If it's convenience you want then Sycamore Ridge is an area you may want to consider.  The entrance is on the Prince William Parkway, but the 48 homes are not visible from the Parkway.

Community Features

• Privacy
• Large lots
• Newer homes
• Walk to Chinn Park Regional Library
• Walk to Chinn Aquatics and Fitness Center
• Less than 5 minutes to the Glen Shopping Center
• Approximately 5 minutes to the Lake Ridge Golf and Marina Park

Commuting

• Commuter bus service to the PENTAGON and WASHINGTON, DC are aprroximately 5 minutes away at the Festival At Old Bridge Shopping Center
• SLUG LINES to most Northern Virginia and Washington, DC locations are within 15 minutes at Tacketts Mill
• LOCAL WOODBRIDGE BUS SERVICE available at entrance to Sycamore Ridge
• CROSS COUNTY BUS SERVICE also available at the entrance to Sycamore Ridge
• MCB QUANTICO is less then 30 minutes by way of Route 619 or I-95 southbound
• FORT BELVOIR is about a 30 minute drive during rush hour

Other subdivisions you may wish to consider are ASHLAND and WINDING CREEK

If a home purchase is in your future please use our

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and then contact Karen and Art by Email or call us at 703-562-1532.  Put our  record of customer service, real estate experience and state-of-the-art technology to work for you in Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Prince William County, Stafford County or the entire Northern Virginia Area.

Dale City was the inspiration of Cecil Don Hylton and his wife Irene.  His firm, Hylton Homes began developing homes in Dale City west of I-95 at the conclusion of World War II.  The construction stretched from I-95 west to Hoadly Road.

Each section (community) along Dale Boulevard was given a name ending in Dale - they proceeded alphabetically from east to west..  Only "I" and "J" were omitted - they are Ashdale, Birchdale, Cloverdale, Darbydale, Evansdale, Forestdale, Glendale, Hillendale, Kerrydale, Lindendale, Mapledale, Nottingdale, Oakdale, Princedale, Ridgedale, Silverdale and Trentdale.  All streets in each community had the first letter of that community's name as the first letter of its' name.  For example, Hendrick St is in Hillendale.

Mr. and Mrs. Hylton made it possible for returning veterans to purchase a home as they started to build their families.  Hylton Homes branched out into new markets, mainly real estate related such as managing retail centers and apartment complexes.

 Community Features

• Although there are numerous shopping centers throughout Dale City, the three most notable are Mapledale Plaza, Center Plaza, and Cheshire Station
• There is a public library at Dale Boulevard and Minnieville Road, but it is a short drive to Chinn Regional Library on Old Bridge Road
• Dale City Rec Center is centrally located on Minnieville Road with year round pool, fitness center and other recreational activities including an outdoor baseball batting cage.
• Leesylvania State Park and Prince William Forest Park are within 15 to 20 minutes
• Dale City has its own north and southbound I-95 interchange
• Underground utilities, sidewalks and wide streets
• No homeowner's association
• Year round indoor ice rink

Commuting

• Commuter bus service opertates within Dale City to The Pentagon,  Washington, DC and Washington Navy Yard
• Virginia Railway Express is available at the Rippon Landing Station with service to Alexandria and Washington, DC
• Slug Lines are avalable at several locations - see the website to pick the one closest to you.
• Local Woodbridge bus service operates within Dale City
• MCB Quantico is approximately 15 to 20 minutes depending on your location in Dale City

If you are planning a Dale City home purchase you can use our

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and then contact Karen and Art by Email or call us at 703-562-1532.  Put our  record of customer service, real estate experience and state-of-the-art technology to work for you in Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Prince William County, Stafford County or the entire Northern Virginia Area.

Recently some friends were out in Northern Virginia trying to decide if a new home was in their future.  They were checking out various condominiums developments from Arlington to Prince William County.  They quickly learned that the differences from building to building can be huge.

We aren't talking about condo fees which is something that every buyer needs to consider when they are looking at their budget but instead this is focused on construction.  Many of the older "garden" style condos that they looked at reminded them of their days in a college dorm.  But what they noticed the most was the noise!  If they were looking at lower level units they could hear people walking around upstairs.  They heard toilets flushing and when people walked by on the outside stairwells they could hear their conversations.  The noise was a deal breaker and eliminated the garden style condos from their list.

Then they checked out the "high rises" and began to notice the quiet.  Buildings constructed out of poured cement and steel were by far quieter than stick built construction.  They also found what they labeled "hybrid" buildings.  Stick built "mid-rise" condos with a thin layer of concrete poured over the standard sub-floor to help buffer noise between floors.  It made them realize that not all condos in Northern Virginia are built the same and looking beyond the glitzy kitchens and nice clubhouses was going to play a huge role in their decision process.

Now they are going back to each of their top three choices at night to listen for the neighbors.  If they can hear them loud and clear then the condo is off their list.  They can't afford a penthouse overlooking all of the DC monuments so they are being realistic but before you sign on the dotted line for a new condo you may want to follow their lead.  Go back at night or on the weekend and make sure you can live with the noise levels in your new condo.

It's Halloween and the children in Sleepy Hollow Woods are on the lookout for the Headless Horseman to ride through the neighborhood tonight.  Alright that may be a bit of a stretch but perhaps the quiet as you drive through a neighborhood just minutes away from major commuting routes to DC might seem a bit eerie.

First you need to know that there is more than one neighborhood with Sleepy Hollow in its name in Northern Virginia.   In fact there are a number of them in the same area with either a Falls Church or Annandale postal address.  Sleepy Hollow Woods was designed by Dewberry and Davis architects and the first of the 300+homes that make up the community were built in 1959 by Community Builders and I.L. Lewis Realtor Associates.

Just like their neighbor Lake Barcroft the area which became known as Sleepy Hollow Woods was in the "middle of nowhere" when the first homes were being built.  A 32 acre dairy farm was the biggest development in the area in the early 1950's and the development of the nearest big shopping center in Annandale was just being completed.  It was considered such a trend setting neighborhood for its time that it was featured in McCall Magazine in 1959. 

The original four models Raleigh, Wakefield, Yorktown and Winchester sold for $22,490-$24,900 with the option of a carport for the whopping cost of $700.  Sleepy Hollow Woods first HOA covenants were recorded with the Fairfax County land records in 1959 and are one of the reasons the neighborhood has kept its appeal for almost 60 years. 

Today neighbors walk the tree lined streets of the neighborhood they call "the woods" and still watch out for each other just as the original neighbors did in the early 1960's.  The community sponsors two annual block parties at nearby St Alban's Church in the Spring and you guessed it at Halloween. 

Located just off Columbia Pike and Sleepy Hollow Road commuters have a choice of commuting routes into Arlington and DC, including Route 50, Route 7 and Route 236 to I-395.  Give me a call for your tour of the not so spooky Sleepy Hollow Woods community.

Not everyone wants to live in a mega townhome subdivision.  For those who prefer the neighborly atmosphere of a smaller community then Millwood Estates is a Springfield location you should consider.  There are 80 homes conveniently located on Old Keene Mill Road at Rolling Road. 

If your home is in Millwood Estates

• It is about a 15 minute drive to the Franconia-Springfield Metro Station.  Proximity to the Franconia-Springfiled Metro makes it an ideal location for commuting to the Pentagon and Washington, DC
• Fairfax County Commuter Bus #310  to the Franconia-Springfield Metro is available 7 DAYS A WEEK on OLD KEENE MILL ROAD.
• The Cardinal Plaza Slug Line (across the street) has service to all DC locations and the Pentagon
• Metrobus Route 18P provides Pentagon service on Rolling Road
• Fort Belvoir is approximately 15 minutes via Rolling Road to US1 
• Children are in the West Springfield High School Pyramid and it is 
• Approximately 15 minutes from the Pohick Regional Library
• Two neighborhood shopping centers, Old Keene Mill Center and Cardinal Forest Plaza are across the street at the intersection of Old Keene Mill and Rolling Roads - one has Whole Foods and the other has Giant Foods
• South Run Rec Center with year round pool, exercise facilities and other activities is within approximately 15 minutes.

Other similar Springfield townhome communities are CHARLESTOWN and RHYGATE or you can

SEARCH FOR ALL NORTHERN VIRGINIA AREA HOMES  and then contact Karen and Art by Email or call us at 703-562-1532.  Put our  record of customer service, real estate experience and state-of-the-art technology to work for you in Alexandria, Arlington

Not everyone wants to live in a mega townhome subdivision.  For those who prefer the neighborly atmosphere of a smaller community then Millwood Estates is a Springfield location you should consider.  There are 80 homes conveniently located on Old Keene Mill Road at Rolling Road. 

If your home is in Millwood Estates

• It is about a 15 minute drive to the Franconia-Springfield Metro Station.  Proximity to the Franconia-Springfiled Metro makes it an ideal location for commuting to the Pentagon and Washington, DC
• Fairfax County Commuter Bus #310  to the Franconia-Springfield Metro is available 7 DAYS A WEEK on OLD KEENE MILL ROAD.
• The Cardinal Plaza Slug Line (across the street) has service to all DC locations and the Pentagon
• Metrobus Route 18P provides Pentagon service on Rolling Road
• Fort Belvoir is approximately 15 minutes via Rolling Road to US1 
• Children are in the West Springfield High School Pyramid and it is 
• Approximately 15 minutes from the Pohick Regional Library
• Two neighborhood shopping centers, Old Keene Mill Center and Cardinal Forest Plaza are across the street at the intersection of Old Keene Mill and Rolling Roads - one has Whole Foods and the other has Giant Foods
• South Run Rec Center with year round pool, exercise facilities and other activities is within approximately 15 minutes.

Other similar Springfield townhome communities are CHARLESTOWN and RHYGATE or you can

SEARCH FOR ALL NORTHERN VIRGINIA AREA HOMES  and then contact Karen and Art by Email or call us at 703-562-1532.  Put our  record of customer service, real estate experience and state-of-the-art technology to work for you in Alexandria, Arlington County.

River Falls is a community of upscale homes located off the Prince William County Parkway behind the County Center Complex.  Entrance to the subdivision is gained by turning onto Greatbridge Road from the Prince William County Parkway

The closest neighborhood shopping at present is located in the Shops At County Center on Hoadly Road as soon as you turn left from the Parkway - it has a Harris Teeter Supermarket.

During rush hour  it is

• Approximately 20 minutes to the commuter parking lot at Minnieville and Old Bridge Roads for connection with PRTC COMMUTER BUSES and SLUG LINES facilitate commuting to THE PENTAGON and WASHINGTON, DC
• The VRE COMMUTER RAIL STATION is approximately 30 minutes away at Dawsons Reach Road on the east side of US1 in Woodbridge with service to ALEXANDRIA, ARLINGTON and WASHINGTON, DC.
• MCB QUANTICo is approximately a 30 minute drive during rush hour
• FORT BELVOIR is approximately 45 minutes

Also see  HUNTER'S RIDGE for homes with acreage approximately ten minutes farthur west on the Prince William County Parkway 

SEARCH FOR HOMES and then contact Karen and Art by Email or call us at 703-562-1532.  Put our  record of customer service, real estate experience and state-of-the-art technology to work for you in Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Prince William County, Stafford County or the entire Northern Virginia Area.

At first the question that arrived in my email this week from a couple relocating to Northern Virginia seemed a bit strange.   And then it hit me.  I write about a lot of different neighborhoods in our area, one where I currently live, ones that I have lived in and others that I think are great neighborhoods for others to explore.  Have I also written about neighborhoods, just for the sake of writing a post that I would never take a potential buyer to see?

The answer turns out to be NO but it made me wonder how many bloggers just fill up space with posts about every neighborhood they drive by.  If they had a buyer in their car today would they recommend the neighborhood as a place to live?  Neighborhoods change over the years.  With the issues developed due to the sub-prime mortgage mess, neighborhoods which might have been high on the list of recommended neighborhoods five years ago now are full of foreclosures, run down properties and home owner associations in financial trouble. 

We all have to listen to what our clients are looking for and help them find the best home for their circumstances and their finances.  Some neighborhoods are weathering the current financial storm well and others have fallen on hard times.  If I have an investor looking for a property to buy and flip my recommendations of neighborhoods to consider are going to be different than for the family moving to where schools are a top  priority. 

When we write our posts about local neighborhoods I think we need to make a distinction to our readers as to what the neighborhood has to offer.   Knowing about transportation options and shopping is just one piece of the puzzle.  Understanding if the neighborhood has a high percentage of foreclosures or whether the HOA is in financial trouble are things we also have to let our readers know about as well. 

We have a huge responsibility as agents to make sure we provide the best advice for our clients.   Learning more about the current state of the neighborhoods you write about is part of that responsibility. We work hard to attract buyers and hopefully we are also making sure that the information we provide is current for the state of the market and the neighborhood that we have decided to highlight.

The distance from the entrance of Brittany to the Main Gate at MCB Quantico is a short 4.7 miles.  In these days of high energy costs that is a genuine benefit.

• Brittany is a lovely community of 325 homes selling from $380,000 to an average of $425,000.
• The Fortuna Center for excellent neighborhood shopping is 1/10 of a mile.  It features a Shopper's Target and the usual contingent of specialty shops.
• Commuter parking lot and PRTC COMMUTER BUS STOP AT THE ENTRANCE TO BRITTANY.  The link shows the scheduled time to the Pentagon is 40 minutes and 50 minutes to 14th and Independence in Washington, DC.
• There is a SLUG LINE at the Route 234 and US1 VDOT Parking Lot with routes to the Pentagon and numerous DC locations.

The photos below will give you a fair representation as to the home styles available in Brittany.  It is an extremely well manicured community and lots of American flags, too.

You can SEARCH FOR NORTHERN VIRGINIA HOMES and then contact Karen and Art by Email or call us at 703-562-1532.  Put our  record of customer service, real estate experience and state-of-the-art technology to work for you in Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Prince William County, Stafford County or the entire Northern Virginia Area.

I'm out of town this week meeting with a company in Ohio that is looking to move some positions in their company closer to the DC.  They like Northern Virginia due to the access to two (three if you count BWI) airports, multiple transportation options and variety of housing.

Right now they are in the preliminary stages of investigation.  So why do I post this?  Sometimes the question comes up about what does a referral agent do in real estate.  This is one example of how a referral agent works.  We make connections across the country with companies who want to move employees to a new location.  If the company decides to make the move then they call and I put the employees together with experienced agents who can help them get settled in their new home quickly.

I don't sell real estate directly but I do have a great network of business and individuals who call to use the services I provide.