February 22nd, 2010:
Contemporary styled homes
drawing of a contemporary style
You know them by their odd-sized and often tall windows, their lack of ornamentation, and their unusual mixtures of wall materials–stone, brick, and wood, for instance.
Architects designed Contemporary-style homes (in the Modern family) between 1950 and 1970, and created two versions: the flat-roof and gabled types. The latter is often characterized by exposed beams. Both breeds tend to be one-story tall and were designed to incorporate the surrounding landscape into their overall look.
In Northern Virginia, one of my favorite contemporary neighborhoods is Hollin Hills, located just off Fort Hunt Road in Alexandria’s Mount Vernon District. The homes here feature contemporary lines
A contemporary home
and floor to ceiling windows in an “urban forest”. That is to say Hollin Halls feels like deep woods despite being just a mile or so from the City of Alexandria.
Showing properties
1 - 5 of 6.
See more Hollin Hills.
(all data current as of
5/17/2012)
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$659,000 : 7507 Elba Rd, Alexandria3 beds, 2 full baths
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$719,900 : 1922 Marthas Rd, Alexandria4 beds, 3 full baths
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$659,000 : 7521 Elba Rd, Alexandria3 beds, 2 full baths
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$1,019,000 : 7407 Rebecca Dr, Alexandria4 beds, 4 full, 1 part baths
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$759,000 : 7405 Rebecca Dr, Alexandria4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths
Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.
Random Harvest — antiques and more in Old Town Alexandria
Random Harvest
Random Harvest in Old Town is located at 810 King Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. You can reach them by phone at (703) 548-882. This location is between between Columbus and Alfred Streets. The store is located across the street from Austin Grill.
Random Harvest gives every appearance of being another unique boutique store in Old Town, but it’s actually part of a larger chain of stores which started off over 25 years ago on the Upper West Side of New York City. Random Harvest remains a unique and special place for furnishings and furniture. I often find tasteful and appealing pieces for sale here. Random Harvest carries an eclectic mix of antique, vintage and newly manufactured furniture.
There is another Random Harvest in Nothern Virginia in Arlington. In Alexandria, the hours of operation are Monday thru Saturday: 11am to 6pm and Sunday: 12 Noon to 6pm.
The best way around King St.
King St. Trolley
For tourists and residents alike, the King Street Trolley is a great way to see Old Town Alexandria. The trolleys go back and forth from King St. Metro to the Potomac near the Torpedo Factory Art Center.
There is no charge for riding the trolley and it will basically stop anywhere along King Street. This makes it a great way to start at the metro, stop at a restaurant and then trolley down to the waterfront. Then after walking around near Union and Lee Streets, the trolley will take you back to the King Street Metro.
Mortgage Rates Hit Near Record Lows
Mortgage borrowing costs fell for the second week in a row, reports Freddie Mac.
Rates on 30-year, fixed loans averaged 4.93 percent, down from 4.97 percent last week and not far off the record low of 4.71 percent.
Interest on 15-year fixed loans, meanwhile, slipped to 4.33 percent from 4.34 percent.
Adjustable-rate mortgages also declined, with the five-year ARM dropping to 4.12 percent from 4.19 percent a week ago and the one-year ARM moving to 4.23 percent from 4.33 percent.
photo credit: ericskiff
Source: Chicago Sun-Times, Francine Knowles (02/19/10)
Could the Tax Credit Be Extended Again?
The pressure is increasing on Congress to renew the homebuyer tax credits for a third time.
summer view of New Alexandria from River Towers
The first $7,500 tax credit was passed in 2008 and required first-time buyers to repay the credit over 15 years. A few months later in 2009, Congress expanded the credit to a maximum of $8,000 that didn’t have to be paid back.
At the end of last year, Congress extended the benefit again until April 30 with an extra two months on top of that to close. A new credit of $6,500 was added for move-up buyers, too.
Now representatives of the housing industry are lobbying for another extension. Some experts, including Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Economy.com, who supported the earlier credits, think the time has come to let it go.
