real estate

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.

Every once in a while, a truly unique, captivating and inspiring home comes to market in Arlington. This week, the Andors Real Estate Group is proud to present a home that has had the same owner since 1960 and is actually two-of-a-kind.

In 1796, the original (Arch Hall) was built in Alexandria and served as the residence for Lewis Lawrence, Nelly Parke Custis and their children when they were not at their Woodlawn Plantation. That property would later be deconstructed and rebuilt in Belmont Bay on a prominent piece of land overlooking the Potomac.

In 1941, a replica of the original was built in Arlington, at 2515 Fort Scott Drive. It was painstakingly built to be as true a rendering of the original as possible, and it has had only two owners.

2515 Fort Scott Drive boasts a grand entry, generous rooms and a graceful flow that will capture your imagination and provide a home for generations. Beautifully sited on a nearly 14,000 sq. ft. corner lot with mature trees and plenty of privacy, it has over 4,300 sq. ft. of finished space on the main and upper levels with a partially finished walk-out lower level. The grand arched entryway runs from front to rear and provides a central focal point for gracious living in this unique home. Its incomparable close-in location is near Metro, schools, shopping, the Pentagon and Amazon’s new National Landing headquarters.

This past week in Arlington, sellers listed some 88 properties for sale while buyers ratified 68 contracts. There are currently 351 homes for sale in Arlington. 126 are detached homes, 25 are townhouses/semi-detached, and 200 are condos. Average days on market (DOM) is 51 and median DOM is 29.

The median list price of currently available properties is $799,900, while the average is $997,537. As these prices continue to fall, and inventory among condos steadily builds, it’s starting to look like condos are falling more out of favor, while the availability of affordable single-family houses is low and new ones get absorbed weekly.

Last year for the same week, sellers listed 41 homes and buyers ratified 57 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.

Listing of the Day: 4306 N. 40th Street

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
1/10

Address: 4306 N. 40th Street
Neighborhood: Golf Club Manor
Listed: $2,199,900
Open: Sunday, August 9 from 2-4 p.m.

Just Completed July 2020! This masterfully crafted home by Arlington based home builder M-R Custom Homes offers 6 bedrooms, 6 full bathrooms and one half bathroom.

Optional elevator (shaft in place) to serve all levels. 9-foot ceilings throughout each floor. Designer finishes throughout. Gourmet kitchen with Wolf, Sub-Zero, and Bosch stainless steel appliances. Coffered ceiling in the family room with one piece crown molding inside, gas fireplace and built-in cabinets. Master suite offers massive dressing rooms and master bath with soaking tub, glass enclosed shower and double vanity. Three additional bedrooms on the upper level each with an en suite baths. Upper level laundry room with designer flooring.

Lower level is completely finished with mudroom, bedroom, a full bath, utility room, exercise room, finished storage, large rec room and wine storage room, and access to the oversized 2 car garage. 16×8 rear Flagstone covered porch with speakers and ceiling fan — perfect for entertaining!

This new home is located in the Jamestown School District on quiet street in the sought Golf Club Manor, one light to D.C.! M-R Custom Homes is 3rd Generation Home Builder who offers unmatched quality and attention to detail. Home conveys with a 1 year front door to back door warranty! Ignore time on market, property marketed during construction. Listing Agent happy to show the property.

Listed by:
Bret Brock
Brock Realty
703-538-6030
[email protected]
www.brockRealty.com

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.

What a difference a few months can make.

Amid the changes you’re seeing in your daily lives, we’ve certainly seen the COVID-19 pandemic make its mark on the Just Reduced column.

At the beginning of the year, riding the news of Amazon’s forthcoming HQ2 in Arlington, historically low unemployment rates and more, we were seeing only a handful (seven or eight homes) reduced in price on a weekly basis.

Now, very much in the heart of the pandemic, we are easily seeing three to four times more homes reduced each week. The bottom line: folks are still needing to sell their homes and, given the current climate, are being aggressive price-wise.

If you are a prospective buyer, now is certainly the time to shine compared to just a few months ago. But, just like before, you’ll need to be super-strategic to get the most bang for your buck. When you’re ready to embark on your local real estate journey, the team at Arlington Realty, Inc. has the knowledge and experience to make it happen.

