland Forest off Rt. 17. We plan to relocate the model home from there to Oakley Farms off Poplar Rd. in 2012 as we wait for 45 more home sites to be developed in Richland Forest in 2013.

*To read the full article featuring Atlantic Builders CEO, Adam Fried, please click here!

A Blog Featuring Adam Fried, CEO, Atlantic Builders, Ltd.

2012-01-12T16:22:00.006-05:00

Like almost all residential developers and home builders, Atlantic Builders (and related LLCs) bought too much expensive land and lots in 2004, 2005 and early 2006. Looking back, I wish I had listened to my own instincts. I asked a room packed with large builders and bankers in 2003, after a prominent panel of economists made a presentation about the future, whether anyone thought a bubble was forming with high home and land prices. There was silence. Nobody agreed with the premise of a bubble then in that room. So I swallowed my concerns and proceeded to get seduced by the easy profits and kept buying more land and lots at ever dizzying prices. My friend Doug Janney urged me to divest from residential property as he did when he presciently sold all his lots off to K. Hovnanian in 2004. He was a rare voice then preaching doom and gloom. I wish I had listened.

Fortunately, we survived the crushing downturn for homebuilders by acting quickly to sell most of our land and lots relatively early by year end 2007. We (My partner, Tom Schoedel, is president of Atlantic Builders) took massive losses. It was the second-hardest experience in my career next to having to let go so many good people who worked on our team. We just knew by then that it was going to get worse. But it turned out to be much uglier than we imagined then. We never expected it to be five years and counting with such continued weakness in sales volume and low prices for new homes. We are one of only a few local and regional home builders still standing and luckily thriving, albeit modestly, in the Fredericksburg area.

Lessons learned from this experience are many. And most of them have been known by home builders for decades but get ignored in boom times. As Lee Evans, the post-WWII Edward Demmings of the home building industry, sagely advised, “DO NOT DO STUPID THINGS THAT GREATLY INCREASE RISK.”

Some of the key lessons are the following:

New home values and prices must be favorable when compared to “new used” resale and foreclosure homes to achieve reasonable sales levels.

A successful homebuilder needs to focus on customer delight, efficient production, cost control, and offer homes on appealing sites in desirable communities.

Land and lots need to be carefully purchased so that owned property is ideally no more than two years ahead of anticipated sales. Atlantic Builders has returned to our pre-bubble strategy of purchasing only finished home sites (on options from developers when possible) instead of entitled land. This strategy has worked well for Ryan Homes, our most admired competitor, and the 800-pound gorilla in our marketplace.

Lot prices should ideally be no more than 20 percent of the anticipated home sales price. Home prices should be a multiple of no more than three times target customer annual income. I know of a national builder purchasing lots in a Stafford County community who projects that their lots will account for 37 percent of the home sales prices. They expect to not make profits initially but want to try to control lots and gain market share. Lee Evans’ words still resonate: “Forget the ego drive to be the biggest builder in town. Do not sacrifice profit for more sales volume.”

We keep a great team tight: fewer people great at their positions, paid well, and earning good bonuses when key metrics are achieved. We went from over 60 team members to a low of eight in 2008. Now we have just 14 people. My partner, Tom Schoedel, and I decided to keep a group of core people rather than close up as so many builders across the U.S. have done. We get along well working pretty intensely, manage to do some good in the community (such as building Homes For Our Troops), often socialize together, celebrate our successes, and create positive energy in an industry that has generally lost its mojo. It helps that we have great trade partners, many of whom have been with us since we built our first home in 1988.

Our team expects that 2012 for our company will be at best as good as 2011. We expect about the same number of new home permits will be issued in the Fredericksburg area in 2012 as this year. We expect that not much will change until after the exciting election of 2012. Our area has ridden the wave of federal government expansion since FDR for 80 years. The election will determine if that expansion will be stopped or even slowed. Our Fredericksburg area, particularly Stafford County, has been the southern edge of the best new homes market in the U.S. the past few years. That is why we have 10 public and national home builders competing in this marketplace. The intense competition is good for home buyers. I am particularly keen to see how some of the large builders who lately have bid lot prices up significantly in Stafford will perform in 2012. Let us look to see if they can achieve good sales and raise home prices. If they can, it bodes well for all of us who own property in the Fredericksburg region.

Much of the employment growth that fuels new home building here has been BRAC-related. The 2012 election will determine if defense-related spending for Homeland Security and Command and Control in particular are to be cut. Defense spending cuts may slow our growth over the next few years. Fredericksburg should still continue to grow in the medium and long term as U.S. population demographics are favorable unlike Japan, China, and European nations. Our area has a highly educated workforce that will be needed for new 21st-century jobs. I believe the quality of life here is great and attractive except for our traffic congestion, especially on I-95. I fear even the new widening and extension of I-95 into Stafford is inadequate. But we will solve our
transportation issues. The future remains bright for the Fredericksburg region. With more rooftops, eventually employment centers will develop farther south as they have already around Quantico.

Fredericksburg Area Homes Undervalued Based Upon Income Levels

2011-08-18T09:18:00.003-04:00

Please see this article by Bill Freehling which provides his analysis of Fredericksburg area home prices and median household incomes.

According to his data, home values especially in Stafford, Spotsylvania, and Caroline Counties are undervalued compared to historic averages. This may mean that Fredericksburg area home prices escalate in the near future!

You may read the article here.

For more information about building your new home in the Fredericksburg region, visit Atlantic Builders online or check out our Facebook page!

