Just a stoplight away from the Pentagon and tucked in the trees off of I-395, sit the seven neighborhoods that make up the community of Fairlington.  The connection between military families stationed at the Pentagon, Fort Meyer or other Military District of Washington facilities remains as strong today as it did in the 1940’s when Fairlington was first built.

If you are considering buying a home while you are stationed at the Pentagon you might want to dust off your VA Certificate of Eligibility. If you find yourself headed to the Pentagon give me a call at 703-346-2213. We can talk about your housing needs, financing options and get your started towards buying your new home in Northern Virginia.

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We don’t always get to decide who are neighbors are going to be.  We take our chances when we see new houses going up around us.  Deciding to put out the welcome mat often helps pull your new neighbors in and makes them feel welcome.  And this is case with Fort Belvoir and Kingstowne. 

When the earth movers first arrived on a large expansive of dirt between Van Dorn and Beulah roads everyone waited with anticipation to see how the newest neighborhood would grow.  And grow it has.  Into a community divided into three villages made up of commercial and residential space including 5200 hundred residences.  With two main streets that lead to the gates at Fort Belvoir the connection between the two communities has grown.  Many owners in Kingstowne also work at Fort Belvoir either as active duty Army assigned to the post or as civilians supporting the Army’s mission.

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Utilizing Technology, Experience and Uncompromising Service is Cindy Jones commitment to her clients. If you are buying or selling a home in Northern Virginia including Alexandria, Fairfax County, Loudoun County or Prince William County give Cindy a call at 703-346-2213.  Stop by  VaRealEstateTalk & or Cindy's Northern Virginia Real Estate website for more information.

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Are you looking for a neighborhood where residents hang out on their porches in the evening and call out a friendly hello as you take a stroll? Want to grab a cup of coffee at the type of place where everyone knows your name or walk to the farmers market on Saturday morning? Then you need to take a look at the community of Del Ray in Alexandria.

Del Ray is one of the original and still thriving "front porch" communities that you find in Northern Virginia. Founded as a railroad community for workers at the nearby Potomac Rail Yard, Del Ray's history can be tracked back to the mid 1800's. With the Alexandria area being a major point for multiple train companies no longer in existence, Del Ray was crisscrossed by not only a significant number of train lines but streetcar tracks as well. As the train companies went out of business the fortunes of Del Ray turned as well.

Kicking off the Jubilee Celebration will be none other than the appropriate Tony award winning musical 1776.  The Little Theatre of Alexandria or LTA is a non-profit organization that is a local treasure.  The theater bought its first building in 1939 on Ramsay Alley in a former blacksmiths shop.  During WWII the theater was shut down and when they reopened Harry Truman was know to attend LTA plays.

With the growing popularity of local theater the LTA was able to buy a new building, its current home, at 600 Wolfe Street in 1961.  With 213 seats, dressing rooms and rehearsal space the theater is well known to the locals in Alexandria and surrounding communities.   Staffed by volunteers the LTA this year for the first time received a grant from the city of Alexandria to help with the production costs associated with 1776 and funding the plays performance at Fort Ward Park on August 21^st.  Outside of the musicians everyone else involved in the production is unpaid.

Little Theatre of Alexandria is the oldest awarding winning small theatre company in our area and the actors who participate in the plays are local.  The biggest selling production for the theatre is Hair, though most productions run about 90% sold out.   If you haven't checked out a production at the LTA you might be surprised at what you have been missing.  This season promises to bring a few new productions, a few familiar productions and a surprise or two for the audience.

Check out the 2008 schedule and book your tickets to the Little Theater of Alexandria now.

It is happening every day in dark alleys throughout Northern Virginia.   Fun is happening away from the glare of the hot summer sun.  How can it be?  It is easy when you let your eyes adjust to the darkness and spy a group of adults tossing a grapefruit size ball at miniature pins in a game of duck pin bowling or a party full of little bowlers keeping the ball in the lane with the rubber bumpers covering the gutters.

 Back in the day bowling alleys had the reputation of being smoke filled buildings with greasy fries and hot dogs as the main attraction.  My dad wouldn't let me go the bowling alley a few blocks from our house because that was where the "Fonz" characters hung out.  Ironically that same Springfield bowling alley eventually became the Long & Foster Real Estate office where I worked in for 3 years. 

Fast forward to today and you will find a new breed of bowling alley with plenty of fun for everyone.  When the weather in Northern Virginia gets muggy everyone starts to look for ways to find entertainment inside and bowling is a great alternative to the wave pools and better for you than a bucket of buttered popcorn. 

When my kids were growing up we used to hit the Bowl America Lanes in Burke on oppressive days and discovered it was a great way to pass away an afternoon.  We even hit a bowling alley in the UK on a rainy day and discovered cosmic bowling.  Nothing like a lime green bowling ball glowing under black light to pick up your spirits!

In Northern Virginia you can find bowling alleys scattered throughout the area and most of them offer a wide variety of activities for all age groups.  Kids are never disappointed by a gutter ball with the blow up bumpers and with the automatic scoreboards no one can be accused of miscounting the remaining pins.  So try something different and head to your local bowling alley.  

Years ago a trip to the amusement park didn't include hanging upside down three stories above a lake and plummeting 60 miles an hour towards what seems like sure death.  Not for either the faint of heart or for me.  Back in "my day" the place to go was Glen Echo Park in Maryland.  With a simple wooden roller coaster (clack clack clack) bumper cars and a fantastic carousel it was the place to go on a summer evening. Even better was the huge swimming pool to dive into at the end of your fun on the rides.

 The history of Glen Echo Park goes way beyond those days as a great amusement park.  In 1888 two brothers, Edwin and Edward Balztley purchased 516 acres and named it Glen Echo on the Potomac.   They compared the location to the Rhine River in Germany and began to build on the property.   As the years went by the Park grew and by 1931 most of the amusement rides were in place and the huge "Crystal Pool" which could accommodate up to 3000 swimmers was open.  By the 1940's the park was starting to fall on hard times with many of the men who maintained the property being called to active duty in the military. 

The park closed its doors 1968 with the owners deciding to sell the property to developers who planned to build apartments on the banks of the Potomac River overlooking the C&O Canal.  Fortunately because of the location and land use restrictions the owners instead traded the land to the National Park Service for another piece of property and Glen Echo was saved.

For a few years the park remained in limbo and then it opened again, not as an amusement park but as an arts education facility offering classes for all ages.   Unfortunately the buildings, many of them nice examples of the Art Deco Style were falling into disrepair.  In cooperation with Montgomery County the Park Service was able to create a partnership to raise funds to save most of the buildings and restore the Carousel the centerpiece of the entire park.

Today hundreds of courses are taught every year, including glass arts, dancing, puppetry, photography and painting.  The Friday night dances in the Spanish Ballroom are packed with both novices and experts alike.

If you haven't taken a trip to check out this piece of local history put it on your plans.  Located just off McArthur Blvd and the Clara Barton parkway it is easy to get to and you can also enjoy a walk along the locks of the C&O Canal at the same time.

You will feel as if you have stepped back in time when children sold lemonade on street corners when you stroll the streets of South Run in Fairfax County VA.  Located just 25 miles south of DC in Fairfax County, the South Run neighborhood exudes southern hospitality and old fashioned neighborhood charm.

Homeowners in South Run enjoy the feel of a long lost neighborhood spirit.  With BBQ's in the summer, pool parties, Halloween activities and an active neighborhood social committee that plans dozens of events a year the neighborhood has an unusual community feel in an area known for the commuter lifestyle. 

Nestled on tree lined 1/3 acre or larger lots the 530 homes that make up the South Run neighborhood in Fairfax Station are a great find in the Northern Virginia area. Unlike other neighborhoods close by South Run owners don't have to worry about new home construction destroying their peace and tranquility.  Careful planning made use of all of the available building area leaving owners a neighborhood that has been undisturbed for 20 years. 

