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.

Good morning, Arlington, and all the Just Listed readers out there!

Wow what a crazy week it’s been! Looking back to 2020, we saw many properties sell for $100,000 over asking price. Now, in 2022, we’re seeing properties sell $200,000 over ask, and in a handful of instances now, $300,000+ over asking price. Trust me, it’s astonishing us real estate agents just as much as it is the buyers, sellers, neighbors and writers at local news organizations alike!

Mortgage rates fall for a second week in a row, dropping to 3.89% on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage. This will be welcome news from buyers facing intense upward pressure on house prices in our local market (and throughout the country)!

Listing inventory continues to build, up ten from last week for a total of 240 properties to choose from. Sellers really stepped it up this week, listing 104 properties for sale in the past seven days!

Buyers were hard at work navigating pre-inspections, waiving appraisal contingencies and pulling out all the stops! They took 67 properties under contract this past week, an impressive 44 of those were homes that spent just seven days or less on the market.

Of the 240 homes currently available for sale, 46 are detached homes, 26 are semi-detached/townhomes and the remaining 168 are condominiums. These properties range in price from $105,000 all the way up to $3,750,000.

Average list price for currently available homes is $771,857, and the median price is $522,250. These homes have been on the market for an average of 63 DOM (days on market) and a median of 23.

Both the median and average days are in free-fall as the market continues to tighten. Buyers are starting to absorb holdover inventory that went through price reductions, multiple open houses, etc. The stuff hitting the market each week is just too hot to handle for many. Median days dropped by 10 week over week, or about 30%!

This week last year, there were 378 homes available for sale throughout the county. Sellers had listed 98 homes for sale and buyers ratified 66 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.

1104 S. Edgewood Street

Address: 3047 N. Harrison Street
Neighborhood: Crescent Hills
Listed: $1,480,000
Open: Saturday and Sunday 12-2 p.m.

A one-of-a-kind custom built home by Acorn Deck House Company featuring cathedral ceilings, a wall of windows facing the private backyard, and an attached two-car garage on over 1/4 acre professionally landscaped lot. Discovery ES, Williamsburg MS, Yorktown HS school pyramid.

A short walk along sidewalks to all three schools, the Lee-Harrison Shopping Center (Harris Teeter, Starbucks, Duck Donuts, Peter Chang, Chesapeak Bagel and more), and Chestnut Hill Park. Minutes by car to the airport, Washington, D.C., Tysons, Amazon HQ2, the Pentagon, Virginia Hospital Center, Washington Golf & Country Club, and most major Northern Virginia highways and commuter routes.

Can’t miss features of the home include tons of storage on all levels, high end appliances (Wolf range, Asko dishwasher and double wall ovens), double pantry, custom primary bedroom closets, cozy gas fireplace in the living room, portion of the basement is unfinished and ideal for a spacious workshop and home gym, dual-zone heating and cooling, new flagstone patio, car charger, water softener and home automation.

The main level bonus room can be a bedroom, office, or playroom. Don’t miss the secret unfinished loft space off of one of the upstairs bedrooms that can be converted into a playroom or lounge. Playset conveys.

Photos, 3D Tour, Floor Plan and more at NorthArlingtonForSale.com.

Listed by:
Eli Tucker
Eli Residential Group of RLAH Real Estate
(703) 539-2529
[email protected]
NorthArlingtonForSale.com


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

When “Summer Camp” for youth comes to mind, most of us probably think of canoeing on a lake, or hiking through mountainous terrain. However, a number of Arlington arts organizations offer young people an adventure in their own creativity through the arts!

Most of the organizations have offered these programs for many years, but they are of particular importance as all of us continue to re-emerge from the challenges of the pandemic. Each of the organizations are grantee organizations that receive funding through Arlington Cultural Affairs, a division of Arlington Economic Development that delivers public programs as Arlington Arts.

Whether through movement, visual art, film, or theatre, here are several choices from well-known Arlington-based presenters:

  • Arlington Arts Center (Ages 5-7, 8-11, 12-14, and 14-18)
    Campers will go on an artistic journey and explore the visual arts through exciting projects in 2D and 3D media while learning about new and different artistic techniques and contemporary artists working in the world today! June 27 through August 26.
  • ETC: Educational Theatre Company (Pre K-K, K-2nd, 3rd-6th, 7th-12th)
    Camp topics include: acting, film, directing, improvisation, playwrighting, Shakespeare, musical theatre and more! From in-person half-day camps for pre-schoolers to multi-week teen intensives, ETC has a camp for everyone. June 13 through August 26.
  • Encore Stage & Studio (Ages 3-5, 5-9, 8-12, 11-15)
    From our youngest theatre lovers to high schoolers, Encore Stage & Studio offers a summer experience tailored especially for them to explore their creativity. June 21-August 26.
  • Jane Franklin Dance (Ages 5-9, 6-11)
    Young dancers participate in dance and movement classes, art projects, and creative assignments during in-person week-long camps. Enrollment for Summer 2022 is limited per camp week. Enroll today to save your place. June 21 through August 19.
  • Synetic Theater (Ages 8-19, 11-4, High School)
    Offering both Spring and Summer sessions, Synetic Theater presents a wide array of camps for students of all ages and interests from movement and acting, to the backstage intricacies of theater tech! Camps are designed to get students up and moving around and are geared to students of all experience levels — no theater or performance skills required. June 21 through August 26.

Whatever the interests of the young person in your life, there’s an Arts Camp that can help them tap into their creativity.

Click on the hyperlinks above for details, fees and scholarship opportunities where available. Please note that enrollment is more limited than usual due to COVID-19 precautions. Please review the specific rules and requirements set by the respective providers in accordance with CDC guidelines.


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.

It’s been a minute since we’ve celebrated a quirky holiday together, friends.

Today, March 2, happens to be an action-packed day: It’s Ash Wednesday, Dr. Seuss’ birthday, Texas Independence Day and World Teen Mental Wellness Day, among so much more.

For the purpose of our real estate vibe, we’re here to let you know that it’s also National Old Stuff Day.

“What in the world does this mean?” we hear you mumbling.

Well, it’s the unofficial day to rid your closets, garages and any space in between of the junk that has piled up. So, get decluttering and, while you’re at it, donate your still-good items to the community organizations that serve so many here in Arlington County and beyond.

Given the last few years we’ve endured, we know that old stuff has filled some spaces for quite a few of us. If you’re looking to declutter and potentially move to a fresh space, the time-tested team at Arlington Realty, Inc. has your back.

Until then, here are this week’s Just Reduced numbers.

As of February 28, there are 80 detached homes, 23 townhouses and 180 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 13 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week, including:

4342 N. Henderson Road

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.


Address: 1200 N. Livingston Street
Neighborhood: Westover
Listed: $799,900

Wouldn’t it be nice?

Walk to Westover from this corner lot colonial located on a quiet cut-de-sac on Livingston Street. Open the door to the light filled living room with parquet wood floors and fresh paint throughout. Relax in the warmth of the cozy sunroom located just off the living room, perfect for a quiet study. The separate dining room flows into the kitchen with new granite counters, white cabinets and stainless-steel appliances.

Walk up the stairs to three bedrooms and one full bath on the top level. The partially finished basement can be used as a movie or rec room. From the kitchen, open the door to a brick patio with a covered dining table and a second lower wooden “deck” sitting area. Enjoy the large yard, walk to Westover or jump on the bike trail for a quick ride to Ballston and enjoy all that North Arlington has to offer.

Listed By:
Shawn Battle
The Battle Group | Century 21 Redwood Realty
703-999-8108
[email protected]
TheBattleGroup.com


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: What is the normal commission rate for buyer-side real estate agents?

Answer: There has been a long-held belief that real estate agents should avoid any public discussion of commissions to avoid antitrust laws and ethics violations, but now that many popular public-facing real estate websites (e.g. Zillow and Redfin) are publishing buyer-side commissions, not to mention recent efforts by the National Association of Realtors to open-up transparency, I don’t see any reason why I can’t share that data the same way I do other relevant stats throughout the year.

The data and charts below represent the buyer-side commission published in the MLS for transactions in Arlington, sans any subjective commentary that could get me in trouble.

How Are Commissions Determined?

In most cases, commissions are set in the Listing Agreement between the seller and the seller’s real estate agent. A total commission fee is established, with a disclosed amount going towards the agent/broker representing the buyer of the home. That buyer-side commission is published in the MLS. The other portion of the commission/fees (that going to the listing agent/broker) is not and I do not have any broad-market insight into those numbers.

