Falls Church News-Press 2022 Winter Real Estate Guide

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

R EA L E STATE

Real Estate

WINTER 2022 | PAGE 9

Winter 2022

Current Status Report of the Falls Church City Housing Market

By Alex Russell

According to data published

by Realtor.com, there are currently 198 homes for sale in the City of Falls Church, ranging in price from $162,000 to $2.3 million.

The median listing home price is $595,000; the median sold home price is $610,000, although the assessed values that are due from the City assessor’s office by the end of this month will average out considerably higher.

It is well known that in addition to businesses, popular cultural and historic destinations, and public transportation, good public schools are another big draw for potential homeowners, and this has been a premium for Falls Church, with many real-

tors commenting that over the years the City school system is effectively a value-added of up to 15 percent in the price of homes here, although quality of schools has remained very high for the City’s neighbors Arlington and Fairfax.

According to Realtor.com, Falls Church is home to four public schools that are rated “good and above” by GreatSchools, a nonprofit organization that assembles and organizes information regarding pre-K — 12 education, with Oak Street Elementary School garnering the highest reviews.

In terms of the buying/selling time frame, the number of days that a home spends on the market in the Little City, in medi-

an terms, is 50 days. The trend for median days on market has increased slightly since last year.

According to data published by the real estate brokerage company Redfin, the market in Falls

Church is “somewhat competitive,” with some homes receiving multiple offers. Some homes may sell for approximately two percent or more above the listed price.

According to the website FederalReserve.gov, the Covid19 pandemic, as with most facets of daily life, has greatly affected

Continued on Page 14

INSIDE: Your Real Estate Experts page 12-13 | Accessory Dwelling Units page 10 For a smarter, personalized approach to buying, selling, and investing in real estate.

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R EA L E STATE

PAGE 10 | WINTER 2022

Temps are cold, but Market is HOT!

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

CT RA NT CO R DE UN

D OL

S

7000 Fairfax Dr - Falls Church City & Arlington

208 N Nottingham St - N Arlington

Bungalow/Farmhouse (circa 1924) w/ incredible charm, welcoming Front porch, & Idyllic setting on gorgeous lot w/ beautiful perennials in a fantastic location backing to newly renovated W&OD Trail.

Offered at $1,324,500

Elegant Brick Colonial 4BR/3.5BA home located in sought after Spy Hill Neighborhood of North Arlington (Boulevard Manor).

This large home has amazing natural sunlight throughout and over 3,500 sq ft of living space. Sold for $1,265,000

LD SO

COMING SOON

• Falls Church - 5BR 3BA Expanded/Renovated Home $1,175,000 • Falls Church City - 5 bedroom 3.5 bath Home $1,400,000 • Falls Church City - 3 bedroom 3.5 bath Townhome $1,250,000 • New Construction - Pimmit Hills - 5BR 4.5Ba - $1,475,000

Beautiful Falls Hill Home - Falls Church Congratulations to my Clients Kate & Zach

If you are looking to Buy, Sell, or Rent in 2022 please call Chris for a no obligation consultation.

Chris Earman

Member NVAR Multi-Million Dollar Sales Club Residential Top Producer

(703) 628-4541 | Chris@EarmanRealEstate.com Your Local Falls Church Realtor

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

®

REALTOR

703-760-8880 Falls Church/McLean

Localities Mull Regulations On Accessory Dwelling Units

By Marrett Ceo

The Falls Church City Council last week brought up the issue related to a property owner wanting to build an ‘accessory structure’ on his property. This action is allowed under current zoning regulations within the city of Falls Church.

The issue for council was, if the city would remove a restrictive covenant that had been placed on the property back in the 1980s.

The property owner was seeking the vacating of an easement in order for the accessory structure to be built on that part of the property. The issue received full support from the city council.

According to Fairfax and Arlington County’s websites, an accessory dwelling unit can be defined specifically as a complete independent dwelling unit, complete with a kitchen and a bath, on a lot that has a main dwelling. The Accessory Dwelling unit must fall under the same ownership as this main

dwelling. ADs are designed, arranged, used, or intended for occupancy but not to have more than three people living in them. For the most part, accessory dwelling units promote a greater diversity of housing and household types in single-family neighborhoods. They do this, while maintaining neighborhood character and underlying zoning.

Certain types of housing cannot have accessory living units, such as condos or townhouses, only single family detached dwellings may have an accessory living unit. Arlington County Board adopted new standards that among other things increases flexibility for owners who have an accessory building existing into a detached accessory dwelling.

In Fairfax County, the individual owning the home with accessory living unit must live either in the main principal dwelling or the accessory living unit. Additionally, only one, not both of these may be rented

out. Two people maximum is the limit on who can live in the ALU, spacing is limited to two rooms. The health department

will be required to approve of the property depending if it is on a well or a septic system, before any administrative or

special permit is ever approved.

In terms of numbers, if a Continued on Page 16

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

R EA L E STATE

WINTER 2022 | PAGE 11

Voted Best Property Manager in Falls Church three years running!

• Excellent Leasing Services • Great Ongoing Property Management • Exceptional Listing Sales Team • Guide For First Time Home Buyers • Passion for Investment Real Estate

Let us help you build wealth through real estate!

Accepting new clients!

450 N Washington St. Ste M Falls Church, VA 22046 www.peakeinc.com LindseyPeake@Peakeinc.com 703-408-2153

PAGE 12 | WINTER 2022

R EA L E STATE

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

A Falls Church News-Press Advertorial

M e e t Yo u r Re a l E s t a t e E x p e r t s

Albert Bitici – The Bitici Group – Keller Williams Metro Center

Chris Earman - Weichert Realtors - Falls Church

Best Real Estate Group Winner — 2021 Best of Falls Church!

Covid-19 continues to have an impact on our housing market and we remain in one of the most unpredictable real estate markets in a generation. Who you are in business with matters now more than ever.

Several years ago, I created The Bitici Group with a focus on providing the right advice to clients, backed by the highest level of customer service, and the best marketing.

To show your house in the best light, we hire top designers, writers and photographers. This is why The Bitici Group attracts forward-thinking clients and exceptional real estate to prove that fantastic results are achieved with a tailored approach.

With over 15 years of real estate experience selling homes in major national and international cities like New York and London, I have successfully negotiated hundreds of real estate transactions while representing my client’s best interests at all times. There is no better time to sell a home than right now, and no better team to help you than The Bitici Group voted best Real Estate Group in Best of Falls Church 2021.

For a smarter, personalized approach to buying, selling and investing in real estate,

As a Lifelong resident of Falls Church City, I’ve experienced first hand the growth and changes to the local and regional real estate market. My past experiences in mortgage and finance, running local small businesses, volunteering, being involved in the local school systems, and building relationships over the past decades, gives me a unique perspective and advantage in representing my clients in the local Northern Virginia Real Estate Market. I am fully committed to providing you with a higher level of service that will make your real estate experience as easy and stress-free as possible. Please call for a “No Obligation” consultation, for all of your Real Estate needs.

contact The Bitici Group at Keller Williams.

Albert Bitici – The Bitici Group – Keller Williams Metro Center 2101 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22201 571-775-0468 • TheBiticiGroup.com

Chrissy O’Donnell & Lisa DuBois, RE/MAX West End Chrissy O’Donnell and Lisa DuBois founded The Chrissy & Lisa Team in 2005 on the principles of exceptional service and excellent results. Our team is now a respected force in the Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. real estate markets — well-recognized as local real estate and community experts. Having been consistently honored with awards and achievements, our team exemplifies a steadfast commitment to service, creativity, and hard work. We anticipate and overcome just about any scenario, which has helped us successfully guide thousands of real estate sales to settlement.

From the first meeting, we listen and ask open-ended questions to gauge our clients’ needs, wants, and goals. We then tailor efforts and negotiate smartly on our clients’ behalf. We also offer money-saving programs to our clients, such as Complimentary Home Staging (a savings of over 1 percent of the sale price) and our Seller Concierge Service (which allows clients to pay for home improvements at settlement).

Our client’s interests are our priority, and we work tirelessly to ensure they are satisfied before, during, and after closing. We strive to build long-lasting relationships, often working with clients on multiple transactions and know they are satisfied when referred to their friends and family.

Chrissy O’Donnell & Lisa DuBois RE/MAX West End 710 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046 703-372-9191 • www.chrissyandlisa.com

Chris Earman, Weichert 703-628-4541 • Chris@EarmanRealEstate.com

Bethany Ellis, Long and Foster Bethany Ellis owns and operates a highly successful real estate business in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. She is an experienced Realtor® whose goal is to exceed your expectations. Her knowledge of the local market, attention to every detail, excellent negotiating ability, and effective communication ensures that your real estate transaction will go smoothly from start to finish. Bethany has direct access to lenders, home inspectors, new home developers, settlement groups, and local service providers (painters, plumbers, carpet suppliers, handymen, electricians, plumbers, and more). If you’re looking to find a new home, build your dream home, get market statistics for your home or neighborhood, sell your existing home, make improvements to your current home, buy or sell an investment property or need answers to any real estate questions, make Bethany Ellis your real estate resource.

Bethany Ellis, Long and Foster 1355 Beverly Rd., #109 McLean, VA 22101 703-307-7003 • buyandsellwithBethany.com

Treena Rinaldi, Korte Realty Korte Realty, the 57 year old family real estate firm on West Broad Street in Falls Church, is the business of Treena Rinaldi, along with Mostafa (Mosi) Shah.

Treena’s mother, Katreen Korte, started the firm back in 1965. Now a 30-year veteran in the industry, Rinaldi said she learned a lot about the business from her mom.

They are a small but full-service company that sells both residential and commercial properties in Northern Virginia. “We’ve developed many faithful clients over the years, but we always look forward to new friends”, says Rinaldi.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

R EA L E STATE A Falls Church News-Press Advertorial

WINTER 2022 | PAGE 13

M e e t Yo u r Re a l E s t a t e E x p e r t s

They have helped many buyers in the search for a new home. They believe in taking an educational approach with their clients. When they go on tour, they point out the pluses and minuses of the homes they view, so that their clients can make an educated decision. They believe the adventure of the home search is pretty special, and the memories of those searches last a lifetime, almost like the memories from your best (or worst) vacation. In most instances the purchase of a home is the most important personal investment, and Korte Realty does everything they can to make sure their clients are happy over the long term.

For clients who are out of town, they are happy to videotape homes that are on the market, as well as give our opinions on those homes.

Korte Realty provides significant industry knowledge and personal attention to the home buying experience.

Treena Rinaldi, Korte Realty 712 W. Broad Street Falls Church, VA 22046 703-532-7704 • Korterealty.com

Casey Margenau With more than 40 years in sales, $3 billion in real estate sold, over 30 years as a Top Producer in Northern Virginia, Casey Margenau uses his wealth of experience to ensure the financial success of his clients. In 2013 Casey saw a need for a boutique real estate company for the higher end market and he established Casey Margenau Fine Homes & Estates. His in-depth market knowledge allows him to ensure the financial success of his clients. By custom tailoring a marketing strategy for each property, Casey provides the greatest exposure to achieve the goal of the highest offers possible in the shortest period of time. Many area builders rely on his expertise when making development plans. His professionalism and attention to detail have led him to the very top of his field.

Casey Margenau 8478A Tyco Road Vienna, VA 703-442-8600 • caseymargenau.com

Tori McKinney ROCK STAR Realty Group, KW Metro Center Tori’s passion is helping her clients find their dream homes. Along with her team, she rolls out the red carpet to ensure you are treated like the VIP that you are.

While purposefully participating in the community, Tori is the Falls Church Real Estate expert. She and her Rock Star Realty Group are here for you every step of the way eager to provide Rock Star service to all home buyers and sellers. Tori is ever so grateful for each client and the neighborhoods she serves.

After moving to Falls Church in 1998, she immersed herself in community advocacy as a Housing Commissioner and ongoing public school volunteer and sponsor. Since 2010, Tori has directed her philanthropic efforts to the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation, whose mission is preserving, presenting, and celebrating the African American Legacy. As the Executive Producer of the Tinner Hill Music Festival, she dedicates her time and adoration for music to the Foundation’s premier charity event that will take place this year

on June 11, 2022.

Tori McKinney | CEO & Realtor® | ROCK STAR Realty Group, KW Metro Center 2111 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201 703-867-8674 • RockStarRealtyGroup.com

Peake Mangement Lindsey Peake was raised in a Foreign Service family with a passion for real estate that has extended through three generations. As an avid investor herself, she works hard to find good investment properties and homes for her clients. Not all great houses make good rental property, and that’s where experience helps.

With a forty-year history in Northern Virginia, the company is strong and well-established. The entire diverse team works really well together. The focus is always on the client, whether listing a house for sale, buying the perfect house for investment or a home, or managing property.

