Julie and I rode bikes from Old Town up to Washington DC to take a look at the cherry blossoms. We rode along the GW Parkway on the Mount Vernon Trail to Theodore Roosevelt Island and then we turned back crossing the river into the city. It was a pleasant morning and a good time.
Washington Monument surrounded by cherry blossoms
Jefferson Memorial at Cherry Blossom
Washington Monument as seen from Virginia during cherry blossom
Cherry Blossoms
The cherry trees bloom every Spring along the Potomac River
Will Nesbitt is the principal broker of Condo Alexandria.
view of Pentagon CityThe expert says: “I understand. But no matter what price we set for your property, there is always a chance it may not sell. I would like to set an appointment to review the activity and reconsider the price in two weeks. We will be monitoring the calls from signs, ads, and open houses to determine our best strategy for locating a buyer. Then we will analyze this information and adjust our marketing campaign as needed until it is sold.”
— Rich Levin, Real Estate Trainer and Coach
It's true: we're still in a buyer's market. I don't see prices continuing to decline, but there are only two options if you want to sell your home: wait patiently for a buyer to see the value of your home, or lower the price to entice a buyer to act now. In the past, homes were selling for more than what they are worth. Today, they are probably selling for less than what they are worth. If you have the time to be patient, hold out to get your price. If you want to act now, don't worry too much because if you sell at a low price, you'll be buying at a low price.
Will NesbittWill Nesbitt is the Principal Broker of Condo Alexandria.
Julie Nesbitt is one of the hard-working real estate professionals at Condo Alexandria. As many people know, she's a force behind much of what gets done here. We snapped a few publicity photos of her this Spring. Which one do you like best?
Watergate of Alexandria is very different from Watergate at Landmark
The original Watergate
Watergate is perhaps one of the most famous real estate names in North America. The original Watergate complex was built in Washington DC along the Potomac, sited in a location that made it ideal for members of Congress and Executive Branch staff. Watergate in DC is most famous for the burglary that occurred at the Democratic National Committee headquarters.
Ties to this break-in is what led to the downfall of Richard Nixon and what put the word "Watergate" in every newspaper in America, if not the world.
As the original Watergate was nearing completion, plans were made and land was purchased to build another Watergate in Old Town Alexandria. Old Town Alexandria had approved a sleek and modern complex known as the Alexandria House, so it was assumed that the Watergate of Alexandria would be welcomed by the city. However, the City of Alexandria balked at the modernization of Old Town, forever changing the trajectory of Old Town.
colonial elegance at the Watergate of Alexandria
The Watergate of Alexandria evolved into a condominium community that better fit with the surrounding neighborhood. The Watergate of Alexandria has architecture and a design style that echoes Old Town Alexandria. The condominiums here are townhouse style, sited around a courtyard and gardens as one my expect from a traditional Alexandria home.
Watergate of Alexandria is a far cry from the original Watergate concept. Watergate was not sleek and modern. There is no pool at the Watergate of Alexandria, and there are no tennis courts. But Watergate of Alexandria is a gem in its own right. It's location in Old Town and the colonial /Federal style of architecture fits nicely with Old Town. Watergate of Alexandria is not far from the Braddock Road Metro Station.
After failing to get approval for the type of complex they were seeking in Old Town, the developers of Watergate then proceeded to build the Watergate at Landmark. Landmark is in West End Alexandria and thus, not really near the water at all. But Watergate at Landmark is truer to the original Watergate brand. Watergate at Landmark has a bevy of amenities including indoor and outdoor pools, racket ball courts, and much more. The community provides shuttle service to nearby Van Dorn Metro.
Watergate at Landmark
Watergate at Landmark is a large complex of 5 high-rises. Watergate at Landmark is a gated-community with 24 hour security. Homes here range from 1 bedroom to 3 bedroom condos. Each condo at Watergate at Landmark has a balcony. Watergate at Landmark has both surface and garage parking depending upon the unit.
As you can see, Watergate at Landmark and Watergate of Alexandria are very different from each other and in many ways they are both very different from the original Watergate apartments in Washington DC. Watergate of Landmark has become representative of some of the best condos that West End Alexandria has to offer. Watergate of Alexandria has melded into the community of Old Town Alexandria.
At Condo Alexandria, we take very seriously our duties at property managers. One thing we do NOT play around with is rent checks. When a rent check bounces, we go into action taking the following actions as our discretion dictates:
We hand deliver a letter and notice stating the check has bounced which includes a photocopy of the bounced check front and back. That notice includes a 3 day "pay or quit" notice.
We give the tenant 72 hours to cover the check. The tenant must also pay all bank fee's which we have been charged. Our notice makes clear that if the bad check is not covered within the time allotted, we will turn it over to the commonwealth attorney for prosecution.
Payment must be make with either a money order or a cashier's check. Cash or checks are not accepted.
Condo Alexandria demand the payment be made personally. We will accept shipment only where a tracking number can verify where and when the check was sent and where it will arrive.
If the funds are not delivered in time, we take action immediately. We've been doing this too long and heard too many stories to let the matter linger. We can always call off an eviction, but we can never recoup lost days. We also inform the tenant that once the attorney is involved, the tenant will be responsible for those fees as well.
Will NesbittWill Nesbitt is the Principal Broker of Condo Alexandria
Eamon's Fish and Chips
Eamon's is located on King Street in Old Town Alexandria. Eamon's serves up an authentic Irish fried fish and chips with your selection of beers.
You don't need a passport, but you'll feel like you've made a trip to Ireland from the moment you step in the door. There are a variety of sauces available for fish dipping, and we really recommend the curry flavor.
The fireplace and dark woods feel very Old Town and very Irish at the same time. Eamon's is also set up to encourage you to get to know your neighbor and when that's not possible, you can just people watch from the big windows of the restaurant.
Thank be to cod.
Just in time for Valentine's Day, here are four rules for finding romance in a condo.
Don't forget your sweetheart!
1. Attend business meetings and don't skip mixers. Stay until the last cookie and glass of punch is served. Building issues make great topics of conversation.
2. The two best places to meet are the laundry room and pool. Two things to remember: Don't fold your undies while chatting and always bring some sunscreen to share.
3. An informal invite to dinner at the restaurant around the corner is convenient and no matter how things turn out, you're close to home.
4. Look ready to meet someone. Don't even go to the mailbox looking lousy.
Source: Apartments.com (02/09/2010)
Digging out at the Worldgate
Northern Virginia was buried in snow this weekend and we expect more snow tomorrow! As you can see in this picture, parts of Reston VA got more than TWO FEET of snow! At my office in Alexandria we got about 18 inches of snow.
I had to cancel all of my weekend appointments, but fortunately we had power almost all weekend. The lights were out for a few hours on Saturday night, but 200,000 people were without power for significant times on Sunday.
Are you searching for real property in Northern Virginia? Then you’ve come to the right place.
Condo Alexandria is Northern VA's condo expertCondo-Alexandria.com is the official site of Nesbitt Realty . Our real estate agents provide this site to help educate and assist home buyers with their real estate needs. Please don't hesitate to take advantage of our comprehensive real estate guides, real estate news, mortgage calculators, links to real estate market conditions, and wisdom from our team of skilled realtors. If you’re in the market for homes for sale or if you're seeking a condo in Northern Virginia, Condo-Alexandria.com is the real estate website for you.
Condo-Alexandria.com puts real estate listings for thousands of homes and condos for sale at your fingertips in communities across Northern Virginia. We provide focused hyperlocal information taken about communities and condo associations right here in Northern VA. We also provide listings from one of the largest MLS providers in the country. Our listings from the Multiple Regional Information System can access every single home listed for sale or rent in Northern Virgina.
We are realtors and real estate agents that care about hour clients need and we believe in sharing (not hording) information. As such, Condo-Alexandria provides the means to search by map, by community, by mls or just browse by text listings. We even provide a page where you can find condo listings and homes for rent. So whether you’re looking for Alexandria VA real estate or detailed Arlington real estate listings, look no further than Condo-Alexandria.com.
Each real estate listing provides comprehensive details about the property so you have a clear picture of what features and amenities are included. Condo-Alexandria.com goes beyond real estate listings, however, with access to real estate tools and resources such as calculators, moving guides, real estate buying tips. Our site doesn't provide information for everyone. We cater to folks who are interested in Northern Virgina, Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax County, Crystal City and Kingstowne. If you are moving to Northern VA, Condo-Alexandria.com provides you with everything you need to find the perfect home for you.
Nesbitt Realty sells homes in Northern VA
