It’s a tough time to be in the market for a new house. But as peak homebuying season begins, homebuyers are starting to have at least some negotiating power—especially in markets that recorded large price growth over the last few years.

The average 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage rose above 7% at the start of November 2022, the highest level in more than a decade, as the Federal Reserve raised its benchmark rates to combat inflation. Today, rates remain at historic highs; even half of a percentage point change can significantly affect the monthly payments required for a mortgage.

Since mortgage rates were under 4% for the better part of the past decade, many homebuyers locked in far more affordable rates than what’s available in today’s environment. And sellers aren’t exactly coming down on price: Nationally, home prices are still increasing—just more slowly than they did during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nationally, the median home sale price in March was $420,321, 4.8% higher than the year before. In Virginia, the median sale price was $432,000, while the average price difference was 0.02% below asking.

Stacker compiled a list of counties in Virginia where homes typically sell below list price using data from Redfin.

#9. Spotsylvania County

– Average price difference: 0.08% below list
— Median list price: $449,000
— Median sale price: $445,000
– Total homes sold: 141
— Share that sold above list: 41.8%

#8. James City County

– Average price difference: 0.10% below list
— Median list price: $499,999
— Median sale price: $420,000
– Total homes sold: 111
— Share that sold above list: 33.3%

#7. Suffolk

– Average price difference: 0.14% below list
— Median list price: $420,000
— Median sale price: $394,399
– Total homes sold: 165
— Share that sold above list: 40.0%

#6. Virginia Beach

– Average price difference: 0.15% below list
— Median list price: $369,950
— Median sale price: $370,000
– Total homes sold: 465
— Share that sold above list: 44.9%

#5. Norfolk

– Average price difference: 0.41% below list
— Median list price: $315,000
— Median sale price: $303,250
– Total homes sold: 290
— Share that sold above list: 39.0%

#4. Augusta County

– Average price difference: 0.91% below list
— Median list price: $309,900
— Median sale price: $289,900
– Total homes sold: 123
— Share that sold above list: 36.6%

#3. Roanoke County

– Average price difference: 1.02% below list
— Median list price: $292,500
— Median sale price: $245,000
– Total homes sold: 239
— Share that sold above list: 33.9%

#2. Portsmouth

– Average price difference: 1.04% below list
— Median list price: $260,000
— Median sale price: $257,250
– Total homes sold: 136
— Share that sold above list: 43.4%

#1. Frederick County

– Average price difference: 1.12% below list
— Median list price: $439,900
— Median sale price: $426,500
– Total homes sold: 160
— Share that sold above list: 21.2%

This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 28 states.

BLACKSBURG, Va. – A crisis on college campuses around the country.

A new Wiley research study published this year shows more than 80% of college students say they’re struggling emotionally.

When Jilly Riccio was in high school, she lost her close friend Jamison Novello in a way she never imagined.

“One of my friends died by suicide. That’s why it struck a chord and stuck with me, and that’s why I’ve been so passionate about it.”

During that time, Riccio was a part of her school’s SAFE Club — a way to talk openly about suicide, and mental health. But when she got to Virginia Tech, she quickly realized there was nothing close to that on campus.

Spring of last year, she decided to take matter’s into her own hands, creating the SAFE Club at Virginia Tech.

“It’s been really successful, and almost like therapy for me,” Riccio said.

10 News sat down with students at Virginia Tech to see how the mental health crisis impacts them.

Junior Jackie Mitchell said she wasn’t aware of the extent of her mental health problems until college.

“My mom was just like, ‘Oh you just have the jitters,’ but I came to Virginia Tech and was like, ‘I’m going to try therapy since it’s a free option,’ and they said, ‘You have anxiety,’” Mitchell said.

As Jackie told 10 News, anxiety for her wasn’t just ‘the jitters.’

“My body would physically shut down,” she said.

Abby Conner is the Communications Chair for the Clear Minds Project at Virginia Tech.

She said she hears students say time and time again, they feel alone.

“Some people are like, ‘Oh my issue isn’t that big,’ but to you, it is. It’s the biggest thing going on in your life,” Conner said.

Conner, her friend Aiden Williams, along with other students on campus created the Clear Minds Project this semester to bring awareness to resources for mental health, as well as help students navigate them.

“Mental health stuff especially, the insurance is terrible in Virginia, so it’s really complicated. Any information we can provide about that, we’re trying to do,” Williams said.

The Clear Minds Project, along with the SAFE Club, are just some of the resources for struggling students.

They appreciate and support the counseling efforts from Virginia Tech, but tell us they recognize how important community with other students is for healing.

“When you hear a student that has gone through something similar as you or can relate to you, because then you really do feel less alone. When you realize there’s a club, there’s a whole community where you can go to and you don’t even really have to say anything, you just have them there, I think that’s so important,” Riccio said.

Former San Diego State forward Elijah Saunders has committed to Tony Bennett and the Univeristy of Virginia, he told On3.

The 6-foot-8 sophomore from Phoenix also closely considered Clemson and Washington. He averaged 6.2 points and 3.6 rebounds per game this season.

According to the On3 Industry Ranking, Saunders is a former three-star recruit and was the No. 179 overall player in the nation from the 20 cycle. The On3 Industry Ranking is a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Elijah Saunders commits to Virginia, transfer portal background information

The NCAA Transfer Portal, which covers every NCAA sport at the Division I, II and III levels, is a private database with names of student-athletes who wish to transfer. It is not accessible to the public.

The process of entering the portal is done through a school’s compliance office. Once a player provides written notification of an intent to transfer, the office enters the player’s name in the database and everything is off and running. The compliance office has 48 hours to comply with the player’s request and that request cannot be refused.

Once a player’s name shows up in the portal, other schools can contact the player. Players can change their minds at any point and withdraw from the portal. However, once a player enters the portal, the current scholarship no longer has to be honored. In other words, if a player enters the portal but decides to stay, the school is not obligated to provide a scholarship anymore.

The database is a normal database, sortable by a variety of topics, including (of course) sport and name. A player’s individual entry includes basic details such asynchronous contact info, whether the player was on scholarship and whether the player is transferring as a graduate student.

A player can ask that a “do not contact” tag be placed on the report. In those instances, the players don’t want to be contacted by schools unless they’ve initiated the communication.

Track transfer portal activity

While the NCAA Transfer Portal database is private, the On3 Network has streamlined the reporting process tracking player movement. If you find yourself asking, ‘How can I track transfer portal activity?’ our well-established network of reporters and contacts across college athletics keeps you up to speed in several ways, from articles written about players as they enter and exit the transfer portal or find their new destination, to our social media channels, to the On3 Transfer Portal.

The transfer portal wire provides a real-time feed of player activity, including basic player profile information, transfer portal ranking and original On3 Industry recruiting ranking, as well as NIL valuation (name, image and likeness).

The On3 Transfer Portal Rankings allow for you to filter the On3 Industry Rankings to find the best of the best in the portal, starting with Overall Top Players. 

The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.