Author Archive
Home Resales Up As Tax Credit Comes To A Close
April 27th, 2010 categories: Buyer Strategies, Seller Strategies
National home sales were up in March with 7% more closings as compared to February.
Compare that to one year ago (March 09) and the volume was up 16 percent.
“Existing home sale” is the technical term for a home resale; a home previously inhabited by a person. It’s the opposite of a “new home sale” which is a sale of a newly-constructed home.
Data on Existing Homes Sales from the National Association of Realtors® also has some interesting things:
- Year-over-year sales are up for the 9th straight month
- 19 percent of all homes purchased came from investors
- 44 percent of all buyers were first-timers
There are still lots and lots of REOs and foreclosures out there. And if you have a buy or sell coming up, do use any of the many tools on our other website. If you are moving into the Northern Virginia area and need to know about prices and neighborhoods, let us know are we’ll be here to get you whatever relocation information would be helpful.
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Relocating? What You Must Know Before Hiring A Moving Service! (Part 2)
November 9th, 2009 categories: Buyer Strategies, PODCASTS, Seller Strategies
EPISODE 25 – REAL ESTATE IN CHANTILLY
If you are relocating to the Northern Virginia area, or making a local move, you may be looking for a moving company.
In this series on how to hire a good moving company we discuss what informed home sellers and buyers should know before they start looking for a moving service.
Choices have consequences, for better or worse. Consumers not doing “due diligence” in making this decision are taking a risk with their possessions and their money.
In this second episode of the series, we discuss how you can go about getting the information you need to locate and hire a good moving service. If you don’t already have a good company, where do you start? What about insurance and bonding? How much coverage should you get? Should you get full replacement cost? What is the single most important thing you should know before signing the contract?
Chantilly and Northern Virginia area home owners who see a move upcoming, as well as anyone moving into the Northern Virginia area, will benefit from the honest and straightforward insights of someone who is working inside the moving industry.
Don’t miss the entire series!
Download this episode (right click and save)
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Selling Your Home While Caring For Your Pet Dog – Part 1
October 4th, 2009 categories: Home Life, PODCASTS, Seller Strategies
If you see the sale of your Chantilly or Northern Virginia area home upcoming, and you have wondered about how to manage the process of caring for your pet dog while doing the best job of getting your home sold well, here are some insights from professional dog trainer Kelley Renshaw, owner of Bark Busters, a Chantilly area dog training service.
In this series of episodes on living happily with your pet dog, we begin by discussing how to care for your pet during the sale of your home. Safety is paramount, for the buyer, for you, and for your pet. What about boarding the pet? How do you select a quality kennel? Will crating work? How do you acclimate your pet to be comfortable with crating? What should you avoid when making these plans?
We start with caring for your pet dog during the sale of your home, and go on to discuss preventing and solving pet behavioral problems. If you are a dog owner you will benefit from the insights offered in this educational series. And please do remember, seek professional help when dealing with serious pet issues.
Download this episode (right click and save)
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USS North Carolina: Remembering the Cost of Freedom
July 11th, 2009 categories: Community Life
Many Chantilly and Northern Virginia area residents love to vacation in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. For those who travel a bit farther south, all the way down to Hatteras, and then to Ocracoke, there is lovely shoreline to experience, especially traveling through the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Read the rest of this entry »
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HONORING THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER
May 7th, 2009 categories: Uncategorized
We are pleased to recognize today as commemorating a National Day of Prayer.
Prayer is a core foundation of most faith traditions. And if you will permit us a very personal reference, it is a vital part of my family’s life.
Our business approach derives directly from our faith. We see the trust people place in us as a sacred responsibility.
So we are happy to see today as a recognition of how critical prayer is for people of faith. Our prayers are with this nation, and for all of the people in the many parts of the world where there is great need.
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OPEN HOUSE FOR VERY NICE CHANTILLY HOME
April 25th, 2009 categories: Chantilly Fairfax County, Featured Listings
We are having an Open House on a wonderful Chantilly home tomorrow.
This home will be Open on Sunday, April 26, from 1 PM to 4 PM.
The location: 4519 Silas Hutchinson Drive – Chantilly, VA 20151
4519 SILAS HUTCHINSON DRIVE - CHANTILLY, VA 20151
This home is in Pleasant Valley, a popular neighborhood that is well located for easy access to all the area employers. To get there, you turn off Route 50 on to Pleasant Valley Road, then turn left on Cub Run Road. Proceed on Cub Run to Silas Hutchinson Drive.
I have worked with many buyers who like this community so well they wait for their “just right” home to come on the market so they can live in this neighborhood.
The house sits on a quiet street and has any number of amenities including a nice-sized fenced yard. This one is not a foreclosure or bank-owned property, so forget the hassles, setbacks, and disappointments.
We invite you to take a quick Visual Tour so you can get a sense of the property. And, if you miss the Open House, let me know and I can answer any questions. You can also easily arrange a tour if that would be of interest.
Price: $370,000
MLS#: FX7030066
More information: please click here and you will see the property on our Featured Listings page.
If I can answer any questions, please Contact Us.
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WHY THE SOUND OF IRISH LAUGHTER MAKES GOD SMILE!
March 17th, 2009 categories: Community Life
A heartfelt Happy St. Patrick’s Day to any and all who may be reading our blog today! Read the rest of this entry »
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NORTHERN VIRGINIA: A HISTORY RICH ENVIRONMENT
February 13th, 2009 categories: Community Life
If you are relocating to Northern Virginia, you are moving to a history rich environment. But if you already live here, it is easy to let some of the local treasures pass you by. Case in point: Masassas National Battlefield Park. You don’t have to be attracted to historical landmarks, to find a tour of this National Park a good use of a few week-end hours.
