Location, location, location! Belle View is a community located in New Alexandria, right outside of Historic Old Town Alexandria, off of the George Washington Parkway. Within the community you will find parks, playgrounds and recreation centers spread throughout the development. Belle View has much to offer from local dining to outdoor adventures, and a commuters dream with short drives to Washington DC and easy access to major highways and metro. There are endless benefits of living in Belle View.
Belle View condominium building
If you are looking for convenient living, look no further. Belle View, being located between the George Washington Parkway and Route 1 allows for easy access to all major roadways and is less than two miles away from Huntington Metro. Across the George Washington Parkway is the Mount Vernon Trail and Dyke Marsh. It is here you can enjoy a scenic run or ride along the Potomac River or go boating, kayaking out of Dyke Marsh Park. Mount Vernon Recreational Center is a short walk away and features pools, an ice skating rink and a fitness center. Belle View also has a shopping center filled with a grocery store, restaurants, and a variety of specialty shops. Belle View is just the right place to make your new home.
River Towers is a high-rise condominium community, which is just outside of Washington DC. It is also less than two miles from Old Town Alexandria in Virginia. The location of this condo community is ideal, because of its proximity to the Potomac River and other attractions, such as National Harbor.
High-rise condominium
This condo community is made up of three buildings numbered as such: 6621, 6631 and 6641. These three buildings were constructed in 1963, then converted to condos in 1981. All together, these three comprise over five hundred units.
This community is also within walking distance to Safeway grocery store, the post office, a doughnut shop and an elementary school.
Three roads dead end at River Towers which makes for an easy drive back home and they are as follows: East Wakefield Drive, Potomac Avenue and West Wakefield Drive.
Are you looking for a reasonably prices abode to lay your head? Would you like to rent or maybe buy in the area? See below for some possible landing spots for you and your family.
Real Estate and Neighborhoods of Alexandria, VA
Alexandria dates back to the colonial era and many of the neighborhoods of Alexandria reflect that heritage. However, Alexandria is also home to newer and relatively new neighborhoods like the Carlyle District and Kingstowne. To learn more about these or other neighborhoods in Alexandria VA, surf through the tabs here.
Alexandria is a highly livable city with enviable amenities, culture and attractions. The Commonwealth of Virginia considers Alexandria an "independent city" which means that Alexandria is not in any county. However, parts of Northern Virginia have an Alexandria postal address, but are actually in Fairfax County. All this can be confusing for newcomers to the area, but we try to simplify this in our guide by organizing things so they make sense for the home buyer.
You won't have to be a Virginia jurisdictional authority to find the home you want to buy, but start here for a primer on Alexandria.
Are you looking to hibernate, now that it's getting colder?
I live in a beautiful state. The visual wonders of Virginia nature have no end. This is a good time of year to gaze at these wonders. With the colder weather, comes the changing of leaf color on the trees and then the falling of those leaves. These two things bring about two distinct opportunities for you.
View from Skyline Drive just before fall
The first of these is to gaze out at and photo all of the beauty entailed in the bright colored leaves adorning the trees. The second of these presents opportunities not realized until this time of year. With the falling of the leaves comes the addition of even more spectacular views. Virginia is not short on visual beauty anyway with the mountains, hills and valleys that can easily make you drop your jaw to the ground.
What this time of year does to this consistent beauty is kick it up a notch (as Emeril would say) or two. A great place to witness this in all its splendor is the Shenandoah National Forest. This forest, which was established in 1935, boasts the Blue Ridge Mountains and is over three hundred square miles.
Make some time this fall to head out to Front Royal to see some truly beautiful views and color that will amaze you. When you get there, go to Skyline Drive, stop at all of the designated stopping points and gaze out at the views. Take pictures of nature and selfies to prove that you were there. Along this drive, which would take over 3 hours to complete, you will have a tough time seeing all of the amazing views, even at the slow speed limit you will travel.
The second of these opportunities that this time of year presents is not so obvious right now. Skyline Drive this time of year is breathtaking and you will not forget it. But, keep in mind to come back later in the season, when the leaves have fallen and even more views become available. The drive will cost you $20.00, but it is more than worth it. Use the map to document the best views and stop at the souvenir shop for a keepsake.
Don't forget that this time of year is to be enjoyed, not forgotten. Nature is in the midst of a seasonal change and working hard to make you notice it - will you?
Are you looking for a new home or townhouse in a specific area? Maybe you are looking for a new location that will allow you to experience all beauty that nature has to offer? If so, use the guide below and it can help with your quest.
City — Inside the Beltway, near the Metro, close to shops and culture.
Suburbs — Close to town, but plenty of green grass.
Exburbs — For those who prefer a little longer commute to get a larger home.
Maybe, you want to be a little ways from nature, but still close enough to reach in a short drive, if so here are a couple of possibilities to consider:
Is your team eliminated from the MLB playoffs? Did your team fail to make the playoffs?
If you answered yes to either one of these questions, please keep reading. I am a supporter of a team no longer in the quest for another championship, because they have been eliminated from contention. This will not end the season, for me. I love baseball and I love the ups and downs of not only the regular season, but the playoffs as well. To watch my team go down was not fun and it never is either. I have, however, come to some realizations over the years supporting my team, the Cardinals and I will share some with you now.
First of all, it's almost acceptable to not continue on to the World Series every year and it's also okay to not get upset because of being eliminated. How can I say this so calmly, even though I have a crazy passion for my team? The answer is simple, but a bit complex for some people to accept. I've had this talk with young and old people alike from different cities, states and countries. I've even had the talk in different countries with sports fans and it seems there are people all over the fence on this subject.
I love my team. More than that, I love the game of baseball. The game continues on and will do so, with or without my input and participation. Since this is the case, I would much rather be involved and take sides all the way to the end of the last game of the World Series. Only one team will win, no matter what happens during the season, this will not change. The odds of winning it all are very slim. Accepting this makes it easier for me to deal with being ousted from contention.
My support, as of today, is with one team that is from a city that I love and I loved visiting. This team is actually in the league that I prefer and they are playing a team that I don't particularly support, because they are from the same division as my favorite team. I am supporting the New York Mets and I hope they go all the way. It's been a number of years since they hoisted that beautiful trophy and I hope they enjoy the feeling again. In 1969 they were called the Amazing Mets (or 'Mazings if you prefer). The fans of the team are getting enthralled once again, expecting big things.
No matter who I pull for, when watching or listening to the games on the MLB app, at least I still have the fun stress of the games to feel and I love it. This time of year has many sports in their regular seasons, but for me, baseball is still here - for a bit longer.
Are you looking for a specific feature or type home?
Our feature finder lets you search Northern Virginia real estate with various criteria like proximity to metro, or bank-owned or water-oriented or with a garage. Search for just condos or townhouses or just single-family residences.
Midtown Alexandria StationI received the following email from a landlord whose property we manage at Midtown Alexandria:
"We would like to consider listing the condo for sale at Midtown, maybe for 6 month periods. It would have to be an investor type due to the current tenant lease. The price I have in mind is $425k. On top of that would be your commission added. I know it is pricey in comparison to what exists but I would just like to get an idea of interest. Perhaps putting it on the market from time to time would be one strategy. Let me know your thoughts."
Here was my reply:
I honestly can't see how it would do you a bit of good and I'll tell you why.
But first I should let you know that I work with a number of investors who make purchases with me from time to time. I've been telling several of them that Midtown is a GREAT place to buy right now. I think it's a great place to buy for an investor because the prices at Midtown are way below what I think the actual value should be. There are a number of reasons compounding on each other to create the valuation problems of Midtown Alexandria Station:
- Many owners bought at the height of the market. Some of them bailed out through short-sales and foreclosures. Many are holding on for dear life and when they see the slightest possibility of escape they do so. Every bit of demand at Midtown is swamped by owners who would love to bail out.
- They've recently built a number of large apartment buildings in close proximity to Midtown. Many Midtown buyers are first-time buyers who are weighing the choice of renting vs. buying. As long as there is a glut of rental options, rents stay low. As long as rents stay low, there are a number of buyers who will prefer to rent rather than buy. Lower demand for buyers means lower prices for sellers.
- The rental competition mentioned above keeps rents low. Most investors look at cash flow when they invest. Appreciation is something they hope for, but they do not count on. When you look at the rent vs. the cost to purchase at Midtown the opportunity does not look appealing. There are a number of options that are nearby where the ROI is much higher than Midtown. A low ROI means a lot of risk. If there is no appreciation the investor has tied up a lot of money for no good reason.
The condos at Midtown Alexandria Station are located at the Huntington Metro Station.
That said, I have told a number of investors that I think now is an excellent time to buy at Midtown. The reason is because I think the pressures I listed above have compounded to the point that the price at Midtown is I think below the value at Midtown. I think an upward swing in value is about 2 years out. Here's why:
The National Science Foundation will be completed soon. The reason all those apartments were built is to take advantage of the increase in demand that will follow the NSF. Once the NSF is complete and the apartments start to fill up, I think the apartments will jack up their rents.
