Author: ARLnow.com Sponsor

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 Team Cathell, “Your Orange Line Specialists.”

With the Holidays just around the corner, Arlington’s real estate market remains healthy and stable while any potential craziness is held in check by low inventory. Demand remains strong, as this week testifies, but there’s just not enough homes for sale to satisfy the eager buyers.

This week only 22 homes were listed for sale, while buyers ratified 33 contracts. Many of those homes that sold would be considered stale inventory as they had been on the market 2-3 months. Without enough fresh inventory, buyers are turning to homes still for sale after 60 days or more. And that’s great for everybody. The average days on market is now up to 31, and there are currently only 166 homes available for sale.

The National Association of Realtors reported this week that inventory is down 5.7% nationally over last year while the median home price has increased 5.6%. NAR’s economists project that next year home values will go up only 3.6% and there is a low likelihood of any recession. They expect economic growth of just 2%.

They would like to see a surge of home builder activity that would both stimulate the economy while delivering more inventory to help keep down the increase in home prices and the increase in rental rates which is the untold victim of low inventory. They expect rent rates to increase 3.5% next year.

Click to see all the fresh new inventory in MRIS and call Team Cathell (703-975-2500) when you find a home you like.

Biz Talk: Arlington Recognizes the County’s Four Fastest-Growing Companies of 2019

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
Winners of the Arlington Fast Four competition

This article was sponsored by Arlington Economic Development‘s Business Investment Group.

For the fifth year in a row, Arlington Economic Development honored the winners of its fastest-growing companies competition — known as the Arlington Fast Four.

The winners were formally announced and recognized at the Arlington Premiere event held on December 5 at the Ballston Quarter. The Arlington Premiere is a biannual event welcoming new businesses to Arlington. Close to 200 business leaders attended the December reception along with County officials, partner organizations, like the Arlington Chamber of Commerce and the Ballston Business Improvement District.

Award nominees were privately-held companies that showcased sound revenue growth in 2016, 2017 and 2018. Applicants were required to provide income statements to show proof of growth and revenue. The competition recognized companies within four categories of revenue, spanning from $500,000 to $25 million and above per year.

The 2019 Fast Four Winners are:

$500k-$1.5M: Deft Consulting (Clarendon)

Deft Consulting is a software services firm specializing in Appian low-code implementations. Deft was founded in 2016 by a former Appian Corporation employee, Scott Frantz, and the company has become a highly regarded official partner of Appian Corporation. Founders say that Arlington County’s resources, specifically those of AED, and the Arlington Chamber of Commerce have been extremely helpful in facilitating the business’s learning and growth as a small business.

$1.5M-$5M: Hungry Marketplace (Rosslyn)

Hungry Marketplace is a food-tech catering company that offers a mobile and online food platform connecting professional chefs to customers. The company will also deliver the fresh food from these chefs to customers. Started in 2016, Hungry expanded rapidly from the Washington area to Philadelphia, Atlanta and recently to Boston.

Hungry has deep roots in Arlington. Some of the founders live here and have founded several other Arlington-based companies such as Buysafe and Livesafe.

$5M-$25M: Capitol Bridge (Columbia Pike)

Founded in 2012, Capitol Bridge is an Arlington, Virginia-based SBA 8(a) business providing data and record management services, independent medical reviews, medical coding and administrative staffing. With offices in Arlington; Pittsford, New York; and Indianapolis, Indiana, Capitol Bridge has strategically developed its geographic footprint allowing it to be near its customers.

Capitol Bridge has served a wide variety of customers, including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Arlington National Cemetery, the Federal Aviation Administration and other government agencies at both a federal and state level.

$25M+: Higher Logic (Rosslyn)

Higher Logic is an industry leader in cloud-based engagement platforms. Its data-driven approach gives organizations an expanded suite of engagement capabilities, including online community and marketing automation. Organizations worldwide use Higher Logic’s software platform to bring people together by giving their community a home to interact, share ideas, answer questions and stay connected.

Higher Logic also has strong connections to Arlington. The company started out in a small office on Lee Highway, then moved to the Rosslyn/Courthouse area and are now located in a large office on N. Lynn Street in Rosslyn with beautiful views of the river.

Congratulations to all the winners!

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.

Sure, the temperatures may be falling.

BRRRRRRR.

But our Northern Virginia real estate market remains hot, hot, hot.

As we’ve covered time and time again, things (especially in Arlington County) have been absolutely booming over the past year. And, inventory is particularly tight.

A new Realtor.com report on “The Amazon Ripple Effect” stated that the amount of listings were down 49 percent year-over year in Arlington (folks are clearly holding on to their property in many instances!), while prices were up a whopping 32.9 percent.

The big question that looms as we enter 2020 is: Can we possibly keep this up?

In the heart of one of the hottest real estate markets in the U.S., it’s never been more important to have a trusted team by your side. With in-market experience and leadership since 1984, the team at Arlington Realty, Inc. has seen the ebbs and flows throughout the years.

And, we have the most up-to-date data, insights and more to ensure your transaction is as seamless as possible. Frigid temps or not, we’re always ready to roll on your behalf!

As of December 16, there are 104 detached homes, 13 townhouses and 69 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 6 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.

Can I Just Get an Over-the-Counter Night Guard?

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
1/5

Today Dr. Hartman and Dr. Morrow with Elite Dental in Clarendon address this commonly asked question and explain why you may need a night guard in the first place.

Not to ruin the ending, however the short answer to the question “Can I just get an over-the-counter night guard?” is simply NO!

Before the dentists explain why an over the counter night guard is not a good idea, they’ll first talk about one of the major reasons most people need a night guard — teeth grinding.

What is bruxism?

Teeth grinding is fairly common. Studies show it can affect up to 40 million people (including kids). Grinding your teeth can cause discomfort in your jaw and facial muscles, and can lead to very expensive dental work if not properly treated.

Also known as bruxism, grinding or clenching can be caused by a number of factors such as stress, medications, an airway/sleep issue, or misalignment of the teeth. Side effects of grinding often include headaches, jaw pain, gum recession, damaged or fractured teeth, worn out enamel and tooth sensitivity, just to name a few.

How do you treat bruxism?

If you have jaw pain or think you grind your teeth, the first and most important step is to talk to your dentist to receive a proper diagnosis. When we evaluate for teeth grinding, we ask you questions about your symptoms and your sleep. This is important because many of our patients who grind their teeth don’t even know they do it! After an evaluation and diagnosis, your dentist can discuss treatment options. Many times, this will include a night guard.

What is a night guard?

A night guard is a protective mouth appliance worn on the top or bottom teeth when you sleep. A night guard prevents the teeth from grinding against each other and relaxes the muscles into their most natural, untensed position. When a custom night guard is properly fabricated by your dentist, it will not only protect the teeth from further wear, it will also relax the joint and jaw muscles to alleviate jaw pain, headaches and muscle tension.

So why can’t I get an over-the-counter night guard?

Patients may be tempted to purchase a night guard online or from the drugstore, but there are many drawbacks to using over the counter appliances. The boil-and-bite or over-the-counter guards can position the jaw in an unnatural way, causing discomfort immediately or over time.

With prolonged poor positioning, a patient’s pain in their joints often worsens and creates the possibility of permanent teeth repositioning and changes in your daily bite. Over-the-counter guards usually have a short life span and have to be frequently replaced too, especially when used by someone who grinds their teeth heavily.

So there you have it! The long-term potential for changes to the jaw, added pain and damage to your teeth can become more expensive and time-consuming than investing in a properly made custom night guard from the beginning. They are worth the investment when recommended by your dentist!

Dr. Hartman and Dr. Morrow practice at Elite Dental in Arlington, Virginia and are currently accepting new patients. Call 703-988-6963, or email [email protected] to schedule an appointment.

Ask Eli: The Real Story About 22202 Property Values (Amazon Zip Code), Part 1

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: I have read articles about the 22202 zip code suggesting everything from extreme appreciation to homes now selling for pre-Amazon prices. Can you shed some light on what’s actually happening in that market?

Answer: After months of articles about extreme appreciation in 22202, the Amazon HQ2 zip code making up neighborhoods like Crystal City, Pentagon City, Aurora Highlands/Hills and Arlington Ridge, there was an article published last week by the Washington Business Journal claiming that prices are now below pre-Amazon HQ2 announcement levels. The supporting data was that median sold price in November 2019 was 12% lower than November 2018 prices.

This is yet another example of lazy reporting on Amazon’s impact on local real estate with the sole intention of generating clicks.

First of all, if you use the average sold price instead of median, there was a 2.3% increase in prices from November ’18 to November ’19, not a 12% decrease. Second, with a drop in total sales from 30 in 2018 to just 12 in 2019, with prices ranging from $255,000 to $1,145,000, there’s just not enough data to draw any sort of reliable conclusion on market performance by comparing the two months.

To generate reliable real estate trends, you either need a lot of data points (sales) or drill into smaller data sets. With that said, let’s dive into some real analysis on how Amazon HQ2 has impacted residential real estate for its new neighbors in 22202.

Market Make-up

The 22202 market offers a diverse supply of housing. This year, condos have sold from as little as $195,000 for a 500 sq. ft. studio to $1,250,000 for a 2,900 sq. ft. 3 BR/3 BA penthouse. The least expensive detached home sold for $630,000 to be torn down and the most expensive a 6 BR/4.5 BA for $1,600,000.

Homes in the area tend to be pretty old with most detached homes being built prior to the 1960s and only one condo building has delivered since 1990.

Of the 135 homes to sell so far in 2019, 76 were in condo buildings, 47 were detached homes and 11 were townhouses.

Condo Market

Inventory levels in the 22202 condo market took a huge hit, dropping 40% from 130 sales in 2018 to just 76 in 2019 (with two more scheduled to close in 2019). The decline is attributed to owners choosing not to sell (holding out for more appreciation), certainly not lack of demand.

As a whole, the average sold price in the 22202 condo market increase 22.8% ($402k to $492k) and median price increased 18.6% ($379k to $450k) for properties that went under contract after Amazon’s November 13 HQ2 announcement.

However, don’t think individual property values appreciated ~20%. The entire market is skewed higher because of a big drop-off in less expensive studios (60% decline) and 1 BRs (33% decline).

Let’s take a deeper look at how property values actually changed by looking at similar sales within comparable buildings. I’ve grouped all buildings along Arlington Ridge and Army Navy Drive, along Crystal Drive, and both Eclipse buildings so that we have larger sample sizes to compare pricing activity from within comparable buildings. I limited this data set to one- and two-bedroom units.

The percentages for each building group represent the change from properties sold in 2018 and 2019 that went under contract pre-Amazon announcement vs post-Amazon announcement (November 13, 2018).

(more…)

Legal Insider: Supreme Court to Decide Whether Sex Discrimination Laws Cover LGBT Employees

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.

On October 8, 2019, the United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments as to whether or not Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 involving sex discrimination applies to LGBT employees.

The U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal are currently split on the issue. Hopefully, the Supreme Court will focus on the text of the law, not politics, and do the right thing here. In my opinion, the Civil Rights Act clearly protects LGBT employees from employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and transgender status. The civil rights law was written broadly and anticipates other forms of sex discrimination.

The Three Cases

The Supreme Court heard three combined cases on the issue during oral argument. They involve 3 employees, two gay males and one transgender female. The two men were fired due to their sexual orientation and the transgender woman was fired from her employment because of her gender identity. A link to the synopsis on Scotusblog can be found here.

Common Sense Should Prevail

As with so many other issues in the law, common sense has been distorted through the various legal arguments. Most individuals know that “sex” discrimination is discrimination based on some aspect of sex. Those opposing the inclusion of LGBT employees from sexual discrimination protections have tried to twist the plain meaning of the statute’s wording by claiming it to be different than it reads.

To some, it could reasonably appear that LGBT employees are attempting to enlarge the definition of a law which was meant to protect women from sex discrimination back in 1964. However, the law was also meant to broadly define sex discrimination, which can happen to anyone, regardless of whether they are straight, LGBTQ or otherwise. Opponents have argued that gender identity, sexual orientation and sex discrimination have multiple different meanings in an effort to confuse the issue.

One of the arguments put forth seems to make the concept clear to me:

The argument before the Court is that sexual orientation discrimination is sex discrimination under Title VII, because when an employer fires a male employee for dating men, but does not fire a female employee who also dates men, the employer discriminates based on sex. 

History of Sex Discrimination Law is Non-Existent

Furthermore, Title VII’s ban on sex discrimination was a last-minute inclusion in the Civil Rights Act that was intended to scuttle the bill by former Congressman Howard Smith from Virginia. Apparently, Congressman Smith elicited laughter from his colleagues when he proposed this addition at the last minute. He must have been shocked when the sex discrimination law passed Congress.

As a result, the definition was left broad, without any hearings and debate to define it. Many courts and the EEOC have concluded that the law was intended to protect LGBT employees. Hopefully, the Supreme Court will do the right thing here. Nobody should be subject to sex discrimination.

A ruling, either way, is probably likely to be 5-4, either way. The swing justice is likely Justice Neil Gorsuch, who has taken the view that the text was clear in that sex discrimination could include these forms of discrimination. If the 3 employees prevail it will likely be because Justice Gorsuch and/or Kavanaugh rule with them. However, if the Court rules against LGBT employees, it will only be a matter of time before a future Supreme Court overrules them and the justices that supported this type of discrimination will be remembered poorly.

Conclusion

If you are in need of employment law representation or advice, please contact our office at 703-668-0070 or through our contact page to schedule a consultation. Please also visit and like us on Facebook or Twitter.

Rethink Energy: Holiday Shopping Picks

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.

The stuff we consume — from snacks to knick-knacks — are responsible for up to 60 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and between 50 and 80 percent of total land, material and water use.

New Zealand recently started a Gen Less campaign and this touching video has all the feels. It is a campaign focused on less = more. Gen Less is a decision to start getting more out of life by using less energy. It’s the first generation anyone can join, regardless of age. Interesting food for thought this holiday season.

Buildings and transportation often get the most focus when it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. That said, 60-80 percent of the impacts on the planet come from household consumption. If we change our consumption habits, this would have a drastic effect on our environmental footprint as well.

As you swing into the holiday buying season, here are the Rethink Energy Team’s top shopping picks:

Massage or Spa Gift Certificates: Giving the gift of self-care is one of the most thoughtful. Consider a gift certificate for a massage, facial, manicure or other relaxing treatment. Particularly after the rush of the holiday season, any means of stress relief is likely to be a very welcome gift!

Yoga or Workout Classes/Membership: Help your loved ones explore a new class or buy them a month at a gym they already belong to. Buy a punch card to a yoga class, golf lessons or tennis lessons. Even better, sign up for classes together!

A Class to Learn Something New: Turning interests into skills feels good, and whether the person on your list is interested in cooking, knitting, writing, ballroom dancing or juggling, there’s probably a class available to learn more about it.

Go Homemade: Whether or not you consider yourself crafty, you can make a variety or relatively simple homemade items to give as gifts. Everyone appreciates a creative homemade gift, and the possibilities are endless.

The Gift of Time: The gift of time is not only one of the most meaningful gifts, but it can be one of the most helpful. Everyone could use additional help in some area of their life — whether it’s a house cleaning, organizing, cleaning up the lawn or a special project.

Movie or Restaurant Gift Certificates: If gift cards are on your shopping list, consider local restaurants and movies. Dinner and a movie will always be a timeless gift.

Arlington’s Secret Santa Program: You can make the holiday season a little happier for some of Arlington’s most vulnerable residents by taking part in the Department of Human Services’ Secret Santa Program.

Start a Savings Account: For anyone with children in your family, consider starting a savings account. Instead of spending money on gifts, put a few dollars into a savings account to give them when they graduate high school.

New Homes in Arlington: December 13

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Welcome to New Homes, a biweekly column highlighting the new construction real estate market, written by Conor Sullivan and Dave Moya of Three Stones Residential at Keller Williams Realty. We are here to share our experience and expertise in lot acquisition, financing and construction of custom homes. 

It has been 13 months since Amazon made their announcement that they had selected Arlington as the location for its second headquarters, or HQ2. The impact that this has had on Arlington County and Northern Virginia as a whole has been felt by all in the housing market.

In a recent article, Realtor.com reported that the median listing price in Arlington County reached $863,000 in October, up almost 33% year over year. While listing prices increase, the number of Active listings is falling, down 49% year over year in October. Some of this is likely due to homeowners holding out on selling their home in anticipation that prices will only continue to rise, contributing to the low inventory issues.

Additionally, we are seeing the days on market timelines drop, making it difficult for potential buyers to even get in line to get their offer in. October’s average days on market in Arlington was around 19, down almost 39% from October 2018.

We live in one of the nation’s hottest and competitive housing markets right now. Investors have already and continue to swoop in to purchase homes quickly, putting local potential buyers in a tough position, especially first-time home buyers. So what does this mean for you if you’re looking to buy or sell a home in Arlington or the surrounding counties? We are here to help! Contact us today for a free buyer consultation or to set up a listing appointment, 571-429-7670 or [email protected].

Below is a list of new homes in the Arlington area:

Want to learn more about financing a New Home build? McLean Mortgage (NMLS ID: 99665) can handle all of your construction financing needs. You can build your new home with as little as 5% down. Contact construction loan expert Troy Toureau (NMLS ID: 5618) at 301-440-4261 or AnyHomeLoans.com to learn more.

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:

314 N. Barton Street
4 BD/3 BA, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: D.S.A. Properties & Investments Llc
Listed: $1,399,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

5702 7th Street N.
5 BD/3 BA, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: Kw Metro Center
Listed: $1,275,000
Open: Saturday 1-3 p.m.

 

1501 23rd Street S.
4 BD/3 BA single-family home
Agent: Real Living Reserve Realtors
Listed: $975,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

 

5720 3rd Street S.
5 BD/3 BA single-family home
Agent:Kw Metro Center
Listed: $795,000
Open: Saturday 1-3 p.m.

 

3600 S. Glebe Road, 223W
2 BD/2 BA condo
Agent: Compass
Listed: $649,990
Open: Saturday 1-3 p.m.

 

1024 N. Utah Street, #721
2 BD/2 BA condo
Agent: Kw Metro Center
Listed: $550,000
Open: Saturday 1-3 p.m.

 

3800 Lee Highway, #206
1 BD/1 BA condo
Agent: Samson Properties
Listed: $434,900
Open: Sunday1-4 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 Team Cathell, “Your Orange Line Specialists.”

You know it’s holiday shopping season when there’s total gridlock on the roads within five miles of any shopping center.

Us consumers are doing our part to keep the economy humming along. Buying and selling homes is not typically a priority for most people this time of year. But homes must be on their shopping list.

Buyers ratified an amazing 44 contracts this week, and sellers listed 33 homes. Those are good numbers this close to the holidays.

Not to put any pressure on you buyers out there, but the spring real estate market starts the second week of January. Check the calendar. That’s only three weeks away. That means you have a window of opportunity of just three weeks to find the right home, negotiate relatively aggressively and ratify a contract. In three weeks, buyers will be out in volume with limited inventory and the battles will begin. So quickly finish your holiday shopping and find the right house.

Realtor.com just issued its housing market forecast for 2020, and it’s mostly not good. Here are some key projections:

  • A relatively stagnant market with 1.8% fewer sales of existing home
  • A national median price increase of only 0.8%
  • 25 of 100 top US cities will experience a drop in average home prices
  • Weakened buyer affordability, and even lower inventory levels than today
  • Millennials will account for over 50% of home purchases for the first time ever
  • Gen Xers will follow with 38% of purchases, trailed by Boomers at 17%
  • About the only good news is mortgage rates will remain steady peaking at 3.85%

Click to see all the fresh new inventory in MRIS and call Team Cathell (703-975-2500) when you find a home you like.

Statutes of Liberty: Why are Immigration Fees Skyrocketing?

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.

It is an underappreciated fact that immigrants, not taxpayers, foot the bill for the bureaucratic machinery of the U.S. immigration system. And it is a big bill. The annual budget of US Citizenship and Immigration Services is $4.8 billion. Ninety-seven percent of that is funded by immigrants themselves.

The Department of Homeland Security periodically reviews USCIS fees to make sure that its income keeps up with its costs. The newest review, which is up for public comment until December 16, imposes large increases on the most common types of immigration applications. For example, an ordinary green card application packet, with applications for interim benefits, currently costs $1,225. The new price is $2,195. An ordinary application for citizenship currently costs $725. The new price is $1,170.

On the whole, prices are set to increase by about twenty percent across all application types, but the pain will be concentrated, for reasons unclear to us, on ordinary individuals applying for benefits. Businesses face much smaller price increases. In addition, applicants for asylum will be required to pay a fee — for the first time in U.S. history — and the government will demand that asylum seekers pay $490 for their first work permit. How to pay for a work permit without working legally is unclear to us; in practical terms, the government is simply demanding that asylum seekers work without permits.

The why of government action is not always easy to discern. USCIS’s own report suggests that the reason for the fee increases is threefold:

  1. Transfer of funding from USCIS to ICE. In short, green card application fees are being used to pay for immigration enforcement, including detention and removal operations.
  2. Pay increases for existing USCIS staff and additional hiring.
  3. Increased administrative overhead and vetting costs.

These justifications aren’t particularly persuasive. Fees increased by twenty percent in 2017 and are set to increase by another twenty percent in 2020. The USCIS budget was $3.3B in 2017. The USCIS cost projection for fiscal year 2020 is $4.6B. During this period of lavish budget increases and moderate workload growth, USCIS has, by its own admission, gotten worse and worse at processing applications in a timely way. Year-long backlogs have become the new norm.

There are plenty of conscientious public servants at USCIS. We want them to have the resources they need to adjudicate requests fairly, quickly and securely. But the burden of paying for it should be more evenly distributed, and immigrants should be able to get answers in months, not years, for ordinary benefits requests.

In these challenging times, even minor mistakes on immigration applications can have expensive consequences and cause a long process to be delayed even further. We’re here to help.

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