I am Grateful for You!

Now that another Halloween has come and gone, hopefully you weren’t spooked by the real estate market and the news that you have heard about it. The market is good – not bad – not slow – not great – just good. People need to expect that their house isn’t going to sell in a matter of hours or days, it will, in most cases, take a couple of weeks to a month or even longer to sell. As I’ve said before, it all depends upon your price point, condition and location. All around the region, we are seeing median days on market are up as are the average days on market. Again, don’t be spooked, we continue to see steady sales, low inventory and stable prices. Buyers are just taking a bit little longer to make decisions on buying. Some are still looking for the house to be in perfect condition at a “value” price. In some cases, they too, need to be realistic. Not every house is perfect and not every house is value priced so, just make an offer and see how the seller responds. If there is a house for sale, the sellers want it sold and they just want to “hear” it from the market and not the agent in a lot of cases.

So, what is on the horizon? Interest rates will continue to rise which will cause some buyers to leave the market. Some will opt for alternative forms of financing such as adjustable rate mortgages or if you have an assumable loan – assumptions. If you are interested in buying, this is a great option as well. Please give me a call to learn more whether you are selling or buying.

What else could impact our area you ask? Amazon and their HQ2 is the answer!  It was just announced the morning of this writing and I’m sure you have heard by now that they have selected Northern Virginia as one of their two next head-quarters locations, Crystal City to be more precise. What does this mean for our region? There will be some impact on housing, some impact on commercial properties (depending upon their location), a definite impact on our economy and lastly, an impact on traffic as 25,000 jobs plus supporting company employment will bring more commuters. The local real estate industry is excited about this potential move, but we are not counting on anything concrete until the final decision is made. If you would like to know more, please feel free to call me as I have been following this developing news quite extensively, not mention blogging about it in more detail. Also, I am happy to discuss your next move at any time.

Have a great Thanksgiving and enjoy the time with your family and friends!

It’s a good life.

Chris

 

Local Fall Events

 

 

 

 

 

Celebrate fall in Northern Virginia with parades, festivals and event lights to bring in the holiday season.

Check out some of these local events below:

Mount Vernon by Candlelight – November 23, 24 & 30 @ 5 pm
George Washington’s Mount Vernon: 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon; Experience a lantern-lit tour of the grounds decorated for the holidays. At the end of the tour enjoy dancing, caroling, cookies and warm cider. // mountvernon.org; $25

Reston Holiday Parade, Reston Town CenterNovember 23, 2018 – 11am
The holiday celebration and parade, an annual tradition on the day after  Thanksgiving since 1991, is a full day of celebrations. The parade starts at 11 am and includes Santa and Mrs. Claus joined by huge balloon figures, musical groups, dancers, and antique cars making their way down Market Street.

Loudoun County
LightUP Fest: Presented by AM Capital Star LLC dba LightUP Fest – 44605 Russell Branch Pkwy Ashburn, VA  – 5:30pm to 10:30pm
Recurring daily beginning November 8, 2018. 
Bring your entire family out to One Loudoun to enjoy a never seen before Lights & Lantern Show combined with delectable food and acrobatics performances! Immerse in this incredible experience of being surrounded by different thematic adventures! Price: $29.99 Adult, $19.99 Youth, $24.99 Senior

*Don’t forget, Saturday, November 24th is Small Business Saturday!  Shop with local small business to show your support!

 

Partner Spotlight

A spotlight on one of my valued partners in real estate.

David Green, Vice President of Walker Title

I started in the title industry in 1986 and have been with Walker Title from its start in 1994. WALKER TITLE, LLC is a full service title agency and settlement company specializing in both residential and  commercial transactions in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area. Walker Title has 21 real estate title professionals and 3 offices to service its customer’s needs. Our experienced staff can assist you in handling any real estate transaction, which includes house purchases, refinance, land acquisitions, construction loans and complex commercial transactions. Our  dedication to customer service makes Walker Title’s settlement and title insurance services second to none. We can provide you with the knowledge to make your real estate transaction a smooth and pleasant experience from contract to close.

David A. Green
Walker Title, LLC
11781 Lee Jackson Mem., Hwy., #300
Fairfax Va 22033
(703) 563-6182
www.walkertitle.com
[email protected]

 

Recipe Corner

Loaded Cheese Ball Bites

A perfect Thanksgiving appetizer


INGREDIENTS

  • 8 slices bacon
  • 1 1/2 (8-oz.) blocks cream cheese, softened
  • 1 c. shredded cheddar
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 tsp. paprika
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/3 c. freshly chopped chives
  • 1/3 c. finely chopped pecans
  • 18 pretzels sticks

DIRECTIONS

  1. In a large nonstick skillet, cook bacon until crispy, 8 minutes. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate; then finely chop. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, stir together cream cheese, cheddar cheese, garlic powder and paprika, season with salt and pepper. Use a cookie scoop to form mixture into 18 small balls and transfer to a parchment lined baking sheet. Refrigerate until firm, 1 hour.
  3. In a shallow bowl, stir together bacon, chives and pecans.
  4. Roll balls in bacon-chive-pecan mixture, insert a pretzel stick into each, let come to room temperature 15 minutes before serving. Store in refrigerator if not serving right away.

 

 

Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

 By Robert Robillard on Home Repairs and Remodeling

Before the weather grows colder it’s  important to prepare for the winter months to prevent costly damage. Below are the fall preventative home maintenance steps that every homeowner should follow.

Winterizing Checklist

1. Gutters and Downspouts

  • Clean gutters and downspouts frequently throughout fall to prevent build-up of leaves and other debris.
  • Be sure water is not coming down behind gutters and that all support brackets are securely in place.
  • Ensure that water drains properly and doesn’t pool. Pooling can cause damage to foundations, driveways, and walkways.

2.  Windows and Doors

  • Change summer screens to cool weather storm windows and doors.
  • Inspect and repair any loose or damaged window or door frames.
  • Install weather stripping or caulking around windows and doors

3.  Heating Systems

  • Replace the filter in your furnace.
  • Consider having a heating professional check your heating system to
    ensure optimal usage.
  • Clean your ducts to better your heating system’s efficience

4. Plumbing

  • To prevent pipes freezing and bursting, ensure that the pipes are well
    insulated and don’t forget to winterize outdoor faucets.
  • Know how to locate and turn off the water shut-off valve in case pipes do freeze.

5. Chimney and Fireplace

  • Call a professional in to inspect and clean your chimney, if you have a wood burning fireplace; to prevent dangerous chimney fires.
  • Test your fireplace flue for a tight seal when closed.

6. Attic Ventilation

  • Be sure attic insulation doesn’t cover vents in the eaves to prevent winter ice dams on the roof.
  • Check bird and rodent screens for attic vents to prevent any unwanted guests.

7. Landscape and Yard work

  • Now is the best time to fertilize and reseed your lawn.
  • Prune your trees and shrubs after the leaves turn to encourage healthy growth.
  • Trim any tree limbs that are dangerously close to power lines or the roof
    of your house.