This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. It does not reflect the opinion of Reston Now.

Reston architectural aficionados know that Reston architect Ken Bonner built the first house in Reston — a detached single-family house on Stirrup Road in South Reston. In a Fairfax Times article, Bonner recalled having to transport a portable generator to the building site because there were no power lines yet. This was back in 1964.

Integrating a human living space into nature in an environmentally sensitive way was Bonner’s passion, and a trademark of any Bonner home is using natural sunlight and preserving trees.

Ken built about 65 homes, including my first home in Reston on Buttermilk Lane in the Uplands neighborhood. It backed up to beautiful, treed lot with a creek at the bottom of the backyard. It was a fantastic place to raise our family.

What is lesser known in Reston is that Ken also designed townhome communities. Among them, Colts Neck Cluster. This community is comprised of 60 townhouses in South Reston, near the intersection of Colts Neck Road and South Lakes Drive. Escalante Court is off South Lakes Drive and next to the South Lakes Drive Park. Greywing Court is off Colts Neck Road.

Built in 1972-1973, these contemporary townhomes are three levels with cedar siding exteriors. The 1,600 to 2,000 square feet homes feel much larger because of Ken’s attention to every detail.

The Colts Neck community is close to the Reston National Golf Course and the Hunters Woods Village Center Shopping Center. It is also within two miles of the Reston East Metro station.

These lovely homes are not only perfect for anyone looking for well-designed, contemporary architecture in a close-knit, townhome community; they represent a piece of what makes Reston such a great place to live.

This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. It does not reflect the opinion of Reston Now.

Even though it is not typically high season — that comes in the spring — there are plenty of new real estate listings that hit the market in Reston this week.

Here’s a look at some of the best:

11186 Longwood Grove Drive. 5 BR, 4.5 BA SFH. List price: $969,000

1851 Stratford Park Place. #402. 2 BR, 2 BA Condo. List price: $599,900

1321 Gatesmeadow Way. 4 BR, 3.5 BA SFH. List price: $899,900

1330 Dasher Lane. 4 BR, 3.5 BA SFH. List price: $800,000

11678 Mediterranean Court. 3 BR, 2.5 BA TH. List price: $549,900

12038 Edgemere Circle. 4 BR, 3.5 BA TH. List price: $545,000

2409 Albot Road. 3 BR, 2.5 BA TH. List Price: $375,000

1715 Ascot Way #C. 2 BR, 2 BA Condo. List Price: $274,900

This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. It does not reflect the opinion of Reston Now.

Walk through the front doors a Governour’s Square townhome in Reston and you will feel like you’ve walked into a Southern Plantation home. You won’t believe that these homes are only about 1,600 square feet — they feel much too spacious and airy to be so small.

These lovely colonial-style townhomes in North Reston were developed in 1968. They are three-level homes with exterior brick construction and about 1,600 square feet of living space. The central common area is a great place for children and dogs to play, and the nearby Reston Association paths are perfect for those who like to walk or run.

The original floorplans were closed concepts–as was the style in the late 1960s. But over the years, some of the owners have remodeled these homes to open them up. In either case, these townhomes are beautiful and comfortable. This year’s Home Tour will feature a Governour’s Square home that has had a spectacular remodel.

This small community of townhouses is on the Lake Anne side of Reston. They are less than a 10-minute walk to Reston Town Center, and close to the Wiehle Metro station.

The neighborhood is also within a few miles of Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Giant, Mom’s Organic Market, and Harris Teeter (Restonians love have choices when it comes to grocery stores).

For those with young children, Governour’s Square is also a quick walk to Lake Anne Elementary School.

This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. It does not reflect the opinion of Reston Now.

In my Just Sold blog on Monday, I talked about the large amount of housing inventory we’re carrying in Reston. My oft-repeated caution to sellers is that to be successful in a crowded market it is critical that you do everything you can to separate your property from the crowd. The way to do that is to be the very best-priced and best-presented home in your category. You want to try to create a market of one.

Sellers who come on to the market with “room to negotiate” built into their price will usually sit on the market. The larger the difference between your list price and the market price (based on similar homes that have sold in the past 90+days), the longer you can expect to sit on the market and the less money you will make on your home sale. If we look at a few of the recent sales you can see how this truth has played out in the real world.

One of the listings included in the “Just Sold” group on Monday was a condo in “Nantucket At Reston.” If you’re not familiar, it’s a great condo community that sits above Lake Audubon across the street from South Lakes Village Center. This was a 2- bedroom, 2-bath unit that was on the market for 390 days. It originally listed for $385,000. The pictures from the original listing show a vacant, neutral property.

When it sold over a year later it went for $267,000 with $3,500 in closing costs, or a net of $263,500. The seller also had to pay the carrying costs of about $9,300 for condo fees, Reston Association dues, taxes, and insurance while the property sat vacant.

If they had a mortgage, that was probably another $12,000 to $15,000 in carrying costs. The final selling price is within a few thousand dollars of what similar units have been selling for in that condo.

Compare that with another recent sale over on Saffold Way. The property came on the market looking great. It was well updated, clean as a whistle, new windows, and was priced within a few thousand dollars of where other homes of similar style and size have recently sold.

One significant difference between those houses and this house was in the presentation. The property sold for full list price of $435,000 and was on the market for just 17 days. Similarly a home that recently sold on Old Brookville Court listed right at market- meaning the seller listed their home at the same price as very recently sold houses on the street.

This home sold in 5 days for $5,000 over the list price due to many, many “extras” like specialty light fixtures, custom paint and generally looking like it was owned by an interior decorator. This seller created urgency in the buyer–the buyer knew if they came in with anything less than full price they wouldn’t get the home so they came in with more.

So sellers: you have a lot of competition out there, you have to make your property the best one if you’re going to grab the buyer’s attention.

Here are a few of the new house on the market this week in Reston.

2163 CABOTS POINT LN. 3BR, 3BA. List Price $575,000.00

11461 WASHINGTON PLZ W. 3BR, 2.5 BA. List Price $524,927

1648 CHIMNEY HOUSE RD #1648. 1BR, 1BA. List Price $209,900

11805 GREAT OWL CIR. 3BR, 2FB, 2HB. List Price $524,900

11134 SAFFOLD WAY. 4BR, 2.5BA. List Price $475,000

This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. It does not reflect the opinion of Reston Now.

Uplands is the quintessential Reston neighborhood — while it is convenient to all major roads, it feels like it is miles away from everything.

Uplands is one of Reston’s older neighborhoods. It borders Lake Fairfax Park and the wooded areas are well established. Uplands has a great layout with just two access points. While there is a convenient secret short cut over to Route 7, for the most part the people who travel on Ring Road live in Uplands.

The Uplands neighborhood includes both townhome clusters and single family homes in a wide variety of styles, from ranch to large contemporary and pretty much everything in between.

One of the best features of Uplands is the toddler- and young kid-oriented Uplands pool. OK, adults enjoy playing in the pools fountains too.

There is also a huge recreation area that includes two tennis courts, a full sized basketball court, and a baseball diamond. For those who like walking their dogs in the woods, or just going for a great hike, there is easy access into Lake Fairfax park via Buttermilk Creek trail. And in the winter, Uplands has the best sledding hill around.

Uplands is about a five minute drive to Reston Town Center, and same to the Wiehle-Reston East Metro station. But the neighborhood is so tranquil and beautiful, you may never want to leave

This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. It does not reflect the opinion of Reston Now.

Summer may be winding down (OK, it’s officially over). But that doesn’t mean the fun is going to end at all. In fact, fall in Reston is the perfect time of year. You can find some great outdoor festival every weekend… and most are free. Here are five fun fall festivals in and near Reston that will keep you and your family happily entertained. Enjoy!

Cox Farms Fall Festival: Sept.26 – Nov. 3

Giant slides, a fabulous hay ride, and the chance to do some farm chores are just a few of the things that make children BEG to go to the Cox Farms Fall Festival every year (yes, even the farm chores).

There are also fresh apples, cider, live animals, pumpkins and food, and a great farmers market. It’s mega fun for the whole family. Do not miss it!

Fairfax Fall Festival: Oct. 10

For 38 years, Northern Virginians have enjoyed this family friendly street festival in the heart of the City of Fairfax. More than 400 juried crafters and food vendors will be selling their wares. Children’s activities include Touch a Truck, All American Lumberjack Show, and amusement rides. And there is musical entertainment for all ages! The best part? This festival is free.

Clifton Day Festival: Oct. 11

One day a year, the quaint town of Clifton celebrates its history in style. With 150 antique dealers, artists, bakers and other street vendors lining the town’s streets, what more could you want?

How about a train ride? Clifton Day is the only day of the year when the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) stops in town. Festival goers can take the train, which will provide roundtrip train service to Clifton from all stops between Manassas and Rolling Road. The train ride to Clifton is free and the return trip costs $5 per person (children under age two ride free).

There will also be live bands, pony rides, craft demonstrations, children’s activities, a Civil War reenactment and a wide selection of food and beverages.

Oktoberfest Reston: Oct. 10 and 11

Oktoberfest Reston is Northern Virginia’s largest outdoor fall festival, and it’s right in our back yard at Reston Town Center! Come enjoy seasonal beer and wine, food from 17 area restaurants, live entertainment, a chili cook off and the Reston Pumpkin 5K race. Live music will include traditional German tunes as well as favorites from a variety of local musicians.

Tysons Fall Harvest Festival:  October 17, 18, 24, 25

Bring the kids for the second annual Tysons Fall Harvest Festival. Enjoy the Fall Harvest as you stroll through the arts and crafts booths and taste some of the fun flavors of Fall.

Special activities include lots of fun, free activities: The largest hay pyramid in DC, Petting Zoo, Bouncy Houses, Pumpkin Bowling, Kids Candy Walk, Craft Corner, and the hay maze. And for mom and dad, there will be tons of craft beers and Virginia wines to sample. All this is happening at the Lerner Town Square at the Galleria Tysons II.

This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. It does not represent the opinion of Reston Now.

Today’s blog post was supposed to be about “Fall Festivals” near Reston. These blog posts are written weeks in advance — When I pulled it up to get it ready to ship off to RestonNow I just couldn’t do it.

None of us should be shocked that a 101 year old has passed away–I mean after all 101 is a hell of a run. Bob did somehow seem like he’d just keep on going. I was fortunate to know him as a friend and a neighbor. He lived in Heron House on Lake Anne where my husband and I live and I frequently drove him to various Reston Association meetings.

As I’ve read the various tributes in the press and on social media it’s clear that what Bob created in Reston was special. The unique blending of proximity to our neighbors combined with our natural spaces, the yin and yang of density and openness creates a wonderful place to live; but even more than that is the foundational principals upon which we were built–the inclusiveness from the beginning, the need for connectedness are rare goals to have been cited as a measure of success.

I hope as we go forward that we are able to hold onto what makes us special. As for now, I’ll miss seeing Bob around the Plaza but am so thankful for this place that he created.

This is a sponsored post by Eve Thompson of Reston Real Estate. It does not represent the opinion of Reston Now.

The North Point area of Reston was the last place fully developed in Reston, and the homes are modern, clean, and beautiful.

Heather Knoll Cluster is no exception. Built in the early 1990s, Heather Knoll Cluster is a small community of 52 townhouses distributed among 13 buildings. These homes are perfect for young families as they’re situated on a charming cul-de-sac that provides children with a safe place to play.

Designed by Berry & Co., each home has a traditional brick front with fine detailing, classic cedar siding and elegant trim. They also each have a one-car garage — a bonus for Reston townhomes — and privacy fences separating the yards.

They are all two levels with a basement, three bedrooms, and two and half baths. And they have fireplaces! The homes come in three different styles, with variations in room sizes and overall square footage.

Heather Knoll Cluster is located on Woodbrook Court off of Woodbrook Lane and Wiehle Avenue, with close proximity to the Fairfax County Parkway and Route 7. The surrounding area has wonderful walking paths and plenty of trees and nature.

This is the perfect neighborhood for anyone who wants something slightly off the beaten path, but still wants to have all the amenities of Reston easily accessible.

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

There is every type of dwelling available in Reston — from single family home to condos, from large to small… and everything in between.

Despite the fact I live in a condo, I always associate Reston with townhomes. Perhaps that is because we have such diverse townhome communities — we have close to a 140 separate townhouse clusters. That’s a lot.

Many people who move to Reston have never considered living in a townhome. They perceive them as dark and small with little privacy from neighbors. Then they visit some of the townhome communities and change their minds.

Our townhome clusters are wildly varied from the comfortable and modest to over-the-top luxurious. Many are on our lakes or golf course. All have beautiful, well-kept common areas.

So is a Reston townhome right for you? Reston townhomes offer a wide range of housing options for almost every price point. You’ll often find neighborhoods that are a combination of young families, singles, or couples who have downsized. It’s a wonderful, eclectic mix. And for busy professionals, you have the bonus of a lovely neighborhood that you don’t have to care for — your cluster will maintain the common property!

If you’ve never considered townhome living because you’re worried about the size, the light or living in such close proximity, maybe you should reconsider, there is a lot of upside to this housing style. And no place does it as well as Reston.

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

Whenever you see an article about Reston, the planned community or Reston appears in a history book, you will likely also see a picture of Waterview Cluster.  It is perhaps the most iconic Reston neighborhood.

Built in 1965, many of the 75 two- and three-story townhouses on Lake Anne have beautiful water views with the remaining situated on lushly landscaped wooded lots.

Award-winning architect Chloethiel Woodard Smith designed Waterview Cluster to feel like a French fishing village, and the exterior bricks painted in soft pastels and the charming balconies really do make it feel European.

The townhouses in this beautiful community have a charming mid-century-modern- meets-cottage vibe. They are light and airy, with very inviting interior spaces.

They range in size from 1,500 to 2,800 square feet. Residents affectionately call the homes “tall skinnies” or “short fats.”

The mix of size and styles make for a unique and charming neighborhood. Waterview Cluster residents are unwavering in their affection for their neighborhood — they share a collective recognition that they live some place unique.

Like most of Reston, Waterview Cluster is very walkable, with paved walkways leading to Lake Anne Village Center and Reston Town Center.

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

Summer is almost over, but it’s not gone yet. While many of the Reston pools have closed for the season, there is plenty of water fun to be had.

Take advantage of the next few weekends to get on the water!

Paddleboarding in Reston

Standup paddleboarding (SUP) is taking the water sports world by storm. Called Hoe he’e nalu in the Hawaiian language (which is just a fun fact to know), paddle boarding started as an offshoot of surfing… only much, much easier. The concept is simple — you stand on a surf-style board and use a long paddle to move across the water. You can do it on flat water, like the Reston lakes, or in the open water. It’s a fun sport anyone can enjoy.

And we are lucky in Reston to have a company that offers SUP workshops on our Reston lakes — Surf Reston Standup Paddleboarding. They offer workshops at Lake Anne, Lake Audubon, Lake Thoreau and Lake Newport. The company started as a way to build a community of individuals who enjoy paddling; they teach how to paddle responsibly and safely and give their customers the opportunities to connect with other enthusiasts. Sign up for one of their workshops today!

Better yet, get a group of friends to do it together. It’s a blast.

Kayak and Canoe Rental

Until Labor Day weekend, you can enjoy a leisurely paddle around Lake Anne. Reston Association provides kayak, canoe, and paddle boat rentals by the hour. It’s a fun way to spend a summer evening. You can purchase tickets at Reston’s Used Book Shop, 1623 Washington Plaza (near the fountain). Contact the book shop by calling 703-435-9772. The cost is $6 per boat for a one-hour rental.

Hours of Operation are: Thursdays, 4 – 8 p.m.;  Fridays, 4 – 8 p.m.;  Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.;  Sundays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Enjoy these last few weeks of summer break. Maybe I’ll see you out on the lakes!

Photo Courtesy Surf Reston

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.