December 9th, 2009:
The Byron in Falls Church
The Byron is an elegant, newly built condominium community located at 450 West Broad Street in Falls Church, Virginia. Developed by JPI and Nova Habitat, the Byron is a mid-rise building that includes 1, 2, and 3 bedroom units. The spacious and open floor plans feature hardwood floors, individual balconies, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, large gourmet kitchens that include a breakfast bar, walk-in closets and fireplaces. Other amenities include a fitness center, clubroom, a shuttle to the Metro, and a secured 2 car underground garage. The Byron is also an easy commute to Washington D.C. and the greater Metropolitan area via quick access to I-66 and I-495. The Byron houses 90 condo units that vary in size but all of which are considerably larger than other condos units in the surrounding areas.
The 1 bedroom units that include a den are approximately 1,032 square feet; the 2 bedroom units begin at 1,661 square feet with the largest unit spanning 1,825 square feet in total; and finally, the 3 bedroom/3 bathroom units are a whopping 1,998 square feet. Because the Byron does not have a swimming pool, the condo fees for the building are considerably less than those that do. The Byron is therefore both an affordable and attractive condo community particularly when one considers the size of the units, the location of the condos, and the modern host of amenities included in each. The Byron is a new building and has already received top reviews from all around the greater Northern Virginia area, making it a smart buy for 2010.
The Bryon is in Falls Church VA
The Spectrum at Falls Church
The Spectrum at Falls Church is a “green condo” development in Falls Church, Virginia. An affordable and eco-friendly condo building that features a “green roof” which saves residents money on utilities such as electricity, the Spectrum is one of several condo communities in Northern Virginia that has gotten on board with the environmentally-friendly bandwagon. The Spectrum at Falls Church is located at 444 West Broad Street just off of Route 7 in Falls Church, Virginia, and is approximately a ten-minute drive to the East Falls Church Metro on the Orange Line. The Spectrum at Falls Church houses 189 condo units throughout the development and offers 15 different floor-plans for the one and two bedroom condos. The Spectrum also features two-story lofts that vary in size from 800 to 1,600 square feet. The Spectrum Condominium building had numerous environmentally-friendly features and is therefore known as what is currently understood as a “green condo”. Every unit features bamboo or cork flooring, both of which are sustainable materials, and the hot water, central air, and natural gas utility components within the units offer energy saving and energy efficient elements.
The roof of the Spectrum is a “green roof” that was designed to improve air quality and filter storm water. The plants that grow on the roof are intended to provide thermal insulation, which in turn help to reduce energy consumption throughout the building and thus increase insulation for the community residents. Because the roof helps residents conserve energy, it is also notable that the roof, therefore, saves residents money.
The Spectrum community features include a large clubroom with a pool table, lounge, and fireplace, as well as a business center, conference room, catering kitchen, and a movie screening or theater room. Other amenities include a fitness center, a garden area, and a rooftop observation deck overlooking the “green roof”.
In today’s current market, saving money and the environment are two important but often wholly separate matters. The benefit of the Spectrum Condominiums at Falls Church is that the building provides residents the opportunity for both, setting the standard for a harmonious relationship between urban society and the natural world. Check the Spectrum for a map of the location and a list of what’s for sale at the Spectrum.
Interested in Alexandria VA?
If you are considering buying or selling property, planning to relocate, looking for Alexandria homes for sale, Alexandria condos for sale or looking for any other information about real estate in Alexandria, or the surrounding areas, you have come to the right place.
This complete Alexandria real estate resource for offers everything you will need: access to property listings with photographs and virtual tours, home valuation tools, and real estate articles to help guide you through the home buying or selling process. You can also find contact information for Condo Alexandria / Will Nesbitt Realty, your Alexandria real estate agent, REALTOR or real estate broker. We can help you with you buy or sell a home, and find information about Alexandria communities , schools, real estate market conditions, recreation and much more!
In addition to detailed listings of existing houses for sale in Alexandria, Condo-Alexandria.com also provides access to Alexandria new construction homes for sale. We also offer a comprehensive local real estate guide for Alexandria
where you can find a wealth of community information about Alexandria
and specific zip codes in Alexandria. Looking for a different city? We
also provide a Northern Virginia real estate guide with a list of other cities and communities in Northern VA.
Those interested in residential real estate in Alexandria will find many types and styles of homes for sale in Alexandria, as well as community events of interest and local amenities unique to the Alexandria area. Others may enjoy outdoor activities and family friendly atmosphere of Alexandria.
The Vista on Courthouse Condos
Located at 12th North Court and Courthouse Road in Arlington Virginia, the Vista on Courthouse includes townhouse condos stacked in a duplex-style that feature 213 condo units in a building that was originally known as Abingdon Heights. The condo units feature 2, 3 and 4 bedroom floor plans, as well as a host of specialized amenities such as spacious outdoor private terraces, hardwood floors, 9 foot ceilings, stainless steel appliances, and ultra-luxurious soaking tubs in the bathrooms. In addition, the units feature granite vanity countertops in the bathrooms, two-toned interior paint, recessed, energy-efficient lighting and pendant bar lighting, as well as granite kitchen countertops and other high-end advancements. The Vista on Courthouse condos also host a private fitness center, a theater ad game room, a ground-level pool with sun deck, a grand courtyard plaza entrance, as well as beautifully landscaped grounds and park-like recreational green spaces rowed by community sidewalks. Some of the townhouses are as large as 3,200 square feet and offer private terraces. The duplex-style homes are just over 1,700 square feet in size.
The Vista on Courthouse is perfectly suited for the busy professional because of the buildings convenient location, just two blocks from the Arlington Courthouse Metro, and because there is a wide-array of businesses, restaurants, and shopping centers easily accessible within a one mile radius of these fantastic homes. This pet-friendly and community centered residence brings the best of Arlington to your front door and serves as the ideal for contemporary condo living in Arlington’s urban Courthouse neighborhood.
Condos at the Court House Metro
Contracts 101: An Introduction to Common Contract Principals
When buying a condo or, realistically, almost any other large financial purchase, you can count on the fact that at least one (if not several) contracts will be involved in the process. However, many people may not know what a contract actually is.
Even if you do know what constitutes the basic elements of a contract, it helps to have a working knowledge of the legal terminology that is typically associated with general contracts in order to fully understand their rudimentary function. And while condo owners and those who maintain rental lease agreements may have more experience with contracts than those who don’t, contracts are nonetheless very much a part of every day life for most people (think: contracts with your cell phone company or signing a credit card slip after making a small purchase). What follows is intended to serve as an introduction to contract principals and, hopefully, provide some helpful information to individuals who want to know a little more about basic contract law.
What is a contract?
At its fundamental core, a contract is a legally binding agreement between two parties where a valid offer made by one party is accepted by the other, which is indicated by some mutual exchange of value. Under common contract law, this mutual exchange of value is called “consideration”, which must be reasonably relied upon by both parties who agree to contract. Therefore, the three most fundamental elements of all legally valid contracts are offer, acceptance, and consideration.
What types of contracts are there?
There are a variety of legally viable contracts under current common law standards, not all of which must necessarily be in writing. A contract can be written, oral, or implied depending on the parties’ actions at the time of the original contract formation. For example, a written document that claims to be a contract is often no more than evidence of the details of the contract, and not the contract itself. A valid contract offer must indicate a desire to enter into a contract (and thereby invite acceptance); should indicate a time period for acceptance; and must reasonably indicate that upon acceptance the contract will form without further approval from offeror. Here, it is the traditional practice in most situations to determine the details to which both parties agree and to transcribe the specifications into writing. This is particularly important if either party wishes to modify the contract at a later time.
In addition, signing a written document is not necessarily an act of acceptance that therefore creates a contract. If the parties have already reached an agreement the written document and signatures may be introduced to the courts as parole evidence of an already existing agreement, but may not determine the validity of the contract on its own. If, for example, the court determines that the original offer was in fact rejected or, if there was a counteroffer which was accepted but without any new consideration, the written and signed contract may prove not to be a contract at all.
Alternatively, if there is nothing in writing or if parts of a written contract are missing, a court may hold that there was an implied contract that existed between the parties and in this instance, a list of the complete terms is not always required. In real estate transactions, for example, an incomplete description of a property may still validate the terms of the contract where the intent of the parties would be used to clarify the specific obligations or missing information that was otherwise implied. On the other hand, to be enforceable, a property sales contract must be written in some form (even if it is incomplete) and oral agreements to sell real estate are not legally binding. In real property contracts, the contract must identify the buyer, the seller and the property itself, even if some details are omitted. Lastly, a real estate contract must establish a purchase price and the terms of the sale in order to validate the agreement.
Finally, a contract can be either unilateral or bilateral in nature. A unilateral contract is a promise for an act where acceptance of the offer is synonymous with the performance of the act and thus, a contract is only created when the act itself is done. Until then, the offeror reserves the right to withdraw the offer. For example, if I offer to pay you $20.00 to jump into the mud, you can either accept my offer by jumping into the mud and I would owe you $20.00 or, if I decide that I would rather keep the money, I can choose to withdrawal my offer so long as you have yet to jump in.
A bilateral contract, in contrast, is a promise for a promise where, as soon as promises are exchanged, both parties are instantly bound by each promise respectively. The vast majority of contracts are bilateral. Here, if I promise to give you $20.00 and you promise to jump into the mud, the contract is accepted by this exchange of promises and not by the performance of the promises themselves.
So…what did we learn?
While there are many, many other legal constructs that are fundamental to basic contract law (all of which are best left to a legal or other certified professional who can advise you of your rights and responsibilities), the golden principals of all contract law include an offer, acceptance, and some consideration that can be reasonably relied upon by both parties in order to make the contract legally enforceable. While there are different kinds of contracts which include oral, written and implied contracts, all jurisdictions within the United States require that certain kinds of contracts, such as those involving real estate transactions, must be in writing and, in such cases, must identify the buyer, the seller, and the property itself, as well as the purchase price for the property.
Lastly, a contract can be either unilateral or bilateral and knowing the distinction between the two outlines the liability and responsibility that each party may or may not assume. One of the many benefits of living in a free market is that anyone who is legally competent to contract (save for juveniles and those who are legally defined as mentally incompetent) has the right to do so. This is a powerful right and one which must be used responsibly and knowledgeably. The more you know about these kinds of the contractual agreements, the more prepared you will be to make educated decisions when, and if, you decide to sign on the dotted line.
