After a windy weekend, a breezy Monday featuring low humidity levels has prompted a fire warning.
The National Weather Service says there’s an elevated fire danger today in Northern Virginia and other parts of the Mid-Atlantic. Outside fires could spread quickly, forecasters say.
Steel: 50%. Copper: 50%. Cars: up to 25%. But an even bigger Trump-era levy looms: 107% on Italian pasta.
Mamma mia.
Welcome to Kami’s Korner where we’ll take a deep dive into Arlington’s condominium market by focusing on what’s coming next. From emerging developments to shifting trends, this space will spotlight the opportunities and insights shaping the future of condo living in Arlington.
Many of you have asked about best practices when it comes to buying a new condominium. Some of us only want new and are willing to pay a premium for the best in current design. There are several recommendations and insights here that will help you get what you want.
First decide what type of condominium you need… size, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, parking needs, or separate office, followed by a list of wants such as level of building service, amenities on-site, space for dining for six, balcony, open floor plan, and natural light. (Here she goes again.) Not to be sexist about it, but females generally are better shoppers and come with a preconceived set of non-negotiables.
Identify the areas you would consider living, such as Arlington or Old Town… but not wanting to go as far as Tysons, Reston, or DC. People don’t buy condominiums in places they aren’t familiar with or already spend time in, unless relocating entirely. Many upcoming communities put up signage and a website first which makes early interest hyperlocal. Register as a VIP on the website early and you will get regular communication, time to consider the offering, and learn when pre-sale will begin.
Once open, come early in pre-sale. You’ll get the pick of the litter. This is particularly important if you want something larger and are interested in the best views. Prospects are smart and pick the best floorplans first. If you have some idea of your ideal size and price point it makes good use of everyone’s time. Once you make a selection, expect to leave a 10% deposit as this is pretty standard in the industry. The developer generally has their own contract and it’s written much in their favor but not unreasonably so. Pricing this early is usually not negotiable… the price is the price. But you can purchase with some confidence since all buyers are getting the same terms and the developer has a shared interest in protecting values through delivery while sales are ongoing.
You do not need to be fully qualified for financing to come out and look but it’s wise to have some idea of what you can afford. Most builders give incentives for paying cash or using their title company and lenders. Often your contract might even offer a short financing contingency in exchange for considering them.
Once firmly under contract, a buyer might have 12- 18 months to prepare for the move. How blissful. This is one of the best parts of buying early in pre-sale. Moving is daunting, especially if you have been in your current homes for 30 years and the thought of moving seems excruciating. Decide what to take, sell/donate, and hire a proper interior designer to space plan and create a unique home that reflects your tastes. All with the time to do it properly.
Something to note. Finishes have gotten more high end, brands carry weight, and there is less customization offered these days. Gone are the days of going to a design center. If you know you are getting a Sub Zero refrigerator included you probably won’t ask if there are other options available. (more…)
Suspensions were down at the start of the school year in Arlington, but some significant disparities remain across different student demographics.
First-quarter suspension totals “continue to show some overrepresentation” of certain groups, including Black students and students with disabilities, Superintendent Francisco Durán told School Board members on Nov. 13.
The Arlington County Board is seeking legislation that would give localities the power to limit annual increases in apartment rents.
Board members added language to their 2026 General Assembly priorities package on Saturday, seeking the ability to add “anti-rent-gouging protections.” The decision generated applause from supporters who argued that the decision could promote affordability, and criticism from opponents concerned about hindering free market solutions.
St. Agnes Catholic Church in Arlington is hosting its monthly run & walk social on June 18th (Thursday) at 6:30pm. The 3 or 4 mile run (or walk) will start in the back parking lot (off N. Stafford St.) and end at St. Agnes. Participants can enjoy complimentary pizza afterwards. Drinks are BYOB. Extra points if you wear Catholic school swag. Thank you Father Oetjen, who started off our May run from Court House to/from the Marine Corps War Memorial with a prayer (and ran a competitive pace). Also, thank you to the Notre Dame and Georgetown alumni who wore their schools’ colors!
Please RSVP at the link, so we know how much pizza to get. Thank you!
State Sen. Adam Ebbin has promised Arlington leaders that he will push to bring home more transit funding from the 2026 General Assembly session.
“That’ll probably be the most intense of the things I’m working on,” Ebbin (D-39) said during a Nov. 13 work session between County Board members and the community’s legislative delegation.
Cuts at Shirlington-Based WETA — “WETA in Washington, D.C., and its subsidiary News Hour Productions are ending broadcasts of PBS News Weekend as part of a restructuring prompted by the rescission of federal funding for public media. The restructuring includes the elimination of 34 positions, adding to 21 positions WETA cut in September… In September, WETA cut its workforce by 5% and ended local programs to save $4.4 million this fiscal year. The new cuts represent a 6% workforce reduction, Stewart said.” [Current, WBJ]
DCA, IAD Flight Cuts End — “The Federal Aviation Administration will end its flight reduction emergency order Monday, meaning flights will resume operations as normal, officials announced Sunday. The emergency order will officially lift Monday at 6 a.m. ET, ending the reductions that caused mass cancellations and delays at airports.” [NBC News]
Lasting Shutdown Impacts — “In the wake of the country’s longest-ever federal government shutdown, a key safety-net organization is calling for a renewed emphasis on helping lower-income, working residents achieve economic independence… While welcoming the shutdown’s end on Thursday (Nov. 13), United Way of the National Capital Area President and CEO Rosie Allen-Herring said at a briefing that morning that her organization believes ‘the impact will be felt, for thousands, for months ahead.'” [FFXnow]
Another Local ICE Arrest — “ICE @EROWashington arrested Nelson Cabrera Eskobar, a criminal alien and convicted felon from Guatemala. He’s been convicted of robbery in Arlington, Virginia. He’s also been convicted of disorderly conduct and failure to obey a Police officer in Prince George’s County, Maryland.” [ICE Washington]
State Tax Revenue Still Up — “Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced that total general fund revenues increased 7.0 percent ($134.1 million) for the month versus October last year. The year-over-year increase was driven primarily by higher individual income tax withholding and nonwithholding payments, lower refunds, and greater sales and use tax collections.” [Press Release, Gov. Glenn Youngkin/X]
It’s Dry — “Drought is expanding. Severe drought covers large areas west of I-95. Rain potential over next week? Not great. Just 0.2-0.3 inches from a blend of computer models.” [CWG/X]
It’s Monday — Expect sunny skies and a high temperature near 50 degrees during the day, accompanied by a northwest wind blowing at 11 to 17 mph, and gusts reaching up to 30 mph. The night will be mostly clear with temperatures dropping to around 33 degrees, while the northwest wind slows to 3 to 7 mph. [NWS]
Today’s Morning Notes are brought to you by Industrious. ARLnow has been in an Industrious office for years and we love the convenience — you get to focus on your work rather than worrying about brewing your own coffee or keeping the copy machine stocked. Industrious has several Metro-accessible coworking locations in Arlington.
A Stanford student and Paralympian who grew up in Arlington has been named a 2026 Rhodes scholar.
Sydney E. Barta of Arlington, Virginia, is a Paralympian and member of the track team at Stanford University, who studies bioengineering and sings in the Stanford acapella group “Counterpoint.” As part of the prestigious scholarship, Barta plans to study musculoskeletal sciences.
The Washington-Liberty Generals were productive enough on offense to win their first-round playoff game of the 6D North Region football tournament.
Defense, though, was another matter — and became the reason W-L lost the Friday night (Nov. 14) high-school contest to the host Westfield Bulldogs, 56-28.
Good Friday evening, Arlington. Let’s take a look back at today’s stories and a look forward to tomorrow’s event calendar.
The following articles were published earlier today — Nov 14, 2025.
Since it’s Friday, we’ve also compiled a list of the most-read articles of the week, below.
Here is what’s going on Saturday in Arlington, from our event calendar.
Here are the events planned for Sunday:
Expect a mostly cloudy day with temperatures reaching around 64°F and calm winds shifting to the south at 5-7 mph in the afternoon. On Saturday night, there is a 30% chance of rain, primarily after 1am, accompanied by mostly cloudy skies and a low near 55°F. Southwest winds will be at 8-10 mph, gusting up to 20 mph. See more from Weather.gov.
“Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.”
– H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
The MonumentCam screenshot above is used with permission of the Trust for the National Mall and courtesy of EarthCam.
We hope you have a great weekend, Arlington! If you have something to say about an issue of local note not covered today, feel free to post it as a letter to the editor on our new forum. 👋
