Northern Virginia's Premier Real Estate Blog

Sword-wielder lops off realtor's arm, wounds two others before capture | The Japan Times Online

2012-05-22T15:42:00.001-04:00

Wow, real estate agents need to be careful in Japan

Sword-wielder lops off realtor's arm, wounds two others before capture | The Japan Times Online

What's The Diffrence Between a Pre Approval and Pre Qualification

2012-04-30T19:31:00.001-04:00

Ok, This is my first attempt at a video Blog so i hope they will get even better from here.

Joey Remondino has been featured on CBS, Washington Post, WUSA Channel 9, and Washingtonian as a Real Estate Expert and is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Vienna, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and FairfaxCounties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert listing and purchasing Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and existing resale real estate. Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process, contact me.

To search for a home please click, Search For Home Listings.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here Market Snapshot

Home Remodeling Projects That Pay Best in Northern VA.

2012-04-12T16:27:00.003-04:00

All home remodeling projects paid off big in Northern VA during the short real estate boom and many owners still have miss conceived ideas of what improvements pay. I will not soon forget the days of when owners could remodel a kitchen or bathroom in a home and earn an immediate hefty return on investment. Those days, however, did not last long and the financial returns seen are not realistic for a healthy real estate market. The best home improvements and trends do change and at times they can seem to go as quickly as they are popularized. There are a few principles, we all know them, which remain true and do stand the test of time and can be seen in the most recent Cost vs. Value report.

Every year Remodeling Magazine working in conjunction with REALTOR Magazine publish their annual report of Cost vs. Value for home remodeling projects. This report includes national averages but for my purpose I will concentrate on the Washington DC metro region which includes the best Northern VA home improvement projects. This report can help determine some of the better home improvements for those looking to make the best investment. I want to issue a caveat to all homeowners; every home, location, and property condition is unique so please consult a knowledgeable and experienced Northern VA realtor for advice. The national reports are averages and all real estate is local and generalizing the real estate market can be a mistake.

To continue this article at www.CallJoey.com , click this link at Home Remodeling Projects that Pay Best in Northern Va.

Joey Remondino has been featured on CBS, Washington Post, WUSA Channel 9, and Washingtonian as a Real Estate Expert and is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Vienna, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate. Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process, contact me.

To search for a home please click, Search For Home Listings.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here Market Snapshot

Relocating to Vienna VA

2011-10-27T13:18:00.000-04:00

Those looking to relocate to Northern VA should consider buying a home or condo in Vienna and partake in the life style it affords its resident. Vienna has something to satisfy anyone and live in style whether the Town of Vienna or the high pace business district of Tysons Corner. Residents of Vienna have access to multiple commuter Metro lines, world known business district, world class restaurants, outstanding shopping, excellent public and private schools, and easy access to our nation’s capital.

The Town of Vienna is one mile southwest of Tysons corner and has numerous restaurants, shopping, and any other business or service one needs. Maple Ave. (Rt123) runs through the heart of Vienna and has chains like Whole Foods, Outback, Fresh Market and several Starbucks. The heart and soul of the Town of Vienna is made up of the local business’s likeMaplewood Grill, Cenans Bakery, Bazin’s on Churchand Jammin Java to just name a few. This area is a truly walkable community and offers events year round like its Oktoberfest, Town Green Concert Series, 4^th of July fireworks, and the annual Halloween Parade. Here is more information on the walkability of the Town of Vienna, Walking in Vienna .

Tysons Corner is a world known Business District in Northern VA because of the many recognizable corporations that are headquartered or have major regional offices in the area. There are plenty of companies in Tysons Corner like Booz Allen Hamilton, Capital One, Freddie Mac, Gannett, Hilton, MicroSrategy, SAIC, Spacenet, and USA Today have their Corporate Headquarters located here. These along with countless other corporations who have office located in Tysons Corner make this area a giant in almost any industry. With commute times only expected to increase in the DC Metro area many are looking to live close to the office. Those searching for a more urban lifestyle can consider purchasing a condo centrally located in Tysons corner. Tysons Corner is split with part located in Vienna and part considered Mclean, another great area in Northern VA but all in Fairfax County.

To Continue this article on Relocating to Vienna VA and Tysons Corner, click http://calljoey.com/vienna-relocation.asp

Ayr Hill Heights, Vienna VA

2011-10-27T13:14:00.001-04:00

Ayr Hill Heights neighborhood is just north of the Town of Vienna and comprises of 58 homes built from the mid 50’s to the early 60’s. The neighborhood is approximately 1 mile from the businesses on Church Street and Maple Avenue but still in walking distance. This is less convenient access but allows for less street traffic as opposed to the neighborhoods that are within a block or two. Like much of Vienna in the most recent decade some of the original homes have been torn down and more modern larger Colonial or Adirondack style homes have been built. With Vienna lot prices increasing it can make financial sense to tear down rather than remodel the existing older home. There are many opportunities for buyers looking to build a custom home or buy an existing small rambler in the Town of Vienna, contact me to visit the listing currently availability in Vienna.

To continue this article and visit my Vienna Relocation Page, click this link, Ayr Hill heights.

Ayr Hill Neighborhood, Vienna VA

2011-09-21T10:34:00.002-04:00

The Ayr Hill subdivision is small with just 54 properties but occupies an excellent location in the North East section of the Town of Vienna (see map). The Ayr Hill community, like many in the Town of Vienna, is an excellent walking community with easy access to many businesses on Church St. and Maple Ave. Many of the original homes were built in the 40’s and 50’s and the remainder being build through the decades since. In the most recent decade many of the original homes, particularly on Ayr Hill Ave, have been torn down and more modern larger Colonial or Adirondack style homes have been built. The location of this walkable community is highly sought after with newer homes or custom homes being priced from 1.2 to 2.2 million. With Vienna lot prices increasing it can make financial sense to tear down rather than remodel the existing older home. There are many opportunities for buyers looking to build a custom home or buy an existing small rambler in the Town of Vienna, contact me to visit the listing currently availability in Vienna or to meet with any local builders.

To continue this article about Ayr Hill community and other neighborhoods in Vienna, please click here, Ayr Hill Neighborhood, Vienna VA.

