photo credit: Gustavo Devito

Do You Want to Learn Something New About Arlington VA?

Sometimes the idea of an car-free commuting to work is better in principle than in practice.  Lets be honest, driving to work has so many advantages and allow you the flexibility to come and go as you need.  On the flip-side there are many hassles like parking problems and cost, traffic delays, and the ever increasing cost of gas.  In the perfect world commuting to work without a car would be a lot easier.

Can You Live a Car-Free Lifestyle in Arlington VA?

Did you know that choosing to live in Arlington VA can help with this commuting dilemma?  Many Arlington VA residences are taking advantage of the low cost, no hassle and healthy choice of bike commuting. Arlington VA has a wonderful bike path network which conveniently links with other county bike paths allowing an easy ride to work and back.

Can the Arlington VA  Bike Paths reduce my Work Commute?

When choosing to buy a home in Arlington VA, consider the location. Most neighborhoods are located close to one of the major Arlington bike trails, and nearly all Arlington roadways have a separate bike lane. A great example would be if you choose to buy a home in Shirlington VA, then you will be directly on the Four Mile Run trail, which runs into the W&OD Trail and intersects with the Curtis Trail which leads you into the business district of Rosslyn VA and DC.  Of course this is just one example, Arlington VA is perfectly situated to make commuting to work and easy one.

Why Bike Commute?

Biking to work will most likely reduce your commuting time, and also reduce your gym time as you will be getting your exercise during your morning & evening commute. Still not convinced, why not give it a shot this Friday on National Bike to Work Day. Join other Arlington VA residents by leaving your car home and cycling into work on this organized Nationwide cycle/commuting event.  Click here for further detailed information on planned routes and organized events along the way.  Arlington County’s website also has useful information on bike commuting and taking advantage of the extensive bike trail system throughout Arlington County.

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The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has a website that you can use to look up which condo buildings in Arlington and the DC area have already been approved for FHA.  The strange thing I have noticed about the website is that only seems to work during business hours.  I’m sure that makes as little sense to you as it does to me.  I’ve also noticed that some of the condo information, such as the property address are listed incorrectly.

Here is a small sample of popular condos that show up as approved on the HUD website as I write this article.

• 1800 Wilson
• Clarendon 1021
• Colonial Village I, II, II
• Eastview at Ballston
• Shirlington Village
• The Charleston
• The Monroe
• Lexington Square
• The Continental
• The Grove
• Rhodes Hill Square
• The Atrium
• The Belvedere
• Wooster & Mercer Lofts

Saturday May 12th 2012 is Neighborhood day in Arlington VA.   Neighborhoods across Arlington VA will organize events ranging from picnics to sporting events. If your Arlington neighborhood hasn’t yet planned an event to celebrate this Arlington VA tradition, there is still time. Whether it be a last minute neighborhood BBQ or street Potluck, get together with your neighbors and plan something fun.

If you are interested in checking out other planned Arlington Neighborhood Day events contact Lauren Corridon (7032283329) at Arlington County or check out the Arlington Neighborhood Day website

Have fun getting to know your neighbors on Arlington Neighborhood Day.

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Our trusted mortgage expert, Paul Nagel of First Home Mortgage ways in below:

Most mortgage companies offer a form of a “bi-weekly” plan to reduce the term of your 30 year mortgage by 5-7 years.   Under the plan, you pay 1/2 of your mortgage every two weeks.  As a result, banks tout that this reduces interest, and as a result, results in the aforementioned reduction in the term of your mortgage.   A 100-300 annual fee is pretty typical to participate in the program.

What really is going on is that if you make 1/2 payment every two weeks, you are making 13 payments per year or one extra payment than typical if you just paid your mortgage every month.

The fact that one would be making one extra payment per year accounts for 96% of the program’s reduction of the term of the mortgage.  Said differently, the life of the mortgage is reduced by 5-7 years because one is making an extra payment per year, not that the payment is being paid every two weeks.

