Buy Alexandria Real Estate: June 2008

Numerous agents and companies go around touting:

"We're #1"

"Top Company in Sales"

"Highest Sales Volume in the Region"

"We Sell More"

"Highest Number of Sales"

Anybody can say it, but can they all prove it?

That's what's important. 

Next time an agent says that their company is the best, ask for the proof!

REALTOR Magazine's July 2008 issue ranks the Top 100 real estate brokerages nationwide by 2007 Transaction Sides and by 2007 Sales Volume.

How can you pick just 5 things to do in the D.C. area? 

Washington D.C. and the surrounding metropolitan area serves not only as the capital of the free world, the center of politics for our nation, a bastion of monuments and memorials, but also as one of the most heavily trafficked tourist destinations in the country if not the entire planet.  Okay, DisneyWorld probably has D.C. beat out, but I haven’t checked the actual statistics.

During the over 13 years that I’ve lived in the Washington D.C. area, I’ve had many a guest visit and stay for anywhere from a day to over a week.  If they’ve never been to D.C. before or even if they have, I’m always ready to indulge them on my standard D.C. area tour for out-of-town guests.

If you are planning to move to D.C. or Northern Virginia, or just come for a visit, here are my suggestions for things you need to do.  If you already live here, you’ve likely visited some if not all of these places, but why not take some time to re-explore some of your favorites.

TOP 5 THINGS TO DO IN THE D.C. METRO AREA:

1.  Tour The U.S. Capitol Building

In my opinion, no visit to D.C. is complete without a visit to The Capitol – home to both bodies of Congress – the House of Representatives and the Senate.  There’s the beauty and enormity of the building and its architecture alone which is enough reason for a visit.  Then there’s the opportunity to see the seat of Democracy – how a bill becomes a law.  Schedule ahead (perhaps months ahead) and maybe you’ll even get a chance to visit with your Congressman.  A tour of The Capitol provides a glimpse into the lawmaking process, the history of the building and our nation, statues of famous Americans (including Philo Farnsworth, best known for inventing the television). 

You may even get a chance to ride the mini-subway under the Capitol that transports Senators and Congressmen back to their offices.  The view from the West steps of the Capitol Building looking out over the Mall and the monuments is truly awe-inspiring. 

I was fortunate to have attended the 2^nd Bush inauguration held on the steps of the Capitol.

2.  Explore Union Station

A short walk from The Capitol Building, the grand Union Station is much more than just a train station.  With over 20 million visitors a year, you’ll be in good company when you go here.  In addition to being a functional center for transportation up and down the East Coast and elsewhere, Union Station houses many shops, restaurants, an extensive food court, and a multi-screen movie theater.  People watching will delight in viewing the diversity of travelers passing through these doors.  You can easily get lost in the sights, sounds, aromas, and delights of the station.  Throughout the year, the immense Union Station also plays host to various art installations, special exhibits, and functions.

3.  Ride the Metro

Take a ride on the Metro – the area’s far-reaching subway system.  I’ve been on subway systems throughout the U.S. and foreign countries but have rarely if ever seen other systems that are as clean, smell-free, smooth riding, comfortable, and efficient as the D.C. system (the cars are actually carpeted).  100s of 1000s of passengers ride it every day from the Virginia and Maryland suburbs into work in the District, and all around town.  Tourists beware: stand to the right on the escalator if you plan to leisurely ride it up or down.  The left lane is for people in a hurry.  Housing options with close proximity to the metro are often at a premium.

4. Ascend the Lincoln Memorial

D.C. is so full of monuments that it’s hard to choose, but if you have to visit just one, make it the Lincoln Memorial.  This memorial on the Western end of the National Mall majestically rises in front of the reflecting pool and is the famous site of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech and the location of many a rally.  Abraham Lincoln himself appears larger than life perched inside gazing down the Mall towards the monument to his predecessor and first President George Washington.  Take some time to climb the steps (or use the handicapped elevator access) and don’t forget to view the museum down below the memorial.  From here, it’s an easy walk to the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial (The Wall) and the FDR Memorial.

