real estate

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.

A few days ago, an article on MarketWatch dubbed our real estate as currently being “crazy.”

It’s generally a good crazy, if you own property… and the craziness is still being attributed to Amazon’s HQ2 announcement.

Let’s look at some numbers. The average selling price popped 4.3 percent between March and February… of this year. Yowsers. While there are certainly some price fluctuations throughout the year, prices are up nearly 5 percent year-over-year.

Additionally, the number of active listings and homes sold is down, equating to a 23 percent and 10.4 percent drop year-over-year, respectively.

So, if you’re looking to sell, you are absolutely in the driver seat at the moment. It’s time to make the most of your rosy scenario. And, if you’re buying, it has never been more important to navigate the landscape with caution. While the market may be hot, you need to ensure you’re still getting the most bang for your buck.

When you’re ready to chat through your options, our team is ready to help you GET MORE out of your transaction.

As of April 15, there are 150 detached homes, 21 townhouses and 105 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 21 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: Avoid Gaps in Your Condo Insurance Policy

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This regularly-scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Rosslyn resident. Please submit your questions to him via email for response in future columns. Enjoy!

Question: My condo association carries an expensive Master Insurance policy, but my lender is requiring that I purchase my own individual policy. What coverage do I gain from the individual policy that the master policy doesn’t include?

Answer: Every condo association has its own (expensive) Master Insurance policy to cover the common elements, but there are substantial gaps between the association’s policy and what you’ll personally be liable for without an individual HO-6 policy.

Most people shop for the cheapest, fastest individual insurance policy and apply just enough coverage to meet the lender’s requirements, but that may put you at risk.

To explain common gaps between master policies and HO-6 (individual condo) policies, I’d like to re-introduce Andrew Schlaffer, Vice President at USI Insurance Service’s Community Association Practice. Andrew is an expert in Master Insurance policies and has helped multiple local condo association’s reduce their cost and improve their coverage since writing a column on the topic last year.

If you’d like to contact Andrew directly to review your association’s master policy, you can reach him at 703-205-8764 or [email protected].

Take it away Andrew…

Increasing Claims, Increasing Coverage Gaps

The condominium insurance marketplace is facing challenges that will impact homeowners in 2019. Water damage is leading this list of challenges — according to the Insurance Information Institute, about one-third of homeowner insurance losses are caused by water damage and freezing. The DMV is home to many aging condo buildings that struggle with mitigating water damage losses and their impact on insurance.

As water damage claims continue to rise and property damage costs increase, many insurance carriers are beginning to make changes to their coverage offerings that may increase your risk exposure.

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Open Houses in Arlington This Weekend

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

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

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

3207 N. Trinidad Street
6 BR/5 BA, 3 half bath single-family home
Agent: Keller Williams Realty
Listed: $2,098,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

 

2003 N. Utah Street
5 BR/3 BA, 1 half bath single-family home
Agent: Keller Williams Realty Falls Church
Listed: $1,185,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

4601 3rd Street S.
5 BR/3 BA, 1 half bath single-family hom
Agent: Re/Max Allegiance
Listed: $965,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

2415 9th Street S.
3 BR/3 BA, 1 half bath villa/townhouse
Agent: Arlington Realty, Inc
Listed: $725,000
Open: Sunday 1-3 p.m.

 

1121 Arlington Boulevard #1006
2 BR/2 BA condo
Agent: Samson Properties
Listed: $625,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

 

2011 Key Boulevard #599
2 BR/1 BA condo
Agent: Century 21 Redwood Realty
Listed: $389,900
Open: Sunday 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.”

BooYah!! What an incredible week for Arlington’s real estate market.

Sellers listed 88 homes, and buyers ratified 76 contracts, both records so far this year. Of those homes, more than half (39) sold within just seven days on the market. The average list price of those homes that sold is $768,819 and that includes condos as well as single family homes. The average days on market is now just 19.

And now here is a more astonishing statistic: Arlington has only 0.8 months of inventory. There are only 241 homes actively available for sale, with an absorption rate of 304 home sales per month.

They say a rising tide lifts all ships. It now appears that the high-end market has totally rebounded with robust sales above the $1 million mark. Some 21 homes sold this week priced over $1 million. This should inspire more new home construction in Arlington, but of course that means more tear downs of old functionally obsolete homes.

How many letters a week do you get asking if you’re ready to sell your home? Before you respond, if so inclined, I’d strongly advise that you obtain opinions from a few realtor neighborhood specialists on the value of your home before you sign anything and perhaps leave big money on the table.

Interest rates held steady this week with the 30-yr fixed rate sitting at 4.125%.

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

Listing of the Day: 3524 Arlington Boulevard

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
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Address: 3524 Arlington Boulevard
Neighborhood: Arlington Heights
Listed: $699,000

Filled with character and light, this renovated 1930s colonial offers a sparkling new kitchen, new bathroom and new powder room.

