real estate

Del Ray Place Condos to Hold Rooftop Preview Party on June 21

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Construction has reached the top floor at Alexandria’s newest condominium residences and Del Ray Place is planning a special event to show off the new building.

Guests are invited to attend a Rooftop Preview Party on Thursday, June 21, beginning at 5:30 p.m. They will be treated to catered fare from Red Hot & Blue, along with guided tours of this popular new building located at 1800 Mount Vernon Avenue in one of the most sought-after neighborhoods in Alexandria.

Del Ray Place hosted a highly successful grand opening event earlier this year. Shortly after, developer Brookfield Residential announced that more than half of the residences have sold.

A good selection of modern 1-bedroom residences remains, perfect for first-time buyers and empty-nesters.

“The Rooftop Preview Party is the first chance to get a good look at the building as we near completion,” Brookfield Residential Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Gregg Hughes said. “We’ve invited those who have purchased at Del Ray Place and everyone who is interested. So it’s also a great chance for future neighbors to meet.”

Each of the 49 residences at Del Ray Place comes with voice-enabled Smart Home automation included. Home shoppers can also choose condos with terraces offering great views of the neighborhood.

The building includes a private club room for events and gatherings. It’s next door to a fitness center and within walking distance to plenty of shopping, dining and entertainment opportunities. Braddock Road Metro Station is less than a mile away, Old Town Alexandria is a 10-minute drive and downtown Washington, D.C., is a 15-minute drive.

Those interested in learning more about Del Ray Place can visit DelRayVA.com. They can also call 571-267-1319 or visit the Sales Gallery, open Monday-Friday at 2312 Mount Vernon Avenue, Suite 208 in Alexandria.

Podcast: A Conversation with ARLnow Intern Anna Merod

By Alex Koma

For the last four months, you might’ve noticed Anna Merod’s byline here at ARLnow; regrettably, that won’t last much longer.

Anna’s time as a spring intern is almost up, but before she leaves, she stopped by for a podcast conversation with ARLnow’s Alex Koma.

Topics included some of Anna’s favorite stories, like an analysis of racial disparities in suspensions in Arlington Public Schools and in-depth look at why millenials struggle to buy homes in Arlington, and what she’s learned in her time growing up in and covering the county.

Listen below or subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher or TuneIn.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Memorial Day Closures — Arlington County offices, courts, schools, community centers and other facilities will be closed Monday for the Memorial Day holiday. Metro, meanwhile, will operate on a Sunday schedule on Monday. [Arlington County, WMATA]

Spraygrounds Opening Today — Arlington’s spraygrounds will open for the summer today. The water play areas are located at Drew Park, Hayes Park, Lyon Village Park and Virginia Highlands Parks. [Arlington County]

Flags in at Arlington Nat’l Cemetery — Members of the Old Guard from Ft. Myer completed their annual “flags-in” pre-Memorial Day tradition of placing a flag at every grave marker at Arlington National Cemetery yesterday. [Stars & Stripes]

Arlington Has Most Expensive Home Ever in D.C. Area — The priciest residential property ever to be listed in the D.C. area is partially located in Arlington. The Falls, the riverfront estate of late AOL co-founder Jim Kimsey, is on the market for $62.95 million. The 3.2 acre property on Chain Bridge Road straddles the Arlington-Fairfax line and includes an original Frank Lloyd Wright home as its guest house. [Preservation Arlington, UrbanTurf, Wall Street Journal]

County Hires New Assistant County Manager  — Updated at 11:15 a.m. — Arlington County hired attorney Gurjit Chima to be the county’s Assistant County Manager for Human Rights and EEO. “[Chima] will be instrumental in advancing human rights and related initiatives across County government and in the Arlington community, consistent with our mission of diversity and inclusion,” said County Manager Mark Schwartz. [Arlington County, InsideNova]

Clarendon Company Named a Best Workplace in U.S. — Clarendon-based Enterprise Knowledge has made an Inc. magazine list of the Best Workplaces in 2018. The management consultancy has some of the “coolest company perks,” according to the magazine, including “tuition help, gym memberships, and company cellphones.” It also “reimburses employees up to $3,000 for the purchase of a hybrid car.” [Inc., Enterprise Knowledge]

County Touts Oak Grove Park Upgrades — “Through a Neighborhood Conservation project, Oak Grove Park recently underwent some major improvements to its playground equipment… The updates to the park include a ‘tot lot’ and a play area for older kids, an improved picnic shelter, site furnishings, a water fountain, many new trees, and biorentention for stormwater management.” [Arlington County, YouTube]

Marymount Farmers Market Starts This Weekend — The Marymount Farmers Market will kick off Saturday, serving the university and nearby North Arlington neighborhoods. The market will take place weekly through November. [Arlington Catholic Herald]

Flickr pool photo by Brian Allen

Del Ray Place More Than 50% Sold Following Successful Condo Opening

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New, modern condos in Del Ray?

