Sponsored

Statutes of Liberty: The Biden administration strikes again — another new parole program

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 Falls Church, Virginia. The legal information given here is general in nature. If you want legal advice, contact us for an appointment.

Our loyal reader(s) will recall that we have covered various programs which allow foreign nationals from countries suffering from difficult circumstances to travel legally to the United States and obtain work authorization.

Most notably, the first was the Uniting for Ukraine program; then came a similar program for Venezuelans; and finally, a program for Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans.

On April 27, 2023, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State jointly announced new measures to help decrease irregular regional migration to the United States. The biggest part of that announcement is the creation of a family reunification parole process. This process will apply to nationals of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Colombia.

This parole process has important differences from the earlier parole processes that have come to fruition during the Biden Administration. The earlier processes require a sponsor who requests that the foreign national be able to come to the United States. The sponsor and the foreign national do not have to be related in any way.

By contrast, as the name “family reunification” suggests, the new parole program announced at the end of April will require a family relationship. In fact, a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident must have filed a family petition for their relative and the petition must be approved. U.S. citizens can file family petitions for parents, children, adult sons and daughters regardless of marital status, and siblings. Lawful permanent residents can file family petitions for spouses, children, and adult, unmarried sons and daughters.

As part of the family petition adjudication process, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will determine whether the foreign national relative should be invited to participate in the parole program. The invitation from the U.S. government is a requirement; the relative cannot simply request parole to travel to the United States.

If the relative is invited and approved for parole, the relative may travel to the United States legally. The relative would also be eligible for work authorization.

For now, this is the only information we have. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services expects to release more details in mid-June. But what do we think about this?

If this program works well, we expect that it will indeed assist with family reunification, especially for those family members who have to wait a long time to apply for their green cards due to visa unavailability. For example, there are only 65,000 visas allotted for brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens each year.

(more…)

Small Business Focus: A case study

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
Reena Bawa, Founder of Beauty Fair Hairstylists

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

By Alex Held

Relocating a small business to a new space is a significant undertaking that presents many challenges. Moving to a different location can be a daunting task for small businesses, whether due to expansion, cost considerations or changes in the business landscape.

When Reena Bawa, Founder of Beauty Fair Hairstylists, learned she needed to find a new location after running her Columbia Pike business at the same location for more than 35 years, the process seemed daunting. Luckily, she had BizLaunch to help her find a new space for her business.

First and foremost, finding a suitable space that meets the needs of the business can be a significant hurdle. Generally, this process can take one to three years. In Arlington, particularly along Columbia Pike, vacant retail space can be hard to find, and with low supply, rents are rising. Currently, the retail vacancy rate along Columbia Pike is 2.8%. This challenge can be further amplified if a client is looking for industrial space, which according to CoStar has a 0.8% vacancy rate in Arlington.

In Beauty Fair Hairstylists’ case, Bawa was already about double the industry average (about 17% of sales) for rent and was facing yet another increase in the current space. However, Bawaknew she wanted to remain close to her customer base along Columbia Pike and for the space to be easily accessible.

Through ReLaunch, Beauty Fair was able to leverage Revby’s expertise in analyzing different options, such as purchasing a space, leasing another space or remaining at the existing location with a rent increase. However, with the cost of acquisition, build-out and rent rising, none of those options made financial sense nor aligned with Bawa’s goals. Thus, she decided to rent out space within an existing hair salon. Such an arrangement is commonly referred to in the industry as booth rent.

Once it was clear which direction Bawa wanted to go, the BizLaunch team identified several booth rent opportunities throughout Arlington. Finally, Bawa settled on her new location inside Samaris Hair Salon at 38 S. Glebe Road.

With the location selected, the logistical challenges of the move itself came into play. Small businesses must plan and coordinate the physical relocation of equipment, inventory, and furniture, which can be complex and disruptive to daily operations. In Bawa’s case, since she would rent space from an existing salon, much of her equipment was no longer needed, forcing her to liquidate or store equipment.

Additionally, BizLaunch supported Beauty Fair through the move, helping her update her address and apply for a partial Certificate of Occupancy for her new space while also being supportive in the transition. In this case, Bawa had been in her location for more than three decades and was understandably attached to the location. It was part of her business identity, and it was important not to lose that identity.

Another significant challenge is notifying customers, clients, and suppliers about the relocation. Small businesses rely heavily on their existing networks, and a move can disrupt established relationships. Communicating the new address and contact information is crucial to maintaining strong connections and minimizing any potential loss of business.

Thankfully Revby was able to help develop collateral material such as fliers and business cards with the new address and update the website and Google My Business page, letting customers know of the change. Additionally, the Revby team was able to assist in extracting customers’ information from the owner’s phone into a spreadsheet, easily accessible in one place.

“While the adjustment has been hard, I’m grateful for the resources Arlington has provided my business as well as the support from my customers and colleagues within Samaris Hair Salon,” says Bawa.

For businesses facing a relocation decision, reach out to BizLaunch as early as possible, as finding a suitable space for your business can take some time. Schedule some time with one of our experts today. For more information about BizLaunch, visit www.bizlaunch.org.

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 May 22, there are 143 detached homes, 23 townhouses and 130 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 27 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week, including:

4200 40th Street N.

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: The bedroom chronicles — exploring Arlington’s housing market by bedroom data

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 Eli Residential channel. Enjoy!

Question: What is the ratio of bathrooms to bedrooms in Arlington? 

Answer: Somebody recently asked me what the bathroom-to-bedroom ratio is in Arlington and I ended up exploring Arlington market data through the lens of bedrooms. I might be the only person who finds this interesting but if you find yourself daydreaming about things like the number of bedrooms sold in Arlington and the cost per bedroom, than this is the article you’ve been waiting for!

What is a Bedroom?

Unlike many other jurisdictions, Arlington doesn’t have its own definition of a bedroom and defers to the Virginia Residential Building Code. I wrote about back in 2016, linked here. The Virginia requirements are pretty simple: minimum 70 SqFt, 7 Ft+ ceiling heights, proper egress window, heated, and ventilation.

Arlington’s Housing Market by Bedrooms

  • Over the past five years, an average of 7,673 bedrooms have sold each year. 56% of bedrooms sold are in single-family homes, 25% in condos, and 19% in townhouse/duplex properties.
  • There’s an average of 600 new bedrooms being delivered each year via new construction.
  • The average cost per bedroom has decreased in 2023 causing an overall decrease in the cost per bedroom in Arlington, despite small increases in the cost per bedroom for single-family and townhouse/duplex homes.
  • There are an average of 2.7 bedrooms in each home sold in Arlington. I expected to find that the number of bedrooms per transaction increased in the spring, suggesting that more larger homes are listed during the spring market, but the average size of homes by bedroom count is consistent each month of the year, always between 2.5 and 2.8 bedrooms per home sold.
  • There is an average of .8 full bathrooms for every bedroom sold. The ratio for single-family detached homes is .73 full bathrooms per bedroom.

  • The second table below shows data from 2022-2023 sales.
  • The data suggests that 4BR homes are the most in demand, followed closely by 3BR and 5BR, and for good reason…4BR homes have the best cost per bedroom of any size home.
  • If you are buying a home with 2-6 bedrooms, you’re most likely going to pay at or above the asking price.
  • The most expensive zip code per bedroom is 22209 at $494,000/BR and the least expensive is 22204 at $244,000/BR. The average cost per bedroom in a single-family home in 22207 is $349,000.

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 Eli Residential channel.

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.

Two longtime Arlington residents invent and launch innovative new bathroom product

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
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The plunger. It’s a dirty topic that no one talks about, but we all have to deal with it. We’ve all had the same experience; we plunge the toilet and don’t know what to do with that nasty plunger afterwards.

A lot of times after use, the go-to is to stick it in the tub or back on the floor to deal with the inevitable later. Two longtime Arlington residents came up with a better way.

