Leesburg, VA. 20175 and 20176

Since it’s going to be nice for quite some time, you may want to prioritize, so as not to miss any excellent events. Like some that only come around once a year.

There are two of those events this weekend. One you may have heard of, and should certainly check out, and the other, if you’ve never heard of, will leave you wondering how you went so long without knowing.

The latter takes place in Washington’s most popular weekend spots: Georgetown. But the Georgetown Garden Tour won’t be like your typical trip into the neighborhood.

Everyone who visits Georgetown is familiar with the stretch of stores along M Street, which range from major fashion brands to boutique home goods.

If you walk off that main road, you’re treated to some of the prettiest houses around the city, brick row homes over hundreds of years old. Unless you own one of those places, on any random Saturday, the owners probably would not let you through the front door and explore around.

The exception comes this Saturday during the Georgetown Garden Tour. The Georgetown Garden Tour is an annual spring event that is open to anyone who is interested. It’s one of the oldest annual events in Washington, with this year marking the 85^th anniversary. The tour will take you on an all-day walking trip in and around some of the most-well manicured and poshest gardens in Georgetown. All during peak bloom season.

Visitors will see eight private gardens, all from members of the Georgetown Garden Club. Which means that the locations you’ll get to see are no doubt some of the finest in Georgetown, including well-clipped hedges, bright blue pools and all varieties of flowers.

The tour is self-guided, with maps provided, meaning you can take in all the gardens at your leisure. Tickets for the event cost $35, and include an afternoon tea. Don’t’ worry if you’ve yet to purchase one. The event is still open, and you can buy your pass the day of, at Christ Church, at the corner of 31^st and O Streets, also where the tour begins. Also included in the price of a ticket is a tour of Dumbarton Oaks, one of Georgetown’s must popular public spaces.

The tour runs from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

If flowers and lawns don’t carry any allure for you, that’s quite alright, because another wonderful event is taking place not much farther up the road. The Bethesda Fine Arts Festival will take over downtown Bethesda for the entire weekend, bringing into the city almost 150 different artists.

The fair sets up in the Woodmont Triangle and the range of works on display covers the entire spectrum of producible art. At the Fine Arts Festival, you’ll find talented woodworkers and sculptors, painters and photographers, jewelry and clothing and furniture makers.

During the event, there will be live entertainment, as well as local restaurants setting up booths for food. It’s completely free to attend. On Saturday, the event is open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., while on Sunday, you can visit any time from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

So this weekend, if you want to get to some interesting and special D.C. events that won’t be happening for another year, you’ve got your chance.

All photos are courtesy of the Georgetown Garden Club. Photos are from gardens not currently on tour.

- David

More about Clarke County

Clarke County remains to be an affordable location for first time home buyers, with the average sales price being just $345,000. Qualified Home Buyers can take advantage of the “No Money” & “Low Money” down loan programs being offered, as well as historically low interest rates!  Buyers should consider Clarke County, an oasis just an hour west of Washington, DC. It borders Loudoun, ”the richest county in the US,” which makes Clarke Clounty a wonderful location for those commuting to Loudoun’s Tech Corridor.

Clarke has so much to offer! It’s just 60 miles west of Washington DC, 12 miles from Hollywood Casino and Race Track in Charles Town, WV., and 16 miles from historic Harpers Ferry.  As soon as you crest the Blue Ridge Mountains into Clarke County, you will know why Clarke County is referred to as the oasis. At the foot of the mountain is the Shenandoah River and beyond that are miles of gently rolling hills. Clarke is a planned open space community,. It provides not only scenic beauty, but hiking on the Appalachian Trail, fishing, canoeing, rafting, and kayaking on the Shenandoah River. It also has award winning wineries. With only 14,500 people living in the entire county, it has a true country feel with the convenience of being right next door to the DC Metropolitan area.

Market data and commentary provided by Tracy Wenger, Manager of the Front Royal office, Avery-Hess, Realtors.

Search for homes in Clarke, Frederick, and all of the Shenandoah Valley: www.averyhess.com

Days of homes on market are down by almost 50%, sales price is up 5%, and active listings are down 35%.  Not only that, but in Vienna, we’re seeing cash and conventional financing dominating the market as opposed to FHA financing, meaning that the average Vienna buyer is very well qualified.  The market is doing better compared to a year ago - what a relief!