Buyer agents may establish minimum commissions or other fees in the Representation Agreement between the buyer-side agent/broker and the buyer, but this article/data is specific to the buyer-side commission, offered by the seller/listing broker, published in the MLS.

Buyer-side Commissions Down 11.4% Since 2014/2015

In 2014 and 2015, buyer-side commissions averaged 2.9% across all transactions in Arlington. As of 2021, the average buyer-side commission in Arlington dropped by 11.4%, to 2.57%. The biggest one-year drop occurred between 2018 (2.75% average) and 2019 (2.65% average).

Setting aside the historically high volume of real estate transacted in 2021, gross revenue (calculated by real estate sales volume multiplied by the average buyer-side commission percentage) to brokerages covering buyer-side transactions in Arlington remained fairly consistent year-to-year from 2014-2020 because lower buyer-side commissions were offset by rising real estate values.

So, for everybody out there with a dislike for us real estate agents, you can raise a glass and toast to the industry (at least the buyer-side of Arlington transactions) getting little-to-no raise in the seven years from 2014-2020!

3% Buyer-Side Commission, It Was Nice Knowing You!

In 2014 and 2015, just under 80% of buyer-side commissions in Arlington were 3% (blue bars in chart below) and ~17% were offered at 2.5% (orange bars in chart below). Fast-forward to 2021 and the numbers are almost perfectly reversed with 15% of sales offered at 3% buyer-side commission and 79% offered at 2.5%.

Since 2014, buyer-side commission was offered at 2.5% or 3% in nearly every Arlington transaction, making up 93.4%-96.5% of all transactions over each of the last eight years. After that, the next most common buyer-side commission offered was 2.75%, except in 2021 when 2% offerings overtook 2.75% offerings for third place for the first time, representing 2.5% of total transactions.

I could write pages on the structure of real estate commissions, the value of real estate agents and the make-up of our industry but that’s for another day!

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.


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.

If You Oppose the War in Ukraine, Apply for Asylum with Our Office, for Free

Like most Americans, we reacted to news of the Russian attack on Ukraine with horror.

There are a few things that we, as immigration lawyers, can do to help.

The first thing we can do is offer our advice and assistance to any Russian diplomats and government employees in Washington. Ordinary Russian citizens are protesting their government’s decision to invade Ukraine, at great risk to themselves and their families.

If you are a Russian diplomat or government employee in the Washington, D.C. area, and you oppose this invasion, and you fear that your opposition to your government’s policy will put you and your family in danger, our office will be glad to help you and your family apply for political asylum in the United States, for free. Feel free to contact us by whatever means you consider safest and most secure.

The second thing we can do is provide information to Ukrainians living in our area about how our immigration laws may be able to offer them some assistance. The U.S. government is considering offering temporary protection (“TPS”) to Ukrainians in the U.S., but that has not happened yet. Do not apply for that benefit until it is available. If you are here on a visitor visa, you might consider applying to extend your stay. We can help with that, and answer any other questions you have about how to remain safely in the United States.

In addition, we want to share information about departure from Ukraine for those who hold valid travel documents. Pre-departure COVID tests are no longer required. Of course, in the absence of civilian air travel in Ukraine, this information is likely to be more useful to Ukrainians who have already left Ukraine for other countries with functioning civil air transport.

The third thing we can do is provide information for Americans in Ukraine. The State Department has released guidance on how to leave Ukraine. Here it is. Please stay safe.

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


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.

There are usually two parts to a security clearance evaluation: (1) responding to the facts of the security concerns at issue; and (2) if the security concerns are valid, what mitigating factors should apply. In addition to the stated mitigating factors for each type of security concern, there is an overall evaluation of the individual. This is referred to as the Whole-Person Concept in security clearance cases. This review focuses on whether the individual, even if they have security concerns, is an acceptable security risk.

Under the Whole-Person Concept, a clearance adjudicator will evaluate an individual’s eligibility for a security clearance by considering the “totality” of his or her conduct and all relevant circumstances. There are nine factors that are reviewed based on the Adjudicative Guidelines found in Security Executive Agent Directive 4 (SEAD 4) (see page 6-7 of link).

