Northern Virginia Real Estate -- Single Family Homes for $700,000 or Less - 10/30/07 11:41 AM
People relocating to Northern Virginia often ask what type of home they can purchase in different price ranges.  Other people who ask about this include current D.C. and Northern Virginia residents who have not been in the housing market for a while and potential investors from other parts of the country.
Homes in all price ranges are staying on the market in Northern Virginia for longer than in years past.  Inventory is at all time highs in the Metropolitan D.C. region, offering buyers and investors and opportunity to negotiate a lower price with the seller.  
The $600,000 to $700,000 price range represents … (0 comments)

Northern Virginia Real Estate -- Buying a Single Family Home for $600,000 or Less - 10/29/07 09:15 AM
People relocating to Northern Virginia often ask what type of home they can purchase in different price ranges.  Other people who ask about this include current D.C. and Northern Virginia residents who have not been in the housing market for a while and potential investors from other parts of the country.
The median sales price of single family homes in Arlington and Alexandria that sold within the last 30 days was $675.000.  In Fairfax County, the median sales price was quite a bit lower at $609,517.
The $500,000 to $600,000 price range represents about 21% of the currently available single family home … (6 comments)

Please Check Your Ego at the Door - 10/28/07 02:57 PM
Some people call it image advertising -- those giant highway billboards with 2 story photos of your neighborhood Realtor.  Or those bus-stop benches where commuters plop themselves down on another Realtor's smiling face!
 
You may call it image advertising, crazy, or whatever else you like, but what it really amounts to is EGO.
 
 
Bottom line:  there are much more effective and affordable ways to market your real estate services than plastering your image all over your town.
 
 
When it comes to ego, Realtors are notorious.  Have you ever seen a lawyer, accountant, or banker hand out a business card that says "Top 1% nationwide"?  … (117 comments)

Northern Virginia Real Estate -- Available Single Family Homes for $500,000 or Less - 10/27/07 02:52 PM
People relocating to Northern Virginia often ask what type of home they can purchase in different price ranges.  Other people who ask about this include current D.C. and Northern Virginia residents who have not been in the housing market for a while and potential investors from other parts of the country.
Northern Virginia provides a wide range of available housing in all price ranges.  Condominiums and townhomes are plentiful especially close in to Washington D.C. and these represent desirable options for many buyers who want an easy commute and less home maintenance.
Single family homes in Arlington, Alexandria, and most of Fairfax … (12 comments)

Brian Buffini's House Burned Down!! (UPDATE) - 10/25/07 09:43 PM
Many of us in the Realtor community and here on Active Rain have had our careers touched in one way or another by a remarkable real estate trainer and a sincere man named Brian Buffini.
Buffini & Company is one of the premier training companies in the real estate industry.  And whether you have taken a class personally, attended one of his Turning Point retreats, or watched Brian on video or on the RE/MAX Satellite Network, you certainly know the integrity, honesty, and caring that he brings to the profession.
About a week ago, my broker announced something special.  Brian Buffini is … (67 comments)

HGTV? No, it was me: A Realtor Learns to Stage a Home - 10/25/07 06:57 PM
Admit it!  Don't be ashamed -- you watch HGTV and all those home decorating shows:  Design on a Dime, Designed to Sell, Secrets That Sell, Takeover My Makeover, Get It Sold, Curb Appeal, and more.
These shows are all the rage! 
 
The facts are that a clean, uncluttered and well-presented home sells in less time and for more money. 
In today's buyer market atmosphere in Northern Virginia and D.C., sellers need their homes to stand out from the crowd of inventory.  When 32 homes are for sale in the same subdivision, sellers hoping to make sure that theirs is the next to … (58 comments)

Support the Marine Corps Marathon - 10/25/07 06:05 PM
For those who live in the Greater Washington D.C. area or are just visiting, this weekend brings the excitement of the Marine Corps Marathon, otherwise known as "The People's Marathon."  
 
