Lorton, VA

Looking for a way to shake off the winter blues? Then stop by the Lorton Workhouse Arts Center during the month of March for a variety of events for everyone.

Here is a list of some of the upcoming events:

Woman Made
March 2-25, 2012

"Woman Made, highlights work by local women artists. This exhibition celebrates National Women's History Month and features handpicked artists from around the DC Metro region."

Workhouse Theater
"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee"
Shows Starting on March 9, 2012

"A musical comedy telling of six young people overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, learn that winning isn't everything and that losing doesn't necessarily make you a loser."

Second Saturday Art Walk
March 10, 2012
"The 2^nd Saturday Art Walk at the Workhouse showcases the diverse work of more than 100 visual artists in a unique historic venue, creating an atmosphere that encourages visitors to immerse themselves in the richness of this creative community."

Date Night
Chefs Table
March 17, 2012
"Bring someone special and join us for an evening of dancing, cooking and fun. Begin the night at 7:30pm with a 30 minute optional ballroom dancing lesson in the Workhouse Gallery."

A complete list of March events at the Lorton Workhouse Arts Center.

The Lorton Worklhouse Arts Center continues to refurbish more of the former prison buildings. With over 100 artists in residence the Arts Center offers events and classes for all ages and interests.

After my closing today I slipped out for an hour to enjoy a walk through Mason Neck State Park. In multiple places along the shoreline were signs announcing it was hunting season. The ducks seemed to be testing their luck by swimming right in front of the duck blind.

Was that a Na Na Na you can't get me I heard?

Homes for sale in Lorton Virginia. Located on the VRE and priced right.

A very popular town in Fairfax County is Lorton. Located on the VIRGINIA RAILWAY EXPRESS line with a station right in Lorton, this community offers good value and transportation alternatives. Lorton homes for sale are priced right.

HOMES FOR SALE IN LORTON PRICED FROM $500,000 TO $600,000.

HOMES FOR SALE IN LORTON PRICED FROM $500,000 TO $600,000.

To tour this home for sale in Lorton
contact Lenn Harley, Broker
Homefinders.com
800-711-7988

LORTON HISTORY and REVIVAL.

For decades, Lorton a town located in the southern area of Fairfax County, along Route 1 or Route 95, was not a high spot on the local Fairfax County real estate agents radar. Lorton, was after all the location of the D.C. Dept. or Correction huge prison for law breakers from D.C. Lorton was home to a few lower priced older homes on the perimeter of the prison grounds and a few newer town homes and condominium buildings were constructed along Route 1 since 1995. But, most buyer shunned the area..

Then in 2002 when the prison closed and the land occupied by the prison was offered to builders and developers, Lorton is now hot, hot, hot. Lorton is also home to the Lorton Station of the Virginia Rail Express, known as the VRE. The VRE is a very popular commuter rail originating in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Buyers for homes in Fredericksburg, Stafford County and Prince William County have relied on the VRE for transportaiton to the Pentagon and D.C. since about 1993 when the VRE began to carry passengers from Fredericksburg to D.C.

RELOCATING TO NORTHERN VIRGINIA?
We can help. Before you arrive we can be your eyes and ears, alert you of exciting new homes listed in the MLS for sale. We'll send new listings to you automatically by e-mail. By the time you arrive, you'll know the market. Contact Lenn and ask for a comprehensive relocation package for Fairfax County and we'll get it off to you right away, including demographic information, public school information, maps, other timely information to help you feel right at home when you are here. We can help you with information about the important decisions for where, why, when and how to buy.

Fairfax County Real Estate

Homes for sale in MD and VA

Reston Homes for Sale

New Homes in Fairfax County VA

Homes for Sale in McLean VA

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.

Over the last few weeks my local Realtor® association has bombarded me with emails reminding me it's time to apply for the 2011 Awards and Recognition. Thank you but I'll pass. It's not because I haven't qualified for the Top Residential Producer Award from the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors® (NVAR) but because I don't think the phrase means anything to the average consumer when they see it on a business card.

First let's say that "Multi-Million Dollar Producer" and "Residential Top-Producer" in Northern Virgina are different meaning depending on what Realtor® association you belong to.

If you belong to NVAR to qualify for the "Multi-Million" award you must have sold at least $3 Million or 24 units and for "Top Producer" at least $6 Million or 48 units. However drive just a little bit south to Prince William Association of Realtors® (PWAR) and the criteria for those awards changes. Members of PWAR only need to sell $1,750,000 for "Mutli-Million Producer" and for "Top Producer" the award level is $4,500,000.

Now what? If an agent proudly walks in to your home and says I'm a member of the Multi-Million dollar club you don't know if that's for under $1.7M worth of sales over $3M. And the next question is should you care? Some folks are awarded lifetime achievement awards as "top producers" who haven't sold the minimum required to make a club in years. Others like myself don't pay to put the title on our business cards.

What you should be concentrating on is the professionalism of the agent you are hiring to sell your home. Do your homework. Will they take the time to make your home stand out on the Internet, where 90% of buyers start their new home search. Ask to see photos on their website, blog or in the MLS. How do they look? If they are dark and blurry quickly say NEXT. Are they reachable during reasonable business hours? Do they have a track record of success in today's difficult market? Ask to see their MLS sales record for the last year? What's the list to sales price ratio of their sales in the last year? Will they give you the number of a recent client so you can talk to them?

There's a big difference in having a professional Realtor® working with you to sell your home and a Realtor® who wants to brag about the number of clubs they belong to or the number of designations after their name.

When most Northern Virginia residents think of hiking in Mason Neck they immediately gravitate towards the largest park in the area, Mason Neck State Park. It's a beautiful area and for anyone who wants to look for Bald Eagles it is the place to go. However just a few miles before you reach Mason Neck State Park is the Meadowood Recreation Area managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

One of the things that makes walking through the loop trails in Meadowood Recreation Area interesting is who or make that what you will find along the trail. Like other trails in the area you will find plenty of 4 legged friends out with their owners. In this case though the 4 legged friends are a bit larger. Meadowood is a popular place for local equestrians to come out for a ride.

With over six miles of hiking and horseback riding trails, two fishing ponds, 800 acres of forest and meadows you can find plenty for any fitness level. There are two entrances to the area. The first is off of Colchester Road for the "west" entrance into the park. The other entrance is on Harley Road and is the Meadow entrance to the park just past the BLM stables. There is a connector trail that allows hikers to cover the entire area of the park.

If you are looking for a casual hike and enjoy meeting a 4 legged friend or two along the way then check out Meadowood Recreation Area in Lorton VA. And if you happen to pass this handsome guy along they way, his name is Calvin.