Address: 5729 8th Street N.
Neighborhood: Bluemont/Bon Air
Listed: $915,000
Open: Sunday, August 9 from 2-4 p.m.

This lovely 4 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath home is situated on a quiet, tree-lined cul-de-sac a little over a mile from bustling Ballston. Close to Ballston Metro, I-66 and downtown D.C., and with two nearby bus stops, this home is a commuter’s dream!

Hardwood floors, brand new paint, beautifully remodeled bathrooms, wood-burning fireplace and awesome family room addition are just some of the features that make this home so special. The master bedroom suite features an elegant bath with stand-up shower and beautiful decorator tiles, along with a huge walk-in closet.

Enjoy the fully fenced and private backyard from the large covered and screened-in deck, which features a no maintenance composite floor. And, if you love walking or biking — you’ll have easy access to the Washington & Old Dominion, Bluemont Junction and Four Mile Run trails, along with Bluemont and Bon Air parks, right from your front door.

This home has been lovingly cared for by its owners and it shows, now it ready for you to make it your own.

For more photos, a video, 3D virtual tour and an interactive floor plan visit 5729N8thSt.com.

Listed by:
Meg Ross
Keller Williams Realty
703-447-0970
[email protected]
MegRoss.com


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:

6507 36th Street N.
5 BD/5 BA, 2 half bath single-family home
Agent: Weichert Realtors
Listed: $2,095,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

5113 25th Place N.
4 BD/3 BA, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: Century 21 Redwood Realty
Listed: $1,570,000
Open: Saturday 1-4 p.m.

 

4621 26th Street N.
4 BD/3 BA, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: Re/Max Distinctive Real Estate, Inc.
Listed: $1,059,000
Open: Saturday 1-4 p.m.

 

1881 N. Nash Street #1708
1 BD/1 BA, 1 half bath condo
Agent: Compass
Listed: $935,000
Open: Sunday 1-3 p.m.

 

1320 N. Wayne Street #406
3 BD/3 BA condo
Agent: Kw Metro Center
Listed: $799,900
Open: Saturday 1-3 p.m.

 

1020 N. Highland Street #812
2 BD/2 BA condo
Agent: Compass
Listed: $674,999
Open: Sunday 1-3 p.m.

 

2825 S. Abingdon Street B
2 BD/2 BA condo
Agent: Pearson Smith Realty, Llc
Listed: $545,000
Open: Saturday 1-3 p.m.


Just Listed highlights Arlington properties that just came on the market within the past week. This feature is written and sponsored by Andors Real Estate Group.

Every once in a while, a truly unique, captivating and inspiring home comes to market in Arlington. This week, the Andors Real Estate Group is proud to present a home that has had the same owner since 1960 and is actually two-of-a-kind.

In 1796, the original (Arch Hall) was built in Alexandria and served as the residence for Lewis Lawrence, Nelly Parke Custis and their children when they were not at their Woodlawn Plantation. That property would later be deconstructed and rebuilt in Belmont Bay on a prominent piece of land overlooking the Potomac.

In 1941, a replica of the original was built in Arlington, at 2515 Fort Scott Drive. It was painstakingly built to be as true a rendering of the original as possible, and it has had only two owners.

2515 Fort Scott Drive boasts a grand entry, generous rooms and a graceful flow that will capture your imagination and provide a home for generations. Beautifully sited on a nearly 14,000 sq. ft. corner lot with mature trees and plenty of privacy, it has over 4,300 sq. ft. of finished space on the main and upper levels with a partially finished walk-out lower level. The grand arched entryway runs from front to rear and provides a central focal point for gracious living in this unique home. Its incomparable close-in location is near Metro, schools, shopping, the Pentagon and Amazon’s new National Landing headquarters.

This past week in Arlington, sellers listed some 88 properties for sale while buyers ratified 68 contracts. There are currently 351 homes for sale in Arlington. 126 are detached homes, 25 are townhouses/semi-detached, and 200 are condos. Average days on market (DOM) is 51 and median DOM is 29.

