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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.

I want to take some time to thank our veterans this morning and use my column here as a platform to do so. Here in Arlington (and the DMV region), we have an especially large number of current and former military personnel around us daily.

To be honest, one day just isn’t enough to adequately recognize these heroes for the contributions and sacrifices, they have made. They sacrifice years or decades of their lives in service and all of us enjoy the fruits of that labor daily, but we only recognize it once a year. Some of them make the ultimate sacrifice by giving their life to defend our freedom.

I can’t express enough how thankful I am for our veterans, and to thank those who are current or active duty for their service and sacrifice to our great country, I’m going to run a substantial incentive to work with the Andors Real Estate Group for your 2022 real estate needs. Contact me at (703) 203-1117 to talk about your real estate plans, our Military Appreciation Program, and know that you’ll be working with a seasoned Arlington native and expert appreciative of you, your service and sacrifice.

The Andors Real Estate Group is proud to have JUST LISTED 1000 26th Street S., Arlington, VA 22202 — $1,198,000

1000 26th Street S.

Welcome home to this gorgeous, expanded three-level Cape Cod overlooking the neighborhood with wintertime skyline views. With four bedrooms, three full bathrooms, including a main level owner’s suite and second upstairs owner’s suite, this home has room to grow!

At approximately 2,500sf, this home can accommodate many needs, including work from home or homeschooling. Gleaming hardwood floors throughout, dual wood-burning fireplaces, open-concept kitchen and a lovely backyard with extensive landscaping and hardscape for fantastic entertaining and enjoyment. Rear alley access, including parking for two large vehicles.

Find me and my team here this weekend, Saturday and Sunday from 1-4 p.m. for public open houses.

Although this column is coming out at the normal day/time, our schedule is different this week as a result of Veterans Day. I’ll cover numbers and trends briefly below, but I don’t have week over week data as I’m writing this a day early. We’ll resume that next week.

Inventory continues to fall in Arlington — we now have 456 available properties for sale. Just two months ago, there were 555 properties to choose from. Ratified contracts have kept pace with new listings closely, resulting in steadily declining inventory. A reminder, some properties go off the market and are no longer available without resulting in a sale.

As of this week, the average list price of homes currently for sale is $802,033, and the median is $575,000. Average days on market (DOM) is 65, and the median is 41. Homes of all types range in price from $99,900 all the way up to $4,250,000!

Last year during the same week, Arlington had 555 properties available for sale, there were 63 new listings and 58 ratified contacts.

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.

Thanksgiving emergency? RSVP Catering is here to help

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Maybe you’ve got the Thanksgiving turkey down to a science but those pesky side dishes bedevil you, or a small army of family members suddenly remembered to accept your invitation to Thanksgiving dinner but you only planned for half that number.

Don’t sweat it: RSVP Catering, one of the region’s premier catering services, will bring whatever you need in whatever quantity to your door.

RSVP Catering’s Thanksgiving 2021 home delivery program is designed for the full holiday dinner, but not everyone needs everything to make the day special for everyone at the table. That’s why RSVP Catering is making things easy: You can order online from the menu á la carte to create a customized meal plan.

RSVP Catering’s renowned chefs provide a choice of turkey methods — traditional herb roasted or Cajun-fried (and if you’ve never had the opportunity, you might want to take a chance) — in family style meals that can feed five or 10. The smaller option is $150 and the large meal is $280, and includes four delicious side dishes, homemade challah, and sweet potato biscuits.

When ordering á la carte, you can have delivered as much or as little as you need. Choose from creamy mashed potatoes, sage and turkey sausage cornbread stuffing, crisp winter green bean salad, maple-sherry roasted carrots, cavatappi pasta and gruyere mac and cheese, grilled sweet potatoes, charred brussels, and fall harvest salad. Many of the options are gluten free, as are both turkey dishes.

Optional dessert offerings, which feed eight to 10 guests, brings to the table apple crisp cheesecake, bourbon pecan praline pie, marshmallow pumpkin pie and pear cranberry crisp.

Browse the full Thanksgiving dinner details and remember to place your order by Monday, November 22.

Place your order online, email RSVP Catering at [email protected], or call 703-573-8700.

Biz Talk: Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Program

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This article was written by Arlington Economic Development. In honoring our veterans this week, we would like to share a wonderful program the Commonwealth of Virginia sponsors in support of those leaving the military seeking employment.

Did you know the Commonwealth of Virginia is one of the most veteran-friendly states in the nation?

Virginia is comprised of the most veteran-owned small businesses in the country. Not so surprising considering Virginia is home to the Pentagon in Arlington and the world’s largest naval base in Norfolk. There are hundreds of thousands of active-duty service members serving within the Commonwealth’s borders and many have chosen to call Virginia home upon leaving the military.

With more than 750,000 veterans located in Virginia, the Commonwealth has had the fastest growing veteran labor force over the past 5 years and is projected to continue to have the fastest growing veteran population over the next few years.

With such a highly skilled and adaptable workforce living here, Virginia recognizes the opportunity to promote veteran talent to the civilian workforce and to help businesses become more successful by focusing on hiring the right people for the job.

One such initiative, the Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Program, provides education, training and connectivity resources to assist companies to implement nationally recognized best practices in recruiting, hiring and retaining veterans. Virginia companies who have completed all V3 training requirements and have submitted a veteran hiring plan will be recognized as an official “V3-Certified Company.”

Furthermore, V3 qualified companies with fewer than 300 employees may qualify for up to $10,000 in grants, with $1,000 being awarded per eligible veteran that is hired and retained for at least one year.

There are more than 70 Arlington organizations participating in the V3 Program, from large companies like Nestlé, Boeing and Lockheed Martin to mid- and small-size companies like Ideal Innovations, Millennium Corporation, Lunarline and Cydecor.

We encourage Arlington companies to consider becoming V3 certified to seize the opportunity to find the workforce they need within the veteran community

Adoptable Pet of the Week: Piper

By ARLnow.com
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Meet Piper, the latest Adoptable Pet of the Week. This two-year-old Shepherd mix is full of energy and looking for a best friend. She’s currently available to foster from Lost Dog & Cat Rescue Foundation.

Here’s what Piper has to say about herself:

Hello, I’m Piper. Like the Pied Piper but without the multicolored garments. No, I cannot play a magic pipe; I don’t have opposable thumbs. And no, I will not rid the town of rats by leading them to the river. But I will use my magical cuteness to lure you to be my best friend.

When you first meet me, I am kind of shy, but give me a chance and I will warm up to you and then warm your heart. Deep down, I am a two-year-old girl who would like to hang out with you and play fetch and tug-a-war.

I am still learning to walk well on a leash, and I really want someone to help teach me. I was thinking the ideal arrangement would be just you and me, no other dogs, cats or children to distract us from spending time with each other. And a fenced-in yard would be perfect, so I could run around.

Overall, I am excited about life and would like you to be part of mine. Can I be part of yours?

Are you and Piper a match? Learn more about Piper by checking out her profile!

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.

Tomorrow is a very special day: Veterans Day.

Wherever your day may guide you, take a moment to thank those in your life who have selflessly served in the United States armed forces. With D.C. at our doorstep and bases galore throughout the broader region, odds are you won’t have to look too far to find plenty of our heroes to thank.

From the bottom of our hearts, the team at Arlington Realty, Inc. salutes our amazing vets.

And, to our veterans and military families out there, we’re here for you just as you have been there for us. From relocating to settling into a forever home, we’ve helped countless military families seal their real estate deals throughout the years. When and where we can help, you can count on us.

Until then, a happy Veterans Day and here are this week’s Just Reduced numbers.

As of November 8, there are 141 detached homes, 63 townhouses and 295 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 46 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week:

1116 N. Taylor Street N. #C

Please note 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.

You’re invited: Master’s and certificate virtual open house

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Ready to advance your career at your own pace? The Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University offers flexible part-time or full-time options for graduate certificate and master’s degree programs designed to teach applicable, real-world knowledge for in-demand careers.

