It's always great to look back at the times that I was able to help people out with their dreams of buying, or selling a home. This wonderful home at 43538 Hyland Hills St, Chantilly, VA 20152 just got sold last year, and is such a thing of beauty of its own! This was listed last November as you can see from this listing blog right here, which made the sale much, much faster! This home's main level features a stunning two-story foyers entrance, an elegant living & dining room combo with designer chandelier. It also has a huge family room with wall of windows & a cozy wood burning fireplace. A sun-filled gourmet kitchen awaits with brand new cabinets, island, appliances with ample counter space, pantry and a breakfast room!Upper level offers a loft overlooking the great room, an oversize... 02/09/2022

And just like that, it's February! I know we barely started the year, and now it's all about love all over again. Each of us have our own love languages, and love comes in different shapes and sizes. So today, we'll talk about the unique traditions the Valentine's Day is celebrated around the world.1. EstoniaStarting this list is Estonia and their not-so-weird way of celebrating the Valentine's Day, but might break some hearts along the way. Their Valentine's Day is called Sōbrapäev, which translates to "Friends Day" -- probably something you don't want to hear from your crush.2. FranceFrench people is all about love, and this is proven by one of their traditions. Une loterie d'amour, as they call it, saw hopeful singles line up in front of each other's houses and make calls through the... 02/01/2022

Martin Luther King Jr., the man behind the legacy of fighting the racial inequality in the country, has been an inspiration to many of us. And this Monday, January 17, is the MLK Day, and is worth celebrating. So here are five ways you can celebrate the MLK Day next week!1. Watch the historic "I Have a Dream" speech on YouTubeOne of the ways to relive the the history is to go digital. Luckily, the "I have a Dream" speech is on YouTube! Check out the video below or follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP4iY1TtS3s 2. Read books about MLK and His AdvocacyNot only that MLK is a historic icon, he's also a graet writer. All the more reasons to have other people get inspired by his works and achievements. You may try reading some of his books below in line with the holiday:- Why W... 01/14/2022

It's the winter season! And what better way of enjoying winter than drinking hot chocolate while sitting beside the fireplace, or if you're a bit adventurous, go ice skating! Here are five of the best ice skating rinks around the Northern Virginia Area that you can visit today:1. Pentagon Row Outdoor Ice SkatingVisit the largest outdoor ice skating rink in all of Northern Virginia by going to the Pentagon Row Outdoor Ice Skating! Located in Arlington, VA, they offer not just ice skating but lessons as well that you can avail for five weeks. Need more info? You may visit their website here to learn more.2. Ashburn Ice HouseLocated in Ashburn, VA, this ice skating rink offers a variety of services ranging from skating lessons to ice hockey lessons and hockey leagues! They also offer winte... 01/04/2022

Have you been busy for the past couple of weeks, and have no time to think of any presents? It is not too late! With just a few days left, the holidays are officially upon us. And that means last-minute presents! Without further ado, here are my 5 go-to holiday presents!⁣⁣⁣⁣1. Cozy blanket - one can never have enough of these. I say go for the blankets that feel like fur -- luxurious and plush, sure to become family favorites. Not only that this feels elegant, it's all good for the winter, too! ⁣⁣⁣2. Food gifts - It can be a basket filled with shareable foods, snacks, and fruits, or a food box like the ones from Stonewall Kitchen, or a cheese and wine gift from Harry & David. You can be assured that your gift won’t be regifted. Also, who doesn't want food, anyway?⁣⁣⁣3. Harry Potter cook... 12/17/2021

Hello there! It's time for another Real Estate Mid Week Market Report. You may be wondering, what's going on in the dc metro area housing market?Short answer - a lot of momentum! I know you heard the big news on December 1st, which is the increase in conforming loan limit. This is a great news, especially in the DC Metro market.Interest rate has been the story for a lot of us, and a lot of buyers and sellers have expressed their concerns. I've spoken with my local lenders and they all said that the interest rate will be a roller coaster ride even up until January. By the end of 2022, they are expecting a significant increase in the interest rate compared to 2021. For my sellers, I did list something over the weekend with a hundred showings and a lot of offers too. So there are a lot of ... 12/16/2021

Do you sometimes wonder what actually happens inside our brains? Do you sometimes think how it's possible for us to perceive the things around us the way we do right now? Do you also wonder how you're able to read this particular sentence and all other sentences in this blog with your own voice all in your head? Lastly, do you ever wonder how the human brain and the nervous system works? Well, one of the places in DC just got the event for this wonderful question.It is no secret that neuroscience has advanced over the years exponentially. We went from lobotomy, a medieval method of treating neurological diseases which was banned in 1967, to CT scans and actual sophisticated brain studies among others that we all know today. One of the building blocks of our nervous system, the neuron, a... 12/14/2021

Art is everywhere -- from the desktop pictures on your laptop, to the prints in your t-shirt,, even to the mug that you're currently drinking your coffee from right now -- is art. It takes many forms too, and is a great source of inspiration to many people. Today, we'll talk about one of the places in Northern Virginia that gives art the appreciation it needs. The Workhouse Arts Center, located in Lorton, VA, a reuse project, repurposing the former Lorton Prison into a remarkable arts center providing performances, exhibits, gallery spaces, and art classes for supports local artists. The mission of the Workhouse Arts Foundation Inc. is to develop and uphold a lively expressions place that offers connecting with promising circumstances and motivating encounters in visual expressions, per... 12/07/2021

With the recent discovery and potential rise of the new COVID-19 Omicron variant, a lot of my buyers and sellers are asking, "Hey RItu, what's going to happen from this point forward? How should we approach this situation?" We'll answer these questions today.For Buyers So for my buyers that are planning to purchase a home in Spring, it will be highly recommended to do the purchase instead at an earlier date, simply because there just might be the fear of the virus and expecting the worst case scenario being the lockdown affecting the buying process, not to mention that the prices just might go up due to these factors along with many more.One of these factors would be businesses that are expecting to have their employees to be back in their offices -- this could trigger a decision change... 12/01/2021

One week to go, and it's officially Thanksgiving! It is a great time to bond with the family, reconnect with other relatives and old friends, and to cherish the holiday season with warmth and love from these people. But why stop at the celebration if you can bond with your friends and family to burn the calories after the grand Thanksgiving dinner! As a person who believes that well-being is one of the most important aspects of life, I think it is great to not only make sure that you take proper diet, but exercise as well. So here's my top 5 list of the activities you can do after Thanksgiving to burn off those calories, and where you can do them in the DC Metro area!1. Cardio on the RunDoing cardio is one of the most effective ways of losing unnecessary carbs and that extra weight you ... 11/19/2021

The holidays are fast approaching! This means the winter season is almost here, and so is Thanksgiving. With these events just right around the corner, it will be great to celebrate it with the sceneries you will enjoy and love. This brings us to today's feature: the Winter Walk of Lights in Vienna, VA!Celebrate the holidays by visiting the Winter Walk of Lights show in Vienna, which is celebrating its 10th year. The event will be open from November 11 to January 2, which gives a lot of opportunity for the busy bees out there. Suit up in your autumn and winter wear for the spectacular show of lights that will surely brighten up your hearts and feel the warmth of love wrapping around you. Enjoy the half-mile trail full of spectacular colors and wonders that your friends and family will l... 11/16/2021

Thanksgiving is fast approaching! I bet some of you haven't decided what to cook this Thanksgiving, or rather want to try something different from the usual recipes you have every year. Just as much as I watch television shows when I'm not doing anything, I also love to try new things in the kitchen -- which is why today we''ll be talking about my personal top five Thanksgiving dishes inspired by television shows we all know and love.Please note that all of these recipes came from Andrew Rea and his YouTube channel called Binging with Babish (not sponsored by the way). I just really love how he made all of these recipes come to life and make a version of his own that will surely make your mouth water every single time.1. Turturkeykey (from How I Met Your Mother)Ted tries to be a culinar... 11/12/2021

With the holiday season fast approaching, this will be the best time to explore the different parks in the Northern Virginia area and see what nature has to offer! This is also a good time to plan your trips come the holidays as a part of an unforgettable vacation. One of the parks around the Loudoun County is the Elizabeth Mills Riverfront Park, that will take you back in time and reconnect you with nature.The Elizabeth Mills Riverfront Park located in Leesburg, VA, is connected to the Potomac river, which in itself is a historic site. This is where the American Indians used to live and first built one of the first civilizations in the country by the riverside (which the rest of the world has done as well -- go to a nearby a river and get yourself a civilization in the long run). This ... 11/09/2021

Happy Diwali, everyone! I love to share my culture to everyone, for I believe it only makes the world a better place. Just like Diwali, where we are make each other happy and remind us that we are not alone in the journey of life. Without further ado, here's my top 5 list of all the restaurants and venues to celebrate Diwali this year!1. Celebration by Rupa ViraLooking for a modern twist to traditional Indian food this Diwali? Look further no more as Celebration by Rupa Veera got your back! Located in Ashburn, VA, Chef Rupa believes in improving and further evolving the Indian cuisine we all know and love, while still keeping the tradition alive. Visit their website here for more information.2. Punjab GrillMake Diwali more special by visiting the Punjab Grill in Washington, DC! Get the ... 11/05/2021

It is the festival of lights, indeed. From my family to yours, I'd like to greet everyone a Happy Diwali! I hope you are all celebrating Diwali peacefully and I wish you all the goodness and prosperity this year. I hope the warmth of all these lights bring you joy, happiness, love, and peace. How's your Diwali celebration going so far? How do you plan to celebrate this Diwali? I hope you receive meaningful gifts this year, no matter how simple. Do you have any recommendations, suggestions, or maybe a unique way of celebrating Diwali this year? Let me know in the comments down below! With all the forthcoming blessings this Diwali, are you finally planning to illuminate your world and make a move in the DC Metro area? Let's talk -- 703-625-494 or visit my website at www.RituDesai.com. Onc... 11/04/2021

The word "investment" might be a mystery to some people, especially when they're trying to learn more about financial planning and stability. Some people are just confused as to what insurance actually is, and how things work, so there's usually a lot of hesitation when it comes to getting one.Today in this episode of Thankful Thursday series, we talked about the most frequently asked questions about insurance not only in real estate but in other fields as well! Join me with Aditya of Arya Insurance as we talk about how insurance works, what is included and what's not, and why it is important that you get one for your financial stability and for your loved ones, too! Click on the video at the top for more.Want to know more about insurance and how you can get you and your dream home insu... 11/02/2021

And now at last, we finally come down to the last letter of our Real Estate Alphabet Soup -- letter Z! Z for ZoningZoning refers to a number of things, but in real estate, it's all about the laws and regulations that states how a property can or can't be used in certain areas. This includes demolishing a home for renovation, converting it to a land, or other purposes. If you are considering buying a home that needs to be knocked down or if it's a raw land and you want to build a property with, or if it is an existing structure that you want to demolish and build your own dream home, then zoning will be one of the things that you have to refer to. Given with these circumstances, it's important to speak with the zoning commissioner of your local county for you make sure that it is conform... 11/01/2021

Hey there! Here's yet another hot steaming Real Estate Alphabet Soup, where we learn about real estate one letter at a time. We are now down at the second-to-the-last letter, letter Y! This is specifically for investors who wants to make money with real estate. Do you ever wonder about the anticipated income you might get in a specific amount of time? Let's talk about it today!Y for YieldYield is essentially the return of your investment that the investor wants to get. Essentially, it could be the mortgage holder who wants certain yield over the interest that they are letting you borrow. On the other hand, if you are a landlord or an investor who wants certain rate of returning of their money, they will be investing in real estate. That's the yield that will be calculated to determine i... 11/01/2021

Here's another episode of our Real Estate Alphabet Soup, where we learn more about real estate one letter at a time. Our letter for today covers one of the important components of buying and owning a home. This term is not only used in real estate, but in other items as well that you probably are purchasing on a daily basis. Without further ado, here's letter W!W for WarrantyA home warranty is a service contract that covers the maintenance costs of any household appliances or system for a limited time. This is not to be confused with insurance, which covers various topics. Check my video about insurance here. If you are purchasing a new construction, your home builder will convey a certain warranty for a certain period of time. For resale home, however, there are 3rd party warranty comp... 11/01/2021

Happy Monday, everyone! It is time for another Real Estate Alphabet Soup episode today. Are there terms and contingencies that you're not comfortable in working with when it comes to buying or even selling a home? Then today's episode is for you.V for Voiding the ContractIf in an event you have a contingency and you are not satisfied with it, say, home inspection, you can give a notice. This is where voiding the contract comes into play.The seller can also give you a notice if you're contingent on financing and you have passed the timeline. So it is a one party communication. On top of that, in an event that there is a voiding, you will get your earnest money deposit if both parties agree to the term of notice and the voiding of the contract. For these special scenarios, it is recommend... 11/01/2021