It’s a rare opportunity. And it’s one that has home shoppers flocking to Del Ray Place, a new building rising up at 1800 Mount Vernon Avenue in one of Alexandria’s most sought-after neighborhoods.

Just weeks after the Grand Opening of Del Ray Place, developer Brookfield Residential has announced that more than 50% of the residences have already sold.

Demand became clear during the Grand Opening event held recently at nearby Junction Bakery & Bistro. Hundreds of interested home shoppers formed a line outside the restaurant hoping to have first pick of residences.

Home shoppers acted quickly to claim select 2-bedroom and 1-bedroom residences. A good selection of modern 1-bedroom residences remain, perfect for first-time buyers and empty-nesters.

“We’re so excited to see how many people have jumped on this opportunity,” said Brookfield Residential Vice President of Sales & Marketing Gregg Hughes. “We’re proud of Del Ray Place and, at this rate, these condos will sell out quickly.”

From the stylish, innovative residences to the neighborhood’s color, character and access, Del Ray Place is condominium living reimagined for a contemporary urban lifestyle.

Each of the 49 residences is designed with a spacious floor-plan, modern finishes and voice-enabled Smart Home automation. Private balconies with neighborhood views are available with select residences.

Set on Mount Vernon Avenue, the “Main Street” of Del Ray, the building gives residents access to Del Ray’s signature shops and restaurants. It’s less than a mile from Braddock Road Metro Station and just a 10-minute drive from Old Town and a 15-minute drive from Washington, D.C.

Those interested in learning more about Del Ray Place can visit DelRayVA.com. They can also call 571-388-3000 or visit the Sales Gallery, open daily at 2312 Mount Vernon Avenue, Suite 208 in Alexandria.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

More Capacity for Yorktown, Career Center — The Arlington County Board this weekend is expected to approve use permit amendments that will allow 300 additional seats at Yorktown High School, thanks to internal modifications, and another 200 seats at the Arlington Tech program within the Arlington Career Center. [InsideNova]

Crystal City BID Considering Expansion — “The Crystal City Business Improvement District is weighing plans to include Pentagon City and Potomac Yard within its borders, creating a single, unified submarket that could also serve as a larger canvass for Amazon.com Inc. as it homes in on potential locations for its second headquarters.” [Washington Business Journal]

Entry-Level Homes Remain Sparse — One of the challenges facing the real estate market in Arlington and Northern Virginia as a whole is a dearth of entry-level homes for sale. Likewise, the inventory of homes for sale in general is low. Said one agent: “In hot areas like Merrifield, Arlington, Reston and Tysons, my buyers are experiencing multiple-offer situations.” [InsideNova]

ACFD Removes Handcuffs from Student’s Wrist — “Interesting call of the day: When you’re playing with handcuffs and the key breaks! [Rescue] 109 cut off a pair of handcuffs that had got stuck on a student’s wrist. No injuries except a broken pair of cuffs.” [Twitter]

GGW Endorses in County Board Race — The urbanist website Greater Greater Washington has endorsed Matt de Ferranti in the Democratic Arlington County Board primary. de Ferranti told the website that he supports “building housing that would be affordable across a variety of incomes and available to younger workers who can build income and own homes in the future.” [Greater Greater Washington]

Flickr pool photo by Erinn Shirley

Getting Your Dream Home in D.C.: Free Home Buying Workshop to be Held in Rosslyn

3 Tips for Getting Your Dream Home in the D.C. Metro Area

  1. Save on existing payments: getting in control of your personal budget is the quickest way to find extra money for your new home.
  2. Work with a realtor to find the right property: In our area, it is most common to buy an old home and tear it down so you can build a new one. A skilled realtor will help you find a home on the best with the most potential.
  3. Decide which features you need, and which you don’t: his simple step can help you avoid going over budget during the planning process, when exciting upgrades can become too tempting to resist.

Learn more by reading the full blog here OR attend the Free Home Buying Seminar in Rosslyn on May 14 or May 21! The first 3 to register and attend the class get a FREE Google Chromecast!

You will get a comprehensive explanation of the home purchasing process — there’s more to know than you’d think.

