Arlington, Va drivers beware! New red light safety cameras to be installed

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This just in from the Arlington County Police Department:

ARLINGTON, VA – More red-light safety cameras will be installed at Arlington County intersections in the near future, providing 24-hour enforcement technology to chosen intersections. The additions involve seven cameras at five locations. Construction is expected to start at the intersection of Columbia Pike and George Mason Drive. Cameras will be installed at the following intersections:

  • Eastbound on Columbia Pike at S. Glebe Road
  • Westbound on Columbia Pike at S. Glebe Road
  • Eastbound on Columbia Pike at S. George Mason Drive
  • Northbound on N Glebe Road. at Washington Boulevard
  • Westbound on Lee Highway at N. George Mason Drive
  • Northbound on 23rd Street N. at US Route 1
  • Southbound on 23rd Street N. at US Route 1

There will be a 30 day “grace period” where warnings will be issued before the cameras go live. After the 30 day warning period, red light violators will be issued a $50 civil fine, which is similar to a parking citation and will not be added to the offender’s driving record.

The intersections are chosen based on state code 15.2-968.1 and consider the following factors:

  • Accident rate
  • Red light violation rate
  • Ability of police to apprehend violators safely within a reasonable distance from the violation
  • Pedestrian safety

Red-light safety cameras operate seven days a week and capture images of vehicles from the rear when drivers run a red light at an intersection. All violations are issued after police review of photographic and video evidence. Like other traffic violations, photo red-light violations can be challenged.

In June of 2010, cameras were installed at N. Glebe Road and N. Fairfax Drive; N. Lynn Street and eastbound Lee Highway; Washington Boulevard and Lee Highway; and Fort Meyers Drive and westbound Lee Highway. Since their installation, 34,761 citations have been issued through Dec 31, 2014. Ninety-seven percent of violators do not receive a second violation.

Arlington County contracts with American Traffic Solutions (ATS) as its red-light safety camera vendor.

Visit the Police Department website for more information on the program. http://police.arlingtonva.us/photored/

Mortgages are getting easier to obtain

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Lending guidelines have loosened up since the huge tightening of lending after the mortgage disaster.
You’ll still decent credit and some money down (well….usually) but you may be surprised at how accessible home ownership may be.
Rates were up a bit again last week but still so very historically low. Believe it or not my first home purchase had a interest rate of around 11%. To give you some idea of the difference in spending power of now vs. then:
If I purchased a $300000 home with a 80% mortgage, my monthly (without taxes and insurance) would have been $2571.27 at 11% and $1289.02 at 4%. Holy smokies. What a difference. Makes the buy vs. rent decision alot easier….and, it’s unlikely you’ll be paying 4%.
Here’s some current local rates:
30yr fixed to $417,000 = 3.75%
15 yr fixed to $417,000 = 2.99%

30yr fixed to $625,500 = 3.95%
15yr fixed to $615,500 = 3.125%

30yr VA = 3.45%

Here’s a video that discusses the loosening up of mortgage guidelines. For more info on what you qualify for, send me an email or give me a call. janejensen@comcast.net 571-228-5656

Light and Bright 2 bed/2bath condo-fplc, waterview, walk to Reston Town Center

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January Existing home sales-Thinking of selling?

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The National Association of Realtors has released January existing home sales data:

existinghomesalesjanuary

The initial take away from this might be that the market has softened. This might be the logical conclusion if inventory was at a reasonable

level. However, in Northern Virginia we are seeing fewer sales because inventory is…..in a word….”stinky”. Now that the holidays and the

Superbowl are over, we are seeing some new inventory trickle in but the well priced, appealing homes are going quicker than you can say

“Did you see this listing”. So, don’t believe the hype about home sales decreasing. With inventory still low, now might be the best time to

list your home. There are buyers waiting and your competion is on the sidelines, waiting for the tulips to come up.

Spring is coming. Here are your Arlington, Va area Farmers Markets

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Can’t wait for fresh produce? Me neither. Here is a list of farmer’s markets in the Arlington, Va area.

Columbia Pike and Westover (sponsored by your’s truly…so of couse I’m a bit biased) operate all year round with winter veggies as well as hand crafted teas, soaps, breads and other non-produce goodies.

Arlington Farmers Market

Arlington Farmers Market
Arlington County Courthouse Parking Lot
N. Courthouse Road and N. 14th St.
Saturdays, 8 a.m. – noon (April–Dec.); 9.a.m. – noon (Jan. – March)

Ballston Farmers Market
Welburn Square
901 N. Taylor St.
Thursdays, 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. (June-Oct.)

Clarendon Farmers Market
Clarendon Central Park, Adjacent to Clarendon Metro
3000 Clarendon Blvd.
Wednesdays, 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. (April-Dec.)

Columbia Pike Farmers Market
Pike Park
Columbia Pike and S. Walter Reed Drive
Sundays, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. (year round); 

Crystal City Farmers Market
1900 Crystal Dr.
Tuesdays, 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. (April 1st-Nov. 25th, 2014)

Westover Farmers Market
Westover Library
1644 North McKinley Rd
8 a.m.-noon Sundays, May-November; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays, December-April

IMG_8991-1 WFM newsletter ad image

This is the sponsor’s sign at Westover. If you stop by the sponsors table you can pick up a free gift from me. 

See you soon!

Jane Jensen