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Nat's Neighborhood News 
#5
Real Estate Hotline#: 
703.819.4915
Happy Earth Day!
April 21st, 2013 (a day early)
I hope all of you are out enjoying the lovely weather this weekend! Please check out my recent letter to the editor in Arlington Magazine on the subject of neighborhoods HERE.  
playgroundAs usual, I have compiled a list of fun events coming up in the area including a number of Earth Day celebrations happening today! Please don't forget to reserve your space for the Lyon Park & Ashton Heights' Home and Garden Tour on May 5th.  I am one of the co-chairs and it is shaping up to be a lovely tour.  Check out some of the homes on the tour by scrolling down. We have limited capacity and are filling up quickly.  Be sure to reserve your space today.  All proceeds go to the Lyon Park Community House Renovation Fund.

(1) April 21st, 1-4 PM, (today!) Earth Day event at the Arlington Arts Center. 
Scavenger hunts, games, hands-on activities, music and much more! For more information click
(2) George Mason University's Arlington Campus is hosting an Earth Day Community Fair and Green Living Expo later today. For more information about how to register click HERE.
(3) Farmer's Markets (one of my favorite things): Click HERE for a comprehensive listing put together by Washingtonian Magazine of opening dates for Farmer's Markets across the Washington DC area. 
(4) Earth Day Event at Freedom Plaza in Washington DC, sponsored by the Great Whale Conservancy. A former colleague of mine is organizing this event which will feature a 90-foot life sized blue whale inflatable.  This event is bringing attention to the plight of the blue whale in Southern California waters. For more information click 
(5) April 23rd and 24th, Tuesday & Wednesday, Arlington County's Formals for Five sale at Washington-Lee High School Little Theater, 3 PM - 7 PM. More information follows below.
(6) May 5th: Lyon Park and Ashton Heights' Villas & Vistas Home and Garden Tour. Scroll down for more details.
(7). May 8th: The Lyon Park Citizens Association Monthly meeting. The meeting this month will focus on energy efficiency and green homes. Because I had so much interest in the Earth Day Green Workshop and needed a larger venue,  those presentations were moved to the LPCA meeting. Scroll down for more details on the two presenters on Green Homes. The Lyon Park meeting on May 8th begins at 7:30 PM at the Lyon Park Community House, 414 N Fillmore Street. Social time and refreshments start at 7:15 pm. 
kidonswing
(8) May 11th: Neighborhood Day all over Arlington!
(9) May 11th: Ashton Heights Annual Yard Sale all throughout the neighborhood from 8-12 Noon. For more info: [email protected].
(10) May 18th: The Lyon Park Spring Fair, games, great food, and much more. Lyon Park Community Park, 414 N Fillmore Street.
(11) For a comprehensive list of  Arlington Neighborhood Day activities click HERE.
(12) May 22th: Arlington Youth Track and Field Meet for ages 6-14 years old in Arlington. I really wanted to run but I think I missed the age cut off! Details about the outdoor practices at Washington-Lee High School and registration particulars can be found HERE.

Thanks so much for reading this edition of Nat's News. Please scroll down for information on the real estate market, advice on greening your home, tips on purchasing your first home, villas and vistas details and much more!  I hope to see you around the neighborhood or somewhere in the Washington DC area soon!
Natalie U. Roy 
Real Estate Market Food for Thought
As has been widely reported, Northern Virginia today is a seller's market. Nothing brings that home more then the following statistics for Arlington County*: 
  • Average selling price for property jumped more than 7% this March, compared to the same time last year. 
  • Average number of days a property sat on the market, prior to selling:
    • March 2012-74 days
    • March 2013-49 days 
  • Active Listings:
    • March 2012: 542  active listings
    • March 2013: 275 active listings
The numbers confirm that we have record low inventory. Good news for sellers. For buyers it means major competition to get the home you want. In many cases multiple offers on the same piece of property. 

Here are some recent Real Estate articles with useful advice and tips: 

Tips for buying a house: 

Renovation Tips

Also check out the April edition of Washingtonian  Magazine for several excellent articles on the current hot real estate market entitled, "SOLD! Real Estate is Back." The issue features stories chronicling recent home buyers' experiences and an excellent article on the current feverish seller's market climate. 