Joey Remondino has been on CBS, Washington Post, WUSA Channel 9, and Washingtonian as a Real Estate Expert and is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Vienna, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, andFairfax Counties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate. Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process,contact me.

To search for a home please click, Search For Home Listings.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here Market Snapshot

East Vienna Woods in Vienna VA.

2011-08-19T14:08:00.006-04:00

Tucked away in the South East part of the Town of Vienna in Fairfax County is East Vienna Woods Subdivision. Much smaller than its big counterpart Vienna Woods since it only makes up 166 homes but it exudes the same charm that many Vienna neighborhoods boast. The neighborhood runs mainly along Branch Rd. and Echoles St including some of the surrounding streets as you can see by the map. Most of East Vienna Woods was originally build from 1956 to 1959 but newer homes have been built on empty lots through the years. In the most recent decade some of the original ramblers have been torn down to build more modern larger Colonial or Adirondack style homes. With Vienna lot prices increasing it can make financial sense to tear down rather than remodel the existing older home. There are many opportunities for buyers looking to build a dream home or buy an existing small rambler in a quiet and beautiful neighborhood like East Vienna Woods, contact me to visit the listing currently availability in Vienna with a REALTOR.

To continue this article, click East Vienna Woods in Vienna VA

Radon in Loudoun

2011-08-17T12:11:00.003-04:00

Loudoun County homes can have Radon Gas just like any other place in Northern VA and should be a concern for home owners. Many home buyers in Loudoun completed an inspection when they purchased their home to determine if Radon was present. The sales contract used by REALTORS in the area can contain a Radon Gas Inspection Contingency at the time of offer if chosen to be included. During the years of the real estate market boom, many home buyers excluded this contingency to make their offer more competitive and never perform a Radon Test. EPA recommends testing for radon gas every two years due to soil movement and/or settlement cracks that may form in a home.

Radon is an invisible, odorless, tasteless radioactive gas that is usually found in igneous rocks but sometimes can also be in well water. The natural breakdown or decay of uranium in the soil creates the radon gas and it can seep up through the soil which is found in nearly all soil. This gas can enter into a home through cracks in floors, gaps around pipes, cavities in walls, and the water supply to name a few. This radon gas then can become trapped inside homes and create unsafe levels. Since radon is radioactive the inhalation of high levels of the gas causes an estimated 20,000 lung cancer deaths a year as reported by the Surgeon General's Office in the United States...............To continue this article CLICK HERE.

Joey Remondino has been featured on CBS, Washington Post, WUSA Channel 9, and Washingtonian as a Real Estate Expert and is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Vienna, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate.

Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process, contact me.

To search for a home please click, Search For Home Listings.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here Market Snapshot

Radon in Prince William

2011-08-17T11:10:00.004-04:00

Radon Gas is in many Prince William County homes just like any other place in Northern VA and should be a concern for home owners. Many home buyers in Prince William completed an inspection when they purchased their home to determine if Radon was present. The sales contract used by REALTORS in the area can contain a Radon Gas Inspection Contingency at the time of offer if chosen to be included. During the years of the real estate market boom, many home buyers excluded this contingency to make their offer more competitive and never perform a Radon Test. EPA recommends testing for radon gas every two years due to soil movement and/or settlement cracks that may form in a home.

Joey Remondino has been featured on CBS, Washington Post, WUSA Channel 9, and Washingtonian as a Real Estate Expert and is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Vienna, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate.

Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process, contact me.

To search for a home please click, Search For Home Listings.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here Market Snapshot

Risks of Buying a Short Sale in Northern VA.

2011-08-04T11:03:00.016-04:00

Short sales in Northern VA pose risks to buyers that normally would not be a concern with a normal home purchase. I have written several articles a few years back on the topic of short sale risks and what a short sale could cost a buyer if it is denied. Home buyers that would like to refer back to those short sale articles, here they are, Losing Money Trying to Buy a Short Sale and The Risk of Buying a Short Sale. Those articles are still valid but I am updating those articles and discussing all the points here in one.

Northern Virgini a Short Sales have become more common place in today’s real estate market and in these economic conditions. Short sales will most certainly be part of the real estate landscape for years to come. This is the reason it is important for home buyers in Northern VA to understand the risks and costs involved in buying a short sale. Buying a short sale is not for the faint of heart but can be a viable option for some Northern VA homebuyers. Currently an excellent way to get a home with instant equity in the Northern VA area is to purchase a short sale, the right way. Real estate investors have been purchasing short sales since 2007.

To continue reading this article please click here, Risks of Buying a Short Sale in Norterhn VA.

Joey Remondino has been featured on CBS, Washington Post, WUSA Channel 9, and Washingtonian as a Real Estate Expert and is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Vienna, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate. Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process, contact me.

To search for a home please click, Search For Home Listings.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here Market Snapshot

Purchasing a Short Sale in Northern VA Can Pay

2011-08-04T08:04:00.006-04:00

It is always good to be recognized as a Top Producing agent in Northern VA, but better then that is when my clients start a life in their dream home. Unfortunatly there are some short sales in Northern VA that can still take many months to get approved. My clients where patiant and had the opportunity to wait many months for their offer to be approved by the mortgage holder of a short sale. There is a risk purchasing short sales but paid off in the long run for them, and the refferal letter below is proof.

"My husband and I were first time home buyers and got stuck in an absolute short-sale NIGHTMARE but Joey still made our dream home a reality. After months and months of waiting and bizarre bank issues most realtors would have told us to give up and move on but Joey understood our unique situation and stuck by us for over a year simultaneously working to get the short sale home moving and helping us search for other possible properties. He stayed in constant contact with not only the selling realtor but the two banks involved in the short sale and our prospective mortgage company and gave us updates so we always new exactly where we were in the process. After 14 months our dream home finally came through at $30,000 less than we were originally planning to pay for it! None of this would have happened without Joey and we would highly recommend him to anyone looking to buy a home in the area."

Jeff and Michelle

Here are some articles for short sales in Northern VA

The Risk of Buying A Short Sale

Why Use A Short Sale Expert

Why Buy A Short Sale

What to Offer on A Short Sale

And for many other articles go to, Northern VA Short Sales.

