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(BPT) - Over the last year, life has been synonymous with ongoing changes, and chances are your home has had to adapt to these changes too. Your kitchen table might now be your office, the living room now serves as a classroom and your kitchen island is now a space for virtual social hours w…
(BPT) - In the winter, keeping the cold out and the heat in is everything. For many busy homeowners, it can be easy to overlook a few simple preventive maintenance tasks before cold weather sets in. Doing so can reduce the risk of home damage and help maximize energy efficiency. So before fr…
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(BPT) - Over the years, the inventory of affordable homes has been in sharp decline, while home prices have risen dramatically. With housing becoming increasingly unaffordable, the shortage of safe and affordable homes is affecting more and more prospective homebuyers every day. However, pot…
(BPT) - Since spending more time at home, you’ve probably started eyeing projects that need attention. If so, you’re not alone — Houzz home renovation website reported a 58% increase in leads for home improvement professionals this past summer.
(BPT) - Home may be where the heart is, but the higher energy bills from staying home 24/7 are causing households across the country a hefty case of heartburn. The hot summer months were tough enough, but as we head into the cold winter months, we’re in for another peak in power bills. Altho…
(BPT) - With temperatures cooling and leaves changing from golden yellow to deep auburn, there’s no denying that it’s the season of all things cozy and comfy. And as you begin to hunker down and bundle up indoors, the thought of embarking on a deck building project might not be top of mind.
(BPT) - Never before has a home’s outdoor space been more cherished or vital. It’s not surprising then that nearly two-thirds of American homeowners have either recently undertaken or are in the process of upgrading their home’s exterior, according to Porch.com. For those of you still in the…
(BPT) - There’s no shortage of choices when it comes to bidet toilets. If you’re someone who insists on having the best, here's a tidbit to simplify your search: The evolution of the bidet largely occurred in Japan. Though the French get credit for inventing the bidet, it was actually Japane…
(BPT) - A fire department responds to a fire every 24 seconds, and a small flame can turn into a major fire rapidly. With Americans spending more time at home than ever before, it is important to be ready before disaster strikes. To ensure your family is prepared for the unexpected, make sur…
(BPT) - Data collected in recent years by the FBI has revealed that there are roughly 2.5 million burglaries a year. This averages out to one burglary about every 13 seconds nationwide. So, while many feel safe and secure at home, one can never be too prepared when it comes to protecting you…
(BPT) - Personalizing a kitchen’s design is an opportunity to showcase true individuality. The space will feel like a true reflection of self when finished with handpicked details. Adding special touches throughout a space, from unique materials to striking statement pieces, can work togethe…
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.
It takes the average buyer 4.5 months to buy a home, according to Zillow. However, there are many considerations to take into account. Small details can add time to the process, and it's impossible to accurately estimate how long it'll take someone to close on a purchase.
Fall isn’t traditionally thought of as the busiest time in real estate, but there are big advantages to buying or selling a home during autumn. People are always moving into our area, and your home will undoubtedly stand out if there are few others like it for sale. Additionally, buyers who …
Fairfax County is currently facing a lawsuit from nearly three dozen residents over a zoning ordinance amendment that its Board of Supervisors adopted on July 30 to regulate short-term property rentals through online services like Airbnb and VRBO.
A lawsuit against a mobile home park in Fairfax found new life last week when an appeals court determined that undocumented immigrants’ citizenship status does not necessarily exclude them from claiming housing discrimination.
The arrival of September brings the last part of summer with warm days, flowers in full bloom and delicious fresh fruits and vegetables in season. With fall just around the corner, September is a good time to take advantage of the moderate weather to get your house in shape and make any need…
Whether you're building an addition, completely remodeling or just finishing your basement, a home improvement loan can help add value and comfort to your home. There are a variety of loan options available that we detail later in this article, but before you explore those, there are four st…
