Feature

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.

Condo inventory shrinks for the first time in nine weeks! Arlington’s available inventory as a whole declined, while demand remains very strong.

As we head into fall, with more and more COVID-19 restrictions and concerns eased, I’m expecting we’ll see abundant market activity. Historically speaking, the fall market is kind of like our “second spring” market. Pent up demand is still substantial; if sellers are ready to list, buyers will be there to scoop them up. This is especially true for single family homes and town houses.

Working from home may or may not be here to stay, but it is absolutely impacting the decision making of buyers and sellers alike. Many of our buyers and open house visitors over the past few months have said that having a dedicated space for their work has jumped nearly to top priority in their wants/needs lists.

That might translate to needing another bedroom or convertible living space. I’ve also been asked “can we put doors on this room” during home tours multiple times. Similarly for sellers, they are finding their existing space just isn’t adequate, especially with more than one family member spending time working remotely.

This past week in Arlington, sellers listed some 82 properties for sale while buyers ratified 72 contracts. 38 of the ratified contracts were on homes listed just within the past week!

There are currently 384 homes for sale in Arlington, 31 less than last week, our first decline in available inventory in nine weeks. 116 are detached homes, 32 are townhouses/semi-detached and 236 are condos. Average days on market (DOM) for currently available homes is 51 and median DOM is 35.

The median list price of currently available properties is $689,000, while the average is $906,613. These numbers have been falling consistently, but that doesn’t mean prices are declining in Arlington. The median of currently pending properties is $101,000 higher than those currently available, and days on market are slowly creeping back up. This demonstrates a mismatch between what buyers want and what sellers are offering, and also shows we still have a healthy dose of price escalations occurring.

Also, condos generally sell for less than single family homes, and as that inventory lags, it is weighing down the average.

Last year for the same week, sellers listed 40 homes and buyers ratified 49 contracts.

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

Statutes of Liberty: COVID-19 — Our Experience at the Local USCIS Field Office During the Pandemic

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This sponsored column is by James Montana, Esq. and Doran Shemin, Esq., practicing attorneys at Steelyard LLC, an immigration-focused law firm located in Arlington, Virginia. The legal information given here is general in nature. If you want legal advice, contact James for an appointment.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we do many things in our everyday life.

We are encouraged to do video calls with doctors, wear masks to go grocery shopping and stay six feet apart from others, especially indoors. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has also implemented new measures to ensure the safety of immigrants and USCIS employees alike during interviews for immigration benefits.

USCIS began interviewing applicants again in June. Now, interview notices include safety precautions regarding COVID-19.

Applicants are instructed not to arrive more than 15 minutes before their interview so USCIS can maintain social distancing measures in the waiting room. All USCIS employees and security wear masks, and applicants are also required to use a mask to enter the building.

If the applicant does not have a mask, USCIS may decline to do the interview and will reschedule the interview for another day. USCIS even requests that applicants bring their own black or blue pen so applicants and USCIS employees do not have to share pens during the interview.

USCIS has also restricted the number of people who can attend appointments. Normally, the applicant, attorney and interpreter, when necessary, were all permitted to enter the office for the interview. However, during the pandemic, applicants are only allowed to bring an attorney to the interview unless the applicant has a disability and requires assistance from another person. Attorneys are also permitted to appear telephonically.

If the applicant needs an interpreter, the interpreter must be available by phone unless told otherwise. During a recent visit to the field office, a USCIS employee respectfully asked an interpreter to leave the waiting room and wait outside for a call to participate in the interview.

We noted various bottles of hand sanitizer throughout the office and staff cleaning frequently-touched objects as well.  USCIS also installed glass partitions at the reception desk and in individual offices. USCIS officers keep their office doors open to keep air circulating.

Otherwise, everything seems to be functioning normally at the Washington Field Office in Fairfax. The officers began the appointments in a timely manner and apart from the partitions and face coverings, it felt like any other pre-pandemic interview.

We appreciate that USCIS has taken appropriate measures to maintain everyone’s safety while ensuring that the officers can still conduct these important and frequently life-changing, interviews.

As always welcome your thoughts and comments and will do our best to respond.

Arts Focus: Arlington Arts Partner With Local Arts Agencies for Workshops With Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts

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

The ripple-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic has deeply impacted the region’s arts and culture community. But the creative community is often inspired by adversity to take the opportunity to grow. As such, Arlington Arts is proud to be part of a cross-jurisdictional partnership in support of a great capacity-building opportunity. .

Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts (WALA), in collaboration with three Northern Virginia Arts Agencies — Alexandria Office of the Arts, Torpedo Factory Arts Center, Arlington Arts and ArtsFairfax — will bring its popular six-part Creative Entrepreneurs Series of workshops to Northern Virginia Artists and Arts Organizations.

As part of our commitment to ensure that Arlington-based artists, performers and creatives have access to this opportunity, Arlington Arts has subsidized a limited number of tickets to each workshop that are available for FREE.

WALA’s Creative Entrepreneurs Series (CES) is a series for creatives of all kinds who want to take the next step in their professional career by creating their own business. Explore the basics of forming a business for your creative endeavors, from deciding whether to incorporate as a non-profit or for-profit entity, to understanding copyrights and trademarks, to contract and negotiation skills, and finally to taxes and understanding the grants process.

“This is an historic partnership with Northern Virginia’s three leading arts agencies,” says WALA Executive Director John C. Good. “Bringing these workshops to the Northern Virginia Arts Community — especially during these challenging times — will provide creatives with the business tools necessary to take their art to a broader audience, to protect their art from piracy, and maximize their money-making potential. It a boot-camp for arts entrepreneurs.”

The series comprises of six sessions to be held on *consecutive Tuesdays, starting Tuesday, September 15 and continuing through Tuesday, October 20 from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Each interactive workshop is facilitated by an expert WALA volunteer, and includes livestream access, supporting materials and ample time for audience Q&A. The six sessions are as follows:

September 15 — Copyright/Trademark Protection & Use
September 22 — Contracts & Licensing
October 6 — Negotiation Strategies
October 13 — Tax Strategies
October 20 — Grants

The WALA Creative Entrepreneurs Series is free for WALA members and $20 per workshop for non-members. Reduced rate General Admission tickets available through September 8. Arlington Arts is offering a limited number of free tickets to each of these workshops, and they are going fast.

To avail yourself of the opportunity, Arlington-based artists may visit the Arlington Arts website and register through the calendar listing on the Arts Enterprise Institute webpage (the discount will be automatically applied).

#ARLINGTONARTS  #WALANOVA

Arlington Pet of the Week: Whitney

By ARLnow.com
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Arlington’s newest Pet of the Week is Whitney, a 10 year old Golden Retriever who loves napping and swimming.

Here is what Whitney’s owner had to say about her life here in Arlington:

Whitney, a Golden Retriever who just turned ten, loves walks through Clarendon and hikes along the Potomac

Whitney came to Arlington when she was one year old via Almost Heaven Golden Retriever Rescue in West Virginia after her owner became ill, and she’s had an amazing life here. Along with her German Shepherd and black Lab mix housemates, she makes up an awesome variety pack.

She’s slowed down from her early days, when she was unusually athletic for her breed and ran like a greyhound, but still has a very active lifestyle and enjoys a daily swim in the Potomac. She also likes walking through Lyon Village and Clarendon, looking for street pizza, and hanging out on the front porch and casually barking at dogs who have the gall to walk past our house. Like any Golden, she’s proficient at napping plus seeking and giving affection. A friend’s chihuahua who stays with us sometimes totally has the hots for her, so she’s still a looker at ten!

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!

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.

You (likely) have a three-day weekend coming up.

In case you’ve slacked on marking your calendar, Monday, September 7 is Labor Day. In a year where it’s been incredibly difficult to remember exactly what day, week or month it is… yes, Monday is actually a holiday.

While things still remain a bit different here in 2020, there are plenty of ways to celebrate. Among them, you and yours can spend the day outdoors, checking out one of Arlington’s stellar parks or trails. If you’re looking for a recommendation, the 45-mile Washington & Old Dominion Trail is always a winner.

And, of course, with D.C. right up the road, you can hit the National Zoo, a museum or exhibit. D.C.’s tourism site put together a handy list for those looking for an adventure.

