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Rethink Energy: Declare Your Independence from High Energy Bills

Published July 2, 2016 at 12:00PM

Arlingtonians have more options than ever to declare their independence from high energy use this summer, and to save money and reduce waste all year. July 4th is a great time to relax, reflect, and rethink.

Here are a few of our previous posts that will save you money:

Enjoy the holiday!

This regularly-scheduled sponsored Q&A 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. Got a question? Email us at [email protected]!

#Rethink Energy

Just Listed in Arlington

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Published July 1, 2016 at 6:00AM

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.”

Happy 4th of July! Team Cathell wishes you and your family a fun and safe holiday weekend.

Home buyers in Arlington kept up the pace of sales this week with 74 ratified contracts, and many of those were properties that had lingered on the market for months. Looks like the buyers found some good deals. Sellers this week were a little shy to go on the market with only 61 new listings which is understandable since many would-be buyers are gone this weekend for the holiday.

Good news on interest rates: the uncertainty of the effect of the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union on the global economy has sent long term interest rates here downward. The 30-year fixed rate mortgage dropped 12-19 basis points this week to about 3.6%, and could drop even further. So if you haven’t already refinanced, the next few weeks might be a window of opportunity.

Have a wonderful holiday!

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

#Just Listed

Ann Wilson Homes Team Recognized by Washingtonian

Published June 30, 2016 at 8:00AM | Updated June 30, 2016 at 8:30AM

Ann Wilson Team, l-r: Carol Pearson, Cindy May, Ann Wilson, Chelsea Jacobs and Nancy Carter

Ann Wilson Team, l-r: Chelsea Jacobs, Nancy Carter, Ann Wilson, Cindy May and Todd Lee

Ann Wilson and Keller Williams Colleague Mitch Curtis

Classic Ann Wilson Homes Team “Pop By” — delivered to clients on special occasions throughout the year

A realtor is not a salesperson. They’re a matchmaker. They introduce people to homes, until they fall in love with one. Then they’re a wedding planner. ~ Unknown Author

Ann Wilson and the Ann Wilson Homes Team are honored to be named a “Best Residential Real Estate Agent” and “Best Real Estate Producer” in the D.C. region by Washingtonian Magazine. Just 101 realtors were selected for the 2016 Best Agents List, which recognizes overall customer satisfaction and service excellence.

The Top Producers List is based on 2015 sales volume and recognizes individuals, teams and groups who meet the set level of sales excellence. This is the Ann Wilson Team’s second year in a row on both lists. She and her team are part of Keller William’s Arlington office.

“I am so proud of our amazing team, who were instrumental in earning this great honor,” Ann Wilson said. “We are also lucky to work with the best clients imaginable – it’s a joy and a privilege, and being recognized for our work is just a double bonus,” Wilson adds.

The secret to the team’s success is its commitment to the Arlington community, where Wilson and her team members have lived for more than 20 years.

“We raised our kids here, sent them to the County schools, served on PTA’s, volunteered with sports teams and other community groups. We know first-hand which homes are located near the Metro, what all of the schools are like, where the dog parks are, and where to find the best cup of coffee. And we can tell you all the reasons why you should live in Northern Virginia!

The Ann Wilson Team provides honest advice and creative solutions, offering a wide range of services including complimentary home staging for all sellers. The team uses state-of-the-art technology that exposes sellers’ homes to millions of potential buyers.

“We stay on top of the Arlington and Northern Virginia housing market,” Wilson points out. “We have proven marketing strategies that get homes sold quickly and make transactions seamless.”

“We believe there is a perfect home for every buyer and a great contract waiting for every seller,” Wilson adds. “Seeing our clients’ excitement when the offer is accepted on their perfect house gives us sheer joy. A match made in heaven: that’s what it’s all about for us.”

The preceding post was written by Karen Bate and sponsored by Ann Wilson Homes Team.

#real estate

Rental Trends: Understanding The Rent Increase Laws in Washington, D.C.