Joey Remondino has been featured on CBS, Washington Post, WUSA Channel 9, and Washingtonian as a Real Estate Expert and is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Vienna, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, andFairfax Counties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate. Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process,contact me.

To search for a home please click, Search For Home Listings.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here Market Snapshot

Reward of Buying a Short Sale in Northern VA

2011-08-03T13:45:00.009-04:00

The reward of buying a short sale in Northern VA is to save money and build instant equity when the keys are passed over the settlement table. When buyers are looking for real estate, either a home or investment, and comes across a short sale they should keep some points in mind. The price of a short sale home will usually be below market value and many times below foreclosure prices of comparable homes in good condition. This is the case for one reasons, Short sales can take on average of 3 to 4 months to get bank approved or declined and can waste time. Here is an article describing these short sale risks in Northern VA, The Risks of buying a short sale.

To continue this article, please visit Reward of Buying a Short Sale in Northern VA on my web site.

Radon in Alexandria

2011-07-12T13:14:00.007-04:00

Homes in Alexandria can contain Radon Gas just like any other place in Northern VA and should be a concern for home owners. The Northern Virginia Real Estate Sales Contract that is most utilized when purchasing a home can contain a Radon Gas inspection contingency at the time of offer. Some home buyers choose not to conduct a radon gas test or to make an offer more competitive may have excluded this contingency. Those home owners in Alexandria that have not tested for Radon Gas should consider doing so in the near future.

Joey Remondino has been featured on CBS, Washington Post, WUSA Channel 9, and Washingtonian as a Real Estate Expert and is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Vienna, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate.

Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process, contact me.

To search for a home please click, Search For Home Listings.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here Market Snapshot

My Walk to Vienna

2011-07-11T11:14:00.021-04:00

Saturday, my wife was out shopping all day with her mother, yes she negotiated well, and I was home with two beautiful ladies, my daughters. The princess’s were not being to lady like with the doors slamming and constant bickering. The feeling in my stomach was not from my daughters fighting over Princess Aurora but the concern on the damage my wife was inflicting on the credit card. With this in mind and an empty stomach, I decided to bribe my kids with ice cream and save myself a few bucks. We were headed into town to get ingredients for a fresh tomato pesto Panini.

I threw some shoes on my daughters who were both in their ballerina costumes from a dance recital a few weeks back. I figured we would only be gone for a few minutes and it was not worth the negotiation to get them to change……..Yes, I have taught all the ladies in the house how to negotiate, I obviously didn’t think that one through…..

The first stop was the local Giant in the heart of the town of Vienna, VA for some fresh tomatos and motzarella.

With my two ballerinas in tow, we quickly checked out in the self serve checkout and headed to a Vienna local favorite, Cenan’s Bakary. We purchased a fresh loaf of San Francisco Sourdough bread, basil pesto spread, and a cannoli that was just made hours ago. (Did you see my last name)

Now it was time to pay up on the bribe so that hopefully the remainder of the day would be quieter, Baskin Robins. Within the matter of minutes we had made our selection of rainbow sherbet and strawberry cheesecake, the girls are all about the color pink. We were on our way home walking past Norms Beer since I still had a refrigerator full from the StoneHouse 4th of July party. Once we returned home, I sat the kids down with their ice cream and then created a most delectibla Panini to enjoy in peace and quiet.

The question I am sure you are asking now is ….how does this story have anything to do with purchasing a home? That’s a good question………….

I will start by telling you this entire journey took 21 minutes to complete and we walked every step of the way. I believe there is a huge value in living in a walk able community that offers mass transit, restaurants, shopping, and other household buisness’s. In Northern VA the homes in these communities sell higher and faster than homes with little to know walkability. There are many real estate websites like Trulia.com that are ranking homes so that potential buyers can get a feel if it is walk able. This is best done by a local agent that knows the area and the market. Here are some of the better Northern VA Walkable communities. Town of Vienna, Fairfax City, Arlington, Alexandria, City of Manassas, Falls Church, and Mclean just to name a few.

Joey Remondino has been featured on CBS, Washington Post, WUSA Channel 9, and Washingtonian as a Real Estate Expert and is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Vienna, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate.

Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process, contact me.

To search for a home please click, Search For Home Listings.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here Market Snapshot

Vienna and Mclean Short Sales

2011-06-21T14:21:00.007-04:00

Vienna and McLean are like any other area in Northern VA and not immune to the many short sale homes that are available for buyers. In 2007 I listed and sold my first short sale in a time when few understood the beginnings of the collapse of the real estate market. Many of the principles and process I learned to get that one approved, I continue to use to this day and the main reason why I have not changed any of my short sale articles. The term short sale is more common today in real estate and the main reason why they are a viable option for more home buyers in Northern VA. Understanding the short sale process and all its pit falls is the most important aspect of getting a short sale approved and closed in Vienna and Mclean or anywhere in Northern VA. To find more articles and information on short sales and foreclosure please visit Northern Virginia Short Sales and REO’s.

Home Sellers in Northern VA needing to short sale, not only have the looming anxiety of losing their home but also need to find an agent who is a short sale expert. Many home sellers have trouble determining what makes an agent a short sale expert. Unfortunately unbeknownst to many would be short sellers, hiring an agent without short sale knowledge and experience can make the difference between approval or foreclosure. The only published national short sale success rate available is a USA today report that estimated a disappointing 23% closing rate in 2009. This has most certainly increased due to the simple fact people, including real estate agents, understand short sales better than before.

Short sales in Vienna or Mclean are like any other, the size of the loss that a lender may be taking does not weigh as much in the approval as the need or percentage of market value does. The most important aspect of these is the need for a short sale by a home owner. Lenders will only approve a short sale if there is a clear financial and/or personal distress causing the inability to make mortgage payments. Those who can afford the payment and/or have no reason to move but just want out of their loan since they are upside down will not get approved.

