This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.

Most of the Reston condominiums built in the 1970s look nondescript from the outside. There is no way around it — they are boxy and plain. But for some, if you take the time to go inside, you will be pleasantly surprised. Vantage Hill is a wonderful example of this.

Vantage Hill sits on 15 beautifully wooded acres that have been designated a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. That’s 15 acres for 152 units or, more than 4,000 square feet per unit.

And then there are the spacious interiors. These may be condominiums, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up space. The units are generally two or three bedrooms with generous floor plans, ample closets and spacious kitchens.

One of the beautiful things about these older condominiums many of them have been updated — new kitchens, new bathrooms, and new flooring. It’s the best of both worlds — the solid construction and beautiful landscape of the 70s with the beautiful interiors and modern designs of today.

There are four Vantage Hill condos for sale ranging from 2BR, 1.5 Baths for $185,000 to a 3 BR, 2 Bath unit for $225,000.

Utilities are included in the condo fees. Vantage Hill is located between Reston Town Center and Lake Anne Village Center, with an easy walk to either. It’s about a five-minute walk to Lake Anne Elementary School. Older children attend Langston Hughes Middle School and South Lakes High School.

Photo: Remodeled kitchen in Vantage Hill unit on market.

This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.

Labor Day weekend — the last hurrah before summer officially ends. We celebrate the holiday in style here in Reston with the annual Lake Anne Jazz & Blues Festival — one of my absolute favorite events of the whole year. If you’re new to Reston, or have never made it down to Lake Anne for this event, make sure to put it on your calendar.

In fact, the Lake Anne Jazz & Blues Festival is so much fun, it’s going to be an entire week this year. The fun starts Aug. 30 and culminates on Saturday, Sept. 5. And the best part is it is free. Fun for the whole family, this festival showcases talented local emerging artists and national jazz performers. Not only will there be great music, the Lake Anne merchants are featuring specials and there will be a fun featured film as part of the ongoing Summer Film Festival series.

Ready for a week of great music? Here is the full list of activities:

• Aug. 30 (sundown) – Summer Film Festival Series Movie “Jazz on a Summer’s Day” (1959 Classic)
• Sept. 1 (7-10 p.m.) – The Red Tree Solo (Café Montmartre)
• Sept. 1 (8 p.m.) – Jazz Trivia Night (Kalypso’s Sports Tavern)
• Sept. 1 (6-9 p.m.) – Mykle Lyons Trio (Plaza)
• Sept. 2 (8-10 p.m.) – The Caterpillars Duet (Café Montmartre)
• Sept. 2 (9:30 p.m.) – Jazz Karaoke Night (Kalypso’s Sports Tavern)
• Sept. 3 (7-9 p.m.) – Take A Break Concert Series featuring the Chris Vadala Quartet (Plaza)
• Sept. 4 (7:30-10:30 p.m.) – Cabernet (Café Montmartre)
• Sept. 4 (6:30-8:30 p.m.) — The Jason Kearse Trio (Plaza)

September 5 Jazz & Blues Festival Line Up

• 1 p.m. Ted Garber
•  2 p.m. Cissa Paz
•  3 p.m. Integriti Reeves4 p.m. Nia Olabesi
• 5 p.m. Mykle Lyons
• 6 p.m. Texas Chainsaw
• 7 p.m. Adrian Duke (Headliner)
• 9:30 p.m. Post Festival Late Night with Sam Gunderson (Kalypso’s Sports Tavern)

Don’t forget about the merchants. Here are some of the specials you can expect:

• Chesapeake Chocolates: Special Edition chocolate musical notes and instruments. Wine Tasting Sept. 3 from 5:30 to 7:30p.m.
• Reston’s Used Book Shop: 50 percent off all books about music
• Small Change Kids Consignment Shop: Melissa & Doug musical toys 50% off
• The Reston Museum: Music sale on local jazz performers Beverly Cosham, Menda Ahart and Felicia Crowley

But that’s only until Saturday, you say. You are right. So on Labor Day, head down the road to Herndon for the annual Herndon Labor Day Festival! It’s Monday, Sept. 7, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the Herndon Town Green (777 Lynn Street, Herndon, VA 20170).

There will be tastings of Virginia wines and craft beers, great music, a craft show, sponsor gallery, and food vendors. The Herndon Parks and Recreation Department and the Herndon Woman’s Club produce this fun event.

Admission and information

• Wine, Craft Brew Tastings and Entertainment – $20
  (ID required to purchase tastings)
• Concert only or designated driver – $5
• Extra beer tastings – $2 per ticket
• Cash only at gate
• Children 12 and under free
• No pets allowed
• Wine and craft brew tasting and selling of open containers ends at 4 p.m.

