If you are at least 55 years young, then I have the home for you!
55 YEARS YOUNG? What if I am 54? Sorry, unless you or your spouse is at least 55, then you may not buy this fabulous home.
Why is that? Well, this elegant colonial is located in one of Northern Virginia’s finest Active Adult Communities, Regency at Dominion Valley.
What is an Active Adult Community? In Virginia, “Active Adult Communities” must meet age qualifications. This means that at least 80% of the units within the community have one resident that is at least 55 or better. No permanent residents are allowed under the age of 18.
So are you or your spouse at least 55 Years or Better? Then read on, because you don’t want to miss out on the opportunity to own this exceptional single family home. By far one of the lowest priced homes in the neighborhood ($475K) and definitely on one of the best lots, this brick colonial is the next place to call home. With a spacious open floor plan and main level living, what more could you ask for? This home features 2 bedrooms on the main level, including the luxurious master suite, and one bedroom in the loft area. (Perfect for having family in for the weekend.)
Located at the end of a quiet Cul de sac and backing to a wooded area, this home offers peace and tranquility whether relaxing in the warm sunroom or catching a cool breeze in the glorious screened in porch. Have the neighbors over for a BBQ on the patio, or set up a game of horseshoes in the private backyard. 
If you want to get out of the house, then head over to the Regency Clubhouse. Conveniently located across from Whitworth Court, you can walk, run or drive there in a few minutes. The elegant clubhouse features an indoor/outdoor pool, tennis courts, magnificent library, fabulous restaurant, and various other activities and rooms. There is also a beautiful 18 hole golf course that meanders throughout the community, including a putting green to practice your game.
The Regency at Dominion Valley is a private, gated community that is also a part of the Dominion Valley Country Club, open to people of all ages. Dominion Valley boasts a new shopping center at the entrance to the community. Offering an impressive grocery store, coffee shop, dry cleaners and various restaurants, you don’t have to go far to get the things you need.
So if you are ready for the next step into a fabulous relaxing lifestyle, then this may be the perfect home for you. Call for information or to make an appointment for a private showing.
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Candace Moe and Chelle Gassan
Senior Real Estate Specialist, Realtors, Staging Professionals
Weichert, Realtors
540-270-0274 / 571-330-6164
I work with a lot of Coast Guard personnell who usually end up at one point in their career at Coast Guard Headquarters. Many of them are moving with families and school age children, so I am often asked the following question:
“Where are the good schools?”
My answer to that question is: “all over Northern Virginia”.
But don’t take my word for it. Newsweek magazine ranks high schools throughout the country on an annual basis. Time after time, a large majority of this area’s schools rank in the top 5% of high schools in the country. According to Newsweek Magazine, in 2007, 60 of this area’s Virginia schools made the top 1300 high schools in the USA. 
All of the Northern Virginia Counties/Cities that make up the DC area were represented in this list. They include:
So if your new duty station brings you to Northern Virginia and the DC Area, not to worry, our area has some of the finest schools available.
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Moving to the DC Area and in need of housing assistance? Please don’t hesitate to contact me for more information:
Chelle Gassan
Weichert, Realtors
Servicing All of Northern Virginia, including Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William and Stafford Counties
571-330-6164
Virginia is full of rich history. It is famous for presidential mansions and battlefields, but not many people are aware of it’s vibrant Wine Country. California, Washington, and Oregon are the states that come to mind when people think of US wines. While not at the top of the list, Virginia is making it’s way into the wine industry and actually getting some recognition.
One of my favorite places to go wine tasting and to enjoy a relaxing afternoon is the Winery at La Grange, located in Haymarket, VA. Currently the one and only operating winery in Prince William County, this beautiful and historical place should be on your list of things to do.
Approximately 40 miles outside of Washington DC, this Northern Virginia winery offers one of the most picturesque settings. Driving down Antioch Road, you happen upon this beautiful 1790’s colonial, that was once a farmhouse. Lovingly restored, the Manor house hosts the wine tasting room. In addition, there are several intimate rooms for enjoying a bottle of wine and snacks (bring your own or purchase some there).