The Role of MCBQ in the Regional Economy

2011-08-02T08:57:00.002-04:00

Most of Atlantic Builders' customers now are moving to the Fredericksburg region because of BRAC. To get more understanding of all the upcoming changes particularly at MCBQ, I am attending an event called "The Role of Marine Corps Base Quantico in the Regional Economy". I have learned that new contracts awarded in the past quarter are down due to the federal government budget impasse. Chatter at my table shows that government workers are concerned about their financial futures and retirement benefits. I have faith that by Aug 2 a good compromise will be reached and normality and stability will continue.

Marine Corps Systems Command alone contracts over $500,000,000 annually. MCSC expects to hire 1,100 new positions between FY 2012 and 2015 around Quantico. Four new hotels off Route 1 in North Stafford are being planned to handle the over 260 people on average being trained daily at MCBQ.

Median sales prices in Stafford County have increased from about $215,000 to $250,000 per home in the past 6 months. There is only a 2.5 months supply of homes listed in MRIS in Stafford County. A balanced market is considered about a 5 month supply. So Stafford County in particular is now a home seller's market.

Visit this link to view power points of the various presentations today.

-Adam Fried

Welcome, Julie Brennan, to Atlantic Builders!

2011-07-26T10:24:00.004-04:00

We welcome Julie Brennan, our newest team member, as a Sales Associate. You will find Julie working alongside Community Sales Manager Charlie Baity in our Richland Forest model home which is now open 7 days a week.

“Julie is very personable, enthusiastic, and fun. She strengthens our team. I am impressed with how eager she is to grow and learn as she clicks with our team”, observes Dawn Settle, Vice President Operations at Atlantic Builders.

One of Julie’s favorite quotes from Tom Hopkins is as follows:

“No one limits your growth but you. If you want to earn more, learn more. That means you’ll work harder for a while; it means you’ll work longer for a while. But you’ll be paid for your extra effort with enhanced earnings down the road.”

Julie grew up in Portsmouth, VA in a military family. Her first job as a teen was in a retail clothing store. She notes that “I think it is a great learning experience for anyone doing sales. You learn to accept each person as an individual and help them with their needs.” Most recently Julie has worked in property management of apartment buildings.

Julie lives in Spotsylvania County with her husband James and teenage son Austin. She likes to read especially Dean Koontz’s Odd Thomas series and Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series. Julie has many goals on her life list which include skydiving, learning to play the piano, and learning at least 2 new languages. Julie’s dad was in both the army and navy and someday she dreams of owning and running a halfway house for Veterans on fixed incomes.

“I like our focus on customer service and employee satisfaction”, says Julie. She was happy that Atlantic Builders had a fun evening for employees and their families at the local Splittsville Bowling Center in the first month of her tenure here. Julie observes, “Sometimes at a corporate environment that gets lost.”

When she gets a break in the sales center at Richland Forest, Julie let’s on that, “I like to dance in the model—my Ipod goes from Christian to Eminem.” You may not catch her dancing, but Julie Brennan will always welcome anyone who walks in her door with a smile.

To learn more about Atlantic Builders, visit here!

The Future of Water Through the Building Industry's Eyes

2011-06-01T16:05:00.002-04:00

Please read the article below that leads to Kathleen Parker’s column in the Washington Post about Charles Fishman’s new book, “The Big Thirst: The secret life and turbulent future of water.”

The building industry can and will do more to use water more efficiently as the “green” desires of our customers help move us in that direction.

Over 12 billion gallons of clean drinking water are flushed through toilets and drips through municipal leaks daily in the United States. The Fredericksburg region does in fact have adequate resources, one being the completion of the Rocky Pen Reservoir in Stafford County in May 2013. This will add 5.52 billion gallons in storage at the new lake.

It is no news, however, to anyone who has viewed the Rappahannock River in late summer, that our biggest source of water can quickly flow to a trickle.

To view Kathleen Parker's article, please click here.

A BIG Thank You!!

2011-04-06T09:00:00.001-04:00

Atlantic Builders would like to offer our sincere appreciation to everyone that is donating labor and materials to help with building Sgt. Kenny Lyon's home:

Stafford County Building Department
Sullivan, Donahoe & Ingalls
IDS
Dynasty Cleaning
Anderson Propane
Virginia Dominion Power
Gotta Go
Big Al’s Landscapng
Mitchell’s Septic System
Luckstone
VAMAC
Hanover Precast
John Danielson, Jr. – Well
Virginia Water Conditioning
Mid Atlantic Laboratories
Noah Turner Turn Farms
Engleside Plantation Nursery
Donnelly Concrete
Virginia Contractor Supply –
Luckstone
Walker Sand & Stone
D & S Excavating
Gold Star Pest control
Wood Dale Masonry
C. C. Carpentry
Paslode
Grabber/Carlos
Builders First Source
DOW
Structural Technologies
Rent-A-Crane
Schiller Enterprises
Cary Quality
Energy Services Group
Darvish Roofing
Tamko Building Products
PlyGem
J. H. Kim & Associates
Automatic Overhead Door Company
Schlage
Adaptive Solutions
Chatham Construction
T. A. C. Ceramic tile
Carpet House
Armstrong (Bruce)
Stauf Adhesive
General Electric
Mid South Building Supply
United Granite
Southern Spotsylvania Plumbing
Ferguson Enterprises
First Choice Heating and Cooling
Virginia Air
East Coast Distributors
K. L. Rowlands Electric
Rexel
Home Depot – Stafford
Patriot Sound and Security
Halsey Home Construction
Group Two
YouTwitFace
FABA
The Free Lance Star
M & M Soil Consultants
Dominion Inspections
Residential Design Group
Nova Blue
DSS
The Fried Companies
Blackwood Real Estate
EcoSeptix
Noah Turner Landscaping

