Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate Blog

Virtual REBarCamp TOMORROW! Ask your questions now

Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate (RE/MAX Allegiance) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:02:39 -0600

Tomorrow, Tuesday November 17th is the Virtual REBarCamp. I'm thrilled to be participating as one of the presenters in this educational event. (Thank God I'm over the flu. Sleeping all weekend and cancelling clients and social activities was no fun!)

Over 1300 real estate professionals from around the country are already registered to listen to over 2 dozen of the most respected educators in the real estate industry discuss everything from ActiveRain, Facebook and Blogging to Branding, Twitter and Flickr. Topics will include evertthing to do with real estate and technology.

I'll personally be hosting a session at 10:45 PST (1:45 EST here on the East Coast) called "Broker's View: Best Uses of Social Media within Your Brokerage" My purpose for this session is to teach how brokers and brokerages can use the tools of social media to help recruit and retain agents, keep in touch and monitor their agents' online activities, discuss social media policies for brokerages, and other relevant issues.

Click here to listen to an online preview interview about my session at Virtual REBarCamp.

IMPORTANT: Due to the nature of the webinars and the huge amount of attendees, it will not be possible to field questions during the webinar itself. Thus, I am soliciting input in advance. Please comment here with questions or topics you would like to see addressed tomorrow. Or send me a private e-mail with a question or DM or @ me on Twitter. Whichever way you contact me, I will try my best to address your specific question during my session tomorrow at the Virtual REBarCamp.

Here's a description of the Virtual Real Estate BarCamp straight from the website:

Virtual Real Estate BarCamp is a 1-Day Learning Extravaganza.
From 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. PST, three concurrent webinar "rooms" will each host 9 different sessions, for a total of 27 different presentations.

There is something for everyone and everything for someone, and best of all, IT IS FREE and attendance is unlimited!

Click below to:
Register.
Learn more.
See who is coming.
Check out the Session Calendar.
Get sponsorship info.

And if that wasn't cool enough, individuals from around the country are volunteering to host In-Real-Life MeetUps for after the event.

Looking forward to "seeing you" at the Virtual REBarCamp tomorrow.

Please remember to send me your questions in advance.

Thank you for reading my blog post. If you like what you’ve read, then please:

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If you plan to purchase or sell a home in the Northern Virginia or D.C. area,
you can visit my main Northern Virginia & D.C. real estate website at www.brianblock.com.

Lessons in Passion from a Chicken Farmer

Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate (RE/MAX Allegiance) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:10:42 -0600

Lessons in life can come from the most unlikely of sources. You expect to learn from your parents, your teachers, your coaches, and your mentors. You learn from your colleagues, your clients, your friends, and sometimes even your children.

But a Chicken Farmer?

Who would have expected that?

THE EVENT

Last week, I had the fantastic opportunity to attend the TEDx MidAtlantic event in Baltimore, Maryland. If you ever have the chance to attend a TED or TEDx event, hop on it without delay. What's TED and/or TEDx all about? Here's a blurb from the website:

"TED conferences bring together the world’s leading thinkers and doers for a series of talks, presentations and performances. TED celebrates the convergence of Technology, Entertainment, and Design. TED events have been called “The ultimate brain spa,” “Davos for optimists” and “A journey into the future, in the company of those creating it.”

What can you expect to see? Speakers at TED events – some of the world’s most fascinating, innovative and influential individuals – are challenged to give “the talk of their life” in 18 minutes or less. Attendees are as exceptional as the speakers. Sharing and connection happens from the stage or in the lounge. It’s the conversation that will change your life."

It was truly a remarkable day. There were 20 speakers from all walks of life: a Nobel Prize winning chemist, the Chief Technology Officer of the U.S., an economic professor and economic blogger, a Grammy nominated singer/songwriter, a neuroscientist studying the mystical effects of psychedelic mushrooms, a National Geographic photographer, the inventor of the first computer firewall, an actress from HBO's "The Wire", an Eastern European virtuoso guitarist, and more.

However, the most inspiring words of wisdom, came from, yes, a chicken farmer.

THE CHICKEN FARMER

Joel Salatin is "an American farmer, lecturer and author... He raises livestock using holistic methods of animal husbandry, free of potentially harmful chemicals, on his Polyface Farm in Swoope, Virginia."

During his talk, Joel discussed how his mission of organic farming and of wholesome, clean, and natural methods produce animals and produce that are beyond compare and much superior to foods from non-organic mass agricultural methods. He claims that his chickens and eggs embody the true spirit and essence of "chickenness and eggness."

Joel Salatin is a down-to-Earth farmer and is someone who is very passionate about his philosophy, his mission, and his business. His creed and his adherence to his mission have made him a success.

In the most quoted, retweeted, and inspiring line, Mr. Salatin simply said:

"If we devote ourselves to sacredness in our vocations, the world will rise to meet us."

(Click to watch Joel Salatin's speech to TEDxMidAtlantic)

THE LESSON FOR BUSINESS

Too often, professionals, whether lawyers, doctors, consultants, accountants, or real estate agents, treat their clients and their businesses as just a job, just another customer, client, or invoice. People can see through this. They can see when someone is just going through the motions waiting for the 5 o'clock bell to strike so they can go home.

Those business men & women who are truly successful, those people in life who are truly successful stick to their core guiding principles and are passionate about what it is they do. This passion shines through. This passion

Joel Salatin talks about having nobility and personal ministry in your profession. He notes that "everyday we are writing a story that will be told about us."

He is SO right.

REAL ESTATE

If you know me, or even if we're meeting for the first time, you'll know that I am passionate about real estate. I am not selling and helping people buy houses. I do not view my clients as another sale, another job, another transaction.

I fully recognize, understand, and empathize with the reality that a home is not just a home. It is not just an investment. A home is not just lines and angles on a blueprint or a structure built atop dirt. Rather, a home embodies the dreams, hopes, aspirations, and excitement of the people who are purchasing it. When someone sells a home, they are parting with their memories, their stories, their successes and their failures.

A home is a sanctuary.

A home is an oasis.

A home is a place to make memories.

A home is a place for dreams to be realized.

A home is a realization of dreams.

A home is a protective castle.

A home is makes you a part of a community.

A home gives you a place for your children to play.

A home welcomes you after a long hard day.

A home is the center of your life.

A home is a sacred place.

That's what I sell. I'm passionate about it.

And it makes me damn proud to be a REALTOR!

Thank you for reading my blog post. If you like what you’ve read, then please:

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If you plan to purchase or sell a home in the Northern Virginia or D.C. area,
you can visit my main Northern Virginia & D.C. real estate website at www.brianblock.com.

Video: Extension and Expansion of the Homebuyer Tax Credit for Virginia and D.C. Buyers

Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate (RE/MAX Allegiance) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:08:44 -0600

You've likely heard that the Homebuyer Tax Credit was extended last week. The previous deadline was November 30th. Now you have more time to get up to an $8000 tax credit for the purchase of your first home in Virginia or D.C. (or anywhere else for that matter)

Current Virginia and D.C. homeowners also have the opportunity to get up to $6500 when they move up and purchase their next home. The income limits have also been expanded.

Watch this video from RE/MAX International's CEO Margaret Kelly for some more information:

Need more information about the Homebuyer Tax Credit?