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Published June 29, 2016 at 2:30PM

This biweekly sponsored column is written by the experts at Gordon James Realty, a local property management firm that specializes in residential real estate, commercial real estate and home owner associations. Please submit any questions in the comments section or via email.

How much can rent increase in Washington, D.C.?

This is a common question we receive from DC landlords. It’s important to understand your rights and responsibilities and the rent increase laws in DC.

The following does not constitute legal advice, however it should provide a good overview. Please consult with your attorney or the DC Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs for advice on your specific situation.

Raising the Rent in DC

Rental increases in DC are typically governed by the terms of the lease and whether the unit is rent controlled. If not registered as exempt, most rentals are rent controlled. Notable exemptions include properties built after 1975 and those owned by a person with four or fewer rental properties. Landlords cannot raise the rent if there is an agreement – usually a written lease – between the landlord and tenant with a specified rental amount.

Rentals Exempt from Rent Control

As long as they follow the terms of the lease, landlords who rent units that are exempt from rent control may typically raise the rent by any reasonable amount, and at any time, as long as such rent increases are not done for any illegal purposes, like seeking vengeance on a tenant for taking lawful action against the landlord. Landlords must give 30 days written notice. While the size of the increase may not be limited by the laws, landlords should carefully consider the market. Increasing the rent too much is a sure way to lose tenants, and vacant apartments don’t earn any rental income.

Rent Controlled Units

If the unit is subject to rent control, landlords may raise the rent if the following criteria are met:

The previous rent increase was at least 12 months ago (unless the unit is vacant);
The unit has been registered with the Rental Accommodations and Conversion Division (RACD);
The rental unit is in compliance with housing regulations;
A 30-day written notice is provided stipulating any increase in rent.

Landlords may only raise the rent by the amount specified by the DCRA each year, which is based on the Consumer Price Index. Increases on rent-controlled apartments cannot exceed 10 percent. For tenants who are elderly or disabled, allowable increases are more limited and cannot exceed 5 percent.

If a unit becomes vacant, the law does allow property owners to raise the rent on rent-controlled units, even if the last increase was less than one year ago. The owner may then increase the rent by 10 percent or up to 30 percent to match the rent of a comparable unit. But then no other increases are allowed for a full year.

There are a few other circumstances, such as hardship or renovations to the unit, where owners of rent-controlled units may be allowed to raise the rent or raise it by more than the standard allowable percentage. Landlords who are not making at least a 12 percent rate of return on their rental unit can send in a request to the city’s rent administrator to increase the rent by more than the approved amount. It requires filing a “Hardship Petition,” which outlines equity in the property, expenses, rental collections, and other key information. Information on other allowable increases can be found in the district’s rent control fact sheet.

It’s always a wise idea to gather all the necessary information and do the preliminary homework before raising the rent on a unit in order to avoid penalties. For DC rental units, landlords can refer to this rent control fact sheet or contact the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs at (202) 442-4610 for more information.

If you have any questions, or prefer to have a property management company handle this for you, don’t hesitate to contact us.

#Rental Trends

Arlington Pet of the Week: Harper

Published June 29, 2016 at 12:00PM

This week’s Arlington Pet of the Week is Harper, a Golden Retriever mix rescued from North Carolina.

Harper, a playful pup, loves car rides, napping, walks, chasing squirrels and giving high-fives but hates the vacuum cleaner with a passion.

Here’s what Harper’s owner, Rachel, had to say about her.

Harper is a one-and-a-half-year-old Golden Retriever mix rescued from North Carolina. Harper was a stray so she was very shy at first but has come a long way and is now a very playful, outgoing, happy Arlington pup.

Harper’s favorite activities involve car rides, napping, long walks, chasing squirrels, giving high-fives and trying to get all the peanut butter out of her Kong. Harper is also a huge fan of the water and is looking forward to the warmer weather, though she did have a lot of fun in the blizzard! When Harper isn’t busy chasing squirrels she loves to visit her patients; Harper is currently a Paw Pal with a local hospice care provider. Harper is a very sweet and calm around people so she is perfect for the job, not to mention she loves the attention too!