Runners will line up in Arlington just north of the Pentagon to wait for the starting gun which will be fired at 8 a.m. this Sunday, October 28th. 
The course winds through Rosslyn along Lee Highway and crosses the Key Bridge through Georgetown where throngs of encouraging supporters and fans cheer on the intrepid runners.  Marathoners are treated to grand vistas as they tread along the National Mall and run beside … (10 comments)

Network, Learn, and See the Stars: Real Estate Conventions - 10/23/07 10:59 PM
Gathering together with hundreds or thousands of other real estate professionals, donning a name badge, gulping down some morning coffee, and carrying around stacks of business cards becomes a way of life when you start attending real estate conventions. 
 
Conventions can be company-wide, local, regional, or national.  Real estate conventions are sponsored by local associations, large franchises, designation organizations, the National Association of Realtors, and other real estate related organizations.
 
 
 
Attending and actively participating in a convention can be an excellent way for you to meet and learn from top Realtors around the country, increase your knowledge and real estate tool arsenal, have … (68 comments)

Some Great Concerts Coming to D.C. Area - 10/20/07 05:33 PM
The D.C. area is one of the top regions in the country for culture. 
 
If you like museums, there are tons of great ones and some terrific current and upcoming exhibits.
 
If your taste in entertainment leans more towards live music concerts, all the great shows make a stop on the tour in the D.C. area.  Besides for New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and maybe Boston, Washington D.C. ranks as one of the top venues for live music.
 
Virginia, Maryland and D.C. all boast great places to see a music show.
 
Here are some of the upcoming concerts and venues from which to choose:
Verizon … (28 comments)

Selling the Sizzle: Something Learned from Builder Ads - 10/20/07 05:30 PM
"Sell the sizzle; not the steak!"
 
Ruth's Chris Steakhouse applies this expression literally as they serve their filet mignons with melted butter on a sizzling hot metal tray.  You hear the sizzle while the waiter walks over to your table and you almost salivate waiting to take the first bite.  Go there tonight -- you'll thank me.  Boy, I'm making myself hungry.
 
Certainly you've heard this expression before, especially if you've ever taken any marketing courses. 
Have you truly applied this principle in your marketing advertisements and your listing descriptions?
 
If you've ever flipped through the grocery store home magazines (and certainly you do), … (72 comments)

Get Your Culture Fix: Highlights of Current D.C. Museum Exhibits - 10/20/07 12:47 PM
If you are lucky enough to live in or visit the D.C. metropolitan area, you'll never be at a loss for something to do to satisfy your cultural desires.  
Whether spending a night at the Warner Theater taking in a show, catching live music at the Birchmere in Alexandria, seeing an opera at the Kennedy Center, or attending a film festival, something interesting exists for people of all interests.
Even the most cultured New Yorkers or Londoners relocating to the D.C. area will find something to suit their taste.
                                            … (12 comments)

All Inclusive Lifestyle at Watergate at Landmark in Alexandria - 10/17/07 09:50 PM
You can live the resort lifestyle without heading down to the Caribbean or out to Hawaii -- right here in Alexandria, Virginia within an easy commute to Washington, D.C.
 
 
 
Watergate at Landmark condos are situated less than 8 miles away from downtown D.C. in the West End of Alexandria in "Condo Canyon"  The four 18 story condo buildings comprise 203, 205, 307, and 309 Yoakum Parkway between Edsall Road and Stevenson Avenue. 
 
Sited on a hill overlooking Alexandria, the Watergate at Landmark condos offer the best array of amenities of any condo development in the area.

… (17 comments)

Tell Your Clients What Can Go Wrong & When So They Don't Blame You - 10/15/07 09:56 PM
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
This famous quote by Benjamin Franklin applies to many situations in life, but especially to real estate.
 
Unfortunately, few people heed this warning and end up having to clean up a big mess after the fact than avoiding the disasters from the onset.  When I worked in a real estate litigation law firm, the clients who walked through the door had major real estate problems.  You can spend $500 to do things right at the beginning and not enter the contract or modify the terms, or you can spend $10,000 litigating in court … (38 comments)

Condos with a View -- Carlyle Towers in Old Town Alexandria - 10/12/07 07:47 AM
Carlyle Towers in Old Town Alexandria offers luxury amenities and some of the units have outstanding views of Alexandria, the George Washington Masonic Memorial (pictured), and the D.C. skyline. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Carlyle Towers condominiums is a three-building complex on the western end of Old Town Alexandria comprised of 2121 Jamieson Avenue, 2151 Jamieson Avenue, and 2181 Jamieson Avenue.  It is directly across the street from the King Street Metro (Blue and Yellow Lines) offering easy access to downtown D.C. or anywhere in the metropolitan area. 

Potential buyers interested in healthy eating will be pleased to know that Carlyle Towers is just around the … (16 comments)

Realtors Shrugged? - 10/11/07 08:56 PM
"Happiness is that state of consciousness which proceeds from the achievement of one's values."Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Chapter 7, This is John Galt Speaking 
"Government "help" to business is just as disastrous as government persecution... the only way a government can be of service to national prosperity is by keeping its hands off."  Ayn Rand 
 
Every entrepreneur, and therefore every Realtor, should read Atlas Shrugged.  This lengthy tome by the influential but always controversial Ayn Rand celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.  If you haven't read it, I highly suggest picking up a copy and getting started -- but give yourself … (44 comments)

Walk to Fight Breast Cancer in Alexandria - 10/11/07 07:05 PM
The month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. 
Did you know that today the five year survival rate for women with localized breast cancer is 97%?  Back in the 1940s, only 72% of women diagnosed with breast cancer survived for five years.
 
In the U.S. the lifetime risk of a woman developing breast cancer is one in eight.
 
Breast Cancer awareness and support for breast cancer research and treatment is a cause that is near and dear to me.  My mother is a breast cancer survivor for almost 20 years now, is doing well and is very healthy.  She is also very … (4 comments)

Houses on a Hill: Overlook in Alexandria - 10/08/07 10:06 PM
If you've ever driven down Edsall Road heading west towards I-395, you may have noticed two entrances to a neighborhood called Overlook. 
 
But chances are that unless you were specifically looking for a townhouse in this area of town, or you were just up for exploring and a short detour, you've never toured this great community of houses on a hill.
 
The houses in Overlook were built between 1998 and 2000 and while they have an Alexandria address within zip code 22312, they are within Fairfax County.  Each entrance (the one on Timber Forest Drive and the one on … (13 comments)

Learn & Earn - 10/08/07 12:06 PM
I'm a firm believer in education.
A bumper sticker that I saw said "If you think education is expensive, try ignorance."  Upon further research, I found out that this quote was from Derek Bok, a former president of Harvard University.
 
 
Try this one on for size:  The money that you earn is directly proportional to the amount that you learn.  You can quote me on that.
 
 
 
Learning comes in many forms:
formal education -- K-12, college, university, graduate schoolcontinuing education -- Realtor designations, certifications, conferencesreading -- books, magazines, newspapers, internetother people -- informal learning from discussions with otherskeeping your eyes and ears open -- observations … (30 comments)

Giving Back to the Community -- More Than Just Money - 10/06/07 02:21 PM
Realtors serve their local community in more ways than one.  They help bolster the community reputation and encourage people to move there.  Realtors care about the community where they live and work and constantly strive to improve the neighborhoods and property values. 
 