These factors include:

  1. the nature, extent, and seriousness of the conduct
  2. the circumstances surrounding the conduct, to include knowledgeable participation
  3. the frequency and recency of the conduct
  4. the individual’s age and maturity at the time of the conduct
  5. the extent to which participation is voluntary
  6. the presence or absence of rehabilitation and other permanent behavioral changes
  7. the motivation for the conduct
  8. the potential for pressure, coercion, exploitation, or duress
  9. the likelihood of continuation or recurrence

Under the Adjudicative Guidelines, the final determination of whether to grant eligibility for a security clearance is “an overall commonsense judgment” based on both the merits of the security issues and a review of the Whole-Person Concept. While only nine factors are mentioned here, other factors are also considered.

We find that the Whole-Person Concept is often best used to describe the individual’s character, positive work history and record, community involvement and other factors that help to show that the individual’s record merits a commonsense judgment for keeping or retaining his or her security clearance. Many of these individualized issues fall under Factor 9.

For example, suppose an individual holds a Top-Secret security clearance and has been convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol. The security issue is reported to the individual’s security officer. As a result, security concerns are raised and the individual’s security clearance is subject to review. In addition to addressing the issues involving the driving under the influence charge, the person would want to present evidence of good character (e.g., letters from supervisors, friends, and family), excellent performance at work, and/or community/charity involvement.

Generally, we find that clearance holders are not provided information about how to use the Whole-Person Concept to help them address security clearance concerns which may arise. Each case is different, but in many cases an individual may be a model employee, or someone who has contributed to their community or served in the military. These types of positive attributes can fall under the Whole-Person Concept and help to resolve a security clearance case favorably.

If you need assistance with a security clearance matter, please contact our office at (703) 668-0070 or at www.berrylegal.com to schedule a consultation. Please also visit and like us on Facebook.


What makes Maywood a Special Neighborhood in Arlington?

Established in 1909 as one of the oldest residential districts in Arlington, Maywood is a step back in time with beautiful tree-lined streets hugged by homes showcasing a variety of architectural styles, gabled roofs, front porches and mature landscaping.

Located minutes from Washington, D.C., Maywood is 46 acres with a population of about 1,400 and is known as one of the best places to live in Virginia.

Maywood is within walking distance to numerous amenities including the Custis Trail which is a 5.12-mile path that starts in Rosslyn at the Mount Vernon Trail near Key Bridge — where you can connect to the Capital Crescent Trail and the C&O Canal Towpath to head into D.C. and Maryland. Or travel along I-66 through Arlington County until reaching the trail’s junction with the W&OD Trail.

Many Maywood residents walk, run, bike, and even commute using this bustling trail — one of the many perks of living in the neighborhood. In addition to the Custis Trail, Maywood is home to Thrifton Hill Park and also within walking distance to the Hendry House, a popular special events venue.

Adjacent to the southern border of Maywood is the newly renamed Langston Boulevard which is home to many restaurants, retailers, and services, including the legendary The Italian Store which has delicious subs, sandwiches, NY style pizza, and a large selection of Italian wines and goods. Other great neighborhood destinations include Tarbouch Cafe, BRG Arlington, and Big Wheel Bikes.

Maywood has nearly 300 buildings that are in the Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Craftsman and Tudor Revival styles. The neighborhood also includes buildings from every decade of the 20th and 21st centuries. The oldest buildings date to the 1900s and 1910s and are primarily Queen Anne and Colonial Revival four-squares, cottages and two-story gable-front houses. The Craftsman-style four-square and bungalow became more prominent in the late 1910s and 1920s.

During the 1930s, the infill cottage and Cape Cod housing was constructed largely of the Tudor Revival and Colonial Revival styles. Several homes have been identified as prefabricated mail-order houses from such companies as Sears, Roebuck & Company and Aladdin.

The neighborhood is a true Arlington treasure and definitely one to visit. Connect with neighborhood experts Anne Cronin and Linda Murphy to learn more about Maywood and other surrounding areas!

Anne Cronin and Linda Murphy | 703-850-0190 | [email protected] | www.anneandlinda.com | www.McEnearney.com

Maywood (and Nearby) Neighborhood 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.


This sponsored column is written by Todd Himes, beermonger at Arrowine (4508 Lee Highway). Sign up for the email newsletter and receive exclusive discounts and offers. Order from Arrowine’s expanding online store for curbside pickup.

