The 7 year project to upgrade the Springfield Interchange is barely behind us and now the extension of the Fairfax County Parkway will once again make Springfield commuting a challenge.

Starting in a few weeks the Fullerton Road exit off of I-95 (166B) will be closed.  If you are a local commuter who likes to sneak off the I-95 at this exit when southbound traffic is stacked up you will now need to remember to get off at the Backlick Rd exit instead. 

A study done by VDOT during the morning peak, an average of 345 vehicles an hour travel along the two lane Fullerton Road to Rolling Road. That becomes 873 an hour at the afternoon peak. On southbound Backlick Road, you will find 1,776 vehicles an hour in the morning peak and 2,918 in the p.m. peak.

Anyone who has sat in the traffic in Springfield knows the extension to the parkway and providing an exit directly from the Parkway to I-95 is sorely needed.  With the influx of 21,000 personnel to Fort Belvoir area unraveling the roads around Springfield is a major priority for the VDOT.  The parkway project is Virginia's largest Recovery Act project.

If staying off the roads in Northern Virginia during another road construction project appeals to you then check out :

Northern Virginia Commuting

If you have PCS orders to Fort Belvoir or moving to the area as part of BRAC give me a call at 703-346-2213.  No hassle, no pressure just straight talk about the Northern Virginia housing market and a few hints about local back roads.

As native of the Northern Virginia area I've had a chance to see most of the extremes that have hit the area. Blizzards and hurricanes we've had a few. Sometimes you can even get three seasons in one week. As a military spouse I've also had the opportunity to experience the weather in a few other choice locations and learned a thing or two about how weather forecasters throw around terms that don't necessarily make sense unless you've never lived anywhere else.

When you hear the term "monsoon season" when you live in the Far East you know what that means. However when you later move to Arizona and you hear the weather guessers use the term "monsoon season" you think they are off their rockers. Trust me they aren't the same. In Europe the definition of "oppressively hot" is far different than spending August in Little Rock Arkansas and hearing that same term used. It is indeed "oppressively hot" in Little Rock!

So when it comes to the seasons in Northern Virginia I've learned to ignore what the calendar might say and have come up with my own definition to know when we've gone from one season to another.

 

 

When the Cherry Blossoms are in full bloom around the Tidal Basin and you can't move for everyone stopping to take pictures then you know that spring has officially arrived.

 

 

 

 

Summer is here when you see the fireworks exploding around the Washington Monument and you hear the National Symphony Orchestra playing the 1812 Overture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you sense a change in the air and the leaves on the trees strut their brightly colored leaves like proud peacocks then fall has arrived.

 

 

 

Winter is the easiest season of all to spot. In fact you don't even have to open your eyes to know it has arrived. When your radio goes off in the morning and you hear the news that cars are sliding on the ice at the Springfield interchange, a veteran of the seasons in the area knows just what to do. Turn off your radio, pull the covers back over your head and wait until the Cherry Blossoms bloom again before you get up!

 

The great news is that Northern Virginia has all of the season to offer both visitors and residents alike to enjoy. So forget what the weather forecasters have to say and make up your own seasonal calendar. You will be just as accurate and maybe even more so than they are! Check today's weather in Northern Virginia.

If relocating to Northern Virginia is in your plans in the near future give me a call at 703-346-2213. I'd be glad to help you navigate not only our four seasons but the home buying process as well.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

This morning 30,000 runners took off through the streets of Arlington Va and DC to run the Marine Corps Marathon aka the Peoples Marathon.  It is fitting that the end of the race everyone should see how the dedication and sacrfice of our military keep us free.  Congratulations to all who ran and thank you to all who have served and continue to serve our country.

Relocation is never easy. It doesn't matter how many times the PCS orders arrive there are the usual questions about your new area and this on-line guide is here to help you answer a few of them. 

What is the BAH rate for Fort Belvoir? Use zip code 22060

Where is Fort Belvoir Located?

Northern Virginia
Fairfax County

What's On Post?

