Prince William County Real Estate Blog: August 2008

Recently, I was showing clients homes in eastern Prince William County.  Dad was up front - Mom and daughter were in the back seat.  Since they were interested in homes with some land I, of course, included Lake Ridge in my tour along with Westridge and Old Bridge Estates

As we approached Lake Ridge on Old Bridge Road the traffic lght was red at the entrance to Lake Ridge at Harbor Drive.  While I was stopped the 9 year old young lady looked to her left and saw Mickey D's, looked to her right and saw the Lake Ridge Swim Club.  She was immediately "sold" although her parents had not yet arrived at the same conclusion.  "Mom, I wanna' live in Lake Ridge" was very emphatic.

Actually, Lake Ridge, Westridge and Old Bridge Estates are very child oriented communities with pools, sports teams, boy and girl scout troops, play grounds, fishing, boating etc - all those things that are part of "Hometown USA".  Unfortunately, we cannot avoid Mickey D's - there's one at the other end of Old Bridge Road as you approach Lake Ridge.

Planning to Buy or Sell Lake Ridge Real Estate?  Contact Karen and Art by Email or call us at 703-562-1532.  Put our  record of customer service, real estate experience and state-of-the-art technology to work for you in Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Prince William County, Stafford County or the entire Northern Virginia area

Those of us who call Lake Ridge home regularly receive "Lake Ridge Today"  It is an extremely informative newsletter (the September issue is 15 pages) that keeps us posted on association finances, facilities management, area information,rules changes, participation of life in the community by residents, contests and a Schedule of Upcoming Events

• September 6  The Doggie Paddle at Tall Oaks Pool with 2 sessions (10 AM to 12 Noon and 12 Noon to 2 PM)  You must be a Lake Ridge resident and pre-registration is required.  Either you OR your dog will be charged $5.00.
• September 13  This is always a big hit - The HUGE LRPRA Yard Sale at the parking lot in front of the association building from 8:00 AM to 12 Noon - rain or shine. Lake Ridge residents can rent a parking space for $10.00 - the fee for non-residents is $15.00.
• October 21 Forum/Quarterly Board Meeting 8:00 PM at the Tall Oaks Center on Cotton Mill Drive
• October 25  The very well attended Fall Festival in the association office parking lot on Oakwood from !0:00 AM to 2:00 PM.  This is a family day with food, games, Children's Costume Contest and Parade, Build A Scarecrow Contest and Jack-O-Lantern Judging.
• November 15 Board the bus for the Wine Country Trip - Leave the association parking lot at 10:00 AM and return at 7:00 PM. $65 per person before 10/29.  $75 after 10/29.  Call Shirley at 703-491-2154, EXT 114 for more information
• November 16  Turkey Trot 10K Run and 5K Walk.  More details will be available it LAKE RIDGE RUNNERS
• Club News  See Page 9 of the newsletter for news and schedules of the various Lake Ridge clubs.

Planning to Buy or Sell Lake Ridge Real Estate?  Contact Karen and Art by Email or call us at 703-562-1532.  Put our  record of customer service, real estate experience and state-of-the-art technology to work for you in Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Prince William County, Stafford County or the entire Northern Virginia Area

Greorge Mason IV (1725-1792) authored the Virginia Declaration of Rights,  It was eventually incorporated into the Virginia Constitution as Article 1.  Why is this of interest?  Many of the guarantees of the document were  incorporated into the Declaration of Independence and the US Bill of Rights.

At the time George assumed responsibility for the family's plantation, Mason Neck, the Gunston Hall home had not been built.  It was completed in 1759 when he was only 34 years old.  Aside from the 5,500 acres on Mason Neck,  George Mason owned other plantations - some of which are now the names of popular residential areas - Hollin Hall, Woodbridge, Lexington and Mason's Island.  Mason's Island puzzled me, but research revealed Mason's Island was in the middle of the Potomac River - Mason's Island is now known as Theodore Roosevelt Island.

There are lovely homes in Lorton available to you for purchase - see INLET COVE and HARBOR VIEW

Planning to Buy or Sell Lorton  Real Estate?  Contact Karen and Art by Email or call us at 703-562-1532.  Put our  record of customer service, real estate experience and state-of-the-art technology to work for you in Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Prince William County, Stafford County or the entire Northern Virginia Area.

Map was copied from Google Maps and modified

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The majority of Lake Ridge detached homes are on approximately 1/4 acre lots - great for gardens, swing sets, lawn parties, pools, etc.  Lynnwood homes, on the other hand, are sited on minimum 1/2 acre lots and they are heavily treed.  Wherever feasible, Ridge Development left stands of trees in the front and side yards.

There were 4 premium builders selected to build out the site - Long Homes, Fairfield Homes, Calvert Homes and VanMetre Homes.  They all developed models that they had not offered in previous subdivisions giving Lynnwood a fresh and distinct look.  The homes were built between 1980 and 1986 - our first Lake Ridge home was in Lynnwood.  We have sold numerous homes to and for people who appreciate the trees and lot size.  As the collage below clearly shows, Lynnwood is lovely in both Summer and Fall.  My husband will be the first to assure you that leaf blowers are very popular and essential in Lynnwood.

Planning to Buy or Sell Lake Ridge Real Estate?  Contact Karen and Art by Email or call us at 703-562-1532.  Put our  record of customer service, real estate experience and state-of-the-art technology to work for you in Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Prince William County, Stafford County or the entire Northern Virginia Area.

Spring Hill is a community of Over 55 Homes being built on the Laurel Hill section of Lorton Prison land that was released for residential construction by Fairfax County.  Title to the land was passed to the county when the prison was closed.  They are, of course, one level homes with garages - seniors won't have to climb stairs or scrape ice off windshields.  It is a fenced and gated community to maximize security.  As the photos show there is a minimum amount of land for the homeowners to maintain, but there are broad open areas adding to the overall appeal.

Planning to Buy or Sell Real Estate?  Contact Karen and Art by Email or call us at 703-562-1532.  Put our  record of customer service, real estate experience and state-of-the-art technology to work for you in Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Prince William County, Stafford County or the entire Northern Virginia Area.

With the cost of gasoline being extremely high, the availability of public commuter service has become an increasingly important consideration when purchasing a home.  Similarly, it is provides value added when you put your home on the market.

The folks in Lake Ridge are fortunate - the subdivision is 1 of 3 in eastern Prince William County where commuter buses operate within the subdivision providing service to the Pentagon, Crystal City and Washington, D.C.

Homeowners in Westridge and Old Bridge Estates frequently come into Lake Ridge, park in commuter lots or park along public streets and use the bus service

See schedules and interactive maps at Lake Ridge - Pentagon and Lake Ridge - Washington.  Lake Ridge is one of the finest planned communities in Northern Virginia with many, many features that make it a wise real estate investment. The map will show you the location of the bus stops - I will show you the location of the homes.

Planning to Buy or Sell Lake Ridge Real Estate?  Contact Karen and Art by Email or call us at 703-562-1532.  Put our  record of customer service, real estate experience and state-of-the-art technology to work for you in Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Prince William County, Stafford County or the entire Northern Virginia Area. 

When you live in a community with as many trees as Lake Ridge it is not surprising to find a store that specializes in seed and whatever else you might need to keep the birds happy.  They also sell "critter food" since we also have tons of squirrels. 

I've been a customer ever since the Wild Bird Center opened in the Festival at Lake Ridge shopping center.  Unless you've been a long time Lake Ridge resident you may not be aware the shopping center was the site of the Woodbridge Airport.

My backyard is a bird haven - I feed the likes of cardinals, goldfinches, bluebirds,woodpeckers, carolina wrens, chickadees, etc and, yes, squirrels and chipmunks..

Planning to Buy or Sell Lake Ridge Real Estate?  Contact Karen and Art by Email or call us at 703-562-1532.  Put our  record of customer service, real estate experience and state-of-the-art technology to work for you in Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Prince William County, Stafford County or the entire Northern Virginia Area.

There are several excellent gymnasiums in the Woodbridge area, but Gold's Gym at the Festival in Lake Ridge is the most centrally located for Lake Ridge, Westridge and Old Bridge Estates residents.

Additionally. it opens at 4:30 AM and is a favorite with people commuting to the Pentagon and Washington,D.C. since there is a PRTC bus stop just a few feet away.  By the time I arrive at 6:00 AM they have exercised, showered and are on their way out the door.  Believe it or not, the next contingent to arrive almost as early as I do are teachers and administrators with the Prince William County Public Schools.  There are wheel classes, rowing classes, pilates groups, aerobics classes just to mention a few.  Once school has opened the place fills up with mothers and small children (there is a child care facility).

We love the Lake Ridge community and all its' advantages.  If you are planning to Buy or Sell Lake Ridge Real Estate contact Karen and Art by Email or call us at 703-562-1532.  Put our  record of customer service, real estate experience and state-of-the-art technology to work for you in Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Prince William County, Stafford County or the entire Northern Virginia Area.

Arthur and I are early risers.  We are at the gym by 5:30 AM, exercise and get home to start our business day.  However, we frequently opt for an early morning walk in the Occoquan business district.  Why is it "Our Occoquan"?

Except for an occasional sea gull along the seawall we rarely ever see a car, no less a person.  Many of you know Occoquan as a bustling retail district comprised of many 18th and 19th century buildings.  As we walk with our modern day Starbucks coffee in hand we try to envision what it must have been like in the "olden days".  It is really a lovely little historic town, but we enjoy it even more at "our" time of day.  For those of you who know Occoquan you will find the pictures below unusual.  Mill Street is deserted as is Union Street and the Occoquan River looking across to Fairfax County is very peaceful - not a ripple.

Planning to Buy or Sell Occoquan Real Estate?  Contact Karen and Art by Email or call us at 703-562-1532.  Put our  record of customer service, real estate experience and state-of-the-art technology to work for you in Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Prince William County, Stafford County or the entire Northern Virginia Area.

Recently, I did a post WHEN DID MONTCLAIR BECOME A PART OF MCB QUANTICO?  because Montclair is extremely close to the base.  Then I started to reflect - there are approximately 40,000 homes within a maximum of 30 minutes to Quantico. 

The 3 largest subdivisions are   DALE CITY, MONTCLAIR and LAKE RIDGE.  There are numerous others - Twin Oaks, Winding Creek, Ashland, Hunter's Ridge, Port Potomac, River Falls, County Center, Westridge, Old Bridge Estates to name just a few.

They can all be reviewed at EASTERN PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY HOME TOUR  There are 19 subdivisions reviewed as well as shopping, recreation, schools and commuting.  Not only are we popular with MCB Quantico Marines, but members of all branches of the military as well as civilians commuting toFort Belvoir, pentagon, Alexandria, Arlington and Washington, D.C. find eastern Prince William County an extremely convenient and attractive place to call home.

My first web page went "live" in 1997.  It has seen many revisions since that time.  One of the pages of which I am extremely proud is my DC AREA LIVING section.  It contains more than 100 links to local governments, tax records, public schools, area colleges, transportation,  recreation, performing arts and sports teams.

Planning to Buy or Sell Real Estate?  Contact Karen and Art by Email or call us at 703-562-1532.  Put our  record of customer service, real estate experience and state-of-the-art technology to work for you in Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Prince William County, Stafford County or the entire Northern Virginia Area.

Lorton Station is a 300 acre subdivision of 950 newer homes just South of Fort Belvoir.  Detached homes and town homes are available and, yes, it is within 15 minutes of the entrance to Fort Belvoir.  Additionally, it is only 15 miles south of Washington, D.C. - the Lorton entrance to and exit from I-95 is just outside the community on Lorton Road.  On those occasions when you need to go to the Pentagon the VRE Lorton Station is in the community.  Take a Northbound train, change to the Metro Blue Line at King Street and go to the Pentagon Station.

Kids attend Lorton Station Elementary and, depending on where you live, they will attend either South County Secondary or Hayfield Secondary.

Two shopping centers, Lorton Station Marketplace and Lorton Station Town Center provide a full range of retail services and numerous excellent restaurants. 

• Swimming? There are 2 community pools.
• The 100 acre Joseph Plaskett Park with both hiking and biking trails runs through Lorton Station.
• Lorton is also home to the Pohick Bay Regional Park with both boat launches, boat storage, public golf course and picnic grounds.
• Mason Neck State Park and Mason Neck National Wildlife Park are part of a 6,000 acre wetlands management area and is a major bird and wildlife sanctuary - hiking and biking areas are easily accessed.

Also see WAYNEWOOD, a large subdivision, 15 minutes to the north of Fort Belvoir with excellent amenities.  Or go 15 minutes west to SARATOGA,  

North South or West, there are excellent subdivisions within 15 minutes of Fort Belvoir.  

Planning to Buy or Sell Real Estate in Lorton, VA?  Contact Karen and Art by Email or call us at 703-562-1532.  Put our  record of customer service, real estate experience and state-of-the-art technology to work for you in Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Prince William County, Stafford County or the entire Northern Virginia Area.

Mason Neck, that section of Lorton with water on 3 sides is a natural wonderland.  The peninsula consists of 9,000 acres - 6,000 of which are under land management.  As a result, it is now home to 200 species of birds, 31 mammals and 44 species of reptiles and amphibians.

Its' most famous landowner was George Mason, an author of the Virginia Bill of Rights, a predecessor of the US Constitution.  His home, Gunston Hall, is open to visitors.

In 1969, the Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge was the first park assigned as an American Eagle refuge.  It is considered one of the Top Ten US Sites for Eagle Sightings.

• The bicycle path starts just east of Old Colchester Road on the north side of Gunston Road.
•  It passes Pohick Bay Public Golf Club, Pohick Bay Regional Park, Gunston Hall and winds through the residential subdivisions of Gunston Manor and Hallowing Point.
• Last stop is Mason Neck State Park and Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge.

This bike path is one of the first we rode on when we moved to Northern Virginia 34 years ago - it has been a longtime family favorite   My husband and real estate partner made the enclosed map for your enjoyment.  We hope a ride on the path will be the first of many you will make - see ya' there.

Occoquan Pointe is a group of 72 town home condominiums with garages.  They sit high above Occoquan away from the hustle and bustle of the business district.  They were built in the mid 1990's.  Even after that length of time the exteriors are absolutely pristine - a testimonial to the management of the homeowner's association. Over the years my husband and I have had several transactions in Occoquan Pointe.

Planning to Buy or Sell Occoquan Real Estate?  Contact Karen and Art by Email or call us at 703-562-1532.  Put our  record of customer service, real estate experience and state-of-the-art technology to work for you in Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Prince William County, Stafford County or the entire Northern Virginia Area.

Initially, the Lorton correctional facility was supposed to house prisoners in an environment where fresh air and hard work would enhance inmate rehabilitation.   As a result, much of the more than 3,000 acres was used for the production of beef, dairy products and vegetables.  Additionally, many of the compound's brick buildings were built by inmates.  More than 6 years would pass from the time the prison was closed in 1998 until title was passed to Fairfax County and public and private development could be started. 

The new South County Secondary School opened in 2006.  It is conveniently located near the residential subdivisions.  Secondary schools in Virginia contain both middle school and senior high school populations. 

The 18 Laurel Hill Golf Course and club house is operated by the Fairfax County Park Authority and is, therefore, available to all county residents. 

There are 4 residential communities Laurel Hill, Laurel Highlands, Laurel Crest and an over 55 community - Spring Hill. 

The residential communities are within approximately 15 minutes of the VRE train station in Lorton and approximately 10 minutes of the I-95 Lorton interchange facilitating commuting to the Pentagon and Washington, D.C.  It's also about a 15 minute trip on US 1 to Fort Belvoir.  

A section of the old prison at Lorton Road and Route 123 has been converted into  an artist's studio (Lorton Workhouse Arts Center) which will open on September 19, 2008.  One of the unique features is that there will be periodic art classes. 

The community is convenient to Occoquan Regional Park with ball fields, boat storage and boat ramp to the Occoquan River.  It is only minutes to Mason Neck.

Planning to Buy or Sell Real Estate?  Contact Karen and Art by Email or call us at 703-562-1532.  Put our  record of customer service, real estate experience and state-of-the-art technology to work for you in Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Prince William County, Stafford County or the entire Northern Virginia Area.

That looks like any other 4 lane road in the eastern United States heading out of town into the country.  Actually, when you are on this road (Old Bridge Road) you are in the middle of Lake Ridge - one of the most picturesque, well planned, and well maintained communities in Northern Virginia.

Lake Ridge sits along the 2,100 acre Occoquan Reservoir, is minutes from I-95 with excellent bus and rail service to the Pentagon, Alexandria, Arlington and Washington, D.C.  People at Marine Corps Base Quantico and Fort Belvoir are within 20 to 30 minutes of their desks.

The public schools are in the community, as are 5 pools, 4 neighborhood shopping centers (one has Starbucks and another has Panera's), broad streets, underground utilities and lots of trees behind and near the homes.  Please see LAKE RIDGE for an in-depth view of the community with tons of pictures.

Planning to Buy or Sell Lake Ridge Real Estate?  Contact Karen and Art by Email or call us at 703-562-1532.  Put our  record of customer service, real estate experience and state-of-the-art technology to work for you in Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Prince William County, Stafford County or the entire Northern Virginia Area. 

Those of us who have lived in the eastern section of Prince William County remember for years the "nightmare" of driving east on Minnieville Road from Caton Hill Road to the intersection with Old Bridge Road.  That was one of the most miserable 2 lane stretches of road in Prince William County.  An accident, of any size, brought out the "traffic jam gremlins". 

As you can see below, work finally started on a badly neede widening, but that took several years since traffic could not reasonably be diverted away from it.

Life is now good as you can see below since the road work is complete.  The only challenge is holding down your speed.  There is a lovely subdivision, TWIN OAKS, along that stretch of road.  It was always very difficult to exit if you wanted to go in an easterly direction - not so anymore - traffic lights provide frequent breaks.

Planning to Buy or Sell Real Estate?  Contact Karen and Art by Email or call us at 703-562-1532.  Put our  record of customer service, real estate experience and state-of-the-art technology to work for you in Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Prince William County, Stafford County or the entire Northern Virginia Area.

Two of our favorite bakeries have always been "out west" - Grace's Pastries in Herndon and Moms Applie Pie Company in Sterling.  Well, both of these "ladies" delicious baked goods can now be purchased in Prince William County.

The good news is that Grace's Pastries are now available at the Farmer's Market  on Dale Boulevard in Dale City on Sunday mornings.  The bad news is that the Farmer's Market is only open in Spring, Summer and early Fall.  The rest of the year you can order online at Grace's Pastries She has received critical acclaim in The Washington Post and other publications.

Arthur and I visit the store ar 434 Elden St, Herndon whenever we are in the area on real estate business

Moms Apple Pie Company opened its' doors in 1981 in Sterling.  Four generations of the family work in the business.  Being in Virginia their most popular pie is, of course, apple.  All of their apples come from the Shenandoah Valley.

The new store is in Occoquan and a visit there will take longer than you might expect.  There are both the baked goods and general store.  The firm's website is Mom's Apple Pie

Arthur and I have lived in Prince William County for 25 years ans have been full time Northern Virginia real estate brokers for 32 years. 

Planning to Buy or Sell Real Estate?  Contact Karen and Art by Email or call us at 703-562-1532.  Put our  record of customer service, real estate experience and state-of-the-art technology to work for you in Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Prince William County, Stafford County or the entire Northern Virginia Area.