Restaurant & Business Volunteers
Bob Evans, Route 3
Bowie Produce
Central VA Vending and Coffee Guys
Chick-Fil-A, Garrisonville Road & Rt. 17
County Fare Restaurant, Stafford
Cracker Barrel
Culligan
Dixie Bones Post 401
Golden Corral
Jimmy the Greek’s
McDonald’s of England Run
N. Stafford High – Nutrition and Wellness Class
Pancho villa
Panera Brad
Perkins, Fredericksburg
Pizza Hut, Rt. 17
Reddy Ice, Richmond
Sqwincher
Subway, South Stafford
The Farmer’s Wife, Remington
TJ’s Catering and Celebrations
US Food Services
UTZ
Virginia Barbecue
US Food Services
84 Lumber
Aireco, inc.
Arcet
Bassett Furniture
Benjamen Moore
Best Buy, N. Stafford
Blue and Gray Brewery
Bottom dollar
Costco, Fredericksburg
Duquettes Art Frame Studio
Giant, Fredericksburg
Guardian Coating
Hancock & Moore Furniture
Good to Go Contracting
Harbor Freight, Rt. 3
Hertz Equipment – Manassas
Hilldrup Moving and Storage
Karney & Company
McCormick Pant
Medias Painting
Miller Welding
Party HQ, N. Stafford
Meadows Farms, N. Stafford
Rappahannock Mattress Company
Richmond Camera Store
Simmons Manufacturing
Simply Beautiful Spaces, LLC
Target – N. & S. Stafford, Rt. 3
Vanguard Furniture
Wal-mart

Organizations and Community Volunteers
Aquia Harbor Host Lions club
Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc.
Blue Star Dads, Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg Army National Guard
Girl Scouts of America
Hartwood Fire Dept
Janese Simunek – Artist
Legion Riders
Semper Fi Fund
Some Gave All Foundation
Women Marines Association, Quantico Chapter
Wounded Warrior Regiment, Quantico
Lisa, Jeff, Michael and Samuel Grooms, Neighbor
Aimee Sword, Neighbor
Marcus and Gina Narvaez – Key Volunteers
Steve & Michele Norris – Key Volunteers
Mac and Brenda McQueen
Mary Kulesa
Jim Barter, US Food Services
Tim’s Rivershore I and II
Anthony Campbell – National Anthem
John and Jo Moberg
Hilda and Wes Eubanks
Jean Carder
Cheryl Maxwell –Lefcowits
Navy Personnel – Torpedo Training Center – Yorktown, VA

Government Volunteers
John Schaeffer – Inspector
Stafford County Sherriff’s Office

School Volunteers
AFROTC Stafford High School
Hartwood Elementary School

University of Richmond – Journalism Department

Details on the Build Brigade for Sgt. Kenny Lyon!!

2011-03-30T13:12:00.010-04:00

Homes for Our Troops & Atlantic Builders invite you to celebrate the Kick- Off of the 100th specially adapted home in Fredericksburg, VA for severely injured Marine Sgt. Kenny Lyon.

Join us as we celebrate this remarkable milestone in the history of the Homes for Our Troops organization! Starting April 1, 2011 at 8:30 am, an army of volunteers will work tirelessly to give back freedom and independence to Sgt. Kenny Lyon through the gift of a specially adapted home built in just 7 days!

Join us for one or both of the build events!

The Build Brigade Kick-off Ceremony - Friday, April 1, 2011 at 8:30 a.m. running all week long and witness the power of community!

The Key Ceremony - Saturday, April 9, 2011 at 11 am as we officially donate the home to Sgt Lyon.

Build Location - 10 Crowncrest Rd., Fredericksburg, VA 22406

Friday, April 1st - Escort and Opening Ceremony - 8:30am

The escort will begin at the Wal-Mart and bring Sgt Kenny Lyon and his family to the build site. From there we will have an opening ceremony and raise the first wall!

We will be working onsite around the clock.

Saturday, April 2nd - We will be working onsite around the clock

Sunday, April 3rd - We will be working onsite around the clock

Please join us each day for our Lunchtime Auction & chance to win our 50/50 Raffle! Buy your tickets for the 50/50 raffles at the Build site!

Needs - Some items we could always use are; papertowels, hand sanitizers, trash bags and snacks etc...

Parking - Because of limited parking on Crowncrest Rd for Sgt Lyon's Build Brigade and the many volunteers that will arrive for his ceremony. We will utilize the next street over (Boxwood Dr) for parking, there is a path that connects the two roads. Parking volunteers will be in place to show you the way.

Registration - Whether you have been in touch with HFOT and have been assigned a task or just showing up that day, you are required to sign a waiver at the Registration Table. There you will receive a HFOT Build Brigade T shirt that you MUST wear on site. If you are scheduled to work at the Registration Table, you may be helping with... Parking, Volunteer Check in, Build Brigade T shirts, Hard Hats or HFOT Gear table.

Volunteering - We welcome ALL volunteers to the Build Brigade. If you have signed up to volunteer and have not heard back from a HFOT rep, please come out and join us! Pitch in where you can on the build site!

Children - Children under 16 are NOT allowed on site without an adult. If you are volunteering and bringing younger children, please do NOT allow them near the actual home building. There will be a food tent area that is safe from construction activities.

