Today, we were notified by Zillow that another one of our clients had submitted a review of The Belt Team on their web site. (If you’ve ever read hotel reviews on TripAdvisor or restaurant reviews on Zagat– the idea is the same. Among other things, consumers can write reviews & comments about real estate agents and their experiences with buying & selling their home.)

This will be the 31st time this year that one of our clients took the time to write up a review about their “Belt Team experience”. We are so grateful! When the email notification arrives that says another review has been submitted & published, there is always a slight pause and our hearts skip a beat – because while we pride ourselves on service & skills that are “beyond the pale” so to speak, we never know for sure until we read the review what exactly our client has said. We take our Belt Team Mission Statement very seriously:

“The Belt Team is a team of committed professionals who provide unparalleled real estate expertise in the Northern Virginia market. We put our clients’ and customers’ interests first and serve them with the utmost honesty, trust and integrity, striving to exceed expectations in all aspects of our relationships. Our objective is to help you sell or buy your home at the best price and most favorable terms that the market will bear and to do this as quickly as possible with the least possible inconvenience to you. We seek the highest compliment you can give us, the referral of your family & friends. We expect to create a Success Story for each client!”

And since the reviews are submitted by the client directly to Zillow, we do not get to preview them before they are published. But we’re proud to say that EVERY SINGLE REVIEW that has come in this year has been a FIVE STAR RATING (the highest rating Zillow has). AND each client has taken time out of their busy moving schedule to write all sorts of amazing comments decribing their experience with The Belt Team.

So . . . If the New Year brings new changes for YOUR family and you find yourself thinking of buying or selling a home, give The Belt Team a call. Whether its a new job taking you on a new adventure, a new addition to the family that means its time for a bigger home, or a new stage of life and its time to right-size – were happy to walk you through the process from start to finish. Buying or selling a home doesnt have to be stressful if you have the right team at the helm. (Plus – were great negotiators! As an example, our homes sell faster & for more money than the average agent – and there are almsot 10,000 agents in Northern VA!)

If youre wondering what The Belt Team Experience is like – check out what our 2011 clients have said in their independent reviews on Zillow.com . Its an experience you dont want to miss!

In the meantime, we wish all of you a Happy Holiday & look forward to working with many of you next year. We promise to give you the full “Belt Team Experience”! Contact The Belt Team here or call (703) 242-3975 for more info about The Belt Team Experience.

Fabulous Rental Just Listed in Falls Church City!

410 James Court #45, Falls Church – $1,700/month!

This end unit townhome is in the sought after neighborhood of Winter Hill in Falls Church City. Enjoy 2 bedrooms, 1 1/2 baths, a fenced rear yard with shed. And best of all – a fabulous location close to bus, Metro, shopping & more. Community amenities include front lawn maintenance, an outdoor pool plus trash & snow removal.

More Info about 410 James Court #45 in Falls Church, VA

Contact The Belt Team

Friday Funday Video & Open House Announcements for Sunday, Dec. 18th

“I just adore a penthouse view!”

If you and Eva Gabor share that sentiment (remember the theme song from “Green Acres”?) – then we have the place for you! We just listed one of the few Penthouse units at Midtown in Reston Town Center. It’s gorgeous – and it has three balconies with endless views!

Of course, you could be like Eddie Albert and prefer “land spreadin out so far & wide”. If so, we have options for you too!

Come visit us at our Penthouse Open House this Sunday, December 18th. We’ll have holiday refreshments to go along with those “penthouse views”! Scroll down for details. But first – here are Eddie Albert & Eva Gabor:

1990 Market Street #1715 – Just Listed – $1,150,000

OPEN SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18TH 4-7PM (Come enjoy holiday refreshments!)

Midtown offers a living environment that is “above & beyond” – even for the Town Center! This 17th floor Penthouse is one of four of only fifty penthouse units – with a fabulous extra deep “real balcony” that accomodates “real” deck furniture. Gorgeous paint, power window shades, upgraded lighting, hardwood floors, fabulous kitchen & three balconies with views. Lots of amenities including valet parking & a party deck with gas grill.

More Info about 1190 Market Street #1715 in Reston

Contact The Belt Team

OPEN SUNDAY 1-3PM – 2009 Spring Branch Drive in Vienna – $1,287,000!

Spectacular home on a spectacular lot in popular Wendover. Wendover is Vienna’s most appealing close-in community . . . a special enclave of winding streets, tree-sheltered homes, charm & tranquility! Enjoy a stunning, open floorplan with flowing spaces, soaring great room, 3 fireplaces, skylighted sunroom, fabulous kitchen with walls of glass, six bedrooms including a luxurious master suite, 4.5 baths with upgraded granite, upgraded roof & more. Parkland lot in the Madison High School pyramid.

Directions: From Tysons: Route 123 (Maple Ave) through Vienna, Right Lawyers Rd, Right Galloping Way, Left Round Springs, Right Wendover, Dr, Right Bird Rd, Left Spring Branch Drive to #2009. OR: From Rt 66: Exit Vienna to Nutle St, Right Maple Ave, Left Lawyers Rd & as above.

More Info about 2009 Spring Branch Drive in Vienna

Read about “Life In Vienna”

Contact The Belt Team

Just Listed – Penthouse at Reston Town Center!

Looking for Penthouse Views? Well – now you’ve found them! (And not just anywhere, but at MIDTOWN!)

11990 Market Street #1715 – Just Listed – $1,150,000

OPEN SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18TH 4-7PM (Come enjoy holiday refreshments!)

More Info about 1190 Market Street #1715 in Reston

Contact The Belt Team

Top Reasons Sellers Decide To Move + Are Full-Service Realtors Worth It?

What are the top reasons Sellers decide to move? And is it really worth it to hire a full-service Realtor? (Hint – only if you want to sell for a higher price in a shorter amount of time.) Here’s “This Month In Real Estate” with the quick two minute answer to both questions:

If you’re thinking of selling your home, contact The Belt Team for a FREE WRITTEN REPORT on your home’s current value or for a copy of 90 Tips To Prepare Your Home For Market. Were also happy to set up a pre-sale consultation so you know what does and what doesnt need doing before you sell. Why spend money you dont have to!

Open House in Vienna – Sunday, December 11th

OPEN SUNDAY 1-3PM – 2009 Spring Branch Drive in Vienna – $1,287,000!

More Info about 2009 Spring Branch Drive in Vienna

Read about “Life In Vienna”

Contact The Belt Team

How Does A Buyer Choose The Right Realtor?

Realtors in Northern Virginia are a dime a dozen. Seriously. There are more than 11,000 Realtors in the Northern Virginia Board of Realtors. So, if you’re thinking about buying a home here, how do you go about finding the RIGHT REALTOR?

Tune in LIVE to Real Estate Radio Washington – WAVA 780 AM on your dial from 1-2PM today (Dec 10th) when Terry Belt will answer these and other questions.

You can also listen to past broadcasts with great info for both Buyers & Sellers featuring CEO, Terry Belt and Belt Team Partner, Pauline Knipe.

Contact The Belt Team if you’re thinking about buying a home. We have partners who specialize in buyers only, first-time homebuyers, local buyers, relo buyers and more!

Recently, the McLean office of Keller Williams Realty (the office where The Belt Team makes their home) took on a HUGE project. We weren’t quite sure how it would go, but our intent was to continue our tradition to “Give Where We Live”. We’re all actively involved in our community and this tradition is one reason we have chosen to be part of Keller Williams Realty. As it says in the Bible ” Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” (Luke 12:48)

So . . . we chose two local charities to raise money for (“Lift Me Up” in Great Falls and “Our Military Kids” in McLean) & we set about planning our 2nd Annual Keller Williams Charity Golf Tournament & Auction. Last year’s auction raised $10,000. And our goal was to exceed that number this year.

The charities we were working for are totally awesome, so there was no lack of motivation!

Lift Me Up is a therapeutic horseback riding program for children & adults with a variety of disabilities. And Our Military Kids provides grants to the children of National Guard and Military Reserve personnel who are currently deployed overseas, as well as the children of Wounded Warriors in all branches. The grants pay for participation in sports, fine arts, camps, and tutoring programs that nurture and sustain children while a parent is away in service to our country or recovering from injury.

The Co-Chair of the event was The Belt Team’s very own Mary Jane Perry. And boy are we proud of her and our entire office. Everyone pitched in and an entire year of planning & execution fell into place on October 26th when our charity event took place at Trump National Golf Course.

Belt Team members Christy Belt Grossman & Krissy Cruse registered almost 200 golfers on what turned out to be a GORGEOUS day.

And when the sun went down, all kinds of friends, family, clients & community joined in for our reception & auction. We even had some really special guests, including Lt Commander John Schofield (you can read more about him here), a young boy & his family who came all the way from Camp Lejeune as part of a special “Our Military Kids” surprise, and even “Austin Powers” showed up! In the evening, “Donald Trump” ran the live auction. And tons of generous folks stepped up as sponsors, donors & bidders.

Thanks to the effort of so many wonderful people, we’re happy to announce that $58,702 was raised & given to the two charities – $29,351 each to “Lift Me Up” and “Our Military Kids“.

So a HUGE THANK YOU to all of you who donated, played, sponsored, bid, worked, prayed & had faith. We could not have done it without you!

(And if you’re interested in playing in next year’s tournament or being a sponsor, let us know. The list fills up fast!)

Friday Funday Video & Open House Announcements for Satursday & Sunday December 3rd/4th/

TGIF! Time for our Friday Funday Video and Open House Announcements.

First – our video. The narrator asks . . .

“Did you write your letter to Santa? Tell him what you want? And more? Wish for everything with all of your heart? That’s what Christmas is for.”

Well, I don’t know if that really is what Christmas is for. BUT – if you’ve been wishing with all your heart for a new home – we just might have the one for you! So scroll down, check out the four homes we have open this weekend and come visit us.

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OPEN SATURDAY 2-4 PM – 9626 Counsellor Drive in Vienna – $626,000

Charming five bedroom colonial in desirable Barristers Place! Three finished levels including a walkout lower level, family room with fireplace, hardwood floors under carpet on upper level – plus in living room, dining room & family room. Large level backyard with patio. Mere minutes to the heart of Vienna, W&OD Trail & Metro Bus – plus in the Madison High School Pyramid! $626,000

Directions: From Tysons: Route 123 South, Right Lawyers Rd, Right Abbotsford, Right Counsellro Dr to #9626

More Info about 9626 Counsellor Drive in Vienna

Read about Life In Vienna

Contact The Belt Team

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OPEN SATURDAY 1-3PM – 9850 Hidden Estates Cove in Vienna – $849,000

Beautiful custom home mere minutes from Vienna Metro! Welcoming wrap-around front porch, hardwood floors throughout main & upper levels, kitchen with new appliances opens to exceptionally spacious breakfast room, family room with fireplace, tray ceiling master bedroom with fireplace plus master bath with vaulted ceiling & skylights over tub, finished walkup lower level.

Directions: Route 66: Exit Nutley Street toward Vienna past Metro, Left Courthouse Road pass Nottoway Park, Right Hidden Road, immediate left Hidden Cove Estates to 9850 Hodden Estates Cove.

More Info about 9850 Hidden Estates Cove in Vienna

Contact The Belt Team

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OPEN SUNDAY 1-4PM – 1003 Westbriar Drive in Vienna – $649,990!

This charming all brick home is in a fantastic Vienna location – close to both the Town of Vienna and all it has to offer – AND also to Tysons Corner with easy commuting routes, shops, restaurants & more! Enjoy hardwood floors throughout most of the main level, spacious living room with fireplace, kitchen with stainless steel appliances, custom ELFA closets in all four bedrooms plus a lower level with rec room, office, bedroom, 1.5 baths, and a bonus room. Madison HS pyramid!

More Info about 1003 Westbriar Drive in Vienna

Read about “Life In Vienna”

Contact The Belt Team

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OPEN SUNDAY 1 – 4PM – 9969 Cyrandall Drive in Oakton – $639,900

This fabulous townhome has three finished levels including gleaming hardwood floors on the main level ~ a gourmet kitchen with cherry cabinets, granite countertops & stainless steel appliamces ~ kitchen is open to family room with gas fireplace plus sunny breakfast area ~ vaulted ceilings in all bedrooms ~ master suite with sitting area & luxurious bath ~ wlkout lower level to fenced backyard. Best of all – LESS THAN A MILE TO VIENNA METRO!

Directions: I-66 to Rt 123 North toward Vienna, Right Jermantown Rd, Jermantown turns into Blake Ln, Right on Cyrandall Valley Rd, Right Cyrandall Drive to #9969 on left.

More Info about 9969 Cyrandall Drive in Oakton

Contact The Belt Team

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Holiday Home Security (Plus Vienna & Oakton's Weekly Real Estate Update)

The Holiday Season is a wonderful time of year. It can be a great time to buy or sell a home. It’s definitely a great time for for gratitude, reflection & celebration. And oftentimes it’s a great time to travel.

As we enter the Holiday Season, we’d like to remind you to keep your home safe while you are away- especially in light of all the “new” ways we are in communication with one another.

Here are some tips:

(1) Be careful with your status updates on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Don’t be too specific. For example: “Can’t wait to see Grandma & Grandpa” might be better than “Leaving for Ohio in 2 hours. Back on Sunday.”

(2) If you still have a newspaper delivered instead of reading online, make sure you suspend delivery.

(3) Take advantage of the “nosy neighbors” you have (assuming you trust them!). Ask him or her to keep an eye out while you are away. Make sure they know how to reach you in case of an emergency.

(4) Think twice about setting up an auto-responder or voice mail message that says you are out of town – expecially if you work from a home office. A better idea might be to just say you are not checking messages until a certain date (as if you’re taking a “Stay-Cation”.)

(5) Set up timers on certain lights in your house. Install motion detector lights outdoors.

(6) Don’t forget to lock the interior garage door. Exterior doors are relatively easy to compromise.

(7) Stop your mail. Or have a neighbor collect it daily.

(8) Don’t publish your physical address or personal information on your social media profiles on LinkedIn, Facebook, etc. It’s amazing how many people advertise their birthdate, home address and more – just because the site asked you to fill it in when you set up your account. It’s not just children who do this, but many adults who are new to the world of social media are guilty of this as well. Even if your site is “friend-protected”, you’d be surprised at what web-savvy folks can find out. Be discreet!

(9) You can always employ the tactics of Kevin McAllister in “Home Alone”!

Now – for our local readers (or those who want to move here!) – what has happened in the last week in Vienna & Oakton?

Inventory in Vienna & Oakton dropped for the seventh straight week in a row. Vienna now has less than 200 homes on the market for the first time since early April. Oakton’s inventory has dropped to 65 homes, the lowest since early March.

The past week included the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, and while this did not stop people from buying homes, it did slow them down a bit. Vienna had 8 homes go under contract and Oakton had 2 homes go under contract.

No homes this past week sold in less than 2 weeks. And only 20% of those that sold went in under 30 days.

Despite the continued decrease in inventory, it looks like the slight slowdown in contracts has moved Vienna & Oakton from the precipice of a “Seller’s Market” firmly into a “Balanced Market”. Vienna has a 3.8 month supply of homes and Oakton’s supply is at 4.6 months.

SELLERS: Make sure you read our recent blog post about whether or not it’s a good idea to sell during the holidays. In general, low inventory & low housing supply mean good things for you. But there are lots of things to consider. (We can also provide you with a list of 40 questions you should ask your Realtor when you’re thinking of selling your home.)

BUYERS: We have been publishing statistics for Vienna & Oakton on a weekly basis for over 2 years now. In all of that time, Vienna has NEVER been in a Buyer’s Market and Oakton has only trended that way for 3 weeks in 2010. This is just another reason why you need to make sure you are working with a Realtor as your advocate. And not just any Realtor, but a Realtor whose skill set benefits YOU. (You may want to read this article about what a Buyer should look for in a Realtor.)

If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home soon, you can email The Belt Team (or call us at 703-242-3975) to schedule a Buyer or Seller consultation, to request a FREE WRITTEN REPORT of your home’s value or to be put on our FREE PRIORITY NOTIFICATION LIST for special buying opportunities that are not in the MLS or on the Internet.

For our detail-oriented readers, here are last week’s stats:

Last week in Vienna Real Estate (22180,22181, 22182):

Number of Contracts: 814
Average Days on Market for Active Listings: 123 days
Average Days on Market for Listings That Went Under Contract: 145 days
Inventory: 196 homes on the market
Number of Months Supply of Homes (Based on past 90 day contract rate): 4.0 months
Number of Months Supply of Homes (Based on past 30 day contract rate): 3.8 months

Here are last weeks stats for Oakton Real Estate (22124):

Number of Contracts: 2
Average Days on Market for Active Listings: 107 days
Average Days on Market for Listings That Went Under Contract: 50
Inventory: 65 homes on the market
Number of Months Supply of Homes (Based on past 90 day contract rate): 3.7 months
Number of Months Supply of Homes (Based on past 30 day contract rate): 4.6 months

If youre thinking of buying or selling a home, Contact The Belt Team at (703) 242-3975 for a more in-depth discussion & analysis – because its only the neighborhood YOU live in (or you WANT to live in) that matters. We’ll be happy to schedule a consultation and get very detailed about “YOUR Market” so that you can make the decision that is best for YOU!