Archive for February, 2010
Alexandria Named Most Romantic City in America
February 17th, 2010 Categories: Real Estate News
Alexandria has been named the Most Romantic City in America by Amazon.com!
Starting January 1, 2010, Amazon targeted cities with 100,000 or more residents and compiled per capita sales data on romance novels, sex and relationship books, romantic comedy DVD’s, Barry White CD’s and “sexual wellness” products.
And the results were clear – Alexandria ranked at the top of the list – which comes as no surprise to those of us who LOVE living in Alexandria. Just for the record, Alexandria was also named the Most Romantic City in America in 2008.
The other cities on the list?
2. Miami, FL
3. Cambridge, MA
4. Ann Arbor, MI
5. Berkley, CA
6. Gainesville, FL
7. Arlington, VA
8. Salt Lake City, UT
9. Pittsburgh, PA
10. Orlando, FL
11. Washington, DC
12. Bellevue, WA
13. Seattle, WA
14. Richmond, VA
15. Cincinnati, OH
16. Knoxville, TN
17. Columbia, MO
18. Tallahassee, FL
19. Columbia, SC
20. Atlanta, GA
Fun isn’t it?
Michael
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10 Must Have Features in New Homes
February 16th, 2010 Categories: Real Estate News
What are the 10 must have features in new homes? AVID Ratings, a company that provides surveys and employee training to builders around the country, conducts an annual survey to determine home buyer preferences in new construction.
The company found the following 10 features were must have features in new homes:
- Large kitchens with an island
- Energy efficient appliances and high effeciency insulation and windows
- Home office or study
- Main floor master suite
- Outdoor living room
- Ceiling fans
- Master suite soaking tubs and oversize showers with seating areas
- Stone and brick exteriors
- Community landscaping with walking paths and playgrounds
- Two car garages
Interesting isn’t it? Does the list surprise you? Are hardwood floors and granite counters simply considered standard? Let me know what you would put on your list.
And if you want to look for a house with these 10 must have features, give me a call at 703.927.4554.
Michael
Thanks to Melissa Dittmann Tracey at Realtor.org for this information.
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Alexandria Parents Rally to Get Schools Open in Blizzard Aftermath
February 15th, 2010 Categories: Alexandria
Responding to a plea from Mort Sherman, Superintendent of the Alexandria Public School System, Alexandria parents rallied today to get schools open on Tuesday for the first time in more than a week.
Savvy PTA members targeted the neighborhood list servs and that was all it took.
At elementary schools parents and friends were asked to volunteer between the hours of 10:00am and 2:00pm to shovel snow, break up ice, and clear all sidewalks surrounding the school.
At local secondary schools, neighbors were asked to clear bus stops while the City crews worked to create “super sidewalks” along major walking routes.
We nipped over to Maury School on Commonwealth Avenue in Rosemont to help out and found a crew of about 25 adults and several children hard at it.
Shovels, spades (for chopping ice) and above freezing temperatures were a good combination – toss in coffee, donuts and community spirit and you have an occasion that would have made George Washington proud.
Want to know more about living in this great community? Give me a call at 703.927.4554 and let’s talk houses.
Michael
Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of volunteers, we received a notice as we were writing that schools will remain closed tomorrow because of continuing problems with bus stops, sidewalks and emergency exits at the schools.
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George Washington Day Parade in Alexandria, VA
February 15th, 2010 Categories: Alexandria
The decision to cancel the annual George Washington Day Parade in Alexandria was made early last week when it became obvious that the parade route would be seriously compromised.
However, it doesn’t seem quite right to have the day pass without some kind of tribute to George so, for your viewing pleasure, the story and pictures from the George Washington Day parade – 2009!
Despite temperatures in the mid 40′s and gray skies, Alexandria residents and tourists alike turned out to celebrate the birthday of home town hero George Washington with a parade through Old Town.
Now truthfully, Alexandria’s are parade happy. We like to trot out our city council members, school board members, police chief, police cycle units, fire Marshall, firetrucks, Boy Scouts, Smart Car owners, local bands, drum and bugle corps, pipers, re-enactment groups, former U.S. Presidents, and anyone else who wants to dress up, ride a horse, or drive an old car. It’s all good fun, the kids love it and, after all, it’s a federal holiday!
Even the houses in Old Town get dressed up!
Mr. Lincoln
First Virginia Regiment, Continental Line
Chatting with Del Ray neighbor and Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille
Sharing a laugh with U.S. Congressman Jim Moran – former Mayor of Alexandria and one of the founders of the Del Ray Citizens Association
Quintessential Alexandria – Old meets New
Thanks for stopping by,
Michael
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Alexandria and Northern Virginia Real Estate Market Report for January 2010
February 14th, 2010 Categories: Market Reports, Real Estate News
The Alexandria and Northern Virginia Real Estate Market Report for January 2010 was released late last week.
Here is a quick snapshot for Alexandria City:
- January 2010 sales were up 32.52% from January 2009
- Median sales price for January 2010 was $366,250, up 12.9% from January 2009
- Average sales price for January 2010 was $413,236, up 4.1% from January 2009
- Total inventory of properties available for sale in January 2010 was 432, down 31.5% from January 2009
- January YTD sales of 106 are running 32.5% ahead of last year’s year-to-date sales of 80.
In the following week we will bring you a series of reports on individual neighborhoods and zip codes for a hyper local view of the market. In the meantime, look at the following real estate market reports for Alexandria and Northern Virginia:
Alexandria
Arlington
Fairfax County
Washington, DC
Still thinking about that first time home owners tax credit? The deadline for this extraordinary opportunity is fast approaching – you must be under contract by April 30th – and you should be actively looking now.
Call me at 703.927.4554 and let’s talk houses.
Michael
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Caring for Your Plants After the Snow
February 12th, 2010 Categories: Real Estate News
Caring for your plants after the snow should be of real concern for home owners. All it takes is one look to see the damaged trees left here in Alexandria and the greater Northern Virginia area after the unprecedented weather of the past two weeks.
Broad leaved and coniferous evergreens like magnolia, pine, cypress, hemlock, cedar, and privet have suffered tremendously.
Although some will pull through unscathed, most of these valuable landscape plantings will need extensive renovation pruning if they are to survive. In some cases, especially with weak rooted trees like Leyland cypress, the tree may not be salvageable.
In the next few days homeowners should work to remove as much snow as possible from the limbs of young and mature trees. Use a shovel or broom to knock off heavy accumulations and then, if possible, gently lift and shake the limbs.
Broken branches should be pruned to remove jagged or torn limbs as soon as the snow has melted and damage can be assessed.
If this is an area in which you have no expertise (especially with large trees) call the International Society of Arboriculture for more information.
The Virginia Cooperative Extension office will also be offering pruning classes at the end of February. Resist, even with a below market price, allowing “landscape” companies who may come knocking at your door. There are definitely reputable firms out there but you need to do your homework.
According to Adrian Higgins at the Washington Post, “The best thing you can do for azaleas, Japanese hollies or any other shrub buried in wet snow is to leave it alone. Trying to excavate it will only damage stems and buds. Flattened plants will spring back, perhaps not immediately, but they will want to reach for the sun again. Once the snow is gone, find broken branches and cut them cleanly where they meet another stem.”
It’s also worth remembering that if you inherited mature trees or foundation plantings the damage could be due to errors or poor planting conditions from years back. In that case you may welcome the opportunity to start over.
So, do what you can to care for your plants and remember, as surely as the housing market is on the rebound, so too is spring just around the corner.
Michael
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Are You Getting Bank for the Buck on Your Home Replacements?
February 9th, 2010 Categories: Real Estate News
In our two previous articles, we talked about getting bang for the buck on home additions and home renovations. Today we are going to talk about getting bang for the buck on key home replacements.
I promise we didn’t plan it this way but with the unprecedented snows over the past week, the replacement of roofing, siding and even windows is an appropriate consideration.
The statistics show that mid-range, as opposed to up-scale, home additions, renovations and replacements deliver the most value in today’s economy.
An exception to that rule however is fiber-cement siding replacement and vinyl window replacement.
The average cost of fiber-cement siding is more than $13,000 but its return on investment reached 83.6 percent. The average cost of vinyl window replacement is nearly $14,000 and it generates an average return of 76.5 percent.
Our numbers are taken from this month’s issue of Remodeling Magazine and their annual “Cost vs. Value” report.
The cost data are generated by gathering current cost information from a nation wide network of remodeling contractors and suppliers. The model then uses an adjustment factor for regional price differences.
For more on how to get bang for buck in Alexandria and Northern Virginia, call me at 703.927.4554 and let’s talk houses.
Michael
Related stories:
Are You Getting Bang for the Buck on Your Home Remodeling?
Are You Getting Bang for the Buck on Your Home Addition?
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Del Ray Snow Removal – It’s a Block Party on East Howell Avenue
February 7th, 2010 Categories: Del Ray
What better way to tackle snow removal in Del Ray than with an impromptu “block party” on East Howell Avenue.
The bright sun and crisp clean air brought out the neighbors to lend their collective efforts in clearing sidewalks and driveways. As a secondary road we won’t see snow plows for several days so right now it’s a do it yourself affair.
But with neighbors like this it’s not bad, not bad at all . . .
Michael
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