Author: ARLnow.com Sponsor

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:

2146 N. Pollard Street
6 bed/5 bath, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: RLAH Real Estate
Listed: $1,658,750
Open: Saturday 12:30-3 p.m. and Sunday 1-3 p.m.

 

4100 40th Street N.
4 bed/3 bath, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Listed: $1,449,900
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

 

319 N. Upton Court
4 bed/4 bath, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: Compass
Listed: $1,100,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

 

1881 N. Nash Street #1504
1 bed/2 bath condo
Agent: Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Listed: $1,050,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

5904 4th Street N.
3 bed/2 bath, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices Penfed Realty
Listed: $819,900
Open: Sunday 1-3 p.m.

 

4500 S. Four Mile Run Drive #1131
1 bed/1 bath condo
Agent: Keller Williams Realty
Listed: $262,500
Open: Saturday 1-3 p.m. and Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

750 S. Dickerson Street #301
3 bed/2 bath condo
Agent: National Realty LLC
Listed: $239,990
Open: Saturday 1-2 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.”

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!

Team Cathell wishes you and your family a happy and safe holiday weekend.

Don’t worry about Arlington’s real estate market. Although this has been the slowest week of the year for new listings with only 21 sellers putting their homes on the market, it’s doing just fine.

Buyers, however, were very active ratifying 43 contracts, with an average days on market jumping to 77. That’s because many of the homes that sold had been on the market a very long time. So a lot of old inventory got cleared out this week.

Mortgage interest rates dropped 6-10 basis points this week on the news Wednesday that the Federal Reserve raised short term interest rates by 0.25% to help quell inflation jitters. But the Fed also said they expect to raise rates only twice in 2019.

Also influencing the mortgage rate drop was Wall Street’s continued slide this week as investors moved capital out of risky equities and into safe 10-yr U.S. Treasury bonds which drove the yield down. That’s all good for home buyers.

Freddie Mac yesterday credited the lower mortgage interest rates so far this 4th quarter for an increase nationally in existing home sales which had been down 10% from 2017 levels. There’s been a moderate pickup in sales for October and November. All this bodes well for a vibrant spring real estate market, so keep your seat belt fastened.

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

New Year’s Eve Charity Gala at the International Spy Museum

Ring in the New Year relishing the sky lounge of the new International Spy Museum at 700 L’Enfant Plaza SW.

Standing at the world’s epicenter of espionage, D.C.’s newest venue will have you dancing all night with sweeping views of the Washington Monument, the Capitol, the new D.C. waterfront and New Year’s Eve fireworks over Alexandria.

Before the clock strikes 12, enjoy mind-boggling illusions by our strolling magician, engage in a WHODUNIT interactive spy troupe mystery, watch the sparks and glassware fly by professional bartenders performing fantastic feats and tricks, dance on an LED dance floor, find out what’s to come in 2019 with our all-knowing psychics and take some “shagadelic” shots with the International Man of Mystery himself, Austin Powers.

The floor to ceiling windows overlooking the D.C. skyline in this newly constructed International Spy Museum will open its doors to the public for the first time on New Year’s Eve.

This event will help people affected by disasters like storms and countless other crises by donating all profits to American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your ticket purchase enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters both big and small across the United States.

Your all-inclusive ticket purchase includes top-shelf open bar, food, champagne toast, music and all the entertainment. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

Boring Title: Market Trends Update and Where to Invest with Amazon’s HQ2 Arrival

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.

Title Tip of the Week 

If a resident of Virginia dies without a will (intestate), then according to Virginia Code § 64.2-200, the real estate passes directly to the heirs at law. The person who qualifies as Administrator of the estate does not have title to the real estate or the power to sell it.

The sale of the real estate can only be accomplished in two manners:

  • Petition the court for power of sale
  • By agreement of all the heirs

Therefore, in the case of an intestate estate, if possible, it’s often best to have all the heirs sign the listing agreement and contract, then convey the property at Settlement. This avoids the necessity of filing a Petition with the Court for Power of Sale.

Small Biz Focus: Your End of Year Business Tune-Up

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

By Tara Palacios

Are you distracted by sugar plums dancing in your head? Don’t be! There is still time to strategize to ensure a productive 2019. The last 12 days of 2018 provide an excellent opportunity to plan for the New Year (You’ll start to notice this week the emails have slowed as people start to leave on vacation — seize the day!).

Here are 5 quick BizLaunch Tips to ensure you pass your end of the year business tune up:

  • Set Up a Quick Meeting with Your Accountant
    The tax law changed last year. How have the new changes impacted your business? Are there things you can do now to help you manage 2019? Draw up a list of questions for your accountant before the clock strikes 12 on December 31.
  • Dust Off Your Strategic Plan
    When was the last time you reviewed your strategy? What is working and most importantly what is not working? Which areas should you update in the coming year to grow your business? Take a hard look right now and ask yourself tough questions about the direction your business is headed.
  • Audit Your Goals from 2018
    Did you accomplish the goals you set for yourself this year? What should you continue doing and what should you change?
  • How Does Your Desk Look?
    Are proposals scattered around your desk and you can’t find your chair? Now is a good time as ever to refresh and put your files in order. You’ll feel great after you do!
  • Set Up an Appointment with an Advisor
    Mentorship is priceless. Is there an advisor in your life you feel 100% comfortable bouncing ideas off of? If so, schedule a meeting in the New Year. If not, give us a call! You may come up with a plan that you hadn’t thought of in the New Year.

As a business there are still things you can do before the end of the year to be ahead in 2019.

And, yes — we do have *new* events in store for the New Year on Branding and Funding Your Dreams. We hope you will join us. Warm wishes during this holiday season, and we look forward to a wonderful 2019!

The BizLaunch Team

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.

It’s our last Just Reduced before Christmas. So, on behalf of our team and families, wishing you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and happy holidays!

Hopefully you’ve been good this year and there are many gifts in store.

And, speaking of gifts, our real estate market continues to be quite the treat. Some recent figures from the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors show a 96 percent increase in home closings, comparing November 2017 to November 2018.

Surely the announcement of Amazon’s forthcoming HQ2 had something to do with this impressive jump. But, having an award-winning public school system, low unemployment rates, seamless access to our nation’s capital and incredible community amenities surely doesn’t hurt either.

When you’re ready to call Arlington home, our team is ready to help you GET MORE out of your transaction. Until then, here’s to enjoying the holidays!

As of December 17, there are 129 detached homes, 11 townhouses and 112 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 8 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week.

Here is this week’s selection of Just Reduced properties:

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.

Plan Your Winter Escape with DC Fray

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Already tired of being cooped up in the house this winter? DC Fray has 3 reasons for you to get out of your dang house:

Bar Sports

If you’re going to leave the house, you might as well head to a bar where you can socialize and play cool games like Shuffleboard and Skeeball. *Hint hint: Winter registration is OPEN*

Speed Dating

If you need another excuse to head to a bar, there’s plenty of Speed Dating coming up. Let #DCFray play Cupid, so you have someone to do fun, festive, winter activities with.

Glow Tubing

Put on your best neon gear and all the glow sticks you can find, and hit the slopes. This *bright* spin on a classic winter activity will be so much fun you won’t even be thinking about the cold.

For more fun happenings, follow along on the #FrayLife blog, here to help you conquer all there is to eat, drink, and do in the District.

Ask Eli: What Does Contingent Mean When Buying a Home?

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This regularly-scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Rosslyn resident. Please submit your questions to him via email for response in future columns. Enjoy!

Question: Admittedly, I thought I would be more successful learning about the home-buying process online, but realizing it’s difficult to get clear answers that apply locally. I’m getting confused about the meaning and impact of a contingency and hoping you can explain what contingent means and what I should know about contingent contracts in this area.

Answer: There are plenty of educational resources online about buying a home, but local customs and contracts differ so much by state or region that a great explanation of a topic by an agent in New York may prove to be misleading for a home-buyer in Northern Virginia.

I always recommend that our clients spend some time up-front with us discussing key milestones and contract protocol. You’d be surprised how much even the most seasoned buyers can learn during a 30-60 minute review of the buying process.

Simple Definition

Contingencies, in a real estate transaction, are clauses or addendums added to the Purchase Agreement that give one party the right to cancel or renegotiate the contract if certain things do or do not happen within a pre-determined period of time.

Nearly every contingency you will need is a pre-written form offered by the local Realtors Association (e.g Northern Virginia Association of Realtors) so you don’t have to worry about hiring an attorney to draft the language unless you find yourself in an unusual situation.

If a Buyer cancels the sale within the legal limits of a contingency, they receive a 100% return of their deposit/escrow (Earnest Money Deposit).

The Big Three

There are three standard contingencies used in almost every sale — Home Inspection Contingency, Financing Contingency and Appraisal Contingency.

Like most contingencies, they protect the Buyer. However, they are not required so Buyers may decide to remove some or all of their contingencies in order to improve the strength of their offer. Fewer contingencies equals fewer barriers to sale which is more attractive to a seller.

Home Inspection Contingency — This provides buyers the right to hire a 3rd party home inspector (your Agent should be able to recommend somebody), followed by the buyer’s right to negotiate for repairs and/or credits from the seller and/or the ability to void the contract if an agreement on repairs/credits can’t be reached.

Buyers may elect for a Pass/Fail Contingency which eliminates their right to negotiate repairs/credits, but leaves intact the right to void. Nobody other than the buyer can decide whether a home passes or fails inspection.

The Inspection Contingency Addendum also includes a section for Radon testing, which is applicable when a home has a livable underground basement.

Financing Contingency — A Financing Contingency protects the buyer in the event that they are unable to secure a loan to purchase the home. If a buyer is rejected from their loan application for any reason other than personally sabotaging the loan (e.g. not delivering required documents), they have the right to void the contract.

This is why it is important for sellers to vet their buyer’s pre-approval letter before accepting an offer to make sure they have been fully qualified by a reputable lender. Your Agent should know how to vet the approval and whether there are any red flags.

Appraisal Contingency — If you are taking out a loan to purchase your home, the lender will most likely require a 3rd party appraisal. The Appraisal Contingency protects buyers in the event the appraised value is less than the purchase price.

It allows the buyer to renegotiate the purchase price, add more equity to the loan to maintain their down payment percentage, leave the equity unchanged and reduce the down payment percentage or void the contract.

Other Contingencies

Other less common contingencies include the Association Document Review, which offers Buyers a non-negotiable three-day review period any time they purchase a home in an Association (Condo, Coop, HOA, POA) to review the Resale Package which includes documents like by-laws, rules, budget and reserve study. Upon delivery, Buyers are able to cancel the contract for any reason within three days of receipt.

Another less common contingency relates to the purchase or sale of another home. Sellers may include a contingency that states they must find a home to purchase before they will sell their current home and buyers may include a contingency that requires them to sell their home before they purchase their next home.

Proper Use

After purchase price, contingencies are the next most important terms in a negotiation. You should spend time early in your buying process talking with your Agent about the most efficient use of contingencies to maximize your protection while not unnecessarily compromising the strength of your offer.

This is especially important if you are making an offer on a home that has been on the market for less than two weeks and there is a chance for multiple offers. The winning offer is not always the highest price, but the one who presents the best overall contract. Even in non-competing offers, you may save yourself money on the final purchase price by using contingencies and other terms more efficiently.

As always, if you would like to set-up time to discuss this topic in more detail, don’t hesitate to email me at [email protected] to schedule a meeting. Now go finish up your holiday shopping!

If you’d like a question answered in my weekly column, 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 DC, and Maryland with Real Living At Home, 2420 Wilson Blvd #101 Arlington, VA 22201, (202) 518-8781.

Legal Review: Lawsuit Seeks to Hold Atrium Health in Violation of Federal Employment Law

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

By ERISA violation attorney J. Price McNamara of the Law Offices of J. Price McNamara

A lawsuit filed in North Carolina is asking the court to find Atrium Health in violation of federal rules governing retirement and health benefits. The lawsuit, which was filed by five former employees of Atrium, alleges that Atrium has been avoiding its responsibilities to its employees regarding pension funding and has been using its partial ownership of a health insurance company to force its employees to pay more for care, both of which are violations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, or ERISA.

The purpose of ERISA is twofold: protect employees by ensuring that certain aspects of employer benefits are subject to disclosure and monitoring by the federal government and providing employers with a set of rules within which to operate without fear of governmental overreaching. ERISA only applies to private entities; governmental entities are exempt from ERISA, the reason being that governmental entities are subject to mandatory disclosure and oversight.

“The two biggest areas where disagreements arise are pensions and health insurance,” said J. Price McNamara, an ERISA Violation attorney with the Law Offices of J. Price McNamara in New Orleans, Louisiana. The lawsuit in question deals with each of those areas.

The first is that because Atrium is subject to ERISA, it has violated the law by underfunding its defined benefit plan by $379 million. Defined benefit plans are better known as pensions; amounts paid by an employer to a retired employee based on years of service, not based upon any amount contributed by the employee.

Additionally, Atrium has failed to purchase insurance for its pension plan through the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, the government entity responsible for administering the pension plans of failed or bankrupt companies, another violation of the law.

Finally, the lawsuit contends that Atrium violates ERISA by requiring five years of service before allowing employees to participate in the pension and retirement plans; entities subject to ERISA can keep employees out no longer than three years.

The second area where the lawsuit claims Atrium to be in violation of ERISA is with regard to health insurance. ERISA prevents most employers from using companies that they own to provide health benefits to employees unless the employer can show to the Department of Labor that the health benefits provider puts the needs of employees first

Atrium offers health insurance coverage through MedCost, which it jointly owns with N.C. Baptist Hospitals. The lawsuit alleges that Atrium used MedCost as a way to ensure that medical expenses could be controlled directly because MedCost would be unlikely to seek rate increases from Atrium and would pass as much of the cost of care onto the patient as possible — as evidenced by comparison with similar plans available in the state.

There is a slight twist in this case. The lawsuit alleges that not only has Atrium violated ERISA, but it did so by falsely claiming that it was a governmental entity, thereby making it exempt from ERISA.

Atrium Health claims that its governmental entity exemption is valid because it was originally a “hospital authority”. Hospital authorities have some statutory recognition in North Carolina as being governmental entities under a 1997 statute that recognized the ability of a county to assign to any hospital authority created prior to 1997 the power to provide public health services.

Whether Atrium will fall under this exception remains to be seen; however, the claims put forth by the Plaintiffs raise interesting questions that must be litigated before we can get a better understanding of how North Carolina’s laws will line up with ERISA.

If you believe that your rights to benefits as an employee have been violated by your employers’ actions, do not wait to contact an experienced ERISA Violation Attorney. Issues related to ERISA are complex and require a deep understanding of the federal rules and regulations. Contact a Louisiana ERISA Violation Attorney today to fight for the compensation you deserve.

Industrious Coming to Ballston Exchange in January

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Industrious, the largest premium coworking and flexible workspace provider in the U.S., will officially open its Ballston location on January 7, growing its presence in the D.C. Metro area.

Industrious is known for its beautiful and professional workspaces which are customized for entrepreneurs and mature startups through Fortune 500 companies. Its flexible workspaces are designed for optimal productivity and happiness — with everything from natural light and greenery to a mix of spaces that cater to all types of work and personalities.

The new office will be located in the heart of Ballston — on the third floor of 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Ballston Exchange’s 4201 tower. Within the space, members will find single desks, large conference rooms, luxurious common areas meant for building a strong community, a private nursing room and a kitchen filled with locally sourced coffee and snacks. The property also offers a direct connection to the Ballston Metro Station for seamless commutes and is located right across from Ballston Quarter, a new place for folks to gather, dine and shop.

Industrious offers workspace consultations and virtual tours for those interested in learning more about the different workspace solutions Industrious offers. Industrious will also host a Select Preview week from January 7-11, where members of the community can test out the space and join us for a week of networking, office tours and events to introduce and celebrate the new space. And if you refer a friend, Industrious will say thanks with up to $2,000 and also give new members a discount credit of equal value.

Check out the Industrious website for more information on the company that brings you a great day at work, everyday.

Legal Insider: Five Considerations for Federal Employee Disability Retirement Cases

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 Kimberly H. Berry, Esq.

One of the more typical types of retirement matters that our firm handles involves the representation of federal employees in the disability retirement process before various federal agencies and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

Federal employees thinking about filing for disability retirement should consider the following five issues as they debate whether or not to proceed.

1. How Serious are the Federal Employee’s Medical Disabilities and are They Linked to Duties in Their Position Description?

When making a disability retirement decision OPM evaluates a federal employee’s continued ability to work with their medical condition in the context of the duties described in their position description. OPM uses the phrase “useful and efficient service in your current position” to describe the degree to which a federal employee can carry out their job duties.

If the medical disability is not considered serious enough, or not fully supported by medical documentation and evidence, then OPM may deny the disability retirement application.

2. How Long is the Medical Disability Expected to Last?

The duration of a medical disability is very important when OPM makes a disability retirement decision. OPM generally requires that a medical disability be expected to last at least 1 year.

When considering whether to file for disability retirement, it is important for a federal employee to consider the expected length of the individual’s medical disability. Disabilities with shorter durations can be problematic for federal employees in the disability retirement process.

3. Is it Possible for the Federal Employee to Survive on a Reduced Annuity?

If a federal employee is considering filing for OPM disability retirement, it is important to understand that this type of retirement can provide a federal employee with a lower monthly retirement annuity in comparison to full retirement. Therefore, we recommend that a federal employee consult with a financial advisor about the impact of a potentially reduced annuity before filing for disability retirement.

The good news is that an individual approved for disability retirement can generally work again in the private sector (not in other federal employment) and supplement their income (usually up to 80% of their prior salary) without losing their disability retirement income.

4. Are There Reasonable Accommodations that can be Made to Allow the Federal Employee to Continue to Work?

Sometimes a federal agency will work with an employee to provide them with a reasonable accommodation (i.e., change in duties, assignments, hours, telework or other adjustments) that can make the employee’s current position and medical condition workable and thereby avoid the disability retirement process, although this is less common.

As a part of the disability retirement process, a federal agency is required to certify that it is unable to accommodate your disabling medical condition in their present position.

The agency must also certify that it has considered a federal employee “for any vacant position in the same agency, at the same grade or pay level, and within the same commuting area, for which [you] qualified for reassignment.” Federal agencies typically do not have an issue with such certifications.

5. Does the Federal Employee have Medical Support for Disability Retirement?

Medical documentation and evidence is the most important consideration for a federal employee when filing for disability retirement. We also find that physicians will usually help their patients in the disability retirement process.

When OPM reviews disability retirement applications, they rely heavily on a federal employee’s medical evidence. As a result, physicians and their medical opinions are crucial in the disability retirement application process with OPM.

OPM will require physicians’ statements about a federal employee’s medical issues, and these physician statements can either make or break the potential outcome in the disability retirement application process. It is important for a physician to understand a federal employee’s position description and how their disabilities interfere with their duties.

Conclusion

If you are in need of assistance in the federal employee retirement process 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.

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