Like thousands of others when the news broke of the photo editing tool Picnik shutting down I groaned. There are times when a quick fix is needed and doesn't require a full version of Photoshop or Gimp.
In the past I turned to Picnik for quick edits. In this case it was removing the blocks and lightening up the photo of this old piece of farm equipment before I posted it in a Speechless Sunday post on entitled "Welcome to 2012-Out With The Old In With The New."
This past week I've been playing with Photoshop Express on-line. Not only does it allow you to do simple "blemish removal" as Picnik did but it allows you to take a photo and change the colors with their "pop" tool. Here is a before and after of my bike that I had taken last summer after a ride.
Not only could I remove the water faucet on the brick wall but I could change the background and the color of the bike. Now this isn't something we might do with a photo of a home but it certainly gives us some options.
For those of us who like to play with photography they are lots of good free tools available. I'll never be a professional photographer but if you are like me and like to find simple options then you might want to check out Photoshop Express.
Today my clients spent about 2 hours working through the pricing of a new home in the just opened Mason's Landing development in Woodbridge. With a total of 52 lots and no through streets Mason's Landing is smaller than many of the close by neighborhoods. The location is ideal for commuting as it is located just off the major intersections of Hoadly Road the the Prince William County Parkway and only minutes to the commuter lots at the Prince William County Center.
My clients were pricing the Lexington Model which is the largest in the neighborhood with a base square footage of 3,300 square feet. Currently the builder is offering a free finished recreation room, bedroom and full bath on the lower level increasing the finished square feet in this model to almost 4,500 square feet.
There are four other models in Mason's Landing ranging from the Chelsea at 2,380 square feet to the Lexington at 3,339 square feet. Current pricing (as of January 2012) ranges from $439,900 to $486,900. As always builders change incentives and pricing around every 30 days. One of the nice things about Beazer homes is though they require all buyer's to be pre-qualified by their preferred lender, it is not a requirement to use that lender in order to take advantage of any closing cost incentives they offer. My clients are VA eligible buyers and so this is a plus for them should they want to stick with the lender they have already been pre-qualified with.
Just across the road from Mason's Landing are the shops at County Center anchored by Harris Teeter Grocery Store and Starbucks. Also in the shopping center you will find an iHop, Moe's Southwestern Grill, PA Nuang Thai Cuisine and Z Pizza to name just a few eating options. In the summer owners in Mason's Landing will be treated to the fireworks displays from the nearby Potomac Nationals Stadium. If you are a horse owner you can board your horse at Criswood Farm within walking distance. My client's are excited to be one of the first to discover the community and lock up their first choice lot.
If you are looking for a new home in Prince William County give Cindy Jones and CJ Realty Group a call at 703-346-2213 to talk about the homes at Mason's Landing in Woodbridge. Let our experience with new home sales and our new construction incentives. Interested in learning things to consider when buying new construction? Check out CJ Realty Group's "New Home Construction Guide" for more information.
With great flourish, pomp and circumstance the Woodbridge VRE pedestrian overpass opened almost 18 months ago. Then it sat with the elevvator doors locked and no one could access the overpass.
Then in December the bulldozers start to work on the Route 1 side of the tracks. Starting on Monday January 30, 2012 the new "Kiss and Ride" drop off and bus stop will now be open. For commuters this means you no longer have to the round about route to drop off passengers in the front of the station and get stuck at the traffic lights.
For anyone who takes any of the commuter buses from the Woodbridge VRE station you will now be able to catch your bus on Route 1 and Greyhound plans to also use this new stop fo passengers as well.
It may take a little bit of getting used to but this will save traffic coming in and out of Belmont Bay. This project is just the start of what is planned along this section of the Route 1 corridor. The Woodbridge VRE station is the most heavily used station in the area.
If you are interested in additional commuting information in the Woodbridge are you can check our the Northern Virginia Commuting Guide at CJ Realty Group's website.
