Perspective and News On Northern Virginia Real Estate

Lake Ridge-Avoiding the Cookie Cutter Home Syndrome (LOCALISM FEATURED)

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:13:19 -0600

Tucked away among the trees off of Old Bridge Road in Prince William County is the community of Lake Ridge. With over 7000 detached homes, townhomes and condominiums a buyer can find just about any type of home at a price that fits their budget within Lake Ridge.

As you drive through each of the different sections of Lake Ridge you will get a true sense of "small town America." Frequent community events including Youth Flag Football, T-Ball, Summer Camps, Yard Sales, and Holiday Parades give everyone young and old a chance to meet their neighbors.

With multiple grocery stores, plenty of places to eat and a nice mixture of small shops residents of Lake Ridge don't have to drive far to find everyday necessities. When the need arises Lake Ridge is only a few miles from the huge Potomac Mills Outlet Mall, Ikea, Costco, Lowes and Home Depot.

If your family includes children there are 5 elementary schools, 1 middle school and 1 high school all within the community. Many children can walk to school and for the others it is a short bus ride. There are also a number of pre-schools located within the boundaries of the community as well.

Looking for recreation activities? Then Lake Ridge is the place for you. If you are a runner join the Ridge Runners Club, launch a small boat Hooes Run Boat Ramp, play tennis at one of the seven courts, swim at one of the five pools, or join one of the many other clubs that meet at one of the two community centers. If that isn't enough for you Prince William County Park Authority also operates Lake Ridge Park with a 9 hole golf course and a small marina.

Lake Ridge has always been popular with military families who find themselves with orders to Fort Belvoir, the Pentagon or Quantico. Not only are all of the reasons listed above important to military families but the drive to Fort Belvoir is within 30 minutes or less depending on where you live in the community. There are multiple options for commuting to the Pentagon including slug lines, bus routes from commuter lots and the VRE with transfer points to the Metro. Quantico is a reverse commute on either I-95 or Route 1.

So if you are looking for a neighborhood where the developers left the cookie cutters at home then give me a call to take a tour of Lake Ridge. Let's see if this Prince William County community is the next place you want to call home.

Fort Belvoir Relocation-Watch Out for the Falling Acorns in Springfield Oaks

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:19:43 -0600

If you are headed to Fort Belvoir and are looking for a reasonably priced townhouse community where the developer left green space and clustered courtyards then check out Springfield Oaks in Fairfax County.

Situated on 18 acres of wooded and gently rolling terrain the 382 townhouses in Springfield Oaks are only 5 miles from Fort Belvoir. The community is also within 5 minutes of the Lorton Station VRE, 15 minutes to the Springfield Metro or you can catch a Fairfax Connector or Metro bus at either entrance to the community

Having owned a townhouse myself in Springfield Oaks I knew how well the association worked to keep the neighborhood up to date and they have recently completed a brand new tot lot. The neighborhood is divided into two sections crossed by Alban Road. Both the upper and lower sections of the neighborhood share services including twice a week trash pickup, community leaf cleaning and snow removal.

Every year the community sponsors events to bring the neighbors together including ice cream socials, Easter egg hunts and Halloween parties. If you need a lesson on Oak tree species all you have to do is drive through the neighborhood and look at the street names including, Blue Oak, Chapman Oak and Pin Oak to realize how many types of Oak trees there are.

The only down side of living in a neighborhood full of Oak trees is the annual dropping of acorns. Though the squirrels are fat and happy!

If you are headed to Fort Belvoir check out www.militaryrelocationnews.com or Fort Belvoir On-Line Relocation Guide for more information. Feel free to drop me an email or give me a call to chat. If you are in the area we can meet for coffee 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.

Welcome to Your Lorton Virginia On-line Relocation Guide

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 06:00:40 -0600

This guide is geared towards "new" Lorton. Lorton neighborhoods have been around a long time. In fact the Lorton area has plenty of history that goes all the way back to our early famous neighbors, George Washington and George Mason. There are older neighborhoods 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 the Lorton Prison Complex 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.

On the west side of I-95 multiple neighborhoods were carved out of the prison grounds, along with parks, schools, golf course and arts center. The largest of the neighborhoods, Laurel Hill has 700 homes built by Pulte or Centex Homes. In addition to Laurel Hill, other neighborhoods that have grown out of the redevelopment of the old prison land include Laurel Crest, Laurel Highlands and the over 55 community of Spring Hill.

