Happy New Year!

 

As we enter the New Year and New Decade of the 2020’s we are experiencing the lowest levels of available homes for sale in many, many years. We currently have just 1,946 homes for sale in all of Northern Virginia. We have a serious need for more houses to come on the market! As of the end of December, we were experiencing multiple contract situations on many houses throughout our area – as many as 23 offers on one house in the below 400K price point. The demand is there, the housing supply is not. Sales last year outpaced sales from 2018 by nearly 1.5% through November and should outpace sales through    December as well. Interest rates remain very low making it more attractive to buy versus rent in many cases. Those who previously suffered credit damage from the housing crisis during the recession in the mid-2000s are now recovered.  Property values are increasing at a measured and sustainable pace making now an extremely desirable to time own.  As a result, we now have a lot of pent up demand for housing at all price points.

Additionally, there is a shortage of rentals available on the market, so when they do become available, they rent quickly. There is currently just a half month’s supply of rental houses in Northern Virginia. These factors definitely make it an ideal time to sell or rent your home. Call me to learn more about how you can position yourself for success in this market when making this decision.

Overall the economy is tremendously strong in Northern Virginia.  We are near systemic full employment in our region and with Amazon ahead on their hiring, I don’t see a change for us on this in the near future.  Yes there are uncertainties, as there always are, with the trade situation with China and tensions in the    Middle East  but the markets and the economy broadly seem to be shrugging those off, seizing on the abundant good news including a pending phase one trade agreement with China and ratification of the USMCA.

Bottom line?  We continue to have a robust and healthy real estate market and 2020 looks to be a banner year!  As always I am available to help you when you are looking to make a move. Make the 20’s your best years ever!

It’s a good life.

Chris

 

Local Events

Check out these great events happening in and around Northern Virginia in January!

Home & Remodeling Show

*Fairfax County*
Home & Remodeling Show  – January 17th-19th | 10am – 9pm
Dulles Expo Center , 4320 Chantilly Shopping Center, Chantilly, VA
Join us at the MAIN STAGE for exciting local and national celebrities including Kevin O’Connor, host of the Emmy Award-winning series “This Old House” and “Ask This Old House”, who will share expert advice and their personal tips and tricks for remodeling, home improvement, design ideas and much more. Numerous local vendors available to talk bout all of your home   projects and remodeling needs. Discount days and events. Visit homeandremodelingshow.com for tickets and more details.

Summer Camps & Activities Fair  –  January 19th | 12pm – 4pm
Fair Oaks Mall, 11750 Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax, VA
Enjoy an afternoon of fun for the whole family! Meet with representatives from day and overnight camps and find the perfect summer fit for your child. Bring the whole family for raffles and prizes, family fun activities, giveaway bags and more RSVP on Eventbrite to be entered to win a $125 scholarship to the camp of your choice! Must check in at the event to win.

Polar Plunge 2020 – January 25th | 12pm – 2pm
Mosaic District, 2910 District Avenue, Fairfax, VA
Join us for the Polar Plunge® Festival at the Mosaic District in Fairfax, where you can show us your best cannonball into an icy pool for a great cause! Bring your friends and family out for live music and chance to claim the title as the best-dressed plunger! Remember it’s $100 to take the Plunge, but the more you raise, the cooler the prizes. Visit https://polarplunge.com/mosaic-district/ for more details and to register.

*Loudoun County* 
Winter Ice Festival & Mega Ice Block Carving Competition – January 18th | 1pm – 5pm | Village at Leesburg
Ready to chill out? You’ll see six world-renowned ice carvers create amazing sculptures as they compete for prizes. Stroll the boulevard to music, snap a picture with Slapshot from the Washington Capitals, chill out in our igloo lounge, and warm up with to-go cocktails and merchant specials. Plus, take part in all kinds of fun interactive ice games or try our iceless skating rink. Join us. This is going to be cool.

*Prince William County*
30th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratorical Program
January 20th | 11am  – 1pm

Hylton Memorial Chapel, 14640 Potomac Mills Road
The Prince William County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (PWCAC-DST) hosts this event. Doors open at 10 am, various vendors and community organizations will be there. Come prepared to be amazed and inspired by 6 students, grades 6-12, representing schools from PW County, Manassas City, and Manassas Park as they use impressive oratorical skills to expound on the theme “Let Freedom Ring”. Additionally, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Choir, composed of children from kindergarten to high school. Inspired by the guidestar of “Let Freedom Ring” this 30th year commemoration of Dr. King’s birthday and Day of Service is sure to be to one the best. For more information please visit www.pwcacdst.org.

