Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or [email protected].
Now that the fried food and carb overload of the Super Bowl are behind us, we can turn our attention to the sweets and chocolates of Valentine’s Day.
There are many ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day whether you’re shopping for a significant other, child, galentine or someone else you love. Many of our local stores have things to enjoy this weekend. Remember most will require advanced notice if you want something custom!
How about ordering flowers from Karin’s Florist or some food from Bobby’s Bagel Café in Oakton. They have heart-shaped everything — bagels, cookies, chocolate-covered Oreos and strawberries! Check their website for details.
You can also find more sweets at Cocoa Vienna or Cameron’s Coffee & Chocolates, a local nonprofit that employs young adults with special needs. They have a large shop to order from, but you can also find some of their products at Vienna Vintner. Because chocolate and wine. Why not? Maybe you even add a trip to Mesmeralda’s Gifts in McLean, The Artisans or Craving for Chocolate.
My husband and I usually give a stuffed animal or book to our kids on Valentine’s Day, which means a trip to Bards Alley this week.
Vienna and McLean are filled with local little shops to support. Remember most have curbside pick-up, so shop small, support local.
Hoping you have a great Valentine’s Day!
Can’t find your perfect home? Then it might be time to build it. Purposefully building your next home might be the remedy to today’s low inventory. Whether it is new construction, renovations or additions, you have options to consider. But there are pitfalls that require caution as well as fantastic benefits to keep in mind.
Want to explore some of the options available in Northern Virginia? Here are some active listings to check out with your hard hat on…
New Construction
Arden — New Toll Brothers development off Route 7, 1.3 miles from Tysons Corner and in the Langley Triangle. Priced from $2.207 million, new single-family homes on ¾- to 1+-acre home sites.
Walker Bend Estates — 950 Walker Road, Great Falls is a completed move-in ready $2.79 million GE Custom Home with 6 bedrooms, 8700+ square feet, and open Sundays 1-3 p.m. An adjoining homesite accessible by a private paved road is a 5 acre lot listed for $1.15 million — 954 Walker Road, Great Falls is ready to build with an approved well and 6-bedroom perc.
2000 Clarendon Boulevard, Arlington — 82 new construction condos located in the heart of Court House, 10-foot ceilings and views of D.C. Two units remain, including a 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom unit for $679,900.
The Townhomes at Reston Station — EYA’s newest neighborhood with easy access to the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station boasts new construction townhomes that start in the upper $700k and elevator townhomes like 1831 Wiehle Ave #THE BAKER MODEL, Reston that start in the upper $900k.
Renovations
425 N. Alfred Street, Alexandria is currently listed as Coming Soon for $1.095 million. This could be the perfect solution for buyers looking to choose the finishes but not direct the work themselves. You can help determine some details in the renovation of this 1880 detached Old Town rowhome with close to 2000 square feet, two parking spots, a spacious backyard and only a few blocks from King Street.
Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or [email protected].
It’s Beer Consumption Day in America — I mean, it’s Super Bowl Sunday this week! It’s also looking to be a Pandemic Sunday where we get three to five inches of snow in the DMV area.
All of that makes it hard to throw a big Super Bowl party this year, but there are other ways to celebrate. It happens to be one of my favorite days of the year, even as a long-suffering Eagles fan.
As is common in my posts, I’m going to throw out some takeout ideas to save you from cooking:
- Mama Tigre: They have this amazing looking platter available that includes queso, chips, guacamole, spicy masala queso, chicken wings, flautas and more.
- Bear Branch: Wings! Both fried and grilled are available.
- Foster’s Grille: Wings, burgers, fries, onion rings… Order early — they often sell out!
- Caboose Commons or Tavern: Fried pickle chips (so good!), wings and burgers
- Maple Ave: Crème fraîche wings
- Red Apron: One of my favorite local burgers — they have so many great options for watching football.
- Taco Bamba: Their wings! And nachos!! They have a “big game platter” option.
- Fermented Pig: Ribs, chicken, sides… all the barbecue your heart could want.
- Pizza: We are lucky to have so many good pizza options around town. Try Church St, Union Pie (gluten-free options!), Tony’s, Pizza Roni, Santini’s, Luciano or Mod.
Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or [email protected].
The Washington Post did an article back in October about safety tips when visiting a playground. They also talked about how important getting outside is for kids during the pandemic. Move their body, get creative, maybe even see other human beings — even if from afar.
I have two boys who need to be moving constantly or they start trying to get stimulation by annoying each other, so I’m a big fan of sending them outside to move. Maybe you’re new to the area, maybe you’re just looking for an escape, but here are some great resources on playgrounds around Northern Virginia:
- A map of playgrounds within 15 minutes of Vienna — created by a very generous Vienna mom. This includes the elementary schools, preschools and public playgrounds.
- Instagram Account: @PlaygroundsofNOVA
- DC Area Moms put together a list of their favorite DMV playgrounds.
- Northern Virginia Magazine wrote up a list of 50 parks.
- If you’re looking more for parks than playgrounds, then try this list from TripSavvy.
If you find a hidden gem we should all know about, please share it in the comments below!
Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or [email protected].
Based on my predictions for 2021, you now know that we’re in a fast-moving real estate market that’s very seller friendly. With low inventory, our marketplace is fast and furious with new properties that hit the market.
What you don’t see is the months of work that go into getting a seller ready to sell or a buyer ready to buy. In this market, if you’re not prepared, you’re immediately at a disadvantage. So to help you prepare if buying or selling a house is on your 2021 goals list, here are my top five things to do now:
1. Speak to a lender.
This is critical. Rates are really low — below 3% — but knowing how much you can afford is critical. Even more important: If you have a house to sell, you MUST know if you need to sell that house first before you can buy, or if you can buy without selling. Knowing the order those must happen in will drive your entire process. A good real estate agent will lay out options for both scenarios, based on your risk aversion, and come up with a plan on how to move forward.
2. Ask colleagues, friends, and neighbors for referrals for a real estate agent.
Talk to a real estate agent earlier than you think you need to. Some of my clients have been shocked by how little they really need to do to get a house ready to sell or what small items will make a bigger impact than they expect. Going room by room with a plan and prepping early will have big returns. Maybe you want to explore staging your home — find out how much that is. Information is power — power for you to make decisions that are right for you. Remember when picking a Realtor® you’ll be working closely with that person for months, so make sure you trust them!
3. Prep your home to sell using trusted contractors.
Changing lighting fixtures, painting some walls, deep cleaning, etc. Whatever your agent suggests (and you’re comfortable doing!) to prep your home, make sure you have trusted contractors to help get the projects done. You can always download my vendor guide for free.
4. Write a must-have versus nice-to-have list.
This is for the buyers, especially when there’s more than one buyer. Make sure you’re on the same page with what you’re looking for. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen people argue over a house. It’s TOTALLY NORMAL. It happens all the time. But that doesn’t make it better. House hunting is stressful, so anything you can do to minimize the additional stress is key!
5. Scout the areas.
Figuring out where you want to live is hard when you’re not familiar with the neighborhoods. Do you want Metro access? Do you want an HOA with a pool? Do you want land and no neighbors for miles? This goes hand-in-hand with the must-have list. Drive around. Ask your real estate agent for suggestions on where to start. If you have specific needs (e.g. one-mile radius of a Metro), those are very easy searches for us to run online for you. It gives you a place to start. Realtors are bound by fair housing rules, so we can’t always tell you if the neighborhood is family friendly etc. I recommend stopping to chat with neighbors out walking. They’ll be the best able to answer questions on the neighborhood.
BONUS: If you’re thinking of building, this is a bonus for you.
You MUST talk to a construction lender to understand the process, and you MUST start interviewing builders. Are you going with a design/build company, which is a one-stop shop? Are you going to hire an architect and then a builder? Do you know what lot size you need and elevation? All of that is SO critical in looking for lots. Often times lots don’t always hit the open market, so knowing which way you plan to go with a builder must be in place.
Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or [email protected].
I heard it snowed in Texas this weekend but not here!
While it’s cold, we’re having a pretty mild winter for the Northern Virginia area. I remember the one two-hour snow we had in December and how much fun my kids had playing in it.
So with that in mind, if you’re thinking of a day or weekend trip to go skiing, snowboarding, tubing or just to be a snow lodger, here are some suggestions for local ski resorts to visit from Northern Virginia:
- Massanutten (Massanutten, Virginia) — Skiing, snowboarding, tubing, waterpark, golf and more. About a two-hour drive.
- Wisp Resort (McHenry, Maryland) — Skiing, snowboarding, tubing, mountain coaster, ropes courses, golf (and P.S. in the summer they have whitewater rafting, kayaking, pontoon boat tours and more). About three hours away.
- Liberty Mountain Resort (Fairfield, Pennsylvania) — Skiing, snowboarding, tubing and golf. About 90 minutes away, great for a day trip.
- Whitetail Resort (Mercersburg, Pennsylvania) — Skiing, snowboarding, tubing and golf. About an hour and a half to two hours away, also great for a day trip.
- Bryce Resort (Basye, Virginia) — Skiing, snowboarding, tubing and ice skating. About two hours away.
- Timberline Mountain (Davis, West Virginia) — Skiing and snowboarding. About three hours away.
- Blackwater Falls State Park (Davis, West Virginia) — Sled run, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing — a little different than some of these resorts. Sled run requires appointment. About three hours away.
Don’t forget to check COVID-19 instructions. Pennsylvania requires a negative covid test 72 hours before entering the state. You can also check out ski schools but most require advance reservation — same with ski tickets.
You can also explore rentals at Sun & Ski Sports in Falls Church, which may be cheaper than renting at the mountain.
Are you working from home? Or is it really living at work?
Fasten your seatbelts… or, should I say tighten those drawstring pants… we are in this for the long-haul, D.C. According to a recent study of more than 400 local employers, 45% of D.C. metro-area employers with 20-plus employees plan to shift some of their workforce to a permanent telework schedule.
The implications of such a major demographic shift will be felt well after the COVID-19 pandemic is behind us. How will the dramatic acceleration of telecommuting impact the way you live and work at home?
Here are six key questions we must ask about our current spaces:
1. Do you need more space?
The office you used to go to likely had conference space, break rooms and dedicated workstations. Does your home have that now, too?
Your current space may not have been designed for working and living. With home prices continuing to post gains (Northern Virginia’s average sales price in November 2020 was $675,290, up 7.7% from the November 2019 average price of $627,088), it might be the right time to sell and seek out more space.
7820 Frances Drive Alexandria, VA 22306 — $675,000 charming and expanded 5-bedroom Cape Cod sits on a generous 0.77-acre lot
2. Is open concept working for you?
Having dedicated office space does not mean perching up on the kitchen table and angling your Zoom camera to hide the family room behind you. While open concept has enhanced sight lines and brought families together, a post-COVID world ushers back the ‘closed-concept’ and single-use rooms.
1411 Key Blvd #311 Arlington, VA 22209 — $1,065,000 sun-filled 2-bedroom plus den in the heart of Rosslyn
3. Would the suburbs or a small town make sense now that you don’t have to go into an office?
Compared to last year, we have seen a 105% increase in demand for small towns (defined as populations ranging from 10,000 to 50,000 people). If going into the office is only required by your employer one to two days per month, what would be your tolerance for a one-hour commute?
38085 Homestead Farm Lane Middleburg, VA 20117 — $689,000 3-bedroom farmhouse buffered by woods and a creek
4. Is your internet up to speed?
Did you know your realtor can help you find a house with certain internet capabilities? The Bright MLS, only accessible by licensed agents, now has a new feature allowing us to search properties with broadband or fiber optics, ensuring the necessary work-from-home connectivity.
5. How is your outdoor space serving you?
Whether it is a pool, patio, deck or chaise lounge, these spaces can be key for stepping away from work or enhancing your Zoom backgrounds. Sometimes these views speak for themselves, pulling us to our next home…
612 Rivercrest Drive, Mclean, VA 22101 — $12.8 million 5-bedroom, 9-bathroom is a castle on the river and boasts 85 feet of water’s edge on the Potomac
6. Is it time to purchase a second home?
The third quarter of 2020 brought a 42% surge in luxury home sales. While some are looking for a larger home in the DMV, others may want to seek out a vacation home that provides a separate oasis. Whether it’s the Eastern Shore, Outer Banks, the Jersey Shore or Cape Cod, we can help you find your second home sanctuary.
4 Ministers Lane, Chatham, MA, 02650 — $5.95 million shingle-style waterfront with breathtaking Chatham Harbor and Atlantic Ocean views
Need a home office? Better view? Or perhaps a second home? Contact me today and let’s explore your options together.
Mackenzie Horne, MBA is a licensed REALTOR® in the Commonwealth of Virginia with McEnearney Associates in McLean. Send Mackenzie a message at 571-594-9136, [email protected] or @MackHorneRealtor.
The ever-evolving “security threat landscape” and changes in user behavior and IT infrastructure require IT professionals to keep their knowledge up to date and stay on top of the latest trends and developments.
Earning a 100% online Master of Information Technology or graduate certificate with cybersecurity specialization from Virginia Tech can help individuals meet these heightened demands in a number of ways.
Ranked one of the top online master’s degree for cybersecurity by Cyberdegrees.org and one of the top four online graduate IT programs nationwide by U.S. News and World Report, Virginia Tech’s VT-MIT program takes a unique approach to specialized education.
Core courses in areas such as information systems design, electronic commerce, software engineering and computer programming help students master technical expertise in a business context. After completing these core courses, degree students can choose to specialize in cybersecurity technologies, cybersecurity management or cybersecurity policy. Virginia Tech also offers these topic areas as standalone graduate certificates for those not pursuing the full degree.
Whether interested in running an in-house cybersecurity practice or exploring the legal and ethical concerns triggered by data breaches, students have the opportunity to tailor their education around their career ambitions.
Part of Virginia Tech’s core strength is its world-class cybersecurity research, supported by $15 million in research grants and contracts. Students can access six cybersecurity research centers, including the Ballston-based Hume Center for National Security and Technology.
The VT-MIT program’s 100% online format allows students to pursue higher education at their own by deciding their own course load each semester. Further enriching the student environment is the program’s openness to students with diverse backgrounds and interests, including business line leaders looking to improve their technology capabilities while leveraging their domain expertise.
Combating today’s cyber threats has never been more difficult — or more critical to business continuity. A Master of Information Technology degree with cybersecurity specialization or standalone graduate certificate from Virginia Tech can help leaders better understand the systemic nature of these threats and teach them strategies for dealing with an increasingly complex security landscape.
Learn more about Virginia Tech’s 100% online Master of Information Technology with cybersecurity specializations at vtmit.vt.edu.
Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or [email protected].
Happy New Year!
Those of us with Q1 birthdays are the last to experience a pandemic birthday. I’m trying to remember what we did for my husband’s April birthday, and when I couldn’t remember anything (oops), I decided it was time to give some options to make sure next year I remember.
Everyone still has different levels of comfort, so some of these ideas are really simple and others are more extravagant. Some are great whether you’re an adult or for kids. Remember: Birthdays are also calorie free — so don’t forget about splurging on food!
1. Card My Yard
2. Private Rental
- Angelika — You can watch a current movie or bring your own Blu-Ray or game to watch on the big screen.
- Cinemark (Fairfax) — It has reclining seats. Enough said. Sit back, relax and watch a current movie.
- Reston Ice Skating — You can rent the entire rink for 1 or 2 hours.
- Rent out a restaurant — like Bazin’s Next Door for your “bubble.”
3. Private Class
- Chocolate-tasting/making with River Sea Chocolates
- Cooking class (virtual) with Chef Jonathan Krinn of Clarity or private dining at your house — you have to follow him on Facebook for details.
4. Visit from the Vienna Singing Princesses
5. Visit from the Vienna Police or Vienna Fire Department
6. Paint your own pottery at Kiln and Co. or All Fired Up
7. Outings
- Head to Top Golf.
- Play Oak Marr Mini Golf, or hit the driving range.
- Take a hike.
- Explore a new restaurant.
- Go for a drive.
8. Petting Zoo
- My Pet Alpaca — a visit with two fluffy alpacas.
- Ponies Plus — Pony rides and petting zoo
Regardless of how you celebrate your birthday or those of your loved ones, wishing you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year with countless birthdays ahead!
Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in Vienna. You can follow Laura on Instagram at @LauraSchwartzRealtor or her Facebook page. Laura can be reached at 703-283-6120 or [email protected].
This week marks a week of favorite traditions for some and a sad week for others. Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, everyone seems to have their own idea what makes this week unique and memorable. I’m sharing some ideas for those who want to change or add what they do this week.
Let’s start with giving back.
The restaurant Medium Rare is making 3,000 meals that’ll be delivered this week to those in need. They have locations in Cleveland Park, Bethesda and Arlington. They are looking for people to help deliver 10 meals at a time. You pick a location and a time, and upon your arrival are given 10 drop locations and the food. I’m signed up to deliver today and tomorrow, and I’m bringing my kids with me. Delivery is contactless. Sign up online.
“Winter Mitzvah Day” at Temple Rodef Shalom in Falls Church: Christmas Day is always a day of giving back at the temple but will be scaled back this year, obviously due to COVID-19. Some ideas of ways they’re giving, and you can join: Winter coat drive in front of the school entrance, food drive collection box at the temple, buy a “McLean Cares” meal for $10 plus a $1.50 tip from a McLean restaurant to help feed low income families. Learn more about each option.
Now let’s talk food.
Whether you’re looking for a take out meal for brunch on Christmas morning, or a full dinner to feed your family, many local restaurants are doing take out.
Oh, and if you want Chinese food? There’s plenty of that, too.
Some restaurants to check out for take out:
- Clarity in Vienna
- Bazin’s in Vienna
- Caboose in Vienna
- Founding Farmers in Tysons
- Café Renaissance in Vienna
- J. Gilbert’s Wood-Fired Steaks & Seafood
- Assaggi Osteria
- Aracosia McLean
- Capri Ristorante Italiano
- Wildfire
- Eddie V’s
- Nostos Restaurant
- Randy’s Prime
- Patsy’s American
- Red Apron in Mosaic
- Northside Social
- China Wok
- Peking Gourmet
- Lotus Garden
Finally, what about entertainment?
If your tradition usually includes going to see a movie on Christmas Day and you’re not comfortable going into a theater of random people, did you know you can buy out a theater? For around $100 you can rent out a private screening for up to 20 people.
Regardless of how you spend the week — wishing you and yours a safe and healthy holiday.