The Sydenstricker School in Springfield VA was the last one room school house in operation in Fairfax County. It closed in 1939 but the building is still used today and maintained as a community meeting hall by the Upper Pohick Community League. The belfry contains the original school bell purchased in 1920's from the Sears Roebuck store in Alexandria. The school was named after the first minister of the original Sydenstricker Church next door built in 1909. Rev. Syndenstricker was also the uncle of Nobel Prize Winner Pearl Buck the author of The Good Earth.
Schools in Springfield VA and Fairfax County have come a long way since the Syndenstricker school closed. For the 2011-2012 school year you will find 177,000 students enrolled in Fairfax County Schools, the 11th largest school district in the US. Per the Fairfax County School website the country schools are comprised of "138 elementary schools (grades K-6), 22 middle schools (grades 7 and 8), 4 secondary schools (grades 7-12), 21 high schools (grades 9-12), 7 special education centers, 2 alternative high schools, and 48 alternative programs."
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology has been ranking number 1 in the US and World Report for multiple years.
You won't find a single one room school house in the entire Fairfax County Schools system today.
Moving to Springfield or Fairfax County area? Make sure you check out the Fairfax County Public School Website for information for information on the schools and programs offered.
Searching for houses in Springfield Virgiina and wonder what school your children would attend? Enter the address in the Fairfax County School Boundary link to find out.
If you are still looking for a home in the Springfield VA area or anywhere in Fairfax County give Cindy Jones and CJ Realty Group a call 703-346-2213. Not only did I attend Fairfax County Schools from kindergarten through high school graduation so did my children. Let me show you the neighborhoods that meet the needs for your family.
If you are moving to Northern Virginia as part of the BRAC 05 or have PCS orders to Fort Belvoir, you should put Springfield Oaks on your list of neighborhoods to consider. Situated on 18 acres of wooded and gently rolling terrain the 382 townhouses in Springfield Oaks are only 5 miles from Fort Belvoir and 2 miles to the new National Geospatial Intellegence Agency (NGA) .
The community is also within a few minutes of the shops and restaurants at Lorton Station and the the Lorton VRE Station. It is about 15 minutes to the Franconia-Springfield Metro or you can catch a Fairfax Connector or Metro bus at either entrance to the community
Townhouses in Springfield Oaks range from aproximately 1200 square feet for one of the smaller 2 Bedroom/2.5 BA Sheridan Model to the largest Bradford Model with 3 Bedroom/3.5 BA at just under 1700 SF. There are a few garage townhomes in the neighborhood but the majority of the homes come with 2 parking spaces instead of a garage.
The neighborhood is divided into two sections crossed by Alban Road. Both the upper and lower sections of the neighborhood share services including twice a week trash pickup, community leaf cleaning and snow removal. Every year the community sponsors events to bring the neighbors together including ice cream socials, Easter egg hunts and Halloween parties. If you need a lesson on Oak tree species all you have to do is drive through the neighborhood and look at the street names including, Blue Oak, Chapman Oak and Pin Oak to realize how many types of Oak trees there are.
If you are headed to Fort Belvoir or NGA give me a call at 703-346-2213 for more information on Springfield Oaks and other neighborhoods close by. If you are in the area we can meet for coffee and talk about about whether this is the right time for you to buy a home. No hassle, no pressure, just straight talk about the home buying process property in today's market.
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Helping buyers & sellers throughout Northern Virginia. Specializing in support for military relocation including Fort Belvoir, Quantico, Pentagon & the Military District of Washington.
Whether you are buying or selling property in Fairfax County, Prince William County, Arlington, Alexandria or the surrounding Northern Virginia area, it is important to have confidence in your real estate professional. As the Broker/Owner of CJ Realty Group I've learned that one size does not fit all despite what the late night infomercials might say. My goal as your Realtor® is to provide you with the personalized real estate services you deserve.
