Support Local Artisians-Shop Northern Virginia Arts & Crafts Fairs This Fall

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:49:56 -0400

As Labor Day approaches the dates for Northern Virginia Fall Arts and Crafits Fair start to fill the calendar. Now more than ever it is important to consider supporting these local fairs and the artistians who spend a good part of the year preparing for them.

With the economy slowing many local artisians are feeling the pinch. The cost of the supplies they need to produce their work hasn't decreased but the number of people shopping has. The fairs are a great opportunity for you to shop "local" to find original gifts for family and friends.

Check out a list of Northern Virginia Crafts Fairs and Festivals and then mark your calendars for the ones you plan to attend this fall.

Port Potomac-Looking for a Woodbridge Community with Top Notch Amenities?

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 20:50:20 -0400

If you are looking for a home in a neighborhood with top notch community amenities then you will want to include the community of Port Potomac in Woodbridge VA on your tour list. The clubhouse was designed after the Governor’s Palace in Williamsburg and provides Port Potomac residents with top of the line options for recreation.

Inside the clubhouse you will find a large gathering space with multiple seating areas and a full bar. You can reserve the clubhouse for a private event and it is a neighborhood meeting place as well. Head downstairs to the indoor pool and fully equipped exercise room. Outside is the summer pool as well as tennis and basketball courts for you to enjoy. Need to walk off a little stress? Then wander the meditation path and see if that will help.

Take a quick tour of the Port Potomac Clubhouse amenities.

If you are looking for a Port Potomac home to go with this great clubhouse then give Cindy Jones a call at 703-346-2213 to discuss the available options. If you are an owner in Port Potomac and need to sell your home I’ve sold two properties in Port Potomac this year and have another listing under contract

Check out Current Port Potomac Listings

Northern Virginia Relocation-Resource List of Local School Information

Sat, 05 Jun 2010 16:53:18 -0400

There is little doubt that one of the first questions that a family relocating to the Northern Virginia area asks is "what about the schools?" As real estate agents we can't answer the question directly but can help point prospective buyers to a number of places to research local Northern Virginia schools. Schools often dictate the choice of neighborhood that families will consider. Living in a "good" school district could mean that parents sacrifice their commute or other community amenities in order to find the right school.

Looking at the different county and city schools sites for test scores, absentee rates, teacher turnover, graduation rates and extracurricular activities are part of what a buyer can use to make a school decision. If you are relocating to Northern Virginia you can check out the following local school sites for more information:

Alexandria City Public Schools
Arlington County Public Schools
Fairfax County Public Schools
Falls Church City Public Schools
Loudoun County Public Schools
Prince William County Public Schools
Stafford County Public Schools

Check out the Virginia Department of Education site and the independent Great Schools site as well.

Search for your new home by school district using our Northern Virginia Home search engine. (Just click the link labeled Schools/Districts)

If a move to the Northern Virginia area is in your future give Cindy Jones a call at 703-346-2213. Let me help you find the information you need to make the best decision for your families reclocation to the area. No hassle, no pressure just straight talk about lliving in Northern Virginia.

Springfield Commuters-Keep Your Eyes on The Fairfax County Parkway Extension

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:24:23 -0400

Having grown up in and been driving on Springfield VA roads for a long time it is easy for me to drive the local roads almost by remote control. Shoot when I attended Washington Irving Intermediate School, Old Keene Mill Road was two lanes not the divided 4 lane road it is today. And no I didn't walk 5 miles uphill both ways to get to school so let's not go there.

Now the long anticipated completion of the Fairfax County Parkway is well underway. The first phase of the project is a re-alignment of Rolling Road and roads leading into the new National Geospatial Intellegence Agency. For residents of the Saratoga neighborhood off in Springfield the entrance to their neighborhood will be altered as a side road exit from the new Fairfax County Parkway extension.

Heads up if you are driving down Rolling Road East. Keep an eye out for the new detours. Don't put your brain on remote control or you may find yourself needing an off-road vehicle.

Saratoga in Springfield VA-Welcoming the New East Campus of Fort Belvoir

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 17:35:56 -0400

Chances are you will encounter a deer or two in your yard in the Saratoga neighborhood in West Springfield (VA.) With the pockets of woods scattered throughout the neighborhood you will also see rabbits and foxes too. The wildlife is just one reason that make Saratoga a neighborhood that stays on the list of sought after West Springfield neighborhoods.