 
Most successful Realtors throughout the country serve in positions of leadership in their homeowner's associations, condo associations, local community groups, Rotary, Kiwanis, Chambers of Commerce, school boards, Realtor associations, transportation committees, and even as elected local officials.  These are all ways of giving back to the community that do not require an outlay of money -- just your … (43 comments)

Get Me Out of Here!: When Can You Get Out of a Home Sales Contract? - 10/05/07 01:43 PM
Everyone wants to understand the process for buying a home and where all the pieces fit in the puzzle.
If that's your interest, here's a step-by-step flowchart for purchasing a home in Northern Virginia or D.C.
Most people want to make sure that the home purchase proceeds smoothly.  However there are times where you might wish to get out of a home purchase whether it is a case of buyer's remorse, you find something drastically wrong with the structure of the property, you change your mind, or the appraisal comes back very low.
 
Last year, one client continually asked me the question "When … (24 comments)

Not Just "Office Space" -- D.C. Area has the Good Jobs - 10/04/07 10:11 PM
What determines the price of a home and the value of an investing in a particular area?
Location, Location, Location!  You've no doubt heard that before.
Supply & Demand?  Of course... 
 
But there is another key factor -- Jobs! Jobs! Jobs! 
When the job market is hot, so is the particular region of the country.  When Wall Street is hot, everyone wants to live and work in New York City.  During the high-tech internet boom, high-paying jobs fueled the growth of the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley.  The rise in home prices in these areas reflected the high demand from J.P. Morgan … (6 comments)

Mighty Paragaph 7 of the Sales Contract - 10/03/07 10:09 PM
Virginia is a caveat emptor state. 
 
That's Latin for "buyer beware."  For one reason or another, lawyers, Realtors, and the Catholic Church manage to keep the almost dead language on permanent life support.
Thus, when purchasing a home in Northern Virginia, it is very important to understand that there are certain disclosures and disclaimers that are made by the seller.  It is crucial to be aware of certain protections that are offered by the Regional Sales Contract. 
The mightiest of these protections is Paragraph 7 of the Regional Sales Contract.  Paragraph 7 is so important that I read it verbatim at our initial … (28 comments)

New Survey Confirms I Made a Good Choice - 10/02/07 10:03 AM
Realtors get a lot of flack. 
When the market is hot, the public thinks we get paid too much money for doing next to nothing.  When a home sells in a matter of minutes after placing the sign in the ground, can you blame the consumer for wondering why we get paid $10K, $15K, $25K?  Of course, we know that we're getting paid for all the work that happens between contract and closing, but good luck getting the clients to understand that.  

 
On the flip side, when homes languish on the market for months, people are quick to blame us … (99 comments)

May I Please Have This Dance?: The Real Estate Waltz - 10/01/07 09:36 AM
Married to a professional ballroom dance instructor and as an avid dancer myself, I often use dance metaphors when discussing real estate. 
Buying or selling a home in Northern Virginia is much easier when you know the right steps (SEE Selling a Home in Northern Virginia & D.C.: Step by Step Flowchart and Buying a Home in Northern Virginia & D.C.: Step by Step Flowchart).
 
As a dedicated partner in real estate decisions, a good Northern Virginia Realtor will help gracefully guide you through the dance of buying and selling property.  In a real estate market crowded with an abundance … (19 comments)

Condo Inventory in Alexandria, Virginia - 10/01/07 07:43 AM
As of today, October 1, 2007, there are 417 condos on the market in Alexandria, Virginia.  This represents 48% of the inventory of homes currently available in the City of Alexandria.  During the month of September, 63 Alexandria condos sold.  Over the first 3 quarters of 2007, 816 condos sold in Alexandria, or just over 90/month on average.
Based on the September rate of sales, there is a 6.6 month supply of condos in Alexandria, a relatively balanced market. 
The chart below shows the inventory of condos at some of the more popular condominium complexes in Alexandria:

Watergate at Landmark … (1 comments)

 
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Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate

McLean, VA

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RE/MAX Allegiance, Managing Broker/Branch Vice President

Address: 6226 Old Dominion Drive, McLean, VA, 22101

Office Phone: (703) 626-0715

Cell Phone: (703) 626-0715

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