BEEP BEEP: Arlington VA Smoke Alarm Guidelines

BEEP BEEP: Arlington VA Smoke Alarm Guidelines

Do you need a smoke alarm here? Do you need a smoke alarm there?

Do you need a smoke alarm EVERYWHERE?

A common question I get is: ‘Where do I need to put a smoke alarm in my house?’

To help answer any questions that Arlington VA home buyers may have, I created a smoke alarm guidelines page on MrArlington.com. This page outlines smoke alarm guidelines established by the International Residential Code Book, including what rooms need a smoke alarm and how many must be in a dwelling.

When it comes to smoke alarms, the general rule is that there should be one in each sleeping room, one outside of each sleeping room and one on each level of a respective house.

Of course, when it comes to smoke alarms, too many can never hurt you!

This Arlington VA real estate information courtesy of Aaron Seekford, your Arlington VA Realtor.

Three Places to Clean When You Buy Your Arlington VA Real Estate…

Three Places to Clean When You Buy Your Arlington VA Real Estate…

A good cleaning session is a good way to get intimate with your new home.

In addition to vacuuming the bedrooms, cleaning the sinks and making sure all of your pipes are leak-proof, there are a few simple cleaning tips that most Arlington VA real estate owners forget.

Below are three home-cleaning tips to make your new home sparkle all that much more:

1) Clean the ceilings. Sure, they may look clean. But, think of all the smoke and dirt particles that spread throughout your house during the average week. It’s smart to wash down your ceilings at least once per year.

2) Clean the tops of your fans. The tops of ceiling fans are always very dirty. You know that. Take a chemical-free solution and make sure to wipe down ALL fans thoroughly.

3) Clean the baseboards. Your house guests will notice grime on the baseboards. If they haven’t been cleaned in years, they may even be black. A nice soapy solution always helps baseboards shine!

This Arlington VA real estate information courtesy of Aaron Seekford, your Arlington VA Realtor.

Arlington VA Condominium Spotlight – Crystal Park

Arlington VA Condominium Spotlight – Crystal Park

If you are looking for apartment living with Metro accessibility, it doesn’t get much better than Crystal Park.

Crystal Park is located at 1805 Crystal Drive in the heart of Crystal City. The modern apartment complex boasts nearly 200 unique units and features an on-site fitness center, community rooms and parking.

The building is wedged between George Washington Memorial Parkway and Route 1 in Arlington, giving residents a number of commuting options. Also nearby are the vast shops and restaurants of Crystal City, the Pentagon and the shops at Potomac Yard.

The top perk of living at Crystal Park is its proximity to the Metro. The Crystal City Metro stop is literally right across the street from the Crystal Park complex.

Schools serving Crystal Park include Custis Elementary School, Gunston Middle School and Wakefield High School.

For current list of condos for sale or condos for rent in Crystal Park, contact Aaron Seekford at 703-836-6116 today.

This Arlington VA condominiums information courtesy of Aaron Seekford, your Arlington VA real estate agent.

Northern VA Residential Lots – 2 Land Lots in Northern VA – 1000 and 1004 Seneca Road

Northern VA Residential Lots – 2 Land Lots in Northern VA – 1000 and 1004 Seneca Road

AR7743797 and AR7743777 – Listed at $599,000 each

Two Northern VA land lots each with one beautiful acre of Northern VA land1000 and 1004 Seneca Road Great Falls VA are available for $599,000 each.

One lot, 1004 Seneca Road, has a home on its grounds. One option is to live in the house located at 1004 Seneca Road while you build the home of your dreams! It’s perfectly livable.

Plans and permits are included on file to build a 10,000 square foot home on each lot! Public water is available at the front of each lot and sewer is available in the rear lot of subdivision.

These two Northern VA land for sale bargains won’t last. The options are endless.

This Northern VA land lots for sale information courtesy of Aaron Seekford, your Arlington VA real estate agent

A 15-Year Loan Versus A 30-Year Loan

A 15-Year Loan Versus A 30-Year Loan

Whether you’re refinancing your current Arlington VA home or buying a new Arlington VA home, something worth considering is a 15 year loan rather than a 30 year term. The payments will be a little higher but you’ll get a lower interest rate and you’ll build equity much faster.

Let’s look at an example of a $200,000 mortgage with the choice of a 30 year term with a 3.75% rate compared to a 15 year term with a 2.875% rate. The payments would be $442.94 higher on the shorter term but the equity would be considerably higher even after you adjust for the higher payments.

Another benefit is that the shorter term loan creates a forced savings situation where the savings on a longer term loan might end up being spent rather than being saved and invested.

Contact me if you’d like a recommendation of a trusted Arlington VA lender. I’m always looking for new, seamless ways to help you save time and money.

This Arlington VA real estate information courtesy of Aaron Seekford, your Arlington VA real estate agent.

3 Arlington VA Commuting Options…

3 Arlington VA Commuting Options…

So, you’ve bought a home in Northern Virginia.

Congratulations!

By now, you should very well know that the Washington, D.C. area is well-renowned for its long commutes, heavy traffic and endless list of roads that end with -95.

Don’t panic. There are other options, aside from the traditional commute. Below are three Arlington VA commuting options for you to check out:

1) Slugging. Sounds funny, but it will save you a ton of money in the long. Slugging is a form of carpooling in that takes place on various street corners and in commuter lots across Northern Virginia. And best of all, it’s absolutely free for passengers. Check out if there is a slug line near you today: Slug-lines.com

2) The Metro. The D.C. area’s Metro system is one of the cleanest and most efficient in the country. With nearly a hundred stops across D.C., Maryland and Virginia, there is bound to be a stop near you: WMATA.com

3) Biking. Yes, we are for real. If you live in Arlington, you have access to world-class bike trails and an abundance of bike lanes. If you’re two miles away from work, why not get some exercise rather than sit there for 45 minutes. A lot of people are turning to biking, maybe you should too.