Now with the new National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency being built on the Fort Belvoir Engineering Proving Grounds, buyers will have another reason to consider the Saratoga neighborhood. The Engineering Proving grounds are considered the "New Campus East" as part of BRAC and when the project is complete the NGA will consolidate an estimated 8,500 employees in one location. Buyers who are looking for a home within a few minutes of the gates off of Fullerton Road will find Saratoga the closest neighborhood to the facility.

Buyers have always had plenty of reasons to consider Saratoga a prime location including transportation, shopping and recreation options.

Transportation Options

The VRE station in Lorton Station is only a few miles away and the Fairfax Connector bus will take owners to the Springfield-Franconia Metro Station. Headed to Fort Belvoir? Saratoga is within 15 minutes of the main gate and with the VRE, Slug lines and metro make commuting to the Pentagon , Federal Government or other area employment centers easy.

Shopping and Dining

The neighborhood is close to shopping either at the nearby Saratoga Shopping Center or a few miles in either direction you can find shopping in either West Springfield or Lorton shopping centers as well. Saratoga Pizzeria is a local favorite with great Gyro's and of course pizza. A few miles away you will find the restaurants at Lorton Station or Austin Grill, Chicken Out, Chesapeake Bagel Bakery or Hunan's to name a few.

Recreation and Activities

Saratoga offers a community pool for residents as well as access to any of the Fairfax County Recreation Centers. The closest is South Run Recreation Center about 5 miles away off of the Fairfax County Parkway. If you want to take in more history then Mount Vernon, Woodlawn Plantation and George Washington's Grist Mill are all within 30 minutes from Saratoga.

If you are looking for a new home in Springfield VA or anywhere in the Fort Belvoir area let my knowledge of Northern Virginia neighborhoods and experience with relocation help you settle in a new home in Northern Virginia. Give me a call at 703-346-2213 to discuss all the options that are right for you.

Woodbridge VA-Good Things Come in Threes in Riverside Station

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:37:27 -0400

Last week was my third closing this year on a townhouse listing in the Riverside Station neighborhood in Prince William County VA. This was also the third Department of Defense Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP) sale in the neighborhood and my third referral from previous clients in the neighborhood.

It appears the saying "good things come in threes" is right.

For military families the Department of Defense Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP) has been a great program for being able to sell their homes and help mitigate the loss from a downturn in the Prince William County real estate market.

If you are a military family in Prince William County who just received PCS orders and qualify for the HAP program give me a call at 703-346-2213. Let me put my experience and success in closing sales for families like yours using HAP benefits to work for you.

Occoquan Regional Park-Join In the Launch of the New Kayak Rental Facility

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:40:36 -0400

Grand Opening of the new Kayak Launch facility at Occoquan Regional Park is this coming Labor Day Weekend.

For added fun on Saturday September 4th, Ernie Porta the Mayor of Occoquan is leading two historic tours of Occoquan. The tours will kick off at 10 am and 11 am.

Participants on the tour will receive a 10% discount coupon for lunch at either the Garden Kitchen or Madigan's Waterfront good for use on the day of the tour.

Per Occoquan Regional Park site the following fees and times are available for Kayak rentals this fall.

"Kayak rental is available from September 4th to October 2nd between the hours of 9am and 6pm, Weekends and Holidays Only"

"Hourly rates are $7.50 for Fairfax County residents and $8.50 for non residents
Daily rates are $33.00 for Fairfax County residents and $37.00 for non residents"

Kayaking on the Occoquan River is a leisurely pastime. You won't find any whitewater or rapids like you will a Great Falls Park about 20 miles north. However you will get a chance to watch the Osprey overhead and relax at the end of a long day. Come join the kickoff event at Occoquan Regional Park on Saturday September 4th, 2010.

Whoops! My Client Submitted Their Only Copy of DD Form 214 to the VA...What Now?

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:17:15 -0400

Another valuable piece of information for military home buyers who want to use their VA benefits. Do not send an original DD214 to the VA. I still have the old green copy of my VA loan eligibility tucked away in a file even though everything can now be processed on line.

Via Bruce Reichstein (VALoans.com - Nationwide Expert VA Loan Officer - Vets 1st):

There are so many details to remember about VA home loans---about any kind of home loan, really—that it’s easy for a VA loan applicant to forget and make a mistake like sending in originals of official documents when they really should be submitting copies instead.

Do you have a client applying for a VA home loan who submitted their original copy of their DD Form 214, the report of discharge each veteran gets when they retire or separate from the military?

The DD Form 214 is one of the most important documents a vet has—it’s needed for so many VA benefits that I won’t even bother to list them all here. Suffice it to say that the DD Form 214 is absolutely necessary for a VA mortgage—you can’t even be considered eligible for one with out the DD Form 214 if you’re retired or separated.

But what is a vet to do if they mistakenly send in the original to the VA in the early days of the VA loan process? VA requirements demand that form to get basic eligibility, and chances are a vet might not need the DD214 again right away during the VA loan process…but if a veteran is applying for other benefits including healthcare and GI Bill money at the same time they’re going for the VA home loan, they’re in a bit of a bind.

The first thing the borrower should do is to check to see if they have any other copies of the DD Form 214. Since none of the VA programs require that original DD214, the copy can be reproduced again and again. No problem there. But if the vet can’t locate any other copies, they need to contact the National Archives in St. Louis to get a replacement copy as quickly as possible. Not having a DD 214 can hold up the wheels of progress for any VA benefit the veteran is applying for, but a free (in most cases) replacement is easy to get from the government. I’ll cover how in my next post.

Westridge-Another Woodbridge VA Department of Defense HAP Sale Goes in the SOLD Column

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:15:26 -0400

In early June the owners of this terrific home in the Westridge community in Prince William County contacted me about whether they should sell their home or hold onto it as a rental until prices recovered. With a deployment to the Middle East looming trying to figure out the best course of action wasn't easy.

Fortunately they owners qualified for the Department of Defense Homeowners Assistance Program and once the decision to sell was reached it didn't take long for the offers to roll in.

Today the husband is stationed in the Middle East while the rest of the family is settled at their next duty station awaiting his return. With the September 30, 2010 deadline looming for PCS orders under the current HAP program if you are hesitating about whether to sell or rent give me a call at 703-346-2213. Let my record of navigating HAP sales and current knowledge of important program changes work for you.

Westridge in Woodbridge, VA offers owners a community club house, swimming pool and walking paths throughout the community. With it's central location within Prince William County residents have access to multiple commuter lots, major roads and the Woodbridge VRE for commuting to DC, the Pentagon or Quantico. Shopping centers are varied and close by and the Award of Excellence Westridge Elementary School is within the community.

View Current Westridge Listings

It Looks Like An Ordinary Northern Virginia Bank-Doesn't It?

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:03:12 -0400

This older Burke and Herbert bank building in the Baileys Crossroad area of Northern Virginia looks like just about any other bank in the area. Nothing about it necessarily stands out. Yet it holds an interesting part of history on it's roof.

The odd looking lights that you might think are an old security system or fire alarm are actually the remaining becons that marked the building for incoming planes to the Cross Roads Airport. As you can see by the highrises behind the bank no pilot today would want to attempt a landing in the area.

The original agreement to operate an airport in the area was approved in 1942 but due to WWII the airport license was not issued and named until 1946. In 1947 the Cross Roads Airport opened and appeared on flight maps. By 1949 the name on the areonatutical maps now showed the airport being called Washington Airport with two unpaved runways.

As time passed the runways were paved and housing developments going up nearby began to complain about the noise from the aircraft. In the 1960's even the Goodyear Blimp made a visit to the airfield but as with many of the smaller airfields, such as the Springfield Airport 15 miles down the road the future of airport was determined by the increasing value of the land.

The airport officially closed in October 1970 and the construction of Skyline Plaza, two twenty six floor residential towers began. The condominiums were completed in 1977 and except for these two lights all traces of the airport are long gone.

Today's Baileys Crossroads is on the radar of Fairfax County for redevelopment to a more pedistrian friendly area with a future metro station. The area has come a long way from an area that once welcomed airplanes instead of traffic backups on Route 7.