5.  Go to the George Washington National Masonic Memorial

Across the Potomac River, on Shuter’s Hill, towering over Old Town Alexandria (and modeled after the ancient lighthouse in Alexandria, Egypt) stands an impressive memorial to President George Washington – the man, the President, the Freemason.  This memorial has a particular significance in my life since I am deeply involved with Freemasonry having served as Worshipful Master of my lodge for 2 years and being a very active member.  Free tours inside will take you through a history of the Freemason fraternity, allow you to view historic artifacts concerning George Washington (including a lock of his hair), learn about architecture, the Shriners, and see historic photos of Alexandria, Virginia.  The Memorial also houses a George Washington research library.  In addition, several currently active Masonic lodges utilize historic lodge rooms in the building for their meetings.  Not to mention, you can see for miles and miles on the observation deck at the top which offers a panoramic view looking down King Street towards the Potomac River and D.C.

These are just a few of the things you should do and places you should visit in the D.C. area.  It’s just the tip of the iceberg.  You should also explore Arlington Cemetery where heroes, Presidents, and explorers have been laid to rest.  Visit the wonderful collection of Smithsonian museums, the National Arboreteum, Mount Vernon, The White House, the Jefferson Memorial, Rock Creek Park, the list goes on and on.

After you visit, you may want to move here.  I await your call at 703-626-0715.

CLICK HERE TO START YOUR D.C. AREA HOME SEARCH

Unlike the latest hit song or fleeting celebrity of Ashley Dupre (who? oh yeah, that was Eliot Spitzer's call girl), real estate is always a hot topic.  Whether the market's going up or going down, having a home and a place to rest your head at night will always rank up there on Mazlow's hierarchy of needs.

While real estate as a whole always generates buzz, here's a look at What's Hot & What's Not for

D.C. & Northern Virginia real estate

for Summer 2008:

Negotiating discount from asking price                                Bidding wars on homes

New construction condos                                                    Condo conversions

Living on the metro line                                                    Commuting to D.C. from Loudoun County

30 year fixed rate loans                                                    5 year interest only ARM

Foreclosures                                                                    Handyman special

Home inspections                                                            Waiving a home inspection

FHA & VA mortgages                                                        Zero down mortgages

Buy & Hold                                                                      Flip that house

Homes selling in weeks/months                                        Homes selling in hours/days

Staged homes                                                                Vacant homes

Craigslist                                                                        Newspaper classifieds                                     

Short sales                                                                     Short sales

Online home search                                                        Driving to open houses every Sunday

Buyer's market                                                               Seller's market  

Affordable housing                                                          Sky-high prices

Kingstowne, a large planned community in Fairfax County is a great area to call home. With tons of shopping, restaurants, a golf driving range, and movie theater, there's always something to do. Kingstowne is convenient for commuters whether heading to D.C., Tysons Corner, Fort Belvoir, or elsewhere, with easy access to the major roads -- Route 95/495 "The Capital Beltway" and Route 395. Public transportation is also available with the proximity to the Springfield/Franconia metro stop.

I just listed this large end unit townhouse for sale in the desirable Chatsworth area of Kingstowne. Come take a look before it's too late.

Brian Block | RE/MAX Allegiance | 703-626-0715 5967 Norham Drive, Alexandria, VA Large End Unit in Chatsworth area of Kingstowne 4BR/3.5BA Townhouse offered at $445,000 Year Built 1988 Sq Footage 2,640 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 3 full, 1 partial Floors 3 Parking 1 Car garage Lot Size 2,449 sqft HOA/Maint $80 per month DESCRIPTION Large corner end-unit brick garage townhouse in desirable Chatsworth area of Kingstowne priced to sell. Brand new carpet, 4 BR, 3.5 BA. Master bathroom suite w/vaulted ceiling & large master bath with skylight, separate tube and shower. Oversized eat-in kitchen awaits your finishing touches. Enjoy the comfort of the lower level den with fireplace and walkout to yard. Minutes to all of Kingstowne. see additional photos below PROPERTY FEATURES Central A/C Central heat Fireplace High/Vaulted ceiling Walk-in closet Hardwood floor Family room Living room Dining room Breakfast nook Dishwasher Attic Basement Washer Dryer Laundry area - inside Yard COMMUNITY FEATURES Guest parking Clubhouse Fitness center Swimming pool(s) Tennis court(s) Playground ADDITIONAL PHOTOS Seller contact info: Brian Block RE/MAX Allegiance 703-626-0715 For sale by agent/broker Equal Opportunity Housing Posted: Jun 21, 2008, 2:38pm PDT

Nomads... Wanderers...

Travelers... Seekers...

As a species, it is in our nature to be inquisitive.  We're interested about the big wide world around us.

To seek out new life and new civilizations -- to quote a certain Captain's log entry.

