The Sydenstricker School in Springfield VA was the last one room school house in operation in Fairfax County. It closed in 1939 but the building is still used today as a community meeting hall. The belfry contains the original school bell purchased in 1920's from the Sears Roebuck store in Alexandria.  The school was named after the first minister of the original Sydenstricker Church next door built in 1909. Rev. Syndenstricker was also the uncle of Nobel Prize Winner Pearl Buck the author of The Good Earth.

Schools in Springfield VA and Fairfax County have come a long way since the Syndenstricker school closed.  For the 2011-2012 school year you will find  177,000 students enrolled in Fairfax County Schools, the 11th largest school district in the US.   Per the Fairfax County School website the country schools are comprised of "138 elementary schools (grades K-6), 22 middle schools (grades 7 and 8), 4 secondary schools (grades 7-12), 21 high schools (grades 9-12), 7 special education centers, 2 alternative high schools, and 48 alternative programs."

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology has been ranking number 1 in the US and World Report for multiple years.

You won't find a single one room school house in the entire Fairfax County Schools system today.

Moving to Springfield or Fairfax County area?   Make sure you check out the Fairfax County Public School Website for information for information on the schools and programs offered.

Searching for houses in Springfield Virgiina and wonder what school your children would attend?  Enter the address in the Fairfax County School Boundary link to find out.

If you are still looking for a home in the Springfield VA area or anywhere in Fairfax County give Cindy Jones and CJ Realty Group a call  703-346-2213.  Not only did I attend Fairfax County Schools from kindergarten through high school graduation so did my children.  Let me show you the neighborhoods that meet the needs for your family.

Buyers moving to Northern Virginia often see the phrase "inside" or "outside" the beltway in MLS descriptions and wonder where are these locations on the map.  For those who have lived in the Northern Virginia most of our lives we have watched "outside" the beltway on the Virginia side expand far west and south of DC.

Just as the term "slugging" started as a phrase to describe riders using counterfeit tokens, the term inside or outside the beltway started with a different meaning in our area as well. The phrase was originally used politically to describe the fact that most of the power in the DC area was located inside the beltway where the Federal Government is located.

The first written reference to the term is found with the Warren Commission Report about Watergate printed in 1975:

"In the White House of Richard M. Nixon, it was said that Watergate would become serious only if it "got outside the Washington Beltway." Guess we know how that turned out!

Neighborhoods in Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church and McLean are some examples of neighborhoods inside the beltway in Northern Virginia. Neighborhoods inside the beltway used to lean towards smaller older homes on tree lined lots however there has been a boom of condo developments inside the beltway. With the metro and buses within walking distance, many of the newer neighborhoods quickly gained popularity with buyers wanting to ditch their car for their daily commute.

Outside the beltway has expanded significantly over the past 10 years and some might say that it extends all the way to the Shenandoah Valley where you can find commuter lots for van pools to DC. The selection of neighborhoods outside the beltway is generally more diverse if for no other reason than the space constraints of trying to squeeze homes within a smaller geographic area has been removed. There has been significant new home development outside the beltway in recent years in the western part of Fairfax County, Prince William County and Loudoun County.

So another mystery of local terminology is revealed. If you want to know more about living either inside or outside the beltway give me a call at 703-346-2213. I've got a few other localisms I can clue you into as well!

Residents of Burke VA have a game they like to play.  It's called name everything with the word “Burke” in it.  Between streets, shopping centers and parks you could easily come up with a 100 locations with the name Burke.  Considering Silas Burke’s role in the development of the area it makes sense.

What may be surprising to many is that there were a number of families and are homes in the area that predate the landmark Silas Burke house built in 1824.  One of those homes is Kings Grant.


Kings Grant was built on 21 acres of the original Ravensworth Estate.  Ravensworth Estates encompassed 24,000 acres purchased in 1685 by Col. William Fitzhugh.  During the early colonial days it was the largest tobacco plantation in Northern Virginia.   As was customary at the time parcels of big estates were divided among the heirs of of the owners.  Eventually 21 acres were given to his son a Commander in the Stafford Militia to build his home.

The home he built in 1780 still stands in Burke today.  If you didn’t know it was there you wouldn’t see it as it is tucked away inside another subdivision in the community.  For me this home was where I spent many weekends as a young girl when it was owned by the Ruffner family. 


The Ruffner’s owned and ran Patty’s Riding School and Stables.  On weekends you would find me along with a number of other horse crazy girls either in the riding ring or on the trails.  We learned to muck stalls, clean hooves, proper care of our tack and much more.  At the end of our round of lessons we would have a Saturday night camp out on the grounds.  At the time none of us knew or cared that the house we tromped through or the grounds we were sleeping had any historic significance. 

The Ruffner's eventually sold the land for development but the original farm house from 1780, the stables and log cabin still remain. It's fun to know that a piece of history both of our area and of my childhood is still there tucked behind the trees for future generations to see.