Download this Homebuyer Tax Credit Information Flyer courtesy of the Virginia Association of REALTORS.

Thank you for reading my blog post. If you like what you’ve read, then please:

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If you plan to purchase or sell a home in the Northern Virginia or D.C. area,
you can visit my main Northern Virginia & D.C. real estate website at www.brianblock.com.

Thank You for Your Service: Now Get Served for Free!

Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate (RE/MAX Allegiance) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:30:30 -0600

Veteran's Day is coming up in just one week. It's an important time to pause and say thanks to those who have served our country so valiantly.

To honor our United States veterans, some local restaurants will be providing free meals on Veteran’s Day (November 11th) to current and former service members. Bring an ID card, DD Form 214, or something else identifying you as a Veteran (VFW/American Legion membership card).

Here's some info on the free deals:

Applebee's (even accepting an old picture in uniform as proof of service)

http://www.applebees.com/vetsday/

Proof of Service: US Uniform Services ID Card, US Uniform Services Retired ID Card, Current Leave and Earnings Statement (LES), Veteran's Organization Card (VFW, American Legion), Photograph in uniform, Wearing uniform, DD214, Citation or Commendation.

McCormick & Schmick's

http://www.mccormickandschmicks.com/featured-promotion/Veterans-Appreciation-Day.aspx

The McCormick & Schmick's Veterans Appreciation Event is offered to veterans defined by the Veterans Administration, Title 38 US Code 101, which is "a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable."

Please present proper identification to your server when you are seated. Proper ID includes VA card, VFW card, American Legion card, discharge papers, DD214 or other Veterans ID.

Note that in an effort to accomodate as many Veterans as possible, restaurants will not be able to seat parties larger than 6.

Golden Corral: The Military Appreciation Monday dinner will be held on Monday, November 16, 2009 from 5 pm to 9 pm in all Golden Corral Restaurants. The free “thank you” dinner is available to any person who has ever served in the United States Military. If you are a veteran, retired, currently serving, in the National Guard or Reserves, you are invited to participate in Golden Corral’s Military Appreciation Monday dinner.

Lowe's: Lowe’s Companies, Inc. will offer all active, reserve, honorably discharged, retired military personnel and their immediate family members a 10 percent discount on in-store U.S. purchases made during the Veterans Day holiday. The discount is available Nov. 6 – Nov. 11. The discount is available on in-stock and special order purchases up to $5,000. To qualify, individuals must present a valid military ID or other proof of service. Excluded from the discount are sales via Lowes.com, previous sales, and purchases of services or gift cards.

Home Depot: The Home Depot is offering all active duty personnel, reservists, retired military, veterans and their families a 10 percent discount off their purchases in honor of Veteran’s Day. The offer is valid on purchases of up to $2,000 for a maximum of $200 between November 6 and November 12, 2008, at The Home Depot stores, The Home Depot Design Center locations, Yardbirds and EXPO Design Center locations.

Thanks you for your service and Welcome Home!

Thank you for reading my blog post. If you like what you’ve read, then please:

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If you plan to purchase or sell a home in the Northern Virginia or D.C. area,
you can visit my main Northern Virginia & D.C. real estate website at www.brianblock.com.

October's Most Expensive Sales in Northern Virginia

Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate (RE/MAX Allegiance) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:57:52 -0600

Are you wondering about Northern Virginia real estate and pondering what has sold recently?

Here's some information about the most expensive home sales in Northern Virginia (Arlington County, Alexandria City, Fairfax City, Fairfax County, and Falls Church City) for October 2009. All information was obtained through MRIS.

Overall, there were 55 Northern Virginia home sales topping $1 million during the month of October 2009, on pace with the 54 sold in September but down from 76 in August 2009.

Currently, there are 798 homes on the market in Northern Virginia with list prices topping $1 million down from 845 that were on the market last month.

OCTOBER'S MOST EXPENSIVE SALES

Single Family Detached Homes:

8105 Spring Hill Farm Drive -- Sold on October 1st for $3,668,000
This brand new construction home in the Spring Hill Farm neighborhood of McLean has 6 bedrooms, 6 full and 2 half bathrooms.
1159 Crest Lane, McLean, Va 22101 -- Sold on October 26th for $3,500,000
While it sold for almost $900K under the asking price, this 1999 home features breathtaking views of the Potomac River and is located on 2.4 wooded acres. Besides 4 bedrooms and 5 full bathrooms, the home has a domed rotunda foyer, first floor master suite and floor to ceiling windows.
7687 Ballestrade Court, McLean, VA 22102 -- Sold on October 8th for $3,300,000
Built in 2006, this home sold for nearly $1 million under the asking price. Comprising 10,500 square feet of living space, the McLean home has a movie theater, 5 fireplaces and a 3 car garage. Located in The Reserve in McLean, this home has 5 bedrooms and 6 full and 2 half bathrooms.
214 River Park Drive, Great Falls, VA 22066 -- Sold October 30th for $3,000,000
This custom residence built in 2008 has over 11,000 square feet of space, hand made cabinetry, wide plank walnut flooring, and designer tiles. With 6 bedrooms, 7 full and 3 half baths, and 5 fireplaces on 1.72 acres, there's room to roam.
605 Deerfield Pond Court, Great Falls, VA 22066 -- Sold October 9th for $2,200,000.
Situated on 1.75 acres, this home has fantastic views of landscaped grounds and multi-level terraces. The 4 level, 14,000 square foot interior features an elevator, indoor pool, and main level owner's suite. The room count weighs in at 6 bedrooms, 8 full and 2 half baths and 7 fireplaces!

CLICK TO SEARCH FOR AVAILABLE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA

Townhouses:

225 N. Lee Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 -- Sold on October 22nd for $1,149,000.
Located on Queens Row, this home built in 1998 sold for asking price. It has an expanded gourmet kitchen with granite counters, stainless steel high-end appliances and about $200K in upgrades throughout the townhouse. Right in the heart of Old Town Alexandria, this one sold quickly.
1545 N. 22nd Street, Arlington, VA 22209 -- Sold on October 28th for $1,130,000.
Palisades Park townhouses sell quickly and this one was no different spending a mere 8 days on the market. This home features Potomac River views from all 4 levels, 3 bedrooms, 3 full and 2 half bathrooms, and 2 gas fireplaces.
468 S. Union Street #9B, Alexandria, VA 22314 -- Sold on October 27th for $1,100,000.
Another Old Town Alexandria home in the Harborside waterfront community. This townhouse has an elevator to all 3 floors and the chef's kitchen has a Thermador 6 burner gas range. The Master suite has a deluxe bathroom and Jacuzzi and custom walk-in closets.
228 N. Union Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 -- Sold on October 19th for $1,025,000.
Also on Queens Row in Old Town Alexandria, this townhouse was built in 1998 and has 2 off-street parking spaces (a premium in Old Town). The home overlooks the Potomac River and Founder's Park.

