If you don’t know by now how important the upcoming Presidential election is, I can only assume you’ve been living under a rock. By all accounts, the race is incredibly tight, which means every vote carries that much more significance.
The blogger at Leesburg Tomorrow has posted several entries devoted to voter registration resources. The most recent one links to the Vote from Abroad site, as well as links up to the Virginia site that allows you to check your registration status. Keep in mind that it’s not just American citizens abroad that can use the absentee ballot; anyone can, and it might be a good idea to take advantage of it if you want to be extra sure your vote is counted or you don’t want to have to endure the history-making lines they’re anticipating.
This time around, Virginia is one of the states up for grabs between the two parties. Loudoun, in particular, has been a bit of a battleground. Whichever side of the aisle you’re on, don’t miss this opportunity to make your voice heard.
Special note: October 6th is the cut-off date for name or address changes.
Here’s a fun, healthy, free and tasty way to cheer yourself up if the depressing news in the media has got you down lately. Look for and collect nuts! ‘Tis the season. You can do it while you’re scoping neighborhoods.
Yeah, I’m serious. Tap into your hunter-gatherer genes. If you find a good tree, it’s better than an Easter egg hunt. Why leave all the treats to the squirrels?
What kind of nuts? Chestnuts and walnuts, mainly.
Those spiky green balls you’ve seen rolling down sidewalks and parking lots are chestnuts (pictured above.) The thick green skin cracks open naturally to reveal two or three beautiful brown nuts – the kind you can roast. Just find the tree where they’re coming from and they’ll be lying on the ground waiting for you if no one has beaten you to it. Careful, the green spikes are quite sharp.
Once you collect a nice big handful, roast them over the stove in a cast-iron skillet until they smell toasty. You’ll feel like you’re on the streets of Paris or Rome. The dark shell will crack slightly, and its OK if the outside blackens a bit. Crack them open and enjoy while warm.
You may also see bumpy, round, green balls that are about two inches across. These are walnuts. If you crush the outside skin you’ll get to the walnut shell that we all recognize from the store. Inside that is the meat. It seems like a lot of work and I am not as familiar with how to handle them as with the chestnuts. I do know that fresh walnuts taste kind of sweet and are not at all like the bitter/older things my mother used to buy in bags for her baking. Maybe one of readers can give it a try and report back one day.
If you’re really lucky, you may find some fig or apple trees on public land too. I can think of a few in my own neighborhood but that’s a secret I won’t divulge!
Doukenie Winery is holding its Taste of Italy event this weekend. (Photo credit: My Vine Spot)
Could we have asked for nicer weather this weekend? I don’t think so. Whether you’re looking for something to do or looking for a house to buy, you’ve got plenty of options. Enjoy!
Farmers Markets Ashburn, 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays, parking lot at Kaiser-Permanente building, 43480 Yukon Dr., Ryan Park Shopping Center; Purcellville, 4-7 p.m. Thursdays, 21st Street, across from the train station; Middleburg, 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays, behind the community center; Leesburg, 8 a.m.-noon Saturdays, Virginia Village Shopping Center, off Catoctin Circle; Cascades, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays, Cascades Senior Center, 21060 Whitfield Pl.; Lovettsville, 3:30-7 p.m. Tuesdays, Lovettsville Game Protective Association, Route 287. Sponsored by the Loudoun Valley HomeGrown Markets Association. 703-777-0426 or http://www.loudounfarmersmarkets.org.
Walk For the Shelter
Registration at 8 a.m.; race at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Douglass Community Center, 407 E. Market St., Leesburg. A 1.2-mile walk through historic Leesburg to benefit the Loudoun homeless at the Good Shepherd Alliance shelters. $30; age 25 and younger, $15. 703-724-1555 or http://www.loudounhomeless.org.
Ball’s Bluff Battlefield Guided Tours
11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through October, Ball’s Bluff Battlefield, Ball’s Bluff Rd., off Battlefield Pkwy., Leesburg. Free. 703-737-7800 or www.nvrpa.org. (Source: WashingtonPost.com)
12th Annual Taste of Italy
Visit Doukenie Winery this Saturday for a taste of Italy. The winery will be serving Italian appetizers, wine, and offering vineyard rides and cellar tours. Visitors will also have the opportunity to join in the wine-making process with grape-stomping. Doukenie Winery is located at 14727 Mountain Road in Purcellville, and Taste of Italy will run from noon to 6.pm. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. You can also purchase tickets online. (Source: LoudounExtra.com)
ASHBURN VILLAGE 20720 Sweetair Ct, Ashburn, 20147
4 bd/3.5 ba; sq. ft. unavailable
Reduced from $425,000 to $418,000 (Original Price: $499,000)
Days on Redfin: 109
BELMONT COUNTRY CLUB 43387 La Belle Pl, Ashburn, 20147
5 bd/4.5 ba; sq. ft. unavailable
Reduced from $715,000 to $700,000
Days on Redfin: 28
BRAMBLETON 22864 Ashton Woods Dr, Ashburn, 20148
4 bd/4.5 ba; 4826 sq. ft.
Reduced from $699,900 to $649,900 (Original Price: $799,900)
Days on Redfin: 63
BROADLANDS 42954 Cedar Springs Ct, Broadlands, 20148
4 bd/3.5 ba; sq. ft. unavailable
Reduced from $579,000 to $559,000 (Original Price: $608,000)
Days on Redfin: 113
LANSDOWNE 43480 Calphams Mill Ct, Leesburg, 20176
6 bd/4.5 ba; sq. ft. unavailable
Reduced from $989,000 to $899,000 (Original Price: $1,350,000)
Days on Redfin: 563
“The U Street Corridor is a collection of shops, restaurants, nightclubs, galleries and residences along a nine-block stretch of U Street in northwest Washington, D.C. It extends from 9th Street on the east to 18th Street and Florida Avenue on the west. Most of this area is part of the larger Shaw neighborhood with the western end entering the Dupont Circle neighborhood. It is served by the U Street Metro Station.
[Text snipped.]
U Street has long been a center of Washington’s music scene with the Lincoln Theatre, Howard Theatre, Bohemian Caverns, and other clubs and historic jazz venues. While always racially diverse, the area was predominately white and middle class until 1900. As Washington became progressively more segregated, the neighborhood emerged as a fashionable neighborhood for Washington’s African-American residents. U Street became the city’s most important concentration of businesses and entertainment facilities owned and operated by blacks, while the surrounding neighborhood became home to many of the city’s most prominent African Americans. Until the 1920s, when it was overtaken by Harlem, the U Street area was home to the largest urban African American community in the United States. In its cultural heyday, it was known as “Black Broadway”, a phrase coined by singer Pearl Bailey. Duke Ellington’s childhood home was located on 13th street between T and S street. The Lincoln Theater opened in 1921, and Howard Theater in 1926.” – Wikipedia.org
The U Street Corridor is number 4 on Walk Score’s DC list and has an overall score of 97 (walker’s paradise). Because the Corridor spans several DC neighborhoods, it’s not as easy to pull properties and statistics as other areas, but you can see the results of my “U Street Corridor” property search here. The data summary (from Redfin’s Neighborhood Pages) is below.
REAL ESTATE STATS
91 homes for sale; 56 are condos
1 bank-listed foreclosure
2 FSBOs
Median list price: $591,000
Median sold price: $565,000
Median days on Redfin: 49.5
The brand-new condo at the median price point is in the Flats at Union Row, a PN Hoffman building on 14th Street. The loft-style residence includes 1 bedroom, a den, and 2 full baths. The unit faces east and features a balcony, floor to ceiling glass, kitchen island, stainless steel appliances, and granite countertops. The building has a resident lounge on the first floor and an 8th floor community terrace. The Metro is 2 blocks away. It’s priced at $590,900 and has been on the market for 223 days.
Walk score: 97 (walker’s paradise) Walk to: Starbucks (0.19 mi); Lowest Price Food Mart (0.03 mi); Busboys & Poets (0.08 mi); Meridian Hill Park (0.28 mi)
You can view the entire list of nearby attractions here.
Perks on Washington Street, just as you get to Old Town Alexandria is a great little independent coffee shop. Hollin Hall Bakery to our south has great pastries and coffee.Favorite Restaurant in the Area:
Old Town Alexandria is filled with great restaurants and parking is easy. At the south end of Old Town (closest to our neighborhood) are two great restaurants, Faccia Luna for pizza and pasta, and Southside 815 for Southern/American cooking.Favorite Places to Go:
Old Town Alexandria is close and is a great place to go for dining, shopping, or just walking around. The Belle View Marina is a great place to launch a kayak or a dog into the river. The Mount Vernon bike trail is just a few blocks away.Best Features of the Home:
The house has been extensively customized with exquisite furniture-quality built-ins, cabinets and architectural woodwork including an incredible one-of-a-kind kitchen featuring custom cabinetry of cherry and apple wood from the Shenandoah. Other quality features include Architectural Series Pella windows, solid redwood and brick siding, gleaming hardwood floors on two levels, a convenient floor plan, ample room sizes, extensive storage space, a spacious screened porch, and terraced gardens. The home also features panoramic Potomac river views in the winter.Favorite Room:
We spend a lot of time in the kitchen and that’s where everyone congregates when we entertain. The eat-in area is great for intimate dining (when the weather isn’t good enough for the screened porch), and it’s just a really beautiful and peaceful space.
Has there been any remodeling since you purchased the home?:
Most everything has been updated with exquisite custom features. The owner is a professional cabinet- and furniture-maker and he has put his best work into customizing the home with beautiful woodwork throughout. This includes a one-of-a-kind kitchen of cherry and apple wood cabinetry. A large master bath was added, complete with a soaking tub looking out at the river and garden.Most Romantic Spot:
The screened porch is fantastic for romantic dining in the garden.What’s in the neighborhood?:
Marlan Forest is a neighborhood of well-maintained custom homes near Old Town, Alexandria. The neighborhood, which has been featured in the Washingtonian Magazine’s Best Places to Live, is adjacent to the George Washington Parkway, sitting at the top of a ridge that provides panoramic winter river views for a handful of lucky homeowners.
Will it actually be called “The Bailout Agency”? [CNNMoney.com]
We are now experiencing the high cost of low short rates. [WashingtonPost.com]
And so what, exactly, does it mean for you? (Repeat after me: “I will not look at my 401(k) until this is all over. I will not look at my 401(k) until this is all over. I will not look…”) [AOL Money]
Image: Some overgrown Loudoun lawns will soon be receiving much-needed trims via a county program. The BOS is considering attaching the costs to the homeowners’ taxbills. (Photo courtesy ofWashingtonPost.com.)
Almost 50% of home sale closings in Loudoun have been on foreclosures or short sales – which certainly explains the decrease in Loudoun’s inventory. [Loudoun Stats]
Loudoun’s School Board is weighing the pros and cons of a 4-day school week. I have serious doubts about whether my 7-year-old could handle a 9-hour school day. [Leesburg Today]
Loudoun’s School Board has also joined the Town of Leesburg in supporting the location of a full-service GMU campus in Loudoun. [Ashburn Today]
A word to the (real estate) wise: New homes need to be thoroughly inspected, too. [Loudoun Times-Mirror]
The Board of Supervisors approved the tall grass ordinance. [Loudoun Times-Mirror]
Sandra Bullock used to live in this Arlington home, which recently sold for $200,000 less than the original asking price.Photo courtesy of WashingtonPost.com.
Just like Virginia, Maryland is about to hit some budgetary hard times. [Baltimore Housing Bubble]
Here are some up-and-coming openings in DC. [DC Metrocentric]
Want to know where the next hot DC neighborhoods will be? [What's Up Arlington]
When it comes to selling their houses, celebrities really are just like the rest of us. [The Washington Post]
Real Estate 101: What NOT to do when purchasing a home. [Examiner.com]
If you’re looking for some weekend fun in Loudoun, The Washington Post publishes a list every Thursday. I’ve highlighted a few events below, but you can find the full list here.
LEESBURG’S FIRST FRIDAY, 6-9 p.m. first Fridays, downtown Leesburg. Visit art galleries, specialty stores and antiques dealers. Free. 703-725-8167.
BLUEMONT FAIR, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 20-21, Snickersville Turnpike (Route 734), Bluemont. Demonstrations, music, farm animals, quilt display, fresh and dried flowers, pie-baking and pickle-making contests, art show, crafts, antiques, wine tasting, slide show, model railroad display, children’s fair and 10K run. No pets. Adults, $5; 11 and younger, free. 540-554-2367 or www.bluemontfair.com.
ESTATE TOURS AND EXHIBITS, “From Swann’s Castle to Governor’s Mansion: Exploring an Old Southern Estate,” 11 a.m.-4 p.m. tomorrow and Monday, Morven Park, 17263 Southern Planter Lane, Leesburg. Guided tours include exhibits, carriage collection, Confederate huts and a walk around the property. Meet at Coach House visitors center. Adults, $5; children, $1. 703-777-6034 or http://www.morvenpark.org.
If you’re looking for a bargain on a property, there are plenty of those to be found this weekend, too. Three of the 6 reduced homes I’ve listed are $550,000 or below. And while the average buyer might not consider the Belmont Country Club home a bargain at $999,900, it’s always fun to just soak in the “wow” factor of a home like that. Happy hunting!
ASHBURN FARM 20958 Huntland Ct, Ashburn, 20147
5 bd/3.5 ba; 3856 sq. ft.
Reduced from $549,900 to $544,900 (Original Price: $589,000)
Days on Redfin: 163
ASHBURN VILLAGE 43880 Felicity Pl, Ashburn, 20147
4 bd/3.5 ba; sq. ft. unavailable
Reduced from $639,900 to $625,111
Days on Redfin: 16
BELMONT COUNTRY CLUB 20156 Black Diamond Pl, Ashburn, 20147
5 bd/4.5 ba; 5993 sq. ft.
Reduced from $1,150,000 to $999,900 (Original Price: $1,215,000)
Days on Redfin: 56
Who among you took statistics class in college or high school? Well, this is your lucky day. For all others interested in pricing trends, you’ll still find the numbers below to be informative.
Every month the Metropolitan Regional Information System (MRIS) comes out with publicly available statistics about property sales for the previous month, by zip code. Since I looked at the current SFH market in Columbia Heights the other day, let me stay in the area but expand to the whole 20010 zip code.
The information below includes both condos and single-family homes. The sales split between them is usually about half-half. With these numbers you get a snapshot of market activity for one month, compared to the same month the year before. I have also added the August snapshot figures for 2007 and 2006, plus October 2005 (that’s as far back as the MRIS allows.)
It is important to remember that the numbers from one month to the next can vary widely depending on what types of properties sold that month – so you can’t really conclude that “prices generally are falling/rising” if the numbers change over one month. It is still interesting to look at what was happening during August of the last five years, however. What do you make of it?
Avg Sold Price: $512,574 $490,913 4.41 % $450,200 $564,321 $506,347
Median Sold Price: $390,000 $445,000 - 12.36 % $392,250 $519,750 $449,500
Total Units Sold: 23 25 - 8.00 % 30 34 30
Avg Days on Market: 75 91 - 17.58 % 73 21 24
Avg List for Solds: $539,424 $509,833 5.80 % $483,253 $563,869 $510,450
Avg Sale Price as a %
Avg List Price: 95.02 % 96.29 % 93.16 % 100.08 % 99.20 %
I hope these numbers fall into a proper chart order on your browser! I have had a heck of a time getting them in line – sometimes it seems to work, sometimes not. If I figure it out I might do this for other zips, if you find it worthwhile. Let me know.
If you don’t know by now how important the upcoming Presidential election is, I can only assume you’ve been living under a rock. By all accounts, the race is incredibly tight, which means every vote carries that much more significance. 