Bi-weekly plans are not bad in and of themselves – they do reduce the term of the mortgage and save interest.   However, you could save the 100-300 / year administrative fee and just make one extra mortgage payment yourself, and get the same benefit.

That said, whenever evaluating making extra mortgage payments or investing those funds elsewhere, do consult your investment adviser for the strategy that fits best with your overall financial plan.

Feel free to reach out to Paul Directly with additional questions about bi-weekly payments.

Paul Nagel, Senior Loan Officer
First Home Mortgage
703-201-5147
NMLS ID: 659474

photo credit: Lourdes Cristina

Mothers are one of the most important people in our lives, always there for us when we need her, and giving us that unconditional love which is hard to find elsewhere.  Therefore, there is no better time to show your Mom how special she is than on Mother’s Day, which is Sunday May 13th 2012.  This year don’t leave your Mother’s Day gift until the last minute; especially as there are plenty of places to shop locally in Arlington VA for the perfect Mother’s Day surprise.

Mother’s Day Gift Options

If your Mom likes a glass of wine to unwind after a busy day, then stop by Screwtops Wine Bar in Clarendon and pick up her favorite brand of vino. Screwtops are also making Mother’s Day wine baskets to order.  If your Mom lives locally in the Northern Virginia area, why not sign her up for one of Screwtop wine classes, where she will be able to try different wines and learn about the grapes and growing region.  The helpful and knowledgeable staff at Screwtops will be able to help you out whatever your Mom’s favorite wine maybe.

Who doesn’t like a Spa Day! Red Door Spa in Pentagon Row has many different spa packages available to cater for your Mom this Mother’s Day.  Conveniently located on the blue and yellow line metro, if you are coming by car they also have plenty of parking available. Pentagon Row has numerous restaurants if you feel like meeting up with Mom for dinner after her treatments.

Lululemon giftcards make for an alternative gift for the Moms that like to stay in shape, if your Mom attends Yoga, Pilates or other workout classes, this will make for the ideal gift.

The Perfect Gift of Time!

Of course there is always the gift of your time, I am sure your Mom loves spending time with you and your family, so why not hit your favorite Arlington VA brunch spot, followed by a leisurely walk in one of the Arlington parks, don’t forget to stop by Red Mango and treat Mom to her favorite frozen yogurt dessert.  Whether it is the perfect gift or a great relaxing brunch, Arlington VA has many options to show Mom how special she is this Mother’s Day.

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Making Your Voice Heard!

Open Arlington is a forum for civic engagement, and if you live in Arlington VA then you can sign up and contribute along with other Arlingtonians. Have your opinions heard and even supported by others living in the Arlington neighborhood.  Hear what others have to say, and engage with Arlington government.

Current Forums

Participate in forums such as ‘What are the top priorities for the County’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)?’ or ‘What would make it easier for you and others to engage with Arlington County Government?’

Reduce your frustration of not being heard and go to the Arlington County website to check out the Open Arlington Forum.

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Question:  I live near the house you are building in Arlington that is 5500 square feet (on 3 floors). Since there are only 4 people living in that house, how do you justify calling it green/Leeds? That seems like an enormous house for 4 people.