The median list price of currently available properties is $799,900, while the average is $997,537. As these prices continue to fall, and inventory among condos steadily builds, it’s starting to look like condos are falling more out of favor, while the availability of affordable single-family houses is low and new ones get absorbed weekly.

Last year for the same week, sellers listed 41 homes and buyers ratified 57 contracts.

Click here to search currently available Arlington real estate. Call the Andors Real Estate Group today at (703) 203-1117 to talk more about buying or selling Arlington real estate. Below are eight homes that are new this week that I think you might like to check out.


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.

We warned you that USCIS fees were skyrocketing. We were right.

Now, thanks to the publication of a new Final Rule in the Federal Register, we can give you the details. We’re hoping that this article will prevent someone, somewhere, from having a benefit application rejected due to an improper fee. So please read this carefully, and then pay a lawyer to do it for you anyway.

First, the highlights (and lowlights):

$50 Fee for Asylum Applications

For the first time in memory, asylum applicants will be charged a fee to apply for asylum. This fee applies to every asylum applicant. It applies to asylum applicants who are sitting in detention facilities without the ability to work and earn money; it applies to asylum applicants who are five years old. This fee is not waivable.

$550 Fee for First Asylum-based Work Permit Application

For the first time in memory, asylum applicants will be charged a fee to apply for their first work permit. (The logic was: if you aren’t allowed to work legally, it would be immoral to charge you a fee to apply to work.)

Green Card Application Fees Technically Decrease by $95 but Effectively Increase by About $1,000

This is extremely unwelcome news. The application for a green card formerly cost $1,225; now it costs $1,130. However, as a matter of ordinary, prudent practice, most immigration attorneys file work permit and travel permit applications with the green card application. These applications were formerly ‘bundled’ with the I-485 fee, and included at no additional cost. That is no longer true. Now, to apply for a green card, a work permit and a travel permit, the total cost is $2,270. In addition, if USCIS fails to adjudicate the application within a year — as it frequently does — the applicant will have to pay a further $1,040 to renew his work and travel privileges.

Green Card Renewal Fees Decrease by $125 

This is welcome news. The current fee for a green card renewal is $540; the new fee is $415. USCIS will also discount the renewal fee by a further $10, to $405, if you file online. Caution: the online system is as useless as a bag of hammers. We recommend filing on paper.

Form I-751 Petition Fees Increase by $120  

If you have your green card via a relatively new marriage to a U.S. citizen, the green card is only valid for two years. After one year and nine months, you generally have to apply to make your green card ‘permanent’ and valid for ten years. The fee for that was $680; now it is $760.

Naturalization Application Fees Increase by 60%

This is a huge deal. Right now, it costs $725 to apply for naturalization, which is already a heavy burden for poorer folks. The new fee will be $1,160. Ordinary economic incentives matter. This will mean fewer immigrants naturalizing, and therefore fewer naturalized voters. (Side note: We work pro bono with a nonprofit that helps low-income Arlingtonians naturalize for free: PM us if you have a referral.)

There are lots of other adjustments to the fees; read here for the details. The new fees go into effect on October 2, 2020. If you apply before then with the higher fee, your application will be rejected; if you apply later with the lower fee, your application will be rejected.

Now as ever, we suggest hiring competent counsel. Having a work permit application rejected delays starting your job for six weeks — in our experience, that’s how long it takes USCIS to open an envelope, see the check, and spin it around.

Our fees aren’t going up, and we don’t charge to answer questions on ARLnow. As always, we welcome any comments and will do our best to respond.


Address: 4306 N. 40th Street
Neighborhood: Golf Club Manor
Listed: $2,199,900
Open: Sunday, August 9 from 2-4 p.m.

Just Completed July 2020! This masterfully crafted home by Arlington based home builder M-R Custom Homes offers 6 bedrooms, 6 full bathrooms and one half bathroom.