For more information on the Cross Roads Airport, other small airports in Northern Virginia or across the US check out Abondoned & Little Known Airfields.

Zoes Kitchen-Enjoy a New Place to Eat in Woodbridge VA

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:59:27 -0500

If you live in the Woodbridge VA area head to the Stonebridge Shopping Center and get ready for a fresh food treat at Zoes Kitchen.

Despite the worst winter in Northern Virginia history I headed out to Zoes Kitchen on opening day to get a taste of their take on Mediterranean food and was not disappointed. First off the staff was ready to answer any question I had about the menu and when I asked about their hummus they quickly gave me a sample to try. Just the right amount of Tahini and served with warm pita bread. Don’t miss it!

After studying the menu, which includes sandwiches, soups, salads and hot entrees, I settled on the chicken rollups with two sides. It was delivered to my table and I was not disappointed. The no-mayo potato salad reminded me of my mom’s and is a nice change from the usual overly moist potato salad you usually get as a side at other restaurants.

Recently I have been on the run quite a bit around dinner time preparing new listings in the Woodbridge area, so this weekend I made another quick stop and ordered the Chicken Kabobs with rice pilaf and Greek Salad to go. Again not a disappointment and the take out containers were recyclable. YEA!

Besides serving food in the restaurant Zoes Kitchen also caters. The catering sales rep, Brittany Marthaller is a delight to talk with. If you are tired of the same old sandwich trays from the big box store then you need to give her a call a 703-580-4408.

Within walking distance of the Potomac Club neighborhood, only a few blocks from INOVA Potomac Hospital and with easy access off of Neabsco Mills Rd I’m going to bet that Zoes Kitchen will keep their brightly colored tables full.

Check it out.

Zoes Kitchen
14901 Potomac Town Place
Woodbridge, VA 22191
11am-9pm Sunday - Thursday
11am-9:30pm Friday & Saturday

Springfield VA-Before There Was The Springfield Interchange There Was Springfield Airport

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 20:16:32 -0400

Ask the residents of Northern Virginia who drive through the Springfield interchange everyday and they may tell you that an airport would be preferable to the 50 ramps and 20 lanes they deal with everyday. Ask a tourist driving through the Springfield interchange and you can bet they would rather be flying over than trying to navigate their way through the maze. In 1945 this same area was the location of a 3,000 foot long unpaved runway as part of the Springfield Airport.

The tiny airport offered fuel and maintenance facilities for small aircraft. One of the mechanics at the airport in the late 1940's was Charlie Kulp who is best known in our area for his acrobatic flying in the Bealton Flying Circus which still operates today and is a great place to go and watch the amazing flying acrobatics.

According to the book Abondoned and Little Known Airfields the Springfield Airport was short lived. In fact it appears that it was only around for 7 years. Our family moved to Springfield in 1955 and by then there were no traces of the airport visible in the area. it was easy to see that the location of the airport is where the neighborhood of Springfield Estates was built.

Unlike the nearby community of Burke VA which was the original proposed site for Dulles International Airport, Springfield Airport was never designed to be more than a small airfield.

Today pilots who fly small aircraft have a choice of airfields scattered throughout Northern Virginia including four local public airports and another 64 throughout the state.

Manassas Airfield
Whitman Strip
Stafford Regional Airport
Leesburg Executive Airport

If you are looking for a home in Springfield VA or the surrounding Northern Virginia area give me a call at 703-346-2213. Let my knowledge of both old and new Springfield work for you. No hassle, no pressure just straight talk to help you decide if now is the right time for you to buy a new home.

Photo by Caleb's Photography from Flickr Creative Commons License

Back to the Future- Water Taxi’s in Prince William County

Tue, 05 May 2009 08:22:49 -0400

It doesn't take a genius to realize that even after spending billions on road projects in Northern Virginia that traffic is often still at a standstill on both major and secondary roads. Throw in a rainstorm, snow or an accident and commuters can spend hours just sitting and waiting.

With the hot lane construction and the new Tyson Corner rail project the landscape continues to change along our roadways. Yet at the same time the Potomac River with access points from DC south into Virginia sits virtual unused. Cities like Seattle, Chicago and NY support water transportation as a way to get past traffic and reach areas that are not well serviced by other forms of public transportation.