This Arlington VA commuting options information courtesy of Aaron Seekford, your Arlington VA realtor.

Need to Know Your Child’s Arlington VA Public School Assignment?

Need to Know Your Child’s Arlington VA Public School Assignment?

Two of the most common questions I get are: Is this property in a safe neighborhood and… are the schools good here?

Unfortunately, as a Realtor, I can not make judgment as to whether a neighborhood is safe or if a school is “good” because everyone’s standards are different.

In an effort to aid you with your independent research, I’ve created a School Zones page on MrArlington.com.

The page gives an overview of Arlington County Public Schools and also directs you to the Arlington County Public Schools website, where you can pinpoint exactly what you need.

Arlington Public Schools, in general, are highly-ranked in the United States and constantly listed among the top school districts in the nation.

I’ve also supplied zoning maps for a handful of Arlington VA Elementary Schools. If there is a school that’s not on there that you are interested in, just let me know. I am happy to research it for you.

This Arlington VA public school assignment information courtesy of Aaron Seekford, your Arlington VA Realtor.

Beautiful 4 Bedroom 3.5 Bath for Rent in Arlington VA – 3410 8th Street South Arlington, VA 22204 – AR7831185

Beautiful 4 Bedroom 3.5 Bath for Rent in Arlington VA – 3410 8th Street South Arlington, VA 22204 – AR7831185

$3,200/month

This beautiful 4 bedroom 3.5 bathroom Arlington VA home for rent is available May 1.

This Alcova Heights Arlington VA home for rent is in a quiet neighborhood and boasts a large 1/2 acre yard. If you love to entertain, this is the perfect home to have your friends over for a nice spring BBQ, horseshoes and much, much more.

This 4 bedroom 3.5 bathroom Arlington Virginia home has a detached garage and ample off-street parking. Within commutable distance are a number of Arlington VA schools, restaurants, boutiques and shops.

The property is located at 3410 8th Street South, Arlington, VA 22204. It is ready to go and ready to rent!

If you would like to arrange a showing or would like more information about the property, contact Aaron Seekford today!

This 4 bedroom 3.5 bathroom Arlington VA home listing courtesy of Aaron Seekford, your Arlington VA real estate agent.

Arlington VA Condominiums – Wooster and Mercer Lofts

Arlington VA Condominiums – Wooster and Mercer Lofts

The Wooster and Mercer Lofts simply have it all.

Located at 1600 Clarendon Boulevard in the heart of Arlington, the Wooster and Mercer Lofts boast nearly 90 unique condominium units, ranging in price from $500,000 to $2 million. Many of the loft condominiums have been sold, but there are some that become available periodically.

Amenities include beautiful spiraling staircases, floor-to-ceiling windows, rooftop decks, a beautiful lush courtyard and a community pool. Nearby community amenities and offerings include a Safeway grocery store, a number of world-class clothing boutiques and the endless culture excursions of Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia.

Within walking distance of this Arlington VA condominium building are the Courthouse and Rosslyn Metro stations.

Schools serving Wooster and Mercer Lofts include Key Elementary School, Stratford Middle School and Washington-Lee High School.

If you would like a list of current Wooster and Mercer Lofts condos for sale or condos for rent please contact Aaron Seekford.

This Wooster and Mercer Lofts information courtesy of Aaron Seekford, your Arlington VA real estate agent.

Review Your Arlington VA Tax Assessment!

Review Your Arlington VA Tax Assessment!

“Anyone may arrange his affairs so that his taxes shall be as low as possible…for nobody owes any public duty to pay more than the law demands.”

Judge Learned Hand

This opinion refers to federal income tax but the logic and spirit can easily be applied to any tax including Arlington VA property tax. Most property tax is based on a valuation called an assessment placed on the property by a government taxing authority.

When property values rise due to appreciation, the assessments usually rise. However, when values decline as they have done in many areas in the past few years, the assessments should follow accordingly.

If you don’t believe your Arlington VA tax assessment reflects market value, put together proof to support your position. Recent comparable sales, similar in size, condition and location are very persuasive. Check to see if the square footage on the assessment is accurate. If the home is not in good condition, take pictures to show that.

As your Arlington VA realtor, I can supply the comparables, filing deadlines and other pertinent information needed to make a challenge. Lowering your assessment will result in lower property taxes and more money in your pocket!

This Arlington VA property tax assessment information courtesy of Aaron Seekford, your Arlington VA real estate agent.

The multiple listing data appearing on this website, or contained in reports produced therefrom, comes in part from Metropolitan Regional Information Systems ("MRIS"). The information provided is for the viewer's personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties the viewer may be interested in purchasing. All real estate listings include detailed information about them that includes the name of the listing brokers and therefore may reference real estate listing(s) held by a brokerage other than the broker and/or agent who owns this web site.

All listing data, including, but not limited to, square footage and lot size is believed to be accurate, but the listing agent, listing broker and respective Multiple Listing Services and their affiliates do not warrant or guarantee such accuracy. Therefore, all data should be personally verified through personal inspection by and/or with the appropriate professionals. Listing data last updated 5/21/12 7:03 PM PDT.

The listing information on this web site is from various brokers who participate in IDX.

Copyright 2012 MRIS. All rights reserved.

This IDX solution is (c) Diverse Solutions 2012.

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