SEE AVAILABLE TOWNHOUSES IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA

Condominiums:

1101 S. Arlington Ridge Road #516, Arlington, Va 22202 -- Sold on October 23rd for $895,000.
Located at The Representative condos near Pentagon City, this 3 bedroom 3 bathroom condo has 2,512 square feet of space and a terrific panoramic view of Washington D.C. With 2 garage spaces and a 378 square foot wrapped balcony, this is a great condo.
1023 N. Royal Street #307, Alexandria, VA 22314 -- Sold on October 26th for $835,000.
Right in Old Town Alexandria, this two level 3 bedroom 3 bathroom condo has a private top floor terrace, 1,633 square feet of space and 2 full sized garage parking spaces.
1530 Key Blvd. #906, Arlington, VA 22209 -- Sold on October 30th for $830,000.
Another 2 level condo, this one at the Atrium Condo in Rosslyn features a panorama view of Georgetown, the Potomac River, and Key Bridge.
1050 N. Stuart Street #900, Arlington, VA 22201 -- Sold on October 6th for $830,000.
This corner penthouse at Ballston Park is another 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom condo comprising 1,984 square feet. It has 2 balconies with views of Georgetown. It also has a large den, marble foyer, and marble floors in the kitchen and baths.

SEE AVAILABLE CONDOMINIUMS IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA

Contact Brian Block, Managing Broker, REALTOR/Attorney, RE/MAX Allegiance: 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, Great Falls, Lorton, McLean, Springfield, Washington D.C., contact Brian today.

Thank you for reading my blog post. If you like what you’ve read, then please:

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If you plan to purchase or sell a home in the Northern Virginia or D.C. area,
you can visit my main Northern Virginia & D.C. real estate website at www.brianblock.com.

Winners of the 1st Annual Block Real Estate Group Halloween Home Decorating Photo Contest!

Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate (RE/MAX Allegiance) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:19:45 -0600

Thanks to everyone who participated in the contest.

Today at noon was the last time to enter the 1st Annual Block Real Estate Group Halloween Home Decorating Photo Contest.

The contest was held on my Facebook Fan Page located at www.Facebook.com/blockrealestate

Drumroll please...

Here are the winners of the contest and their winning photos:

1st Place -- Jay Matsueda, Los Angeles, CA. Congratulations! Jay wins an iPod Shuffle.

Jay submitted several photos from Halloween in California. Jay's a musician and a musical photographer. He's photographed some famous musicians and bands live at their concerts and for promotional shoots. Check out Jay's work on his Facebook page.

2nd Place - Lori Schleinkofer, Waterford, NJ. Congratulations Lori! Check out this spooky house:

3rd Place -- Debbie Malone, Lynchburg, VA. Debbie's a RE/MAX REALTOR in Lynchburg. Here's her photo:

See the rest of the photos on my Facebook page.

Thanks to everyone who participated in this fun contest.

Thank you for reading my blog post. If you like what you’ve read, then please:

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If you plan to purchase or sell a home in the Northern Virginia or D.C. area,
you can visit my main Northern Virginia & D.C. real estate website at www.brianblock.com.

Tonight You Get To Do What I Do Every Day

Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate (RE/MAX Allegiance) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 08:41:55 -0500

Today is Halloween! Happy Halloween to you and the kiddies.

Time to bob for apples, dress up in scary costumes, get some candy, and wait for the Great Pumpkin!

Most of all, it's time to trek around the neighborhood Trick-or-Treating.

It's the one time of year, that it's considered okay to knock on stranger's doors (and they'll actually open them) and peek inside their homes. On all other days of this year, this would be considered trespassing, and depending upon which state you live in, you might be staring at the other end of a loaded shotgun when that door opened.

Yes, tonight you'll get to peek inside other people's homes. That's what I do just about every day as a Northern Virginia REALTOR. It offers you a glimpse inside other people's lives. It's interesting. It's fascinating. Sometimes it's educational. Sometimes it's downright scary!

Perhaps you want more than just a peek or glimpse. Maybe you're ready to make the move to purchasing a new home. If that's the case, and you live in Northern Virginia, give me a call once you've finished making the Halloween rounds, eaten your candy, and removed the scary mask.

In the meantime, here's some more Halloween fun. You have until Monday to enter the 1st Annual Block Real Estate Group Halloween Home Decorating Photo Contest. You can win an iPod Shuffle.

Thank you for reading my blog post. If you like what you’ve read, then please:

Follow, Connect, Watch, Subscribe

If you plan to purchase or sell a home in the Northern Virginia or D.C. area,
you can visit my main Northern Virginia & D.C. real estate website at www.brianblock.com.

Mr. or Mrs. Buyer: Tear Down This House!

Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate (RE/MAX Allegiance) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:16:10 -0500

The location is Great, but I have to be honest, the house is Second-Rate.

Honesty is always the best policy when it comes to selling homes (or anything else in life for that matter.)

So, here it is. I'm asking you to buy this house.

And while President Ronald Reagan asked Mr. Gorbachev to "Tear Down This Wall" (referring of course to the Berlin Wall), I'm taking it a step further, don't just tear down one wall, but

Mr. or Mrs. Buyer: TEAR DOWN THIS HOUSE!

Located at 309 Plum Street SW, Vienna, VA 22180, this Rambler was built in 1954. The location within West Vienna Woods is terrific -- less than 1/2 a mile to the Whole Foods Market in downtown Vienna. The home is just over a mile from Route 66, and an easy walk, bike or car ride to all the shops and restaurants of Vienna. It's just down the road from Tysons Corner.

The house sits on almost 1/3 of an acre -- and it's a corner lot. It's priced at just $425,000 which is a steal for this neighborhood!

NOT A FORECLOSURE NOR A SHORT SALE, it's just a house that needs a lot of work as you'll see from the pictures below. While solid, intact, and livable, it's outdated, outmoded, and needs some repairs. Oh, and it does have a 2 car detached garage.

Other re-builds in the neighborhood are selling in the $800Ks+. This house and lot is primed for the same.

Here's a photo of a typical re-build home in the Vienna Woods neighborhood. This one's right across the street:

If you want to live in Vienna and you're ready for a project, this house at 309 Plum Street SW may just be for you! And at a price of just $425,000, it can't be beat!

Thank you for reading my blog post. If you like what you’ve read, then please:

Follow, Connect, Watch, Subscribe

If you plan to purchase or sell a home in the Northern Virginia or D.C. area,
you can visit my main Northern Virginia & D.C. real estate website at www.brianblock.com.

Hey Real Estate Paparazzi! We've got some Real Estate Celebrities Coming to REBarCamp DC on Tuesday

Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate (RE/MAX Allegiance) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 20:41:42 -0500

Another week, another REBarCamp.

This week may possibly be the busiest week of my life (except for maybe the week prior to my wedding).

Besides a settlement on Monday and another on Friday to bookend the week, here's just a glimpse of what's going on in my life:

Tuesday -- REBarCampDC all day, followed by REBarCamp Happy Hour
Wednesday -- Dave Liniger, Founder of RE/MAX International is speaking in Herndon, VA on his Demand Success Tour
Thursday -- our brokerage, RE/MAX Allegiance is hosting our own Convention and I'm speaking on a social media panel

Not to mention other assorted life, business, and social activities.

Enough about me.

You came here to read about REBarCamp DC.

If you're registered and you're coming, you're in for a treat. If not, you can always follow along on Twitter with the hashtag #rebcdc

Hey Real Estate Paparazzi! Don’t forget to bring your cameras, iPhones, Flip Video cameras, etc. There’s going to be some serious real estate celebrities at REBarCampDC! Some of these folks are traveling far and wide to come to DC (or rather Herndon, VA). It’s time to roll out the red carpet.

Here’s a short list of some of the great guys and gals who will be attending (and many will likely be leading sessions). As they say on Dancing with the Stars, in no particular order (except alphabetical):

Brian Block @blockrealestate – Brian’s a RE/MAX Broker and co-author of Profit from Technology (one of the sponsors of REBCDC). You may’ve seen him as the Desperate REALTOR on YouTube (Nearly 15,000 people have!) or on the Neil Cavuto Show on Fox News. He’s been to several REBarCamps including the first one ever in San Francisco 2008. Most recently he taught Real Estate Blogging to a standing room only crowd at NVAR’s Convention.

Bobby Carroll @rewebcoach – Bobby and his son Brad run Dakno, a premier provider of websites and blogs to the real estate industry. He’s a veteran BarCamper having lost track of the number that he’s attended. He’s always quick with helpful advice, enjoys livestreaming the conferences and hails from Raleigh, NC. Bobby is one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet.

Jim Duncan @jimduncan – Jim’s a longtime real estate blogger who has been blogging before most people could spell blog. He’s a partner in Nest Realty, which this year was named the Inman Innovative Brokerage of the Year. Jim joins us from Charlottesville.

Heather Elias @hthrflynn – Heather is the Queen of the BarCamp. If you’ve read about a real estate event, chances are Heather attended or spoke there. Her blog LocoMusings was recently cited by Forbes as an example of an excellent hyper-local blog. Heather teaches a very popular Facebook webinar, is the mother of 4, and still finds time to actively sell real estate in Loudoun County. She’s also last year’s Virginia VARBuzz Blog Brawl Winner. Yeah Heather!

Pamela Ermen – Real estate instructor extraordinaire – that’s the best way to describe Pam. She got her real estate license at age 18 and by age 24 she was a full-time managing broker! She teaches REALTORS how to build successful teams and was selected as the 2006 Virginia Real Estate Educator of the Year. She joins us from Virginia Beach.

Allen Hainge – If you’ve been around real estate for any length of time, you’ve heard of Allen Hainge and his CyberStars. We’re lucky to have Allen, one of the country’s top real estate trainers, right here in Reston. Talk to Allen… you’ll learn something. Guaranteed.

Ray Hwang @VideosByAddress – Ray is a real estate video evangelist. Not those flying picture vids, but real videos. In fact, Videos by Address, a sponsor of REBCDC, is the only video company approved by MRIS, and just recently got approved for use on REALTOR.com. Look for Ray behind the video camera. He can get you on YouTube in no time.

Bill Lublin @billlublin – Successful REALTOR. Uber-smart guy. NAR bigwig. Says it like it is, Philadelphia-style, that’s Bill Lublin. CEO of Century 21 Advantage Gold and an active blogger in many places including AgentGenius, Bill is also the founder of the Social Media Marketing Institute. If you want to challenge yourself and learn from experience, spend some time hangin’ with Bill.

Ben Martin @bkmcae – Virginia is for Bloggers! Learn from Ben Martin who’s helping Virginia and the Virginia Association of REALTORS pave the way for social media in real estate. Ben’s the VP of Marketing and Communications for VAR and the brains and behind the VARBuzz blog. He regularly speaks to REALTOR groups and other associations. He also does a mean Axl Rose impersonation but only breaks it out once in a while.

Tina Merritt @tinainvirginia – Who hasn’t heard of Tina Merritt? Shame on you! She just won the NAR REALTOR Technology Spotlight Advocate Award. She’s a trendsetter and she’s everywhere both on and offline enthusiastically spreading her love of all things tech & real estate. Check out her training company Wolkia and think about heading to VA Beach for Social Media At (the Beach).

Matthew Rathbun @mattrathbun -- This guy’s a regular genius, an Agent Genius, that is. Matt has just about every real estate designation under the sun! He was also selected as Virginia’s Real Estate Educator of the Year in 2007. He’s a full-time real estate educator and Director of Education for the Fredericksburg Association of REALTORS. Matt writes his own blog at TheAgentTrainer.com

Margaret Rome – Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome! She’s been using that slogan for years but that’s not the only reason why she’s one of the top real estate professionals in Baltimore, MD. She recently published Real Estate the Rome Way. Let’s just put it this way, Margaret knows her way around real estate.

Daniel Rothamel @RealEstateZebra – He’ll likely be wearing his trademark funky blogging jacket. Daniel is the Inman News Community Manager. He combines his passions for basketball refereeing, selling real estate, and discovering new technologies on his blog, The Real Estate Zebra. Him and his wife Kari are about to have their own Little Zebra. Daniel travels the country speaking on real estate and technology topics.

Thank you for reading my blog post. If you like what you’ve read, then please:

Follow, Connect, Watch, Subscribe

If you plan to purchase or sell a home in the Northern Virginia or D.C. area,
you can visit my main Northern Virginia & D.C. real estate website at www.brianblock.com.

1st Annual Halloween Home Decorating Contest

Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate (RE/MAX Allegiance) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 08:40:05 -0500

Halloween is around the corner. It's a time for ghosts, witches, pumpkins, skeletons, and candy. Lots of candy.

In honor of the season, the Block Real Estate Group is hosting a contest.

Welcome to the 1st ANNUAL BLOCK REAL ESTATE GROUP HALLOWEEN HOME DECORATING CONTEST!

Are you decorating your home for Halloween?

Some people go all out for Halloween. Do you remember growing up that there was always at least one home on the block that was really decked out for Halloween?

Let's see your pictures. Whether it's your house or another in your neighborhood.

COMPLETE RULES AND INFO ON BLOCK REAL ESTATE GROUP FACEBOOK PAGE:

Post your pictures to the Block Real Estate Group Fan Page on Facebook, email to me directly or send via Twitter to @blockrealestate.

Must be a Fan of the Block Real Estate Group Page on Facebook to be eligible to win.

Pictures are due by 12 noon on November 2nd and winners will be announced later that day.

1st Place Winner will get an iPod Shuffle
2nd Place Winner will get some candy
3rd Place Winner will get some candy

All winners and participants will be acknowledged on ActiveRain, Facebook, and on my blog at http://www.virginiarealestatenews.net

Thanks for participating!

Happy Halloween!

Thank you for reading my blog post. If you like what you’ve read, then please:

Follow, Connect, Watch, Subscribe

If you plan to purchase or sell a home in the Northern Virginia or D.C. area,
you can visit my main Northern Virginia & D.C. real estate website at www.brianblock.com.

Don't Call Me; I'll Call You

Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate (RE/MAX Allegiance) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:00:35 -0500

Feedback.

Everybody wants it. Whether a score on a test, an enthusiastic thumbs up or pat on the back, or just a simple acknowledgement, it's human nature to want feedback.

Hence, the question "How was it for you?" Sometimes if you need to ask that question, it's not really worth asking because you may not like the response.

When it comes to the practice of real estate, listing agents promise their clients that they're going to get feedback from the other agents who visit their home. After a rush of weekend showings, listing agents hit the phones calling up the hordes of agents who brought clients through the door on Saturday and Sunday.

There's just one problem. After driving all around town with their buyers, agents' minds often turn to mush. The homes blend together, particularly when they are all 4-5 bedroom colonials in the same price range. When they get the call on Monday or Tuesday after a busy weekend of viewing 8-10 homes, most of these buyer agents can't give intelligible feedback. Certainly not when put on the spot by the listing agent who invariably says "but you must remember our home -- the one with the fireplace and the wood floors."

One step above is the e-mail feedback software that's available. At least that allows agents to respond on their own time, their own schedule and usually includes reminder photos of the home.

I've been on both sides of the table and I've learned one thing: If buyers are interested in the listed home, the buyer's agent will call the listing agent. It happens every time.

In other words, don't call me - I'll call you.

Thank you for reading my blog post. If you like what you’ve read, then please:

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If you plan to purchase or sell a home in the Northern Virginia or D.C. area,
you can visit my main Northern Virginia & D.C. real estate website at www.brianblock.com.

Monday in McLean: Save $369,002 on Your Next Home

Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate (RE/MAX Allegiance) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:21:56 -0500

Today is Monday. Monday in McLean. That's got a nice ring to it!

To celebrate, I looked at some of the real estate data in McLean, Virginia.

Specifically, I was interested today in homes that have been on the market for a long time. A very long time. 365 days or more. If you've ever sold a home before, you know that 5 weeks can seem like a long time, especially with trying to keep the place clean, constantly preparing for showings, leaving the home when buyers come around in the evenings and on the weekends.

Now imagine a full year, or two, or yikes -- 3 full years on the market, as one home in McLean (8521 Georgetown Pike) remains.

Of the 332 McLean homes on the market, 56 of them have been on the market for a total of 365 days or more. Let's look at some statistics about these homes, their prices, their price reductions, and then compare the data with the McLean homes that have been actively listed for less than one year.

McLean Homes on the Market One Year or More:

56 homes

Average days on market - 654

Average current listing price - $2,990,167

Average original listing price - $3,359,169

Current listing price as percentage of original listing price - 90.88%

Average price reduction - $369,002

McLean Homes on the Market Less than One Year:

276 homes

Average days on market - 124

Average current listing price - $1,635,731

Average original listing price - $1,690,504

Current listing price as percentage of original listing price - 96.76%

Average price reduction - $54,773

Overall analysis: It's not rocket science. The statistics prove what common sense dictates. The more expensive homes in McLean Virginia are staying on the market longer. The longer the time on the market, the larger the price reductions. If you're in the market for a McLean home, you can likely get a pretty good deal with a home that's been listed for a while.

Yes, the majority of homes on the market over one year are in the upper price ranges, but there are a few lower priced ones too.

Thank you for reading my blog post. If you like what you’ve read, then please:

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If you plan to purchase or sell a home in the Northern Virginia or D.C. area,
you can visit my main Northern Virginia & D.C. real estate website at www.brianblock.com.

A Conference About Twitter - Are You Serious?

Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate (RE/MAX Allegiance) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 09:24:14 -0500

This Thursday, I'm going to an all-day conference focused entirely on Twitter.

Are you serious? That's what a bunch of people have asked me.

So, if you follow along (on Twitter, where else?), you'll know what 100s of people are having for lunch that day.

All kidding aside, I'm attending TWTRCON DC 09. What to know what this is all about? Here's a description from the conference website:

Join the Real-Time Revolution

Twitter is transforming business, government and the non-profit world. At TWTRCON DC 09, a one-day conference focused entirely on the business use of Twitter, you’ll see case studies and learn best practices from leading organizations that are using the real-time web to deliver measurable results.

Learn how to use Twitter to listen and respond to customers and stakeholders
Find out how micro-blogging can influence opinions, increase organizational collaboration and create new business opportunities
Network and share ideas with leading business, marketing, media, PR and government executives, key Twitter developers and social media experts

Here's a partial screenshot from the TWTRCON website:

I'm excited to learn how people in all different industries are using Twitter and am sure to learn things applicable to my chosen field of real estate. This conference is being held at the Grand Hyatt in D.C. and the featured speakers list includes people from a Who's Who of corporate America including the following companies and government agencies: The NHL, Craigslist, Pepsi, Dunkin Donuts, The Wall Street Journal, Intuit, USA Today, Sodexo USA, FDA, Washington Post, AOL, Sprint Nextel, The Air Force.

The sessions include such topics as: Twitter for Business 101, Real Time Brands, The Brandividual, The Real Time Organization, Twitter and Recruiting, Twitter and Advertising, Real Time Response, Geo-Location and Mobility, The New Rules for Real Time Business.

Plenty of people are paying $595 to attend this conference. I luckily got a huge discount by applying through the standby program.

Still think Twitter is just a fad?

Follow me at @blockrealestate

Follow the Twitter conference at @twtrcon and search for the hashtag #twtrcon.

Thank you for reading my blog post. If you like what you’ve read, then please:

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If you plan to purchase or sell a home in the Northern Virginia or D.C. area,
you can visit my main Northern Virginia & D.C. real estate website at www.brianblock.com.

Our Condo Does Nice Stuff

Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate (RE/MAX Allegiance) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 07:02:34 -0500

The other night I snapped a photo of this flyer that's hanging in the elevators in the condo where I live, Alexandria Knolls West:

A condo that gives to the community. That's something that can make me proud of where I live.

Does your condo or neighborhood give to the community? Little things like this really do make a difference.

For more information about Alexandria Knolls West or any of the condominium buildings in Alexandria, give me a call at 703-626-0715 or contact me by e-mail at brian@brianblock.com.

Live somewhere you can be proud.

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If you plan to purchase or sell a home in the Northern Virginia or D.C. area,
you can visit my main Northern Virginia & D.C. real estate website at www.brianblock.com.

McLean Virginia Real Estate Market Snapshot Mid-October 2009

Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate (RE/MAX Allegiance) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:29:07 -0500

That's my RE/MAX Allegiance office in McLean, Virginia.

We're located at

6226 Old Dominion Drive, McLean, VA 22101

Stop on by and say hello (I'll even buy you a coffee at the 2 story Starbucks in the parking lot). I'm the Managing Broker of the office and either myself or one of our 40 terrific agents can help you with any of your McLean, Virginia real estate needs.

SO...

What's Happening today in the McLean, Virginia Real Estate Market?

Here's a snapshot of McLean Virginia home sales in the last 30 days from mid-September 2009 through now:

MCLEAN VIRGINIA HOME SALES:

Active homes for sale: 332 (including 58 new listings in the last 30 days). Inventory is starting to go down slightly because McLean homes are selling and are going under contract.
Homes sold in the last 30 days: 58
Average Sales Price: $810,084
Median Sales Price: $647,000
Average Days on Market: 77 -- McLean homes are selling relatively quickly.
Average Sales Price/Original Listing Price: 92.26%. There's some negotiating room on home sales in McLean Virginia.

Interesting Notes:

There are 215 homes or nearly 65% the homes on the market in McLean priced at $1 million or more.

There's an additional 117 McLean homes under contract that will be going to settlement soon.

The McLean real estate market remains hot!

** Find a Home in McLean **

Contact Brian Block, Managing Broker, RE/MAX Allegiance, McLean:
Licensed in Virginia & Washington D.C. 703-626-0715.
If you are interested in purchasing or selling a property in McLean or elsewhere in Northern Virginia or Washington D.C., contact Brian today.

Thank you for reading my blog post. If you like what you’ve read, then please:

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If you plan to purchase or sell a home in the Northern Virginia or D.C. area,
you can visit my main Northern Virginia & D.C. real estate website at www.brianblock.com.

Alexandrians Like Alexandria: 2009 Community Survey

Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate (RE/MAX Allegiance) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:34:17 -0500

In an effort to "measure. inform. guide.," the City of Alexandria just released its 2009 Community Survey conducted by the Center for Research and Public Policy. They interviewed 1,000 Alexandria residents between September 8 and 23rd to get their opinions on quality of life in Alexandria, reasons for living in Alexandria, strengths of Alexandria, and issues of most concern in Alexandria.

85.6% of Alexandrians surveyed responded that their overall quality of life was better than 2 years ago or remained good. Only 10.6% of Alexandria survey responders said that remained poor or became worse than 2 years ago.

Alexandria residents are typically quite happy with City of Alexandria public services, with 88.6% of those surveyed saying that services always or most of the time meet expectations.

View the full survey here: 2009 City of Alexandria Community Survey

and then click here to start your Alexandria, Virginia home search.

Thank you for reading my blog post. If you like what you’ve read, then please:

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If you plan to purchase or sell a home in the Northern Virginia or D.C. area,
you can visit my main Northern Virginia & D.C. real estate website at www.brianblock.com.

Real Estate Quiz: The Results

Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate (RE/MAX Allegiance) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:57:16 -0500

Last week I posted THE REAL ESTATE QUIZ.

Thanks to everyone who participated. I know you've been waiting with anticipation for the answers.

Here they are (correct answer in BOLD & UNDERLINED):

1. What is the current minimum down payment on an FHA Mortgage?

A. 20%

B. 3.5%

C. 5.0%

D. 10%

2. The Settlement Statement that details the buyer and seller's costs is also known as:

A. HUD-1

B. 1099

C. W-9

D. Form 860

3. In Virginia, a real estate agent can represent both a buyer and a seller in the same transaction.

A. TRUE

B. FALSE

4. The First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Expires on:

A. December 31, 2009

B. October 31, 2009

C. April 15, 2010

D. November 30, 2009

5. Which of the following can be contingencies of the real estate contract?

A. Home Inspection

B. Appraisal

C. Financing

D. All of the Above

6. Brian Block has appeared on this television show:

A. Neil Cavuto Show on Fox News

B. Designed to Sell on HGTV

C. The Early Show on CBS

D. Both A & C

7. What is a short sale?

A. A fast sale made in just a few days

B. A sale where the proceeds do not pay off the mortgage in full

C. A nightmare

D. A home sale that is done without a real estate agent

8. Brian Block has NOT attended this real estate conference in 2009:

A. Inman Real Estate Connect

B. RE/MAX Conference

C. Virginia Association of REALTORS Conference

D. National Association of REALTORS Mid-Year Conference

9. Which Zip Code is NOT in Northern Virginia?

A. 22304

B. 22904

C. 22201

D. 22151

10. Lead Based Paint Disclosures are required for homes built before:

A. 1976

B. 1982

C. 1978

D. 2001

How'd you do?

Thank you for reading my blog post. If you like what you’ve read, then please:

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If you plan to purchase or sell a home in the Northern Virginia or D.C. area,
you can visit my main Northern Virginia & D.C. real estate website at www.brianblock.com.

Does Your Town Have Ghosts? Ours Does!

Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate (RE/MAX Allegiance) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:32:49 -0500

October -- for sports fans, it may be the best time of year. What other month can you watch professional football, baseball, hockey, and basketball?

For others, October brings entertainment and fun in the manner of ghosts, goblins, witches, and vampires.

Halloween!

When you live in a city (Alexandria, VA) that has ghosts around every corner, Halloween is even that much more special.

Ghosts & Real Estate -- What You Need to Know:

Houses with ghosts or haunted houses fall under the category of stigmatized property. A stigmatized property is one where an event or condition (murder, suicide, or haunting) occurred that does not affect the physical nature of the property but which may affect its value to some people. In other words, knowing that a murder occurred in a house or that there may be a ghost can have a psychological effect on the homebuyer.

There is NO federal law or requirement to inspect for, investigate, disclose, or verify whether a property is stigmatized.

Similarly, Virginia exempts disclosures about stigmatized property.

A house can be haunted, in fact, it can be swarming with ghosts, and neither the seller, the listing agent, nor the buyer's agent is required to report that news to you.

Truly buyer beware.

CAUTION: Don't shop for a home right after watching the movie Poltergeist!

So, what to do if you want to ensure that your house-to-be is not occupied by floating departed souls?

You can ask your REALTOR. They are not under an obligation to disclose this, even if they've seen the ghost themselves. However, perhaps they can help.

The other year, I had some clients who were looking at historic homes in Old Town Alexandria. Historic means the house has a plaque and is over 100 years old. They very seriously told me that they did not want to purchase a home with a ghost. Not sure what to do, I did some research and sent them to this website: Haunted Virginia. I figured it was a start and they could continue with their own research.

To some people, a ghost may even be a selling point!

Did you know that Old Town Alexandria is fabled to have some ghosts living among the historic homes and cobblestone streets?

During the month of October, you can actually take a Ghost Tour or Ghosts & Graveyard Tour of Old Town Alexandria and learn what ghoulish spirits continue to haunt Northern Virginia.

Whether you want a home with or without a ghost, I'd be happy to help.

October's a great time to buy a house. You'll be settled in for the holidays.

Thank you for reading my blog post. If you like what you’ve read, then please:

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If you plan to purchase or sell a home in the Northern Virginia or D.C. area,
you can visit my main Northern Virginia & D.C. real estate website at www.brianblock.com.

September's Most Expensive Sales in Northern Virginia

Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate (RE/MAX Allegiance) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:41:16 -0500

Are you wondering about Northern Virginia real estate and pondering what has sold recently?

Here's some information about the most expensive home sales in Northern Virginia (Arlington County, Alexandria City, Fairfax City, Fairfax County, and Falls Church City) for September 2009. All information was obtained through MRIS.

Luxury home sales have been slowing down quite a bit during the last few months. The majority of the activity in Northern Virginia real estate is occurring with first-time buyers anxious to take advantage of the $8000 tax credit expiring on November 30th. Needless to say, most of these first-time buyers are not purchasing in the luxury price ranges.

Overall, there were 54 Northern Virginia home sales topping $1 million during the month of September 2009, down from 76 in August and 90 in July 2009.

Currently, there are 845 homes on the market in Northern Virginia with list prices topping $1 million.

