Author: ARLnow.com Sponsor

Ask Eli: Thankful for You, ARLnow Community

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!

I published my first Ask Eli column on November 10, 2015, just over four years ago. 200+ columns later, I’m incredibly thankful for the ARLnow community for the opportunity to share my perspective on local real estate and explore interesting market trends with you each week.

Your feedback over the years, both privately and in public comments (yes, I appreciate every one of them) challenges and motivates me because I know my neighbors are actually reading.

I also want to thank Scott and his amazing team at ARLnow for building this platform and providing Arlington residents, workers and businesses with highly valuable, hyperlocal news. The operation they run far outsizes the people operating it, which speaks to their hard work and talents. If you want to express your gratitude for their dedication to free local news, their email address is [email protected].

From my family to yours, have a great Thanksgiving!

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.

Melwood Presents Miracle on 23rd Street

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

The time-honored Arlington holiday tradition, Miracle on 23rd Street, returns this year on December 6 in Crystal City and is better than ever.

Last year more than 400 neighbors and families from across the area kicked off the holiday season with Miracle’s festive community tree lighting and pictures with Santa Claus. Plus, this year Melwood will be offering “Poinsettias with a Cause” grown by individuals of differing abilities for just $10 (supplied will be limited).

Melwood, one of the leading nonprofit employers of people of differing abilities and wounded veterans in the Greater Washington D.C. area, is pleased to host this event which has run for more than 50 years. This year we are also announcing a new partnership with the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC), so please bring canned food to donate at the event.

“Melwood is proud to keep the Miracle tradition alive and make it even better this year.” said Cari DeSantis, President and CEO of Melwood. “This is our neighborhood and we are excited to be a part of this vibrant community. This past year, we started abilIT on this campus, an innovative program to train individuals of differing abilities and injured veterans for high-demand IT jobs.”

The festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, December 6, at 750 23rd Street South in Crystal City. Admission is free and you can register at this site.

The celebration begins with the traditional lighting of the Christmas tree and the much-anticipated arrival of Santa, escorted by Arlington’s Police and Fire Departments. Photo opportunities with Saint Nick, face painting, hot cocoa, cookies, virtual reality experience and sales of poinsettias grown by our individuals of differing abilities will all be part of the festivities.

For 55 years, Melwood has offered job placement, job training, life skills for independence and support services to nearly 2,600 people each year in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. To learn more about abilIT or apply to our program, see here.

Neighborhood Spotlight: Top 3 Unique Weekend Activities in Rosslyn

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

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

This week, join the expert agents of The Keri Shull Team as they walk you through some of their favorite places to have fun in the Rosslyn neighborhood of Arlington.

With so many amazing things to do in Arlington, it can be hard to decide how to spend your free time! Normally, in our Neighborhood Spotlights, we showcase a specific restaurant or attraction… but today, we wanted to take you on a tour of some of our favorite Rosslyn activities!

1. Parks and outdoor activities

The D.C. metropolitan area is well-known for having plenty of beautiful, easily-accessible parks, and Rosslyn is no exception! One popular park is Theodore Roosevelt Island, which lies in the Potomac, between Arlington and the District of Columbia. Visitors to the Island can approach via a bridge from the Rosslyn side of the river. The most famous feature of Theodore Roosevelt Island is a monument to Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States.

In addition to viewing the monument, visitors can observe the wildlife in the island’s wetlands or go canoeing on the Potomac. Finally, Theodore Roosevelt Island is home to miles of trails for walking, running and hiking. Visitors are encouraged to explore these paths at their leisure, or to join a ranger-led safari of the island.

For more information on Theodore Roosevelt Island, please visit the island’s listing on the National Park Service’s website. If you want to learn more about other parks in the area, check out the official list of parks and cultural attractions!

2. Get a bird’s eye view of the iconic D.C. Skyline

Located next to the entrance of the Rosslyn Metro stop, The View of DC is an observatory and event space with breathtaking vistas of the D.C. area. This gorgeous, glass solarium offers a complete 360-degree view of Arlington and the District from the top of Central Place Tower. Touch-screen informational displays sit in front of the massive panes of floor-to-ceiling glass, so that visitors can learn more about the rich history and culture beneath their feet.

