Perched high overlooking the Potomac River the Fort Belvoir's Officer Club has one of the best views in all of Northern Virginia. The Officers Club isn't the only place to enjoy time with Mother Nature on post. In fact Fort Belvoir which is comprised of over 8,500 acres also has over 1,300 acres of dedicated wildlife refuges as part of the base property as well. The largest piece of the refugee established in 1980 is the Accotink Bay Wildlife Refuge on the north post. The trail offers nine miles of walking paths through a variety of wildlife habitat and includes a handicap accessible Pohick Trail. On the south post of Fort Belvoir is the Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge. Established in 1988 to protect a local wetland area the refuge is a great spot for local fisherman (with a valid V... 09/07/2009

The new DeWitt Army Hospital at Fort Belvoir is less than 2 years away from opening it's doors as part of the influx military and civilian jobs heading to Fort Belvoir.  The construction area is buzzing seven days a week!    The new DeWitt Hosptial is located just inside Pence gate and is just down the road from the current hospital but it is easy to see how this new facility will eclipse the old one. The new DeWitt Army hospital will not be a single building but a complex. Featuring state of the art technology eliminating the need for hand carrying of medical records from one facility to another, top of the line clinic services and more inpatient services the hospital will rival any top of the line private hospital. The current DeWitt hospital is a typical military hospital with most ... 08/31/2009

The Fairfax Village Community Center at Fort Belvoir is the first building on a U.S. military installation to be recognized with a Platinum LEED Award.  Built as a public-private partnership with the U.S. Department of the Army and Clark Pinnancle, responsible for the renovation and construction of more than 2000 homes on Fort Belvoir, the center is a showcase of green design. For families who live on Fort Belvoir, the new village community center is more than just an award winning green design project.  It is a place where community functions can take place, where children can play or learn about native plants and where families can walk the historic Fort Belvoir trail. When you first pull up to the building you can immediately notice one of the first green aspects of the building.  An... 07/30/2009

Just as Virginia Senator Jim Webb provided support for Military Families with the proposal to increase the funding for the Department of Defense HAP program, Virginia Congressman Jim Moran has provided support for the allocation of infrastructure funds for the continuation of improvements to the Fort Belvoir area as part of BRAC. The House Appropriations Committee has passed a number of military funding requests for 2010 under the Military Construction and Veterans' Affairs Appropriations Bill (H.R. 3082).  The bill provides the following provisions for Fort Belvoir:Fort Belvoir Access Road -- $9.5 million. To construct a new entrance from U.S. Route 1 onto the North Post of Fort Belvoir.  Currently, the only access point from US Route 1 onto the North Post is via Woodlawn Gate (Route 6... 07/21/2009

As families currently eligible for the Department of Defense HAP program await updated guidelines to be published, additional funding is being proposed in the US Senate by Virginia Senator Jim Webb for Fiscal Year 2010.Senate bill (S 1309) proposes an additional $350 million dollars to enhance the funding provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed last fall.   With over 2000 applications for assistance for wounded warriors, surviving spouses, families with PCS orders and BRAC transferees in the south east district waiting to be processed, it is apparent that the current funding could easily be depleted before the deadline for the program expires.The financial burden military families who are required to move with PCS orders in a sagging housing market can be significa... 07/20/2009

The evidence of the BRAC deadline for development and movement of personnel is starting to take shape in the Fort Belvoir area.  Not only can you drive through the main post and see the changes but outside the gates local neighborhoods can see the impact as well.Two of the most visible projects in Springfield include the extension of the Fairfax County Parkway along Rolling Road and the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency building.   The final leg of the FXC Parkway has been on the books for years waiting funding.  The push to ease the impact of 6500 personnel headed to the new National Geospatial Intelligence Agency building at the old Engineering Proving Grounds in Springfield has made the road a reality.  Now as you exit the parkway at Rolling Road instead of seeing the woods and... 07/18/2009

UNDER CONTRACT 6982 FOREPOND CT Single Family House 3 bedrooms3 full/1 partial baths2,423 sqft  $495,000 Fort Belvoir, VA Beautiful 3BR 3.5BA home has 3 finished levels, custom built-in shelves & gas fireplace in FR, kitchen w/ granite counters & ceramic tile floor, angled staircase, cathedral ceiling master bedroom, laundry rm on BR level, loft area for den/library, attached 2-car side loading garage and front patio area.   BERNIE KAGAN Samson Realty14526 Lee Road Suite 100, Chantilly , VA 20151direct: 703-216-0985fax: (703) 896-5816berniekagan@hotmail.comwww.BernieKagan.com 06/25/2009

