Author: ARLnow.com Sponsor

Ask Eli: The Most Expensive Homes Sold in the DMV in 2020

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This regularly-scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based realtor and Arlington resident. Please submit your questions to him via email for response in future columns. Enjoy!

Happy holidays to you and yours! I hope you are finding new ways to enjoy the season and connect with family and friends this year. I’m going to keep my final post of 2020 light and take a look at the most expensive sales in the DMV in 2020, something we all enjoy doing!

Despite its Missing Ultra High-End Market [sarcasm], Arlington boasts the most expensive sale in the DMV in 2020, by a LOT, with the sale of a massive estate along the Potomac River for $45 million. This price tag earns the new owner over 31,000 square feet of living space, 3.2 acres, a 30-car garage and gorgeous views of the Potomac River.

Listing and photo by Russell Firestone, TTR Sotheby’s International Realty (409 Chain Bridge Road, Arlington)

Top 5 Most Expensive Sales in Arlington

Arlington’s five most expensive sales in 2020 include the region-leading $45 million sale mentioned above and four sales ranging from $2.88 million to $3.35 million, including two condos in Rosslyn’s iconic Turnberry Tower.

Listing and photo by Nancy Taylor Bubes, Washington Fine Properties (1881 N. Nash Street #2301, Arlington)

Top 5 Most Expensive Sales in Alexandria

Alexandria’s five most expensive sales in 2020 include four homes in Alexandria’s new waterfront condo and townhouse community, Robinson Landing, and one incredibly unique single-family home on ¼ acre in the heart of Old Town (pictured below).

Listing and photo by MaryEllen Rotondo, McEnearney Associates (217 S. Fairfax Street, Alexandria)

Top 5 Most Expensive Homes in Fairfax County

Fairfax County’s five most expensive sales in 2020 include three homes in Great Falls and two homes in McLean ranging from $5.6 million to $24 million. Pictured below is what $7 million gets you in Great Falls — over 20,000 square feet, 5 acres, and stunning landscape and architectural design.

Listing and photo by Piper Yerks, Washington Fine Properties (576 Innsbruck Avenue, Great Falls)

Top 5 Most Expensive Homes in Loudoun County

Loudoun County’s five most expensive sales in 2020 include sales ranging from $3.75 million to $16 million. At a price tag of $16 million, you could have secured a 1,550-plus acre cattle farm in Upperville, surrounded by vineyards and a short drive to Middleburg.

Listing and photo by Kathryn Harrell, Washington Fine Properties (33542 Newstead Lane, Upperville)

Top 5 Most Expensive Homes in Washington D.C.

Washington D.C.’s five most expensive sales in 2020 range from $6.1 million to $17.75 million, with Georgetown commanding four of those sales. Want a 10,000-square-foot home with a detached two-car garage and 6/10th of an acre in Georgetown? That’ll run you $17.75 million in 2020.

Listing and photo by Michael Rankin, TTR Sotheby’s International Realty (1405 34th Street NW, Washington D.C.)

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Legal Insider: Tips for Federal Employees During the Pandemic and in the Return To Work

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.

By John V. Berry, Esq.

We represent many federal employees in the workplace, including defending federal employees against proposed disciplinary actions. Despite the common belief that it’s hard to discipline or remove a federal employee, that is simply not the case. Federal employees quite often face disciplinary and adverse actions.

The following are some general tips regarding how to avoid these potential problems. There are too many to list here, but the following are some good ones to consider.

Get Along With Supervisors

Not getting along with supervisors is the leading cause of disciplinary actions for federal employees. When serious disagreements arise between a supervisor and his or her subordinate, it degrades the employment relationship, which often leads to future disciplinary or performance issues. Even in difficult situations, federal employees should do their best to be professional and pleasant to supervisors (and then find other employment or a transfer if need be). This is not always easily accomplished.

Don’t Use the Internet at Work for Personal Use

While many federal agencies are somewhat relaxed in their enforcement of these types of internet policies, it’s important to avoid using the internet for personal use while at work. Also, avoid using government-issued computers for personal use (e.g. laptops). We have represented many federal employees who are investigated for either inappropriate use of the internet (accessing inappropriate sites), misuse of government computers or in regards to too frequent personal internet use.

