This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.
By Kimberly H. Berry, Esq.
One of the more typical types of retirement matters that our firm handles involves the representation of federal employees in the disability retirement process before various federal agencies and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
Federal employees thinking about filing for disability retirement should consider the following five issues as they debate whether or not to proceed.
1. How Serious are the Federal Employee’s Medical Disabilities and are They Linked to Duties in Their Position Description?
When making a disability retirement decision OPM evaluates a federal employee’s continued ability to work with their medical condition in the context of the duties described in their position description. OPM uses the phrase “useful and efficient service in your current position” to describe the degree to which a federal employee can carry out their job duties.
If the medical disability is not considered serious enough, or not fully supported by medical documentation and evidence, then OPM may deny the disability retirement application.
2. How Long is the Medical Disability Expected to Last?
The duration of a medical disability is very important when OPM makes a disability retirement decision. OPM generally requires that a medical disability be expected to last at least 1 year.
When considering whether to file for disability retirement, it is important for a federal employee to consider the expected length of the individual’s medical disability. Disabilities with shorter durations can be problematic for federal employees in the disability retirement process.
3. Is it Possible for the Federal Employee to Survive on a Reduced Annuity? Read More
Every week the Eli Residential Group scours our network for off-market and pre-market homes to give home buyers and investors access to properties they can’t find anywhere else online. If you are interested in a property you see here or have specific needs you cannot find on the market, please reach out to us at [email protected] to talk to a real person, not an automated response system.
If you are a homeowner, investor, builder or agent who would like your off-market or pre-market property featured for a half million local readers on PoPville, ARLnow or Tysons Reporter, please email us at [email protected].
Massive Condo in Gates of West Falls
7025 Haycock Road, Unit G
Falls Church, VA 22043
Description: Huge 2 bedroom, 2.5 bath condo with 2 garage spaces. 2036 sq. ft. with floor to ceiling windows, updated bathrooms, gas fireplace and a huge patio. Renovations by Case Design.
Price: Low $600’s
Courtesy of RLAH Real Estate
To view all of our off-market or pre-market properties, visit the off-market section of our website. We add new properties every week.
The Eli Residential Group is a real estate team with RLAH Real Estate, (703) 390-9460, operating in Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Maryland. Contact the team directly at [email protected].
This regularly-scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Val Sotillo, Northern Virginia-based Realtor and Falls Church resident. Please submit your questions to her via email for response in future columns. Enjoy!
Question: Is there any new development within walking distance from the Vienna Metro?
Answer: Metro Row at Vienna station is a great option, located just south of the Vienna/Fairfax GMU Metro station.
Built by NVR Inc., it’s a 16-acre community with 141 luxury townhomes. They started Phase One in 2016, and they currently are on Phase Two, with expected delivery date for May/June 2019. There are only 18 home sites still available.
The Homes
Metro Row has been a favorite community for our clients because they deliver a spacious, luxury new townhouse at a great value. Now that they’re well into construction on the second (and last) phase, I thought it would be a good time to check in on what’s left and tour their latest models. Here’s what I like:
- Sizes vary from 2,283 to 2,695 sq. ft. and they accommodate up to 4 bedrooms and 3 and a half bathrooms. The first level can either be an in-law suit or a family room. Very practical use of space.
- My favorite units have access from the main level to a covered back porch with gas fireplace and private backyard. They are great for entertaining!
- The powder room in the model home had a glass tile accent wall and I think that’s an awesome idea you can also apply to the other bathrooms. See video below!
Location, Location, Location
Metro Row is located in a rapidly growing part of Fairfax. Consider these facts:
- Located 0.6 miles from the Vienna Metro (Orange Line makes downtown D.C. just 20 minutes away).
- Easy access to I-66 and 495.
- Walking distance from Pan Am Shopping Center, where you have everything you could possibly need: get groceries at Safeway, watch sports at Glory Days, your daily coffee at Starbucks, pet supplies at Pet Valu, many international restaurants (California Shabu Shabu offers a fun dining experience!) and many other services such as gas station, banks, UPS Store and fast food.
- About a mile from the upcoming mixed use development Scout on the Circle, which will have small shop retail, and a 54,000 sq. ft. Giant Food.
- A 5 minute drive to the thriving Mosaic District, offering many options for dining (True Food and B Side are some my favorites!), shopping, fitness and entertainment.
- 21 miles from both Reagan National Airport and Dulles Airport.
Price
The townhomes at Metro Row start at $759,990, and go up to the mid $900’s, depending on the finishes selected. The HOA fee is $111 (will decrease to $89 a month by community completion) and it includes common ground maintenance, snow removal, trash removal, recycling, grass cutting and landscaping.
As for incentives, they offer up to $20,000 off quick move-ins and a special gift in the model home valued up to $2,500.
