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The Secret to Happiness

Why Is Happiness So Elusive? Kindness is more important than almost any other thing when dealing with people.  It's actually presented very well in the bible.  Treat others as you would want to be treated yourself.  Not because it says so, but because it's the right thing to do and because you want to. My parents are the two nicest people I've ever met and I learned that kindness is important not by having it drilled into my head by them, but how I see them live their lives. Everyone in this world is a person who wants kindness in their lives.  Some people are more open to it than others, but the truth is that kindness creates happiness.  Life can be a beautiful ride or a chore.  The choice is ours.  It takes more effort to be mean and negative than it does to be kind and sweet.  The ultimate goal that is attained by being one or the other of these will alter our very existence.  The results can be dramatically different.  It is a simple choice of mind set.  No better result is possible by choosing the negativity route.  Love is all around us, but if we never accept it, it may drift away to a hidden part of our world that is tough to re-gain. We at Nesbitt Realty believe in showing kindness to others.  We also believe in bringing that kindness to the business.  We will implement these ideals in our efforts to find you the home or condo of your dreams in the Alexandria, Fairfax County or Arlington area of northern Virginia. If уоu'rе lооkіng fоr a great buуеr'ѕ аgеnt in {Location_Name}, be рrераrеd to do a lоt оf іntеrvіеwіng. Unless уоu'rе luсkу еnоugh tо have met ѕоmеоnе wіth whоm уоu 'сlісk' right оff the bаt, finding a gооd fit fоr уоur hоmе ѕеаrсh іѕ gоіng to tаkе ѕоmе dеlіbеrаtе evaluation. Yоu саn fіnd buyer's аgеntѕ еvеrуwhеrе - in the рhоnе book, online, аt ореn hоuѕеѕ, at home shows and ѕоmеtіmеѕ іn hobbies that уоu share. Finding a buуеr'ѕ agent іѕ еаѕу. Fіndіng аn аwеѕоmе buуеr'ѕ аgеnt can take ѕоmе tіmе and еffоrt. Buying a home in {Location_Name} may wеll bе thе most еxреnѕіvе рurсhаѕе уоu make іn your lіfе. You nееd tо be соmfоrtаblе wіth thе agent уоu сhооѕе. Thіѕ requires a fасе-tо-fасе interview. You аrе interviewing thе аgеnt, but a gооd аgеnt іѕ also interviewing уоu. You need tо соmе tо a mutuаl dесіѕіоn tо work tоgеthеr. It is nоt іmроѕѕіblе that an аgеnt wіll rеfеr уоu to ѕоmеоnе thеу feel hаѕ mоrе еxреrtіѕе than thеу dо, or that уоu dесіdе thаt you аrе nоt comfortable wіth the аgеnt'ѕ аttіtudе. You want tо know what еxреrіеnсе thе аgеnt has in thе lосаl market. Hоw mаnу years have thеу been іn thе business? Hоw many ѕuссеѕѕful purchases have they assisted with in thе раѕt уеаr? Hоw аbоut hоmеѕ thеу'vе ѕоld? Whеrе іn уоur соmmunіtу do thеу ѕресіаlіzе? Anоthеr іѕѕuе іѕ соmmunісаtіоn. A gооd аgеnt wіll bе сlеаr аbоut hоw аnd whеn thеу will contact уоu. You want to knоw hоw the аgеnt рrеfеrѕ tо соmmunісаtе and whеn thеу will gеt bасk tо уоu wіth аnѕwеrѕ tо уоur ԛuеѕtіоnѕ. You ѕhоuld also іnԛuіrе when thе bеѕt tіmе tо соntасt thе agent іѕ; many аgеntѕ hаvе 'wоrkіng hоurѕ' when thеу аrе аvаіlаblе fоr a рhоnе call. Learn more about buying through Nesbitt Realty
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2 Good Reasons to Appreciate Speed Humps

