md: Where to Eat / Dine in DC for Thanksgiving 2011?
- 11/21/11 07:06 AM
If you are visiting Arlington, VA, or the DC area for Thanksgiving - or simply live here and want to have someone else do the cooking this year - where can you go for Thanksgiving dinner? No problem finding somewhere! With a wealth of incredible restaurants - and many, many more than 20 years ago when I moved here (even more than 5 years ago) - there is no need to wonder too long. To help out, here is a list! Arlington - La Cote d'Or. I have not been in awhile to this sweet little gem of a restaurant. Serving … (0 comments)
md: Commutization, Supersized! Keller Williams, Arlington, Ken Courtade, Yes I Ken!
- 08/27/07 08:01 AM
Supersize my garage! "Since the last survey in 2004, oversize garages saw the biggest growth in terms of what recent buyers considered very important in a home, gaining 16 percentage points to 57 percent. Among buyers who purchased homes without this feature, 56 percent of them said they would have paid more for an oversize garage, compared to only 6 percent in the 2004 survey." Source: Realtor.org, August 7, 2007 Especially considering high gas prices, that is a huge jump - why? Perhaps: 1. People are continuing to purchase large vehicles which require more space to park 2. Storage for household and yard items/People have … (0 comments)
md: What Leona Helmsley Taught Us. Ken Courtade, Yes I Ken! Keller Williams, Arlington
- 08/23/07 06:46 AM
What did Leona teach us? Not the reputed mean part. Doesn't work well in real estate! Service excellence is the answer! Combining the two professions of Hotelier and Real Estate Salesperson (I have a similar combination of backgrounds, coiincidentally), I believe that Leona was able to understand a product - in this case a building and specifically a hotel, and to translate its offerrings into ones that were of exemplary style and substance. Who could ask for more? Ok, forget about her reputation of being a meany. Let's focus on her intense sense of direction in making sure guests/clients were best served … (1 comments)
md: Real Estate Market Statistics, Ken Courtade, Yes I Ken!, ABR, GRI, CRS, Keller Williams Realty, Arlington, VA, Northern VA, DC, MD, VA
- 08/03/07 02:03 AM
It's time to know what is going on in your market to prepare for buying and/or selling this fall. In the summer, and particularly after a spring market slower compared to the previous year (not difficult to be slower than that booming market), it seems like sales are so bad. As always, think positively about the market and look for the good. How about the home that had three contracts come in on it last week - with one or more other buyers desirous of giving additional contracts? Yes, right in my prime home buying/selling area. There will always be a market … (0 comments)
md: Green Tip of the Day!, Ken Courtade, Yes I Ken!, Keller Williams, Arlington
- 08/03/07 01:41 AM
Here's a great tip - or reminder if you already do it! If you tend to forget to check, keep a tire gauge in your car in full view!! KenIf you drive a car, keep your tires inflated to the recommended pressure in your owner's manual. Underinflating tires by as little as five pounds can cut your gas mileage by 2 percent.Source: Sierra Club, August 2, 2007KenYes I Ken!www.KenCourtade.comKenCourtade@gmail.com703.981.4646Ken Courtade, Yes I Ken!, ABR, GRI, CRS, Keller Williams Realty, Arlington, VA, Northern VA, DC, MD, VA … (0 comments)
md: Green Tip of the Day!, Ken Courtade, Yes I Ken!, ABR, GRI, CRS, Keller Williams Realty, Arlington, VA, Northern VA, DC, MD, VA
- 08/01/07 02:36 AM
Here's a great green tip! If you have not considered letting someone else do the driving, do so. It is good for the environment and can be very relaxing!! So, sit back - and enjoy!Ken________________________________________________________________________________________________Each year, Americans waste 3.5 billion hours and 5.6 billion gallons of fuel while they sit in traffic. Spend your commute reading and relaxing instead of cultivating road rage: Find mass transit near you at publictransportation.org/systemsSource: Sierra Club, July 31, 2007KenYes I Ken!KenCourtade@gmail.comwww.KenCourtade.com703.981.4646Ken Courtade, Yes I Ken!, ABR, GRI, CRS, Keller Williams Realty, Arlington, VA, Northern VA, DC, MD, VA … (2 comments)
md: Have a Good Day and a Smile!, Ken Courtade, Yes I Ken!, ABR, GRI, CRS, Keller Williams Realty, Arlington, VA, Northern VA, DC, MD, VA
- 08/01/07 02:25 AM