Lindsey and her husband are animal lovers and own a beautiful mutt, Bandido (an aptly named Bandit), rescued from the streets of Peru as a five-month-old puppy. Five sons, and four young grandchildren round out the family.

An avid traveler, Lindsey is fluent in French, speaks passable Spanish, some Italian and is studying Portuguese.

A strong believer that long-term property ownership creates wealth. A strong believer that you should treat clients as good friends and help them create wealth.

Peake Mangement 450 N Washington St. Ste M Falls Church, VA 22046 703-408-2153 • www.peakeinc.com

Ken Trotter, Silver Line Group at TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Ken Trotter is the founder and principal agent of the Silver Line Group and regularly recognized as one of Washington, DC’s top producing Realtors®. While the heart of the Silver Line Group’s practice is in Falls Church, the team also regularly represents buyers and sellers along the Silver Line corridor from DC to Dulles.

Ken was a successful litigation attorney prior to becoming a Realtor®, and he drew upon that experience when establishing the guiding principals behind the Silver Line Group’s professional service: “We focus on making our clients’ interests our sole priority and zealously strive to achieve the best results for our clients in every transaction.”

The Silver Line Group’s talented team of professionals strongly believes in delivering the highest level of integrity, professionalism, and expertise at all price points. From urban condos with high walkability scores to estate homes, the team is passionate about helping you find the perfect home, or the right buyer for your home.

For more detailed information about the Silver Line Group’s real estate practice, please visit SilverLineHouses.com and reach out directly to Ken.

Ken Trotter, J.D., Realtor, TTR Sotheby’s International Realty 703-863-0650 (c) 745-1212 (o) • KenTrotterHomes.com

R EA L E STATE

PAGE 14 | WINTER 2022

COMING SOON BARCROFT WOODS!

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

COMING SOON LAKE BARCROFT!

Home Sales Vs. 1 Year Ago Updated 4BR/2.5BA, over half-acre lot backs to stream and parkland!

Offered for $1,150,000

Gorgeous contemporary, 4BR/3.5BA, wooded lot with lake views!

Offered for $1,100,000

COMING SOON CITY OF FALLS CHURCH!

New Construction! 5BR/4.5BA, delivery late spring 2022, owner agent.

Offered for $1.5m+

Chrissy O’Donnell & Lisa DuBois Associate Brokers, Licensed in VA & DC

info@chrissyandlisa.com | 703.372.9191

ONE OF RE/MAX’S TOP TEAMS IN VA & USA TOP 1% DC METRO AREA & NATIONWIDE

www.chrissyandlisa.com

Change in # of Homes Sold: 1Q ‘22 vs 1Q ‘21

-30.00%

Change in Falls Church City (22046)

-17.24%

Change in Bailey’s X-roads (22041)

+5.56%

Change in Sleepy Hollow (22042)

-30.56%

Change in Pimmit Hills (22043)

-6.25%

Change in Lake Barcroft (22044)

RE/MAX West End 710 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046 | 703.596.5303

Covid-19 Greatly Affects Housing Market in Falls Church City Continued from Page 9

the housing market. The past two years saw a substantial decrease in the supply of homes for sale, while prices have continued to increase.

In terms of demand, the pandemic, almost universally, has forced more people to spend a larger amount of time at home, leading to an “increase in demand for housing services.”

Simultaneously, the uncertain, stressful times that came with Covid contributed to a reluctance on the part of homeowners to put their homes on the market.

The foreclosure moratorium “may also have reduced” the supply of homes on the market. The current combination of increase in demand and decrease in supply is the central facilitator of a “sellers’ market.”

According to the May 2021 Virginia Home Sales Report compiled by the Virginia Realtors Association, 14,145 home sales occurred across the state that month, which is “about 3,700 more sales than” in May of 2020.

In general, these findings describe a solid link between the machinations of the pandemic and the housing market in Virginia. According

to data collected by the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors (NVAR), some of the other factors that will continue to affect the real estate market, in addition to the economy at large and the pandemic, include the “continuing hybrid work arrangements persisting if not made permanent,” especially in relation to telework, as is the norm now with many federal offices.

“Prices for building materials will remain substantially elevated for most of” next year, as well, which will make new construction projects “very expensive, likely leading to delay in building…multifamily developments.”

According to Niche.com, an online resource guide that helps searchers find information on educational institutions, cities, neighborhoods, and various companies across the United States, a larger number of Falls Church residents own their home as opposed to those who rent: 42 percent of people in Falls Church rent, while 58 percent own.