Now on to this week’s Just Reduced figures. As of August 3, there are 144 detached homes, 41 townhouses and 219 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 29 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: Buying or Selling a House With a Pool

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: We have made a backyard pool a higher priority on our housing criteria, but finding very few homes for sale that have one. How difficult is it going to be to find a house with a pool already built?

Answer: A few years ago I wrote a column about whether or not having a pool helps or hurts when selling your home. The short version is that, historically, homes with pools take longer to sell and sell at a deeper discount from the original asking price than homes without pools.

It makes sense because most local buyers don’t value having an in-ground pool — they’re costly to maintain, parents of young children see them as a safety hazard, they often take up most/all of the backyard lawn space, and it’s useful less than half of the year.

However, things have changed this year with buyer and homeowner demand for backyard pools increasing. Let’s take a look at some of the numbers behind finding and selling homes with pools in Arlington and Fairfax County. The data below is based on sales of single-family detached (SFD) homes sold since 2015.

Data Highlights

  • It is REALLY hard to find a home in Arlington with a pool. Only 1.4% of SFD sales in 5+ years have included a pool.
  • The average price of a home with a pool in Arlington is artificially inflated by a $45M sale earlier this year. Without that sale, the average price of a home with a pool in Arlington drops to $1,352,000 and $1,423,000 in the 22207 zip code.
  • 70% of homes sold with a pool are in 22207 and 22205.
  • The highest percentage of homes sold with a pool in the area is in Great Falls, with just over ¼ of the sales including a pool.
  • In Arlington, you’re most likely to find that pools take up most/all of the usable backyard space, but lot sizes in Fairfax County are big enough to accommodate a pool and a lawn.

Building Your Own Pool

Most people are shocked when they find out what it costs to build a gunite (concrete) in-ground pool around here, which usually runs $150k-$200k+ before additional patio and landscaping work.

I linked up with local Arlington landscape designer/expert Rob Groff, of Groff Landscape Design, to find out why it’s so much more expensive to build a pool here than elsewhere in the region/country and ask about a common strategy I’ve heard from homeowners to hire an out-of-town company to build a pool for less and pay for their travel/lodging during the project to save some money.

Q: Why is it so expensive to build a pool here?

A: It’s so much more expensive to build a pool here because permitting is more time consuming and expensive, materials and labor are more expensive, average lot size is smaller which oftentimes causes for problems, engineering, municipal related site preparation such as construction entrances, super silt fence, site restoration, drainage, etc are all a factor.

Q: Is it more cost effective for homeowners to hire an out-of-town pool company who builds pools for less money and pay for their travel/lodging?

A: A lot of pool companies don’t include all expenses up front and therefore there are a ton of surprise costs on the back-end of the pool project. I’ve seen this a lot especially from out of area pool companies. We actually setup a spreadsheet and accompany some of our clients in the vetting process. We had a local company at 205k for a pool that a Fredericksburg based company had at 145k. By the time the meeting was over and we corrected the Fredericksburg company to make sure they didn’t leave anything off, they were up at 215k.

Q: Are there more affordable options for in-ground pools that you recommend?

A: In Northern Virginia, a gunite (concrete) pool has been the standard for a long time. On average, we see these coming in at $150k-$200k in Northern Virginia (not including the pool patio and other surrounding elements like landscaping, lighting, etc). Fiberglass pools are growing in popularity and their base price is closer to $55k-$65k (River Pools and Spa). These fiberglass pools don’t feel the same to many homeowners as a true gunite pool, but they save enough money to make people consider them. There are a ton of good videos on their website that explains the differences between gunite and fiberglass, etc.

Thank you very much Rob! For anybody interested in excellent landscaping design consultation and work, I highly recommend Rob and his team at Groff Landscape Design. Pool design, layout and project management is part of their service package for those interested in building a pool. They even have a great financing program available to help spread the cost of what is often $100k+ landscaping projects.

If you’d like to discuss buying or selling strategies, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected].

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.

Listing of the Day: 3100 N. Rochester Street

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
1/10

Address: 3100 N Rochester Street
Neighborhood: Williamsburg Village
Listed: $1,998,000
Open: Sunday, August 9 from 1-4 p.m.

Welcome Home! Situated on a level 10,000 sq. ft. lot, this exceptional residence will exceed your expectations inside & out.

