As we turn a new calendar year, here is a quick peek at one of the trend lines from last year…median price for single family homes in Loudoun County rose from around $530,000 to about $570,000. Not too bad, eh?  I’m sure if you are thinking about selling (or heck, if you are a LoCo homeowner) you don’t mind seeing a 7% gain compared to last year.

Look for a more in depth year ending report shortly…

Cheers,
Heather

…is also a talented barber, who happens to have opened his own shop.

Dwight Grant has been my stylist of choice (the ONLY stylist to touch my hair, actually) for the last decade or so. He also takes care of the haircuts and styling duties for my brood of four kiddos, and everyone loves Mr. Dwight. I’ve written about him in the past when he was at other salons, and he’s now taken the leap to open his own shop.  Mens Grooming Room opened this summer in the heart of Middleburg as a full service barbershop.  Ladies, don’t be worried, though,  he’s dedicating time to continue his stylist duties, too.

In Dwight’s words, here’s the story behind this realized dream:

The calling to open up in Middleburg is to seek a more fuller expression of all I have to offer.  History has granted me the opportunity to be the first barber in 50 years serve the men of Middleburg. The town has been a very special place for me to revisit my ancestry, as my first job was at The Red Fox Inn as a bus boy at age 14, and my very first library card was issued to me at the Middleburg library. I have always considered myself privileged to have roots that run deep in the community, which has had a tremendous impact upon the way I view the world. Middleburg consists of people with families and histories tying us all together in one way or another.

The elements that have been important for me to incorporate into the salon were simple and clean and natural. The Hockman building has history; it is where you used to take your appliances to be repaired, back when people, places and things weren’t so ‘disposable.’  The building has been carefully restored, so it is clean and modern, but rustic at the same time.  I want the space to speak for itself; I love the miracle of nature so I wanted to bring the outside into the shop. To complement the existing aged wood doors and floors, I built my reception desk from scratch using Loudoun County wood with the help of the good men at Middleburg Millwork. I have tree bark artwork on the wall,  green plants, and plenty of natural sun light. The chairs are top of the line in comfort and design: saddle leather with walnut trim and arms, positioned in front of  full length dark walnut mirrors.

When I was in yesterday, I was treated to delicious cookies from the local bakery (and delightful conversation, too.)  Dwight takes customer service and satisfaction to new heights. Please stop in and say hi…you won’t be disappointed.

Visit his website or follow along on his facebook page…
Cheers,
Heather

I’m sure you are just as frustrated with our stinkbug infestation as I am. Could not believe it when I went to get gas yesterday, and saw this on the display…

Yep, that little sucker is on the inside of the display. I’ve found them in all sorts of odd places, but this one takes the cake. Has anyone found a solution to these disgusting little bugs yet? Anything working to make them go away? YUCK!

Cheers,
Heather

Happy Halloween!

Are you looking for perfectly LoCo Halloween festivities? Here are some great local events to make this Halloween fangtastic:

The 54th annual Leesburg Halloween Parade is on Halloween at 6:00 pm, starting as always at Ida Lee Park and traveling south on King Street. Please  bring a nonperishable donation for the Loudoun Interfaith Relief Food Bank; collection boxes will be located along the parade route.  And be prepared to gather (or duck!) candy that the parade participants will toss at you!

Great Country Farms in Bluemont will host their  Pumpkin Glow Night on Friday, October 28, and Saturday, October 29 from 6 to 9 pm, displaying over 2000 carved and lit jack-o-lanterns  You can enter your own Jack-o-lantern in the carving competitions, judged for Best in Glow, Scariest and Funniest. Roast marshmallows over the bonfire while you are there!

Monday the 24th through Saturday the 29th, at 6, 7 and 8 pm, Oatlands in Leesburg is hosting their Oatlands After Five Paranormal Tours, with tales of ghosts and unexplained happenings at the plantation, plus details of “ongoing paranormal investigations” there. Tours are suitable for those 8 and older, and space is limited, so reservations are encouraged.  (Saturday is already sold out!)

Alas, The Virginia Scaregrounds at Paxton Manor in Leesburg are  not opening this year. Instead,  Paxton is hosting Shocktober, inviting you to brave the Haunted Mansion, The Funhouse, and/or the Haunted Well of  Souls. They are open Friday through Sunday every weekend in October, and also on Monday the 31st for Halloween.

The Haunted Forest at Halloween Woods at Algonkian Park in Sterling looks tempting….but wear appropriate shoes and clothes, folks, as you will be tromping on uneven paths through the woods. Their website says that “haunted houses are for sissies” so I’m guessing it should be pretty scary!

The Old Stone School at Hillsboro will be haunted again by the Loudoun Valley High School Drama Club and the Hillsboro Community Association on Saturday the 29th from 6 to 9 pm, and is suitable for ages 8 and up.  I heard something about the Grim Reaper minding the door, and a Janitor wandering around sweeping up hands and feet…

I will personally be spending the better part of the Halloween weekend at the Baseliners Halloween Classic girls softball tournament in Sterling. My 14 and under Loudoun Storm softball girls will be playing on Saturday and Sunday; all the teams participating will be decked out in spookier versions of their typical uniforms. Nearly every Storm team is participating, so make sure to cheer for them if you come out!

Hope you have a spooktacular Halloween!
~Heather

(photo credit…it’s not a Leesburg house, but Shane Gorski took it, and it rocks.. )

Since it’s January, I’ve noticed a lot of the “10 Most Expensive Homes Sold” stories on the national level…so I thought I’d do the same for us LoCo folks. Of course, there were two homes tied for 10th, which gives us the top 11 homes by sale price in Loudoun for 2010. All information and photos are courtesy of the Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, our multiple listings service (MLS). Enjoy!