To know everything about the post you need to check out the official Fort Belvoir website. In addition here are a few posts on my personal perspective of Fort Belvoir:

Fort Belvoir Housing
Fairfax Village-Platinum Green Status
Fort Belvoir Accotink Trail
Fort Belvoir Not Your Usual Army Post
DeWitt Hospital

 

Where can I find out about local schools?

We have compiled a list of the local school systems in one place for you to be able to see both secondary and post secondary education opportunites.

Northern Virginia School Districts & Post Secondary Education

What types of neighorhoods are there close to the post?

Since housing is a very personal choice providing you information on every neighborhood in the area without knowing your needs could be confusing. Once you have your orders in hand we can talk about your housing needs and find the neighborhood that best suits your needs. Here is a sample of some local neighborhoods that are popular with military families in our area.

Belmont Bay
Burke
Daventry
Kingstowne
Lake Ridge
Landsdowne
Lorton
West Springfield

You can also check out my Fort Belvoir interactive map on with photos of some of these neighborhoods as well.

What attractions are there close to post?

Northern Virgina and DC are full of great things you can do, many of them for free. Here are a few that you can consider for anytime of year.

Lorton Workhouse Arts Center
Mount Vernon and Woodlawn
Five Great Local Attractions
Sorry You Can't Borrow A Cup of Sugar From These Neighbors

Do you have any recommendations for places to eat?

You can find plenty of great places to eat around the area. Whether you want formal or casual here are a few that our family frequents when we want to eat out.

Alexandria Pastry Shop and Deli
Dixie Bones
Five Guys Burgers & Fries
Madigan's In Occoquan
Sunflower Café

If PCS orders to Fort Belvoir are in your future give me a call at 703-346-2213.   I'll be glad to answer your questions about Northern Virginia, Fairfax County and the surrounding Fort Belvoir area.  I've been in your shoes many times and understand the complexities that come with a PCS move.

 

©Cindy Jones/October 2009 Edition "Your Fort Belvoir On-Line Relocation Guide"

 

 

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, Austin Grill and Chicken Out. 

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 my blog Military Relocation News to learn more about a PCS move to the Northern Virginia area.

 

 

 

The Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge was created in 1998 and is the intersection of the Potomac and Occoquan Rivers. The 644 acre refuge was formerly a military research site and is another one of the hidden gems that many residents of Prince William County and Northern Virginia don't know exists.  In the Spring and Summer the area is known as one of the top local nesting spots for Osprey and Blue Heron. 

It is obvious when you look at the large overhead signs, I-95 is the interstate running outside the beltway and I-395 runs inside the beltway to DC. However if someone asks you how to get to DC and you say take Shirley Highway then you know you are a "native" of Northern Virginia. Officially Shirley Highway runs from the Pentagon to just north of Route 1 in Woodbridge. The start of the construction of the highway started in 1941 and lasted until 1952 when the four lane road was completed. Originally known as the Fort Belvoir bypass the road was renamed for Henry Shirley who was the first the first highway commissioner in Virginia.

Our first family home was just outside DC on Shirley Highway in the Parkfairfax neighborhood. Built in 1941 as an apartment complex to alleviate a housing shortage for government workers the neighborhood today is thriving condominium complex known for it's hilly streets, landscaped courtyards and ease of commuting back to the city.

Parkfairfax-Two Past Presidents Called it Home and So Could You

A few more miles down Shirley Highway is the famous or is that the infamous Springfield Interchange? Before there was a need for 50 ramps and 20 lanes to get commuters past Springfield there was an airport instead. In 1945 part of the area that is now part of the north bound lanes of Shirley Highway (I-95) was the unpaved 3000 foot runway that was part of Springfield Airport.

What Happens When You Build a Highway Instead of An Airport?

Even after the airport disappeared in the early 1950's Springfield was still a rural community just being discovered by families. With new homes in central Springfield starting at $16,000 it was the perfect place to move and still be able to work in the city. Families flocked to the area and over the years the small sleepy area grew and spread into North Springfield, West Springfield and even though there isn't officially an East Springfield development went that direction as well.