Providing information on the Northern Virginia area that is up-to-date, reliable and applicable to the local market enables you to make the best possible decision about one of your largest financial assets. In a market where change is around every corner it is important to have an agent who has expertise in marketing, negotiation and understanding the complexities of the real estate transaction.
As a area native of the area and with extensive knowledge of local communities I have a unique perspective on the changes in Northern Virginia over the years. I have seen the real estate market in the area go through numerous cycles and can help you gain a perspective on what that means to you over time.
If you are considering buying or selling a home in Northern Virginia or would just like to have additional information about real estate in your neighborhood, please don't hesitate to call, e-mail me or visit my webiste CJ Realty Group. Let me show you how I use the power of the internet and my innovative marketing strategies to work for you.
Wonder what you might find when you move to Northern Virginia?
As a surviving spouse of a military officer I do all I can to support our troops with either incoming or outgoing PCS orders to Northern Virginia.
I proudly work with military families relocating to the various bases in the Northern Virginia area. Whether your orders bring you to the Military District of Washington, Pentagon, Quantico, Navy Yard, Ft. Belvoir, Ft Myer, Andrews AFB or any other installation in the area I look forward to helping you find the neighborhood and home that works for you. It is my honor to serve those who serve our country every day. If you find yourself with orders to the DC area give me a call. I look forward to helping you with your relocation needs.
Want to know a bit more about Northern Virginia neighborhoods? You can check out a few highlighted Northern Virginia Neighborhoods on my website.
With the upcoming relocation of thousands of military and civilian employees due to BRAC 2005 keeping abreast of what is happening with the changes to Fort Belvoir and other local military installations has been high on the list of priorities for CJ Realty Group. One of the most visible and highly anticipated changes is the opening of the new Fort Belvoir Community Hospital and Wounded Warrior Unit.
If you are a military family eligible for the Department of Defense Homeowners Assistance Program and are looking for an agent experienced with handling HAP sales then you've stopped at the right place. Since the program was fully funded in November of 2009 I've settled 30 HAP transactions for military families. Many of those families hired me from a distance and with my use of electronic documents and signatures never had to make a trip to Northern Virginia during any part of the transactions. Though the deadline for PCS orders was September 2010 there are still families who rented their homes when they left the area that may still qualify for benefits.
Unfortunately not all military families who are upside down on their mortgage qualify for DoD HAP benefits. If you find yourself in that position our team has also helped military members complete short sales and VA Compromise Sales as well.
I'm a proud supporter of the Fisher House, Blue Star Families & Susan B Komen for Breast Cancer Research
What is the single most basic element of my job? Helping people. More specifically, I help people realize their home ownership dreams. I love what I do. I have the privilege and fun of helping people find a home that’s just right–one in which they can live, love and laugh. I also consider it an exhilarating challenge to help people sell a home-getting the property ready, highlighting its features and bringing the right buyers to see it.
I believe strongly in the REALTOR® code of ethics. I am committed to serving my clients with professionalism and honesty.
Education is a major part of keeping abreast of the real estate industry and local market. I have earned my Virginia Brokers license (180 hours of real estate education plus national and state exams) and I am Certified Residential Specialist, something only 4% of Realtors® nationwide have earned.. In addtion as an Accredited Consultant in Real Estate my goal is to offer you choices that work for YOU when it comes to buying or selling a home. I never stop at just getting the required hours needed for license renewal I exceed them so that I can stay abreast of what is happening in the industry.
Prior to becoming a full-time Realtor® I worked in both the higher education and educational technology fields helping to build new programs and integrate technology on universities campuses world-wide. With an MBA and professional coursework in Conflict Negotiation and Resolution I know what it takes to write winning contracts, work through the details and end up with a win/win situation for both buyers and sellers.
I believe this background, combined with my real estate experience gives me an edge to help me get the best deal for my clients. You will never hear me say I am #1 because if I don’t get the job done for YOU, the most important person in the real estate transaction, then it doesn’t matter what else I might have accomplished.
Ready to search for your new home? Check out this quick list of homes available in the Springfield and Lorton Virginia area and then create your own customized Northern Virginia Home Search.