March 2013 Real Estate Market Statistics for 22182 Vienna, VA

However, what does this truly mean for Vienna buyers? With the market picking up as fast as it has and only a month’s worth of inventory, the pressure is on for buyers! It’s only a matter of time before interest rates start going up, along with sale prices, and a shorter time-frame to decide to put an offer on the house you fall in love with.

My suggestion for the Vienna buyer is to be patient, and make arrangements as soon as possible to begin the journey to become a home owner. Start looking for an agent, get your finances together, and make the jump in order to take advantage of the low financing rates and sale prices. As for the Vienna Sellers, now is the time to sell if you’re looking for a quick turnaround, especially now that there’s a need for a larger inventory.

If you would like to talk to someone that really understands our local market, do not hesitate to give one of our agents at the Tysons Corner location a call!

Market data and commentary provided by Chris Brown, Manager of the Tysons Regional Office,  Avery-Hess, Realtors.

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

Luckily, when the weather is warm in this area, there is never a shortage of things to do. Although 90 days is daunting, this year’s options are off to a swell start, with this weekend hosting one of the most family friendly activities Washington, D.C. has to offer.

On Saturday, May 4, Glen Echo Park holds its annual Family Day, which marks the official annual opening day  of their main attraction: the Dentzel Carousel.

Glen Echo Park is one of the best tucked away treasures in Maryland, nestled up against the Potomac River on one side and the Capital Beltway on the other. The location began as an assembly location for an education group in the early 1890s, but it soon morphed into an amusement park serving the greater Washington, D.C. area. With its signature carousel, built in 1921, as well as a swimming pool, arcade hall and bumper cars, Glen Echo was one of the city’s most popular weekend destinations. In 1968, after seeing dwindling attendance, the park was closed.

It wasn’t shuttered to the public for long. In 1971, Glen Echo reopened under control of the National Park Service, the highlight still the Dentzel Carousel. Just a decade ago, the NPS finished a 20-year long restoration, and it is now back to its original glory. Which is why the opening of it each year is such a big deal.

It hasn’t spun around since September 2012, but that changes this Saturday morning. The carousel won’t be the only way to keep your kids entertained if you visit Family Day. There are numerous acts throughout the day. They are diverse in nature and aren’t just purely to please. They are also  excellent educational opportunities.

Among those activities is an event with Diane Macklin, who performs a Zimbabwean style of storytelling. She will be regaling young ones with African folktales. There will be sing-a-longs for kids who want to do a little shouting, led by Brooksie Wells, who was at last year’s carousel opening. Keeping with the international flair of the day, there will be Taiko drumming, led by Mark Rooney. Taiko is a blend of Japanese rhythmic drumming and chanting that should keep children enthralled. There will also be several different dance troupes, from ballet to traditional Irish dancers.

And of course, what would any day festival be without a magic show. Two different magicians will be there to amaze adults and children alike. Also available will be face-painting and arts and crafts.

Alongside Family Day, the rest of Glen Echo Park will be open for your enjoyment. The festival runs from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is completely free to attend. The only cost are rides on the Dentzel Carousel. But those are only a $1.25, almost as cheap as they were when it first opened in 1921.

Which is a small price to pay for a Saturday full of family fun.

- David

The average days on market for units sold in March was 86 days, 6% above the 5-year March average of 81 days. 

There was a 31.3% month over month decrease in new contract activity, with 11 New Pendings; a 7.7% MoM decrease in All Pendings (new contracts + contracts carried over from February) to 24; and an 18.2% decrease in supply to 18 active units. 

This activity resulted in a Contract Ratio of 1.33 pendings per active listing, no change from February, and an increase from 0.76 in March 2012. The Contract Ratio is 79% higher than the 5-year March average of 0.74. A higher Contract Ratio signifies a relative increase in contract activity compared to supply, and indicates the market is moving in the sellers favor. A lower Contract Ratio signifies a relative decrease in contract activity compared to supply, and indicates the market is moving in the buyer’s favor. 

So what does all of this mean? Well, to put it simply, in March 2012 there were 39 properties on the market – now, in March 2013, there are only 13.  This is a sellers market, so if you are on the fence about selling – stop thinking about it and take action now.  The Market is Hot. Contact your local Avery-Hess agent for more information about your particular neighborhood. Our goal at Avery-Hess, Realtors is to exceed your expectations. 

More about Silver Spring

Silver Spring is a suburb of Washington, D.C. in Montgomery County, with both urban and suburban areas. Its borders go as far north as Burtonsville, south to the dividing line with the District of Columbia, and west to Chevy Chase and Rockville. Silver Spring is located on the Red Line of the Metro system, and the Silver Spring stop is the most used station in Maryland. Access to Metro and public transportation, as well as major highways, make Silver Spring a most desirable area with its easy access to downtown Washington, as well as Baltimore.  

The opening of the new ICC makes travel from the Silver Spring area to Prince George’s County and the Laurel area, as well as west to Frederick, much faster and easier.   

Silver Spring is filled with historic places such as the National Park Seminary, Acorn Park and the actual Silver Spring for which the city was named. Many parks and recreation centers, and the newly revitalized City Place, are in the heart of Silver Spring.  Among some of the other notable landmarks in Silver Spring are the world headquarters of Discovery Communications, the AFI Silver (theater) and the world headquarters of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, which can be seen towering above the Capital Beltway.

With the arrival of warm weather, the many parks and playgrounds in and around Silver Spring will be bursting with children of all ages. Some of the many parks include:

Rock Creek Park, which passes along the west side of Silver Spring and offers hiking trails, picnic grounds, and bicycling. On weekends, its main road, Beach Drive, is mostly closed to motor vehicles.  

Sligo Creek Park follows Sligo Creek through Silver Spring and offers hiking trails, tennis courts, playgrounds and bicycling; on weekends, parts of Sligo Creek Parkway is also closed to motor vehicles.  

Jesup Blair Park, named for the founder of the famous Silver Spring, is a 14.5 acre park which has been recently renovated and has a soccer field, tennis courts, basketball courts and picnic area.

Wheaton Regional Park is located in “greater” Silver Spring, and includes covered tennis courts, an ice skating rink, baseball fields used by teams all over the area, playgrounds, picnic areas, stables and Brookside Gardens - a 50 acre park with arboretums, nature center and magnificent gardens to stroll through.

A number of new communities are being built in Silver Spring, including a very large townhouse and single family development on the grounds of the former Indian Spring Country Club.  

Rossmoor Leisure World, an over-55 adult community, is located in greater Silver Spring and is comprised of high-rise and garden apartments, houses and townhouses. There are 2 clubhouses, restaurants, pools and a golf course. 

The large area, ethnic diversity, housing and neighborhoods to fit any lifestyle, make Silver Spring a most desirable place to live.

Market data and commentary provided by Kathy Fleskes & Serena Toro, Rockville Regional Office.

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

All across the capital fried chicken and doughnut shops have been opening. Sweet and salty. Seems like a mismatched pair, right? But when you really think about it, they have more in common than meets the eye. Both are fried, fantastic when piping hot, and both are a comfort food straight from your childhood. Plus, if you mix one and the other, they blend together into something so perfect, you’ll never forget the taste. But you can try them separately if you’d like.

While several different shops are now around to try, the place that’s been drawing the most rave reviews is Golden Brown and Delicious in Dupont Circle. It opened only a month ago and is already one of the more popular spots in the bustling neighborhood. The restaurant takes its name from the foods it fries up, which are supposed to come out looking golden brown and delicious. Spoiler: They always do.

The restaurant is the brainchild of a group that at the moment can do no wrong in this city: Neighborhood Restaurant Group. They own what is currently one of the most popular bars in Washington, Churchkey. They just opened their first brick-and-mortar location of Red Apron Butcher, which had been a farmer’s market-only option for years, and are about to swing upon the door at a brewery next door to Nationals Park.

Golden Brown and Delicious, on Connecticut Avenue, just a block south of Dupont Circle, is where they’ve decided to try their hand at the frying game. The whole space takes up just one floor of a narrow row home, and is complete with exposed brick, wood floors and a wood bar, making for a mellow mood inside.

A trip to Golden Brown and Delicious really depends on what time of day you head there. In the morning, it’s the variety of doughnuts that tempt you, in a glass class right next to the register. These aren’t the standard doughnuts you would expect at a neighborhood bakery. No, these are doughnuts revamped and redesigned. Their Devil’s Food Doughnut comes topped with caramel, honey roasted peanuts and salt, while the Bourbon Butterscotch-Glazed Brioche has on it, of all things, bacon. Of course, those are just a few of the options, and their kitchen is always tinkering, so you might one day find something you never could have imagined.

If it’s around lunchtime though, while the doughnuts will still be available, the focus shifts to fried chicken. And oh boy is it good. There are two options for indulging in the crispy, succulent and juicy birds. The drumstick and thigh option, which comes with flavorful dark meat, or white meat chicken tenders. Both come with a choice of one of GBD’s many sides, which are comfort foods with a modern spin. Take for instance, their version on creamed spinach, which substitutes heartier kale. Somehow, it comes out lighter than the normal dish, but is no less delicious. There is also roasted garlic mash potatoes, pimento mac and cheese and potato salad loaded with bacon (the restaurant loves its bacon).

Served along the chicken is a variety of homemade sauces, from a buffalo wing sauce with Frank’s Red Hot to a twist on Mumbo Sauce, a D.C. delicacy that can only be tasted to be understood.

And what would all this delicious fried food be without beer? The draft selection here is well-though out, exactly what you’d expect from the purveyors of some of the best beer bars in the country. But that’s not the only option. They also stock dozens upon dozens of different bourbons.

Which may seem like a little much on top of all the food, but it’s best to just let it go and enjoy every delicious indulgences of Golden Brown and Delicious.

-David

You shouldn’t do that this weekend, when one of the area’s best gatherings of performers, dancers, painters and many others takes place. It happens out in Manassas, over 30 miles west of D.C. The event is Arts Alive!, Prince William County’s annual showcase of the art and culture they have to offer.

Arts Alive! is an all-day affair, running Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. It takes places at the Hylton Center, the county’s gleaming new performance arts center, a building that rivals anything the city of Washington has to offer.

The Hylton Center opened its doors in 2010, as the most state-of-the-art venue in the area. It’s located on George Mason University’s Prince William Campus, just off of Prince William Parkway. At 85,000 square feet, the Hylton Center is a sight to see, rising high up over the rolling hills of Bull Run. The glass and copper exterior is more than nine stories tall, and inside are several different performance spaces. There is the 1,100 seat Merchant Hall, a classical style opera house, and the 200 seat Gregory Family Theater for smaller shows.

At Arts Alive! both stages, as well as the center’s large gallery, foyer and parking lots, will be put to use. Arts Alive! literally takes over. It’s the biggest event put on by the Prince William Council for Arts, and activities throughout the day run the spectrum from theater to dance to music to painting.

On display are 24 performances on four stages during the day: the two main Hylton spaces, a stage set up in Hylton’s Buchanan Partners Art Gallery as well as Showmobile, their mobile stage. At Merchant Hall, the day kicks off with a show by the Northern Virginia Youth Ballet. Following that with be performances from three different orchestras, including the Manassas Symphony Orchestra and the Youth Orchestras of Prince William County. The end of the day on the main stage culminates with an awards presentation by the Council and then a show by the United States Air Force Band.

The Gregory Family Theater will see mostly chorale performances, including one by Manassas Chorale, and finishes will the Capital Jazz band. The Buchanan Partners Arts Gallery has a poetry open mic, as well as several guitar choirs. Out at Showmobile, you’ll have a chance to catch some cloggers in action.

But by no means are these performances the only things to see and do at Arts Alive!

Artists from guilds around the area will have their works on display and for sale. The pieces run the gamut from photography to painting to quilting.

There will also be a number of interactive activities going on throughout the Hylton Center. From parading belly dancers to painting demonstrations to classes for kids on both storyboarding and poetry, there’s a plethora of things to do. Oh, and there may be a mime or two making their rounds, so keep your eyes open. Pop up shops will also be set up, for local artisans to sell jewelry and crafts.

And the best part of Arts Alive! is that is completely free to attend. Anyone and everyone is invited to see what kind of arts the suburbs can put on, and show the big city what they can do.

-David

February 2013 Real Estate Market Statistics for 20882 Gaithersburg, MD

About Gaithersburg -

Gaithersburg, is a city steeped in both charm and history.  The historic Old Town has preserved many old buildings turning them into restaurants, brew pubs and shops and the old train station is still in use and retains it charm and character.

Gaithersburg is a very diverse area.  The charm of Old Town mixes with the newest type of planned community, known as Kentlands with its condos, rental apartments, townhomes and large single family houses as well as senior only apartments.  Kentlands also has many restaurants, small shops, and movie theaters as well as the larger stores such as Kmart and Lowe’s.

One of the first planned communities in the area was located in Gaithersburg.  Montgomery Village centers around a large man-made lake and now includes a golf club, Lakeforest Mall and smaller centers for shopping and gathering with friends.  The many houses, townhomes and apartments in Montgomery Village offer a wide array of living accommodations for residents of Montgomery County.

The greater Gaithersburg area encompasses many small and large communities, and housing ranges from apartments, condos, luxury townhouses and moderately priced homes; large estates on several acres and compact track homes all make up the Gaithersburg community.

A number of large companies call Gaithersburg home including IBM, Lockheed Martin, MedImmune, Sodexo and the National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Gaithersburg is also home to the only two box warehouse stores in Montgomery County.  Both Costco and Sam’s Club are located on Rt 355 north of Old Town and are always busy.  Small shopping centers along Frederick Road offer residents of Gaithersburg everything they could possibly need without venturing far from home.

With 270, Rt 355 and the ICC, Gaithersburg is convenient to almost anyplace one needs to go, but why leave home when everything you want is right there?

Market data and commentary provided by Kathy Fleskes & Serena Toro, Rockville Regional Office.

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

Literally. Thousands upon thousands of trees around this city will flower and cherry blossoms will overtake the Tidal Basin and several other spots in town.

This year has proved tricky to predict the actual bloom, with our warmer than average winter followed by this recent cold front. Original forecasts had them flowering in late March, but right now, the prediction is that they will have peaked by April 4-6th, which doesn’t seem to have happened.

For those who are unfamiliar, the cherry blossoms planted throughout the District were a gift from the Mayor of Tokyo in 1912, a demonstration of the cooperation between the two national capitals. Ever since, they’ve been commemorated with an annual festival, and have become one of the most popular reasons to visit Washington, D.C.

Without a doubt, the best spot to catch the cherry blossoms is around the Tidal Basin. This inlet of the Potomac has by far the largest collection of trees, and the beautiful pinkish hues of the cherry blossoms dazzle against the brilliant white of Washington’s many monuments. A stroll around the Tidal Basin is a flat two miles, and along the way, you can catch such popular sites as the Jefferson, FDR and Martin Luther King Memorials.

If you are looking to avoid the crowds there, any good local knows that during a weekday is the best time to go, and the middle of the day is always the least crowded. Any other time, and especially this coming weekend, you’ll be certain to encounter lots of people.

The Tidal Basin, though, isn’t the only place these popular trees were planted around Washington. If you are interested in going off the beaten path, you can catch the cherry blossoms at Dumbarton Oaks, a research library in the northern part of Georgetown. Outside the building is a nearly 50-acre garden that has its own collection of cherry blossoms, and rarely collects the kind of crowds that inundate the National Mall. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for children.

While this week is when the blossoms will be in their bright bloom, that doesn’t mean it is the end of the celebration. This upcoming weekend, is actually the highlight of the festivities, with the annual Cherry Blossom Festival Parade. On Saturday, April 13th, ten blocks of Constitution Avenue will close down as D.C.’s biggest parade this side of inauguration takes place. Dances, performers, and marching bands will all walk down D.C.’s main road.

The parade goes from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and takes place rain or shine. Grandstand seats are $20, but it is free for anyone wanting to watch along the parade route.

Much like the Tidal Basin, true locals know that if you want a real and less crowded experience, you should skip the parade. Instead, head to Sakura Matsuri,  the Japanese Street Festival. It goes on the same day, from 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. There, you’ll see sights you won’t catch in any parade. Not only is there an overwhelming amount of authentic Japanese cuisine to try, there will be plenty of Kirin Ichiban and sake. To go alongside the drinks,  there are over 4,000 performers scheduled to take the stage over the course of the day. From pop stars to dancers to martial arts experts, nearly every aspect of Japanese culture will being showcased and celebrated.

Best of all, tickets for Sakura Matsuri are only $5, which you can buy online in advance or pay at the entrance. And gives you another different, and inexpensive ways to enjoy the next two weeks.