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.

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. 

Quick Ways To Make Your Home “Smart”

New construction homes are popping up everywhere in Northern Virginia.

These homes are beautiful and updated with all the bells and whistles of “smart-home” technology, but may not be the perfect fit for everyone. To help your home compete against the new construction in the marketplace, there are a few simple upgrades to make your home smarter, safer and more efficient.

• Ring Doorbell: This motion activated video doorbell system allows you to view your front doorstep while you are away, or even speak to visitors remotely, all through the app. Keep an eye on packages that have been delivered, or who comes to your front doorstep while you’re not home.
• Smart Light Bulbs: These Wi-Fi enabled LED light bulbs allow you to access the lighting in your home from anywhere using an electronic device or smart speakers. Forgot to turn that kitchen light off before leaving? No problem — turn it off from your phone!
• Smart Speakers: Smart devices like Google Home or Amazon Echo can sync to your smart electronics via Wi-Fi letting you control them with your voice. Turn off your lights or the heat up hands free!
• Nest Thermostat: Installing this sleek new thermostat in your home is not only visually appealing, it’s convenient! Control the thermostat remotely from your smartphone using all the Nest technology features. The device will eventually learn the climate of your home and automatically adjust the temperature when conditions change.
• TP-Link Smart Plug: If your appliances don’t have Wi-Fi, you can use this adapter to easily control them from an app. Turn on your coffee maker before you even get out of bed!

Having these tech-savvy upgrades will not only bring your home to the 21st century and boost it’s value, it will give you peace of mind knowing you have security in place for when you’re out of town.

It could also help save money, if you forgot to turn off your lights or turn down the heat, it is now just an easy click away from your smartphone. If you have any questions about these upgrades or your home’s market value, please contact us at [email protected] or 571-429-7670.

Here are some current options for buying new homes in the Tysons area:

• 1911 Prout Place, Falls Church — $1,479,000 — 6,032 sq. ft.
• 519 S. Spring Street, Falls Church — $1,599,900 — 5,540 sq. ft.
• 7534 Lisle Avenue, Falls Church — $1,277,000 — 4,000 sq. ft.
• 502 Meadow Lane SW, Vienna — $1,699,900 — 6335 sq. ft.
• 916 Cottage Street SW, Vienna — $1,649,000 — 4,270 sq. ft.
• 1508 Linden Hurst Avenue, McLean — $1,850,000 — 4,460 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. 

1911 Prout Place, Falls Church
6 BD/5 BA
Agent: KW Metro Center
Listed: $1,479,000
Open: Saturday & Sunday 1-4 p.m.

6334 Cavalier Corridor, Falls Church
4 BD/3 BA
Agent: Re/Max West End
Listed: $875,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

7925 Yancey Drive, Falls Church
3 BD/3.5 BA
Agent: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty
Listed: $599,000
Open: Saturday 1-3 p.m. & Sunday 1-4 p.m.

7534 Lisle Avenue, Falls Church
7 BD/5 BA
Agent: Weichert Realtors
Listed: $1,277,000
Open: Saturday & Sunday 1-4 p.m.

8223 McNeil Street, Vienna
4 BD/4 BA
Agent: Berkshire Hathaway Home Services PenFed Realty
Listed: $849,900
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

10116 Tamarack Drive, Vienna
4 BD/3 BA
Agent: Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc
Listed: $764,900
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

502 Meadow Lane SW, Vienna
6 BD/7 BA
Agent: Samson Properties
Listed: $1,699,900
Open: Saturday & Sunday 1-3 p.m.

5849 Aspen Wood Court, McLean
5 BD/4.5 BA
Agent: Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc
Listed: $1,175,000
Open: Saturday & Sunday 2-4 p.m.

6212 Nelway Drive, Vienna
4 BD/3 BA
Agent: Weichert Realtors
Listed: $975,000
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.

• 6736 Gouthier Road, Falls Church — $569,900
• 3305 Brush Drive, Falls Church — $500,000
• 7534 Lisle Avenue, Falls Church — $1,277,000
• 9520 Leemay Street, Vienna — $1,190,000
• 116 Tapawingo Road SW, Vienna — $1,449,900
• 2412 Cedar Lane, Vienna — $799,900
• 1806 Solitaire Lane, McLean — $1,550,000
• 6212 Nelway Drive, McLean — $975,000
• 1508 Linden Hurst Avenue, McLean — $1,850,000

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].

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 we say good-bye to summer and officially begin fall with the autumnal equinox.

As you get ready for pumpkin spice lattes, Halloween and apple-picking trips, don’t forget to check out some great homes in the Tysons Corner area. We’re seeing more inventory and hopefully this will give buyers at least a little more choice than they’ve had previously this year. September has seen a lot of great homes come on market. These homes range from a studio apartment in Falls Church for $150,000 to a stately home in McLean for $1,875,000.

This week’s featured home is a modern home in Vienna. This newly built home features a stunning floating staircase and bathrooms designed with Duravit and Grohe products.

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

701 Ware Street SW Vienna (Reduced $59,000)

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

• 305 Seneca Road Great Falls (Reduced $49,000)
• 1864 S. Kirby Road McLean (Reduced $74,000)
• 2160 Royal Lodge Drive Falls Church (Reduced $50,000)
• 9909 Chappell Lane Vienna (Reduced $30,000)
• 1867 Beulah Road Vienna (Reduced $200,000)

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.

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’ve owned our home for a couple of years and our partially finished basement is filled with every old and unwanted item in the house from old furniture to memorabilia. Do you have any tips for remodeling our basement and making the most out of that space?

Answer: We are lucky enough to live in an area where basements are a commonly built element of most homes. The basement is a perfect space that can be remodeled and finished so that it not only integrates with the rest of the home, but becomes a valuable asset to the property.

The best way to figure out how to put your finished basement to use is to determine what your home is missing and explore ideas that you often can’t apply to your main living space. A media room, living room, wine cellar, wet bar, gym, office, playroom, man’s cave and guest room are all popular choices for basement spaces.

I spoke with Caroline Goree, a Project Leader with BOWA, a local design build firm that specializes in luxury renovations from kitchens to whole-home remodels. Here are her answers to frequently asked questions about basement projects:

How do you make a basement feel more inviting and connected to the rest of the home?

Nowadays, many clients are trying to integrate their basements with the first floor of the house to create more of a “lower level” rather than dark, cold, “cellar” feeling.

In the past, the entrance and stairwell to the basement were narrow and dark. Today, we are seeing folks create stairways that are open and inviting, frequently featuring a nice railing or banister for an added touch. Generous lighting is also important in making the lower level feel warm and inviting, and most homeowners find they need significantly more lighting in this area than anywhere else in the home to achieve this objective.

If possible, take advantage of natural light by installing large windows or French doors. Don’t forget to also include ample lighting controls as well. By adding recessed lights throughout and highlighting different spaces with decorative wall sconces, it can completely transform the ambiance of this level.

How should you repurpose the basement to create a more functional space for your family?

Homeowners are much more interested in using the basement in other ways besides storage and laundry (many even requesting to move the laundry up to the main level).

Before diving into a construction project, we encourage our clients to start with an assessment of their needs. If you’ve had any life changing events, such as a new baby or caring for aging parents, you may want to consider a nanny or in-law suite. Just keep in mind there are egress requirements that will need to be met with rooms like these.

Or maybe you are looking to create a space for a hobby or passion? If you’re a wine enthusiast, consider adding anything from a wet bar with a wine refrigerator, to having your own temperature controlled, walk-in wine cellar and tasting room.

Read More

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

Our real estate market can be pretty intense most of the year, especially on the buyer side in recent years.

We see multiple offers and bidding wars as a common practice, along with people waiving inspections and contingencies in the contract to “win.” You do what you gotta do, right? Well here’s what I see as the problem with that.

Once you “win,” people often forget some of the basics they should be doing now that they’ve bought a house either because you’re so excited (which I totally understand!), or because nobody was there to tell you to do some of these things. Besides a basic home inspection, here are some common issues we see all the time in our area that homeowners should be aware of.

Termites

Northern Virginia is home to many subterranean termites. They lives in the soil beneath and around homes and enter through wood that touches the ground. They can cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage if left undetected. Our real estate contract has the opportunity to conduct a wood destroying insect (termites, carpenter bees, beetles, etc) inspection.

But here’s where people go wrong: just because none were found at that time, doesn’t mean you’ll never have them! I highly encourage people to make sure they specify a termite contract with an insect company. Most of them only do pests — spiders, ants, crickets — but you have to ask for termites as well. In my own personal home, we’ve never had termites, but I did a preventative treatment on my house so I wouldn’t have to worry or even think about it. Treatments are good for 5 years. Termites can be found in single family homes, townhomes and condos under the 4th floor (per lender guidelines).

Radon

Radon is an odorless, tasteless, colorless natural element that emits from the ground. It can cause lung cancer. Virginia as a state has high levels of radon naturally occurring. If you see this EPA map, Fairfax County as a whole, falls between highest and moderate potential for radon levels around the EPA safe limit of 4 pC/L. Just like termites, just because you test it once, doesn’t mean you won’t have high levels of radon.

It’s a naturally occurring element and can change day to day. The way to test for radon is through a 48 hour air sample. They take on average over 2 days to see where your levels fall. If the reading is above 4.0 pC/L, they recommend installing a radon abatement system, which is basically a fan system to pull the air out and dispense it above the roofline. The approximate cost for this system runs about $1,000 depending on your personal home and where it’ll go. Many times, with remediation, you can get below 1 pC/L.

Level 2 Chimney Inspections

Older homes in our area have masonry chimneys and if left unkept, can deteriorate over time. The masonry inside can crack and break down, water can get in the chimneys and flues can leak smoke through the chamber.

I highly recommend a level 2 chimney inspection, where a chimney company actually sends a camera with a light into the chimney. The fix recommended lately is a stainless steel chimney liner, which costs about $3,000 depending on the height of the flue. They usually come with a lifetime warranty.

These are common issues I’ve been finding lately that people don’t think about because they’re not easily visible or everyday issues.

It’s hard to see past a leaking toilet, but it’s very easy to never see these 3 issues.

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. 

1911 Prout Place, Falls Church
6 BD/5BA
Agent: KW Metro Center
Listed: $1,479,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

237 Irving Street, Falls Church
4 BD/3 BA
Agent: KW Metro
Listed: $899,900
Open: Sunday 1-3 p.m.

6011 Lebanon Drive, Falls Church
5 BD/3.5 BA
Agent: TTR Sotheby’s International Realty
Listed: $819,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

519 S. Spring Street, Falls Church
6 BD/6.5 BA
Agent: KW Metro Center
Listed: $1,599,900
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

9501 Percussion Way, Vienna
4 BD/3 BA
Agent: Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc
Listed: $865,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m

106 Tapawingo Road SW, Vienna
6 BD/7 BA
Agent: KW Metro Center
Listed: $1,484,999
Open: Saturday 1-3 p.m. & Sunday 1-4 p.m.

9209 Talisman Drive, Vienna
4 BD/3 BA
Agent: Pearson Smith Realty, LLC
Listed: $860,000
Open: Saturday 1-4 p.m.

1432 Layman Street, McLean
3 BD/3 BA
Agent: Weichert Realtors
Listed: $958,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

6803 Old Chesterbrook Road, McLean
6 BD/6 BA
Agent: Samson Properties
Listed: $1,699,999
Open: Sunday 12-4 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.

It’s a new week and everyone is talking about ‘Career Day’ at Amazon’s new Crystal City location.

I’ve spoken to everyone from government workers to IT professionals to new college graduates who are excited to show up at Amazon’s new headquarters on Tuesday, September 17 to check out what departments will be hiring and what skill sets will be needed. According to an article in the Washington Post on Sunday, the company will not be hiring on the spot but is seeking to fill 400 vacancies by the end of the year.

Amazon HQ2 has dominated the conversation in our area since the first whispers about its possible location in the D.C. area. It’s also affected the real estate market trends. Arlington and Alexandria were named the two most competitive markets in the country by Redfin. If you have purchased a home in one of these areas this year or have been in the market, you know how difficult finding a home can be. Tysons is still close to Amazon HQ2 and this week’s feature is a great home close to the new headquarters.

This executive-style townhome has views of the Potomac and a location rich in history. The land was originally part of the Merrywood Estate where Jackie Kennedy spent many years of her childhood. This beautiful home features an elevator, wetbar and an indoor spa room. This home has all of the convenience of Arlington with a great price and spectacular views.

1312 Skipwith Road McLean (Reduced $50,000)

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

• 208 McHenry Street SE Vienna (Reduced $304,000)
• 515 Timber Lane Falls Church (Reduced $51,000)
• 7480 Preserve Crest Way McLean (Reduced $65,000)
• 424 Seneca Road Great Falls (Reduced $49,000)
• 6014 Chesterbrook Road McLean (Reduced $45,000)

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. 

1911 Prout Place, Falls Church
6 BD/5 BA
Agent: KW Metro Center
Listed: $1,479,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.

6342 Columbia Pike, Falls Church
4 BD/3 BA
Agent: RE/MAX West End
Listed: $869,900
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

6018 Munson Hill Road, Falls Church
4 BD/3.5 BA
Agent: Keller Williams Realty Dulles
Listed: $949,900
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

1712 Beulah Road, Vienna
5BD/4.5BA
Agent: Optime Realty
Listed: $1,525,000
Open: Sunday 2-4pm

529 Highland Street NW, Vienna
5 BD/4.5 BA
Agent: UnionPlus Realty, Inc
Listed: $1,399,000
Open: Saturday 2-4 p.m.

701 Ware Street SW, Vienna
5 BD/4.5 BA
Agent: TTR Sothebys International Realty
Listed: $1,849,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

6352 Chowning Place, McLean
4 BD/3.5 BA
Agent: Compass
Listed: $1,199,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.

1814 Chesterfield Place, McLean
5 BD/4.5 BA
Agent: KW Metro Center
Listed: $1,749,250
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].