 

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

Easy Smoked Salmon Pasta

www.delish.com

Prep time 10 minutes/total time 30 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

· 1 lb. spaghetti
· 1/2 red onion, chopped
· 2 cloves garlic, minced
· 1/4 c. white wine
· 3/4 c. heavy cream
· Juice of 1/2 lemon
· Kosher salt
· Freshly ground black pepper
· 1/2 lb. smoked salmon, cut into bite size pieces
· 1/4 c. capers, drained
· 2 tbsp. freshly chopped dill, plus more for garnish

DIRECTIONS

  1. In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain, reserving ½ cup pasta water, and return to pot.
  2. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and cook until soft, 5 minutes, then add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute more. Add wine and cook until almost completely reduced, 5 minutes. Add heavy cream and lemon juice and cook until thickened, another 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
  3. Add salmon, capers, and dill and cook until salmon is warmed through, 2 minutes, then toss sauce and pasta together. Add ¼ cup pasta water if sauce is too thick. Garnish with more dill to serve. Enjoy!

 

Top Reasons to List Your House at the Beginning of the Year

When it comes to selling your home there are a lot of factors to consider, one of the biggest being the timing. While sometimes timing cannot be controlled, there are certain times of the year that are better than others when it comes to listing and selling your home, if you are not in a huge time crunch. We reached out to some area experts to compile some of the top reasons to list your home at the beginning of the year.

According to our panel of experts, there are five key factors that play a role in deciding when the best time to list is and they were most prominently noted in the beginning of the year. These five key factors include seasonality, competition, exposure, move-in timing and a seller’s vs. buyer’s market. Taking these factors into consideration, our experts noted February, March and April as three of the best months to list your home for sale.

February –  Although the weather isn’t always the best, the month of February was
noted to be a good month to list your home for several different reasons. Listing your home in February gives you the chance to gain some exposure before the spring rush, and the normally low inventory in February means less competition. The timing of
February is also good in terms of people beginning to either start of resume their house hunt after the busy holiday season.

Listing in February can also give you a leg up as the weather begins to take a turn for the better and February typically leads into a very active spring market. Because of this, buyer’s attitudes are typically better due to spring fever, and purchasing in February gives buyers lots of time to move in before summer.

March –  According to our experts, listing your home in March falls under many of the same points as listing in February. You are able to beat the spring rush and get some early exposure and low inventory results in less competition. As well, by March many people have settled down after the rush of the holidays and winter vacations and are beginning to search for homes. The weather begins to improve which also helps boost the moods of potential buyers and gets them thinking about buying and settling into a new home before summer.

Listing your home in March also lines up with a late spring/early summer possession date, which is attractive to many buyers as it means they can be settled into their new home before the summer months hit. This timeline gives them the opportunity to begin moving as nicer, warmer weather hits, and allows buyers to enjoy the summer in their new home.

April –  By April the weather has usually improved and those who choose to list their home during the month of April are hitting the market at the beginning of the spring rush. April is a great month to list your home as it after the income tax period and many buyers are beginning their search, which will give your listing the best exposure! The good weather that comes along with spring will help the exterior of your home to look lovely and green, which will attract buyers much more. Many buyers are also more   willing to come and look at a listing in the spring, as they won’t have to trudge through snow and ice to view your home.

April is also a great month for listing as it lends itself nicely to a 90 day possession timeline, which is the perfect time to move at the end of June when school is over.   Typically as the year progresses more into spring, buyers start seriously searching for their next home and there are often more buyers in the market than there were in the early months of the year.  If you’d like more information about listing your home now or later in the year, please let me know, I would be honored to help.

 

Featured Listing

Coming Soon in Centreville!

Lovely updated 2 bedroom, 2 bath top floor condo in fantastic commuter location! Kitchen with granite counters and stainless steel appliances. Large master bedroom with walk in closet and private bath. Relaxing balcony with wooded views. Tons of updates including fresh paint, new carpet and flooring and remodeled bath.  

Call or email for more info on this listing!