A Stafford and Fredericksburg realtor for buyers, PCS moves, and commuters

Frequently asked questions

Who is a good real estate agent in Stafford or Fredericksburg, VA?

I'm Talithia Morris, REALTOR® with eXp Realty, based at the Woodbridge office, Virginia license 0225226152. I help buyers in Stafford and Fredericksburg, including households using a VA loan or commuting to Quantico or Dahlgren. I have 5.0 stars from 96 Google reviews. You can book a free 30-minute consult or call 703-344-6762.

Which areas are near Marine Corps Base Quantico?

Marine Corps Base Quantico is in Prince William County. Its main gate is off I-95 at exit 150-A (Triangle), and its south entrance is off exit 148. Stafford County is south of the base. VRE's Fredericksburg Line stops at Quantico, Brooke, and Leeland Road. This is geography only, not a recommendation of where to live. See Military OneSource and VRE stations.

Which areas are near NSWC / NSF Dahlgren?

Military OneSource lists Naval Support Activity South Potomac (NSF Dahlgren) at 6509 Sampson Road, Dahlgren, VA 22448-5108. King George County is the locality around Dahlgren. Fredericksburg and Stafford are also nearby places. That is geography, not a recommendation. See Military OneSource. FAAR reported an October 2026 median sale price of $532,300 for King George County, all home types.

How do people commute from Stafford or Fredericksburg toward Northern Virginia workplaces or the bases?

Military OneSource says it generally takes up to an hour or more to commute on I-95 between the Quantico area and the Pentagon. Toll lanes can reduce travel time, but tolls are higher during peak hours. VRE's Fredericksburg Line stops at Brooke, Leeland Road, Fredericksburg, and Spotsylvania, and continues through Quantico and Woodbridge. We test the commute at your real hours before we tour. See VRE stations.

How much are homes in Stafford County and the City of Fredericksburg right now?

FAAR, using Bright MLS data, reported an October 2026 median sale price of $548,250 for Stafford County and $415,000 for the City of Fredericksburg (all home types). The Stafford figure covers the whole county, and the Fredericksburg figure is city-only and based on 21 sales. See the FAAR market reports.

Can I use a VA loan to buy in Stafford or Fredericksburg?

Eligible veterans, service members, and some surviving spouses may use a VA loan, often with 0% down and no monthly PMI. Virginia Housing's Closing Cost Assistance Grant can apply to a bond VA loan. Your lender confirms eligibility and terms. See VA home loans in Woodbridge and VA realtor in Northern Virginia.

Is there a Stafford County down-payment program?

I did not find a Stafford County-run down-payment or first-time buyer program on the official county site on November 13, 2026. Virginia Housing may still apply, so talk with a Virginia Housing-approved lender. See the Virginia Housing limits.

Does the City of Fredericksburg help first-time or income-eligible buyers?

The City of Fredericksburg's Direct Homeownership Assistance Program helps income-eligible city residents with specific closing costs and/or up to 50% of down-payment costs on a home inside the city limits (ZIP 22401). Ask the city whether a VA first trust is allowed. See the city housing programs page.

Can a 100% disabled veteran get a property-tax exemption in Stafford or Fredericksburg?

Virginia's disabled-veteran real-estate tax exemption is statewide. In Stafford County, contact the Commissioner of the Revenue at 540-658-4132 ext. 1127. In the City of Fredericksburg, call 540-372-1207. For the statewide rule, see the Virginia VA loan facts.

What should I do first?

Book a free 30-minute consult. Talk with a lender before you write an offer, a Virginia Housing-approved lender if a grant may apply. If you have a PCS report date, start with VA realtor in Northern Virginia. Find a Lender on Virginia Housing's site.

How much are homes in Spotsylvania County right now?

The Fredericksburg Area Association of Realtors (FAAR), using Bright MLS data, reported an October 2026 median sale price of $460,000 for Spotsylvania County, down 2.6% from October 2025. The 2026 year-to-date median is $475,000, up 2.2% from the same period in 2025. October had 124 closed sales and 500 active listings, up 11.1% from a year earlier. The median days on market was 28. These figures cover all home types in the whole county. They are not a median for any one part of Spotsylvania, and one month's change says little about a single house. See the FAAR market reports.

What are the property tax rates in Stafford County, the City of Fredericksburg, and Spotsylvania County?

Each city or county sets its own rate, charged per $100 of assessed value, and the rate can change with each budget cycle. Some parcels also pay a special service district levy. In Stafford County, the Treasurer lists a real estate rate of $0.9675 and a countywide fire and EMS levy of $0.014, a combined $0.9815 per $100 before any district levy. The Board of Supervisors adopted those rates with the fiscal year 2027 budget, which took effect July 1, 2026. Stafford bills real estate taxes twice a year: the first half is due June 5 and the second half is due December 5. In the City of Fredericksburg, the real estate rate effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 is $0.84 per $100, plus a fire tax of $0.01, a combined $0.85. City real estate and personal property taxes are due June 5 and December 5, or the following business day. In Spotsylvania County, the 2026 real estate rate is $0.7373 per $100. Additional special service district rates may apply, including Harrison Crossing at $0.44, Lee's Hill East at $0.25, and Lee's Hill West at $0.38. Spotsylvania's first-half taxes are due June 5 and second-half taxes are due December 5. Your bill is based on the assessed value, which can differ from the purchase price. This is not tax advice. Confirm the current rate and any district levy with the Treasurer or Commissioner of the Revenue where the home sits.

What recordation and grantor taxes apply when I buy or sell in Stafford, Fredericksburg, or Spotsylvania?

Virginia charges a state recordation tax of 25 cents on every $100, or fraction thereof, of the consideration or the actual value of the property, whichever is greater. A separate recordation tax can apply to the deed of trust when there is a loan. Virginia also imposes a grantor tax of 50 cents for each $500, or fraction thereof, of the consideration or value, exclusive of remaining liens. The statute says the grantor tax is paid by the grantor, but the grantor and grantee may arrange for the grantee to pay all or a portion of it. The contract can also allocate who pays the recordation tax. The regional WMATA capital fee in Virginia Code § 58.1-802.3 applies only in Northern Virginia Transportation Authority localities: the Counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William and the Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park. Stafford County, the City of Fredericksburg, and Spotsylvania County are not on that list, so that fee does not apply there. The regional congestion relief fee in § 58.1-802.4 applies in Planning District 8. Stafford County, the City of Fredericksburg, and Spotsylvania County are member localities of the George Washington Regional Commission, not Planning District 8, so that fee does not apply there either. Lender, title, prepaid tax and insurance, and other settlement charges come on top of these taxes. Your Loan Estimate and closing disclosure list the totals for your transaction. This is not tax or legal advice. Confirm the figures with the clerk of the circuit court and your settlement company.

Is a Fredericksburg mailing address the same as living in the City of Fredericksburg?

No. The City of Fredericksburg is an independent city. It is not part of Stafford County or Spotsylvania County. Some homes with a Fredericksburg mailing address are actually in a neighboring county. For example, Virginia Railway Express lists the Spotsylvania station at 9442 Crossroads Parkway, Fredericksburg, VA 22408, which is in Spotsylvania County. The City of Fredericksburg's Direct Homeownership Assistance Program applies only to a home inside the city limits (ZIP 22401). Property tax rates, tax offices, and local programs follow the legal jurisdiction, not the word Fredericksburg on the mail. Before you write an offer, we confirm the city or county, the tax rate, and which programs can apply. This is geography, not a recommendation of where to live.

How do I sell a home in Stafford, Fredericksburg, or Spotsylvania?

Start with a current price based on recent comparable sales of similar homes, not an automated estimate alone. If you would like that walk-through, request a free home evaluation. At settlement, Virginia's grantor tax is 50 cents per $500, or fraction thereof, of the consideration or value, exclusive of remaining liens. The statute assigns that tax to the grantor, though the parties may agree otherwise. Commission, loan payoff, title charges, and tax proration are separate and are set in the contract. I do not quote a typical commission percentage here because it is negotiable. If you are also buying your next home, including on a PCS timeline, we can map the two transactions together. This is not tax or legal advice.

What do I need to do at the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles after I move to Stafford, Fredericksburg, or Spotsylvania?

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles says you have 60 days after moving to Virginia to get a Virginia driver's license, or 30 days if you hold a commercial driver's license. You must title the vehicle in Virginia within 30 days of moving, then register it and get plates within 30 days, with proof of insurance. A vehicle must also pass an annual Virginia safety inspection before it is operated here. An emissions inspection is required for registration if the vehicle is kept in Stafford County, or in Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, or Prince William Counties, or in the Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, or Manassas Park, unless you have a current valid emissions certificate from the last 12 months. The City of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County are not on that emissions list. Some localities also require a local sticker or decal within 30 days; those are sold by the local Commissioner of the Revenue, Treasurer, or Director of Finance, not by the Department of Motor Vehicles. See Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, New to Virginia.

What first-time buyer help is available if I buy in Spotsylvania County?

Virginia Housing programs can apply in Spotsylvania County. The county is in Virginia Housing's Washington-Arlington-Alexandria limits area, along with Stafford County and the City of Fredericksburg. The Closing Cost Assistance Grant may pair with a Virginia Housing bond VA loan for qualified buyers. A Virginia Housing-approved lender confirms eligibility, income limits, and the sales-price cap. The City of Fredericksburg's Direct Homeownership Assistance Program is only for income-eligible city residents buying a home inside the city limits (ZIP 22401), so it does not apply to a Spotsylvania purchase. See Virginia Housing's lending limits and find-a-lender pages, and talk with a lender before you write an offer.

Does buying or selling in the winter change the market in Stafford, Fredericksburg, or Spotsylvania?

Inventory and the pace of sales change through the year, so use the current official monthly report rather than a spring headline. In October 2026, FAAR reported 500 active listings in Spotsylvania County, up 11.1% from a year earlier, with a median of 28 days on market, and 552 active listings in Stafford County, up 24.3% from a year earlier. A larger choice of listings can mean a buyer has more to compare, and a seller needs to price from recent comparable sales. Thanksgiving 2026 is Thursday, November 26, Christmas is Friday, December 25, and New Year's Day 2027 is Friday, January 1. Lenders, appraisers, courthouses, and settlement companies are often closed on federal holidays, so inspection and financing dates may need extra days. I do not promise a spring price premium or a set number of days to close. If you need to move on a job start or a PCS report date, that deadline can reasonably drive the calendar. Buyers can book a free 30-minute consult. Sellers can request a free home evaluation.