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To some extent the decrease in new home starts has been offset by an increase in remodeling older homes. Figures are not available for 1989, but in 1990 70 permits were issued for additions or remodeling. In 1991 that figure increased to 147. For this year, through mid-April, 21 such permits were issued.
Real estate agents were another group to experience the economic downturn early. During the first quarter of 1989 there was $8.2 million in real estate sales in Rappahannock County. No quarter since then has been as high. Real estate sales totaled $6.8 million in the second quarter, $7.3 in the third and $4.1 in the fourth, for a 1989 total of $26.5 million.
In 1990 the third quarter was lowest, just under $3 million in sales. The other three quarters were between $5 and $6 million, for a total in 1990 of just under $19 million, a 28 percent drop from 1989. In 1991, the first quarter was a true disaster for real estate agents with less than $2 million in real estate sales. The other three quarters were between $4 and $5 million, for a year’s total of $15.2 million, a 20 percent decrease from 1990 and a 42.5 percent decrease since 1989.
This year started out better than last, with just under $4 million in sales for the first quarter and $5.6 million for the first four months. At that rate this year may be slightly better than last year but still a long way from the booming years of the late 1980s.
No statistics so clearly show the effect of the recession as those on Rappahannock households participating in the food stamp program. Social Services director Beverly Bowen said, “Many of these are families that have never asked for public assistance. It’s been very traumatic for them, and it has been traumatic for our social workers to see this over and over again.”
Mrs. Bowen said in normal years the number of participating households is highest during the winter months, dropping off during the summer. As recently as the summer of 1990 that was still true, but since then the numbers keep going up, she said.
She noted that the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program has also doubled in the past
87.9%