McEnearney Associates, a family-owned real estate firm, recently arrived in Vienna.
Vienna Mayor Laurie DiRocco celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week. While new to the brick-and-mortar spot, McEnearney Associates is no stranger to Vienna — the real estate firm has conducted business in the town for 35 years, according to a press release.
“We felt that we wanted a stronger presence in the Town of Vienna to increase our client support and community outreach,” Jon Wolford, the managing broker of McLean/Vienna McEnearney Associates, said. “Many of our Associates are involved in the Vienna community whether through events, schools or nonprofit organizations.”
Located at 374 Maple Avenue E., the spot is right by the Peet’s Coffee and newly opened Starbucks. It is the 11th location for McEnearney Associates in the D.C.-area, according to the press release.
“There is something incredibly unique and special about the Town of Vienna, and we felt it was a perfect fit for our firm,” Wolford said.
Earlier this week the Town Business Liaison Committee welcomed McEnearney Associates to Town. They are a local and family-owned real estate firm with over 350 associates. Cheers! #local #business pic.twitter.com/7KCqy0Vhoa
— Town of Vienna, VA (@TownofViennaVA) May 3, 2019
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: I work in Tysons and often drive through the Town of Vienna. How’s the housing market in Vienna and what it’s like living there?
Answer: Vienna is a suburban neighborhood located about three miles from Tysons. The Town of Vienna has been changing and improving over the past years while still maintaining its original charm and “small town” feel. It’s beautiful, full of friendly people and rich with life.
Here’s What Makes Vienna A Great Place To Live:
Location — It’s located minutes away from Tysons. It has its own Metro Station (last stop in the orange line) with 2 large parking garages, and it is located just a few minutes away from I-66 which provides quick access to 495 and can take you to D.C. in 25 minutes. You can get to Dulles Airport in 20 minutes. Overall, a great location!
Active Community — I lived in Vienna for a few years and I loved the great community atmosphere. The town holds parades and festivals throughout the year on Maple Avenue and Church Street. Viva Vienna! and Oktoberfest are my favorite. Here’s the full calendar.
There are parks and community facilities to meet citizen’s recreational needs. The Vienna Community Center is under renovation but it will reopen this fall.
Cyclists can take the W&OD Trail, a 45 mile trail that goes from Shirlington to Purcellville. Located right off the trail, you’ll find Caboose Tavern serving great beer made on site and delicious bites.
We can’t forget the amazing Wolf Trap for outdoor concerts! And of course, there’s a dog park.
Shops and Restaurants — Perfect place for foodies!
Must try: Taco Bamba (2 tacos and a draft for $12, yes please!), Yama (Sushi), Red Galanga; Vienna staples like The Vienna Inn, and Amphora; Date night places like Bazin’s on Church, Maple Ave (awesome brunch, and check their daily specials), and Clarity.
The Pear Tree Cottage, my favorite shop for antiques and design, has been in business for 5 years and it contributes to the community’s charm. There’s Bard’s Alley for books (and café and wine bar); and Whole Foods with the best fresh seafood selection. Vienna truly has it all.
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.
First, we need to understand who the top builders and influencers are that are reshaping our communities…
Deciding to build your own custom home does not need to be scary, nor does it have to be stressful. However, it does mean you will have to make a ton of decisions from insulation type to lighting fixtures, door trim, and dozens of other areas. That is why finding the 3 “R” are critical to success and happiness when building a new home.
Right Builder, Right Time, Right Lot. Let’s continue to meet some of the top builders in NOVA with experience building quality homes for clients every year.
Meet The Builder: Matt Rzepkowski of MR Project Management.
What differentiates you from other builders?
When you build a home with MR, you build a home with me personally. I live in the area and I visit every room of every house every day. We’ve built over one hundred homes in the Arlington, McLean and Falls Church areas, the vast majority of which were built using the same subcontractors with whom we’ve partnered with for over a decade.
Consistency, attention to detail, and personal customer service are the hallmarks of MR.
How many homes have you completed in the last 12 months?
We built 27 spec and custom homes last year. The business has grown steadily since its inception and we attribute that to providing a great home for our clients and also providing over the top customer service. We have done limited marketing over time and almost all of our custom clients and sales come from existing customer referrals.
How long have you been building homes and how many people work on your team?
I am a third generation home builder and both my dad and grandfather were custom homebuilders, so at some level I have been building and working in the industry my whole life. After college I worked for a national homebuilder and went through their training program for a couple years before moving over to the custom home side.
Today, the MR team consists of eight people and almost everyone on the team I have known or they have been working with me in some capacity since I started building custom homes fifteen years ago.
What counties have you built in?
Arlington and Fairfax County, but within Fairfax we really just build in McLean and the Falls Church area. We try to keep all of our projects to about a five mile radius so that we can visit each project multiple times a day and spend most of our time onsite and with clients as opposed to in the truck driving between projects.
What is the most popular model you build?
