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I’m renting a condo in Alexandria, but I don’t like the color. Am I allowed to repaint it?

wall Question I'm renting a condo in Alexandria, but I don't like the color.  Am I allowed to repaint it? Answer The best answer to this is to discuss it with your property manager or landlord.  In most cases, a property manager will allow you to paint your condo whatever colors you would like.  If your landlord agrees to the new color that may be the end of the discussion.  In a worst case scenario you will be expected to return it to the color it was originally. If your property was built before 1978, there is a risk of lead based paint.  To learn more about how to protect yourself from this invisible danger read the EPA pamphlet on lead based paint. For more information or to set up an appointment call Stuart at (703)765-0300.

Condo Moving

Moving to a condo has different risks from moving into a single family home. Movers working in common areas need liability and workman's compensation insurance. Often, casual labor type movers do not have insurance--exposing the association to nearly unlimited risk from personal injury claims either from owners, tenants or the movers! The only way to protect the condo association is to make sure each and every mover provides a Certificate of Insurance. Licensed legitimate moving companies provide these document frequently--they are provided by their insurance carrier free of charge. Associations, LLC's, Corporations and REIT's can be named as additional insured on the Certificate. It should take no more than a few hours for a professional moving company to provide this document.
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  • Julie Nesbitt

    Julie Nesbitt
    Julie Nesbitt knows the back trails and by-ways of Northern Virginia real estate.

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  • Enjoying Winkler Botanical Preserve

    We had a great time walking the trails. 

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  • Don’t take chances with real estate.

  • REDUCED: 7202 Churchill Rd, McLean

    Open House, Sunday, 1-4 BIG PRICE DROP! 7202 CHURCHILL ROADMcLean, VA 221016 Bedrooms5.5 Bathrooms6,752 SF $1,695,000

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  • Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services

    Fairfax County
    Established in 1974 with a mission to reduce homelessness, increase community support and promote self sufficiency, the Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services is operated by a multi-denominational board of directors and staff managing over 70 housing units. Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services is located in the Mount Zephyr Business Center at 8305 Richmond…

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Do I need pre-approval before home shopping?

home for sale
Contact Nesbitt Realty to buy or sell real estate in Northern VA
Obtaining pre-approval from a bank is a daunting process.  It is time consuming both due to the delay and because of the amount of paperwork required to satisfy a lender of your credit status. It is, without a doubt, the most pressing matter before beginning your home search.  Proceeding without this step can lead to angst and lost time, energy and opportunities.  Without pre-approval you'll be facing the following pitfalls very quickly:
  • Offers will be rejected in favor of lower offers by pre-approved buyers.
  • Delays can result as you await approval by your bank.
  • Too late you may find the home you are looking at is beyond your budget
 

or

  • A better home could have been yours if you'd known what you could afford
  • Time can disappear into looking at homes that disappear from the market before you're ready to make an offer and
  • Effort invested into your search can be wasted as you await pre-approval to have an effective offer.
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For more information or to set up an appointment call Stuart at (703)765-0300.

What should I ask about Condos?

What matters in a condo varies by the person, but questions tend to draw from the same pool of questions:
Julie Nesbitt
Julie Nesbitt
  • What amenities are included?
    • Is there a pool?
    • Tennis court?
    • Exercise room?
  • Are pets allowed?
    • Are there areas I can walk my dog?
    • Are there any size or breed restrictions?
  • Is heat electric or gas? Is the heat included in the condo fee?
  • Do condo fees include utilities? Electricity?
  • If there is carpet, are there hardwood floors underneath?
  • Is the washer and dryer in the unit? On the same floor? In the basement?
  • If buying, what are the condo fees and taxes?
  • Where is the closest bus stop?
  • Where is the closest Metro station?
While condition of the unit is critical, a common mistake is to confuse the age of the building with the current state.  There can be no substitute for an on-site examination.
Condominiums are found in all shapes, sizes, prices and types. Are you looking for a high-rise condo, a mid-rise or a garden-style condo? Maybe you'd prefer a townhouse?

The term "garden-style" condo usually refers to a condominium residence in a building that has less than three stories. Most garden-style condos have balconies or patios for each residence. Many garden-style condos have a main entrance that opens to a common-area hallway. Additional common areas include the green space and "gardens" surrounding the structures. If you're interested in garden-style condos you'll have a lot of options in Northern Virginia.

From the suburban feel of Kingstowne to the central location of Bolling Brook from the vintage charm of Belle View to the chic feel of Carlyle Square, are just some of the many Northern Virginia condominium communities we feature.


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Mid-rise condos are taller than garden-style condos, but smaller than high-rise condos. Mid-rise condos in Northern Virginia are 5 to 8 stories tall and are generally found close to or inside the Beltway.


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High-rise condos have more than 9 floors. They are generally found inside the Beltway and are often located near Metro stations, public transportation, or major commuter traffic arteries like I-395.


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

What is a “Cape Cod”?

drawing of a Cape Cod style home
Some of the first houses built in the United States were Cape Cods. The original colonial Cape Cod homes were shingle-sided, one-story cottages with no dormers. During the mid-20th century, the small, uncomplicated Cape Cod shape became popular in suburban developments. A 20th-century Cape Cod is square or rectangular with one or one-and-a-half stories and steeply pitched, gabled roofs. It may have dormers and shutters. The siding is usually clapboard or brick.
Here's a Cape Cod made of stone.
There are many neighborhoods filled with Cape Cods in Northern Virginia. Often these homes were built just after WW2 for soldiers returning from the war, but many were built as late as 1960 and some continue to be built today.  If you'd like to see a neighborhood of mature Cape Cods, many with additions, you might want to explore Bucknell Manor.   For more information or to set up an appointment call Nesbitt Realty at (703)765-0300.

