This is one of the market reports I publish on a monthly basis for KINGSTOWNE 22315.  Many REALTORS® prepare a report for all of Fairfax County or Northern Virginia.  In my opinion, that covers too broad an area to be meaningful.  I do believe my approach will give you a much more realistic picture of the market in the area closest to your home.Currently, there are 2 PATIO HOMES FOR SALEThe sales figures in this report are for the MONTH ENDING OCTOBER 31, 2007  SALES STATISTICS (1 SOLD)AVERAGE LIST PRICE$479,000AVERAGE SALES PRICE$479,000 MINUS SELLER SUBSIDIES$9,800NET SALES PRICE         $469,200Over the years I have sold many homes to and for people in Kingstowne.  Do I know the area?  You bet I do - my office is just outside Kingstowne.CONTACT ME for assistance with KINGSTOWNE or FA... 11/20/2007

This is one of the market reports I publish on a monthly basis for KINGSTOWNE 22315.  Many REALTORS® prepare a report for all of Fairfax County or Northern Virginia.  In my opinion, that covers too broad an area to be meaningful.  I do believe my approach will give you a much more realistic picture of the market in the area closest to your home.Currently, there are 47 TOWN HOMES FOR SALEThe sales figures in this report are for the MONTH ENDING OCTOBER 31, 2007  SALES STATISTICS (5 SOLD)AVERAGE LIST PRICE $461,760 AVERAGE SALES PRICE $438,000 MINUS SELLER SUBSIDIES $4,700  NET SALES PRICE        $433,300Over the years I have sold many homes to and for people in Kingstowne.  Do I know the area?  You bet I do - my office is just outside Kingstowne.CONTACT ME for assistance with KINGSTOWNE ... 11/20/2007

  Ah the week of Thanksgiving. Happy people getting ready to sit down to a big turkey dinner. A few people will enjoy ham. Off to my sister's home I will go. Me and my vegetarian family. No we do not eat tofurky. My daughter has had a bit of a hard time in school trying to explain that even at Thanksgiving and Christmas we do not eat meat. And, yes chicken is meat. We do make a donation, the price of a turkey, to a sanctuary. When my girl was little, one of my fellow designers would call the house on "the day" and gobble thank you. AnnaMarie, said child, grew suspicious around age nine. We still make the donation and my friend still calls. It's part of our Thanksgiving Tradition. So is watching the Turkey Trot a 5 k race the goes down Commonwealth Ave. Right in front of our house. The s... 11/19/2007

In Alexandria, I just won a contract for a condo last night.  I was really pushing on the price, asked for 3% closing costs, home warranty, and 2 minor repairs.  I'm really surprised that the listing agent didn't counter much.  They accepted the offer minus the home warranty and the 2 minor repairs.  This place will definately be the lowest so far to sell in the building.  My client is thrilled! I'm a little shocked, but you never know what you will get unless you ask for it. I must say, in this market, as frustrating as it can be for your selling clients, it is very gratifying for the buyers you're working with. 11/16/2007

After 3.5 years in real estate, recently started a group/team called National Realty Group.  I left the traditional firm I was with and joined Keller Williams.  We're opening an new office in Old Town Alexandria. The first thing I did to start the group is to join with another REALTOR.  I found someone to complement me.  He's really good at finding distressed properties, foreclosures and short sales.  He also publishes a list of Travis's top 50 houses.  He puts this out weekly to our clients.  Right now I think people are bargain hunting, and we have the resources to help them.  I have the experience with clients.  I love people and looking at houses.  We're still in the process of branding ourselves, but as new listings go up you'll see more houses being sold by National Realty Group! 11/15/2007

Twenty years ago on a large expansive of dirt tucked behind Edison High School ground was broken for the first homes that started the 5200 residences that comprise the Kingstowne neighborhood. Designed with both commercial and residential areas the three villages that make up Kingstowne have continued to be popular with owners looking for a neighborhood that offers both easy access to public transportation, shopping and restaurants. For owners who enjoy the outdoors and a healthy lifestyle Kingstowne offers a great variety of recreation options which include 18 tot lots, three multi-purpose courts, almost 22 miles of hiking and biking paths, and community centers which offer swimming pools and a fitness center. One of the keys to success of the neighborhood is easy access to two metro s... 11/14/2007

Alexandria City Real Estate Our Team constantly monitors local real estate statistics to inform our clients. Below you will find real estate stats for the month of October 2007.   For the month of October, the total number of active listings on the market in Alexandria City was 848. Of those active listings, the minimum list price was $120,000 while the maximum list price was $5,595,000. The average list price was $540,338. The average number for property days on the market is 110.   The number of listings under contract was 113. Of those listings under contract, the minimum list price was $149,000 while the maximum list price was $1,600,000. The average list price was $506,550. The average number for property days on the market is 69.   The number of listings that were sold & settled ... 11/06/2007

