Localism: Vienna, VA

A great Vienna Tradition (last night)

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 22:27:41 -0600

The Annual Vienna Church Street Stroll was held last night. It really reminded me what a great Town Vienna is. It is steeped with traditions. The Church Street Stroll is one that's meant to continue for years to come.

This is an event that's enjoyed by all. The street is closed. There is marshmallow roasting at multiple locations. There was a band singing festive music. Santa and Rudolph arrived in an old fashioned super red fire truck. Kids loved the truck as much as Santa. Santa proceeded to meet and greet the mayor and then they together lit the tree.

Plus the Freeman House and Caboose were both open. And there was a petting zoo by the Caboose. This town has so much culture.

The temperature may have been cold and the wind didn't help, but for the evening Church street was filled with people, smiles, joy, and warmth.

What a great tradition and opening celebration of this Holiday Season!

Random Thoughts (or, I’m woefully unprepared and just decided to say whatever is on my mind)

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:50:31 -0600

With Thanksgiving last week, I took some much-needed time off. Which means I didn’t prepare anything for this week’s blog posting. At least I’m honest. So here are a few things off the top of my head:

Mortgage rates have dropped! If you’re looking to refinance, now might be the time. Rates for 30-year fixed loans are down below 6%, which is just awesome. Same with 15-year loans. Do refinance if you have steady income, good credit, and your house is worth more than what you owe. Don’t even think about it if none of the above applies to you.

More good news: the number of homes sales is increasing in our area. In both Northern Virginia and Montgomery County, prices have dropped from October ’07 to October ’08, but the number of units sold has increased. In NoVA, sales are up almost 30%, while prices have dropped nearly 18%. In Montgomery County, sales are up just over 7% and prices are down 8.5%. Not bad, and I think it’s a sign that our market is stabilizing.

That’s it for now. I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and are working through all the leftovers in your fridge! Peace out.

Vienna Virginia Open House - Nov 30th from 1-4

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:56:56 -0600

605 Kingsley Road, Vienna, VA

offered at $499,999

OPEN HOUSE THIS SUNDAY, NOV 30th, FROM 1-4!
Walk to the Vienna Metro! Brick front 4 BR, 2 BA Home. Beautiful private fenced yard with trees, pool, 2 decks and a patio! 2 finished levels. Bright & spacious Kitchen w/new flooring and newer appliances. Dining Room with new carpet, bay window and double french doors. Living room w/wood FP. Immaculate condition inside and out. Convenient location, a commuter's dream! For more information or to see a virtual tour please visit www.bobbysamson.com

The Importance of Pre-qualification (or, Just do what I tell you)

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:11:59 -0600

Ok, so you're ready to buy a home. You've spent hours on the internet looking at homes in your area. Before you even THINK about calling an agent and asking them to chauffer you around on the weekend, do yourself a big, huge favor.

CALL A LOAN OFFICER. Do not go to INeedALoanNowPlease.com. Call a real, live loan officer that works for a bank that will still be here next week. I know that might be a little tricky right now, as seemingly invincible outfits are going under. If you're not sure whom to call, ask a real estate agent. If they're good, they'll be keeping up with who's begging the feds for money and who's not.

Be prepared to answer some personal questions. Long gone are the days of you saying you earn $100,000 per year and they just believe you. You'll actually have to document this stuff. So have your tax forms, bank statements, and credit card statements handy.

And if you really want to be prepared, get a copy of your credit report. Once a year, you can get a free copy from each of the three major credit-reporting agencies. I don't know about you, but I love free stuff. If it's free, it's for me. Go to http://www.annualcreditreport.com/ to get your report.

Once you have your pre-qualification letter in hand, go ahead and start looking in earnest for your new home. You've already done one of the hardest parts of home buying: taking a good look at your finances to know your buying power. So go ahead and call an agent to show you some houses. Now kick back, relax, and enjoy the ride.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and be sure to tune in next week. Hopefully I won't be in a turkey coma. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!!!

Vienna Virginia all Brick Home ready for you!

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:15:17 -0600

Every once in a while, we see one of those opportunities that just about everyone is seeking. The home that needs a tiny bit of care to move in, but one that is priced below the market, and would be a perfect remodel. Vale Road is one of those homes.
The owner has recently updated the HVAC in 2008.

Hardwood floors, large open rooms, and a 3/4 acre lot with private drive make this a great place. The home is located in Vienna, but is also just minutes from Oakton, and Reston.

Call us to see this home today!

Jay Hurst - 703-626-3855 or Debra Talley - 703-408-3266