Cindy have you lost your mind? You can't walk to the Pentagon from Daventry in Springfield (VA). It's 20 miles. You will be arrested as soon as you set foot on I-395 aka Shirley Highway. What is wrong with you?

Alright already but you can walk to the direct Pentagon Slug Line at the entrance to the Daventry neighborhood. From there you will be whisked safely down the highway to the drop off point at the Pentagon. If you aren't familiar with the term "slug lines" in relation to Northern Virginia commuting don't panic. It is a unique and legal way to hitch-hike your way to the Pentagon, State Department, World Bank or many other locations in DC.

A free ride isn't the only reason that Daventry is a popular neighborhood in Springfield. The community offers a community pool, community center, tennis courts, four tot lots and access to walking paths connected to the huge Fairfax County Park Authority network of trails and access to Lake Accotink.

Daventry offers a variety of housing including 512 townhouses most with garages, 212 single family homes and Ramblewood at Daventry offers 160 condominiums. In addition to the ease of commuting to the Pentagon using the slug line, it is also within 5 miles of the Springfield Metro Station accessible by driving or taking the Metro or Fairfax County Connector Bus also located at the entrance to the community.

Multiple shopping centers are close by featuring Giant Foods, Trader Joes and Whole Foods. You can find plenty of places to eat including Mikes American Grill, Five Guys Burgers & Fries and Austin Grill,

If living in a neighborhood where you can "walk" to the Pentagon sounds appealing then give me a call at 703-346-2213. Let me show you how to take advantage of the slug line and all of the other great benefits of the Daventry neighborhood.

If you are headed to Fort Belvoir, the Pentagon or any of the Military District of Washington installations stop by CJ Realty Group to learn more about the Northern Virginia area.

Are PCS orders considered a hardship?

Yes they are.  Last fall the Fannie Mae issued guidelines to include Permanent Change of Station (PSC) orders as a hardship. For the owners of this home in Port Potomac it was a difficult decision to make.  They missed the cut-off date for qualification of the DoD Homeowners Assistance Program by three weeks.  Faced with a significant decline in the value of their home in Port Potomac a short sale became their next option.

As often happens with short sales the first buyer's lower offer was not supported by an appraisal or a Broker Price Opinion so they decided to move on.  With an approved price in hand the second buyer was able to benefit and close within 60 days.  The family was able to move on to their new duty station together with the stress of a short sale behind them.

For more details and the Fannie Mae hotline for military families check out  "Are PCS Orders a Hardship for a Short Sale."  If you have a VA loan and are faced with selling your home in a downturn Woodbridge VA real estate market you may want to read "Ft. Belvoir VA Compromise Sale Update" to learn about new relocation benefits you may qualify for.

If you are a active duty with a home to sell in Port Potomac or any of the near by Woodbridge VA neighborhoods give Cindy Jones and CJ Realty Group a call at 703-346-2213. 

Are PCS orders considered a hardship? It's a question that we are asked frequently by military families stationed at Ft. Belvoir, Quantico MCB, the Pentagon and other installations part of the Military District of Washington. Last fall the Fannie Mae issued guidelines to include Permanent Change of Station (PSC) orders as a hardship. A hot line was (877-MIL-4566) created for service members to be able to discuss foreclosure prevention options available.

In addition Fannie Mae also announced a six month military forbearance program where the death or injury of a service member on active duty causes a hardship for military families with a mortgage obligation. Don't know whether you have a Fannie Mae backed loan? Check to see if you have a Fannie Mae Loan.

The Treasury Department has also announced military families may be eligible for Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternative (HAFA) approved short sale without showing a drop in income. You can read the official guidelines for HAFA on their website.

Last year both Chase and USAA approved short sales for two of my military clients with PCS orders. USAA also approved a VA Compromise Sale for a military family who qualified under the Fannie Mae guidelines. Just as with any short sale a military service member does have to provide a complete packet of documentation.

If you are Ft Belvoir service member faced with a short sale decision check with your lender to see what options they have to offer.  If you are looking for an agent who has experienced guiding service members through short sales, DoD HAP or VA Compromise Sales give Cindy Jones and CJ Realty Group a call at 703-346-2213.

If you're not sure what a VA Compromise sale is you can check out my previous post "Military Families Options if You Are Upside Down on Your Mortgage."  In brief it's a short sale for VA loans. 

Now the Veteran's Administration (VA) has added a $1500 Relocation Bonus for VA Compromise Sales at closing. The funds must be shown on the HUD-1 provided at closing.

This announcement comes on the heels of the Treasury Department saying some military families may be eligible for HAFA approved short sales without showing a drop in income. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have also changed their guidelines to include PCS orders as a qualifying hardship making a short sales easier for military families.

With the DoD HAP Benefits running low more service members may be looking at a short sale or VA Compromise sale as an option. It's never an easy decision to undertake a sale of a home when you are upside down on the mortgage but not everyone wants to become a landlord or face a separation from your family. However you do have options.

If you are a Ft Belvoir, Pentagon or Quantico service member with a VA loan and need assistance selling your Woodbridge VA home give an agent experienced with VA Compromise sales, military short sales and DoD HAP sales give Cindy Jones and CJ Realty Group a call at 703-346-2213

As an agent who has had the privilege of successfully completing 35 Northern Virginia Department of Defense HAP sales, keeping up with all of the latest information is a daily challenge. Talking with other agents across the country who also have been working with the HAP program we shared our concerns about the program and some of the inconsistencies we've experienced between each of the offices processing DoD HAP files. Files for our area are processed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in Savannah GA.

In case you were wondering how the HAP program originally got funding here is the history: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 allocated $555 million and the National Defense Authorization Act of 2010 authorized an additional $300 million for the Expanded Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP).

The IG report on DoD HAP provides details on the issues that were found with the program and is open for comments until January 23, 2012. If you are military service member eligible for DoD HAP benefits or has been denied benefits you should read the report and make comments on your experience with the program.

Per the report released by the IG office, as of February 23, 2011 the program had paid 4,825 applicants a total of $725.5 million, but had a backlog of 4,897 eligible applicants.It doesn't take much to do the math and see that the program will run out of money before all eligible service members will be able to settle on their homes unless additional funding is provided.  In fact in the last few months it appears that processing of files has slowed as "recovered funds" are required in order to settle on sales. 

This week Holly Petraeus, head of the Office of Servicemember Affairs in the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), suggested in an article in the Stars and Stripes that "the extra $550 million Congress appropriated to expand HAP has been used and no more military families are getting that special help."

If you are eligible for DoD HAP benefits and own a home in the Northern Virginia you should contact the Savannah Regional Office of HAP to discuss your specific situation.  If you own a home in the Northern Virginia area and are looking for a Realtor® who is familar with the HAP program give Cindy Jones and CJ Realty Group a call at 703-346-2213.

Originally posted on www.varealestatetalk.com

When most Northern Virginia residents think of hiking in Mason Neck they immediately gravitate towards the largest park in the area, Mason Neck State Park.  It's a beautiful area and for anyone who wants to look for Bald Eagles it is the place to go.  However just a few miles before you reach Mason Neck State Park is the Meadowood Recreation Area managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

One of the things that makes walking through the loop trails in Meadowood Recreation Area interesting is who or make that what you will find along the trail.  Like other trails in the area you will find plenty of 4 legged friends out with their owners.  In this case though the 4 legged friends are a bit larger.  Meadowood is a popular place for local equestrians to come out for a ride.

With over six miles of hiking and horseback riding trails, two fishing ponds, 800 acres of forest and meadows you can find plenty for any fitness level.  There are two entrances to the area.  The first is off of Colchester Road for the "west" entrance into the park.  The other entrance is on Harley Road and is the Meadow entrance to the park just past the BLM stables. There is a connector trail that allows hikers to cover the entire area of the park.

If you are looking for a casual hike and enjoy meeting a 4 legged friend or two along the way then check out Meadowood Recreation Area in Lorton VA.  And if you happen to pass this handsome guy along they way, his name is Calvin.

No this isn't the piece of history you can buy. This happens to be Gunston Hall the home of George Mason. Most of us know about George Mason from his famous words; “That all men are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent natural Rights… among which are the Enjoyment of Life and Liberty, with the Means of acquiring and possessing Property, and pursuing and obtaining Happiness and Safety."

Gunston Hall is located just a few miles from Bel Air Plantation which you can buy.

Bel Air Plantation in Woodbridge VA.
Offered by TTR Sothebys International Realty
MLS #PW7392333
List Price $1,100,000
5 Bedrooms/3 Baths
25 Acres

Built in 1740 by Major Charles Ewel the current property encompasses 25 acres. Besides being built in a similar Georgian style, both Gunston Hall and Bel Air Plantation were frequented by George Washington on his travels up throughout Virginia.

You can legitimately say "George Washington Slept Here" if you buy this home.

Speaking of George Washington.  Perhaps you'd like to live in the George Washington Club where George and some of his colonial acquaintance's spent time in the late 1700's.

The George Washington Club is located just outside of Old Town Alexandria.
George Washington Club
Offered by Long & Foster, Inc
MLS # AX7700083
List Price $1,550,000
3 Bedrooms/2.5 Baths
Condo Ownership

The building which was a tea house and restaurant has been renovated and converted into 4 townhouse condominiums.

These are just a couple of the historical properties currently listed for sale in Fairfax and Prince William County, VA.  If you are interested in scheduling an appointment to see these homes or any of the historical properties for sale in Northern Virginia give CJ Realty Group a call at 703-346-2213. Remember having a buyer agent to represent your interests when buying a home is critical!

First posted on Va Real Estate Talk