Fort Belvoir, VA

Once you leave the gates of Fort Belvoir and the convenience of the commissary or PX you are going to want to have some choices of where you find the essentials you need for your family.

It isn't hard in Northern Virginia to find what you need. Whether you are looking for a bag of chips, a paint brush to put your own touch on your new home, clothes to deal with our ever changing weather or a whole house full of furniture because you are ready for something new, there are number of places to shop all within five miles of the main gate of base.

One of the hardest things to get used to when you move to a new area is the differences in the grocery stores and what you can and can not buy in them. When we lived in Georgia the thought of going to Piggly Wiggly for groceries always brought up a giggle but you couldn't buy any beer or wine at all in the store. When we lived in Arizona we were surprised to find that we could find all that and what we would consider in our area "hard liquior as well.

In Northern Virginia we meet in the middle. So if you head to Harris Teeter a "high end" grocery store or Trader Joe's famous for its Two Buck Chuck or our regular chain stores of Giant, Safeway or Bloom you will find that you can buy your beer and wine right along with your groceries. If you want a bottle of something with a bit more kick then you need to head to a Virginia ABC store (usually located close by to one of the mega chain stores) to pick up the stronger stuff.

Just so you don't think that we have a drinking problem in our family we also occasionally shop for clothes too! Northern Virginia offers a variety of malls for you to choose from. The closest mall to Fort Belvoir is the Springfield Mall with large stores such as Macy's, JC Penney and Target as its anchor stores. A variety of smaller stores fill in the in the GAP in the middle. Just across the street from the mall you will find two smaller shopping centers which feature Old Navy, Linen's and Things, DSW (shoes) and for those who would like to include an intellectual pursuit to their shopping trip Borders and Barnes and Noble book stores are there as well.

If you are looking for a few new items for your home you might want to take a jaunt just a few miles down the Springfield Parkway to Kingstowne. There you can look for bargains at Home Goods or World Imports. If you need to find a bit more furniture then head across the street and stop in atLazy Boy or the next door Broyhill furniture store might fit the bill.

So don't worry when you move to Fort Belvoir you will find plenty to spend your money on. Visa and MasterCard will love you!

If one of the things you need when you get here is a new home. Give me a call
I'll be glad to show you not only lots of great neighborhoods to call home but point out the local shopping and dining spots as well.

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As an Associate Broker with RE/MAX Allegiance in Northern Virginia and native of the area I can assist you whether you are buying, selling or renting a home anywhere in Northern Virginia. For more information about the area or my services you can check VaRealEstateTalk or my Northern Virginia website.

Search all homes available in the Northern Virginia area.

Most people hear the term "sticker shock" and they think of cars. For military families relocating to Fort Belvoir from other bases around the country the term can also explain their first reaction to housing prices in Northern Virginia. Today's market has helped lessen that shock but it is still something to consider as you decide whether you should buy a home in the area.

One of the many benefits that the military offers is the VA loan which has made a comeback for buyers in Northern Virginia over the last year. The first thing I recommend to anyone with PCS orders to Fort Belvoir is to verify their BAH rate for the area, this will help you with understanding how much of a payment you might be comfortable making. Then take a look at your VA loan eligibility status. If you are eligible then you should go ahead and request your Certificate of Eligibility (VA Form 26-1880) directly from the VA or most lenders will have the ability to request the certificate electronically as well.

Why have VA loans become popular again? Due to the changes in lending rules a VA loan offers the advantage of a low down payment, no pre-payment penalties, easier qualification and loans are assumable which could be an advantage when you go to sell your home in a few years. In our current market the VA funding fee which had been a sticking point for sellers a few years ago is now just part of making the deal happen easing the way for a seller to see the benefit of accepting an offer with a VA loan.

Once you have looked at your BAH rates, spoken with a mortgage professional who understands the VA loan process (if you need a recommendation let me know), then you are ready to begin to explore many of the great neighborhoods within commuting range of Fort Belvoir. Whether you are looking for a condo, townhouse or detached home there are some terrific choices within 30 minutes of the main gate of base.

You can start your search for a new home near Fort Belvoir online to get a feel for some of the local communities. Once you narrow down your search you need an agent who is knows the area (I'm a native) and understands military moves then you may want to give me a call. I've walked in your shoes from the Far East to Europe and know what it is like to make a military move. I promise I'll help you through your "sticker shock" and find a place that you will be glad to call home during your time at Fort Belvoir!

A few communities to get your search started:
Springfield Virginia
Kingstowne
Belmont Bay

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Fort Belvoir's history goes back to the founding of Fairfax County, the settling of Virginia and the beginning of our nation's history. The 8,656-acre tract along the Potomac River which now makes us Fort Belvoir was once part of a land grant from a 17th century English king. Control of the land, known as the Northern Neck, was handed the sixth Lord Fairfax. For the next 100 years the lands that make up Fort Belvoir passed from the Fairfax family through a series of other sales (including a public auction) and eventually in 1912 led to the acquisition of the property by the War Department.

