Buy Alexandria Real Estate: August 2008

The U.S. election cycle is in full swing. Every 4 years, our great country selects a new leader.

On average, every 5 to 7 years, you'll elect a REALTOR to help you buy or sell a home.

If your current home or your next one will be in Northern Virginia or Washington D.C., I'm campaigning for the job of being your next Real Estate Broker.

Here's my latest campaign video:

Contact Brian Block, REALTOR/Attorney: Licensed in Virginia & Washington D.C. (703) 626-0715. If you are interested in purchasing or selling a property in Northern Virginia including Arlington County, Alexandria City, Annandale, Burke, D.C., Fairfax County, Falls Church City, Lorton, McLean, Springfield, Vienna, Washington D.C., contact Brian today.

Sorry to break it to you but Summer's Over! 

Not by the official measure of the Earth's orbit around the Sun at the center of our solar system.  However, look around you.  Kids are going back to school.  The weather is cooling and friends and family are stocking up on charcoal, burgers and corn on the cob for the last hurrah of Summer 2008 this coming Labor Day.

If you live in Alexandria Virginia or anywhere nearby, the end of Summer certainly does not mean the end of fun and good times.  By no means.

In fact, just yesterday, along with the usual piles of credit card pre-approval letters, Home Decorator's catalogs, and my mortgage bill, I received a wonderful & colorful pamphlet from the Alexandria Convention and Vistors Association promoting just some of the many exciting events coming to Alexandria this Fall.

In case you don't live in Alexandria, Virginia (or you do and accidentally tossed this pamphlet with your junk mail), here's a selection of the upcoming "Good Times" being held in Alexandria during September:

Second Thursday Art Night
September 11th, October 9th, and November 13th

The Torpedo Factory Art Center along the Potomac River in Old Town Alexandria will stay open on these nights until 9 p.m. and free activities include artistic demonstrations, refreshments, and Canine Cruises (what's that?)

Alexandria Festival of the Arts
September 13th and 14th

Come to Old Town Alexandria and stroll around King Street between Union & Washington streets to wander through more the work of over 200 artists from around the country selling and displaying everything from pottery and photographs to paintings, sculptures and jewelry.  Free.

Alexandria Film Festival
September 25-28th

Held at the Lee Center at 1108 Jefferson Street, this festival will include features, documentaries, and short films on the theme "Politics in the USA"

67th Annual Tour of Historic Homes
September 27th

Real estate junkie?  Nosy neighbor?  History buff?  Don't miss this annual tour of six of the city's most beautifully restored and decorated homes in the heart of Old Town Alexandria.

Summer may be over, but the fun ain't!

Oh, by the way, do you want to live closer to the action in Alexandria? 

I just happen to sell homes here. 

Give me a call at 703-626-0715 or click to start your
ALEXANDRIA HOME SEARCH.

One year ago today lightning struck my condo building.

I wasn't home, but my wife was.

That's something that doesn't happen every day. Read about it here: When Lightning Strikes... Your Condo!

We have some crazy electrical storms here from time to time:

I live in Alexandria Knolls West in Alexandria, Virginia.

Our building was built in 1975 and has 191 condo units, an outdoor pool and hot tub, men's and women's gyms and saunas, a large party room, extra storage, and huge huge balconies.

Things were a little hairy after that lightning strike, but the condo management was quick to react and fortunately the residents of Alexandria Knolls West did not face a special assessment nor an inordinate increase in condo fees.

Since that fateful night, I've sold 4 condo units in the building.

If you are looking to sell or buy in Alexandria Knolls West, give me a call.

Brian Block, RE/MAX Allegiance, 703-626-0715

Searching around the internet for real estate information?

If you are like most people thinking about purchasing a home, you've started your search on the internet.  Statistics from the National Associations of REALTORS point out that close to 90% of home buyers look to the internet first for information about homes, neighborhoods, and the real estate market.

There's a lot of information out there, and you've likely come upon multiple websites with an abundance of information.  There's REALTOR.com, Trulia, Zillow, HomeGain, Housevalues, REMAX.com, just to name a few of the big ones.  Then there's individual brokerage and agent websites.  Not to mention blogs.

Now your internet explorations have landed you at my Northern Virginia real estate blog. 

Thanks for visiting.

Over the past 17 months, I've written over 250 articles on my blog about the local Northern Virginia real estate market.  Some of these articles provide tips and advice about the real estate process, whether buying or selling.  Others discuss market trends and particular neighborhoods.  And there are a few articles that let you know a little more than you ever wanted to know about me.

If you are looking for a professional, experienced, and personable REALTOR to assist you with your real estate needs, I'd highly suggest that you read through my many blog posts to help you get to know me.  In fact, I often consider my blog as my online interview.  If you like what you read, give me a call or send me an e-mail.  If not, move on, or better yet, contact me and I'll be happy to refer you to some other great agents in the area.

If you are very early in the process and just gathering information about the market, I've compiled here for your convenience a bunch of the posts that I've written specifically about Alexandria & Arlington, the two areas where I sell the most homes.

This is one of the best places on the internet to start for in-depth research about Alexandria and Arlington real estate.  Note that these articles are listed in reverse chronological order within each category (some of the older ones may have information that is no longer current).

ALEXANDRIA & ARLINGTON BLOG POSTS:

GENERAL INFORMATION

Wealth, Science, Jobs: You Must Be Talking About ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA (or maybe ALEXANDRIA)!

You'll Get a Good Education Here

Miss Universe May Live Next Door

Alexandria and Arlington, Virginia: "A Commuter's Dream"

Alexandria Virginia Recognized for Promoting Affordable Housing

Alexandria is Cool -- That's What the Sierra Club Said

When is Alexandria NOT Alexandria?

Proud to Be the Most Romantic City in the U.S.A.

Skip the Bookstore -- Skip on Over to Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Alexandria Library

How long does it take to Sell a Home in Alexandria, Virginia?

Why You Should Purchase Your Next Home in Arlington, Virginia

Slow Market? No, it's Holding Steady in Alexandria, Virginia

Watch a Movie and Drink Some Beer in Arlington Virginia

What Homes did NOT Sell in Alexandria During the Past Week?

Arlington Virginia Housing Market Trends: Days on Market Headed Up

Farmers Markets in Arlington & Alexandria: Fresh Produce & Fun

Alexandria Home Sales Slow Down a Bit in July

Alexandria Homeowners Can Get a Little Bit of Tax Relief

ALEXANDRIA & ARLINGTON NEIGHBORHOODS

Summer at Watergate at Landmark: Available Inventory of Condos

What's Been Selling this Summer in Cameron Station?: Summer Sales Report for Premier Alexandria Community

Going to George Mason Law School? You Should Consider Purchasing a Nearby Condo

Video Driving Tour of Cameron Station in Alexandria Virginia

Orange vs. Blue: Condos on the Metro Line in Arlington & Alexandria

Cameron Station Real Estate in 2008

Working at the Pentagon: Consider a Close-by Crystal City Condo

The Townes at Cameron Parke -- A Centrally Located Alexandria Neighborhood

A Stone's Throw Away at Stonegate in Alexandria

Own a Piece of History in Old Town Alexandria

Watergate at Landmark Condos in Alexandria: What's Available?

Eat, Play, Love: Living in Shirlington, Virginia

Who Wants a Big Balcony? Alexandria Knolls West Condos have the Biggest!

65 Years As the Largest Office in the World: Relocating to Work in the Pentagon

Catch a Cool Cameron Station Condo While You Can!

November Update on Cameron Station Sales

All Inclusive Lifestyle at Watergate at Landmark in Alexandria

Condos with a View -- Carlyle Towers in Old Town Alexandria

Houses on a Hill: Overlook in Alexandria

Old Town Alexandria: Homes For Sale -- Something Old, Something New & Market Statistics

"Condo Canyon" -- Landmark Area of Alexandria has Loads of Condos for Sale

Cameron Station Market Update: Summer Sales in Premier Alexandria Community

Del Ray, Alexandria: A Popular and Eclectic Neighborhood

Northern Virginia Neighborhoods: An Introduction to Cameron Station, Alexandria

Bustling Ballston Condos High-Rise Condo Inventory

PRICES IN ALEXANDRIA AND ARLINGTON

How Much is a Single Family Home in Arlington, Virginia?

Alexandria Virginia Average Townhouse Prices -- July 2008

Arlington Virginia Average Condo Prices -- June 2008

Alexandria Virginia Average Condo Prices -- June 2008

You can buy a home for $109,000, for $8,850,000, or anywhere in between in Arlington Virginia

Spring Sale: 4-12% Off the Listed Price for Arlington Virginia Homes

Condos in Arlington Virginia: How Much Do They Cost?

Condos in Alexandria: How Much Do They Cost?

Rising Prices and Low Inventory Make Arlington, Virginia a Rare Hot Spot for Sellers

Average Arlington Single Family Homes Top $1 Million Mark

Getting the Keys for Less: Alexandria and Arlington Homes for Under $200,000

INVENTORY & SALES REPORTS FOR ALEXANDRIA AND ARLINGTON

Alexandria Virginia Townhouses Sell Faster Than Condos or Single Family Homes

Alexandria Virginia April 2008 Home Sale Hot Spots

Alexandria, Virginia (March 2008): Serving Up Some Statistics on Home Sales

Put a Spring in Your Step: Alexandria Homes on the Market

Believe it or Not -- Single Family Homes for Sale in the City of Alexandria

811 Homes that Could be Yours -- What's on the Market in Arlington Virginia?

Foreclosures and Bank-Owned Properties in Alexandria Virginia

Read All About It: Arlington Virginia Housing Market a Hot Spot for Sales

North Arlington, Virginia High-Rise Condominium Inventory -- November 2007

Alexandria Virginia Condominium Inventory -- November 2007

Condo Inventory in Alexandria, Virginia

Where the Homes Are: Current Inventory of Homes in Alexandria

Alexandria Virginia Homes Inventory

Recent June 2007 Sales & Current Inventory in Arlington, Virginia

Mid-July Market Update: Alexandria Virginia Zip Code 22304 Home Sales

Single Family Home Inventory in Alexandria

Ready to start the process of buying or selling a home?

Make sure you read these valuable resources of tips and advice:

Blog Articles for Buyers

Blog Articles for Sellers

If you like what you see, give me a call at 703-626-0715 and we'll get started.

Brian Block, RE/MAX Allegiance

Wealth, Science, and Jobs.

These are most definitely good things to have in your area.

If your area is Arlington, Virginia, you have all three.  Those who live in this county just across the Potomac River from the Nation's Capital already know that it's a great place to reside and it's no surprise that more and more people relocating to the D.C. area choose Arlington to be their home.

A study released this past Monday by BizJournals ranked 261 United States municipalities with populations greater than 100,000 and determined that

Arlington County is the top "wealth center" in the nation! 

According to the story by NBC-4, Arlington topped the rankings, "in part because of its highly-educated population and residents' access to high-paying jobs in law, government and research."  Additionally, 1/3 of all adults in Arlington County hold a graduate degree!

With the National Science Foundation, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Office of Naval Research and several university-related research institutes maintaining their headquarters in Arlington, the study noted that Arlington County holds the highest concentration of scientific research agencies.

Neighboring Alexandria City is no slacker.  Alexandria ranked #4 in the study.

Channel 4 interviewed Alexandria Mayor William Euile who stated that "It bodes very well in terms of the current economic climate Americans are facing throughout this nation that yet in Alexandria, despite those challenges, we find that things aren't really so bad for us," Euille said.

Arlington & Alexandria:
Wealth, Science, and Jobs. 

It's where I have lived, worked, and played
for the last 13 years.

And by the way, I'm not just a REALTOR -- I also have a graduate degree.

If you need another reason to select Arlington or Alexandria as your home in the D.C. area, click here and watch the video: 

Alexandria and Arlington, Virginia: "A Commuter's Dream"

When you're ready to make your move, give me a call.

Brian Block, RE/MAX Allegiance   703-626-0715

When you move to a new area with children, chances are that one of the first things you look at are the schools.  The quality of the public education is a major factor for many people in determining where to purchase their next home.  Even families without children will want to consider the public school system in their housing decision since this is one factor that can greatly affect resale values.

Every year, Newsweek Magazine compiles their list of the top public high schools in America.  And every year high schools throughout Northern Virginia capture many of the top spots on this list.  In fact, in 2008, eight Northern Virginia public high schools made the top 100.  Another seven placed in the top 200, and there are many other area schools on Newsweek's list of the Top 1,300 U.S. Public High Schools.

Here are the high schools in Northern Virginia that made the top 100:

Click here:  Detailed information on Northern Virginia schools.

One note of interest -- there's one school in Northern Virginia that was considered "too elite for this list":

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology -- located in Alexandria, Virginia, T-J is a public magnet school with 13 science and technology research labs and more than 10 post-AP courses.

Feel free to contact me to discuss locating homes in the Northern Virginia school district of your choice.

Contact Brian Block, REALTOR/Attorney: Licensed in Virginia & Washington D.C. (703) 626-0715. If you are interested in purchasing or selling a property in Northern Virginia including Arlington County, Alexandria City, Annandale, Burke, D.C., Fairfax County, Falls Church City, Lorton, McLean, Springfield, Vienna, Washington D.C., contact Brian today.

Making the decision to purchase a home and invest in real estate involves risks.  So does everything in life from Day One forward.  Although you played no part in the decision to leave your mother's womb nor in most decisions before the age of 3, the rest of your life has likely involved a series of calculated risks.  Sometimes you only have a split second or a matter of minutes to make a life or death choice.

Fortunately purchasing a home does not reach the level of life or death decisionmaking.  However, the decisions about where to live, how much to spend, how much mortgage debt to assume, what type of home, are very important ones that will likely be some of the biggest financial and lifestyle decisions you make in your life.  Nobody has a crystal ball and can tell you with 100% accuracy what you should do when it comes to real estate, but there are ways to turn risks into calculated risks.

Enter the experienced REALTOR.

We know the neighborhoods.  We know the markets.  We can explain the difference between a condo and a co-op. 

We're on top of the statistics and understand the trends.  We represent your interests and abide by a Code of Ethics.

Ultimately it is always your decision what price and what terms to offer for the home of your choice.  It's also your decision on choosing the neighborhood and the house.  Our job is to provide you with the data to help you make an informed decision and remove some of the risk.

We live in a risky world.   I'm not afraid of risk.

I've ran a marathon.

I've gone whitewater rafting on Class 5 rapids (that's me at the front right of the picture).

I've flown acrobatics in the air in a WW-I open cockpit bi-plane.

I didn't just wake up one day and decide to do these things without the proper research, preparation, and in the case of the marathon, extensive training.  Risk for the sake of risk and thrill-seeking is not my modus operandi.  However, calculated risks and understanding what's involved pays off with the reward of once in a lifetime experiences. 

In real estate, calculated risks help you make prudent investments that will better your lifestyle, your finances, and allow you to profit now and in the future.

REALTORS help remove risk. 

Let me help you today with your Northern Virginia or D.C. home search.

Contact Brian Block, REALTOR/Attorney: Licensed in Virginia & Washington D.C. (703) 626-0715. If you are interested in purchasing or selling a property in Northern Virginia including Arlington County, Alexandria City, Annandale, Burke, D.C., Fairfax County, Falls Church City, Lorton, McLean, Springfield, Vienna, Washington D.C., contact Brian today.

Forbes Magazine editors research and report Top Ten lists of states for various categories throughout the year.  Some of these lists include wealthiest counties in the United States, Best Cities to Get Ahead, America's Fastest Growing Cities, Best States for Business, Best Cities for Singles, etc.  Normally it is an honor for your state or city to make it to the list and it's a newsworthy event of interest to people making the decision to relocate to the area since the superlatives can have an impact on the local real estate market.

Just recently, Forbes Magazine online issued a new top ten list of which no state would wish to be a member:  The 10 Most Expensive States for Homeowner's Insurance.  When you purchase a home, your lender will require you to purchase homeowner's insurance to protect your (and their) investment.  Homeowner's insurance premiums typically protect your home from fire, floods, other Acts of God (such as lightning), theft, and provide liability insurance should somebody slip and fall or otherwise get injured on or in your property.  Homeowner's Insurance is very important!

Many factors can affect the Homeowner's Insurance rates in a particular state, but nothing plays a greater role than the weather.  If Category 3 or above hurricanes have a tendency to pass through your state and wreak severe damage, you can bet that your insurance rates will be sky high.  Thus, it is no surprise Texas, Louisiana, Mississipi and Florida are on the list of the states with the highest premiums.

According to Forbes, Texas ranked as the state with most expensive insurance premiums, thanks to wind, rain, hail, tornados and hurricanes. "Just about every type of peril is available here," says Texas Department of Insurance spokesman Ben Gonzalez.  However, don't let that discourage you from moving to Texas.  Read Jason Crouch's post, "High Property Taxes, Heat, and Tornadoes, TOO? Why would I want to move to Austin, Texas?"

Texans pay an average $1,372 in premiums, with Louisianans shelling out $1,144, and Mississipians and Floridians paying $939 and $929 a year. 

This is one Top Ten list I'm happy to report that the Commonwealth of Virginia did not make!  Homeowner's Insurance is an additional necessary cost when purchasing and owning a home.  In some cases, expensive insurance or sometimes the inability to obtain homeowner's insurance at all can be a barrier to purchasing a home.

While Virginia is not on the list, neighboring Washington, D.C. did make the list ranking #4 with an average annual premium of $963.  Here the concern is not the weather, but as Forbes reports:

    "Urban areas tend to have higher insurance rates than their country cousins because property values and
    costs associated with rebuilding are usually higher. Washington is nothing but city, and labor and business
    costs for repair add to pricing. Throw into the mix insurers' perception that the District is at risk for terrorism,
    and it's easy to understand the $963 per year."

View the entire Forbes List of the Most Expensive States to Insure a Home.

CLICK HERE TO START SEARCHING FOR HOMES IN VIRGINIA OR D.C.

Contact Brian Block, REALTOR/Attorney: Licensed in Virginia & Washington D.C. (703) 626-0715. If you are interested in purchasing or selling a property in Northern Virginia including Arlington County, Alexandria City, Annandale, Burke, D.C., Fairfax County, Falls Church City, Lorton, McLean, Springfield, Vienna, Washington D.C., contact Brian today.

DECLARATION OF VALUE

“95 to 96% of real estate transactions go very smoothly.  The 4 or 5% that go wrong – go really, really wrong.  My job is to help prevent problems, negotiate the best deal on your behalf, and ensure that the smile never leaves your face from day one through settlement.”

Brian Block, Associate Broker, RE/MAX Allegiance

In the challenging real estate market, you can’t afford to take the big risk of navigating through the many obstacles, disclosures, and fine print of the purchase and sale contract without the help of an experienced professional REALTOR.  You’ve just got too much to juggle to be able to go it alone.  It’s no wonder that, according to the National Association of REALTORS, homes sold by the owner without an agent net less profit and spend more time on the market than homes listed with an agent for sale.  Moreover, when choosing a real estate professional to guide you through the sale of your home or the purchase of your next one, you’ll want someone with the experience, skills, and resolve to advise you correctly and get things right the first time around.

As a real estate broker and an attorney, I’m uniquely equipped to help you with your next real estate transaction.  Having worked as a lawyer at a respected real estate law firm, I’ve seen everything that can go awry with a real estate deal and helped numerous clients resolve such problems.  Drawing on those years of legal experience, I will help prevent these issues before they arise and make sure your purchase or sale is smooth from start to finish.  My legal training also supports my tenacious skills & reputation as a strong real estate negotiator for my clients.  Well-versed in the nuances and understanding the legalese inherent in the 20+ page purchase contract, I’m here to counsel and advise you on real estate matters – not to sell you something.

While the majority of real estate agents in Virginia take a short 60 hour licensing course and never sit in a classroom again, I’ve furthered my real estate skills and training with hundreds of hours of valuable, practical education that keeps me on the cutting edge in servicing my clients’ needs.  I continually seek out instruction to sharpen my negotiating expertise, understand developing technologies in the industry, learn about appraisal methods, and keep abreast of new laws and regulations that affect your purchase or sale.  Having passed a rigorous course of study and examination to become a Virginia Broker and having shown a proven sales record to qualify as a Certified Residential Specialist, you can feel comfortable knowing that you’ll be working with a top real estate professional.

If you’re selling a home, I’ll deploy the latest & greatest technology tools to market your house to the public, including my websites, blogs (one of the most widely read real estate blogs in the entire D.C. metropolitan area), online video, and syndication of the listing of your home to dozens of other websites.  Plus my traditional marketing through advertisements, open houses, and the Multiple Listing Service will also assist in selling your home.

On the buying side, I’ll listen to your needs, use my extensive market knowledge to scout out the right home, help you understand and enjoy the process, and refer you to reliable and professional mortgage experts to help you on the financing end.

Most of all, you’ll enjoy working with me.  I will help minimize your anxieties.

You are going to have fun buying or selling a home:

(You've Got) a REALTOR with Personality           

 A place to relax.  A place to enjoy the weather.  A place for conversation.  A place to dine.  A place to unwind. 

Flowers.  A view.  Butterflies.  Fresh air.  Ripening tomatoes.

It's our condo balcony.  All 40 feet by 6 feet of it.

And it's our own private Garden of Eden.

Serpents not invited.  They can't crawl up 16 stories anyways.

Do you have a Garden of Eden in your home?