Growing Greene: County Offers Rural Lifestyle and Convenient Location

By Joanne DiMaggio

If you think the economy has put the brakes on growth, drive into Greene County. Everywhere you look, there are signs of expansion in both the residential and commercial sector. The 13,225-square-foot CVS is expected to open soon and there are now visible signs that yes, very soon Greene will have a Walmart to call their own. Nonetheless, Greene is maintaining its rural identity.

Margaret Ramsey, Associate Broker with Charlotte Ramsey, Inc. REALTORS®, has lived in Greene County for 20 years. “I grew up in a small college town in a rural area. I enjoyed the many cultural and educational opportunities available in my hometown. Living in Greene has provided my children with much of the same small-town environment that I enjoyed growing up.”

Ginger Slavic, a REALTOR® in the Real Estate III West Office, has been selling real estate in the area for more than 35 years. “Greene County is a very family-oriented community and offers a great school system. Retirees find it very attractive because of the mountain views, friendly community, easy access to the Blue Ridge Parkway, short trip to ski resorts, and easy access to the Washington, D.C. area. Our rolling hills, pastures, and farmland offer a picturesque setting for all lifestyles.”

Both REALTORS® agree that Greene has all the elements that potential homebuyers are looking for.

“Greene is the perfect location for people who travel for work or have members of their families working at different locations in Central Virginia,” said Ramsey. “I have worked with a number of clients where one spouse worked in Greene or Charlottesville and the other worked in Harrisonburg, Richmond, or even Northern Virginia.”

As with all of Central Virginia, Greene County’s growth has brought about changes in the landscape.

“Greene County has grown in many ways over the years due to their approach to new communities, encouraging retail growth and continuing to look forward in their planning to provide jobs and housing for their residents,” said Slavic.

Hidden Gems

Where housing is concerned, Greene County is full of surprises.

“Many of the hidden gems in Greene are not found in a subdivision,” said Ramsey. “Although we have wonderful subdivisions that meet the needs of a wide variety of buyers, there are a great number of wonderful properties in all areas of our county that do not have the covenants and restrictions found in most subdivisions. These properties meet the needs of many people looking to live in Greene where they can keep a small number of farm animals and/or run a home-based business.”

Ginger Slavic represents two unique neighborhoods in Greene—Greenecroft and Guildford Farm. At Greenecroft, located ¾ of a mile from Route 29 west on Route 33, builders are offering five new home styles starting at 1,800 square feet and priced from $325,000.

“These homes are very affordable and conveniently located to schools, work, and shopping,” said Slavic. “The recreation area offers a basketball court, tennis court, and picnic shelters. The commercial area on the left side of the entrance will offer a bank, shops, offices, and dining.”

Guildford Farm is a 35-lot residential neighborhood located on Welsh Run Road. The home sites offer two- to three-acre lots, magnificent mountain views, privacy, and convenient location. “Guildford Farm was designed and built with natural conservation techniques and respect for the environment that has become a benchmark for ‘conservation development’ in Greene County,” said Slavic. “There are approximately 10 acres of natural area that include a ‘River Walk’ Pathway along the river that is only available to landowners in Guildford Farm.”

Impact of CVS and Walmart

Both REALTORS® agree that the opening of the new CVS and Walmart stores will make a significant impact on the county. Slavic sees the two retail chains, along with Lowes, as tremendous assets to the community. Ramsey is equally optimistic.

“I think that many businesses, especially in Ruckersville, will see an increase in business due to the increased traffic in the area. The comment that I hear on a regular basis is that people will travel to Charlottesville less as more businesses open in Ruckersville. People in Greene seemed to be excited about the prospect of spending less time on Route 29. I also expect to see traffic from Madison, Orange, and Northern Albemarle coming to Ruckersville to take advantage of the new stores.”

Ramsey said some lesser-known developments are also on the horizon. “Fried Companies looks to start construction on an apartment complex in the Rapidan Center this spring. This will help to meet the future needs for rental units in the area around NGIC and DIA. The development is to eventually be a campus-like community that features high-end office and retail spaces in addition to the apartments.”

Ramsey went on to say that the influx of new families to the area is a plus for investors.

“Many of the clients I have worked with in the past four months are relocating to work at either NGIC or DIA. Although some are buying, many are choosing to rent because they know that they will not be in the area for more than two or three years, or they have not sold their current home in another area of the country. Investors looking for properties would do well to look to Greene County for properties, since there is currently a high demand for rentals in the area.”

Schools Get High Marks

One of the plusses for families coming into Greene is the top-notch education their children will receive.

“I have two children in the Greene County school system and am pleased with their involvement there,” said Ramsey. “As with most school systems, our school board is currently struggling with budget issues. I am encouraged by the fact that both the administration and the school board are seeking public input regarding the budget and other issues regarding our schools. Open communication between the citizens and the schools will help all to understand any changes that must take place during the current economic environment.”

Housing Market

Slavic indicated that home sales have been steady, with an increase in activity over the last 90 days—before the snow.

Ramsey also sees some positive signs. “We have decreased our number of months of inventory on the market from 14 to 12 in the past three months. Sales have increased and the median sales price has risen in the same time period. Sales were still concentrated in homes priced under $350,000, with homes priced between $260,000 and $300,000 selling most quickly.”

Overall, things are looking up for Greene County, making it “the” place to watch in the coming months.

“Greene County offers a great lifestyle for all–young families, single professionals, empty nesters, and retirees,” said Slavic. “The residents are friendly, the community has a lot to offer with many affordable home buying opportunities.”