Open House Sunday November 30th

Please visit us at our only open house this weekend:

3007 S. 6th Street in Arlington.

It is listed at a new reduced price of $699,900 and will be open from 1-4pm.

For information on the property, please visit the following website: http://suegoodhart.com/search/listing.php?listing_type=res&listing_key=90003729872

Save money!

All of us are interested in saving a few pennies right now. Here’s some suggestions for lowering your electric bill: Seal any openings to the outside with duct tape or silicone sealer, weather strip doors and windows, insulate your water heater and water pipes, turn lights off when you leave a room even if only for a few minutes, wash dishes when the dishwasher is full, same for the laundry when you have a full load, turn down the thermostat to 70 or below and think about buying a programmable thermostat so you can turn down the heat even further when you are under a cozy quilt!

Happy Thanksgiving!

This is the time of year to be thankful and reflect on our many blessings. I am so happy to be able to spend the day with my wonderful friends and family. Have a Happy Thanksgiving! Best, Sue.

There's really nothing like a good pizza

Want to please the whole family for an evening out this Thanksgiving break? Head to Piola, a delicious pizzeria in Rosslyn. Piola is an Italian pizza chain with locations across the world. The original restaurant was in Italy and all locations have been modeled after that first pizzeria. Sue, Marty, my friend Lauren and I dined at Piola last week and loved it. The personal pizza's were large enough to take some home with you, but not so large that they seemed daunting. The service was also impeccable. Only suggestion- don't go here for an intimate night out as the music is loud and makes it slightly difficult to hear the conversation at your table. But all in all, we highly recommend this upscale pizzeria for a casual, but classy night out.

Visit the website for more information: http://www.piola.it/mondo2.php?id=19

Gear up for the Holiday Frost with a Night out: "Frost/Nixon" now playing at the Kennedy Center!

“Frost/Nixon” at the Kennedy Center stars Stacy Keach as President Nixon. The first half of the play is a run up to the famous David Frost television interview about – mostly – Watergate. The tension grows as the play proceeds and the last half hour is pretty fascinating as Frost gets Nixon to admit to some transgressions. For those of you who are too young to have followed the Watergate story, this will be a history lesson. For those of you who listened to every detail, this play will be an interesting reminder of those times. Through November 30th. And don’t forget that every night at the Kennedy Center at 6 p.m., there’s a full hour of free entertainment. This month from the 23rd to the 29th, the emphasis is on jazz. Free shuttles from Foggy Bottom Metro.

Featured Listing: 6727 Chestnut Avenue

Welcome to this adorable updated cape cod in Falls Church. Much larger than it looks, it is located on a spacious corner lot surrounded by mature trees and plantings.

On the main level is a gracious living room, two bedrooms, a full bath, kitchen and a sun room leading out to beautiful deck and backyard. The sparkling updated kitchen is complete with granite counter tops, breakfast bar, table/dining space and plenty of cabinet space!

Upstairs is a beautiful landing area which can serve as an office or sitting room, which leads to two separate bedrooms and a jack-and-jill bathroom.

The basement is perfect for a family room as it has plenty of space for couches and sitting areas. There is also substantial storage space and a washer and dryer in the lower level.

The expansive lot includes plantings, mature trees, a side entry driveway, a wrap-around deck and a large fenced backyard with a storage shed.

Please contact our office or visit the following website for more information!
http://suegoodhart.com/search/listing.php?listing_type=res&listing_key=90076937607

Sunday Open Houses

Please visit us at one of our open houses this weekend! This weekend we will be holding open the following listings from 1-4pm:

21 Kennedy St, Alexandria- $419,900

4017 N Garland St, Alexandria- $899,900

6727 Chestnut Ave, Falls Church- $589,900

3007 S 6th St, Arlington- $699,900

For more information and directions to these listing, please visit our website: www.suegoodhart.com. Hope to see you on Sunday!

Getting ready for Thanksgiving?

Would you believe that the frozen Butterball you’re thinking about buying can take as much as four days in the refrigerator to thaw? Best to buy it this weekend to avoid trouble!! And many stores close on Thanksgiving so a good shopping list is a must. All those items you don’t ordinarily buy take some searching in the store – where are the mini marshmallows and canned pumpkin anyway? And what’s the alternative to that green bean casserole your Mother always made? And what’s the difference between yams and sweet potatoes? Maybe it’s just easier to go out for Thanksgiving dinner!!

Art on Ice

Temperatures have plummeted reminding us all that winter is just around the corner. Embrace the cold weather by hitting the ice rink with your family, showing off your gold medal worthy performance and striking a pose. Afraid you'll break your back? Leave the posing to the experts and head to the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Iceskating Rink and skate while admiring poses of a different sort.

The rink opened for the season this past weekend and will remain open until mid-March, weather permitting. Enjoy the Pavilion Cafe after your skate or during a break with snacks, sandwiches, hot beverages or wine and beer.

Visit the following website for information on admission costs, skate rentals, and rink hours.

http://www.nga.gov/ginfo/skating.shtm

Warwick Village- Alexandria Hot Spot

We try to keep an eye out for "hot neighborhoods" in the D.C. metro area. On Monday we featured 21 Kennedy St, a cute refurbished townhome in Del Ray's Warwick Village-one of the City of Alexandria's new hot spots. Warwick Village is an adorable neighborhood located directly off of Mt.Vernon Ave, which is affectionately known as "The Avenue" in Alexandria. "The Avenue" is full of popular neighborhood shops and restaurants that make you feel like you live in a small town-all with the convenience of a larger city. The location of this neighborhood allows you to walk to everything and is only a quick bus ride to Braddock Road Metro. The neighborhood even has its own newsletter, community events and website. http://www.warwickvillage.com/

The homes in this community are an incredible value for their large size. The townhomes are wider than similar models, have 3 bedrooms, a basement and large backyards or patios. The backyard of our listing even backs up to tree covered green space.

Please ask us for more information on home values in this neighborhood or let us know if you have any other questions. We are happy to help!

Contact us at goodhartgroup@mcenearney.com or 703-549-9292 and ask for Sue Goodhart's office.

New Tax Incentives from the Rescue Plan

Here is an excerpt we saw in a financial tips newsletter and thought would be useful to post on our blog. Please let us know if you would like more information or if you would like to receive the newsletter!

"Within the 451 page Rescue Bill are nearly 100 tax code changes that directly affect individuals and business owners, including education deductions, sales tax, energy credits, and even new disaster aid. Other tax breaks, which were due to expire, were extended, including property tax deductions, the Mortgage Debt Forgiveness Act, and the shield for the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). The property tax provision, set to expire in 2008, has been extended to 2009, and allows up to $500 ($1000 for joint filers) in deductions in addition to the standard property tax deduction – even if you don't itemize! The Mortgage Debt Forgiveness Act, extended to 2012, was designed to protect those who already lost their homes due to foreclosures from facing an additional tax penalty for qualifying cancelled or "forgiven& quot; debt of up to $2 million. And, finally, the Rescue Bill also saves about 23 million Americans from the dreaded AMT, a kind of extra tax that some people have to pay on top of their regular income tax created by the Tax Reform Act of 1969.

These are just a few of the potential tax benefits created or extended by the Rescue Bill. As always, there are specific qualifying standards, and so it is essential to speak with a qualified tax professional about these and other tax benefits that could help you lower your tax bill and increase your confidence in today's tumultuous financial markets. "

Featured Listing: 21 Kennedy Street

Welcome to this wonderfully refurbished three bedroom, one and a half bath home with refinished hardwood floors throughout. The kitchen features new appliances, ceiling fan, breakfast bar, and a pass through allowing views into the spacious dining and living area. Upstairs you will find a full bath and three bedrooms with beautiful hardwood floors and ceiling fans.