The 10th Most Expensive Homes

41244 Grenata Preserve, Leesburg

Purchased just after the turn of the calendar last January, this estate home in the Grenata Preserve neighborhood in Leesburg sold for $1,500,000 on the button. Listed by Sue McClanahan of Envirian of Reston, it was scooped up by buyer clients represented by Joyce Bush, of Long and Foster in Leesburg. With over 10,000 finished square feet, the home sits on a 5.83 acre lot with a private pond.

40590 Snickersville Turnpike, Aldie

Sold in June, also for $1,500,000,  is this 199 year old farmhouse in Aldie listed by Gloria Armfield of Armfield, Miller, & Ripley. A true estate on just over 97 acres, the home is an “historic property under gift of easement to the Commonwealth of Virginia,” according to the listing. It was purchased by clients represented by Billie Van Pay of Long and Foster.

The 9th Most Expensive Home

42710 Little Sorrel Lane, Leesburg

This custom built home in Lee’s Crossing, just north of Leesburg, sold for $1,550,000 in October. Built in 2008, and situated on 12.05 acres, the home is a true equestrian property with a five stall barn, black board fencing, and run in sheds. The home itself has a main level master bedroom, three fireplaces, and was listed by Sue Smith of Re/Max Premier.  The new buyers were represented by Francesca Wertheim of Blue Creek Realty.

The 8th Most Expensive Home

19966 Belmont Station Drive, Ashburn

The first of two Belmont Country Club homes to make this list, this beauty sold in May for $1,677,437 as a new construction home by Toll Brothers. Mickey Glassman of ReMax Premier represented the buyers, whose new home has over 10,000 finished square feet on a .69 acre golf community lot.

The 7th Most Expensive Home

19976 Belmont Station Drive, Ashburn

Making the list in the 7th slot is the second Belmont Country Club home. You may have heard about this home’s prior owner, Osama El-Atari? He’s the former restaurateur who was sentenced in 2010 to 12 years in prison for fraudulently borrowing $71 million from 8 different banks. The home was  sold for $1,950,000 in June after the bankruptcy court approved the deal. Melody Rosenblatt of Re/Max Select was the listing agent, and Glenn Stakem, also of Re/Max Select, represented the buyers.

The 6th Most Expensive Home(s)

19606 Telegraph Springs Road, Purcellville

Well, this listing qualifies as the 6th most expensive, but it’s actually more than one home…Hunters Run Farm, built in 1780 and listed by Scott Buzzelli of Middleburg Real Estate, is actually one main residence and two guest houses.  There’s a total of 7 bedrooms and 6 baths, plus a stone bank barn, stocked pond, and formal gardens, all on 24.38 acres.  The buyers, also represented by Buzzelli, purchased it for $2,150,000 in May.

The 5th Most Expensive Home

17163 Silver Charm Place, Leesburg

Coming in at the 6th slot is a 12,000 square foot mansion in the Beacon Hill community, listed by Marlene Baugh of Long and Foster. Only on the market for a mere 40 days, this estate home on a 4.19 acre lot overlooks a pond and boasts a four car garage, theatre rooms, libraries, sports bar, chef’s kitchen, music room, art studio, pool, hot tub, and a climate controlled wine cellar. Whew! The features-packed home was sold for $2,175,000 in May, and the buyers were represented by Lilian Jorgenson of Long and Foster.

The 4th Most Expensive Home

37247 Mountville Road, Middleburg

Making the list in the 4th slot is another historic property, this one constructed around 1800 in Middleburg, and restored with an architecturally appropriate addition. On a 17.57 acre property with pond, stable, fencing, and studio, the home sold in October for $2,400,000 to buyers represented by Rick Lowe of Armfield, Miller, and Ripley.  The home was listed by Mary South Hutchison, also of Armfield, Miller, and Ripley.

The 3rd Most Expensive Home

39280 Snickersville Turnpike, Middleburg

Here’s the second Snickersville Turnpike home to make our list, although this one is in Middleburg instead. Sold for $3,200,000 in July, “Wood Hill” has 49 acres, including a pool, cabana, tennis courts, stables, 7 fireplaces, and two tenant houses. Listed by Donna Baker of Armfield, Miller, and Ripley, the home was only on the market for 27 days before it was sold by Helen MacMahon of Sheridan-MacMahon, Ltd.

The 2nd Most Expensive Home

33024 Sunken Lane, Upperville

On 86 acres in the Piedmont Hunt area, this manor home on 86 acres sold for $4,250,000 in October…location, location, location! The home was listed by Ann MacMahon of Sheridan-MacMahon, and boasts a first floor master suite, curved staircase, tenant house, stable and ring, ponds, stone walls, and fencing.  The new homeowners were represented by Paul MacMahon, also of Sheridan-MacMahon.

The Most Expensive Home Sold in LoCo in 2010 is….

37681 Full Cry Farm Lane, Middleburg

Full Cry Farm, on 234 gorgeous acres just south of Middleburg, tops our list for 2010, selling for an even $5,000,000 in April.  You know it’s a special home, when the description says it was “completed” in 2004 instead of built! Listed by John Coles of Thomas & Talbot Real Estate, the home has over 8,000 finished square feet, a stocked pond,8 fireplaces, exposed beams, gourmet kitchen, 18 stall barn (with 2 bedroom apartment above), riding ring, and six paddocks. According to the website for the property, the home was designed to be “a new home with the genuine feel of an era gone by.”  The buyers for this breathtaking property were represented by Rein du Pont, also of Thomas & Talbot Real Estate.

Congratulations to all of the new homeowners of these exquisite properties, and Happy New Year!

Cheers,
Heather