Join our upcoming Master’s and Certificate Virtual Open House for prospective students on November 16. The online session will provide an overview of the Schar School’s top-ranked master’s degree programs and graduate certificate programs, student services and admissions requirements.

Plus, prospective master’s and graduate certificate students who attend an upcoming virtual Schar School admissions event will be provided with an application fee waiver for the Spring 2022 graduate application.

Register today:

Master’s and Certificate Virtual Open House
Tuesday, November 16
6:30 p.m.

Graduate Certificate Programs (just five courses each)

  • Biodefense, Certificate
  • Emergency Management and Homeland Security
  • Global Health and Security
  • National Security and Public Policy
  • Nonprofit Management
  • Public Management
  • Science, Technology, and Security
  • Strategic Trade
  • Terrorism and Homeland Security

Master’s Degree Programs

  • Biodefense, MS
  • International Commerce and Policy, MA
  • International Security, MA
  • Organization Development and Knowledge Management, MS
  • Political Science, MA
  • Public Administration, MPA
  • Public Policy, MPP

To learn more about graduate programs at the Schar School, register for the November virtual open house or fill out our inquiry form.

Ask Eli: Zillow shutters their home buying/selling business

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

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

Last week I wrote about breaking news in the real estate industry that Zillow was underwater on their home buying/selling business, Zillow Offers. Hours after I published my article, to the surprise of many, Zillow announced it was shutting down Zillow Offers and reducing their workforce by 25% as a result.

The purpose of last week’s article was to discuss what Zillow’s problems meant for the real estate market and Zillow. For those who didn’t read and don’t intend to, the bottom line was that Zillow’s issues are not an indicator of trouble in the broader real estate market or for Zillow’s business overall, they’re simply a bad bet by Zillow that will cost them about $1B since they started Zillow offers in 2018.

However, ARLnow Commenter “Arlington Robin” made a great point that while Zillow’s issues may not be indicative of trouble in the nationwide/D.C. area real estate market, it will likely create problems in local markets like Phoenix where Zillow will be selling a lot of homes, likely with a priority on selling quickly vs extracting top dollar.

Background

Zillow entered the iBuying business in April 2018 (launched in Phoenix) with a home buying program called Zillow Offers in which they’d quickly purchase homes using their internal pricing algorithm (built off the Zestimates algorithm) directly from homeowners for cash. The incentive structure is simple: fast, cash, reliable, no list prep. In 2019 I wrote a column on iBuying and discussed the approach, pros and cons.

Since 2018, Zillow Offers expanded to over 20 markets around the country (mostly in the south and out west) and bought tens of thousands of homes. Three weeks ago, Zillow announced it was freezing home buying through 2021 to focus on selling ~7,000 homes they had accumulated and last week an analyst at KeyBanc found that 2/3 are selling for less than their purchase price at an average discount of 4.5%.

Soon after these reports surfaced and hours after I wrote my article about it, Zillow announced they were shutting down their iBuying program completely (although they still have thousands of homes to sell).

Zillow vs iBuying Competitors

Zillow wasn’t the only one in the business of large scale iBuying. Opendoor and Offerpad both operate in this space with better margins and, at least for now, do not seem to be heading for the same fate as Zillow. Although, based on my reading of their earnings statements, they’re both operating at a loss, like many tech start-ups.

Even though Zillow has access to more resources and data, there are a few good reasons why Zillow has tapped out.

Setting the right offer price (high enough to buy homes at scale, low enough to make money) and forecasting the market 3-6 months out are critical to the success of an iBuying business. Zestimates, Zillow’s market valuation tool that drives these buying/forecasting decisions, was designed to attract and engage consumers, not to drive a massive home buying and selling business. Companies built around iBuying designed their pricing algorithms specifically for the purpose of maximizing margins in buying/selling real estate at scale.

Furthermore, Zillow needs to protect its core business from the high volatility of iBuying at scale ($1B in losses in 3.5 years). Zillow investors likely have less of an appetite for the risks associated with large scale iBuying, but the investors in iBuying focused businesses like Opendoor and Offerpad know exactly what they’re signing up for and are likely more willing to accept early losses.

