In an announcement that went out on our local list serv yesterday, the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce is launching a local buying program similar to Groupon.
Called "Try It Local", the program offers savings of 40-90% from retailers, service providers, and restaurants who are members of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce.
An email notification goes out each morning with that day's special offer (s) and you have until the end of the day to purchase the coupon. The length of time available to use the coupon depends on the business offering the discount.
While still in it's infancy, "Try It Local" was developed specifically for Chamber of Commerce affiliates and is currently available in 26 cities - a nice benefit for travelers who sign up.
Some of the other Chamber cities on the roster include Cape Cod (!!!), Amelia Island, Baltimore, Las Vegas, San Diego and San Francisco.
We signed up right away and, sure enough, got our first coupon offering this morning from Union Public House in Old Town.
We'll keep you posted on how we like it but we think it's a great way to support Alexandria's local businesses.
Michael
Shop Del Ray in Alexandria for All Your Holiday Needs! It's no secret that we love Del Ray. It's been our home for the past 20 years and we think it's a pretty special place.
The Del Ray Business Association, of which we are a proud member, has put together this terrific video on why you should shop Del Rey in Alexandria for all your holiday needs. After all, it's where Main Street Still Exists.
Despite brisk 40 degree temperatures, crowds lined the streets of Old Town Alexandria today for the 40th Annual Scottish Walk Parade.
Alexandria's Scottish heritage was well represented with tartan clad clans, dogs, music and dancing. It was a proud day for the bonnie laddies and lassies of Alexandria!
This weekend is your chance to get pictures taken with Santa Claus in both Del Ray and Old Town Alexandria.
On Friday night, Dec. 3, Del Ray will celebrate the holiday season with luminarias, a tree lighting, singing and, of course, Santa Claus. Professional photographer Mark Blackburn will be on had to take pictures - all courtesy of the Del Ray Business Association.
Festivities get started at 6:00pm at the site of the Del Ray Farmers Market at Oxford and Mt. Vernon Avenue.
Santa Claus will also make an appearance in Old Town Alexandria at the Old Town Firehouse at the corner of Prince and Royal. Santa's appearance here is a fund raiser to support the Helping Hands Relief Fund.
For a donation of $10 you can use your own camera and take pictures (and lots of them) with Santa or use the photographer on hand. Santa is in residence from 11:00am -3:00pm on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 4 and 5.
And to top it off, Santa always makes an appearance in the Scottish Walk Parade - also scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 4 in Old Town Alexandria.
Ho, ho, ho,
Michael
The continuing controversy over the proposed move of some 6,400 military personnel to Mark Center on Seminary Road as part of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process has taken a new turn.
US Congressman Jim Moran, a senior member of the Defense Appropriations Committee, and Northern Virginia stalwart, announced that the Inspector General's office of the DoD has launched an investigation into the move.
According to an announcement released by the Congressman's office, "The development comes in response to the Congressman’s continued pressure on the Defense Department to suspend or delay the move into the Mark Center site until the necessary transportation improvements to prevent a traffic nightmare on I-395 are implemented. Earlier this year, in addition to including a cap on the amount of parking at the site at 1,000 spaces, Moran authored language in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2011 that mandates the Inspector General to review the analysis that enabled DoD to bypass a full environmental impact study."
"In July 2008, an Environmental Assessment by the Army Corps of Engineers’ concluded that relocating the 6,400 employees to the Mark Center would have no significant impact from a transportation perspective. Multiple studies have since called that assessment into question, including ones prepared by the Virginia Department of Transportation and even the Army’s own report."
It makes you wonder if anyone in the Army Corp of Engineers has ever driven in rush hour traffic on this stretch of I-395 or even on major surface streets in the Seminary Road area?
Another huge area of concern over the BRAC move is a proposed access road through the adjacent Winkler Botanical Preserve.
Michael
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An Accredited Buyers Agent and Senior Real Estate Specialist. Graduate, Realtors Institute. Working with first time buyers and military families is a priority. Licensed in Virginia and WDC.
Alexandria - Northern Virginia's Best Small City
A busy community in the heart of Northern Virginia, Alexandria offers the best in small city living:
a thriving downtown
tightly knit neighborhoods
high walkability scores
public transportation
Working with first time home buyers and military families makes me glad to be an agent. Answering questions and walking buyers through the process never gets old!
If you are first time buyer or a buyer new to the Commonwealth of Virginia, it is important to understand the role of real estate agents in your transaction. Virginia allows the buyer a choice of who will represent them in the purchase of a new home. This person is known as a buyer's agent.
Imagine that you are out and see an open house sign. You go in, look around and begin talking with the on site agent. This person is usually a listing agent. It means they have signed a listing agreement with the seller that clearly states that they will act and protect the seller's interest in the transaction.
Because they represent the seller, the agent cannot give you unbiased advice on pricing, inspections, comparable sales, contingencies, etc. In fact, any information that you receive will all be in favor of the seller. There is actually nothing wrong with this, the listing agent is just doing his or her job, but as a buyer, you want someone representing your interests. That's where an Accredited Buyers Representative comes in.
An Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR) is a licensed real estate agent who has completed an additional course of study and serves specifically as an agent for buyers in a real estate transaction. Buyers sign an agreement with an agent, just like a seller signs a listing agreement. As a Buyer's Representative I make sure my clients are well served in the negotiating process and fairly represented.
I am also a Senior Real Estate Specialist, working with a team of profesionals to make the buying and selling process for "seniors" as uncomplicated and streamlined as possible. My interest in this area comes from personal experience with my own parents and with my mother-in-law. I can recommend everything from moving companies to move in specialists to assisted living facilities. If you are helping an older family member make a move, give me a call.
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“I referred a real estate deal to Michael and he handled it like a Pro!” Steve R.
"We first met Michael when we moved to the Northern Virginia area as renters. A year later when we decided to buy we called Michael to help us find a foreclosure in our price range. He never lost patience or confidence that we would find what we wanted and answered all our questions, multiple times over! We highly recommend Michael and look forward to working with him again in the future." Jimmy and Karen W.
"We met Michael at an open house and he went on to help us buy our very first house. Two children later we called Michael to sell that house and to find us a new one. He did both in short order and with great good humor, patience and professionalism. When a sticky situation arose around move in day, Michael was right there, working with the seller and her agent to resolve the issue and avoid delays. Michael is a pleasure to work with and we can't think of a better agent in the Northern Virginia area." Frank and Gillian H.
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