valentinosdcpulse: Virginia

If you are looking for a contemporary hometown that is chock full of cultural heritage and charm, then Alexandria VA may be just the place for you. Alexandria, VA boasts an abundance of Colonial architecture, chic boutiques, a wide array of national retail stores, fine art and antiques galleries, historic attractions and award winning restaurants. This beautiful historic community is located along the Western bank of the Potomac River across from National Harbor and approximately only 6 miles south of downtown Washington DC.

With a population of approximately 140,000 residents, this diverse historic community has a lot to offer with an excellent public school system, abundant job opportunities, and beautiful waterfront views. In 2010, The USNews.com listed Alexandria as one of the Editors Picks for "Best Places". You can also read about Alexandra on Sterlings "Best Places".

Well known for its colonial architecture, here in the 3^rd oldest historic districts in the nation, you will find an abundance of 18^th and 19^th century buildings and homes situated along cobblestone walks. This is a beautiful city in all seasons and with Old Town there is never a lack of things to see and do such as Market Square, the oldest continuously operating marketplace in the United States. Old Town is also well known for its historic town houses, art galleries, antique shops, and restaurants.

Love your dog? Then Alexandria may be just the hometown you're looking for. About.com lists Alexandria as a ‘Top Dog Friendly" Destination. They list a number of fun activities for family and their furry friends to do together in Alexandria such as:

• Dog Friendly Dining and Happy Hours
• Pet Friendly Shopping and Snacks
• Top Dog Friendly Attractions and Things to Do
• About the Potomac Riverboat Company and Canine Cruises

 One of the biggest and most fun dog events in the entire Washington, D.C. area is the annual Alexandria St Patrick's Day Parade. Every year activities always begin with the Fun Dog Show. For year-round activities, the local Dept of Recreation also provides 17 designated Dog Exercise Areas and Fenced Parks for resident dog owners to enjoy.

Looking for an easy get a way to Washington DC or other nearby metro areas? Then look no further as Alexandria boasts four convenient Metro stops. Alexandria also offers bus service, Water Taxi, Free King Street Trolley and easy access to major interstate highways.

Prominent employers such as Time Warner and The Salvation Army call Alexandria home. In addition, there are many government organizations such as the US Patent and Trademark Office, which also supply numerous jobs to local residents allowing many to work and live right within Alexandria.

So if you're ready to look at real estate in an area rich with cultural history yet one that can offer contemporary charm, the consider talking to Rachel Valentino about Old Alexandria VA. With median home prices about $375,000, Alexandria offers varied housing options, including some high-end suburban estates, which provides an exceptional urban living lifestyle. Contact Rachel Valentino today or visit her Atlantic Coast Connection website today to get started.

All aboard as the new Dulles Metrorail permanently connects Northern VA to Washington DC! One sure to be popular new stop along the new Silver Line is the Wiehle Ave station in Reston,  VA that is scheduled to open in 2013. This will offer unprecedented access through the region, bringing new options to Reston residents who are seeing both work and residential options opening up for the first time in a long time.

With new access to the Capitol City, Restonians can now easily commute into the city for jobs. And even closer, just down the new Silver Line, is Tyson's Corner where the job market is set to take a dramatic increase over the next few years bringing even more new job opportunities to those living in the area. Dulles Metrorail Sliver Line is making Reston VA an ever more visible residential area along what is now being referred to the Dulles Technology Corridor.

Today there are approximately 63,000 residents of Reston VA (Restonians). Only 17 miles outside of Washington DC, this community (CDP) is now being referred to as "an edge city" but seems to still hold on to its originally intended charm. Left behind is the hustle and bustle of the big city; here life is much simpler. Here you can meet your neighbors out on a nightly stroll around a lake or down a nature trail, here the kids laugh and splash in a lake, and there are still those who enjoy a good tennis match after work as a fun & healthy way to end their day.

That's because it's a planned community that still follows the plans set forth in 1962 in regards to development of the area. In the creation of Reston, it was hoped that all Restonians could live, work and have recreation in their own community. Equally important was that everyone have access to common grounds and the scenic beauty shared equally among all income levels.

Originally one of the first parts of Reston was designed to look & feel like the Italian coastal town of Portofino. And even today, you still won't find any chain stores or chain restaurants in Lake Anne, because they're still not allowed. In true suburban contrast, in other parts of Reston, big business is definitely welcome - with more than 1 million sq. ft of office space available.

What Reston has to offer its residents reads like a resort brochure. The recreational facilities include16 pools, 47 tennis courts, and numerous multi-purpose courts that are used for basketball, soccer, etc. There are miles of beautiful groomed walking and bike trails throughout the area. In addition, there are 2 golf courses and 4 Lakes including beautiful Lake Anne. And ice-skating is still popular in the Town Center during the wintertime.

Aside from the plentiful recreational aspects, local residents also enjoy local art galleries, shops, restaurants, museums and even a local professional theatre group. Northern VA is also renowned for its top school systems. So when you add to the mix the upcoming addition of Dulles Metrorail, you can see why it's so popular for residential homebuyers.

Right now there are a lot of residential opportunities in the Reston area to consider.  With average home prices in the mid $400k range, Reston makes it easier for new homebuyers and those with families to become homebuyers. If you're interested in this area or any of the areas along the new Silver Line, give top Realtor^® Rachel Valentino a call today to look over your options.

And don't forget that the first time home-buyer credit has been extended to include more homeowner. But taxpayers must purchase or be locked into a contract to close before midnight on April 30, 2010 to qualify. So call Rachel today to see if you qualify and get started on finding your new home for 2010.