Springfield Virginia-Homer Simpson Doesn't Live Here

As prices in closer in areas in Fairfax County began to escalate and families started looking for bigger and newer the migration further south on Shirley Highway to Prince William County began. Commuting options began to expand and along with it the neighborhoods of Lake Ridge began to grow. Starting in the late 1970's when the visitor center opened at Old Bridge and Harbor Drive until today Lake Ridge has been a popular choice for anyone who wanted to live in large community with a "small town" feel.

Lake Ridge-Avoiding the Cookie Cutter Home Syndrome

Now Shirley Highway is a thing of the past. The small green signs are still there if you look for them. They are dwarfed by the the large signs for I-95 or I-395 headed north and south from DC into Virginia. Your GPS won't direct you to take Shirley Highway but a native of the area may. Don't be alarmed they haven't lost their minds it is just a habit that is hard to break.

If you are interested in learning more about any of the neighborhoods along the 17.3 mile stretch of the original Shirley Highway give me a call at 703-346-2213. No hassle, no pressure just straight talk about whether now is the right time for you to buy a new home in Northern Virginia.

Anyone who has gone through the process of in-processing at a military installation knows it can be complicated.  At Fort Belvoir it means 24 stops at the various required departments located throughout the installation.

Starting in 2010 anyone arriving (or departing) from Fort Belvoir will be able to head to one location on post and find all of the departments they need under one roof.   With the influx of BRAC personnel, cutting down on traffic on post is one reason for moving all the in-processing to one location. The new offices will be located on the North Post next to the Bowling Alley between Gunston and Belvoir Roads.  Though it may not cut down on some of the crazy lines it will certainly cut down on the frustration of trying to find the right office on an 8500 acre military installation.

If you find yourself with PCS orders to Fort Belvoir you can read all of the official installation information at the Fort Belvoir website.  If you are looking for information about the surrounding communities and life outside the gates you can check out my Fort Belvoir Relocation Guide and www.militaryrelocationnews.com.  If a tour of duty at Fort Belvoir is in your future give me a call at 703-346-2213 to help you with your off post housing needs.

The US House of Representatives overwhelming voted to extend the first time home buyers credit for an additional 12 months to anyone in the military who has served overseas for three months in 2009.  In a vote of 416 to zero the bill now has to go the US Senate and the President for final approval.

This extension could give up to 350,000 military families currently deployed overseas unitl November 2010 to take advantage of the current tax credit.  In addition the IRS "recapture" rules will be waived for any service member who is deployed and must sell or rent their home. 

Known as the Service Members Home Owners Tax Act this bill also contains the provision to waive the income tax liability currently in the expanded Department of Defense Homeowners Assistance Program.  

The next step for this bill (HR 3590) is for the Senate Finance Committee to review the bill and hopefully move it to a vote in the full Senate.

This seems to be one time that the US Congress, Senate and President should be able to agree.  Extending the tax credit for our military is the right thing to do no matter what your political beliefs.

After months of waiting the Department of Defense has published the guidelines for the processing of applications for military families who are eligible for the DoD Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP).

The guidelines provide for different processing rules for the three major categories:

Wounded Warriors
Surviving Spouses
Active Duty with PCS Orders

Homeowner Assistance Program Guidelines

If you have applied for relief under the HAP program make sure you check out the new guidelines and contact your counselor at the appropriate field office to make sure your file is in line for processing. 

The biggest concern for homeowners is the tax consequences of the funding.  Currently the ruling specifies that the homeowner will have to cover the benefits received as taxable income and the tax liability will be deducted from the funds at settlement.  If you would like to support H.R. 3590 to remove this from the bill contact your representative as well as Rep. Pelosi and Rep. Rangel to request the support of expediting the passage of H.R. 3590

Current I have four military families with contracts on their homes and finally seeing the guidelines published is a big relief.  It was interesting to note that the guidelines suggest "if a home sells in its first marketing week, it was probably under priced."  They are obviously not aware of the Northern Virginia real estate market where anything that is priced right and in good condition may get multiple offers in the first week.

If you are a military family station in the Northern Virginia area and you qualify for the Homeowners Assistance Program call Cindy Jones at 703-346-2213.  I've been working with military families stationed at Fort Belvoir, the Pentagon, Quantico and other Military District of Washington installations this year to help them to market their homes under the HAP guidelines.