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:

2152 N Quebec Street
7 bed/5 bath, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: Sarah Howard
Listed: $1,165,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

1137 S Monroe Street
4 bed/4 bath, 1 half bath villa/townhouse
Agent: Ellen Robinson
Listed: $899,990
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

 

3625 10th Street N #104
2 bed/2 bath condo
Agent: Katie Wethman
Listed: $835,000
Open: Sunday 1-3 p.m.

 

2800 S Ives Street
4 bed/2 bath, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: Minhthu Lynagh
Listed: $700,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

 

2328 S Quincy Street #2
3 bed/2 bath, 1 half bath condo
Agent: Phil Bolin
Listed: $459,900
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

1600 N Oak Street #1104
1 bed/1 bath condo
Agent: Jay Lindsey
Listed: $364,900
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

1300 S Army Navy Drive #710
1 bed/1 bath condo
Agent: Faryal Rashid
Listed: $227,900
Open: Saturday 2-4 p.m.

Flying Colors: Taking Flight

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Flying Colors column banner

Flying Colors is a sponsored column on the hobby of backyard bird feeding written by Michael Zuiker, owner of the Wild Birds Unlimited store at the Lee Harrison Shopping Center. Visit the store at 2437 N. Harrison Street or call 703-241-3988.

We have watched them all summer long. With careful observation, we started to notice a change in them. They are stronger, more confident and readier to take on the world without supervision.

No, I am not talking about your kids going back to school. Although they are and they are going to spread their wings, exert their independence and want to take charge of their life. Okay, maybe not Johnny and Susie in Pre-K! But Sierra and Asher in college and, well that could be quite an adventure.

But your feathered friends in your yards are also going through some big changes. Did you know that most of the birds in your backyard and going through the process of molting?

The birds in your yards are at peak molting stage now. They are growing their new adult feathers that they will keep with them the rest of their lives. Think of it like going to the clothing store for your kids. They need clothes for the fall and winter. So, do the birds.

But boy do they look strange! Remember when Tommy wanted that “rats’ tail” hairdo? Or when Sonja came home with BRIGHT PINK hair? It took a little getting use to. You will do a double take when you see the “bald” cardinal. And the blue jay with the mohawk will take you by surprise!

We all want them to look like Rod Stewart with the perfect crop on the top! And they will get there. It takes time. But you can help.

Birds feathers are 90% protein. When they drop their first feathers, it takes a lot of energy to grow new ones. In an effort to help them, you could feed them bugs. Live mealworms are a great source of food for them. Dried mealworms are also nutritious. You can place dried mealworms in your regular seed mix or leave them out by themselves.

There are also suet cakes with a lot of bugs in them which will provide birds with both the energy from the fat and the protein from the bugs!

Why feed bugs when they can fly around and eat all the bugs, especially mosquitos in my yard? I want those bugs to go and the birds to work for them! Well it may seem like mosquitos are out all the time, but they are most active at night. So, attracting bats to your backyard habitat with the installation of a bat house, would be an effective way to reduce that population, even by a little.

Bats eat many different types of insects, mosquitos being only one of the many bugs they consume. Migrating warblers, in spring and fall also eat mosquitos. Best way to get them in your yard for a few days stay over is by providing clean fresh water in a birdbath. Using a dripper or mister, to provide continuous fresh water, works the best.

Live mealworms will also get them to visit your yard. They will eat your mealworms and other flying insect in your yard while they are resting for their journey.

Let us get these rascals off to a good start with new clothes; i.e. bird feathers, high protein foods to eat and they will look better than ever come this Fall. You and your birds will be ready and prepared for the adventures of adulthood. Johnny and Susie may have to wait a little while longer.

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.”

The last week of summer is typically one of the slowest weeks of the year for real estate activity. But this week was surprising with 58 ratified contracts and 57 new listings.

Some old lingering inventory got cleared out which raised the average days on market to 45. And buyers ratified 16 contracts on homes that had been on the market less than a week. So this was a strong last week of summer as we’re about ready to hit the Fall market after Labor Day.

