The real estate market in Great Falls, Virginia has seen a strong upsurge in sales during the second third of 2010.  During the first four months of 2010, 42 homes sold with a price range of $525,000 – $2.805 million.  Of these, 17 were priced under $1 million, 9 priced between $1.0 – 1.25 million, 13 between $1.25 – $2.0 m and three over $2 million.

During the second four months, a total of 101 homes an increase of almost 2.5 times the first four month.  These had a price range of between $594,900 – $6.5 million.  Of these, 43 were priced under $1 million, 18 $1.0 – $1.25 million, 34 between $1.25 – $2.0 million and six over $2 million.  In addition, another 48 homes are currently under contract.  Of these second four month sales, I have had a total of  $5.3 million either sold or under contract at this writing.

This morning, I stopped and spoke briefly with the receptionist at the Great Falls Executive Suites regarding Military Appreciation Mondays.  We had a very nice conversation regarding the fund raising events and how the community has become so supportive.  At the end of our discussion, I left a copy of the flyer announcing the event on Monday the 24th.  About two hours later, she left two personal checks sitting on the desk I had been using, each for $50 to be donated to Our Military Kids and the Neighbors Foundation.  While I won’t mention her by name, I just have to say how much this is appreciated and the signal it sends our service men and women.

WE ALL CARE AND APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR, NOT JUST ONE MONDAY EACH MONTH.

Neighbors Foundation

This month we will be showing our support to the troops who are on the frontlines of the war on terror.  Military Appreciation Mondays will be raising funds for the Great Falls, Va. based group Neighbors Foundation. NIF has provided over 1,600 care packages to servicemen and women serving YOU AND ME in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Some of the things sent include:

• Snack and food items that hold up well in a combat environment.
• Over 75 current magazines regularly donated by Time Warner.
• Holiday items to bring some seasonal cheer.

This month’s dinner at the Old Brogue will be on May 24th.  As always, we will be doing two seatings at 5:30 and 7:30.  As always, you simply come out and have dinner at the Old Brogue in Great Falls.  Myself and my cosponsors will each be contributing a 10 percent match (typically a total of an 80 percent match) of your dinner tab to Neighbors International Foundation.  If you know of anyone who might be interested in becoming a co-sponsor, please contact me at bob@bobnelsonteam.com.

You can also show your support through:
A. The purchase of door prize entries. (ALL Proceeds will go directly to Neighbors Foundation)
B.  Our buy a vet dinner initiative.  We will have between 10-15 enlisted personnel for whom you can buy dinner.
C.  Or you can make out a fully tax deductible donation to Neighbors Foundation.

Be Certain to make at Reservation for
Either the 5:30 or 7:30 Seating by Calling
The Old Brogue at:  (703) 759-3309

Hope to See You There

Please come out strong to show your support.  Due to the heavy rain and the Caps game, last month’s attendance only reach 80 people.  While our vets in attendance appreciated this showing, I was hoping to break our previous best of 130.  We did manage to raise nearly $3,000.  This in part due to one of my recent clients who committed to donating $600 to Our Military Kids.  I was also thrilled to learn last month that the March dinner in support of Lift Me Up’s therapeutic horseback riding raised enough money to jump start that program’s efforts and fund three veterans.

Please be certain to thank my co-sponsors when you have a chance.

Last Month’s Co-sponsors

The Old Brogue

LSA Title Services

Gary Kaihara, DDS

The Grossman Family

The Nelson Family

James Gaudiosi – Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

Previous Co-Sponsors

Mercury LLC

Knight Point Systems

Shiner Roofing and Siding

Danny Ott – George Mason Bank

and our door prize donors:

Billy Casper Golf Adeler Jewelers Toll Brothers Homes

PF Chang’s Dominion Title Lodgecliffe Bed and Breakfast

Casa Noble Tequila Elite Fitness Golds Gym

Turner Framing Maison Du Vin Mr. Wash (Car Wash)

Great Falls Design Build Home Equity Builders Campbell Mechanical

State Farm Insurance Downs & Assoc. Insurance

I thought it might be fun to throw in some comments from previous clients.  Please feel free to send my your thoughts.

I recently wrote a quick note to some folks who bought a Deck House in Reston.  I had said I wanted to stop by and see what they had done to their new home.  I knew from the moment we walked in the door that it was the perfect home for them.  Here is what Gene wrote back to me.

Bob. Come by anytime. We have done a lot. It has been fun. Thanks for helping us get it. I have never lived in a house I love more. You are the man Bob. See you soon.

Needless to say, I can’t wait to get by and see the home again.
A young couple (who are soon to have their first baby) bought their first home in Reston earlier this year.  We had looked at several homes together, but this particular townhome was an excellent value and in great shape.  Here is what Megan recently sent me.

Hi Bob, we’re really enjoying the house.  Of course you can stop by.
We’re out of the house until the evening most weekdays, so would over
the weekend work for you?

We’re sorry we haven’t been in touch, and we really appreciate all
you’ve done to help us get it.

I look forward to getting by and see it soon.  It will be even more exciting next fall after the baby is born.  I know they have to be extremely excited.

Military Appreciation Mondays
Supports
Our Military Kids

April is national Month of the Military Child.

I hope you can come out for this month’s Military Appreciation Mondays event at the Old Brogue which will be in recognition of the contributions made by the children of our Servicemen and Women.  I am particularly proud to be bringing back the truly special program – Our Military Kids. These dedicated folks provide support to children of deployed National Guard and Reserve personnel as well as to children of injured service members through grants for enrichment activities and tutoring.  Such activities help these children cope with the stress of having a parent in a war zone or recovering from injury at home.  OMK grants are made to honor the sacrifices that military families make and to ensure that their children have access to sports, fine arts, or academic tutoring programs.
To show your support, simply come out and have dinner at the Old Brogue in Great Falls.  Myself and my cosponsors will each be contributing a 10 percent match (typically a total of an 80 percent match) of your dinner tab to Our Military Kids.

You can also show your support through:
A. The purchase of door prize entries. (ALL Proceeds go directly to Our Military Kids.)
B.  Our buy a vet dinner initiative.  A minimum donation of $25 to OMK entitles you to purchase dinner for one of our vets.
C.  Or you can make out a fully tax deductible donation to Our Military Kids.

Be Certain to make a Reservation for
Either the 5:30 or 7:30 Seating by Calling
The Old Brogue at:  (703) 759-3309

Hope to See You There

Feel Free to Post the Attached Flyer in Your Office
and forward this email to whomever you think may want to attend.

We Would Love to Break 150 Attendees

I am proud to say that last month’s event in support of the Lift Me Up! therapeutic horseback riding program for our injured vets had approximately 125 people in attendance and raised approximately $4,500. This was our best total to date.  I would like to particularly thank Col. Pete Hilgartner (USMC Ret.) for helping out with a book signing at the last two events.  Let me know if you would like to purchase a copy of Colonel Hilgartner’s book “High Pockets War Stories”.  A $10 donation will be made to OMK with each sale.

Please be certain to support my co-sponsors whenever you have a chance.

Mercury LLC

Knight Point Systems

Shiner Roofing and Siding

James Gaudiosi – Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

Danny Ott – George Mason Bank

LSA Title Services

Gary Kaihara, DDS

The Old Brogue

and our door prize donors:

Mr. Wash

Golds Gym

Dominion Title

Turner Framing

Maison Du Vin

Adeler Jewelers

Casa Noble Tequila

Home Equity Builders

Campbell Mechanical

Elite Fitness Concepts

PF Chang’s Restaurant

Great Falls Design Build

Lodgecliffe Bed and Breakfast

Join us for dinner at

The Old Brogue in Great Falls

Monday, March 29th

Seatings at 5:30 PM and 7:30 PM

Reservations Highly Recommended

(703) 759-3309

Approximately 90% of your dinner bill

will be matched and donated to this month’s charity.

Lift Me Up! Therapeutic Riding

Door Prize Drawings will be held

Also Ask About Our Buy a Vet Dinner Donations

Hosted by

The Bob Nelson Team

Previous Co-sponsors Include:

Bob Nelson

Knight Point Systems

Terry Nelson – Mercury LLC.

Kevin Shiner – Shiner Roofing and Siding

James Gaudiosi – Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

Danny Ott – Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

Chris Melnick – LSA Title Services

Gary Kaihara, DDS

The Old Brogue

Previous Door Prize Donors include:

Golds Gym

Dominion Title

Adeler Jewelers

Casa Noble Tequila

Elite Fitness Concepts

Campbell Mechanical

PF Chang’s Restaurant

Great Falls Design Build

Lodgecliffe Bed and Breakfast

Hope you can join us and show your support to our nation’s servicemen and women on Monday February 22nd at the Old Brogue in Great Falls.  Proceeds from this month’s event will go to the Semper Fi Fund.

For those not familiar, you simply come out and have dinner.  Myself and my cosponsors will be contributing approximately 90 percent of your dinner tab to this critical organization.

You can also show your support through:
A. The purchase of door prize entries. (ALL Proceeds go the IMSFF)
B.  Our buy a vet dinner initiative.  A minimum donation of $25 to the Semper Fi Fund entitles you to purchase dinner for one of our vets.
C.  This month we will be selling autographed copies of the Book “Highpocket’s War Stories” authored by Great Falls’ own Col. Pete Hilgartner USMC (Ret.).
D.  Or make out a fully tax deductible donation to the Semper Fi Fund.

The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established to provide financial aid and quality of life assistance to service members and their families.  The group provides help to Qualified service members of all military branches and their families.  It helps Marines and Sailors as well as members of the Army, Air Force and Coast Guard who have served in support of Marine forces. The Semper Fi Fund provides assistance to these qualifying men and women, and their families, when they become injured in post 9-11 combat or training operations, or are diagnosed with a life threatening illness.

Please support my co-sponsors whenever you have a chance.

Mercury LLC

Knight Point Systems

Kevin Shiner – Shiner Roofing and Siding

James Gaudiosi – Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

Danny Ott – Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

Chris Melnick – LSA Title Services

Gary Kaihara, DDS

The Old Brogue

and our door prize donors:

Golds Gym

Dominion Title

Adeler Jewelers

Casa Noble Tequila

Elite Fitness Concepts

Campbell Mechanical

PF Chang’s Restaurant

Great Falls Design Build

Lodgecliffe Bed and Breakfast

As many of you have already heard, I have changed the name of our monthly events to Military Appreciation Mondays. This month’s event to be held on Monday January 25th at the Olde Brogue in Great Falls, Va. and will be supporting the group Thanks USA. This wonderful organization, the brainchild of two local teenagers provides college scholarship money for the children and spouses of our veterans with priority going to the families of those vets who have sustained injuries. Please come out and show your support.

As always, you need do nothing other than come out and enjoy dinner and a fun event. Myself and my co-sponsors will each be donating ten percent of your tab to Thanks USA. In addition, we will be selling door prize chances for a variety of items to include, but not limited to: jewelry from Adeler Jewelers, gift cards for PF Chang’s restaurant, gift baskets, a one year service contract for your heating and air conditioning system, etc.

We are again inviting several servicemen and women who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. A minimum donation of $25 to Thanks USA, earns you privilege of buying dinner for one of our vets. If you would like to buy dinner for a vet, please e-mail or give me a quick call.

Whether you sign up to buy a vet dinner, purchase door prize entries, or simply come eat dinner your presence goes a long way towards helping raise funds for the organization and showing that we all respect and care about our veterans.

We are again doing two seatings (5:30 and 7:30) to accommodate the overwhelming response we have had to the last four events. Please be sure to make a reservation early since the Snuggery portion of the Old Brogue has filled up for both seatings in the past. Call the Brogue at (703) 759-3309 to do so. Invite your friends and let’s try to fill the entire restaurant this time around!! The only cost to you is your dinner.

If you know them, please be sure to thank my co-sponsors:

The Old Brogue

James Gaudiosi – Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

Kevin Shiner – Shiner Roofing and Siding

Danny Ott – Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

Chris Melnick – LSA Title Services

Gary Kaihara, DDS

and our door prize donors:

PF Chang’s Restaurant

Dominion Title

Adeler Jewelers

Campbell Mechanical

Elite Fitness Concepts

Golds Gym

Thank you so much to those who have stepped up to brighten Christmas for the children of our injured servicemen.  Twelve of the sixteen families on the list have been fully accounted for with 25 of the 33 kids ready to have a wonderful Christmas morning.  Nancy and I ran out on Friday to do our shopping for the Helmuth kids.  We simply couldn’t resist the urge to buy “any toy that makes noise” for the one year old girl.  It was a great deal of fun picking out toys we thought the twins would enjoy.  We also had to learn all about transformers for four year old Nathaniel!!

If you are still considering showing your appreciation to our vets, please take a look at the remaining names below.  Once you let me know who you would like to purchase a gift for, drop an e-mail to Santa@BobNelsonTeam.com.  We will then give you the address and contact info for the family.  Feel free to visit the websites for Our Military Kids, Operation Second Chance, Thanks USA, the Semper Fi Fund and the Yellow Ribbon Fund if you’d like to show your support to these wonderful grassroots organizations.

Kids Still in Need of Gifts

Weissmiller Family (Adopted by the Moran and Vamvakias families – Thank you Mary and Don)

• 12 yr old girl: in-line skates (size 6-7)
• 7 yr old girl: roller skates (size 1)

Jensen Family (Adopted by the Grimes family – Thank you James and Susan)

• ·         13 yr old girl: Ipod Touch
• ·         9 yr old girl: Wii gaming system
• ·         6 yr old girl: Littlest Pet Shop toy house

Fulkerson Family

• 18 yr old boy: laptop computer for his school work and for college next year  (A  big thanks to Shiner Roofing and Siding for offering to purchase the laptop.  Again my thanks Kevin.)
• (A short note about this one.  It seems that the Fulkerson boy is a senior in high school.  He had come home from school and accidentally left his car door unlocked.  Someone actually stole the laptop out of the car from the son of an injured vet.  I realize this is a large item to be requesting.  I’m imagine he would be happy to receive a good condition laptop if nothing else.)

Thank You to Those Who Have Agreed to Purchase Gifts for the Families Below

Bellis Family (Adopted by the Hoernig family – Thank you Laura and Family)

• 14 yr old girl:  electric guitar, JC Penney’s gift card
• 11 yr old boy: football, Tennessee Titans merchandise, JC Penney’s gift card
• 6 yr old girl: Barbie doll, furreal electronic dog, JC Penney’s gift card

Broesch Family (Adopted by the Heil family – Thanks Tim)

• 15 yr old girl: art supplies (paint brushes, charcoal pencils), iTunes gift card
• 7 yr old girl: books, craft supplies, a Barbie doll

Brown Family (Adopted by Knight Point Systems – Thank you Lindsey)

• 7 yr old boy: Xbox 360
  
• 1 yr old girl: Disney princess toys/merchandise

Christiansen Family (Adopted by the Christianson family- Thank you Vickie and Family)

• 9 yr old girl: Girl Gourmet Cake Bakery
• 4 yr old girl: Girl Gourmet Cupcake Maker

Deen Family (Adopted by the Matthews family and Collingswood Nursing Home – Thank you Catherine)

• 16 yr old girl: iPod
• 15 yr old boy: video games
• 14 yr old boy: video games
• 9 yr old boy: board games
• 3 yr old girl: educational toys teaching the alphabet and numbers

Helmuth Family (I can’t resist.  Adopted by the Nelson Family. 

• 3 yr old boy: Transformers, action figures, books
• 1 yr old girl: any toy that makes noise!  (I love this one)

Loper Family (Adopted by the Borland Family – Thank you Dodie and family)

• 12 yr old girl: digital camera
• 11 yr old boy: remote controlled cars
• 10 yr old boy: nintendo dsi
• 7 yr old girl: American Girls doll

Sherrill Family (Adopted by the Copito family – Thank you Debbie and family)

• 14 yr old boy: new sports bag (for carrying sports equipment to practice)
• 11 yr old boy: new sports bag (for carrying sports equipment to practice)

Hall Family (Thundercat Technology)

• 8 yr old boy: gameboy

Holsey Family (Adopted by the Grossmans.  Thank you Jackie!)

• 15 yr old boy: gift cards to Footlocker and Macy’s

Pointer Family (Adopted by the Heil family – Thanks Tim)

• 13 yr old boy: ripstick skateboard

Williams Family  (Adopted by the Smiths – Thanks Laura and Gene)

• 14 yr old girl: gift cards to Barnes & Noble or AMC Theaters

• 6 yr old girl: Barbie doll, clothes (pants size 6x, shirts size 7)

According to data from the National Association of Realtors, pending home sales were up 3.7 percent in October, compared to September, and up 32 percent when compared to October 2008.  This was the biggest annual increase in history.  Keep in mind that October 2008 was a historic low so we should not be surprised by the huge increase.

Pending home sales — which equates to the number of contracts signed but have yet to close — rose in all sections of the country except the West.  They were up 20 percent in the Northeast, 11.6 percent in the Midwest and 5.4 percent in the South, but down 11.2 percent in the West.

Part of the surge is probably attributable to buyers rushing to take advantage of the government-subsidized first-time home buyer’s credit, which was set to expire at the end of November but now has been extended through April.  Also, the bulk of sales still are coming from cheaper houses, with little movement in houses costing more than $250,000.