The second major aspect of getting a short sale in Vienna or Mclean approved and getting it sold is pricing it correctly. Pricing a home to sell whether it is a short sale or regular sale is detrimental from the first day the home is placed on the market. Pricing any home is 50% technical and 50% art depending on current market conditions the day it is listed in the MLS. This is even more important when it comes to short sales for several reasons. The first and most obvious is if a short sale is not priced aggressively enough and buyers aren’t interested, the home most certainly will never short sell. The art of pricing comes in since a short sale needs to be priced low enough to attract buyers willing to take the short sale risk but also priced high enough to get the lender to approve the short sale. Nothing will annoy a bank short sale negotiator more than a home owner or listing agent giving a home away. Normally there are pricing thresholds in place by lenders that need to be met in order for a short sale to be approved but can be a moving target. Finding a real estate agent who understands these short sale pricing thresholds is the key to getting an approval.

A facet of the short sale process that is still true for all parties involved with buying and selling a short sale is remaining patient. Lenders/Banks continue to make the short sale process very convoluted and slow and can take time to negotiate a deal. The average short sale takes three to four months to get approved which means finding a patient buyer is paramount to getting to closing. Short sale sellers have to contend with the mounds of financial documentation that is required to be submitted for the approval, click here for a list of required short documentation . Many times the banks/lenders request updated material multiple times because of the long time period between application and approval. When the time comes for the approval some lenders then attempt to short change the real estate agent and negotiate a lower commission. With the extra work, expense, and the risk of short sales and the chance they will not get approved has kept many real estate agents out of the short sale arena.

The first steps when considering a short sale in Vienna or Mclean is to contact your bank, or banks if you have multiple mortgages, and contacting a short sale expert in Northern VA. For a free consultation to determine if a short sale is right for you, please contact me.

*******If you are still wondering, since my first short sale in 2007, I have a 93% short sale success rate with all homes that I list and 100% success rate with owner occupied short sales.

Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process, contact me.

To search for a home please click, Search For Home Listings.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here Market Snapshot

New Home at 230 Ayr Hill Ave, Vienna VA

2011-06-14T14:41:00.001-04:00

Walk in Vienna

2011-06-07T14:37:00.007-04:00

A Walk in Vienna

The Town of Vienna is approximately 14 miles outside of the nation’s capitol of Washington D.C. and has continued to keep a small town sprite of community while Northern Virginia has expanded and grown. The Town of Vienna is truly a walkable community with many activities and business’s available in one area. Maple Avenue (Rt. 123) has numerous restaurants, shops, and other business’s to fill the needs of any household. Step back into simpler times on Historic Church Street with its many family run business’s unique to Vienna and street festivals through out the year. Some annual events in Vienna are Walk on The Hill, Viva Vienna!, July 4th, Halloween Parade, and Holiday Stroll to name a few. Visit Centennial Park or take a stroll anywhere in Vienna to visit with neighbors and friends and truly appreciate the community of Vienna. There is something for everyone in Vienna.

Vienna Attractions

Community Center
The Vienna Community Center offers facilities for many community events like fairs, fashion shows, bazaars, plays, antique exhibits, and countless summer youth class’s. At the heart of the center is a teen center Club Phoenix that offers many events year round for neighborhood teens.
Parks
The Town of Vienna maintains a variety of parks throughout the town that can be enjoyed year round. The major parks of Northside, Southside, Glyndon, and Meadow Lane include baseball fields, tennis courts, picnic tables, playgrounds, nature trails, basketball courts, and hiking and biking trails. Glyndon and Meadow Lane Parks have pavilions that may be reserved for picnics.

W & OD Trail
The Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park is a 45 mile asphalt trail that runs from Arlington to Purcellville and is the gem of Northern VA. Bikers and Runners can enjoy 45 miles of asphalt trail and there is even 32 miles of crushed stone and dirt bridal paths for horse back. This trail cuts through the heart of the Town of Vienna for residents to enjoy. Mile marker 12 on the W & OD Trail is a in Vienna a great opportunity for those who want to take advantage of this park.

Tysons Corner
The largest concentration of office space in Northern VA and the 11th largest shopping mall in the United States are located in Tysons Corner and only 2 miles from the Town of Vienna. A true shopaholic can appreciate the 300 stores available in Tysons Corner Center or the upscale shopping of Tysons Galleria. A workaholic can find plenty of business in Tysons Corner since Booz Allen Hamilton, Capital One, Freddie Mac, Gannett, Hilton, MicroSrategy, SAIC, Spacenet, and USA Today have their Corporate Headquarters located here. These along with countless other corporations who have office located in Tysons Corner make this area a giant in almost any industry.

Contact me or visit here to set up a private tour of homes on the market in Vienna Va.

Build a New Home in Wedderburn Estates, Vienna Va

2010-12-29T10:58:00.007-05:00

New communities in the Vienna and Tysons Corner area in Fairfax County do not come along often and is why Wedderburn Estates is a great opportunity to buy a new home in Vienna. This new neighborhood is located just outside the city limits of the town of Vienna off of Cedar Lane. The Wedderburn Estates community, when completed, will be 23 all brick or stone single family homes on approximately 8,000 to 10,000 square foot lots. The neighborhood is being constructed by Courtland Homes, a local Northern Virginia Builder. I would consider Cortland Homes to be more like a large production home build but still has some flexibility of a custom home builder. For more information describing the process of negotiating a home in the Wedderburn Estates neighborhood read Negotiating With New Home Builder in Northern VA.

I advise all my buyers that with any home, location is the one aspect that cannot be changed once a property has been purchased. Like the saying goes location, location, location. The Wedderburn Estates neighborhood is centrally located to shopping, mass transit, interstates, and many other activities. The Town of Vienna and all it has to offer is a short distance with numerous restaurants, shopping, and any other business or service one needs. Maple Ave. runs through the heart of Vienna and has big names like Whole Foods, Outback, and several Starbucks. The heart and soul of Vienna is made up of the local business’s like Maplewood Grill, Cenans Bakery, Bazin’s on Church and Jammin Java to just name a few. The Town of Vienna is a truly walkable community and offers events year round like its Oktoberfest, 4th of July fireworks, and the Halloween Parade.

The true shopaholic will salivate since Tysons Corner Center is just about 2 miles away from the Wedderburn Estates subdivision. This is the 11th largest mall in the United States and for those who need more upscale shopping Tysons Galleria is just down the street.