If the adventure you seek involves real estate, the time-tested and expert-filled team at Arlington Realty Inc. is ready to roll on your behalf. Until then, have a wonderful holiday weekend! And now on to this week’s Just Reduced figures.

As of August 31, there are 156 detached homes, 40 townhouses and 264 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 45 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week:

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: Arlington’s Free Green Home Choice Program

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. Enjoy!

Question: Do you have any recommendations or resources to help us improve our home’s energy efficiency?

Answer: Last year, Arlington released its Community Energy Plan, setting forth the goal of becoming Carbon Neutral by 2050. To support that mission, Arlington offers the Green Home Choice Program (GHC), which is a free program that helps homeowners, builders and designers create a more energy efficient and environmentally conscious home. I spoke with Helen Reinecke-Wilt, who manages and personally oversees each project, about the program and its benefits.

What You Get?

Helen and her team provide a free consultation/audit and a detailed, customized guide with the materials and construction requirements that will ensure your home is healthier and more efficient. After the work is complete, you are eligible for an official Green Home Certification from Arlington County, which is similar to LEED Certification common in many commercial buildings (offices and apartments).

Who Qualifies?

Small and big budgets alike! The program is available to everybody from homeowners interested in making small, energy-conscious improvements to builders designing a custom home. If you are building a home, it’s a great idea to have your builder work with Helen and her team! The earlier you involve the GHC program, the more they can do for you.

Benefits

  • New homes that are GHC-certified use 42% less energy than non-certified new homes, which equates to a savings of $1600 per year on utilities.
  • Renovated homes that are GHC-certified use 55% less energy per square foot with an average utility savings of $600 per year.
  • Studies have shown (and here) that 90% of home buyers consider a home’s energy efficiency “very important” in their search criteria and are willing to pay a premium for more efficient homes. The lack of certified green homes means that your new or renovated home will stand out in the market.
  • Healthier air, a more durable home and lower utilities.
  • Eligible for StormwaterWise grant money.
  • Satisfaction of knowing that you are contributing positively to a healthier, more sustainable community.

Cost

The consultation/audit and guidance come at no cost. Depending on the scope of the project, the upgraded construction materials and methods generally add an extra $10k-$20k to the project, however, in many cases builders or homeowners already plan to use similar materials so the added cost is less.

To receive the official Green Home Choice Certification, there’s a $1,500 fee to test your homes efficiency to make sure it meets the requirements to be certified. In my opinion, builders and homeowners will see a significant ROI on this investment, especially for new homes which currently have an average price of nearly $1.9M. Over 350 homes in Arlington have been certified, but many people use the GHC guidance and choose not to complete the certification.

Helen and her team understand that not everybody has the resources to invest tens of thousands of dollars into a GHC certified home and want to make smaller/cheaper, yet effective improvements to their home’s energy efficiency. She prides herself on being able to make these types of recommendations for homeowners after doing an audit of their existing home so don’t shy away from working with her just because you aren’t building a new house or undergoing major renovations!

Thank you Helen and the Green Home Choice team for your contributions to a cleaner, more sustainable community! If you’re interested in working with their team, you can get started by reaching out to them at [email protected] or 703-228-4792.

If you’d like a question answered in my weekly column or to set-up an in-person meeting to discuss local real estate, 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 D.C., and Maryland with RLAH Real Estate, 4040 N. Fairfax Dr. #10C Arlington, VA 22203, (703) 390-9460.

Arlington Startup Chosen By U.S. Army To Build Virtual Tech Summit

By Joseph Ramos

Sponsored by Monday Properties and written by ARLnow, Startup Monday is a weekly column that profiles Arlington-based startups and their founders, plus other local technology happenings. Monday Properties is proudly featuring Shirlington Gateway. Say hello to the new 2800 Shirlington, which recently delivered a brand-new lobby and upgraded fitness center. Experience a prime location steps from the Village at Shirlington shopping and dining hub. Spec suites with bright open plans and modern finishes will be available soon.

Ballston-based FedTech was chosen to build a virtual technology summit for the United States Army.

Though FedTech specializes in advising startups and developers looking to turn deep tech products into profitable businesses, the company also is working to construct a platform for the Army’s online, three-day xTech Summit.