THERE ARE INFORMATIVE SIGNS THROUGHOUT THE PARK
With the main entrance on Sudley Road, just off the intersection of Lee Highway and Sudley Rd., it is an easy location if you live in Chantilly or any of the nearby communities.
PARK ENTRANCE IS NEAR LEE HIGHWAY & SUDLEY RD
A good place to start is the Visitor Center where you can get a brief and lucid description of how the battles of Manassas I and II unfolded. The Civil war artifacts are also worth your time.
VISITOR CENTER AT MANASSAS BATTLEFIELD PARK
Do you have kids in school? Their history class comes alive after experiencing even a brief tour of the Park. The history in this place rises to meet you like steam from a geothermal spring. When you walk the grounds, let your mind go back to what it must have been like when this site made history.
The real jolt is imagining the horror and violence of Manassas I and Manassas II, the battles that turned these once peaceful fields into scenes of carnage and death. It is worth remembering the human sacrifice. This can take you down the road of many philosophical contemplations on the nature of human nature, but through it all you are reminded of the sheer courage and determination of the human spirit. This was personal war fought with the full and unbridled fury of adversaries who were usually face to face at the moment of their death. And all of this happened just several generations ago, and right in our “neighborhood.”
The dramatic Stonewall Jackson Monument dominates the view near the Visitor Center. Walk over and stand close to it. In a quiet moment you can hear the voice of the soldier whose famous phrase renamed the General….”There stands Jackson, like a stone wall.”
"THERE STANDS JACKSON, LIKE A STONE WALL."
You won’t hear the voice, or the other sounds. audibly. But if you let your mind roll back you can definitely experience just a small measure of the drama that played out on these rolling Virginia hills. This is historical gold in your backyard.
For more information on the Park visit Manassas National Battlefield Park webiste.
Here are a few more images of the Park.
CANNON LINE AT MANASSAS BATTLEFIELD PARK
FOUNDATION OF BENJAMIN CHINN HOUSE
ONE OF NUMEROUS WALKING TRAILS
FAMILIAR LANDMARK - "STONE HOUSE" WAS TAVERN, THEN CIVIL WAR HOSPITAL
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ITALIAN RESTAURANT WORTH DISCOVERING IN CENTREVILLE-CHANTILLY AREA
February 3rd, 2009 categories: Community Life
If you can’t live without the occasional (or frequent) pleasure of good Italian food then you will want to know about the Pacino Ristorante located in the Village Shopping Center at the intersection of Braddock Rd. and Stone Rd. in the Centreville and Chantilly area.
PACINO RESTORANTE - 5655 STONE ROAD - CENTREVILLE, VA
On a recent visit I had opportunity to chat with owner Sam Z. Having enjoyed Pacino’s distinctive pizza style, I’d thought I’d share this gem with our blog viewers.
A few basics first:
Cuisine: Lengthy menu of Italian standards accented by Mediterranean specialties.
Location: Within the Village Shopping Center at the intersection of Braddock Rd. and Stone Rd. From Route 29, turn on Stone Rd. and proceed to Braddock Rd.
Phone: 703 222-5885
Hours of Operation: Monday to Thursday – 11 AM to 10 PM, Friday – 11 AM to 11 PM, Saturday – 9 AM to 11 PM, Sunday – 9 AM to 9 PM
Lunch Buffet: Monday to Friday, 11 AM to 3 PM
Catering Service: Pacino’s does on-site and off-site catering for weddings, parties, special events. Menu can be customized to your preference. A dining room is available for all special events, and the entire restaurant can also be reserved .
DINING ROOM FOR SPECIAL EVENTS AT PACINO'S RISTORANTE
Describing his approach, Sam puts it this way: ”I started from the bottom in the restaurant business and worked my way up. I wanted to start my own restaurant where I could make great food and treat people the way I want to be treated when I go to a restaurant. So we always do what is best for our customers..fresh, quality ingredients, carefully made.” It is nice to see this level of passion and conviction centered around genuine concern for the customer.
Sam has built a loyal customer base which includes many local residents who come back regularly. ”I really love getting to know my customers. When they come here I just want them to feel completely relaxed. They know they are welcome..they know how much we care about giving them the best food.”
Another feature that keeps people coming back is Pacino’s prices. “I want people to come back, so we work hard to keep everything affordable. And we are generous with our portions. I don’t want anyone leaving hungry!”
PACINO'S OWNER: HIS RECIPE IS FRESHNESS, QUALITY, & VALUE.
- BUFFET FOR LUNCH AND SPECIAL EVENTS
If you are in the area and want a hearty lunch, Pacino’s runs their buffet Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 3 PM. Typically it includes 8 entrees, pizza, and salad for $8.50. Also of note, Pacino’s has an attractive reserved dining room that works great for special events, club meetings, parties and other occasions.
So, if you have never visited Pacino’s, next time you have that “must have” feeling for good Italian cooking, give Pacino’s a try. You won’t spend a fortune, but you will eat very well.
ONE OF SEVERAL DINING ROOMS
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WHEN YA GOTTA HAVE A CHEESESTEAK – THE PHILLY CONNECTION IN CHANTILLY
January 28th, 2009 categories: Community Life
If you grew up in Philly you probably know that Cheesesteak feeling. And it is not only, or even mainly about the food itself. It’s about all the memories of growing up in your home town. The sandwich is just the ticket that takes you back to a time that seems so long ago, and yet so near. Read the rest of this entry »
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