Archive for the 'Outside The Beltway' Category
OPEN SUNDAY 1-4 PM: 3243 Sherman Street, Fairfax, VA 22030
February 29th, 2008 Categories: Listings, Neighborhoods, Outside The Beltway
We’ve lowered the price and the owner is ready for an offer. So - come take a second look at this one-of-a-kind split level home in Fairfax.
The signature feature of this home is it’s 400 sqft. Great Room which is an addition to the original home. Anchored by a wood-burning fireplace & built-in shelving it holds many warm memories for the owner. It’s hosted the owner’s own 18 piece Big Band, super bowl parties, Christmas dinners, birthday parties and all those memories that one builds in a lifetime.
It’s time for the owner to move on, he’s ready for an offer from someone who can appreciate the features of this home and not worry that it doesn’t have granite counter tops. That’s something easily added by the next owner.
I’ve already written about the great features of this home. But now its time for you to see it for yourself. Come out on Sunday - take a look at a home that shows pride in ownership, has been well taken care of and is a great place to live. If you can’t make the open house, please visit my virtual tour, or contact me for a private showing or for more information.
| Discussion: 3 Comments »
This Just In: VA Supreme Court To Northern Virginia: No New Taxes!!
February 29th, 2008 Categories: Around Arlington County, Local Real Esate Sales Numbers & Things, Outside The Beltway, Sellers
Today the Virginia Supreme Court ruled that the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority is unconstitutional. You can read the entire decision here.
The NVTA was created by the Virginia General Assembly earlier this year, to levy taxes for Northern Virginia transportation projects. I wrote about these increases in more detail back on July.
In an unanimous opinion, the court said that legislators improperly delegated taxing powers to the unelected members of the NVTA.
This decisions affects the recent increase in the grantors/transfer tax homeowners pay when they sell their homes, in addition to some other taxes that were increased in in January to help pay for the $300 million needed in bonds to finance planned transportation projects.
It’s still unclear what happens next. It’s also unclear whether people who have paid the higher grantor tax will be refunded. If you fall into this category, contact your state representative or your title company for more information. As of this afternoon – no one really knows.
But late this afternoon, Arlington County released a press release urging the Virginia General Assembly to “act quickly” to fund the project already planned.
In Arlington, these project are:
- Rosslyn Metro station access improvements
- Columbia Pike streetcar
- Crystal City/Potomac Yard transit improvements
- Columbia Pike improvements
- Re-alignment of existing roadway on Wilson Blvd
- Old Dominion Drive multi-modal improvements
- Lee Highway at Harrison Street improvements
More broadly, the other major Northern Virginia projects impacted by this decision are:
$28M for improvements to the Fairfax County Parkway
$15M to widen the Prince William Parkway from four lanes to six lanes between Hoadly Road & Old Bridge Road
$11M for improves bus service between the Braddock Road metro stop in Alexandria and the Crystal City/Potomac Yard corridor.
What’s not been said here is that Metro-to-Dulles project will have even more problems to deal with as the projects struggles to get started. Once again, the Northern Virginia commuter is left stranded by its government in Richmond.
People who relocate here from other parts of the country always ask me why there is no metro extending to areas where people really live in affordable neighborhoods. I always tell them– it’s because the capital of Virginia is in Richmond. And don’t you ever forget that.
| Discussion: 2 Comments »
3243 Sherman Street Offered For Sale: Open Sunday 1-4PM
February 13th, 2008 Categories: Listings, Neighborhoods, Outside The Beltway
Located in beautiful Mosby Woods, a subdivision with old-town charm and pristinely kept single-family homes, 3243 Sherman Street offers space, design and features not evenly matched by its lovely neighboring homes.
With a fantastic floor plan perfect for entertaining and relaxing at home, its almost 3,000 square feet is more than enough space for a growing family. This house is a wonderful place to call home.
Some of the unparalleled features of this home include the following:
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400 square foot Great Room anchored by a wood-burning fireplace & built-in shelving. All en-wrapped with two walls of Anderson windows and enhanced with track-lighting, recessed lights & ceiling fan. -
Attached extra long garage with work bench, extra storage and access to both the kitchen & back yard
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16’x13’ Eat-in Kitchen with ample counter & cabinet space, separate pantry & picture window & pass through to dining room
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Refinished hardwood floors on the main level -
Master Bedroom with walk-in closet, en-suite bathroom & private balcony
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Unmatched storage with additional built-in storage throughout the home & under the home storage
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Energy-efficient windows throughout
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Second, third & forth bedroom all at least 11’x 9’ with space-saver closets
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Walk-out basement hosting a 16’x18 recreation room & a second wood-burning fireplace & 18’x17’ utility room -
Low-maintenance backyard with mature trees, deck and patio
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A quick drive to all major commuter routes: I66, I495, Rt. 50/29, Rt. 123, Lee Highway- yet no highway noise
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Close to the Vienna Metro
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Convenient to all shopping in Fairfax City, Tysons, Fair Oaks, Fair Lakes, Fairfax Corner & Wegmans.
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Priced $30K below 2007 Tax Assessment
Come experience the convenience, space and style of 3243 Sherman Street for yourself. Come visit me at my open house this Sunday from 1-4pm. Or view my virtual tour anytime.
| Discussion: 3 Comments »
It’s 2008: What Are Your Plans?
January 7th, 2008 Categories: Around Arlington County, Around the City of Alexandria, Buyers, Life in the District, Outside The Beltway, The Road Less Taken
The first week of 2008 has come and gone and I find myself busy with work. Which surprises me because it’s Janaury for gosh sakes. No one likes to buy real estate in January. But that’s really not what’s happening. There are people out there buying real estate. I think it’s smart to buy real estate in January in a cold state. Just like it’s good to buy real estate in August in Florida. Turns out there is little competition with other buyers.