Are They Really Helping Me? Anyone who has read me thus far knows that I am new to the area.  Knowing this supports my thoughts about something so mundane to the common road traveler.  As I have been motoring around the northern Virginia area over the last several weeks, I have noticed that the words speed and humps can actually be put together to mean something rather useful. When I first saw a sign with these words on it, I was a bit confused, but I usually am on a daily basis.  This particular confusion quickly turned to curiosity as to the need or usefulness of the sign and the hump it refers to.  I have seen a speed bump, but this animal was a different species, for sure.  It may sound ludicrous or maybe unnecessary to discuss these items on our roadways, but let me say a few things first, before you dismiss the importance of this article.speed hump In shopping centers, many people blow by or simply ignore the many stop signs put up by the door ways.  They also ignore the fact that they should use the standard equipment on their vehicle known as the blinker.  Ignoring these two things leads to a lot of mishaps in parking lots.  These speed humps have actually drawn notice to themselves and made people slow down, thus making it safer for everyone.  I have actually seen them come into use as I was walking into a couple of stores.  Instead of speeding by at the speed of light, operators of vehicles have to slow down, or damage their cars.  For this reason, I love the speed hump. On roads that are not well marked or have crazy turns, it is easy for the operator of a vehicle to mis-judge speed necessary to traverse the next bend and end up off the road.  With the addition of a speed hump before the tough bend in the road (in neighborhoods at slower speeds) the speed of the vehicle is slowed and the turn is easily driven.  The addition of the speed hump in this circumstance is a great help to everyone involved. Here in northern Virginia, Alexandria and Fairfax County, things are a bit more smooth on the roads because of the speed hump.

Who Is Gen Z?

Generation Z (Gen Z) includes people born between 1995 and 2010. In 2018, Generation Z already accounted for about 21 percent of the U.S. population—64 million people—and by 2020, this group is expected to outnumber millennials by nearly 1 million people, according to the U.S. Census! So, it’s no surprise that Generation Z is already impacting the housing market.  Though the majority of Gen Z’s members still live at home with their parents, they still have dreams of becoming homeowners. A National Association of REALTORS® study found that Gen Z wants to buy houses.  Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate found that 97 percent of Generation Z believe that they will own a home in the future, and 82 percent indicate that homeownership is the most important factor in achieving the American dream.

Will Your Home Appeal To Gen Z?

A Gen Z home buyer in {Location_Name} wants to work with an agent. When asked about whether or not they would work with a real estate professional when they purchase a home, Generation Z’s answer was a resounding yes. According to BGHRE, 81 percent of Gen Zers believe they will work with a real estate agent during the home purchase process. Even though they will most likely begin their search online, Gen Zers believe that it is important to have a professional at their side. Gen Z is connected. Gen Z was born into a connected, internet-ready era, and they don’t remember a time before smartphones, apps, and social media. Gen Z is mobile-first and expects brands to be as well. Its members keep close-knit social media circles, and 73 percent say texting or chatting is their primary mobile activity, according to a report from the IBM Institute for Business Value. Gen Z wants to live near work. The oldest members of Generation Z choose proximity to work over living in the most desirable neighborhoods. According to the National Apartment Association, they may also seek out co-working spaces or maker’s rooms, as this generation is coming of age in the gig economy where entrepreneurship is high.

We Know Our Market

We take the time to learn who is buying homes in {Location_Name} like yours because we want to make sure that we know the most effective way to reach the individual who will end up buying your home. Talk to me about our marketing plan and what we can do to make your home appeal to the generation that is likely to buy your home.
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3 Reasons to Love Montebello

Are These Condos Just Like All The Others? I have just had the chance, within the past couple of days, to conduct my first quarterly inspection of a few properties in the Montebello development in Alexandria, Virginia.  I have driven by the complex countless times on the way to the laundromat, restaurants and other various shops out on Route 1., but this was a chance to see it for what it truly is.  Seeing this from the roadway, it looked the same as any other in the area and I expected nothing different.3E03730A-9C1A-4CDD-A54B-464B348B8FB7 The first thing that I realized is that this a gated community.  This, to me, is a huge plus.  There are other gated communities in the area, but this was turning out to be a bit different.  When I got through the gate, after talking with the security guard, I took a right and headed for what I was told was building number 1.  The address is 5901 on the first building and there is a tranquil little jaunt up toward the building through lush trees and over a creek.  I only mention this, because it's nice to see the Virginia come out in this place.  Personality is how I like to describe this and this made me like it right away. After arriving at the correct building I saw initially that parking was ample and depending on what floor you would be living on, you would probably be able to see your vehicle from the window of your condo.  That to me is another good thing. I liked the look of the lobby, the elevator and the decor all together in the hallways.  It looked as if it was cared for very well.  The presentation before getting into the condo is important to me.  When I finally got into the first condo I saw the second very good thing about this complex.  The rooms are very spacious.  The condo I inspected that day was a 1 bedroom, two bath and it was very spaciously comfortable inside.  I could easily see all of my possessions fitting well inside this place. As I worked my way around in inspection mode, I realized the third great feature about this Montebello complex - the views from the balcony.  Now, it's not the DC view, but what it is - is a breath of fresh air.  It truly is a relief to me to get just a bit off the busy streets and come up there to see a view of lush greenery.  This day I happen to be on the tenth floor.  Trees and grass are the view from up there (a nice change from the mundane concrete) and it is going to be so beautiful shortly, when the turning of the leaves begins.  I smiled and got back to work.  I completed the inspection, complimented the condo and left, knowing that for the price paid - this was definitely worth it.  I've seen many different properties during this current inspection process, but this complex is turning out to be one of my favorites.  Is it time for you to move to Montebello? “Using a real estate agent is a very good idea,” says the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). "All the details involved in home buying [and selling], particularly the financial ones, can be mind-boggling. A good professional can guide you through the entire process and make the experience much easier."

What’s the Difference Between a Real Estate Agent and a Realtor?

Realtor Logo
National Association of Realtors
More than two million people have earned real estate licenses but only a small percentage of these are Realtors. Realtors are members in good standing of the National Association of Realtors, their state association of Realtors and a local real estate board. Realtors are held to high standards of ethical behavior and must undergo continuing education annually to remain accredited. All agents of Nesbitt Realty are Realtors!

What Does a Realtor Do?

Realtors are required by law to:
  • perform necessary and customary acts to assist in the purchase or sale of real estate.
  • perform these acts in good faith and with reasonable care.
  • properly account for money or other property placed in his or her care.
  • disclose “adverse material facts” which are, or should be, within the agent’s knowledge.
MLS
The MLS is a database of homes listed for sale.
A Nesbitt Realty Realtor will be well acquainted with the important things buyers want to know about your property's neighborhood. When it comes to selling your home, a Realtor will save you time and aggravation. We will get your home on the market instantly with the MLS. When an offer comes in on your property, our Realtor will help structure the deal to maximize your proceeds. He or she will guide you through the mounds of paperwork. Nesbitt Realty pays for all advertising, schedules all open houses and makes sure potential buyers are qualified. The money they can save you is often more than the cost of our commissions. [learn more]
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My 4 favorite parks in Alexandria

 
A skate park in Alexandria in the summer
A skate park in Alexandria in the summer
  1. Bucknell Manor: A neighborhood surrounds this accessible portion of Fairfax County land that features a basketball court, a baseball field, and a tot lot.
  2. Jones Point: Two gigantic bridges create shade below where there are basketball courts, paved trails, Potomac River land locked fishing spots, and connectivity into Old Town, Alexandria via the Mount Vernon trail.
  3. Duke Street skate park: Ramps, rails, ledges, terrain, in a enclosed amateur friendly deep concrete park, in West End. Extreme sports include BMX, skateboarding, scootering, and roller blading.
  4. Westgrove dog park: Benches, social dog activity, hidden from plain view.

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6 Tips for Riding a Bike in Northern VA

  1. Alexandria Avenue bridges the Mount Vernon Trail
    Alexandria Avenue bridges the Mount Vernon Trail
    Courtesy: Stay out of the way of others, including pedestrians and motor vehicles. When coming to a passage way with a vehicle stopped or about to stop and you are approaching, if you not going to stop, go to the left of the vehicle and pass behind it so that you do not interfere with their momentum, otherwise stop and wait for them to pass.
  2. Round-trip: Consider where you begin, in regards to where your terminal point is. For example, a trip from Old Town by bike can lead to various routes, such as Eisenhower Valley, Del Ray, Crystal City, Fairfax County' Alexandria, Mount Vernon, etc.
  3. Resources: Think of what you will bring with you on the way and what you might pick up while on the go. For example, a bike rack can be a luxury; storing photography accessories, snacks, water, maps, handheld electronics, etc. It can be economical to ride to a local business and back to acquire much needed resources such as home goods, hobby essentials, repair equipment, missing errand inventory.
  4. Soak it up: While out it is amazing to witness the weather upon the land, the change and consistency in history of a region, to feel the wind, to see people in action, to fly down a hill, and so on.
  5. Wing it: Weather nice? Mount the bike and head in a direction you've been before, or possibly travel to a region you have thought about before. Have some money on you and go to a business you like, pick up some fresh groceries, visit a friends dwelling, make it to a monument, etc.
  6. Plan: Come up with an idea for a round-trip bicycle adventure. A plan to go visit the nightlife spot you enjoy, during the day, can be refreshing. Ride to the end of the 5 mile point on the map, and back.

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Arlington County is organized into unincorporated "urban villages". Our website highlights several of these villages and other areas in Arlington County.