With the new National Geospatial-Intellegence Agency (NGA)being built on the old Fort Belvoir Engineering Proving Ground almost 6500 employees will be working in to the Springfield and Lorton area in the next few years.

For employees who will be moving to the new facility finding homes nearby will be important. Traffic in and out of NGA will be tough.  Let’s face it anytime you move a significant amount of employees from diverse locations to one place no matter how well the various government agencies plan commuting will be a pain.

Fortunately there are a number of terrific communities that provide a variety of housing prices and styles within a few miles of the NGA facility.

Here is a selection of Homes for Sale in Lorton & Springfield close to NGA to give you an idea of what is available.  If buying a home isn't in your plans that's okay too.  Our team handles rentals as well.

If you are relocating to the new NGA facility in Springfield in the near future give me a call at 703-346-2213 to talk about your housing needs.  Let me show you the variety of options available that will fit for your needs.  No hassle, no pressure just straight talk about whether buying a home in today’s market is right for you.

This Kings Park remodeled King model situated on a quiet corner lot has gone into the SOLD column. The owners a terrific military family were able to use the USACE Homeowner Assistance Program (HAP) to assist them with the sale.  They are already at their new duty station in Okinawa and we were able to coordinate all of the final required HAP paperwork electronically.

If you are a military family and qualify for the USACE HAP program give me a call at 703-346-2213.   With muliple HAP sales already closed in 2010 I have the experience you need put your home in the SOLD column as well.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:  HAP has changed the deadline for PCS orders to September 2010.  Formerly the program continued for orders until September 2012.

Port Potomac is one of the popular new Prince William County Communities designed and developed in the last few years in Prince William County.  Multiple builders including Ryan Homes, Drees Homes, NVR and Kettler Brothers have helped shape Port Potomac.

Port Potomac features easy access to the Rippon Landing VRE, I-95 and PRTC commuter lots. The neighborhood is also popular with military families stationed at Quantico, Fort Belvoir and the Pentagon. Nearby shopping includes the Potomac Mills Mall and the new Stonebridge Shopping Center with Wegmans grocery store.

If the Port Potomac neighborhood sounds like a good fit for you give Cindy Jones a call at 703-346-2213. Let me give you a tour of available homes for sale. No hassle, no pressure just straight talk as whether now is the right time for you to buy a new home in Port Potomac.

Port Potomac Homes for Sale

More details and links to Lorton Virginia information.

View Current Lorton Virginia Homes for Sale

 

If you are considering a move to Lorton or any Alexandria City or Arlington, Fairfax or Prince William County community give me a call at 703-346-2213.  Let's talk about whether now is the right time for you to buy a new home in Northern Virginia.  No hassle, no pressure, just straight talk about today's real estate market.

It's time to celebrate another military family making a PCS move from Northern Virginia to a new duty station. The good news the home was SOLD with the assistance of the US Army Corps of Engineers-Homeowers Assistance Program (HAP).  It is often said that timing is everything and in this case it was even more critical.

The owners needed to get to their new duty station immediately as the husband, an active duty Marine will be deploying to Afghanistan within a few days.  Getting the family settled before he leaves was a top priority. 

If you are a Northern Virginia military family eligible for the HAP program give me a call at 703-346-2213. If you have upcoming PCS orders for the summer of 2010 now is the time to talk about your options.  The current timeframe for HAP benefits with PCS orders expires in September 2010. Let my success in coordinating with the real estate specialists in Savanah and the local attorney's handling funds in our area work for you.

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.

Over the last few weeks three of my listngs using the US Army Corps of Engineers Home Owners Assistance Program (HAP) have finally gone to  settlement.

There hasn’t been anything quick about the first few of these transactions.  One of the biggest reasons was due to the delay in the publishing of the final guidelines and review by Congress.  Since most PCS orders arrive in the summer it didn’t take long to figure out that a number of these transactions were going to be the length of a short sale to complete.

Fortunately every buyer involved in the transactions I was representing in Northern Virginia stayed the course.  In 4 out of the 5 current transactions we were even able to work out all of the details for a pre-occupancy settlement.  Since the HAP program offers different options on closing it was interesting to see this seller on a HUD-1 this week.

