Where Every Child Can BE GREAT - the Alexandria-Olymic Boys & Girls Club - 02/25/09 03:43 PM
The Alexandria-Olympic Boys & Girls Club (BCGCW) has a very simple credo - every child has the potential to BE GREAT!  And they work to fulfill that credo every day.  As part of the larger national network, the Alexandria-Olympic Boys & Girls Club is committed to providing:
a safe place to learn and grow ongoing relationships with caring, adult professionals life-enhancing programs and character development opportunities hope and opportunity A few months ago I had a chance encounter with Del Ray neighbor and AOBGC Board Member Mary Burner.  After learning that we write as much about community and neighborhood as we … (0 comments)

January Sales in Zip Code 22301 Show Slight Rise in Prices - 02/22/09 07:58 PM
January house sales in zip code 22301 (Del Ray and parts of Rosemont) show a slight rise in prices even though the number of houses sold was down by 25%  - which in this case was one house.  The average list price increased 2% from January 2008 to January 2009 and the sold price increased 5% during that same time period. 
To see more information on these homes, visit us at:
January Sales in Zip Code 22301 Show Slight Rise in Prices  
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2009 Heart of Del Ray Award Goes to Favorite Local Shop, “A Show of Hands” - 02/14/09 06:02 PM
A favorite local shop, “A Show of Hands” has won the 2009 Heart of Del Ray Award.   Situated at 2204 Mt. Vernon Avenue in the heart of Del Ray, A Show of Hands is the brainchild of Maria Wasowski and Pat Miller.
 
Maria and Pat opened in November 2005 with a commitment to represent a diversity of local artists.  Offerings include prints, jewelry, textiles, food stuffs, glass, paper crafts and more.  Each item is unique and completely hand crafted.
For more about A Show of Hands, visit us at:
2009 Heart of Del Ray Award Goes to Favorite Local … (0 comments)

Real Estate Tax Base for Alexandria, VA Declines in 2009 - 02/11/09 06:42 PM
Real estate tax assessments from the City of Alexandria for 2009 have just landed in local mail boxes with predictable results.  Bottom line - the total real estate base (including commercial properties) for Alexandria declined 2.1% in 2009 as compared with 2008.
Average home prices in the Washington, DC area have dropped some 15% over the past year while in Alexandria the drop comes in at  4.7%.  According to the letter from the City that accompanied the assessments, the 2009 average assessed value for single family homes is now $637,154 representing a decline of 3.5%.  The average assessed value for condominiums … (0 comments)

Low Unemployment Rates Boost Housing Sales in Alexandria, VA - 02/10/09 03:57 PM
In a USA Today article, Christine Dugas writes that low unemployment rates are boosting housing sales in Alexandria, VA and concerns about gas prices and gridlock traffic have sparked interest in city living.
“Workers can rely on four Metro stations within Alexandria’s city limits  to ride trains to work  . . . . and many Washington, DC employers subsidize Metro passes.”
John McClain, senior fellow at the Center for Regional Analysis, George Mason University, noted that the Washington, DC metro area has the lowest unemployment among the country’s top 15 metropolitan areas. That figure has Alexandria experiencing only a 5.0% drop … (0 comments)

Shop ‘Till You Drop - Alexandria Boutiques Host One Day Warehouse Sale - 02/04/09 05:11 PM
Looking for a stimulus package a little closer to home?  A good reason to shop ’till you drop? Then look no further than the one day  “Great Warehouse Sale” hosted by a collection of Alexandria boutiques on Saturday, February 7, from 9:00am  - 4:00pm.

Leslie Pietrzyk, a neighbor, author and fellow blogger tells us, ” I went to this sale last year and it was excellent - but VERY crowded, and we had to wait outside in line for at least an hour . . .  and parking can be tight so if walking over is an option, you might … (0 comments)

VA Loans Can Go To $812,000 with O Down in Northern Virginia - 02/03/09 05:52 PM
In this week’s Mortgage Report, Rob Clarke tell us that one of the hot topics for mortgage lenders right now is VA loans.  In the Northern Virginia area, VA loans can go as high as $812,000 with 0 down.
For conventional loans, rates continued their climb and closed last week at 5.375% with 0 points or 4.75% with 1 point for a conforming 30yr. fixed rate loan.
The rates for conforming plus +  loans between $417, 000 and $625,000 are also up.  On the first of January the gap between conforming plus + loans and regular conforming loans was around 0.125%.  … (0 comments)

2010 Census to Bring 3,000 New Jobs to Northern Virginia and Alexandria - 02/01/09 05:17 PM
The U. S. Census Bureau has officially opened its headquarters in a ribbon cutting ceremony at 6408 Edsall Rd in Alexandria in preparation for the 2010 or decennial census.
The bureau will also require additional office space in  22 counties in Northern Virginia as some 3000 census workers are hired over the next few months.  The addition of new jobs in the region and the need for commercial real estate will be a welcome jolt for the local economy.

As Arnold Jackson, associate director and COO of the Decennial Census said, “We will be the biggest players in the local … (0 comments)