Digging up the Dirt on Northern Virginia Real Esta

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7 Truths You May Not Know about Buying a Short Sale Property
2008-01-18 07:53:00
In the past, I’ve spent a lot of time helping unravel the myths about dealing with short sales, foreclosures and bank owned properties – as a result, here are the top 7 reasons why, as a buyer, you may want to steer clear: 1.  Competitive Pricing…  In this soft market, short sales are not always priced competitively - sometimes equal to or higher than other similar available properties 2.  The Bank calls the Shots…  as it relates to the terms of the contracts; they can (and most often do) override certain terms of our Regional Sale s Contract and can change terms mid-stream – and believe me, these changes and overrides are NOT in favor of the buyer! 3.  Property sold as-is…  meaning there are generally no home inspection repairs or credits allowed; NOR will any walk-through items be repaired; WYSIWYG 4.  The Bank holds the $$…  generally in a transaction, the brokerage representing the buyer&nb...
More About: Buying , Short , Ruth

Gourmet Burgers in McLean! A New Hot Spot!
2008-01-17 07:35:00
Welcome Joe’s Burgers ! McLean has long needed a great burger joint – and here it is.  For a month or so people have been telling me of this great new place in McLean for lunch called Joe’s Burgers – knowing, of course, that burgers and fries are 2 of my staple food groups!  So yesterday I finally had the opportunity to go and see for myself. The inside is quite small - but accommodated the diners quite nicely.  There were 5 tables for 2 and 2 tables for 4 and a bar that seats 3.  That’s it – nice ambiance! The menu is simple – burgers, Kobe beef burgers, ostrich burgers, and a few chicken sandwiches - and everything comes with fries.  Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Iced Tea (and of course, beer/wine - but not at lunch, at least not for me) are the beverage choices – nice and simple and reasonably priced.  The service was super friendly, too! My FAVORITE part is that you can add mushrooms, bacon and/or ...
More About: Spot , Gourmet

Taking your (financial) Health Into your own Hands…
2008-01-16 16:33:00
Yes, today we’re talking about health.  Had a checkup lately?  Have you visited your family doctor?  Well, all that might be interesting, but I’m talking about your financial health.  YES, have you had a checkup lately?  Seen your practitioner?  There are a few basic things one should do especially if preparing to enter into a real estate transaction anytime soon:  Run Your Credit You are given the opportunity once each year to run your credit “free” so to speak.  Here is a great article on the process, how it works, where and whom to contact, etc… Address any Credit Issues with a Plan Sometimes your credit report will reveal things you’re completely unaware of.  You might find that a credit card or account you thought you “closed” years ago is actually still active with the company even though there have been no charges in a very long time and the cards have been long cut up.&n...
More About: Health , Financial , Taking

Arlington County Sales Figures for 2007 - And What a Year it Was?
2008-01-10 23:32:00
Well, I?ve just finished compiling sales figures for Arlington County for the year end of 2007.  It was a mixed year ? a year with a lot of media hype, a lot of consumer panic, a lot of deals to be made and a lot more inventory than we?ve seen in a long time.  Here?s ...
More About: Sales , Figures , Year

New Year - New Tax - Well, maybe?
2008-01-02 16:16:00
Happy New Year !  I wish all of you a tremendously successful, prosperous, healthy and happy 2008!!! A little history:  As many of you know, the Virginia General Assembly last year granted 2 Transportation Authorities in Virginia the right to impose a special new tax to help relieve traffic congestion.  One here in Northern Virginia and the ...

Who hibernates in December?
2007-12-12 00:55:00
When we think about all of the obligations we have this time of year a few come to mind: Holiday Parties Baking Shopping, Wrapping, Mailing – pretty paper and shiny ribbons Decorating Caroling Attending school concerts and/or pageants of our children, grandchildren, neighbors, friends kids, etc… (or sewing a black velvet skirt for one’s daughter’s holiday concert the night before **ahem**) Attending ...
More About: December

November Figures are in for Arlington Home Sales
2007-12-06 18:36:00
And the results are truly a mixed bag.  For all of the media hype about what a bad market it is right now, we’re still seeing some good successes in these closer in markets.  Frankly, we’re beginning to see successes overall where homes are priced appropriately and presented well, no matter where they’re located.  Sometimes it is still taking some time, which is frustrating for the sellers.  However, a home seller in the DC area can have hope! Here’s how the numbers look for just the month of November , 2007 and how it compares with just last November: November 2007 Arlington County Home Prices and Sales Figures : What I see in this is that drastically fewer homes were sold pretty much across the board during the November 2007 period when compared with 2006; additionally, at least for just this month, average selling prices were off in the condo market, but held steady or even saw increases over last year for the single family home market.&...