Fast forward to today and you find a thriving military and civilian community that is a significant presence in Fairfax County. Most people think of Fort Belvoir as a huge Army base which is true but it is also home to over 100 organizations including the Army, US Army Reserve, Army National Guard, Department of Defense and Department of the Treasury among others. Within the 8,656 acres that make up Fort Belvoir you will find an 1,360 acre wildlife refugee, 142 miles of roads, 1,275 buildings and 22,154 working military and civilian personnel.

Many recent improvements to the roads, housing, shopping and recreation are clearly evident to anyone who takes a tour inside the gates. When you first arrive at Fort Belvoir's Tulley Gate (where you will need to register your car) and head into the base you will be surprised to find the new Town Center something that is a first on any Army installation. Designed to mimic an urban town center the same as what military personnel would find in many of the surrounding communities the town center features the offices of the residential community director, a Starbucks, a Rent-A Center store, a day spa, restaurants and residential units located above the stores.

The next big change coming to Fort Belvoir will be the new state of the art hospital to replace DeWitt Hospital. When the announcement was made in 2005 that Walter Reed Army Medical Center would be closing it was obvious that the current would not support the almost 85,000 military and civilian patients that the area has. The new hospital will have 1.2 million square feet of space and have the facilities to support all of the new technologies needed for a leading medical facility. The new hospital will open in 2010.

Word is still out on how and when the BRAC influx of personnel will officially begin though new jobs are starting to trickle into the base. The final decision on how many new building will be constructed, how many jobs will be relocated to the base Fort Belvoir, the Proving Grounds in Springfield or at a new facility by the Springfield Metro are still pending. When those decision are approved anyone coming to the area can expect to see even more changes than are already evident with the new town center and the Dewitt Hospital plans.

So that is a quick tour of a few new and exciting changes happening at Fort Belvoir. There is a lot to see and do when you get here both in and outside the gates. If you have orders to head to Fort Belvoir this year give me a call. I'll be glad to help you with all of your questions about the area and show you around.

Base Website
http://www.belvoir.army.mil/


County Websites
Fairfax: http://www.co.fairfax.va.us/
Alexandria: http://www.ci.alexandria.va.us/
Arlington: http://www.co.arlington.va.us/
Prince William: http://www.pwcgov.org/

Inlet Cove is surrounded by Fort Belvoir except along its' frontage on US1 (Richmond Highway). Its' postal address is Fort Belvoir, VA 22060. There are 255 homes in the five year old community - both town homes and detached homes.

It is about a 10 minute drive to Fort Belvoir entrances. A short southerly drive on US1 brings you to the Virginia Railway Express Lorton Station where you can also connect with a Slug Line or take Fairfax County Connector Bus Route 171 to the Huntington Metro.

The subdivision is in the Hayfield Secondary School Pyramid. Lorton Library is approximately two miles south on US1

Gunston Plaza is the closest shopping center (about 1 mile south on US1), but Lorton Town Center (about 1/2 mile farther south on Lorton Road) is a much larger complex with restaurants and cafes.

Pohick Bay Regional Park is approximately 20 minutes away and offers camping, swimming, golf, boat ramp and small boat rental.

You may want to look at Area Living, a site I have prepared with more than 100 links to vital Northern Virginia information. About Fairfax County highlights some of the many interesting facts about Fairfax County.

Detached Homes are selling in the $700,000 price range.
Town Homes are selling for approximately $600,000.

RELATED COMMUNITIES within 15 to 20 minutes
Saratoga, and Southwood

CONTACT ME for assistance with Fairfax County or other Northern Virginia Real Estate

Not everyone headed to Fort Belvoir or any of the other Northern Virgina and DC military bases are going to make the decision to buy a new home. With many of the military graduate and specialty schools located close by short term assignments to our area are common.

Finding a good rental that suits your needs can sometimes be difficult and trying to find one quickly when you arrive is often stressful. Fortunately I’ve been able to help a number of military families find a rental property in Northern Virginia, some without ever having made a house hunting trip to the area. Now that does take a lot of trust from the family but because all of my clients are like “family” to me I’m going to look out for your best interests whether you are renting or buying.

Currently I have three great rentals available just minutes to Tulley Gate at Fort Belvoir. They are also close to public transportation and major highway access if your orders are taking you to any of the other area military locations as well. So if you have orders to Fort Belvoir this spring and need assistance finding a good rental give me a call. I understand the hassles of a military move and are ready to help you make a smooth transition to our area.

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As an Associate Broker with RE/MAX Allegiance in Northern Virginia and native of the area I can assist you whether you are buying, selling or renting a home anywhere in Northern Virginia. For more information about the area or my services you can check VaRealEstateTalk or my Northern Virginia website.

Search all homes available in the Northern Virginia area.