Author: ARLnow.com Sponsor

Experience EVO: Lease today and receive 2 months free

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
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EVO, Rosslyn’s newest luxury apartment building, is taking Arlington living to new heights.

EVO, with apartments ranging from studios to three-bedrooms, boasts an inspiring array of amenities including a 65-foot-long rooftop pool with breathtaking views, ample co-working spaces, a best-in-Arlington fitness center, arcade gaming area, tailgate lounge with demonstration kitchen, sports lounge with golf simulator, poker lounge and children’s playroom to name a few.

The interiors feature top of line finishes, Bosch stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops, heated bathroom floors, and custom closet designs. EVO, a LEED certified gold building, offers penthouse living, and private balconies in many of the residences.

From the moment you step inside, one thing is clear: you’re on your way up. Connected with nature and with the city around you — just blocks from the Blue, Orange, and Silver Metro lines — this is a home for passionate people who are eager to share. And you’re invited.

Now offering up to two months free and an additional $3,000 off. Make the move to EVO today.

Visit EVORosslyn.com to schedule a tour, or call (833) 778-1483.

Small Business Focus: BizLaunch events are back!

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
1/4

This column is sponsored by BizLaunch, a division of Arlington Economic Development.

After more than a two-year hiatus due to the global pandemic, BizLaunch events are springing into action this spring with two can’t-miss opportunities.

The SWaMmy Honors

In celebration of Business Appreciation Month, BizLaunch and the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity are partnering on the SWaMmy Honors. This hybrid event celebrates Virginia’s small businesses while recognizing the resiliency of small businesses as they build back our economy after the global pandemic.

This year’s event is on May 25, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 10 SWaM certified businesses from around the Commonwealth will be recognized. Businesses will be honored as a Legacy Business — those in business 20+ years, or as a Community Impact Business — those who have made a positive contribution to their community.

While the honorees will be recognized in person in Richmond, Virginia, attendees will be able to watch and participate via Google Meet. Register today and help us honor Virginia’s small businesses.

Brunch and Business: Celebrating the Joy of Black Entrepreneurship

BizLaunch’s signature program is back and better than ever with a brand-new partner, The Hyatt Regency in Crystal City, serving as our host for the event. We will feature and celebrate Black-owned companies in Arlington that exemplify what it means to launch and manage a successful business at this special event.

Panelists for this year’s program include:

Unlike previous Brunch and Businesses, we can have exhibitor space for Black-owned food companies. Interested Black-owned food-based businesses should reach out to Alex Held for more information about securing exhibitor space.

Join us on June 8, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. as we celebrate Arlington’s diverse small business community.

For more information about BizLaunch and to stay up to date on events and programs, sign up for our newsletter or visit www.bizlaunch.org.

Clips from the virtual SWaMmy Honors held in October 2020.

Just Reduced Properties in Arlington

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Each week, “Just Reduced” spotlights properties in Arlington County whose price have been cut over the previous week. The market summary is crafted by Arlington Realty, Inc. Maximize your real estate investment with the team by visiting www.arlingtonrealtyinc.com or calling 703-836-6000 today!

Please note: While Arlington Realty, Inc. provides this information for the community, it may not be the listing company of these homes. 

As of April 18, there are 104 detached homes, 25 townhouses and 205 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 20 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week, including:

2510 2nd Street S.

Please note that this is solely a selection of Just Reduced properties available in Arlington County. For a complete list of properties within your target budget and specifications, contact Arlington Realty, Inc.

Ask Eli: Q1 condo market review

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This regularly scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Arlington resident. Please submit your questions to him via email for response in future columns. Video summaries of some articles can be found on YouTube on the Ask Eli, Live With Jean playlist. Enjoy!

Question: How is the condo market performing so far in 2022?

Answer: The condo market has looked very different than the single-family/townhouse market since COVID struck. While the latter has exploded, the former struggled initially, but has stabilized and strengthened over the past 12 months. With the first quarter of 2022 behind us, let’s look at the data driving the Arlington and Washington, D.C. condo markets.

Prices Mostly Flat in Arlington and D.C.

I generally find that median, instead of average, price changes are more reflective of what most buyers/sellers experience in the market. The median condo price in Arlington is up 8.1% year over year in Q1 2022 and 2.6% in D.C. However, you can clearly see that the overall price trend over the last two years is mostly flat in both markets and up slightly from pre-pandemic prices.

Interestingly, the average and median $/SqFt in D.C. has decreased slightly over the last 12 months, but increased slightly in Arlington over the same period. My best guess is that it’s a reflection of less demand for smaller downtown condos (smaller homes tends to have higher $/SqFt).

Both Arlington and D.C. had noticeable increases in average sold prices year over year in Q1 2022, jumping 10.3% and 8.2%, respectively, with similar increases in Q4 2021. My best guess on this trend is that it’s a reflection of some buyers giving up on the single-family/townhouse market and turning to larger, more expensive condos as an alternative.

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Neighborhood Spotlight: Let’s talk about Langston Boulevard

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

What makes Langston Boulevard Special?

Langston Boulevard, recently renamed after John M. Langston, is one of Arlington’s prominent ‘main streets’ and features a wide array of shops, restaurants and amenities.

“The name Langston has had an incredible impact on the lives of so many African American children who grew up along [and nearby] the Lee Highway corridor” said Working Group Member Saundra Green.

Langston Boulevard stretches from Rosslyn 5.2 miles west to East Falls Church and was formerly the major thoroughfare connecting Virginia to Washington, D.C., before Route 66 was built in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Along the corridor, there are many wonderful and diverse places to live, shop, dine and play.

Some local favorites that have been around for years include the Overlee Community Association (Swim Club), Metro 29 Diner (featured on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives), Cowboy Cafe, Livin’ The Pie Life, Arrowine & Cheese, Heidelberg Bakery, Lemoncello, Lebanese Taverna Market, Cherrydale Hardware, Caribbean Grill, The Italian Store, Pastries by Randolph and so much more.

Lee Heights Shops and Lee Harrison Shopping Center are two of the many major destinations along the Boulevard which are bustling with nearby residents and commuters throughout the week. Lee Harrison Shopping Center is anchored by a Harris Teeter grocery store and has many shops and restaurants including Peter Chang (recently nominated for a James Beard Award), Duck Donuts, Jhoon Rhee Martial Arts, Pie Tanza and more. Lee Heights Shops is the perfect stop for lunch at French Bistro, Cafe Colline, and a quick stop to pick up a gift at Lemoncello.

Along Langston Boulevard there are a wide variety of home styles including condominiums, townhouses and single family homes. The corridor is hugged by many beautiful neighborhoods (e.g. Donaldson Run, Cherrydale, Yorktown, Williamsburg) with tree-lined streets. Parks and recreational amenities are easily accessible including Gateway Park with its amphitheater, the Custis Trail, Stratford Park’s popular basketball courts, and 12-acre Tuckahoe Park with sports fields, tennis courts, and a great playground.

Take an afternoon drive along Langston Boulevard and you’ll discover so much that Arlington has to offer! Connect with neighborhood expert Bob Adamson to learn more about Langston Boulevard and other Arlington neighborhoods!

Bob Adamson | 703-967-8033 | [email protected] | www.bobadamson.com | www.McEnearney.com

McEnearney Associates – Arlington Office

Langston Boulevard Links & Recommendations

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

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 Andors Real Estate Group.

Well good morning, Arlington, I have news for you!

FIVE PERCENT!!

Yes, mortgage rates just hit FIVE PERCENT for the first time since 2011! Buckle up because they are likely to continue climbing. At the beginning of the year, broad consensus was that rates might level out around 4.5%, by the end of the year.

This rapid rise is exactly what the Fed wants to happen in their hopes to tamp down inflation. The problem is that people still need a place to live and there is plenty of cash out there, so buyers are likely to continue buying. The shortage of available inventory won’t go away no matter how high rates go.

I’ve spoken to some local lenders recently, and in their circles, there is talk about rates going as high as 8% or 9% within the next two years! I don’t like to speculate too much, but considering how fast this trend line is moving, that honestly wouldn’t surprise me one bit!

As of right now, we now have 277 properties available for sale in Arlington, one more than last week. Sellers listed 85 homes for sale, 21 less than last week. That’s about a 25% reduction in new listings week over week. Perhaps sellers are avoiding Easter week and we’ll see more new listings next week?

Ratified contracts are down 11 from last week, with 72 contracts in the past seven days. 39 of those were homes listed just within the past seven days, representing almost 50% of new inventory taken off the market by purchasers in a week or less!

Of the 277 homes currently available for sale, 70 are detached homes, 25 are semi-detached/townhomes, and the remaining 182 are condominiums. These properties range in price from $100,000 all the way up to $7,950,000.

Average list price for currently available homes is $836,109, and the median price is $562,000. These homes have been on the market for an average of 45 DOM (days on market) and a median of 22.

This week last year, there were 458 homes available for sale throughout the county. Sellers had listed 136 homes for sale and buyers ratified 88 contracts.

Click here to search currently available Arlington real estate. If you see a home that you’re interested in purchasing, give us a call!

Call the Andors Real Estate Group today at (703) 203-1117 to talk more about buying or selling Arlington real estate. Below are eight new listings that I think you might like to check out.

1005 N. Madison Street

Statutes of Liberty: U. S. announces temporary protected status for Afghans

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

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

Despite taking longer than expected, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas finally designated Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) on March 16, 2022.

As we discussed in a recent column, the Secretary of Homeland Security may designate a country for TPS for various reasons.

In Afghanistan’s case, Secretary Mayorkas based the designation due to the ongoing armed conflict and other conditions, such as human rights abuses at the hand of the Taliban, that keep Afghan nationals from returning to Afghanistan safely.

Afghan nationals who have resided in the United States since March 15, 2022 will be eligible to receive temporary relief from removal from the United States and have the opportunity to work legally. Those who arrive after March 15 will not be eligible. TPS for Afghans will be valid for 18 months. We are still waiting on an official Federal Register notice, which outline the procedures for Afghan TPS; therefore, until that happens, no Afghan nationals should attempt to apply for TPS.

Although they will not qualify for TPS, Afghans abroad may still have opportunities to come to the United States. For example, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is still accepting applications for humanitarian parole, which allows a foreign national to come temporarily to the United States for urgent humanitarian reasons.

Importantly, because the U.S. Embassy in Kabul is closed, Afghan nationals must be able to get to a third country for humanitarian parole processing.

Upon arrival in the United States, Afghan nationals may also qualify for asylum. They should speak with a qualified immigration attorney about the strength of their asylum claim, and many local nonprofits and lawyers are assisting Afghan nationals low or pro bono.

Additionally, Afghan nationals who assisted the U.S. government may also speak with an attorney about the viability of a Special Immigrant visa or request assistance with Special Immigrant Visa applications that are already pending.

As always, we welcome comments and will reply to all that we can.

Listing of the Day: 900 N. Stafford Street #1509

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Address: 900 N Stafford Street #1509
Neighborhood: Ballston
Listed: $449,900
Open: Saturday, April 16 from 12-2 p.m.

This amazing unit in the Altavista boasts over 870 square feet, not including the large western facing sunroom. Enter this modern, open space to a black and white tile floor that leads you into the upgraded kitchen with granite counters, upgraded stainless steel appliances, white showcase cabinets, a newer washer/dryer and a passthrough that opens to the living room.

The spacious living room has oak hardwood floors, a dedicated dining space and sliding glass doors that open to the 15th floor sunroom overlooking Ballston. A second set of sliding doors open from the sunroom to the owner’s suite with plush carpeting, a beautifully updated bathroom with quartz counters over a tasteful gray/brown solid wood vanity and a sleek white tub/shower combo. As soon as you enter this condo, you can tell that it was cared for and meticulously updated. One parking space and extra storage convey.

The greatest thing about the Altavista is its prime location in Ballston. You never have to step outside to get to the Ballston Metro or take a covered foot bridge to the Ballston Quarter’s shops and restaurants. There are also shops just outside of the elevator, including Starbucks. This is Arlington’s convenience at its finest!

Listed by:
Shawn Battle
Orange Line Condo | Century 21 Redwood Realty
(703) 999-8108
[email protected]
orangelinecondo.com

Arts Focus: Earth Day Every Day Festival on Langston Blvd — April 24

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

Looking for fun ways to engage the whole family in Earth Day? A day-long street festival, Earth Day Every Day features live music, great food, kids art activities, a native plant sale, environmental education activities, and even a sustainable art market.

The event takes place from noon until 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 24, in front of the Lee Heights Shops, 4500 Old Dominion Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22207.

Presented by the Langston Boulevard Alliance, this is a day for our community to come together to celebrate the beauty and promise of our local environment and the planet. Every year, communities worldwide uplift Earth Day to mark the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. It reminds us all to do what we can, in ways small and significant, to restore, conserve and protect our environment. The festival offers a whole range of opportunities to engage!

Peruse the Sustainable Art Market, featuring a broad selection of eco-friendly finds. The vendors include: Circuit Breaker Labs — wearable and decorative art created from circuit boards, capacitors and other electronic trash; Elodie’s Naturals — ECOCERT plant-based skin care products; Debra Fabian Jewelry — made from ethically sourced gems and recycled semi-precious metals, and much more.

Recently featured on WTOP 103.5 FM, you can peruse FROM OUR WAIST TO WASTE: Is Fashion Sustainable (?), the latest installation of the Arlington Art Truck. Artist Laure Drogoul explores how our decisions about clothing and textile purchases have affected our environment and community and what we can do about it. To provide the soundtrack for your day, Arlington Arts also helped to program the diverse array of noted performing artists (including several Washington Area Music Award winners).

Jasmine Gillison — A fast-rising Arlington singer-songwriter with a distinctive fingerpicking style.
Calista Garcia — 2022 WAMMIE “Best Folk Song” (After You’ve Gone). The Voice (Season 16).
Bobby Thompson — the 2018 WAMMIE “Best Blues Album” the singer-songwriter is working on his 7th album.
Justin Trawick — Recently featured on CNN, Voice of America and Parade magazine, the nationally-known performer won a 2014 WAMMIE for “Song of the Year” (All the Places That I’ve Been).

Visit the Arlington Public Library Truck for a variety of Earth Day activities: write a postcard imagining the future of Langston Boulevard, pick up some Earth Day coloring sheets, and attend a storytime by one of their children’s librarians. You can sign up for a library card and check out some books when you visit!

With all that dancing and shopping, you’re sure to work up an appetite, so taste the flavors of food vendors Arrowine & Cheese, Lebanese Taverna, Old Dominion Pizza and Starbucks Coffee! Then burn some calories by joining the artists of the Arlington Artists Alliance (AAA) for an afternoon of painting. Barry Keith has designed a hands-on climate change mural project for kids of all ages. Or join Arlington Parks and Recreation to make some 3-D paper sculptures.

That’s just a sample of the fun activities taking place as part of Earth Day Every Day, on Sunday, April 24. For a complete schedule of vendors and activities, visit Earthdayonlangston.com.

Just Reduced Properties in Arlington

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Each week, “Just Reduced” spotlights properties in Arlington County whose price have been cut over the previous week. The market summary is crafted by Arlington Realty, Inc. Maximize your real estate investment with the team by visiting www.arlingtonrealtyinc.com or calling 703-836-6000 today!

Please note: While Arlington Realty, Inc. provides this information for the community, it may not be the listing company of these homes.

As of April 11, there are 98 detached homes, 32 townhouses and 200 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 25 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week, including:

511 26th Street S.

Please note that this is solely a selection of Just Reduced properties available in Arlington County. For a complete list of properties within your target budget and specifications, contact Arlington Realty, Inc.

Ask Eli: Are home warranties worth it?

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This regularly scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Arlington resident. Please submit your questions to him via email for response in future columns. Video summaries of some articles can be found on YouTube on the Ask Eli, Live With Jean playlist. Enjoy!

Question: Do you think it’s worth it to buy a home warranty and, if so, is there a provider you recommend?

Answer: Last week I talked about mitigating the risk of not doing a home inspection and failed to mention that purchasing a home warranty can also help reduce the risk of buying a home, regardless of whether or not you do an inspection.

What Is a Home Warranty?

Home warranties protect many of the systems in your home including things like the HVAC (heating and cooling), appliances and water heater. If one of those systems stops working while you’re covered, the warranty provider will repair or replace the system, or cut you a check to replace it yourself. One year of protection generally ranges from a few hundred dollars to one thousand dollars, depending on the scope of coverage.

Most home warranties are purchased by or for a homebuyer just before closing, but sellers can also purchase a warranty and benefit from protection during the sale period, or if something comes up on the home inspection, then transfer the protection on to the buyer. Homeowners can also buy a warranty at any time after buying a home, it doesn’t have to be associated with a sale. The provider usually requires a month or so between the time of purchase and coverage taking effect to prevent people from buying a warranty just when something goes wrong (pre-existing condition).

Are They Worth the Cost?

I generally find home warranties to be worth the cost for at least the first year of ownership. If the home you’re buying has old systems, consider buying multi-year coverage. Think of the expense like you would home or auto insurance. If you’re somebody who prefers to pay higher premiums for more coverage/peace of mind, a home warranty probably makes sense for you.

A common scenario I see where home warranties pay-off is with HVACs when a new owner transitions from heating to air conditioning in the spring. During the winter, it’s often too cold outside to test the air conditioning during the home inspection so AC issues may present themselves after closing. With a home warranty, those issues should be covered.

Recommendation: Super Home Warranty

Warranty companies tend have bad reputations with complaints ranging from difficulty filing claims, low quality contractors and lengthy delays. There were a few years that I stopped recommending warranties to most clients because of all the issues people were experiencing.

For the last ~5 years I have been recommending Super Home Warranty and have their coverage on my personal home. They’re responsive, have a good user platform/app, use high quality contractors for repairs, and I’ve yet to run into an unreasonable claim denial.

They also have some valuable inclusions that other warranty companies don’t offer like a contractor concierge that gives you access to their vetted contractors and a bunch of add-on services for a small fee like re-keying locks, carpet cleaning, and HVAC cleaning.

It’s worth noting that I don’t get anything from Super for recommending them, just in case this seems like a sales pitch.

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

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

Video summaries of some articles can be found on YouTube on the Ask Eli, Live With Jean playlist.

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

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