I ran across this field of buttercups on Fort Belvoir while headed to an appointment.  They reminded me of when we used to pick them as children and it was a make you smile moment.   ©Cindy Jones 2009  If you would like to use this image, just drop me an email with your request.  A link back or acknowledgement would be nice! 06/17/2009

If you have orders to Fort Belvoir and have heard about t thinking about buying a new home in Northern Virginia then you need an agent who is dedicated to helping you find the best deal in a neighborhood that is right for you and your family. If you are like most buyers you are starting your search for a new home on the internet. The internet can offer you a great place to start. However the internet also hides some critical information from you as well. This is where a buyer's agent, dedicated to protecting your interests comes in.A buyer's agent not only can find the hidden comments but they also can help you understand the critical differences between a short sale, a foreclosure sale and an owner sale. Many buyers automatically gravitate to foreclosures thinking they are the best dea... 06/13/2009

Over the last few years many military families making the move to Fort Belvoir, the Pentagon or any of the installations within the Military District of Washington made the decision to purchase a home when their orders arrived.  With quick appreciation and fast sales it made the choice easy.  Now with prices lower and the market slow trying to make the choice between buying and renting is harder.For many using their VA home loan benefits in this market makes sense.  As the only 100% loan program available for military families they can ease the costs associated with buying a new home.  With lower prices military members can buy more house today than they could before.  With sellers often making a contribution to the closing costs up to the allowable VA limits it gets even easier to keep... 06/10/2009

Most people hear the term "sticker shock" and they think of cars. For military families relocating to Northern Virginia from other bases around the country the term can also explain their first reaction to housing prices in our area. Today's market has helped lessen that shock but it is still something to consider as you decide whether you should buy a home in the area.One of the many benefits that the military offers is the VA loan which has made a comeback for buyers in Northern Virginia over the last year. The first thing I recommend to anyone with PCS orders is to verify their BAH rate, this will help you with understanding how much of a payment you might be comfortable making. Then take a look at your VA loan eligibility status. If you are eligible most lenders will have the abilit... 05/22/2009

With summer quickly approaching the Youth Club's on Fort Belvoir are gearing up for a fun summer.   Besides the activities at the post pools families on Fort Belvoir can also sign their children up for a variety of special camps. Junior Golf LeagueAges 7-15Cost $65Enrollment Dates:  May18-June 26Clinics begin July 1Limit 15 per age groupFootball CampAges 7-15Cost $30Enrollment Dates:  May 18-June 25Camp Dates:         July 27-July 31Cheerleading CampAges 5-15Cost $30Enrollment Dates:  May 18-June 25Camp Dates:         July 27-July 31Basketball CampAges 7-15Cost $30Enrollment Dates:  May 9-July 18Camp Dates:        July 13-July17Tennis CampAges 7-15Cost $45Enrollment Dates:    June 1-July 24Camps Dates:        One Week in August   All sports activities require parents to provide a birth ... 05/15/2009

If you have PCS orders to Fort Belvoir this summer and you are a boat owner, don't worry.  Fort Belvoir has its own marina located just inside Walker Gate.The Fort Belvoir Marina sits on Dogue Creek which runs into the Potomac River.  Located just south of Mount Vernon the marina offers active duty Army personnel and retirees an opportunity to dock and store their boats for a reasonable rate.  The marina club offers a number of activities throughout the boating season including cook outs and "raftups".  If you haven't participated in a "raftup" event before be prepared for a lot of fun!   As part of the Potomac River Yacht Club Association and the Coast Guard Auxiliary the club is also interested in the environment and works closely with the other local marinas to protect the Potomac Ri... 05/13/2009

Fort Belvoir has a lot to offer military families on post. However we all know that you can't find everything you want at the PX or the Commissary so knowing where to shop for other essentials and special treats is important. It isn't hard in Northern Virginia to find what you need. Whether you are looking for a bag of chips, a paint brush to put your own touch on your new home, clothes to deal with our ever changing weather or a whole house full of furniture because you are ready for something new, there are number of places to shop all convenient to the main gate. One of the hardest things to get used to when you move to a new area is the differences in the grocery stores. In Northern Virginia you can find all types and sizes of grocery stores. For more "upscale" grocery shopping you ... 05/06/2009

It is that time of year when military families start to plan their summer moves. The weather can be very dangerous to anyone moving in the heat of the summer with a pet. First of all many pets just don't take well to travel of any kind but add 90 degree temperatures on top of that and the combination can be deadly. If you are getting ready for a cross country move you need to make sure that you have checked with the hotels along your route to make sure that they can accommodate your animals. Yes, I know if you have a cat you can sneak them in just about anywhere but if you plan to stay more than one night what are you going to do when the maid arrives to clean your room? Put the cat in your sweltering car? Don't think so. Second tip is do not let any pet, either a dog or cat run loose i... 05/05/2009

Perched high overlooking the Potomac River the Fort Belvoir's Officer Club has one of the best views in all of Northern Virginia. The Officers Club isn't the only place to enjoy time with Mother Nature on post. In fact Fort Belvoir which is comprised over 8,500 also has over 1,300 acres of dedicated wildlife refuges as part of the base property as well. The largest piece of the refugee established in 1980 is the Accotink Bay Wildlife Refuge on the north post. The trail offers nine miles of walking paths through a variety of wildlife habitat and includes a handicap accessible Pohick Trail. On the south post of Fort Belvoir is the Jackson Miles Abbott Wetland Refuge. Established in 1988 to protect a local wetland area the refuge is a great spot for local fisherman (with a valid VA fishing... 04/21/2009

In seems logical that the Army would build green homes.  Where else can you see more green than on an Army post?  But the green homes at Fort Belvoir have nothing to do with fatigues or uniforms but are all about the environment and building housing to support those who sacrifice to serve our country. Under a partnership with Clark-Pinnacle the 12 Villages of Fort Belvoir have been undergoing a transformation.  Over 1100 homes have been demolished and replaced with "energy star certified" homes."   In order for a home to qualify as an "energy star certified home" they have to be built with the appliances, AC units, windows and insulation that meets the US Department of Energy standards.Open in late summer 2008 the Fairfax Village Neighborhood Center has been awarded Platinum LEED Certif... 04/15/2009

Tucked away among all of the traditional homes, both old and new on Fort Belvoir stands a home that isn't like any of the others.  Just as the Lustron homes on Quantico were a response to the US Government's need for quick delivery homes after WWII, the Thermo-Con house on Fort Belvoir stands as a reminder of the Army's attempt to use alternative building materials in the 1940's. Situated next to the traditional Cape Code homes of Gerber Village, the Thermo-Con house looks more like Frank Lloyd Wright's Pope-Leighy House just a few miles down the road than it does its traditional brick neighbors.  The house derives its name from the material that was used to create the home a mixture of "Portland cement, water and a patented formula of mineral origin."  Completed by the Army Corps of En... 04/14/2009

Relocation is never easy. It doesn't matter how many times the PCS orders arrive there are the usual questions about your new area and this on-line guide is here to help you answer a few of them. What is the BAH rate for Fort Belvoir? Use zip code 22060 Where is Fort Belvoir Located?Northern VirginiaFairfax County What's On Post? To know everything about the post you need to check out the official Fort Belvoir website. In addition here are a few posts on my personal perspective of Fort Belvoir: Fort Belvoir HousingFort Belvoir Accotink TrailFort Belvoir Not Your Usual Army PostDeWitt Hospital   What types of neighorhoods are there close to the post? Since housing is a very personal choice providing you information on every neighborhood in the area without knowing your needs could be con... 04/01/2009

The current real estate market in Northern Virginia has proved a rude awakening for some renting military families who signed a lease in the last year.  Landlords who decided NOT to pay their mortgages have left the tenants holding the bag when the sheriff comes to the door. Military familes who are forced to make a local move due to a foreclosure may find some relief from the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.  Not many servicemembers know that under section 531 in the SCRA anyone looking to evict an active duty servicemember from a rental property that is their primary residence must have a court order.  This applies to rent that is less than $2831.113 per month.  Servicemembers can apply to the court to stay their eviction or reduce their rent until their case works it's way through th... 04/01/2009