Author: ARLnow.com Sponsor

Just Listed in Arlington

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

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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.”

Ever wonder why some homes sell in a week and others linger for months? There’s three major reasons:  location, condition and price. In today’s market, the condition of a home has never been more important. Buyers want homes updated and move-in ready. They will turn their noses up at homes that need updating, no matter what the price. Of course a great combination of location, condition and price is the winning ticket. But today, condition trumps other factors.

This week, 84 sellers listed their homes and 60 buyers ratified contracts. Of those, 15 sold within a week. A common denominator: nearly all were recently updated.

Mortgage interest rates rose a few basis points this week to about 4.07% for a 30-yr fixed rate with no points. The national housing market now shows signs of slowing, and the National Association of Realtors has adjusted their estimates for 2017 performance to drop below that of 2016 with fewer home sales. Lack of inventory is the main reason.

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

Small Biz Focus: Entrepreneurship — Is It for Me?

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
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Have you thought of starting your own business? Have you sat in front of your computer and daydreamed what it would be like to work for yourself? Do you feel a deep passion for innovation or creativity around an activity or industry?

Launching a business takes guts.

Launching a business is hard. (Don’t let Amazon, Apple, Google or Shark Tank fool you.)

Launching a business is about drive, tenacity, passion and a keen sense of self.

BizLaunch has worked with small businesses in Arlington for almost two decades. We have experienced different federal, state and local administrations. Different financial cycles and employment needs. In BizLaunch, we see launching a business as a key to unlock your dream of entrepreneurship — if it is approached in a logical, planned way.

Here are some of our top recommendations if you are thinking about Starting a Business in Arlington:

  • Research — Know your industry sector like nobody has ever known it before. Understand your competition, target market, pricing structure, employees and discover the opportunities for long-term growth. Arlington County Library offers a wealth of resources when it comes to market research for small businesses. Best thing of all — it is free with your Library Card.
  • Mentorship — If you have an idea and wonder if you can start a business or need someone to review your business plan objectively SCORE is your answer. Arlington is fortunate to have SCORE Mentors located at BizLaunch for counseling and mentorship. Best of all it is also free. Our counselors have a variety of professional backgrounds and business experience to meet the needs of Arlington business owners: Ed Coleman, Joe Clarke, Gerry Sanz and Frank Gunion.
  • Planning — Business planning makes the difference between a highly successful business, and a business that is getting by. If you do your due diligence throughout the life cycle of your business you minimize costly mistakes. We offer free or minimal cost workshops on planning each month.
  • Pricing — Know your worth. Don’t have the cheapest costs in town. It will catch up with you.
  • Reach Out — Attend free workshops and conferences on entrepreneurship. Brunch and Business is a great first step to hear firsthand from an Arlington business as to how they have achieved their success. The DC metro area is rich in opportunities to learn about the craft of starting a business. BizLaunch is here to help budding entrepreneurs decide if they are ready to launch their business.

Just Reduced Properties in Arlington

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

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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 is not the listing agent of these homes. 

With the abundance of beautiful foliage and comfortable temps, early Autumn is a stellar time to sell a home. But, how can you get more bang for your buck amid the stellar elements?

For starters, you’ll need to ensure the basics are in good running order. When is the last time that you gave your ole HVAC a good look over or check-up? Sure, it may have survived another Virginia summer, but you’ll want to make sure it’s ready to go for wintertime (and for any prospective buyers).

Separately… the leaves. There will be lots and lots of leaves. And as beautiful as they may be at first, you’re not going to want mounds of brown debris in your yard (or condo courtyard) as the buyers come rolling through. So, make sure your raking game (or your building’s maintenance crew) is on it’s A-game.

As a lifelong Arlingtonian, I have a number of tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your sale this time of year. Let’s chat and get your home sold.

And now, for this week’s numbers.

As of October 10, there are 239 detached homes, 58 townhouses and 312 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 49 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.

100th Ask Eli — How Am I Doing?

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!

Today marks my 100th Ask Eli column, combining for nearly 60,000 words written about our local real estate market. How am I doing? What topics and statistics would you like to see more of?

One thing I’d like to do more of is use this space to help organize the community around ideas most residents care deeply about, but have little information on, like eliminating smoking from condos and saving/growing the tree canopy.

I appreciate everybody who has reached out with feedback, both positive and negative, and thoughtful questions that keep these columns relevant and organic. I also appreciate our active commenters who keep me on my toes and challenge me to back-up my opinions.

A special thank you to Scott Brodbeck and his team for providing us Arlingtonians a valuable source of hyper-local news coverage and a platform to discuss our opinions. Did you know that ARLnow is run from a small office with just a few people, not a newsrooms of fact-checkers, reporters, and writers? I was shocked by how much they accomplish with so few people. Kudos to Scott and his dedicated team.

