Author: ARLnow.com Sponsor

Meet Boutique at 672 Flats — Discover Apartments in Ballston that Deliver Elegant, Urban Style

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
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This month at 672 Flats we are featuring our loft apartment homes, including stained concrete flooring, and floating grid ceilings.

These industrial-style apartment homes boast vaulted ceilings, ample kitchen storage space, open concept living and offer 1 and 2-bedroom floor plan options!

These large loft apartment homes range from 1,732 square feet to a tremendous 2,256 square feet of open concept living!

In addition to these beautiful loft apartment homes, 672 Flats common areas are perfectly proportioned for casual comfort and privacy, yet the spaces open up when it’s time to stretch out, including the in-house bar, the fitness center, game room and cyber lounge/mailroom (with computer stations and coffee service).

Some of our amenities include an expansive resident lounge for entertainment, a game room with billiards, poker table, shuffleboard, air hockey and gaming, a package locker system with 24-hour access, and a fitness room with cardio, free weights and punching-bags for boxing or kickboxing training.

Being in the heart of Ballston, 672 Flats is surrounded by shopping and entertainment choices, anchored by the refurbished Ballston Quarter center and dozens of national and local retailers. Take a tour today!

672 Flats is located at 672 N. Glebe Road. Call 703-312-0672 or schedule a tour.

Where boutique feels special, because it is.

Rosslyn’s Eastern Foundry Is The Right Coworking Choice For Government Contractors

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
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Everybody needs a place to work, so why not choose an office that also works for you?

While there are many coworking options in Arlington, Eastern Foundry is the only space tailored for government contractors. We’ve been helping businesses enter and grow in the federal market since 2014 and are always looking for more to join our community.

When you come to work at Eastern Foundry, networking happens naturally, and your next-door neighbor may just turn into your next teaming partner.

Our Rosslyn office is a perfect fit for any small or large business looking to connect with industry partners and have a flexible workspace. Not just an office, but an opportunity for growth, our event series brings high-level agency officials right to your door, and our unparalleled education provides our members with the resources they need to succeed at any stage of their business.

Whether you have two team members or forty, we are able to accommodate your needs. With 5 spacious conference rooms, phone nooks and ample coworking space, Eastern Foundry provides a variety of options for your company to thrive.

Our commuter friendly office is steps from the Metro, features a spacious bike storage facility, includes complimentary gym membership, and access to a rooftop lounge with one of the best views of D.C.

To learn how Eastern Foundry can take your contracting business to the next level, schedule a tour today or reach out directly to Cindy Lee.

Small Biz Focus: Hello To Fall & Amazing Opportunities

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This column is sponsored by BizLaunch, a division of Arlington Economic Development.

By Tara Palacios

Where did the summer go? It seems like only yesterday we were welcoming summer, and now retailers are offering school supplies and tax breaks to the kids.

August has arrived! Hopefully, you had the opportunity to revisit your business strategy and take some time to exhale because this fall, my prediction is there will be no rest for weary entrepreneurs.

BizLaunch has experienced some positive changes this summer. Thanks to the Arlington County Board we have added an additional position to serve more small businesses in Arlington. We are pleased to announce we will be having a new BizLaunch Small Business Manager beginning this September.

Stay tuned! The manager will be responsible for creative programming with Amazon as well as coordinating events and outreach initiatives.

We are also pleased to announce a wide roster of innovative programming to meet the needs of our fast-paced entrepreneurs. We have invited several expert speakers who will address topics on marketing, networking and strategic planning.

Our extremely popular Brunch and Business series is back for the fall, and on October 23, will address how to recover from disasters that impact your business such as flooding or other acts of nature which could negatively impact your business. This is in direct response to the summer floods which impacted many of our favorite local businesses.

This fall, we will continue our steadfast collaboration with Arlington Public Library by offering the wealth of free (yes, FREE… did I say FREE?!) business resources to the small business community. Entrepreneurs can also benefit from meeting one-on-one with the Libraryʼs Business and Nonprofit Librarian, Alexandra Schultz. Alexandra and I will be offering walk-in business clinics this fall where we can meet one-on-one to help with resources and strategies for our local businesses. We are extremely proud of the Libraryʼs resources.

Last but not least donʼt forget to set up your complimentary mentorship appointment today with SCORE or BizLaunch. We can help you explore new ideas or improve upon an existing strategy. Mentorship and counseling is also absolutely FREE.

We tend to book up quickly during the fall season so if you are interested in coming in we recommend you call our office (703) 228-0808) asap or click here to schedule a meeting today.

We hope to see you at BizLaunch soon!

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 licensed broker Aaron Seekford of Arlington Realty, Inc. GET MORE out of your real estate investment with Aaron and his team by visiting www.arlingtonrealtyinc.com or calling 703-836-6116 today!

Please note: While Aaron Seekford provides this information for the community, he may not be the listing agent of these homes.

If you ask us, Arlington County is the best place to call home in America, period. But hey, we may be a bit biased.

So, it’s always nice to see other accolades, awards and honors rolling in that agree with us.

In addition to naming Arlington the best city to call home in America, Niche.com has named four Arlington County neighborhoods among the top ten best places to buy a house in Virginia. These neighborhoods are Waycroft/Woodlawn (No. 1), Highland Park/Overlee Knolls (4), Bluemont (7) and Yorktown (9).

The places were ranked on a number of factors including home values, the quality of local schools and housing costs.

When you’re ready to explore owning a home of your own in these renowned neighborhoods — among Arlington’s other awesome offerings — we’re ready to help you GET MORE out of your transaction.

As of August 5, there are 124 detached homes, 15 townhouses and 103 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 17 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 Aaron Seekford.

Ask Eli: Are Appraisal Values Keeping Up With Sale Prices?

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: Given the recent appreciation in real estate values, are you seeing more homes appraise for less than the sale price?

Answer: As we saw in last week’s column, the Arlington real estate market has appreciated rapidly over the last six months which increases the chances that an Appraiser cannot find past sales to support the price the buyer and seller have agreed to, thus increasing the amount of low appraisals in Arlington over the last six months (unfortunately there’s no data to back that up so it’s based on what I’ve seen and heard in the market).

Generally, appraisal values lag behind actual market appreciation by a few months.

Banks Often Require Appraisals

If a buyer is getting a mortgage, the bank almost always requires a third-party appraisal to assess the property’s market value. While one can easily make the argument that the price the buyer and seller have agreed to is the market value, banks don’t look at it that way, hence the third-party appraisal.

Appraisals are largely based on comparable home sales over the last six months. It’s a common myth that Appraisers can only use sales from the last six months, but more recent sales are given more weight than sales 6+ months ago. Ultimately, it’s the Appraisers job to determine the market value of a home using the best available information.

Impact Of A Low Appraisal

If the appraised value comes in at or above the purchase price, all is good in the eyes of the bank so things continue as planned (note: a higher appraised value has no impact on your assessed value for tax purposes).

If the appraised value is lower than the purchase price, the bank usually requires you to negotiate a reduced sale price to match the appraised value or put more money down to cover the difference between the sale price and appraised value, multiplied by your loan-to-value (LTV) ratio. In some cases, you can also change the type of loan you’re using to satisfy the bank.

The easiest way to calculate LTV is subtract your down payment percentage from 100%. In other words, if you’re putting 20% down, your LTV is 80%. If there’s a $10,000 difference between the sale price and appraised value, you’ll usually be required to bring an extra $8,000 ($10,000*.8) to the table.

All of this can change depending on your loan program and down payment, so it’s important to understand the impact a low appraisal will have on your deal prior to making an offer.

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Take Taco Tuesday to New Heights at Don Tito — A Classic Cantina With a Killer View

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

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

If you’re a Taco Tuesday fan, then you need to check out Don Tito’s.

This three-story Clarendon gem specializes in tacos, tequila and having a good time. The Keri Shull Team’s Chris Clark recently sat down with Don Tito’s owner Scott Parker to talk tacos, tequila and what it’s like to party with the Stanley Cup!

Elevating Taco Tuesday… Literally

Don Tito is serious about tacos. From classics like pollo asado to their own unique creations like the fried chicken BLT or surf and turf, there’s a taco for every taste! And since their menu is particularly taco-centric, it’s no wonder that Taco Tuesday is a big deal!

The third floor rooftop bar at Don Tito is the perfect Taco Tuesday environment, and they take the day to new heights with a DJ, free cotton candy and popcorn, deals on tacos and tequila, and even hookah! Of course, it doesn’t have to be Tuesday for you to get the most out of your Don Tito’s experience. 

