Feature

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 licensed broker Aaron Seekford of Arlington Realty, Inc. GET MORE out of your real estate investment with Aaron and his team by visiting www.arlingtonrealtyinc.com or calling 703-836-6116 today!

Please note: While Aaron Seekford provides this information for the community, he may not be the listing agent of these homes.

Today is World Environment Day.

In honor of our blue and green planet, there are a few simple things you can do around your home to protect/preserve our environment (and save a few bucks while you’re at it).

First, before we enter the dog days of summer here, check out your insulation. This may include your door sealings, windows, ducts and more. If they are not properly sealed, you are literally letting money (and precious cool air!) slip away.

Another quick tip, thinking about donating your unwanted items and not trashing them. There are plenty of folks in our community that would consider your trash to be treasure and there’s an environmental component to recycling goods, too.

Just think, by donating and having your items re-used, those items aren’t immediately going to a local landfill.

And, finally, think about how your water is being utilized. Is that showerhead efficient? Are you leaving your faucets running when you’re on the other side of your residence? Is that water heater still functional? In addition to preserving resources, your wallet will thank you.

When you’re ready to find the home of your dreams in Arlington, our team is ready to help you GET MORE out of your transaction.

As of June 3, there are 158 detached homes, 18 townhouses and 96 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 10 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 Aaron Seekford.

Ask Eli: When Can I Negotiate?

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: I’ve made a few offers on homes and am frustrated by the lack of negotiating I’m able to do. Are there things I can look for that are a sign that there’s room to negotiate price and terms?

Answer: Most buyers think that negotiating the terms of a home purchase is between them and the home owners, but in reality, most of the time you’re actually negotiating against other buyers. This is especially true when a home has been on the market for 30 days or less.

You can make a perfect case for why a home is worth less than the owner is asking, but if there are other buyers willing to pay more and offer better supporting terms, you don’t even get a participation trophy. If you’re dead-set on negotiating the price and maintaining favorable contingencies, the best thing to look at is the number of days a home has been on the market.

Historical data supports the following:

  • If you want to purchase a home that has been on market for 10 days or less, you should be prepared to pay at or above the asking price.
  • There is very little room to negotiate price in the first 30 days.
  • Buyers gain negotiation leverage after a home has been listed for 30 days and it gets better each month after that.

The last three months of closed sales in Arlington shows the following:

  • Buyers who purchased a home within 10 days of it being listed for sale negotiated 1% or more off the asking price on just 7.9% of transactions.

  • Buyers who purchased a home within 10 days of it being listed for sale paid 5% or more over the asking price on 18.7% of transactions.

Use this data to make buying more strategic and less guesswork/frustration, but remember there is no hard rule that you can’t negotiate a price and terms from day 1 or that a seller is going to agree to discount their price after three months.

Remember that each transaction is unique in that both parties have their own set of priorities/circumstances, each house comes with its own unique strengths and flaws, and all it takes is one or two buyers being on vacation/busy for a deal to go from multiple escalating offers to one negotiable contract.

Take some time to understand underlying market trends and probabilities and apply those to each individual transaction based on the information that is unique to it.

If you’d like to meet to discuss how data can be used to develop your purchase strategy, you can email me at [email protected] to schedule a time to meet.

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 Real Living At Home, 2420 Wilson Blvd #101 Arlington, VA 22201, (202) 518-8781.

Ballston Startup Clones, Then Tears Apart, Your Company

By Vernon Miles

Sponsored by Monday Properties and written by ARLnow.com, Startup Monday is a weekly column that profiles Arlington-based startups and their founders, plus other local technology happenings. The Ground Floor, Monday’s office space for young companies in Rosslyn, is now open. The Metro-accessible space features a 5,000-square-foot common area that includes a kitchen, lounge area, collaborative meeting spaces, and a stage for formal presentations.

Tinkering with the virtual structure of a company can be hazardous, so instead, Ballston-based startup HyperQube will make a digital clone of a company and then subject it to every horrible cyberattack known to man.

It’s the Portrait of Dorian Gray for the digital age.

“Being able to rapidly clone entire infrastructure, including the networking, allows enterprises to test in ways that used to be too expensive,” Craig Stevenson, founder and CEO, told ARLnow. “Before HyperQube, probing an enterprise’s defenses was costly and dangerous, since you are probing real systems which can’t be taken offline. Now, you could spin up hundreds of exact copies of an enterprise’s defenses and probe them both risk-free and simultaneously, saving massive amounts of effort and eliminating the risk of taking a production system offline.”