Thank you for your support and I look forward to providing you with more honest, statistically-driven real estate discussion in my next 100 columns!

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 Insider: Wrongful Termination in Virginia

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

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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

It can be very difficult for an employee to be called into a supervisor’s office or to the human resources office unexpectedly and be informed that his/her employment has been terminated. Following the notice of termination, usually the employee is escorted out of the building and is faced with a sense of shock and loss.

It is important to know that termination proceedings in Virginia are at will, which generally leaves significant discretion to employers in decisions to hire and fire employees.

However, if the employer has violated a state or federal law in terminating the employee (e.g., discrimination, whistleblowing, retaliation), the termination can be considered wrongful and potential avenues to challenge the termination may be available.

One step that a Virginia employee can do following an involuntary termination is to make an appointment with a Virginia employment attorney to review the issues related to the termination action in order to determine whether it can be considered a wrongful termination.

An attorney can also help evaluate what steps may be taken to minimize the career damage that has just occurred and whether the action taken may be appealable.

Employees often have more options following a termination action than is apparent to them on the day of termination. The employer may have broken federal or Virginia laws with respect to the termination action.

If so, then it may be possible to negotiate a resolution, such as through a separation or severance agreement, on behalf of the employee with the employer. This generally happens when the employee retains an attorney to contact the employer about the inappropriate nature of the employee’s termination in violation of applicable employment laws.

Following an employee’s termination, many Virginia employees ask our firm whether they should also apply for unemployment compensation. The answer as to whether an employee should apply for unemployment compensation depends on the factual circumstances of the termination.

Even if an employer terminates an employee in Virginia for alleged misconduct, the employee may still be able to seek and obtain unemployment compensation.

In addition, in Virginia the employer has the burden of proof if they want to argue that the employee was terminated for misconduct. The employer essentially has to prove that the employee violated a significant company rule (and it usually must be a clear rule).

In addition, it is often the case that an employee, through wrongful discharge negotiations, may obtain a resolution where the employer agrees not to contest unemployment.

Finally, an employee should keep in mind that if the employee is terminated for poor performance, as opposed to misconduct, unemployment compensation is generally granted. However, any separation or severance compensation received by the employee will typically delay receipt of unemployment compensation.

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WWBG: Get Them While They’re Hot!

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

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Editor’s Note: This biweekly column is sponsored by Dominion Wine and Beer (107 Rowell Court, Falls Church). It is written by Garrett Cruce, a Cicerone Program Certified Beer Server.

Two breweries are newly available, one at Dominion Wine & Beer and one at its sister store Downtown Crown Wine & Beer in Gaithersburg. The former is welcoming Athens, Ohio’s Jackie O’s Brewery, while the latter is offering several bombers from Brooklyn-based, Sterling-brewing Grimm Artisanal Ales.

Jackie O’s Brewery — Athens, Ohio

In the small college town that is best known as home to Ohio University sits a brewpub that began life in 1995 as O’Hooleys, but became the famed Jackie O’s in 2005. Art Oestrike bought the brewpub and began a new era of brewing in Athens, naming it after it his mother Jackie. The name was to be a sort of memorial as she was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer around the same time.

In 2013, Jackie O’s purchased a former cheese factory building and opened their 8,000 barrel production brewery. They have already distinguished themselves from their peers as they have four beers currently on Beer Advocate’s Top Rated Beers list, all of them dark, rich beers.

While their stouts have made that list, they are also known for IPAs and sours. As Jackie O’s production capability expands, so does their distribution. The modest, but superlative Midwest brewery began distributing from coast to coast. Their beers, which are kegged, canned and bottled, are currently available at Dominion Wine & Beer.

Berliner Weisse (5.2% ABV)

“No kettles were soured in the making of this beer.” So goes the claim on the 16.9 oz bottle. Jackie O’s ages their cultured beers in the solera method, which usually involves moving beers from one vessel to another as the liquid ages.

The Berliner Weisse ages for three months before being packaged and distributed. Pouring a light amber, this sour wheat beer gave off aromas of bitter citrus — lemons and oranges — with a faint hint of acetone. Given the fact that Jackie O’s avoids the typical lemony tang of kettle-soured beers, this is a complex tasting beer. Sour plum and green apple combine to bring the tartness while the malt adds a slight sweetness, which lingers on the tongue. Refreshing and refined, this sour deserves a good look, especially in these summery Fall days that feel warmer than October should.

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Just Listed in Arlington

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

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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.”

Sshhh… be quiet… and listen…

Can you hear the market whispering? It’s talking to us, very subtly. It’s saying things are slowing down, buyers are hesitant, there’s no sense of urgency, complacency is replacing vibrancy.

A common theme has emerged this week when talking with real estate professionals like agents, loan officers and title closers. They describe the market as “off,” “funky,” “soft,” “weird,” “squishy.” These are not yet technical terms in real estate lexicon, but they portend things to come. We may be on the verge of a subtle shift.

When consumers’ confidence in the economy wanes, it’s reflected in a depressed housing market because they are averse to risk regarding major financial decisions and commitments. When consumers feel the future economy is strong, it’s reflected in active home and auto sales.

This week in Arlington, 83 sellers put their homes on the market and 56 buyers ratified contracts. And about 60 sellers lowered their prices, a high number for the peak of the Fall market.

Interest rates show tiny signs of inching upward. The 30-yr fixed rate ticked up about 4 basis points this week to about 4.05%. The Fed’s move to shed 10-yr T bills and mortgage backed securities is competing with Treasury’s sale of 10-yr bonds so it raised the yield this week by 8 basis point, which in turn influenced mortgage rates. Increased rates will lower a home buyer’s purchasing power. Are dark clouds forming on the horizon of our housing market?

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

Healthy Paws: Arthritis

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Healthy Paws

Editor’s Note: Healthy Paws is a column sponsored and written by the owners of Clarendon Animal Care, a full-service, general practice veterinary clinic and winner of a 2017 Arlington Chamber of Commerce Best Business Award. The clinic is located 3000 10th Street N., Suite B. and can be reached at 703-997-9776.

Arthritis is something that we see pretty commonly in our pet cats and dogs. Most people think of big dogs and their predisposition to getting hip dysplasia — but we’ve come to recognize that cats and every size of dog are prone to getting arthritis as they age…much like us. They are just SO much better at hiding the symptoms for so much longer than most of us wimpy humans.

When we break it down to it’s Latin & Greek roots arthritis means “inflammation of a joint.” There are two main classes of arthritis — osteoarthritis: which is a chronic use/degenerative process of a joint that develops from overuse or poor conformation of the joint; and inflammatory/immune mediated arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Inflammation, in short/brief doses is good for the body — but when uncontrolled can lead to destruction of the cartilage. In attempts to stabilize the joint and reduce pain, inflammation often leads to excess bone production along the joint edge (such as bone spurs) that actually lead to more pain and inflammation…and the cycle continues.

Symptoms of arthritis can include overt joint pain (i.e. lameness, stiffness) but also more subtle changes such as reduced activity (reluctance on walks, jumping, etc…), inappropriate elimination (many times because it is painful to posture to urinate/defecate) or changes in behavior or mood.

True diagnosis of osteoarthritis is made with x-rays — but we are often suspicious of it and may will manage accordingly based on physical exam findings and history alone. Management of arthritis involves nutrition, weight management, exercise, nutritional supplements and depending on the severity prescription pain medications.

A multi-modal approach to pain management often results is better comfort and many times less needed drug. Two of the most important things to start with are weight and exercise.  A trim/fit dog or cat is going to be able to deal with arthritis much better than an overweight/out of shape pet, as the physical stress on the joints is going to be less.

Regular, controlled exercise is also so important as it helps maintain a normal joint range of motion as well as muscle mass — which is necessary to support a joint. As our pets get older they tend to lose muscle mass and get overweight — which exacerbates any predisposition for arthritis development.

Diagnosis of other types of arthritis (such as infectious arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis) often involves a much more extensive work up with blood work, joint taps or other diagnostics, and may involve additional treatments such as antibiotics or immunosuppressive drugs.  

Arthritis, while potentially painful for our pets, can often be well-managed — if you are concerned that your pet may be suffering from arthritis, we recommend talking with your pet’s veterinarian about the best options for him/her.

Just Reduced Properties in Arlington

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

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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 is not the listing agent of these homes. 

Before we jump in to our local market here, I’d like to take a quick moment to spotlight one of my favorite places: Las Vegas.

Vegas has been home to so many wonderful memories for me and my family throughout the years. Most recently, we took a cross-country trek this past summer, with Vegas being a must-stop along the way.

Much like our area, the city is just so full of life and it’s a place where people simply want to have fun. To see what Las Vegas has been through this past week has been incredibly difficult, as I’m sure it has been for so many of you who have ever been there.

As we sit here thousands of miles away, my thoughts and prayers are with the city and anyone affected.

And now, our local real estate numbers:

As of October 3 there are 246 detached homes, 59 townhouses and 302 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 25 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.

Ask Eli: How Old Is Arlington Housing?

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: How old are most of the homes in Arlington and where are the newer homes located?

Answer: I thought I’d balance last week’s column on schools with something a bit less controversial… the age of our housing stock. The majority of housing units in Arlington were built from the 1930s through the 1950s.

