Author: ARLnow.com Sponsor

Ask Eli: How much do good schools cost?

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. Video summaries of some articles can be found on YouTube on the Eli Residential channel. Enjoy!

Question: How much of a difference do schools make in the value of homes in Arlington?

Answer: Nothing drives home values like schools and for most buyers around here, that is determined by the 10-point scale ratings on the all-powerful GreatSchools.org. Let me be clear, this article is not meant to validate or contest the quality of GreatSchools ratings, rather an acknowledgement of the weight the website’s school ratings have on home purchase decisions and therefore, home values.

Quick Tips for Using Schools in Your Home Search

  • Families define a “good school” differently. Whether that’s test scores, socioeconomic diversity, language instruction, athletics, or a STEM focus think about what matters most to you and target schools that fit your values.
  • GreatSchools offers more than just a single rating, they offer component data as well. Dig deeper and look at the components of a school’s rating and review them based on what you value.
  • I have spoken to parents who have had both excellent and terrible experiences at top and low rated schools alike. The GreatSchools rating is not everything.
  • There are excellent public resources available for research including the Virginia Dept. of Education’s School Quality Profiles and information nights for each school where you can see a school and interact with teachers first-hand.
  • There are numerous message boards with loads of information about school operations from disability support, to college readiness, to athletics.
  • There are other private ratings websites like Niche.com and US News and World Report that offer different perspectives and ways of ranking schools.
  • Arlington County ranks as the #2 school district in Virginia, just behind the City of Falls Church, with an overall A+ grade. Loudoun County ranks # 5 and Fairfax County ranks #6 in Virginia with an overall A grades.

How Much Does Each GreatSchools Point Cost?

If you want to buy a detached house or townhouse within a top-rated school boundary, you’re going to pay a lot. However, if school ratings and budget are your top focuses, you can use the table below to figure out what the most efficient use of your budget is to maximize your GreatSchools rating per dollar spent.

The table is sorted by the average cost per point of the GreatSchools.org rating (GS rates schools on a 1-10 point scale) for each neighborhood school in Arlington with the most “cost-efficient” schools to buy a home in listed first.

The data uses sales since January 1, 2021 of detached and townhouse homes with at least three bedrooms. Net sold price is the sold price less any seller credits. Only the neighborhood schools are included in this analysis, not the magnet/option schools. Fleet and Arlington Science Elementary and Hamm Middle are not currently rated on GreatSchools.org

  • The most cost-efficient elementary schools are Tuckahoe (9), Ashlawn (7), and Glebe (8)
  • The most cost-efficient middle school is Swanson (7)
  • The most-cost efficient high school is Wakefield (4)
  • The most expensive school to buy housing in on a total cost basis is Jamestown Elementary (9), but the most expensive per bedroom and per square foot is Innovation Elementary (6)
  • The least expensive school to buy housing in on a total cost and price per bedroom basis is Abingdon Elementary (3) and the least expensive per square foot is Carlin Spring Elementary (2)
  • The most difficult school to find a 3BR+ detached/townhouse home is Hoffman-Boston (5)
  • Barrett Elementary (3) is the only North Arlington school with an average price under $1M and Oakridge Elementary (4) is the only South Arlington school with an average price over $1M
  • A purchase of a 3BR+ detached or townhouse home in the top rated school pyramid of Jamestown Elementary (9), Williamsburg Middle (9), and Yorktown High (6) averages nearly $1.45M and an average of $332k per bedroom

If you’d like some more personalized data run for you using home sales and GreatSchools ratings, you’re welcome to reach out to me at [email protected]. I’m happy to help.

If you’d like to discuss buying, selling, investing, or renting, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected].

If you’d like a question answered in my weekly column or to discuss buying, selling, renting, or investing, please send an email to [email protected]. To read any of my older posts, visit the blog section of my website at EliResidential.com. Call me directly at (703) 539-2529.

Video summaries of some articles can be found on YouTube on the Eli Residential channel.

Eli Tucker is a licensed Realtor in Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland with RLAH Real Estate, 4040 N Fairfax Dr #10C Arlington VA 22203. (703) 390-9460.

Neighborhood Spotlight: Let’s talk about spring cleaning

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

It’s spring cleaning time! 

Home ownership means keeping up with maintenance items to have our homes looking their best. Waiting to tackle repairs around your home can end up being costly when little problems grow bigger over time.

No one wants to spend tens of thousands of dollars to handle those deferred maintenance items right before listing. So put money in the budget each year for general upkeep and repairs. Spring is a great time to walk around your house to see what needs to be addressed.

So what items can you do yourself and what items do you need to hire a contractor to handle? I asked Paul Fisher, owner of DomestiCall360 to take a look at my house and give me advise. Since spring can mean rain and water intrusion and it can be one of the costliest and most damaging repair items, we focused on outside water issues. 

Wood trim around the house can develop dry rot from clogged gutters and exposure to the elements. We quickly found facia boards and trim that need to be replaced. If the rot is easily accessible, like in a door frame, this can be a great DYI project. There are several places around my house I can handle but the facia boards on my 3rd story — that is definitely a contractor fix for me.

Keeping your decks stained and painted is a great spring project you can do yourself that will help prevent damage that may require costly repairs. In a “do as I say, not as I do” moment, we found a very neglected wood stair railing that now needs to be completely replaced… YIKES, that is expensive. 

Even though I had painted it a few times, I waited too long before realizing I needed to start painting it every year or so to prevent dry rot. So make sure you are painting your exterior wood and staining your deck to keep water from creating a very expensive replacement.

Another easy and valuable DYI project involves gutters and downspouts. Almost every home inspection I have been on, has found issues with improperly directed water flow away from the house. Make sure your gutters are not clogged or broken and that the downspouts have extensions that direct the water away from your house.

After this eye-opening tour of my home, Paul went with me to Bill’s True Value Hardware to pick up the paint, stain and wood filler I needed. I even grabbed some caulk to prevent water issues inside my bathrooms. Keep in mind that warm weather also means cookouts and bugs. Bill’s True Value even repairs screens and sells BBQ grills!

After my spring cleaning and maintenance projects I recycled and disposed some of the hazardous materials I found rather than disposing of them in the trash. I found old paint and CFL light bulbs that needed to be disposed of properly.

If you haven’t been, please go to the Arlington County Household Hazardous Materials/Electronics Collection Recycling Center. You need to make an appointment (Monday-Thursday) but you can come anytime on Saturdays from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. They even accept electronics and batteries. Please don’t throw these items in the regular trash!

Of course spring cleaning isn’t just about DYI projects, it’s also about going through and organizing your home. My last stop was a trip to the Goodwill on S Glebe and route 50, and is a fantastic donation facility. This is a busy location for donations and purchases. Even if the wait looks long, the car line moves quickly and the people that work here are so helpful. Sometimes I don’t even need to get out of my car. Make sure to launder all clothes before donating and that whatever you donate — games, furniture — are not broken and have all their pieces.

Spring is such an exciting time, especially for those looking to buy or sell a home. As a seller, you want to ensure that your home looks its best to attract potential buyers and get the best price possible. So, it’s crucial to make sure your home is well-maintained and in excellent condition. Don’t worry, though — it’s nothing too complicated! With a little effort, you can make your home shine and appeal to buyers looking for their dream home. 

Connect with me to learn more! 

Sarah Picot | 202-251-5635 | [email protected] | sarahpicot.net | www.McEnearney.com

McEnearney Associates — Arlington Office

Links & Recommendations:

For 40 years, McEnearney Associates has been a premiere residential, commercial and property management firm with 11 offices located in the Washington metro region. With service excellence, hyper-local expertise, powerful data insights, innovative technology and cutting-edge marketing, McEnearney Associates have helped their clients make informed decisions on their most valuable real estate investments. There is an important difference at McEnearney: It’s not about us, it’s about you. To learn more, visit us at www.McEnearney.com.

The Nose That Knows: A Very Special French Wine Supertasting

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This column is written by the team at Arrowine & Cheese (4508 Cherry Hill Road). Sign up for the email newsletter and receive exclusive discounts and offers. Order from Arrowine’s expanding online store for curbside pickup or in-store shopping. Have a question? Email thenose@arrowine.com.

Are you looking for something fun to do on a rainy Sunday? Isn’t it time we met?

Join us at Arrowine (4508 Cherry Hill Road in Arlington) this Sunday, April 30 from 1-4 p.m. for a Very Special French Wine Supertasting featuring the selections of Edward Addiss and Barbara Selig of Wine Traditions of Falls Church.

Ed and Barbara have been importing French Wines for thirty years, and have a keen eye and “nose” and represent some of the best values in French Wine.

This Sunday, at no cost, you can taste classic examples from France’s renowned wine regions like the Loire Valley, Rhône Valley, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, and more! And they’re all on sale during the event. Tasting discounts are “on”!

We’ll have wine available for purchase, and if you want more than we have available, discounts will apply to tasting wines you order (at least 10% off the regular price) during the event, too! These are exciting wines representing textbook examples of classic styles from prestigious regions. They’ll even be on sale during the tasting, so you can stock up and save!

This event is by reservation ONLY. Attendance is limited to ensure a great experience. All attendees must be 21 and possess a valid picture ID. We will be checking.

This event will be popular. We ask that you email us at [email protected] and let us know you plan to attend. Please include the following information:

  • Name
  • Email or phone contact information
  • Number of people in your group
  • When you expect to arrive:
  • (a) 1-2 p.m., (b) 2-3 p.m. or (c) 3-4 p.m.

We will confirm all reservations by email.

We look forward to seeing you!

Doug Rosen

Celebrating with white wine (Photo by Matthieu on Unsplash)

The 9th Annual Arlington Festival of the Arts returns this weekend

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
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Explore a diverse range of artistic mediums at the 9th Annual Arlington Festival of the Arts this weekend.

More than one hundred local and national artists will present a sparkling showcase of original paintings, mixed media, sculptures, one-of-a-kind jewelry, photography, fiber art, and more!

Come explore this Saturday, April 29 and Sunday, April 20 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

This free event benefitting the Clarendon Alliance takes place in the heart of the Clarendon district. Come and meet the artists during this weekend event.

Statutes of Liberty: ‘Biden Opens Back Door’ to immigration parole

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This sponsored column is by Law Office of James Montana PLLC. All questions about it should be directed to James Montana, Esq., Doran Shemin, Esq., and Laura Lorenzo, Esq., practicing attorneys at The Law Office of James Montana PLLC, an immigration-focused law firm located in Falls Church, Virginia. The legal information given here is general in nature. If you want legal advice, contact us for an appointment.

When The New York Times and The New York Post are running the same headline, there is often something to the story.

The story, in this instance, concerns immigration. The Times report, “Biden Opens A New Back Door on Immigration,” ably describes the operation of the Biden Administration’s parole policy for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans. (We offered an explainer on this four months ago — a triumphant advertorial scoop if there ever was one.) Meanwhile, the Post’s editorial board, citing the Times story, summarized the same facts and added its own right-of-center opinion to the mix.

The Times and the Post and Statutes of Liberty are all working from the same facts. It is indeed true that these parole programs have succeeded in one of their stated goals: they have brought hundreds of thousands of people, legally, to the United States. We have met some of them in our office.

It is also true that these parole programs have failed with respect to one of their larger goals — curtailing the practice of asylum seekers requesting protection at the U.S. land border. (As the Times helpfully points out, “[o]verall border crossings from all nationalities […] remain at historic highs.”)

This raises the question: Has this policy succeeded, or has it failed? Our view is that it is too soon to tell. If this ‘back door’ gradually expands to become the new norm for all countries, then we can reasonably expect the number of people who make the dangerous land journey to diminish. That would be an unqualified good. It is important not to euphemize about this — about 450 die each year at the border, and many more die trying to reach it.

If, on the other hand, the ‘back door’ remains limited to a few nationalities, operating as a species of extraterritorial TPS, it seems unlikely that the status quo at the border will shift.

As a matter of law, the Biden Administration’s expanded use of parole is a kludge. Parole has traditionally been used sparingly, in individual cases. We are old enough to remember USCIS lecturing the immigration bar about how parole is not a substitute for the visa system. Well, the Biden Administration’s use of parole for nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela clearly is a substitute for the visa system — if 360,000 people enter the United States with proper documentation, based on a process which includes security checks and financial affidavits, that is a visa system in all but name.

Opponents of the new system have raised these concerns in federal court, arguing that the Biden Administration has leveraged the parole system to enact its preferred policies into law without Congressional authorization. The federal courts have, so far, been fairly deferential to Presidential assertions of power with respect to immigration, with some notable exceptions — the Trump Travel Ban and the Obama administration’s attempt to promulgate Deferred Action for Parents among them.

We’ll continue to track the litigation closely. Whether this policy succeeds or fails depends on whether this Administration expands it, on whether federal judges limit or abolish it, and on whether subsequent Administrations continue or reverse it.