FedTech will build three virtual stages for xTech that attendees can toggle between to hear speakers, panels and companies discussing novel technologies that the Army could potentially use. The event is being held September 9-11 and is open to the public.

“The mission is [for the xTech summit] to be this awesome advanced technology showcase event that is valuable to non-Army eyeballs and the general public that is interested in the types of technologies that are out there in the U.S., but led by” Army-related technology, FedTech Principal Will Dickson said.

On the summit’s main stage, finalists in an Army-run xTechSearch competition will present their technologies and vie for a $250,000 prize.

The competition identifies startups with products that could “tackle the Army’s most critical modernization challenges,” according to its website. Startups are put into an accelerator to prepare it to handle creating contracts with the Army and becoming a commercial company.

FedTech built and operates this accelerator, which companies spend 5-6 months in receiving entrepreneurial advice and education from FedTech employees. The xTech accelerator is similar to one that FedTech offers to other startups.

“Our accelerator is for deep tech ventures, helping those businesses leverage the resources and customers that are within the U.S. government, primarily the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy, but also helping them be successful out in the real world,” said Dickson, who is the accelerator program’s lead. “This could include access to venture capital, mentorship, demystification [of government contracts] and educational content. Whatever it takes to get these founders from point A to point B.”

Companies that recently completed the FedTech accelerator and are finalists in the Army’s competition have products like a drug therapy meant to treat battlefield hemorrhage, a rapid infection test that looks for up to 100 different diseases, and a high-performance lithium battery.

Photos courtesy FedTech

Neighborhood Spotlight: The Pinemoor Plucks a Country Cord in Clarendon

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This content was written and sponsored by The Keri Shull Team, Arlington’s top producing residential real estate team.

On this week’s edition of the Neighborhood Spotlight, join Grace Buck of the Keri Shull Team as she introduces you to The Pinemoor, one of the newest additions to the culinary landscape of Clarendon! This southern-style eatery — which shows promise as one of the best places to get a steak in Arlington — first opened its doors in late July, after a months-long delay due to safety concerns surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak.

In order to learn some more about this brand new spot for food and drinks in Arlington, we spoke with owner Reese Gardner and sampled some dishes from this protein paradise. Check out our thoughts in the video spotlight!

Do you want for us to shine a Spotlight on your favorite restaurant, bar, or thing to do in Arlington? Just leave a comment below and let us know — we’d love to check it out!

The Food

Although the interior of The Pinemoor has a distinctly “country” feel — thanks in large part to the enormous mural of Willie Nelson that graces the dining space — the menu does not draw from only a singular influence.

Steakhouse classics like the 14oz., grass-fed ribeye steak and succulent filet mignon are paired seamlessly with unique southern selections and gourmet appetizers. The Pinemoor even features a diverse selection of sources for their seafood, boasting both shrimp from the gulf coast and the more local crustaceans in their delectable crab cakes.

And no self-respecting southern joint could be complete without a taste of Dixie! The Pinemoor has options to sate even the most particular of southern palettes, including a pulled pork BBQ sandwich, Nashville Hot Chicken and amazing fried green tomatoes.

However, The Pinemoor does not simply offer re-creations of classic dishes — they innovate to deliver fresh new flavors! As evidence, one need not look further than their signature country caviar. This zesty bean dip is a starter that will certainly be familiar to many, but one that brings a unique twist on the “chips and dip” formula!

The Pinemoor also offers plenty of options for getting your leafy greens. In addition to some excellent choices of salads (all of which can be topped with steak, chicken, gulf shrimp or goat cheese), you can also enjoy their mouth-watering brussel sprouts, cauliflower mashed and the popular five cheeses truffled mac.

In fact, The Pinemoor’s bountiful variety of food is matched only by the wide selection of drinks!

The Drinks

The drink menu at The Pinemoor is, in a phrase, expertly crafted.

In addition to canned beers from around the country, visitors can enjoy a selection of local brews on tap. These include the Downright Pilsner, one of our favorite offerings from Port City Brewing in Alexandria. Just like the beer list, the selection of wines includes options from both local and exotic wineries, so make sure to be adventurous — you might discover a new favorite vintage!

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Your Beermonger: Lager Love

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This sponsored column is written by Steve Quartell, 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.