HyperQube describes the virtual environment as “alternate realities” that allow users to test, play and break to their hearts’ desire.

The ability to clone digital structures isn’t new, but Stevenson said HyperQube allows the clones to be built and modified quickly.

Various products focus on different scales and targets, like Hyperskill — which uses the cloning method to allow instructors and students to tinker with real systems without potential consequences.

The startup launched in January 2018 after participating in the local cybersecurity accelerator Mach37.

HyperQube ran an event last year where they invited hackers to come participate in a digital competition where, once a platform was shut down, the hackers wrote out detailed explanations of their exploits and offered suggestions on how to fix them.

The company recently signed partnerships with the National Guard, Department of Homeland Security, Cisco and other groups. Stevenson said more partnerships were on their way soon, but couldn’t announce any further details. HyperQube also raised $500,000 in seed funding, which is going toward sales, development and new hires.

Stevenson said Arlington has been a great place to run a cyber startup.

“For us, being within 40 minutes of a customer in D.C. or our data center in Ashburn, makes Arlington ideal,” said Stevenson.

Photo via HyperQube

Legal Insider: Preventing Pregnancy Discrimination

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

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.

We represent employees that have been affected by pregnancy discrimination. Here are some tips on the subject.

Prevention of Pregnancy Discrimination 

Pregnancy discrimination, unfortunately, is one of the fastest-growing areas of discrimination law because many employers do not understand the legal requirements that are in place to protect pregnant employees.

The following general guidance is meant to help employers prevent and appropriately deal with, as well as educate employees regarding, issues of pregnancy discrimination in the workplace.

Know Duties and Rights of Pregnant Employees 

The Pregnancy Discrimination Act makes it illegal for an employer with 15 or more employees to discriminate against an employee in all areas of employment, including hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoff, training and benefits (e.g., leave and health insurance). It is important for employers and employees to understand these rights.

Example: Rachel applies for a position as a pharmaceutical sales representative. She is also five months pregnant. During her interview, the hiring manager explains that the position will require a lot of walking and asks whether Rachel’s pregnancy will affect her ability to work or return to work.

Due to concerns about this issue, Rachel is not hired as a result of the hiring manager’s belief that her pregnancy will affect her ability to work. Jennifer could bring a case of pregnancy discrimination.

Providing Equal Treatment to Pregnant Employees

If an employee becomes pregnant or is unable to perform her job due to issues during and/or after her pregnancy, the employer must treat the employee the same way it treats temporarily disabled employees. Employers often misunderstand this.

Example: Employees at Smith Co. with two years of seniority can apply for promotions. Mary is excluded from an upcoming promotion process at work. She is told that her three months of maternity leave will not count towards her seniority.

At the same time, Smith Co. continues to give seniority credit to employees who take leave for temporary injuries and medical issues, such as back injuries. Mary could bring a case of unequal treatment and discrimination.

(more…)

Rethink Energy: Community Energy Plan Open House June 4

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This regularly-scheduled sponsored 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.

We need your input to help refine the draft Community Energy Plan.

Ask questions, get answers and make your voice heard. If you care about climate action and Arlington’s sustainability journey, this event is for you! Snacks will be provided.

Please join use at Central Library this Tuesday!

Community Energy Plan Open House:

Date: June 4
Time: 7-9 p.m.
Location: Central Library Auditorium

Our lives are increasingly reliant on ever more energy. Air conditioning and heating, lighting, electric cars, tablets and smart phones, TVs and game consoles, and so much more. Energy is a key enabler of humanity’s progress.

It is also linked to global greenhouse gas increases and associated impacts that were recently detailed in the latest UN Climate Report.

The Rethink Energy program is Arlington’s climate action program and is moving the needle on energy efficiency, solar power, green building and more.

Why do we need a Community Energy Plan?

Arlington’s Community Energy Plan was first adopted in 2013. In the same way that Arlington’s smart growth journey was built upon land-use planning and transit, energy planning is the critical next layer to support Arlington’s evolution as a sustainable community.

Arlington County is updating the Community’s Energy Plan. This Plan is ambitious in its scope, but practical in its aims. Residents and businesses can expect a variety of benefits as we work to finalize this long-term plan:

  • Reducing energy costs that will save residents and businesses money
  • Generating energy locally with the use of renewables and other technologies
  • Reaching our carbon reduction goals by 2050

Please join us on June 4 at the Community Energy Plan Open House!

The draft Community Energy Plan update can be found here. An executive summary of the proposed changes can be found here.

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:

1724 N. Barton Street
5 BR/4 BA, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: Beacon Crest Real Estate Llc.
Listed: $2,095,000
Open: Sunday 1-3 p.m.

 

5416 Washington Boulevard
5 BR/4 BA, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: I-Agent Realty Incorporated
Listed: $1,150,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

6943 28th Street N.
4 BR/3 BA single-family home
Agent: Redfin Corporation
Listed: $849,900
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

5013 S. 24th Street
5 BR/3 BA single-family home
Agent: Classic Realty, Ltd
Listed: $714,900
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

411 S. Veitch Street
2 BR/2 BA villa/townhouse
Agent: Ttr Sotheby’s International Realty
Listed: $599,000
Open: Saturday 1-3 p.m.

 

989 Buchanan Street S. #306
1 BR/1 BA condo
Agent: Mcwilliams/Ballard, Inc.
Listed: $414,378
Open: Saturday 12-4 p.m.

 

3650 S. Glebe Road #149
Studio/1 BA condo
Agent: Keller Williams Capital Properties
Listed: $315,000
Open: Saturday 1-4 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 Team Cathell, “Your Orange Line Specialists.”

Like clockwork, Arlington’s real estate market hit the brakes this week as we entered the first week of the summer.

The market typically slows right after Memorial Day weekend, and this year was no different. Sellers listed 45 homes, while buyers ratified 44 contracts. That’s about a 40% drop in activity from last week.

There’s good news for buyers on two points: the inventory level improved and interest rates dropped. This week, inventory in Arlington increased to 1.4 months compared to just under one month for the last several weeks. The higher the inventory level, the more choices and negotiating power for buyers.

Mortgage interest rates dropped to 4% for a 30-yr fixed rate, and highly qualified buyers with great credit can get a rate in the high 3’s%. That adds considerably to a buyer’s purchasing power. The escalating trade war with China now shows signs of slowing the U.S. economy, and that news has impacted the drops on Wall Street and flow of capital into safe 10-yr U.S. Treasury bonds.

Further tensions with China could slow our economy more, and mortgage rates could see even lower numbers.

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

Arlington Pet of the Week: Paya

By Airey
1/3

Arlington’s newest pet the of week is Paya, a white cat without much of a tail.

Here’s what owner Lizzi had to say about Paya’s thoughts on living in Arlington County:

Yo!  I’m Paya, but I also go by Papaya, Beans, or Bubby. My mom adopted me from a rescue — that’s where the best pets come from in my oh so humble opinion — and I’ve been living in Arlington with her for the last two years.

If I was running for office, my campaign would be built on table naps, window views, and stylish bandanas for all (especially for me). I also love human food, so please leave your leftovers on the table and I’ll get it for you! C’mon, just leave a girl some cheese and muffins from time to time.

My favorite part of me is my really short tail. People always say I look like a bunny, and that’s fine, I think rabbits are cool too. We both like jumping around and being cute, so what’s there not to like?

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 of 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.

Images courtesy of owner Lizzi

Arts Focus: Walking Tour Explores Public Art in Rosslyn

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
1/3

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

Rosslyn has many celebrated works of public art throughout the neighborhood.

Public art helps to give a community a sense of place, yet often even longtime locals may not know the story behind the artworks. Explore these works of art on the Rosslyn Public Art Walking Tour, led by one of Arlington County’s Public Artists in Residence, Graham Coreil-Allen.

Taking place on Thursday, June 6, at 6 p.m, the tour is free and open to the public, and starts and ends at Central Place Plaza: 1800 N. Lynn Street in Arlington, Virginia.

Directly following the tour, join us for a social at the Rosslyn Rocks! concert at Central Place Plaza (which features the new LED installation Gravity & Grace by internationally-acclaimed artist Cliff Garten). We will enjoy live music and share thoughts about the walking tour!

Space is limited, and registration is required (note: this popular tour often fills-up quickly).

Co-sponsored by Arlington Arts, the Rosslyn BID and WalkArlington, the event itself speaks to the pioneering combination of public and private resources which created this specific work and shaped Arlington’s internationally-acclaimed permanent collection of contemporary public art.

When the County, a citizen activist, the late artist Nancy Holt (profiled in this New York Times article), a developer and the National Endowment for the Arts collaborated to create Dark Star Park — the seminal landscape artwork in Rosslyn — the Arlington Public Art program has been characterized by its unique approach by combining public and private resources and its focus on enhancements to the public realm.