*Today's statistics from Real Estate Business Intelligence
Nat's Green Corner
News on Green Homes & much more!

There was so much interest in the Green Homes Workshop that we decided to move the date and location to a larger venue, to May 8th at 7:30 pm at the Lyon Park Community House, located at 414 N Fillmore Street.  Thanks to the Lyon Park Citizens Association (LPCA), the program will now be added to their monthly forum.  Thank you LPCA! 

 

The speakers will discuss how to green existing homes and also provide tips on what to look for when purchasing a new residence. There will also be presentations on energy efficiency.  Below are brief bios on the speakers.

 

Green Homes Speakers: 

Michele A. Russo: 
Michele A. Russo, LEED AP, is the Director, Green Content & Research Communications, at McGraw-Hill. She is responsible for helping direct the green content across McGraw-Hill Construction's portfolio of products and services, including the management of MHC's SmartMarket Report series investigating key trends in the construction industry and development of the first green building market sizing. Michele is also a contributor to The McGraw-Hill Companies' corporate initiatives around sustainability. Previously, she served as Executive Director of the Clean Beaches Council & Deputy Director of the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable.
Michele is a frequent speaker on green building trends, including a presentation at Greenbuild 2011; an appearance on CNBC's People, Profit, Planet; & an interview on NPR's For All Things Considered. Michele has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University and a Masters from Harvard.
 
Andrea Foss:
Andrea is the founder and Managing Partner of Everyday Green, a D.C. based building science firm dedicated to helping clients build better performing buildings and homes with reduced water use, next generation products, and improved indoor air quality and comfort.  Andrea started Everyday Green in 2008 to help homeowners, builders, architects and residential professionals realize that incorporating green building practices is not only achievable but also personally and professionally rewarding. Andrea serves as a subject matter expert for the Green Building Certification Institute and U.S. Green Building Council as an exam writer and course reviewer.  She is also a trainer for the HUD Green Building Training Academy.
 

 

Links to Articles, Tips & Events
Two great articles on green designs and homes appeared in the Washingtonian Magazine this past month. Check them below:
(1) For a list of Green Builders and architects around the Washington DC area click HERE.
(2) An article entitled, "In Home Design its easier to be green", can be found HERE.
 
Find our how your neighborhood rates on walkability!
Plug in your address or your community's name on the website listed below to get your walk score.  Check is out at: 

Everything you want to know about bike commuting but were afraid to ask....
I have been a bike commuter for years. I find it to be the fastest and healthiest way to get to where I want to go.  Other than walking it is also the most environmentally sound mode of transportation.  The biggest trick is locating the safest bike routes to travel on. I am continuing to grow this list so please keep sending me links to websites and information.
Here are some excellent links to resources on bike commuting and recreational maps & trails.   
Arlington County's Bike Arlington site (includes information on May 17th, Bike to Work Day & May 8th, Bike and Walk to School Day. Two great upcoming events on the horizon!):
New Capital Bikeshare station coming to the Walter Reed Community Center on Columbia Pike on March 28th!  To get more information on the ribbon cutting opening and for a map of all of the area Capital Bikeshare stations click HERE. This will be the 200th station in the Capital Bikeshare system!
Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA):
Bike Washington: Recreational trails
Check out this article on the top eight bike friendly cities in the US from CNN Travel. The Washington DC area (includes Arlington) made the list!
Villas & Vistas (V2), Lyon Park & Ashton Heights' Home and Garden Tour is coming up May 5th. Reserve your spot TODAY!

The Arlington communities of Lyon Park and Ashton Heights will host one of the premier home and garden tours in Arlington, VA in two weeks. The tour will take place from 12:30-4 pm on Sunday, May 5th and includes some of the quintessential homes from the very beautiful 22201 Ashton Heights and Lyon Park neighborhoods. Tickets cost $25 in advance and  $35 on the day of the tour. To reserve a spot, send your payment and contact information to Natalie Roy, Lyon Park Community Center, 414 N Fillmore Street, Arlington, VA 22201. For more information give me a call or send an email. 