Can't donate your time or materials but want to donate funds to support this build?
Mail it to:
Homes for Our Troops
C/O lyon Project
6 Main Street
Taunton, MA 02780

If you have any other questions or concerns, please contact Doreen Lewis at dlewis@homesforourtroops.org

Tommy Seal Returns to Atlantic Builders

2011-02-15T15:49:00.000-05:00

“You always know when Tommy’s here,” says Dawn Settle about Atlantic Builders’ latest “boomerang” team member, Tommy Seal. Tommy, whose warmth and humor are always in abundance, rejoins us as a project manager building in all our Spotsylvania County communities.

Tommy has worked for over 26 years in the construction industry. Earlier in his career, he was a lead trim carpenter, and installed intricate, detailed exterior and interior trim in the UVA Law School and in a County Courthouse in Virginia. He reminisced that behind the beautiful judge’s bench that he created, he had to install bulletproof glass. Earlier Tommy served in the Army for three years as an E4 Specialist and Cavalry Scout. Before that, he grew up in Hawaii and enthuses that “I love to surf”.

Tommy is known for his customer service as well as the quality of the homes that he has supervised. Working with a recent homebuyer who was “stone-faced”, Tommy told her laughingly that he would get her to smile before the walk-through was completed. “And she did”, he was pleased to report.

“It is great to have Tommy back. His booming, infectious voice resonates throughout a home under construction or our office, making everyone feel good,” notes Gene Brown, Atlantic Builders’ Vice President of Productions and Quality Assurance.

Tommy puts that voice to good use in his free time, when he is the lead singer and rhythm guitar player of his band “Full Throttle”, a country and Southern rock group. Tommy has written 50 songs and enjoys “the notoriety, acclaim, and popularity you get on stage being the center of attention.” Go to Facebook and listen to the song “In my dreams” that Tommy wrote and performed with his last band.

Adam M. Fried

Welcoming Back Jim Harrover!

2011-01-25T13:45:00.000-05:00

We welcome Jim Harrover back to Atlantic Builders as a full time team member. Jim has been with Atlantic for 9 years and has recently been working with us on a contract basis. With the rebound in the economy and home sales in the Fredericksburg area, it is great to have Jim back full time.

Jim acts as warranty manager. He helps with quality inspections, pre-settlement demonstrations, and punch out of new homes and for occupied homes. His personable nature makes everyone, especially homeowners, like him. "I meet homeowners with a smile, treat them honestly, and let them know I am here to help them anyway I can," notes Jim.

Here’s what some of our homeowners have said about Jim:

"I just want to let you know how pleased I have been with the services provided by Jim Harrover... Jim has been very responsive and has gone beyond what I could have ever expected. As a result I have put in a good word to a friend at Mary Washington Hospital."
-- Frank Gibbs

"Mr. Jim Harrover (has) worked on numerous warranty issues (and his) work has been nothing short of phenomenal. In addition to (his) world-class performance (his) motivation and professionalism... has been second to none...period."
-- Mohammed A. Khan, Jr., Colonel, USAF

Jim has spent 22 years in the construction industry after spending over 20 years in the general aviation field. Jim Harrover was awarded the Purple Heart as a helicopter crew chief. He served as an E4 for two years, and in one tour in Vietnam where his helicopter was shot down three times. Jim grew up in Lorton, VA.

Jim can fix anything and has a garage stocked with every tool imaginable. His garage – and home – are in Fairview Beach where he lives with his wife Janet. Jim enjoys boating on the Potomac River, and bait and bottom fishing by the channel markers. He likes socializing in the friendly atmosphere of Fairview Beach, and he and his wife enjoy wine tastings at Ingleside Winery in nearby Westmoreland County.

Adam M. Fried

Why Are Chinese Mothers Superior?

2011-01-18T10:28:00.000-05:00

If you want to be challenged about your parenting style and how you raise your children, then check out an article in the Jan. 8/9 Wall Street Journal: “Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior”. The article was written by Yale University law school professor Amy Chua and is her take on why so many Chinese and other immigrant parents seem able to raise academically advanced children.

Some things she never allowed her daughters to do:
- Attend a sleepover or playdate
- Watch TV or play computer games
- Get any grade less than an A
- Play any instrument other than the piano or violin
- Not play the piano or violin

Chua notes, “What Chinese parents understand is that nothing is fun until you’re good at it. To get good at anything you have to work, and children on their own never want to work, which is why it is crucial to override their preferences. This often requires fortitude on the part of the parents because the child will resist”.

While Chua’s admitted behavior toward her daughters is a little scary (Chua threatened to take her 7 year old daughter’s doll house to the Salvation Army and to withhold food for the rest of the day for refusing to continue practicing the piano), but she claims her girls have good self-images because once they master things, they become happy.

The WSJ essay is excerpted from her book “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” and was published 1/11/11. Chua answered questions Thursday 1/13/11 on the WSJ blog: blogs.wsj.com/ideas-market.

Taking Inspiration from The Special Olympics

2011-01-13T14:38:00.000-05:00

My brother Jon Fried was born mentally handicapped. When he was a baby, the doctors advised my parents that he would never walk or talk. They were wrong. Now he is almost 50 and continues to win the Gold Medal in Tennis in the International Special Olympics. He plays at a very high level.

Please click on the link (http://www2.dailyprogress.com/sports/2011/jan/13/fried-set-special-olympics-tennis-tourney-ar-771174/) to see an article about him and the Special Olympics tennis tournament he will help host this weekend. I hope you are inspired to help out Special Olympics.