For families with school age children these neighborhoods are served by terrific Fairfax County Schools. Elementary age students attend Silverbrook Elementary School or Halley Elementary School  and older students attend the new South County Secondary School 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.

When homeowners need more space to roam they can hop on their bikes and head to the neighboring Burke Lake Park.   Nearby attractions include the historic town of Clifton, St Mary's of Sorrows Church and Old Town Fairfax.

With a location just minutes away from the VRE, slug lines and metro South Run owners can leave there car close to home and not worry about emptying their gas tanks to get to work. With its close proximity for Fort Belvoir and The Pentagon, South Run is also a favorite for military families who move to the area,  

If you would like to make South Run your new home give me a call.  I'd be glad to buy you a tall glass of lemonade to sip on our tour of this great neighborhood. 

See currently available homes in South Run

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As an Associate Broker with RE/MAX Allegiance in Northern Virginia and native of the area I can assist you whether you are buying, selling or renting a home anywhere in Northern Virginia. For more information about the area or my services you can check VaRealEstateTalk or my Northern Virginia website.

Search all homes available in the Northern Virginia area.

The dog days of summer have arrived in Northern Virginia and everyone is looking for a place to cool off.   If you are a fan of the water and your neighborhood pool is too tame then you might want to consider spending a day at one of our local water parks.  Fortunately for residents throughout Northern Virginia there are a variety of parks where you can splash and picnic to take your mind off the heat and humidity.

In Lorton you can check out Pirates Cove Waterpark at Pohick Bay Regional Park just a few miles down Gunston Road off Route 1.  With a sand beach, a 24 foot tall climbing tower and water slides kids will be sure to have a good time.  The pool is up from 10:30 am to 7 pm Monday-Friday and 11 am to 7 pm Saturday and Sundays.  Pohick Bay Regional Park also offers miniature golf for when you need a break from all of the swimming.

At Lake Fairfax in Reston the Water Mine Family Swimming Hole is ready for kids of all ages.  Toddlers can play with the low bubblers, elementary age children will enjoy the waterslides, water sprays and for the kid at heart you can relax in an inner tube on the Rattlesnake River.  The theme of the water park is based on the old west and in the middle of the swimming hole is Pete's Peak complete with mine shafts and two water slides.   Enjoy this coupon for a $2.00 discount to the water park at Lake Fairfax good until September 2008.

Splash Down Waterpark in Manassas is Northern Virginia's largest water park.   Spread out over 11 acres the park features a big Kahuna Beach, two four story tall waterslides and a 770 foot lazy river ride.   If you want a bit more punch with your water then check out the super fast cannon ball slides and the tropical twister waterslides sure to get your bathing suit in a bunch. 

Be ready to hold your self steady when the 1000 gallon bucket drops its load every three minutes at Downpour Water Park.  Located at Algonquian Regional Park off of Cascades Parkway in Sterling.  If you need something a little less torrential then hop over to the Mr. Frog slide.  You can make a weekend out of a trip to the park by pitching a tent in the park campground.

Cameron Station in Alexandria is home to the Great Waves water park.  The most "urban" of the water parks in the area located just off of 495 at Eisenhower Ave you can play slip and slide on the four story water slides or enjoy just a little splash in the tad pole pool. 

Each of the water parks offer facilities for families to buy food and drinks (no outside food allowed) and have fun in mind for everyone in the family.  So while it is HOT HOT HOT outside take in one of the local water parks to cool yourself down.

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As an Associate Broker with RE/MAX Allegiance in Northern Virginia and native of the area I can assist you whether you are buying, selling or renting a home anywhere in Northern Virginia. For more information about the area or my services you can check VaRealEstateTalk or my Northern Virginia website.

Search all homes available in the Northern Virginia area.