As always, we’re happy to answer questions and comments!

How counseling can save a relationship

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
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Many people see a seemingly happy couple and imagine that they have some intangible magic that makes their relationship work blissfully.

This, however, is usually far from the truth. In reality, healthy relationships that last are the product of commitment, work, and deep emotional bonding.

Therapist Matt Levine works with couples at Arlington-based Summit Counseling, where he helps people overcome their relationship hurdles using Emotionally Focused Therapy, or EFT, the gold standard in couples therapy.

“Many issues come from clients denying themselves their need to be securely attached with another human. Relationship issues also stem from couples distancing due to past attachment injuries (e.g. abusive parents, divorces), trauma, or just general life stressors,” reflects Levine.

First, the couples counselor helps clients realize and break the predictable negative cycle they fall into.

Second, they help couples create deep bonding moments during each session, called “corrective emotional experiences.” The therapist helps the couples respond and comfort each other in their distress (yes, when it’s caused by their partner!), which because of our wiring as humans, creates deep bonds. “Remember that friend who showed up when you were in a really bad place? You are bonded and endeared to them for life” said Levine.

Couples can revitalize bonds and attachment, they can show up in ways that meet their partner’s needs for closeness, and they can find common ground again. “Once they can achieve this, it is a question of dedication, respect, and devotion to a partnership that could last a lifetime,” said Levine.

Arts Focus: Arlington Arts Grants program for FY24 now open

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This column is sponsored by Arlington Arts/Arlington Cultural Affairs, a division of Arlington Economic Development.

Artists and arts organizations who are seeking support for programs and ideas to benefit Arlington’s cultural offerings and amenities take note: applications are now being accepted for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY 2024) for the Individual Artist Grant for individual artists and the General Operating Support Guidelines for arts organizations.

Please see guidelines for eligibility.

Arts organizations that are applying for the P.L.A.C.E. Grant may also apply for a GOS Grant. Applications will be available to those who attend a grant preparation workshop. See below for more details:

About the Arlington Arts Grants Program

The Arlington Commission for the Arts administers the grants program for Arlington County artists and arts and cultural organizations. The Arlington County Policy for the Support of Arts Organizations and Artists (as approved by the Arlington County Board on December 8, 1990) describes eligibility for the program, application procedures and criteria for evaluation.

The Arlington Arts Grants Program is an important way that the County addresses its investment in our arts infrastructure. As you apply for support, consider the ways in which your work helps to further the vision and values of Enriching Lives: Arlington Arts and Cultural Strategy.

For information about these and other opportunities for grants for artists, please click here to visit the Arlington Arts grants page.

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. 

As of April 24, there are 130 detached homes, 26 townhouses and 149 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 14 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week, including:

3523 N. Valley Street

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.

Is your car pulling left or right? An alignment could help

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Whether you’re regularly commuting through a construction area, or just taking your vehicle on a roadtrip a few times per year, alignments are an important — but often overlooked maintenance best practice.

The process of having your vehicle aligned involves ensuring that your tires and drive system are properly angled according to manufacturer specification.

Over time, routine driving can wear your tires down unevenly, and you may notice your car beginning to pull one direction instead of another. That and other symptoms may indicate it’s time to have your vehicle aligned once again.

Getting an alignment every 5,000 miles, or more often for travel often or through harsh roads, helps protect and extend the life of vital drive and steering components in your vehicle.

Replacing components like ball joints, shocks, and struts can be expensive but also time-consuming if you need to have your vehicle available at all times and parts aren’t immediately available.

If you’re overdue for an alignment, give CarCare To Go a call or book your appointment online today. As always, our free valet pick-up and return service is available, and first time customers can use code FIRST20 to get a full-synthetic oil change for just $20.23 with their first service.

Ask Eli: Investment property to save and pay for college (vs 529 Account)

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. Video summaries of some articles can be found on YouTube on the Eli Residential channel. Enjoy!

Question: Is it more effective to save for my kids’ college through a rental property investment or a more typical college savings plan like a 529?

TL;DR (1:53)

Answer: I often hear from parents who purchase a small investment property around the birth of their child as the primary savings vehicle for college. Some people swear by it. I did it when my son was born (and will report back with results in 13 years!).

I reached out to my financial advisor, Erik Fischer CFP, RICP of Taylor Financial ([email protected], (727) 417-3400), about the topic and he offered a very detailed, thoughtful comparative breakdown of using a real estate investment as a college savings tool vs a more traditional 529. Erik is an excellent resource if you have additional questions about this topic or other financial savings topics.