Local Blogger goes AWOL
2007-12-05 17:16:00
ha ha – that’s how it feels, really!  I’ve been missing in action over the last week or so – lots going on I suppose.  It’s a tough time of year for all of us to keep focused with holiday demands, family demands, work, etc…  oh and that winter cold that just won’t go away!  But I’m here and ready to jump back in.  So stay tuned for some great posts that I have planned for you! Today, the DC area is getting its first snow of the year – it’s come early this year and my children are convinced that we’ll see blizzard conditions before this winter is up.  Who knows, I may be blogging and referring back to this post come February under 27 inches of snow!  Anyway, here’s a picture I took of our holly tree with its first dusting of the season.  Enjoy and know that I’m back in full swing. Happy Wednesday! Jennifer Tags: northern+virginia+first+snow+2007 Share This
More About: Blogger , Local , Loca

Holiday Shopping Opportunities at the W-L Annual Holday Bazaar
2007-11-26 20:42:00
The 48th annual Washington-Lee High School Holiday Bazaar will be held on Saturday, December 1 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This will be the last Holiday Bazaar in the existing W-L building, located at 1300 North Quincy Street.   The annual Bazaar has become a local community event that benefits the Senior Class of 2008, ...
More About: Shopping , Opportunities , Annual

Happy Thanksgiving
2007-11-22 14:43:00
Happy Thanksgiving to all of my readers.  We have a lot to be thankful for – I’m thankful to live in the greatest city in the world (my opinion, of course)!  Enjoy the day with your friends and family, as I intend to do with mine! Jennifer Tags: Washington+DC, Memorial+Bridge, Lincoln+Memorial, Washington+Monument Share This
More About: Happy , Hank

Arlington National Cemetery - A National Treasure and A Moving Experience
2007-11-18 14:42:00
Yesterday I had the distinct honor and pleasure of visiting Arlington National Cemetery.  My grandfather, who served in Korea and in WWII is buried there, as is my grandmother who preceded him in death by almost 30 years – so we went to visit their gravesite and take in a little history, too.  It is ...
More About: Moving , Experience , Arlington National Cemetery , National Treasure

Staging is all the RAGE!
2007-11-15 23:43:00
Staging is becoming a necessary component when thinking about listing your home for sale in today’s market.  When I first meet with a prospective seller, we talk about preparing the home for market.  This might include having a pre-inspection, an appraisal and certainly we have an important discussion about staging and condition.  There are several ...
More About: Rage , Staging

First Time Home Buyer?s Seminar - It?s FREE and YOU?RE INVITED!
2007-11-13 21:17:00
You, my dear reader, are cordially invited to a free, first time home buyer’s seminar being held in the Keller Williams Arlington Office in Courthouse.  When:  Saturday, December 8 — 10am-11am Where:  2101 Wilson Blvd, 11th Floor; Arlington VA  22201 What:  Seminar conducted by Gleyde Schatz of Access National Mortgage and Jennifer Klaussen (me) and Afton McGhee ...
More About: Time , Home , Free , Buyer

5 Fun (really!) Facts about Leaf Collection in Arlington County
2007-11-09 18:15:00
O-K Arlington ians ? Leaf Collection has officially begun. Don?t you love this time of year? Bright yellow, red and orange leaves adorn the trees and now has created a carpet of fall colors on the ground. All of these leaves need to go somewhere! Arlington County Environmental Services has leaf collection down to ...
More About: Facts

Condo Focus - Colonial Village - Arlington, VA 22201
2007-11-08 00:21:00
Today’s condo focus will highlight the quaint community of Colonial Villa ge – nestled between Lee Highway and Wilson Blvd stretching almost the length between the Courthouse and Rosslyn Metros.  Construction began on this complex was in 1935 and was completed by 1940 - it was one of the area’s first apartment complexes and really set the ...
More About: Condo , Focus , Arlington

October 2007 Sales Numbers for Arlington are in?
2007-11-06 22:06:00
?and the name of the game is slightly rising inventories ? steady sales in keeping with 2006 and a few markets actually tapering off a bit. Here?s what October looked like: What I notice are condo sales falling off a bit, as well as average selling prices, but remember, I?ve said this before - it?s VERY difficult, ...
More About: Sales , Numbers , October 2007 , Arlington

Housing Trends for the DC Metro Area - 3rd Quarter 2007
2007-11-06 02:48:00
Today’s topic is a meaty one – the Metro politan Regional Information Systems is OUR MLS service here in the DC Metropolitan Area .  The President and CEO of MRIS, David Charron, has been recognized industry-wide for being one of the top 100 influential people in our community.  In any case, MRIS is always publishing wonderful information ...
More About: Trends , Housing , Quarter

