Local 5K Races to Keep Your New Year's Resolutions Strong

Many of us made lofty resolutions for 2016, and statistically, we are reaching the point where we want to modify those goals and take an easier road. That doesn't have to be the case for us in Northern Virginia! We are lucky to live in an area with plenty of gyms, workout groups, yoga studios, martial arts schools, dance classes, hiking trails, swimming pools, and on and on. One of the most economical ways to get in shape is running. Fortunately, even if you aren't a serious runner, there are plenty of 5K races to run or walk in Northern Virginia, and many of them offer you fun swag for participating.

Pre-Game 5K Run/Walk in Leesburg VA
Sunday February 7, 2016 - 8am

Run or walk through the beautiful grounds of the National Conference center on Super Bowl Sunday! You know you're going to spend the rest of the day parked in front of the TV with your perfectly-planned Super Bowl party menu, so why not start the day off with a little exercise? Plus, you get a t-shirt just for participating.

Love the Run You're With 5K in Arlington VA
Sunday February 14, 2016 - 9am

This course runs through the shops of Pentagon row. Run with friends, walk with your S.O., just get out and move for Valentine's Day. Participants will enjoy the after-race party and awards presentation at CHAMPPS as well as a karaoke contest. Even if you don't party, they'll send you home with a cozy blanket.

Lucky Leprechaun 5K in Reston VA
Saturday March 12, 2016 - 8:30am

You've got 60 minutes to meander your way through 3.1 miles of Reston Town Center streets. The luck of the Irish awards you a technical t-shirt for participating. Enjoy food and drink after the race, and you can download your race photos for free.

Dionysus Dash 5K in Leesburg VA
Sunday April 17, 2016 - 8:15am

Some of us need a little motivation to run. If the scenic views at Tarara Winery aren't enough, runners over 21 get to complete a wine tasting and take home the glass. Even better, you still get a race shirt and a goody bag. Tarara is only one of dozens of gorgeous wineries in the area, so why not make a day of exploring Loudoun's wine country?

The Prison Break Dash Run in Lorton VA
Sunday April 17, 2016 - 9am

The Lorton Workhouse Correctional Facility now houses an art center, but that doesn't mean you can't recreate the drama of a prison break in a 5K, does it? Race the others through the complex to freedom and receive "surprise prizes" or dress up to win the costume contest. Food and drinks provided, including donuts!

Glow South Riding in Chantilly VA
Saturday April 30, 2016 - Dusk

Let your inner light shine, or just wear a bunch of glow sticks. This race is untimed, so there's no pressure for speed. Just dress as brightly as you can, and you may win some prizes. All participants get a glow-in-the-dark t-shirt and a glow stick. Everyone is invited to the pre-race party as well. You choose either the 5K race or 1-mile fun run.

There are dozens of other races to check out in Northern Virginia from 1-mile runs all the way up to ultra marathons. You decide where and how to run, and maybe we will see you at one of these great events.

Contact Preferred Realty Partners to find your next home near jogging trails, gyms, pools, or any other fitness amenities you need.

5 Reasons to Buy a Home in Northern Virginia before the New Year

The New Year is approaching quickly, but there's still time for you to find your dream home in Northern Virginia this year. Many buyers take time off at the holidays if they haven't found a home, so for the serious buyer, it is an ideal time to ramp up the home search. Here are 5 reasons why you should buy a home in Northern Virginia before January:

#1: Competition is low
Serious buyers will be looking at homes no matter the time of year, through rain, sleet, snow, or hail. Not all buyers are serious, however, or at least not serious enough to keep up the same pace through the holiday season. If you are still actively searching around the holidays, you will be one of the few.

#2: Sellers are motivated
If a home is still on the market during the holidays, chances are it's been there for a while. Usually that means the house was overpriced for a time and missed the "sweet spot" to sell quickly. What that means for you is that you can get a great house that may have been overlooked when the market was hot, and you can get it at a lower price from the motivated seller.

#3: Rates are going up
Just this month, the Fed upped the mortgage rates for the first time since 2006, and every prediction has them going even higher in 2016. Secure a lower monthly payment for yourself by making an offer on a house now. Waiting for the spring market could cost you more than you realize.

#4: Inventory will go down
New Year's Eve brings about many thoughts for change in the new year, and many sellers decide that they will wait for the spring market to sell if they haven't sold their home in December. It serves you well to take the time to search for homes now before the inventory is too low and your selection is limited.

#5: Start the new year fresh
While it's important to make sure your new home meets your needs, it will also be a huge weight off your shoulders to know that you are under contract on your new home and well on your way to a brand new home for a brand new year. You will have beat the rush, earned a great value on the new house, and bought yourself some peace of mind. What a great way to start 2016!

Are you buying a home in Northern Virginia? Whether it's this year or next, contact Preferred Realty Partners to help you get the best value of the season!

Sell Your Home Quickly with Preferred Realty Partners! Here's the Proof

If you are planning to sell your home, the most important thing you can do is choose a great Realtor. In 2015, Preferred Realty Partners has helped dozens of families to buy and sell their homes.

Below you'll find the homes that we sold in 2 weeks or less for 99% of list price overall. The average listing price to sale price ratio is closer to 96% in our area.

$525,500 - SOLD in 1 Day

43443 Quigley Lane
Chantilly VA 20152
Closed March 6th

4 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom, 2185 sq ft Single Family Home

$440,000 - SOLD in 6 Days

5557 Sequoia Farms Drive

Centreville VA 20120

Closed May 15th

4 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 1592 sq ft Single Family Home 

$538,000 - SOLD in 6 Days

26083 Nesbit Lane

Chantilly VA 20152

Closed May 18th

5 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom, 2914 sq ft Single Family Home

$816,400 - SOLD in 2 Days

105 Pearl Street

Herndon VA 20170

Closed June 1st

4 bedroom, 4.5 bathroom, 4125 sq ft Single Family Home

$690,000 - SOLD in 8 Days

13128 Bradley Farm Drive

Herndon VA 20171

Closed July 30th

4 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom, 2446 sq ft Single Family Home in Bradley Acres

$570,000 - SOLD in 5 Days

42930 Tippman Place

Chantilly VA 20152

Closed August 28th

5 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom Single Family Home in South Riding

$450,000 - SOLD in 5 Days

3812 Tedrich Boulevard

Fairfax VA 22031

Closed September 9th

4 bedroom, 2 bath, 2072 sq ft Single Family Home in Fairview

$634,400 - SOLD in 5 Days

25767 Rawley Springs Drive

Chantilly VA 20152

Closed October 15th

5 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, 5087 sq ft Single Family Home in Chantilly

$322,000 - SOLD in 11 Days

6129 Stonepath Circle

Centreville VA 20120

Closed October 22nd

3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 2118 sq ft Townhouse in Centreville

$225,000 - SOLD in 3 Days

11835 Shire Court #32C

Reston VA 20191

Closed October 27th

2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1073 sq ft Condo in Hunters Woods Village

$460,000 - SOLD in 8 Days

20773 Cross Timber Drive

Ashburn VA 20147

Closed November 2nd

3 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom Single Family Home in Belmont Ridge

Whether it's winter, summer, spring, or fall, you can depend on Preferred Realty Partners to sell your home for a great price in the shortest amount of time. Contact us today to get started!

2 Bedroom, 2 Bath Fairfax Condo For Rent near Government Center!

Another new rental this week! A 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo with 1 car garage located around the corner from Wegmans & Fairfax Corner. Excellent location for commuters or telecommuters!!

1 Car Garage

This home features 2 bedrooms, 2 full baths on separate levels with an updated kitchen and a luxurious soaking tub in the main level master bath. Lower level bedroom makes a great guest suite or home-office!

Call Tiffany Ford, Realtor 703-946-0191 for more details on this property!

Fairfax Townhome Close to GMU. Move-In ready!

Today we listed a delightful town house in Fairfax, Virginia for $289,000

Beautiful Front Yard

Three Bedrooms, 1.5 baths. New paint throughout. Updated bathroom with Fenced backyard, screened porch, and a bright inviting kitchen with granite counter tops and breakfast bar. The location is excellent! Convenient to shopping, dining, library, public parks and George Mason University!

Concrete Patio in Fenced backyard

Bright, inviting kitchen

Living Room with wood floors

Screened Porch with Privacy/Sun shades

Call or email us for more details!

Falls Church Updated SFH for Sale - OPEN HOUSE June 23 1-4pm!

Hello and Happy Tuesday!
I'd like to highlight one of our new listings today. This is a beautifully renovated cape cod in Falls Church with a beautifully landscaped lot that lives more like a walk in the park than a home with such a superb location.

Backyard features a deck, a stone patio, koi pond and pergolas for added shade. Beautiful mature landscaping. Storage Shed and a tree house just waiting for your next adventure

This kitchen features high-end appliances that will please the family chef, and the official (or unofficial) Culinary Quality Control representatives.

Beautifully designed master bath features neutral tile walls and tub-deck which highlight the oversized Jacuzzi soaking tub.

The attic has been renovated into a gorgeous master suite complete with luxurious bath, upgraded tile, expansive sitting room and built-in bookcases for added storage.

This home is currently listed for $769,000. Call or email our team for more information.

It's almost Tax time again

Happy January Folks!
Now that the holiday season is over and life is getting back to normal, it's time to start getting ready for Tax season. Whether you keep meticulous records of every business expense, or spend a week before you meet with your accountant digging through a shoebox in your closet and trying to make heads or tails of your receipts now is the time to start thinking about scheduling that tax appointment.

I was browsing the internet today and I found a couple of interesting articles that may help you. Enjoy.

5 Terrible Tax Surprises

7 Ways to Get Organized for the Tax Year

How to Choose a Tax Preparer

Rates are still CRAZY LOW!

We've been watching interest rates for a while now, and so far they are still at historical lows. If you own a home and you're not upside down in value, this is a great time to refinance!

If you're looking to buy, don't wait! These rates won't last forever and if your credit is good you can afford a lot more home at 3.31% than you can at 4.5%.

See this article from Inman News for more information.
http://www.inman.com/news/2012/11/21/give-thanks-if-you-qualify-record-low-mortgage-rates

A Storm's A Comin'

Folks, If you're in the Northern Virginia area, or anywhere in the affected area of Hurricane Sandy, I hope you've evacuated if you were urged to and that you'll stay inside and off the roads. It looks like we're really in for it. Be safe, tie down anything that's not tied down, and get a good book to read (and some candles, just in case).

Everyone stay safe!

Halloween Events!

Hello Northern Virginia! Are you looking for fun things to do this Halloween?
Here's a fantastic link to some fun things to do in the greater Northern Virginia, Maryland DC area!
http://dc.about.com/od/childrensactivities/a/Halloween.htm

Some of my personal favorites:
http://airandspace.si.edu/airandscare/

Pumpkin Patches (Virginia is on page 2)

Corn Mazes

Ghost Tours in Washington D.C., Virginia and Maryland.

How are you getting ready for  Halloween?

New Listings

Hello World!
Last week was a little bananas, we had 3 new listings hit the market in NOVA, plus two for our Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati Team. Things have been busy and that's the way we like it!

Here is an appetizer of information on our new listings, along with a link to more information should you find yourself curious:

Ashburn - 42882 Nashua Street, Ashburn 3 Bedroom Brick TH $340,000

Sure I could post another photo of the front of this townhome, but I thought you'd like to see the bright cheery living room instead. This townhouse is bright and welcoming, with a spacious deck and a private two-car driveway in the back. No more shoveling out your parking space just so the neighbor can steal it!


South Riding - 25406 Upper Clubhouse Drive 3 Bedroom Garage TH  $329,000

I chose this photo to represent this listing because, well  you know how most townhomes look into a neighbor's backyard? Do you see all that wide-open space? That's common area. All the way back to the trees. Sure there are other townhomes nearby, but how many townhouse lots give you this much room to breathe? We're very excited about this townhouse! Click the link above for full details or to email us for more information.


And finally our Alexandria Listing on Sacramento Mews...which was under contract in just a few days, and we're so excited we had to mention it!!

This Weekend in Washington D.C.

Happy Friday! Congratulations on making it through another weekend. I'd like to congratulate our clients who's buyer closed on their Herndon Townhome yesterday! (There was a lender delay...but it all worked out in the end).

Next week we have new homes going on the market, so watch this blog for updates! Or email us, we'd love a personal note. Or, if you're shy you can always use this link to keep an eye on our listings in "stealth mode". Just remember to reach out if you have any questions. We are here to help!

If you haven't yet made plans for this weekend here are a few interesting things to check out:

The Bluemont Fair is this weekendwith  music, food, arts & crafts vendors, Antiques Roadshow-esque appraisals, beautiful historic buildings, Pickle making & Pie Baking contests and Wine Tasting. The official website is a bit "text heavy" so use these alternatives if you just want directions & admission info:
http://www.visitloudoun.org/Events/43rd-Annual-Bluemont-Fair
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bluemont-Fair/95123025349

Celebrate the Harvest is ends this weekend in Middleburg
Restaurants will include local meats, cheeses, produce and wines which are sure to be fantastic.