During this 90-minute tour, participants will discover the history, design and purpose of Rosslyn’s works of public art. Throughout the tour, Coreil-Allen will create opportunities for playful interaction and inclusive discussion.

Highlights include Cupid’s Garden, Dark Star Park, Liquid Pixels, the Le Meridien overlook, Anna and David, and Bennett Park Art Atrium.

Register for the tour via Eventbrite!

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 licensed broker Aaron Seekford of Arlington Realty, Inc. GET MORE out of your real estate investment with Aaron and his team by visiting www.arlingtonrealtyinc.com or calling 703-836-6116 today!

Please note: While Aaron Seekford provides this information for the community, he may not be the listing agent of these homes.

Just how much have our local home prices jumped since the Amazon HQ2 announcement?

A new Realtor.com report sheds a bit more light as to what this mammoth news has meant. According to the report, houses have increased from an average of $640,000 in November 2018 to $750,000 in April 2019. This equates to a jump of 17.3 percent, compared to a national average increase of 5.5 percent. Additionally, the report indicated that the number of listings dropped by 48.2 percent in the same timeframe.

So, what does this all mean? It means our market remains red hot and there has never been a more important time to have a trusted advisor on your side.

Whether buying or selling in our increasingly competitive market, our team is here to help you navigate the waters and GET MORE out of your transaction.

As of May 27, there are 155 detached homes, 18 townhouses and 95 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 10 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 Aaron Seekford.

The Chew: Summer Vacation — Grab Fido and Go

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

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

When it’s time to head out for your summer getaway, you have two choices: take the entire family or leave man’s best friend out of the loop.

If you’d rather have Spot by your side, keep reading. It’s not always easy to travel with a dog, but it’s possible. These tips can help you make the most of your adventures with your four-legged traveling companion.

Health and Safety

Any time you’re heading away from home, you should first discuss the trip with your veterinarian. This is especially important if you will be traveling across state lines or via airplane.

Your dog will need to be up to date on vaccinations, and you may be required to present a health certificate at the airport. Find the number of the closest emergency veterinarian at your destination, and program your telephone with their contact information.

To lessen the chances of your dog getting sick on your trip, bring enough of his regular food to last while you are away, or confirm that your usual brand is available locally. Depending on where you’re going, you may also need extra travel gear. Pack a life jacket or hiking vest if you’ll be at the beach or mountains, and always bring a leash, collar and ID/rabies tags.

Nervousness

If your dog has never traveled before or shows signs of anxiety when he’s in the car, you can ease his nerves by bringing along a few familiar items. It will also help to get him used to short trips in the weeks leading up to a long journey. You might also wish to consult with your veterinarian on supplements that will help keep your dog calm on the road, on the railway, or in the air.

CBD oil is one option, and many pet owners have reported using quality CBD oil to treat phobias and anxiety. Keep in mind, however, that despite hemp and cannabis being well known, CBD oil is a relatively recent addition to commercially-available home treatments.

Practical Matters

There is no denying that traveling with your dog takes preparation. You may also find that you need to pad your schedule to account for bathroom breaks and exercise time. The American Kennel Club recommends teaching your dog to “go” on surfaces other than grass.

You never know when you will have a chance to stop. The last thing you want is for your dog to avoid eliminating his bladder or bowels until it’s too late and you have a mess in the back seat.

Something else that’s easy to overlook is whether or not your dog will actually be allowed at your preferred vacation accommodation. Keep in mind that hotels only have limited rooms available for guests traveling with pets, so book early. If you are not sure yet where you’d like to go, TripsToDiscover.com list more than a dozen pet-friendly resorts that happily say hello to your holiday-bound hound.

Visit a few local dog parks before your trip to get Ace acclimated to other animals if his social manners need refining; hotels can and will ask you to leave if your pet can’t behave.

The most important step in traveling with your dog is to prepare according to your destination. This means consulting with your veterinarian regarding your dog’s health, confirming his accommodations and getting him ready for the road.

It is extra work, but considering that your dog is an important part of your family, it’s a labor of love that will only strengthen your bond and give you memories to hold onto for the rest of your life.

Looking for more tips, interested in adorable pet pics or just want to get more information on what we do? Stay connected with Bark + Boarding on Facebook, Instagram and our website.

Click here to check out our short video about this article

Mention this article for a free evaluation and click here to sign up for one today. If you have a question about your pet, feel free to come in or email [email protected] any time.

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