Often, we defend federal employees who have used the internet for Facebook, Twitter or even personal banking. It is important to keep in mind that, if an agency wants to, they can quickly determine personal usage and an investigation can start.

Avoid Using Government Email for Personal Use

It is best practice to use your personal email account for personal email correspondence. There are some exceptions. We have represented a number of federal employees who have been proposed for discipline due to misuse of their official government email account, especially with respect to certain types of content. Sometimes the federal employee’s issues involve using government email for personal use or sending inappropriate correspondence or photos. Also avoid using quotations or sayings in signature blocks when corresponding to others using your government email account.

Do Not Use Government Credit Cards for Personal Use

This happens frequently and many times it’s just mistaken use. We have represented many federal employees who have innocently used their government credit card for personal charges. Not only are many federal employees disciplined or removed for such misuse, but they can be forced to repay the funds to the government. Even if policies on credit card usage are not apparently enforced, do not use a government credit card for personal use under any circumstances. If an accidental use happens, consult an attorney to determine how to disclose this to your agency.

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Rethink Energy: Your Input Is Needed To Implement the Community Energy Plan

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This regularly-scheduled sponsored column is written by the Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy team (AIRE). This county program helps you make smart energy decisions that save you money and leaves a lighter footprint on the environment.

Late last year, the Arlington County Board adopted sweeping updates to the Community Energy Plan, setting ambitious targets for transforming the county’s energy sector.

Some highlights of Arlington’s Community Energy Plan (CEP) include:

  • Set goal of a carbon neutral Arlington by 2050
  • Government operations to achieve 100% renewable electricity by 2025
  • Community to achieve 100% renewable electricity by 2035
  • Consider energy equity during implementation

County staff are working hard to finalize the Implementation Plan to reach CEP goals. We need your input!

County staff seek your input on the draft Community Energy Plan Implementation Framework. This holiday break, take a few minutes to help shape Arlington’s energy future.

Visit the Implementation Framework engage page to provide your feedback.

There, you’ll find background videos, additional information and a button at the bottom to provide input directly on the draft Implementation Framework.

Thank you for all of the community effort to update the Community Energy Plan and create a climate of change in Arlington.

We look forward to finalizing the Implementation Framework to help reach Arlington’s ambitious goals in the coming years.

Open Houses in Arlington This Weekend

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Looking for a home? There are plenty of houses and condos open for viewing this weekend.

Check out the Arlington Realty website for a full list of homes for sale and open houses in Arlington. Here are a few highlights:

5214 11th Street N.
5 BD/4 BA, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: McEnearney Associates
Listed: $1,675,000
Open: Sunday, 1-4 p.m.

 

2567 Military Road
6 BD/5 BA, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: Keller Williams Realty
Listed: $1,499,500
Open: Saturday, 2-4 p.m.

 

23 N. Trenton Street
3 BD/3 BA, 1 half bath townhouse
Agent: Smith | Schnider, LLC
Listed: $974,990
Open: Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

 

1021 N. Garfield Street, #828
2 BD/2 BA condo
Agent: KV Realty
Listed: $888,888
Open: Sunday, 1-2:30 p.m.

 

5200 S. Walter Reed Drive, Unit B
3 BD/2 BA, 1 half bath condo
Agent: KW Metro Center
Listed: $625,000
Open: Sunday, 1-4 p.m.

Statutes of Liberty: What We’re Grateful For This Year

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This sponsored column is by James Montana, Esq. and Doran Shemin, Esq., practicing attorneys at Steelyard LLC, an immigration-focused law firm located in Arlington, Virginia. The legal information given here is general in nature. If you want legal advice, contact James for an appointment.

In a tough year, we realize how dependent we are on others. In that spirit, we want to say a few words about some of the people who help us keep pushing forward.

First, we want to salute the U.S. postal workers who deliver the mail, rain or shine. Our mailman — pictured here — is the hardest working guy in Dominion Hills. We’ve seen him working by headlamp after dark, in the cold, to fulfill his duty. Hats off to you, Sir.

Our business depends on this hardworking man. The guy on the right just holds the camera.

Second, we want to thank Good Earth Cleaning not just for cleaning our office, but for taking extra steps to keep our clients safe. Good Earth spends extra money on environmentally-friendly products and treats its employees well. If you need an ethical and communicative partner, get in touch with Sean Juman and his team.

The hardworking people at Good Earth Cleaning keep us safe and civilized.