- Adam Fried

2010 Was A Year To Celebrate!

2010-12-21T14:27:00.000-05:00

As Atlantic Builders wraps up 2010, we have much to celebrate for the year. We have exceeded our goals and have done it with the addition of excellent employees to round out our team. We have many wonderful and delighted customers celebrating the New Year in their new homes. Our trade partners have been very instrumental in working with us to deliver top quality homes at the best possible price. A win for everyone.

One of our proudest accomplishments this year was partnering with Homes for Our Troops and the community to deliver a specially adapted home to our friend and hero, Sgt. Steven Kiernan.

Through working with Homes for Our Troops, we discovered the art of Sgt. Peter Damon, whose painting ‘Summer Sidewalk’ now adorns the entry wall in our office foyer.

Our team has much to be proud of this year, and we look toward 2011 with much joy and hope. And of course the excitement of building two more homes for our wounded veterans.

We wish everyone a wonderful holiday season!

Atlantic Builders Charity Contest Winners

2010-12-20T13:40:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Janis Snider of Fredericksburg, VA & Lisa Moore Gee of Seattle, WA who have been chosen out of all the entries in our December contest. Janis & Lisa will both receive a $100 Visa gift card and we will be writing a check to their charities.

We have posted the winning entries below and would like to thank all of those who participated!

Janis Snider, Fredericksburg VA., writes....My favorite charity is Micah Ministries. It’s a local organization which involves several churches in the downtown area but which encompasses many people of varied political beliefs, numerous religious affiliations, and differing walks of life. It’s a group of people who are striving to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly....I am involved with Micah Ministries via several directions: I volunteer as a cook and bottle washer in the preparation of breakfast meals for the homeless at the Micah facility on Princess Anne Street, next to Fredericksburg Baptist Church. I also prepare meals for the Micah Respite House, a residential "home" where homeless people can recuperate from serious health issues. I give of my time. I also contribute monetary gifts, material goods, and prayer support for this very worthy endeavor. Perhaps the greatest reason for my interest in Micah Ministries stems from the concern of the people who are served by Micah Ministries: They are our neighbors, friends, loved ones, and relatives who need a helping hand. I also greatly admire the staff of Micah Ministries: They all repeatedly prove their love and compassion for those they serve.

Lisa Moore Gee, Seattle WA., writes....One way I like to give back is via the Ronald McDonald House, specifically my local one in Seattle,WA. Since I was a young child this has been a charity close to my heart. My grandma donated to them, usually a substantial donation which would go to a family. There was one family with a young boy who was ill and they wrote back to my grandma and thanked her for her donation. The family corresponded with my grandma for years, even after their son lost his battle with his disease. To my grandma it was just an act of kindness. To this family it meant their child could be treated and they wouldn't have to stress about where the money came from. My grandma also sent cards for birthdays, Christmas and other holidays. Just like she would for all of her grandkids, she would stick $5 or so in the cards so the boy would have something for himself as well. The family told her that he really appreciated this and by sharing the letters and pictures with me, my grandma taught me the importance of giving back. She also would put the change in the box in front of the register after every order at McDonalds. This is something I have carried on in my adulthood, and am teaching to my children. It's just pocket change, or what’s left after placing an order. But it adds up and it goes to someone who could really use it. I also recently made a donation of $100 to the Seattle area Ronald McDonald House and look forward to helping to make small changes in the life of others.

We would like to wish every one a safe and happy holiday!

New Richland Forest Model Home Opens!

2010-12-08T15:20:00.001-05:00

The Sweetbriar model home at Richland Forest celebrates its grand opening on Saturday, December 11, 2010. Hours are 11 am -5 pm Mon., Thurs., Fri., Sat., and Sun.

“The Sweetbriar is our newest home design and it is so flexible that the structural option combinations are incredible. Homebuyers can choose from morning rooms, sun rooms, family room extensions, breakfast nook extensions, study extensions, and first floor bedroom options,” notes Community Sales Manager Charlie Baity. “And now that we are open here at the new model home, I will be available to show homebuyers how much room they will have.”

The basic Sweetbriar design is 2,300 square feet, but the model is shown with a family room extension and a finished basement that increase its size to 3,300 square feet. The Sweetbriar in Richland Forest starts at $339,900.

“I love getting out with our customers to walk all the large acreage home sites (3 acres +) that we have to offer in Richland Forest,” enthuses Charlie Baity. “The community even has access to the Rappahannock River through the conservation easement owned by the City of Fredericksburg.”

In addition to the Sweetbriar, a quick delivery Chelsea model (with 3,310 square feet of living space!) is under construction for occupancy in March 2011. This Atlantic Builders’ most popular design configuration, according to Charlie Baity.

A Grand Opening event at the Sweetbriar model in Richland Forest is scheduled for January, 2011. Don’t Miss It!

To get directions or to learn more about Richland Forest, please visit www.atlanticbuilders.com. Contact Charlie Baity at 540-295-4284 or cbaity@atlanticbuilders.com for sales information.

Adam M. Fried

Atlantic Builders Opens Widewater Village Model Home

2010-12-02T09:14:00.000-05:00

The Graham model home in the gated community of Widewater Village opens on Saturday, December 4, 2010 at 11 am. Located in North Stafford County just a few miles from the Quantico Marine Corps Base, the Graham model (lot 379) is available for $288,850. Atlantic has “the only new 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 2 car garage home with a basement and a front porch in North Stafford County for below $300,000,” exclaims Community Sales Manager Michele Gillenwater.

