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Billions of Cicadas Will Return in 2013

Sometime this year billions of cicadas will return after 17 years underground. These insects are harmless. At worst they might damage a few shrubs or saplings. These 1-inch insects have been underground sucking roots and waiting for there return since 1996.   Source: “East About to Be Overrun by Billions of Cicadas,” The Weather Channel (May 9, 2013)

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Aubrey NesbittAbout the Author --- Aubrey Nesbitt is a native of Northern Virginia who attended Virginia Commonwealth University. He is a veteran of the US Army and helps his family business by providing informational articles like this one. In addition to photography and blogging, Aubrey provides administrative support for the office.

Old Town Alexandria’s Waterfront

waterfront in Old Town
Old Town waterfront
                Alexandria's history as a colonial seaport is well-known in the area, and is one of the reasons that this city to calls to visitors from around the country and around the world. Alexandria's seaport was once a bustling place of industry and commerce, but the cargo ships and packets from foreign seas are long gone now. Today, Alexandria's waterfront is geared more toward the pleasant than the practical.

Where the Water Meets the the Road

At the end of King St. where the road meets the water, there are brick walkways and wooden decks. Plenty of benches and gazebos are there and in the evenings this is a place to find street musicians and other performers practicing their craft before wandering walkers . In the left side of this picture is the Torpedo Factory, an Alexandria landmark. The Torpedo Factory was what the name implies: an edifice dedicated to the construction of naval weapons of war. But as the industry's needs grew beyond the space here on the Alexandria waterfront, the building was repurposed as an art and crafts center. The building now houses a good many artists is is a wonderful place for tourists and residents alike to visit.

The Torpedo Factory

The Torpedo Factory and the waterfront are very close to the Torpedo Factory condos---high end condos in Old Town. For a list of prices and to check the availability of condos click the Torpedo Factory Condos. If you're interested in searching condos, townhouses and houses around Old Town you might find this post useful.
trolley at King Street
King Street Trolley

Metro Access

Among other things, the waterfront at Alexandria is nice because it's metro accessible. Simply take the Metro to King St. Station and then ride the free trolley to the Waterfront. The trolley is a service of the City of Alexandria for visitors and residents. It's a fun and easy way to make your way across Old Town.

Nearby Parks and Trails

 
Waterfront Park in Old Town
Waterfront Park on the Potomac in Old Town
Parks and paths line the waterfront these days. It's the perfect place for a walk on a Spring day.
park on Potomac River
Park along the Potomac in Alexandria VA
Benches are found at just the right places. These photos were taking on a weekday morning, but in the afternoons and evenings the waterfront wakes up. Tourists, joggers and walkers share this open public space.
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For more information or to set up an appointment call Stuart at (703)765-0300.

Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association — Old Town’s Atheanaeum

Located in the heart of Old Town Alexandria, The Athenaeum is home to the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association (NVFAA). Constructed between 1851-52, the Athenaeum is a Greek revival building with a rich history. The building is named after the Greek Goddess of wisdom, Athena. Over the years The Athenaeum has taken many names and was used for many functions. Together with the Lyceum, the Athenaeum is a foundation of Alexandria's Greek neo-classic buildings. The building has a long history of use in Alexandria. Before the Civil War, Robert E. Lee banked here, when the building was known as the Bank of the Old Dominion. During the Civil War it was occupied by Federals and home to the Union Army Commissary Headquarters. In 1905, the bank was converted from commercial to industrial purposes. The building was used by the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop as a place to grind talcum into powder. In 1925, the talcum factory became the Free Methodist Church. NVFAA purchased the Athenaeum in 1964. Since then, restorations have taken place using the funds from the members of the NVFAA and the National Park Service Save America's Treasure Grant. Recent art exhibits include Song For Europe by Mark Cameron Boyd is participatory installation using his signature "text bisection" process on a series of chalkboards to address four different languages from European origin such as Greek, Latin, French, and English. This exhibit is on display from August 16th - September 21st. Music is another art form featured at The Athenaeum. Yoga classes are available at The Athenaeum. Instructor Betsy Huffman welcomes drop-ins. Class fees are only $18 per class. Classes are Mondays 11:30am The Athenaeum is available for rentals for weddings, receptions, parties, business meetings and seminars.