This is the Results Show for the Parkside of Alexandria Auction on Sun. Oct 28 at Hilton in Alexandria. As background make sure you read: Parkside Alexandria 47% Off Auction About 300 people showed up. Of which, over 100 were registered buyers with an auction number. About 50% of those had attended an auction practice the night before. Also about 75% of the 100 were 1st-timers at an auction. To the right is the FINAL unofficial price sheet and my notes with what went for what. Below is a Youtube of an Auction for a 2br 2 level townhouse. Minimum bid is $225k. (Can't see it? Reading from an RSS reader? Make sure to come back to my blog page to view it.) The event was publicized as a "one-in-a-lifetime opportunity", as if units MIGHT go for $225,000 for a 2 level 2 bedroom 1.5 bath townh... 10/31/2007

O.K. I want to start this Blog with a confession. I'll see you later Father Bob. This is a real estate type confession. I did not go to open houses this Sunday. And, not because of the generous margaritas they serve at Los Tios Grill on Mt. Vernon Ave. Today was the Del Ray Halloween parade. With a drum and fife band  leading the merry marchers. This year was the largest  parade yet. we don't just have the kids we have whole families dressed up. One family were  the characters from the wizard of Oz. The Mommy Daddy and child penguin trio all in home made costumes were cute on toast.  As were the TeleTubbies, Mom, Dad, and two toddlers. The wee ones stole the show as fairies and tigers, pea pods and one little hot chili pepper. We had variations on a few themes and, it's fun to see how m... 10/28/2007

Fairfax County was established in 1742 and named after Thomas, the sixth Lord Fairfax. Located 10 miles southwest of Washington, DC, the county covers 399 square miles and has major shopping hubs, national parks, a wide variety of restaurants and popular cultural attractions within its boundaries.As the home of patriots and farmers George Washington and George Mason, Fairfax County was primarily an agricultural center.  It is hard to realize that as recently as the 1950s it was the leading dairy-producing county in the Commonwealth. Now it is a world center of commerce and trade and the technology hub of the U.S. East Coast. Thousands of technology companies have offices here, including leaders of aerospace, e-commerce, software development and telecommunications.Fairfax County is now a... 10/26/2007

                                                      Nova Star Real Estate                                           Commercial Investment ResidentialYou Know I could not wait to join this firm. I knew the Principal Broker Donald Brotman from when  I took his Real Estate  class. I took a class in real estate finance from him. But my oh my When I see that name spelled out I feel a bit small. Though more known in Fairfax and Loudon the are a well respective firm. Being the Alexandria person is exciting and a  bit intimidating. But, wait a  minute I'm here in Del Ray! Where houses can have tourettes, and be painted delphinium blue with kiwi trim. I live and work where our Halloween parade will judge not only the children's costumes but the dogs as well. We have a hair Solon who's cats sle... 10/26/2007

You can live the resort lifestyle without heading down to the Caribbean or out to Hawaii -- right here in Alexandria, Virginia within an easy commute to Washington, D.C.       Watergate at Landmark condos are situated less than 8 miles away from downtown D.C. in the West End of Alexandria in "Condo Canyon"  The four 18 story condo buildings comprise 203, 205, 307, and 309 Yoakum Parkway between Edsall Road and Stevenson Avenue.    Sited on a hill overlooking Alexandria, the Watergate at Landmark condos offer the best array of amenities of any condo development in the area.     Swimmers will be delighted by the massive resort style outdoor pool with separate sections for serious lap-swimmers and for lazy floaters.  Residents can also swim all year round at Watergate's indoor pool, a true... 10/17/2007

Carlyle Towers in Old Town Alexandria offers luxury amenities and some of the units have outstanding views of Alexandria, the George Washington Masonic Memorial (pictured), and the D.C. skyline.             Carlyle Towers condominiums is a three-building complex on the western end of Old Town Alexandria comprised of 2121 Jamieson Avenue, 2151 Jamieson Avenue, and 2181 Jamieson Avenue.  It is directly across the street from the King Street Metro (Blue and Yellow Lines) offering easy access to downtown D.C. or anywhere in the metropolitan area.   Potential buyers interested in healthy eating will be pleased to know that Carlyle Towers is just around the corner from the flagship Whole Foods Grocery Store on Duke Street.    Proximity to the Hoffman AMC Movie theater complex with stadium sea... 10/12/2007