That is a good question, and I am glad you asked.  It is something I think about every day.  This house was custom designed based on the desire of the homeowners.  We could have either turned them down or worked within their desires and wishes to build them the house they dream of while incorporating the energy efficiency and sustainability tactics we use.  If they went with someone else I doubt they would have gotten the same attention to detail in this respect.  The most important aspect is the energy costs that will be associated with the usage of that home for at least the next 50 years.  We are installing a large solar panel/photo-voltaic system on the roof which will eventually cover all of the electricity costs of the house and we have built this house using an insulation and air-tight system that is second to none.  All electricity needs for the house will be produced on sight and the gas bills will be less than half of the gas bills of either of the two new homes that surround it.  The energy usage will be less than the older homes in the neighborhood.  The house will consume less energy than almost every other house in Arlington.   And according to the EPA,  85% of embodied energy and carbon emissions of residential construction comes from the actual energy use of the home over a 50 year time period, not the materials and construction of the home.  That is why I am comfortable calling the house “green”.  One can build a nice home half the size, but if the house is not built properly or with these techniques in mind, it will consume more energy and require more coal from the power plant.   It is kind of like comparing a 100mpg SUV to a 50mpg Prius.  To many in the green car movement, the SUV is the enemy.  It is big and bulky and hogs the road and guzzles gas.  But if you can make it twice as fuel-efficient as the Prius than it just becomes a matter of taste.   The bulk of the argument becomes mute and the distaste for the SUV becomes subjective.  That is kind of the same thing with bigger homes that are close to zero-energy in expected energy usage.

Of course there are many other aspects to what makes a house green.  With respect to materials, our lumber is sustainably harvested (FSC certified) and most is sourced within 500 miles.  That blue sheathing you see around the house is made of 80% post consumer material and provides another layer of insulation around the house.  Water efficiency includes dual flush toilets and low flow faucets.  Our hardwood is FSC Certified and locally sourced, and the countertops are made of recycled glass.  The super-efficient heating and cooling system saves as much on energy as a geothermal system and includes a fresh air intake, constantly exhausting stale indoor air and replacing it with fresh air for maximum indoor air quality and comfort.  We are using low VOC paint, adhesives and floor stain to reduce the emissions of harmful toxins and chemicals inside the house.  We are installing drought tolerant plants around the house to reduce the need for lawn watering during periods of drought and to help reduce storm water runoff.  90% of our waste during construction is recycled and the other 10% incinerated for fuel, so nothing goes to the landfill.  The old home was deconstructed by hand so the old materials can be reused in other construction projects.  The list goes on and on.

As far as us calling it “LEEDS”, that is referring to LEED certification, which is a scorecard developed by the US Green Building Council.    To achieve LEED certification our construction is monitored and tested by an independent 3rd party on the entirety of the scorecard to earn points.  Much of what I mentioned above is included in the LEED scorecard, along with countless other details.  There are four scoring thresholds in LEED for Homes program – Certification, Silver ,Gold, and Platinum.  For the house in your neighborhood, we expect to reach Gold.

At the end of the day, everything in this field is a give and take.  Of course one of the principles of green building is to build a smaller house and we would prefer to build that way. But we are also a business and have to make a profit to continue.  In our market, people expect larger new homes and building smaller is a big risk for us.  The cost per sq foot to build smaller is much greater, and people may not want to pay a high premium for something of smaller size.  We use high quality materials and build well beyond the requirements of local building codes, all adding to our up front construction costs.  Yet we still have to compete with traditional builders as most customers do not want to pay the price premium associated with a higher quality, more energy efficient and more sustainable build.  So we compete with the dozens of area builders, who look to cut building costs everywhere possible, and we take the hit in our profit margin.  Also, many customers that come to us initially say they want something small, but during the custom design process they always end up wanting something bigger…. Always.   So in these situations, I have chosen to work with our customers instead of turn them away and wait for the perfect project or the perfect client.  And if I did turn them away, those clients may end up with no choice but to go with a traditional builder, building a less efficient, less “green” house.

I do hope that we can someday build much smaller, zero energy homes only.  But I am not sure if or when that day will come.  There are market constraints and we simply cannot afford the great risk that is associated with it right now.  Perhaps when SEED starts earning millions in profit we can do so.    But we are quite far away from that comfort level.  So in the meantime, while waiting for the perfect market or the perfect client, we will continue build the highest quality, most energy efficient homes possible, within the existing constraints that surround us.

