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.
As we head into the holidays, the housing market is still humming along.
I always tell my clients that winter is actually the best time to buy or sell a home because all parties are motivated. There aren’t many sellers testing the market to see how high of a price they can get or neighbors just looking at homes in case they decide to buy. These are buyers and sellers with a mission. Currently, I have quite a few buyers focused on buying a home before the new year. If you want to sell quickly, if priced right, now is a good time.
This week’s feature home has been featured in this article before. The home was taken off market and recently came back on. It’s been reduced in price by over $150,000 and is now priced below the tax assessment. This home is in Ballantrae Farms, one of the most prestigious and sought after neighborhoods in the area.
With nearly 8,000 square feet of finished space, this is one of the larger homes we’ve featured. There is an additional 2,500+ square feet of unfinished space that can be finished. Situated on a .58 acre lot, this home features a Baccarat chandelier, Calcutta marble floors and a main level master suite. Priced at $2,397,000, this home is now a steal!
To see this beautiful home or any others, you can schedule an appointment by emailing or calling me at [email protected] or 571-263-0206.
1285 Ballantrae Farm Drive McLean (Reduced $152,000)
Check out the rest of this week’s Luxury for Less listings:
- 1922 Byrd Road Vienna (Reduced $50,000)
- 755 Kentland Drive Great Falls (Reduced $45,000)
- 7815 Old Falls Road McLean (Reduced $96,000)
- 508 Plum Street SW (Reduced $25,500)
- 3421 Greentree Drive Falls Church (Reduced $105,000)
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.
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.
6805 Farragut Avenue, Falls Church
4 BD/2.5 BA
Agent: Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Listed: $675,000
Open: Sunday 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
3113 Sleepy Hollow Road, Falls Church
5 BD/4 BA
Agent: Redfin Corporation
Listed: $950,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.
2905 Linden Lane, Falls Church
3 BD/2.5 BA
Agent: Kw Metro Center
Listed: $784,900
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.
8520 Idylwood Mews Court, Vienna
4 BD/4.5 BA
Agent: Weichert Realtors
Listed: $1,085,000
Open: Sunday 1-3:30 p.m.
8419 Stonewall Drive, Vienna
4 BD/2.5 BA
Agent: Weichert Realtors
Listed: $764,500
Open: Sunday 1-4:30 p.m.
1603 Leeds Castle Drive, Vienna
3 BD/2.5 BA
Agent: Century 21 Redwood Realty
Listed: $730,000
Open: Saturday 1-3 p.m.
6635 Langdon Court, McLean
4 BD/3 BA
Agent: Weichert Realtors
Listed: $1,099,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.
1415 McLean Mews Court, McLean
3 BD/4 BA
Agent: Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc
Listed: $889,950
Open: Sunday 1-3 p.m.
Our role is to offer sound advice and guidance to our clients in order for them to achieve their goals in either buying, selling, leasing or managing real estate. We are truly “Your Home… for Everything Real Estate.” To schedule a private showing of these or any other properties of interest please do not hesitate to contact us here or email us at [email protected].
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.
The following properties were recently listed in the Tysons, McLean, Vienna and Falls Church areas.
- 2905 Linden Lane, Falls Church — $784,900
- 7417 Magarity Road, Falls Church — $1,548,000
- 1808 Pimmit Drive, Falls Church — $900,000
- 1636 Montmorency Drive, Vienna — $899,900
- 1103 Walker Circle SW, Vienna — $1,499,000
- 2702 Chanbourne Way, Vienna — $729,999
- 1456 Hampton Hill Circle, McLean — $899,900
- 1755 Old Meadow Road, Unit 111, McLean — $719,990
Our role is to offer sound advice and guidance to our clients in order for them to achieve their goals in either buying, selling, leasing or managing real estate. We are truly “Your Home… for Everything Real Estate.” To schedule a private showing of these or any other properties of interest please do not hesitate to contact us here or email us at [email protected].
Welcome to Luxury For Less, a weekly column highlighting the best deals in luxury real estate. Written by Brandy Schantz of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, Luxury For Less offers tips and tricks navigating the competitive real estate market and securing the home of your dreams. To learn more, visit ttrsir.com.
Luxury for Less features many different types of homes. Sometimes we feature homes that are extravagant beyond measure, some that are great fixer uppers, and others that are just good deals.