SEPTEMBER'S MOST EXPENSIVE SALES

Single Family Detached Homes:

10447 New Ascot Drive, Great Falls, VA 22066 -- Sold on September 14th for $2,780,000.
Think short sales are only for lower price ranges? Think again. This one was listed for sale at $3,499,999 and sold for a lot less. This 6 bedroom, 11,000 square foot home on 2 acres has a 4 car garage, an in-ground swimming pool, an elevator, home theater, and 2 wine cellars. It was built in 2008.
7624 Burford Drive, McLean, VA 22012 -- Sold on September 28th for $2,525,000.
Built in 2008, this 6 bedroom home also has 7 full bathrooms and 3 half bathrooms. With a 3 car garage , an open floor plan and fully finished basement, this home spent nearly 2 years on the market before selling.
824 Whann Avenue, McLean, VA 22101 -- Sold on September 22nd for $2,251,000.
Located in Langley Forest on one acre in McLean, this home was a foreclosure sale. Most of the home was completed, but it did not have fixtures and appliances. The home has 7 bedrooms and 8.5 bathrooms.
4701 N. 34th Street, Arlington, VA 22207 -- Sold September 29th for $2,200,000.
In the Country Club Hills area of North Arlington, this 5 bedroom, 4.5 bathroom home was built in 1952 and has been renovated and expanded. It features a top of the line kitchen and sits on 1/3 acre of land.
7837 Kent Road, Alexandria, VA 22308 -- Sold on September 28th for $2,050,000.
A 1938 colonial home on over an acre of land with tall trees and mature plantings, this 1938 home features a pool, grand circular staircase, 4 fireplaces and 5 bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms.

CLICK TO SEARCH FOR AVAILABLE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA

Townhouses:

6 Keiths Lane, Alexandria, VA 22314 -- Sold on September 25th for $1,275,000.
With views of the Potomac River in Old Town Alexandria, this Fords Landing townhouse was built in 1999 and featurs 3 bedrooms including a decadent master suite with a spa-like bathroom. the grourmet kitchen with granite counters enhances the open floor plan of the main level.
423N N. Columbus Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 -- Sold on September 15th for $957,000.
Another Old Town Alexandria townhouse originally built in 1890 that has been totally renovated and remodeled but retained some period fixtures, antique chandeliers and transom lights and the original southern pine floors. It has 2,541 square feet of living space.
717 Potomac Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 -- Sold on September 15th for $875,000.
This 1978-built townhouse in Old Town Alexandria features an off-street parking space and front and rear private brick patios. It has 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms which are newly renovated. There's also a separate au pair/in-law suite with an extra kitchen.
2044 Beacon Heights Drive, Reston, VA 20191 -- Sold on September 15th for $875,000.
Built in 2003, this townhouse is on the waterfront at Lake Audubon. The townhouse has 5 levels with an elevator, gorumet kitchen and a Trex deck. With 3 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms, this large townhouse offers 3,237 square feet of space.

SEE AVAILABLE TOWNHOUSES IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA

Condominiums:

1600 Clarendon Blvd. #W303, Arlington, VA 22209 -- Sold on September 15th for $1,142,000.
At the ever-popular and ever-expensive Wooster and Mercer Lofts, this 2 bedroom plus loft condo features 1,990 square feet of living space and ultra-high end appliances and finishes.
635 First Street #101, Alexandria, VA 22314 -- Sold on September 21st for $850,000.
This condo at Liberty Row in Old Town Alexandria has 2,100 square feet of space spread throughout 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. It features a gourmet kitchen, a custom sound system, and 2 underground parking spaces.
1781 Chain Bridge Road #208, McLean, VA 22102 -- Sold on September 9th for $792,380.
Newly built, this condo at the Morgan at McLean is a corner unit with over 2,100 square feet of space in a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom unit. It is very close to the upcoming Tysons East Metro stop.
1600 Clarendon Blvd. #W311, Arlington, VA 22209 -- Sold on September 8th for $680,000.
Another Wooster & Mercer Lofts gem, this one is a one bedroom unit with 2 full baths. The condo has 18 foot ceilings with walls of glass overlooking a park and measures in at 1,365 square feet.

SEE AVAILABLE CONDOMINIUMS IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA

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If you plan to purchase or sell a home in the Northern Virginia or D.C. area,
you can visit my main Northern Virginia & D.C. real estate website at www.brianblock.com.

They Are Definitely Interested in Selling

Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate (RE/MAX Allegiance) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 06:49:09 -0500

"They're Definitely Interested in Selling!"

"Thanks for letting me know" was my response to the listing agent who told me this nugget while informing me that there was a lockbox on the home and that I needn't call the sellers before showing.

Hmmm... I thought that's why most people put their house on the market -- because they're definitely interested in selling.

From the tone of the agent's voice and the number of days the home had been on the market, it was clear to me and to my clients that these sellers were more than willing to consider offers on the home:

low offers

crazy offers

any offer.

This was not the home that my clients eventually ended up selecting. However this story teaches a valuable lesson of negotiating: Don't give away the farm! Do not give away important pricing information before a negotiation even begins.

A listing agent represents (or is supposed to) the interests of the sellers. That particular agent failed miserably.

Sure, my clients are "definitely interested in buying" -- just not that house.

Thank you for reading my blog post. If you like what you’ve read, then please:

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If you plan to purchase or sell a home in the Northern Virginia or D.C. area,
you can visit my main Northern Virginia & D.C. real estate website at www.brianblock.com.

How Much Do You Know about Real Estate? Take the Real Estate Quiz

Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate (RE/MAX Allegiance) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:30:28 -0500

Thinking about Buying or Selling a Home in Northern Virginia?

How Much Do You Know about Real Estate and Your REALTOR?

TAKE THE REAL ESTATE QUIZ

Instructions: E-mail me at brian@brianblock.com with your answers by Monday, October 5th at 12 noon. Answers and Results will be announced on Tuesday, October 6th on this blog. (With some time spent researching, you can find the answers to all these questions on prior posts on the blog.)

One participant will be chosen at random to receive a $25 Gift Card.

Note: Real estate agents, mortgage lenders, inspectors, appraisers are not eligible to participate.

GOOD LUCK!

1. What is the current minimum down payment on an FHA Mortgage?

A. 20%

B. 3.5%

C. 5.0%

D. 10%

2. The Settlement Statement that details the buyer and seller's costs is also known as:

A. HUD-1

B. 1099

C. W-9

D. Form 860

3. In Virginia, a real estate agent can represent both a buyer and a seller in the same transaction.

A. TRUE

B. FALSE

4. The First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Expires on:

A. December 31, 2009

B. October 31, 2009

C. April 15, 2010

D. November 30, 2009

5. Which of the following can be contingencies of the real estate contract?

A. Home Inspection

B. Appraisal

C. Financing

D. All of the Above

6. Brian Block has appeared on this television show:

A. Neil Cavuto Show on Fox News

B. Designed to Sell on HGTV

C. The Early Show on CBS

D. Both A & C

7. What is a short sale?

A. A fast sale made in just a few days

B. A sale where the proceeds do not pay off the mortgage in full

C. A nightmare

D. A home sale that is done without a real estate agent

8. Brian Block has NOT attended this real estate conference in 2009:

A. Inman Real Estate Connect

B. RE/MAX Conference

C. Virginia Association of REALTORS Conference

D. National Association of REALTORS Mid-Year Conference

9. Which Zip Code is NOT in Northern Virginia?

A. 22304

B. 22904

C. 22201

D. 22151

10. Lead Based Paint Disclosures are required for homes built before:

A. 1976

B. 1982

C. 1978

D. 2001

REMEMBER: Send me your e-mail with your answers by Monday, October 5th at 12 noon to be eligible for the $25 Gift Card.

Thank you for reading my blog post. If you like what you’ve read, then please:

Follow, Connect, Watch, Subscribe

If you plan to purchase or sell a home in the Northern Virginia or D.C. area,
you can visit my main Northern Virginia & D.C. real estate website at www.brianblock.com.

We Survived the Itch!

Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate (RE/MAX Allegiance) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:06:14 -0500

The Infamous Seven Year Itch!

I think it's a myth. Not once in the past year did either of us feel any itch as far as I can tell.

Tomorrow marks my 8 year wedding anniversary! I'm truly blessed to be united with Deborah, the woman I love.

Another 8 year milestone is approaching. In less than 5 months, I'll have had my real estate license for 8 years. While far less significant than my marriage license, I have not felt much of an itch here either.

Like my marriage, my real estate career has blossomed over the last 7+ years.

The only itch is to keep on growing and achieving new levels of success.

I want to sincerely thank all of my friends, clients, colleagues, and most

especially my wife in supporting my real estate career.

Thank you for reading my blog post. If you like what you’ve read, then please:

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If you plan to purchase or sell a home in the Northern Virginia or D.C. area,
you can visit my main Northern Virginia & D.C. real estate website at www.brianblock.com.

Priced Right and Under Contract in 3 Days, Actually 2!

Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate (RE/MAX Allegiance) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:07:22 -0500

Here's a sign of a shift in the real estate market.

NOT A FORECLOSURE OR A SHORT SALE -- important to note that because they are typically priced below market.

Last Thursday, I placed this home on the market:

The 3 bedroom 1 bathroom home in the Sterling Park subdivision of Sterling, VA (out near Washington Dulles Airport) shows great and was priced at $225,000.

But, guess what, none of that matters here, since I'm no longer marketing the house. It's not necessary.

No sooner did I finish typing the information about the home into the MLS and uploading the photos at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday than I got a call at 2 p.m. from an agent who had shown the home and was ready to submit an offer.

By the next day we had a total of 3 offers (and about 8 other interested phone calls from agents!)

The sellers chose the best offer, and it was signed, sealed and delivered on Sunday.

LISTED AND UNDER CONTRACT IN 3 DAYS!

Give me a call at 703-626-0715. I can do the same with yours! * *

** Fine print: You must agree to price your home correctly. The home must show well. There's no guarantee that we will have 3 offers, let alone a ratified contract in 3 days, but we'll try our best.

Thank you for reading my blog post. If you like what you’ve read, then please:

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If you plan to purchase or sell a home in the Northern Virginia or D.C. area,
you can visit my main Northern Virginia & D.C. real estate website at www.brianblock.com.

The Prognostication of the Economists

Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate (RE/MAX Allegiance) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:43:17 -0500

Economists prognosticate.

That's just what they do. There's plenty of talking heads on television that babble on and on about the national real estate market. I've got news for you. There's no such thing as the national real estate market. Sure, there's national statistics about the housing market, but there ain't no national market! (excuse my grammar)

So, we're stuck with the local market. If you live in Northern Virginia or the D.C. metropolitan region, that's a good thing, since we've got the best market in the country. Sure, we've suffered some along with the rest of the country throughout this past recession (yes, I said past) NB: You may not feel like it yet, but according to Ben Bernanke and others, the recession is over -- it may have even ended in June.

Anyways, back to economists and the local market. If you want to know "what's been going on," "what's going on," and "what's about to happen" in the regional economy of Northern Virginia and Washington D.C., the place to go is the Northern Virginia Association of REALTORS' Annual Economic Summit. I've attended this event every year since I entered the real estate profession.

This year was no different. On Wednesday, I headed out Braddock Road to George Mason University anticipating the prognostications of the economists.

Wednesday's speakers were:

Dr. Michael Fratantoni
Vice President, Single-Family Research & Policy Development, Mortgage Bankers Association
Mr. Allen Jones
Executive of Default Management Public Policy & Outreach, Servicing Division, Bank of America
Dr. Frank Nothaft
Chief Economist, FreddieMac
Dr. Lawrence Yun
Chief Economist & Senior Vice President of Research, National Association of Realtors®
Dr. Stephen Fuller
Director, Center for Regional Analysis, School of Public Policy, George Mason University

If you happen to follow my Twitter stream or my Facebook account, you might have read some of my live updates from the event.

For the rest of you, here's a recap of some of the highlights from the Economic Summit describing the current economic outlook:

Anticipate 10.2% unemployment peak early 2010
No meaningful price rises in housing until 2011/2012 (note they did not exactly define meaningful)
Government lending accounts for 45% of loans. Primarily b/c of higher FHA loan limits.
Virginia doing better than Maryland or DC in terms of foreclosures.
Option ARMs will not have a tidal wave problem on the market like subprime did because there are lots of modifications happening.
Bank of America short sale department gets 80,000 phone calls per day! HOLY COW!
Virginia one of sixteen states where unemployment has gone down. Fairfax County rate is 4.7%
All 26 Fairfax County high schools in top 3% of Newsweek's report! If that's not a selling point for Fairfax County real estate, I don't know what is!
Short sale frustration gets people to go straight for foreclosure sales leading to multiple contracts on REOs
All cash purchases make up 20% of the real estate market nationwide
One average home sale leads to additional $62k economic impact (furniture, carpeting, moving truck, etc.) -- very interesting!
DC market lost 42K jobs in last year but that's the least of any major metro area in country.
Northern Virginia has more entrepreneurial "juice" than suburban Maryland or DC - Dr. Stephen Fuller

Thank you for reading my blog post. If you like what you’ve read, then please:

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If you plan to purchase or sell a home in the Northern Virginia or D.C. area,
you can visit my main Northern Virginia & D.C. real estate website at www.brianblock.com.

Please Pardon this Blogging Intermission

Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate (RE/MAX Allegiance) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 22:09:00 -0500

Many times I wish there were more hours in the day. I've tried stealing hours from sleeping, but that doesn't work so well, especially in a career that involves some time on the road. To be honest, I can't even imagine yet what it will be like when we (God willing) have children.

My normal blogging schedule has been severely interrupted as of late due to several factors:

Becoming a Managing Broker (back in March) and overseeing an office of 40 agents.
Two weeks of teaching real estate pre-licensing classes from 5-9 p.m. every evening.
Being busy with a bunch of new business including 1/2 dozen new listings and quite a few new buyers.
Teaching blogging classes to our agents.
Making sure my wife still remembers who I am and what I look like! (This one is most important!)

Don't worry. I'm hoping that by next week I can get back to some semblance of a normal blogging schedule and continue to provide you with some of the best real estate information and news and market reports about the Northern Virginia real estate market.

Thanks for your patience, readership, comments, and friendship.

Take solace that I will return after this intermission.

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Thank you for reading my blog post. If you like what you’ve read, then please:

Follow, Connect, Watch, Subscribe

If you plan to purchase or sell a home in the Northern Virginia or D.C. area,
you can visit my main Northern Virginia & D.C. real estate website at www.brianblock.com.