Welcome to Luxury For Less, a weekly column highlighting the best deals in luxury real estate. Written by Brandy Schantz of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, Luxury For Less offers tips and tricks navigating the competitive real estate market and securing the home of your dreams. To learn more, visit ttrsir.com.

I hope everyone enjoyed a safe and celebratory Fourth of July!

Summer is officially here and the real estate market is slowing to allow everyone to enjoy beach vacations and a little down time. This means one thing to a realtor, the serious people who want to move before the school year begins are pricing homes well and buyers who want to be settled in before the first day of school are serious. I always remind clients that August is often my busiest month of the year with buyers avoiding the chaos of the Spring market and sellers who want to get everything done when the kids are out of school.

This week’s feature home is quite the stunner in Great Falls. If golf course living is what you are looking for, this home is it. A custom English stone manor overlooking River Bend Country Club course, this home features an amazing pool, main level owner’s suite, a wine cellar and a sauna. What a way to get away from the hustle and bustle!

495 River Forest Drive Great Falls (Reduced $151,000)

Check out the rest of this week’s Luxury for Less listings:

• 7112 Benjamin Street McLean (Reduced $20,000)
• 908 Symphony Circle SW Vienna (Reduced $25,999)
• 1316 Millfarm Drive Vienna (Reduced $50,000)
• 1446 Harvest Crossing Drive McLean (Reduced $55,000)
• 2127 Galloping Way Vienna (Reduced $11,000)

Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in McLean. Reach the office at 703-790-9090.

There’s a small brown “house” located on Dominion Road NE (parallel to the W&OD trail), which is a great disguise for the world of tiny trains hidden inside.

The Northern Virginia Model Railroaders club is over 65 years old and has been in this spot for over 30 years. The club built a “large and permanent model railroad layout” and they have open houses 12 times a year. (Pro tip: It’s air conditioned in there!)

You’ll find many cool trains at this exhibit, but if you have little ones who are Thomas & Friends fans, make sure you stop by. Their next open house is Saturday, July 13 from 1-5 p.m. and admission is free. Consider leaving a donation during your visit.

You can read more about the club and see the full list of open house dates here.

If you’re looking to join, they’re currently accepting new members. Find the information here.

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.

In Virginia (and in many other jurisdictions) severance agreements are contracts that compensate an employee in exchange for them agreeing to leave their employment and waiving all claims against an employer.

Most employees in Virginia are considered “at will,” which means they can resign or be fired at any time by an employer. When employment ends, an employer may offer (or an employee may request) a severance package in exchange for the employee’s waiver of all rights to sue for discrimination, sexual harassment, whistleblower retaliation or other alleged violations of law by the employer.

Employers, in the absence of an employment contract which requires severance, generally have no obligation to provide employees severance pay. If severance pay is offered, an employer will offer the employee a Severance Agreement along with the proposed compensation.

Employer Severance Agreements

A Severance Agreement is just a contract between an employee and an employer that resolves all outstanding employment matters between them. A Severance Agreement may be offered to an employee who resigns or is terminated. Additionally, Severance Agreements can also be offered to employees who are laid off or who are facing retirement.

In order to be valid, a Severance Agreement must have consideration — i.e., something of value to which the employee is not already entitled. Employers are usually required to provide an employee time to consider the Severance Agreement before signing and advise them to consult with counsel before signing. An employee typically has a 21-day consideration period to accept an employer’s Severance Agreement unless the employee is over 40 years of age.

The Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA) requires that an employer provide employees over 40 years of age with a 45-day consideration period and at least a 7-day revocation period.

Reasons for Severance Agreements

There are a number of reasons why a Severance Agreement may be proposed or agreed to by employers. These reasons can include the following examples, but many others exist:

• An employee is fired, for conduct or performance and the employer wants to avoid risk for potential claims against them by providing severance in exchange for a waiver of employee claims.
• An employer is looking to downsize their operations and seeks to avoid potential liability in the process by offering severance terms to a number of employees.
• An employee has been fired, no Severance Agreement was initially proposed by the employer but the employee approaches the employer seeking one.
• An employee wants to resign and seeks to initiate severance negotiations with the employer.

Common Severance Agreement Terms

Some of the terms to consider in a Settlement Agreement may include, but are certainly not limited to the following:

Severance Pay
Non-Disparagement
Retirement benefits
Re-employment possibilities
Tax consequences
The timing of severance payments
Confidentiality terms
Security clearance issues
Continuation of employment benefits
Rights to unemployment compensation
Waiver of Claims
Scope of non-competition
Preservation of trade secrets
References and reference letters
Recommendation letters (Positive and Neutral)
Applicable law
Consequences for violating the Severance Agreement

Severance Agreements will almost always include a General Release (Waiver) that stipulates the employee cannot sue his or her employer for wrongful termination or attempt to seek unemployment benefits.

Before an employee signs a Severance Agreement, he or she should consult with an attorney to discuss the rights that he or she may be waiving and the terms of the Severance Agreement.

Conclusion

If you are in need of employment law representation, please contact our office at 703-668-0070 or through our contact page to schedule a consultation. Please also visit and like us on Facebook or Twitter.

Three Stones Residential agents pride ourselves on our consultative service approach, local expertise and real estate market knowledge. With over 26 years of business experience in the DMV, we have consistently performed in the top 2% of local Realtors and are currently the #1 group at Keller Williams Metro Center. 

1472 Evans Farm Drive, McLean
4 BD/3.5 BA
Agent: Fortney Fine Properties, LLC
Listed: $1,875,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m

6102 Brook Drive, Falls Church
4 BD/2.5 BA
Agent: KW Metro Center
Listed: $649,900
Open: Saturday 1-3 p.m.

3418 Rustic Way Lane, Falls Church
7 BD/4 BA
Agent: Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc
Listed: $785,000
Open: Sunday 1-3 p.m.

8715 Litwalton Court, Vienna
5 BD/3.5 BA
Agent: Redfin Corporation
Listed: $899,00
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

511 Spring Street SE, Vienna
5 BD/3.5 BA
Agent: Pearson Smith Realty, LLC
Listed: $1,350,000
Open: Saturday 1-3 p.m.

Our role is to offer sound advice and guidance to our clients in order for them to achieve their goals in either buying, selling, leasing or managing real estate. We are truly “Your Home… for Everything Real Estate.” To schedule a private showing of these or any other properties of interest please do not hesitate to contact us here or email us at [email protected].

Welcome to Luxury For Less, a weekly column highlighting the best deals in luxury real estate. Written by Brandy Schantz of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, Luxury For Less offers tips and tricks navigating the competitive real estate market and securing the home of your dreams. To learn more, visit ttrsir.com.

Everyone seems to be talking about the report that Joe Biden and his wife Jill rented a luxury home in McLean for $20,000 a month.

So, what about McLean makes a $20,000 a month rental even possible? We can start with the big names who live there. The home Biden is renting is owned by the Chairman and CEO of Capitol Investment Corp. IV, Mark Ein. Mark Ein also owns the Washington Kastles and is a well-known entrepreneur in the D.C. area.

Lockheed Martin’s CEO, Marillyn Hewson, purchased a home in McLean last year. McLean is home to the rich and powerful including CEOs, NFL players, politicians and even family dynasties. It’s no surprise that the city just minutes from D.C., Arlington and Tyson’s Corner can command a $20,000 a month rental.

It’s also home to some of the region’s most expensive homes. Stately mansions with every luxury you could wish for line the McLean landscape. These luxuries include wine cellars, tennis courts, pools, personal gyms, full spas, elevators and even separate guest homes.

This week’s feature home is located on one of the most prestigious streets in McLean. 1181 Ballantrae features a Versailles styled pool and plaza, a gym, sauna, wine cellar and a beautiful bar.

1181 Ballantrae Lane McLean (Reduced $150,000)

Check out the rest of this week’s Luxury for Less listings:

• 7109 Benjamin Street McLean (Reduced $101,000)
• 1181 Ballantrae Lane McLean (Reduced $150,000)
• 6547 Old Chesterbrook Road McLean (Reduced $95,001)
• 9600 Brookmeadow Court Vienna (Reduced $52,000)
• 1221 Kelley Street SW Vienna (Reduced $34,999)
• 1024 Timbercreek Trl Great Falls (Reduced $82,000)

The properties listed are a small selection of properties available in the Tyson’s Corner area. For a full list of properties listed on MLS and private exclusives, please contact Brandy Schantz.

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: My family and I are moving to Northern Virginia this fall. Can you tell me more about McLean?

Answer: McLean is located between Vienna and George Washington Parkway. It is an affluent community and it’s home to the headquarters of the Central Intelligence Agency as well as the residences of many diplomats, members of Congress and many top-ranking government officials.

Here’s what I like about the neighborhood:

Great Location

McLean is about 8 miles from D.C., and it borders Arlington, Falls Church and Tysons. It is located just minutes away from 495, GW Parkway and the Dulles Toll Road.

Although the most convenient way to commute in McLean is by car, there are many public transportation options available. You can travel within the city by Metro, or bus. There is a McLean Metro station with the silver line going to Reston, D.C. and all the way up to Largo, Maryland.

Things To Do

There are great dining options in McLean. A few of my favorite restaurants are: Amoos Persian Fusion (everything is delicious but their saffron ice cream is amazing!), J. Gilbert’s Steakhouse (great Sunday brunch) and Tachibana Japanese Restaurant.

If you’re looking for shopping and entertainment, Tysons is only a few minutes away and it offers many options. Being one of the top shopping centers in the country, it has everything you need from movie theaters, to shopping deals, trendy restaurants and free concerts.

You have the luxury of many outdoor adventures with the convenience of having them in your own backyard. You can spend a full day enjoying the beautiful scenery and falls in 800 acre Great Falls Park, which allows activities such as bicycling, boating, rock climbing, fishing and hiking. Or check Scott’s Run for a nice hike, picnic and waterfalls.

Active Community

The McLean Community Center provides a sense of community for residents by furnishing facilities for civic, cultural, educational, recreational and social activities. They will host the McLean Fourth of July Fireworks at Langley High School and they’ll have food trucks and a DJ.

The McLean Farmers Market is one of 10 farmers markets run by the Fairfax County Park Authority. All products are grown or produced by the vendors and come from within 125 miles and The Fairfax County Master Gardeners Association will be there each week, providing horticultural information to home gardeners in Fairfax County.

For more community events, see the calendar here.

Housing

Properties in McLean are mostly single-family homes, but there’s also different options for townhomes, and condos. Here you can find all active listings:

• Active Condos
• Active Townhomes
• Active Single Family Homes

In the past 6 months, 133 condos were sold for a median price of $365,000; 38 townhouses were sold for a median price of $799,000; and 272 single-family homes sold for the highest price being $6,390,744, and the lowest price being $615,000.

Wishing everyone a safe and wonderful 4th of July!

If you’d like more information, or would like a question answered in my weekly column, please reach out 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.

On the last day of school, my family got invited to an awesome block party put on by 4 neighbors on a cul-de-sac in Vienna.

They had bounce houses, food trucks, music and everyone had an awesome time. The adults got to talk, be social and have beer while the kids got to run around and play for hours like I remember doing in my own childhood. The road was blocked off officially by white and orange barricades. It was a great afternoon.

With just a little paperwork you can throw a block party like that one and really get to know your neighbors, or hang out with your friends and help create memories for your family.

Temporary use permits/applications are required whenever you want to block part of a road. Here are some rules and helpful links to get you started:

Town of Vienna

• Requires an application with at least 21 days in advance of the event.
• Requires a signed petition by 100% of the affected neighbors.
• Event must conclude by 11 p.m.
• Download the full application here.

Vienna, Oakton and McLean (Fairfax County)

• Requires a “Temporary Special Permit.”
• Must be submitted at least 6 weeks in advance of the event date.
• A detailed list of where, what, who, when and how.
• Download the full application here.

Falls Church City

• Requires an application at least 10 business days in advance of the event date.
• Will only be granted a 4 hour window for the party.
• Requires a notice/invitation be sent to any resident on the block impacted at least 7 days in advance of the event.
• Download the full application here.

Welcome to Luxury For Less, a weekly column highlighting the best deals in luxury real estate. Written by Brandy Schantz of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, Luxury For Less offers tips and tricks navigating the competitive real estate market and securing the home of your dreams. To learn more, visit ttrsir.com.

Last week I was lucky enough to receive an invite to JP Morgan Chase’s Newseum event with HGTV’s Property Brothers.

It was a fun evening, especially since finding fixer upper homes for clients is truly my favorite part of the job. It’s amazing to see the transformation of a home when you put your personal touches on it. I have helped clients pop the top of a home, do a gut remodel and even build brand new.

Remodeling a home or popping the top is a great way to get the home of your dreams without the big price tag. I work with a few amazing builders and designers in this area and you do get instant equity when you do the build/pop top/remodel yourself.

I have a neighbor finishing a home build now for a fraction of what the new builds are selling for in my neighborhood. It takes time and patience but what a great way to get your luxury home for less.

This week I’m featuring a home that has great potential! If you are interested in doing a remodel or pop top, call me to learn more about building your dream home. And a big thank you to JP Morgan Chase for the invite and this week’s inspiration!

2301 Grove Avenue Falls Church (Reduced $25,000)

Check out the rest of this week’s Luxury for Less listings:

• 9121 Mill Pond Valley Drive McLean (Reduced $50,000)
• 9121 Coral Crest Lane Vienna (Reduced $30,000)
• 8224 Madrillon Estates Drive Vienna (Reduced $50,000)
• 9715 Locust Hill Drive Great Falls (Reduced $20,500)
• 1813 Rupert Street McLean (Reduced $30,000)

The properties listed are a small selection of properties available in the Tyson’s Corner area. For a full list of properties listed on MLS and private exclusives, please contact Brandy Schantz.

Address: 1761 Old Meadow Road
Neighborhood: McLean
Listed: From the $600s to $1million+
Open: Coming Fall 2019

Introducing The Bexley by NVHomes, new condominiums located just steps from the McLean Metro Station in Tysons!

These one, two and three-bedroom residences will include fine finishes, outdoor living, garage parking and ample amenities. Join the Priority List today for the lowest pricing available, starting from the $600s to $1million+.

Listed by:
Dani DeSouza
NVHomes
202-759-7900
[email protected]
nvhomes.com/bexley

Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in McLean. Reach the office at 703-790-9090.

It’s almost Fourth of July time in D.C.!

There’s really no place like the Washington monuments to see the fireworks, but if you’re looking for options around town, I’ve got a few places to see them. You can also buy your own at a few places like the Safeway parking lot near Nutley/Lee Highway. Please remember to be safe this holiday!

If you want to be in the middle of it:

Yeonas Park — 1319 Ross Drive SW, Vienna, opens at 7:15 p.m. with fireworks to begin at dark (approx. 9:30 a.m.). A small concession stand will have food and beverages, along with some food trucks. No alcohol and no pets. Parking is available along the street, but will get crowded so plan accordingly. Bring blankets and chairs.

If you want to watch the fireworks but not hear them, park at the top of the Vienna Metro! It doesn’t usually get too crowded and it’s easy to leave if you need to.

Don’t want to keep the kids up late but still want to celebrate?

There’s a Sprinklers and Sparkles at the Vienna Community Center from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., then you can YouTube fireworks for your kids (that’s what we’ve done since my kids couldn’t stay up late enough for the real thing!). The daytime celebration will have water slides, sprinklers, water games, food trucks, music, puppet shoes and crafts.

McLean has a Fourth of July celebration at the Langley High School, with grounds opening at 6:30 p.m. with free onsite parking, along with shuttle buses from the McLean Community Center & St. John’s Episcopal Church, a DJ and food trucks. No pets, smoking, or alcohol.

Falls Church City has their own celebration at George Mason High School — gates open at 6 p.m. The celebration starts with music and food trucks. Fireworks start around 9:20 p.m.

Now some other tips:

Westwood Country Club does their own private show of fireworks that starts around 9:30 p.m. You can see them from the softball fields at the Community Center, you can park on nearby streets (like Fairway Drive NE), or the lot across the street on Mashie Drive.

Here’s a great list of fireworks that don’t happen on the Fourth of July, in case you need an alternative!

One year my husband and I just pulled over on a street in Arlington and got out of the car and stood on the sidewalk watching the downtown fireworks. It really doesn’t matter where you are, just remember what the holiday means and enjoy the show!