WATER CONSERVATION AND LANDSCAPING  

Common Areas/Buildings

• Landscaping Committee. Does your condo association or apartment building have a building and grounds committee?  Attend a meeting or two to find out more about how your landscape is managed.

• Review landscaping contract, and recommend that the contractor:
  • Use native plants,
  • Minimize the use of fertilizers and pesticides,
  • Leave some grass trimmings on the grass for natural fertilizer (grasscycle),
  • Recycle leaves and plant trimmings (if feasible),
  • Take care with lawn watering, allowing the lawn to go dormant during droughts.
• Use the rainwater.   Direct downspouts to planted beds or lawn areas, so that the rainwater from the building can irrigate the plants. 
• Collect rainwater.   Consider installing rain barrels or cisterns to collect and store rainwater for gardeners to use, or for dry periods.
• Use the landscape to help manage stormwater.   If you have areas that are very wet from runoff from a building or parking lot, consider installing a raingarden to help absorb the stormwater.  Green roofs are another option to absorb stormwater runoff from a building’s roof, and also help insulate and improve energy efficiency in the building.  If you are replacing pavement or sidewalks, consider permeable paving stones or other materials that allow some of the water to drain into the soil, and reduce runoff.

Individual Unit Owners

As many condominium units are not individually metered for water use, unit owners may not know how much water they are using or if they have a leak.

• Toilets and laundry are the major water users in most homes (view statistics on average water usage).
• Encourage unit owners to install low flow toilets, or the flapperless toilet model, to help conserve water.  The association could consider a bulk purchase of toilets to offer residents a reduced cost.
• Choose Energy Star when replacing a clothes washer to save water and energy.
• Check pipes and faucets for leaks.  Even small leaks can waste significant amounts of water. Water leaks are not only a waste of water, but also of the energy needed to heat the water.
• Turn off the water when brushing teeth or shaving.
• Try to keep your shower to five minutes or less.
• Install low flow showerheads and faucet aerators. Look for ones that use no more than 2.5 gallons per minute at maximum flow (for showerheads) and 2.2 gallons per minute maximum flow (for faucets).
• Check the toilet for leaks. Leaks inside a toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water per day. Toilet leaks can be detected by taking the tank cover off and placing several drops of food coloring in the tank. You have a leak if you see the coloring in the bowl after a few minutes. Most leaks involve the rubber flapper or shut off valve found in the tank. Repair as soon as possible.
• View other water conservation tips.

For additional information on making your condo green, please contact:

Jeff Wu
Century 21, New Millenium
571-248-1110
240-994-7938
Jeff@AgentKnowsHomes.com
www.AgentKnowsHomes.com

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Common Areas/Buildings

• Collect your data: electricity, gas, water.  Understand your past energy use history.  Determine a scope of potential improvements.
• Get a whole-building energy audit by a qualified firm that has tackled multifamily housing before.
• Get pricing for a capital improvement package.  Try not to just grab low-hanging opportunities.  Do you have enough in capital reserves for a package of cost-effective energy investments?  If so, sell the numbers to your membership.
• Energy-saving performance contracting (ESCO) is an alternative financing option. 
• For Bulk Purchases, check out the Quantity Quotes web site for bulk pricing on light bulbs, light fixtures, clothes washers, dehumidifiers, dishwashers, refrigerators, or room air conditioners.
• Move from master metering to individual metering?   Studies have shown that changing from one meter for an entire building to individual unit meters can cut household energy use 10%-50%. 

Individual Unit Owners

• Have heating/cooling equipment serviced on a seasonal basis for preventive maintenance, optimal operation and safety checks.
• Choose Energy Star for heating and cooling equipment, major appliances and lighting.
• Unplug energy vampires.  All those little chargers and electronic devices that respond to a remote control draw charge even when they are not in use.  Plug them into a power strip and turn it off when they are not being used.
• Get an energy audit - an energy audit is an assessment of your homes insulation, heating/cooling equipment, and overall “building envelope” can help you figure out what improvements to make first.
• Seal and insulate - air leaks around windows and doors can waste a lot of energy.  

For additional information on how to make your condo green, contact…..

Jeff Wu
Century 21, New Millenium
571-248-1110
240-994-7938
Jeff@AgentKnowsHomes.com
www.AgentKnowsHomes.com

Tysons Corner Condos Sold May 2010

16 Condos (Condominiums) were sold in the Tysons Corner area in Northern Virginia in May 2010.  This includes 22182 (Vienna) and 22102 (McLean)  zip codes.  Properties ranged from a one bedroom one bathroom condo at the Fountains At McLean asking $218,000, with 624 square feet, all the way to a two bedroom two and a half bath condo in the One Park Crest building with 1620 square feet asking $728,000.  Here are some quick stats:

* Tysons Corner Condo real estate changed hands in these condo communities in May 2010 = Fountains at McLean (4), Gates of McLean (3), One Park Crest (2), Regency  At McLean, Rotonda, The Colonies (3), The Westerlies, and Westwood Village

* Average Days on Market = 24

* Average Sold to List Ratio = 99.15%

* Average Subsidy $479 (only 3 had any subsidy)

* Bank Owned or “Foreclosure” properties in Tysons Corner = 2

* Short Sale Transactions in Tysons Corner Condos = 0

* Up 46% over the number of Tysons Corner Transactions settled in May 2009 (same month, previous year)

* up 5.5% over the number of Tysons Corner Condos sold in April 2010 (previous closed month)

Data from MRIS

Sold (April 2010)

In April 2010, just last month, there were 3 properties sold in this Tysons Corner condo community.  The sales in the Rotonda were a 1 bedroom 1 bathroom 992 square foot “C” Model, a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom 1685 square foot “J” Model, and a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom 1132 square foot “F” Model.  These properties were sold for an average of

- 98% of asking price, and 97.8% of asking vs. net sold price

- An average of 107 days on the market

- An average subisdy of $400 per transaction

The 3 Tysons Corner Condos sold in April 2010 is 1 less than the 4 sold in March 2010, a month prior.  And it is exactly even with the 3 sold in April 2009.

Sold in April 2010 - Tysons Corner Real Estate - Rotonda Condos

Almost Sold (Under Contract)

There are 8 properties under contract in the Rotonda Condominium community right now.  These range from a 1 bedroom 1 bathroom short sale property asking $219,900 all the way upto a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom, also a short sale, asking $505,000.

5-17-10 under contract in Rotonda condo community in Tysons Corner Real Estate

For Sale

As Tysons Corner real estate goes, there are 9 properties available for sale in the Rotonda.  These properties range in price from a 2 bedroom 1 bathroom, self described short sale, asking $275,000, all the way upto a 3 bedroom 3 bathroom, normal sale, asking $645,000.  Of the 9 properties for sale, only one – the lowest priced one, is a short sale.

05-17-10 for sale now (Rotonda Condominium) Tysons Corner Real estate

Rented (April 2010)

5 Rotonda properties rented in Tysons Corner in the month of April 2010.  They averaged 71 days on the market.

For Rent

There are 10 properties available to rent right now in this Tysons Corner Community.  They range in asking price from $1,345 a month to $3,300 a month.

data from MRIS

In March 2010 there were 18 condos sold in the Tysons Corner Real Estate Market.  The most of those were in Park Crest, the luxusious new Tysons Corner condominium that is right next door to the (also new) Harris Teeter Grocery, and not far from Tysons Corner Galleria Mall.  Park Crest had 9 of the 18 sales.  That is amazing for a community that was close to 80% sold out before breaking ground then had about half of those people walk away from their deposits when the market turned leaving them in the 40% sold range.  They’ve definately come a good ways from that bottoming out point.  I’m sure it helps that they’re on the FHA approved list now, and of course the drop in their asking prices doesn’t hurt either.  Either way, their luxury and style fits right in with the energy in Tysons Corner.

The rest of the sales of Tysons Corner Condos in March 2010 occured in: Fountains at McLean (3), Gates of McLean, Lillian Court (2), and the Rotonda (3).

Sales ranged as low as $205,000 in the Fountains for a 1 bedroom, to as high as $745,200 for a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom Tysons Corner home.

The non Park Crest Condos (data not tracked for new home days on market) were on the market an average of 54 days. 

Of all the tysons corner condos sold there was an average of $4,300 in subsidy from the seller to the buyer.

3 of the 18 tysons corner condos sold were listed as potential short sales.

0 of the condos, none, of the tysons corner real estate we’re referring to above was listed as bank owned or foreclosure.

The sold vs. list ratio of the properties was 99.5%, while the net sold vs. list ratio was 98.5%.

See all the Tysons Corner Condos sold in March 2010 in the chart below.

Tysons Corner Condos Sold in March 2010

Today, 2/26/10, there are 35 properties for sale in the Tysons Corner area (McLean 22102 zip code + Vienna 22182 zip code) in the price range from $300,000 to $600,000. 

Quick Facts

- 19 are Condos, 8 are townhomes, and 8 are detached single family homes

- Communities with properties for sale in Tysons Corner Area in the price range $300,000 to $600,000 = Courthouse Station (2), Dunn Loring Garden, Eudora, Fountains at McLean, Hahn Property (2), Hallcrest Heights (2), Lillian Court (2), Madrillon Springs, Martin, Park Crest (only 2 listed), Regency at McLean (5), Rotonda (7), Spring Lake (2), Sunnybrook, The Colonies (2), The Trails, Tysons Townes, and Tysons Woods

- Distressed Properties (5 of 35 total properties) = 1 is a bank owned property, and 4 are listed as potential short sales.