Interest rates remained virtually unchanged at 4.65%-4.75% for a 30-yr fixed rate with no points.

Glossary term: Mortgage.

A mortgage is a loan secured by real estate. It consists of two instruments; a “promissory note” (basically an IOU) which details the terms like loan amount, interest rate, and period of repayment; and a “trust deed” which legally pledges the property as collateral. If you don’t pay, you don’t stay.

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

Add More Fun To Your Week & Meet New People This Fall with DC Fray

1/5

DC Fray has 130+ leagues across 15+ sports in 20+ neighborhoods this Fall so you can find the perfect league for you.

No team is needed to sign up. This is your excuse to go out on a week night, make new friends and enjoy happy hours with your teammates. Leagues are selling out and registration closes soon, so don’t wait to sign up! Join as an individual, small group or full team at dcfray.com/leagues.

PLUS *get lit* with GLOW Sports! Light up the field at dcfray.com/glow.

Arts Focus: The Partnership Behind The Rosslyn Jazz Festival

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
1/4

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

Now in its 28th year, the Rosslyn Jazz Festival is one of Arlington County’s signature events, annually drawing thousands to hear internationally-renowned musical artists.

Presented by the Rosslyn Business Improvement District (BID) and co-sponsored with Arlington’s Cultural Affairs Division/Arlington Arts, the partnership harnesses the respective strengths of the locally-focused non-profit and Arlington County Government to maximum effect.

“Having a thriving arts and culture scene is key to attracting a residential base and workforce that are vital to the business community today,” said Mary-Claire Burick, president of the Rosslyn BID. “We’re in a competitive region, and collaborating with local organizations like Arlington Arts to host one of the region’s largest festivals gives us an edge when we’re talking to businesses that are looking to relocate or expand in Rosslyn.”

Most of the on-the-ground logistics, such as permitting, promotion and vendor area coordination, are led by the BID. Using their formidable network of staff, volunteers and community connections, the BID transforms the three-acre Gateway Park and the surrounding thoroughfares into a safe, smooth-running festival-site, stocked with some of the area’s top food trucks with options to engage the entire family.

While the County had always provided production and marketing support, since 2001 the programming team at Arlington Arts expanded their role to oversee all elements of the on-stage production and curating the musical line-up. Re-envisioning the festival to highlight more national and international touring artists, attendance quickly rose from 1,200 to an average 7,000 annually.

“Like jazz itself the festival has evolved,” says Josh Stoltzfus, who programs the Festival, as Director of Cultural Development for Arlington Arts. “During the past several years, we’ve been incorporating a more diverse array of music to feature critically acclaimed global music, soul, funk and all manner of jazz-related expression.”

Last year, the festival enjoyed one of its best years to-date, drawing more than 10,000 attendees. It’s not unusual to see audience members who travel from as far away as Philadelphia, Raleigh or Chicago for the event, all of which benefits Arlington’s restaurant and hotel industry as well.

Free and open to the public, this year’s Rosslyn Jazz Festival takes place on Saturday, September 8 from 1-7 p.m. at Gateway Park, 1300 Lee Highway (2 blocks from Rosslyn Metro, at the foot of Key Bridge). For information, visit www.rosslynva.org/jazzfest or arlingtonarts.org.

For 2018, the Rosslyn Jazz Festival continues to pack a serious artistic wallop:

Cory Henry & The Funk Apostles (5:30 p.m.) — Uniquely blending blues, soul, R&B, Afrobeat, gospel and jazz, NPR calls two-time Grammy award winner and former Snarky Puppy keyboardist Cory Henry “a master” and says his “musical charisma is a match for a nearly 400 pound [Hammond B-3] organ.”

Orquesta Akokán (3:45 p.m.) — Listening to Orquesta Akokán’s debut on Daptone Records, you feel the spirits of Cuba’s musical giants. Making their DC/Baltimore area debut, you’ll marvel at how this 14-piece big band conveys the power and playfulness of the renowned Latin dance orchestras of the 1940’s and 1950’s yet still manage to sound fresh and new.