She also loves getting to meet new friends and play with other dogs at the nearby dog parks. Harper’s biggest fear is the vacuum cleaner. Nothing else is quite as scary, Harper enjoys pacing around it and barking, which makes vacuuming quite exciting. A unique thing about Harper is that she is very allergic to chicken. Harper has to have a special diet to ensure she is not consuming any chicken. Oh, and did we mention Harper was a little spoiled? She enjoys taking up the whole bed and making herself at home on all the furniture, as seen in her photos. :)

Want your pet to be considered for the Arlington Pet of the Week? Email [email protected] with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet. Please don’t send vertical photos, they don’t fit in our photo galleries!

Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks. Becky’s Pet Care is the winner six consecutive Angie’s List Super Service Awards, the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year and a proud supporter of the Arlington County Pawsitively Prepared Campaign.

Becky’s Pet Care provides professional dog walking and pet sitting in Arlington and all of Northern Virginia, as well as PetPrep training courses for Pet Care, CPR and emergency preparedness.

#Pet of the Week

Just Reduced Properties in Arlington

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Published June 29, 2016 at 7:30AM

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.MrArlington.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.

The 4th of July is right around the corner and the Lincoln Memorial isn’t the only place where there are fireworks in our region. Just take a look at our property listings for a summertime spectacular that extends well beyond the holiday.

While local home prices continue to tick upward (up 1.9 percent year-over-year according to the latest Case-Shiller report), there are still some genuine bargains out there waiting to be discovered. Just this week, we have homes being reduced over $50,000, more than $100,000 and one listing more than $250,000.

And, there are bargains for every budget. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or looking for an investment opportunity, I’m happy to help you GET MORE out of your investment!

As of June 28, there are 239 detached homes, 66 townhouses and 340 apartments for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 55 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.

#Just Reduced

Ask Eli: Bluemont Neighborhood Profile

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Published June 28, 2016 at 2:30PM

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!

Where is it? Bluemont is ideally located walking distance from the urban centers of Ballston and Clarendon, but with quieter residential streets filled with single family homes. It’s bordered by Glebe Rd/Ballston to the east, Four Mile Run/Bon Air & Bluemont Parks to the west, Rt 66 to the north (and a small section north to Washington Blvd), and N Carlin Springs Rd to the south. Bluemont hosts multiple parks, the popular Pupatella Italian restaurant, and Arlington Traditional Elementary School. Most homes in Bluemont were built between 1940 and the early 1950s, but the neighborhood is experiencing the replacement of older homes with large new homes, Arlington’s most popular housing trend.

About the interviewee: I had the pleasure of interviewing Don Kautter, a 12-year Bluemont resident, who was born in Arlington and grew up in Chantilly. Prior to moving to his “forever” home in Bluemont, Don lived in Fairfax and then Ballston’s Lexington Square condos. Don is a Microbiologist for the FDA in College Park, MD, with a grad degree from U of Maryland (Terps!). Since purchasing his home in 2004, he’s made quite a few updates including remodeling the bathrooms and adding a new roof and deck.

Why did you move to Bluemont? I loved the urban/suburban blend that it offered. I could walk to the metro, grocery store, parks, and restaurants but live in a single family home w/ a small yard for my dog. I commute to College Park, MD for work, so being close to major roads was important, but I can’t hear or see them. It’s walk, bike, car, and public transit friendly!

What are you favorite restaurants? I’m a regular at Layalina, a fantastic Syrian restaurant, just a few blocks away. It’s authentic, great food! I also love Cheestique in Ballston and, of course, the Italian Store in Westover.

Do you consider Bluemont an active community? Absolutely! Neighbors are always riding bikes, jogging, and walking dogs. I take my dog on a walk every day along the Custis Trail and through the Bon Air Park Rose Garden, her favorite spot. I belong to the nearby Planet Fitness and there are a ton of gyms and studios down the road in Ballston.