The commuters who like to take mass transit will be happy to know residents of Wedderburn Estates community have multiple choices. The Metro currently has the Orange Line Vienna station and the Dunn Loring Stations close by with plenty of parking for those who arrive early. The new metro silver line will have three Tysons Corner stations when completed in 2013. This combined with the metro bus system will allow commuter to have a stress free commute.

Lets not forget that many of the homes in Wedderburn Estates will back up to the popular bike and walking trail, the W&OD. The Washington and Old Dominion trail was originally a railroad that has been transformed to a 45 mile walking, running, cycling, and skating trail. A 32 mile gravel trail runs along part of the paved trail for horse back riding. This is a true treasure in Northern Virginia and offers a great benefit to home owners in the Wedderburn Estates neighborhood who will have an access trail in the neighborhood to the W&OD.

The public schools that service the Wedderburn Estates community are some of the best in the area. Fairfax County has an excellent school system but I do recommend to do research when looking to be in a specific school district. There are many aspects of what makes a great school and a good tool is my article, What Are The Best Schools in Northern VA. The public schools for Wedderburn Estates are below, check with the county to verify school districts ****Wedderburn Estates is next to the school district line which is subject to change, please check with Fairfax County Schools.

Cunningham Park Elementary
Thoreau Middle
James Madison High

Buying a home from a new home builder can be confusing and much different than buying an existing home or a custom home. When visiting any model home bring a new home agent as a guide to negotiate and to represent your needs, contact me. The standard for Northern Virginia real estate is the seller pays the commission including new home builders, read Who Pays The Commission. There is a big difference between buying a production home like in Wedderburn Estates and building a custom home. Read the buying and negotiating process of new home builder in Northern VA for production builders and custom builders in Fairfax to understand the difference. No matter which type of home you are considering, contact me I can help determine which option is best for your needs, contact me.

Joey Remondino has been featured on CBS, Washington Post, WUSA Channel 9, and Washingtonian as a Real Estate Expert and is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Vienna, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate. Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process, contact me.

To search for a home please click, Search For Home Listings.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here Market Snapshot

New Home Builder Ratings in Northern VA, 2010

2010-12-28T11:22:00.008-05:00

Building a new home in Northern VA can be confusing for home buyers and is the reason it’s important for buyers to be armed with the right information and new home REALTOR. Rating new home builders in Northern VA is a difficult task since there are many aspects to building and completing the sale of a home. A resource that gives a good starting point is the 2010 Home Builder Customer Satisfaction Ratings and 2010 Home Builder Quality Ratings for the Northern Va area conducted by JD Power. The builders included in this ranking are what I call large production home builders and not custom builders. Custom home building is a different process, if you are looking for a custom home builder check out this article about custom home builders in Fairfax County.

These ratings are based from surveys of new home buyers who have recently purchased a home in the Washington DC market which includes Northern VA real estate buyers. In order to be eligible, builders have to first close a minimum of 150 homes in the respective market along with other specific qualifications that will be discussed later. There have been some changes since my 2009 ratings of new home builders including the addition of many builders that were absent from the 2009 home builder ratings. These Northern Va home builders that have been included in this year are Brookfield Homes, D.R. Horton, Stanley Martin Homes and K Hovnanian.

The 2010 New Home Builder Customer Satisfaction Study is a in-depth survey into 9 aspects of new builder customer service including home quality; builder's warranty/customer service staff; price/value; builder's sales staff; construction manager; home readiness; recreational facilities provided by the builder; builder's design center; and location. The Northern VA new builder with the best customer satisfaction for 2010 was M/I Homes taking the top spot from last year’s winner Pulte Homes. Other home builders Ryan Homes and Ryland Homes where not far behind in the survey. The overall customer satisfaction for all home builders increased again for a third year straight. With an economy that continues to struggle and a buyer’s market in Northern VA, new home builders are working harder to satisfy buyers. The home builders that brought up the rear in home builder customer satisfaction were Stanley Martin Homes, D.R. Horton and Brookfield Homes which are all also new to the survey this year. Let’s hope this year’s merger of Centex Homes by Pulte Homes has not negatively affected the quality of Pulte and improves both brands survey.

The 2010 Home Builder Quality Ratings is the second survey that home buyers should note when searching for a new home builder in Northern VA. This study takes into consideration the number of problems that take place in a new home and the severity of the problem involved. The study pinpoints and designates 41 categories including bathroom; drywall; electrical/appliances; flooring/stairs; home exterior; interior paint; kitchen; windows/doors; and other possible significant problem areas. The builder that prevailed as the best for new home builder quality in Northern Va area was M/I Homes, taking the top spot from last year’s winner Winchester Homes. They were followed closely in quality by Ryland Homes, and Pulte Homes who both won in one other market. Keep in mind for builders to qualify only needed 50 completed surveys are needed, so these results can vary dramatically with one bad survey.

The economy and the real estate meltdown have been difficult on all those businesses associated to real estate in Northern VA including New Home Builders. Taking this and all the other market conditions into consideration, many builders pricing can be negotiated. Visit this article for more information on the building process and negotiating with new home builders in Northern VA. These ratings should be used as one of many tools when buying in a new home community in Northern Va. There are so many aspects to purchasing from a new home builder and these survey results should not be the only resource. The best advice should come from a new home REALTOR who is a new home builder expert in Northern VA, contact me. The best thing about having a new home agent like me by your side is the builder pays the commission, visit who pays the commission.

Joey Remondino has been featured on CBS, Washington Post, WUSA Channel 9, and Washingtonian as a Real Estate Expert and is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Vienna, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate.

Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process, contact me.

To search for a home please click, Search For Home Listings.For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here Market Snapshot

Vienna Custom Homes

2010-12-13T12:44:00.008-05:00

Take a drive through numerous neighborhoods in Vienna VA., like Vienna Woods, and a clear trend has been taking shape in the last decade. Tear down an existing home built in the 50s and 60s to build a much larger modern custom home in this highly sought after area, Vienna. With few existing empty lots available in Vienna, the choices for would be home owners to build the home of their dreams are slim. This leaves the challenge for Vienna home buyers to find an available home to purchase and tear down then seek out a reputable home builder to build the dream home. This can prove to be a daunting and perplexing undertaking and at times very costly if mistakes are made. These beginning steps and decisions are the most important to having a smooth and exciting home building process. This article will give you some guidance on steps that need to be taken to build a custom home in Vienna but is in no way a do it yourself guide. There are too many aspects and different scenarios that can and will arise from contract to settlement when building a new custom home.