With limited land available to build new communities, the majority of single family homes built in the 21st century are one-off projects replacing older homes instead of larger new communities you see elsewhere in the country.

I pulled data on all sales in Arlington since Jan 1, 2010 and broke it down by the decade. Each housing unit was built to provide some insight into the age of our market and where you’re likely to find the most homes for sale built in the 21st century. Note that this is not a dataset of all Arlington housing units, just those sold since 2010.

Data Highlights

  • About 40% of Arlington’s condo inventory was built in the 2000s and caters to our huge population of wealthy millennials
  • The fastest selling (highest demand) sub-market is for 1940s townhomes in Fairlington, a popular destination for young families due to affordability, convenience and walkability to Shirlington Village
  • Despite the average family size in the US decreasing by about one person since the mid 1900s, the average single family home built in the 21st century has 1.5 more bedrooms, 2 more bathrooms and is over twice the size (they also take the longest to sell)
  • The oldest home sold since 2010 was built in 1836 and located in the Alcova Heights neighborhood (off Glebe Rd, between Rt 50 and Columbia Pike) and sold for $950,000
  • Nearly half of single family homes built in the 21st century are located in the 22207 zip code
  • Housing built in the 1940s (4,647) and 2000s (4,218) make up 40% of the housing units sold since 2010
  • Single family homes built in the 1940s sell fastest among all single family homes, likely due to demand for homes to be torn down or expanded and renovated

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The Chew: ‘Adopt a Shelter Dog’ Month

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

The following bi-weekly column is written and sponsored by Bark + Boarding, which provides a heart-centered and safe environment for your pets. Conveniently located at 5818-C Seminary Road in Bailey’s Crossroads, Bark & Boarding offers doggy daycare, boarding, grooming, walking and training services, plus in-home pet care.

Rae Patterson, Writer and Animal Enthusiast

Adopting a shelter dog might seem a little spooky to someone who is accustomed to a specific breed and the expected traits that come with it. But rescuing a mutt might be more of a treat than you expect. October is National “Adopt a Shelter Dog Month,” so it’s the perfect time to consider these 4 reasons a rescue dog might be your perfect fit.

Adult Dogs: The dogs at your local Humane Society may not have a birth certificate or a documented personality profile, but they aren’t a total mystery. One of the benefits of adopting from a shelter is that the dogs are usually adults. This removes some of the unknowns; such as the dog’s personality after spay/neuter procedures and the dog’s full-grown size.

Miranda adopted her boxer mix as a puppy and his estimated size was 40 lbs… 90lbs later and that estimate went right out the window. Adopting an adult dog is a great way to make sure you abide by your apartment or condos size restrictions.

A puppy is a lot of fun but also a lot of work. The constant supervision that puppies need means that a puppy might not be the right choice for everyone. Adopting an adult dog from a shelter allows you to bypass the puppy teething stage and often the potty-training process as well.

More Economical: Purebred puppies and even specialty mixed-breed puppies can be extremely expensive. The highly popular Goldendoodle tends to start at $950 per puppy. Adoption fees at a shelter are likely to be only $100-$300, and these fees almost always include spay/neuter, the dog’s most recent vaccines, flea medication and often microchipping.

This is an excellent price, considering all the supplies and care that have already been invested in these rescue dogs, and considering the usual cost for spay or neuter surgery to individuals is around $200-$500. Many shelters also have events promoting adoption, during which adoption fees can be as low as $25. This October shelters and rescues all over the U.S. will be offering reduced adoption fees for “Adopt a Shelter Dog Month.”

Health Benefits: Although health will ultimately depend on the individual dog, mutts do have the advantage of being less prone to genetic disease. Mutts tend to be hardier, often enjoying a lower risk of joint, spine, heart and organ problems than many purebreds.

In a 2013 study of the medical records from a veterinary clinic that examined over 27,000 dogs, scientists found that 10 common genetic disorders appeared significantly more in purebred dogs. This is not to say that you should never get a purebred dog. Many breeders employ vets and geneticists to aid in reducing the likelihood of such disorders.

The probability of health benefits of mutts is simply one factor to consider when choosing a new dog, and perhaps a factor that will encourage those uncertain dog shoppers to try something new.

Grateful Companions: Perhaps the best reason to consider adopting a shelter dog is the simple reward of helping an animal in need. Shelters across the U.S. are full to the brim every year. The ASPCA estimates that around 1.5 million shelter animals are euthanized each year primarily due to a lack of space and resources.

Aside from the risk of euthanasia, even the best and most loving shelter cannot take the place of a permanent home. Shelter dogs often come from a rough background, whether scrounging as a stray or suffering from abuse or neglect. Those dogs know when they find a good home and a good human, and they will be grateful animals their entire lives.

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