“Aroma of skunk, musty, can be similar to burned rubber or cat musk.”

That definition of the lightstruck off-flavors in beer comes directly out of the Cicerone study resources.

But what is lightstruck beer? When certain hop compounds react to UV light, they create 3-methyl-2-butene-1-thiol, or MBT, which you may know as the culprit behind that odorous character often found in some “top-shelf” imported lagers — or late nights on some dark country roads.

Brown glass bottles would filter out most of that UV light where green and clear bottles would let UV wavelengths pass through with greater ease and thus green and clear bottles received a reputation for “ruining” many a beer and changing the flavor of what its brewers would have intended.

For years I bought into that — it even became one of the tenets of my strong support for putting more beer into cans. If some light was bad why not eliminate all light? Somewhere along the way, though, I’ve been introduced to thinking those green bottles unfairly got a bad rap.

Many of my favorite Belgian breweries have been bottling their beers in green glass for longer than I’ve certainly been drinking them. Even after I’d learned the hardline “green is bad,” I longed to try the lambics of Cantillon, Drie Fonteinen and Boon, all of which were shipped across the sea in verdant vessels.

The first Belgian in green that crossed my lips was Saison Dupont. Upon uncorking that bottle, I was struck by the aromas that were decidedly “farmy” before farmhouse ales were truly on my radar. But nowhere was I thinking about skunks or tire fires, just-cut hay, horse stalls and dank grasses. Saison and lambics became some of my favorite styles, and I even saw a noble art in what I saw as the unknown and unpredictable effects of wild yeasts, spontaneous fermentation and wood aging.

(more…)


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.

Welcome Arlington, to this week’s edition of JUST LISTED! As always, thanks for reading!

I learned this week that agents read my column alongside fellow Arlingtonians! I am glad to be providing valuable market information and insight to not just residents and prospective residents, but also to my Realtor colleagues throughout the DMV.

We’re starting to get questions about how the conflict in Ukraine may impact housing, rates, etc. The reality is that geopolitical things, especially of that scale, do impact us here. Having said that, it’s been well publicized and anticipated for weeks, so I predict we will not see much further impact on the housing market, at least in the short term.

In fact, mortgage rates may even decline now after rising based mostly on anticipation… This week Andors Real Estate Group has another lovely new listing to tell you about, our PICK OF THE WEEK — 2319 S. Inge Street, Arlington, VA 22202 — $1,359,000.

2319 S. Inge Street

Welcome home to this gorgeous, stately and expanded Arlington Colonial! Boasting mature landscaping, a fully fenced backyard and alley access with a single-car detached garage, this is not one to miss. Four finished levels, four bedrooms, three full bathrooms, one half bathroom and a stunning, open concept gourmet kitchen renovation. The luxurious, spa-inspired owner’s suite looks straight out of a home magazine.

An enviable large, screened porch is accessible from the expanded living area and overlooks the serene backyard. Gleaming hardwoods throughout, multizone heating and air conditioning systems, high efficiency windows, doors and so much more. Immaculately maintained, thoroughly updated and completely turn-key, this is the move-up home you’ve been waiting for!

You can find my team here Saturday and Sunday afternoon for the public Open Houses, 1-4 p.m.

Mortgage rates decreased very slightly this week, 3 basis points, to an average of 3.89%. As I mentioned last week, it is not uncommon for buyers to be quoted over 4% for pre-approvals and when locking in their mortgages once under contract.

Despite more frenzied buyer activity this past week, listing inventory is up by nine properties, to 230. That’s not exactly anything to write home to mom about, but hey, at least buyers have a few more properties to choose from!

Sellers listed 74 homes for sale over the past week, 14 more than the week before, and buyers ratified 54 contracts, 23 of these were on homes that spend seven days or less on the market. Of the 230 homes currently available for sale, 45 are detached homes, 26 are semi-detached/townhomes, and the remaining 159 are condominiums. These properties range in price from $100,000 all the way up to $3,750,000.

Average list price for currently available homes is $787,481, and the median price is $492,000. These homes have been on the market for an average of 72 DOM (days on market) and a median of 33.

This week last year, there were 363 homes available for sale throughout the county. Sellers had listed 75 homes for sale and buyers ratified 61 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.


View More Stories