Hello! How are you? Here's a great article I wanted to share with you. It is a wonderful reminder that our interactions with others make a difference in their daily lives. Enjoy! Ken ---------------------------------------------------- How many times a day do you think that phrase is said to someone? Or just how many times has that phrase been said to you in one day? I'm often asked if "Have a nice day" can be said too many times? The answer: Yes, I guess it could if you're saying it to the same person over and over. That might get annoying. However, for the average person, hearing … (0 comments)
md: Green Tip of the Day! Ken Courtade, Yes I Ken!, ABR, GRI, CRS, Ken Courtade, Yes I Ken!, Arlington, VA, Northern VA, DC, MD, VA
- 07/25/07 04:50 AM
Let's Recycle! As you trade up to that new iPhone or other great phone, recycle! Americans toss out over 100 million cell phones each year. Help keep the phones' toxic ingredients (including lead, mercury, and arsenic) out of landfills by recycling your old cell phone through CollectiveGood.com. Source: Sierra Club (7/28/07) Ken Courtade, Yes I Ken! Ken Courtade, Yes I Ken!, ABR, GRI, CRS, Ken Courtade, Yes I Ken!, Arlington, VA, Northern VA, DC, MD, VA www.KenCourtade.com KenCourtade@gmail.com 703.981.4646 Direct/Hotline
md: DC in Top Ten of Rising Rental Prices, Ken Courtade, Yes I Ken!, ABR, GRI, CRS, Keller Williams, Arlington, VA, Northern VA, DC, MD, VA
- 07/23/07 02:37 AM
Washington, DC in Top Ten: Greater Demand for Rentals = Increased Rental Prices Rent prices are increasing in some markets in 2007. A fair number of people are delaying the purchase of homes as they're being market-cautious, are unable to qualify for a mortgage, want to build up a good downpayment and for other reasons. So, they need to rent, and this is causing rental vacancy rates to fall and rent pricing to increase.The top 10 markets where rents have risen the most, average rents in the second quarter of 2007 & percentage increase from the first quarter of 2007:1. San Francisco, CA, $1,757, 3 percent2. San Jose, … (0 comments)
md: Green Living Tip of the Day! Ken Courtade, Yes I Ken!, ABR, GRI, CRS, Keller Williams Realty, Arlington, VA, Northern Virginia, MD, DC
- 07/18/07 10:23 AM
Green Living Tip of the Day! Help yourself to the best health with fresh food while helping US farmers: Food - from farm to your table - travels an average of 1,500 - 2,000 miles (Doesn't sound too fresh, eh?) - but NOT when you buy it from one or more of the over 1,200 small U.S. farms that provide fresh produce "subscriptions." Find one near you: foodroutes.org Ken, Yes I Ken!703.981.4646www.KenCourtade.comKenCourtade@gmail.comKen Courtade, Yes I Ken!, ABR, GRI, CRS, Keller Williams Realty, Arlington, VA, Northern Virginia, MD, DC … (4 comments)
md: The Top Ten Questions to ask a Realtor. Ken Courtade, Yes I Ken!, ABR, GRI, CRS, Keller Williams Realty, Arlington, VA, Northern Virginia, MD, DC, www.kencourtade.com
- 07/18/07 02:02 AM
So, you have been looking online, at Open Houses or just thinking about getting a Realtor to represent you in your home sale or purchase. Now, you are ready and want someone to represent you in perhaps the largest financial (and one of the most personal) transactions you will ever undertake. Where do you start?Online and in-person, you will find many great Realtors and SOME that might not be a good fit with you or your needs. Look to real estate company websites and individual Realtor websites, local advertising and word-of-mouth (referrals) for those that might serve your needs. Then what? … (3 comments)
md: Virtual Assistants! Ken Courtade, Yes I Ken!, ABR, GRI, CRS, Keller Williams, Arlington, VA, Northern VA, DC, MD, VA
- 07/17/07 04:45 AM
Thought about a virtual assistant? Using Virtual Assistants is a great way to save dollars on staff overhead and to have control over your assistant's use of time - just to name a couple of reasons to check them out. You set up an account, arrange for a volume of work to be done, and you are off and running. Of course, you will need to work at a personal working relationship. That is always the case with any assistant. Think about the savings alone in foregoing possible state-required retired benefit programs - yes, some states have them!!!! Ken Ken Courtade, Yes I … (6 comments)
md: Three Simple Tips for Sprucing Up Your Home! Ken Courtade, Yes I Ken!, ABR, GRI, CRS, Keller Williams Realty, Arlington, VA, Northern VA, DC, MD, VA
- 07/16/07 03:08 AM