With frequency, this question arises from parents who gravitate towards real estate investing. And, there is not a definitive answer. Okay — column over. Just kidding.  While it’s true that there is not a definitive answer, depending on your situation the answer may be definitive for you.

Identifying the parameters:

  • First, establish a target — how much wealth do you want to save to pay for college?
  • Then, consider the following key areas when comparing the two investment vehicles
    • Savings strategy — how will you fund your savings vehicle
    • Flexibility
    • Level of involvement
    • Associated risks
    • Expected growth rate
    • Tax implications

Establish your target:

The good news here is that your target will likely be the same regardless of which approach you choose. So here is an easy-to-follow framework of how to establish your target.

  1. Identify the amount you would like to have accumulated for each child when they reach college. You can research the “Cost of Attendance” (*important* this is your all-in cost, not just tuition) at www.collegeboard.org.
  2. Use the current cost of attendance for a school and inflate that amount to future dollars using an inflation rate of 5%. Inflate this number out until your child is likely to graduate college.
    1. Why 5%? This is somewhat arbitrary, but over the last 20 years college costs have been doubling or more the long-term average inflation rate of 2-3%. I encourage you to use a number somewhere from 5-8%.
  3. Take the last 4 years of inflation adjusted costs and add them up. These numbers represent a ballpark of what you could expect to pay for this child. Is it perfect? Of course not, but it will give you a greater level of visibility into what you will need.

Establish your target (example):

Let’s say your child was just born, plans are to attend college in 18 years, graduate in 4 years. At UVA, in-state cost of attendance for families making over $110,000 per year is $29,877 (tuition represents roughly half of this number). If you adjust for inflation and add up 4 years of all-in cost, you arrive at an aggregate number that includes the annual timeline of cashflows. See table below:

These calculations will vary whether you plan for in-state vs out-of-state, public or private, and how much of the cost you are willing to fund. Regardless, the framework will remain the same or very similar to arrive at some accumulation target.

You have your target, now what’s the best way to get there: Let’s compare a 529 based approach to a rental property-based approach. Of course, these are not the only two ways to save for college, but we’re focusing on these two today.

Let’s first look at the rental property approach: The high-level idea is buying a rental property when a child is born and selling it to fund college when the child is college-ready.

Because of the increased complexity of rental real estate (which is not inherently good or bad, it just is), let’s identify some of the important considerations first:

  • Down payment will be required
  • Management/execution risk
    • cash flow planning
    • property management
    • tenant management
    • increased tax planning
    • increased insurance planning
    • financing considerations (if you will require a mortgage)
    • a plan to sell the property (to fund college)

So, you may have picked up here another hint at what the answer might be for you depending on your situation. That is, if you do not have the cash on hand to make a reasonable down payment for the type of property you desire, the rental property might be off table for you, at which point you might lean on an annual savings approach of a 529.

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Biz Talk: Event showcases innovation in National Landing

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This article was written by Arlington Economic Development.

On Tuesday, May 2 the Northern Virginia Technology Council, Arlington Economic Development and the National Landing Business Improvement District will be hosting the ‘Building America’s Most Connected Neighborhood’ event.

Discover how JBG SMITH and Federated Wireless’ unique partnership is driving public and private sector innovation in National Landing by deploying 5G private wireless networks.

You’ll learn how JBG SMITH, through its $25.3 million investment in CBRS spectrum, is working with Federated Wireless and several industry partners to develop a converged digital infrastructure platform to deliver advanced connectivity to indoor and outdoor areas across Arlington’s National Landing neighborhood.

The networks will deliver private wireless solutions at scale to a broad set of industries: government, high-tech, professional services, aerospace, aviation, retail, academia, national defense, and cybersecurity.

Guests will then hear from Federated Wireless CTO, Kurt Schaubach, and JBG Smith Vice President, Vardahn Chaudhry, who will explain how the companies are creating an interoperable 5G private wireless network showcase in National Landing. The program will be followed by an interactive networking session with representatives from Arlington Economic Development, Federated Wireless, JBG Smith, National Landing BID, and Virginia Tech Innovation Campus.

When: Tuesday, May 2, 3:30-6 p.m.
Where: National Landing Experience Center, 241 18th Street S, Arlington, VA 22202

Register to Attend.

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