True Loves (2:20 p.m.) — Seattle’s eight-piece instrumental soul group makes their East Coast debut. John Rickards of KEXP calls them one of the city’s best bands. “It’s the soundtrack to that car chase you’ve always wanted to be in,” he says.

Aztec Sun (1:00 p.m.) — Known for their infectious songwriting and rhythmic versatility, Aztec Sun has twice landed a top spot on Washington City Paper’s coveted “best of” list. Modeled in the funk and soul traditions, they’re a go-to band for live events and house parties in the D.C. area.

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.

Okay, so I’m a big cycling fan and have to share a pretty cool event hitting Arlington for the first time ever: The Disaster Relief Trials on Sept 29.

In a nutshell, here’s the scoop: It’s a ride that begins and ends at Thomas Jefferson Community Center and participants have to travel throughout the county — on bike! — all while completing disaster relief-related tasks. Groups or individuals can sign up in a variety of categories. There will be food to haul to those in need, tasks to complete, messages to deliver and more… across trails, rough terrain and even water. Oh, and you can’t use a GPS (simulating a true disaster, folks).

Yes, it sounds kinda like The Amazing Race. Plus, if a disaster ever hit our neck of the woods, you’ll be ready to hop on your bike if need be and act (amid the inevitable gridlock).

Catch you out on the trails, friends! And now on to this week’s facts and figures…

As of August 27, there are 194 detached homes, 42 townhouses and 236 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 43 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.

Setting the Pace of Global Education in Northern Virginia

1/8

What does it mean to prepare students to succeed in any challenge?

One revolutionary school in Northern Virginia sets out to answer this question through their comprehensive liberal arts and sciences program, which is benchmarked to the best educational systems in the world.

BASIS Independent McLean, a PreK-12 private school located in Tysons Corner, focuses on preparing students with the content knowledge and critical thinking skills necessary for success in an ever-changing world.

The Northern Virginia campus was opened in 2016 and is part of the lauded BASIS Curriculum Schools network, which includes six out the 10 top-ranked schools in the country, according to U.S News & World Report.

Centered on the belief that students can do more than what is typically expected of them, BASIS Independent McLean challenges students to reach the highest international levels and holds them accountable for mastering a wide breadth of subject material.

Each discipline is taught by passionate subject experts who have professional expertise or advanced degrees in their chosen field, and who help students become excellent problem solvers poised to confidently tackle whatever comes their way.

“Our school really stretches students’ expectations and requires them to strive for achievements that they previously didn’t think they could achieve,” says Mr. Sharp, English Subject Expert Teacher at BASIS Independent McLean.

In just two years as an established learning community, the school has already made an impact on the educational landscape, winning two state MATHCOUNTS competitions and participating in various national and state events, including the Washington National Youth Music Competition, Model UN and National History Bowl, just to name a few!

Register for an information session on September 29 to learn more about the world-acclaimed program and unparalleled learning culture at BASIS Independent McLean.

Applications are open for fall 2019. Visit our website for more details.

https://youtu.be/W1lAx47ZYaM

Ask Eli: How Much Mortgage Can I Afford?

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: My husband and I are in the early stages of planning our first home purchase and currently trying to set a budget. What advice do you give clients to help them decide how much of a mortgage they can afford?

Answer: Spend too much and you’ll have a half-empty home for a few years. Don’t spend enough and you may be moving sooner than you hoped. This week we’ll break down some of the conversations I have early on with clients as they’re deciding how much mortgage they can afford.

How Much Are You Allowed to Spend?

I often find that professionals employed in the D.C. Metro are allowed to spend more than they actually want to spend. That’s a good thing! It means we have a lot of highly qualified buyers who have enough fiscal sense not to spend to their limits (ahem… US Government… ahem).

Even so, the first thing you’ll want to do is determine how much you’re allowed to spend by talking with a lender who will provide an honest, detailed review of your finances to let you know what your maximum loan and monthly payment amount is. A good lender will also serve as a valuable advisor as you plan your budget.