As is common with the nature of real estate, the state of the market itself presents a part of the criteria through which a buyer surveys an area and the homes available therein.

Niche has collected varying data,

including information from the U.S. Census, showing that the Little City is number 7 of 165 in “Best Suburbs for Young Professionals in Virginia”; number 17 of 281 in “Best Places to Retire in Virginia”; and is number 17 of 280 in “Places with the Best Public Schools in Virginia.”

The heading for “Crime & Safety” in Falls Church, based on “violent and property crime rates,” receives an overall grade of Bon Hinge.com, while the heading “Working in Falls Church,” which is “based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living” receives an overall grade of B. The Falls Church Real Estate Assessment Office that determines the value of all property located within the city limits at “full and fair market value,” concluded its assessments for 2021, with the total “taxable assessed value for all properties in the city” as of January 1, 2021, to be “$4.57 billion.” This marks a 2.72 percent increase in “assessed value” in the Little City.

In terms of contrasting and comparing economic changes as well as the status of the housing market in the City between 2021 and 2020, “residential new construction accounted for $17.68 million” of

growth, while “commercial new construction” made up $55.0 million of growth. The “overall residential real estate values” went up by 4.07 percent, signifying a tight yet active market.

The case of Falls Church proves the point that the value of a home is more often than not greatly influenced by its location.

The City of Falls Church, being an independent municipality part of the greater Washington, D.C. metro area, is situated between two of the wealthiest counties in Virginia: Fairfax and Arlington.

The influx of business, whether through the development of private companies and businesses (the recent boom in the tech and soft-

ware industries has made a noticeable impact on Washington, D.C.) as well as the presence of the federal government (meaning employment opportunities as well as cultural and historical destinations in and around the city) ensures consistent demand for homes not necessarily in the capital itself, but somewhere in the vast peripheral zone that includes cities such as Manassas, Woodbridge, and Falls Church.

Easy access to public transportation is also a big draw for home buyers, especially since the Metrorail, which connects and serves 91 stations throughout Virginia, Maryland, and the D.C. area, extends directly to the Little City.

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

R EA L E STATE

WINTER 2022 | PAGE 15

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PAGE 16 | WINTER 2022

FALLS CHURCH NEWS-PRESS | FCNP.COM

Under Contract

SOLD

$900,000

103 Park Washington Ct #1, Falls Church, VA 22046

SOLD

$1,680,000

$522,000

47364 Darkhollow Falls Ter, Sterling, VA 20165

$385,000

$675,000

106 S Lee St. Falls Church, VA 22046

SOLD

SOLD

7305 Linganore Ct, McLean, VA 22102

SOLD

128 Middle Point Ct, Gaithersburg, MD 20877

SOLD

$455,000

9800 Essie Ln, Glenarden, MD 20774

$635,000

11155 Yellow Leaf Way, Gemantown, MD 20876

56 Years In Falls Church

Treena Rinaldi 703-927-3863

712 W. Broad St. Falls Church, VA 22046

www.korterealty.com 703-532-7704

Mosi Shah

703-217-6519

Building a Shed Allowed With Size and Location Stipulations Continued from Page 10

dwelling has an accessory living unit, there cannot be two boarders or renters. Only in the case that

a dwelling that doesn’t have an ALU and is occupied by a family is permitted to have up to two renters. And for that one person allowed in the ALU, for an admin-

istrative permit to be approved the owner of a unit must provide an extra parking space for that ALU. If it is on a public street, three off street parking spaces must be

available, versus four for a private street.

In the event that someone, at least in Fairfax County, wants to sell their house with an acces-

sory living unit, it is permissible to sell without removing the ALU. However, in the case that it isn’t removed, the administrative permit doesn’t transfer to the next tenant. There must be communications between the seller and buyer and the new tenant must meet all requirements and apply for another administrative permit.

If it isn’t approved, the owner may just utilize the ALU for personal use, and may not allow anyone to live in the ALU on the property.

If any citizen wants to build just a shed in their backyard, that’s permissible without a permit. It may not be in the front yard or on a lot containing less than 36,000 square feet and must be below 8 ½ feet high.

If you live in Arlington County, you may go to: https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Programs/ Building/Permits/AccessoryDwelling for information and prices on ALUs. Fairfax County residents can go to: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ planning-development/zoning/ accessory-living-unit for information about ALU’s and prices.