“It’s worn out its benefit,” he says. “If you extend it again, it isn’t going to do much, and what you’re doing is providing a tax break to folks who bought anyway.”
Source: The Wall Street Journal, Nick Timiraos (02/22/2010)
Bankers: The End of Foreclosure Crisis is Near
- Image via Wikipedia
The Mortgage Bankers Association is seeing signs that the foreclosure crisis is ending.
“The continued and sizable drop in the 30-day delinquency rate is a concrete sign that the end may be in sight,” says Jay Brinkmann, MBA’s chief economist, in a published statement.
Brinkmann said that normally there is a large spike in short-term mortgage delinquencies at the end of the year because of high heating bills and holiday expenditures. This year, there was not only no spike, but the 30-day delinquency rate actually fell from 3.79 percent to 3.63 percent.
Thirty-day delinquencies have historically been a leading indicator of serious delinquencies and foreclosures, Brinkmann said.
“[This] gives us growing confidence that the size of the problem now is about as bad as it will get,” he said.
Source: Mortgage Bankers Association (02/19/2010)
The Oakton condominiums
The Oakton condominiums are garden-style condos located in Fairfax County, Virginia. The Oakton is located near Interstate 66 and route 123 but it feels like it’s in the countryside. The community is only 1.5 miles from the Vienna Metro station.
The Oakton has 240 units in 24 buildings which are surrounded by lush landscaping and lots of trees. This condominium community has a community pool. All condos at the Oakton have balconies or terraces, fireplaces. Many units here have sunrooms or lofts.
Showing properties
1 - 5 of 9.
See more The Oakton tract real estate.
(all data current as of
5/17/2012)
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$242,500 : 10117 Oakton Terrace Rd #10117, Oakton2 beds, 1 full bath
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$265,000 : 10103 Oakton Terrace Rd #10103, Oakton2 beds, 1 full bath
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$299,500 : 10052 Oakton Terrace Rd #10052, Oakton2 beds, 2 full baths
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$329,900 : 10136 Oakton Terrace Rd #10136, Oakton2 beds, 2 full baths
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$199,950 : 10100 Oakton Terrace Rd #10100, Oakton1 bed, 1 full bath
Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.
IRS Clarifies What’s Needed to Claim Tax Credit
The Internal Revenue Service has clarified which documentation taxpayers need to submit to claim the first-time and move-up homebuyer tax credit.
Inside the Oakton condos in Fairfax County VA
While the IRS is still requiring the filing of Form 5405, it is not demanding that all parties’ signatures be on the HUD-1 settlement document in areas where requiring both the buyer and the seller to sign the document isn’t common.
The IRS clarification says: “In areas where signatures are not required on the settlement document, the IRS has clarified that it will accept a settlement statement if it is completed and valid according to local law. … The IRS encourages those buyers to sign the settlement statement prior to attaching it to the tax return.”
For repeat buyers, the IRS is seeking documentation that home buyers have lived in the previous property for a consecutive five of the past eight years. Proof can include property tax records, home owner insurance records, or mortgage interest statements.
Source: Washington Post (02/20/2010)
Do you need a brand new kitchen?
original kitchen at Montebello
One of the biggest questions every condo buyer and home buyer has to ask is, “How much work am I willing to take on?”
Some folks want a turnkey residence. Some folks want a residence that has brand new modern appliances and cabinets. Some people want appliances and cabinets that have never been used.
Some people don’t mind an older kitchen. Some people like the feel of a kitchen that was put in long ago.
Others like an older kitchen because they like the idea of ripping out the old and putting in the new. It can be very gratify—not to mention financially rewarding—to completely remake a residence. As a homeowner, or condo owner, you are the ultimate authority. It is your domain to decide what will stay and what must go. This can be a lot of fun.
Brand new kitchen at the Eclipse
But, remodeling can be a lot of work. Living through the dust and the inconvenience can be a hassle. If you don’t know where to turn to, it can also be very expensive. But no matter how you personally resolve the issue, it’s important to consider before you actually start shopping.