The lower level with Pergo floors has a large recreation room, laundry room and a half bath. There is also a large fenced-in backyard with a patio for easy outdoor entertaining. This adorable home has it all and provides a great opportunity to live in the bustling Del Ray and Warwick Village community—just a short walk to shops, restaurants & the weekend Farmers’ Market.

For more information, please call our office or visit: http://suegoodhart.com/search/listing.php?listing_type=res&listing_key=90080431299

Open Houses, Sunday November 16th

Please stop by one of our open houses this weekend! We would love to see you. This weekend we are holding open one in South Arlington and four in Alexandria. They are all great listings and we would love for you to check them out!

21 Kennedy St, Alexandria, VA 22305 (Warwick Village/Del Ray)- FIRST OPEN!

$419,900

3BR, 1.5 BA

4017 N. Garland St, Alexandria, VA 22304 (Seminary Ridge)

$899,900

4BR, 2.5BA

2519 King St, Alexandria, VA 22301 (Rosemont)

$975,000

4BR, 2.5BA

305 S. Royal St, Alexandria, VA 22314 (Old Town)

$649,900

3BR, 2.5BA

1012 S. Dinwiddie St, Arlington, VA 22204 (Columbia Forest/S.Arlington)

$499,900

2BR, 1BA

Hope to see you Sunday!

Spice up your weekend with Sgt Pepper

Tonight is the opening of a new exhibit at the Govinda Gallery in Georgetown. The new exhibit of Henry Grossman's work is called Kaleidoscope Eyes: A Day in the Life of Sgt Pepper and is a series of photographs taken of The Beatles during a single night's session recording "Lucy In the Sky with Diamonds". This never before seen exhibit will run from November 14-December 23. A friend of mine works at the gallery and I plan to see the exhibit soon-I can't wait!

The Govinda Gallery is located at 1227 34th St NW in Georgetown.

St.Coletta's Fundraising Gala

This Saturday evening is the auction and gala for St.Coletta of Greater Washington. I am currently Vice President of the Board and this cause is something I hold close to my heart.

From the website: "The mission of St. Coletta of Greater Washington is to serve children and adults with cognitive disabilities and to support their families. At St. Coletta we believe in the immeasurable value of the individual human spirit and the right of each individual to live as full and independent a life as possible. We respect the dignity of all persons entrusted to our care and our goal is to serve them in an atmosphere that encourages their talents, celebrates their successes and builds their self-esteem."

I encourage you all to buy tickets to this great event which will be held at the Mandarin Oriental from 6:30-11:30pm. The evening will include a cocktail hour, silent auction, live auction, a special performance by the children of St. Coletta, dinner and dancing. Tickets are $250. I hope some of you can attend! Please contact our office at 703-549-9292 for more information!

Change is coming to Washington. Does it hold true for our real estate market?

Election day is over and everyone in the Washington, DC area is anxious to see what will happen in the real estate market. Right now, property is selling and prices are holding in close-in neighborhoods. After the election in 2006 the market experienced a surge of activity in late November and December which are typically quiet months. Will we see that again in 2008? So far there is not much pick up in showings but we are seeing more serious buyers coming through the open houses gearing up to buy in 2009. Spring promises more activity which should help keep prices level—don’t expect to see any increase in prices. What we see right now is likely what we will see in 2009.

Featured Listing: 4659 Kell Lane

This wonderful townhome has it all. Great size, great value and great location. Situated conveniently close to 395, Old Town and the Pentagon, you can get to any destination in minutes!

This home features a large, sunny eat-in kitchen, family room w/ walk out to patio, hardwood floors, new carpeting, deck off the living room, huge attic for storage and a one-car garage. The exterior has been completely repainted & the yard has been landscaped by Merrifield. Ready to move right in!