This article has luxury homes that have been reduced in price but vary in style and expense. This week’s home is just plain priced to sell. 614 Valley Drive SE is in one of the hottest neighborhoods in Vienna. This home is just simply big. It has over 6,000 square feet above grade and another 2,300 square feet in the basement. It’s situated on a large lot, over .50 acres, and has an assessed value of $2.1 million. It’s now priced at $1.899 million.
What makes this neighborhood so hot? This section of Vienna is very close to Tysons Corner, eliminating the need to fight Maple Avenue traffic to get to work or home. It’s also walking distance to Westwood Country Club and the Town of Vienna. The W&OD Trail is just next to Valley Drive and Wildwood Park is in the neighborhood, perfect for walking the dog or just sitting and enjoying nature.
This neighborhood has seen many large, luxurious custom homes built recently and spending well over $2 million to live in this neighborhood is becoming more and more commonplace in recent months. The best part of the neighborhood? The neighbors are pretty great. I live in this neighborhood and love the access for running, walking the dogs, and just saying hello to my neighbors.
To see this beautiful home or any others, you can schedule an appointment by emailing or calling me at [email protected] or 571-263-0206.
614 Valley Drive SE Vienna (Reduced $29,900)
Check out the rest of this week’s Luxury for Less listings:
- 6834 Churchill Road McLean (Reduced $100,000)
- 315 Locust Street SE Vienna (Reduced $60,000)
- 10507 Wickens Road Vienna (Reduced $100,000)
- 442 Seneca Road Great Falls (Reduced $74,980)
- 3225 Locker Street Falls Church (Reduced $36,910)
The properties listed are a small selection of properties available in the Tyson’s Corner area. For a full list of properties listed on MLS and private exclusives, please contact Brandy Schantz.
This regularly-scheduled sponsored Q&A column is written by Val Sotillo, Northern Virginia-based Realtor and Falls Church resident. Please submit your questions to her via email for response in future columns. Enjoy!
Question: We are planning to buy our first house in 2020 and we’re trying to set up a budget. What advice do you give clients to help them decide how much of a mortgage they can afford?
Answer: Spend too much and you’ll have a half-empty home for a few years. Don’t spend enough and you may be moving sooner than you hoped. This week we’ll break down some of the conversations I have early on with clients as they’re deciding how much mortgage they can afford.
How Much Can You Really Spend?
The first thing you’ll want to do is determine how much you’re allowed to spend by talking with a lender who will provide an honest, detailed review of your finances to let you know what your maximum loan and monthly payment amount is. A good lender will also serve as a valuable advisor as you plan your budget.
Length of Ownership
The amount of time you expect to own your home is extremely important in your home-buying strategy and often glossed over.
If you are buying a 3-5 year home (accurate for many first-time buyers) your focus should be on value and keeping your cost down so that you give yourself room to save for your next purchase, which is likely a longer-term home. Your income and inflation are less likely to increase significantly in that time, so an expensive monthly payment now will still feel expensive in 3-5 years.
If you are buying a 10-15+ year home, the greatest value you’ll generate is choosing a home that suits you and your family long-term. The cost of buying something too small or too far from work that leads to a sale halfway through your intended ownership period is often much higher (taxes, commissions, closing costs, moving costs, etc) than the cost of moving into a slightly uncomfortable range of your budget.
Your mortgage payment hopefully won’t feel expensive forever if you’re in the first half of your professional career because you’ll likely have significant increases in income and, over time, the effects of inflation will minimize the stress of your mortgage (if it’s a fixed rate mortgage).
Monthly vs Down Payment
I find that most people based their budget on their savings and thus, the amount they have to put down towards a max purchase price. Remember a home mortgage isn’t the only recurring expense. Don’t forget to consider how much you’re comfortable spending each month which includes your mortgage, taxes (assume annual increases), applicable condo or HOA fees and homeowner’s insurance. This doesn’t include a budget for maintenance and repairs, which should be estimated at an annual expense of 1-2% of your home’s value.
Savings is clearly an important factor in what you can afford. Your savings determines the amount you can put down; although with solid loan products available with as little as 3% down, many buyers qualify for a lot of house with little savings.
