Every time I take my car to Don Allen Servicenter (that's right, it's not "service center," but rather "servicenter"), in the Franconia section of Alexandria, I am more impressed than the last time.  And I realize there might be a better place to put this than my real estate and appraiser blog, but this is a good place to start. A bit of history ... Don Allen specializes in working on Mercedes.  I drive a Subaru Forester.  It makes little sense that we got paired up, but a couple of years ago, in my work as an appraiser, I ended up doing an inspection of the commercial space that includes his garage.  And the saying that first impressions count rings true here, because he made a big one.  I could tell during our meeting that he took a lot of pride in his work.  I decided to research Was... 03/14/2013

Surrey is one of the condominium communities that make up Manchester Lakes and it happens to be one of my favorite spots in Northern Virginia.  Because Surrey is in Manchester Lakes these condos have access to community features like the club room and the pool, but the condo fees at Surrey are remarkably low.  Surrey is very well-tended but they are designed to keep fees low. Surrey provides garden-style condos without need for elevators or carpeting in common areas or even electricity or temperature control in the common areas.  Every condo at Surrey has a porch or a patio and every condo at Surrey has a real fireplace.  The floorplans have the feel of the "all-American rambler". That is to say, the unit is all on one level with large open kitchen-dining-living area at one side of the ... 10/03/2009

This brief history of Franconia is from the sign pictured above. It's posted by the Fairfax County History Commission in front of the Franconia Post Office on Franconia Road in Fairfax County VA. "'Frankhonia Farm' was situated on 191 acres purchased in 1859 by Alexandria merchant and businessman William Fowle from John Broders of Oak Grove Farm. His son, Robert Rollins Fowle, sold 18 acres to the Alexandria & Fredericksburg Railway Company in 1871 for a station which was named after the farm. The station served as Garfield Post Office from 1881 to 1890 and again from 1898 to 1907. Initially situated south of Franconia Road near present day Fleet Drive, the station was relocated after a fire in 1903 to the north side of Franconia Road. Regular service at Franconia Station was discontin... 09/25/2009

Rose Hill is situated along Franconia Drive west of Richmond Highway.  Rose Hill is situated close enough to commute to DC, but unlike other real estate this close to the city it remains a suburb in layout and feel.  Parking is unrestricted and ample, with wide streets and easy access.  With improvements to the Telegraph Rd intersection with the beltway there are now two excellent and easy ways to get to the Beltway. Real estate values in the Rose Hill area are already showing signs of growth making this both an excellent place for a new home, and for an investment. Click Rose Hill for a map of the area that shows homes for sale and area prices.    About the Author ---  Ben Fornshell is a licensed real estate agent with Condo 1 Alexandria.  To learn more about available rentals and pur... 08/28/2009

Founder's Walk is located just outside the Beltway near Van Dorn Metro. Although it has an Alexandria postal address it is in Fairfax County. The units at Founder's Walk are relatively large compared to similarly priced units in the Alexandria area. These garden-style condos are recently built and have the types of upgrades that folks have come to expect such as a fireplace in the unit or hardwood floors in the dining area. As you can see these condos have plenty of windows and light. The neighborhood is pleasant and quiet, despite being very close to the Capital Beltway. There is no charge for parking. Click Founder's Walk to learn more about pricing and to see a map of the area. Or contact us to learn more about buying or selling in this neighborhood.   06/28/2009

Lee District RECenter off Telegraph Road near Kingstowne and Rose Hill in Franconia Virginia is sited on a 193 acre park. The park at "Lee District" has one soccer field with two overlay T-Ball fields. In addition, two football fields have overlay softball fields. There are four outdoor basketball courts; an amphitheater; four picnic areas (one sheltered); horseshoe pits; a sand volleyball court; a playground and tot lot; four lighted tennis courts with a tennis practice wall; walking trails; a carrousel; and the RECenter itself. The REC is has nearly 84,000 square feet of recreational facilities where you'll find a natatorium (indoor pools), a gym and a fitness center. The focus of the natatorium is a heated 50-meter pool with spectator seating . The pool has a superslide and three div... 06/08/2009

This is one of the market reports I publish on a monthly basis for FRANCONIA. ZIP code 22310.  Many REALTORS® prepare a report for all of Fairfax County or Northern Virginia.  In my opinion, that covers too broad an area to be meaningful.  I do believe my approach will give you a much more realistic picture of the market in the area closest to your home.Currently, there are   62 TOWN HOMES  FOR SALEThe sales figures in this report are for the month ending September 30, 2007  SALES STATISTICS (14 SOLD)AVERAGE LIST PRICE$464,679AVERAGE SALES PRICE$461,504MINUS SELLER SUBSIDIES$8,375 NET SALES PRICE$453,129 Contact me for assistance with FAIRFAX COUNTY REAL ESTATE   10/18/2007

This is one of the market reports I publish on a monthly basis for FRANCONIA. ZIP code 22310.  Many REALTORS® prepare a report for all of Fairfax County or Northern Virginia.  In my opinion, that covers too broad an area to be meaningful.  I do believe my approach will give you a much more realistic picture of the market in the area closest to your home.Currently, there are   113 DETACHED HOMES   FOR SALEThe sales figures in this report are for the month ending September 30, 2007  SALES STATISTICS (11 Sold)AVERAGE LIST PRICE$518,564AVERAGE SALES PRICE$508,364MINUS SELLER SUBSIDIES$6,545 NET SALES PRICE$501,819 Contact me for assistance with FAIRFAX COUNTY REAL ESTATE   10/18/2007