As a large publicly traded company, Zillow couldn’t just ask itself whether they could make it in iBuying, but whether the payoff in making it in the iBuying business was worth the risk of compromising its core business and brand. Clearly, Zillow leadership decided that it was not worth it.

Opendoor and Offerpad both have earnings calls scheduled for this Wednesday, November 10 so it’ll be very interesting to see how their numbers compare to Zillow’s and what they have to say about Zillow’s exit from their business.

(more…)

Neigborhood Spotlight: Discover the local favorites of Columbia Pike

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

What makes Columbia Pike a special neighborhood in Arlington?

How much time do you have? Take a seat ’cause there is so much to say about Columbia Pike! Not only was it one of the oldest thoroughfares in Arlington, it was the site of freedom after the Emancipation Proclamation, the location for three of the first communications towers in the region, and a central main street for many businesses and organizations.

Fun facts, the first Five Guys location and the original all-night Bob & Edith’s Diner started right off the Pike. Also, home to many amazing ethnically-diverse and culturally-rich restaurants and businesses. New mixed-use developments have also emerged, such as Penrose Square which includes a public plaza with a splash park for kids and outdoor movies. The residential areas include everything from condominiums, apartments, townhouses and single family homes.

More local favorites are the landmark Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse, the Farmers Market at Pike Park, Rebellion on the Pike, L.A. Bar and Grill, and Thai Square. The Black Heritage Museum of Arlington is also on the Pike. The location is minutes to Washington, D.C., Alexandria, and many other central neighborhoods throughout Virginia.

Known for its wonderful walkability, access to public transportation, and thriving shops, restaurants and entertainment centers, Columbia Pike is one of the most unique neighborhoods in Arlington.

Connect with neighborhood expert Nick Kuhn to learn more about Columbia Pike and other surrounding areas!

Nick Kuhn | 703-671-5225 | [email protected] | www.McEnearney.com

Important Columbia Pike (and Nearby) Neighborhood Resources

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.

Your Beermonger: Arrowine and Cheese grand reopening this weekend

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
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This sponsored column is written by Arrowine (4508 Lee Highway). We take a break from our usual beer programming this week to tell you about a special event at the shop.

We welcome you to explore the new Arrowine and Cheese — your neighborhood store with a national reputation! Enjoy the grand reopening of the new Arrowine and Cheese now through Saturday, November 6.

What’s New

  • Authentic sweet and savory French Crêpes made to order while you wait
  • Twelve of the very best craft beers on tap for crawler and growler fills/refills
  • One of the region’s largest selections of natural, organic and biodynamic wines from producers like Jean-Francois Ganevat, Ariana Occhipinti, Domaine Cos and Herve Villemade
  • The region’s largest selection of artisan, seasonal, and specialty cheeses and charcuterie
  • An updated and expanded gourmet grocery section
  • A newly expanded Grower-Champagne selection filled with hard-to-find producers like Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne, Jerome Prevost, Emmanuel Lassaigne and many more
  • A comprehensive selection of Virginia wines from Linden, Glen Manor, Chatham Vineyards and Michael Shaps to name a few
  • Timely online ordering through www.shoparrowine.com, usually ready in two hours or less

What’s Familiar

  • Our 4.8 of 5 stars Google satisfaction rate
  • Our reputation as THE Best Wine and Cheese Shop in Virginia according to DC Dining, Virginia, Northern Virginia and Arlington Magazines, and, of course, ARLnow’s Arlies
  • Our curated selection of world-class wines
  • Our legendary email sales (Be sure to sign up at shoparrowine.com to receive a 20% discount on your next in-store purchase — restrictions may apply.)
  • Your guaranteed satisfaction and our sincere appreciation of your business

The party is on! Please join us for the grand reopening festivities today, Friday, November 5.

Enjoy a 10% discount on any crêpes, free wine tasting of French favorites with Damien Lehoux of Elite Wines Imports from 4:30-6:30 p.m. and free beer tasting with Rocket Frog from 5-7 p.m.