My wife and I purchased a newly built house in Arlington during July 2006.  Since then we have done our best to make the house feel like home.  That part I would say we have accomplished.  Along the way we also attempted to improve the energy efficiency of the home.  We replaced almost every incandescent light bulb in the home with CFL bulbs.  We upgraded to spray foam insulation in our attic.  We are also conservative in our use of water, heating and air-conditioning.

To give you more insight… my wife hates CFL bulbs.  She thinks they take too long to warm up.  We have different ideas about when the air-conditioning and heating are needed during the spring and fall.  The one thing I can safely say that we have both been happy with is the added comfort that the upgraded insulation has provided us, but needless to say I have been taking one for the team.

I should also point out that in a newer home there is less of the low hanging fruit when it comes to energy improvement.  A home energy audit has determined that our home is in the desired range of tightness.  Meaning we have just enough leakage to allow the correct number or air exchanges.

This is where things get strange… I started tracking our natural gas and electricity consumption.  The gas bill went down after we installed the attic insulation, but electricity was a lot more stubborn.  In fact it actually started increasing a little bit.  At this point, my wife was not interested in any further energy efficiency investments.  I spoke to experts that had no answers for me.  I started asking myself strange questions like whether someone might be stealing power from our house.

Almost 6 years after we purchased our home the next door neighbor has sold his house and moved out.  When the new owner went to activate her electric service with Dominion Power it triggered a red flag.  Upon further investigation, Dominion Power realized that they had mixed up our account with our neighbor’s account.

Both of us moved in around the same time, both houses were new and almost exactly alike.  Our neighbor lived by himself.  He works a lot and was rarely home.  Besides that I can’t speak much to his lifestyle or power usage.

The representative from Dominion Power explained that they would credit us any difference we are owed or forgive any difference that we owed them.  The one thing I was adamant about is that they go all the way back to when these accounts were established and not just 3-6 months.  They agreed and were able to conclude that we were in fact over-billed.  As a result, they are writing us a check for $1,195.17.

Apparently our energy efficient upgrades and frugal ways are going to pay-off.  In 5 years and 8 months we have saved almost $1200 over a house with an identical amount of square footage and one less person living in the home.  Not to mention that my wife and I frequently work from home so we spend a lot more time in the house than our neighbor did.

I’m pretty excited about the results and look forward to tracking our power usage rather than my neighbors from here on out.

photo credit: ismael villafranco

 Sunday April 22nd 2012 commemorates Earth Day, here at Arbour Realty we are always bringing you new information on how to continue your green commitment and live a healthy life while appreciating planet earth. Sunday April 22nd 2012 the rest of the world will also be in appreciation for the planet and demand its protection. There will be many different events going on throughout the world that you can participate in wherever you may be located.

Why participate in Earth Day?

Earth Day 2012 will act as a launch pad for growing the environmental movement and will put forth a bold declaration demanding immediate action to secure Renewable Energy for all and a sustainable future for our planet. If enough people participate then your collective voices become loud and be heard.

At the official Earth Day website you can find local events in your area.  For those living in the Arlington VA community, the Arlington Earth Week Community Fair will take place from 12PM-3PM at the GMU campus.

Have a green Earth Day!

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What Will I Gain from Attending the Arlington Home Show & Expo?

With over 60 home builders, contractors and specialist vendors, architects, inspectors, realtors, master gardeners, banks, nonprofit organizations and Arlington County housing, zoning and inspection representatives at the Arlington Home Show and Expo, anyone with a home, investment property, thinking of buying a home or selling a home will gain a wealth of information from small kitchen projects to the costs and other issues associated with installing solar panels.

Free Classes

There are also free classes throughout the day at the Arlington Home Show & Expo. Classes include ‘Weatherizing Your Home’, ‘The Secret to Home Energy Efficiency’, ‘The Landlord Toolkit: Know the Law’ plus many more.  Click here for the full list.

Incentives

There is the opportunity to win an iPad at the Arlington Home Show and Expo, plus the classes and admission is free.
Save the date this Saturday April 14th 2012 to attend the Arlington Home Show and Expo.

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