There’s more to The View of DC than the titular panoramic spectacle, however. The venue offers a full selection of food and drink for purchase; there are few better ways to view a sunset than overlooking the D.C. skyline with a glass of champagne!

Though The View of DC formerly was open to paying ticket holders, they recently changed their admission model. Now, the observation deck serves primarily as a space for private events, though it is still open to the public on days when it is not reserved.

The View of DC no longer sells for admission — instead, all residents of Arlington have complimentary access to the stunning overlook at the top of the tower. Non-residents can also access the observation deck, but they must be in the company of an Arlington County Resident. If you would like to enjoy the sights offered by The View of DC, please plan to bring government-issued ID that indicates your status as an Arlington resident.

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Your Beermonger: Changes

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.

If you’ve been by the shop recently — and I hope you have because otherwise we’re all wasting my time and my boss’ money — you’ve noticed the work being done around Arrowine: The wood paneling going up, the walls being built or rebuilt, and definitely the giant bare section of wall where all of my beer shelves used to be.

I’ve almost gotten used to the space, but we’re coming up on our final push in Arrowine’s great remodeling, so I think it’s a good time to talk about what to expect from the brand-new Beer Department once everything’s in place.

First thing’s first: The biggest new feature of the Beer Department will be that, finally, we’ll have draft beer for crowler and growler fills. Yes, it’s going to be all to-go for now and for the foreseeable future. You may not have a hard time imagining that this is the piece I’m most excited about; I’ve worked beer and wine retail for 16 years and never have been able to access everything available to me because I haven’t had draft lines to play with.

The selections available at the station should, I think, reflect the approach I’ve had to beer buying at Arrowine since I first started on. You’ll find a mix of hot, “gotta have it” beers from all over, along with some hidden gems from all over the world. I’m really hoping to be able to spotlight styles and breweries that may not be what you see everywhere but will work well with what the new Deli Department is going to doing. My importer friends are going to be getting a lot of bothersome texts and emails, is what I’m saying.

The logistics of the new layout will mean a loss in the sheer number of bottles I’ll be able to keep on-hand. My hope is that the rotating features in the draft station will make up for the loss, and of course I’ll continue to find ways to fit ten gallons of beer in the five-gallon space that is our Beer Department. Old habits die hard.

I’d love to be more specific about what I’m going to be running with going forward; it would certainly make answering questions about it easier. The thing is, I’m going into this not expecting any particular thing to happen. The Beer Department here at Arrowine grew as it did the first time because I let my instincts and the response from our clients guide it, and I’m going to do the same this time. We’ll see where it goes.

In the meantime, with my fingers crossed as hard as I can possibly cross them, I’ll hopefully be back up by the end of the first week of December ready to see where this thing takes us, and I look forward to seeing many of you there for the ride.

Upcoming events at Arrowine:

Friday, November 22, 5-7 p.m. — Frankie Quinton of Atlas Brew Works
Saturday, November 23, 1-4 p.m. — Joe Kasper of 3 Stars Brewing Company
Wednesday, November 27, 10-7 p.m. — Thanksgiving Eve
November 28 — Closed for Thanksgiving
November 29-December 4 — Closed for renovations (subject to change for any number of reasons — but I really, really hope not)

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:

4647 38th Place N.
6 BD/6 BA, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: Right Address Realty
Listed: $2,200,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

 

2418 14th Street N.
3 BD/2 BA, 1 half bath villa/townhouse
Agent: Compass
Listed: $1,075,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

 

3635 Vacation Lane
3 BD/3 BA, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: Optime Realty
Listed: $899,900
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

 

1200 N. Nash Street #551
2 BD/2 BA condo
Agent: Weichert Realtors
Listed: $749, 900
Open: Sunday 1-3 p.m.

 

3600 S. Glebe Road #222W
2 BD/2 BA condo
Agent: Compass
Listed: $635,000
Open: Saturday 3-5 p.m.

 

4118 36th Street S., A1
2 BD/2 BA condo
Agent: Berkshire Hathaway Homeservice Penfed Realty
Listed: $535,000
Open: Sunday 1-3 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.”

Our real estate market in Arlington has slid backward this week with only 41 ratified contracts and a meager 43 new listings. Last year at this time, we had 63 ratified contracts and 50 new listings.

