Once again Santa and I are teaming up with Our Military Kids in an attempt to bring some extra holiday cheer to children of our injured service members and their families.  We’ve compiled a Christmas Gift Wish List for these SUPERHEROES.  I’m hoping everyone will check out this list and consider purchasing one item, serving as Santa for an individual child or even sponsoring an entire family.  The latter is a great option for a company or office to consider.

The list below will be posted until Christmas and will be updated over the next few weeks.  Please give me a call or drop  an e-mail to: Santa@bobnelsonteam.com and let us know how you would like to brighten a family’s Christmas day.  Once you have done so, we will give you the contact info for the family to allow you to send your gift(s) directly to them.  I would also encourage you to click on the link above and visit the Our Military Kids website to learn more about this wonderful grassroots organization.

Hite Family:

(Adopted by the Wesbrook Family)

Davonate Hite (10):

Zipfy Mini Luge SKU ID #268227

Techno Gears Marble Mania Extreme 2.0 SKU ID #265211

Discovery Deluxe Touch Screen ATM Machine SKU ID #862

Jensen Family

(Adopted by Mary Burnette)

Halle (14)

A necklace

Tiani Family:

(Adopted by Shiner Roofing and Siding)

Olivia (13):

gift cards to various mall stores

Zeppie (11):

Wii games, Rip Stick G

Phoenix (9):

Zhu Zhu Pets and anything NASCAR

Rocco (6):

Cars Wii Game, remote control car

Joiebelle (5):

Strawberry Shortcake Doll, Pink scooter

Dax (newborn):

any clothes size 3 months and up

Vaughns Family

(Adopted through donations to the Bob Nelson Team)

Jordan (6):

Vtech MobiGo Touch Learning System

MobiGoCarrying  Case

MobiGoSoftware Games:  Toy Story 3, Disney Cars,

NASCAR,

Shrek, Mr. Men/Little Miss

John (10):

Nintendo DSI (black)

Dejah Miles (15):

Women’s UGG Australia Classic Short Boots,

Size 10, Color:  Black

Ellis Family

Jesse (16):

Nano Touch I-Pod – Gold

(Purchased through donations to the Bob Nelson Team)

Juliann (13):

New clothes/Gift card to Target, Pac Sun or Forever 21

Joshua (12):

(Adopted by Louis and Chris Wise)

Nano Touch I-Pod – Gray or Silver

Brown Family

(Adopted by Debbie and Robert Copito)

Dylan (8):

New Bright 1:14 Scale Mud Slinger – Hummer Sand

Stormer #075445  (*These are Toys R Us #’s)

Exclusive San Diego Comic Con 2010 Halo:  Reach 5 inch

Action Figure – Noble 7 #509096

True Heroes Helicopter Playset :786686

Mega Bloks Halo Wars Magnetic Warriors:  Silver UNSC Flame Marine (29679) #675418

Halo:  Reach Series 1 6 inch Action Figure – Jorge #819021

Halo Wars Collection 4.5 inch Action Figure – Sgt. Forge #592841

Madylan (2):

Disney Princess Super Play House Tent #073126

Disney Princess-edition Disney’s The Little Mermaid Sing Along Boom Box #517523

Yo Gabba Gabba Toodee Cuddle Pillow #434678

Disney Princess Shopping Cart #650555

Yo Gabba Gabba Toddler Blanket #434686

Yo Gabba Gabba Boom Box Theater #035020

Hill Family

(Adopted by the Nelson Family)

Makale (14):

Itunes card

Call of Duty Black Ops for Xbox 360

Xbox 360 controller

Dreyson (7):

Lego Kingdom King’s castle (7946)

Lego Kingdom’s Prison tower rescue (7947)

Moriarty Family

(Adopted by Shiner Roofing and Siding)

all items from Toys R Us Big Christmas Book

Kaleigh (11):

Bop it Bounce Game – 6 slammin ball bouncing games

Teacup Piggies Fashion Runway

Lalaloopsy Blue Hair Doll

Digital camera

Madison (5):

Leapfrog Leapster 2 (pink)

Leapster Toystory 3 Game

Lalaloopsy Purple Hair doll

Barbie Pampered Pups Salon

First Act Discovery 30″ Acoustic Guitar (pink/purple)

Emerson (3):

Leapfrog Leapster 2 (green)

Fisher Price Grow with Me Cook & Care Kitchen (pink)

Cozy Coupe Shopping Cart (pink)

You and Me, My Kitty and Me Doll

Little Mommy Sweet As Me Doll

Rivera Family

(Adopted by Sonya Dervenis – Lavender Hill Interiors, Jack Legler- Legenter LLC; and Tami Harsanyi – State Farm Insurance, and Diane Hoyer – Women Helping Women with Finance)

Justin (16), Oseas (9), John (7):

Disney Movies, Tickets to the AMC Movie Theatres, Clothes from Old Navy; or whatever the donor would like to give to these boys

Schwartz Family

(Adopted by Jill Grossman – LSA Title)

Morgan (18); Allissa (17); Kaylie (12); Jeffrey (9); Isaiah (7); Lindsey (5):

Gift cards for clothing/gift for each child to Target, Walmart or Meijer.

Kuinileti Sele Family

(Adopted by Elizabeth Gaffney)

Peter (9):

Sony PSP G Handheld Game; black or blue

Serafina (7):

Sony Limited Hannah Montana PSP Entertainment Pack (used on Ebay $130.98); pink or purple

Kleopatra (4):

KidKraft 65156 Designer Dollhouse Doll Toy; multicolor is fine

Chism Family

(Adopted by Rick and Amy Buchanan)

Gavin (9):

Lightsaber Room Light

Death Star Planetarium

Lego Star Wars AT-AT Walker

Perez Family

(Adopted by Tim Heil – Keller Williams)

Yaniliz (6)

Barbie A Fashion Fairytale Horse and Carriage

Leapfrog:  Leapster Explorer with Tinker Bell and Sponge Bob Learning games (these gifts are in the Toys R Us Christmas Book)

Cummings Family

(Adopted by The Collingswood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center)

Gabrielle (10):

Ipod Nano with Multi Touch (pink or purple)

Maximus (9):

Ipod nano with Multi Touch (blue or boyish color)

Broesch Family

Bella (7):

Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters Wild Bunch (set of 4)

Barbie Horse Adventure:  Riding Camp for Nintendo

Wii Uno Attack Game

Easy-Bake Oven and Snack Center with Classic Light Bulb Oven (mint green)

(Purchased by Jenni Blessman – Keller Williams)

Magic Tree House Books

Taylor (15):

Gift card to a clothing store such as Macy’s, Vanity or Maurices

(Purchased by Alison Sherman – Keller Williams)

Gift card for gas

Solia 1″ Flat Iron

(Purchased by the Bob Nelson Team)

Garcia Family

(Adopted by the Borland Family)

Rebecca (10):

Bed Bath & Beyond – Vanity Set (black)

Rachel (7):

Nintendo DSI (pink)

Jordyn (6):

Toys R Us – KidKraft Deluxe Wooden Easel Espresso (Item #819509)

Jenna (2 1/2):

Toys R Us – Just Like Home Parkview Modern Wood Kitchen (Item #230906)

May Family

(Adopted by Michael Vandergrift – Washington First Bank)

Chelsea (10)

Digital camera, Sony Cibershot Pink, Model #W310 (pink); available at Best Buy

Fasnacht Family

(Adopted by the Brugel Family)

Blake (3):

Toy Story 3 Blu Ray Combo Pack

Mater’s Tall Tales Blu Ray Combo Pack

Cars Piston Cup 500 Track

Cars Toon Monster Truck Wrastlin’ Playset

Summers Family

Amber (11):

Beginner snowboard, length 140-145 cm

Devan (10):

Beginner snowboard, length 132-137 cm

Tristen (8):

Beginner snowboard, length 135-140 cm

Plybon Family

(Adopted by Gene and Laura Smith)

Liam (13)

Fishing stuff from Cabelas

Three forks Fly Rod and Reel Combo with Fly Line, length: 7’6″, reel model 456, 3 pieces, line weight 3, rod model 763-3, handle 3

Halo video game Noble Map

Byrd Family

(Adopted through Donations to the Bob Nelson Team)

Nailah (14):

ITouch

Nia (13):

Kindle

Treacher Family

(Adopted by Laura DeSimone
DeSimone Health and Fitness LLC)

Nina (10):

Littlest Pet Shop Rescue Tails Center

Guesstures Charades Game

Zhu Zhu Pets:  Wild Bunch with Nutters hamster for Nintendo DS

Lego Harry Potter Hagrid’s Hut

Grant (6):

Paper Jamz Guitar

Paper Jamz Drumz

Creepy Crawlers Bug Maker & Refill

King Zhu with Tull Hamster for Nintendo DS

Lego Creator 3-in-1 Crocodile

Loopz Game

Mitchell Family

(Adopted through donations to the Bob Nelson Team)

Zac (18):

a Craftsman tool box, the one that stands up with a bottom box and top box

Jerret (8):

Nintendo DSiXL (blue or black)

Serenity (6):

A nice, portable DVD player, one that the screen flips and folds down; (Sony has one)

Miranda Family

(Adopted by the Hoernig Family)

Anthony 17:

Armani aqua di Gio

Gift Card to Express $75

I Touch 8 gigs

Angelina 15:

Ipod Touch

Baby Alive Bouncin Bubbles

Baby Alive Changing time baby

Baby Alive Baby all Gone

Cool pix camera with touch screen if possible

Footlocker gift Card $100

Joseph 13

Game Stop Gift Card $25

Safe to lock my stuff up in (cause my brothers steal my pepsi)

Remote for my xbox 360 wireless if possible

Headset for my xbox 360

Ricci 12

I pod Touch

Drum set

Lego City passenger plane

Lego City Police Headquarters

Mostly I want the I pod Touch

Cheri 10

Animal Planet Radio Control Black Spider

Baby Alive changing time baby

Phineas and Ferb alarm clock

Star Wars radio control Millenium Falcon

(All in the Toys R us catolog)

Thank you, Santa Tell Ms. Claus Howdy from Cheri!!

Gasca Family

(Adopted by Mark and Carolyn Stys)

Matthew (4)

Blue Vtech V Reader Reading System with the V Reader Toy Story

Leap Frog Reading System Tag with the tag book Sponge Bob

Lowery Family

(Adopted by the Hanscom Family)

Cameron (5):

Fisher Price Smart Cycle/Extreme Physical Learning Arcade System with game

Clothes:  Shirts Size 7; pants size 6 or 7 with adjustable waist

Damian (16):

Games for X-Box 360 or Gift Card for X-Box Live

Clothes:  Shirt Size medium (men); pants – skinny jeans; skating clothes

This Month’s Military Appreciation Mondays will be supporting the group Yellow Ribbon Fund. As always, the dinner will be held at the Old Brogue in Great Falls, Va. There will be two seatings at 5:30 and 7:30. I will have additional details in the next several days. Also, please watch for info on this years Christmas Gift Wish list which provides for a little extra “Christmas Cheer” for our nation’s SUPERHEROES, the son’s and daughters of our injured veterans.

A Recent Connections Newspaper Article

The local Great Falls Connections newspaper contained an article about Military Appreciation Mondays which they entitled “Paying Tribute” The writer Alex McVeigh really seemed to capture the essence of what we have been trying to do with the monthly dinners.  I was really worried about how well it would come out since he interviewed me in the middle of the dinner.  This while I was hold my granddaughter Reagan who insisted on being with her POP.  Please be sure to mark your calendars for this month’s dinner in support of the Yellow Ribbon Fund.

Thanks to all our great supporters, the Military Appreciation Monday event raised nearly $4,000 for Operation Second Chance.  We had nearly 100 people turn out for the dinner to include several servicemen and women currently stationed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.  One of the greatest parts about the evening was that two of the most desirable door prizes were won by one of our visiting vets.  He walked away with a two day stay at the Lodgecliffe on the Choptank Bed and Breakfast and a fabulous apple pie from B. Sweet.  The four star lodging is donated each month by Dawson Richardson at Merrill Lynch.  B Sweet has donated two pies for each of our last two events. The wife of another vet won the biggest prize of the evening, a beautiful pendant donated by Adeler Jewelers.

If you have a chance, please be sure to give a big thanks to our co-sponsors and door prize donors.

Co-sponsors include:

The Old Brogue
LSA Title Services
Gary Kaihara, DDS
The Grossman Family
Julius Fleischman
The Norman Family
The Nelson Family
James Gaudiosi – Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
Taylor Allgyer – First Savings Mortgage
Carrillon Capital

Door Prizes for this month were donated by:

Adeler Jewelers

Lodgecliffe Bed and Breakfast

Dominion Title

PF Chang’s

Maison Du Vin

Great Falls Design Build

State Farm Insurance

Great Falls Exxon

B. Sweet Pies

This Month’s Military Appreciation Monday’s will be supporting Operation Second Chance.

Date:  October 25th.

Where: Old Brogue – Great Falls, Va.

Time: Two seatings – 5:30 and 7:30.

Please be sure to make a reservation by calling: (703) 759-3309.

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 (A 110 percent match this month) of your dinner tab to help our Nation’s True Heroes.

If you know of anyone who might be interested in becoming a co-sponsor, please contact me at bob@bobnelsonteam.com or call at (703) 999-5812.

You can also show your support through:

A. The purchase of door prize entries. (ALL Proceeds will go directly to Operation Second Chance)

B. Our buy a vet dinner initiative. We hope to have between 10-15 enlisted personnel for whom you can buy dinner.

C. Or you can make out a fully tax deductible donation to Operation Second Chance.

Please come out strong to show your support. This is our first time back after the summer and I’d love to have a huge turnout to show our active duty personnel and veterans just how much we appreciate their service.

If you have a chance, please be sure to thank my co-sponsors.

The Old Brogue

LSA Title Services

Baran Family

Gary Kaihara, DDS

The Grossman Family

Julius Fleischman

The Norman Family

The Nelson Family

James Gaudiosi – Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

Taylor Allgyer – First Savings Mortgage

Carrillon Capital

and our door prize donors:

Adeler Jewelers Dominion Title

PF Chang’s

Lodgecliffe Bed and Breakfast

Turner Framing

Maison Du Vin

Great Falls Design Build

Pinkman Baseball Academy

Legenter LLC. S

tate Farm Insurance

Downs & Assoc. Insurance

While nationally, the real estate market continues to barely limp along, locally we have been quickly moving towards a greater balance between buyers and sellers.  This, of course, depends on where you are considering buying or selling.  The general feeling among my co-workers has been that the closer to the beltway, the stronger the market.  There have been repeated stories of buyers paying more than asking price for homes located inside the beltway.  While out with some clients on Tuesday, they told of friends who had withdrawn their offer on a home in Mclean once they learned that one of the three other offers included an escalation addendum stating that they would pay $5,000 more than the highest offer.  Anyone familiar with the market during the 2003-2005 period may recall that this was very much the norm at that time.  I have been saying for the past year that Northern Virginia may well be headed for a severe shortage in housing in the not too distant future.  We have slowly been edging towards this potential shortage since builders have essentially stopped construction on new homes.  This despite the fact that Northern Virginia continues to grow in population.

Whether you are considering selling or buying a home, you really do need to remain focused on the critical do’s and don’ts highlighted in a recent Rismedia article entitled:  Be-Smart:  Dos and Don’ts for Home Sellers and Buyers.

Last month’s Military Appreciation Mondays dinner in support of the Golden Age Games was our most successful event to date.  We ended up raising more than $5000 which will help support the sending of several local vets to the next games which are to be held in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Hope you can make it to this month’s dinner on October 25th which will be raising money for Operation Second Chance.

Thank you again to all of you who came out and a special thanks to our co-sponsors and door prize donors.

Co-sponsors Include:

Nelson Family

Norman Family

Grossman Family

Julius Fleishman

Gary Kaihara, DDS

The Old Brogue

Carillon Capital

Chris Melnick – LSA Title Services

Taylor Allgyer – First Savings Mortgage

James Gaudiosi – Wells Fargo Home Mortgage

and our Door Prize donors

Adeler Jewelers

PF Changs Restaurant

Dominion Title

Great Falls Design Build

State Farm Insurance

Great Falls Exxon

Legenter LLC

Neighbors Network

Lodgecliff on the Choptank B&B

B Sweet Home Baked Pies

Romantica Deli

Maison du Vin

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.

Following our June 28th dinner in support of the VA’s Community Outreach program, we will be taking the summer off.  Our next event will an effort to raise funds for the Golden Age Games.  The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Help Hospitalized Veterans (HHV) and the Veterans Canteen Service (VCS) co-sponsor the National Veterans Golden Age Games each year. This partnership fosters an exceptional, quality event that promises serious competition and lasting memories for our nation’s older Veterans.  The request have MAM raise funds for these games came from our most recent co-sponsor – Julius Fleischman.   As we talked, I came to learn that Julius was a disabled Vet.  As I am always curious, I asked him where he had served.  Thinking he would say Iraq or Afghanistan, I was surprised when Julius said Europe.  Wondering how he could possibly have been injured while serving in Europe, I of course asked what he was doing there.  His very low key response was, “Fighting the Germans”.  If you did not have an opportunity to meet Julius in June, you will most definitely want to come in September.  He told us all how he get involved with the VA and its efforts to have vets participate in activities that stretched their limits.  While in his 80′s, Julius did eight parachute jumps in a six hour period.  This apparently set some type of record.

Due to the current economic downturn, 11.3 million homes in the U.S. are currently “under water”  (the mortgage balance exceeds the property’s value).  In an effort to assists those both looking great investments and those caught off guard by the downturn, the Bob Nelson Team is putting a greater focus on tracking, listing and selling foreclosure and short sale properties particularly  in the Langley, Mclean and Oakton high school districts.  Most everyone is aware that the lower priced homes got clobbered by the drop in real estate values, but few know that this has begun happening in the upper end price points as well.  There are currently five foreclosures and 15 short sales on the market in the three school districts.  These range in price from $229,000 to $3.25 million.  Please drop me an e-mail or give a call if you would like additional info on the short sale process or learn more about possibly purchasing one of these homes.

We are also planning to put together a short sale seminar within the next several weeks.