Optional elevator (shaft in place) to serve all levels. 9-foot ceilings throughout each floor. Designer finishes throughout. Gourmet kitchen with Wolf, Sub-Zero, and Bosch stainless steel appliances. Coffered ceiling in the family room with one piece crown molding inside, gas fireplace and built-in cabinets. Master suite offers massive dressing rooms and master bath with soaking tub, glass enclosed shower and double vanity. Three additional bedrooms on the upper level each with an en suite baths. Upper level laundry room with designer flooring.

Lower level is completely finished with mudroom, bedroom, a full bath, utility room, exercise room, finished storage, large rec room and wine storage room, and access to the oversized 2 car garage. 16×8 rear Flagstone covered porch with speakers and ceiling fan — perfect for entertaining!

This new home is located in the Jamestown School District on quiet street in the sought Golf Club Manor, one light to D.C.! M-R Custom Homes is 3rd Generation Home Builder who offers unmatched quality and attention to detail. Home conveys with a 1 year front door to back door warranty! Ignore time on market, property marketed during construction. Listing Agent happy to show the property.

Listed by:
Bret Brock
Brock Realty
703-538-6030
[email protected]
www.brockRealty.com


This article was cosponsored by Arlington Economic Development and the Arlington Chamber of Commerce.

As companies throughout Arlington begin to make plans for a return to the workplace, Arlington Economic Development and the Arlington Chamber of Commerce have partnered to release the Return to the Workplace Toolkit. The toolkit is a resource designed to aid Arlington’s businesses in safely welcoming back employees and customers when they choose to do so.

The toolkit consists of an online collection of signage and informational materials that businesses may print and display in their spaces. The two organizations are also printing 1,000 copies of the two most critical posters, with content designed by the CDC and required under Forward Virginia guidance.

Arlington businesses may pick up copies of the two posters and a complimentary mask at a distribution event to be held Wednesday, August 12 from 2-4 p.m. at the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, 2009 14th Street N., Suite 100.

The online toolkit features numerous printable posters and additional digital resources aimed at educating business leaders and employees, including several recorded webinars with additional return-to-work webinars scheduled for the coming months.

The goal of the digital toolkit is to organize and simplify the abundance of information and guidelines on returning to the workplace for Arlington companies grappling with the responsibility and complexities associated with such a decision. The content will continue to grow and adapt as the needs of the business community continue to develop.

Arlington Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Kate Bates, reaffirms this. “Operating a business in standard times takes a tremendous amount of work,” Bates said. “The coronavirus pandemic has brought an unparalleled hardship to our businesses as they work to pivot their operations while keeping their employees and customers safe. We want to help make it just a bit easier to keep up with the regulations and best practices by compiling the key materials into this toolkit.”

AED Director, Telly Tucker, has directed staff to focus on initiatives that will support the business community in safely bringing employees back into the office when appropriate. “While the timing of a large return to the office is still uncertain for many companies, AED’s goal is to ensure that the business community feels welcomed, supported, and prepared to return to the office when they choose to do so,” said Tucker. “The digital toolkit resources are meant to help inform these decisions and ease the burden on Arlington businesses when a decision to return is made.”


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.

What a difference a few months can make.

Amid the changes you’re seeing in your daily lives, we’ve certainly seen the COVID-19 pandemic make its mark on the Just Reduced column.

At the beginning of the year, riding the news of Amazon’s forthcoming HQ2 in Arlington, historically low unemployment rates and more, we were seeing only a handful (seven or eight homes) reduced in price on a weekly basis.

Now, very much in the heart of the pandemic, we are easily seeing three to four times more homes reduced each week. The bottom line: folks are still needing to sell their homes and, given the current climate, are being aggressive price-wise.

If you are a prospective buyer, now is certainly the time to shine compared to just a few months ago. But, just like before, you’ll need to be super-strategic to get the most bang for your buck. When you’re ready to embark on your local real estate journey, the team at Arlington Realty, Inc. has the knowledge and experience to make it happen.

