Ellen Moyer

I'm not hearing much about this....has this passed? The below article is from "the associated press"

Extension of home-buyer tax credit backed

Senators agreed Wednesday to extend a popular tax credit for first-time home buyers and to offer a reduced credit to some repeat buyers. The tax credit provides up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers but is set to expire at the end of November. The Commerce Department said Wednesday that new homes sales fell 3.6 percent in September, and some industry representatives blamed uncertainty about the tax credit. Senators agreed to extend the existing tax credit for first-time home buyers while offering a reduced credit of up to $6,500 to repeat buyers who have owned their current homes for at least five years, said Regan Lachapelle, a spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. The tax credits would be available to home buyers who sign sales agreements by the end of April. They would have until the end of June to close on their new homes, according to a summary of the legislation being circulated among lawmakers. - The Associated Press

Now that I'm a proud dog owner (We rescued a beautiful shelti/shephard
from a pound in West VA...I'm hooked on dog parks! here's a list of the dog parks
in Fairfax County, Va. I frequest the park on Baron Cameron in Reston...there's always plenty of great dogs for Shayna to play with and friendly people to talk to!

This information was copied form the Fairfax County website:

The hours of operation of all off-leash dog areas are dawn to dusk, unless posted otherwise.

Baron Cameron
11300 Baron Cameron Avenue, Reston

Established: September 2001
Capacity: 40 dogs
Special Features: Water supply and separate area for small dogs (under 25 lbs.)
Sponsor: RestonDogs, Inc.

Directions: Reston Parkway north. Right onto Baron Cameron Ave.; continue on Baron Cameron Ave. to the intersection at Wiehle Ave. Left onto Wiehle Ave. and then left into Baron Cameron Park. The Off-Leash Dog Area is on your right.

Blake Lane
10033 Blake Lane, Oakton

Established: June 2000
Capacity: 25 dogs
Sponsor: OaktonDogs, Inc.

Directions: I-66 to Exit 60 (123 north). Right onto Jermantown Rd., which turns into Blake Ln. at the Trevor House traffic light. Proceed straight through the traffic light and take the 2nd right onto Bushman Dr. The Recycling Center Parking Area is just past Bushman Dr. on the right.

From Tysons/Vienna, Take 123 south to left on Jermantown Rd. Follow the remaining directions above.

Chandon
900 Palmer Drive, Herndon

Established: January 4, 2003
Capacity: 42 dogs
Sponsor: Herndon Dogs, Inc.

Directions: I-66 West to Rt. 7100 (Fairfax County Parkway) North. Follow approx. 6 miles to a Left onto Fox Mill Rd., follow approx. .7 miles to a Right on Monroe St. then turn Left at Herndon Parkway to Left at Palmer Drive.

Grist Mill
4710 Mt. Vernon Memorial Hwy, Alexandria

Established: April 2006
Capacity: 64 dogs
Special Features: Interior space is one acre of bluestone dust surface. Clean and dry.
Sponsor: Mt. Vernon Dog Opportunity Group

Directions: Turn onto Mt. Vernon Memorial Hwy from Rt. 1 (Richmond Hwy) and continue just past Rt. 623 to park entrance on left. Off Leash Dog Area is to right, past barn and garden plots on asphalt trail along front of park.

Quinn Farm
15150 Old Lee Rd., Chantilly

Established: March 2006
Capacity: 90 dogs (80 large/10 small)
Special Features: Separate area for small dogs (under 25 lbs.)
Sponsor: CentrevilleDogs

Directions: From North Route 28 - Turn left onto Braddock Road (Rt. 620). Follow Braddock Road about 3 miles to intersection of Braddock and Old Lee Road. Turn right onto Old Lee Road. Make your first left into Quinn Farm Park. Follow drive up to top of hill. Dog park will be at the end.

From South Route 28 - Turn right onto Braddock Road (Rt. 620). Follow Braddock Road about 3 miles to intersection of Braddock and Old Lee Road. Turn right onto Old Lee Road. Make your first left into Quinn Farm Park. Follow drive up to top of hill. Dog park will be at the end.

From Route 29 - Go North onto Route 28. Turn left onto Braddock Road (Rt. 620). Follow Braddock Road about 3 miles to intersection of Braddock and Old Lee Road. Turn right onto Old Lee Road. Make your first left into Quinn Farm Park. Follow drive up to top of hill. Dog park will be at the end.

Mason District
6621 Columbia Pike, Annandale

Established: June 2002
Capacity: 62 dogs
Sponsor: Mason District Dog Opportunity Group

Directions: Beltway Exit 52B(Little River Tpk., Rt. 236) east 3 miles to left at Robert Ave. and right on Alpine Drive and then left into the parking lot entrance.

