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(BPT) - There’s nothing quite like owning a home. There’s the pride of achieving a financial goal. There’s the comfort of having a sanctuary and space of your own in which to build a lifetime of memories.
(BPT) - While spring cleaning tends to get the most attention this time of year, the best way to usher in the new season is by giving your home a warm-weather refresh. There’s no need to go out and buy all new furniture and décor or undertake a major renovation to give your current interior …
(BPT) - This past year we’ve all made a few changes to our daily lives, but one thing has remained constant — your appliances. It’s easy to forget these machines are working hard in the background, but they’re always helping to keep your household running smoothly. In the spirit of spring cl…
(BPT) - What do planting a tree, building a patio, installing a pool and putting up a fence have in common? These popular home improvement projects add value to your home, and they all require an important safety step: getting utility lines marked before digging.
(StatePoint) With mortgage rates hovering near three percent, experts say there are still a number of homeowners who could benefit from refinancing. In fact, borrowers who refinanced in 2020 to lower their mortgage rate saved over $2,800 in mortgage payments annually, according to the latest…
(BPT) - Gardening saw record growth in 2020 and experts expect many more people will be digging in the dirt again this spring. From “Victory” vegetable gardens to balcony containers, outdoor gathering spaces and mood-lifting landscapes, gardening is providing an outlet during the pandemic. R…
(BPT) - Days are getting longer and warmer, inspiring many to want to spend more time outside. Lots of people enjoy gardening this time of year — it’s an outdoor activity families can do together, especially if parents are looking for ways to keep their children occupied. It’s also a great w…
(BPT) - Americans spent more time at home in 2020 than any other year, inspiring people to take on new interests like baking, crafting or interior design. While some things went oh so right, like a gorgeous new kitchen, some may have fallen a little flat — literally when your sourdough start…
(NewsUSA) - The COVID-19 pandemic and historically low mortgage interest rates have caused a flurry of home buying across the United States. Families are searching for more flexible work or learning spaces, larger homes and spacious yards for cooped up kids.
(BPT) - In today’s homes, kitchens serve a multitude of purposes beyond being a space to whip up a meal. They’re the heart of your home; the command center; the family gathering spot. So it’s no wonder why kitchens are where homeowners invest their renovation budget and why homebuyers pay a …
(BPT) - Last year, many people took a fresh look at their outdoor living spaces, as life outdoors became of renewed importance as spaces to gather together. Backyards transformed into stay-cation retreats, and front entries were revamped into spaces for social distancing reminiscent of old-f…
(BPT) - You put a lot of care into curating your bedroom, but these days, it may look more like a gym or an office than your sleep sanctuary. In fact, Stanford News points to several nationwide surveys, which found that more than half of Americans now working from home are doing so from thei…
(BPT) - As you’ve been spending more time at home lately, you’ve probably found things around your house and yard that aren’t as clean as they used to be. Depending on where you live, you may be eyeing many of these cleaning projects and putting them on your to-do list as spring approaches, …
(StatePoint) While the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine has left a lot of question marks about the future of the U.S. economy at-large, analysts expect the housing market to remain strong and stable in the coming year.
(BPT) - The kitchen has long been the heart of the home, and now more than ever is central to our lifestyles. With 60% of Americans discovering a greater appreciation for cooking throughout the pandemic and planning to upgrade their kitchens as a result, Michelin-starred Chef Curtis Stone is…
(BPT) - Change is on the horizon as 2021 is poised to be a transition year for home design. Expect some of the cool and minimalistic trends of the past to be replaced with more approachable designs that convey comfort, warmth and positivity.
(BPT) - Spending more time at home has put increased focus on bathrooms for homeowners, which is why one of the top home improvement trends of 2021 is adding or updating these spaces. Fortunately, remodeling or adding a bathroom DIY-style can be much easier than you may think with some plann…
(BPT) - While spending more time working, studying and playing at home, you may be more conscious than ever of your living environment. You're probably more aware than ever of the importance of cleanliness in your home, to keep your family healthy and comfortable.
(BPT) - Now is the perfect time to create more living space in your home. Whether you need a place to take a break from daily stressors, get some work done or host friends and family, look no further than your own garage.
(BPT) - This post is sponsored by Bank of America.
(BPT) - There’s a simple reason for the recent boom in home improvement: Everyone’s spending more time at home. Staying at home more makes it clearer what areas are lacking and reveals opportunities for upgrades. Fortunately, there are many ways to make a huge impact on the appearance of tho…
For the first time in recent history, October surpassed June as the most popular month to get married. And these autumn-loving brides may be on to something: Although the spring months are notoriously the best time to buy real estate (as well as have a wedding), fall may be the new ideal sea…
Despite a series of lifelines given to those facing housing insecurity due to the pandemic, experts fear homelessness numbers will increase dramatically once evictions resume.
“The summer season may be starting to wind down, but the real estate market continues to remain sizzling hot,” NVAR 2020 President Nicholas Lagos said. “The traditional spring market has been delayed to the summer months, and the pent-up buyer and seller demand that began in in late spring c…
According to the June 2020 Home Sales Report released by Virginia REALTORS®, home sales in most regions of Virginia are rebounding, following spring’s slowdown due to COVID-19.
Scout on the Circle, a new mixed-use development in Fairfax has welcomed the first round of residents to its luxury apartments. This is the first step to the full opening of the new residential and shopping center.
Median home sale prices increased across the Northern Virginia region in May, according to the Long & Foster Real Estate Market Minute Report. Alexandria City displayed the largest incline with an 11% rise, followed by Loudoun County with a 6% rise.
The April data shows an upward trend in median sales prices, and further examination shows the rise can be attributed, in part, to shifts in the makeup of the housing market. This is due to the economic shutdown caused by the pandemic, which disproportionally affected people in the lower inc…
(StatePoint) While real estate agents report that far fewer people than normal have been moving during the COVID-19 pandemic, that may soon change. A recent Harris Poll found that nearly a third of U.S. adults living in urban areas are considering a move to less densely populated cities in t…
When he first embarked on his journey to the U.S. Department of Energy’s American-Made Solar Prize semifinals, Herndon resident Adam Winsor did not know how photovoltaic cells are made or that they contain silver traces designed to capture energy with maximum efficiency.
By the time Helenia Bragg was 15, she had a full-blown heroin habit. “I was raised in a ‘liquor house’ in 1960s and 1970s Alexandria,” Helenia explained. “My mom was a bootlegger. My father was a drug dealer.”
"The people who love live music and who make music happen are as important as the musicians,” said Ken Avis, local musician and co-host of radio show Antidote Sounds, mentioning one name that I was slightly familiar with: Eve Thompson. “Eve has been finding and presenting diverse, high-quali…
Fairfax County could potentially dedicate an extra penny to its affordable housing penny fund with the upcoming Fiscal Year 2021 budget by adding a cent to the real estate tax, Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay says.
Thirty families who live in private housing at Fort Belvoir are still unable to return to their homes despite promises by military leaders and members of Congress to address systemic issues that left many service members and their families dealing with mold, rodent infestations, and other ha…
How different are the generations when it comes to homeownership? While Millennials are entering the home-buying game later than earlier generations, their desire to achieve the American Dream remains and, in fact, is stronger than previous generations.
Fairfax City’s Economic Development Authority has finalized an agreement with the Parry Restaurant Group to redevelop the Park View property at 3936 Old Lee Highway. The current building on the property is leased by the Fairfax Surf Shop, which will hopefully relocate somewhere within the ci…
I am sure you’ve heard the headlines: Interest rates are rising. Homeownership is no longer affordable. The real estate market is headed for a bubble. While what is being said in the news media attracts attention, it’s critical to take a broader look at the housing market and historical tren…
Marriott International has an agreement with Comstock Partners to bring one of its Renaissance-branded hotels to the real estate developer’s mixed-use center at Reston Station, the Washington Business Journal first reported on Mar. 11.
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Catherine Hudgins will not run for re-election in November, bringing her 20-year tenure on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to a close.
Inventory challenges defined the real estate market in 2018, and that trend will continue, albeit not as severe, in the coming year. Here are a few more of the real estate trends that my team at Long & Foster and I expect to occur next year.
Now that the initial rush of emotions and hype has settled down, Northern Virginia leaders are starting to digest the full implications of Amazon’s announcement that it will locate part of its second headquarters in Crystal City.
After a 14-month-long courtship of dozens of cities around the U.S. that fueled endless public speculation, Amazon finally announced on Tuesday that it will expand to Arlington and New York City in a move that is expected to create more than 50,000 jobs and bring $5 billion in investment to …
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has passed a comprehensive plan amendment that aims to ensure property owners will face fewer bureaucratic obstacles when repurposing vacant retail and commercial spaces for entertainment, recreation, healthcare, and other uses.
Finmarc Management, Inc., a Bethesda, Md.-based commercial real estate firm, has announced the sale of two flex/office/warehouse buildings comprising 56,076 square feet of space within the Enterprise Center in Chantilly for $7.2 million. The assets were acquired by 10th Street, LLC. Caulley …
Painting your walls is a quick, easy and fun home improvement project that can change up the energy and look of a room. But not all walls are created equal. Some are simple to paint while others are a bit more complicated.