Now, you might be thinking– what competition? There are no buyers out there anyway. Well– I have learned the secret rule of real estate: As soon as you want a property– so does someone else. If you are someone planning to buy real estate, don’t wait forever: there are other buyers out there.
I don’t know what is going to happen in the DC real estate market in 2008. I can only speculate. But as someone who works in the business everyday– I don’t see many changes in this market.
- Interest rates are still reasonably low: still around 6%
- Inventory of homes is good: there is a lot to chose from
- Sellers still want to sell their homes: people want to get on with their lives
So: what are your plans for your life in 2008? Is this the year you take that step to advance it? or is it just going to be more of the same. Come on, open the door to the rest of your life.
| Discussion: 7 Comments »
Season of Lights
December 20th, 2007 Categories: Outside The Beltway, The Native Tourist
I really do get out of Arlington more often than you think. Tonight I met a friend at the Reston Town Center for dinner. We meet at one of the many restaurants whenever she’s in town on business. Tonight it was Clyde’s. Yummy.
The Christmas lights around the Town Center and the ice rink were just so pretty I couldn’t resist taking out my camera to capture a few.
I have a pocket size digital camera. I’m not too sure how these things works. What I do know is that it’s a lot easier than my old SLR. I can take pictures at night without special film or lighting.
I guess I could use a tripod- but that would defeat the purpose of having a easy and convenient camera “to take it as I see it.”
| Discussion: 7 Comments »
Sean: We Hardly Knew Thee
November 27th, 2007 Categories: Life in the District, Outside The Beltway, The Road Less Taken
We here in Washington DC walk with a heavy heart today as we come to grips with losing one of our beloved Redskins– Sean Taylor. He was 24 years old.
The Redskins is Washington’s team. Win or lose we love them. While they are named the Washington Redskins, their training camp is in Ashburn, VA and they play at FedEx Stadium in Landover, MD. So they belong to all of us here in the metropolitan area. When we lose one of them- we have lost a family member.
We are sad not only because he was one of our Redskins- but because he had overcome a troubled youth and was on the road to becoming a great person first, a great football player second. He became a new father this year and that changed everything for him. He was having his best year professionally and truly a fan favorite.
He was out with a knee injury which is the only reason he was at his home in Miami and not with the team. His home had been broken into last week and he asked permission from Coach Gibbs to miss the team meeting on Monday to be at home. That visit turned tragic early Monday morning when it appears that the intruder returned – with a gun.
Last night the fans held a vigil at Redskins Park. We went to sleep last night with some hope as the 11 o’clock news reported that Sean had squeezed the hand of one of his nurses and opened his eyes. We are all shocked and saddened this morning with the news.
The fans are back at the Redskins training camp to pay respect as the team struggles with the loss of Sean.
There are plans for another vigil tonight at Redskins Park, and the Redskins organization has yet-to-be-announced-plans for this home game this weekend.
As we grieve the loss of Sean, here are some fan videos as we celebrate his life and career.
| Discussion: 5 Comments »
Over the River and Through the Woods: Happy Thanksgiving
November 21st, 2007 Categories: Outside The Beltway, The Native Tourist, The Road Less Taken
By the time this is posted, I’ll be up in the Maryland mountains spending the weekend with friends at an undisclosed location in their “cottage.”
Have a great holiday with your friends and family, whoever that might be.
Thanksgiving 2005
| Discussion: 5 Comments »
Hail To the Redskins But Please! Not From Mother Nature!
August 27th, 2007 Categories: Outside The Beltway, The Road Less Taken
Nothings points to the end of the summer better than the start of football season. Here in DC it’s the Redskins.
Between September & December, we Realtors only have to check the Redskins’ schedule to know whether or not we’re going to have a busy or slow open house on Sunday. If they are playing Dallas– it’s time for a Saturday open house. If it’s a playoff game, forgetaboutit.
Every seat in FedEX field is a season ticket. And if you’re not a season ticket holder, you are not going to see a game at FedEx unless you scalp a ticket. But sometimes you get lucky and can score some tickets from someone on vacation or out of town for the game.
Which is what a friend of mine was able to do Saturday night Washington Redskins v. Baltimore Ravens. Thanks Garry!
Washington, DC & Baltimore, MD are often considered the same metropolitan area– maybe in some demographic statistical area- but most certainly not to people who live in either two cities. There is competition here– one city always proving to be the best. Needless to say, when Washington plays Baltimore whether its football or baseball, it’s a big deal.
I was excited to go, honored even. The weather was hot, humid & muggy here yesterday (100 degrees heat index)- but promised to cool down for the evening. What the weather-man didn’t know was the cool down was the result of thunder storms – the scariest storms we’ve had all summer. Hundreds of lightening strikes and 1.5 inches of rain in an hour. We got stuck in traffic because of the rain, but didn’t miss kick-off because they delayed the game for an hour due to the lightening.
There we sat, in the rain during the first quarter. Everything and everybody was wet. But it was worth it. The rain stopped somewhere in the first quarter and the weather cooled off. It was a great night for football. Until about 6 minutes into the third quarter. As a Ravens’ receiver was catching a forward pass that positioned them for a touchdown. One that would have given them the lead– the lights dimmed. Literally! “whoa” came from the whole stadium, the Ravens’ player dropped the ball and 1/4 of the lights went out around the stadium.
It reminded you of the old TV commercial “You don’t fool Mother Nature.”
Within seconds they announced a “weather delay.” Ya think?
It was time to leave.
On the way to the car, it started to pour rain and the lightening started all over again. By the time we got to the Beltway we heard over the radio that the game was cancelled–they had to get approval from the head of the NFL. Whatever. It was worth it.
Redskins won 13–7. Hail To The Redskins. Hail Victory. 
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