South Run
7550 Reservation Drive, Springfield

Established: December 2001
Capacity: 85 dogs
Sponsor: Lorton Dogs, Inc.

Directions: Beltway Exit 54A (Braddock Rd.) west to left onto Burke Lake Rd. Left on Lee Chapel Rd. to left on Fairfax County Parkway to entrance on right.

Article in USA today: (Mentions Reston)


Just because you hit your 60s, it doesn't mean your brain starts to power down. Just the opposite. Your noodle needs more stimulation than ever, and, finally, you have the time to supply the required intellectual input. And picking a place to retire can be key to that process. For retirees who have no desire to stop learning-and that's, like, pretty much everyone-there are plenty of American communities that boast thriving intellectual centers where cultural activities keep residents (and their brains) as busy and interested as they want to be.

What makes the difference? A city with a large local university might offer a colorful slate of arts or educational events nearly every evening. Some suburbs have found a way to create unique learning opportunities for residents, who still have an easy route into the neighboring metropolis.

More from USNews.com:

· Quiz: Test Your Smarts About the Brainiest Places

· Gallery: The 10 Brainiest Places to Retire

· Best Places to Retire

U.S. News consulted our list of more than 1,000 Best Places to Retire and came up with 10 retirement destinations that attract highly educated folks. (And you can use Best Places to Retire to do more than seek out intellectual excitement: A search tool allows you to build your own list of retirement spots based on your personal preferences, including region, climate, healthcare, recreational and cultural activities, and other factors.)

One brainy spot that won't surprise: Berkeley, Calif., where residents might head for a screening of a film on urban organic farming in Cuba at the local Unitarian Universalist congregation, attend a University of California-Berkeley professor's speech on counterinsurgency in Iraq, or get a tour of the UC Botanical Garden. While traditional bingo is on tap at the South Berkeley Senior Center, residents can also learn a less common skill like self-acupressure or take a class on the millinery arts, says director Larry Taylor.

Across the map in Chapel Hill, N.C., residents might spend their evenings paddling out in kayaks to watch the stars with an astronomy educator from the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

Boulder, Colo., may be best known for its environmental-protection efforts and green savvy, but this city offers its residents a wealth of cultural activities. Albert Boggess, former project scientist for the Hubble Space Telescope, and his wife, Nancy, also a former research scientist for NASA, retired to Boulder in 1994, drawn by both the climate and an academic community that included many of their colleagues. "It's a university town, which is important to us, and there are all sorts of activities which come with that automatically," Albert Boggess says. "There's lots of good music here, both classical music and popular music. And that appeals to us."


BERKELEY, CALIF. A shopper walks past a sculpture in the Fourth Street Shopping District.
Berkeley Convention and Visitors Bureau

Upper St. Clair, Pa., is near Pittsburgh and has 29 area colleges, including Carnegie Mellon University, while the quintessential college town of Ann Arbor, Mich., offers an array of intellectual and cultural programs through the University of Michigan's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

West Lafayette, Ind., is home to Purdue University, which hosts lectures and brings in ballets and plays-"a variety of different programs that you wouldn't necessarily normally get in this size community," says Joann Wade, president of the Lafayette-West Lafayette Convention and Visitors Bureau. The city's nearly 29,000 permanent residents can also get "bigger-city opportunities," Wade says, by driving an hour to Indianapolis or two hours to Chicago.

Hoboken, N.J., and Brookline, Mass., also have the big-city experience close at hand. Hoboken is just across the Hudson River from Manhattan, while many Brookline residents commute the short distance to work in Boston's medical centers and universities.

Some suburbs have a main attraction all their own. Reston, Va., was developed as a planned community or "new town" in the 1960s, and it's only a half-hour drive to Washington, D.C., and its panoply of world-class museums. Out west, Lake Oswego, Ore., hugs the city of Portland but also offers culture and beauty of its own, making the most of its 405-acre lake.

The brainiest places to retire:


Ann Arbor, Mich.
Berkeley, Calif.
Boulder, Colo.
Brookline, Mass.
Chapel Hill, N.C.
Hoboken, N.J.
Lake Oswego, Ore.
Reston, Va.
Upper St. Clair, Pa.
West Lafayette, Ind.

Hello - happy weekend to all of you. I wanted to send you a quick email to give you all something to talk about this weekend. Last week, the financial companies began to post their first quarter earnings. Despite the massive losses, the picture that was painted was very impressive. It signaled what appears to be the bottom of the credit crunch. This is the first major step in turning the housing market around. As you know, financing is what gave us all our great times of the early 2000's and has been the demise of our last two years.

1. All the major financial firms continued to write off billions of dollars during the first quarter marking three straight quarters. However, the losses were much less than previous quarters and all stated they felt the worst is now behind us.
2. For the last eight months, jumbo loans were being sold at .60 - .70 cents on the dollar. (The means a bank could only get $325,000 from an investor in exchange for a $500,000 loan) Now, loans are beginning to sell for .90 cents on the dollar. (Again, being able to sell that same loan for $450,000). Before the credit crisis, banks could sell their loans for 1.02 for the dollar which is where they would make a small profit with each loan. (This means that same loan would sell for $510,000 which means the bank would make $10,000 issuing that loan plus any points they collected during the transaction) The more money that begins to flow, the faster banks clean up their books and the sooner they get back to the old days of free money...not quite as free as it used to be but certainly much better than where we are today.
3. Rates are slowly beginning to rise - a healthy economy leads to higher interest rates. Right now, rates are very low, but this week we did see a slight upward trend in average rates. This again shows signs of investor confidence in our markets and our economy. We can lock in your buyer's rate for up to 12 months with a free float down.
4. The DOW was up 5% just this week alone. When you are at the bottom of any market - stocks, housing, bonds, etc - the reversal is always very swift. That is why investors always say that you have to be in the market at some point to realize the significant gains. If you wait to time the bottom of any market, you will most likely miss the reversal and cost yourself a great deal of money. That is the same for housing - today, our prices are severely depressed but when the market turns, which it is already showing positive signs, our prices will react in the same fashion as stocks - a swift, high percentage increase.
5. Talk about FHA and the government stimulus package. I have been around these past two weeks meeting with over ten builders and thirty agents. Only a small handful understood the impact the new Jumbo FHA loan could have on their business. You can sell 100% financing up to $700k. Most lenders are still requiring 10-15% down payments in that price point due to the declining market issues put forth by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. FHA does not have a declining market policy and allows sellers to pay up to 9% in closing and down payment assistance. You can sell 100% financing with marginal credit at a rate of 6.0% for a jumbo loan or 5.75% for traditional FHA.

Please feel free to call me if you have any pre-qualifications or questions regarding the information referenced above. My cell phone is 301-448-5151. Good luck and thanks again for your time!

Take a Hike in Northern Virginia!

The weather is getting warmer and the days are getting longer. Spring is here and it's time to shed the cocoon of winter. Part of this yearly transition involves rediscovering the beauty that lies outside our front doors. But, spring is also about getting ourselves back into swimsuit shape. Follow along as we show you how to shed your "winter coat," while also taking in some much needed fresh air. We're going on a hike.

The Benefits of Hiking
Hiking is an amazing cardiovascular exercise, burning more than 400 calories per hour. That's the equivalent of a meal consisting of a grilled six-ounce chicken breast, one cup of steamed vegetables, 1/2 cup of steamed brown rice, and a small vegetable salad. In other words, hiking is a great way to keep our weight in check and maintain a healthy heart. And since it's a much lower-impact exercise than running, it's easier on our joints.

Hiking also benefits our muscles, especially the legs, abdomen and lower back. Opposing motions during the hike have a lot to do with this. The uphill portion of the hike constitutes what's known as a concentric, or a muscle shortening, exercise. In turn, the downhill portion utilizes eccentric, or a muscle lengthening, exercise. Simply put, it is a complete lower body workout without using weights, and a great way to build lower body muscle. Increasing our muscle mass has been shown to speed up metabolism and to strengthen bones.

Hiking is also beneficial to our minds. To begin with, it is an exercise that takes place in the middle of nature, where the air is clean and brimming with oxygen from the surrounding greenery. Increasing the intake of oxygen is key to reducing stress and increasing our mental clarity.

Another benefit that hiking brings to our mental state has to do with our body's need for sunlight. The positive effects that natural sunlight has on both our overall mood and energy level. A little color in our cheeks never hurt, either.

Lastly, there is something to be said for the people you meet on a hiking trail. Remember, this is not the hustle and bustle of a city sidewalk. In turn, people who utilize these trails aren't there because they have to be. They're there because they want to be. It's not uncommon to see couples, or even families hiking together. Some people even bring their dog along. The point is that hiking trails are happy places. You'll be surprised at the amount of people who offer an unsolicited "hello" as you cross paths on the hike.

Getting Started
No matter your level of hiking expertise, every hike starts the same. It begins with your decision of where to go. For the purposes of this article, we will focus on smaller hikes, or those lasting from one hour up to several hours. Longer hikes where backpacking and camping are included are far more involved and require the knowledge and experience of a seasoned hiker. If you are new to hiking, however, do not fear. There are several different resources for the information you'll need in order to find the right hike for you.

Start by asking your friends and co-workers. You may be surprised at the amount of people you know who are regular hikers. These people provide a first-hand account of what to expect from any given trail. They also make for great hiking partners.

Another place to find information on hiking trails is the Internet. A simple Google search will turn up websites like http://www.localhikes.com/, where you can plug in your zip code and see the trails that are in your area. Many sites offer additional information, such as directions to the trailhead, length of the trail, estimated duration of the hike, difficulty of the hike, and rules regarding pets.

Yet another source of information would be your local Department of Parks and Recreation. Start by visiting their website. If any questions remain unanswered, give them a call. The phone number will most likely be listed on their website.

What to Bring
No matter the difficulty of the hike, footwear will be your most important accessory. Shorter or easier hikes, especially those on paved trails, require no more than a quality cross-trainer or multi-sport shoe. More challenging hikes, such as those on varying terrain, will require an actual hiking shoe or boot. In either case, costs can run the gamut but good deals can be found. We suggest visiting a local store dedicated to outdoor sports. See what they have to offer and choose something based on the type of hiking you plan to do.

Your clothing will play a big part in your hike, as there may be nothing more miserable than discovering you are ill-equipped in terms of the weather. Before going on any hike, it is imperative that you are familiar with the weather forecast. Get caught unprepared just one time and you'll see what we mean.

In terms of the clothes you choose, the best practice is to think in terms of layers. Opt for clothes that can either be removed or put back on as your hike progresses. A light, waterproof backpack is invaluable to this process. It will provide a dry place to store any items that are not being worn.

Regardless of the weather it is always a good idea to pack an extra t-shirt. Changing out of a wet shirt and into a dry one is refreshing no matter the conditions. The same theory applies for bringing an extra pair of socks.

Many stores that deal with outdoor sports offer light hiking pants that can be unzipped at the knees and quickly turned into shorts. These are great all-purpose pants, highly versatile and suitable for almost any hike. A hat with a visor is another "must bring" item. It's excellent for keeping the sun off of your face and the sweat out of your eyes.

As long as you're bringing along a backpack, you may as well fill it with a few things that will come in very handy. The first is water. It doesn't matter if it's an hour-long hike on two-miles of paved trail or a six-hour journey through more rugged terrain, it is imperative that you pack an adequate supply of water. Whether you drink it or wash your face with it, fresh water is the key to staying properly hydrated.

As far as the packing of food is concerned, much depends on the length of your hike. Lighter hikes (one to two hours in duration) may only require you to bring along an energy bar or two. Longer hikes will most likely require a small meal. Sandwiches (without mayonnaise), fresh fruit, and trail mix are perfect examples of high-energy foods that can be easily packed and readily consumed.

Here are some additional items to put in your backpack:

Sunscreen
Do not underestimate your need for sunscreen no matter the intensity of the sun, as traveling into higher elevations only increases its ability to cause sunburn. Choose one that is no less than 35 SPF and reapply it every two hours.

Sunglasses
In keeping with protecting ourselves from the sun, a quality pair of sunglasses with UV protection is crucial. Remember, the higher you climb the brighter the sun will be.

Cell Phone
While you may not have great reception, or any at all, it is still a good idea to bring along your cell phone on any hike.

Other Key Items
Insect repellant, a flashlight, a small first aid kit, a hand towel, and a light blanket are all potentially worthy additions to your pack. Be sure to also include a large re-sealable plastic bag to store any trash for later disposal.

A Few More Tips...
Something else we'd like to stress is the importance of breaking-in any new footwear prior to your hike. Failing to do so can create some of the worst blisters you will ever experience. We suggest wearing your new shoes around the house for several days prior to your first hike.

No matter the length of your hike, we would encourage you to inform at least one person of your plans. Let them know where and when you'll be hiking, as well as what time you expect to return. Make plans to call them once your hike is completed.

Lastly, when you arrive at the trailhead, be sure to properly stretch before embarking on your hike. It may be a low-impact exercise, but it is quite strenuous on your muscles. Stretching not only helps to prevent injury, it also increases performance.

Good luck and... go take a hike! Here are some of my favorites

Shendoah National Park I especially love Limberlost at Mile 43...it's so relaxing and pretty and I've seen bears there!

Old Rag If you a very serious hiker this is the one for you. Easily the marquee climb in the commonwealth, for a few reasons. Close to DC, views of mountains and valleys, and a rock scramble that easily gets into class 2 category. The open summit is a wonderland of rock and 360º views. This page describes the Old Rag Trailhead route. It involves a parking fee, but it's worth it. Don't let Old Rag's modest 3268' summit elevation fool you; the climb is a respectable 2200' vert. Personal page by Robert Broeking has enjoyable narrative, and photos to give you a good feel for the hike.

Riverbend Park near Great Falls I literally am going there tomorrow with my daughter's 3rd grade class.

W & OD Trail All throughout Northern , VA. Great for biking. Also a lovely hike that goes through Georgetown, DC.

Reston Paths Right in my own backyard. I suggest anything around Lake Anne

Hope I see you out there!