FALL BACK? DON?T FORGET
2007-11-03 08:39:00
Just a quick reminder — Don’t forget that “the powers that be” decided to change the daylight savings clock re-set this year – so tonight – FALL BACK! Wasn’t it strange having Halloween essentially begin in the daylight?  I guess I’m glad for the extra daylight these last 3 weeks, but it does feel a bit ...
More About: Back , Fall

Arlington?s Car-Free Diet?
2007-11-02 15:33:00
GOTCHA!!!  Bet you thought I said “care-free diet” - wouldn’t that be something?  But alas, I said “car-free” – what, might you ask, is that?  Well, have you noticed that over the past years, Arlington County has been trying to create a friendly co-existence between cars and bicycle and/or pedestrian traffic? As a result of their ...
More About: Diet , Free

Is it a Condo? Or is it a Townhouse? BOTH YOU SAY???
2007-10-30 15:06:00
It’s a condominium?  It looks like a townhouse!  Could it be both?  What’s the difference?  This is the #1 question I get asked about consistently -   Today I’d like to help de-mystify what exactly is a townhouse vs. a condominium.  Often times buyers come to me and they are in a price range where they are ...
More About: Condo , Townhouse

WOW - VA Loans - Welcome to the 21st Century!
2007-10-29 15:39:00
The VA announced today that they will begin providing financing for eligible military personnel for loan amounts up to $1,000,000 — that’s right, ONE MILLION DOLLARS!  This is a bold and impressive step for VA and of course, for a prospective borrower, will require a deeper understanding of the options this opens up for them. VA ...
More About: Loans , Century

Spooks, Goblins and ?.. FEAR?.
2007-10-26 15:35:00
I wanted to write a post about the Halloween holiday and festivities right around the corner - you know, a cute little writeup about the different parades, parties, etc..  but the other day when I walked into my office building something frightened me and I’ve been afraid ever since. I thought it only fitting to share ...
More About: Fear , Spooks

Keller Williams Makes a Big Splash into the Luxury Home Market
2007-10-19 22:13:00
On October 1, 2007, Keller Williams launched the highly anticipated Luxury Home s Division and I, yours truly, is so proud to be a charter member of this great new program.  I think it goes without saying that this is a HUGE win for those buying and selling high-end luxury homes across the country.  This is ...
More About: Market , Splash

One Month Does Not a Trend Make - OR Does It???
2007-10-18 22:29:00
Most of us, whether we’re in the real estate business or not, everyone is tuned in to what I’ll call the State of the Market.  Right?  Everywhere I go, once someone realizes I’m an agent, 999 times out of 1000, the question posed to me is “How’s the Market?”  Well, our Multiple Listing Service, MRIS, ...
More About: Make , Trend , Month , Mont

Arlington County Goes GREEN - Blog Action Day October 15, 2007
2007-10-15 20:34:00
Today is Blog Action Day!  It’s ONE day where bloggers around the world have pledged to devote their blog to matters of the environment.  Here in Arlington County , we have a wonderful building project called Green Home Choice Program.  I’m sure you’ve heard all about the “green movement” – as it relates to the housing ...
More About: October

Arlington Home Sales for September 2007
2007-10-07 16:02:00
It’s that time again – time to report numbers.  Frankly, we’re seeing a steady market.  No huge swings in any direction.  Condos are still moving quite well, average sales prices are remaining steady or are experiencing slight increases and, has been the case all year, days on market (on average) are longer this year than ...
More About: Sales , Home , September , September 2007 , Arlington

St. Michaels - A Charming Weekend Getaway
2007-10-06 23:41:00
I must admit, I rarely take a day off – maybe one here or there, but generally I’m at it 7 days a week – just ask my family!  This week, I had a rare treat!  A very close family friend built a home there on the water a few years ago and literally, for ...
More About: Weekend , Getaway , Michaels , Charmin , Char

The Surprising Truth about Jury Duty in Arlington County
2007-10-02 20:57:00
Yes, I have been called upon to serve Jury Duty by Arlington County .  At first – I think my first thought was, “I can’t serve Jury Duty now - I’ve got too much going on!”  C’mon, let’s be truthful – isn’t that the most natural response? So for a month, I’ve been preparing my strategies, listening ...
More About: Truth , Ruth

How to Have a BIG Impact from a Little Acorn
2007-09-27 16:46:00
Two years ago the Virginia Department of Forestry hand picked acorns from Jamestown Island to produce cherrybark oak saplings and thus, Project Acorn was born. This fall, Project Acorn will distribute 750 2?year old Cherrybark Oak saplings throughout Arlington County for free, primarily to be used by private residences, schools, churches and county land. This ...