Visiting Ben Brenman Park in Alexandria, Virginia - 07/27/11 12:30 PM
I decided to take Walter for a walk at the park today for a change of scenery. We visited Ben Brenman Park located at 5000 Duke Street in Alexandria, Virginia. The park features picnic benches, plenty of parking, baseball, softball and soccer fields. It also has a fenced dog park (Walter’s favorite part), a small pavilion with grills, tot lot, rest rooms and trails (paved) for walking or jogging. The pond at Ben Brenman Park has fish and turtles that are fun to watch (no feeding permitted). The best part of visiting Ben Brenman Park; it’s FREE!
Cameron Station is in … (0 comments)

Kingstowne Market Update - 07/25/11 08:52 AM
As I type this there are 134 homes for sale in Kingstowne and 85 homes that are under contract. Of the 134 properties that are active:
25 Single Family Homes range from $377,900 to $809,835
84 are Townhomes range from $210,000 to $565,000
25 are Condos range from $180,000 to $375,000
There is a substantial amount of competition for condos priced in the $225k-$275k range. Today’s buyer is looking for move in ready condition and upgrades. In order to be one of the sellers that receives an offer they need to be privy to what the current buyer is looking for and … (0 comments)

Why I Chose Real Estate – And How I Knew We Were Meant To Be - 07/19/11 11:49 AM
I can remember when I was little I wanted to be just like my Dad in every way including what I would do when I grew up; a small animal veterinarian with my own practice. I even learned how to spell veterinarian when I was 4 with my Mom's help so that I could impress my Dad. I grew up with animals; dogs, cats, at one point a pig, fish and horses. I loved horses, the minute I got off the bus my Mom would pick me up (we had a long driveway); I'd run inside change clothes and go to … (4 comments)

It's The Service Clients Will Remember - 07/18/11 09:48 AM
I took my car into the dealership a week ago Friday; I chose to wait for it and brought my laptop to work on while I waited. I was expecting it to be the standard oil change/inspection which typically runs me $325. My service advisor came to update me about 30 minutes into my wait; I could tell by the look on his face walking over it wasn't going to be good news. He put down a laundry list of items that needed repair, I was looking at a $2,660 bill and that was AFTER the 10% discount he graciously offered.  … (5 comments)

Jumbo Loans and September 30, 2011 - 07/14/11 09:02 AM
Jumbo Conforming and Jumbo FHA Mortgage Loan Limits Expire September 30, 2011 
Over the last few years, the government has funded mortgages as large as $729,750 in high-cost areas throughout the country. Those loan limits were temporarily increased because the economy was struggling and many lenders would have refused to make those loans without the government covering the risk of default. As of September 30, 2011 those loan limits are due to expire.What's the big deal?  Mortgage rates are typically much lower when they are supplied through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. When these loans are no longer allowed under Fannie Mae … (0 comments)

Pets Allowed: Tips For Renting With Pets - 07/10/11 09:35 AM
My client Ginny Greenfield would never move into a home that didn't allow her kids, her four legged kids that is. Over the years, I've learned ways to increase the chances my clients pets will be welcome in rental properties. When searching for a place to rent create a "pet resume" with references and facts about your pet. Examples include "housebroken" and "friendly," provide any obedience training class certificates and current shot records. A bonus feature would be to include a cute picture of your pet and offer for the landlord to meet your pet prior to agreeing to lease the … (3 comments)

How Long Is It Going To Take To Close? - 07/06/11 09:37 AM
I know I'm not the only agent out there that gets this question from their clients about short sales. Sounds like a simple question right? Wrong! The reality is we don't know the exact number of days it is going to take to go to closing on a short sale when writing an offer. The short sale process can be lengthy and until the bank has approved the sale in writing a closing date isn't possible to pin point.
Unapproved Short sales aren't for everyone and they definitely aren't right for a client that needs to close in thirty days due to a … (3 comments)

4th of July Fireworks In Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland - 07/03/11 11:47 AM
The District of Columbia is a fantastic place to spend the 4th of July. As a resident of Northern Virginia I think sometimes my friends and I take it for granted because we are accustomed to all the activities going on. The festivities start on the 4th with a parade along Constitution Avenue and conclude with a massive fireworks display with the backdrop being the Washington Monument. Doesn't get much better than that.
The Parade down Constitution starts at 11:45am and goes from 7th to 17th street. It features live bands, drum corps, military officers, equestrians, and celebrity appearances.
People arrive early … (3 comments)