Can anyone remember what else happened this week a year ago? Amazon announced it was moving its HQ2 to Arlington, and the town was abuzz with the news and wild speculation on its impact on our housing market.

The lack of inventory continues to plague our market. A year ago, we had 476 active listings of homes for sale, resulting in 1.9 months of inventory. This week we have only 236 homes actively for sale, and at our current rate of absorption we now have just 1.4 months of inventory. Compare that to the current national inventory rate of 4.3 months. So Arlington home buyers are super challenged.

There’s finally a glimmer of good news on the national front. Housing starts have increased for both single family and multi-family homes. So we’ll see more inventory coming into the market. Single family starts are up 3.8% over last year, and multi-family starts are up 8.6%. This is the highest level of housing starts in 12 years. It’s about time.

When a buyer can’t find a home to purchase, their alternative is to rent. And so the rental market both here in Arlington and nationally is hot hot hot, if you’re a landlord; and horrible horrible horrible if you’re a tenant. Rental inventory is also down by about 1 percent, and rent rates are up about 3.8% for lower end homes. With the rental market so hot, it attracts more investors who in turn compete with end-user buyers for the available inventory putting an ever greater burden on buyers to compete.

Meanwhile, mortgage rates held steady this week with the 30-yr fixed rate at 3.75%-3.85%…

Best wishes to all for a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday next week. Let your family and friends know how much you love them.

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

Eco-Friendly, Community-Oriented House Cleaning Gets You Ready for the Holidays

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

With the advent of fall and winter, Maids in Brown wants you to start thinking about the major holidays that are barreling toward us.

Out-of-town family members and in-home large and small social occasions will undoubtedly create general disorganization of your house (be honest), and it may take the cleaning professionals of Maids in Brown to get and keep things perfect.

The time is now to get started!

Arlington-based Maids in Brown specialize in eco-friendly cleaning, using only natural cleaning products and methods that promote positive environmental impacts. Maids in Brown’s professional and experienced cleaning specialists undergo rigorous background and identity checks.

Starting a relationship with Maids in Brown is as easy as filling out an online survey of your needs and your location. The process is swift and seamless, and payment systems are cash-less.

As conscientious members of the Arlington community, the woman-owned company donates some monthly free cleanings to clients battling cancer. It’s a small but meaningful way of giving back.

“We care about our clients, the Earth, and our community,” the owner said. “Our goal is to create moments of joy for our clients.”

Maids in Brown can be reached at the booking page, by email [email protected] and by phone at 571-466-6900. The website is here.

Boring Title: Allied Title & Escrow Partner with Earnnest

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.

Exciting news for Allied Title & Escrow!

Allied Title & Escrow, the fastest-growing title company in DMV (Washington, D.C., Virginia and Maryland), has partnered with Earnnest, the future of real estate payments, to be the first title company in the region offering digital transfers of earnest money deposits (EMDs) through Earnnest’s innovative technology platform.

Earnnest enables buyers to securely send EMDs directly to Allied Title & Escrow from the buyers’ financial institution through a proprietary way of using ACH payments, mitigating the risk of wire fraud and eliminating the inconvenient use of paper checks. Allied Title & Escrow is a team of industry experts and attorneys with more than 30 years of experience. The company provides residential and commercial services throughout Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Maryland.

“Allied is committed to investing in best-in-class technology to make real estate transactions easier for buyers, sellers, agents and developers,” said Allied Title & Escrow CEO Latane Meade. “We’re excited to partner with Earnnest to give our clients a cutting-edge solution to an obvious industry issue.”

To address current EMD complexities, Earnnest connects to 12,000 banks nationwide, and has banking-level security and encryption. Earnnest sends updates on money movement to agents, buyers and escrow holders throughout the transaction. Additionally, buyers no longer have to pay a $30 wire fee; Allied Title & Escrow is covering the cost of the transaction.

“We’re thrilled to announce this partnership with Allied Title & Escrow,” said Rick Altizer, Earnnest CEO. “They are known for excellent customer service, and through Earnnest, clients will receive an added level of convenience and value.”

Added Meade: “Using Earnnest, our buyers can easily transfer EMDs through their bank using ACH payments, without a $30 wire fee or 30-minute drive to drop off a check; this partnership provides a win-win for everyone.”