“Phew!” Was not a thousand percent sure I’d finish the column by Friday.

Took a day off (well, from the store) this week and… ya know how three day weekends often just mean fitting a 5 day work week into one less day? Well.. yeah. I’m there. But we did it. It’s finished, you’re reading it as a finished piece right now. And listen, this may come as a shock to you, but I will often have a beer open as I finish this column.

I’ll pause a moment for many of you to unclutch your pearls.

We’re adults here obviously. This is a beer column. While coffee is in charge when for editing, whilst writing, well… a picture speaks a thousand words.

And that Vleit Pilsner is really true to form, more often than not it’s a lager. I can pop one open as an idea that’s been bouncing around in my head takes more solid form, and one sip after another, one very rough paragraph begins to form, and then another and then a few sentences.

Before I know it I’ve finished a lager, but… boy I still need to see through that last thought. So, that first beer wasn’t bad, I may as well have one more for dessert. Most columns are a two beer write up — I think I’ve had one column that was a three beer job, and that required a full pot of coffee for editing the next morning. But finishing a column feels great — I wish I could do the same more often with books.

Listen, I am great at buying books. I’m pretty good at starting them even — Finishing them however?

The above was an attempt by me to get so many books at once that I’d almost certainly pick one up and finish it. It was a blind box purchase from Capitol Hill Books and to their credit I’m really interested in all these titles. To my credit I polished off one in a single afternoon — The Nose by Nikolai Gogol… yeah… it’s 45 pages.

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Open Houses in Arlington This Weekend

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Looking for a home? There are plenty of houses and condos open for viewing this weekend.

Check out the Arlington Realty website for a full list of homes for sale and open houses in Arlington. Here are a few highlights:

1610 23rd Street S.
7 BD/6 BA, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: Kw Metro Center
Listed: $1,790,900
Open: Sunday 1:30-3:30 p.m.

 

6404 Washington Boulevard
5 BD/3 BA single-family home
Agent: Casey Margenau Fine Homes and Estates, Inc.
Listed: $1,449,900
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

4618 17th Street N.
4 BD/4 BA, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: Redfin Corporation
Listed: $1,099,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

1701 16th Street N. #356
1 BD/2 BA condo
Agent: Compass
Listed: $925,000
Open: Sunday 1-3 p.m.

 

888 N. Quincy Street #1202
2 BD/2 BA condo
Agent: Cornwell Properties
Listed: $795,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

820 N. Pollard Street #514
2 BD/2 BA condo
Agent: Pearson Smith Realty, Llc.
Listed: $685,000
Open: Saturday 2-4 p.m.

 

4189 S. Four Mile Drive #202
2 BD/2 BA condo
Agent: Kw Metro Center
Listed: $459,900
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

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.

This has been an August unlike any other in Arlington! Our market has introduced and absorbed double its volume over August of 2019.

Demand from the spring was simply delayed, it did not disappear. The real, continuing story is the increase in available condo inventory, now up 70% from eight weeks ago. Mortgage rates continue their historic lows, sitting at 2.91% for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage.

In related mortgage news, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, who purchase mortgages from banks and repackage them for investors, have levied a hefty new fee on refinances! The fee was supposed to go into effect on September 1 has been delayed until December 1 and is hotly contested. Called an “adverse market” fee, it is supposed to help Fannie and Freddie’s ability to continue to support those negatively impacted by COVID-19 and may have their loans on forbearance or in default. At 0.5% of the loan balance, this is a large additional cost and massively changes the calculation of the amount of time in which a refinance ultimately pays off.

Bottom line — if you’ve been holding out, hoping for lower rates before you refinance, you should give strong consideration to act now before the fee starts being assessed.

This past week in Arlington, sellers listed some 97 properties for sale while buyers ratified 61 contracts. 33 of the ratified contracts were on homes listed just within the past week!

There are currently 415 homes for sale in Arlington, 23 more than last week. 129 are detached homes, 32 are townhouses/semi-detached, and 254 are condos. Average days on market (DOM) for currently available homes is 50 and median DOM is 29. The median list price of currently available properties is $710,000, while the average is $910,401.

Last year for the same week, sellers listed 43 homes and buyers ratified 31 contracts.

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

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