Labor day weekend is here. Whether it’s one last barbeque, dive into the pool or parade; it’s time to say good bye to summer! If you have nothing to do, click here for a list of labor day events in the DC region. Have a great labor day weekend!
Monthly Archives: August 2012
Labor Day Events
The summer has come and gone. Kids will be starting school soon. I hope you’ve enjoyed the hot summer days and had some time to relax. If you haven’t, you still have time. Below is a list of some local attractions that you can enjoy with the family over this long weekend! Have a great labor day and enjoy!
Labor Day Concert at the U.S. Capitol
Sunday, September 2, 2012, 8 p.m. East Capitol and First Streets, Washington, DC (202) 225-6827. Enjoy a free concert by the National Symphony Orchestra.
Kennedy Center Page-to-Stage Festival
September 1-3, 2012. The Kennedy Center hosts more than 25 local theater companies in a series of free readings and open rehearsals of plays and musicals. This three-day event gives audiences a look at new works being prepared for Washington premieres in the upcoming theater season.
Abbey Road on the River – Beatles Tribute Festival
August 30-September 3, 2012. Gaylord National Resort, National Harbor, MD. More than 50 bands from around the world and scores of Beatles fans will come together to experience five days of peace, love, and rock-n-roll.
Opening of the American Trail at the National Zoo
September 1, 2012. The National Zoo is opening a new exhibit for its seals and sea lions, including a pup born in June 2011, as well as other North American animals, including beavers, river otters, bald eagles, and ravens. See photos and get a glimpse of the exhibit.
DC Blues Festival
Saturday, September 1, 2012, 1-7 p.m. Carter Barron Amphitheater. Washington, DC. This free annual festival features live blues by outstanding local and national acts.
Cirque du Soleil TOTEM
Through September 16, 2012. The Plateau at National Harbor. The show illustrates, through a visual and acrobatic language, the evolutionary progress of species. The characters evolve on a stage evoking a giant turtle, the symbol of origin for many ancient civilizations.
Grand Opening of Rams Head Center Stage at Maryland Live Casino
The 500-seat live entertainment venue opens on August 30, 2012 with special invitation-only performances from The Charlie Daniels Band. The stage opens to the public on August 31 with The Real Geniuses, on September 1 Crazy in Stereo, on September 2 Big Bang Baby, and on September 3 Generation Next. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. All showtimes are 8:00 p.m.
Drum Corps World Championship Competition
August 31-September 2, 2012. Navy Marine Corps Stadium, 550 Taylor Ave. Annapolis, Maryland. The organization hosts nearly two dozen shows across the United States throughout the summer, culminating in the World Championship. It should be an entertaining event and a fun time to visit Maryland’s state capital.
Maryland Renaissance Festival
Weekends through October 21, 2012. Crownsville, MD. The whole family will marvel over the 16th century English village with crafts, food, live performances, games and lots more.
Glen Echo Park Art Show and Irish Festivities
September 1-3, 2012. MacArthur Boulevard, Glen Echo, MD. (301) 634-2222. Visit the Labor Day Art Show in the Spanish Ballroom 12 – 6 p. m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Artwork for sale representing more than 150 regional artists including sculpture, paintings, ceramics, glass and jewelry. The event will include a wide variety of Irish musicians and dancers performing toe-tapping Irish dancing to beautiful Irish folk songs in Glen Echo Park’s Bumper Car Pavilion.
Olde Towne Gaithersburg Labor Day Parade
Monday, September 3, 2012, 1 p.m. Summit and Diamond Avenues, Gaithersburg, MD (301) 258-6350. Join in the fun at Gaithersburg’s Annual Labor Day Parade. Watch fire engines, high school marching bands, clowns, horses and giant balloons fill the streets of Olde Town Gaithersburg.
Greenbelt Labor Day Festival
August 31-September 3, 2012. Greenbelt Community Center, 15 Crescent Rd., Greenbelt, MD (301) 397-2208. Bring the kids to a festival with carnival rides, games, a petting zoo, art exhibits, athletic tournaments, the Miss Greenbelt pageant and live entertainment. The carnival hours will be from 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, noon to 11 p.m. Sunday and noon to 7 p.m. Monday.
Kensington Labor Day Parade
Monday, September 3, 2012. (301)942-9254. Celebrate Labor Day with a Parade and Festival. Kensington, MD. Parade begins at St. Paul’s St and Plyers Mill. Festival located along Howard and Armory Avenues. Enjoy a day of family entertainment with a parade, live music, arts and crafts, food and kids activities.
Herndon Labor Day Festival
Monday, September 3, 2012, 12-6 p.m. Town Green, 777 Lynn Street Herndon, Virginia. Enjoy wine tastings and musical entertainment by regional and national jazz performers.
Virginia Scottish Games
September 1-2, 2012. Celebrate Alexandria’s Scottish Heritage and enjoy piping & drumming, highland dancing, and fiddling competitions sheep-herding demonstrations, an antique car show, childrens activities, and much more.
Nation’s Football Classic
September 1, 2012. RFK Stadium. The event is a black college football game held annually in Washington, DC. Additional events will be held around town throughout the weekend.
National Hard Crab Derby
August 30-September 2, 2012. Crisfield, Maryland. This unique event attracts a crowd from the across the region to the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Enjoy crab races and contests, carnival rides, crafts, live entertainment, beauty pageants, parade, and fireworks.
Eid Mubarak!!
May Allah accept your fasting and prayers and continue to shower His blessings to fill your life with joy, peace and prosperity.
Are You In Default?
A real is contract can be a very tricky thing if not understood properly. Over the years I’ve done many transactions and one of my major concerns has been my clients earnest money deposit (besides other issues like termite, home inspection, financing and successful closing). Now earnest money deposit or EMD is a “good faith” to the seller that you’re a serious buyer and are ready to purchase this home. Recently, I’ve come across too many transactions where the buyer and even their agent don’t understand the term “Default” and how they could lose their EMD. Continue reading
Absorption Rates – July 2012
The numbers are in for July! For most counties, there was a decrease in the number of sales compared to June, but it is still a seller’s market! The main reason for the spike in June sales was because it a the start of the summer with really low rates. As we get into August and closer to school starting, the market will start to “normalize” and there will be enough houses to compensate for the increase in buyers this summer.
Like always, on the first of the month, I calculate the absorption rate for the DC Metro Area. These numbers are the calculation of the supply and demand of real estate inventory. So, what do these numbers mean? Typically, if absorption rate is 5-7 months, it is considered “normal market.” If it’s below 5, it’s a “sellers market” and if it’s above 7, then it’s a “buyers market.” The percentage indicates how the market has improved (↑) or declined (↓) compared to last month.
Absorption rate is calculated by dividing the total number of active and pending listings by the number of homes sold in a month. The resulting answer let’s us know how many months it will take to sell the entire inventory of homes. I love numbers and have started to calculate the absorption rate for the , more specifically, I will be focusing on Northern Virginia since that’s my area of expertise and state of licensure.
The numbers used for my calculations are 
from MRIS MLS and are deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Remember, real estate is local so here are the absorption rates for last month in Northern Virginia:
| City of Alexandria – 3.4 mos (↓19.0%) Arlington County – 3.5 mos (↓30.7%) Clarke County – 9.9 mos (↑35.8%) Fairfax County – 4.1 mos (↓22.9%) City of Fairfax – 3.6 mos (↓32.5%) City of Falls Church – 3.1 mos (↓22.6%) Fauqier County – 7.8 mos (↓13.6%) Frederick County – 8.7 mos (↓30.2%) |
City of Fredericksburg – 10.7 mos (↑17.7%) Loudoun County – 4.9 mos (↓19.2%) City of Manassas – 4.5 mos (↓11.9%) City of Manassas Park – 6.9 mos (↓34.5%) Prince William County – 5.2 mos (↓30.6%) Spotsylvania County – 7.4 months (↓23.5%) Stafford County – 6.2 mos (↓33.1%) Warren County – 10.6 mos (↑23.0%) |
So if you’re a seller and want expert advise to list your home or a buyer and want to roam around to find your next home, call me today at 703-577-4320!