Grand reopening festivities continue Saturday, November 6 with free samples as we slice into the world’s best 200lb Gotthelf Emmentaler Cheese with Gourmino Imports at 1 p.m., free beer tasting with Brouwerij Cornelissen from 1-4 p.m. and free Spanish wine tasting with Aurelio Cabestrero of Grapes of Spain from 1-4 p.m.

We look forward to seeing you!

Sign up for our email newsletter and receive exclusive discounts and offers. Order from Arrowine’s expanding online store for curbside pickup.

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.

Good morning, Arlington, and welcome to Just Listed!

New listings slowed down quite a bit this week, and demand sagged about 12% week over week. Neither of those points surprise me given we’re now in November, and it’s getting cold outside! Last year, the 2020 anomaly, was still going strong, but this year is a bit more on-trend than last year.

A brief bit on the seasonality of our market here in Arlington… We’re a lot less seasonal than many parts of the country — it’s a result of our broad-based economy bringing people here, and taking them away, for a variety of reasons all throughout the year. Having said that, we do experience higher volume times, the spring, for example, and lower volume times around the holidays. Demand is strong enough that homes go under contract every day of the year, including on Christmas, so seasonality is not a focus, just something to consider.

The attraction to new listings has stayed consistent as of late, with about 25% of those selling in their first week, and overall available inventory decreased. This is down a bit from some of the exuberance of the spring, where as much as 50%+ of new listings flew off the shelf, so to speak, while inventory was simultaneously building as new listings popped up each week in droves.

Mortgage rates dipped after rising for a month, still hovering about 3% for now. The fluctuations over the past month or so are minimal, and buyer’s primary takeaway should be that these rates are historically low, so from that perspective, it’s a great time to lock in your low housing payment. For sellers, this means buyers are holding onto most of their buying power, a good thing for prices which have remained elevated and climbed tremendously over the past two years.

This week, 56 new properties were listed in the county, eight less than last week. Buyers ratified 43 contracts, 19 less than the week before, including 15 contracts on properties that had been on the market seven days or less.

In Arlington, we currently have 482 listed homes for sale, 31 less than last week. 118 of these options are detached homes. 72 are townhomes/semi-detached properties, and the remaining 292 are condominiums.

The average price for homes across all property types in Arlington right now is $801,465, while the median price is $582,500. On average, these homes have been on the market for 65 days, but the median is just 39.

A quick comparison to this week last year, there were 66 homes listed for sale and 65 ratified contracts. There were 554 properties available in Arlington.

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.

422 N. Thomas Street

Celebrate Diwali with 15% off at Delhi Dhaba Indian Restaurant

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Arlington’s favorite Indian restaurant, Delhi Dhaba, is celebrating not once but twice!

Not only is Delhi Dhaba celebrating 30 years in Arlington, the anniversary also falls during the Indian holiday of Diwali. One of India’s largest and important holidays, Diwali has been celebrated for thousands of years. The five day festival of lights celebrates the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness.

As such, the longtime owners of Dehli Dhaba Indian Restaurant are offering a very special deal: Take 15 percent off the entire order over $25, for dine-in or take-out. But the celebratory offer is temporary — this special offer ends Sunday, November 7. Because of the popularity of this event, reservations are strongly recommended.

The deep discount on Delhi Dhaba’s full menu is a great opportunity for newcomers to experience the authentic flavors, colors, and richness of traditions transported from New Delhi as well as discover the restaurant’s whimsical philosophy of “khao, piyo, aish karo” — eat, drink and have fun.

The 15 percent off offer includes the online Family Meal Deal that has been popular since it started last year. Diners receive two orders of samosas (four pieces), two chicken entrees, a vegetarian entrée, two orders of naan and two orders of rice for a mere $50 (minus the discount). Place your order online with ease!

Be sure to follow Delhi Dhaba on Instagram @delhidhabava and happy Diwali!

Delhi Dhaba
2424 Wilson Blvd.
Hours: Tuesday to Friday, 4-10 p.m.; Saturday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Website
703-524-0008

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