Do you use public transit? Yes, lots of people do. The Ballston Metro is a short walk and there are three ART buses and an Arlington Transit bus that run every 10-15 min. Arlington does a good job of putting non-metro public transit into residential neighborhoods.

What will the next 10-15 years bring? I expect small, old homes to continue being replaced by larger, new homes, which drives up home values, but we lose some of the cuteness/history that I enjoy. If done right, the Ballston (Mall) Quarter re-development will be transformational. I hope to see development continue west down Wilson Blvd, particularly improvements to the Safeway.

What’s the personality of the community? I’ve had an extremely positive experience here and there’s a long-range family feeling amongst the neighbors. Even though we’re in separate homes, you never feel like you’re alone. There’s constant outdoor activity, especially kids because parents feel safe letting them run around. My street has a block party every year. It’s like a little slice of America!

A quick look at some Bluemont housing stats:

Volume: An average of 45 homes sell each year

Growth: The average sold price price in 2014 = $720,000 Average sold price in 2015 = $754,000 and current 2016 average sold price = $771,000

Pace of Sales: Since 2011, the average days on market is 41 days, but the median days on market is only 11 days

Discounts: On average, there’s a 3.7% discount of the original list price

Three Bedrooms: 40% of homes sold have three bedrooms (about 25% across Arlington). Investors target them, but many are priced too high to turn a profit and great starter-home options.

Thank you for the interview Don!

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 http://www.RealtyDCMetro.com.

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.

#Ask Eli

WWBG: The Gold Standard of Craft Beer Tourism is Right in Our Backyard

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Published June 24, 2016 at 2:45PM

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.

When I was 10, I toured the Coors brewery in Golden, CO with my family. I wandered among the gleaming equipment learning very little about the product that was flowing through it. My souvenir was a water bottle. It might’ve been over my head, but I knew it was a tourist destination — a stop for people who had seen the mountains and the ghost towns in Colorado. This idea of beer tourism has come a long way.

For years, craft breweries that are large enough have offered tours for the curious. But one brewery near our area is going beyond the tour to add more reasons to visit the Delaware shore. Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, which has grown significantly since 1995, is raising the stakes. With brewery tours every day of the week, a boutique motel, and two restaurants at the site of the original brew pub, Dogfish is becoming a tourist attraction on par with the beach and outlets.

If it weren’t for founder Sam Calagione’s then girlfriend, Mariah, we would be talking about Dogfish’s contributions to tourism in another part of the country. As it happened, she talked Sam into setting up his brewery near her family in Delaware. The fact that there wasn’t already a single brewery in Delaware seemed like an even better reason to open one. Well, there was a reason for the lack of competition — Prohibition-era laws prohibited it. Prior to choosing a career in beer, Sam had been on track to become a writer. He worked with lawmakers and even cowrote the legislation needed to make it possible to open his brew pub in Rehoboth. Soon, he was brewing 12 gallons of beer at a time for service in the pub.

That was then. Now Dogfish distributes to 30 states and the District and they are attracting visitors from all over the world.

(more…)

#beer
#WWBG

Listing of the Day: 3445 N. George Mason Drive

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Published June 24, 2016 at 12:30PM

3445 N. George Mason Drive
Neighborhood: Stratford Hills/ Rock Spring
List Price: $860,000 (recently reduced)

This 4 bedroom, 3 full bath single family home is located on a private, wooded lot in a convenient, highly-desired location! Enjoy a spacious and bright main level that features hardwood floors throughout and a fully updated kitchen complete with a breakfast bar. The lower level includes a large recreation room and utility room. Additional storage offered in massive attic, with the option to convert and expand for a third level. Plenty of parking available, with a carport that can easily be converted into garage. Walk out your door and take advantage of access to transportation and amenities!

Optime Realty
1600 Wilson Blvd, Suite 101
Arlington, VA 22209
Call (571) 207-8273 for a private showing!