ABOUT ALLIED TITLE & ESCROW

Allied Title & Escrow is a team of industry experts and attorneys with 30+ years of experience providing residential and commercial services throughout Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Maryland. Visit www.alliedtitleandescrow.com.

ABOUT EARNNEST

Greenville, S.C. based Earnnest is changing how money moves in real estate, allowing buyers to securely and electronically deposit funds directly to an escrow holder. Earnnest keeps agents, buyers and escrow holders in the loop with automated emails and tracking information. Visit Earnnest.com.

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!

The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City Celebrates the Coziest Time of the Year

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City will offer festive holiday activities to celebrate the coziest time of the year with friends, family and loved ones.

The hotel greets the upcoming season with spirited brunches, a special Sleigh Belles event with gingerbread decorating & cocktails for the ladies, delightful holiday teas and an engaging gingerbread workshop to create lasting memories.

Festivities include:

  • Thanksgiving Day Brunch — Thursday, November 28
  • Holiday Tea — Starting Friday, November 29
  • Gingerbread House Workshop — Sunday, December 8
  • Sleigh Belles — Wednesday, December 11
  • Christmas Day Brunch — Wednesday, December 25

Enjoy these one-of-a-kind offerings, and more, this holiday season!

For more information or to make reservations at The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City, call 703-412-2721 or email [email protected] and follow along on Instagram @ritzcarltonpentagoncity.

Small Biz Focus: #ShopSmall 10 Years Strong and Counting

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

By Alex Held, Small Business Manager, BizLaunch

While in its 10th year, Small Business Saturday, held on November 30, continues to be incorporated into many families’ holiday shopping traditions. In fact, in 2018 U.S. consumers reported spending an estimated $17.8 billion at independent retailers and restaurants on Small Business Saturday.

Additionally, 59% of small business owners report that Small Business Saturday contributes significantly to their holiday sales each year. With those numbers Small Business Saturday is BIG business for many of our small and independent retailers across the country and here in Arlington.

In Arlington, small business patrons can #shopsmall while entering for a chance to win prizes, find deals and discover unique local shops by participating in the shopping passport program coordinated by One More Page Books & More.

Shoppers can participate in the program by picking up a passport at any participating retailer; many of the retailers are also running deals and promotions on Small Business Saturday. In Arlington, the following retailers are participating in the passport program:

In addition to the passport program, shoppers looking to support small businesses in Arlington this holiday season and year round can leverage American Express’s Small Business finder. There shoppers can find any small business that accepts American Express right within their neighborhood.

Locally, BizLaunch offers numerous resources to support small businesses, but one that helps shoppers find small businesses while serving as an opportunity for businesses to receive FREE promotion is the BizLaunch Small Business Directory. Every small business in Arlington is welcome to upload their business listing with links to their website and logo to the directory, easily and most importantly for FREE. Additional resources for Small Business Saturday, including quick branding kits can be found online at American Express.

Programs like Small Business Saturday among others help keep local dollars within Arlington, representing the community’s character, while contributing to a vibrant business community making Arlington an ideal place to live, work and play.

Celebrando y apoyando negocios locales para más información visite BizLaunch en Español.

For more information about how BizLaunch supports small businesses visit www.bizlaunch.org.

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 love a quirky holiday or two around here and today, November 20, is G.O.H.A.R.D. Day. So, what does that stand for exactly?

Globally Organized Hug A Runner Day. That’s a new one for us, but for all those folks inspiring us locally with their running endeavors (many of which have a charitable benefit!) we salute you and give you a big air-hug.

Speaking of running (and outdoor activities in general), Arlington County is an outdoor lovers’ paradise. Here are a few stats to throw your way: 98 percent of residents are within a 10-minute walk of a park; there are more than 150 parks and 49 miles of trails throughout the county; and many of our park facilities boast programs galore, spanning 55-plus activities and camps throughout the summer.

So, if any active lifestyle is up your alley, we can help you find the home of your dreams nearby. When you’re ready to get running (pun intended, obviously) on your real estate search, the team at Arlington Realty, Inc. is ready to roll.

As of November 18, there are 136 detached homes, 17 townhouses and 88 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 19 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.

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