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 will be open 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 Lorton 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. 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.

A Tour of Lorton Homes and Amenities

A Step Back in Time-Riding the Rails from Virginia to Florida

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 03:33:38 -0600

When my parents discovered having two fidigty children in the backseat of a car, one prone to car sickness, made travel to visit grandparents in Florida more of a chore than fun they turned to the train for a better way to go. As we grew older and a car trip or even an airplane would have made more sense we insisted that a train ride would be more fun. And they were. Looking out the windows as the countryside passed by, falling asleep to the clack of the rails and listening to the whistle blow as we passed through small towns were all part of the adventure.

Fast forward to today and my brother who lives in Florida decided to retry our old family vacation with a twist. He brought his family from Florida to Virginia on the Auto Train. The train runs from Sanford Florida to Lorton Virginia and back again. The train trip takes about 17 hours and his two children kept themselves occupied with video games when they weren't looking out the window watching the scenery. Since they are "heavy" packers loading up the car with all of the required gear avoided extra baggage charges with the airline. They boarded the train with just an overnight bag and enjoyed the ability to sit back and just as we did as kids watch the scenery go by.

Americans often overlook the option to take the train, where our European and Asian counterparts use trains every day. When we visit my daughter in the UK the train is the way to get around the countryside and when we lived and traveled in the Far East the train was our preferred method of getting around the various countries we visited.

So the next time you are thinking about a trip from Virginia to Florida or vice versa, bi-pass all the signs for South of the Border,cheap cigarettes and illegal fireworks and spend a little time on the rails with your family. You will arrive less stressed and with the knowledge that your luggage will actually arrive at the same time you do.

Check out the Amtrak Auto Train Schedule and Fares: www.amtrak.com

Active Duty Military and Military Families may qualify for 10-15% off fares on various Amtrak routes. Make sure you check for fare discounts before you book your trip.

T Boone Pickens-A Good Book for a Good Cause

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:56:35 -0600

Are you looking for a gift for a reader on your holiday shopping list? Then I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that you buy T Boone Pickens newest book "The First Billion Is the Hardest: Reflections on a Life of Comebacks and America's Energy Future".

Besides being an interesting read the book does something even more important. The proceeds from the sale of the book support the Brooke Army Medical Center and Fisher House two organizations focused on helping our wounded troops and their families during their difficult journey of recovery from illness and injury.

I've written about support of Fisher House before and the support Fisher House logo is even in my profile on Active Rain. This is an organization I support and one that serves a big need for families. When my husband was wounded in the middle east we were fortunate that the Red Cross stepped in and assisted our family with housing outside of Landsthul in Germany. Fisher House now provides an even better option to keep families in a home environment close to major medical facilities. Having family close by is a huge part of helping wounded servicemen and women recovery.

So pick up a holiday gift that is two gifts in one! A good read and support for our wounded troops and their families.

Fort Belvoir and Inlet Cove-Comfortably Sharing a Zip Code

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 21:22:07 -0600

When most people think of a Fort Belvoir address they immediately think of the U.S. Army Post. However Inlet Cove shares the Fort Belvoir postal address with its close neighbor. Inlet Cove is one of newer zero lot line neighborhoods that were built in Northern Virginia between 2002-2005.

The first issue to clear up about the neighborhood is the name. Though the official Fairfax County tax records show the name of the subdivision as Cook Inlet the neighborhood is advertised as Inlet Cove. If you want to search the MLS for the neighborhood you should use the Cook Inlet name in order to find listings. View current listings in Cook Inlet.

With its close proximity to Fort Belvoir you shouldn't be surprised to learn that a large percentage of the owners are current or former military. With the main gate to Fort Belvoir, DeWitt hospital, the PX and Commissary just a stones throw away, it is easy to understand why military families gravitate to either one of the large townhouses or detached homes that dot the winding streets in the neighborhood. The neighborhood is small with only 255 homes but it does have a tot lot and swimming pool.

With the shops of Lorton Market, the restaurants at Lorton Station and the Lorton VRE just a few miles south of the neighborhood finding what you need, if you don't shop on post is easy. Recreation opportunities abound in the area with the Accotink Wildlife Refugee and Mason Neck State Park. Interested in history? Then just across the street is Pohick Church founded in 1732 and Mount Vernon is just a few miles away.