Tysons Corner available real estate $300,000-$600,000

data from MRIS

Today, 2/19/10, there are 12 properties for sale in the Tysons Corner area (McLean 22102 zip code + Vienna 22182 zip code) under $300,000.  All of those are 1 and 2 bedroom condos located in the 22102 (McLean) zip code.

Quick Facts

- Communities with properties for sale in Tysons Corner <$300,000 = Encore of McLean (1), Fountains at McLean (1), Gates of McLean (5), Regency (1), Rotonda (2), and The Colonies (2).

- All are 1 level properties

- 10 of the 12 are 1 bedroom properties, the other 2 are 2 bedroom properties.

- Distressed Properties (3 of 12 total properties) = 1 is a bank owned property, and 2 are listed as potential short sales.

On the Market right now (2-19-10 11:48am) in Tysons Corner, Virginia under $300,000

data from MRIS

Tysons Corner area Home sales in January 2010

- 23 Homes Sold in Tysons Corner Area (22102 McLean Zip Code + 22182 Vienna Zip Code) in January 2010

- The Type of homes sold were = 14 Tysons Corner Single Family Homes, 4 Tysons Corner Townhomes + 5 Tysons Corner Condos

- For all Tysons Corner Area Properties sold in January 2010 the average statistics were [1] 99.68% sold to list price ratio, [2] an average subsidy of $2,456.22 and [3] average of 98 days on the market

- The numbers are somewhat different by property type though:

–> Tysons Corner Single Family Homes = [1] 99.8% sold to list price ratio, [2] average subsidy of $1,942.2, and [3]average of 104 days on the market

–>Tysons Corner Townhomes = [1] 98.9%, sold to list price ratio, [2] $7,325.50 average subsidy, and [3] average of 88 days on the market

–> Tysons Corner Condos = [1] 100% sold to list price ratio, [2] average subsidy of ZERO ($0), and [3] an average of 89.8 days on the market.

- Homes sold in a variety of communities and neighborhoods =

–> Tysons Corner Single Family Homes = Colvins Glen, Estates at Great Falls, McLean Hamlet (2), Peacock Station, Pine Hill, Saddlebrook Farms, Shouse Village, Smith Farm, Spring Hill, Spring Lake, Timberly South, Woodhaven, and Woodside Estates

–> Tysons Corner Townhomes = Colonies of Madrillon, McLean Court, The Reserve at Tysons Corner, and Westwood towns

–> Tysons Corner Condos = Fountains at McLean, Regency at McLean, Rotonda (2), and The Colonies

- Of the 23 homes sold in the Tysons Corner area in January 2010, there was 1 identified as a Short Sale, and 1 identified as a “foreclosure” or bank owned sale

data from MRIS

In the month of November, the most recent past month, there was one home sold in the Tysons Corner Condominium community known as The Gates of McLean.  The property sold was a 1 bedroom 1 bathroom home.  There are many 1 bedroom 1 bathroom models, but the one sold was a Danielle model on the 2nd floor of building 1570.  The property had some upgraded flooring and appliances, and included a garage parking space.  It sold for $223,000 when asking $245,000.  There was no subsidy involved so the net price of $223,000 reflected a price of $303/per square foot.  This property was on the market 9 days prior to ratifying a contract.

There continues to be a shortage of good homes on the market, in the gates, and the surrounding area.  This is evidenced even more so by how quickly this one sold.

November 2009 fared similarly with the same month previous year in terms of the number of sales.  As November 2008 also had a single property sold in The Gates of McLean.  That property (in 2008) was a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom Preston model that sold for $285/per square foot.  Comparing 1 bedrooms to 2 bedrooms isn’t a fair comparison, and the sample size is small.  However, looking at the price per square foot numbers many would say that things are looking up for this Tysons Corner community!

At this moment there are 3 properties available for sale in The Gates of McLean.  Two of those are 1 bedrooms, and the third is a 3 bedroom.  There are also 8 properties for rent in this Tysons Corner community.  Of the properties for rent, five are 1 bedrooms, a single 2 bedroom is available, and there are two 3 bedrooms.

Data from MRIS

Key stats for 22102, Tysons Corner area, zip code =

* – 52 homes/properties under contract right now (11-27-09 9:01pm)

* – Of the 52 homes under contract: 27 are condominiums (condos), 4 are townhome or attached homes, and the other 21 are single family homes

* – 20 of the 52 homes are identified as potential short sales

* – 1 of the 52 is identified as a foreclosure or bank owned sale

* – The properties were on the market from 0 to 828 days before getting a contract, with the average number being 72 days on the market for these Tysons Corner area properties.

* – Gates of McLean, the Tysons Corner condominum neighborhood, lead all communities with 7 properties under contract.  Coming in second, all with 3 properties under contract were: Hunting Ridge, Park Crest, Peacock Station, Rotonda and The Colonies.

Tysons Area Properties under contract 22102 zip code