Chantilly Rambler at 15244 Louis Mill Drive...worth a good look.

This short sale property is a fantastic value, and the home itself has the valuable feature of having an addition which adds a generous extra amount of living space.  If the price and location are in your focus area, this one is worth a good look.

Start by taking a quick Visual Tour right now, and then just let me know if you want more info.

Price:  $279,900

MLS#: FX 7702761

More information:  please click here and you will see the property on our Featured Listings page.

PS – If you are relocating to Northern Virginia, we can get your questions about the area answered quickly.

Open House - Sunday, Sept 25, 2011 - 1 PM to 4 PM

This home is in superb condition and is sharp in all details.  If you are in process or even just starting your home search, this is one that is worth an “in person” look.  And it is in Pleasant Valley, a terrific community of homes very well located close to the Route 28 corridor.

You can get more details and take a Visual Tour here, and if this home looks interesting to you, do come by for the Open House this Sunday, September 25 (1 PM to 4 PM).  And feel free to contact me with any questions.

Chantilly and Northern Virginia area home owners, as well as home buyers and sellers, know that interest rates are low.

But be aware that getting a home loan or doing a refinance is only one way to take advantage of these historic lows.

Take a look at this short video from NBC’s The Today Show to hear about a half-dozen ways to benefit, such as:

• A quick way to refi a car loan
• Balance transfers between credit cards with teaser rates lasting up to 20 months
• Move some savings to an “online” bank where savings rates are higher

The Fed has asserted that the Fed Funds Rate will be held near 0.000% probably until mid-2013.  Why not use it to your advantage if you can.

Also, a reminder that MARKET SNAPSHOT will give you prices of homes sold in your Northern Virginia neighborhood.

And if you are considering buying or selling real estate, we invite you to hear what others are saying about The Kathy O’Neal Team.

It is a good time of year to do a little caulking so you can have more comfort and savings during the winter months.

You can lose a huge amount of of heat through those gaps and openings around doors and windows.

This brief tutorial from Lowe’s will give you some very useful information on simple preventative measures to take.  It is worth your time to check it out.

To weatherize your windows and doors you simply follow this 3-step process:

1. Find the air leaks
2. Clean the surface of existing caulk and debris
3. Seal surface with new caulk, and clean-up

As you will see, this is not a big technical job.

If you’d like professional help weatherizing your home, let me know and I will provide a few referrals.

5464 Braddock Ridge Drive - Centreville, VA 20120

Well located at 5464 Braddock Ridge Drive in Centreville, this attractive home has a lot to like.

The house sparkles and has 4 bedrooms and 3.5 baths, and sits on a full 1/3 acre lot… not very common in the immediate area.

If you are looking in this area, take a quick  Visual Tour so that you can determine whether a visit to the property is your next step.

If you would like to know more, or have any questions at all,  just let me know.

And of course, if you want to tour the home, please contact me and we’ll work out a time that will work for you. 

This is a normal sale home….no headaches or heartaches hiding behind the administrative process.

Please be in touch if you want to know more!

Price:  $410,000

MLS#: FX 7681625

More information:  please click here and you will see the property on our Featured Listings page.

PS – If you are relocating to Northern Virginia, we can get your questions about the area answered quickly.

Labor Day is nearing; the unofficial end of summer across Northern Virginia.  If you’re among the many Americans planning an end-of-season barbecue, you’ll want to make sure your grill is clean.

A clean grill makes better tasting food.

There are several ways to clean a grill but, for owners of gas grills, the first step always is to disconnect the gas source.

Next, open your grill and remove its metal pieces. This includes grates, trays and flame guards. Take these pieces to your kitchen. If the oven has a self-cleaning mechanism, place the items in your oven and let it “self-clean”. As the temperature reaches 900 degrees or more, residue will literally fall off your grill parts.

Be sure to wipe clean your oven once the cycle completes.

If your oven is not self-cleaning, wash the grill parts in your sink using hot water and detergent. You’ll want to soak the parts in soapy water if they’re especially dirty. Once clean, allow the parts to air dry.

Then, return to your grill and using a wire brush, scrape the residue from the sides, top and bottom of the appliance. Again, using a soapy hot water mixture, wash and wipe down the inside of the grill. Rinse it clean once the residue is removed.

Re-assemble your grill.

Lastly, reconnect the gas source (if applicable) and allow the grill to burn for 5 minutes. This will burn off any lingering residue from the cleaning process, including soap and detergent.

And that’s it!

Plan on cleaning your grill at least twice annually with heavy use.

If you would like to be grilling in your new home this time next year and are interested in moving to the Centreville/Chantilly area please know that I am here to help.  Our website has many useful  tools for home buying and you can contact me directly with any questions.  Have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend!

A stand-out at 4360 Silas Hutchinson Drive in Chantilly VA 20151

Nicely located in the community of Pleasant Valley, this exceptionally well-cared for home at 4360 Silas Hutchinson Drive in Chantilly, Virginia (20151) is super clean.

The lot is also above average.  Just like the home, it is well-maintained, elegant, and has the feeling of being fresh and new.

If you are searching homes for sale in the Chantilly or surrounding area, take a quick Visual Tour and you can get a sense of what this home has to offer.  If you have questions, just let me know. If you want to see this home in person, please contact me and we’ll arrange a showing.  

Also, please be aware this home is a normal sale property.  You won’t have the stresses and challenges associated with distressed properties.

We are here if you want to know anything more about this exceptionally attractive home.  I believe it will make its next owner very happy!

Price:  $419,900

MLS#: FX 7659681

More information:  please click here and you will see the property on our Featured Listings page.

PS – If you are relocating to Northern Virginia, we can get your questions about the area answered quickly.

Chantilly home owners with front-loading washing machines probably realize that they have several advantages in making this choice:

1. They wash more clothes per cycle, helping lower energy costs.
2. They use less water per cycle.
3. They are easier on clothes, preserving color and fabric.

But they do require a bit more cleaning care.  They can pool water in their drums, which creates complications like bacteria and mildew build-up, along with the odor that this creates.

Here are a few tips to help you enjoy the benefits and avoid the liabilities of front-loading machines.

First, use High efficiency detergent. The lower volume of suds from these detergents will mean less chemicals and other elements within the detergent to remain in the drum.

Second, about once weekly wipe the inside rim with a dry cloth.  You typically will find a plastic tube where water settles.

Your unit may have a drain filter around the lower edge of the front of the machine.  If it does, remove it so the water can drain.

Third, occasionally run a cycle with the machine empty, with only water and bleach.  If the machine has a smell, this will help remove it.

You can also leave the front door open after you finish a wash load, to circulate fresh air and help the excess water to evaporate.

As always, we are here to serve Chantilly and Northern Virginia area home buyers and sellers with our signature personal and state-of-the-art service.  Let us know how we can help!

Good looking Colonial at 4508 Lees Corner Road in Chantilly, VA

Is this one of the nicest homes for sale in the Brookfield  community? We think so, but come by and take a look and decide for yourself!  Let me know if you want to schedule a tour of the property.  We’d be happy to let you see why we think this is such an attractive home.

There is a lot to like, but one of the very special features is the huge back deck with Koi Pond and gazebo.  It is also nice to see all that open space from the back yard view.

Another very special feature is the open loft on the second floor with the built-in bookshelves.  This space has lots of optional uses, depending on your preferences.

Take a minute and do a Visual Tour, and then let us know if you would like more information.

If you have questions or want to see the home in person, just contact Kathy.

By the way, this home is a normal sale property…no foreclosure or short sale hassles.  Given the current market, this could make your home buying experience a whole lot easier and safer.

Price:  $ 399,900

MLS#: FC 7574393

More information:  please click here and you will see the property on our Featured Listings page.

PS – If you are relocating to Northern Virginia, we can get your questions about the area answered quickly.

Just a reminder for qualified military or federal employees who are eligible.  We are down to 3 weeks from Saturday as the deadline for taking advantage of the federal home buyer tax credit.

It allows you to claim up to $8,000 in federal income tax credits.

We described some of the key details in a previous post, but here is a reminder that time is running out.

Eligible persons include members and spouses of the uniformed services, members and spouses of the Foreign Service, and don’t forget intelligence community employees who served at least 90 days of qualified, extended duty service outside of the United States between January 1, 2009 and April 30, 2010, and their spouses.

As an eligible person, you must be under contract for a new home on or before April 30, 2011, with the home’s closing occurring on or before June 30, 2011.

If you are a repeat buyer you must have lived in your “main home” through 5 of the last 8 years in order to be considered eligible.

Here are some of the other key eligibility criteria that the property and the buyer must conform to:

• Can’t purchase home from a parent, spouse, or child
• Can’t purchase home from an entity in which the seller is a majority owner
• Can’t acquire home by gift or inheritance
• Sale price can’t exceed $800,000
• Buyers can’t earn more than $125,000 as single-filers; $225,000 as joint-filers

You’ll find the complete program description on the IRS website.

If you are relocating to Northern Virginia, or are in the area and want to see if you can still find a property within the deadline time,  let me know and I will be glad to assist with more information.   We are always here for you!