In addition to your down payment, you’ll pay 2-3% of the purchase price in closing costs like taxes, fees, insurance and escrows (closing costs can be paid by the seller). Finally, don’t forget about what you’ll need after you close — moving and furniture add up quickly and you should always have 3-6 months of fixed/living expenses in savings in case of emergency.
Don’t Tempt Yourself
Once you decide on your budget, don’t allow yourself to visit properties that are highly unlikely to drop within your budget. One of the easiest ways to derail your progress is visiting homes 10-20% over budget, leading you to desire features that only exist together in homes you can’t afford. Save the window shopping for another time if you’re serious about buying a home now.
Ultimately, the best way to decide how much mortgage you can afford is to plan ahead by establishing a relationship with a lender and taking enough time to explore your options with an agent who understands the market and your needs.
With enough planning and work, you’ll be able to decide for yourself if the mortgage you can afford gets you the home you want, or if paying rent for another year is better than paying a mortgage.
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.
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.
3028 Knoll Drive, Falls Church
4 BD/4.5 BA
Agent: Frankly Real Estate Inc.
Listed: $1,147,000
Open: Sunday 2-5 p.m.
7921 Yancey Drive, Falls Church
3 BD/3.5 BA
Agent: Keller Williams Capital Properties
Listed: $579,900
Open: Sunday 1-3 p.m.
2502 Buckelew Drive, Falls Church
4 BD/5 BA
Agent: Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Listed: $1,274,999
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.
2799 Miles Stone Drive, Vienna
5 BD/3.5 BA
Agent: Fairfax Realty Select
Listed: $995,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.
2129 Freda Drive, Vienna
4 BD/3 BA
Agent: Pearson Smith Realty, LLC
Listed: $825,000
Open: Saturday 12-2 p.m.
2714 Earls Court, Vienna
3 BD/3.5 BA
Agent: KW Metro Center
Listed: $769,999
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.
1730 Barbee Street, McLean
4 BD/3 BA
Agent: Keller Williams Realty
Listed: $950,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.
6212 Nelway Drive, McLean
4 BD/3 BA
Agent: Weichert Realtors
Listed: $949,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 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].
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.
We’re back to McLean this week and this time we’re featuring a wow house.
This home, as well as many others featured in this column, was remodeled by BOWA. BOWA is a well-known and highly regarded design firm based in McLean. Founded in 1988 by friends from the University of Virginia, BOWA’s work can be seen in some of the most luxurious homes in the area.
BOWA has earned numerous awards including Best of Arlington-Best Remodeler, Best of Houzz for Service, Contractor of the Year-Natioanl Association of the Remodeling Industry, and Best Custom Home Builder in Washington, D.C. by Home Builder Digest. I frequently recommend BOWA to clients seeking to remodel or custom build. This week’s feature shows off their work beautifully.
6470 Kedleston Court is a stately home inspired by 19th Century Georgian Country Homes. It’s location on one of the most exclusive streets in McLean offers privacy and security. The dramatic two story entry hall is breathtaking and the wet bar and wine cellar can’t be missed. This home truly exemplifies luxury and elegance.
To see this beautiful home or any others, you can schedule an appointment by emailing or calling me at [email protected] or 571-263-0206.
6470 Kedleston Court McLean (Reduced $305,000)
Check out the rest of this week’s Luxury for Less listings:
- 1322 Round Oak Court McLean (Reduced $10,000)
- 6655 Van Winkle Drive Falls Church (Reduced $50,000)
- 10720 Falls Pointe Drive Great Falls (Reduced $75,000)
- 502 Meadow Lane SW Vienna (Reduced $50,000)
- 913 Saddleback Court McLean (Reduced $25,000)
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.
Welcome to New Homes, a monthly column highlighting the new construction real estate market, written by Conor Sullivan and Dave Moya of Three Stones Residential at Keller Williams Realty. We are here to share our experience and expertise in lot acquisition, financing and construction of custom homes.
New construction is a fun process, but it can be a more complicated and stressful journey than buying a typical resale home. For this reason, we recommend following these three steps to make your experience a bit more smooth and enjoyable.
Find the Right Builder
When deciding on which builder you are going to work with, there are a variety of things to consider during the selection process. You’ll want to make sure the builder has a range of layout options to select from since the lot will determine what you can do with the space.
