A New Year - Finally! Happy New Year!! - 12/31/08 12:06 PM
Out with the OLD...In with the NEW!!! We finally get to say good-bye to 2008 and go into tomorrow with a clean slate. New promises to ourselves, to each other, and to our future.
To all of my fellow Realtors, wishing you and yours a very happy, healthy, prosperous, and successful 2009.

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New Years Resolution to Join a Gym? Here are the Arlington Options - 12/30/08 09:30 AM
Making new years resolutions for 2009? I bet one of this includes joining a gym!! Here's a list of some of the gyms around Arlington:
Gold's Gym: Locations in Ballson, Clarendon, Rosslyn,S. Arlington (Glebe Rd)
Bally's: Pentagon City
Sport & Health: Courthouse, Crystal City
Fitness First: Courthouse
The Energy Club: Shirlington
LA Boxing: Clarendon
Bikram Yoga: Alexandria (not Arlington, but close enough!)
 
A Poll at Marist College said 60% of resolutions are kept....I hope you're part of that!!!
 
Happy New Year!
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2008 Arlington Real Estate Market Snapshot - Recession? What Recession? - 12/22/08 11:13 AM
A friend brought a recent Fortune article to my attention, titled "Top 10 Worst Real Estate Markets for 2009." To my utter surprise, #10 was Washington, D.C. He followed this link with "Do you agree?"
My answer is short, but sweet - No. As a matter of fact, (excuse my language) Hell No.
Although I made a plea for everyone to stop reading the newspaper about real estate, I know it's likely to happen. I myself also read the paper...from what I am reading, Arlington and the District seem to be labeled as nearly "Recession-Proof." Or at least one of the best … (0 comments)

Arlington Neighborhood Spotlight: Shirlington - 12/22/08 10:07 AM
Shirlington is known as the "Arts, Culture, and Entertainment District." Located right off of I-395 in the 22206 zip code, Shirlington is close to Washington, D.C., Regan Airport, The Pentagon, Pentagon and Crystal City. Shirlington has condos, townhomes, and apartments that are close to the numerous shops, restaurants, retail stores, movie theater, library, education center, and so much more. Located just a short bus-ride away from the metro, there are several places to invest in Shirlington:

Condominium Buildings:
IO PiazzaShirlington VillageQuincy TowerTownhomes:Shirlington Crest
If you're interested in more information on Shirlington Real Estate, please feel free to contact me.
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A Plea From Your Local Realtor - STOP Reading the Newspaper - 12/20/08 01:24 PM
I opened the Washington Post this morning to an article about how magnet manufacturers are losing profits because Realtors can't afford to pay for magnets to send to their clients. The article goes on to discuss how many Realtor are leaving the National Association of Realtors this year. I would normally link to the full article, but I DO NOT WANT YOU TO READ IT. Let me explain...

- Many (not all) of those Realtors that are leaving the National Association of Realtors were people who jumped in while the market was hot. All they had to do was stick … (6 comments)

Northern Virginia Real Estate Market Update - November 2008 - 12/18/08 02:32 PM
Now taking a look at the Greater Northern Virginia Real Estate market, let's take a macro view of the market. The follows statistics are for Arlington County, Fairfax County, the cities of Alexandria, Fallls Church, and Fairfax, and the towns of Vienna, Herndon, and Clifton.

 
What does this mean?
We've had MORE sales, in a SHORTER amount of time, and the inventory is lower this month than in 2007. The sales price is less than this time last year - but these are signs of a strong and rebounding market.
There was an article in the New York Times that said, we … (0 comments)

Arlington Virginia Real Estate Market Statistics - November 2008 - 12/18/08 02:11 PM
It's time to take a look at how Arlington is holding up as we begin to wrap up 2008. Below are some market statistics for November 2008.
Arlington County - Total
136 properties sold
Arlington County - Condominium Market
53 Condos Sold
Average Days on the Market: 78
Average Sale Price: $330k (about 13% less than last year)
Arlington County - Single Family Homes
65 Detached/Single Family Homes Sold
Average Days on the Market: about 2 months (62)
3 Bedroom House: $556k (ranging from $222 to $1.2M)4 Bedroom House: $746k (ranging from $257 to $1.7M)
These statistics may show a slight … (0 comments)

Falls Church, VA - How Starbucks Is Their Shameless Claim to Fame - 12/16/08 01:45 PM
Wikipedia has just brought the following to my attention:
"Falls Church was ranked as having the highest number of Starbucks stores per capita, with 7.7 stores for every 10,000 people, or 8 stores."
Considering the very small city of Falls Church has about 11,000 residents, and is only about 2.2 sq miles - that's quite an achievement.
if you're looking for a shorter line for your next caffeine fix - take a drive to your nearest Starbucks in Falls Church!
**Fairfax was ranked 16th, and Vienna was 17th. Northern Virginia appears to be a VERY caffeinated community! :)
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BikeArlington - "Arlington's Car-Free Diet" - 12/16/08 11:52 AM
With new years resolution quickly being formed, i'm sure some of them may involve more physical activity! Well, why not join in on "BikeArlington - Arlington's Car-Free Diet." A program developed for:
"BikeArlington is an initiative of Arlington County, Virginia - where people have many options for moving about their community. Ultimately, BikeArlington is an effort to build on an existing partnership between Arlington citizens, businesses and County staff to encourage more people to bike more often."
They offer group rides, if you're interested in socializing while you workout. Otherwise, check out the bike paths, trails, and on-street rides that are along the … (0 comments)

Things You Should Know About Buying New Construction - 12/15/08 10:02 AM
There are new construction condo buildings constantly being built and sold here in Northern Virginia. There are some important things you should know when considering whether to buy new or not:
New Condominiums
1. Most condominium developers mandate a 1 year before before you can sell your condo. They want to avoid fighting with resale units as they try to get through their own inventory.
2. Developers control how the building is run, rules, costs/budgets, etc. until 75% of the building has been sold. Once sales have hit at least 75%, the Condo Association is formed and control is turned over to … (2 comments)

The Phoenix Condominium at Clarendon Metro in Arlington, VA - New Resource - 12/14/08 04:51 PM
If you're looking for more information on the new condominium building in Clarendon (Arlington, VA) - The Phoenix at Clarendon Metro - you've found a great new resource!
Today I launched a new blog: "An Insider's Look at the Phoenix Condominium" 
 www.ThePhoenixInArlington.com
As a resident and Realtor, i'll provide updated information on the building as it becomes available! Please check the website for sales information, policies, etc.
Feel free to contact me with any questions regarding the condo building, or any other buildings in Arlington!
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"Arlington Takes a Bite Out of Hunger Week" - Ends Tomorrow! - 12/13/08 12:31 PM
This past week has been "Arlington Takes a Bite Out of Hunger Week" here in Arlington County to help the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC). Local facilities are accepting donations of:
Soups Cereals Canned Goods Pastas Peanut Butter
These donations will be presented on Tuesday, December 16th to the AFAC. You still have the rest of the weekend to donate! Visit the complete list of donation sites, here.
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Building Your Real Estate Business in 2009 - Making It YOUR OWN - 12/09/08 01:07 PM
I've sat through so many business planning seminarsand new agent mentoring hours in the last year that I have SO much spinning in my head as I prepare to do my own business planning for 2009. Lead generating models, GCI, marketing, etc etc etc the list goes on and on!!!
The thing I have realized as I listen to the wisdom being bestowed upon me by those successful agents who have come before me - is make it your own. Find what works FOR YOU...I've heard over and over again that Generation Y HATES getting cold calls, we just can't be … (1 comments)

Arlington Virginia Condo Spotlight: The Waterview - 12/08/08 12:16 PM
Another luxury condo building located at the corner of N 19th St and N Lynn St in Rosslyn, just at the foot of the bridge into Georgetown. The building is adjacent to Hotel Palomar - hotel residences are located on floors 15 and Under, while 16-30 are strictly for residents of the Waterview.
They've spared no cost for details in these units, they include:
-SubZero Stainless Steel Refrigerators-Viking dishwashers, ranges (gas cooking), microwave ovens -Granite countertops -Hardwood flooring-Built in surround sound-Floor to ceiling glass - if you're on the side of the building with views of the Georgetown Waterfront and the … (0 comments)

Trump Way To Wealth Seminar - I've Never Seen a Better Sales Pitch! - 12/07/08 07:20 PM
Yesterday, I had the great honor of attending the "Trump Way To Wealth" seminar - FOR FREE! Oh yes, they gave me 2 VIP tickets to a 3 hour sales pitch to pay the Trump organization the "discounted" fee of $2,000 for a 3 day seminar on how to build your financial security through Real Estate.
Here's my opinion on this: keep your $2,000 for a down-payment, and find a Great Realtor. A great Realtor should be able to show you great investment opportunities that can produce positive cash flow, or ones with immediate equity potential.
Sorry, Donald...You might make BILLIONS … (5 comments)

Sellers REJECT an Offer! How to NOT Sell Your House! - UPDATE - 12/05/08 11:05 AM
For those of you who read my blog about my attempt at buying a condo in Arlington - and got rejected! - I wanted to give you an update on the property. They did a small price reduction (4%) after about 45 days on the market....and have now withdrawn it, after 70 days on the market.
In this market, I think it's important to keep a level head. That's where Realtors come in, we're here to help keep emotions at bay when dealing with buying and selling. Sometimes seller's don't really need to sell, just like some buyers don't really need … (0 comments)

Northern Virginia Metro News: Silver Line to Dulles Gets the Green Light! - 12/04/08 04:21 PM
I was so excited to see this morning's Washington Post, with the headline that read: "Silver Line To Dulles Wins Crucial Federal Okay"
The new Silver Line of the metro will be about 23 miles, cost about $5.2B, but will run from Falls Church along Tysons Corner and out to Dulles Airport, in Leesburg. If you've ever sat in the traffic around Tysons Corner and the "Mixing Bowl" (395/495 interchange)....i'm sure you're just as excited as I am! They estimate the project to be completed by 2015.

This is why: "Its backers say it will be a major commuting route … (1 comments)

The Case of the Missing Real Estate Blogger! Lost & FOUND! - 12/04/08 12:46 PM
I can't believe it's been a WEEK since my last blog here in ActiveRain! I think that's the longest I have gone without a post since I joined the blogging community! With the Thanksgiving Holiday and business - sometimes life just gets in the way!
So with this refresher, I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving holiday - I know I certainly did in Upstate New York, visiting family and friends. It's always nice to revisit your roots to get centered again and geared up for the future weeks and months.
Now, back to work!!

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Laura Rubinchuk Schwartz Your Northern Virginia and D.C. Realtor

Arlington, VA

More about me…

Keller Williams Realty

Address: 6820 Elm St, McLean, VA, 22101

Cell Phone: (703) 283-6120

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