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].

Downtown McLean Townhouse
McLean Crest Community

Description: 3 BR/4.5 BA/2,400 sq. ft. townhouse with 2-car garage, built in 2006 in McLean Crest community. Walk to downtown McLean shops and restaurants. Within Franklin Sherman ES, Longfellow MS, and McLean HS boundaries. Currently tenant occupied with option to purchase with tenant or purchase at end of lease.
Price: Mid $900’s

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 moving to Tysons and would like to get a dog. Is there a dog friendly neighborhood near Tysons?

Answer: Yes and yes! It’s no secret that homebuyers love dogs and now they are starting to influence the decisions they make about housing.

A recent survey by SunTrust Mortgage found that a third of millennials who purchased their first home said they were influenced by the need to have space for a dog. For those with dogs, renting can be more expensive and a hassle; home ownership takes some of the stress off by providing a better living situation.

I mean, who can resist dogs? They love you unconditionally, they can cheer up your worst days and they’re the number 3 reason young people are buying their first homes — ahead of marriage or having a baby.

If you have dogs you know that they need daily exercise, which is more than just a walk, no matter what the weather is like. I’ve personally discovered that having a dog park nearby can help you exercise and socialize your dog.

I took my volunteers Ringo, Pepper and Parker on a field trip to test some dog parks and even when it was a rainy day, they took their jobs very serious!

Fairfax County has many great dog parks. Here are the parks closest to Tysons that we visited during our research:

The Mile Dog Park

Located off of Westbranch Drive and Westpark Drive. I could not find a specific address but that’s the closest intersection. It’s a round fenced park with gravel, which makes it mud free on rainy days. There is plenty of street parking and according to a regular visitor, the park never gets too busy.

There is no separation for small and big dogs. It has benches for owners and the park is clean with many trash cans and free bags for cleanup. I noticed there are no trees around so it must be very sunny during summer.

There were no toys available for dogs so bring your own tennis balls to play fetch!

My awesome volunteers ran a few laps around the park and seemed to love it. Just make sure you bring water with you because there are no fountains available.

A great feature for families: there is a playground right next to the park, so you can take your human child and your furry child out for some fun at the same time.

Vienna Dog Park

The Vienna Dog Park is located at 700 Courthouse Road, SW. The parking lot is off of Old Courthouse Road. If the lot is full, patrons can park up the hill at Nottoway Park basketball courts.

The Vienna Dog Park offers a doggie and human water fountain, fully shaded wood chip surface, many trees, a fully fenced area that’s 5 feet high with double gates and agility equipment.

The park can get very busy on evenings and weekends, but that means that your pup will have many friends to play with!

Life Is Easier When You Know The Rules

Here’s a few tips to help you and your dog enjoy the awesome dog parks Fairfax County has to share:

• Safety first: do not unleash your dog until it’s safe in a gated area.
• Always lock your car and don’t leave valuables on sight.
• Dog parks usually have double gates for safety. Make sure one is always locked before opening the other.
• Keep your dogs up to date with their rabies shots.
• Always clean up after your dog.
• Make sure dogs have clean, drinking water.
• Be responsible for your dog’s behavior. If he plays too rough, acts aggressive, or he seems threatened by another dog, just remove him from the situation. Dogs get over it quickly!
• If you bring children to the dog park, expect them to be approached and kissed by the dogs. They think they’re puppies too! If your kids are scared of dogs, it’s better not to bring them inside the park.

I Want A Dog

I’ll be more than happy to help you with that! Dogs bring you joy and happiness, and they can also make you more active and healthy. So think for a minute, if they can save your life, maybe you should consider a rescue!

I’m a strong believer in adopting over buying a dog. Did you know that when you adopt a pet, you make space in the shelter for another homeless animal? So you’re technically rescuing two!

Check out your local humane society. You can adopt, donate or volunteer.

Ringo the foxhound was adopted from Fairfax County Animal Shelter, a rescue with 90% adoption success. All pets are neutered and adoption fees are low. They host children’s birthday parties at the shelter and they include games, shelter tours, pet visits and optional crafts. What a great idea!

Pepper is a rescue from Fairfax Humane Society.

You can also look at Friends of Homeless Animals, a no kill shelter and Wolf Trap Animal Rescue.

If you are considering buying a home with enough space for a pet, I’ll be thrilled to help you. Please contact me at [email protected] to schedule a consultation and we can discuss neighborhoods and options for you. I’ll be happy to visit an animal shelter with you too!

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.

Anyone who has visited Republik Coffee (7915 Jones Branch Dr) might have noticed that the building it’s located in is “Highgate at the Mile.” But what exactly is The Mile?