If you would like more details about Metro Row, schedule a tour, explore more neighborhoods, or if you’d like a question answered in my weekly column, please send an email to [email protected]. I hope to hear from you soon!
Val Sotillo is a licensed Realtor in Virginia, Washington D.C., and Maryland with Real Living At Home, 2420 Wilson Blvd #101 Arlington, VA 22201, 703-390-9460.
Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in McLean. Reach the office at 703-790-9090.
If you’re like me, you love the magic of holiday light displays but don’t have the motivation to do it yourself. We love driving our kids around to look at the amazing light shows people put together. Some even have their own radio station to coordinate lights and music!
It’s still early in the season, so some more houses might make the list later this month. Here are some early favorites:
Vienna
10203 Lawyers Road — Lawyers is a busy road, so you’ll have to drive slowly by because there’s nowhere to pull over, unless you go to the street across from the house (Galloping Way).
117 Hickory Circle SW — This display is set to music (instructions are posted in the front of the house on the cul-de-sac or at the back in the shopping center). Make sure you see both sides of the house. Follow their Facebook Page for details. The show runs 5:30-10 p.m., Sunday through Thursday and 5:30-11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
117 Kingsley Road SE — This location is blow up heaven! They have so many favorites on display including Disney characters, Santa in a sleigh being pulled by his reindeer suspended mid-air above their roof and more. Plenty of street parking so you can easily take a walk by the house.
1801 Beulah Road — This house has an amazing front yard that is completely decked out, including a mailbox for “Letters to Santa!” I’m not sure where those letters go, but this Christmas décor is stunning! There’s a pull off and a street across from it (Chestnut Farm Drive) if you want to pull over to take it all in.
2438 Cedar Lane — Beautiful and abundant light display, including a dancing tree of lights. No music from what I could tell, but beautiful.
2528 Drexel Street — The Ni Family Light show is one of the hits of Vienna. There’s plenty of street parking to pull over and watch. They have a playlist that accompanies the choreographed light show. They’re doing a repeat show of 2017 before they launch the 2018 playlist. The show runs 5-10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 5-9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.
Honorable Mention — The Vine Church (2501 Gallows Road) The Ni Family also helps with this light show, which has over 10,000 pixels (it’s huge!)
McLean
7815 Birnam Wood Drive — The show runs 7-9:30 p.m. on weekdays, 6-11 p.m. on weekends. Completely covered in lights, even the lawn has light displays and blow ups.
6530 Heather Brook Court — Show runs from 5 p.m. to midnight daily. There is a start button and a radio station to listen to music while watching the light show. The display includes lights and tons of blow ups.
Remember, don’t go on the lawns! Stay on the sidewalk or the street and enjoy the display safely.
Are there any homes that were missed? Any other neighborhoods in the area worth a visit? If so, leave a comment with details.
Every week the Eli Residential Group scours our network for off-market and pre-market homes to give home buyers and investors access to properties they can’t find anywhere else online. If you are interested in a property you see here or have specific needs you cannot find on the market, please reach out to us at [email protected] to talk to a real person, not an automated response system.
If you are a homeowner, investor, builder or agent who would like your off-market or pre-market property featured for a half million local readers on PoPville, ARLnow or Tysons Reporter, please email us at [email protected].
Three-Home Investment Package
Two homes in Sterling, Virginia and one in Manassas, Virginia
Description: One owner selling three investment properties in Northern Virginia with established tenants and strong rental income. Will sell individually or as package for a discount. All detached homes. Two 3 BR/2 BA, one 5 BR/2 BA.
Price: Low $300’s – mid $300’s each OBO
Courtesy of RLAH Real Estate
To view all of our off-market or pre-market properties, visit the off-market section of our website. We add new properties every week.
The Eli Residential Group is a real estate team with RLAH Real Estate, (703) 390-9460, operating in Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Maryland. Contact the team directly at [email protected].
This regularly-scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Val Sotillo, Northern Virginia-based Realtor and Falls Church resident. Please submit your questions to her via email for response in future columns. Enjoy!
Question: We are planning to buy a home in the D.C. area in the next 12 months. What should we know before buying a house that we can get started with now?
Answer: Whether you’re a first-time buyer, experienced buyer relocating from out-of-state, or moving locally here’s a list of things I review and plan out with clients before getting into the full swing of house hunting.
Requirements, Timelines, and Contracts
The most important thing you can do as a buyer is take time to become educated on the process, timelines and key contractual terms/obligations in the area you plan to search. This is also a good way to meet and vet different real estate agents early on to get a feel for who is willing to spend time with you up-front on education and planning vs pushing immediately for a sale.
Get Pre-Approved
It’s important to identify a lender who provides high quality service and also has loan products that fit your profile (down payment, credit score, job industry, etc).
Getting a pre-approval from a lender who reviews and verifies your financial documents, income, and employment will decrease the chances of you being rejected from a loan, increase your leverage in contract negotiations and reduce the amount of work required of you once you’re under contract.
Set A Monthly Budget
Most people qualify for more than they actually want to spend, especially dual-income buyers, so budgeting is important. Set a monthly budget for total housing expenses including mortgage, taxes, insurance and applicable Association fees or mortgage insurance.
Do You Want Representation?
Determine if you want to be represented by a Realtor (breaking news… I highly recommend it). In most cases, the seller pays commission to the buyer’s broker, so representation often comes at little or no cost to buyers.
Cash Needs + Savings
You need cash savings for your down payment + closing costs of 2.5-3% of the sales price. When your offer gets accepted, you need to deposit 1-5% of the sale price into an escrow account to secure the sale.
You’ll spend about $1,000 before closing on inspections and appraisal. Don’t forget moving expenses, furniture, painting, etc. You should have 3-6 months of emergency savings tucked away after everything is paid for.
How Long Will You Live There?
This is the most underrated conversation for buyers to have when setting a budget and determining criteria. Your home-buying strategy should look very different if you’re planning to own for 3-5 years vs 10-12 years so give it serious thought and be realistic.
Sometimes the best investment is buying a house that allows you to live there longer and eliminates one or more real estate transactions in your lifetime. The value you get out of being in a home for 10 years vs 3 years far surpasses a small increase in your budget.
Deadlines and Lease Terms
Figure out if you have any strict deadlines for the move and if there are costs of buying before or after that deadline. If you’re renting, make sure you find out the cost of early termination or if month-to-month leasing is an option.
I hope this list is helpful not just for local D.C. metro readers, but for anybody getting started with their home search and wondering what you should know before buying a house.
These are the conversations and steps I take with my clients every day to make sure they’re prepared and have the right strategy in place before we even look at homes together. I’m sure I left a few things off this list, but this should get you 95% of the way there.
If you’d like a question answered in my weekly column, please send an email to [email protected]. I hope to hear from you soon!
Val Sotillo is a licensed Realtor in Virginia, Washington D.C., and Maryland with Real Living At Home, 2420 Wilson Blvd #101 Arlington, VA 22201, 703-390-9460.
Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in McLean. Reach the office at 703-790-9090.
Monday, November 26, 6 p.m.: Church St Holiday Stroll
Santa arrives on his firetruck at 6:15 p.m. to greet children by the Freeman Store and Museum and will help the mayor light the holiday tree and menorah at 6:20 p.m. There will be music and marshmallow roasting stations.
Thursday, November 29, 7 p.m.: Tiny Tots Holiday Concert
The James Madison High School band program presents a seasonal music concert on Thursday and Friday at 10 a.m., along with a Thursday 7 p.m. concert. Tickets require advance purchase at $9/person. The concert takes place at JMS at 2500 James Madison Drive, Vienna.
Friday, November 30, 5 p.m.: Mosaic District Holiday Tree Lighting
Mosaic district welcomes Santa on his firetruck, the Vienna Singing Princesses, Chasing Autumn Trio and a screening of Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas, all surrounding a 7 p.m. Tree lighting ceremony.
Saturday, December 1-2, 9 a.m.: The Enchanted Forest by the Junior League of Northern Virginia
Hosted both Saturday and Sunday starting at 9 a.m., the Junior League of Northern Virginia hosts the Enchanted Forest at the Sheraton Tysons Hotel. Events include visits from Santa, crafts, live entertainment like the Great Zucchini and more. Tickets required.
Saturday, December 1, 8 a.m.: McLean Reindog Parade
Hosted by the McLean Chamber of Commerce – dress your dog up and walk in a parade for prizes! Santa on the firetruck will visit, along with donuts, hot chocolate and entertainment. Register here. Admission is 2 cans of dog food to donate to a local animal shelter.
Saturday, December 1, 4 p.m.: Wolftrap Holiday Sing-A-Long
A FREE holiday sing-a-long concert starting at 4 p.m. Wolf Trap will be collecting new, unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots at the entrance. Admission is free and so is parking. If you bring a candle, you can join in the tradition of exiting the Filene Center with a candlelight processional.
Sunday, December 2, 8 a.m.: 2018 Santa Breakfast at Tysons
This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.
By John V. Berry, Esq.
There have been at least 10 states that have legalized marijuana over the past 5-10 years. The change in state laws has led to significant confusion by security clearance holders about their ability to use marijuana while holding or seeking a security clearance.
States like Massachusetts or California have legalized marijuana, but marijuana use remains illegal under federal criminal law as a Schedule I drug. The state and federal conflict in laws has caused both confusion and problems for security clearance applicants or holders.
Security Clearance Rules Governing Marijuana Usage
Security clearance holders and applicants frequently run into security clearance problems under Guideline H of the Security Clearance Guidelines (Security Executive Agent Directive 4) because they don’t realize that the use of marijuana, even in a state that has legalized it, remains illegal under federal law.
I believe that these guidelines will be amended in the next 5-7 years to change the use of marijuana from a complete ban to an abuse standard, like with alcohol, but the issue remains a problem today for those in the security clearance world.
Additionally, the type of marijuana which is used makes no difference (e.g. candy form, chocolate, brownie, smoking) under the guidelines. We have seen individuals that have had security clearance problems stemming from eating a single gummy candy which contained the active ingredients of marijuana.
We have defended many security clearance clients who have engaged in the light (or even one-time) usage of marijuana, who have had difficulties in overcoming the presumption that even minor use makes one ineligible to hold or maintain a security clearance. If the usage was a long time ago, this can significantly help mitigate a security concern, but the trickiest situations arise when marijuana usage has occurred within the past year.
The key in such cases is to attempt to mitigate security concerns by showing abstinence, changes in attitude, changes in associations with friends that engage in drug use and counseling, where needed.
Guideline H of the SEAD 4 states that:
The illegal use of controlled substances, to include the misuse of prescription and non-prescription drugs, and the use of other substances that cause physical or mental impairment or are used in a manner inconsistent with their intended purpose can raise questions about an individual’s reliability and trustworthiness, both because such behavior may lead to physical or psychological impairment and because it raises questions about a person’s ability or willingness to comply with laws, rules, and regulations. Controlled substance means any “controlled substance” as defined in 21 U.S.C. 802. Substance misuse is the generic term adopted in this guideline to describe any of the behaviors listed above.
Mitigation of Marijuana Use Read More
Every week the Eli Residential Group scours our network for off-market and pre-market homes to give home buyers and investors access to properties they can’t find anywhere else online. If you are interested in a property you see here or have specific needs you cannot find on the market, please reach out to us at [email protected] to talk to a real person, not an automated response system.
If you are a homeowner, investor, builder or agent who would like your off-market or pre-market property featured for a half million local readers on PoPville, ARLnow or Tysons Reporter, please email us at [email protected].
Massive Condo in Gates of West Falls
7025 Haycock Road, Unit G
Falls Church, VA 22043
Description: Huge 2 bedroom, 2.5 bath condo with 2 garage spaces. 2,036 sq. ft. with floor to ceiling windows, updated bathrooms, gas fireplace and a huge patio. Renovations by Case Design.
Price: Low $600’s
Courtesy of RLAH Real Estate
To view all of our off-market or pre-market properties, visit the off-market section of our website. We add new properties every week.
The Eli Residential Group is a real estate team with RLAH Real Estate, (703) 390-9460, operating in Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Maryland. Contact the team directly at [email protected].
This regularly-scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Val Sotillo, Northern Virginia-based Realtor and Falls Church resident. Please submit your questions to her via email for response in future columns. Enjoy!
Question: I’m the Treasurer at [redacted Condo Association] and we’re working on the 2019 budget. What’s a good way for us to save money in the budget without compromising the health and maintenance of the building?
Answer: Review your Master Insurance Policy. I know, it’s not the most exciting answer, but your insurance policy is likely a top three expense on your balance sheet every year and if you haven’t reviewed it lately, there’s a good chance you can cut the cost by 5% or more and probably improve your coverage at the same time.
I’m not an expert in insurance so I asked Andrew Schlaffer, Vice President at USI Insurance Service’s Community Association Practice to provide some details on what Board’s should look for when they do a review of their Master Policy. Take it away Andrew…
Pillars Of Insurance Reviews
Condo insurance reviews require a holistic approach, so it’s important to break the cost into a few distinct categories: insurance premium, deductible expense and out-of-pocket costs. To effectively accomplish long-term savings, all three of these categories need to be considered and addressed with a qualified insurance professional.
Adjust Coverage Responsibly To Save On Premium
Premium is certainly a factor to consider during the insurance selection process; however, available insurance products differ significantly.
Coverages and services should be very carefully analyzed and compared. While omitting various coverages will save premium dollars, it might also result in substantially increased costs to the Association for out-of-pocket expenses related to uncovered claims.
It is critical to work with a professional who understands local insurance needs and can adjust your insurance program in a way that maximizes premium savings while maintaining adequate insurance coverage. Some coverages may be required by statute and/or Association documents, so cutting required coverage exposes the board to unwanted risk.
Deductibles Based On Loss History
Associations with strong financials often choose to increase their property deductibles which can provide immediate savings of 2-5%. Deductibles range from $2,500 to $25,000+.
When considering deductibles, it is important for the Association to review their loss history and the loss history of comparable buildings in an effort to obtain an accurate estimate for deductible expenses. Read More
