“The market is exploding” was the quick response from Brett Keefer, the senior sales manager for Stanley Martin Homes at the Presidents Pointe development in Ranson (located just east of the Marketplace shopping center at Oak Lee Drive & Route 9). The development is predominantly townhomes, but Keefer says they are selling single family detached homes as well. He described the typical buyer he sees at this development as a young couple (under 35) with no kids who are buying for the first time. Since The Observer spoke with Keefer a year ago, prices have increased — the entry level townhome that sold for $260,000 in early 2023 now sells for $280,000 and tops out at $340,000 for the larger models. The single family houses in this development range from $385,000 to $460,000. “These are cost-conscious buyers,” says Keefer “and they are no longer waiting to see if rates come back down. We’re delivering 5 to 8 townhouses and 3 to 4 single family units each month now.”
County-wide, including Charles Town and Ranson, there were 776 permits issued to begin new home construction in 2023. Excluding the 300 unit apartment building that was permitted in 2020, the 2023 number is double the average of the preceding three years (2020 – 2022) and more than 4 times the average rate seen between 2009 and 2019 (chart). Townhomes accounted for almost half of the construction permits issued in Jefferson County during 2023.
The county map (below) shows the major subdivisions (5 or more lots) outside of the core city/town areas. The subdivisions highlighted in purple were approved between 2008 and 2023 and include several thousand lots that are still awaiting construction. There are more proposed developments in the pipeline (see related story – Harvest Hills Phase 2 Seeks Rezoning) and there are no indications of a slowdown any time soon.