The idea of the Schoon was a glimmer in inventor Elaine Steele’s brain one morning in January of 2020 after plunging yet another clog in her old bathroom in her old house in Arlington. A search of the internet for a plunger that has a way to clean itself yielded no results, Elaine realized a self-cleaning plunger did not exist. After an exhaustive search of the Patent and Trademark site for hours and hours to find a product that was already out there, she found that there was none.

Elaine approached her longtime friend and coworker, Pierre, about the idea of a self-cleaning plunger. Being a germaphobe, he was intrigued, and the two started collaborating on the idea that February. Several designs, a few prototypes, lots of testing, and a patent application later, the Schoon was born and is now ready for manufacturing.

So how does the Schoon work? After unclogging your toilet, the Schoon allows you to use the wand to spray disinfectant over the top and the underneath of the plunger cup, cleaning the plunger immediately after use. The Schoon’s design also allows you to spray and disinfect the surrounding bathroom area. Elaine says, “Pierre and I intentionally created a sleek design, with the intention that you leave it out and at the ready for use when you need it.”

Where can you purchase the Schoon?  You will find the evolution of the Schoon from idea, to sketches, to prototyping and testing on their Kickstarter Campaign page. Elaine says that the most common question she hears from excited parties after talking about the Schoon is, “what’s a Kickstarter???” She explains “Kickstarter is a platform where inventors go after prototyping to introduce their product to the world. Kickstarter Campaigns allow backers to pre-order and purchase their Schoon as early adopters. Once a Kickstarter Campaign reaches its Campaign goal, the invention goes right to production.” Elaine and Pierre say that once they reach their pre-order goal, the Schoon will go straight to manufacturing with Maryland’s Xometry, and the Schoon will be delivered before the Holidays.

The Schoon launched its Kickstarter campaign May 17th. You can pre-order the Schoon from May 17-June 20. This is the final stage in bringing this product to market. The Schoon is patent pending.

Pre-order the Schoon at the Kickstarter campaign here.

To learn more about the Schoon, visit www.theschoon.com.

Follow the Schoon on Facebook and Instagram.

Woloszyn’s Insights: Demystifying the mortgage process for homebuyers

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This is a sponsored column by Joseph Woloszyn Esq. of Maximo Mortgages LLC. Have a question or comment? Contact Joseph at [email protected].

Mortgages are often seen as a complex and daunting aspect of the home-buying process.

However, understanding the intricacies of mortgages is essential for making informed decisions and ensuring a smooth home-buying experience. In this article, we will cover the basics of mortgages, the different types available, and tips on how to choose the best mortgage for your unique circumstances.

What is a Mortgage?

A mortgage is a loan that allows you to purchase a home by borrowing money from a lender, typically a bank or a financial institution. The property you buy serves as collateral for the loan. Over time, you repay the borrowed amount, including interest, through monthly payments.

Key Mortgage Terminology

  • Principal: The amount you borrow to purchase the home.
  • Interest: The cost of borrowing money, expressed as a percentage of the principal.
  • Down Payment: The initial amount you pay upfront towards the purchase of your home.
  • Loan Term: The length of time you have to repay the loan, typically 15 or 30 years.
  • Amortization: The process of paying off the loan principal and interest over time through regular monthly payments.

Types of Mortgages

There are several types of mortgages available to homebuyers. The most common ones include:

  • Fixed-Rate Mortgage: The interest rate remains constant throughout the loan term, providing predictable monthly payments.
  • Adjustable-Rate Mortgage (ARM): The interest rate changes periodically, based on a predetermined index, resulting in fluctuating monthly payments.
  • Conventional Mortgage: A loan that is not backed by the federal government, typically requiring a larger down payment and higher credit score.
  • FHA Loan: A mortgage insured by the Federal Housing Administration, allowing for lower down payments and more lenient credit requirements.
  • VA Loan: A loan guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, available to eligible veterans and active-duty military members.

Choosing the Right Mortgage

When selecting a mortgage, consider the following factors:

  • Affordability: Determine how much you can comfortably afford by considering your monthly income, expenses, and future financial goals.
  • Down Payment: Larger down payments can result in lower interest rates and reduced mortgage insurance costs.
  • Loan Term: Shorter loan terms usually come with lower interest rates but higher monthly payments, while longer loan terms provide lower monthly payments but more interest paid over time.
  • Interest Rate Type: Choose between fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages based on your risk tolerance and financial stability.

Mortgage Pre-Approval

Before house hunting, it’s a good idea to get pre-approved for a mortgage. This process involves a lender reviewing your financial situation and determining how much you can borrow. Pre-approval gives you a better understanding of your budget, strengthens your negotiation position, and expedites the mortgage application process.

Conclusion

Understanding mortgages is crucial for navigating the home-buying process and making informed decisions. By familiarizing yourself with mortgage terminology, exploring different mortgage types, and carefully considering your financial situation, you can confidently choose the best mortgage for your needs.

If you have any mortgage related questions or would like to inquiry about applying for a mortgage, please reach out to us at Maximo Mortgage LLC at [email protected] or 703-755-0045! Happy house hunting!

Joseph Woloszyn Esq. boasts a diverse professional background, including roles as a real estate attorney, mortgage broker, real estate broker, general contractor, and real estate investor. When he isn’t working, Joseph enjoys watching football and taking trips to unwind. In his personal life, he lovingly reports to his two superiors: his wife, Haimei, and their daughter, Elizabeth.

Listing of the Day: 4904 15th St. N.

By ARLnow.com
1/5

Address: 4904 15th St. N.
Neighborhood: Waycroft Woodlawn
Type: 4 BR, 3 (+1 half) BA single-family detached – 2200 sq. ft.
Listed: $1,395,000

Noteworthy: Kitchen open to large family room with doors to screened porch and deck

Expanded Cape Cod on a tree lined street just blocks to Woodlawn Park and bike trail. Enter through a foyer with window seat, closet, and built in shoe storage to the traditional living room with fireplace and dining room that is perfect for large gatherings.

The kitchen is open to the breakfast area and the family room with vaulted ceiling and more built-ins. Both rooms have doors to the deck and large screened porch overlooking the level, fenced rear yard. Two more bedrooms are on this level along with laundry, bathroom, and powder room. Upstairs, the primary bedroom has a walk in closet, second walk in closet off the bathroom, and a den — now used as a nursery. The fourth bedroom is on this level and has architectural detailing.

In the lower level, there is a large rec room with full height windows, den or private space for a guest or au pair, bathroom, and extensive storage. A door from the lower level opens to the “landlocked” garage which offers extensive storage. Between Westover Village and Ballston with easy access to everything. Glebe, Swanson, and Washington-Liberty schools.

A home laden with character and space and in most-convenient location.

Listed by:
Betsy Twigg
[email protected]
(703) 967-4391

Home buying seminar: Make the most of your home search!

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Are you looking to stop renting and start investing in your financial freedom through homeownership? Expert help is the key.

The Keri Shull Team, the top-producing real estate team in the D.C. metro area, is hosting a seminar to help aspiring buyers understand the competitive DMV real estate market and enhance their home search.

Join us on Saturday, May 20th, at 10:30 a.m. for this FREE first-time home buyer seminar. Attendees will enjoy a breakfast and will receive $1,000 credit toward a down payment or breaking a lease, and a 12-month home buy-back guarantee.

Bridget Mendes, a skilled realtor with the Keri Shull Team, has created this comprehensive class based on lessons learned through hundreds of real estate transactions. Don’t miss out on exclusive information you won’t find anywhere online.

Topics covered include:

  • How to avoid double-paying rent and a mortgage
  • How to craft a winning offer in a highly competitive market
  • The secret to finding off-market properties
  • What to expect financially and financing program options
  • The 4 C’s of real estate
  • And much more!

We look forward to seeing you for this FREE event at our office located at 1600 Wilson Blvd, 1st Fl. Parking is available under the building.