With three stories to explore, Don Tito has something for everyone. Their first floor has open access to the bustling street via large open windows and doors. The second floor has an electrifying dance party scene. And the rooftop bar is the perfect open-air space to hang out and get a great view of Clarendon.

Let’s Taco ’bout the Stanley Cup

Fun fact: the first place that the Washington Capitals went after winning the Stanley cup wasn’t in D.C., it was Don Tito! The team has long picked Don Tito’s for events like their preseason dinners, but it was a shock to Scott Parker when he got a call that the first spot on the Stanley Cup’s tour was his bar!

If you’re looking for a great place with amazing tacos that’s Cap’s approved, there’s no place better than Don Tito.

Want to live in a Clarendon or other incredible Arlington neighborhoods, surrounded by amazing spots like this? Contact The Keri Shull Team at 703-952-7653 or [email protected] and we’ll help you find your next new home!

Your Beermonger: Embracing Your Inner Seasonal Creep

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.

Can it be that time already? Oh, it can, dear reader, and it is. I’ve already received some fall seasonal beers and the flood gates are about to open in earnest.

I’ve written about the concept of seasonal creep before, but the older I get, the less I seem to care about it. Is it a little absurd that I have two Oktoberfests in stock and one Pumpkin Ale already offered by the third week of July?

Sure, a little. But at the end of the day my policy is “Drink what you want when you want,” so I’m not sweating it too much. Except for that Pumpkin Ale; you’ll find it out there already, but too soon, man. Too soon.

What I’m doing today is giving a quick rundown of fall beers to keep an eye on, both those available now and ones on the way that I think are notable. Let’s start with what you can find on shelves right now: Sierra Nevada’s Oktoberfest landed in Virginia last week, and I’ll take any version of that anytime they want to offer it.

Every year of Sierra Oktoberfest has seen it pair up with a different German brewery to offer a different take on the style; this year, it’s Bitburger, which brought its house yeast and proprietary hop blend out of its brewery for the first time ever for the occasion. The result is a tick sharper than last year’s (made with Weihenstephaner), but very tasty and as good now as it’ll be when the weather turns.

Also in stock now is the Oktoberfest from Von Trapp Brewing in Vermont. Von Trapp’s Lagers are excellent across the board, so it’s no surprise this is tasty. What I like is the judicious use of darker malts, contributing to a color that is coppery rather than brown, along with a lovely caramel note.

I don’t like to play the FOMO card, but if you’re a Von Trapp fan, the word around the campfire is that the run of Oktoberfest that just hit Virginia is the only one we’ll see for the year. Purchase accordingly.

What’s on the way? Admitting a bias up front, I’ve always loved Port City Oktoberfest, which releases tonight at the brewery before hitting the market early next week. Around the middle of August we’ll see Atlas’ Festbier arrive. Lighter in color and body and using a blend of German and American hops, it’s definitely built for a more American audience but should be as fun and show as well as our favorites from the DC brewery.

Around the end of August/beginning of September, we should see the return of one of my old favorites — the Hofstetten Original Hochzeitzbier von 1810. This brew aspires to revive the style of Märzen that would’ve been served during the days of festivities surrounding Crown Prince Ludwig II’s wedding in 1810 — the first Oktoberfest. The best part? We’re getting cans of it this year!

What fall beers are you looking forward to? Let me hear it in the comments; you always do (he said, smiling).

Until next time.

Upcoming Events at Arrowine:

Saturday, 8/10, 1-4 p.m. — ANXO Cidery
Friday, 8/16, 5-7 p.m. — Rafael Mendoza of Hardywood Brewing Company
Friday, 8/23, 5-7 p.m. — Richard Hartogs of Rocket Frog Brewing Company
Saturday, 8/24, 3-6 p.m. — Frankie Quinton of Atlas Brewing Company
Friday, 8/30, 5-7 p.m. — Stephanie Boles from Old Ox Brewing
Saturday, 9/21, 1-4 p.m. — Devon Callan of Reason Beer Company

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:

2320 N. Vernon Street
5 BD/4 BA, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: Mcenearney Associates, Inc
Listed: $1,850,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

1408 N. Abingdon Street
5 BD/3 BA single-family home
Agent: KW Metro Center
Listed: $1,319,000
Open: Saturday 2-4 p.m.

 

6001 1st Street N.
5 BD/3 BA, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: Weichert Realtors
Listed: $949,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

1053 N. Stafford Street #18B
3 BD/2 BA condo
Agent: Keller Williams Realty
Listed: $767,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

3800 Fairfax Drive #314
2 BD/2 BA condo
Agent: Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Listed $ 638,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

 

3023 S. Buchanan Street
1 BD/ 2 BA condo
Agent: Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices Penfed Realty
Listed: $499,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

2607 Arlington Boulevard #49
2 BD/ 1 BA condo
Agent: Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc
Listed: $309,500
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.”

Like the weather, Arlington’s real estate market remains hot hot hot with buyers ratifying 57 contracts this week.

Sellers were busy taking a siesta and listed only 41 homes. Shame on them. We need more inventory!

Don’t get excited about the Federal Reserve cutting its short-term bank rate on Wednesday by a quarter point. That doesn’t effect mortgage rates. The Fed move signals its perception that the economy is slowing and the cut is intended to stimulate the economy.

U.S. gross domestic product dropped from 3.1% in the first quarter to 2.1% in the second quarter. The Fed cited a general global economic slowdown and the effects of the U.S.-China trade war on our economy. Our mortgage rates have remained virtually unchanged with the 30-yr fixed rate currently at 3.875% with no points.

Condo owners should be thrilled to learn that the average sales price of a condo in North Arlington increased 10.7% in July over the same month last year. The average price of a condo went from $488,555 to $541,171.

Single family homes didn’t fare as well. The average price of a detached home in North Arlington increased about 2.8% over last July. The average price of a detached home in North Arlington is now $1,076,613.

We discussed trees last week, and it’s important to know your rights regarding trees that sit on a property line. If any part of a tree trunk straddles a property line between homes, an owner must obtain written permission from their neighbor before cutting it down. You can trim branches on your side but can’t cut the entire tree down without your neighbor’s permission.

Of course, if the entire tree trunk is on your side of the property line, you have the full right to cut it down unless it has been designated by you or a previous owner as a county certified heritage or memorial tree.

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

Boring Title: Close With Mike and You’ll Never Be Madigan

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.

For this week’s edition of Boring Title we’re switching things up. Instead of our usual interview with a real estate professional, we are excited to introduce our new video series featuring our sales & marketing specialist at Allied Title & Escrow — Mike Madigan.

We wanted to mimic our company culture of being different, innovative, & fun. We hope you enjoy the video, and stay tuned… it only gets better! #CloseWithMikeAndYoullNeverBeMadigan!

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!

One Day Pre-Sale for Crystal City Oktoberfest

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
1/7

Crystal City’s Oktoberfest is returning for its second year with a new partner: New District Brewing and to celebrate, the Crystal City BID is offering early access to tickets for ARLnow readers!

“After welcoming a sellout crowd of 2,000 local residents in its inaugural year, Oktoberfest is back by popular demand,” says Tracy Gabriel, President & Executive Director of the BID. “We are thrilled to partner with New District Brewing, which is Arlington’s only brewery, to create an even more memorable experience for all of our attendees.”

This year’s Oktoberfest will feature a selection of local beers as well as a variety of food trucks and vendors serving up traditional German fare. As a new attraction for beer enthusiasts, four local breweries will be pouring custom beers brewed specifically for the event and available only during Crystal City Oktoberfest. Each of the breweries’ most popular regularly offered beers will also be available.

“New District Brewery is proud to partner with the Crystal City BID to offer a unique beer experience for the Oktoberfest season,” says Mike Katrivanos, Co-Owner of New District Brewery. “Four local breweries including Settle Down Easy, Valor, Dynasty and New District will bring you four custom brewed German themed beers (to be announced) for your tasting pleasure!”

General Admission tickets are $30 in advance and will go on sale on August 1 but ARLnow readers get one day early access TODAY (7/31) for advance tickets.

Tickets include admission to the festival, a full-sized custom mug and drink tickets redeemable for all four exclusive beers. VIP tickets are also available and include early admission and additional drink tickets.

Event: Crystal City Oktoberfest
Date: Saturday, September 28
Time: 1-4 p.m. (VIP: 12-4 p.m.)
Location: The Grounds at 12th and South Eads Street, Arlington, Virginia 22202
Tickets: https://crystalcityoktoberfest2019.eventbrite.com

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