Last, but certainly not least, we tip our hats to the Arlington Community Federal Credit Union. Our favorite banker, Mr. Rocha, remembers James’s name literally every time we hit the drive-through. It’s great to be more than just a number at the window. And the ACFCU staff helped us through the tense times this year with a PPP Loan long before most of our big-bank friends were able to get help.

We miss going inside! But it wasn’t worth putting employees at risk to get a better shot.

We’re optimistic about the coming year. We’ve hired a third lawyer (coming soon to an ARLnow masthead near you!) because Arlington is a great place, and we’re here to stay.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah, to those who celebrate. We’ll be back in the New Year with more plain-English coverage of the world of immigration and are looking forward to your questions and comments.

Small Biz Focus: Farewell 2020, Hello 2021! (Hold on Maybe Not *Quite* Yet)

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This article was written by Tara Palacios, Director of BizLaunch at Arlington Economic Development.

This week marks the official beginning of the holiday season. Sugar plums and New Year’s Eve preparations are generally at hand; however, many business owners are navigating the negative impact of the current health pandemic on their business. What are the key action items you should do for your business before the year ends?

BizLaunch recommends these five steps to take before we say hello to 2021:

1. Before the year ends check in with your accountant.

Before you know it, tax season will be upon us during the first quarter of 2021. If your business was awarded a CARES Act forgivable grant from a government entity you will need to take the funds in as income. You will want to know how those funds will impact your bottom line before the tax season begins. The Paycheck Protection Loans (PPP) have new guidance as well from the U.S. Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The Treasury Department encourages businesses to utilize the forgiveness portion of the PPP as soon as possible.

2. Undertake a business audit.

Be ready for funding opportunities in 2021. If Congress successfully passes an additional stimulus package for the U.S .before the end of 2020, ensure your business is prepared. Do a quick business audit so you can apply and be awarded funds. Here is a quick crib sheet to audit your business and be prepared for new potential opportunities in 2021:

3. Pivot again in 2021? Be open to your options.

The impact of the health pandemic changes daily. It’s challenging to design a long-term plan as a business with so many unknowns; however, as a business owner you will want to have a pulse of what is going on in your industry real-time. Some trends may be long lasting, and you’ll want to stay ahead of the fray. However, pivoting again based on the facts of the moment may help your organization as we move into 2021. Follow the opportunities, and think twice before you keep doing business as usual since these are unusual times we are living in.

4. Follow the opportunities in 2021.

Pay close to attention to emails and newsletters that support local businesses. If there are grants, resources and potential business prospects, you don’t want to miss an opportunity because you didn’t know about it. If you haven’t already, sign up for our Economic Development newsletter and BizLaunch newsletter. We will be communicating all business intelligence we find in those communications platforms.

5. Reach out for help.

You may feel like the world is on your shoulders; however, reach out for help when you need it. Don’t wait. The longer you wait, the harder the challenge becomes. We recommend having a business mentor or participating in a mentorship program to help you work through an issue you are facing. It may help you look at the situation in a different way or allow you to speak with someone who has faced a similar challenge. Watch this space because BizLaunch is planning to offer new resources for our business in the coming year.

Arlington Pet of the Week: Dinah

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
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Arlington’s Pet of the Week is Dinah, a 5-year-old orange tabby who, when not napping, is busy ruling her roost.

Here’s what Dinah’s pawrents had to say about her life here in Arlington:

Dinah is a 5-year-old orange tabby who rules the roost when not taking frequent naps. She was found as a stray kitten by a friend and was named ‘Rebah’ for her bright orange fur. After being lovingly taken in by her future cat-mom, Alicia, she was renamed Dinah after the cat from Alice in Wonderland. She grew up in a high-rise in Courthouse, watching the birds from afar, and now resides in leafy Fairlington, enjoying her newfound interest in squirrels from a ground-level perch.
Dinah has a strong, independent spirit but will certainly be accommodating when some treats are involved. During the pandemic, she supervises her pet parents’ Zoom meetings by making cameo appearances and also takes regular breaks to show how she can nap at ease during the work day next to a laptop. Dinah’s found her way to being a truly loved and cared for member of our family.

Want your pet to be considered for the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Please don’t send vertical photos — they don’t fit in our photo galleries!

Just Reduced Properties in Arlington

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Each week, “Just Reduced” spotlights properties in Arlington County whose price have been cut over the previous week. The market summary is crafted by Arlington Realty, Inc. Maximize your real estate investment with the team by visiting www.arlingtonrealtyinc.com or calling 703-836-6000 today!

Please note: While Arlington Realty, Inc. provides this information for the community, it may not be the listing company of these homes.

Santa is on his way, folks.

Within 48 hours of reading this latest edition of “Just Reduced,” Santa will have visited, hopefully delivering your family with some much-needed holiday cheer this year. What a year it has been!

And, on that note, from the Arlington Realty Inc. family to yours, we’re all wishing you a Merry Christmas and happy holidays.

We know that in addition to the latest AirPods, Fortnite credits, spa treatments and seemingly everything in between, real estate is always on so many families’ wishlists. Well, if and when you are ready to make those real estate dreams come true, we’re ready to roll on your behalf.

Whether on the homestretch of a year or to kick off a new one (2021 is right around the corner!), our team is ready to kick things into high-gear. In the meantime, we hope you get some much-deserved relaxation this holiday season.

And now on to this week’s Just Reduced figures…

As of December 21, there are 117 detached homes, 43 townhouses and 314 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 21 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week. These include:

Please note that this is solely a selection of Just Reduced properties available in Arlington County. For a complete list of properties within your target budget and specifications, contact Arlington Realty, Inc.

Listing of the Day: 1615 N. Queen Street #M203

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
1/9

Address: 1615 N. Queen Street #M203
Neighborhood: Rosslyn
Listed: $1,125,000
Open: Sunday, December 27 from 1-4 p.m.

Comfort, style and convenience are embodied in this open, airy Wooster/Mercer loft with an expansive private patio surrounded by greenery. Ten-foot ceilings, tall windows and gleaming wood floors enhance the living space along with an accent wall of bricks reclaimed from Washington’s National Children’s Museum. The area accommodates a dining room, computer spot, seating and a piano. All flow toward the patio, anchored by a handsome stone wall, with room for dining, container gardening and taking a break during an at-home work day. The kitchen features a Sub-Zero refrigerator, Viking gas range, granite countertops and warm wood cabinetry — including a pantry cupboard.

Large windows ventilate the primary bedroom, which offers a sitting or desk area and a walk-in closet organized with drawers, shelves and cabinet storage. A double sink vanity in the bathroom offers more storage, and there is an oversized glass-enclosed shower.

Glass doors at the den or second bedroom admit light, and a large step-in closet stores clothing or computer supplies. Across the hall is a bathroom with vanity and toilet separated from the bathtub and laundry. The laundry area has cabinet storage and a side-by-side washer and dryer — rare in a condo. A garage parking space is included, and there is good street parking.

Built by the renowned Abdo Company, the building is of concrete construction with brick facade ensuring enduring quality and minimal sound transmission. The unit is just off the lobby with no halls to traverse and is only one flight of stairs to the garage. The well-managed 87-unit building has a fitness center, swimming pool surrounded by large sundeck, a patio overlooking the pool and a common area filled with lush landscaping.

Walk to shops, restaurants, bike trails, parks and the grocery store. It’s an easy commute to Washington, the Rosslyn-Ballston business corridor, the Pentagon, the airport, Crystal City and Pentagon City at National Landing, Fort Myer, and the Foreign Service Institute. Take the nearby Route 66 for a reverse commute to Dulles Airport and the surrounding tech corridor.

This is a home filled with character and style and in an enviable location.

Listed by:
Betsy Twigg
McEnearney Associates
703-967-4391
[email protected]
www.betsytwigg.com

Ask Eli: Positive Signs in the Condo Market, Finally

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This regularly-scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based realtor and Arlington resident. Please submit your questions to him via email for response in future columns. Enjoy!

Question: Can you provide an update on how the condo market is doing?

Answer: Arlington’s condo market began shifting in favor of buyers this summer, after two years of a very strong seller’s market, when historical numbers of condos began hitting the market at the same time demand subsided. I’ve written about these changes four times since (falling values, visualizing high inventory, first signs of a trend, and first signs of a shift).

November Might Be a Turning Point

For the first time since June, we’ve seen a reduction in the Months of Supply (MoS) of Arlington condos. Months of Supply is a great measure of supply and demand (lower MoS = stronger market with higher demand and less inventory).