Listing of the Day: 6249 Williamsburg Blvd

By ARLnow.com
1/6

Address: 6249 Williamsburg Blvd
Neighborhood: Minor Hill / Williamsburg Circle
Type: 5 BR, 4 (+1 half) BA single-family detached — 5,146 sq. ft.
Listed: $1,899,900

Noteworthy: This a pre-market offering of a luxury home in the Discovery ES District

Spacious and renovated 5 bedroom 4.5 bath 2006 built Colonial style floor plan, located in Discovery/Williamsburg/Yorktown School Districts.

A 2022 dream kitchen renovation with white Quartz counters, gold pulls and fixtures, induction range, beverage fridge and barn doors — stunning elegance! (see the photos!) 2021 luxury master bath renovation, 3 walk-in closets, soaring 2-story sundrenched foyer, raised hearth stone wood burning fireplace, main level dedicated laundry with refreshing amounts of space and cabinets!

And an attached 2 car garage with custom dog shower! Huge finished lower level with den, full bath, rec room, and media room, walk-out rear entrance areaway to a lovely flat 0.23 acre level fenced yard, stately brick front elevation with three sides (2022), white Hardi Plank exterior siding, 2 zone HVAC and 1 mile to East Falls Church Metro.

Call for tour or floor plans! Offered $1,899,900.

Listed by:
Bret Brock — Upstream Realty
[email protected]
(202) 743-1971

Arts Focus: Music by the Metro Series in Clarendon — Thursdays in May

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

Dancing in the Streets is sure to ensue as the 2023 Music by the Metro — Clarendon Concert Series continues on Thursdays! The free series takes place on Thursday evenings at 5:30 p.m. in Clarendon Metro Park. Presented by the Clarendon Alliance, the series is co-sponsored by Arlington Arts, Industrious and Comcast.

Our curatorial collaboration with the Clarendon Alliance is just one of Arlington Arts’ numerous partnerships with Arlington community groups, associations and business improvement districts (BID’s). As such, the artists you see on-stage at the Lubber Run Amphitheater Summer Concert Series, the Columbia Pike Blues Festival, and the Rosslyn Jazz Festival are all programmed by Arlington Arts.

The remaining two Music by the Metro concerts include:

Crush Funk Brass
Thursday, May 18

Started in 2012, Crush Funk Brass Band is a brilliant, innovative group of young musicians from the D.C. area, comprised of students from The University of The District of Columbia, Howard University and Bowie State. Launched while they were still in school, Crush Funk began playing throughout the city, metro stations, markets, and throughout the community.

Influenced by all genres of music, The bands style is unique, embodying the brass tones of New Orleans second line, with an Urban Capital City modern fun(k) twist. Their music has now been heard at venues and events ranging from the DC Funk Festival and the Arlington County Fair, to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History and the Kennedy Center, to name just a few. Follow Crush Funk on Twitter @crushfunk or Crush Funk Brass on Facebook.

The Soul Crackers
Thursday, May 25

Steeped in Memphis and Motown soul, and timeless songs by artists like Otis Redding, Average White Band, Stevie Wonder among many others, The Soul Crackers grew up with this music and honor it with the legitimacy of a crackerjack soul horn band from the 60’s. Lead vocalist Tommy Lepson has won numerous “BEST VOCALIST” awards (WAMMIES) from the Washington Area Music Association and is considered a singer’s singer.

He is joined by The Too Much Sisters — two stellar vocalists Anita King and Caz Gardiner, and together they pull off those beautiful Motown harmonies. Having performed everywhere from Adams Morgan Day to a command performance at The White House, their recordings include: LIVE at the Barns of Wolf Trap (2003); Soul Crackers, 30 Years of Soul, Volume 2 (2015); and A Soulful Christmas released in December 2018 — all available on ITunes and CD Baby.

Click here for more information about the Music by the Metro Concert Series.

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 May 15, there are 146 detached homes, 20 townhouses and 135 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 11 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week, including:

824 N. Wakefield Street

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.

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