Some of the rooms have fireplaces, while the cozy, stone basement is a treat of it’s own. You can also enjoy your wine on the sun porch with views of the 100 year old boxwoods that create a path to the Barrel Room.
When the weather is nice, there are many private spots to enjoy a beautiful day and tasty glass of wine. For those slightly cooler days, La Grange has patio heaters to take off the chill.
I sound like an advertisement, but I can’t begin to tell you how much I enjoy the Winery at La Grange. They offer such a beautiful place to relax and their wine is fabulous, too. If you live in Western Prince William County, this is a treasure in your own backyard to enjoy. And if you live in Northern Virginia, hop on I-66 to Haymarket and you too can experience a great part of the Virginia Wine Country.
I say, “make mine Virginia wine”!
The Washington, DC Area ranks in the top 10 worst commute times in the country. Depending on what publication you read, our area normally ranks as #2 or #3 on that list. (New York is usually #1). Scary! And now you just found out that your next duty station will be at Coast Guard Headquarters in South West DC. But what else can you expect of an area that has continual job growth every single year.
I have many Coast Guard clients who do relocate to this area. (Everybody has to take their turn at the dreaded Headquarters tour.) I always ask their criteria, needs, wants, etc. for their next home. One major criteria is commute times. Most people come here with the idea that they want a ‘reasonable’ commute time. And then I have to ask “what is reasonable to you?” Nine times out of ten, the answer is 20 minutes or less. (Hah...I try not to laugh). Very few commuters in this area are lucky enough to have that short of a commute time (me being one of them). But pretty much anyone working in Washington DC will have a decent commute time, unless they actually live in DC. Some Coasties do choose to live there, but most of my clients have opted for the suburbs of Virginia and Maryland as many of them have families and would prefer not to live in the city.
So what can you expect for commute times? From the information I gather from my clients, neighbors, friends, other Realtors, the average commute time is about 40 minutes to 1.5 hours. What? Yes, this is the reality we call living in the Metro Area. But don’t fret. There are plenty of commuting options and alternatives that can save you time and possibly money, no matter where you choose to live.
The Washington DC area has a great Metro Rail and Bus System. If you live in Fairfax County, Arlington County, Falls Church, and Alexandria on the Virginia side of DC there are many routes available throughout. In Maryland, Montgomery County and Prince Georges County have Metro stops, as well. Many of the outer counties also offer direct bus service to Metro Rail stops from local commuter lots, such as Omni Ride in Prince William County, VA.
Another option for the Outer burbs is the local railway services. Virginia offers the Virginia Railway Express (VRE), with lines that travel from Fredericksburg and the I-95 corridor. And also west of DC, starting in Manassas. In Maryland, you can utilize the MARC train service.
If you choose to live in Virginia, south of the city, there is a commuting phenomenon called “SLUGGING”. It is basically organized hitch-hiking where drivers pick up commuters heading for the same DC locations. Since I-95 requires 3 people in the car to be in the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, this helps the driver meet this requirement thereby getting to work faster, and the “slugs” benefit the same and don’t have to pay for gas. Check out this website for more slugging information or just for fun...there is “slugging etiquette”.
Private van pools are another option. Several companies will set these up for you by matching you with other commuters going in your general direction. I’m aware of at least one Coast Guard van pool in Stafford that takes a group to Headquarters. Check out Commuter Connections for more information, or Silver Service Transportation.
One other source of general commuting information is the Commuter Pages. This website offers a good overview of many of the commuting options I listed above, if not more.
Keep in mind that as long as you get yourself to L’Enfant Plaza in DC, you will find a Coast Guard van to pick you up and take you to and from Headquarters. I understand they do have regular operating hours, but something to ask about when you check in with your new duty station.
What your commute ends up being and how you get there will all depend on where you live. So if you would like more housing information, please don't hesitate to contact me by phone or email. I’m always happy to help my fellow Coast Guard families.
Realtor and Accredited Staging Professional (and Spouse of Former Coastie)
Weichert, Realtors
571.330.6164
chelle@chellegassan.com
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Realtor 1st, Stager 2nd...we believe that no home should go on the market without its best foot forward.
Who are we? What are we about? My partner, Candace Moe, and I happen to be a great Mother/Daughter team who love Real Estate and love Staging Homes. We are so excited that we have found a profession that allows us to do what we truly enjoy.