The V2 Home and Garden tour will conclude with an elegant reception at the 1925 era  Lyon Park Community House.  I am a co-chair for this event for my Lyon Park neighborhood. All proceeds from Villas & Vistas goes towards renovating the historic Lyon Park Community House, the cornerstone of our community.   Three of the properties that will be featured on the tour are pictured below. Thanks much and hope to see many of you on May 5th for this lovely event!
 
Morris Day Home
New Morris Day home will be on the V2 tour on May 5th! 

IRVING STREET
One of our community's most beautiful GREEN Homes on Irving Street will definitely be a tour highlight!

elsmore2
One of the homes on the tour is this vintage and classic Elsmore Sears home circa 1920 pictured above.

















The Elsmore 2.0, aka the Michalowski home (pictured above), is a vintage Sears Home that has been sensitively renovated, combining historic roots with modern updates.  The Elsmore was very popular for several years and one of Sears best selling models because of its simple and functional circular floor plan. The Sears catalog and promotional materials described the Elsmore as providing "refinement and comfort!" Check out the fun  advertisement & plans below from an old Sears Catalog. For more on The Elsmore click on the following link: http://www.searshomes.org/index.php/tag/sears-elsmore/
flowersgardens
In addition to homes, lovely gardens in the community will also be featured! 


old promotionalelsmore







Nat's E-Mail & Website Contact Info:
 
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Real Estate is like Chess, you need a
comprehensive strategy to help you achieve your goals. This is true whether you are selling property or looking for a new home. 
Another key ingredient to success is a community-minded real estate professional who can deliver.  I would love to be that agent. Call me today!  

Nat's Neighborhood
News (N3) comes out periodically with the latest community tips, news & tidbits from around the area! If you would like to get on the distribution list
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earthday
Do something special for Earth Day tomorrow!

Nat's Non-Profit
Organizations/Events
Picks of the Month:

Formals for Five
Got Prom Dresses?
Check out a recent article that appeared in the Rosslyn, Clarendon, Courthouse Patch on the F3 event HERE! Arlington Now also covered F3 and you can read it HERE.
Proceeds from the F3 sale will go to the Washington-Lee PTA and a Boston Marathon Victim's Fund. You can read about that HERE
promdresses
Formals For Five (F3)
collects  gently used formal dresses to be sold for just $5 to students from all five Arlington, VA high schools, who cannot afford the expense of a formal dress . Washington- Lee High School's PTA organizes F3. To donate a dress or sponsor the event email:

 

Dresses, jewelry and handbags are being collected from March 9th through April 18th. The sale takes place on April 23rd & 24th from 3-7 pm at Washington-Lee High School in the Little Theater.

 

Announcing an exciting new partnership with Clarendon Home Services!

 

As reported last issue, I am now partnering with Clarendon Home Services, a highly regarded and well established small business in Arlington, County, headed up by long time community leader Erik Gutshall on a resale package. This entails having CHS take care of everything to get a house in top shape prior to listing and then deal with any inspection items promptly. 

 

CHS is offering my clients access to their services at their Preferred Member Rates as well as 6 months of their Signature Home Maintenance Plan. I am excited to be able to offer this opportunity to prospective new clients who are interested in these services.  

 

April Showers Bring May Flowers! 
rainbootsumbrella

 



Do you have gardening tips you want to share? Please forward them to me for my Nat's News Gardening tips section in May!
Contact Info:
Natalie Roy
Real Estate Professional
(Licensed in VA) 
703.819.4915 (cell)
Team Cathell
Keller Williams Realty
6820 Elm Street
McLean, VA 22101
  
kellerwilliams 


bike
Don't forget to mark your calendars for
 May 17th-Bike to Work Day! Also the morning of May 8th is Bike & Walk to School Day all across the country!
 
 
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My Background: 
After more than 30 years of working for non-profits and state & local governments on environmental protection, I have embarked on a new and challenging career, real estate!  I am thrilled to have joined Team Cathell at Keller Williams Realty, one of the most established and successful groups of  real estate professionals in the region. 
 
I am a Duke University graduate and a longtime active member of the community. My husband and I have three daughters who grew up here in Arlington. I plan to use my extensive experience to provide you the best advocacy in today's fast moving real estate market!  
 
Contact  me today for help with your real estate needs, at 
703.819.4915
or through email: