Author: ARLnow.com Sponsor

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.

How is that holiday shopping going?

With Thanksgiving officially in the books and the calendar reading “December,” it’s time to wrap up any outstanding shopping you have left. (Unless, of course, you’re one of those big-time procrastinators, then continue to do your thing.)

Amid shopping for your loved ones, now is not a horrible time to be thinking about bargains for your home as well.

If you’re in the market for a new TV or small appliances, your favorite uncle doesn’t have to be the only one getting a cool Christmas gift this year. Now is one of the best times of the year to purchase TVs, toaster ovens, blenders and seemingly everything in between.

For the handy folks out there, of course a new screwdriver set makes a great gift. But, you can probably use a new tool or two yourself for your handy work and December is a great time for saving some dough.

If all that remains on your holiday shopping list is a top-notch real estate team, Arlington Realty Inc. is ready to help you mark that one off the list when you’re ready, too.

And now on to this week’s numbers:

As of December 2, there are 117 detached homes, 24 townhouses and 75 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 12 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.

Ask Eli: How to Choose a Title Company

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: Do you have any guidance on choosing which Title Company to work with when buying or selling real estate?

Answer: Title companies handle the legal side of the transaction such as ensuring the buyer has clear ownership, reviewing and recording the deed, issuing title insurance, and preparing paperwork for the buyer and seller to sign at closing. They operate in the background of transactions and usually the less you hear from them, the better. They are not legal representatives of either party and objectively support the buyer and seller.

In Virginia (and D.C./MD), buyers select the title company. In some cases, a seller may want to use their own firm/attorney and will request a “split settlement” but that is less common and should be done for a good reason.

Most people don’t know a title attorney or get a referral from a friend, so how do you go about choosing your title company?

Your Real Estate Agent

You shouldn’t be hiring a real estate agent because they’re the first person to raise their hand to meet you at a property you found online. Among the reasons you hire an agent should be because you trust their advice and want access to their network of professionals who are relevant to a real estate transaction.

Your agent should be the first person you turn to for a recommendation on the title company. He/she has likely worked with dozens or hundreds of title companies before and hopefully has one or two to recommend.

It’s perfectly fair to ask your agent why they’re recommending a specific title company.

Fees

The highest fee associated with a title company is title insurance and those prices are set by the insurance company, not the title company. Different title companies work with different title insurance companies, but rates are similar (or identical) amongst them. If you see big differences in title insurance between two title companies, one may be quoting a basic vs enhanced coverage (buyer’s choice).

I rarely see discretionary fees charged by the title company vary by more than a few hundred dollars. You can always find a cheaper option for title services, but the legal support on a real estate transaction worth hundreds of thousands or millions may not be a smart place to save a few hundred dollars and risk quality of service.

Location

It’s important to use a local title company who is familiar with local real estate and tax practices, not just licensed to practice here. I use one title company (Universal Title) for Northern Virginia transactions and one title company for Washington, D.C. and Maryland transactions (District Title).

Attorney Experience

Most sales follow a pretty standard, predictable process that inexperienced title companies/attorneys can handle but occasionally something unexpected comes up that requires experience/expertise to identify and resolve an issue. If problems do surface, having access to an experienced local title attorney can be the difference in whether or not the problem is even identified, whether a sale closes, and/or how much time and stress it takes to resolve the issue.

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Virginia Tech Adapts MBA Programs for Local Professionals

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

The working professionals who pursue the Arlington-based Executive MBA at Virginia Tech get a rich education in the fundamentals of business — accounting and finance, marketing, operations, ethics, communications and leadership.

But woven around foundation courses are “experiential modules” designed to accelerate development in four essential and current areas: business analytics, entrepreneurship and innovation, leadership and governance, and global business.

The hands-on experience of the integrated modules is meant to allow Executive MBA students to immediately put their learning into action. That’s the idea behind all of Virginia Tech’s MBA programs — giving working professionals the tools they need to advance their careers as they pursue an MBA.

“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 College of Business 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.”

That strategy meant Pamplin had to rethink program formats and locations to ensure they were meeting the needs of their busy students. They now offer three different paths to the same MBA and have centrally located their classes in the greater Washington, D.C., metro area, Richmond, Roanoke and Newport News.

Ballston is home to the Executive MBA program, an 18-month, cohort-based option for mid-career professionals that meets every other weekend.

The nationally-ranked Evening MBA program is just two Metro stops away in Falls Church. It is designed to provide maximum flexibility by allowing students to change their course load each semester to balance work and other commitments.

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

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

Legal Insider: Security Clearance Cases Focus on Foreign Connections

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.

A common concern for security clearance holders and applicants involves foreign influence.

A significant portion of security clearance appeals typically focuses on this very issue. With respect to foreign influence, the Government is chiefly concerned with an individual’s loyalty or ties to another country over those to the United States.

The rules regarding foreign influence and security clearance cases are set forth in Security Executive Agent Directive 4 (SEAD 4), Guideline B, which discusses the foreign influence concerns that could lead an individual not obtaining or in losing a security clearance.

Examples of Foreign Influence Issues

Some brief examples of issues that might come up to cause the Government concern in potentially denying a security clearance follow:

Example 1 — U.S. citizen was born in India. She has recently inherited a home worth $75,000 and other assets of $50,000 in India. The individual’s parents and family also still live in India.

Example 2 — U.S. citizen born in Taiwan has family that still lives in Taiwan and extended family in China. The individual also has received health benefits from Taiwan in the past.

Example 3 — U.S. citizen’s brother is a general in the Iraqi forces. The risk of having a close relative in such a high foreign position causes a significant security concern for the U.S. Government. See DOHA Case.

Example 4 — U.S. Citizen had 6 relatives in the Philippines. The large number of relatives in the Philippines caused security concerns for the individual in their security clearance matter. See DOHA Case.

Specific Security Concerns Involving Foreign Influence

There are numerous examples of foreign influence issues that can arise when seeking a security clearance. According to SEAD 4, Paragraph 7 the guidelines define serious foreign influence issues as involving the following types of issues:

7(a) contact, regardless of method, with a foreign family member, business or professional associate, friend, or other person who is a citizen of or resident in a foreign country if that contact creates a heightened risk of foreign exploitation, inducement, manipulation, pressure, or coercion

(b) connections to a foreign person, group, government, or country that create a potential conflict of interest between the individual’s obligation to protect classified or sensitive information or technology and the individual’s desire to help a foreign person, group, or country by providing that information or technology

(c) failure to report or fully disclose, when required, association with a foreign person, group, government, or country

(d) counterintelligence information, whether classified or unclassified, that indicates the individual’s access to classified information or eligibility for a sensitive position may involve unacceptable risk to national security

(e) shared living quarters with a person or persons, regardless of citizenship status, if that relationship creates a heightened risk of foreign inducement, manipulation, pressure, or coercion

(f) substantial business, financial, or property interests in a foreign country, or in any foreign-owned or foreign-operated business that could subject the individual to a heightened risk of foreign influence or exploitation or personal conflict of interest

(g) unauthorized association with a suspected or known agent, associate, or employee of a foreign intelligence entity

(h) indications that representatives or nationals from a foreign country are acting to increase the vulnerability of the individual to possible future exploitation, inducement, manipulation, pressure, or coercion

(i) conduct, especially while traveling or residing outside the U.S., that may make the individual vulnerable to exploitation, pressure, or coercion by a foreign person, group, government, or country

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Rethink Energy: Deadline Tomorrow, November 30!

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.

Nothing motivates like a deadline, right?  If you’ve been thinking about solar, today is the time to act.

Act now to join the Arlington Solar and EV Co-op before the end of tomorrow (November, 30). 

Homeowners don’t need to purchase a solar system or electric vehicle charger by November 30. Rather, this deadline is to sign up for a no-cost and no-obligation solar assessment of your home. Meeting the deadline also guarantees that you can purchase solar at the discount offered only to the co-op members by the installer.