Here’s a link to a column I wrote last year with my favorite loan programs including low down payment options, 10% no PMI loans, and doctor loans.

Length of Ownership

I’ve said it before and I’m saying it again — the amount of time you expect to own your home is extremely important in your home-buying strategy and often glossed over.

If you are buying a 3-5 year home (accurate for many first-time buyers) your focus should be on value and keeping your cost down so that you give yourself room to save for your next purchase, which is likely a longer-term home. Your income and inflation are less likely to increase significantly in that time, so an expensive monthly payment now will still feel expensive in 3-5 years.

If you are buying a 10-15+ year home, the greatest value you’ll generate is choosing a home that suits you and your family long-term. The cost of buying something too small or too far from work that leads to a sale halfway through your intended ownership period is often much higher (taxes, commissions, closing costs, moving costs, etc) than the cost of moving into a slightly uncomfortable range of your budget.

Your mortgage payment hopefully won’t feel expensive forever if you’re in the first half of your professional career because you’ll likely have significant increases in income and, over time, the effects of inflation will minimize the stress of your mortgage (if it’s a fixed rate mortgage).

Monthly vs Down Payment

I find that most people based their budget on their savings and thus, the amount they have to put down towards a max purchase price. For some reason, monthly expenses often go overlooked so don’t forget to consider how much you’re comfortable spending each month which includes your mortgage, taxes (assume annual increases), applicable condo or HOA fees and homeowner’s insurance.

This doesn’t include a budget for maintenance and repairs, which should be estimated at an annual expense of 1-2% of your home’s value. Your purchase price budget is like the glamour muscles that everybody pays attention to, but the monthly payments are like your core muscles that support the whole thing… does that make sense to anybody else?

Savings is clearly an important factor in what you can afford. Your savings determines the amount you can put down; although with solid loan products available with as little as 3% down, many buyers qualify for a lot of house with little savings.

In addition to your down payment, you’ll pay 2-3% of the purchase price in closing costs like taxes, fees, insurance, and escrows (closing costs can be paid by the seller). Finally, don’t forget about what you’ll need after you close — moving and furniture add up quickly and you should always have 3-6 months of fixed/living expenses in savings in case of emergency.

Don’t Tempt Yourself

Once you decide on your budget, don’t allow yourself to visit properties that are highly unlikely to drop within your budget. One of the easiest ways to derail your progress is visiting homes 10-20% over budget, leading you to desire features that only exist together in homes you can’t afford. Save the window shopping for another time if you’re serious about buying a home now.

Ultimately, the best way to decide how much mortgage you can afford is to plan ahead by establishing a relationship with a lender and taking enough time to explore your options with an agent who understands the market and your needs.

With enough planning and work, you’ll be able to decide for yourself if the mortgage you can afford gets you the home you want, or if paying rent for another year is better than paying a mortgage.

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: U.S. Gun Violence Prompts Connecticut Walkouts

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

By Criminal Defense Attorney Sean Barrett with the law firm Billings & Barrett.

Students and faculty across Connecticut participated in a nationwide walkout to protest gun violence in schools. The focus of the walkout was to bring attention to a lack of action on gun laws and also raise awareness and avoid incidents like Sandy Hook and Parkland in the future.

Connecticut has some of the strongest gun laws in the nation. The state has passed a “red flag” law, which allows friends, family and certain medical professionals to file petitions with the court and ask that an order be entered removing firearms from the possession of individuals who are found to pose a present danger to themselves or others.

Additionally, Connecticut requires that anyone seeking to purchase a firearm obtain a permit and all transfers of hand guns and long guns must be authorized by the state, creating a de-facto gun registry. Magazines with capacities in excess of ten rounds are no longer legal to sell or transfer, though their possession has not been outlawed.

In terms of concealed weapons, Connecticut’s laws do not differentiate between the open carry and concealed carry of hand guns, but they do require a permit, regardless of the carrying desire of the individual. The authorities issuing that permit are, based on court decisions, required to issues those permits in the absence of a compelling reason not to do so, but those authorities still have some discretion in making that ultimate determination.