No matter how far you & I travel, no matter how long we are gone, no matter the new learning experiences we enjoy, at a certain time there is a yearning to return to a familiar place:

There's a comfort there.  A sense of peace.  Serenity.

It's my honor to help you find that.  It's an honor to be a REALTOR.

As a Northern Virginia and D.C. REALTOR (and blogger), I see it as part of my job and duty to provide you (my readers) with valuable information about the area real estate market and I've been doing that for over a year, since March 2007.  If you're new to this blog, please take some time to look around at the previous posts that I've written.  

Perhaps you have an interest in a certain area of Northern Virginia or D.C. or a certain aspect of the real estate process. 

If you don't already see the information or the answer here, you should always feel free to comment or send me a quick e-mail requesting a certain type of information.  That's what blogging is all about -- opening up and establishing a dialogue.

I AM NOW TAKING REQUESTS

Submit a question, a request for information about a neighborhood, prices, inventory, the homebuying process, my dental record, my social security number, or my mother's maiden name, and I'll be happy to research and write a post on that topic and inform you once it's completed.

As always, if you need an immediate response to your real estate questions, want to purchase a home, or have a million dollar house (or a $200,000 condo) to sell, give me a call at 703-626-0715.

Here's Episode 2 of Desperate REALTOR(s).

If you have not yet watched Episode 1, please click to view: Desperate REALTOR Begging for a Listing

I hope you enjoy Episode 2.

Trust me, I've never spoken to a client like this, nor should you (even if you may feel this way sometimes).

This video was created solely for entertainment purposes.

You've been househunting online for a while.  Hopefully you started by using the best tool for searching homes in the Northern Virginia and D.C. area.

Now you've contacted me and you're ready to shop for a home in Northern Virginia.

Here’s the fun part!

Time to go shopping – shopping for a house!  – hop in my car, buckle up and prepare yourself to tour Northern Virginia neighborhoods and homes.  You’ve decided upon your househunting criteria and provided it to me.  I’ve selected a dozen homes in several neighborhoods that best match your criteria. 

While some of my clients have fallen in love with the 1^st home we’ve seen, I’ve found that most folks view an average of 7-10 homes before making their decision.  Looking at more than 5 or 6 in one outing can be overwhelming especially during these hot summer months, so we’ll spread things out over more than one day (unless of course you just fall in love with a home).

I’ll point out some of the features of neighborhoods and locations, including proximity to your office, shopping, public transportation, and schools.  Please take notes on each home feeling free to explore every nook & cranny.  (Read Swing Open the Closet Door.)

Ask me questions about the homes.  Feel free to take photos, or I’ll take pictures & e-mail you online photo albums later.  Tell me your thoughts – whether you love it or you hate it, don’t hold back.  They’re not my homes so I won’t get offended and your input will greatly help in keeping on track in helping you find the right home.  You’ll find that Real Estate is a Process of Elimination.

I’ll see the gleam in your eyes and just know it when you’ve find the right place.  Not to mention, when you start visually laying out your own furniture in the living room, it’ll be a dead giveaway.

Congratulations!  You’ve found your future home!

Does size matter?

Pull out your rulers, your tape measures, your sonic measurement devices and start doing some calculations.

When buying a home (or pricing your home for sale), the #1 criteria, as most everyone knows, is LOCATION.  There's no dispute about that.  What's next?  How about size, condition, age, and amenities.

How much does size really matter?

Here's an example taken to the extreme:

There are two homes currently on the market in Old Town Alexandria -- one is a $3 million plus home with over 8,882 square feet of finished living space; the other, a studio condo priced at $209,000 and offering a mere 380 square feet (can you actually fit a bed? and a dresser?)

Let's do the math!

HOME #1:  $3,195,000 divided by 8,882 square feet =

$359/square foot

HOME #2: $209,000 divided by 380 square feet =

$550/square foot

Surprise the studio condo space is much more expensive!

Of course this is an absurd example, but it just goes to show that square footage is not always an accurate measurement when it comes to value unless all other criteria about the properties are similar.

For instance, the least expensive home on the market in Alexandria is priced at $105,000 and measures 1005 square feet.  The most expensive home is 32 X more expensive at $3,350,000, but it certainly is not 32 times larger, offering just 5000 square feet.

I'd love to help you find a home in Northern Virginia whether you can survive in 380 square feet, or you want a little more room to stretch your legs.

CLICK HERE TO START YOUR HOME SEARCH TODAY