However the model is finished and you haven’t looked below the surface to see if beauty is only skin deep.  New construction doesn’t always mean no problems.  For example in talking with owners at one Prince William County neighborhood I heard the following horror stories.

One homeowner mentioned an inspection revealed  16 cracked floor joists that had to be replaced.  Another discovered their beautiful corner soaking tub had no extra support under it meaning a likely collapse the first time it was filled with water.  And finally an owner who discovered their home was not wrapped with a water proofing vapor. As a result they had to put plastic on their windows last winter to keep out the drafts.

If you are thinking about buying new construction in Prince William or Fairfax County this year don’t let the lessons the homeowners in this development learned the hard way happened to you.  Make sure that you take your own representation with you.  Not only can a Realtor® help you get the best deal but we can advise you about the construction process and help you avoid some serious post closing headaches.

I put together a short new construction e-book to give you a few ideas of things to consider before heading out to check out model homes.

If you would like to be able to wake up and be able to take a walk along the Occoquan River front then give me a call to talk about the options available in Belmont Bay in Prince William County,  VA

Just for fun I took to the water to give you a view of how the town center looks from the Occoquan River.

If you are interested in learning more about the homes available in Belmont Bay give me a call at 703-346-2213. In the last two years I’ve sold 30 properties in the community and can show you why so many of my clients have decided to call Belmont Bay in Prince William County VA home.

The building located just off of 495 & Route 50 will be the home to 300 new Northrop Grumman executives relocating from Los Angeles and/or their current Arlington VA offices.  The location is just a few miles away from the Dunn Loring Metro station and will have easy access from the new I-495 Hot Lanes.   The projected transition to the new location is for Summer 2011.

For Northrop Grumman employees who find themselves moving to Northern Virginia from California we welcome you.    The traffic around I-495 will be familiar to you if you currently commute around the Los Angeles freeways.   Fortunately close by your offices you will find some local favorite places to grab lunch including Sweetwater Tavern and Grevey’s Sports Bar.  If you should strain your back unpacking boxes from your move the Inova Fairfax Hospital complex is only 2 miles away.

If you are relocating and find yourself making a house hunting trip the Fairview Park Marriott is within walking distance of your new offices.  Feel free to contact me if you need help finding a new place to call home in Northern Virginia.  Nearby neighborhoods in Falls Church, Vienna and McLean offer an eclectic mix of new and old housing.  Feel free to use our Northern Virginia New Home Search Tool to start getting a feel for the area.  As a native of Northern Virginia I can share a few back street secrets to help you navigate around the traffic.  Feel free to stop by the CJRealtyGroup website to or give me a call help you get settled in  Falls Church and the surrounding Northern Virginia neighborhoods.

With expansive views from all of the major living spaces and a covered patio you can watch the sunrise over the Occoquan River or enjoy your evening cocktail as the boats head back to the Belmont Bay Marina in the evening.

Click on the photo to take a tour of this incredible top floor unit in Harborview Condominium and then call Cindy Jones at 703-346-2213 to schedule your viewing. Priced to sell at $425,000 this is a once in a lifetime chance.

Burke Lake Park  is located just off of Route 123 and a few miles from the City of Fairfax. With over 850 acres including a 220 acre lake there is plenty for everyone to enjoy. For the walkers, joggers and bikers the 5 mile dirt loop around the lake is a great way to take in all of the vistas. For the youngsters the miniature train ride chugging along at 10 MPH is a hoot. Want to get in a round of golf? You can do that too at the 18 hole Par 3 course.

The Frisbee golf course is a challenge for young and old, though for the life of me the fun of trying to throw a Frisbee through a hoop eludes me! For the young and young at heart stop by and give the Carousel a whirl and don’t forget to bring your stale bread to feed the ducks. Guaranteed you will be attacked without it!

For the guys who like to fish you can rent a small electric powered boat or canoe and cast your line. Make sure you have a valid fishing license. It’s the law!

One of the best things about the park is that no matter what season you go you will find the park well maintained and friendly park staff around to help.