While the reduction in MoS is slight, it’s a positive sign nonetheless that the market is either closer to finding its level again or may soon show signs of strengthening. However, one month, particularly a winter month, is not enough to establish any real change, we will need to see what the next three to six months bear.

Multiple Key Indicators Show Positive Signs

My hope for a settling or strengthening of the condo market is not solely based on one metric. There are other key metrics that suggest November may be the first month of a settling or strengthening condo market.

Absorption Rate (Figure 2), a measure of demand, increased ever-so-slightly in November, the first increase since May, albeit still down nearly 68% from the December 2019 Absorption Rate.

The number of condos for sale during November decreased for the first time since May (Figure 3), albeit slightly. The better news, however, is that the decrease in total condo inventory doesn’t seem to be caused by frustrated sellers pulling their condos off the market, rather due to promising contract activity (Figure 4), which was up 41% year-over-year in November.

Looking Ahead, Eyes on March to May

Over the next few months, I’ll be looking closely at whether these trends (stronger demand, falling inventory) continue, find a level or revert back to what we’ve seen since this summer. I’ll be particularly interested in what year-over-non-COVID-year numbers look like and if we settle into normal spring activity for inventory and demand.

For example, while the charts above are positive indicators for the condo market, Figure 5 shows just how much inventory (new listings) is still coming onto the market, with November generating nearly 79% more condo listings in 2020 than in 2019, but only a 41% increase in contract activity.

I think March to May 2021 are going to be very interesting months, statistically speaking, and will be excellent indicators of what the market might look like for the next few years, until the next major market event (e.g. Great Recession, Amazon HQ2, COVID). I think/hope that by then, we will also have a better understanding of how the Federal Government and private companies will address teleworking beyond COVID and thus whether commute time will be prioritized differently by buyers.

If you’d like to discuss buying or selling strategies, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected].

If you’d like a question answered in my weekly column or to set-up an in-person meeting to discuss local Real Estate, please send an email to [email protected]. To read any of my older posts, visit the blog section of my website at www.EliResidential.com. Call me directly at 703-539-2529.

Eli Tucker is a licensed Realtor in Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland with RLAH Real Estate, 4040 N Fairfax Dr #10C Arlington VA 22203. 703-390-9460.

Listing of the Day: 5214 11th Street N.

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
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Address: 5214 11th Street N.
Neighborhood: Lacey Forest
Listed: $1,675,000

Conveniently located between Ballston and Westover Village, this light-filled new home from A&N Builders is blocks to Lacey Woods Park and the bike path.

Constructed with quality and style by A&N Builders, the home offers Pella double-hung, Low-E windows, a 30-year architectural shingle roof, HardiePlank siding with stone water table and porch, and low maintenance Miratec exterior trim. The kitchen offers crisp white cabinets with silent close drawers and doors, quartz countertops, ceramic tile backsplash, and sleek Bertazzoni appliances, including a pro gas range and a range hood venting to the outside. The dining area is nestled into a walk-in bay window, and the breakfast bar provides space for casual dining.

The focal point of the 21-by-20 family room is the gas fireplace vented to the outside, a handsome mantel and surround. Solid hardwood floors, stained and finished in place, and abundant recessed and task lighting add to the room’s appeal. French doors lead from the family room to the deck overlooking the level, fenced rear yard. A walk-in pantry and powder room complete the main level.

Upstairs, the primary bedroom provides two walk-in closets with organizers and an ensuite bathroom with double vanity, linen storage, soaking tub and shareable shower. The second bedroom has a walk-in closets, double windows for cross ventilation and linen storage in the private bathroom. The third and fourth bedrooms share a bathroom with double bowl vanity and separate bathtub and toilet area. Also upstairs is the laundry with utility sink, linen closets and utility room for the second HVAC system.

Downstairs features a rec room with full-size windows, tray ceiling and a door with a few steps to the backyard. The fifth bedroom is on this level and is ideal quiet space for working from home, distance learning or Zoom calling. Two more closets are on this level along with a utility room with even more storage. The home is served by McKinley, Swanson and Washington-Liberty schools. It’s a wonderful home in an enviable location.

Listed by:
Betsy Twigg
McEnearney Associates
703-967-4391
[email protected]
www.betsytwigg.com

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