Now on to this week’s Just Reduced figures. As of August 3, there are 144 detached homes, 41 townhouses and 219 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 29 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week:

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.


J Sol, the brand new 22-story apartment high-rise located in the heart of Ballston, is now leasing.

The building has been designed to accommodate the modern lifestyle from top — a rooftop infinity swimming pool — to bottom, highlighted by an outdoor landscaped plaza with seating and a fountain.

Floor plans include studio, 1-bedroom, 1-bedroom-plus-den and 2-bedroom apartments, featuring a bold design aesthetic with a selection of either distinctive black matte or sleek chrome fixtures. Contemporary finishes include flat panel cabinetry in either glossy white or warm ash, LED under-cabinet lighting, built-in pantry, islands, white quartz countertops, herringbone tile backsplash, plank flooring, and balconies to extend living space outdoors.

With a sophisticated style, J Sol offers many of the upgraded features you would expect in a luxury high-rise, and then some, including large walk-in closets with custom shelving, built-in cove lighting in the bedrooms, floor-to-ceiling windows that cascade natural light, bedroom blackout shades for a more restful sleep, floating bathroom vanity with a lighted mirror and unique barn doors.

The common areas and amenities at J Sol are over the top. There is 24/7 concierge service, a top floor clubroom with billiards and entertainment kitchen, a rooftop terrace with fire pit and grilling stations, poolside cabanas, hammocks and outdoor shuffleboard court, an indoor hanging garden, private work pods to take WFH to the next level, a WiFi lounge, a bike room with a maintenance bench, and, if that wasn’t enough, a maker space outfitted with tools of the trade.

The fitness center showcases well more than the typical cardio and strength training equipment, and also features spin bikes, TRX straps, free weights, a punching bag, and battle ropes.

J Sol’s environmental features include LEED Gold certification, saltwater swimming pool, a smoke-free environment and EV charging stations in the garage.

Ascending 22-stories above Ballston, the building enjoys spectacular city views. J Sol is three blocks from the Ballston Metro station on the orange and silver lines and is located in the Ballston neighborhood, well-known for a pedestrian-friendly lifestyle with access to cafes, restaurants, nightlife, shopping and public transit. In fact, J Sol has a 94 WalkScore, rated in the “walker’s paradise” category.

J Sol is also pet-friendly featuring a pet spa with grooming stations and a location one block to Quincy Park and near walking trails.

View the website to learn more or schedule a tour to be among the first to make J Sol your new home.

J Sol, managed by Jefferson Apartment Group, is located at 4000 Fairfax Drive. For information, call 703-782-4168 or view the website.


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: We have made a backyard pool a higher priority on our housing criteria, but finding very few homes for sale that have one. How difficult is it going to be to find a house with a pool already built?

Answer: A few years ago I wrote a column about whether or not having a pool helps or hurts when selling your home. The short version is that, historically, homes with pools take longer to sell and sell at a deeper discount from the original asking price than homes without pools.

It makes sense because most local buyers don’t value having an in-ground pool — they’re costly to maintain, parents of young children see them as a safety hazard, they often take up most/all of the backyard lawn space, and it’s useful less than half of the year.

However, things have changed this year with buyer and homeowner demand for backyard pools increasing. Let’s take a look at some of the numbers behind finding and selling homes with pools in Arlington and Fairfax County. The data below is based on sales of single-family detached (SFD) homes sold since 2015.

Data Highlights

  • It is REALLY hard to find a home in Arlington with a pool. Only 1.4% of SFD sales in 5+ years have included a pool.
  • The average price of a home with a pool in Arlington is artificially inflated by a $45M sale earlier this year. Without that sale, the average price of a home with a pool in Arlington drops to $1,352,000 and $1,423,000 in the 22207 zip code.
  • 70% of homes sold with a pool are in 22207 and 22205.
  • The highest percentage of homes sold with a pool in the area is in Great Falls, with just over ¼ of the sales including a pool.
  • In Arlington, you’re most likely to find that pools take up most/all of the usable backyard space, but lot sizes in Fairfax County are big enough to accommodate a pool and a lawn.