With three of my settlements now complete the process is getting smoother.  The real estate specialists at the Savannah Regional Office are easy to reach and the attorney’s representing the US Government are accommodating to work to deliver the funds when needed. 

If you are an active duty military family in Northern Virginia who is eligible for HAP give me a call at 703-346-2213.  Let my experience in working with the Savannah Regional Office and military families in your situation get your home SOLD.

When ActiveBrad and ActiveBob ask you to step up to the plate you have to say YES.  For all of the great work they do in managing Active Rain and the craziness that comes with it.

Located just a few miles from the main gate of Fort Belvoir the neighborhoods that make up the Lorton area have a long tradition with the military and military families in Northern Virginia. Lorton history goes back to our first Commander in Chief, George Washington. There are older neighborhoods such as Harborview which are just as popular today as they were when they were built in the 50's, 60's and 70's. Over the last 10 years a "new" Lorton has emerged which has brought a renewal to southern Fairfax County.

Most of the "new" Lorton growth came about when a prison  complex located in the area was ordered closed in 1998. With just over 3200 acres the prison complex gave Fairfax County developers an opportunity to create an entire new vision for the land and its usage. With a Virginia Rail Express Station already in place in Lorton (1994) the area was poised for growth.

To the east of I-95 a new town center Lorton Station has grown up around the VRE station. Currently featuring multiple restaurants and a pharmacy more stores are slated to open next year. Just down the road Lorton Market offers a large Shoppers Food Warehouse, UPS store, emergency medical center and banking. All of shopping options make it easy for homeowners to stay in the neighborhood for just about everything they need.

In 2006 the new South County Secondary School opened and the Laurel Hill Elementary School opened in fall 2009. The Laurel Hill Golf Course an 18 hole championship course operated by the Fairfax County Park opened in 2007 and with a 9000 square foot club house it has become a terrific place for Lorton residents to gather. Bike paths and walking trials connect different sections of the community and also connect with the Fairfax County Cross County Trail


The jewel of the redevelopment is the Lorton Workhouse Arts Center. Officially opened in September 2008 the site has retained the old brick from the prison buildings and revamped them into a blend of artist's studios, classroom and performing arts center. Proposed new stores and restaurants will round out the neighborhood making once was depressing area the newest "it" place in Northern Virginia.

With it's convenience to Fort Belvoir, easy access to I-95, community VRE station and community amenities it is easy to see why the "new" Lorton has become a re-development success in Fairfax County.

If you are interested in learning more about relocating to the Lorton area give me a call at 703-346-2213. We can meet up for coffee in Lorton Station and talk about about whether this is the right time for you to make a move. No hassle, no pressure, just straight talk about the home buying process property in today's market.

Each settlement we are involved in as real estate professionals means a new beginning for both sides of the transaction.  The first settlement of 2010 in Lorton Virginia was special for a number of reasons.  The fact that this one took a little extra time to happen is just one of the reasons this settlement was important to two families.

However the most important thing that makes this one stand out is that my clients are active duty military and the home was being sold under the guidelines of the Department of Defense Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP) set last fall.  The program was expanded last year to help military families with PCS orders sell their homes in a declining market without requiring a short sale and ruining their credit.

The program got off to a slow start, as you can imagine with any government program, while the guidelines were published, reviewed and then additional legislation passed to eliminate a 25% upfront tax penalty.  Finally today after months of waiting all of the pieces fell in place and settlement was completed.

To add another piece to the good feeling is that the buyers are also and active duty military family.   Since settlement was delayed they now are able to tax advantage of the second time buyers tax credit, helping them with any updates they may want to do to their new home.  It is a great feeling to have this one settled and to know that the Department of Defense Homeowners Assistance Program is fully operational.  With four more HAP closings scheduled for January I'm hoping today's settlement is the start of lots of great cheer for Nothern Virginia military families.

If you are a military family stationed at Fort Belvoir, the Pentagon, Quantico or any of the Military of District of Washington installations give me a call at 703-346-2213 to talk about the Department of Defense HAP proagram.  I've worked successfully with military families,  the real estate specialists at the US Army Corps of Engineers and US Government Settlement Attorney's to get HAP eligible military familes on the road to their new locations.