Author: ARLnow.com Sponsor

Statutes of Liberty: Client Spotlight — Our Client Became a U.S. Citizen Today!

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.

We frequently use this space to talk about changes in immigration law and the challenges that our clients face. Today, we want to go a bit off topic and spotlight a client who exemplifies why we love our work.

Ms. S., who was born in 1943, came to the United States legally in 1993 and has had a green card ever since. Ms. S. approached the Borromeo Legal Project, Inc., a nonprofit associated with St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Clarendon, to ask for help in applying for citizenship. The Borromeo Legal Project provides free English tutoring and pro bono legal representation to clients in need.

As part of our commitment to pro bono service, we agreed to represent Ms. S. in her naturalization application.

Ordinarily, applicants for U.S. citizenship have to be able to speak, read and write basic English. Ms. S. was exempt from this requirement, based on her age and her long residency in the United States. Ms. S. is also starting to have memory issues, which affected her ability to take the U.S. history and civics exam.

Despite her memory challenges, Ms. S. studied the civics and American history questions diligently with the help of her supportive family. When we met to prepare for her interview, she was extremely nervous about the civics test. We submitted a medical exemption request which, if accepted, would have exempted her from the U.S. history and civics test.

On the day of the interview, we found out that her medical exemption request was denied, which meant that she would have to pass the history and civics test with the aid of a translator. Luckily, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officer spoke Spanish and conducted the entire interview in Spanish with Ms. S.

The officer was friendly and did everything she could to help Ms. S. feel comfortable. Ms. S. passed the civics exam and everyone in the room, including the officer, clapped and congratulated her. Ms. S. was so relieved that she began to cry. The rest of the interview went off without a hitch.

Today, Ms. S. is taking her oath to become a United States Citizen.

We are proud to work with the Borromeo Legal Project, proud of our work with Ms. S., and glad to share her story with you. If you know someone who has a green card and would be a good candidate for pro bono citizenship representation, please let us know, either directly or by referring them to the Borromeo Legal Project application page.

As always, be in touch with us directly if you need legal advice. If you have other sorts of questions, comment below. We love comments and will reply to all we can.

Small Biz Focus: Nominate Your Favorite SWaM Business — Deadline March 20

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
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This column is sponsored by BizLaunch, a division of Arlington Economic Development.

By Tara Palacios

What’s the Virginia SWaM Program you may ask yourself?

The SWaM Procurement Initiative was established to enhance business opportunities for small, women and minority-owned businesses and to ensure a level playing field for all small businesses in the Commonwealth of Virginia. SWaM is the acronym for Small, Women- and Minority-owned businesses. A SWaM vendor is a business that has been certified by the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity and is listed in the SWaM Vendor Directory.

How can I win a SWaMmy?

The Commonwealth of Virginia in partnership with Arlington Economic Development’s BizLaunch is honoring businesses who are certified small, micro, woman-owned, minority-owned and service- disabled veteran-owned *SWaM kicking-off Business Appreciation Month (BAM) May 2020.

The SWaMmy Awards celebrate the successes and the steadfast achievements of our diverse business community in Virginia — who reflect and support our government efforts each day. Year-over-year, small businesses play a fundamental part of our Virginia business ecosystem which is why we are honoring the best of the best.

We need your SWaMmy nominations by COB March 20

Is there a small, micro, woman-owned, minority-owned, or service-disabled veteran-owned business in your Virginia community you’d like to see honored? We cordially ask you share the nomination form with them today.

Simply click here and have the business fill out their personalized information on SurveyMonkey. Be as detailed as possible. We are seeking SWaM businesses in the Commonwealth that have made a direct contribution to their community as well positively growing, and have a unique story to tell.

The top five nominees in each category will be invited to attend the SWaMmy Awards in Richmond on May 4, at the Omni Richmond Hotel from 5-8 p.m. Small businesses are eligible to apply if they receive their SWaM certification by COB March 20.

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.

Amid an incredibly wild ride for the stock market, we have a nugget of stability to report on the local level.

At the end of February, the Arlington County Board voted to keep the real estate tax rate steady for the 2021 calendar year. This means that the tax rate will remain at $1.013 per $100 of assessed property value through 2021.

This marks a change compared to the last two years in which Arlington residents experienced tax rate hikes as a result of approved county budgets.

Particularly in the heart of tax season, it’s vital to have your finger on the pulse on anything and everything that could affect your bottom line both now and in the future. Also, if you’re in the market for a new home, the experts at Arlington Realty, Inc. are always ready and prepared to help you navigate the complexities.

And now on to this week’s Just Reduced facts and stats:

As of March 3, there are 116 detached homes, 12 townhouses and 62 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 5 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.

Virginia Tech Designs Graduate Programs for Working Professionals

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Virginia Tech’s forthcoming Innovation Campus continues to develop as the university works to deliver 750 master’s degree graduates annually by the end of the decade.

While the new campus will help cement the university’s regional footprint, Virginia Tech has been quietly providing graduate education opportunities in the greater Washington, D.C., metro area since 1969.

Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business has offered its MBA programs in this region for decades and more recently made the decision to narrow its focus to working professionals in urban centers across the commonwealth.

“What we did at Virginia Tech a few years ago was to say that we really want to focus on the working professional — someone who wants to enhance their career or make a change in the direction of their career, but not at the expense of continuing to be a business professional,” says Pamplin Dean Robert Sumichrast. That allows those students to come into the classroom, he adds, “and use what they’ve learned as part of the experience of the MBA program.”

Arlington is home to the Executive MBA program, an 18-month, cohort-based option for mid-career professionals. The curriculum is centered around experiential learning modules that provide students with hands-on experience in topics like business analytics and leadership and governance.

The No. 14 nationally-ranked Evening MBA program is based in Falls Church and designed to provide maximum flexibility. Students can change their course load each semester to balance work and other commitments. They also have the option to focus their degree in one of 10 specialization areas, including traditional business topics like finance and management, and some more niche areas like healthcare information technology.

The Professional MBA program is a 24-month hybrid option with once-per-month in-person classes that rotate between Richmond, Roanoke and Newport News.

Pamplin’s focus on working professionals extends beyond its MBA programs. The college also offers part-time formats for its Master of Science in Business Administration — Hospitality and Tourism Management and Ph.D. in Business — Executive Business Research at the Falls Church location.

A 100% online Master of Information Technology offered in collaboration with the College of Engineering is available to part-time students across the globe and can be earned as a dual degree with the Evening MBA program.

To learn more about Virginia Tech’s MBA programs, visit mba.vt.edu or register to attend an upcoming information session.

Ask Eli: (Tax) Assessment Values Well Below Market Values

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: The County significantly increased the assessment value of my home this year, should I appeal it?

Answer: It’s that time of year again… time for homeowners to find out they’ll be paying more in real estate taxes this year due to an increase in the assessed value of their homes. Arlington increased the assessed value of residential real estate by an average of 4.3%, which is less than the 6.3% increase in average sold price in 2019 and much less than the 8.9% increase in median sold price.

Tax assessments are based on the sum of the County’s determination of the value of the land your home sits on and the value of the improvements made to that land (your home). The County adjusts each of these values every year to generate the total assessed value, of which Arlington homeowners pay about 1% of each year to the County in real estate taxes.

Based on conversations I’ve had with homeowners around the County, it sounds like most of the increase in assessments this year were driven by increases in the land value, which makes sense.

Assessed Value vs Market Value

While it is frustrating to see your assessment increase so much, costing homeowners an average of a few hundred dollars in additional tax payments, it’s highly unlikely you’re in a position to challenge your assessment. Over the last 14 months, the County’s assessed value was an average of 14.2% below what homes actually sold for.

Here’s a breakdown of how the County’s assessment compared to actual sold prices since 2019, broken out by zip code, property type and price range. Here are some highlights from the data:

  • If the County’s assessment matched actual market values, homeowners would pay an average of about $800 more per year in taxes
  • Unsurprisingly, the zip codes with the greatest difference between market values and assessed values were all three South Arlington zip codes (22202, 22204, 22206), with homes in 22202 (home to Amazon HQ2) selling for nearly 20% more than the County’s assessment
  • The County has the most difficult time assessing home values in 22205 compared to other zip codes and, unsurprisingly, detached homes compared to condos or townhouses
  • Residents who own homes worth over $1M benefited the most by the County’s low assessments, with market values nearly 19% higher than their tax assessment, resulting in an average annual savings of about $1,900 if the County’s assessments were on par with market values

(more…)

Neighborhood Spotlight: Bronson Bierhall

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

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

On this week’s Neighborhood Spotlight, Drew Carpenter of the Keri Shull Team sat down with Scott Parker, one of the main names in Arlington’s restaurant scene.

Parker is an owner in many restaurants and small businesses around the various Arlington neighborhoods, including Don Tito’s, one of our favorite spots in Clarendon, and the fitness startup Bash Boxing. Today, we got the chance to speak with him about one of his most recent ventures, Bronson Bierhall.

Beer Halls are quickly gaining popularity in the United States, and for good reason — between hearty german food and delicious beer, there are few better ways to enjoy the company of friends. One thing that sets the best halls apart, however, is the authenticity. And Bronson Bierhall has authenticity in spades.

From the menu of traditional brats, schnitzels, pretzels and German brews to the iconic European interior design, Bronson exudes old-world charm from the moment you step inside. However, this atmosphere is not mere imitation — the team behind Bronson Bierhall researched and expertly crafted an experience that melds an authentic German pub character with a familiar American tone.

In addition to the German food and beer that bring many visitors to Bronson, you can find standard American pub fare on the menu. Popular options include the Bronson Nachos, unique burgers, and pulled chicken sliders atop delicious pretzel buns. With the beerhall’s vast menu of options, there’s something for everyone at Bronson.

Great Company, Great Experiences

With the traditional layout of bench-style seating, Bronson Bierhall is the perfect place to dine and drink with a group of friends — or make some new pals at a communal table! Many of the food options — such as the massive pretzels — can easily be shared amongst a group. This is a great way to explore Bronson’s unique menu while enjoying some time with your friends or family.

Outside of the hall itself, Bronson Bierhall still facilitates this communal spirit. Many of their most popular menu items are available through their catering service as platters that feed 25 people each. So if you are hosting an event and are looking for a unique, mouthwatering dining option, make sure to check out Bronson Bierhall’s catering options.

Their event services don’t stop at catering options, either. If you are hosting an event and want to take advantage of the beautiful, 6,000 square foot space of the beerhall itself, Bronson also has event-planning options that will ensure all of your guests are satisfied.

Happy Hour for Your Dog

On top of their everyday offers and guest-planned special events, Bronson Bierhall also hosts recurring events and happy hours. On the weekend, the beer garden becomes a concert venue hosting live music to enjoy while you sip on one of the myriad draughts. And each Monday, Bronson hosts their signature ‘Yappy Hour,’ a special happy hour where people bring their furry friends to enjoy the sights and sounds of Ballston.

In fact, Bronson Bierhall’s Happy Hour specials last for 4 hours each weekday, from 3-7 p.m. — so you don’t have to worry about missing a narrow window for the great deals on their food and drinks.

These awesome events, combined with the many entertainment options at Bronson, make the beerhall a great place to unwind after work or enjoy a relaxing day off. Patrons can spend time playing some of the patio games that dot the cavernous space, including cornhole, ping pong and shuffleboard.

An Unbeatable Location Right in the Heart of Ballston

Sitting just a few blocks from Ballston Quarter (home to other amazing eateries such as The Local Oyster and Punch Bowl Social) and the Ballston Metro Station, it’s hard to beat the amazing location of Bronson Bierhall.

The beer garden is right in the middle of one of the DMV’s most explosive neighborhoods — and Bronson shows the potential to become one of the main attractions for years to come. For anyone living in Arlington, make sure to add Bronson Bierhall to your list of amazing venues to keep an eye on!

If you’d like to see some more of our favorite places for food, drinks, and entertainment, make sure to check out our other Neighborhood Spotlights! And if you have a suggestion for what we should cover next, then leave a comment below and let us know!

Would you like to find your dream home in Ballston, learn where to live in D.C., or take care of any other real estate needs in the DMV? The expert agents of the Keri Shull Team are standing by to help you, so contact us today!

Your Beermonger: The Special Relationship — ANXO’s US/UK Cider Collab

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This sponsored column is written by Nick Anderson, beermonger at Arrowine (4508 Lee Highway). Sign up for Nick’s email newsletter and also receive exclusive discounts and offers.

D.C.’s ANXO Cider is a favorite here at Arrowine and, as you might infer, of mine as well.

ANXO’s style is built around zero-adjunct, wine or native yeast fermented, completely dry ciders. The results have been a showcase for the apples used: mostly sourced from here in Virginia along with some from Pennsylvania, but in some cases including varieties from Oregon and Washington — including a very cool red-fleshed apple from Washington used to make their Rosé with no hibiscus or other coloring adjunct.

Among the best-received special releases from ANXO last year was a cider then called Intercontinental, recently re-released under its new name, Hereford Gold.

To make Hereford Gold, ANXO partnered up with Oliver’s Cider and Perry of Ocle Pychard in Herefordshire, England. The process involves Oliver’s sending some of their native yeast-fermented, wood-aged cider to D.C., where ANXO blends it with stainless steel-fermented, Pennsylvania-grown Goldrush apple cider.

The result is a truly complimentary blend of ingredients and styles. The classically earthy, slightly funky English cider of Oliver’s is balanced by the fruitier but no less dry American cider. The ciders have a harmonious acidity level, and while Hereford Gold is still pretty tannic by American standards, it is nonetheless tempered a bit by the Goldrush.

You can find cans of Hereford Gold around NoVA right now, but there was one sixtel (small keg, 5.17 gallons) that came through — and by now I think you know who has that. It just so happens that our friends from ANXO will be joining us here at Arrowine this very evening, February 28, from 5-7 p.m. for a sampling of Hereford Gold as well as some of their year-round offerings. It’s my first cider keg, so I’m pretty excited.

I hope to see you there, and if I don’t come find me around the shop and I’ll be happy to guide you through our ANXO stock anytime.

Upcoming Arrowine Events:

Friday, February 28, 5-7 p.m.: ANXO Cider tasting — only keg of Hereford Gold in NoVA on tap for fills
Sunday, March 1, 1-4 p.m.: German Wine Tasting — eight tables of German wines with winemakers and owners present
Monday, March 2, 5-7 p.m.: AR Lenoble Champagne tasting with Director of Export Christian Holthausen
Wednesday, March 4, 4:30-7:30 p.m.: Old Ox Brewing tasting with Sean Tracy — seasonal releases open and feature pricing on Black Ox fills
Saturday, March 14, 1-4 p.m.: Virginia wine tasting featuring Governor’s Cup Award winners
Tuesday, March 24, 6:30-9:30 p.m.: Spanish wine dinner at SER with winemaker Issac Fernandez and importer Aurelio Cabestrero of Grapes of Spain

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:

2747 N. Nelson Street
6 BD/6 BA, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc
Listed: $3,400,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

 

2511 16th Street N.
5 BD/5 BA, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: Kw Metro Center
Listed: $2,450,000
Open: Sunday 1-3 p.m.

 

4637 13th Street N.
5 BD/3 BA single-family home
Agent: Compass
Listed: $1,200,000
Open: Saturday 2-4 p.m.

 

2500 N. Upshur Street
3 BD/2 BA, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: Kw Metro Center
Listed: $966,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

 

6721 Little Falls Road
4 BD/2 BA, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: Ttr Sotheby’s International Realty
Listed: $885,000
Open: Sunday 1-3 p.m.

 

1800 Wilson Boulevard #318
2 BD/2 BA condo
Agent: Rlah Real Estate
Listed: $699,900
Open: Saturday 1-3 p.m.

 

1633 N. Colonial Terrace #106
1 BD/1 BA, 1 half bath condo
Agent: Bmi Realtors, Inc
Listed: $569,900
Open: Sunday 1-4:30 p.m.

Just Listed in Arlington

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

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.

Arlington is TOUGH right now!

A lot of buyers are asking us when this is going to let up. While we can’t entirely see into the future, I do have some insight into it… and the best answer I can give is… it doesn’t look like it will slow anytime soon.

We’re out every day on listing appointments, so we do actually have insight into the short-term future of Arlington real estate. With that said, it will take a lot more listing appointments by us and other agents to even start to change this story.

Now is the time to sell your home — if you’re even partially on the fence, give me a call so we can talk about a realistic outcome for your sale.

Short inventory will be the story well into 2020, and likely beyond.

Arlington buyers are getting so discouraged they are starting to look elsewhere. Neighboring counties are the logical next step for buyers who can’t find or ratify on a suitable property in our county. Some of the holdover inventory from these slightly-less-hot markets is being absorbed almost by necessity. With rents expected to continue to rise, especially as Amazon HQ2 ramps up in Arlington, this is going to further squeeze first-time home buyers and move-up buyers as well.

There are 155 homes for sale in Arlington. 91 are detached homes, 11 are townhouses/semi-detached, and 53 are condos.

Sellers listed some 67 properties for sale this week. Buyers ratified 53 contracts, 37 of which were homes that had been on the market one week or less! Buyers have to be decisive and prepared to move at lightning speed to even have a chance in this market.

Mortgage rates are now the lowest they have been in 8 years! If you own a home and have a mortgage over 4%, you should SERIOUSLY consider refinancing — it could save you a TON of money!

Rates dipped to 3.375% this week on coronavirus fears as the benchmark 10-year treasury yield dipped to its lowest point ever.

Some extremely competitive lenders are locking homeowners in at 3.25% for a refinance. Rates for a new purchase are even lower in some cases — but that only matters if you can find a home to buy and get a ratified contract!

My recommendation — call Jawad Hamandi (703) 587-6059 of MVB Mortgage today to talk about refinancing. The Andors Real Estate Group has been working with Jawad for 22 years and he has handled our personal mortgages as well as countless mortgages for our clients. We know you’ll enjoy working with him and also enjoy the savings a refinance can provide!

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.

Listing of the Day: 2546 23rd Road N.

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
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Address: 2546 23rd Road N.
Neighborhood: Woodmont
Listed: $1,275,000
Open: Sunday, March 1 from 1-4 p.m.

You’ll look forward to spending time in the serene and private setting of this lovely home in the sought-after Woodmont neighborhood.

Situated on a 10,000 square foot lot on a cul-de-sac within steps of the Fort CF Smith parkland and only one light to D.C., you’ll appreciate the proximity to the GW Parkway, Georgetown, Amazon’s HQ2 and so much more.

This is a distinctive home with over 4,400 square feet of living space. On the main level there is a living and dining room, powder room, kitchen with beautiful blue eco-friendly “ice stone” countertops, family room with wood burning fireplace, and sliding doors leading out to the deck from both the family room and the breakfast area.

An oversized mud room/laundry room and main floor bedroom/home office with outside entrance complete the main level. On the second floor you’ll find the exceptionally large master bedroom with walk-in closet and en-suite bath, 3 additional bedrooms and another full bath.

The lower level is like having another home within the home, making it a fantastic retreat for guests, in-laws or the au pair. On this lower level you’ll also find two more bedrooms, a full bath, and a bonus room with walk-in closet and another full bath. Nine-foot ceilings add to the sense of spaciousness and double sliding doors in the recreation room open up to a convenient deck. The additional refrigerator, dishwasher and sink on this lower level are ultra-convenient when entertaining or gathering with friends!

You’ll love coming home to 2546 23rd Road N. in Arlington!

Listed by:
Donna Hamaker
Buck & Associates
703.582.7779
[email protected]
www.DonnaHamaker.com
www.OneLightToDC.com

Boring Title: Our 10 Day Close — How to Win in a Competitive Market!

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Title insurance is boring, but Allied Title & Escrow is here to decode the jargon and make it (somewhat) more interesting. This biweekly feature will explore the mundane (but very necessary!) world of title insurance while sharing interesting stories of two friends’ entrepreneurial careers.

In this week’s edition of Boring Title, we sit down with Melody Abella of TTR Sotheby’s & Ru Toyama of Monument Home Loans to discuss what it takes to beat out other offers in a competitive market. The realtor, lender & title company need to be on the same page and have the ability to close quickly!

Congrats to Ru for his “record breaking” performance!

Have questions related to title insurance? Email Latane and Matt at [email protected]. Want to use Allied Title & Escrow when you buy a home? Tell your agent when you buy a house to write in Allied Title & Escrow as your settlement company!

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