Burke Lake Park is just one example of the benefits of living in Fairfax County. With over 25,000 acres of parkland maintained by the Fairfax County Park Authority you can find a park just around the corner from almost any neighborhood in the county.

See you around the park!

Selection of Homes in Burke & Fairfax Station

Photo Credit: rla579 from Flickr

For owners of residential properties close to the proposed metro stops the current traffic delays woes are just a means to an end.  Sales of properties within walking distance of the new metro stops are on the rise.

Last year from January to May there were 45 sales of condos in the Tysons Corner area (22102). This year the number of sales for the same time frame is on the rise to 62 units already closed and settled. There are also another 31 properties Under Contract . Unless the market comes to a complete standstill in the next few months sales in 2010 will far surpass 2009.

Recently I’ve been out with investors who are beginning to realize that the Tysons Corner area could be a hot ticket in the next few year. If you are thinking of investing in the Tysons Corner I suggest you start with talking to an attorney to create an LLC to hold title to your property. Then talk to an accountant to understand the tax implications of owning a investment property. Finally determine if being a landlord is for you or whether you need to hire a professional management company to deal with the headaches that can come from owning investment property.

Then call me to talk about the different condo neighborhoods in Tysons Corner that might be right for your investment dollars.

View Current Condo Listings in Tysons Corner (22102)

All of that is changing as Prince William County supervisors, planning commissioners, developers and interested citizens look towards revitalizing North Woodbridge. The area which has been dubbed “The Route 1 corridor” has been neglected for years and has grown into an eyesore of closed business.

This week the PWC Board of Supervisors approved the plan to allow between 500,000 and 750,000 square feet of office space; 2,500 to 3,500 multifamily housing units; between 250,000 and 500,000 square feet of retail; and up to 260 hotel rooms in the area.

A few years ago the Washington Business Journal named this of the 10 to watch. It is surprising with a VRE station already in place, Fort Belvor and the National Geospatial-Intellegence Agency practically at the North Woodbridge border that more developers haven’t already seen the potential and started development. The community of Belmont Bay located just east of Route 1 is one of the hidden gems of North Woodbridge and it’s waterfront location is a draw for new residents.

Hopefully with the county supervisors approval and grass routes community organizations such as the Occoquan River Communities the vision many have had for the North Woodbridge corridor will finally begin to take shape.

Sales have been steady since January 2009 and prices have made a steady (not metoric) rise since the low point of first quarter 2009.

Looking at the volume of sales during the last quarter of 2009 and the first quarter of 2010 with tax credits and decreasing inventory competition for properities rose along with the average sales price. However during the first quarter of 2010 prices made a slight dip from the high at the end of 2009. The volume also decreased slightly during the early spring which could be one of the contributing factors for slightly higher prices at the end of the 2009.

With the tax credits gone and inventory starting to rise looking at prices for the Q2 2010 will give us an indication if the steady recovery Lake Ridge has enjoyed the past year will continue.

Interested in learning more about the Lake Ridge neighborhood in Prince William County? Take the neighborhood quick tour for an overview of the neighborhood. If buying a new home in Lake Ridge is in your future give me a call at 703-346-2213 to talk about the wide variety of options in condominiums, townhouses and detached homes available.

Luckily riders who use the Woodbridge Station will be able to take advantage of this new service. Originally the express train was going to bypass the Woodbridge station located at the entrance to Belmont Bay but after deliberation and political wrangling the station was included in the plans.

Anyone who has been driving along Route 1 has watched the new “Kiss and Ride” and pedestrian overpass being built over the last few months. The grading and paving for the pull off is now being completed and the dedication of the new walkway is set for early May.

The express train will depart Fredericksburg at 5:05AM and make stops at Fredericksburg, Leeland Road, Brooke, Woodbridge, Alexandria, Crystal City, L’Enfant and Union Station. The final schedule has not been published yet but service will start on July 19, 2010.

The new Woodbridge VRE pedestrian overpass is just one of the many changes coming to the North Woodbridge VA area over the next few months.