#Listing of the Day

Just Listed in Arlington

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Published June 24, 2016 at 6:00AM

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.”

Well, you missed it. Last week interest rates hit their lowest in 3 years. That sparked an increase in mortgage applications up 35% over last year, mostly refinances. But you are still okay, whether it’s time to refinance or purchase a home. Rates this week ticked up only 4 basis points (4 one-hundredths of a percent) so rates are still phenomenally low sitting at about 3.74% for a 30-yr fixed rate.

Arlington’s real estate market continues to prove that it just keeps marching along no matter season, heat, or rain. This week 69 homes went under contract with a record high average list price of $702,139. The average days on market dipped also to just 40. Only 61 properties were listed this week. Arlington still has an incredible 2.35 months of inventory at the current pace of sales. A market is considered in equilibrium when there is 5.5 months of inventory.

You can access all active listings in Arlington on the Cathell Team website.

#Just Listed

Property Pros: Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Published June 22, 2016 at 3:15PM

This is a sponsored column by Jim Muldoon, a Northern Virginia native, Arlington resident and one of the real estate and remodeling experts at Legacy Home Improvement Consultants. Legacy HIC is your source for all real estate and home improvement needs. Please email with any questions or topics you would like covered.

Based upon the last poll results, contractor selection is the most challenging part when you are getting ready for a remodel. One of the most important and overlooked aspects of this is creating a good rapport with the companies bidding on your project.

I have experienced a lot of guarded first-time clients which makes turning their vision into a realty extremely difficult. When a new potential client schedules an estimate, I plan for a 5-10 minute introduction so we can get to know each other before heading straight to the project area. It is proven that teams who mesh well together with trust, harmony, and a clear understanding of their common goal have a much higher success rate. Having construction done where you are living is not easy so taking the time to establish that relationship goes a long way.

As a client, you want to know if your contractor can construct what you want, within your budget, in a timely manner, and provide a certain level of customer service. While you are vetting those things, your contractor is also trying to figure out the exact same thing. Instead of two sides holding their cards close to their chests worried that the other one is going to take advantage of them, it makes a lot more sense to be on the same side working together to accomplish a great remodel.

You should start the conversation by talking about the job at hand. This will give you insight on whether this type of project is what the company makes their living off of or if it is not in their normal wheelhouse. Discussing your past experiences and theirs will be the first indicator if it’s a good fit. Next, I would talk about the process the company has after the estimate phase and how they protect your home and quality of life during the remodel. This aspect is very important, so if the company down plays this part of the conversation that is a red flag.

Budget tends to be the most sensitive subject. A lot of people are uncomfortable talking about this so I suggest using a general range. There are a ton of options for most remodels and budget is the deciding factor. Let the companies compete to provide the best package in that range. This will create a better apples to apples comparison of the bids. If a company is going to max out your budget with inferior materials, be happy to part ways before the real work begins. If you already have a stamped drawing, a design, all your materials selected and priced, then don’t worry about discussing a budget because you already have eliminated the variables.

Letting your potential contractor know the timeline you are looking for and any major events that this remodel could impact will alleviate unwanted stress. Trying to fit in a remodel when your family is scheduled to come into town the day after it is supposed to be completed is a sketchy proposition at best. Let them know what’s going on and they will tell you if it realistic. Throughout the conversation you will have a much better feel for the company’s personality and what they will bring to the table.

I’ve spoken with a lot of other remodeling companies and when they hear that I grab coffee with past clients or go out to dinner with them to discuss future projects, they are dumbfounded by that type of relationship. We make it our business to eliminate grey areas so before we start a project we know what our clients want and they know how we plan to deliver. I have found the best way for that to happen is to communicate openly because we trust one another, our work environment is set up to be in harmony with their living space, and we both have a true understanding of our goals and how we are going to accomplish them together.

Email me at [email protected] if there are any topics you would like me to cover in future articles or you have any questions about a remodeling project you are about to undertake. Your real estate is one of your best assets. Let the Property Pros help you get more informed.

#Property Pros