The focal point of the large living room is the stone wood burning fireplace, accented by vintage sconces. A breakfast bar separates the spacious dining room from the kitchen and is ideal for casual dining or serving space. Crisp white cabinets, granite tops and vinyl flooring in the kitchen along with a door to the patio.

Just off the living room is a sunroom with one stone wall and another of windows. A door opens to the patio and back yard with garden shed.

Upstairs there are three large bedrooms and a renovated bathroom. The master bedroom has double closets, and the second bedroom has built in drawers and shelving. Refinished wood floors continue from the main level through the bedroom and gleam in the abundant sunlight.

The unfinished basement has high ceilings, windows and expansion potential: rec room, office, playroom, gym, hobbies, crafts — the space awaits. Desirable details include relined chimney, new electric panel box, fresh interior and exterior paint, refinished wood floors and light fixtures. Double pane windows and radiator heat ensure comfort in the home.

Arlington County’s new Alice West Fleet Elementary School is being built behind the home, and the County will install a tree buffer between the school and bordering homes. Children can now walk to both an elementary school as well as Thomas Jefferson Middle School.

Easy commute to Washington, Rosslyn-Ballston business corridor, Pentagon, Fort Myer, airport, Pentagon and Crystal Cities, and the Foreign Service Institute.

A pristine home in desirable move in condition.

Listed by:
Betsy Twigg
Associate Broker, Licensed in Virginia
McEnearney Associates
4720 Lee Highway
Arlington, Va 22207
703-967-4391
[email protected]
betsytwigg.com

Boring Title: Dan Lesniak, CEO of Orange Line Living

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.

Welcome to this week’s edition of Boring Title!

This week, Allied Title & Escrow’s CEO, Latane Meade, sits down with Dan Lesniak who is one of the owners of The Keri Shull Team, Orange Line Living, & Hyperfast Agent.

Their real estate team is the largest in terms of total transactions and revenue in Northern Virginia.

Dan talks about how his brokerage is different than others, why you should hire their team, cutting edge marketing strategies and more.

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!

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.

These are certainly wild and interesting times in Arlington real estate.

The figures continue to roll in that depict just how significant of an impact that the Amazon HQ2 announcement has had on our local market.

According to the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors and a Washington Post piece that posted just last week, the number of homes under contract in January 2019 was 70 percent higher than January 2018. Additionally, the number of homes for sale fell by 20 percent within that same timeframe.

What does this all mean?

The market is hot. Inventory is limited. And now, more than ever, you need to know exactly what you are getting into, regardless of whether you are buying or selling.

When you’re ready to chat through your options, our team is ready to help you GET MORE out of your transaction. We’ve been serving the community for decades and are fully equipped with the local knowledge needed to navigate the modern landscape.

As of April 10, there are 149 detached homes, 24 townhouses and 97 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: 2019 Interior Design Trends

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

This regularly-scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Rosslyn resident. Please submit your questions to him via email for response in future columns. Enjoy!

Question: I’m in the planning stages of a home renovation, what are some of the new trends in interior design — and what should I stay away from?

Answer: Redecorating and home renovations are an exciting and fun task but you want to make sure you don’t make choices that date your home. Each year designers and architects release their favorite new trends, including what to stay away from when undertaking a home makeover. This week I have compiled the latest do’s and don’ts for kitchens, bathrooms and living spaces from Elle Décor, Houzz and realtor.com.

Color(s) of the Year

Each year people in the design world await Pantone’s announcement for color of the year. This year they announced the bright and fresh, Living Coral, but they are no longer the sole source for color trends. Recently other paint manufacturers started sharing their own selections for a color of the year, with Sherwin Williams choosing Cavern Clay and Behr announcing Blueprint.

Kitchens

In

  • Blue Kitchens — Blue toned cabinets paired with brass or gunmetal hardware creates a warmer and more welcoming space.
  • Black Kitchens — Black feels fresh and crisp and can be paired with a wide variety of hardware to accent. However, this does not mean the return of shiny black appliances! Most brands have introduced matte black or a dark stainless steel line.
  • Two-tone Cabinets — Green/grey/blue bottom cabinets paired with white upper cabinets. Creating the warm and inviting feel of the blue-tone cabinets without going “all-in.” Should be paired with understated and simple hardware.
  • Full Wall/Bold Patterned Backsplashes — Full-wall backsplashes are creating the ultimate statement kitchen. Especially when paired with a bold patterned tile.