Gallery Hours: Thursday, Friday, & Sunday: Noon-4pm Saturday 1pm-4pm

The Athenaeum 201 Prince St. Alexandria, VA 22314 (703) 548-0035

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For more information or to set up an appointment call Julie at (703)765-0300.

Beauregard Heights Condominium Association information

For information on condo documents, maintenance or insurance call:

Beauregard Heights Condominiums

4600 Duke St., No. 331 c/o C.S.I. Management Alexandria, VA, 22304 703-370-1600
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For more information or to set up an appointment call Julie at (703)765-0300.

Potomac Riverboat Company has Cruises, Water Taxis, and Private Charters

Potomac Riverboat Company was established in 1974. Potomac Riverboat Company is located at 5 Cameron St Alexandria, VA 22314. The phone number for Potomac Riverboat Company is (703) 836-2558. Potomac Riverboat Company offers the following: Washington Monuments Cruise, Alexandria Georgetown Water Taxi, Mount Vernon Cruise, Alexandria Seaport Cruise, Pirate Cruise, Baseball Water Taxi, Alexandria National Harbor Water Taxi, and private charters.  
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Aubrey NesbittAbout the Author --- Aubrey Nesbitt is a native of Northern Virginia who attended Virginia Commonwealth University. He is a veteran of the US Army and helps his family business by providing informational articles like this one. In addition to photography and blogging, Aubrey provides administrative support for the office.
     

Prompt Return of Earnest Money

What follows is an email I recently received and my response.
Good evening Mr. Nesbitt, I placed an offer on a condo in December 30, 2008. I signed the contract on that day and gave a cashier's check to the seller's real estate agent in the amount of $750. I waited for the signed contract from the seller to come back to me, but a lot of time lapsed and a signed contract from the seller never came. I decided to pull out. On January 23, my agent sent in a statement, letting the seller know that I was pulling out and that I wanted my earnest money back. Several weeks later, the real estate agent said I had to sign a termination form to receive my earnest money. That was sent in on February 10, 2009. I still have not received my earnest money back. The seller's agent said they are waiting on the assets manager to release the funds. I have decided to take the agency to small claims court. I do not feel that best interest is being considered. Please give me some advice. Thanks.
Firstly and mostly, let me start off by saying that real estate agents and brokers are not attorneys. I do not practice law and it is not my business to give you legal advice of any kind. However, I do have some experience in these type of matters and will comment as best as I can. Based upon your letter, I am assuming that you made an offer on a piece of property and you paid $750 in earnest money to the selling agent. The offer was not accepted but the selling agent has not promptly released your funds. I would recommend that you call the selling broker---not the selling agent. Brokers and the Commonwealth of Virginia take very serious the trust given us as escrow agents. The broker (not the agent) must release the money. Try to speak directly with the broker and explain what you have gone through. I am certain that the selling broker will act swiftly to return you money. If the broker does not respond with in a short but reasonable amount of time, the next level to contact would be the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors. If that doesn't give satisfaction, the Commonwealth of Virginia's DPOR should be your next contact. If you are owed money, things will proceed quickly at this point. But you probably want to consult an attorney to verify that my advice will suit your specific case. Will Nesbitt  

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For more information or to set up an appointment call Nesbitt Realty at (703)765-0300.    

4 Threats That Remain in Housing Recovery

The housing recovery appears to be on track and growing stronger. Home sales and prices are up after reaching bottom in 2010, foreclosures and mortgage delinquencies are dropping, yet housing affordability still remains high. So why are some analysts and economists concerned? At a recent Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, Calif., panelists said that threats to the housing recovery still remain. The biggest threats they pointed to included:
  1. Land scarcity: Real estate developers are struggling to find desirable land to start new projects, which is limiting the supply of new homes. A few years ago, banks took ownership of land after developers had foreclosed on some projects. The land is worth less than its original price so banks are reluctant to write off additional losses by selling it too cheaply. Plus, lenders remain cautious about issuing loans for new land purchases.
  2. House flippers should be cautious: Housing affordability is high mostly due to super low mortgage rates, and investors are taking advantage with intentions of flipping homes for profit. "No doubt you can buy a house today and get a really good price and a low-interest loan,” says Jeff Greene, president of Florida Sunshine Investments. “But if you want to sell that house to somebody two or three years later and rates go up to 5 or 6 percent, how much is he going to pay for that house?"
  3. Foreign buyers potentially inflating prices: In some markets, strong demand by foreign buyers has helped home prices recover, which has made homes more expensive for Americans in some areas. Some analysts fear that it could even lead to another housing bubble if interest rates started rising quickly as well. Markets like Miami, Los Angeles, and New York are seeing strong demand among foreign buyers. Some say this is a good thing, because it reflects a strong faith in the U.S. market.
  4. A ‘patchy’ recovery: Some markets are seeing rapid increases with bidding wars, rising prices, and low inventories, while other markets are still at a standstill. For example, Miami’s housing market is “on fire” while 80 miles north in Palm Beach County there’s a “huge glut of housing,” says Greene.
Source: “5 Reasons the Housing Recovery Remains Wobbly,” U.S. News & World Report (May 3, 2013)

  • Home Prices In Arlington Continue To Hike

    Glendale
    The housing market in Arlington County is getting more and more expensive as potential buyers continue to have fewer homes and condos to choose from.

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  • Inlet Cove is near Fort Belvoir and Potomac Mills

    Inlet Cove outside Belvoir
    Inlet Cove is alongside Route 1 This neighborhood of townhouses is near grocers and eateries Inlet Cove is close to Fort Belvoir, Alexandria, and Potomac Mills shops, in the city of Woodbridge Interior to these properties are multilevel Inlet Cove is serene

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  • Pending Home Sales on an Upswing

    home inspector
    Pending home sales increased again in March, affirming that a surge of home sales is unfolding for the spring home buying season, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in March, rose 5.3 percent to 102.9 from 97.7 in February, and is 21.1…

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  • A Good Time to Buy a High-End Home

    Station Square
    Some of the best housing deals are on high-end homes, many over $1 million. Some of them need TLC or they aren’t in the most-coveted locations. But there are plenty of desirable properties and lots of sellers who are getting impatient. Buyers with cash have the best opportunities. Buyers who need a mortgage should move…

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  • Who is today’s homebuyer and why are they buying?

    Nesbitt Realty 703 765 0300
    The National Association of Realtors recently did a study about the characteristics of home buyers. Some of the findings might surprise you. Thirteen percent of buyers purchased a home with one or more parents and grandparents together with adult children. There were several reasons given for purchasing a multi-generational home. Cost savings; Children over the…

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Homes Near Open Spaces Command Big Bucks

A Colorado State University (CSU) study looked into home prices in conservation developments, where residential real estate is limited and usually 50 percent to 70 percent of the land is set aside as open space.
ducks
Ducks walk on the land off the George Washington Parkway next to the Potomac RIver
The research shows that home buyers are willing to pay a premium to live near such open, undeveloped tracts. Sarah Reed, co-author of the study, and her colleagues compared 2,222 home sales in five counties throughout Colorado between 1998 to 2011. The conservation developments designated an average 64 percent of land as open space, while traditional rural subdivisions allocated just 4.9 percent. The study found that homes in conservation developments sold for 29 percent more than properties located in conventional residential projects. Furthermore, increasing lot size in an undesignated conservation development hiked the market price by 38 cents per square foot, the report found. In nonconservation developments, a larger lot size translated to just 9 cents per square foot. The study was funded by the National Association of REALTORS® and CSU's School of Global Environmental Sustainability. Source: “Why Homes With Open Space Command Big Bucks,” The Wall Street Journal (May 3, 2013)
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  • Are You Seeking A 5 Bedroom Detached Home For Approximately $1,450,000?

    If you need more details, Will Nesbitt can show you exactly what $1,450,000 can buy you in 22207 today. If you are seeking a mid 20th-century 5 bedroom detached home for approximately $1,450,000, your choices might be limited right now. 2407 N Rockingham St might be the best selection for you, but we have various…

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  • 2407 N Rockingham St Is A 5 BR Home In The Neighborhood Of A Metro

    I am a veritable sage on luxury homes around East Falls Church Metro Station in 22207 . This slate of homes starts with a 1,900 sqft. detached home with 3 full baths and 0 half baths.

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  • Have you visited Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site?

    Fort Ward Park
    Fort Ward is the best preserved of the system of Union forts and batteries built to protect Washington, DC during the American Civil War (1861-1865).

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  • FROGS: History of Green Spring Gardens

    FROGS (Friends of Green Spring) is dedicated solely to the support of Green Spring Gardens, a unique Fairfax County (Virginia) Park Authority site.  A gem of a public garden and historic site, the garden's 31 acres offer a multitude of settings, features, and programs to inspire and educate gardeners, provide a place for quiet contemplation for…

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  • Residents Protest Fairfax County Gun Ban

    A group of Fairfax County residents gathered Sept. 19 at the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve for what was billed as an open carry hike along the Mount Vernon Trail in protest of the recent Board of Supervisors vote to ban guns on public property.

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Latest Real Estate Scam Has Agents on Alert

Scammers are scraping rental listings off the Internet and using real estate agents’ identity from the listings to dupe would-be clients.
Is Zillow accurate?
Many consumers have serious doubts about the accuracy of Zillow home value estimates.
Practitioners may not even discover it until the clients confront them, demanding keys for a property they believed they rented and had already mailed a deposit check to the individual they believed was the agent. Scammers are reportedly taking rental listings off Web sites and reposting them at a lower rent than the original listing. The renter than corresponds with the scammer, often through e-mail. Scammers will create e-mail addresses that reflect the listing agent’s name to dupe clients. Scammers will also use a phone number with the agent’s same area code. The latest scam involved a Pocono Lake, Pa., real estate broker who had a client confront him over a rental listing. The scammer reposted a fraudulent listing of the rental property on the site Zillow, which also feeds it to HotPads. The chairman of the Pocono Mountains Association of REALTORS®’ MLS, Malcolm Waring, told Inman News that after hearing about the scam, he’s considering even barring Zillow from posting the MLS’ rental listings, fearing that Zillow may be more vulnerable to these types of scams. Zillow promptly removed the fake listing at Waring’s request so he has decided not to pursue the threat, Inman reports. But he told Inman that if he learns of a similar scam on Zillow or HotPads, he’s prepared to end the listing agreement. Zillow assured Waring and others that after hearing about the scam they are beefing up their security measures. “We take these scams very seriously and we’re always analyzing and exploring new ways to stay ahead of this,” Cynthia Nowak, a Zillow spokesperson, told Inman News. Source: “Sophisticated Zillow Scam Puts NAR and MLS on Alert,” Inman News (May 2, 2013)

What a landlord can expect from a property manager

If you are a landlord, then you need a company you can trust to handle your operational responsibilities. Nesbitt Realty and Condo Alexandria have the experience you want in your property manager. Will has been a landlord for over 20 years and is a full service broker trained in property management. Nesbitt Realty and Condo Alexandria offers full service management for condos, townhouses and single family residential properties. Condo Alexandria is dedicated to maximizing your profits without sacrificing on service. Here's some of what we do for you:

Lease Administration

Our brokerage will prepare your lease, find and screen tenants.

Rental Servicing

There are a lot of annoying details that landlords must deal with: unless they have a property manager. Our team handles billing, collecting, processing and servicing your rental accounts, staying on top of your cash flow.

Rate Analysis

Nesbitt Realty and Condo Alexandria will analyze the market and find the rental rates that will make you the most money.

Building Maintenance

Condo Alexandria and Nesbitt Realty keeps your properties in top operating order.

Marketing

Our strategy is designed to keep your occupancy and tenant retention rates at maximum efficiency.

Vendor Negotiations

We only deal with reputable handymen, landscapers, appliance repairmen and service people. We'll negotiate you best deal and keep your rental operating smoothly. For more information or to set up an appointment call Stuart at (703)765-0300.