cindy jones: Northern Virginia-It's Just a State of Mind - 05/09/09 12:24 PM
It seemed like a crazy question and then I laughed. The buyer was headed to Northern Virginia from Arizona. They had checked and they couldn't find Northern Virginia anywhere on the map. It just wasn't there.
Oh well actually there isn't a Northern Virginia like there is a North or South Carolina it is just a local term. Why do you make the distinction?
Ahhhh we just do. It is more about a difference in economics and politics than anything. So where are the boundaries?
Hmmm, good question. Before housing developments pushed west to the Shenandoah Valley and south through … (4 comments)

cindy jones: Fort Belvoir Relocation-Finding the Necessities Off Post - 05/06/09 11:05 PM
Fort Belvoir has a lot to offer military families on post. However we all know that you can't find everything you want at the PX or the Commissary so knowing where to shop for other essentials and special treats is important. It isn't hard in Northern Virginia to find what you need. Whether you are looking for a bag of chips, a paint brush to put your own touch on your new home, clothes to deal with our ever changing weather or a whole house full of furniture because you are ready for something new, there are number of places to … (0 comments)

cindy jones: Data Trends-Are Only Two Years Enough? - 01/25/09 01:30 PM
Recently I've switched from comparing 2007 to 2008 sales numbers as an indicator of trends in Northern Virginia neighborhoods.  Instead I'm posting neighborhood data for the last five years.  Not all neighborhoods trend the same way at the same time.   However a pattern of when the average prices began to fall, the days on market and seller subsidies began to climb is more apparent with a five year chart than just looking at the last two years.  There is no doubt that I'm not a statistician and rely heavily on the MLS for most of my data.  However since the data is readily available, … (8 comments)

cindy jones: Belmont Bay-Harborside Condominium Sales are Hot - 01/25/09 03:20 AM
Buyers have been flocking to Harborside condominiums in Belmont Bay (Woodbridge VA) since the beginning of 2009.  As the only new marina front building in Prince William County completed and ready for occupancy, buyers are discovering not only great new pricing but incredible views as well.Belmont Bay is unmistakably the premier waterfront community in Prince William County.  No other community offers access to a deep water marina, Osprey Golf course, club house and restaurant, waterfront walking paths and of cross direct waterfront access to the Occoquan River.  Twice named by Washingtonian Magazine as a "best place to live" neighborhood, named by … (6 comments)

cindy jones: Spending Your Morning at the Local News Station - 01/22/09 08:23 AM
It has been a wild week in Washington DC.  First there was the Oprah Show, then it was all of the excitement around the Inauguration and the week ended in the Fox 5 TV station for a taping.  How much excitement can one simple girl from the suburbs take?
I'm waiting to see how the taping comes out.  It has gone to editing and should be available next week.  If it isn't to embarrassing I'll put a link to it on my blog.  What I did learn is that the Fox 5 news set is smaller than it looks on TV … (25 comments)

cindy jones: Saratoga-Just a Short Hop to Fort Belvoir - 01/20/09 10:13 PM
Chances are you will see a wild bunny or two in your yard in the Saratoga neighborhood in Springfield Virginia.   With the pockets of woods scattered throughout the neighborhood you will also see deer and foxes too.  The wildlife, nice size lots, the quick hop to Fort Belvoir, nearby shopping, recreation and ease of commuting make Saratoga a neighborhood that stays on the list of popular Springfield neighborhoods.
Market Report
Saratoga prices have risen and fallen with the change in market conditions over the last 5 years.  The following chart shows the average list and sales prices since 2003 when the … (6 comments)

cindy jones: Buyers Beware of Bargain Basement Blinders - 01/14/09 11:05 AM
It never fails to happen.  Buyers who are seeing some of the great prices on homes posted on the internet call and say "we must see this house now."  We go to check out the property and they fall in love.  They figure that rates are low and the payments are well within their comfort range, we can do this they say.We tour and then the buyer finds the perfect floor plan for their needs.  The utilities are on and the property isn't winterized so you can flush toilets, run faucets and check the basic mechnaicals.  The house is only a … (24 comments)

cindy jones: Parkfairfax-Two Past Presidents Called it Home and You Could Too! - 01/14/09 12:46 AM
Tucked away just a few miles from DC in Alexandria VA are the rolling hills, tree lined streets and brick buildings that make up the community of Parkfairfax.   Parkfairfax has the distinction of being the former of home of two past presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.  Both lived in the community prior to taking the highest office in the land.  Fitting since all of the condo models are named after presidents!
 


Parkfairfax was originally built to fulfill the need for housing close to the Federal Government, Pentagon and DC in 1941.  The homes were constructed as apartments by … (8 comments)

cindy jones: Are the Stars Finally Aligning? Strange Real Estate Happenings - 12/13/08 02:52 AM
Yesterday my clients ratified a contract for a new home.  We had looked gone through about 15 homes in Prince William County, including the graffiti house, before landing on one that had all the right stuff.When I turned in a copy of the contract to our office administrator, she looked it over and asked me if I was sure about the deal.  I smiled and said "YES I'm sure."I dropped a copy of the contract off at the settlement company.  They looked it over and asked me if I was sure about the deal.  I smiled and said "YES I'm sure."
(43 comments)

cindy jones: What a Market Report Doesn’t Tell You - 11/26/08 10:19 AM
Market reports are easy to create.  You go to the MLS, put in the name of a subdivision, a period of time and up pops the data.  Play around with the numbers a little bit and you can show the increase or decrease of the value of homes in the neighborhood and you are done.  It doesn't take a lot of thought and you can churn them out by the dozens on any given day.What worries me about market reports are all the information they leave out.  First most of the time agents don't look beyond the MLS for their numbers.  … (16 comments)

cindy jones: Lake Ridge-Affordable Homes in Prince William County - 11/18/08 12:41 AM
Are you looking for a neighborhood that offers you good schools, close by shopping and multiple commuting options to DC and other points?  Then you need to take a look at the affordable homes in the community of Lake Ridge in Prince William County.  Since many of the best values are in bank owned properties and the condition can vary, our team regularly tours foreclosure properties to determine condition and whether those properties should be on a short list for our investors, contractors or first time homebuyers.  Yesterday the foreclosure tour of Lake Ridge included three detached homes.  They ranged in … (2 comments)

cindy jones: Filing for Copyright Protection-Spend $35 Today Recoup Thousands Later - 11/14/08 12:53 AM
One of the questions that came up yesterday on the Blog Talk Radio session with Lenn Harley and her attorney Paul Thaler, ESQ was how to file for copyright protection of one of your images, maps or drawings.It is easy!  This summer I filed for protection of the maps I have been using on Active Rain through the electronic copyright registration available on the government copyright site.  The first time through the process there are few questions that you need to consider but once you read the instructions it is easy to follow.If you go to www.copyright.gov you will see a label on the right … (18 comments)

cindy jones: Fort Belvoir-Sorry You Can't Borrow a Cup of Sugar From These Neighbors - 10/29/08 09:13 AM
Just a few miles outside the gates of Fort Belvoir visitors and residents of Fairfax County can find some of Virginia’s finest historic homes and our nation’s treasures. For their time these homes were the envy of the neighborhood and the owners most certainly among the richest families in Fairfax County.
 
