Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Summer 2009

Our Parkfairfax Real Estate market seems very stable. It seems the "hot-lane" situation has been halted. Local Resident's complaints along with lack of funding seem to have "done the trick". YEAH!!

For those of you who have waited for combined units to come up for sale (over 1500 square feet), you will soon be rewarded. Our combined units have more square footage than many of the detached houses in Beverly Hills and Braddock Heights. There's a lack of one bedroom units for sale at this time. Call us 703-820-9273.

In the Washington Post today was an article about the 2% increase in values in property during the previous quarter. We see a lot of buyers who haven't quite decided that "this is the time" to buy. This action tells Realtors with a lot of experience (been through hard times before) know "this IS the time to buy". Hard to believe that some properties in Parkfairfax drew multiple offers during the last quarter. The most renovated properties continue to sell most quickly; which means more money for the sellers.

Some appraisers have been horrors for buyers, sellers and Realtors in the past quarter; however, this is changing. We've had several good appraisals during the past few weeks, unlike the early summer. You wouldn't believe some of the prices appraisers were assigning to our precious Parkfairfax properties.

We look forward to hearing from those of you who want to sell and buy. We're here every day of the year! See you in the Shirlington hood at a Restaurant, a bar, the theatre or the grocery store in the next few days....or at one of the 3 Parkfairfax pools.

Monday, June 1, 2009

Wow! What a weekend. We had 4 open houses yesterday. It appears that 2 of those will get offers and one of them "multiple" offers. If you want to hold value, buy Real Estate!!! Like my Grandmother used to say when people wanted to buy her farm land. They're not making anymore land, but money they print every day! She wasn't a fan of stocks/bonds!! Fortunately, homes in Parkfairfax, close-in Alexandria and Arlington, along with D.C. have done acceptionally well. We're so fortunate to live here.

We had out of town guests over the weekend. We ate at Landini Brothers in Old Town Friday evening. It was a birthday event. We expected the typical tourist treatment; but were VERY pleasantly surprised. The service AND the food were exceptional and all 6 of us were happy we'd eaten there. The last time I was there was about 12 years ago at a Christmas party. Wow, what a difference. Sunday evening we ate at Arlington Thai in Shirlington. And they know how to make a Negroni. If you want to know what that is, shoot me an email. You know I have the recipe!

Monday, May 18, 2009

Sunday, May 17th

I hope a FANTASTIC weekend was had by all. Our sellers are celebrating since offers came in on 3 listings this weekend. Two Parkfairfax listings got 2 or more offers!! An absolutely amazing condo at The Representative in Arlington also went under contract. The "Rep" as we call it, has enormous square footage, balconies, and unprecedented monutment views! There are several more listings there. Call us if you want to view them. We can thank ourselves for living/working in the DC metro area where employment is better than most anywhere in the country. Homes continue to sell here. Talking about DC, we got a fantastic deal for one of our clients at The City View in DC, it a brand new building. For those of you looking at new construction; please call us before going. With The JOHNandJOHN Team representing you; you'll be $$$$'ly pleased!! We know how to negotiate with these builders' representatives. The reps are NOT working for you; only your buyer's agent IS working for you. And we have the sources to get you potentially better loan rates than the builders can.

Last evening we went to Busyboys and Poets for dinner at 6pm. It was CROWDED!!! Then to The Signature Theatre to see GIANT-all 3hours and 45 minutes (including 2 intermissions). It was WELL worth the time. See if before it goes to Broadway. Most of the actors are from Broadway productions.

Please refer your friends and co-worker who want to buy or sale real estate to The JOHNandJOHN Team. We're here for YOU!

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Happy Easter. We are finding the $8000 stimulus and low interest rates are working. Our listings are selling and our sellers are excited about our results. Well maintained, very clean, and move-in condition homes are selling quickly. This means homes are selling very near or at the selling price. Parkfairfax, Fairlington, The Representative, The Continental, Jefferson Park, Beverly Hills, Country Club Hills, Lyon Village, Addison Heights are where our clients have recently bought or sold homes.

The JOHNandJOHN Team, Carter Hagen, David Lausier, John Meyer, & John Welch work 363 days per year and look forward to working for you, your family and your co-workers. Thanks in advance for referring us to them.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

3/24/09 JW's been in continuing education courses all day. Good classes. Here's the best of what was taught: 1. Get the best accountant possible 2. Make certain your client is well taken care of-don't hesitate to recommend a Real Estate Attorney when questions are out of a Realtor's "paygrade"

And the most important item was: We have chosen this profession and we want the best education possible to help our clients. If we forget to ask for your business, then ask us "Do you want our business?" We are NEVER too busy for your referrals. If we forget to ask you to refer The JOHNandJOHN Team to your friends, co-workers and relatives, please know we want to help them, and work with them to help them achieve their goals.

If any one of the Team; Carter Hagen, David Lausier, John Meyer or John Welch asks for your business and the business of your people who want to move anywhere in the world, then we're doing what we should!!

Thursday, March 19, 2009

3/19/2009-Blogging class today for John Meyer and John Welch. We learned that www.Parkfairfax.com and www.johnANDjohn.net get more hits that most every local Real Estate blog or website in NVAR. One of the reasons The JOHNandJOHN Team has been in the Top 20 Realtors in the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors since 2000. We sell properties in the detached home communitites of Jefferson Park, Beverly Hills, Braddock Heights, Aurora Hills, Lyon Village & Lyon Park where multiple offers continue. Go to www.JohnandJohn.net and view the photos of our new listing on Taylor Ave. listed for $749,999.

Condominium Communities in the Shirlington area are selling well. EZ commute to DC yet far enough to enjoy the greenery that spring (starting tomorrow) will bring. We specialize in the Condo communities of Parkfairfax, Fairlington, The Arlington, & Courtbridge. Since the Feds pumped new money into the monetary system yesterday, interest rates went down AGAIN. Add low interest rates with $8000 off your tax bill this year or next for buying a home this year (Dec 1. is the cutoff date). This should help buyers feel more comfortable with purchasing. Interest rates WILL increase. And since the stock market has gone up 1000 points from the low, smiles are brighter and spending is back. This evening The Settlement Group and Keith Livingston of Bank of America gave a wine and cheese party for RE/MAX Realtors.

Tuesday night we saw A Chorus Line at The Warner Theatre after eating dinner at Marc's Central Kitchen on Pennsylvania. The food was delicious, service professional, but the sound level was jacked up too loudly. Get the west coast raw oysters, any main course & bread pudding for dessert.

What do you think about a member of the House of Representative's proposal to give one $3500-$700 for your 8+ year old car if you buy a new car that gets 28+ miles per gallon?

For those of you who know John Meyer, he's progessing in physical therapy. The rotator cuff surgery will help him put those signs into the ground at a greater velocity! He's back at work and looks forward to helping you sell or buy your next property. Carter Hagen has just returned from showing a Parkfairfax home that we have "under contract". And David Lausier, our other Broker/Realtor is preparing an offer on a Parkfairfax home in the morning.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

March 11th we had lunch with a new client from Denver at Willow on Washington Blvd. in Arlington, near N. Glebe Rd. Maybe we should have chosen another entree, but the substitute tuna sandwich for cod wasn't great.

Today, The Settlement Group, our preferred title company invited Bob Fredricks, their attorney to talk with the creme-de-le-creme RE/MAX Realtors from the Alexandria office, about contract language. I learned that when a foreclosure is sold, (like the one in Parkfairfax we put under contract) all liens are paid or forgiven, like taxes, condo fees, etc.

Look at johnandjohn.net for a new detached home listing in fashionable Jefferson Park. Rarely does one find a 4 bedroom/2baths upstairs home coming on the open market for sale. Sunday, March 22nd we'll have an open house.