The Mile is a proposed development aimed at transforming 39 acres of office park east of Tysons Galleria into 13 mixed-use buildings. The Mile development would include residential, retail, office, hotel and storage locations.

The Mile is set to be a mixture of high-rise and mid-rise residential and commercial structures, with the ground floor reserved for retail uses. According to the application:

The goal is a transformation of the existing suburban office park into a vibrant mixed-use community interwoven with parks, open spaces, and public gathering areas. The proposal will replace the existing mid-rise office buildings and substantial surface parking typical of an older suburban office park and help transform Tysons Corner into the urban environment envisioned by the County.

The first of the new developments proposed, simply referred to as Building A in the application, would be a seven-story residential building with 280-425 units. Building A would be located just west of Highgate.

The development application for Building A also includes the first stage of a series of street improvements planned for the new development to improve connectivity between the potential development sites.

Plans for the development were submitted late last year but, according to the Fairfax County website, no Planning Commission or Board of Supervisors hearings have been scheduled.

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

Happening Now: Meadowlark Winter Walk of Lights
Daily, 5:30 p.m.

Meadowlark Botanical Gardens transforms into a half mile walk of amazing light displays with music. You can buy tickets online with the first entrance starting at 5:30 p.m.. At the end, there’s a big fire pit and a S’mores Snack Shop (the kids favorite part!).

The event runs everyday until January 6 and you can buy tickets online here.

Vienna Turkey Trot
Sunday, November 18, 8 a.m

Kids Fun Run, 5k and 10k race starting at 8 a.m.

Northern Virginia Handcrafters Guild Art & Craft Show
Friday, November 23, 10 a.m.

Northern Virginia Handcrafters Guild hosts their annual Art & Craft show at the Vienna Community Center where approximately 60 artists offer handmade pieces. Admission is $5 and you can learn more here.

Reston Town Center Holiday Parade
Friday, November 23, 11 a.m.

Macy’s style balloons, musicians, dancers, antique cars, characters, dignitaries and more come together at Reston Town Center for a 1-hour, half mile parade along Market Street.

The event includes Santa and Mrs Clause, along with photos, a mini-train ride and later in the day, the tree lighting and sing along. They usually hand out bells and the stores surrounding are open. You can find more info here.

2018 Church Street Holiday Stroll
Monday, November 26, 6 p.m.

Hosted on Church Street in front of the Freeman Store and Museum, you’ll find Santa on his fire truck at 6:15 to help the mayor light the Holiday Tree. There will be music, marshmallow-roasting stations and crafts.

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].

Investor or HGTV Lover Ready in Sleepy Hollow
3440 Sleepy Hollow Road
Falls Church, VA 22044

Description: Over 2,600 total sq. ft. 3 large bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms on main level. Lower level has bonus room with full bath, den, laundry, storage and family room. Unfinished two car garage. Plenty of parking, large front and back yard. No HOA.
Price: $575,000 or best offer
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].

(Updated at 12:15 p.m.) While Tysons may have been snubbed in the final rundown of Amazon headquarters locations, if the second headquarters (HQ2) opens in Crystal City, Tysons may reap some of the benefits and avoid the pitfalls.

Crystal City is potentially one of two locations selected as Amazon’s second headquarters.

“The Crystal City location for HQ2 would generate new [potential] households for Fairfax County,” said Stephen Fuller, head of George Mason University’s Stephen S. Fuller Institute. “Tysons would be well positioned, given its Silver Line service/connection to Crystal City.”

Fuller also said an influx of new jobs means more demand for residential and commercial space.

“These new households will generate demands for local consumer and retail services that would fit into Tysons,” said Fuller. “HQ2 will also generate other business locations and Tysons is well positioned to attract some of these. So, HQ2 would be good news for Tysons.”

Salah Hassan, Professor of Strategic Brand Management at George Washington University’s School of Business, went one step further and said the HQ2 in Crystal City might even benefit Tysons more than if the headquarters had been located in Fairfax County.

“This is going to be a big plus for Tysons,” said Hassan. “I think Tysons will reap the benefits without having to suffer from the traffic issues that may come as a result.”

Dodging the traffic bullet comes as particularly good news for areas like McLean, which has struggled with commuter traffic going to and from Tysons. Traffic cutting through McLean neighborhoods has gotten so dire the Virginia Department of Transportation is currently considering closing access to the Beltway from one McLean artery.

But in addition to crowding the region’s already strained infrastructure, there are concerns that the new Amazon headquarters could squeeze out smaller tech companies and send area rents skyrocketing. Housing affordability is already strained in Tysons.

While Crystal City might be most poised to reap the immediate benefits of businesses hoping to crowd in close to the new Amazon headquarters, Hassan said Tysons’ proximity to Dulles could make it a valuable alternative for companies looking for international access.

“Tysons is a gateway for international travelers going in and out of Dulles,” said Hassan, noting that Reagan National Airport near Crystal City is domestic-only. “Tysons is ready with a big build up. Tysons is rising, and it will be the international gateway for HQ2.”

Hassan also said it’s likely for those moving to the region for HQ2 to look to Tysons for shopping, with Tysons fitting the sweet spot of not feeling as dense as Arlington or Washington, D.C. while still remaining Metro accessible.

But Hassan added Tysons will need to get moving on plans to build educational facilities if it wants to really capitalize on the new HQ2 talent pool. Hassan said that Tysons will be one of the only American cities of its size without a university.

“Tysons needs more in terms of education and support with professional development programs and training,” said Hassan. “The tech industry is going to start to flourish around Arlington and Tysons corridor to support this big giant moving into our backyard. There is a lot of opportunity for education in addition to residential and commercial.”

At the Tysons 2050 event in October, regional experts agreed that Tysons was going to have to encourage a higher education facility to locate in the area. Rodney Lusk, director of National Marketing for Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, said that by 2050 Tysons would need two performing arts centers and at least one research university if it wanted to become anything more than just a commuter hub.

Photo courtesy Crystal City BID

Tysons may be in a long–running effort to drop the “Corner” from the name, but the Tysons Corner Center mall is still the most iconic location in the area. It’s a corner that has gone through some substantial changes over the years.

The mall celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. The Fairfax County Historic Imagery Viewer, which collects aerial photography of the county over time, shows the mall’s evolution from a grassy field to a sprawling urban center. As we did with development near Tysons Galleria and the Greensboro Metro station, we’re sharing a glimpse of Tysons Corner Center over the years.

The oldest photos date from 1937, when the area was more cows than people. The area was known as Tysons Crossroads, with the main local stores being Crossroads Market and Tysons Corner Market.

In 1976, the aerial photos shows the beginning of substantial changes in the area. The mall, constructed in 1969, had already started spurring some small development across Leesburg Pike. Also new in the 1976 photo is the Capital Beltway east of the mall, which was completed in 1964.

By 1990, the development across Leesburg Pike had continued apace. To the south, development of the Towers Crescent was still nearly ten years away. The mall itself had also undergone expansion in 1988, adding new anchor tenants like Lord & Taylor and Nordstrom.

In 2017, one of the biggest aerial changes to the mall is the addition of the Tysons Corner Metro station located on Chain Bridge Road. The Towers Crescent development south of the mall also filled the space at the corner of the Beltway and Leesburg Pike, including the addition of tech firm MicroStrategy. In the wake of the announcement that MicroStrategy would be expanding its headquarters, the Towers Crescent developers are allegedly looking to sell the property.

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: Are funding fees on VA loans Eligible for Seller Credits?

Answer: Loans guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs are known as VA loans and provide current and former Service members with an opportunity to purchase a home with as little as 0% down.

In addition to the normal closing costs (title fees, transfer taxes, etc), a funding fee is charged at settlement, which is equal to anywhere from 1.25-3.3% of the loan amount, depending on size of down payment, type of service and whether or not it’s the borrower’s first time using the VA loan program. It’s a fee paid to the VA on every loan to offset the cost of loans that default (similar to Mortgage Insurance on non-VA loans).

Disabled veterans are eligible to have the entire fee waived.

Buyers can negotiate for seller credits to reduce or eliminate the out-of-pocket expense of closing costs at settlement. Fortunately, the funding fee falls into this category, along with the rest of the standard closing costs associated with a VA loan, and buyers are eligible to have all of these costs covered by the seller.

In theory, if a buyer is able to negotiate 100% of closing costs paid by the seller and chooses a 0% down payment loan, a home can be purchased cash-free.

If the buyer is unable to negotiate seller credits to cover the funding fee, they’re also allowed to roll the funding fee into the mortgage so that it becomes part of their monthly payment.

Did You Know?

I spoke with Myles Wilson, Private Mortgage Banker with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, and he provided a list of things most veterans don’t know about VA home loans:

• Most people think a VA loan max is $454,150, when actually financing is available up to $1,500,000.
• It is a myth that you can use your VA entitlement option once and only to purchase your first home. If you purchased a home with a VA loan, you can sell it and pay off the VA loan completely, and you can re-use your benefit to buy another home. Your entitlement is restored in full.
• Most people think you cannot assume a VA loan. They are 100% assumable for veterans and non-veterans if qualified.
• Borrowers are not limited to fixed rates only. Wells Fargo provides 5/1 arms and various fixed options.
• VA loans are available for the purchase of condos, planned unit developments, manufactured homes and 2-4 unit properties.
• Many think active duty or deployed service members cannot use their VA benefit. Many depending on length of service are eligible for entitlement.
• Reserves and National Guard are eligible as well, their funding fee is slightly higher at 2.4% compared to 2.15% for regular military.

Advantages Of VA Loans Read More

While Dominion Square starts to heat up development prospects west of the Spring Hill Metro station in Tysons, a series of developments are proposed to transform the area to the north and east of the station.

The most attention-getting of the proposed developments is the 600-foot tall skyscraper “Iconic Tower”, part of a redevelopment of the block south of Tyco Road into a complex called The View. Developer Clemente Development Co. announced in August that the tower would be switching to all-office rather than residential. It is set to break ground next year.

But just to the north across Tyco Road, two developments proposed earlier this year could pick up the residential demand dropped by Iconic Tower.

The Audi Tysons Corner and Tesla dealerships along the north side of Tyco Road are proposed by developer Georgelas LLC to be redeveloped as West Spring Hill Station and North Spring Hill Station respectively.

Like The Adaire located on the southern side of Tyco Road, these developments are proposed to become mixed-use developments with office, retail, hotel and residential areas.

The proposed North Spring Hill Station would replace the existing low-rise Tesla dealership with new high-rise buildings.

One tower is planned to be either a residential tower at 300 feet tall with 385 units or a commercial building with 350,000 square feet of office use and a maximum height of 230 feet.

The two other towers are planned residential, with one being 300 feet tall with 400 residential units and the other being 270 feet tall with 270-360 units.

Meanwhile at West Spring Hill Station, a series of towers are planned to mix residential units with a 170,000 square-foot hotel and retail space, replacing the Audi dealership.

The plans for North and West Spring Hill Station were submitted in September and are scheduled to begin a county staff review in late November. The exact construction timeline after that is unclear.

Professor Frank Shafroth, director of the Center for State and Local Leadership at George Mason University, said that crowding around the other Metro stations in Tysons is driving up real estate values and property taxes, which makes outlying areas like Spring Hill Road Metro station more fiscally attractive to developers.

But some changes won’t be as dramatic and the auto dealerships that define the area today won’t completely disappear.

Crown Tysons Properties has an application under review at the Department of Planning and Zoning for 8600 Leesburg Pike, currently a warehouse and automobile storage facility. This is a rezoning and special exception application to allow the building to be converted into a new automobile dealership just south of Koons Tysons Toyota and Koons Collision Repair Center.

The new dealership is proposed to fall under the same ownership as the Koons dealership to the north, although no changes are proposed for that site.

Photo (2) via Google Maps

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 are many local charities you may not know about that offer great opportunity to give back this holiday season (and year round).

Committee for Helping Others (CHO)

All volunteer based organization in Vienna, Oakton, Dunn Loring and Merrifield providing emergency financial assistance, food aid, clothing, furniture, meals on wheels and transportation.

For directions to drop off or to pick up, please visit their website.

Bringing Resources to Aid Women’s Shelters (BRAWS)

Bringing empowerment to women and girls living in shelters by providing new undergarments and menstrual supplies. There are several drop off locations around the area, but their office is in Vienna at 303 Maple Avenue in Suite F. You can drop off new bras (tags on), unopened boxes of tampons and pads, and unopened packages of underwear.

Second Story (FKA Alternative House)

Providing a safe haven for children, youth and their families. You can donate hygiene products, food, shoes, clothing, school supplies, office supplies and/or furniture. They have 2 places to donate:

• Administration Office: 8221 Old Courthouse Rd Suite 105, Vienna
• Teen Shelter: 2100 Gallows Road, Vienna
  Check website for donation hours

*They do accept lightly used goods, but won’t begin until January 2. Everything else must be new.

SHARE of McLean

Organization that provides emergency assistance in McLean and surrounding areas. They collect food, used clothing, furniture and help with transportation. They also provide computers and school supplies.

You can donate at their location at McLean Baptist Church (1367 Chain Bridge Road, McLean) every Wednesday and Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. (except Saturdays before Federal Holiday Mondays). For a list of what they need now, click here.

Britepaths (Formerly Our Daily Bread)

Britepaths helps 800 Fairfax County families with Thanksgiving meals, December holiday meals and holiday gifts for their children. You can sponsor a family, donate funds or volunteer.