It is also smart to see how many Non-Standard Options (NSO) the Builder offers. If these NSOs are limited, it may mean you aren’t able to do as much “customization” as you originally planned, and rather are required to make selections from pre-determined materials the builder has already selected for a broader scope of projects.
Have a Design Plan
Know what you want your home to look like and what features you want to have at the beginning. It is important to make these decisions up front when going through the design process as making these changes during construction can not only cause delays, but cost you big bucks.
Agent Advisor Partnership
Working with an experienced agent as your advisor is critical throughout the entire process. Your advisor can help find the lot for the best price, select the right builder for you and avoid pitfalls that can come with the building and designing process.
Your advisor should have experience working with new construction homes and a strong understanding of builder contracts so they can help navigate you to get what you want.
At Three Stones Residential, our agents are well versed in the new construction process. We’ve worked with a number of builders and can help you decide who may be the best fit based on your needs and expectations. Being natives to the area, we are local marketplace experts and will guide you in finding the best location for your new home at the best price.
Additionally, we have a solid understanding and experience of builder contracts and will bring to light all the details you need to focus on to avoid delays and additional costs down the road. To learn more about new construction homes, contact us at [email protected] or (571) 429-7670.
Below is a list of new homes currently on the market in the Tysons, Falls Church, Vienna and McLean areas:
- 6251 N. Kensington Street, McLean — $1,995,000 — 5,930 sq. ft.
- 2001 Pimmit Drive, Falls Church — $1,150,000 — 3,656 sq. ft.
- 7301 Pimmit Court, Falls Church — $1,499,900 — 4,028 sq. ft.
- 7601 Foster Road, Falls Church — $1,479,000 — 5,397 sq. ft.
- 10614 Hunter Station Road, Vienna — $1,775,000 — 7,090 sq. ft.
- 902 Kramer Court SE, Vienna — $1,475,000 — 6,346 sq. ft.
- 504 Kibler Circle SW, Vienna — $1,398,750 — 4,809 sq. ft.
- 6812 Broyhill Street, McLean — $1,795,000 — 5,723 sq. ft.
- 6803 Old Chesterbrook Road, McLean — $1,744,900 — 6,500 sq. ft.
Want to learn more about financing a New Home build? McLean Mortgage (NMLS ID: 99665) can handle all of your construction financing needs. You can build your new home with as little as 5% down. Contact construction loan expert Troy Toureau (NMLS ID: 5618) at 301-440-4261 or AnyHomeLoans.com to learn more.
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.
3049 Federal Hill Drive, Falls Church
3 BD/3.5 BA
Agent: Compass
Listed: $599,000
Open: 2-4 p.m.
6018 Munson Hill Road, Falls Church
4 BD/3.5 BA
Agent: Kw Metro Center
Listed: $924,900
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.
2944 Bridgehampton Court, Falls Church
3 BD/3 BA
Agent: Keller Williams Realty Falls Church
Listed: $599,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.
8800 Higdon Drive, Vienna
5 BD/2.5 BA
Agent: Avery-Hess Realtors
Listed: $665,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.
2501 Drexel Street, Vienna
3 BD/3 BA
Agent: Pearson Smith Realty Llc
Listed: $739,000
Open: Saturday 1-3 p.m. & Sunday 2-4 p.m.
504 Kibler Circle SW, Vienna
5 BD/4.5 BA
Agent: Kw Metro Center
Listed: $1,398,750
Open: Sunday 1-3 p.m.
1503 Walden Drive, McLean
4 BD/3 BA
Agent: Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc
Listed: $949,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 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].
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.
The following properties were recently listed in the Tysons, McLean, Vienna and Falls Church areas.
- 6018 Munson Hill Road, Falls Church — $924,900
- 3015 Nicosh Circle Unit 2102, Falls Church — $384,900
- 3417 Barger Drive, Falls Church — $925,000
- 6517 Lakeview Drive, Falls Church — $709,900
- 10503 Mount Sunapee Road, Vienna — $910,000
- 116 Tapawingo Road SW, Vienna — $1,449,900
- 2220 McChesney Court, Vienna — $889,000
- 1503 Walden Drive, McLean — $949,000
- 1051 Bellview Road, McLean — $1,495,000
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].
