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Juntos somos más (Together we are more): Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in Arlington

By Sponsor
Image from Juntos somos más (Together we are more): Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in Arlington

This Hispanic Heritage Month, Arlington Economic Development, through BizLaunch en Español, is shining a spotlight on the entrepreneurs, organizations, and community leaders whose talent, creativity, and perseverance help make Arlington thrive. Guided by this year’s theme, Juntos Somos Más (Together We Are More), we celebrate the individuals and businesses whose contributions strengthen our economy and enrich the cultural fabric of our community.

From September 15 through October 15, communities across the nation recognize the histories, cultures, and achievements of Hispanic and Latino Americans. Here in Arlington, those contributions can be seen every day through the local businesses, nonprofit organizations, artists, and innovators who help create a vibrant and welcoming community.

The impact of Hispanic entrepreneurship continues to grow across the nation. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Hispanic-owned employer businesses generate more than $653 billion in annual revenue and support approximately 3.6 million jobs. Their continued growth reflects the innovation, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit that fuel local economies and create pathways to opportunity.

Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, BizLaunch en Español will spotlight Arlington businesses and organizations whose stories reflect the spirit of Juntos Somos Más, including:

  1. Tang & Sizzle

  1. Pan American Bakery

  1. Dov & Company

  1. Don Churro

  1. Island Jewelry

  1. IndigArt Designs

  1. Sun & Honey Grazing

  1. Ana Just Made It

  1. El Alfa Taquería Food Truck

  1. Shirlington Employment and Education center

  1. ENDependence Center of Northern VA

and community partner Arlington Public Libraries. Follow along on social media to learn about their entrepreneurial journeys, community impact, and the many ways they help make Arlington stronger.

A special community event culminating the festivities will take place on October 13 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Arlington Central Library, where BizLaunch en Español and Arlington Public Libraries will host an evening celebrating entrepreneurship, culture, and community.

The event will feature Genny DeFoor, owner of Pan American Bakery, and Maria and Sofia, co-founders of Dov & Company, who will share their experiences as entrepreneurs, lessons learned along the way, and perspectives on building successful businesses while staying connected to community and culture.

We invite you to join us this Hispanic Heritage Month by supporting local Hispanic-owned businesses, attending community events, and celebrating the individuals whose creativity, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit help Arlington thrive.

And don’t forget to join the conversation online. Follow BizLaunch en Español and BizLaunch on social media throughout the month, and like, comment on, and share the stories of the entrepreneurs and organizations helping shape our community.

Juntos Somos Más. Together We Are More.

For updates on featured businesses, upcoming events, and resources for entrepreneurs, follow BizLaunch and Arlington Economic Development throughout Hispanic Heritage Month.

Just Reduced Properties in Arlington: September 16, 2026

By Sponsor

Each week, “Just Reduced” spotlights properties in Arlington County whose prices have been cut over the previous week. The market summary is crafted by Arlington Realty, Inc. Maximize your real estate investment with the team by visiting www.arlingtonrealtyinc.com or calling 703-836-6000 today!

Please note: The properties featured here may be listed with other brokerages– but that doesn’t limit your options. Arlington Realty, Inc. is ready to represent you, arrange showings, analyze value, and negotiate the best possible terms on your behalf. We understand the neighborhoods, pricing trends and market timing — and we use that knowledge to your advantage. 

As of September 14, there are 197 detached homes, 68 townhouses and 291 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 52 homes experienced a price reduction in the past week, including:

Please note that this is solely a selection of Just Reduced properties available in Arlington County. For a complete list of properties within your target budget and specifications, contact Arlington Realty, Inc. 

Ask Eli: Should you sell or rent your home?

By Eli Tucker

This regularly scheduled column is written by Eli Tucker, Arlington-based Realtor and Arlington resident. If you would like to work with Eli and his team in Northern Virginia and the greater D.C. Metro area, you can reach him directly at [email protected].

Question: I am debating whether to sell my home or hold onto it as a rental property, do you have any advice?

Answer: Homes are spending more time on the market right now, especially condos, giving homeowners more time to ponder whether or not they should remain on the path to sell or whether they should flip to a rental. I’ll share some tips and advice for anyone in the fortunate position to decide between selling or renting their primary residence.

Start with the Capital Gains Tax Exemption

Spouses filing jointly are exempt from paying taxes on up to $500,000 in capital gains and individuals are exempt from $250,000 if your home has been your primary residence for at least two of five years prior to the sale. In simple terms, assuming you’ve lived in your home for at least two years, if you decide to rent it out for more than three years, you lose your capital gains tax exemption.

Capital gains are calculated by the amount you sell for less your original purchase price less any transaction costs and capital improvements during your ownership, and any depreciation recapture, if it was ever a rental. It is not based on your mortgage balance.

For those with significant capital gains, this exemption is worth a lot of money so in a rent vs sell decision, make sure that if you rent, you are renting for long enough to generate enough value to offset the lost tax benefit.

I generally do not recommend renting for two years and then selling before the three-year mark because there’s risk, cost, and effort involved in renting that usually is not worth two years of rental value.

Don’t Confuse a Capital Gains Exemption with a 1031 Exchange

People often confuse the capital gains tax exemptions with a 1031 exchange. The capital gains exemption is a full tax exemption, up to $250k/$500k, on the sale of a primary residence. A 1031 exchange is the deferral of taxes on the sale of an investment property, only if the proceeds of that sale are used towards the purchase of another “like-kind” investment property. A 1031 exchange does not apply to a sale or purchase involving a primary residence.

Questions to Ask Yourself

There are a series of questions and thought exercises I recommend when making a rent vs sell decision for your home, including:

  • What will you do with the money? If you are using sale proceeds to buy a long-term primary residence or significantly improve your life (e.g. early retirement), selling tends to make overwhelming sense. If you are simply investing the money, the decision is primarily a comparison of different investment vehicles/assets.

  • What does the rest of your investment portfolio look like? Will it benefit from the diversification of a real estate asset? Real estate assets are unique in that they can create income and value growth (appreciation) at once, sort of like a growth stock with good dividends, which is a unicorn in the investment world.

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NaLa Noches: A free Latin music series in National Landing

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Met Park becomes your dance floor this fall with the return of NaLa Noches, a high-energy celebration of Latin music and culture in the heart of National Landing. Sigue el sonido/follow the sound of the güiro, clave, and timbales during live performances from top regional acts curated by DC trumpet legend Joe Herrera. During the set break, Inspira Dance leads short, beginner-friendly dance lessons, from salsa to merengue and more!

Grab empanadas and alfajores onsite from local favorite Peruvian Brothers, cool down with a complimentary Topo Chico, and partake in hands-on “Colores y Cultura” art activations by Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington.

FREE TO RSVP

Musical Lineup:

September 17 — René Ibáñez & Cubano Groove (Latin Jazz)

September 24 — Punto i Aparte (Salsa Merengue)

October 1 — Orquesta Manplesa (Salsa)

October 8 — Monte Cimarrón (Cuban Son/Salsa)

October 15 — Son Cubano Subterráneo (Cuban Son)

Art Activities & Artist Lineup:

Join Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington for fun and free “Colores y Cultura” arts activities each week.

September 17: Talavera Pottery-Style Clay Crafts // sculpt decorative pieces with air dry clay!

September 24: Artist Spotlight: David Amoroso — Papel Amate Inspired Painting // paint vibrant scenes of flora + fauna on natural paper.

October 1: Artist Spotlight: Michelle Espinoza — Corn Husk Flowers // craft flowers out of corn husks.

October 8: Artist Spotlight: Jaqui Falkenheim — Little Houses on Caminito Street // color and collage houses inspired by Caminito Street in La Boca, Buenos Aires!

October 15: Mini-Nicho Shadow Boxes // create a personal little shrine with colorful embellishments!

Please refer to the National Landing website for transportation and full event details: www.nationallanding.org/events/nala-noches

NaLa Noches is produced by the National Landing BID in partnership with Amazon.

Does every will have to go through probate in Virginia?

By PJI Law
Image from Does every will have to go through probate in Virginia?

When a loved one passes away, families often face difficult decisions about funeral arrangements, finances, and the distribution of property. One common question is whether having a will automatically means the estate must go through probate.

Not necessarily. Whether probate is required in Virginia depends largely on how the deceased person’s assets were owned and whether those assets have another method of transferring to heirs or beneficiaries.

Understanding when probate is required—and when it can be avoided—can help families navigate estate administration with greater confidence.

What Is Probate in Virginia?

Probate is the legal process used to administer certain assets belonging to a deceased person, or decedent. In Virginia, probate generally takes place through the circuit court in the city or county where the decedent lived.

When probate is necessary, the court recognizes the will, if there is one, and appoints a personal representative to handle the estate. The personal representative is responsible for identifying and collecting assets, addressing valid debts and taxes, and distributing the remaining property according to the will or Virginia’s intestacy laws.

Importantly, having a will does not automatically mean every asset must pass through probate. A will generally controls probate assets, while certain property passes directly to another person through ownership arrangements or beneficiary designations.

When Is Probate Required?

Probate is generally necessary when someone dies owning assets in their individual name that do not have another method of transferring ownership.

Examples can include:

  • Real estate owned solely by the decedent
  • Bank accounts without joint ownership or beneficiary designations
  • Vehicles, jewelry, collections, or other personal property owned individually

In these situations, probate may be necessary to give the personal representative authority to transfer or distribute the property.

When Is Probate Not Required?

Some assets can transfer automatically after death and therefore may not need to pass through probate.

Jointly owned property: Assets held jointly with rights of survivorship generally pass to the surviving owner.

Beneficiary-designated accounts: Life insurance policies, retirement accounts, and certain bank accounts can pass directly to the beneficiaries named on the account.

Revocable living trusts: Assets properly transferred into a revocable living trust generally avoid probate because the trust owns the property rather than the deceased individual.

Virginia also provides a simplified option for certain small estates. Under Va. Code § 64.2-601, qualifying personal property valued at $75,000 or less may be transferred using a small estate affidavit rather than a full probate proceeding, provided the statutory requirements are satisfied.

This simplified procedure applies to qualifying personal property, not real estate, and can be particularly useful when an estate consists of modest assets such as a bank account or vehicle.

What Happens When Probate Is Required?

When probate is necessary, the personal representative must complete several steps before the estate can be closed. These typically include identifying and valuing estate assets, filing the required inventory, addressing creditor claims and taxes, and distributing assets to beneficiaries.

Virginia also imposes deadlines for certain estate filings. The inventory generally must be filed within four months after qualification, while the first accounting is generally due within 16 months.

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Applying for Arlington’s Housing Grants Program? Now’s the time.

By Arlington County Department of Human Services
Image from Applying for Arlington's Housing Grants Program? Now's the time.

For many Arlington families, older adults, and households with disabilities, affordable housing support can make the difference between stability and uncertainty.

That’s why Arlington County is encouraging eligible households interested in the Housing Grants Program to apply now. Direct applications are now open and remain open through Sept. 30, 2026, but the application process will change this fall. Beginning in October, the program will move to a waitlist-based system for new admissions. 

The Housing Grants Program helps eligible households afford rental housing in an Arlington community they can call home. A County-funded program, the Arlington County Housing Grants Program provides a monthly housing grant to eligible households. These grants cover a portion of monthly rent, depending on household income, household size, and rent amount. As demand for assistance continues to grow, Arlington County is implementing a waitlist process designed to preserve the program for the long term while providing a fair and transparent path to future admissions.

For households that may qualify, the message is simple: Don’t wait. Apply before Sept. 30 while direct applications are still being accepted.

Starting Oct. 5, 2026, households seeking assistance will need to join a waitlist. Pre-applications for the waitlist will be accepted through Oct. 19, 2026. Unlike many housing programs, the process will not be first-come, first-served. Every completed application submitted during the registration period will have an equal chance of selection. An automated lottery will be used to select up to 500 households for placement on the waitlist.

Arlington County is also working to ensure households can access help throughout the waitlist registration process. Language assistance, disability accommodations, and additional support resources will be available. Beginning October 5, Arlington Public Library locations will also offer assistance to help households access information and complete waitlist pre-applications. 

The Housing Grants Program continues to serve eligible households, including older adults age 65 and older, working households with children under 18, and households that include a person who is totally and permanently disabled and receiving qualifying disability benefits.

Current program participants are not immediately affected by the new program changes. Residents who currently receive Housing Grant assistance may continue receiving support as long as they remain eligible and complete required annual recertification processes.

For households that may be eligible, applying before Sept. 30 could help avoid the uncertainty of a future waitlist and lottery process. To learn more about the Housing Grants Program, or to apply directly before Sept. 30, visit www.arlingtonva.us/housing-grants, email [email protected] or call 703-228-1350. To learn more about the October 2026 Waitlist, visit https://www.arlingtonva.us/Housing-Grant-Waitlist

Apply Now
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