Can I have a washer and dryer in my condo unit?

Rules and regulations vary depending on whether you are in Belle View, Montebello, the Royalton, etc. Washer & Dryer These days, if the unit does not already have a washer and dryer, then these appliances are most likely in the building. If you choose to install a washer and dryer then you will be facing additional insurance requirements at the least. Often, condo covenants do not allow owners to install a washer/dryer if the community has one or more laundry rooms.  If you're buying, it's important to check your condo documents to make sure that this will be allowed. Always keep in mind that living in a condo is a balance.  Conveniences such as pools, gyms, in building stores and other amenities will balance with a need to protect your neighbors from, in this case, water damage. For more information or to set up an appointment call Stuart at (703)765-0300.

How I present your offer to buy real estate.

Nesbitt Realty
Contact a Realtor to write your contract.
When you've finally picked out the condo, house or townhouse that interests you, it's time to write the offer. Together with proof of Earnest Money, and lender approval, I'll present the offer to the selling agent. Presenting an offer is a little bit more involved than simply faxing paperwork to the listing agent and then waiting for a response. It is important to get the offer over as quickly as possible. Bargains (in any market) don't last long.  Then I call the listing agent to let them know the offer has been sent. When appropriate, I follow up in the conversation by sharing appropriate details with the listing agent. For example: I can give the selling agent some personal background about my clients and what they are looking for. I can explain why they are qualified to buy or how many homes my client has looked at. In some cases, it's appropriate to tell seller what the buyers appreciate about the home. I sometimes provide the sellers with a comparative market analysis to show the sellers the rationale behind the offer we are making. Of course, it's my job to explain and review all of the major details of the offer;
Wooster Mercer Lofts
Wooster Mercer Lofts
  • contingent or non-contingent,
  • inspections,
  • date of closing,etc.
  • and of course, price.
When necessary I discuss a brief timeline outlining the expected milestones between the offer and settlement.

Why buy a home?

According to a new realtor.com® survey of more than 1,000 home shoppers, increasing rental costs are pushing more young adults toward homeownership, with 23 percent of buyers between the ages of 18 and 34 reporting rising rents as a trigger for their recent home purchase. “Although record-low inventory and high prices make this housing market unique, some classic features still top most shoppers’ wish lists,” says Danielle Hale, chief economist for realtor.com®. “At the same time, we found some clear differences in priorities. For instance, older buyers are concerned with privacy and being able to age comfortably, while millennials place more emphasis on family needs, stability, and personal expression.”   For more information or to set up an appointment call Julie at (703)765-0300.

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.  

Pentagon Row- Comfort & Convenience By The Metro

Pentagon City                       Located at Joyce Street and Army-Navy Drive, the Shops at Pentagon Row feature main stream fashion retailers and commercial restaurants as well as the Arlington Visitors Center. Shoppers can enjoy the charm of Main Street while shopping in an urban village setting. The Shops at Pentagon Row are located near Metro's Blue and Yellow Lines; near the Pentagon City Station.  Pentagon Row boost the following retailers:
  •  A Visual Affair
  • Bed Bath & Beyond
  • Best Foot Forward
  • DSW Shoe Warehouse
  • Harris Teeter
  • Hudson Trail Outfitters
  • Jouvence AVEDA
  • LA Fitness
  • LOFT
  • Mattress Warehouse
  • Metropolitan Nail Bar
  • Pacers Running Stores
  • Pentagon Row Cleaners
  • Pentagon Row Ice Rink
  • Rite Aid
  • Solar Planet
  • Sprint
  • Sur La Table
  • The Vitamin Shoppe
  • World Market
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For more information or to set up an appointment call Stuart at (703)765-0300.

Westmoreland Terrace- Quiet Arlington Condos

Westmoreland Terrace The Westmoreland Terrance Condominiums are a garden-style, private entrance condo community located at 1314 North Fort Myer Drive along North Ode Street in Arlington, Virginia. Located just outside of the Rosslyn business district and the greater Courthouse Metro area, this sprawling condo community spans 4.2 acres and offers a quiet and more subtle living alternative compared to the surrounding metropolis. Built in 1947 and converted in 1982, the post-war cinder and brick facade buildings offer parking and storage amenities, and 8 out of every 10 condos features a private laundry facility. The Westmoreland Terrace Condominiums house 149 condo units and there are 159 unassigned parking spaces available to its residents. Residents have a choice between one and two bedroom units, and the condos are also pet friendly, a rare feature compared to nearby residential communities. Finally, each unit features thick walls and a choice between red and white oak parquet floors. The Westmoreland Terrace condos have anywhere between 14 and 16 units per building and the layout of the property captures the rich history of Arlington County. The surrounding acreage maintains many of the original trees that existed before the building was constructed, some in excess of 150 years old, and the property is reminiscent of an older, less urbanized ideal. The Westmoreland Terrace Condominiums boost a tucked-away feeling and yet the property is within several yards of US 50 and is only an 8 minute walk from the Rosslyn Metro station. The property is both well maintained and well managed. Through its consistent and quiet manner, this calm and peaceful condo community has thrived for over 60 years.
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For more information or to set up an appointment call Stuart at (703)765-0300.