Re - Grand Opening this weekend March 15-16th at The Residences at Liberty Center condos in Arlington, VA. Liberty Center is reopening their doors after putting their sales on hiatus in order to settle the previous units under contract (most likely to keep any previous buyers from backing out of a deal if prices were reduced). Hopefully they’ll come out with competitive prices to give the Phoenix and Hawthorne a run for their money! The convenience of the Ballston Metro Station and Ballston Common Mall is just within a short walking distance.  The interior of the building and the finishes in the units are very nice, but the prices are nothing special.  You’re paying for the location and convenience of living in Arlington.

The units are your typical Arlington prices:

• 1 bedroom 695 sq. ft.
  • $360,900-$423,900

• 1 bedroom + den 775 sq. ft.
  • $425,900-$473,900

• 1 bedroom + den 879 sq. ft.
  • $$463,900-$505,900

• 2 bedroom 2 bath 1,183 sq. ft.
  • $584,900-$632,900

•  2 bedroom 2 bath 1,147 sq. ft.
  • $578,900-$720,900

• 2 bedroom 2 bath + den 1,254 sq. ft.
  • $614,900-$682,900

• 2 bedroom 2 bath + den 1,022 sq. ft.
  • $492,900-$588,900

Condo fee ranges from $349-$591 and includes water, 24 hour front desk service, fitness center, roof top terrace and pool, party room, and media center.
Condo features include: Spacious, light-filled living areas, Floor-to-ceiling windows, Hardwood floors, Gourmet kitchens composed of granite, maple and stainless steel, Elegant baths with 12″ x 12″ ceramic tile and granite vanities, Separate glass-enclosed showers, Soaking tubs in select condos, and Pre-wired for Verizon FiOS Internet and TV. The amenities include: First-floor retail with Marvelous Market and Bruegger’s Bagels, Rooftop pool and terrace with panoramic views of DC, Residents’ clubroom, plush seating, plasma-screen TV and fireplace, Rooftop fitness center with downtown views and state-of-the-art equipment, 24-hour staffed front desk and controlled-access parking.

If you have any questions or would like to schedule a showing at the Residences at Liberty Center condos in Arlington, Virginia, call 1-888-998-9455 and mention the HomeZill Blog to receive additional incentives when buying a new condo in Arlington VA.

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These new loft condominiums will blow you away. They’re Kenyon Square condos in Washington, D.C. Just footsteps away from the Columbia Heights Metro. The convenient first-floor retail includes Starbucks, BB&T, Georgetown Valet, Radiance MedSpa, d’vines fine wine & beer, Royal Blue Mediterranean Bistro, FedEx Kinko’s and The Heights, a top-notch restaurant from the owners of Logan Tavern. Unit features include: Open floor plans by award-winning architect, Gas cooking, Stainless steel appliances including large capacity refrigerator with bottom-load freezer, Microwave, Full-sized, stacked washer dryer, Walk-in closets, 2-panel contemporary doors with lever-set hardware, Minimum 9′ ceilings in living areas, “Volume lofts” with nearly 20-foot ceilings,Hardwood floor in living room, dining rooms, kitchen, and foyer, Ceramic tiled bathrooms, Berber carpet in bedrooms, lofts, and dens, The latest technology for structured wiring and high-speed internet, Cable, telephone, and internet outlets in every room, and Full and French balconies and terraces. In addition, the exciting new DC USA retail and entertainment center, to be located adjacent to the Columbia Heights Metro Station, will feature Target, Best Buy, Washington Sports Club, Bed Bath & Beyond, and many other retailers.

• One Bedroom:
  • 616 – 904 sq. ft.
  • $354,000 - $498, 900
• One Bedroom with Den:
  • 828 sq. ft.
  • $465,000 - $480,500
• Two Bedroom / Two Bath:
  • 982 to 1,181 sq. ft.
  • $549,500 to $689,900
• Two Bedroom / Two Bath with Den:
  • 1129 - 1,243 sq. ft.
  • $661,900 - $709,000
• Two-Level Loft Units:
  • 1,111 to 1,226 sq. ft.
  • $616,500 to $646,000

To schedule an appointment at Kenyon Square, please contact us at 1-888-998-9455 or at info@homezill.com, and ask us about our additional home buyer rebate of 2% cash back if you choose to purchase at Kenyon Square in Washington, D.C.

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Since record keeping began in 1963, sales of newly built homes dropped at the steepest pace throughout the country over the course of 2007. New home sales numbers totaled 774,000, which was 26% less than 2006 new home sales according to the Commerce Department. The 9.6-month supply of new home inventory for sale is a record. Since the July 2005 peak, the sales of new construction homes have plummeted 57%, and permits for construction have dropped nearly 50%. New home builders are rapidly cutting production which will help reduce the housing supply throughout the nation.

The DC Metro area is one of top hot spots for new home builders because of the high paying salaries and strong job growth. So what does this mean for home buyers? Well, for starters, the glut of new construction homes in Northern Virginia and Washington DC are breaking builders’ banks. It is a prime opportunity for savvy home buyers to scoop up good real estate at highly incentivized (apparently not a word according to spell checker) prices! Deals that were unheard of for the past 5 years (such as 6% home buyer incentives and 2 BR+den new condos in Arlington VA for $339k) are now available in highly desirable areas of Northern Virginia real estate. Many people remain pessimistic about the current DC real estate market, but the way I see it… how does the saying go- “one man’s loss is another man’s gain”… builders are hurting, so shoot ‘em while their wounded! (sorry builders). Just like foreclosures- if the seller is distressed, the buyer will be blessed (I made that one up ;).

Right now, I am informing my buyer clients that it is a great time to look for new construction homes and foreclosure homes (I’m a Northern Virginia & DC Realtor in case you didn’t know). With the builders’ incentives and highly motivated bank foreclosures, I’ve seen some pretty good deals recently that a lot of resale homes cannot compete with. Unless a seller purchased their home prior to 2003, they most likely won’t be selling their home for a profit (after selling costs) and will have less room to negotiate. That being said, if you are looking to buy a home and would like a professional to help you locate some good new home construction or foreclosure deals, give us a call at 1-888-998-ZILL (9455) or sign up for our free foreclosure list at the top of the page.

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As most of you know from the recent real estate news, new home builders are having a hard time selling homes in the DC Metro area. Therefore, more homes and condos in Northern Virginia and Washington DC are available to purchase than one would expect. Is this a good time to buy? It depends on your situation. If you plan on buying a home because of the recent interest rate cuts, make sure you plan to living there for at least 3 - 5 years. This way you can weather the times if there is any downturn in the market.

If you plan on buying a new home, then turning around to flip it for a profit in the next year or two - I would say that now is NOT the time for you to buy. The best deals from what I’ve seen lately in Northern Virginia and DC are new construction homes and foreclosures. I have typically seen the largest price drops in these types of homes recently. Not to say you can’t find a great deal on a resale home, but sellers who have bought within the last 3 years (and did 100% financing) are many times “upside down” and don’t have much room for negotiations.

Many first time home buyers are unaware that the sales agents at these new home communities work FOR the builder. What does this mean? Well, it means that they are on the builder’s side and are looking out for the builder’s best interest. The reason I bring this point up is because you should always visit a new home community with representation from a real estate agent. Your agent will look out for your best interest, including pointing out design flaws, giving resale pointers, justifying comps, factoring in incentives, assisting with contingencies, making sure you are protected and negotiate on your terms. It doesn’t cost you any more to use an agent and the price of the home stays the same, so why wouldn’t you utilize the expertise of a real estate professional?

Click the link below to watch the video from Kiplinger. (heads up, there is a 10 second commercial before the actual video)

Buy a Newly Built Home Now?

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A unique high rise condo in Fairfax, VA known as the Elan at East Market. The luxury of this condo is unlike anything you’ve seen in the area. Filled with mostly garden-style- 4 story condominiums in Fairfax, this Northern Virginia high rise condo is in a league of its own. You have convenient access to Rt. 66, Rt. 28, Rt 29, Rt. 50 and Fairfax County Parkway. The Elan is located right in the heart of the hottest area of Fairfax VA- smack dab in between Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax Corner, Fairfax Towne Center, Fair Lakes and many fine restaurants like PF Changs, Rio Grande, Coastal Flats, Ruth Chris, Cheesecake Factory and many more are right around the corner.

