Craftsman-style Homes

Craftsman home
drawing of a Craftsman house
Popularized at the turn of the 20th century by architect and furniture designer Gustav Stickley in his magazine, The Craftsman, the Craftsman-style bungalow reflected, said Stickley, "a house reduced to it's simplest form... its low, broad proportions and absolute lack of ornamentation gives it a character so natural and unaffected that it seems to... blend with any landscape."
typical Craftsman
Typical Craftsman
The style, which was also widely billed as the "California bungalow" by architects such as Charles Sumner Greene and Henry Mather Greene, featured overhanging eaves, a low-slung gabled roof, and wide front porches framed by pedestal-like tapered columns. Material often included stone, rough-hewn wood, and stucco. Many homes have wide front porches across part of the front, supported by columns. Northern Virginia has many Craftsman homes, especially in Arlington and in parts of Alexandria in and around Del Ray.
  • 1800 Old Meadow Rd #211, McLean Real Estate Dispatch

    How Much Do Mid 20th-Century Others Cost At Regency in 22102 in Fairfax County? Will Nesbitt works real estate all over this area but has special expertise in 22102 and residences like 1800 Old Meadow Rd #211. Check out the prices and pictures of this home at 1800 Old Meadow Rd #211. Not to mention,…

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  • 1800 Old Meadow Rd #405, McLean Real Estate Update

    Looking at Listings At Regency? Ponder This Condo. Should you make an offer buy 1800 Old Meadow Rd #405? Sometimes, the answer to a question is more questions. Are you seeking a 3-bedroom Traditional-style condo in 22102 in Fairfax County? Can you afford $660,000? Is it actually worth $675,000 or $625,000? Do you need 2…

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  • Architectual Style Check List

    What shape is the house, overall? Rectangular and symmetrical: National, Colonial, Neoclassical, Greek Revival, Italianate Square and box-like: American Foursquare L-shaped: Folk and National styles Complicated and asymmetrical: Queen Anne and other Victorian styles, Chateauesque Rounded corners: Pueblo, Art Moderne Single story or 1½ story: Cape Cod, Ranch, Craftsman, Cottage styles Does the roof have…

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  • Choosing A 5-bedroom Bungalow-style Bungalow For Sale In Northern Virginia

    If you're comparing in Northern Virginia you may want to seriously consider a bungalow-style detached home.

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  • Early 20th-Century 5-Bedroom Enchanting Bungalow Residence Advertised For Sale In Northern Virginia

    Have you pondered the possibilities of a bungalow in Northern Virginia?

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

Who Pays Virginia’s Highest Property Taxes?

1. Loudon County Median property taxes: $4,784 Median home value: $544,400 Taxes as of home value: .09% Median income for home owners: $118,518 Taxes as of income: 4.0%   2. Alexandria City Median property taxes: $4,366 Median home value: $555,100 Taxes as of home value: 0.8% Median income for home owners: $114,262 Taxes as of income: 3.8%   3. Fairfax County Median property taxes: $4,624 Median home value: $568,900 Taxes as of home value: 0.8% Median income for home owners: $122,516 Taxes as of income: 3.8%   4. Arlington County Median property taxes: $4,635 Median home value: $596,600 Taxes as of home value: 0.8% Median income for home owners: $127,655 Taxes as of income: 3.6%   Table: Who Pays America's Highest Property Taxes?. (2009, January 22). Forbes, 1, 1. Retrieved November 25, 2013, from http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/22/taxes-homes-property-forbeslife-cx_mw_0122realestate_table.html

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I hit the jackpot!

Here's a republish of an article I wrote back in 2008. It's still true, years later. I hit the jackpot! Yes ... that's right. I hit the jackpot. I won the lottery. Mine is the lucky number. I won't be giving up my blog or my real estate business because I won the jackpot. In fact, I'll be working harder than ever.  But today, I pause to give thanks to God and family and friends and clients for this wonderful life of mine. To tell the truth, I didn't hit the lottery today. I won the lottery on the day I was born and I've been reaping the benefits ever since. The best part is ... I didn't even have to buy a ticket. You see, I was born in the United States of America, which means that I already have life better than most of my fellow man. I've never known war, or famine or pestilence. I've enjoyed an ever increasing standard of living since the day I was born.  If you were born in North America you probably won the lottery too. crystal turkeyBut ... It gets better than that. I was born in the Commonwealth of Virgina, the Mother of States, the Mother of Presidents, the Capital of the Confederacy and the Pride of Dixie. The Commonwealth of Virginia, where Captain John Smith founded Jamestown. The state which George Washington and Thomas Jefferson and James Madison and James Monroe and William Henry Harrison and John Tyler and Zachary Taylor and Woodrow Wilson all called home. The state where Robert E. Lee fought and eventually surrendered. The home of the Pentagon and the USPTO and the epicenter for the technology revolution. The Commonwealth of Virginia, most beautiful state in the Union, from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the sparkling beaches of the Eastern Shore. The Old Dominion cradled me as she cradles the Chesapeake Bay, one of the largest and most important estuaries on the Atlantic. It gets better than that. I was born in Fairfax, one of the most prosperous counties in the nation. I make my home where where the Piedmont meets the Tidewater, on a ridge overlooking the Potomac River in a place called Belle Haven---one of the nicest neighborhoods in Fairfax County and Alexandria.  My trusted, loyal and beautiful wife is busy making a Thanksgiving feast. My sons are healthy and headed for home. Life could be better ... but I really don't know how. So, today, I give thanks. Thanks to God, family, friends, clients and country for all that I have been given. I rededicate myself to the purpose of good and wish you and all of yours a safe and Happy Thanksgiving. I hope your Christmas is merry and expect you to have a prosperous and healthy New Year. Belle Haven view   For more information or to set up an appointment call Nesbitt Realty at (703)765-0300.  

Benefits Of House-Hunting During The Holiday Season

When you're writing out the holiday shopping list, maybe it's time to put your name on it and a home as the gift.
  • Rates are typically lower because demand is lower.
  • End of year sellers are typically very serious and may have tax reasons to want to sell before year end.
  • Less competition can mean lower prices.
If you've been considering buying a home,read more here: Real Estate News For more information or to set up an appointment call Nesbitt Realty at (703)765-0300.

Alternate Heating Source Safety Tips

The fall and winter are upon us. This causes many of us to seek out alternative sources to heat our home and keep warm. Alternate heating sources are a major contributing factor in residential fires. The following safety tips will help you keep a safe home.
  • Keep at least three feet of clearance between your alternate heat source and anything combustible.
  • Do not keep or store combustible materials in closed areas or near a heat source.
  • Never leave a heater on when you are not in the room or when you go to sleep, and never leave children or pets unattended near heating sources.
  • If you use an electric heater, be careful not to overload the electrical circuit.
  • Avoid using electrical heaters in bathrooms as they may come in contact with water.
  • Only use heaters that have been tested to the latest safety standards and certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). These heaters will have the most up-to-date safety features, such as automatic shut-offs. It is important to install and use heaters according to manufacturer’s recommendations.
  • Do not use a range or oven as an alternate heating source. This is a safety hazard and may be a source of toxic fumes.
  • Do not use fuel burning appliances without the proper room ventilation.
  • Never fill a kerosene heater while it is in operation or hot. Avoid overfilling.

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Reston’s Lake Anne Trees Could Be Replaced with Parking

Reston’s Residents are divided about whether or not to develop a 1.1-acre piece of land to create a parking lot (Jackman 1). “The piece of land is full of mature trees,” said Jackman (1).

The trees in the background of this picture are the trees that could be removed to make room for a parking lot
The trees in the background of this picture are the trees that could be removed to make room for a parking lot

According to Scott Laemmle, a resident of Reston, “If I wanted to live in Arlington, I would have lived in Arlington.” Laemmle said that he moved to Reston because he loved all the green space. Laemmle continued on and said “the trees they are considering getting rid of are very nice and add to the 'park-like' quality of living in Reston.”

According to Laemmle , the trade-off to the “tree-magedon” that is going is that it may improve the value of homes in Reston.

According to Jackman (1), “the slice of land is owned by the Reston Association, and Republic is proposing swapping another

1.1-acres of land along Baron Cameron Avenue, in two chunks.” “At a public hearing last month, Republic president David Peter said that the parking was needed to attract customers who don’t live nearby” said Jackman (1).

Jackman (1) said that the trees that may be removed are the “increasingly rare American hollies, black oaks and scarlet oaks” and

that they “provide refuge for butterflies and birds.”

“The Reston Association will vote on the issue on Nov. 21,” said Jackman (1).

1. Jackman, Tom. "Redevelopers of Reston’s Lake Anne Propose Replacing Trees with Parking, Residents Divided." Washington Post. N

.p., 12 Nov. 2013. Web. 12 Nov. 2013.

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Reston real estate
Nesbitt Realty sells homes, townhomes and condos in Reston

Americans on the Move Again, Census Says

US Census BureauAfter staying in place for years, bogged down by the financial effects of the recession, Americans are finally back on the move, according to the latest U.S. Census data. In 2012, nearly 16.9 million people moved between counties, and 7 million made long-distance moves from one state to another. For long-distance moves, that figure was nearly 5 percent higher than 2010. The recession had the effect of “freezing people in place” as they waited out a housing and economic slump, and now there’s “at least a thawing,” Kenneth Johnson, a demographer with the University of New Hampshire, told USA Today. The median price of an existing-home rose to $212,100 this year compared to $166,200 in 2011, the National Association of REALTORS® reports. Many home owners “didn’t want to sell a house that they viewed as a low price,” says Jed Smith, an NAR economist. “Now that the prices are up, away we go.” Where are they going? Many people are heading to the Sun Belt states: Florida, Arizona, and Nevada, Johnson says. They're moving from Northeastern and Midwestern cities, such as Baltimore, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Cincinnati, and New York. For example, the state of New York lost about 136,000 residents in 2012. On the other hand, metro areas such as Miami-Fort Lauderdale, which lost residents during the recession, regained population in 2012 — particularly as housing and the economy recovers there. Las Vegas; Jacksonville, Fla.; and San Jose, Calif., are other metros gaining residents after a loss, USA Today reports. Source: “Census: Americans are moving again,” USA Today (Oct. 26, 2013)

Community Center Master Plan Reviewed by Residents of Montebello

Montebello’s thirty year old Community Center was the focus of the town meetings that took place on September 8th and 12th, according to Barbara Boykin (2013). The Community Center Master Plan (CCMP) is comprised of 19 possible
Will Nesbitt, Julie Nesbitt, and Stuart Nesbitt appear in the Montebello news letter
Will Nesbitt, Julie Nesbitt, and Stuart Nesbitt appear in the Montebello news letter
improvements that range in cost from $1000 to $852,305 (Boykin 2013). “Residents were asked to review the CCMP and indicate their priorities, as part of the ongoing development of the plan” said Boykin. “President Doug Kennett or Vice President Greg Bender, Planning and Design Committee Chair Ford Chinworth, Thomas Kerns of Kerns Group Architects (KGA) gave an overview of the plan’s contents” said Boykin (2013). The CCMP, initiated in 2011, serves as an outline of possible projects to be developed, after the Fitness Center is completed, which is supposed to take place around 2015 (Boykin 2013). Proposed enhancements are divided into three categories: site/exterior, lower level, and main level (Boykin 2013). The most expensive renovations include the redesign and relocation of amenities and offices on the main level. Proposed changes include the removal of raised floors in the lounge and café, expanded café seating, a market space reduction, and enlarged entries and restrooms (Boykin 2013). If the changes go through, the administrative offices would be changed to allow for more efficient office and meeting space (Boykin 2013).   Boykin, Barbara. "Residents Asked to Review Community Center Master Plan." The Times of Montebello [Alexandria] 1 Aug. 2013: 1&5. Print.