Greeted by lush landscaping and spacious tea sipping front porch, you step in to find an open floor plan with no detail overlooked. Every finish was intentional and well thought out to provide the utmost functionality providing tremendous value.

Craving more outdoor space these days? You will love relaxing on the gorgeous Cumaru Brazilian Teak deck with retractable awning, gathering around the Cooke custom 60″ fire pit, or chasing fireflies while enjoying the professionally designed green space.

Spending more time at home? You will be pleased to prepare meals or host gatherings here! Custom soft-close cabinetry adorned with champagne bronze hardware, 2 sinks — one on the expansive island & the other perfectly placed to overlook the amazing backyard, Thermador Pro Series stainless steel appliances, grand owner’s suite with tray ceiling, beautiful treetop views, spa-like bath and 2 walk-in closets.

For additional details, photos, features and upgrades as well as conveyance list, contact listing agent.

Listed by:
Gray McBay
Samson Properties
(816) 516-5599 Mobile
(703) 378-8810 Office
[email protected]
www.GrayMcBay.com

Listing of the Day: 3006 N. Tuckahoe Street

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
1/10

Address: 3006 N. Tuckahoe Street
Neighborhood: Williamsburg
Price: $1,574,999
Open: Sunday, August 2 from 1-3 p.m.

Welcome Home! This is a beautiful North Arlington craftsman style family residence remodeled in 2006. It offers fantastic access for commuters and it’s walking distance to East Falls Church Metro and its ready to move into. The home is assigned to Yorktown High School, Williamsburg Middle School and Nottingham Elementary.

This magnificent property features 7 bedrooms, 5 1/2 bathrooms, 5824 total square feet of finished living space and a beautiful landscaped lot.

The home is perfect for a busy family who are all working at home, with ensuite bathrooms. The house features two suites perfect for in-laws or renting. The modern kitchen features granite countertops and a seating area. There is plenty of room to entertain!

Never lose power or air conditioning because the home has an automatic gas generator to put your mind at ease. Relax on your covered front porch, or on the outside deck near the fire pit.

There is off-street parking for six cars plus a two-car detached garage with additional storage space. Motivated sellers are offering a $15k credit towards closing costs and a bonus to the buyer’s agent.

Listed by:
Morgan Turrell
KW Metro Center
703-814-5040
[email protected]

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:

3100 N. Rochester Street
6 BD/4 BA, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: Samson Properties
Listed: $1,998,000
Open: Sunday 2-5 p.m.

 

3506 7th Street N.
5 BD/3 BA, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: Rlah Real Estate
Listed: $1,350,000
Open: Sunday 12-2 p.m.

 

4034 7th Street S.
3 BD/4 BA, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: Golston Real Estate, Inc.
Listed: $1,100,000
Open: Virtual Tour

 

4634 4th Street N.
3 BD/3 BA, 1 half bath villa/townhouse
Agent: Re/Max Allegiance
Listed: $879,900
Open: Saturday 2-4 p.m.

 

1423 N. Rhodes Street #201
2 BD/2 BA condo
Agent: Compass
Listed: $789,900
Open: Saturday 2-4 p.m.

 

2720 S. Arlington Mill Drive #1007
2 BD/2 BA condo
Agent: Re/Max Allegiance
Listed: $629,000
Open: Saturday 2-4 p.m.

 

1020 N. Highland Street #413
1 BD/1 BA condo
Agent: Century 21 Redwood Realty
Listed: $489,900
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.

Greetings from gorgeous Tupper Lake in the Adirondacks! It’s bright and sunny up here, but not nearly as hot as Arlington (high temps this week are just 82 degrees). There is quite a contrast in the real estate market compared to Arlington. Houses here sit for a long time and are frequently sold for a less than the asking price.

In Arlington, it looks like we may be slowing down a bit as we head into August. Last week we saw a huge bump in market activity, but this past week has been a bit more “normal.” There were about 40 fewer homes listed this week compared to last week!

This past week in Arlington, sellers listed some 77 properties for sale while buyers ratified 65 contracts. The bump in inventory is being absorbed.

There are currently 340 homes for sale in Arlington, 10 less than last week. 125 are detached homes, 24 are townhouses/semi-detached, and 191 are condos. Average days on market (DOM) is 51 and median DOM is 28.

The median list price of currently available properties is $799,900, while the average is $1,003,505. Last year for the same week, sellers listed 63 homes and buyers ratified 42 contracts.

