It occurs to me as I write these blogs, that when I talk about the submarkets of Arlington - you might not know all of them or where they are!! So I wanted to put together a little geography lesson! The DC Metro Area has 5 lines: Blue, Yellow, Green, Red, Orange (much easier than number trains in my opinion!) The end of the Orange Line serves Vienna VA through Arlington to Foggy Bottom (Georgetown) and into DC and ends in Maryland The Arlington "Orange Line Corridor" consists of the following submarkets:Rosslyn, Courthouse, Clarendon, Virginia Square, & Ballston The end of the Blue Line serves Springfield VA through Alexandria, Old Town Alexandria, Crystal City, the Pentagon, and Foggy Bottom (Georgetown), it also runs through DC and ends in Largo, MD. The Yellow Line runs from Huntingt... 08/06/2008

Time for a real estate market update for the Arlington Area. I like to do a recap by zip code: 22201 (Clarendon, Courthouse, and Neighbors) # of Sales: 38 (21 condos, 17 were Single Family/Townhomes)On Average:Sold for 97% of the Original List PriceSpent 54 Days on the Market Sold for On Average: $535,547     22202 (Crystal City,  Arlington Ridge, and Neighbors) # of Sales: 12 (6 condos, 6 were Single Family Homes/Townhomes)On Average:Sold for 93% of the Original List PriceSpent 87 Days on the Market Sold for On Average: $490,908 22203 (Ballston, Ashton Heights, and Neighbors) # of Sales: 18 (14 condos, 4 were Single Family Homes)On Average:Sold for 95% of the Original List PriceSpent 57 Days on the Market Sold for On Average: $458,403 08/06/2008

I've heard rumors that people speculate that the Arlington area will soon be a Mini-Manhattan (at least rental prices are closely reflecting that similarity!). So I took a look at the Arlington County Website for some statistics about the area. The Clarendon Forecast looks like this: It appears that the area will TRIPLE in size between 2000 and 2020! The Ballston Forecast: Looks like Ballston will see a 50% increase or so in their population and housing stats! Courthouse: Courthouse is already a packed area, with about double the amount of people in Clarendon, so it's no surprise that most of the growth will occur in the other 2 main areas along the Orange Line! If you want to know more information about Arlington and the pockets within the city, give me a call! Laura Rubinchuk, 703.283... 08/05/2008

Part of the reason I decided to leave Corporate America and pursue the lifestyle of a Realtor, is simply that I can't sit still everyday in the same spot. Apparently my Keller Williams office is no exception! Last week a friend of mine "worked from home," and we spent the morning doing some work at Murky Coffee in Arlington (located in Clarendon, where Clarendon Blvd and Wilson Blvd split - across from Silver Diner). A nice change from you local Starbucks, Murky had an assortment of beverages and food, but the environment was better. Full of tables, chairs, background music, and Internet capabilities - it was a welcome chance to brainstorm new ideas while people watching!   Try a new cup of Joe there...and while you're nearby, call me to check out a condo Laura Rubinchuk, 703.283.6120 08/04/2008

Just Sold!! On Friday, we closed on a beautiful 1 bedroom, 1 bath condo in Arlington VA at the Williamsburg Condo building. My happy first-time homebuyer is moving into this condo with a large balcony (that gets great sun), hardwood floors, a gas fireplace, a pool, gym, and just a few blocks from the Courthouse Metro stop! Even sweeter? We negotiated a price about $20k less than the appraisal and got closing cost assistance. Congrats to him!! And i'm happy to help if you're interested in buying in Arlington!   Call me! Laura Rubinchuk, 703.283.6120 08/04/2008

AAAAhhh yes a perfect August day in Arlington Virginia. Im driving back from lunch with a friend to Reston from Arlington when I happened to pass one of the best Chinese Restaurants around; The Hunan Gate. Back in my bachelor days when I was a downtown Arlington resident I used to live in a condo right near the Balston metro (Balston neighborhood inside of Arlington). It is here that I happened upon Hunan Gate which was located right next door to my condo building. I took this picture as I drove by so I could share with my readers what it looks like from the outside...sorry about the delivery trucks blocking the view of their corner entrance. As you would imagine when I was living the bachelor life, cooking meals never even crossed my mind but instead, quick easy eats were of the order ... 08/04/2008

With so much to do in the area around Washington, D.C. and Arlington, it's easy to find someplace new to explore everyday! With 48% of the area being SINGLE, it's even more of a reason to get there and meet new people everyday! A friend recently found a spreadsheet that details Happy Hours (both food and drinks)in Arlington, Alexandria, Foggy Bottom, Georgetown, Adams Morgan, Dupont, and many other locations around the area! It separates by location and day of the week - a great resource for trying something new! Since I can't post the spreadsheet, shoot me an email and I would be happy to send it to you!!! Happy networking!! "It's 5 o'clock somewhere..." Laura Rubinchuk, Laura.Rubinchuk@kw.com, 703.283.6120 08/04/2008

Northern Virginia and Washington D.C. are melting pots for different nationalities, ethnicities, cultures, religions, you name it! I'm no exception! The daughter of 2 Russian immigrants (fresh off the boat in 1980), we grew up speaking Russian in my household, and continue to do so today. So! If you're looking for an agent who is fluent in Russian - look no further!!! I'm happy to help with any new transplants to the Virginia area...call me to find out what Russian sounds like with an American accent! :) Laura Rubinchuk, 703.283.6120 p.s. the picture is of traditional Russian nesting dolls - who doesn't love them? 08/04/2008

    I just got off the phone with the selling agent for The Phoenix. He showed my Pollard Street listing a few weeks back and it was time to follow up. In addition I now have a customer interested in a 1 bedroom 1 bath condo in downtown Arlington Virginia.The Phoenix is a strong contender if you like a condo that is priced right and offering all the amenities as well as solid construction. Ironically, they have a lot of units for sale but only one ....YES ONLY ONE.... 1 bedroom 1 bath left for sale. If my client doesn't grab it you may want to call me today so I can help work a deal for you. 703-283-4524(cell).  Mid $300's is negotiable these days especially in a building I have other satisfied customers living in. 08/04/2008

We promoted here, there and everywhere. We showed it a dozen times. We held open houses and surveyed the daily usage of our lock box and finally YES finally we got an offer! Scott and his team massaged his buyer such that the price our client wanted was met and the deal is to be closed in just another 2 weeks. Were excited about the buzz. it seems this market, albeit a buyers market, still has a few to sell here and there. Check out this amazing value here: http://slideshow.mris.com/slideshow.cfm?ListingKey=10446355975   Thanks for visiting our site and please call us today! Were happy to list your property, help you find a property or even familiarize you with an area before you buy. Simply call and we'll be there for you! 703-283-4524 or scottmontgomery@kw.com   07/31/2008

Everyone's favorite time of year!! Or at least, for those of us who love to shop - TAX FREE WEEKEND!!! Friday, August 1 - Sunday, August 3 Applied to: Clothing and footwear under $100School supplies under $20   In case you're looking for some places to shop, check out these websites: Tyson's Corner, McLean Pentagon Row, Arlington (Crystal City) Potomac Mills, Woodbridge Leesburg Outlets, Leesburg   Help the economy - Happy Shopping!! If you want some more recommendations of good bargain shopping or specific places, feel free to give me a call...703.283.6120 07/31/2008

Arlington Virginia is a great place to live and you can easily access WMATA our Washington Mass Transit system.  Using Metro is a great way to enjoy a short commute to work, and you can not only save on gas, but also on parking fees if your ride the Arlington Virginia metro.  As you can see on the custom map I created that owning homes in Arlington Virginia makes sense in more than one way.  It is hte time you can save every day, less wear and tear on your car, your tires and auto repairs.  Sure you may pay more initiall for a homes in Arlington Virginia, but in the long run it is a money maker.  Arlington Virginia homes epitomize the Arlington Real estate term..."Location, location, location!"  Search Arlington Virginia Homes WMATA WMATA MAPS AND METRO BUS MAPS PRINTABLE MAP PDF METRO ... 07/30/2008

 In this technology driven era, you can never have enough connections out there. I'm always looking for more "friends" and "connections" so make my day - Add me to YOUR network today!! And feel free to send any referrals for Northern VA this way!   Find me on LinkedIn at: Fine me on Facebook at: 07/30/2008

Interesting article post in the New York Times on July 24 that shared with its readers the possibility of radiation being omitted from some granite counter tops- YES... RADIATION!!! "SHORTLY before Lynn Sugarman of Teaneck, N.J., bought her summer home in Lake George, N.Y., two years ago, a routine inspection revealed it had elevated levels of radon, a radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer. So she called a radon measurement and mitigation technician to find the source.     Using devices like the Geiger counter and the radiation detection instrument Stanley Liebert measures the radiation and radon emanating from granite like that in Lynn Sugarman's kitchen counters. "He went from room to room," said Dr. Sugarman, a pediatrician. But he stopped in his tracks in the kitchen, which had... 07/30/2008

In the annual "Best Places to Live" survey done by CNN, they incorporate some fun categories to see how your city ranks among the nation. My previous blog had rankings for Hunter Mill (#19) and Reston (#37)...but did you know the following: CNN's Ranking of "Skinniest" Counties (Ranked by Avg Body Mass Index (BMI)):#7: Alexandria, VA (Avg BMI: 25.41)#13: Arlington County, VA (Avg BMI: 25.77)#25: Fairfax County: (Avg BMI: 25.97) No wonder you always see so many people running on the streets of Arlington and Alexandria! "Most Singles" (Ranked by % singles over 30)#7: Washington, D.C. (48.5%) 07/27/2008

Just a stoplight away from the Pentagon and tucked in the trees off of I-395, sit the seven neighborhoods that make up the community of Fairlington.  The connection between military families stationed at the Pentagon, Fort Meyer or other Military District of Washington facilities remains as strong today as it did in the 1940’s when Fairlington was first built. Originally Fairlington was constructed as a garden apartment complex to house defense workers and their families during World War II.  The community remained popular as a rental complex for almost 30 years and then in the early 1970's the property was converted to condos.   In 1998 the areas of North and South Fairlington were added to the Virginia Landmarks Register and in 1999 they were added to the Federal registry of National... 07/22/2008

One of my favorite things to do on a late afternoon in mid-July must be visiting Bon Air Park and Memorial Rose Garden in Arlington, Virginia.  So much so that it has become almost an annual pilgrimage for me and my wife.  That's where we spent the latter part of the day today.  Did someone leave their hat on the sign post? More on that later. As soon as you arrive at the garden, you're greeted with the fragrant aroma of the award-winning roses in full-bloom at this beautiful park run by Arlington County Parks & Recreation Department.  Located on Wilson Boulevard just west of the hustle and bustle and high-rise condos of Ballston, Bon Air Park is a great getaway oasis for couples, families, and anyone needing some serenity. Here's some photos I took today of the Bon Air Rose Garden in f... 07/13/2008

Single family homes represent less than 40% of the available housing on the market in Arlington (47% of available properties are condos).  Nevertheless there are close to 350 detached single family homes currently available for homebuyers looking in the close to D.C. suburb of Arlington. The average price of all currently available Arlington single family homes is a staggering $929,110.  However, this number skews high because of a a few luxury homes that tip the balance.  When you remove from the average the 15 Arlington homes priced over $2 million, the average Arlington price drops to $837,088.  Still expensive by most people's standards, but a more representative number of the current inventory. The chart below shows the inventory of Arlington single-family homes according to price ... 07/11/2008

Do as I say not as I do. Hindsight is 20/20 as the expression goes. Did you just find out that you got accepted to George Mason Law School located in Arlington, VA?  Or are you a current student at this fine law school?  Congratulations!  You are or will be attending one of the top law schools in the country.  Founded in 1972, George Mason Law School has soared in all the rankings to become a top tier place for legal education.  In fact, faculty at Mason Law rank 21st for scholarly impact in the Leiter 2007 Faculty Quality Rankings and George Mason tied for first place among top law schools in a 2005 study on empirical legal scholarship. I'm proud of my Alma Mater! Before entering my career in real estate, I spent 3 years practicing law and received my legal training from none other tha... 07/09/2008

Arlington Virginia Homes for Sale June 21, 2008. Are you looking to purchase a single family detached home in Arlington Virginia or a condo or town home?  It is a great time to buy.  Believe it or not home sales have softened, homes are sitting a little longer, interest rates are still great but rising slightly, and sellers are willing to look at offers.  Arlington Virginia home sellers are even willing to consider paying or contributing to your closing costs.  That is quite a different scenario than just a short time ago, and it may signal that this is the perfect time to look for a close in home in Arlington Virginia, and even save on your commute or eliminate the cost of gas by using WMATA. As of today there are 355 Arlington Virginia homes for sale (Single Family Detached Fee Simple... 06/21/2008