Building Your Own Pool

Most people are shocked when they find out what it costs to build a gunite (concrete) in-ground pool around here, which usually runs $150k-$200k+ before additional patio and landscaping work.

I linked up with local Arlington landscape designer/expert Rob Groff, of Groff Landscape Design, to find out why it’s so much more expensive to build a pool here than elsewhere in the region/country and ask about a common strategy I’ve heard from homeowners to hire an out-of-town company to build a pool for less and pay for their travel/lodging during the project to save some money.

Q: Why is it so expensive to build a pool here?

A: It’s so much more expensive to build a pool here because permitting is more time consuming and expensive, materials and labor are more expensive, average lot size is smaller which oftentimes causes for problems, engineering, municipal related site preparation such as construction entrances, super silt fence, site restoration, drainage, etc are all a factor.

Q: Is it more cost effective for homeowners to hire an out-of-town pool company who builds pools for less money and pay for their travel/lodging?

A: A lot of pool companies don’t include all expenses up front and therefore there are a ton of surprise costs on the back-end of the pool project. I’ve seen this a lot especially from out of area pool companies. We actually setup a spreadsheet and accompany some of our clients in the vetting process. We had a local company at 205k for a pool that a Fredericksburg based company had at 145k. By the time the meeting was over and we corrected the Fredericksburg company to make sure they didn’t leave anything off, they were up at 215k.

Q: Are there more affordable options for in-ground pools that you recommend?

A: In Northern Virginia, a gunite (concrete) pool has been the standard for a long time. On average, we see these coming in at $150k-$200k in Northern Virginia (not including the pool patio and other surrounding elements like landscaping, lighting, etc). Fiberglass pools are growing in popularity and their base price is closer to $55k-$65k (River Pools and Spa). These fiberglass pools don’t feel the same to many homeowners as a true gunite pool, but they save enough money to make people consider them. There are a ton of good videos on their website that explains the differences between gunite and fiberglass, etc.

Thank you very much Rob! For anybody interested in excellent landscaping design consultation and work, I highly recommend Rob and his team at Groff Landscape Design. Pool design, layout and project management is part of their service package for those interested in building a pool. They even have a great financing program available to help spread the cost of what is often $100k+ landscaping projects.

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 D.C., and Maryland with RLAH Real Estate, 4040 N. Fairfax Dr. #10C Arlington, VA 22203, (703) 390-9460.


Address: 3100 N Rochester Street
Neighborhood: Williamsburg Village
Listed: $1,998,000
Open: Sunday, August 9 from 1-4 p.m.

Welcome Home! Situated on a level 10,000 sq. ft. lot, this exceptional residence will exceed your expectations inside & out.

Greeted by lush landscaping and spacious tea sipping front porch, you step in to find an open floor plan with no detail overlooked. Every finish was intentional and well thought out to provide the utmost functionality providing tremendous value.

Craving more outdoor space these days? You will love relaxing on the gorgeous Cumaru Brazilian Teak deck with retractable awning, gathering around the Cooke custom 60″ fire pit, or chasing fireflies while enjoying the professionally designed green space.

Spending more time at home? You will be pleased to prepare meals or host gatherings here! Custom soft-close cabinetry adorned with champagne bronze hardware, 2 sinks — one on the expansive island & the other perfectly placed to overlook the amazing backyard, Thermador Pro Series stainless steel appliances, grand owner’s suite with tray ceiling, beautiful treetop views, spa-like bath and 2 walk-in closets.

For additional details, photos, features and upgrades as well as conveyance list, contact listing agent.

Listed by:
Gray McBay
Samson Properties
(816) 516-5599 Mobile
(703) 378-8810 Office
[email protected]
www.GrayMcBay.com


This content was written and sponsored by The Keri Shull Team, Arlington’s top producing residential real estate team.