Another interesting note about how our inventory is stacking up compared to last year — at this time last year there were 90 fewer properties for sale in Arlington. That difference only represents about a week and a half of additional inventory meaning this is still a super-hot seller’s market.

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.

Listing of the Day: 1600 N. Oak Street #1716

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Address: 1600 N. Oak Street #1716
Neighborhood: The Belvedere (Rosslyn)
Listed: $619,900
Open: Saturday, August 1 from 1-4 p.m. and Sunday, August 2 from 1-4 p.m.

Renovated 2 bedroom 2 bathroom at The Belvedere! This residence has an optimal layout that features bedrooms on opposite sides of the living room. Both bedrooms come with their own en-suite bathroom.

The condo features hardwood floors throughout the living area. There is a separate dining area next to the kitchen. The kitchen features granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, tile flooring and upgraded cabinets.

The living room is spacious and receives excellent natural light. The sunroom is located off of the living room and provides scenic city views of the Rosslyn area from the 17th floor. The condo measures 1,245 square feet, which includes the enclosed sunroom. The owner’s suite features three separate closets to go along with a sleek bathroom. The second bedroom is outfitted with two closets and is spacious enough for large bedroom furniture, or the space could work well as a home office.

One private parking space and one storage unit are included. The Belvedere has a fantastic amenity package that features a large pool, fitness center, 24/7 front desk, party room, convenience store, car wash area and much more!

The Belvedere has an incredible location that is a short walk to the Rosslyn Metro, Target, Starbucks and Safeway and the building is just minutes away from Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. The location offers easy access to D.C., major highways and everything the area has to offer!

Contact the Orange Line Condo team or your buyer’s agent for more information or to set up a showing.

Listed by:
Matt Leighton
Century 21 Redwood Realty
703-472-0574
[email protected]
TheMattLeighton.com

Boring Title: Eddie Jackson With Draper & Kramer Mortgage Corp.

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Title insurance is boring, but Allied Title & Escrow is here to decode the jargon and make it (somewhat) more interesting. This biweekly feature will explore the mundane (but very necessary!) world of title insurance while sharing interesting stories of two friends’ entrepreneurial careers.

For this week’s edition of Boring Title we interviewed Eddie Jackson with Draper & Kramer Mortgage Corp. Eddie talks about the top 3 questions he is asked in regards to refinancing a property during the pandemic. If you own a property and don’t know if you should refinance or not, you HAVE to watch this!

Have questions related to title insurance? Email Latane and Matt at [email protected]. Want to use Allied Title & Escrow when you buy a home? Tell your agent when you buy a house to write in Allied Title & Escrow as your settlement company!

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Trash Collection Delays — “Due to truck breakdowns, some residential trash/recycling routes were not completed yesterday and today. If your trash and/or recycling carts have not been emptied, please leave them at the curb for collection.” [Arlington County]

BLM Event Planned on Saturday — The group Arlington for Justice is holding a March for Black Lives on Saturday from 4-6 p.m. The event will start at the Charles Drew Community Center in Green Valley (3500 23rd Street S.). [Facebook]

Pro-School Opening Group Planning Rally — The group Arlington Parents for Education is planning a rally in support of opening Northern Virginia schools in the fall. The event is planned from 9-10 a.m. Saturday at Arlington Public Schools headquarters (2100 Washington Blvd). “Wear green. Social distance and wear masks. Bring banners and friends & families who support this cause,” the group says. [Twitter]

Marymount Offers to Host Int’l Students — Marymount University is currently planning to bring students back to campus in the fall, including international students. With Immigration and Customs Enforcement not allowing international students to enter the country if their school is operating entirely online, Marymount is also offering to host international students from other schools. [Press Release]

Arlington Ranks High for Single Homeownership — A new set of rankings from the website SmartAsset puts Arlington at No. 25 for places “where singles are increasingly choosing to buy over rent.” [SmartAsset]

Startup CEO Facing SEC Lawsuit, Too — “Former Trustify CEO Danny Boice is accused of spending millions of investors’ dollars on private jet flights, vacations, jewelry and mortgage payments on a beach house as part of what’s alleged to be an $18.5 million fraudulent scheme, according to a lawsuit the Securities and Exchange Commission filed Friday against both Boice and Trustify Inc.” [Washington Business Journal]

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