What You Can Expect From Me
Memberships
I hope you will also check out my VaRealEstateTalk blog as well. It is packed with more information on the Northern Virginiareal estate market.
Testimonals
"I attended the Home Buyer's Seminar, and as a prospective first time buyer, I thought the seminar was extremely informative, personable, and comprehensive. We were able to get thorough information from everything on what to look for in obtaining a mortgage, red flags in home inspections, as well as the contract signing process. I would highly recommend this seminar to anyone who is a first time buyer, or someone who would like the latest information out there."
Ted Fenn-Senior Consultant Deloitte Touche
"Thanks Cindy for your approach to getting my unique hold some. The sign rider with the address (6705 Fox Den) of our home was great and made it easy for anyone to find the listing on the internet. We were wowed with all you did and how fast you got our home SOLD! We will recommonded you to anyone who needs an agent in the future." Sherri
Cindy thanks again for helping us find a place to rent while I am stationed at the Pentagon. A number of other agents blew me off but you took the time to listen to what my family needed and found us just the right neighborhood to call home during my tour here. You can be assured I'll tell everyone else in my command about how you went the extra mile to help a military family. Col Jim Sheradan USA
We can say thank-you enough times for all the hardwork you did for us to sell our home while we were overseas. You worked with our tenants to make sure they felt comfortable with having the home listed for sale, you handled all of the paperwork and kept us up to date throughout the process. All of this and we have never meet you face to face. Amazing. Tom & Kathy Kincade.
From the first time we met until we closed on our home there was no doubt in our minds that you had our backs. We had been reading your blog for almost 6 months before we picked up the phone to call you. By then we felt as if we knew you and sure enough you were just as real in person as you are on-line. We are thrilled with our new home and we consider you part of the family now. Jim and Janet Russell
If you are considering buying new construction then pick up the phone and call Cindy Jones. One of our friends bought new construction and their "agent" took them in once and never showed up again. Not Cindy. She went to every meeting, helped us find an independent home inspector, compare financing rates and sat with us at the closing table. And the cost? Not a dime since the builder pays the commission whether you have an agent or not. Carol and Mark Taylor
Thanks Cindy. Even though we were only renters you took the time and effort to find us a place to live while we are stationed at Fort Belvoir. A number of other agents blew us off so we are grateful for the time you took to help. Tom and Kathy White
Cindy's posts on the local neighborhood gave us a leg up when we made our house hunting trip to Northern Virginia from San Antonio TX. We had a whirlwind weekend of housing hunting and found the right house on the second day. Cindy handled the process for us while we went home to back our bags. With electronic documents, house videos & more all we had to do was show up for settlement. We would recommend Cindy without hesitation to anyone relocating to Northern Virginia. Frank and Marie Bowers
Trust took on a new meaning for our family when we recieved PCS orders to the DC area with 30 days to get packed up and moved. We were fortunate to find Cindy on the internet when searching for Fort Belvoir Relocation. She helped us find the links to the school information we needed and then went out to our top choices and took videos & photos for us. We rolled into the driveway of our new home having never set foot in the area. She found us the right house and we will ecommend Cindy & CJ Realty Group to all of our friends in the area. Bob & Jackie Loes
We just finished our third transaction with Cindy. She has helped both sell, buy and then sell again. We have retired outside of DC but have recommended Cindy to our friends without hesitation. John and Amanda Clarke
Even though we were only renters Cindy took our needs seriously and helped us find a place that would accept our two big dogs. She didn't just blow us off as a few other agents had. We know the financial reward for a rental is small so having her take the time to help meant even more. Louise and Frank Waters
Copyright 2007-2012 All rights reserved. Cindy Jones/Broker CJ Realty Group. Serving Northern Virginia including the areas of Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax County, Prince William County and Northern Stafford County. Specializing in relocation to Fort Belvoir, the Pentagon, Quantico and the Military District of Washington.
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