Once again politicians and county planners in Prince William County (VA) are going to take another run at testing the idea of a water taxi. In November 2007 I posted "The Future in a 58 minute Ferry Ride" about the last attempt in Prince William County to test the idea of running water taxi along the Potomac River to DC.

Since that time the Harbor Station project has faltered and of course the three year mark for "reality" has been extended well into the future.

The next attempt to test the water ferry idea takes place tomorrow with a run from the Occoquan Harbor Marina to DC. The cost of the test excursions is estimated at $225,000 and is funded by the federal government funds. The cost of building the ferry stations along the Potomac River is estimated to be around 600 million dollars and could be funded with economic stimulus money.

The idea of a water ferry to take cars off our clogged roads is one that needs more support from citizens in our area. Though we don't want the river to become as backed up as the Springfield Interchange during rush hour we also don't need to ignore the possibility that we are under utilizing a local resource that might just be a viable alternative.

VA Loan Eligibility for Surviving Spouses

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 18:33:17 -0400

A great reminder for millitary families who have suffered the loss of a loved on on active duty.

As a surviving spouse I have had the good fortune in the past to use VA to purchase two different homes. It is a benefit that many widows and widowers may overlook when they start a new home search.

Via Bruce Reichstein (VALoans.com - Nationwide Expert VA Loan Officer - Vets 1st):

VA home loans are a benefit primarily used by military members, but in once case the VA allows non-military people to apply—specifically the surviving spouse of a veteran who has died on active duty or died as a result of military service.

Surviving spouses often have a difficult time in the earliest days of applying for a VA home loan. People in the military have plenty of access to information about their VA loans, everything from on-base counselors to information given out by supervisors and commanders. But spouses who aren’t in the military themselves often get unintentionally left out in the cold. When it comes time for a surviving spouse to apply for a VA home loan, it’s tough for them to know where to start.

Surviving spouses must get eligibility much in the same way veterans themselves do—they have to apply for it by submitting paperwork to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

For spouses of vets who died on active duty, there are two basic groups—those who get Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) from the VA don’t need to send any additional documents to the VA—they’ve already been entered into the VA system. But those who don’t currently receive DIC should send the following to the VA:

• A copy (not the original) DD Form 1300 Report of Casualty
• A copy of the marriage certificate
• The veteran’s Social Security number (include it on all paperwork sent to the VA)
• A simple signed statement of intent to apply for DIC.

The VA reminds surviving spouses, “If you qualify for the home loan benefit, you probably qualify for monthly payments under DIC.”

Send all paperwork to:

VA Loan Eligibility Center
PO Box 20729
Winston-Salem, NC 27120

The VA asks surviving spouses to apply using VA Form 26-1817. If you can’t print the form, just call 1-888-244-6711 and follow the prompts. The form will be mailed once the call is completed.

In my next blog post I’ll cover what spouses of military members who died on “as a result of military service” must do to claim VA home loan benefits.

Springfield VA-Join the Wildlife in the Newington Forest Community

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 18:24:28 -0400

As I was driving through the Newington Forest neighborhood in Springfield this week I encountered this guy just off the side of the road. It was a nice reminder that when Newington Forest was being built 50% of the 734 acres of the development was set-aside as community common areas. This resulted in a community with large mature trees and five miles of hiking and biking trails.

Owners in Newington Forest have a choice of townhomes or detached homes spread out among the remaining 300 plus acres of the community. Looking for a starter place? Then the smallest Pepperwood model townhouse may be just for you. Need room to expand? Then check out the largest Shenandoah model detached home. There are plenty of options for you to choose from.

Since Newington Forest covers a large area in Springfield children may attend either schools in the South County HS Pyramid or the Hayfield HS Pyramid. With it’s proximity to Fort Belvoir and easy access to multiple commuter lots, slug lines and the Franconia Springfield Metro the neighborhood has always been popular with military families. With the new NGA facility opening in Fall 2011 the neighborhood will also be popular with employees looking to live close by.

Interested in checking out Newington Forest in Springfield VA? Give me a call at 703-346-2213 let me help you find the home that is just the right fit for you.

Current homes for sale in Newington Forest.