For our buyers, we couldn't be more thrilled to get you in our cars and head out to a variety of listings. You would think we would get tired of looking at properties...but no. Just like people, all properties have their own personality and distinctions that make them interesting and different. We like meeting all of them. Of course, we do like discussing the GOOD, the BAD, and the UGLY. To this day, it still amazes us how some people live and sell their homes. (If you have been house hunting, you know WHAT WE MEAN!)
For our sellers, we believe that to sell your home, it has to be priced competitively and it absolutely must show WELL. Stage, stage, stage...it seems like a new term, but it has been around for awhile. Why do we stage? Why would you detail a car before you sell it? Because you are selling one of the most expensive assets anyone will buy in their lifetime...why wouldn't you want it to look its absolute best? When you were a Buyer what homes caught your attention? The overpriced, poorly decorated house or the well priced, absolutely fabulous, got to have it home?
For our clients, we walk you through every step of the process whether buying or selling. We want this to be a positive experience for all involved. If it's WIN-WIN..we all WIN!
The first reason you should work with US is because we have an extreme passion for what we do. But of course, most people want more than that for a reason...so here are a few more:
-Licensed Realtors since 2004. We have been through the crazy market of '04 and '05. We hung in there for the confusing market of '06, and the changing market of '07. 2008 was a stellar year for us and 2009 continues to be the same. While other agents are dropping out of real estate like flies, we are continuing to build a successful business, learning and growing from each and every client we have the pleasure of working with.
-Accredited Staging Professionals since 2005. Ok, so we have only been accredited for four years, but we have been staging and decorating for a lifetime. When they say you are born with it or your not...we're born with it. We take pride in how all of our listings look to perspective buyers and it shows...check out our Before and After pictures on www.stagedhomesva.com. 
-Owners of Staged Homes Virginia since 2006. It wasn't enough for us to just be Realtors, we had to have our own staging business, too. While the vast majority of our work is comprised of making our own listings look great, we also take the time to help out our fellow Realtors who need assitance in staging their listings. In addition, many of our "staging clients" like our work so much that they ask us to stage/decorate their new homes once they have moved.
-Featured in Money Magazine-May 2007. We had the pleasure of working with Money Magazine on an article about what it takes to sell a home. They featured a For Sale By Owner (a.k.a. FSBO) that was having trouble selling. We staged three of their most problematic rooms and offered suggestions on how they could do little things throughout the house to "upgrade". Even though we would have liked to get the listing, we're happy to say that they owners finally SOLD thanks to our on hand staging and our advice they took.
-Senior Real Estate Specialist (a.k.s SRES). Candace holds this title and proudly so. As a mother/grandmother, she knows the over 55 population well. She specializes in Active Adult Communities throughout Northern Virginia. If you are looking to down-size and take that next step, Candace will make the transition easy.
-Military Relocation Specialist. I am proud of my former life as a military wife. Like most military families, I have had the experience of relocating every two or three years to new towns and new states. I understand all to well what it is like to move so often and I take that to heart when helping my fellow military families relocate. Many of my clients have been Coast Guard personnel relocating to CG Headquarters. I have also helped several Navy, Army and Air Force whose new duty station is the Pentagon. Not to mention, all the Marines who call Quantico home.
"Thank you for all your help!! Buying our new home would have been a nightmare without you. Don't go anywhere...we will need your help again in 4 years." - Tim, Ana and Bryce
"...thank you for hanging out with me and supplying the coffee on Saturday morning to get the lot. I really appreciate all of the extra effort you are putting forth and look forward to working together moving forward. Thanks." - Shawna
"Thanks so much for all your time and help. We appreciate everything that you did for us." - Tim and Vickie
"Well, we've finally settled in the Capital Region. Apologies for not staying in contact, but we'll not soon forget the help you gave us and valuable information you provided. It was great to be able to speak comfortably with someone who could relate to our situation...Thanks again for everything you did for us." - Brian and Megan
"Thanks again for all your help and assistance in working with us to find our first home. Everything went great, start to finish, and we couldn't have asked for more. We appreciate all your hard work." - Josh
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