It’s a few weeks away, but enjoy your last official weekend of summer. I know I’m looking forward to it!

This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.

When developers were envisioning the “last remaining parcel of land in the prestigious Reston community of Lake Anne,” they knew plans had better be great.

Designed in the last 1980s by Berkus Group Architects, a company well known for producing environmentally sensitive designs, and developed by Miller & Smith, Orchard Green Cluster is, indeed, a great design.

Backing into the trails that lead to Lake Anne and situated across the street from the Hook Road recreational area, Orchard Green Cluster is in prime spot for active Restonians.

Built in 1983, these 50 townhomes come in four floor plans. They range in size from 1900 square feet to 2700 square feet.

Some of the homes have garages, while other have carports and some have fireplaces, which are great on cold winter nights. All are well designed with ample space to grow and change as needed.

Orchard Green is in walking distance to Lake Anne Plaza and Reston Town Center. It is also accessible to all the major roadways that take you wherever you want to go.

Children attend Lake Anne Elementary, Langston Hughes Middle School, South Lakes High School.

Visit Reston Real Estate to see a great Orchard Green home that’s on the market today.

This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.

We’re midway through the summer and Reston’s real estate market has been oddly slow.

The volume of transactions is up slightly from last year but the days on market (the length of time it takes for a house to go under contract), is way up. Last year at this time the average days on market was 18, today it is 56!

We have 383 active properties on the market that have been on the market for an average of 58 days. Having a more competitive market forces seller to be much more thoughtful about their pricing strategies and as always condition becomes even more critical.

Here are a few of the new listings this week.

11616 DEER FOREST RD. 4BR, 2.5BA. List Price: $724,900

11202 WEDGE DR. 3BR, 3.5BA. List Price: $699,999

2407 MYRTLE LN. 4BR, 3BA. List Price: $650,000

11123 GLADE DR. 3BR, 2.5BA List Price: $599,999

11518 SUNDER CT. 3BR, 2.5BA. List Price: $519,000

To see all the new listings visit Reston Real Estate’s page.

This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.

As a real estate agent and a lover of mom-and-pop businesses, I love it when I see young entrepreneurs making creative decisions to help them realize their dreams.

That is one of two reasons why I love The Boutique Bakeshop. You just have to look at the pictures of some of their cakes and desserts to know the other reason I love them.

Yes, they are not based in Reston but are very close by at 336 Elden St. in Herndon. You have to head that way if you’re going to Trader Joe’s or Mom’s Organic Market anyway, so you might as well stop in for a treat.

Aside from the amazing sweets, why do I think they are creative? Because the Boutique Bakeshop is a baker’s collective comprised of five very small businesses: Stephanie the Baker, Sweets by e, Sugar Pig Wholesale Sweets, The Itty-Bitty cake company, and Beau Monde Bakers.

Commercial real estate is very expensive, and none of these small businesses would be able to afford the rent alone — that’s a lot of cupcakes and pastries! But together, they can share a commercial kitchen, practice their art, be inspired by their peers, and showcase their talents through the public bakeshop. It’s a quadruple win. Read more about the inspiration for this collective here.

The small retail bakery in the storefront is a stroke of genius — it lets people try out the bakers’ treats before buying a whole cake (or whatever else is on the menu). They’ve got a comfy couch, a few tables, and good coffee. What more could you want? But don’t trust me. Go visit them today!

Photo courtesy of The Boutique Bakeshop website.

This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.

Reston is full of hidden gems — it’s like a real life treasure hunt here! And The Wharf is one of them.

What makes The Wharf so unique? This community of townhomes surrounds a pair of ponds at the top of a hill AND the community overlooks Lake Audubon. Yes, this is a water lover’s paradise.

Reston architect Michael Oxman conceived of The Wharf in 1977.

“When I decided to become a townhouse developer for my own design, I looked first at some lakefront property,” he told a architectural magazine at the time. “Trouble is, only 20 percent of the townhouses on those sites are actually on the water. Those sell quickly, then there is often a long period trying to sell the off-water homes.”

This is not a problem in The Wharf.

The Cluster was finally built between 1981 and 1986, and is located on Timberhead Court off Glade Drive on Lake Audubon. The 55 cedar-sided, multi-level three- to-five-bedroom townhouses were designed and built to look like a New England fishing village. Most of the homes have garages.

What really makes The Wharf special, though, is the ponds. These delicately balanced living ecosystems are not runoff ponds like other Reston lakes. They are more similar to mountaintop lakes since they are not contaminated from fertilizer and waste running off with rainwater.

Two freshwater wells provide water to the ponds. You will find blue-gill sunfish and large mouth bass in a ratio of ten sunfish to one bass. The sunfish eat mosquito larvae, and the bass keep the sunfish population under control.

In a place renowned for access to nature, The Wharf stands out. This is a neighborhood for people who love water and want to be close to it.

This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.

Even with a holiday week last week, we managed to get 29 houses sold in Reston.

Home prices in this group of newly sold listings ranged from $1,650,000 for a Midtown condo to $188,000 for a Northgate Square condo. Average days on market was down to 21, an improvement of just over seven days.

Here are some of the most expensive and least expensive houses that sold in Reston this past week.

1400 NORTHGATE SQ #21A. 1BR, 1 BA. List Price: $188,750. Sold Price: $188,000.

11990 MARKET ST #1412. 3BR, 3BA. List Price: $1,650,000. Sold Price: $1,650,000.

2037 ROYAL FERN CT #21B. 2BR, 1BA. List Price: $208,000. Sold Price: $201,000.

2003 UPPER LAKE DR. 4BR, 3.5 BA. List Price: $850,000. Sold Price: $850,000. Seller Subsidy $5,000.

1203 BISHOPSGATE WAY. 7BR, 6.5 BA. List Price: $1,450,000. Sold Price: $1,500,000.

12154 PURPLE SAGE CT. 3BR, 1.5BA. List Price: $340,000. Sold Price: $340,000. Seller Subsidy: $4,350.

This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.

Did you know that fireworks retailers sold $369.4 million fireworks in 2012 and fireworks wholesalers sold $508.1 million? Yes, we Americans LOVE our July 4th fireworks shows. And no place is this more evident than the Washington, DC metro area.

As you plan your Independence Day celebrations, think about which fireworks show you want to watch. You can stay local in Reston, head into the city or out to the country. You have many choices!

The fireworks on the National Mall are perhaps some of the most spectacular, and you can get wonderful views of them from various spots around the city. Venture down to the National Mall or hang out at the Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima) in Arlington, near the Rosslyn Metro station. Or stop at the roadside areas areas on the GW Parkwawy along the Virginia side of the Potomac River.

Of course, you don’t need to go into DC to see great fireworks. We’ve got our own right here in Reston at Lake Fairfax Park (1400 Lake Fairfax Dr.). Fireworks begin around 9:15 p.m. Admission is free.

Here is a list of other Independence Day fireworks near Reston:

Herndon: Bready Park, Herndon Community Center, 814 Ferndale Ave. Face painting, balloon sculpturing, bingo and crafts begin at 6:30 p.m. Music at 7 p.m. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m.

Fairfax: Fairfax City, Independence Day Parade through the downtown area beginning at 10 a.m. Musical entertainment begins at 7 p.m. at Fairfax High School with a spectacular fireworks display at dark.

Falls Church: George Mason High School, 7124 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church. Live music will start at 7 p.m. followed by fireworks at 9:20 p.m.

Leesburg: Ida Lee Park, Rt. 15 (King Street) and Ida Lee Drive, Leesburg, Virginia. Gates open at 6 p.m. Fireworks around 9:30 p.m.

McLean: Langley High School, 6520 Georgetown Pike, McLean. Grounds open at 8 p.m., fireworks at 9:15 p.m. Free admission and parking. Shuttle buses will be available from St. John’s Lutheran Church (on Douglass St. and Georgetown Pike) and the McLean Community Center.

Vienna: Vienna Community Center, 120 Cherry Street SE. Arts and crafts, food, live music, vendors, and games. Celebrations start at 11 a.m. Fireworks at 9:15 p.m. at Southside Park on Ross Dr.

Have a great July 4th!

This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.

It’s been a strange few weeks in Reston Real Estate. Moving into summer the market seemed to throw on the breaks — calls to other agent confirmed that it wasn’t just my listings that were not being shown. I don’t know if it was the crush of end of school year activities or what but it felt like the air had come out of the balloon!

The numbers tell a slightly different story: June saw 104 houses sold with an average days on market of 31. We have 370 active listings, which gives us 3.5 months’ worth of housing inventory.

We have 131 Pending transactions, whose average days on market is 41. So the market is moving slower, but it is moving. Sellers should anticipate a longer time to get their property under contract but things are still selling. Generally, activity has been picking back up. Hopefully that trend will continue as we move through the summer.

Here are a few of the houses in Reston that recently sold:

1617 INLET CT. 4BR, 2.5 BA. List Price: $695,000. Sold Price: $675,000.

1451 ALDENHAM LN. 5BR, 3.5 BA. List Price: $599,000. Sold Price: $601,014.

11599 NEWPORT COVE LN. 3BR, 2 BA. List Price: $695,000. Sold Price: $695,000.

1363 HERITAGE OAK WAY. 3BR, 2 FB, 2 HB. List Price: $514,900. Sold Price: $514,900. Seller Subsidy: $6,500.

12228 QUORN LN. 4BR, 3 BA. List Price: $697,000. Sold Price: $697,000.

2221 WAKEROBIN LN. 4BR 3.5 BA. List Price: $639,800. Sold Price: $639,800. Seller Subsidy: $1,500.

For more real estate information, visit our website or Facebook page.

This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.

I love dining out, especially in the summer when I can sit outside to enjoy a great meal and some wonderful people watching.

I also love trying new restaurants, so I was pretty happy when three new places opened this spring in Reston Town Center. All are great, and I’m looking forward to many wonderful evenings on the patios (or inside when it starts getting colder). Next time you’re in Reston Town Center, try one of them.

Barcelona is known for Spanish food and a long wine list–  featuring, of course, lots of Spanish wine. The food is simple and filled with the flavors of olive oil, lemon, smoky paprika.

The restaurant is designed to recreate the feel and the look of an evening on the Ramblas in Barcelona. The result is sophisticated décor that evokes the world’s hippest cities such as Milan and Rio de Janeiro.

For the wine lovers, they have a comprehensive list of wines by the glass from around the world, with an emphasis on the lesser-known regions of Spain and Portugal.

Bartaco is for those who want an upscale TexMex menu. Can you say duck tacos? How about cauliflower tacos? And, of course, you can get all of the wonderful side dishes that make TexMex so popular — chips and guacamole, plantains, rice and beans.

Bartaco is like the best food truck you can imagine placed into a hip restaurant. It’s a great place to meet friends for a drink and a bite.

Neyla is the newest addition to Reston Town Center. Although I was sad to see Paolo’s go, I am excited about having a new Mediterranean bistro in town. This is a place where “old world leisure combines with new world convenience.” The menu is filled with garden fresh vegetables, select cheeses, meats and fish prepared with an Eastern Mediterranean influence. Their dishes feature coriander, cinnamon, basil, thyme, and coffee with cardamom… yum.

Are you hungry yet? I am. Maybe I’ll see you at Reston Town Center.

Photo: Barcelona at Reston Town Center

This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.

You don’t need to move to Greece to have your own beautiful Mediterranean home. You simply need to visit Mediterranean Villa in Reston.

Developed in 1970, the Mediterranean Villa homes feature pink stucco exteriors with tiled roofs, two-car garages, and about 1,900 to 2,500 square feet of living space. It’s a small and tight-knit community of 37 homes sited on a quiet cul-de-sac.

Yes, these patio homes are nestled among oaks and pines rather than the coast, but they are as bright and airy as you will find anywhere in the Mediterranean.

Mediterranean Villa is in an ideal location. Just off North Shore Drive, both Reston Town Center and Lake Anne are an easy walk. In fact, the Reston Association paths in this area are among community favorites and you are guaranteed to run into friends as you walk.

The neighborhood is also close to the Wiehle-Reston East Metro, Dulles Toll Road and Dulles International Airport.

The kids can walk to Lake Anne Elementary, which is just two blocks away. And the entire family can enjoy the Reston pools and tennis courts, also within walking distance.

Mediterranean Villa has it all.

For more real estate information, including home listings, visit Reston Real Estate.

This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.

Condo living in Reston is perfect for young professionals starting out, empty nesters who are downsizing, or really anyone who wants to live in a lovely, low-maintenance community.

Edgewater Cluster in North Reston is a great example. Located at the intersection of Baron Cameron and Town Center Parkway, these condos offer easy access to major roads, shopping (right across the street from Trader Joe’s), and entertainment.

While they are in walking distance to Reston Town Center, they’re a little bit removed from the hustle and bustle — perfect for people who want a quieter environment.

Built between 1992 and 1995, this low-rise condominium complex features primarily two-bedroom units with 1 1/2 or 2 baths. Units range in size from 801 to 1224 square feet.

In addition to the two-bedroom condos, you can find studios and one-bedroom units as well. Every unit has a balcony, and the upper units have a lovely loft.

Many of the condos face a large pond, which is a perfect place to walk your dog or just hang out on a lovely evening.

What’s especially nice about Edgewater is that the complex is divided into small clusters, which lends to a tighter community feel. The complex also has it’s own pool, tennis facilities, and clubhouse, which provide ample places for residents to hang out and have some fun.

Edgewater is walking distance to Reston Town Center, Reston Regional Library and the Reston Hospital Center. It is located between the Fairfax County Parkway and Reston Parkway, so residents have easy access to any place they need to go — the Dulles Toll Road and Route 7 are within a few miles.

If you want access to all the Reston Town Center and Reston have to offer at an affordable price, Edgewater Cluster is a great value.

This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.

What a difference a few weeks can make. After years of constrained housing inventory we’ve suddenly got close to 400 properties on the market in Reston.

At the rate that houses are selling that’s still only 3.3-month’s supply but it does translate into a lot more options for the buyers.

But is it a buyer’s market? A buyer’s market is one in which supply exceeds demand, giving the buyers the advantage over the sellers in price negotiations. A Seller’s market occurs when the opposite condition exists — demand exceeds supply and sellers have an advantage over the buyers in price negotiations.

While there is a lot more property on the market than we’ve previously had a 3.3 month’s supply is still considered a “seller’s market” although we’re not seeing the appreciation that is typically associated with a seller’s market — prices have been flat, especially above the $500,000 end of market.

Does that mean you can throw a sign in your yard and expect the offers to roll in? Not by a long shot.

Buyer’s are demanding and they’re informed. They recognize the when a seller has reached the correct intersection of price and condition.

Current Conditions in Reston: 331 properties for sale; 126 pending home sales; and 118 properties sold in the last 30 days. The average days on market is 31.

Here are a few of the houses that sold in the past week in Reston.

2414 ALBOT RD. 3 BR, 2.5 BA. List Price: $399,990. Sold Price: $395,000. Seller Subsidy: $4,500.

2228 WHEELWRIGHT CT. 3 BR, 2.5 BAA. List Price: $400,000. Sold Price: $412,800. Seller Subsidy: $5,000.

1550 CHATHAM COLONY CT. 3 BR, 3.5 BA. List Price: $439,000. Sold Price: $439,000. Seller Subsidy: $5,250.

1629 BENTANA WAY. 3 BR, 3.5 BA. List Price: $410,900. Sold Price: $430,000. Seller Subsidy: $0.

1629 BENTANA WAY. 2 BR, 3 BA. List Price: $455,000. Sold Price: $445,000. Seller Subsidy: $5,700.

11609 BROMLEY VILLAGE LN. 3 BR 2.5 BA. List Price: $559,900. Sold Price: $555,000. Seller Subsidy: $2,500.

For more information, visit Reston Real Estate.

This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate.

Summer is almost here, and it’s hard not to spend my days daydreaming about the adventures I could be having.

While Reston has so much to offer — pools, tennis courts, walking paths, parks and more — sometimes you just want to get in the car and take off. Fortunately, Reston is perfectly located so you can do any number of fun day trips. Here are three of my favorites.

The Beach and Shark Teeth

Did you know you could be at the beach within an hour? Yes, we are that close … at least to the beaches of the Chesapeake Bay. (If you want to drive three hours, the entire Eastern Shore is waiting for you). Chesapeake Beach, Maryland is about a one-hour drive, and it is well worth it.

From charming restaurants to sandy beaches, it’s the perfect summer day trip. It’s fun to hunt for shark’s teeth, an activity that keeps kids young and old occupied for hours. The best spot is along Calvert Cliffs, and you will see people sifting through the sand at all hours of the day.

Hiking in the Catoctin Mountains

Most people know of the Shenandoah Valley, and it is certainly beautiful. But some of my favorite close hiking is in the Catoctin Mountains in Maryland. The expansive vistas are stunning. Although you can get to hiking in trails within an hour of leaving Reston, you can stay overnight if you want — many people enjoy camping out in the Adirondack Shelters. Many of the hiking trails take you near Camp David, so it’s always fun to try to glimpse the President (no, you won’t get a glimpse, but it’s fun to try).

Ladew Topiary Gardens

There are actually many lovely gardens within a three-hour drive of Reston. One of my favorite (aside from Meadowlark Gardens in Vienna) is the Ladew Topiary Gardens in Monkton, Maryland, which is about an hour and a half to the north of Reston.

It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the grounds are stunning with more than 100 topiaries filling the landscape, including a pack of dogs traipsing through the grounds (I think they may be on the hunt, but I’m not sure).

If you can swing a vacation this summer and want to have some local fun, give these day trips a try. Or, for more ideas, visit Northern Virginia Magazine’s list of 52 day trips.