Among the amenities included with HOA dues are trash pickup, basic cable, lawn mowing, and use of the community pool. For more information, please visit Immediate Delivery Homes at www.atlanticbuilders.com.

Community Sales Manager Michele Gillenwater will be available in Widewater Village on weekends (Sat. and Sun.) from 11 am to 5 pm and by appointment. She can be contacted at 540-891-0001 or mgillenwater@atlanticbuilders.com. For directions, please visit www.atlanticbuilders.com.

Adam M. Fried

Top 10 Reasons You Should Buy an Atlantic Builders Home

2010-11-18T14:22:00.000-05:00

Classic and Executive Homes:

1) Top 10% Customer Satisfaction among US homebuilders*

2) 3 acre and larger home sites (including well water filter systems)

3) Energy Star Certified

4) Gourmet Kitchen Layout with Granite Countertops and Stainless Steel Appliances

5) Brushed Nickel light fixtures, doorknobs, and hinges

6) 6 pound higher density carpet pad

7) Low Maintenance Exteriors

8) Ceramic Tile Bathroom floors

9) Flexible floor plans with scores of options

10) 1st Floor Master Bedroom Designs

*Avid Ratings Surveys

Historic interest rates & great affordability mean now is a great time to buy a home!

2010-10-25T15:37:00.000-04:00

Historic low interest rates for home loans and the great affordability of homes in the Fredericksburg area make NOW the time to make a home purchase. According to Brian Whetzel, Branch Manager for C&F Mortgage in Fredericksburg, “Our economist has determined that Spotsylvania and Stafford Counties now have the most affordable homes relative to resident’s incomes in all of Virginia.”

Whetzel, a Fredericksburg native and perennially one of the largest mortgage bankers in the region for over 20 years, feels many buyers can benefit from the VHDA (www.vhda.com ) loan program for first time homebuyers. “VA (Veterans Administration) buyers who qualify for VHDA financing can earn up to $112,950 for a family of 3 or more. These buyers may lock in a loan rate for up to 6 months for only $120. VA/VHDA loan rates are now (10/18/10) 0.375% lower than typical VA loans,” points out Whetzel. (To be eligible, VHDA buyers may not have owned a home for 3 years prior to closing on the new home purchase.) Whetzel also noted, “Mortgage rates are hovering in the 4% range for 30 year loans. Rates are at historic lows and are expected to remain that way through 2010.”

C&F Mortgage is the largest originator of VHDA loans in Virginia. Brian Whetzel is one of the top loan officers at C&F in helping customers obtain VHDA loans. For more information and to see if you are eligible, contact Brian Whetzel at bwhetzel@cfmortgagecorp.com.

Adam M. Fried
Chief Executive Officer

Only 17 Lots Remain at Widewater Village

2010-10-07T16:40:00.000-04:00

“The best value for a new home in Stafford County, VA and the lowest price for a new home in North Stafford County is in Widewater Village”, exclaims Tom Schoedel, President of Atlantic Builders.

Only 17 lots remain in Widewater Village located on Rt 1 North of exit 143-A and just South of Quantico Marine Base. The Graham, a 1,900 sf 4 bedroom colonial home, is available starting from $284,900. Widewater Village boasts a gated entrance, clubhouse, pool, tot lots, bike and walking trails, and street lamps.

Atlantic Builders has just begun construction of 2 new homes that will be ready for move in after Thanksgiving.

For more information please contact Michele Gillenwater at 540-891-0001 or mgillenwater@atlanticbuilders.com.

Homes For Our Troops Acquires Queensguard Home Site from Atlantic Builders

2010-09-07T11:54:00.000-04:00

Homes For Our Troops has just acquired a lot in Atlantic Builders’ Queensguard community in Stafford County, Virginia. Atlantic will be acting as the general contractor for construction of a home for Sgt. Jude Recendez. The home will be similar to the home Atlantic Builders completed for Sgt. Steven Kiernan in June 2010.

Sgt. Jude Recendez suffered the loss of both his legs while deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in October 2006. Sgt. Recendez is an active outdoorsman who enjoys mountain biking, road cycling and kayaking. He is a Fine Arts student who enjoys ceramics and pottery and aspires to own his own workshop and studio upon completing his education.

Homes For Our Troops plans to complete over 30 homes in the US for severely injured veterans and their families in 2010, and as many as 40 in 2011. With the help of Atlantic Builders, Homes For Our Troops plans to complete at least one additional home in Stafford County in 2011 for Sgt. Kenny Lyons. Lyons is currently Sgt. Steven Kiernan’s roommate. According to David Brandon, Land Acquisition Specialist for Homes For Our Troops, “ There are probably over 1,000 severely injured veterans who would qualify for our program.”

Atlantic Builders and our trade partners were able to complete Sgt. Kiernan’s home thanks to the donation of all the labor and materials. “To complete the next two homes here in the Fredericksburg area, we will need other regional trade partners and suppliers to chip in so that we can continue to build the homes as close to 100% donated as possible,” says Gene Brown, Vice President of Production at Atlantic Builders.

If you are a trade partner who wishes to provide labor and/or material, please contact Gene Brown at gbrown@atlanticbuilders.com .

For more information about this project please visit www.homesforourtroops.org/recendez

To make donations of time or funds please call 866-7-TROOPS or email info@homesforourtroops.org.

Adam M. Fried
Chief Executive Officer
Atlantic Builders

Atlantic Builders Welcomes Melanie Edwards Back To The Team!