It’s hard to go wrong with a great slice of pizza — but where can you find the best pizza in Arlington?

In this week’s Neighborhood Spotlight, we wanted to take a culinary tour of some of the best slices in the area. So join three of our amazing agents — Drew Carpenter, Elisa Seth, and Peter Applegate — as they take you on a journey to find the top pie around!

As always, we are looking for more places to highlight in our Spotlight series. So if you have a favorite restaurant or nightlife spot that you’d like to see us share, just let us know down in the comments — we’d love to check it out!

Without further ado, here are our top 3 favorite pizza spots in Arlington.

Wiseguy Pizza

Located just across the street from the Rosslyn Metro stop, Wiseguy Pizza is a premier place to grab a classic New York slice. Although inside dining is on hold during the COVID-19 regulations, customers can still get pizza for carryout, either by the slice or by the pie.

One of the best things about Wiseguy Pizza is the opportunity to mix-and-match your selection. The Rosslyn eatery offers 16 varieties of pre-made pies, including both classic choices like Pepperoni and Margherita and more out-there combinations such as a Penne Alla Vodka pizza. Alternatively, if you are feeling creative, choose your own toppings for a custom ‘za!

So if you are in the mood to get a taste of the Big Apple without leaving the Washington D.C. area, you can’t do better than Wiseguy Pizza!

Pupatella Pizza

There are a lot of places that claim to serve up Neapolitan pizza — but many of them aren’t selling true Naples-style ‘za. The recipe and baking style of Neapolitan pizza are on UNESCO’s intangible heritage list due to the meal’s immense cultural and historical significance. Because of this, pizzerias who want to whip up an authentic Neapolitan pie can have their process certified by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (AVPN).

So, where are you supposed to get authentic Neapolitan pizza in Arlington? Look no further than Pupatella Pizza! This fantastic pizzeria has two locations in Arlington, with one just a few blocks away from the Ballston Metro Station and the other near the National Cemetery in South Arlington.

Like everything else at the pizzeria, the oven is the pinnacle of authenticity — the owner commissioned this culinary crucible from a Neapolitan forge, and the bricks are even made using volcanic ash from the famous Mt. Vesuvius!

Fireworks Pizza

Rounding out our tour of Arlington’s top pizzerias is Fireworks Pizza, conveniently located in the Courthouse neighborhood of Arlington — just a short walk from the nearby metro station.

As the name implies, Fireworks specializes in artisanal wood-fired pies. Customers can build their own pizza or order one of the house suggestions, from traditional margherita ‘za to the award winning “Rise & Shine DC” — a pizza pie topped with scrambled eggs, bacon, and shredded potatoes.

Of course, few things pair better with a piping-hot pizza than a stiff drink — and Fireworks Pizza has plenty to offer from behind the bar! Beer lovers are sure to go gaga over the extensive menu of drafts. If beer isn’t your libation of choice, you can always accompany your ‘za with one of Fireworks’s signature cocktails!

Due to the continuing COVID-19 regulations, customers can dine inside of the storefront, but the indoor bar is not serving any drinks. However, their patio is open for service, complete with a fully stocked bar! In addition, Fireworks is offering curbside pick up of their meals, so you can enjoy one of the best takeout options in Arlington without having to even leave the car.

The Verdict

Each of these 3 pizzerias offers a wildly different flavor experience — and all of them are top-class in their fields!

No matter which of these 3 pizzerias you choose to visit next, however, you are sure to have a great experience — that’s because they are built on years of experience and innovation from the experts! Working with the experts is vitally important for getting a great pizza pie — but it’s even more important when you are trying to decide if you should sell your house now!

If you want to learn more about how Arlington’s best real estate team can help you buy or sell a home faster, for a better price, and with absolutely zero stress, then you need to contact the Keri Shull Team! All you have to do is click here to schedule a time for a free, no-hassle real estate Consultation today!


View More Stories