For more information on this property, please contact our office or visit the website below:

http://suegoodhart.com/search/listing.php?listing_type=res&listing_key=90079602448

Open Houses, Sunday, November 9th

1501 Anderson Court, Alexandria, VA 22312

3BR, 2.5BA

$519,900

5922 S. 4th Street, Arlington, VA 22204

3BR, 1BA

$470,00

4659 Kell Lane, Alexandria, VA 22311

3BR, 2.5 BA

$529,900

For more information on these listings, please visit our website.

www.suegoodhart.com

Power Hours at the Corcoran

Last evening, I went with Sue and several of her friends to the Corcoran Gallery of Art in D.C. On Thursday evenings, they have an event called Power Hours. For $25 dollars per person, you receive a ticket to the current exhibit "Richard Avedon: Portraits of Power", two glasses of very good wine and a cheese platter. The cheese platter also included bread and a little bit of meat--enough food to keep you full for the evening- or at least until you get home for a little snack! The wine pours were generous. I had the sauvignon blanc which was delicious. After the meal, you are granted access to the exhibit which was incredibly powerful and moving. Over his 5 decades in photography, Richard Avendon photographed government, society and artistic leaders, as well as everyday citizens. Some of his more memorable shots include Sean Penn, Kathryn Graham, Karl Rove, George Wallace, Bob Dylan, Henry Kissinger, Lady Bird Johnson and Barack Obama after giving his speech at the Democratic Convention in 2004. It's a great exhibit and and a great deal, as tickets are usually $14. Add in two glasses of good wine and some hours dourves for a total of $25- it's definitely worth a visit...or two!

Comfort Food

When the weather cools, we often look to food to warm our spirits. Look no further than Hard Times Cafe. They have locations throughout the DC metro area including spots in Alexandria, Clarendon and Bethesda--even in Nationals Park! Some of my favorites in clude the 3-way chili mac, which is spaghetti, cheese and chili or the Chili Cheddarburger. If you want just chili alone, I recommend the meaty Texas Chili, but they will all do the trick. Their chili goes especially well before or after a Redskins victory!

City Views

Want to know more about a "hot" community in the Washington, D.C. area? Visit the Washington Post Area Guide which gives you a video tour of places such as North Arlington, Old Town Alexandria, Adams Morgan, U Street Corridor, Georgetown, Chinatown, Dupont Circle Bethesda and more. This is a great tool for learning more about an area you want to move into or a fun new place to visit or grab a bite to eat! Enjoy.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/realestate/features/2006/neighborhood_views/index.html

An Inexpensive Evening at the Theatre

Tickets are $12 for “An American Daughter”, Wendy Wasserstein’s political comedy about a woman (played by Margaret Bush) nominated by the President to be Surgeon General and the resulting chaos. Ms. Bush is an excellent actress and the subject is topical. Plenty of seats at the Lee Center in Alexandria for this Port City Playhouse production on Friday and Saturday evenings through November 15th. Call 703 838 2880 for directions and tickets. And an inexpensive place to eat before the theater is Pines of Florence on upper King Street just east of Metro. Best white pizza in town, reliable and tasty Italian favorites and spumoni for dessert! Prices are low and the wine pours are more than generous.

Featured Listing: 1012 S. Dinwiddie St.

Perched atop a hill, overlooking the mature trees of close-in Columbia Forest, this updated colonial offers cozy and comfortable living in a convenient location.

This charming home features hardwood floors, great open floorplan, thermal windows and a wonderful bright and sunny family room addition. The updated kitchen is well designed for maximum efficiency, features a new 5-burner gas range for preparing gourmet meals and the sunny greenhouse nook is ideal for growing herbs.

Upstairs are two bedrooms, more great hardwood floors and a refreshed bath. Outside, you will find a nicely terraced backyard with a brick patio providing plenty of space for outdoor recreation and entertaining. Two off-street parking spaces!

For more information, please visit: http://suegoodhart.com/search/listing.php?listing_type=res&listing_key=90078907377

Open Houses for Sunday, November 2

We would love you to come visit our open houses this weekend!

910 Prince Street, Alexandria, $1,298,800

4017 North Garland Street, Alexandria, $899,900

1012 S. Dinwiddie Street, Arlington, $499,900

For more information on these listings, please visit www.suegoodhart.com

Hope to see you there!