The Orange Line Living Team and Keri Shull Team will be teaching all of the acronyms and definitions you will need, what happens at each stage of your transaction, real strategies on how to negotiate a lower purchase price, the different type of loans available, and much more. There will be local specialists from multiple industries in attendance, so come with questions.

Benefits of Attending

  • $1,500 credit towards your new home or towards early lease termination
  • 12-month home buy-back guarantee
  • Wine and cheese provided
  • AND the first 3 to attend will receive a Google Chromecast!

Space is limited, register by clicking here.

The event is hosted by best-selling author and top nationally-ranked real estate agent Dan Lesniak, author of The HyperLocal HyperFast Real Estate Agent. Dan and his team have developed a special process that has allowed them to help over one thousand local families buy or sell their home.

Details

  • When: Monday May 14 and May 21 at 6:00 p.m.
  • Where: Orange Line Living, 1600 Wilson Blvd, Suite 101
  • Cost: Free
  • Parking: Validated Parking or Free Street Parking
  • Food: Wine and Cheese
  • Contact: [email protected] or call 571-969-7653

Space is limited so be sure to register by clicking here today!

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Pedestrian Hit, in Critical Condition — Police closed a ramp to Washington Blvd and southbound I-395 during a portion of the Monday morning rush after a vehicle hit a pedestrian in the area of Columbia Pike and Queen Street. The man was taken to the hospital in critical condition. [WJLA, WTOP]

Woman With Cerebral Palsy Finishes First Marathon — Arlington resident Jamie Watts has completed her first marathon, finishing the New Jersey Marathon in 14 hours and 33 minutes. Watts, 36, has cerebral palsy and started participating in races a few years ago to get in shape for a family trip. She has since worked her way up to half marathons and now a full 26.2 miles. [WUSA 9]

Homebuyers’ Cost Per Square Foot Increases — Arlington homebuyers’ cost per square foot increased by 3.6% during the first quarter of 2018, compared with the same time last year. Those buying homes within the county paid a median $462 per square foot, which is more than in any other Northern Virginia jurisdiction. [InsideNova]

Taekwondo Legend Dies in Arlington — “Grandmaster Jhoon Rhee, the man known as the ‘father of American Taekwondo,’ died Monday after a long illness. He was 86. His son, Chun Rhee, said his father died in hospice care in Arlington, Virginia.” [Associated Press]

Cinco De Mayo Options in Arlington — Ragtime, Pamplona and Bar Bao are a few of the Arlington options for celebrating Cinco de Mayo and the Kentucky Derby this weekend. [Eater]

VIP Limo Tour of New Construction Homes in Loudoun County — May 12

Interested in buying a new home or designing your own?  Get a glimpse of the best new construction homes that Northern Virginia has to offer — on Saturday, May 12 at 12 p.m.!

Join the Keri Shull Team for an exclusive luxury tour around the latest and greatest new construction communities of Loudoun County including Toll Brothers, Beazer Homes and NVR Homes.

Hosted by New Construction Specialists from the Keri Shull Team, this luxury tour around Loudoun will take you through these new communities, while going over the ins-and-outs of building or buying a brand new home.

Perfect opportunity to discover your new home, meet your future developer or find your next inspiration!

Ride in style with the Keri Shull Team — Saturday, May 12! Wine and hors d’oeurves are included free of charge.

What’s Included With Your $49.99 Refundable Deposit

  • Executive limo van transportation from Reston Limousine
  • Boxed lunch from Pinstripes
  • Keri Shull Team wine opener
  • Expert guidance from the areas top new construction agents
  • Private arranged VIP tour; exclusive insights for this tour only
  • $250 Moving rebate from Town and Country Movers
  • $100 credit towards labor from Charles Graves Painting
  • Free staging consult if you have a home to sell
  • Lifetime membership to our exclusive client events

For your deposit to be refunded, you must buy any home within the next 12 months from your tour date. Space is limited to 20 attendees, so sign up today before it fills up! Click here to register.

Event details

  • What: VIP New Construction Limo Tour
  • When: Saturday May 12, from 12-3 p.m.
  • Where: Toll Brothers, Beazer Homes, and NVR Homes
  • Cost: $49.99 refundable deposit
  • Contact:  [email protected]or call 571-969-7653

Space is limited to 20 attendees, so sign up today before it fills up! Click here to register.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Clement to Face Kanninen Again — “The 2018 Arlington School Board race is likely to be a rerun of 2014. Audrey Clement and incumbent Barbara Kanninen have qualified for ballot access, county elections chief Linda Lindberg told the Sun Gazette, setting up a reprise of their campaign from four years ago.” [InsideNova]

PenPlace Sketches Released — JBG Smith has released new sketches of its planned PenPlace development in Pentagon City. The development includes “two seven-story apartment buildings totaling 300 units, 40,000 square feet of ground-floor retail and a future park.” [Washington Business Journal]

Arlington Palooza Set for Saturday — The second annual Arlington Palooza,”a free outdoor program for all ages with live music, art, games and more,” is set to take place Saturday from 1-4 p.m. at Alcova Heights Park. [Arlington County, Twitter]

Arlington Historical Society Getting Donation — Per a press release: “The Arlington Historical Society will receive a significant donation this spring as Arlington welcomes National Capital Bank to the Courthouse/Clarendon area on Wilson Blvd. National Capital Bank President Randy Anderson, who grew up in Arlington, called to inform AHS President Johnathan Thomas that the Society was chosen as one of the charities the Bank will support with a grant award.”

Real Estate Inventory Crunch — “Long & Foster says… the number of houses and condos on the market, in D.C., Loudoun County and Arlington County was down 22 percent in March compared to a year ago.” [WTOP]

Live Construction Cam in Ballston — The new 672 Flats apartment building (an ARLnow.com advertiser) in Ballston set up a live camera to track the construction progress. The camera is viewable online and shows an aerial view of the apartments and a portion of the neighborhood. [OxBlue]

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Fund Bets on Amazon HQ2 Coming to Crystal City — A New York-based asset manager is making a $10 million bet that Crystal City will be the location chosen for Amazon’s HQ2. The company cited a high concentration of millennials and housing in the area, as well as proximity to Metro stations, commuter rail and Reagan National Airport. [Bloomberg, ZeroHedge]

Chamber Wants Extended Parking Meter Hours Paused — “Leadership of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce wants the county government to hit the brakes on a proposal to increase parking-meter fees and extend the hours meters must be fed. In a letter to County Board Chairman Katie Cristol, Arlington Chamber president Kate Bates said the government failed to do proper outreach before proposing the alterations to existing policy.” [InsideNova]

Grumbles About Ballston Construction — “Like many who venture to the kingdom of Ballston, I am impatient for the never-ending renovations to be over. Tina Leone, CEO of the Ballston Business Improvement District, was happy to promise me that the rewards for us patrons of Arlington’s most central community will unfold in September–with staggered openings continuing through May 2019.” [Falls Church News-Press]

Average Single-Family Home Sale: $1 Million — The average sale price of a single-family home in Arlington in March was $1,066,368, up 6.9 percent from a year prior. [InsideNova]

Ribbon Cutting for Abingdon Renovations — A ribbon cutting ceremony is being held at 9:30 this morning to celebrate the recently-completed addition and renovations at Abingdon Elementary School in Fairlington. [Twitter]

Lopez Talks Medicaid Expansion — Del. Alfonso Lopez (D) was a guest on Politico’s healthcare podcast to discuss the possibility of expanding Medicaid in Virginia. [Simplecast, Twitter]

Photo by Anna Merod

Avg. Home Sale Price in Arlington Dipped Slightly in February

By Bridget Reed Morawski
The Rixey apartments in Ballston

The average sale price of homes in Arlington dipped in February compared to one year prior, the first such dip for the month since 2014.

That’s according to data from the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors, which releases historical monthly data for the region and for localities including Arlington.

The general trend for February home sales has been up, however, since February 2010.

Despite the decrease in the average sale price, the number of homes — including condos, townhomes and single-family detached houses — sold in February 2018 was up 3.6 percent year over year, with a total of 175 homes sold. Selling prices were 1.48 percent less than the asking prices.

The median home selling price in Arlington in February, meanwhile, was up 0.44 percent to $532,353.

Average sale prices can be affected by changes in the mix of the types of homes sold. For instance, a higher percentage of condos — which typically sell for less than single-family homes — sold may cause a dip in the average. In February 2018, 62% of the homes sold in Arlington were condos, compared to 58% in February 2017.

Update at 5 p.m. — Another source of local real estate data, Bright MLS, is reporting a jump in Arlington’s median home selling price in March.

“Arlington County led the region for price, with a median selling price in March of $564,250,” WTOP reported Tuesday afternoon. “That’s up 11 percent from a year ago and topped D.C.’s median price of $555,451, which was up 3.8 percent.”

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