In order to decide if building a custom home or buying an existing home in Vienna is right for your needs, the first step is to find a skilled REALTOR to guide you through the process. (**Multiple shameless plugs for me are coming**) The agent should be knowledgeable and experienced with the custom home building process and fully capable of guiding the buyer every step of the process, contact me to help. The agent should also know and have worked with multiple custom home builders who have built homes in Fairfax County. Buyers building a Custom home in Vienna, just like any home buyer in Northern Virginia, should have a buyer broker agreement since Virginia is a “buyer beware” state, here is an article that further explains buyer agency, Caveat Emptor or Buyer Beware in Virginia. The custom in Virginia is that the buyer’s broker normally gets paid by the seller or builder, here is an article explaining Who Pays the Commission, so arm yourself with an expert, contact me.

Avoid stopping into a model home or calling a builder directly without an agent, they will not pay your agent if you bring one in on the deal later. Here is an article that explains how this works with all new home builders, Negotiating with New Home Builders in Northern VA.

Once armed with a skill agent, buyers deciding to build a custom home should find a lender who has available financing for a construction loan. Keep in mind that in order to finance the construction of a custom home, the buyer will need 20% down of the entire endeavor. Having a pre approval letter from a mortgage lender will allow better negotiations with the builder of choice. It is always a good idea for your chosen lender to meet and discuss payout process with the custom home builder so there is no work stoppage.

There are different options and routs to take to build a custom home in terms of lot choice. Some Vienna custom home builders like JDA and Ayrhill Homes have lots available and/or spec homes currently under construction. (Spec Home is defined as a new home that has been built on speculation that a buyer will be found) This may make the process faster since they have already acquired the lot. Those home buyers who have time and want to find their own lot and/or tear down home can also go with some other Fairfax County custom home builders like Dovetail Custom Homes or Reel Homes and who may also have lots available. Again, give me a call before you contact the builder so you have a custom home expert on your side, contact me.

Now that you have found the perfect lot and home builder the task of planning begins, deciding on the architecture and floor plan. The design phase offers two routs for a floor plan, choose an existing floor plan or get an architect to design one. At this point of the process of building a home, there will be an agreement put in place and possible payment for the design phase only. This is to cover the design expenses of required engineering and architectural work that needs to be completed. I want to issue one caveat; these are general guidelines and are not hard fast rules because I have found every custom home deal is different.

The architecture and engineering is finalized and the vision of a dream home is taking shape, it is time to put pen to paper. The task at hand is to negotiate all the terms and sign the construction contract to start work on the custom home. This may also include a sales contract if the land has not been purchased and will depend on the individual deal at hand. This part of the process should not be rushed and all parties to the deal should have a crystal clear understanding of what is being constructed. When building a custom home, some builders do not use a boiler plate contract depending on the deal and buyers should consider employing a real estate attorney to review the terms.

Let the fun begin…….. Now that all terms are in writing, permits are pulled, demolition has begun and construction of a custom home in Vienna is underway. The arduous but exciting task of color and style selections begins, and hopefully the buyer already has an idea of what levels the builder is including in the contract. This, at times, can be a sticking point if there was not clear communication with price level of selections like electrical fixtures, carpet, tile, cabinets, plumbing fixtures, and garage door to name a few. There are also times that buyers choose too many high end selections that were not laid out in the contract and can cause the contract price to get higher. This is why it is paramount that a clear understanding of what selections are included in the contract price is communicated up front.

While the construction is moving forward, the financing bank is in communication every step of the way. There will be milestones of completeness that will need to be achieved and inspected in order for the lender to authorize further payment. There needs to be a good line of communication between the lender and the builder so the draw schedule is understood and followed. Work stoppage can occur if the lender does not inspect the construction at appropriate times or there is a disagreement on the lender required milestones. Including whether and inspections by the appropriate municipality, this can also add to missing the completion date.

The custom home is complete, the final inspections have been passed and the occupancy permit is gained, there is one last step. The financing lender will verify the occupancy permit and inspect the property so they can initiate the last payment to the builder. Depending on the specific financing the loan may transform into a standard 30 year mortgage or may be a different variation that should be refinancing in the near future.

There are many different choices involved when building a custom home in Northern Virginia which creates numerous variations to this process. Hire a skilled Realtor, contact me, that can first help determine if building a custom home is right for you and then guide you through the process. They should be with you every step of the way and can help remove the fear and much of the stress when building the custom home in Vienna. Call me for a free consultation to determine if building a custom home in Fairfax County is right for you.

Joey Remondino has been featured on CBS, Washington Post, WUSA Channel 9, and Washingtonian as a Real Estate Expert and is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Vienna, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate. Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process, contact me.

To search for a home please click, Search For Home Listings.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here Market Snapshot

Loan Modifications Can and Do Change

2010-11-30T11:52:00.008-05:00

I believe it would be a fair assumption when a bank modifies a home owner’s mortgage that the modification would permanently supersede the original loan terms. This is, of course, unless the bank makes it clear to the owner that the new loan modification terms are only for a specific time period. Making such an assumption could end up costing a homeowner even more money and/or foreclosure. During and leading up to the real estate melt down very few lenders have been crystal clear with their loan terms, but like I always say what the bold print giveth, the fine print taketh away.

Recently I have consulted and helped Fairfax County home owners who received loan modifications that were later repealed by the lender. The owner of one such modification made his new payments for seven months to only be notified the bank wanted a $5,000 payment to bring his loan current per the original loan terms. This loan modification was not through the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) but rather what is being called a Proprietary Modification. Many lenders have been implementing their own loan modifications which can have dramatically different terms from the government backed HAMP. This particular loan modification obviously allowed the lender to revert back to the original loan terms which is exactly what happened. The modified payment the homeowner had been making was $700 less than the original payment and the bank wanted this difference back. This particular bank informed the home owner if payment was not possible the owner was eligible for a short sale. If these terms were not acceptable then foreclosure would be initiated. Ultimately the owner was unable to pay but I was able to negotiate a short sale with the bank and sell the home.