Out:

  • Industrial Kitchens — Send my apologies to Joanna Gaines, rustic concrete countertops and exposed shelving with iron pipes are on their way out.
  • Solid White Countertops — With white walls coming back into style the white on white on white is almost blinding, especially when walking into a home with a lot of overhead lighting.
  • Over-the-range Microwaves — Originally coming into the scene as a way for developers to cut costs on kitchen remodels, this was never meant to be a trend and its demise is long overdue. Instead go for a sleek and stylish range hood.
  • Cherry Cabinets — The overall of these emerging trends seems to be brighter and lighter and cherry cabinets darkern a kitchen no matter what wall color or countertop you pair them with.
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Listing of the Day: 2805 23rd Road N.

By ARLnow.com Sponsor
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Address: 2805 23rd Road N.
Neighborhood: Maywood
Listed: $1,699,900

Maywood Craftsman-style Custom Home built by Mickey Simpson.

Nothing was overlooked in this gorgeous home featuring approximately  5,200 sq. ft. on 4 levels with 9′ ceilings. High end custom finishes abound throughout. 5 Beds + loft, 4.5 Baths, eat-in chef’s kitchen with high-end Wolf and Subzero appliances and breakfast bar that opens to a family room with fireplace and screened in porch, butler’s pantry, formal dining and living spaces.

Includes spacious master bedroom with custom master bath — including steam shower and soaking tub, dual walk-in custom closets and private screened sleeping porch, spacious lower level with second fireplace, kids loft and bonus room that could double as an office or extra bedroom. Large light-filled windows are throughout with custom window treatments.

Also includes 3 zone HVAC, hardwood flooring, whole house back-up natural gas generator system, lawn irrigation system, nice landscaped fenced in yard, kids play house with swings & slide, built in sandbox, rear deck, flagstone patio and garage parking — all on a quiet street. One stop light to D.C., walk to shops, restaurants, parks and playgrounds.

Schools: Taylor Elementary, Swanson Middle School, Washington Lee High School

Listed by:
Billy Buck
Buck and Associates
(703) 524-9000
[email protected]
www.billybuck.com

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Riding Amazon’s Coattails — “As Amazon.com Inc. builds and staffs up HQ2, other tech companies who orbit the online retailer could follow, according to a JBG Smith Properties investor presentation released Tuesday. ‘Amazon isn’t just 38,000 jobs,’ the JBG Smith documents say. ‘It’s a catalyst for significant growth.'” [Washington Business Journal]

Amazon Effect on Real Estate — “While the average sales price in Northern Virginia stayed steady at $565,000 in January, according to the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors, the number of homes under contract rose by 70 percent compared with January 2018, and the number of homes for sale fell by 20 percent year-over-year. Limited availability of homes drives prices higher.” [Washington Post]

More Details on Rosslyn Holiday Inn Plan — “New renderings also show that the [Rosslyn Holiday Inn redevelopment] is set to include a ‘public gallery,’ providing an east-west connection through the property between Fort Myer Drive and N. Nash Street. The space would be bookended by public plazas and provide access to the development’s retail offerings.” [Washington Business Journal]

ACFD Safety Initiative Kicks Off — “Beginning Sat., April 6, 2019, and continuing through Sat., Oct. 5, 2019, Arlington County firefighters will be going door to door offering home safety checks to include inspecting smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms and giving relevant fire safety tips.” [Arlington County]

Va. AG Sues Over Trump Wall — “‘President Trump is flagrantly disregarding the law in his quest to justify his fake national emergency and build a needless border wall,’ said Attorney General Herring. ‘He is trying to unlawfully divert resources that law enforcement agencies in Virginia and around the country need for their actual work, and his larger plan could threaten half a billion dollars in military construction projects around Virginia.'” [Blue Virginia]

New Homes in Arlington: April 5

By ARLnow.com Sponsor

Welcome to New Homes, a biweekly column highlighting the new construction real estate market, written by Conor Sullivan and Dave Moya of Three Stones Residential at Keller Williams Realty. We are here to share our experience and expertise in lot acquisition, financing and construction of custom homes. 

First, we need to understand who the top builders and influencers are that are reshaping our communities. Meet the builder: Rob Zimmermann of Zimmermann Homes.

What differentiates you from other builders? 

Good quality and green building. All of our homes are held to a high quality control standard for both materials used and workmanship which I think shows when you tour one of our completed homes. We also provide many energy efficient features as a standard including Nest Stats, Tankless Water Heaters, Radiant Reflective Roof Sheathing, Power for 2 electric cars and Anderson 400 series windows.

How many homes have you completed in the last 12 months?  

We completed 6 custom homes in the last year.

How long have you been building homes and how many people work on your team? 

Zimmermann Homes has been in business for 12 years, we have 3 full time employees and some of the best subcontractors in the business.

What counties have you built in?  

Arlington, Fairfax County and the City of Falls Church.

What is the most popular model you build?

The Jackson model which we’ve built multiple times. You can view the completed home here.

Here are some other new homes now on the market in Arlington:

Three Stones Residential specializes in matching home owners with the right builder and lot location. If you have any questions about new homes or builders that you’d like us to highlight please email us at [email protected].

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