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].
Next weekend we get to celebrate Presidents’ Day with a long weekend that promises to hit 50 degrees!
With the weather getting better, I know I’m craving a change of scenery for a while. If you’re looking to plan a quick getaway, try one of these ideas (or save the outdoor ones involving water for warmer days!)
Outdoor Getaways
- Colonial Beach, Virginia: Colonial Beach is about 90 minutes away from Tysons. It has easy parking, is on the Potomac River (so very few waves), has shallow water and there’s a fishing pier. You’ll find a cute snow cone and ice cream spot, too. (Try the chocolate éclair ice cream!)
- Aquia Landing Park in Stafford, Virginia: About an hour from Tysons, this is a popular fishing spot and beach for swimming. Note there’s a fee for parking.
- Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis, Maryland: An hour from Tysons, Sandy Point is a popular beach before the Chesapeake Bay Bridge with lots of space for distancing. This is a great spot if you just want to escape for a day.
- Mason Neck State Park in Lorton, Virginia: This small hidden gem is located under an hour from Tysons and offers fishing plus canoe and kayak rentals. Be sure to call ahead for a reservation. You’ll also find spots for swimming and walking trails.
- Lake Anna State Park in Spotsylvania, Virginia: About two hours away, you’ll find lots of sand and water for swimming and playing, camping grounds for overnight stays, and walking trails. Tents are not allowed on the beach.
- Calvert Cliffs State Park in Lusby, Maryland: Located about 90 minutes from Tysons, Calvert Cliffs is a Maryland state park featuring fishing, swimming and walking trails. It’s $7 per car for day use if you’ve got Virginia state plates.
Noteworthy Stays
- Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg, Virginia: Here you’ll find a spa, restaurants, wineries, an infinity pool, hiking trails, zip lining and, for golf fans, access to the club at Creighton Farms.
- The Inn at Little Washington, Washington, Virginia: Find a top-rated restaurant at The Inn, and the quaint town of Washington is perfect for exploring.
- Inn at Perry Cabin in St. Michaels, Maryland: On the beautiful Chesapeake, Inn at Perry Cabin has a spa, restaurants, pool, fitness center, golf and tennis.
- The Inn at Vaucluse Spring in Stephens City, Virginia: This is a romantic bed and breakfast perched along the Shenandoah Valley.
- Nemacolin Resort in Farmington, Pennsylvania: Nemacolin has many types of lodging, a spa, golf, ax throwing, zip lining and tons of restaurant choices.
- The Omni Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia: Filled with historic charm, this huge spa features hot springs, a water park, golf and lots of other family-friendly activities.
- The Tides Inn in Irvington, Virginia: Find a spa, wine trail, sailing school, golf and newly redesigned rooms that open today!
- The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia: This resort contains a spa, a casino, pool, arcade, bowling and so many other activities to keep you busy!
- Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg, Virginia: Located in historic Leesburg, Lansdowne Resort has a spa, golf course and more.
- Tidewater Inn in Easton, Maryland: Explore the spa, luxury accommodations, historic Easton and Hunters’ Tavern.
- Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg, Virginia: Huge indoor waterpark with bowling, an arcade, build-a-bear, laser tag and other entertainment for kids.
Do you have another place to add? Please feel free to comment below or email me and I’ll add it!
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].
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!
How about ordering flowers from Karin’s Florist or some food from Bobby’s Bagel Café in Oakton? They have heart-shaped everything bagels, but require notice for ordering.
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.
Looking for something a little more intimate? Don’t forget about Trousseau in town. Maybe some new-to-you jewelry at Just Like New?
Vienna and McLean are filled with local little shops to support. Remember to shop small and support local.
Hoping you have a great Valentine’s Day!
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].
If you’ve read my posts for a while, you’ll see there’s a theme among many that involve helping to combat child hunger. It’s a cause my husband and I are strong advocates and contributors to.
When my kids were in pre-school, their school held a power pack event where kids as young as three helped put together weekend food packs (2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners, 2 snacks and 2 beverages) for kids in Northern Virginia who need it. It’s a great way to get young (or old) people involved in giving back and taking stock of their own position in life. I brought the idea to the Vienna Mom’s group and their philanthropy team as an event we could do as a community and offered to sponsor it to get the event started.
Man oh man, did the moms show up for this. We packed over 200 bags and have 10+ bags of unopened boxes of food we will be able to donate to Food for Others tomorrow. Here’s the part where this all comes full circle: Food for Others is also being impacted by supply chain issues and are having trouble making these packs. Guys, these are kids in elementary and middle school who don’t have access to enough food over the weekend. Being able to support them in this kind of way is astounding.