When most people think of Virginia Wineries they immediately gravitate to the west of the DC area towards the Shenandoah Valley and southwest to the Charlottesville area.  However tucked just south of Quantico Marine Base in north Stafford County is the one year old Potomac Point Winery.

Down a country road off of Route 1 you will come upon a gravel driveway that leads you up a hill past newly planted grapevines and at the top of the hill a clearing where you come upon a large Mediterranean style building.  The building features a large tasting room, cozy lounge complete with board games, banquet rooms and outside terraces for enjoying bistro style dining.  Around the grounds you spy a picnic pavilion that can be used for a family gathering or a larger corporate event.  The afternoon that we stopped by to check it out the weather was pleasant and the outside dining area was busy.

For those interested in sampling the wines, the newer vintages, made with grapes currently coming from leased vines around Virginia you have a choice of different sampling menus to try.  We went all the way for the 13 wine sampler for the reasonable price of $10.00.  With a variety of white, roses, reds and ports you can get a good idea of where the winery is headed in the future.  In addition to the wines to sample there is also an olive oil bar for patrons to try as well.   

We had already had lunch before we arrived otherwise we would have been tempted to try a few bites from the menu as it all looked great.  Friday nights from 6-9:30 through the summer Potomac Point Winery features a live band for your entertainment.  The winery now offers wedding packages as well and can accommodate up to 250 people in the ballroom.  The winery was listed as one of the Top 5 Stunning Wedding Sites not to be missed by Virginia Brides Magazine.

If you are looking for a little change from the ordinary in Stafford then you should take an afternoon and check out what is happening at Potomac Point Winery.  

A few years ago Realtors® were up in arms about the thought that banks might get into the real estate business.  Letters were fired off, hearings were held and the NAR spent thousands to make sure that banks stayed at arms length from the real estate transaction.

Fast forward to today and across the country, banks and lenders ARE in the real estate business.   In fact in some areas of the country there are more bank owned properties listed in the MLS than there are seller owned properties. 

What makes this so frightening is that the banks and lenders have no clue how a real estate transaction works.  It isn't that they aren't trying but the employees behind the scenes have never handled the listing or sale of a home in their lives.  So when a contract comes across their desk they have no idea what they might be seeing.

Over the last two weeks I have been involved in a transaction that has completely baffled not only me, my clients and my broker but I am sure the other agent who also has an offer in on the same property.  As listing agents one look at the contracts and we would have been able to give our seller a simple recommendation.  Offer A is for x dollars and Offer B is for y dollars.  Offer A is higher and all other terms and conditions are the same so let's select offer A.

However the bank decides to ask both Offer A and Offer B to make a best and final offer.  What happens?  Both Offer A and Offer B come back with identical amounts and terms.  Alright wise ones now what do you do?  You send both offers a counter outlining the price and subsidy that you will accept.  Excuse me you send both offers the same counter offer instead of letting them choose what they want to counter?

What did the bank think would happen?  Perhaps that someone would blink and pull out of the process?  Instead they get back the exact same accepted response to their counter offer.  So you still have the same offer from two prospective buyers.  Would an experienced agent ever have gotten a seller into this predicament?  I highly doubt it.  While the bank is trying to sort all of this out both agents submit contract amendments changing the amount of their last offers.

 Now Offer A and Offer B are back to being different again.  Does the bank decide that enough is enough and it is time to select the current highest offer in their hands?  No they ask once again for best and final offers.  At what point does this go beyond stupid to the point of ridiculous?  Meanwhile they have a home that could be two weeks closer to settlement

If  banks want to be in the real estate business then they need to hire brokers and real estate agents in house to unlock the mystery of how a real estate transaction works.  I'm not going to tell them they can't be in the real estate business because folks that ship has sailed.  Instead now we have to figure out a way to get inside their doors and help them understand the process and that when you have multiple offers you don't under any circumstances counter with the exact same terms to TWO different contracts!