This will have a cascading effect on values at Midtown. When area rents go up, then the idea of purchasing at Midtown makes more sense for a first time home-buyer. When the rents go up then the property makes more sense for investors. These both increase demand.
At the same time there is a big redevelopment project slated for Huntington and as that phases that will have a huge impact on the perceived value of Midtown. Right now Midtown is a nice newer condo directly on the Metro, but in kind of okay but grungy neighborhood. In the future Midtown will be smack dab in the center of a new exciting neighborhood.
Midtown offers a convenient location and an outstanding value.
For this reason I think Midtown is going to see a lot of appreciation and I am encouraging investors to buy here. That said, the reason investors should buy here is the reason that selling is a bad idea for you. Let me start by saying investors want the absolutely cheapest available opportunity. If you are priced high, it doesn't matter what your view is or if you have renters, then there is NO chance an investor will take interest.
If you are priced low there is a chance that investor will take an interest, but the investor is only going to buy if he can talk you down from that low price. In other words, I don't think there is any chance that any investor would be interested in your property.
Home buyers who are buying a primary residence sometimes buy a higher priced unit. It is true that a homeowner will pay a few thousand more for the floors they like or the view they want or to be close to a particular amenity. But home buyers are only interested in properties that look great. They are turned-off by properties with renters. So, I think there is only a very small chance that any home buyer would have any interest in your property.
So all that is to help you explain my position when I tell you that I don't think you do yourself a bit of good by listing the property for sale right now and I think you actually hurt us a bit because we'd have to do work that I don't think would have even a hope of getting us any money. If this advice finds you in a mood where you still believe that listing the property for sale at $475k is a good thing to do at this time, then I would offer to list it for you for a flat fee.
Normally we would charge a 6% commission. Instead I would list it for you for 3% plus $500. This is a savings to you of about $14,000. 3% is payed to the selling agent (most likely another company) if/when the property sells. $500 is paid to us when we list the property, whether the property sells or not. We would still perform all the services we normally perform. That $500 would include the cost of professional photography (which is about $250) to list the property.
No, I don't think the property will sell. I understand why you want out and I empathize with your position. Although we cannot do anything to change the market I do think there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel.
Pumpkin Carving got you Stumped?
Driving around the Fairfax County area over the last couple of weeks, I have seen many pumpkin vendors on the side of the road. They are also being sold at the big box stores and in front of the mom and pop gas stations. This could mean only one thing: Halloween is almost here. Just as festive as Halloween is for pumpkin displaying, Thanksgiving is as well. Many Halloween and Thanksgiving displays in the front yards of holiday lovers incorporate the usage of pumpkins. Not only do they use pumpkins in the raw, whole, straight off the vine form, but also the decorative, carved out version.
Gone With the Wind Pumpkin (pri.org)
Seeing some of these displays can be a wonder to the eye and a bit intimidating. Ever wonder how carving up these masterpieces is possible or do say to yourself, "No way can I do that?" Well, I believe that you can do it. Having a display in the front yard with bales of straw and whole pumpkins can look festive, but interspersed with a work of art in the pumpkin form, it can really be a head turner and you can make this happen.
There are only a couple of tricks of the trade, along with a bit of determination and patience to make this come true. First of all select a pumpkin, making sure to select a good size and color for the project and decide on a subject matter - anything at all. Do you like sports? Select your favorite teams' logo. Do you prefer musicals or famous paintings? Whatever it is that gets you going, make the call. Next step is to decide if you will use a template or draw your design free handed. When you decide this, the first step is to get this drawn on your pumpkin.
You will need some tools for the next steps and they include: A pumpkin scraping tool, a knife, an exacto knife and a small scraping set. These are all available at either a hardware or wood working store. If you prefer, the internet can provide you with these as well.
Now, using the knife, cut out the lid of your pumpkin, making sure to make it big enough to fit your hand and angling the cut to the middle, so the lid won't fall in when you want to put it on the pumpkin. Next, pull out all the seeds and stringy pumpkin guts and scrape out the inside to about the thickness of one inch on the wall. The next step is to put a flashlight on the inside, turned on, and get to scraping out your design. The deeper you scrape, the brighter the line will be.
You can preserve the pumpkin raw portion by spraying cooking oil on it. This will lock in the juices for a longer period of time than it would have on its own. Take your time scraping, you can't glue pieces back on and make it look good. Follow the drawing you made and your project will come alive and leave your friends and family members amazed.