Everything we build is custom for each individual client and site and we do not have standardized models. However, there are certain design and build concepts that carry through to all of our homes including detailed craftsman trim work, a great kitchen design, spectacular master bedrooms and spa like baths, large rec rooms in the basement and a flex room on the main floor that doubles as a home office, playroom or additional bedroom.
Here are some current homes that MR Project Management has on the market:
Three Stones Residential specializes in matching home owners with the right builder and lot location. If you have any questions about new homes or builders that you’d like us to highlight please 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.
8399 Westpark Drive, Mclean
1 BR/1 BA
Agent: The Mayhood Company
Listed: $511,000
Open: Sunday 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
1724 Pine Valley Drive, Vienna
5 BR/2.5 BA
Agent: Redfin Corporation
Listed: $770,000
Open: Saturday 1-4 p.m.
8526 West Oak Place, Vienna
4 BR/ 3.5 BA
Agent: Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc
Listed: $859,999
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.
1634 Montmorency Drive, Vienna
3 BR/3 BA
Agent: Redfin Corporation
Listed: $870,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.
7219 Hyde Road, Falls Church
5 BR/4 BA
Agent: Compass
Listed: $1,075,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.
853 Shady Drive SE, Vienna
6 BR/4.5 BA
Agent: McEnearney Associates, Inc
Listed: $1,325,000
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.
If you’ve been waiting to buy because the market is just too hot, now is a good time to put your toes in the water.
The market has softened just a bit and inventory has increased. This week saw 241 new homes come on the market in the Tysons area (McLean, Vienna, Falls Church, Great Falls). Inventory in Fairfax County is up almost 50% from this time last year. It’s still a seller’s market but it’s a bit friendlier to buyers going into May than it was going into April.
I’m often asked about new builds in the Town of Vienna. Vienna is a great place to live. It’s walkable to many shops and restaurants and features family activities throughout the year. The new build homes are becoming quite expensive though.
Depending on where you live (Vienna is divided into quadrants), a new home can cost $1.5M to nearly $3M. Homes that are just a bit older sell for considerably less. Craftsman and Farmhouse style homes are very popular but Colonials are still a staple for the D.C. metro area.
If you want to live in Vienna and live in a home with considerable size, consider a home just a few years older. This colonial is in the Town of Vienna and features nearly 6,000 sq. ft. on 3 levels:
1003 Cottage Street SW Vienna (Reduced $59,800)
Check out all this week’s Luxury for Less listings here:
- 737 Ridge Drive McLean (Reduced $30,000)
- 1003 Cottage Street SW Vienna (Reduced $59,800)
- 10420 Van Patten Lane Great Falls (Reduced $45,000)
- 8702 Old Dominion Drive McLean (Reduced $70,000)
- 7004 River Oaks Drive McLean (Reduced $300,000)
- 2050 Crossing Gate Way Vienna (Reduced $50,100)
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.
The following local properties have upcoming open houses this weekend.
2275 Idylwood Station Lane, Falls Church
2 BR/3.5 BA
Agent: Cranford & Associates
Listed: $595,000
Open: Saturday 2-4 p.m.
6315 Crooked Oak Lane, Falls Church
3 BR/3.5 BA
Agent: Weichert Realtors
Listed: $609,900
Open: Saturday 12-3 p.m.
9835 Marcliff Court, Vienna
6 BR/4 BA
Agent: Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Listed: $915,000
Open: Sunday 1-4 p.m.
9600 Brookmeadow Court, Vienna
5 BR/4.5 BA
Agent: Samson Properties
Listed: $1,598,000
Open: Sunday 1-3 p.m.
7006 Eastern Red Cedar Lane, McLean
3 BR/4.5 BA
Agent: RE/MAX West End
Listed: $1,025,000
Open: Saturday 2-4 p.m.
10308 Dunn Meadow Road, Vienna
5 BR/3.5 BA
Agent: Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc
Listed: $930,000
Open: Sunday 2-4 p.m.
2765 Centerboro Drive #158, Vienna
2 BR/2 BA
Agent: Pearson Smith LLC
Listed: $405,000
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].
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.
- 8350 Greensboro Drive #226, Mclean, VA — $680,888
- 6020 Woodland Terrace, McLean, VA — $2,599,999
- 8501 Cottage Street, Vienna, VA — $625,000
- 8001 Snowpine Way, McLean, VA — $1,198,000
- 6535 Mulroy Street, McLean,VA — $750,000
- 8630 Brook Road, McLean, VA — $1,930,000
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.
Spring break is over and everyone is getting back to the grind and our annual countdown to summer.
This also inevitably brings the hustle and bustle of the spring market back to the real estate world as everyone tries to get their housing affairs settled before trips to the Outer Banks and Ocean City commence. Since this area is pretty much a ghost town for spring break, there are many great homes that had price improvements last week.
The most drastic price improvement I saw last week was on this extravagant home in the Peacock Station neighborhood in McLean. 952 Towlston Road has seen a $1 million price drop from its original list price. This impressive estate features over 13,000 finished square feet, a separate caterer’s kitchen, both a dry & steam sauna, cinema and game rooms, and a large bar fit for a great party.
If over the top luxury is what you are looking for, this home is for you. If you decide to buy 952 Towlston, please don’t forget to invite your favorite realtor over for a spa day and drinks. I like cabernet.
You can see more of this buzz worthy home here: 952 Towlston Road
Check out all this week’s Luxury for Less listings here:
- 6125 Old Dominion Drive McLean (Reduced $55,000)
- 1791 Clovermeadow Drive Vienna (Reduced $76,000)
- 3301 Slade Run Drive Falls Church (Reduced $100,000)
- 6113 Franklin Park Road McLean (Reduced $200,000)
- 608 Utterback Store Road Great Falls (Reduced $20,000)
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: What is an Escalation Addendum and when should I use it?
Answer: With so much competition for hard-to-find homes that have just come to market, it’s critical for buyers to understand the purpose and risk/reward of using Escalation Addendums (EA) in their offer.
An EA allows you to make an offer at a starting price while agreeing to increase your offer to a higher price if another offer is higher than yours. It includes a maximum escalation value and an escalation factor, the amount your offer will increase by, over the next highest offer.
The contract allows for the seller to execute a purchase contract (ratify) at an escalated value, without the buyer having to agree to the new price. However, to protect buyers, the seller is required to deliver the next highest contract that was used to escalate your offer.
That other offer must also be materially similar, meaning the other offer cannot include seller credits or a material difference in contingencies (e.g. the other buyer has to sell a home before buying this one).
EAs carry a lot of risk and reward, so be sure to understand them before including one in your offer.
Understand The Risks
The obvious risk in using an Escalation is that buyers are exposing their maximum purchase price and some sellers may ask for that max, regardless of whether or not another offer allows them to get there contractually. There are strategies buyers can use to prevent a seller from doing this and, in my experience, most sellers use Escalations as they’re meant to be used.
The other not-so-obvious problem is with non-financial differences between two contracts. The Escalation Addendum says nothing about differences in settlement date, contingencies and other non-financial terms that make a material difference between contracts (e.g. no Home Inspection Contingency vs full Inspection Contingency is treated equally in the Escalation Addendum).
When To Use An Escalation Addendum
Escalations are best used when there are multiple confirmed offers and the seller has set a deadline for “best-and-final” offers. It’s important for buyers to establish expectations with the seller before they include an Escalation Addendum to maximize the benefit and reduce the risks.
This is where having an experienced agent working for you can be the difference between making a smart decision and irresponsible one or securing a home and helping somebody else secure it.
Proper Communication Is A Win-Win
I strongly believe that with proper communication between sellers and buyers, Escalation Addendums benefit both parties by allowing the seller to draw out the highest available price for their home and allowing buyers to confidently maximize their chance of securing a home. Improper communication leads to a lack of trust and a lack of trust will almost always earn sellers less and may keep the most motivated buyer out of the home of their dreams.
It’s Not Always About Price
Being the winning offer amongst multiple offers isn’t always about price. Buyers need to focus on non-financial terms as well to set themselves apart and it’s important to understand how you can increase the strength of your offer without taking on excessive risk, but that’s a topic for another day.
If you’d like more information, or would like a question answered in my 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, 2420 Wilson Blvd #101 Arlington, VA 22201, 703-390-9460.
Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in McLean. Reach the office at 703-790-9090.
On May 4 and 5, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. each day, you have the opportunity to join the Northern Virginia Parade of Homes tour of the areas most popular builders and remodeling contractors.
Admission is free and they have a great interactive map of the homes on the route. They’re listed alphabetically or you can focus on a city. Below I’ve highlighted some questions to ask them if you’re thinking of building.
Make sure you click the “add to my tour” button when looking at builders. Some of the addresses listed are their offices and not the model home they’re using for the tour.
Some of the homes listed are actually for sale, some are not.
Questions to ask:
- If you like some of the features of the home and hate others — ask if the house was a custom build for someone (i.e. it’s someone else’s taste and not necessarily representative of what the builder normally does).
- Ask about lot acquisition. If you’re looking for a specific lot size, location/school zone, type of home (i.e. 3-car garage), talk to the builders about how they find lots, what they do if they get a call with one that might match your needs.
- Look for personality — building a home is a highly personal transaction, way more than buying/selling normally. You want to make sure you actually like the person you’ll be dealing with almost daily for a year.
- Ask all the questions you’ve heard rumors about (does a pool count a lot coverage? How about a deck?) These guys will know the answer.
- Do they have floor plans they’re able to reuse if you like a specific one (check their websites, most have full photos and floor plans for the home they’ve built previously)? Find out if they have architects they’d recommend if you want to do something truly custom.
Ask about financing options. They’ll happily give you the names of local banks they like working with and give you options.
- When you’re walking through these houses, really get a feel for the space. How does 5,000 sq. ft. feel? Compare that to 4,000 or 6,000. You’ll see so many models on the parade of homes, you should be able to get a good feel of what you need, don’t really care about, size/space, etc.
The homes are beautiful! Enjoy the tour!