I’ve heard of girl scout troops organizing packing events, schools, etc. It’s really, really easy to do and a great way to get your kids involved.
Here are some tips I learned this weekend:
- Make sure you’re very clear on HOW MANY items people need to bring. We had a very large surplus of granola bars, but ran short on lunch/dinner meals like Macaroni and Cheese cups, chili cups and tuna. You must also remember a box of mac and cheese is worthless to them if they don’t have butter and milk to make it. Likewise a metal can of food is worthless if they don’t have a can opener to open it. Make sure you’re very clear on the types of items.
- Space out attendees. We had a lot of people show up in the first 30-45 minutes, so the bulk of the packing was done and the generous people who showed up last didn’t get to pack many bags because we ran out of items.
- Be very specific on how many items go in a bag. There was some confusion on meals. So when you explain that they need lunch and dinner for Saturday AND Sunday, then people understood it was 4 meals, not just 2. We used signs and separated meals by tables.
- They have a great website with how to plan an event, how to put it together, and what to include.
I want to personally thank everyone who donated, showed up, and helped with this event! This photo below is only PART of the finished product.
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 town of Vienna has a rich history of family friendly activities and youth sports is central to all things Vienna!
You might not know where to start if you’re new to the area, or if your kids just recently proclaimed an interest in a new sport, so let me break down some options for you. I’m a former college athlete and my belief is that youth sports should be FUN first and getting better second. Hard stop. So you’ll see I’m going to add some nuances to each league so you can self-select into what feels right for your family.
Baseball
Baseball is a big deal in Vienna. There’s kind of no way to sugarcoat this. If your child is 4 or over, you can check out Vienna Little League (check age requirements to see eligibility). The league starts with T-Ball and goes through the age of 12 to the “majors.” There is a spring season (the usual baseball season) which starts with 1 practice and 1 game and progresses up to 2 games per week plus practice, and a Fall Ball season which is slightly more relaxed and less of a commitment (usually 1 practice + 1 game).
If you’re looking for just an introduction to baseball, the town of Vienna summer camps usually offer multiple weeks of instruction for school aged kids. It’s usually put on by some of the Madison High School baseball players through the MVP program and generally my kids have really enjoyed them (the t-shirt at the end is always a highlight!)
If you’re looking for a lighter version, there’s always fan favorite i9. This is a once week program for ages 3 and over on Sundays. Focus is purely on fun and the kids have so much fun because the staff is always awesome.
Softball
Softball is centered around the Vienna Girls Softball League, with a fall and spring season. They do offer basics for girls ages 3 and 4 and the league goes up to 18 and under. The season usually starts with 1 practice and 1 game and as the girls get older can move into 2 practices and games per week.
Football
Another anchor of the Vienna youth sports community and a staple on Waters Field on Saturdays is the football program through Vienna Youth Inc (VYI). The tackle football program starts at the age of 5 and goes up to the age of 12. They also offer a flag football program for kids aged 5-12.
If you want a once a week program for flag football, i9 also offers a Sunday option for kids age 5-8.
Basketball
VYI offers a house league for basketball for both girls and boys, which starts in Kindergarten. In grade 4, they hold tryouts if the kids want to try a “county” league (which acts like a travel league). The practices are once a week for an hour and then a Saturday game follows.
I’m sure I’ll surprise you here where I mention i9 offers a once a week Sunday option for kids ages 5 and up.
Soccer
Vienna Youth Soccer is a great organization for your young soccer player. They offer fall, winter (called Frosty Fields), and spring soccer season for kids ages 5 and up. The younger kids have a practice during the week and a game on the weekend. VYS holds camps throughout the summer too if you’re looking to expose your child to the sport. One thing I loved about VYS is they do try to keep kids together from the same school.
Cheerleading, Lacrosse, Rugby, Track, Volleyball, Wrestling
I don’t have any personal experience with these leagues, but they are offered through VYI as well. You’ll see the cheerleaders at the VYI Football games showing off their skills too. Again, try i9 if you’re looking for a Sunday option for volleyball, lacrosse, and cheerleading.
Whatever you decide to do, remember that youth sports is about building friendships outside of the classroom and exposing kids to new things. They’re always looking for parent volunteers to help coach so also a great way to make more mom/dad friends!
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].
Tucked away at 112 Pleasant Street NW, Suite A in Vienna is a local spa you need to know about. Locally owned by a Cunningham Park Elementary School mom, Lisa Tep created a haven for all things skin care and self care — Sesen Spa.
The luxurious and serene spa offers facials, waxing, nails, massage and cosmetic tattoos. They also offer a long line of clean products for skincare, makeup, hand and foot care. The spa offers 2 training programs for nail techs.
Lisa is an active member in the community and contributes to the CPES PTA and donates spa treatments to the auction the school holds.
The spa was born out of her need to find a toxin-free option for nail care and has evolved into a full service spa perfect for those new years goals of better self-care.
One thing I might add: they keep the spa meticulously clean and disinfected. You can also sign up for her newsletter which offers great skin care tips.
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].
If you follow Jay’s Wintry Mix — my favorite place to keep an eye on our local weather — you know there’s a chance we get snow today (I’m writing this on Sunday, so if the snow is a bust, like usual, know that’s why). We’ve had such a mild winter so far, I know my kids are craving a snow storm so badly!
If you’re looking for somewhere to go sledding, here’s my annual edition of the best places to go sledding in Vienna and McLean!
Vienna
- There’s a small hill at Meadow Lane Park on the baseball field. It’s small enough for little kids who might be scared, but enough to give them some speed.
- Westbriar Elementary School (behind the school)
- Cunningham Park Elementary — has a big hill that’s great for picking up speed
- Wolftrap (the theatre) — there’s two places at Wolftrap, the “Bowl” and the “Big Hill”
- Marshall Road Elementary — in the back there’s a small hill
- Thoreau Middle School — big hill in the back of the school
McLean
- Westgate Park — there’s a hill behind the 2nd baseball field
- Lemon Road Elementary — has a large hill
- Franklin Sherman Elementary School
My mom hack for another fun snow activity is “snow paint” which is just water and food coloring mixed in a squeeze bottle. My kids write their names in the snow, draw happy faces, etc. It’s always a big hit.
One more tip — we all know after snow comes hot chocolate. Caffe Amouri now sells MaddyBakes hot cocoa bombs and they’re delicious!
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 before the new year begins, always brings reflections for me. I’ve been thinking about personal stuff from the year — how hard the real estate market was this year, how thankful I am that I was able to sell 45 homes in 2021, how thankful I am that my kids (and my teacher husband) are back in person in school, and how important our health is. For all of those things I am grateful.
With reflection also comes thoughts on the future. This week is notoriously slow for real estate sales, but it is also the week where I start seeing phone calls and emails come in about 2022 plans to move. As I share with my clients, here are my predictions for the Northern Virginia real estate market in 2022:
Rates will increase by mid-year
I believe rates will continue to be in the low 3’s for the first half the year, but by the summer we’ll see it start to inch up. Want to see a practical application of this:
- A $950,000 loan amount at 3.25% is $4,134 (just principal and interest) and at 3.75% it goes up to $4,399 — a $265/mo difference just based on the interest rate
- A $1,250,000 loan at 3% is $5,270 (just principal and interest) and at 3.5% it jumps to $5,613 — a $340/mo difference
- One other point, the Fannie Mae loan limit in the D.C. Metro area for 2022 was increased to $980,700, which means you could buy a $1,020,000 house with only 5% down and 1 loan. Gone are the days of requiring 20% down.
Inventory will continue to be a problem
Inventory has a problem for over a decade in Northern Virginia and it continues to prove it’s one of the greatest hurdles to buyers, and the greatest asset to sellers. If you remember your old supply and demand lesson — low inventory means higher prices for seller. I do think that will keep pricing levels high, probably not at the rate of appreciation we saw in 2020/2021 but they won’t go down. The National Association of Realtors estimates that Virginia home owners gained over $56,000 in value in 2021 due to increased pricing. For example, one of my clients bought a house in the fall of 2019 for $605,000. They sold that house in March 2021 for $755,000 and bought their forever house for roughly the same mortgage payment by capitalizing on that equity!
The market will still be robust and strong
I believe the demand is still strong for buyers to get into the market and sales will be strong.
Investors jumping into lower priced markets
I put my money where my mouth is and bought another rental property in October. I have several past clients who reached out to me about rental properties as well. With extra cash flowing from a strong stock market, savings from no travel and low interest rates, the market is perfect for investors to jump in. You may want to speak to your accountant for your personal situation, but real estate is the greatest hedge against inflation. If you’re looking to diversify your assets, please do yourself a favor and consider real estate investing.
New construction will continue to be slow
If you’re thinking of building next year, bring your patience. Bring your backup plan. Supply chain issues (I’m tired of that phrase too). There will be delays, whether it’s material, permits, or utility companies… there will be delays. If you’re selling your current property, make sure you have a solid plan to account for potential delays.
I’m entering my 14th year of selling real estate. About 350 sales later, I can help you develop a plan for success. I’ve also bought and sold 10 times personally in the past 20 years. I know the stress. With or without kids. With or without a long term plan. I can help if you have no idea where to start!
Wishing you a very Happy New Year! See you all in 2022!
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].
Did you put “a new home” on your gift wish list? Maybe you’re making cookies and realizing how much you hate your current kitchen? Maybe you wish you had more rooms so more family could visit? Or maybe you want an excuse to downsize so you don’t have to host anymore?
Either way, everyone has different reasons and needs for moving. If you are thinking of moving next year in 2022, please keep these 3 things you should be doing right now in mind.
1. Talk to a Lender
Budget and financing is the driver of all things. Do you need to sell your current home to buy? Can you afford to buy and sell after? That information is crucial in determining how to position you for the most success. The Northern Virginia market is still going strong and I doubt we’ll see any contingent sale contracts pushed through. Here are my top people:
2. Interview Realtors
You might be surprised to learn that a lot of people interview agents 6 months ahead of their “go” time. Here’s why: you might not know yet what you don’t know. Did you know it took on average 8 weeks last year for someone to go under contract on a house? Plus 30 days to close, more if the sellers need a rentback option, which brings you close to 3-4 months to actually moving day. I always suggest starting early whether you’re planning on selling or buying, or both. From the sell side: maybe you need a lot of time to prep, maybe you don’t. Maybe you need to be agile in case the market shifts and list your home for sale sooner than you planned in order to take advantage of the best market.
For buying, I think it takes some time to learn where you really want to be, especially if you’re not familiar with all the options. I have a lot of clients who look in multiple area: Vienna, Oakton, Falls Church, McLean and Arlington. It’s important to learn what your money will buy you in each location. Do you want septic or well? Do you want to build? Do you want to renovate? All of that understanding takes time. Get your ducks in a row so you’re ready to jump on something when you see it.
3. Make Your Wish List
Write down what you hate. Write down what you love. Write down what you wish you had. I bring people back to basics all the time. Especially in a market where you get tired of looking, I want to bring you back to our initial meeting and say “hey, remember when you said you really wanted XYZ. This house doesn’t have that.” It’ll keep you from having buyers remorse later. It’ll also help me guide you when we see something with potential. I’ve personally gone through 2 renovations and built a home. I might not be a structural engineer, but I can help you see the vision of what a home could be. If you need some guidance, HUD actually has a pretty good checklist to get you started.
Wishing you a very happy holiday season. Hope you’re safe and healthy heading into 2022. I plan to do a 2022 real estate market predictions next week and then a 2021 year in review in January. If you have specific questions to your own situation, please don’t hesitate to reach out: [email protected] or 703-283-6120.
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 the most wonderful time of the year… I went in search of the most Clark Griswold homes in Vienna.
I must say, there are a lot of beautifully decorated homes. It’s really fun to drive around town right now. If you want to see a collection of pretty homes, visit the “Light Up Vienna” list the town put together for their decoration contest. However, I went in search of the houses that went a little extra.
The map below has homes with lots of blow ups, some homes have lights that dance to music, some have themes, while others have amazing light displays. All are worth seeing.
Some tips for looking at lights:
- Some of these might be down if it’s really windy or really rainy.
- Some have tricky places to stop (like Lawyers Road) so please be mindful of traffic
- The Ni Family Lights often changes their playlist, so follow them on Facebook
- You can drive down Hickory Circle SW to see the front of the Vienna Xmas house decorated, but they will send you to the shopping center behind it to watch the dancing lights and TV screen. You should also follow them on Facebook for updates.
If I missed any, please reach out to me and I’ll update the map! If you go visit and post any of these on Instagram, I would LOVE to see your photos!
Tag me at @LauraSchwartzRealtor
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].
‘Tis the season for giving! Below is a list of local places to donate toys (new and unwrapped) as well as warm clothing and blankets for those in need.
There are always organizations looking for food, but I’ve covered that a lot over the years. This is a great way to get kids involved in learning about donating and helping others.
Toys
The Vienna police department is teaming up with other agencies for Santa’s Ride, where Santa on a motorcycle brings cheer to children in local hospitals. You can help by dropping off new & unwrapped toys and books to the Vienna Police Department, The Community Center or Town Hall by 8 a.m. on Monday, December 13.
Foster’s Grille also has a Toys for Tots donation box in the front of the restaurant.
Winter Warmth
My company, McEnearney Associates, has teamed up with Share of McLean and the City of Fairfax Police Department to collect warm clothing (gloves, jackets, scarfs, etc.) and blankets to distribute to those in need. The force will keep them in their car and be able to distribute to those they see in need when they’re out and about on shifts. Donation location is 1320 Old Chain Bridge Road Suite 350 McLean, Virginia OR you can email me and I’ll be happy to pick it up from you.
Next week I’m going to do my Holiday List map again! If you want to make sure an address is included, please email me [email protected] or you can find me on social media @GuidingYourMove!