Sitting on the best piece of property that any colonist could have imagined is Mount Vernon the home of George Washington. It doesn’t take a lot of imagination to picture the prominent colonist in the 1770’s sitting on the back porch watching the large mast ships headed into the … (8 comments)

cindy jones: The Never Ending Real Estate Debate - 10/22/08 05:09 AM
It is the never ending debate in real estate.   Agents who have had their licenses for many years think that new agents don't have the experience necessary to succeed.  New agents think that long term agents might not have kept up with how the market has changed. In the end it is the consumer who makes the decision which agent is the best agent to represent their interests.
Some buyers and sellers are going to call someone they have worked with before. They trust you and your relationship is key to working together on a successful transaction. For the buyers and … (63 comments)

cindy jones: Understanding the Value of Title Insurance - 10/13/08 12:10 AM
A few years ago a new landowner in the Shenandoah Valley approached my neighbor and I to suggest that the property where our houses were located was actually part of his land and he intended to "take back" the property.  My neighbor who had owned his house since the original land had been subdivided knew that neither of our homes or land were on any part of the new landowner's property.  The new landowner was insistent and let us know his plans to run a road right through our property.If the thought of this happening to you sends chills up your spine then … (11 comments)

cindy jones: The Government Bailout-Why Don't I Get Any Relief? - 10/08/08 12:33 AM
It is a question that is being asked around more than one dinner table or gathering of friends these days.  When it comes to providing assistance to homeowners who over extended themselves a few years ago it appears that there may be some relief.  But what about the homeowners who pay their mortgage on time but have seen the value of their properties plummet due to those who have decided to walk away?
Strangely enough it is a question I've been asked more than once in the last week.  In some ways the bailout seems to be in reverse to what … (4 comments)

cindy jones: Do Consumers Rely on Us For Accurate Real Estate Data? - 10/06/08 01:12 AM
We hear the doom and gloom on the real estate market everyday on the news.  We remind ourselves and our clients regularly that all real estate is local and what they read in the Wall Street Journal may not translate to their neighborhood.  So when we make the decision to post a market report about our own area don't we have a duty to make sure that the data we post is accurate?  Will our market reports picked up by Google and spread throughout the blogosphere create more concerns if they are inaccurate?Recently I've been doing some "fact checking" on local … (18 comments)

cindy jones: Fairfax County Virginia Welcomes You with Endless Possibilities - 09/27/08 12:15 AM
When you live in Fairfax County you can see the beginnings of our nation's history in the estates of our founding fathers, attend schools rated among the best in the nation and visit the US Capitol to see our government at work.  Add to this list, neighborhoods that provide residents with numerous options to live, work and play and you will quickly figure out why Fairfax County has been one of the most popular counties in Virginia since it was founded in 1742.
 
 
 
If you like water then residents of Fairfax County can head out on not only … (5 comments)

cindy jones: Cornbread and Biscuits-Learning to Master the Basics First - 09/22/08 08:20 AM
This past week a small group of Corcoran Gallery of Art members had the privilege of listening to a talk and attending a private reception featuring Duff Goldman.  Now some of you will instantly know who Duff is and others may be scratching your heads.  If you live in Baltimore MD you will know him as the Baker/Owner of Charm City Cakes.   If you watch the Food Network you will know him as the gregarious host of Ace of Cakes.
Duff is one of those unassuming young entrepreneurs that you would pass on the street and not know the genius that lurks … (6 comments)

cindy jones: Don't Lock Today's Buyers Out of Homeownership by Eliminating Down Payment Assitance Programs - 09/08/08 07:30 AM
It seems that down payment assistance programs (DPA) create a genuine divide among real estate professionals.  Some think they should be eliminated and others have seen value they bring to a buyer today.   Hopefully everyone can agree that no seller has to accept an offer that contains the use of a DPA or any seller concessions.  If a seller is uncomfortable with them then by all means advise them on other alternatives or wait for an offer from a more "qualified" buyer.
The press and some agents seem to be lumping together the use of  legitimate DPA's with the whole sub-prime mortgage mess.  They are … (14 comments)

 
Cindy Jones, Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News (Integrity Real Estate Group)

Cindy Jones

Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

Woodbridge, VA

More about me…

Integrity Real Estate Group

Address: 12804 Marblestone Drive, Woodbridge, VA, 22192

Mobile: (703) 346-2213



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