For more Loudoun County events use this link here

In Fairfax - the 10th Annual KORUS festival meets at Bull Run Park to celebrate Korean Culture. Displays of music, dance, food and other stage performances. A fantastic cultural enrichment experience for the whole family!

 If' you're looking for a deal, the DC Big Flea Market is this weekend at the Dulles Expo Center.

Taste of Falls Church is FREE! Live entertainment, ridse, crafters, businesses and much more!

The 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Antietam in Maryland
If you're a history buff and up for a bit of a drive this could be a fun event. There will be a re-enactment, music, food, tours, hikes, children's activities, living history, memorial ceremonies and guest lecturers.

If nothing here tickles your fancy...there are a whole slew of other options here!

Please note, none of the events listed on these links are hosted or financed by Preferred Realty Partners, so they do not necessarily reflect the interests or opinions of our team, our management or our Brokerage. We have no control over the content or operation of these linked sites.
We just thought it might save you some time to have these links on one page.

Have a great weekend!

Reston Single Family Home! Great new price!

Hello and welcome to Thursday! I hope your week is treating you well.

We just had a price reduction on this house on Handlebar Road in Reston, this posting is tagged on the street. The location is fabulous, tucked into mature trees just off Lawyers Road in Reston.

 The price was just reduced to $519,000 and we are having open houses to increase your access! Watch for dates on the virtual tour link here

This house features hardwood floors, neutral carpet and paint, and a fabulous tree lined lot on a quiet cul-de-sac. Call or email for more information tiffany@yourprp.com

This weekend in NOVA

If you're looking for something to do this weekend, here are a few ideas:

Friday Night:

• Twilight Jumpers at Great Meadow (The Plains, VA)
• If you're going to be downtown in Washington D.C. You can catch the last evening parade of the summer by the U.S. Marine Band, U.S. Marine Drum & Bugle Corps, Marine Corps Color Guard and Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon. (Washington, DC)
• If you are into Theater, Zemfira Stage presents the Mel Brooks classic "The Producers" at James Lee Community Center (Annandale, VA). 

Saturday:

• Alexandria Art Market - featuring artwork of all kinds, jewelry, multicultural music and food from local restaurants. FREE EVENT! (Alexandria, VA)
• Page-to-Stage Festival - Presented by the Kennedy Center - FREE EVENT!

Sunday:

• The Big Dig Potato Harvest & Pancake Breakfast at Great Country Farm! (Bluemont, VA) They also have a fantastic Farmer's Market, petting zoo and lots of fun things for kids to do. Make sure you get a jar of their Blackberry or Peach Jam!
• Mini-Golf Inside the Museum - National Building Museum (Washington, DC)
• Middle Eastern Food Festival (McLean, VA) FREE EVENT!!

Have a great weekend!

Japanese Beetles

Japanese Beetles are a common summer pest in Northern Virginia. Last year our Fourth of July outing was plagued with them dive-bombing our heads. This summer, because of the dry winter and hot spring we are expected to have quite a lot of insects.

I found this article this week and thought it might be helpful if you have a Japanese Beetle Problem.


There is another article here.


And an organic solution here.

Stormpocalypse 2012

Welcome to Monday!
Our area was struck Friday night by a band of high intensity storms called a Derecho. There was a quick report about it on the news, but not much emphasis of it's intensity. We were cozied up in our house watching TV when a text from my brother-in-law (who watches the weather as a hobby, God love him!) came through saying "a storm with 80mph winds is coming. You've got about 30 minutes". We rushed outside to take the plants in pots off the railing and put down the umbrella.

When the storm hit it was incredible. A wall of wind slammed into the house with such intensity it could have been alive. It was truly amazing how fierce the storm sounded. The power flickered and went out and I went upstairs to make sure the kids were ok. After finding flashlights and lanterns and waiting for the storm to pass, we all settled in to sleep.

In the morning, with no power, no coffee and no hair-dryers we were a bit out of sorts. But grateful to not find any damage to our roof or siding. About 5 houses down from us a guy lost half a tree. He is still clearing it today. We can't tell from the photo if it dented the van, or if it was braced enough by the house to spare it.

This was one of the hottest weekends on record, I think at the hottest it got to 85 in the house. I found that if I sat still it was bearable. In spite of the minor discomfort I couldn't help but think how fortunate we are. There are people who have no air conditioning ever, who's only shelter is a park bench. We managed to find ice (which was no easy task this weekend), we had plenty of cold drinks, and we were forced to unplug a bit from our usual addictions and spend time with each other. All in all, it wasn't a bad weekend.