Have some wonderful, quiet time on your hands and are you noticing the house would benefit from some sprucing up? Here are 3 quick, easy, fun tips! 1. Fresh Paint. Contrary to some beliefs, painting is one of the fastest and cheapest ways to freshen up, update and enliven a space. Use colors that you like - and consider that you want them to be livable - easy to live with every day. Painting is easy overall and doesn't take much time. Do it yourself - or call in the pros! 2. Acccessorize. Another easy, fun way to anty up your home's interest … (6 comments)
md: Let Your Realtor Do The Driving! Ken Courtade, Yes I Ken!, ABR, GRI, CRS, Keller Williams, Arlington, VA, Northern VA, DC, MD, VA
- 07/16/07 02:50 AM
Why? Are they better drivers, do they have more fuel efficient vehicles or do they know how to navigate the neighborhoods more swiftly?Consider that one of the prime roles of a full service Realtor is to save you time, energy and money in finding your perfect home. One way a Realtor does this is to know the homes (the listings) for sale at any given time in their market. And they need to DRIVE to these homes to really know them. Why spend sometimes untold hours searching online or on foot in the heat of the summer when a simple call or … (2 comments)
md: Focus on Area Communities and Neighborhoods! Ken Courtade, Yes I Ken!, ABR, GRI, CRS, Arlington, VA, Northern VA, DC, MD, VA
- 07/16/07 02:35 AM
First in the series of focuses on area communities and neighborhoods. You buy a house, you buy a community. Look closely at the areas you are considering buying a home in. If neighborhoods and communities mean something to you, consider them in the VALUE of your home.Today, we take a quick pic of an area in North Arlington fondly known as Westover. Where is it? Well, some in the DC area know it as the original home of the great eatery Lebanese Taverna Restaurant and two other great restaurants Lost Dog Cafe and Thai Noy. Residents know it as a wonderful, … (0 comments)
md: Living Green! Ken Courtade, Yes I Ken!, ABR, GRI, CRS, Keller Williams Realty, Arlington, VA, Northern VA, DC, MD, VA
- 07/16/07 02:02 AM
As part of an ongoing series of living a green life, one of my Real Estate Practice's tenets, you will often see on my blog helpful hints and suggestions to being greener. Fish! Salmon is a rich source of nourishment for the human body. When considering it, opt for Alaskan (Wild) or Pacific over farmed. It’s better for your health and for our oceans. To download a great, handy reference guide to potentially dangerous or overfished seafood: sierraclub.org/mercury/fishguide.pdf.Here's to a green day! Any other suggestions for enjoying fish? Please blog here!!!!KenKen Courtade, Yes I Ken!, ABR, GRI, CRS, Keller Williams Realty, Arlington, VA, Northern … (0 comments)
md: Top Ten Towns to Live In, Ken Courtade, Yes I Ken!, ABR, GRI, CRS, Keller Williams Realty, Arlington, VA, Northern VA, DC, MD
- 07/16/07 01:46 AM
This year, in ranking what it considers the "Best Places to Live" in the US, Money Magazine focused more on smaller places than it did last year, ones with between 7,500 and 50,000 residents. Additionally, ones that offered what they considered the best combination of economic opportunity, schools, safety, things to do and a sense of community. They made some adjustments to their methodology by adding a ranking for ethnic and racial diversity and focused on cost of living by loooking at home prices/property taxes. Chances are that you have never heard of many of these - and even greater that you … (0 comments)
md: Who has the luxury of buying "luxury homes? " Ken Courtade, Yes I Ken!, ABR, GRI, CRS, Keller Williams, Arlington, VA, Northern VA, DC, MD
- 07/11/07 03:11 PM
Just WHO buys "luxury" homes? Yes I Ken tell you, thanks to a great recent study! The Luxury Home Council released The 2007 Membership Survey of Luxury Housing Market Trends. The survey's findings: (To see the full report, go to http://www.luxuryhomecouncil.com.) -Occupations: entrepreneur (51%), large business executive (46%) and medical doctor (24%). -The largest percentage of luxury home buyers is in the 40-50 age group (48%), then the 50-65 age group (44%). They are the "Baby Boomer" group: 78 million strong of the US population. -The typical luxury home buyer makes a cash downpayment of over a third of the purchase price. Compare this to the median amount … (0 comments)
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If you are visiting Arlington, VA, or the DC area for Thanksgiving - or simply live here and want to have someone else do the cooking this year - where can you go for Thanksgiving dinner?
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