2010-09-01T17:13:00.000-04:00

Atlantic Builders is thrilled to welcome back Melanie Edwards as Design Director. Melanie rejoined our team on August 30^th.

As Atlantic Builders president Tom Schoedel noted, “ It is fantastic to be a part of the modest turnaround in new home sales in the Fredericksburg, Virginia area and to be able to bring back our first full time hire. Everyone – customers, trade partners, and fellow team members – loves working with Melanie”.

Like most of our tight team here at Atlantic Builders, Melanie is a great multi-tasker. While her primary responsibility is to coordinate our design center (now located at the Breckenridge model home), she is involved in almost all facets of our company.

“What I do touches every piece—not just floor plans, brochures, optional features selections, and design selections, but takeoffs, purchasing, and marketing,” Melanie pointed out. “I get the biggest kick out of putting all the little pieces into a gracious living experience,” she enthused.

Melanie manifests a rare combination of talents that includes a great sense of color and design flair, amazing people skills, and tremendous attention to detail that makes her formidable at helping homebuyers make the best design option and color selections for their new homes. And as Atlantic Builders’ sales continue to increase, she will provide superior service to customers in the design center, while allowing our sales team of Michele Gillenwater and Charlie Baity to spend to spend more time with prospective and newer customers.

Melanie has devoted much of her life to helping the disadvantaged, the homeless and the disabled as part of her deep faith. During her short “sabbatical” from Atlantic Builders, she amped up her community service work by helping Hope Tree Family Services to conduct in-depth needs assessments and to create a database about the people with intellectual disabilities who live in that organization’s Fredericksburg area group homes. She has also spent countless hours with the people served by Hope Tree providing TLC.

Melanie has also been heavily involved in helping the over 100 children born in refugee camps in Rwanda/Burundi who have relocated to Fredericksburg in the past few years. She has helped organize day camps and ESL preschool for children mostly from Tanzania, and has worked for years with the Fredericksburg Baptist Church providing spaghetti dinners weekly for the hungry and homeless.

Melanie enthusiastically recommends the book Same Kind of Different As Me (especially page 104) by Ron Hall and Denver Moore, about the authors’ shared experiences in a Ft Worth homeless shelter.

Melanie feels “it is important for us to build relationships and families and not just homes”. A little wistful about becoming an empty nester, Melanie has just seen her daughter off to James Madison University. And she has a lighter side, too: She is a “very heavily weaponed assassin” called Bella Donna in Mafia Wars on Facebook.

Guess that means that working with Melanie is an offer that nobody can refuse!

Adam M. Fried
Chief Executive Officer

Now is The Time To Buy!!

2010-08-04T15:40:00.000-04:00

The Wall Street Journal ran an article July 24, 2010 pointing out how record low interest rates and low home prices “are presenting unusual opportunities in the housing market these days—even for so-called underwater borrowers.” Some intrepid homeowners are intentionally taking a loss on their current house, and writing a big check to retire their old mortgage IN ORDER TO BUY TWICE THE HOME FOR NOT MUCH MORE MONEY.

This is a great time to buy a home in the Fredericksburg area. Northern Virginia is one of the top new homes markets in the US now. Prices for homes in the Fredericksburg area have bottomed and are starting to move up. As The Wall Street Journal noted, one family bought a new home because they “expect better price appreciation in their new home.” With a young daughter and plans for another child, they needed more space anyway. “We don’t want to wait for the market to come back. We wanted a better quality of life now.”

Atlantic Builders is ready for buyers who want to move in immediately to a new home. As of August 4^th, we have begun construction on seven unsold new homes and have permits ready for many more. This way, buyers can more quickly take advantage of the values in the market, as well as historically low mortgage rates.

Of course, we are ready if you want to build a new home exactly your way also! Please visit our website at www.atlanticbuilders.com or call 540-891-0001 or 540-295-4284 for more information.

Here is a link to the Wall Street Journal article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704421304575383490870014662.html?mod=WSJ_RealEstate_LeftTopNews

Sgt. Kiernan's House is Complete!!!!

2010-06-08T16:35:00.000-04:00

Sgt. Kiernan’s house is complete and is ready to deliver to him.

The key ceremony is this Saturday, June 12th, at 11 AM. Directions are on our website(www.atlanticbuilders.com) – just follow the Homes For Our Troops button in the lower right hand corner of the home page.

100% of the cost of the home was donated by the subcontractors and suppliers who worked on this project. We can’t thank you enough for what you did.

We would like to thank everyone who donated to this amazing cause!!

Carpet House – flooring install labor and materials

United Granite – kitchen and bath countertops and sink

MidSouth Building Supply – cabinet install labor

Quality Cabinets – cabinets

Big Al’s Landscaping – yard grading, sod and landscape package install labor

Noah Turner Turf Farms – sod

Commonwealth Irrigation – irrigation system

Automatic Overhead Garage Door – garage door and opener materials and labor

Gotta-Go Porta Potties – portable sanitation services

TAC Tile – ceramic tile materials and labor

Railing Systems – wrought iron rail materials and labor

Cary Quality – shelving, insulation, bath hardware, and mirror materials and labor

Virginia Gutters – gutter materials and labor

Mitchell’s Septic – yard grading and septic system installation

Dynasty Cleaning – cleaning services

GE Appliances – appliances

Virginia Water Conditioning – water treatment system materials and labor

John L Danielson Jr. Well drilling – well

Franklin Electric – water pump and system

Ferguson Enterprises – bath and lighting fixtures

Best Buy – flat screen TV, surround sound system and TV stand

Bruce Hardwood Flooring – hardwood and install materials

Hartwood Volunteer Fire Dept. – sod watering

Ingleside Plantation Nursery – landscape package

Mitchell's Septic Service - clearing, excavating and grading

Sullivan, Donahoe, and Ingalls - site engineering

White Oak Equipment - equipment

James River Equipment - equipment

Sisson Company - containers

Hirschler Fleischer - legal

Timm Engineering - architecture

Stafford County - permitting and inspections

Dominion Soil Services - soil services and inspections

NoVA Blue - printing

Luckstone - stone

VAMAC - septic equipment

CC Carpentry - framing labor

Stock Building Supply - wall panels, windows, doors, trim, and lumber

Structural Technologies - roof trusses

Rent A Crane - crane,

Bradco - shingles

Archer’s Exteriors - roofing labor

Mid-South Building Supply - siding

Napco - siding

JH Kim & Associates - siding labor

First Choice Heating & Cooling - HVAC labor

York - HVAC equipment

Southern Spotsylvania Plumbing - plumbing labor

Ferguson Enterprises - plumbing material

KL Rowlands Electric - electrical labor

Ferguson Enterprises & Rexel - electrical material

Patriot Sound & Security - low voltage labor and material

Build a Home for the Brave

2010-06-03T16:35:00.001-04:00

“Build a Home for the Brave” was the title of an article in the February 2010 issue of the Fredericksburg Area Builders Association newsletter. As I read the story, I somehow knew we were going to do just that. Now, four months later, the home is complete and we await the key turnover ceremony from Homes For Our Troops to Sgt. Steven Kiernan.

Our first step was bringing our trade partners in one day and showing them the video Sgt. Kiernan had made with Homes For Our Troops. Each meeting ended the same way. There would be silence in the room as everyone waited their turn to sign up. Three months later, I watched as many of those same people and more lined up to sign a banner for Sgt. Kiernan wishing him well in his new home.

The team that assembled to build this home broke three records with Homes For Our Troops. They earned honors for the most accomplished during a three-day “Build Brigade” – they were done by the end of day two! The home was built within a 24-day cycle time (and was built beautifully, I might add.) And it was 100% donated to Homes For Our Troops.

I knew we could do it, I just didn’t know how well. Gene Brown took this project and executed it perfectly. He will tell you it was my tears that got him involved, but I know better. It was his heart that got him involved, just like mine had done to me. There was hardly a day that went by that I wasn’t awed by someone or something that touched this project. We all gained something, and for me personally it was much more than I gave. To witness the amazing gift of compassion and caring exhibited by everyone involved was priceless. There is a wonderful bond that develops between people when they share in such a rare and special experience.

One example of this came for me about 6:00 pm on the first day of the Build Brigade. We brought sandwiches donated by Chick-Fil-A to the workers who did not want to stop to eat. They had been working hard since 9:00 am with only a short break for lunch. We walked around handing out sandwiches, which they accepted with grateful smiles. (It would have been a great Chick-Fil-A commercial, Gene pointed out.) After we were finished eating, I picked up a trash bag to clean up the leftovers. I had a handful of trash in the bag when I turned to find one of the workers with an armful of trash to add to the bag. One by one they all stopped to pick up trash and the site was clean in no time. We were helping each other help Sgt. Steven Kiernan. That was a wonderful moment.

Homes For Our Troops deserve an amazing amount of credit and support for what they are doing to help our wounded veterans. They have completed 50 homes and expect to have 30 more done this year – changing the lives of so many heroes. In the process, they are allowing the rest of us the opportunity to experience the gift of giving. Whether it was the labor or the concrete or the lumber needed to construct the home, everyone we asked said, “Yes”. I discovered we were all looking for a way to make a difference and show our appreciation. I like to think that we also gave hope and comfort to Sgt. Kiernan and his fellow heroes by showing that people do care and are forever grateful for their service and sacrifice.

Thank you to everyone that contributed and worked so hard to “Build a Home for the Brave.”

Dawn Settle

Sgt. Kiernan's House Is Ready For Construction!!

2010-04-06T12:18:00.000-04:00

Sgt. Kiernan's house is cleared and ready for some construction to begin!

Atlantic Builders would like to thank and recognize those that have

already contributed services and/or materials up to this point.

Mitchell's Septic Service - clearing, excavating and grading

Sullivan, Donahoe, and Ingalls - site engineering

White Oak Equipment - equipment

James River Equipment - equipment

Sisson Company - containers

Hirschler Fleischer - legal

Timm Engineering - architecture

Stafford County - permitting and inspections

Dominion Soil Services - soil services and inspections

NoVA Blue - printing

Luckstone - stone

VAMAC - septic equipment

We will continue to recognize the donors to this project as the work

progresses. It's a long list! Apologies if there are those we've

inadvertently left off. If we did, please let us know and we'll fix it!

Tom Schoedel

President

Atlantic Builders Joins Forces With Homes For Our Troops

2010-04-01T13:31:00.000-04:00

We have decided to join forces with Homes For Our Troops, a great organization that builds homes for our severely injured veterans at no cost. (www.homesforourtroops.com).

We are building a home for Sgt. Steven Kiernan of the United States Marine Corp who lost both his legs while serving in Irag in May 2008.

We are so happy to be able to do something for a brave member of our military.

Follow the progress on Sgt. Kiernan's house both here on our blog and on our Facebook fan page.

Click on the following link for more on Sgt. Kiernan: http://www.homesforourtroops.org/site/PageServer?pagename=StevenKiernan