There are also loan modification company’s who, for a fee, will attempt to negotiate a loan modification with the lender for the owner. I recommend avoiding these firms since they may and will charge a fee whether the lender approves a loan modification or not. The client mentioned above used one of these firms and as you have learned it was a waste of $2,000. Northern VA homeowners who are currently or will be behind on their mortgage payments should first contact their lender and preferably before the first missed payment. Another excellent recourse is the HUD sponsored HOPE program, visit the website or call 1-888-995-HOPE. Please contact me if loan modification is not an option to discuss short sale options and if you are a candidate.

Joey Remondino has been featured on CBS, Washington Post, WUSA Channel 9, and Washingtonian as a Real Estate Expert and is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Vienna, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate.

Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process, contact me.

To search for a home please click, Search For Home Listings.For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here Market Snapshot

What is a Proprietary Loan Modification?

2010-11-29T15:52:00.006-05:00

There are two main categories of mortgage loan modifications that financially distressed homeowners can qualify, HAMP or Proprietary Loan Modification. The first is the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) which is subsidized by the United States Government and put in place in 2009 by the Obama Administration. This option gives incentives to lenders to approve modifications for homeowners who can no longer afford their mortgage payments. There are very specific requirements that lenders must follow if a home owner is approved for this program. These modification will normally become permanent loan terms if the homeowner can afford and pays the first three payments on time. The homeowner’s first mortgage balance cannot exceed 125% of the current value of the home. For example if the home is valued at $500,000 and the first mortgage is $625,000 or less. Only loans owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac are required to participate in this program all other lenders are not required to participate. Check with your bank or servicing bank to see who owns or guarantees your loan. These are a few of the many qualification criteria, contact 1-888-995-HOPE or your lender to determine qualifications.

The second category of loan modification are Proprietary Loan Modifications or Private Loan Modifications. These loan modifications are “in-house” plans that can vary greatly depending on the lender and the individual home owner’s financial needs. These loan modifications may have adjustable terms that can increase payments in the future. They may also have profit sharing terms that if in the future when the home is sold and there is a net profit made on the sale. For example if in 2015 the homeowner sells their home for a profit of $50,000 the bank may take all or $25,000 of the profit to make up for the loan modification depending on the terms agreed on at modification. Proprietary loan modifications may or may not help homeowners in trouble but should be the first option to explore. The next step for any home owner that cannot qualify for or afford a loan modification is short sale. The best chance to get a short sale approved and sold is to hire a Short Sale Expert, read this article to understand why use a short sale expert.

Joey Remondino has been featured on CBS, Washington Post, WUSA Channel 9, and Washingtonian as a Real Estate Expert and is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Vienna, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate. Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process, contact me.

To search for a home please click, Search For Home Listings.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here Market Snapshot

Getting Rich from the Real Estate Collapse, Are They Villains?

2010-11-23T17:33:00.019-05:00

A good friend, who happens to be a real estate broker in Nashville TN, posted a video on his facebook page not long ago. He highlighted his severe disappointment in the fact that someone was making excessive amounts of money from the real estate meltdown. There were other people who responded in like kind and viewed OneWest Bank as thieves. Is OneWest Bank the villain since they are making money processing short sales and foreclosures, You take a look to form your own opinion.

Is OneWest Bank the villains here? What is FDIC’s responsibility?

The information in the video appears to be correct as far as I can tell with the research I have

conducted.

The FDIC made a sweetheart deal with OneWest Bank, however it has done its job as intended upon their creation in 1933. They are charged with insuring deposits for the clients of its member banks and acquiring member financial institutions that become insolvent. Let’s not forget that the cash they use to acquire insolvent banks like Indymac and Washington Mutual when they went under are premiums paid by its member banks. These funds are not from the Federal Government or we the tax payers, they are paid by the banks themselves, for now.

The FDIC has the ability to request a loan from the Federal Government should they run out of money which is inevitable with current market conditions. I want to highlight the fact that it would be a loan and would require to be paid back by the member banks. As of this article, the FDIC has over 850 banks identified as problem banks, but keep in mind this is high but has not even reached March 2003 highs of 929 banks. The list is not published for obvious reasons, but Calculated Risk prints their own unofficial list of trouble banks.

OneWest Bank are only guilty oh making a heal of a business deal and are reaping the benefits. I would place the blame on some bad negotiating within FDIC for giving away the farm to OneWest Bank. The other member banks that pay premiums to FDIC should be up in arms over this deal. I want to issue on caveat, OneWest bank may not be the villain in this case, however they do have other issues that the badge of villain should be pinned on them.

With all this being said, let’s not forget that at every bank teller window the FDIC signs reads, “Backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government”. Is OneWest bank then the villain if they are being paid by borrowed dollars from the taxpayer

Joey Remondino has been featured on CBS, Washington Post, WUSA Channel 9, and Washingtonian as a Real Estate Expert and is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Vienna, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate. Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process.

To search for a home please click, Search All Northern Va Listed Homes.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here Market Snapshot

Why Use a Short Sale Expert in Vienna, VA

2010-11-16T11:32:00.006-05:00

It has been almost four years since I settled on my first short sale listing and many aspects I learned on that deal still remain true today. The economy is still struggling and home prices are nowhere close to the highs reached at the top of the market inlate 2006 and early 2007. This means that many homeowners in Northern VA will remain upside down in the foreseeable future. The short sale option will remain a viable solution for homeowners who are upside down and are forced to move. The challenge for homeowners who need to short sale is finding a short sale expert in Vienna to give them the best opportunity to accomplish a short sale. With the national average of short sales going to settlement hovering at a disappointing 23%, sellers should be cautious when hiring an agent or broker.

The first important aspect to getting a home short sold in Vienna is the need. What I mean by this is the seller needs to have some sort of financial distress to even consider trying to negotiate a short sale. Those owners who can no longer make their entire mortgage payment because of job loss, medical expenses, ARM rate adjustment, or any loss of income along those lines have the best chance of getting approved. (If you would like to know if you qualify for a short sale and live in Vienna or Northern VA, please contact me here) Those homeowners who have no reason to move and can afford their mortgage payment are not good candidates to get approved for a short sale. If you are considering a strategic foreclosure, consult a real estate attorney since many lenders have disclosed they will pursue those deficiencies to the full extent of the law.

