Ashburn, VA Market Report – 11/29/10

Ashburn is following the normal seasonable pattern of softening prices and reduced inventory as we approach the holiday season. For some very focused buyers, the next six weeks will be the best time of year to buy a new home since there are fewer buyers in the marketplace to compete with. The stats and analysis for Ashburn are as follows:

• Homes for sale: 466 (down from 495 in September and up from 391 one year ago)
• Homes sold: 90 (down from the 101 units in September and down from last year’s 102 units)
• Average sold price: $410,646 (down from $445,265 last month but still up from $382,665 last year)
• Average days on market: 50 (amazingly stable in the 40-50 day range for the last year)

When you read in the paper about falling real estate prices nationwide, they are NOT talking about Ashburn.  This area has had steadily rising prices for almost two years now. Not only are the prices stable to rising, it is also a genuinely great place to live!

Market report provided by David Hess, Executive Vice President, Avery-Hess, Realtors.

Search for Homes in Ashburn, VA: www.averyhess.com

“Great American” Cooking In Washington D.C.

Washington D.C. has seen an explosion in haute cuisine recently, with celebrity chefs and elaborate menus taking over the city. But sometimes simple cooking is all a stomach needs. That’s where Great American Restaurants and their numerous locations come in handy, satiating the desire for great food without fuss.

The company began in 1976 with an eatery in Annandale and has expanded to nine distinct restaurants in twelve locations. While each locale varies in terms of style and menu, every spot operates on the same principle of good yet reasonably priced food.

There’s wide variety in the group, from a seafood restaurant in Fairfax to a steakhouse in Springfield to a tavern in Merrifield. Wherever you choose, you can expect a great meal.

Silverado

Red brick walls lend an adobe feel to the interior of Silverado, which was the company’s first location. The décor matches the restaurant’s style of cooking, a Southwestern/Tex-Mex/Southern blend.

What seems like a hard range to tackle is done deftly in the kitchen. Fajitas come out crackling on cast iron plates, blackened chicken breasts ring with Cajun spices and beef tips are married with tequila creating one of the most unique pasta dishes in D.C.

Whatever you order, be sure to grab a side of shoestring fries, which, cut paper thin, might be the area’s best.

Sweetwater Tavern

There are a decent number of breweries in the D.C. area, but not many can compare with the beers crafted at Sweetwater Tavern, which brews lagers and ales at three locations: Merrifield, Centreville and Sterling. The drafts rotate on a frequent basis, but almost any variety they make pleases the palate.

The cooking is as strong as the brewing. Aiming for a tavern feel, Sweetwater serves large portions of hearty food packed full of taste. Among their finer plates is the Drunken Rib Eye, a large slice of marbled beef marinated in the brewery’s Great American Pale Ale. It’s served with a side of whipped redskin potatoes that can leave an eater full for days.

Mike’s American

If the thought of steak tantalizes you, head to Mike’s American in Springfield. The large, sandy brick building is simple and unpretentious, just like the restaurant inside. The dining room is trimmed with dark mahogany, similar to most high-end steakhouses. But at Mike’s the fuss and pomp are nonexistent. All that matters is quality meat at affordable prices.

The prime rib is outstanding, on par with some of D.C.’s top restaurants. The biggest cut here costs just $35, and it is cooked to perfection, succulent and tender despite its size.

Coastal Flats

If meat is not to your liking, Great American offers something for the piscivore in everyone. Coastal Flats opened several years back in Fairfax and has already opened a second location in Tyson’s Corner. Fresh catches rotate daily, but be sure to order an appetizer staple of the restaurant,  the sweet and spicy calamari. A different take on the traditional squid dish, Coastal Flats eschews heavy breading and lets red pepper flakes shine and bite.  It’s served with pepper jelly, a blend of sweet jam and hot peppers that is unlike anything else out there.

These are just a few of the delicious places Great American Restaurants operates. Among the other locations are Ozzie’s Corner Italian, an Italian-style restaurant in Fairfax; Jackson’s Mighty Fine Food and Lucky Lounge in Reston, which also has a seafood slant; and Best Buns, a bakery in Shirlington.

And with nine different restaurants, Great American Restaurants can please anyone on any given night.

-David

Bristow, VA Market Report – 11/22/10

Bristow’s current housing supply is now a little OVER a four month supply after being right at four months for a long time. Is this a change in the trend or just the time of year? Only time will tell. Remember that economists say a six-month inventory indicates a balanced market.  This low level of inventory continues to keep an upward pressure on prices in the area. While Bristow’s prices have been rising slower during 2010 after a rapid rise starting in December 2008, the days on market has been getting a little longer as shown below.

Here are the statistics for the housing market in Bristow, Virginia:

• Homes for sale: 141  (compare to 150 in September and 155 one year ago)
• Homes sold: 31 (stable as compared to 32 in September and 48 one year ago)
• Average sold price:  $345,848 (compared to $342,968 in September and $315,179 one year ago)
• Average days on market: 50 (compare to 59 in September and 28 days one year ago)

We are now six months past the expiration of homebuyer tax credits and we are in the midst of a lot of negative media attention about issues relating to foreclosures. Yet people are still buying homes. Folks want to have a say in the place that they live. For those who are not worried about their job, which is about 88% of the population around here, now would be a good time to take advantage of the low interest rates as they are showing signs of going up soon.

Market data and commentary provided by David Hess, Executive Vice President and Managing Broker.

Search for homes in Bristow, and all of the DC Metro: www.averyhess.com

A Charming Winter Evening in Old Town Alexandria

When the thermometer drops and the wind turns brisk, many people head indoors for the comfort of a soft couch and a crackling fire.

But some places are made for visiting when the mercury is low and jackets, scarves, and mittens are a must. In the D.C. area, no winter season is complete without an evening out in Old Town Alexandria.

Built in colonial times, Old Town retains a great deal of the original feel and character of the 1700s. And while it’s a delight to visit any time of the year, cold winter nights really bring out the charm of the neighborhood.

To begin a wonderful evening enjoying Old Town, park near the corner of Union Street and Wales Alley. From there, head to a brick building with wrought iron lanterns outside. If Union Street Public House feels like something out of the Revolutionary War, it’s because it is. The restaurant was built inside an old Colonial warehouse and still feels like one with exposed brick interior walls.

Union Street Public House

When your meal is over, walk a block down Union Street to the Torpedo Factory. While no longer in service, the building really was a missile manufacturing plant during World War II.  It now houses studios for local artists and a gallery that’s open six days a week. Be sure to check online to see what exhibit is on display (Currently showing is “5 x 5” a small works photography collection that is part of FotoWeek DC). The best day to visit the Torpedo Factory is Thursday, when the gallery stays open an extra three hours, until 9 p.m.

After viewing the gallery, head out the back of the building to witness an Alexandria institution. Set up on a pier overlooking the Potomac River you’ll find Jamey Harper making beautiful music using just stemware, water and his own fingers. He conducts amazing symphonies with wineglasses and it’s a sight that needs to be seen to be believed.

Continuing along the pier, you’ll find Founders Park, where gravel paths meander along the banks of the Potomac River. Gaze across the water and see the newly constructed Wilson Bridge and the ever-expanding National Harbor. Look up and you can catch planes landing at Reagan National Airport. When you’ve finished strolling through the two-block park, turn around and head back toward King Street for one of the prettiest walks in all of America.

A few blocks west, the massive monolith that is the George Washington Masonic Memorial comes into view. Rising well above the surrounding area, the brightly illuminated building is stunning at night, and can be seen from any spot on the road. It’s wonderful to walk all the way up King St., surrounded by quaint shops and restaurants, and sit on the steps of the temple and look at the expanse below. If the winter chill is getting to you though, a warmer treat awaits.

George Washington Masonic Memorial

At the corner of King and Washington sits a Cosi. The chain is ubiquitous in Washington nowadays, but the King Street location was originally an XandO and it retains the charm from its pre-chain days. Sit in the lounge and grab an order of S’mores, which comes to the table with a tiny fire pit and burning flame, over which you can roast marshmallows.

A fine way to end a crisp, cold night.

-David

MyLife in Metro DC: Oh to be a Hokie…

There are few things in life I love more than being a Hokie…and I’m not the only one. No matter where in the world you might find yourself, when you see someone wearing VT gear you can confidently belt out, “LET’S GO” and you’ll hear the excited response, “HOKIES” in return.  (I’ve actually tried this once while stuck in London’s Heathrow airport and was delighted with the result and conversation that ensued)

My friends that didn’t have the pleasure of attending Virginia Tech have told me they think my school’s alumni are a bit obsessive; I tell them we aren’t obsessive, just proud.  We don’t just wear maroon and orange, we bleed maroon and orange and football isn’t just a sport, it’s a way of life in Blacksburg.

I personally feel no football season is complete without a road trip to watch your favorite team play, so this past weekend my boyfriend and I packed up the car and headed down 95 S to watch our team take on the Tar Heels while also visiting my old college roommate and her fiancé.

With my college Roomie Linda showing off our Hokie gear

This was my first trip to Chapel Hill and I have to say UNC’s campus is beautiful; its “college town” vibe made me feel right at home. Well almost.  My first hesitation came when I found out we’d have to “tailgate” in a parking garage – a foreign concept to this Virginia Tech fan!  But lucky for us, we arrived bright and early and were able to secure a spot on the top deck of the garage and found ourselves quickly immersed in a mini Hokie Tailgating Nation.

Hokie Nation

In true Tech fashion, a complimentary shot was handed out all in the area that were sporting maroon and orange by our elder neighboring tailgater.  We all gathered around, and as he lead the toast we raised our (shot)glass and drank to a Hokie victory!

We Are Virginia Tech!

As we entered the stadium, I quickly remembered that this was no Lane stadium. There was going to be no “Enter Sandman” booming through the speakers, no students jumping causing a thunderous rumble heard miles away, and no delicious turkey legs for sale.  Instead, I was greeted by a sea of baby blue (with little orange and maroon sprinkles tossed in). A stadium filled with thousands of Tar Heels ready to watch their team defeat the Hokies.

Entering the Sea of Baby Blue

Our seats were in a UNC season ticket holder section and while some spectators weren’t too fond of having “the other team” in their section, we had a number of UNC’ers tell us they secretly were Hokie fans and would still like us, even if we won.  And by the end of the third quarter, as the stadium started to look a lot less baby blue, our new friends held true to their promise and gave a cheery goodbye as they joined the UNC mass exodus towards the parking lot.  It was pretty clear Virginia Tech would be taking the day’s victory.

A Beautiful Hokie Victory

Overall, I had a wonderful time in Chapel Hill. I loved getting the chance to explore a new campus, learn about their tailgating rituals and share in the college game day experience with an ACC rival.  Ok…ok, the Hokie win might also have had something to do with why it was such a great day!

Don’t have time to head to Miami or Blacksburg to experience the last two Virginia Tech Football games of the season?

Fret not, there are more Hokies in the DC Metro area then you could possibly imagine and many of us gather at dedicated “Hokie Bars” to watch the games.  So grab your finest Tech gear and head over to Bailey’s in Ballston or Grevey’s in Falls Church and you’ll find your very own piece of Blacksburg right here in DC.

To share your Hokie experience, learn more about MyLife, view pictures, videos, post comments, and suggest adventures“Like”MyLife on Facebook!

-Kristin

Leesburg, VA Market Report – 11/15/10

Leesburg is a very stable real estate market. Check out the stats below and see for yourself.
The figures below reflect the Leesburg, Virginia market during the month of September 2010.

• Homes for sale: 570 (down a little from 585 in August and about the same as 571 one year ago)
• Homes sold: 87 (about equal to 86 last month and 88 one year ago)
• Average sold price: $410,491 (down from 431,213 in August but up from $400,991 same time last year.)
• Average days on market: 57 (down from 63 in August and down from 66 one year ago.)

One year ago the sales were influenced by the First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit. This year’s numbers are without benefit of a tax credit. Proof that buyers do not need stimulus from the government to know a good value when they see it and here in Leesburg it can’t be missed!
Interest rates are in the 4s. Is now a good time to buy? You decide.

Market data and  commentary provided by David Hess, Executive Vice President and Managing Broker.

Search for homes in Leesburg, and all of the DC Metro: www.averyhess.com