The month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.   Did you know that today the five year survival rate for women with localized breast cancer is 97%?  Back in the 1940s, only 72% of women diagnosed with breast cancer survived for five years.  In the U.S. the lifetime risk of a woman developing breast cancer is one in eight.   Breast Cancer awareness and support for breast cancer research and treatment is a cause that is near and dear to me.  My mother is a breast cancer survivor for almost 20 years now, is doing well and is very healthy.  She is also very active in breast cancer causes including Reach to Recovery.  The Reach to Recovery program pairs experienced volunteer survivors with newly diagnosed women to help provide support and comfort in the early stages of diagnosis and ... 10/11/2007

Alexandria Real EstateHere at the Casey O'Neal Team we continuously monitor local real estate statistics to keep our clients informed and ahead of the real estate trends.  Below you will find Alexandria City residential real estate statistics for the 1st 10 days of October and Month of September.Active listings for sale: 897Homes under contract from 9/1/07: 149Homes sold and settled from 9/1/07: 33Average list price of sold homes: $445,639Average sold price of sold homes: $426,035Average days on market:87Average seller subsidy: $10,076 Buyers - Save at least $10,000 on any home your purchase through our team - Guaranteed - or we will pay you $1,000 at closing. Sellers - To find the value of your home with a Free, over-the-net home evaluation, please visit: www.caseyoneal.comIf you would... 10/10/2007

 Well Art On The Avenue was a great success! Del Ray really comes out for our street festival. As my husband puts it we celebrate our Del Rayness. We have food, art, dogs, crafts, music, Entertainment. The Ballet Studio ( my daughter danced both in tap and jazz.) Irish dancers, kids music, and did I mention the food! Thai,Indian,Maryland crab-cakes, pulled B.B.Q.and more. Mark your calender for next October if you missed it. Our next chance to close Mt. Vernon Avenue will be for Halloween when we have our parade. Complete with costume contest for the kids and you know it! dogs too. One of my favorite was the match set of hula poodles a few years ago. Fall in Del Ray Alexandria is fun! though I fear that the trees on Commonwealth might not be as bright  as in the past. What with the lack... 10/10/2007

If you've ever driven down Edsall Road heading west towards I-395, you may have noticed two entrances to a neighborhood called Overlook.    But chances are that unless you were specifically looking for a townhouse in this area of town, or you were just up for exploring and a short detour, you've never toured this great community of houses on a hill.   The houses in Overlook were built between 1998 and 2000 and while they have an Alexandria address within zip code 22312, they are within Fairfax County.  Each entrance (the one on Timber Forest Drive and the one on Winterview Drive) leads to a separate Overlook community, although they both belong to the same homeowner's association.  The two communities are linked by the walking paths and many trails through the woods, but each has slight... 10/08/2007

Update, Mon Oct 29 07: After reading about this auction, go over to the Parkside of Alexandria Auction RESULTS show (with videos). Just on the heals of my article New Construction Bargains: Risks or Rewards? on whether the "deals" at new condo constructions like Phoenix in Arlington, were good ones, I get a spam about Parkside Alexandria having an Auction on Oct 28th 2007. Their advertisement is based on a "Minimum Selling Price"* of $225,000. These units went for as high as $425,000 in the heyday! If they sell for that price, that is about 47% off! So NOW is it a good deal? Again, I'm not saying to avoid new constructions since they might offer a deep discount versus a similar resale unit, but you have to look at their inventory levels and the risks of them unloading units like the co... 10/04/2007

While there are many excellent real estate investment opportunities in Fairfax County, you should not overlook Prince William County and, most specifically, Lake Ridge.  Why Lake Ridge? Mature, planned community with wide streets, extensive treed common ground, rolling hills and underground utilities. Excellent community amenities plus Lake Ridge Park, Golf and Marina on the Occoquan Reservoir with boat rental and boat ramp. Convenient to I-95 with multiple commuting options Convenient to the planned workforce expansion at Fort Belvoir and Quantico Marine Corps Base All schools are within Lake Ridge Five community pools plus proximity to year round Prince William County Park Authority Aquatics and Fitness Center Four Neighborhood Shopping Centers Well planned mix of property types in po... 10/01/2007

As of today, October 1, 2007, there are 417 condos on the market in Alexandria, Virginia.  This represents 48% of the inventory of homes currently available in the City of Alexandria.  During the month of September, 63 Alexandria condos sold.  Over the first 3 quarters of 2007, 816 condos sold in Alexandria, or just over 90/month on average. Based on the September rate of sales, there is a 6.6 month supply of condos in Alexandria, a relatively balanced market.  The chart below shows the inventory of condos at some of the more popular condominium complexes in Alexandria: Watergate at Landmark located within "Condo Canyon" is a very large complex and has consistently had between 40 and 60 units available on the market throughout much of the year.  Here are the current average prices in Al... 10/01/2007