This post was inspired this morning by Margaret Woda's call for everyone to Send a Card to the Troops post.  I hope everyone will head over to her post and hit the link!

I would also like to add if you live near a family who has a loved oner overseas this holiday season stop by and volunteer to help them out.  You can  put up holiday lights, set up a Christmas tree or watch the children while they shop.  If they have packages to mail volunteer to stand in line at the post office for them and if they don't have anyone else to spend the holidays with invite them over for lunch or dinner.

Believe me the littlest act of kindness is appreciated by the family and knowing that someone is helping out at home is a great boast to the service member who is far away from home. 

Share of yourself this holiday season and feel the joy!

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If you are looking for a end of the year donation to help support the military please consider the Fisher House.  The housing and services they provide to families while their loved ones are recovering from injuries are a critical piece of the recovery process for the entire family.

A few weeks ago I wrote a blog entitled Did You Just Hang up on a Potential Customer about a phone call from a couple who had some questions about a new home construction contract.  After pulling their offer on the new home we decided that resale properties in established Prince William County communities made the most sense for them in the long run.   Even in a market considered to be "slow" the first home they made an offer on had multiple offers and then a few weeks later we spied a new listing on a cul-de-sac in Old Bridge Estates and it turned out to be the ONE!

The owners had been in the home for a long time and were relocating to Chicago with a lot of mixed emotions about moving on.  The buyers and sellers meet during the sales process and got along famously which made the sellers feel more comfortable with their decision.

During the home inspection the next door neighbors came by to introduce themselves and invite Meg and Paul to a neighborhood get together for the following weekend.  How great is that?  It made them feel that karma was at work and this house was the one that was meant to be.

They are looking forward to years of building their own family memories in this home and I'm glad I got to be part of the process.

Twenty years ago on a large expansive of dirt tucked behind Edison High School ground was broken for the first homes that started the 5200 residences that comprise the Kingstowne neighborhood. Designed with both commercial and residential areas the three villages that make up Kingstowne have continued to be popular with owners looking for a neighborhood that offers both easy access to public transportation, shopping and restaurants.

For owners who enjoy the outdoors and a healthy lifestyle Kingstowne offers a great variety of recreation options which include 18 tot lots, three multi-purpose courts, almost 22 miles of hiking and biking paths, and community centers which offer swimming pools and a fitness center.

One of the keys to success of the neighborhood is easy access to two metro stations within a short distance of the neighborhood; some residents can walk to the Springfield Metro or take a quick drive to the Van Dorn Street Metro Station.

There is a wide selection of eating options in the neighborhood including the new Bone Fish Grill, Panera Bread, Chipotles and King Street Blues to name a few. With the addition of the new huge AMC movie theater complex and the close by miniature golf course it easy to see why residents never have to leave the neighborhood on the weekend.

To see more information about homes in the Kingstowne area or anywhere in Northern Virginia you can go to www.VaRealEstateTalk.com or give me call at 703-346-2213.

Search the MLS for homes in Northern Virginia.

Veteran’s Day has deep and personal meaning to many families around the world. Ours is one of those. My husband was killed on active duty and left behind two children and devastated friends and family. Time has passed. Our shock and grief replaced with a resolve that has hopefully made our lives stronger because of our loss. This isn’t a post to elicit sympathy but a short and simple post to say thank you to everyone who is currently serving and who have served our country.

I’m passionate about my support of the troops whether I believe in the conflicts that our country is involved in our not. And I hope that you will too. In the past I’ve posted about Fischer House and encourage anyone who is thinking about a gift this holiday season to consider making a donation to support the families who may not be able to be in their own homes this holiday but staying close by one of the military hospitals to be with loved ones.

Bordered by parkland and Lake Mercer the community of Barrington includes 475 homes brick and stucco executive homes on large treed lots. Located in Fairfax County the neighborhood is close to Route 123 or Ox Road to natives of the area and Silverbrook Road. Barrington is only minutes from the Fairfax County Parkway and I-95, making it an ideal community for owners who need to get to the Springfield Metro, Lorton VRE or drive to DC.

Looking for a fun way to spend some time with friends or family? Barrington residents also enjoy the proximity to Burke Lake Park, Old Town Clifton and the Fairfax Station Railroad Museum and in the summer can enjoy all of the activities at the community pool.

For families with school age children Barrington is in the Fairfax County School District and elementary age students attend Silverbrook Elementary School and older students attend the new South County Secondary School which currently includes a middle school (7-8^th grade) and a high school (9-12 grades). The new Lorton Arts Workhouse is nearby which provides the opportunity for students interested in the arts to participate in a number of theater and arts workshops offered throughout the year.

Current listings in the Barrington neighborhood range in price from $739, 900 to $899,900. There have been 10 sales this year ranging in price from $672,000-$879,900. As a trend overall in Fairfax Station (zip code 22039) for the month of October the average home price was $861, 542 up from last years price by 6.65% or $807,714. Prices vary by neighborhood and there can be a difference between on neighborhood and another. Always make sure that you are looking a numbers that are specific to the neighborhood you are interested in and not by zip code.

If you are interested in learning more about Fairfax Station, Barrington, South Run or other great Fairfax County neighborhoods give me a call.

Search the MLS for listings in Fairfax County.

©Copyright 2007. All rights reserved. Northern Virginia Real Estate , Cindy Jones, Associate Broker, RE/MAX Allegiance

Two years ago my clients purchased a tired brick split level home on a ¾ acre lot in Alexandria section of Fairfax County.  The home was outdated but the location a block from the Potomac River and closer to both of their jobs caught their attention.  Before they decided to finalize their offer they talked with a couple of architects about some proposed changes to the house to open up the rooms and take advantage of the great views on the lot.

The house then:

As time went by it dawned on me that the simple remodel was beginning to take on a life of its own.  They decided to skip the addition of a new master bedroom and family room and essentially gut the house.  Having been in the house a couple of times during the project it has been amazing to see how the home has evolved from a traditional home to a contemporary Zen masterpiece. The interior finishes are top notch and sleek.  The only part of the house that looks anything close to the original are the two guest bedrooms and the former living room and only because they are in the same place!

The issues have been enormous and the delays seem like an eternity.  In the end they are going to have the home of their dreams but the saga of what they have gone through to get to this point would be enough to write a book.   They hope to be able to move in before the end of the year but having walked the site again today it may be a close call.

My gift to them when the house is finished is to send a professional photographer to capture the home in its best light and create an album for them which will be something that they will be able to look at into the future and remember the house when it was just "perfect."

The house today: