Address: 1446 Harvest Crossing
Neighborhood: Evans Farm
Listed: $1,585,000

Luxury townhome in the gated community of Evans Farm, with high-end features throughout.

This townhouse offers 4 finished levels offering 4 spacious BR’s/4.5 BA’s and flex space to fit your needs. Gourmet kitchen with eat-in area, high end stainless steel appliances & open to family room. Open family room space with fireplace and built-ins.

Spacious lower level with optional 5th bedroom, full bathroom, media room, recreation room & storage.

The generous master bedroom suite has a sitting area with extensive built-in storage, plantation shutters and tray ceiling. The laundry center is on the bedroom level for convenience. The upper loft area can be used to fit your needs. Make this space an office, playroom, homework room, etc.

An elevator can be added in this model! Private patio & 2 car garage. Convenient to major transportation routes, McLean Metro, shopping, dining, downtown McLean & Tysons!

Listed by:
Laurie Mensing
Long and Foster/Christie’s
703-965-8133
[email protected]
www.lauriemensing.com

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: Which free real estate sites are accurate and reliable?

Answer: Whether you’re looking to buy or sell a house, you’re tracking home sales in your neighborhood, or you’re just curious about the value of homes these days, chances are that you’ve visited one of many real estate websites. Technology can help make your search a little easier allowing you to view listings, calculate mortgage costs, and find out which businesses and attractions are nearby.

According to a 2017 report from the National Association of Realtors, nearly all homebuyers start their home search online, up from just 44 percent in 2015.

How Do You Know Which Of The Countless Real Estate Sites Are Worth Your Time?

Most used by my clients: Homesnap

The biggest advantage of Homesnap is that it has a partnership with our Multiple Listing Service (MLS) Bright, which is the system of record agents use to enter and manage properties that are coming soon, for sale, under contract and sold. The result is that the status of every property in Homesnap is 100% accurate and that changes are made in real-time vs the delay you see on many other property search sites.

Everything you see in Homesnap reflects exactly what the listing agent enters into MRIS. You can connect directly with your Realtor through Homesnap (click the link to connect with me!) allowing you to send homes you’re interested in directly to your agent.

The chat function allows you and your agent to communicate through the app and keeps a record of the properties you’ve shared back and forth. You can also add multiple people to the chat (like a spouse).

Snap a photo of any home across the nation to get instant property details, including home values, when it last sold, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, taxes, lot boundaries, local school ratings, similar listings and nearby sales.

Other Search Apps

Sites: Zillow, Trulia, Redfin, Homes, Realtor.com, etc.

I grouped these sites together because they essentially do the same thing: search the local multiple listing service (MLS) for properties for sale. Homebuyers can search by city/state or zip code to see current listings, and filter by price, number of beds and baths, property type, square feet, features, age of home and listing activity (e.g., open houses, new listings, price reduced).

Just keep in mind that Zillow and Trulia are not always reliable in terms of what’s for sale and what’s not on the market. They often show properties as currently listed that are not on the market, and vice versa. They have what they call a “Zestimate” of the value of all homes, but they are not always accurate.

MLS Through Your Realtor

The most accurate, up-to-date information available on your real estate market will come through the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS). This is information that licensed realtors and brokers have access to. Your real estate agent can set up email alerts for you based on specific search criteria.

Other Helpful Sites

Greatschools for school ratings.

Walkscore for commute report and options for getting around by car, bus, bike and foot.

Homepath for foreclosure properties owned by Fannie Mae.

What other property search tools do you like or have used in the past? I’d love to hear from you!

Note: Homesnap did not sponsor or review this post.

If you’d like more information, or would like a question answered in my bi-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, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite #10C Arlington, VA 22203, 703-390-9460.

By Criminal Defense Attorney Matthew Wilson of Matthew Wilson Attorney at Law

It was in November of 2019 that the federal government moved closer to passing marijuana legislation.

The House Judiciary Committee passed a bill that would decriminalize marijuana at the federal level. This means that if someone was caught committing what is a marijuana offense today, instead of facing high fines and lengthy jail sentences, they would only receive a ticket, similarly to those handed out for traffic infractions. However, it is unclear if the bill is likely to get much further.

The bill that was passed is known as the “Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act of 2019”. In its short form, the bill is known as simply the “MORE Act”. If passed, the law would remove cannabis from Schedule I of the federal Controlled Substances Act. This schedule also lists drugs such as LSD and heroin. The bill would also impose a five percent sales tax on cannabis sales through the Cannabis Justice Office, an office that would be created for that very task.

However, many people are predicting that the bill will not get much further than the House, and there is a good reason why. The bill must be passed by the entire House, and then the Senate. Of these two moves, gaining approval in the Senate would likely be the most difficult. The Republicans hold a majority in the Senate, and the party has never favored any type of marijuana legalization or decriminalization before.

Even if it does pass through the Senate, it will then go to President Donald Trump’s desk for his signature. Trump has always been extremely vocal about his criticism towards marijuana and has even paid for ads displaying the harmful effects of the substance.

Those that are hoping for marijuana legalization may have to wait to see what happens with the 2020 election. Many of the candidates support decriminalizing the drug, if not fully legalizing it.

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

This year the 73rd Annual Vienna Halloween Parade will take place on Wednesday, October 23 at 7 p.m.

The theme this year is “Famous Children’s Books & Fairytales Brought to Life.” The parade is about half a mile long and lasts about 1.5 hours. The parade route runs from the intersection of Branch/Maple and ends at the library at Center/Maple.

If you’ve never been, here are some tips to help you make the most of the experience!

• People set out chairs and blankets early in the day to reserve their spot. If you want a front row view, I suggest you do the same. The town asks that no one does this before noon on the day of the parade and that revelers stay clear of the sidewalk and benches during the day.
• If you have a flat bed truck, you can back into parking spaces at the shopping centers and sit high to get a better view.
• Some of the groups in the parade are very loud. If you have someone who is noise sensitive, consider bringing something to help them enjoy the parade without the noise.
• There are no food vendors except for the nearby restaurants so plan to bring food if you need it or support a local restaurant.
• Kids in costumes can walk in the parade with an adult if they want to. Participants meet at 6:30 p.m. in the parking lot at United Bank (374 Maple Avenue E).
• Depending on what part of town you live in, you should be able to find parking to easily get out. Many people park at Vienna Elementary, the library, the Giant shopping plaza, side streets, Walgreens shopping center, or the Fresh Market parking lot.

Pro Tip: The Weichert Realtors office at 156 Maple Avenue E holds a haunted house every year from 5:45-7 p.m. They have a designated area for small kids, but they also have a scarier “Haunted Room” if you are looking for bigger thrills. They also give out candy.

The parade is one of my favorite Vienna events!

Bring extra blankets in case it’s cold. In years past, people would jump over to the old Starbucks for hot chocolate on cold nights, but now that’s gone so you’ll still have the Vienna Shopping Center for food (Panera has hot chocolate) and Caffe Amouri is open until 9 p.m. too.

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. 

10427 Lawyers Road, Vienna
4 BD/3.5 BA
Agent: KW Metro Center
Listed: $775,000
Open: Saturday 1-3 p.m. & Sunday 2-4 p.m.

2230 George C Marshall Drive Unit 1105, Falls Church
2 BD/2 BA
Agent: Keller Williams Realty
Listed: $370,000
Open: Sunday 12-2 p.m.

3123 Valley Lane, Falls Church
4 BD/2 BA
Agent: Re/Max West End
Listed: $715,000
Open: Saturday & Sunday 2-4 p.m.

2304 Riviera Drive, Vienna
5 BD/3 BA
Agent: Weichert Realtors
Listed: $819,999
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

1437 Spring Vale Avenue, McLean
6 BD/5.5 BA
Agent: Weichert Realtors
Listed: $1,450,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

7022 Hector Road, McLean
6 BD/6.5BA
Agent: KW Metro Center
Listed: $2,299,999
Open: Sunday 1-4 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].

Get in on the ground floor at the new Whole Foods Market at The Boro at Tysons Corner when the soon-to-open store conducts interviews for key leadership and team member positions.

The store is rapidly staffing one of the largest Whole Foods Markets on the East Coast, a store that will offer an array of innovative, customer-centric shopping experiences.

Members of the Whole Foods Market management team will meet prospective supervisor and store support employees on Friday, October 4 and Saturday, October 5. Details for applying are here.

Day and night positions and skill requirements, paying $15 and up depending on experience, range from cashiers and housekeeping to meat and seafood specialists to prepared foods cooks and bakers. Product stockers are needed for each department, including body care, supplements and vitamins; clothing and gifts; and dry goods, bulk, dairy and frozen products. Specialty positions are open throughout the store, including cheese bar, coffee bar, and wine and beer bar.

No prior retail experience is required.

Industry-leading benefits include competitive health benefits, 20 percent in-store discounts, PTO cash-outs, career learning and development opportunities, and week-long health getaways for selected team members.

Begin your career with Whole Foods Market by applying today at this site.

By Criminal Defense Attorney David Clark of David Clark Attorney at Law

In 2018, a new piece of criminal justice reform legislation called the First Step Act was signed into law by Congress.

The First Step Act creates the opportunity for prisoners to work for an early release by engaging in good behavior, job training and counseling. It includes valuable correctional reforms, such as providing inmates access to important medication-assisted treatment and prioritizes placing inmates in facilities closer to their homes.

The act also deviates from the antiquated structure of minimum sentencing and allows judges or juries to decide prison terms that they feel are appropriate for the crime and the criminal. This unique and revolutionary law aims at reducing recidivism, the tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend.

The First Step Act passed with overwhelming bipartisan and presidential support. In the time since its passing, the legislation has been put to the test as to how effective it can be in practice. Since December 2018, the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has seen an increase in 1,700 volunteers within the system. Moreover, 2,471 fair sentencing orders have been granted, 124 compassionate releases have been approved, and 382 elderly offenders have been given the opportunity to serve the remainder of their sentences under home confinement.

Twenty new contacts have been made between employers and the BOP, critically assisting the Ready to Work initiative that provides employment and community reintegration to former inmates.

While the benefits of the First Step Act remain clear, some drawbacks have also become apparent. For example, prisoner Joel Francisco, who was originally serving a life sentence for the distribution of crack cocaine, became involved with the First Step Program 14 years into his sentence. After demonstrating good behavior and engaging in career training and counseling, Francisco was granted an early release. Shortly thereafter, he was accused of a brutal stabbing murder in Providence, Rhode Island.

Francisco’s story is a perfect example of the slow and challenging process of implementing effective criminal justice reform. Even with solutions that exhibit overwhelming stories of success, crime continues to be a prevalent issue in American society.

The benefits of the act may be lost or overshadowed in the wake of cases like Francisco’s where tragic recidivism would not have occurred if not for the First Step Act. Only time will tell whether the First Step Act will eventually be viewed as a success or failure in the slow process of criminal sentencing reform.

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.

This week I am featuring a new build home in Pimmit Hills.

Pimmit Hills is a neighborhood in Tysons Corner that has seen many tear downs and rebuilds, a hallmark of the Tysons Corner area in general. Pimmit Hills was originally developed in the 1950s and consisted of rambler style homes sold to returning WWII and Korean War veterans using their VA loans. The neighborhood is now home to many new build houses. The benefit of buying a new build home in Pimmit Hills is the cost.

The neighborhood is still close to Tysons Corner but home prices are significantly less than neighboring McLean, East Falls Church and Vienna. New build homes in the low $1 million range is becoming more and more impossible in many Tysons Corner neighborhoods but can be found in Pimmit Hills. The neighborhood has a great location in Tysons Corner and is convenient to Washington, D.C.

If you are looking for a very large home but don’t have a budget over $2 million, Pimmit Hills is a great neighborhood to look in. This week’s feature has nearly 7,000 square feet on 3 levels and features a 3 car garage, spacious bedrooms, a 2 level foyer and a large master suite.

To see this beautiful home or any others, you can schedule an appointment by emailing or calling me.

2010 Kilgore Road Falls Church (Reduced $10,000)

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

• 7826 Swinks Mill Court McLean (Reduced $25,000) 
• 10020 Windy Hollow Road Great Falls (Reduced $21,000)
• 2064 Madrillon Road Vienna(Reduced $50,000) 
• 6520 Topeka Road McLean (Reduced $10,000) 
• 9720 Arnon Chapel Road Great Falls (Reduced $50,000)

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.

By Personal Injury Attorney Hung Nguyen of 770GOODLAW, H.Q. (Alex) Nguyen Law Firm, LLC

Humans — not computers — may stand in the way of robocar progress, a recent article reveals. In fact, a study by Axios shows that people caused 81 out of the 88 self-driving car accidents reported in California since 2014. With over 55 companies acquiring permits to test self-driving cars in California alone, more data will surely follow.

Although the testing of robocars is increasing, how quickly self-driving cars enter mainstream roadways depends largely on how humans behave. So, where does this leave someone who is involved in a self-driving car accident — can a robocar be sued? A driver’s negligent conduct often is the cause of a car accident. But, when the driver is a robot, or a combination of both robot and human interaction, where liability lies becomes less obvious.

The unique mix of technology and human involvement in the operation of robocars opens the door to liability concerns. As a result, arguments regarding product liability and employer negligence arise in robocar accident scenarios. The manufacturers of self-driving cars, as well as the developer of the robocar technology, might find themselves subject to liability.

In addition to arguments regarding product liability, vicarious liability arguments may be made regarding the driver’s employer. Where the employer of a negligent human driver fails to offer proper training, the employer’s negligent conduct may give rise to liability.

As testing of robocars continues, the impact human involvement has on self-driving vehicles will continue to be tested as well. With numerous parties potentially liable for self-driving car accidents, it appears the question of whether you can sue a robocar is a question that will likely not be answered anytime soon. What is clear is that for the individual involved in a robocar accident, there are liability arguments to be made and legal recourse to be had.

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

Maybe, just maybe, we’ll actually get a fall season in October where you can breakout pants and a cozy sweater.

I spent Saturday at Cox Farms in 95 degree heat and while still fun, it didn’t quite feel like a Fall Festival! I will say though, their cider donuts are so good! I did a roundup of the September Fall Festivals last month, so rounding that out with the ones in October below! If you had a favorite from September, drop it in the comments so others can plan for next year!

Cox Farms — Centreville, VA
September 14-15, September 21-November 5
Live music, cow milking, farm chores, hayride, tunnels, slides, swings, corn maze, goats, cider, donuts and their market! This is my favorite event all year and I actually hold my client appreciation event here in the fall. You really can’t beat a day in cooler weather walking around their farm!

Great County Farms — Bluemont, VA
September 30-October 31
Fall Pumpkin Harvest Festival featuring pick your own pumpkins (also apples), wagon rides, pig races, Dino shows, Marshmallow roasting, cider pressing, live music, 5-acre play area, donuts and their market. Adult pro tip: Bluemont Vineyard and Dirt Farm Brewing are across the street and the views can NOT be beat. There’s a coupon for tickets on CertifiKid.

Fall For Fairfax-KidsFest — Fairfax, VA
Saturday, October 5, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Sunday, October 6, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Kids fall festival for elementary and pre-school aged children, which includes scarecrow making, pumpkin painting, pony rides, petting zoo, model trains, rides and 75 exhibits and food vendors. This event also has a coupon on CertifiKid.

Oktoberfest — Vienna, VA
Saturday, October 5, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Held on Historic Church Street by the red caboose, the event features live music, games, kids activities, German auto show, lots of food and drinks. *My company, McEnearney, has a booth at the event. Come meet me between 3-7 p.m.*

City of Fairfax Fall Festival — Fairfax, VA
Saturday, October 12, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
The event includes over 400 vendors, children’s activities, 3 stages of music and entertainment, and carnival rides.

Halloween on the Green — Vienna, VA
Saturday, October 19, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Ages 2-10, family fun on the town green, which features crafts, games, storytelling, moon bounce, petting zoo, treats and decorate your own pumpkin.

Reston Farm Fall Fest — Reston, VA
Now until November 5, hours vary based on day
Weekends feature moon bounces, moon bounce slides, corn maze moon bounce, train rides, dog shows, puppet shows, face painting and food!

Town of Vienna Halloween Parade — Vienna, VA
October 23, 7 p.m.
A fabulous tradition that runs along Maple Avenue from Branch to Center Street. Read my tips on attending the parade from last year.

Amazing Farm Fun — Ticonderoga Farm, Chantilly, VA
Now until November 3, hours vary
Long list of activities includes hayrides, jumping pillows, tunnels and slides, petting farm, tire play, cowtrain, firepits and s’mores, and more.

Jack’s Pumpkin Glow — Reston, VA
Now until October 27, hours vary
A 1/3 mile train filled with over 5,000 hand carved jack o’lanterns into amazing structures. Buy tickets ahead of time. Tickets can be pricey, so check out the 20% off coupon on Certifikid.

Butler’s Orchard Pumpkin Festival — Germantown, MD
Weekends until November 3
Admission is $12/person and includes hayrides, jump pad, corn maze, giant slides and more. There’s also food available like cider, donuts, kettle corn and more. You can pick your own pumpkins, do a pumpkin cannon, face painting and pony rides.

Pumpkin Village at Leesburg Animal Park — Leesburg, VA
Open everyday, hours vary
Festival activities include wagon rides, giant slides, zip line, moon bounce, corn bin, hay maze, pony rides, animals, moon bounce pillow and more.