Active Rain/Tomato Blog

Is your home addition getting you bang for the buck>?  In other words, is the money you put into an addition to your house going to pay off in the end? Obviously some additions are done out of pure physical need for space, like an extra bathroom or bedroom.  Others, like a garage or full blown ma...

You listed your house, you got a contract, the financing is in place  - the only thing that remains is the dreaded home inspection.  Bill Richardson, president of the American Society of Home Inspections (ASHI) says, " . . . we're not the bad guys.  We're there to just report it like it is and co...

Immigration lawyer and former neighbor Karla Harr, is seeking to help a teacher at Mt. Vernon Community School and we want to give her a hand.  Del Ray is known for it's generosity and this is a perfect example of how our community works together: "Peggi Lopez, one of the 3rd grade dual language ...

On a trip this weekend to the Eastern Shore to see good friends Margaret and Dick Welch, we had an unexpected opportunity to visit Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge  - and what a treat!  This was a new spot for us but one we look forward to seeing again. Set on 25,000 acres just outside of Camb...

In case you haven't noticed, it's Girl Scout cookie time, a honored tradition that, each year, threatens every resolution anyone has ever made about healthy eating.   After all, these cookies are for a good cause! Now, there are lots of Girl Scouts in Alexandria but I would like to introduce you ...

Are you thinking about getting married at home  - yours, your parents, brother, sister, cousin - to save money?  Well, according to an article in this week's Washington Post, you may want to think again.With weddings averaging about $39,000 in the Washington area, some couples may consider gettin...

Here are 10 Big Impact, Low Cost Remodeling Projects for sellers who have some - but not unlimited -  cash for upgrades. 1)Tidy Up Kitchen Cabinets - Home owners should 'strip down' the insides of cabinets just like they do counter tops or book shelves.  Consider adding rollout organizing trays s...

A short clip in this morning's Washington Post caught my eye - Hickory Hill, the McLean home of Robert and Ethel Kennedy has finally sold after seven years on the market. Originally listed at $25 million in 2003, the property dropped to $20 million, then $16.5 million, and finally to $12.5 two ye...

Tired of the snow and frigid wind? Tired of endless pots of chili (no matter how good)?  Tired of one more trip to the grocery store?  Despair no more, it's Alexandria Restaurant Week, 2010. A tribute to all things local, restaurants throughout Alexandria will feature either a $35 prix-fixe three...

The December 2009 Alexandria Real Estate Market Report for Old Town presents an interesting set of numbers. The number of sales is down 57 percent from December 2008 to December 2009 but sales prices are up 20 percent during the same time period. Another twist is the average number of days on mar...