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 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.

Some real estate news that’s relatively hot off the local press — real estate taxes in Arlington County are going up.

ARLnow recently reported that homeowners will soon pay an extra two cents per $100 in assessed value, on top of already increasing values. The dough will be used to provide more than $532 million for Arlington County Public Schools.

So, what does that mean for you, the current homeowner? Well, it’s important to know what your assessed value is and to start saving accordingly. Real estate assessments are public record and may be accessed on the Arlington County website.

As for buyers, you’ll still need a strong negotiating team on your side to save you dough up front… especially knowing that a higher tax awaits.

When you’re ready to chat about your real estate options, our team is ready to help you GET MORE out of your transaction.

As of May 6, there are 165 detached homes, 22 townhouses and 103 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 24 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: My Favorite Mortgage Programs

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: Are there any loan options you’d recommend if I don’t have 20% or more saved up for a down payment?

Answer: There are an abundance of loan products on the market that cater to different professions, down payments and financial circumstances that you should consider. “Rate shopping” is easy and moderately effective if done correctly (e.g. compare the APR not the interest rate), but “product shopping” can be much more valuable and something an informed real estate agent can assist you with.

Here are some of my favorite loan programs and the lenders I work with who provide them:

Homeowners Buying And Selling

Second Trust/HELOC Program from First Home Mortgage: Jake Ryon ([email protected], 202.448.0873)

This is a great program for current homeowners who will be buying and selling simultaneously. It allows you to use the future proceeds from your home sale to make a larger down payment on your new home, before selling your current home.

Through First Home Mortgage, Jake Ryon partners with local banks and credit unions to provide you with a second trust that allows you to put as little as 5% down up to nearly a $1,000,000 loan amount. The second trust finances the remaining amount of your down payment (e.g. 15% if you put down 5%).

The second trust payment is interest-only, can be paid off any time, and can be used like a bridge loan so you can purchase your next home without a home-sale contingency.

Doctors

Doctor Loan Program from SunTrust: CJ Kemp ([email protected], 301.651.4189)

The Doctor Loan Program is a residential mortgage loan specifically created for licensed medical professionals to make obtaining mortgage financing easier and more hassle-free. It recognizes the financial toll of medical school and strong, stable future income post-graduation. The rates on these loans are also fantastic!

Eligible Doctors include:

  • Licensed Residents/Interns/Fellows in MD and DO programs
  • Medical Doctors
  • Doctors of Osteopathy
  • Doctors of Dental Medicine/Surgeons/Orthodontics/General Dentists (DMD/DDS)
  • Psychiatrist licensed as a Medical Doctor

(more…)

Legal Insider: Outdated Virginia Laws that Need to be Changed

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.

While we primarily handle employment, retirement and security clearance cases, we wanted to take this opportunity to point to outdated Virginia laws that need to be changed.

This article focuses on both state and local laws in Virginia that don’t make sense or are outdated. While many of these are not enforced, it is time that they are taken off the books for good.

Here are some Virginia state laws that seem to be from a bygone era and should be repealed:

Citizens Must Honk Horns While Passing Other Cars — This law, if citizens followed it, would likely lead to accidents or road rage. I can’t recall anyone honking their horn on a highway in order to indicate they were going to pass someone, especially on the highway.

This is commonly done through the flashing of lights. Honking usually only occurs when somebody is stopped for too long in front of them or when an accident is about to occur.

Regulation of Private Life — Virginia makes it a 4th class misdemeanor to engage in sexual relations with anyone that they are not married to. The law, first enacted  in 1950, remains on the books even though it has been declared unconstitutional.

There is some debate as to whether or not the legislature refuses to act based on concerns they may upset constituents concerned with morality issues. Virginia also makes it a crime for individuals to give advice to others about engaging in inappropriate acts.

Adultery as a Crime — Under the Virginia Code, committing adultery while married is a crime and a class 4 misdemeanor. Frankly, Virginia could repeal this law and focus on realistic issues facing the Commonwealth instead of keeping a law that is unenforceable in their code.

Use of Profanity in Public — Using profanity in public is still against the law in Virginia and a class 4 misdemeanor. Some lawmakers have tried to repeal the profanity portion of this statute, but have not yet been successful. Again, this law has been declared unconstitutional, but remains a statute. I wonder how many people have committed misdemeanors under this statute over the last 10 years.

Marriage Restrictions — While most of the world has rescinded these types of discriminatory laws, Virginia has not yet gotten around to amending their Code to eliminate discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation even though the U.S. Supreme Court has left standing a ruling that the ban is unconstitutional.

Harassment by Phone or Text Message — Be sure not to text or use your cellphone to use indecent or immoral language in Virginia because it is class 1 misdemeanor. The language is so broad that practically anything you text during an argument could fall under this statute.

Outdated Local Laws

There were a number of local laws in Virginia that were outdated, but many of them have been corrected. Many of them were very interesting before they were recently fixed. This is the last one I found still on the books:

Chesapeake, Virginia — It is a misdemeanor for children over the age of 12 to trick or treat. While this has not led to a rash of arrests, the law should be repealed. There is no need to punish 13-year old teenagers for trick or treating with their younger siblings.

Conclusion

If you are in need of employment, retirement or security clearance law representation, 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: Free Shade Trees Planted For You

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
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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.

Arlingtonians are passionate about their trees and many are concerned about our tree canopy. We are, too!

Trees help our community in myriad ways. They keep us cool and shaded, soak up stormwater, support local wildlife and much more. We aren’t going out on a limb when we say there is a direct connection between trees and energy. Planting the right trees in the right places can keep your house and community cooler in the summer and reduce your energy bills.

Trees cast shade on buildings and pavement, lowering the temperatures and reducing the need for electricity to cool buildings during the summer.

Get a free shade tree planted in your yard without lifting a finger.

In 2009 the Tree Canopy Fund (TCF), was launched after Arlington County Board approval in 2007 with the goals of arresting the decline and restoring and increasing the County’s tree cover over time.

Administered by EcoAction Arlington and the Arlington County Urban Forestry Commission (UFC), the fund provides grants to individuals and community groups to plant trees on private property. More than 1,200 trees have been planted since the program started.

Click to learn more about the trees available and to fill out the application.

New Homes in Arlington: May 3

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. 

First, we need to understand who the top builders and influencers are that are reshaping our communities…

Deciding to build your own custom home does not need to be scary, nor does it have to be stressful. However, it does mean you will have to make a ton of decisions from insulation type to lighting fixtures, door trim, and dozens of other areas. That is why finding the 3 “R” are critical to success and happiness when building a new home.

Right Builder, Right Time, Right Lot. Let’s continue to meet some of the top builders in NOVA with experience building quality homes for clients every year.

Meet The Builder: Matt Rzepkowski of MR Project Management.

What differentiates you from other builders? 

When you build a home with MR, you build a home with me personally. I live in the area and I visit every room of every house every day. We’ve built over one hundred homes in the Arlington, McLean and Falls Church areas, the vast majority of which were built using the same subcontractors with whom we’ve partnered with for over a decade.

Consistency, attention to detail, and personal customer service are the hallmarks of MR.

How many homes have you completed in the last 12 months? 

We built 27 spec and custom homes last year. The business has grown steadily since its inception and we attribute that to providing a great home for our clients and also providing over the top customer service. We have done limited marketing over time and almost all of our custom clients and sales come from existing customer referrals.

How long have you been building homes and how many people work on your team? 

I am a third generation home builder and both my dad and grandfather were custom homebuilders, so at some level I have been building and working in the industry my whole life. After college I worked for a national homebuilder and went through their training program for a couple years before moving over to the custom home side.

Today, the MR team consists of eight people and almost everyone on the team I have known or they have been working with me in some capacity since I started building custom homes fifteen years ago.

What counties have you built in?  

Arlington and Fairfax County, but within Fairfax we really just build in McLean and the Falls Church area. We try to keep all of our projects to about a five mile radius so that we can visit each project multiple times a day and spend most of our time onsite and with clients as opposed to in the truck driving between projects.

What is the most popular model you build?

Everything we build is custom for each individual client and site and we do not have standardized models. However, there are certain design and build concepts that carry through to all of our homes including detailed craftsman trim work, a great kitchen design, spectacular master bedrooms and spa like baths, large rec rooms in the basement and a flex room on the main floor that doubles as a home office, playroom or additional bedroom.

Here are some current homes that MR Project Management has on the market:

Three Stones Residential specializes in matching home owners with the right builder and lot location. If you have any questions about new homes or builders that you’d like us to highlight please email us at [email protected].

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:

5029 38th Street N.
6 BR/6 BA, 2 half bath single-family home
Agent: Ttr Sothebys International Realty
Listed: $2,895,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

2369 S. Queen Street
4 BR/3 BA, 1 half bath villa/townhouse
Agent: Ttr Sothebys International Realty
Listed: $999,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

1508 N. Powhatan Street
3 BR/2 BA single-family home
Agent: Kw Metro Center
Listed: $865,000
Open: Saturday 1-3 p.m.

 

312 S. Abingdon Street
3 BR/2 BA, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: Re/Max Allegiance
Listed: $767,500
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

2624 S. Kenmore
2 BR/2 BA, 1 half bath villa/townhouse
Agent: Re/Max Allegiance
Listed: $629,000
Open: Saturday 1-4 p.m.

 

2526 E S. Arlington Mill Drive #5
2 BR/3 BA, 1 half bath condo
Agent: Ttr Sotheby’s International Realty
Listed: $549,000
Open: Saturday 1-3 p.m.

 

880 N. Pollard Street #227
1 BR/1 BA condo
Agent: Samson Properties
Listed: $399,998
Open: Saturday 12-3 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.”

As we enter the final few weeks of the spring real estate market, sleepy sellers seemed to have awoken and smelled the coffee.

They listed a record 84 homes this week, hoping for a sale before the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. That event marks the slowdown of the market as we slide into summer.

Perhaps buyers have already started backing off as they ratified just 56 contracts this week. In the last three weeks, they ratified 75, 64 and 65 contracts. So, their pace has faded. Of the 56 homes sold this week, 27 were snatched up within seven days. The average days on market for the week dropped to just 17.

Mortgage rates dropped slightly this week by about six basis points so now the 30-yr fixed rate is about 4.2%-4.3%. The Federal Reserve met this week and decided not to change their benchmark rate for the foreseeable future.

We tend to look west when watching for market trends. And California’s real estate market is showing some movement. Sales activity has slumped for mid-level and upper end homes. Analysts say the market over heated and prices began to exceed buyers’ affordability.

The luxury home market in San Francisco dropped 16% in the first quarter over last year in terms of sales activity, and prices dropped 1.5%, the first-time prices have dropped in seven years there. However, on average across the U.S., home values are up 2.7%.

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

DC Bike Ride is Only a Few Weeks Away

It’s National Bike Month and DC Bike Ride is the main celebration!

Join us on May 18 for the best car-free recreational bike ride in the District. Not an avid bike rider, but still want to have fun? DCBR has you covered! The 20-mile ride is meant to be a ride NOT a race!

Feel free to pedal at your own pace, stop along breathtaking sights, and join a scavenger hunt challenge throughout historic landmarks. The course is packed with entertainment, pit stops, great food, music and giveaways from start to finish.

After the ride, stop by the Finish Festival on 3rd Street between the U.S. Capitol building and the National Mall to enjoy the FitDC Movement Zone and dance to DJ Jealousy beats!

Sign up today to join the 8,000 riders on this celebration, and don’t miss out on the chance to let the fun times roll on May 18!

How to Break Your Lease to Buy a Home

Many people are excited about the prospect of owning a home, but encounter issues with timing.

This could be from a major life event, financial reasons or most commonly their rental lease isn’t up yet. Luckily, you are NOT trapped — you have options!

Here are 3 of the best options for prospective buyers to get out of their current lease:

Find a Replacement — The best option is to get your landlord’s permission to have someone take over your lease. That way you would just pay rent until the new tenant signs the lease and moves in. There are many great free websites for advertising your rental.

Work with The Seller — If you’re buying a home and can’t find someone to take over your lease, or if you are on a tight timeframe, ask the seller for a credit at closing. This can potentially cover all or part of the cost of breaking your lease, and leave you with more money for a down payment (or in your pocket).

Buy Your Way Out — If these options don’t work, another option is to talk to your landlord and pay the penalty to break your lease outright. Leases vary, so read yours carefully… but this usually involves paying a 2-month penalty. This excludes the security deposit, which should be returned to you as long as there is no property damage.

To get $1,500 towards breaking your lease, attend our upcoming Home Buying Seminar on Monday, May 6 in Arlington.

Topics Covered Include:

  • Financing programs
  • How to avoid double paying a rent and a mortgage
  • How to calculate your budget the right way
  • How to craft a winning offer in a highly competitive market
  • Finding off-market properties
  • Leveraging your equity
  • The 4 C’s of Real Estate

Space is limited — click to register.

Benefits of Attending:

  • $1,500 credit toward your new home or toward early lease termination
  • 12-month home buy-back guarantee — purchase with confidence!
  • Wine and cheese provided
  • The first 3 to attend will receive a gift card to Barley Mac restaurant!

This event is hosted by The Keri Shull Team, the D.C. metro’s top producing real estate team. Details are as follows:

Small Biz Focus: Arlington Celebrates Business Appreciation Month

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This article was written by Marian Marquez, Director for Global Markets & Retention at Arlington Economic Development.

Did you know Arlington is home to almost 10,000 business establishments, including thousands of small and independent businesses and four Fortune 1,000 companies?

Each year during the month of May, which is Business Appreciation Month, we try to find as many ways as possible to showcase our local businesses and highlight their contributions; after all, studies have shown (and our data supports) that existing businesses are responsible for roughly 80% of job growth in an economy.

So, it is only fitting that we should make an extra effort during this month to recognize those companies whose success and innovation have made the Arlington economy what it is today.

But this work of highlighting our local businesses is not confined to just one month per year. We carry out year-round business engagement activity at Arlington Economic Development (AED), otherwise known as our Business Retention & Expansion (BRE) program.

While BRE activity doesn’t often make headlines, it’s an important part of our economic development strategy, and we spend a lot of time and effort finding creative ways to engage local companies in ways that add value.

What constitutes “value add” is not the same from one company to the next. For companies seeking connections to potential customers, partners or decision makers we offer networking events such as the Arlington Premiere, executive lunches, industry roundtables or, simply, introductions.

For smaller companies, or those that may not have the bandwidth or in-house expertise, we offer a variety of marketing and promotional activities including ribbon cuttings, media promotion and award nominations. Similarly, AED’s business intelligence team performs ad-hoc research on everything from real estate options to demographics for companies looking to move or expand.

What remains constant is that our team is always focused on what might help our companies grow and succeed and we build our work plans based on what companies tell us they need. We are a small but nimble team with a solid track record of trailing recommendations into new programming by leveraging our creativity and our strategic partners.

We are always eager to hear new ideas, let us know yours!

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.

Happy May, folks!

It’s an exciting month and let’s talk about the exciting weekend ahead. Saturday is National Comic Book Day, “May the 4th Be with You” (for all of you Star Wars fans) and the Kentucky Derby is going down. And, Sunday is Cinco de Mayo. Yowsers!

Beyond this weekend, May is a stellar month for some home-related bargains. Specifically, Memorial Day weekend is an awesome time to purchase appliances, kitchenware and mattresses. So, if you’ve been waiting for a good deal, well, it’s coming!

On the real estate front, we’ve seen a slight tick up in “Just Reduced” homes in recent weeks. If a solid deal on a home is what you seek, we can make that happen, whether sellers are proactively reducing their home prices already or if we need to negotiate.

When you’re ready to GET MORE out of your transaction, our team is ready to roll.

As of April 29, there are 159 detached homes, 20 townhouses and 106 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 20 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.

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