Get started by providing some basic information on the Solar United Neighbors website. Folks interested in solar will receive a no-obligation roof screening and project proposal.

The Federal tax credit is gradually phasing out between now and 2022. Next year, the solar tax credit will be reduced to 26 percent. In 2021, it will be 22 percent and in 2022 and beyond, per the existing legislation, it will no longer be available to homeowners.

More than 160 Arlington  homeowners have previously installed solar in our Solar and Electric Vehicle Co-op. The cooperative helps Arlingtonians buy solar and EV chargers at a discounted price. The cooperative also provides support to participants to make the purchasing process easy.

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:

1335 14th Street N.
3 BD/4 BA, 1 half bath villa/townhouse
Agent: Kv Realty
Listed: $1,998,888
Open: Everyday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

 

707 N. Barton Street
7 BD/6 BA single-family home
Agent: Optime Realty
Listed: $1,699,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

 

2500 2nd Road N.
5 BD/4 BA single-family home
Agent: Optime Realty
Listed: $1,300,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

 

407 N. George Mason Drive
4 BD/4 BA villa/townhouse
Agent: Optime Realty
Listed: $999,999
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

 

4237 36th Street S.
3 BD/2 BA condo
Agent: Samson Properties
Listed: $639,900
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

1024 N. Utah Street #219
1 BD/1 BA condo
Agent: Weichert Realtors
Listed: $385,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

New Homes in Arlington: November 29

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. 

Do You Need A Home Inspection For New Construction? 

If you’re in the process of building or are looking to purchase a new construction home, you may wonder if getting a home inspection is worth the money — especially since the home is brand new, right?!

Well, not so fast. While we would like to hope that a brand new home has been built perfectly, it is important to have a certified third party do a full inspection of the home to ensure everything is operating and built correctly. Some common issues found in new construction inspections include structural defects (foundation cracks & improper grading), window leaks, HVAC issues, plumbing issues and incomplete projects.

If you’re in a situation where you are working with a builder to build a custom home, you could have the opportunity to have three inspections:

Pre-Pour Inspection: Done before the foundation is poured, you can get an inspection completed to make sure the excavation and grading was done correctly. Once that concrete is poured, it’s tough to go back and make changes so this could be an important one to go through.

Pre-Drywall Inspection: This is done before any of the drywall or sheetrock go up inside the home. This allows the inspector to take a look at beams, posts and other structural items that can’t necessarily be looked at once the walls are up. This is also an opportunity to look at electric wiring and plumbing.

Final Inspection: Once the home has been completed, you can get the standard home inspection that most would get for any home they are about to purchase. This is to ensure that the home is safe to live in. If any issues arise during any of these inspections, it is important to talk with your builder as soon as possible.

If you have any questions about the building or buying process of a new construction home, our team is here to help. At Three Stones Residential, we have worked with clients building, selling, and buying new homes and can provide guidance for each step of the experience. We are happy to share our expertise with you and help you through the process. Please contact us at (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.

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.”

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you ate well, drank well and enjoyed your family and friends yesterday, and now it’s recovery time…

The slowest two weeks of the year for real estate activity are Thanksgiving week and Christmas week, and this week lived up to those expectations as sellers listed only 34 homes and buyers ratified just 35 contracts. But hey, that’s still really good considering so many people start traveling on Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

The month between Thanksgiving and Christmas is also the slowest month of the year for real estate as most people are preparing for the holidays and traveling. However, there have been many years where the real estate market just booms through the holiday period and starts off the new year charging ahead. There is certainly enough demand for housing in Arlington to see those results if we had enough inventory.

Enjoy your holiday weekend!

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: Culpepper Garden Selects Three Awardees for $12,000 Innovation in Healthy Aging Challenge Grants

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
Winners of Culpepper Garden’s Innovation in Healthy Aging Challenge

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

Culpepper Garden, a nonprofit, affordable housing community for older adults, is looking for ways to help its residents and other Arlingtonians benefit from technology and innovation.

Earlier this month, Culpepper Garden held its first Innovation in Healthy Aging Challenge. The organization established this program through a grant from Arlington County focused on addressing the “Digital Divide,” which limits low-income residents’ access to and benefits from innovative technologies.

“We were overwhelmed by the number of innovative companies who applied for the Challenge,” stated Linda Kelleher, Executive Director of Culpepper Garden. “The impressive awardees were selected from robotics, telehealth and virtual reality companies from around the country.”

As part of the challenge, startup technology companies were invited to apply and showcase their products and services and their benefits to seniors and those choosing to age in place here in Arlington.

A panel of judges, including Arlington County officials, health care providers, tech company CEOs, technology developers, venture capitalists, academic representatives and Culpepper Garden residents, selected finalists and awardees based on online applications. Finalists then presented their products at a “Pitch Day” style presentation held at Arlington Economic Development.

“Our job as judges was difficult, as we received a number of incredible applications and innovative approaches. We made sure to focus on companies and technologies that would directly impact the health, connectivity, and needs of low-income senior citizens,” explained judge, Peter Kant, Culpepper Garden Board Member and a technology company executive.

The three awardees are:

INF Robotics — RUDY™ is a fully autonomous interactive robot that directly interacts with senior citizens to improve mobility, engagement and health.

Luna Lights — Provides innovative fall prevention and lighting technology helping prevent falls and quickly alert care givers when users need assistance.

Viva Vita — Brings virtual reality experiences to retirement communities for engaging experiences that promote brain health and community fellowship in a convenient and affordable service package.

The three awardees were selected from seven finalists that made it through the initial application evaluations. A homegrown Arlington company, Zansors, whose product allows seniors to easily monitor breathing patterns, was included amongst the finalists.

Awardees will each receive $12,000 in grant funding and will be implementing pilot programs at Culpepper Garden starting in 2020. Culpepper Garden will be evaluating the impact of these pilot programs and reporting to Arlington.

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.

We hope you’ve been saving some belly room for tomorrow’s feast.

But, before you dive into your Thanksgiving festivities, from the team at Arlington Realty, Inc.: A genuine thank you.

We’re grateful for your weekly readership here at the Just Reduced column. We’re also thankful for the thousands of folks locally that our team has had the pleasure of helping since we first set up shop in the community in 1984. And, equally as exciting as our memories, we are super-grateful excited/thankful for what’s ahead.

Our area continues to be anchored by one of the highest employment rates in the country, comparatively high salaries, award-winning schools and more. Plus, with major projects, like Amazon’s HQ2 taking form in our back yard, there has never been a more exciting time for real estate in Arlington County than right now.

So, to you and yours, a happy Thanksgiving and we hope you enjoy the holiday. When you’re done enjoying some much-deserved relaxation, the team at Arlington Realty, Inc. will be ready to help you achieve your real estate dreams.

As of November 25, there are 130 detached homes, 20 townhouses and 88 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 15 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.

Black Friday: The Perfect Time to Become the Newest Member of VIDA Ballston

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

VIDA Fitness is getting set to open our first Virginia location in early 2020, and we can’t wait to help you crush your fitness goals.

With the holiday season quickly approaching, we’re offering incredible Black Friday and Cyber Monday promotions that you won’t want to miss. If you were thinking about becoming the latest addition to our family, now is the time! Prices will not be this low again, and this spectacular holiday promotion can’t be beat.

This is the perfect opportunity to see why VIDA is already D.C.’s favorite gym — voted by Washingtonian, DC City Paper and the Blade. VIDA Ballston will conveniently be located next to the Ballston Quarter and Ballston Metro stop, and will have everything you need to maintain a healthy & balanced lifestyle. Members have already fallen in love with our incredible group fitness offerings, beautiful Pilates studios and expansive Fuel Bar — featuring delicious smoothies and snacks for your workout recovery.

Be sure to check back on Black Friday to explore our limited-time promotion, and to learn more about the membership options that VIDA Ballston is offering.

The first 20 people to sign up through the holiday weekend will receive an exclusive gift… so be sure to not to sleep on these deals!

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