The other important aspect of getting a short sale to settlement in Vienna, or anywhere in Northern VA, is having a REALTOR or agent that is a short sale expert. Short sales are time consuming, hard work, confusing, and can pay less than regular sales since banks attempt to negotiate lower commissions at the last minute. These are the reasons that short sales are not for the faint of heart and many agents avoid them. Having an expert short sale agent who negotiates the entire sale and settlement of your home is the best option. There are many agents who hire short sale negotiators, aka professional negotiators, to work the short sales they list. There are a few good ones available, but having another middle man can slow the process and muddy the lines of communication. Sellers should also be cautious of National short sale firms since they can and do charge the homeowner thousands whether the short sale settles or not. Over the past years I have found that these “professional short sale negotiators” and national short sale companies do not care for the emotional and financial challenges the home owner is facing.

I am sure at this point you are asking yourself, “so what’s this guy’s percentage of closed short sales” and “if short sales are so hard why does he work them”? Those are good questions, and if you normally read my articles you know that I do not normally make a sales pitch. The reason I am making one now is since most consumers do not understand the effort, skill, and experience it takes to get a short sale to settlement. Many home owners think most agents work short sales to only find out they don’t after their home has been foreclosed. Short sales are not as challenging for me like other agents since I have listed them for years and understand the process the banks require. I also understand they take time and remain patient and I do not give up through the entire process because I know I can get short sales approved. If you need to short sale your home in Vienna or anywhere in Northern VA, give yourself the best chance and list your home with us. I also don’t want to forget, since this housing collapse I have settled 100% of the short sales I have listed that have been owner occupied. Here is my web site that discusses everything concerning short sales in Northern VA.

Below are some other articles I have written through the years about short sales.
What Is A Short Sale
How to Avoid a Short Sale or Foreclosure
Documents Need for a Short Sale
Short Sales in Northern Virginia for a Long Time
Don’t Give up Short Sales Do Close

Joey Remondino has been featured on CBS, Washington Post, WUSA Channel 9, and Washingtonian as a Real Estate Expert and is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Vienna, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate. Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process.

To search for a home please click, Search Listings.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here Market Snapshot

Vienna Woods Subdivision in Vienna VA.

2010-11-15T14:43:00.012-05:00

Whether looking to build a dream home or buy an existing small rambler in a quiet and beautiful neighborhood, Vienna Woods Subdivision may be the solution. This is one of the largest neighborhoods in the Town of Vienna with over 1400 homes and one of the most eclectic. Vienna Woods is located in the south west section of the town close to the intersection of Nutley Street and Interstate 66. The majority of original homes in the subdivision were built over a span from 1952 until 1964 but homes have continued to be built on empty lots through the years. The phenomenon that has occurred a great deal over the past ten years is tarring down old homes to build new much larger custom homes in Vienna.

Vienna Woods neighborhood has many mature trees and landscaped yards which give it a beautiful look and relaxing feel when driving the streets. This subdivision of the Town of Vienna also has two small private clubs in the neighborhood with swimming pools and other recreation. Those homebuyers with children will find this enjoyable, the only challenge is they have long waiting list to become members so contact them early. The first club is the Vienna Aquatic Club which is in the south west part of the Vienna Woods neighborhood. The club has events and party’s throughout the summer months but does not have many activities except pool activities. The secound private club is the Vienna Woods Swim and Tennis Club which is a larger club with more activities. This club has a longer wait list at approximately 5 years, but you may be able to lease someone’s membership a few years sooner than that.

The Vienna Woods subdivision also has several parks that add to the beauty and charm to this part of Vienna, they are Southside Park, Cunningham Park, and Meadow Lane Park. Cunningham park is a small Fairfax County park just behind Cunningham Elementary School and has softball fields, soccer field and a tot lot. Southside Park is operated by the Town of Vienna and has been the site of several 4th of July firework shows. This 17 acre park also has several sport fields and a tot lot. The last of the parks is the Meadow Lane Park and is a joy for any young children. This small park packs a punch with its many slides, swings, and things for kids to climb. Some neighborhood families have left many small tricycles, bikes, and scooters for any children to play on while they visit this park. All of these parks add enjoyment to the residents and help foster strong community.

The public schools that service the Vienna Woods community are some of the best in the area. Fairfax County has an excellent school system but I do recommend to do research when looking to be in a specific school district. There are many aspects of what makes a great school and a good tool is my article, What Are The Best Schools in Northern VA. The public schools for Vienna Woods are below, check with the county to verify school districts for specific addresses since school district lines can change annually.

Cunningham Park Elementary
Marshall Road Elementary
Thoreau Middle
James Madison High

There are many homes in this community that are within walking distance to the Orange Line Metro Station on Nutley Street. This will allow some commuters to not have to worry about driving or parking with a leisurely stroll to the station. The Vienna Woods community is so large some residents may have a bit of a walk. Whichever way, being close to a metro station is always good if you have to commute into the city or not.

Buying a home in Vienna Woods or b uilding a custom home affords many area amenities to live in style. The Town of Vienna has many events year round that residents can enjoy and plenty of restaurants and shopping. For more detail about the town of Vienna read this article. There is plenty of shopping available just a few miles away at Tysons Corner Center the 11th largest mall in the United States. Those who would like more upscale shopping Tysons Galleria (aka Tysons II) will fit that need perfectly.

To perform a home search to see available listings in this neighborhood please click Here and enter Vienna Woods under Subdivision. Then click here to schedule a showing.

There are opportunities to build a custom home in Vienna Woods, click here if you would like more information on building a custom home in Vienna. I can help you find a lot and a home builder in Vienna to build your dream home. Click here to contact me an schedule a meeting with Vienna area home builders.

Joey Remondino has been featured on CBS, Washington Post, WUSA Channel 9, and Washingtonian as a Real Estate Expert and is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Vienna, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate. Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process.

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot