Author: Scott McCaffrey

Despite a year-over-year uptick in sales and a new monthly record sales price, the Washington region’s homes market may be reaching an affordability crunch that could cause a weak summer sales period.

That’s one possibility posited by Bright MLS, the region’s multiple-listing service, in parsing April sales data.

The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs Inc. Northern Virginia Business and Professional Women’s Club (NOVABPW) Mid-Atlantic District recently held its 2024 “Founders’ Day” program, dedication and candlelight service at Mrs. Jo’s Petite Eats Patisserie and Café in McLean.

NOVABPW has a “heartfelt duty to uplift our fellow members who are business and professional owners,” the organization added. “We are dedicated to sharing valuable insights into industry trends, equipping them with essential tools, and fostering connections among entrepreneurs. These connections serve as pathways to forge mutually enriching partnerships, which nurture the growth of their businesses and professional endeavors.”

The Washington region’s real-estate market hit an all-time record in median listing price for the week ending April 28, according to new data.

The median price for new listings of $649,999 topped the previous record, set two weeks before, at $649,000. In between, for the week ending April 21, the total was $640,000.

Vienna punches above its weight class in residents’ enthusiasm for pickleball, according to a new report.

It is based on the work of the 600 coaches at TeachMe.to, who last year delivered tens of thousands of pickleball lessons nationwide.

It may be just a temporary blip, but home sales across Fairfax County in March took a bit of a tumble even as average sales prices continue to rise.

A total of 818 properties went to closing during the third month of 2024, according to figures reported April 10 by Bright MLS, based on data from MarketStats by ShowingTime.

Showings of homes on the market across the local region are currently running a bit less than half their peak in the spring of 2021.

There were a total of 26,677 home showings to prospective purchasers across the region for the week ending April 21, according to figures reported by Bright MLS, the region’s multiple-listing service.

Noting his track record of igniting transformation through arts access and arts education, the board of directors of ArtsFairfax has tapped Stuart Holt as its new president/CEO.

He succeeds Linda Sullivan, who had served as president since 2010.

Member jurisdictions will be asked to chip in $5.26 per resident over the coming year to help fund the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority’s fiscal 2025 budget.

But the agency – also known as NOVA Parks – plans to recoup nearly 90 percent of its overall costs through fees charged for use of same facilities and services (such as pools, golf courses, batting cages and snack bars) rather than from tax subsidies.

As the drumbeat of excitement starts to build for a nearly 90-percent solar eclipse coming to the commonwealth next month, Virginia Department of Education officials are encouraging local school districts to make sure youth know what to do, and more importantly what not to do, during the event.

The April 8 eclipse will begin in the Washington region about 2:04 p.m., reaching its maximum point (the sun being 89 percent covered) at 3:20 p.m. and concluding around 4:30 p.m.

The timetable appears to be holding as construction continues on a centerpiece building for George Mason University’s Arlington campus in Virginia Square.

In a new update, George Mason University officials say they expect private tenants to begin moving in on schedule this summer, with university staff and programs to begin their move-in in the spring of 2025.