Our power stayed off from about 10:30 Friday night till 4:30 Sunday afternoon. I checked the Dominion outage feed about every 30 minutes, driving around to recharge my phone and get into some air conditioning when I needed to. At first count Saturday Morning I believe about 460K of Dominion's 832K Northern Virginia customers were without power. By this morning they were down to 162K without power. I want to thank Dominion for restoring power as quickly as they did. Our house was somewhere in the 240K range, I hope those lower in the line have power by nightfall.

After two days with no power, my husband got stir crazy and drove around Herndon, VA taking photos of the damage. Here are a few of the things he saw. Some of these trees are pretty amazing!

Do you have a Stormpocalypse or power-outage story? I'm curious to see just how many were affected by this outage.

Here's an interesting link to more photos of the damage from all over the east coast

What's in a Rental?

Our office lists properties for rent for private owners. Often the potential tenants are confused about how the process works because they are used to renting from an apartment complex. Here are a few things that I tell prospective tenants to help keep it all straight:

Apartment Buildings

• An apartment complex typically charges a lower security deposit. They have a staff of maintenance people, so if a tenant leaves the place a mess they can have it fixed quickly and easily by their own staff.
• Apartment complexes typically own a building with 50 or more units and charge enough in rent that a percentage of occupancy covers their expenses and mortgage. This means they can afford to carry a certain number of vacant units in any given month.

Private Owner

• A private owner often charges 1 month's rent for security deposit. If a tenant leaves the carpets or walls a mess, they have to hire someone to fix it or make the time to fix it themselves.
•  Private owners are responsible for the mortgage, whether they have a tenant or not.

Of course there are a number of other considerations, but these are the key ones that come to mind.

I'm posting this in honor of our Rental listing on Cheyenne Way in Haymarket that goes active in the MLS today. Two levels, 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths. Fenced yard with deck. Updated kitchen! If you have any questions about Cheyenne Way...please contact us!

Are you thinking about living in Reston?
We have a fabulous single family home for sale in a great location. You'll love the private lot nestled into mature trees. This home is located just off Lawyers Road in Reston convenient to major commuter routes. Click the link for more photos and information or Call our office! 703-674-1217

Weekend Events in Virginia

If you're a late planner like me, chances are you may have no plans yet for Memorial Day Weekend. Here are a few suggestions that may help you:


The National Memorial Day Concert - Washington, D.C. May 27th

Viva Vienna - Vienna, VA May 26th, 27th and 28th

The Virginia Renaissance Faire in Spotsylvania - Weekends May 12th through June 10th.

The Delaplane Strawberry Festival in Delaplane - May 26th and 27th

National College Dance Festival - the Kennedy Center

Or of course, you can always visit a local winery....Virginia Wine

Whatever you do, have a fantastic weekend!

Northern Virginia High School Rankings

If you are thinking about moving to (or within) Northern Virginia, it's possible the Schools are important to you. I saw an article in the news today that I wanted to share with you courtesy of the Washington Post Local. The Headline reads: "Stone Bridge High School ranked 10th best in Virginia." (Click the link for Washington Post article).

Wow! 10th in the whole State? That's pretty spectacular! Congratulations to the teachers, students and staff at Stone Bridge HS! According to this article they also placed 178th nationally, and earned a gold medal for the student's college readiness. The article from US News showing the rankings can be found here.

Other local schools placing high in national rankings according to this article, include:

• #2 -  Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, VA
• #19 - George Mason High School in Falls Church
• #55 - George C. Marshall High School in Falls Church
• #85 - McLean High School in McLean, VA
• #88 - James W. Robinson Jr Secondary School in Fairfax, Virginia
• #98 Langley High School in McLean, Virginia
• #122 - W.T. Woodson High School in Fairfax, VA
• #129 - James Madison High School in Vienna, Virginia
• #165 - Oakton High School in Vienna, Virginia
• #178 - Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn, VA
• #193 - Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, Virginia
• #207 - West Springfield High School in Springfield, VA
• #249 - Fairfax High School in Fairfax, Virginia

I'd like to point out that Chantilly High School ranked 15 in the state, and Westfield High School ranked 16. This means that 15 of the top 20 schools in the entire state are located in our own Northern Virginia area. Congratulations to Virginia Educators! We appreciate all you do for our children and our future!