“Running afoul of these laws in Connecticut can be expensive and the punishments can be severe,” said Sean Barrett, a New Haven, Connecticut Gun Crimes Attorney with the law firm of Billings & Barrett. For example, possession of a firearm that has been banned by the state can result in up to three years in prison and up to $500 in fines. Additionally, possession of firearms during the commission of certain felonies can add five, non-suspendable, non-concurrent years to any prison sentence being faced.

Connecticut is a state that takes its gun laws seriously and treats those who violate those laws harshly. If you have been charged with a gun crime in the state, experienced counsel is critical to a positive outcome.

Legal Insider: Wrongful Termination Rights in Virginia

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.

We often meet with individuals that believe that they have been wrongfully terminated from their employer. When dealing with these types of employment issues, it is important to seek out the advice of a Virginia employment attorney knowledgeable in these areas of law.

Nothing is quite the same as being called into a supervisor’s office or to an employer’s HR office (usually on a Friday) only to be informed that their employment has been terminated.

In most cases, the employee is unaware of the pending termination and there is little advance notice. Once notice is given, the person is often quickly escorted out of the office and is faced with both a sense of shock and loss. Many employees are left bewildered, wondering about their rights.

Wrongful Termination Law in Virginia   

Employee terminations in Virginia are considered “at will”, which generally leaves it to the discretion of an employer to terminate an employee for pretty much any reason.

However, if the employer has violated a state or federal law in terminating the employee, the termination can be considered wrongful and there may be potential avenues to challenge the termination. These can include, but are not limited to:

  1. Whistleblowing Reprisal
  2. Discrimination (age, race, sex, national origin, etc.)
  3. Sexual Harassment
  4. Hostile Work Environment
  5. Violation of Employment Contract

Determine Your Legal Options

The first step that a Virginia employee should take if they believe that they have been wrongfully terminated is to make an appointment with a Virginia employment attorney to determine whether or not the action falls into the category of a “wrongful termination.”

It is also important to consult with an attorney to see what steps may be taken to minimize the career damage that has just occurred and whether the action taken may be appealable.

It is usually the case that employees have more options following a termination than are apparent to them initially. The employer may have broken (or bent) federal or Virginia laws with respect to the termination action. If so, then it may be possible to negotiate a resolution on behalf of the employee, with the employer, resolving the matter.

A resolution generally occurs more often when the employee retains an attorney to contact the employer about the inappropriate or illegal nature of an employee’s termination. An attorney may also be able to tell an employee if their termination does not meet the criteria for wrongful termination and offer other strategies.

Conclusion

When facing wrongful termination issues in Virginia it is important to obtain the advice of and representation of an attorney.  Our law firm advises and represents individuals in wrongful termination matters in Virginia and other jurisdictions. We can be contacted at www.berrylegal.com or by telephone at 703-668-0070.

Please also visit and like us on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Rethink Energy: No-Cost Weatherization for Income and Age Qualifying Home Energy Improvements

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

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.

High utility bills disproportionately impact those with lower incomes. On average, low-income households pay 7.2 percent of their income on utilities — more than three times the amount that higher income households pay (2.3 percent).

Families struggling to pay energy bills may sacrifice nutrition, medicine and other necessities, which compound the effects of inequality. Energy efficiency can make a noticeable difference.

The Income and Age-Qualifying Home Improvement program provides in-home energy assessments and installation of select energy-saving products. Single-family homes and multi-family homes (apartments or condos) all qualify.

To help save on energy costs, qualifying Dominion Energy customers can receive a free energy assessment and free energy-saving measures that may include:

  • ENERGY STAR® qualified LED light bulbs
  • Efficient, low-flow showerheads
  • Efficient, low-flow faucet aerators
  • Pipe wrap insulation for hot water pipes
  • Attic insulation and air sealing

Eligible applicants must meet ONE of the following criteria:

  • Household income is less than 60% of the state median income
  • Household income is less than 120% of the state median income for residents over 60 years of age

These retrofits can make a big difference to some families, so please share this information.

View More Stories