If a PCS move Fort Belvoir is in your future give me a call. I'll be glad to answer your questions and give you a tour. I've been in your shoes many times and understand the complexities of a military move. You can also check out my Fort Belvoir Relocation Guide for more information on the area.

Veteran's Day-A Simple Personal Message

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:42:25 -0600

Today is the day we honor all the men and women who serve and protect our freedoms everyday. For my family it is remembering a good friend who knew all the stories from childhood. It is remembering a father who loved his children dearly. It is remembering the husband who you couldn't wait to see at the end of every day but who never came home from the last mission.

For the thousands of families who remember those they love, I join you today in saying a prayer for those we have lost and a prayer for the safe return of those who still serve.

US Marines....And Many More..

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:09:28 -0600

A nice tribute to the great men and women who serve in the US Marine Corps. Living close to and serving Marines and their families at Quantico you learn the meaning of true dedication and service to our country.

We can never say thank-you enough to our troops for all they do.

Via Cherimie Crane, Beaufort SC Real Estate:

They have come a long way from the tavern in Philadelphia where the Corps was founded 233 years ago. Beaufort is so proud to be able to join in celebrating such an amazing birthday.

As non-military, my appreciation is from a different perspective, but true just the same.

Dear Marines,

Thank you for waking at 3am so that I can sleep as long as I like.

Thank you for going to scary places so I don't have to go.

Thank you for sacrificing time with your family, so that mine can freely meet.

Thank you for believing in our country even when everyone else does not.

I am so fortunate to live in Beaufort, SC where just across the deep water of the Beaufort River, is a constant reminder of the few, and the proud.

Happy Birthday US Marine Corps!.....and many more.

Your Fort Belvoir On-Line Relocation Guide

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 07:28:38 -0600

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
Fort Belvoir Accotink Trail
Fort Belvoir Not Your Usual Army Post
DeWitt Hospital

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
Kingstowne
Lorton
West Springfield
Westridge

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.

Mount Vernon and Woodlawn
Five Great Local Attractions
Free Things to do in DC

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
Madigan's In Occoquan
Sunflower Café

If a transfer to Fort Belvoir is in your future give me a call. I'll be glad to answer your questions about the area and give you a tour. I've been in your shoes many times and understand the complexities of a PCS move.

Fall is in the Air-Enjoy a Day Visiting Local Attractions

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 07:25:48 -0600

One of the great things about living in the DC Metro area is all of the things you can find to do on a weekend. You don't have to spend a fortunate in gas or days traveling to enjoy a few hours or a day out with friends or family.

You can never go wrong with a day at the National Zoo. Everyone wants to see the Panda Bears. With the fall weather the crowds have thinned and the animals are out enjoying the cooler weather. Bring a picnic and enjoy the beautiful fall colors.

Wander the grounds Arlington National Cemetery. The views from Arlington House, the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider and President Kennedy's gravesite are just a few of the sites that make Arlington National Cemetery a must on everyone's tour of the area.

Interested in Aviation History? The Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Center is the newest addition to the Smithsonian but not located in DC. The center which houses the space shuttle Enterprise is actually in Chantilly VA about 20 miles west of DC. You will also find the B-29 Enola Gay and an SR-71 (Habu) spy plane. With flight simulators and an IMAX theater at the center it is easy to spend an entire day within the walls of the center. It is free to enter the museum but there is a $12 parking fee per car.

Check out George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate on the banks of the Potomac River. Most visitors drive to Mount Vernon but you can also take a boat tour from Alexandria and arrive on the docks at the front of the house. It is easy to see why George Washington loved this property and why it is one of the most popular places to visit in the area. The grounds are impeccable, you can see the farm life as it was in the 1700's and be thankful that preservationists were able to keep Mount Vernon for all of us to see 300 years later.

The National Museum of the Marine Corps located just outside of the main gate of Quantico is the ultimate Ooh-rah" experience. Designed to resemble the flag raising at Iwo Jima the museum this museum is designed to make you understand what it means to be a Marine. With interactive exhibits you can feel as if you are right in the thick of the action. This is a great place to pay tribute to all current and past Marines and understand their place in our US history.

Take a break this weekend and enjoy the last few days of fall and one of our many local area attractions.