With the convenience of an on-site gym, state-of-the-art business center, underground garage parking, two-level cascading pool and designer party room, you have everything you need. Prices start in the mid $200k’s for 1 bedroom condos with 675 - 736 sqft.  Prices for the 2 bedroom condos start in the lower 400’s with 1078 - 1201 sqft. Though the Elan is definitely a unique, urban-type condominium in an area of Northern Virginia that isn’t accustomed to this type of product, it shouldn’t come with the Arlington price tag. The 1 BR’s are priced ok, but the 2 BR’s are overpriced by about 50k in my opinion. They would be a good buy selling around the $350k price range. I’m betting on the developer coming to their senses soon and dropping the price to fair market Fairfax value. Otherwise they will find themselves in a bind if they keep the current price tag.

An underground garage parking space is included in the price. Units feature: 9-10 ft ceilings, crown moulding in living/dining room, gas fireplaces available, balconies, floor-to-ceiling windows, track lighting, GE appliances, granite counters, maple cabinetry, ceramic tile in kitchen and foyer, and separate whirlpool tub and shower in master bath. Some of the loft units have higher ceilings with exposed duct work for the city-living urban appeal.

If you would like to visit the Elan condos in Fairfax, Virginia, be sure to contact us at 1-888-998-9455 or at info@homezill.com to receive a 2% cash back home buyer rebate at the Elan or any other new Fairfax VA homes.

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Location, location, location best describes the new Avera Station condos in Vienna, VA. Situated within a 4-minute walk to the Vienna Metro station, the 250-unit Orange Line condos at Avera Station are convenient to all major access roads including Rt 29, Rt 50, I-66 and I-495 Capital Beltway. The Town of Vienna, voted Top 5 Best Places to Live by CNN & Money Magazine is only a few minutes away. The 4-level condominium community has 5 elevators and 2-levels of underground parking. All condos come with at least 1 reserved garage parking space, and any condo with over 1220 sqft comes with 2 spaces already included in the price.

These pre-construction condos in Fairfax County have some of the finest finishes that would impress any home buyer. Some of the standard features include: Beautiful Bruce® 5″hardwood flooring in living areas and kitchens, bedrooms/dens featuring plush carpeting in a variety of colors and textures, installed flat-panel 42″ plasma television, gourmet open kitchens, granite countertops (in kitchen and bathrooms), 42″ maple cabinetry, Moen Satin chrome fixtures and GE Profile™ stainless steel appliances, and full size front load washer and dryer. The amenities that Avera Station offers include: Club-class fitness center with state-of-the-art exercise equipment, a stretch room and locker room/shower, outdoor pool with lounge area, expansive clubroom featuring a sports bar, game room and great room, private screening room with theater seating, cozy library with Internet connectivity, on-site maintenance staff just a phone call away and also concierge service.

The Avera Station condominiums are very affordable at newly reduced prices:

1 br’s from 626 - 824 sqft starting at $272k, condo fee: $206
1 br+den at 843 - 849 sqft starting at $350k, condo fee: $252
2 br’s from 907 - 1,331 sqft starting at $368k, condo fee: $320
2 br+den at 1,262 - 1,331 sqft starting at $489k, condo fee: $397

They are over 60% sold at Avera Station and first deliveries start in Mar/Apr ‘08. A wide variety of floor plans make Avera Station a unique community compared to other condos in Fairfax Virginia. There are buyer incentives of $5,000 for 1 bedroom condos, and $7,500 for 2 bedrooms condos towards home buyer closing costs. Condo fees range from $250 to $450 covering basic services. Investors are welcome.

To schedule an appointment at Avera Station condos, please contact us at 1-888-998-9455 or at info@homezill.com, and ask us about our additional home buyer rebate of 2% cash back if you choose to purchase at Avera Station in Fairfax County Virgina.

(pictures were taken during pre-construction phase, check out this virtual tour for a better idea of how the condos will look after completion)

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