This regularly scheduled sponsored column is written by Carolanne Korolowicz, 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].
I hate to admit it, but I was completely consumed by McDonald’s resurgence of Monopoly. For those who don’t frequent the drive-thru; diners collect Monopoly pieces (stickers) with purchases for a chance to win various prizes. Luckily, I got sick of Big Macs before I had to call 1-800-GAMBLER. Though the contest had me on the verge of a clogged artery or debt, it sparked the idea for this week’s article.
Monopoly has expanded from a tangible board to a virtual world with Monopoly GO!, but did you know that the game’s origin story of a “down-on-his-luck business man creating a board game to help his family during The Great Depression” was just a farce? The idea for the real estate empire pastime is actually credited to Lizzie Magie, an Arlingtonian.
This article is written and sponsored by BizLaunch.
Small Business Saturday is Nov. 29, 2025, and Arlington’s BizLaunch team is rolling out the red carpet for our local entrepreneurs! As Arlington’s Small Business and Entrepreneurial Resource Center, BizLaunch is making sure local businesses have everything they need to shine bright this holiday season. Learn Why Arlington Shops Local: Voices from the Community.
The Small Business Saturday Marketing Toolkit is live! It’s packed with customizable graphics, catchy social media captions, suggested hashtags and expert tips to help your business stand out on one of the biggest shopping days of the year. Whether you run a boutique, café or creative studio, this toolkit makes it easy to connect with customers and spread the “shop local” love.
How to Access the Toolkit: Grab your free download for Small Business Saturday. It’s designed just for Arlington businesses, with practical tools to boost your visibility.
Don’t Miss Out on the BizLaunch Directory: If your business is not listed in the BizLaunch Small Business Directory, now’s the time! It’s SEO-optimized to help new customers find you. Customize features like hours, promos and photos. Businesses with active listings will get extra spotlighting leading up to Small Business Saturday.
Open Rewards: If you haven’t joined Open Rewards yet, do it now! Every local purchase earns shoppers 5% back year-round. On Saturday, Nov. 29, earn 10% back in rewards. Shoppers can spend rewards at any participating Arlington business, keeping the local dollars flowing right here at home.
Why It Matters: Small Business Saturday isn’t just about shopping — it’s a celebration of community, creativity and connection. Every dollar spent locally strengthens Arlington’s economy and supports the dreamers, makers and doers who make our neighborhoods special.
Visit BizLaunch.org for more resources, one-on-one business coaching and upcoming workshops. Make Nov. 29 a day to remember Arlington’s small business community!
This is a sponsored column by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.
On October 10, 2025, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a major ruling in OPM v. Moulton, holding that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) may only divide a federal retiree’s Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) annuity supplement with a former spouse if a court order or divorce decree expressly provides for such a division. The decision affirms the Merit Systems Protection Board’s (MSPB) interpretation of the law and rejects OPM’s broader approach adopted in 2016.
Background: FERS Annuity Supplement
Most federal employees are covered by FERS which is made up of three components: (1) Social Security benefits, (2) a Thrift Savings Plan (a retirement savings and investment plan similar to 401(k) plans available to private-sector employees), and (3) a basic annuity payment. For employees who retire before reaching age 62, the earliest Social Security retirement age, FERS also provides a retirement annuity supplement, which is a temporary payment meant to bridge the gap between retirement and Social Security eligibility.
Traditionally, OPM did not divide the FERS annuity supplement between a retiree and a former spouse, as the annuity supplement was not considered to be subject to division. However, OPM altered its approach in 2016. It began interpreting any court-ordered division of the basic annuity as implicitly including the annuity supplement, even if the order did not expressly say so. OPM applied this new interpretation retroactively, demanding repayment from retirees and reducing future supplement payments.
Each week, “Just Reduced” spotlights properties in Arlington County whose price 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: While Arlington Realty, Inc. provides this information for the community, it may not be the listing company of these homes.
As of November 10, there are 175 detached homes, 47 townhouses and 248 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 43 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.
This sponsored column is by Law Office of James Montana PLLC. All questions about it should be directed to James Montana, Esq., Janice Chen, Esq., and Victoria Khaydar, Esq., practicing attorneys at The Law Office of James Montana PLLC, an immigration-focused law firm located in Falls Church, Virginia. The legal information given here is general in nature. If you want legal advice, contact us for an appointment.
We think of the state as all-knowing, but, as the anthropologist James Scott pointed out in Seeing Like The State, Leviathan is born blind. In order to impose order, the state must first be able to see its subjects as individuals who can be tracked and categorized. Human nature tosses sand in the state’s eyes. People change names (upon birth, upon marriage, upon divorce, upon whim), occupations, addresses, incomes, and the interpersonal relationships amongst themselves. This creates a massive problem for the state: How can it even know the identities of its subjects?
In the United States, the government has traditionally relied mostly on self-reporting for citizens. Readers of this column will not be surprised to learn that we treat immigrants quite differently: we demand stacks of identifying documents, fingerprints, and biometric information as part of benefits adjudication and deportation proceedings. The Department of Homeland Security has quietly proposed to expand this system by collecting more biometric data, more frequently – including DNA! – and, in parallel, to expand this system by collecting biometric data on U.S. Citizens who interact with the immigration system. The purpose of this article is to explain what the Department of Homeland Security proposes to do, and then to speculate briefly about why.
The Department of Homeland Security proposes to expand its biometrics collection system in the following ways:
Expand the types of biometrics collected from immigrants. Currently, only fingerprint, signature, and facial recognition data are collected at biometrics. That’s not enough! DHS proposes to collect “ocular image, palm print, voice print, and DNA” from immigrants.
Expand the frequency of biometrics collection. Currently, DHS frequently reuses biometric information when an applicant applies for a subsequent benefit. (For example, if you apply for a green card, DHS collects your biometric information; later, when you apply for citizenship, DHS reuses its electronic records. No longer!) DHS’s view is that the enforcement benefits of “continuous vetting” outweigh the inconvenience and cost of repeated biometric appointments.
Expand the population of immigrants subject to biometrics collection. Currently, immigrant applicants under the age of 14 are exempt from biometrics collection. (The fingerprints and faces of children have a remarkable, and from the perspective of Leviathan, irritating propensity for change.) DHS’s view is that these challenges can be overcome, and overcoming them is worth doing for enforcement reasons.
Expand the categories of people subject to biometrics collection. Currently, U.S. citizens who interact with the immigration system are generally exempt from biometrics collection. Not anymore! DHS proposes that any U.S. Citizen who participates in an immigration application – as a petitioning spouse, say, or as a financial supporter – must report for biometrics collection, including, potentially, the aforementioned DNA collection.
DHS’s purported justification for collecting biometric data en masse from US citizens is “protecting vulnerable populations.” For example, DHS suggests that in the current system, immigrants are insufficiently protected from convicted sex offenders and domestic abusers – collecting biometric information from every single U.S. citizen involved in the immigration system would help DHS to protect vulnerable immigrants more thoroughly.
DHS’s purported justification for collecting biometrics data repeatedly from non-citizens is that “continuous immigration vetting and […] continued and subsequent evaluation” is meant “to ensure they continue to present no risks to national security or public safety subsequent to their entry.”
The real reasons for this expansion of state power are known only to the Trump Administration. But we would suggest that this new program of biometrics collection is likely to be expensive, duplicative, ineffective, and creepy. The current biometrics system already requires millions of appointments per year, supervised by an army of contractors. Adding millions more appointments will ensure that more contractors get paid, but it is unclear how retaking fingerprints will make it easier to track immigrants over time. Moreover, demanding DNA submission as part of the immigration process is enormously invasive. The Supreme Court, in Maryland v. King, ruled that routine collection of DNA is permissible for those who are “already in valid police custody for a serious offense supported by probable cause.” Subjecting millions of immigrants (and US citizens!) per year to a data collection standard meant for suspected felons strikes us as just one more example of this administration’s hostility to immigrants and their families.
This regularly scheduled sponsored 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].
Today’s article marks a special milestone — TEN years of ‘Ask Eli’, every Tuesday on ARLnow.
Giveaway for Ten $50 Arlington Gift Cards
In the November spirit of reflection and gratitude, I’d like to celebrate ten years of Ask Eli with you and give ten $50 gift certificates to an Arlington business from my list of favorite Arlington establishments.
I’m asking readers to nominate somebody in the Arlington community who they are grateful for (teacher, neighbor, sibling, friend, etc) and feel is deserving of a special treat this holiday season. Nominate somebody using this form and I’ll be in touch with the winners by next week.
When I started this column in 2015:
The average Arlington home sold for just over $646,000
The median Arlington home was $575,000
24 homes (.8%) sold for $2M+ and 2,437 (87%) sold for under $1M
I had never published an article and my only professional writing experience was writing proposal for Federal consulting jobs, via my former employer, Grant Thornton
Ten years later:
The average Arlington home is nearly $941,000 (+46%)
The median Arlington home is $775,000 (+35%)
145 homes have sold for $2M+ (7.5%) and 1,228 (63%) have sold for less than $1M
I’ve moved four times all over Arlington from Rosslyn, to Johnsons Hill, to Bluemont, to Alcova Heights (where I’ll be for a long time!)
I am the longest running columnist on ARLnow and written over 500 articles covering everything from local, regional, and national housing data, to housing policy (hello Missing Middle), to advice on inspection negotiations, homeowners insurance, and what time of year to buy/sell a home.
Over that time, I’ve grown from a solo agent to leading the Eli Residential Group, a team of six that I love working with every day, with nearly 1,000 transactions under our belt, and 360+ transactions right here in Arlington.
I’m deeply grateful for this platform, ARLnow readers, and for the Arlington community that I call home.
Thank you for celebrating ten years with me! Here’s to ten more!
If you’d like to discuss buying, selling, investing, or renting, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected].
We have access to the most pre and off-market listings across the DMV of any brokerage and are happy to share what’s available with anybody who asks.
Below are some of our team’s pre/off-market listings, details and additional listings available by request:
Highland Park/Overlee Knolls – 6BR/5.5BA/5,000+ sqft – Detached Single Family (2025) – 22nd Rd N Arlington VA 22205
Yorktown – 6BR/6.5BA/6,000+ sqft – Detached Single Family (2026) – N Greencastle St Arlington VA 22207
Ballston – 4BR/3.5BA+office/4,000 sqft – Four Townhouses (2026/2027) – 11th St N Arlington VA 22201
Falls Church – 4BR/3BA/1,800 sqft – Detached Single Family (1946) – Tyler Ave Falls Church VA 22042
Falls Church City – 4BR/4.5BA/3,000+ sqft – End-unit townhouse (1995) – Rees Pl Falls Church VA 22046
Williamsburg – 6BR/5.5BA/5,500 sqft – Detached Single Family (2026) – 27th St N Arlington VA 22207
Eli and his team believe that your real estate needs should be managed by advisors, not salespeople. Their mission is to guide, educate, and advocate for their clients through real advice, hands-on support, and personalized service.
We’ve all enjoyed watching the kids delight in their superhero costumes during the annual revels of Halloween, their primary goal being to score a haul of sugary treats at your door. Now, Arlington’s Synetic Theater offers an eerie treat for grownups — a play with real food for thought. Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus is a myth forged in real time. Both intimate and epic, it asks not only what it means to create life, but what kind of life is worth creating.
In a barren world at humanity’s end, a man dares to steal fire and bring life to the dead — only to create something he cannot control. Inspired by Mary Shelley’s classic, this bold reimagining trades candlelit laboratories for storm-ravaged wastelands, where rhythm, ritual and elemental force breathe life into a new Creature. A visually raw and immersive meditation on grief, hubris and what it means to remake ourselves when the world has collapsed.
Synetic has earned more than 100 Helen Hayes Award nominations, accolades from the American Theatre Wing and the title of “Washingtonians of the Year” from Washingtonian magazine for its founders. Founded in 2001 by Georgian immigrants Paata and Irina Tsikurishvili, Synetic has redefined storytelling in the Washington, D.C. area. The duo, who emigrated from Georgia in 1995, combine dance, theater and film with Caucasus traditions and distinctly American styles.
This production is presented with support from Arlington Cultural Affairs, a division of Arlington Economic Development which delivers public activities and programs as Arlington Arts. Our mission is to create, support and promote the arts, connecting artists and community to reflect the diversity of Arlington. For an array of activities across the visual and performing arts, including our upcoming annual spotlight Winter Arts Highlights, please visit the Arlington Arts Website.
Directed by Paata Tsikurishvili, Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus runs Nov. 1 through Nov. 23, at Thomas Jefferson Theater, located at 125 S. Old Glebe Road. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit Synetic Theater’s website.
Each week, “Just Reduced” spotlights properties in Arlington County whose price 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: While Arlington Realty, Inc. provides this information for the community, it may not be the listing company of these homes.
As of November 3, there are 182 detached homes, 43 townhouses and 249 condos for sale throughout Arlington County. In total, 32 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.
This regularly scheduled sponsored 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: If somebody slips and gets hurt on the icy sidewalk outside of my home, will my homeowner’s insurance cover medical bills?
Answer: Winter introduces a slew of risks and hazards for homeowners, many of which can be managed through proper insurance coverage and planning (don’t forget to winterize your exterior plumbing!). I talked to my go-to insurance contact, Seth Kutner of ACO Insurance ([email protected]) about common winter claims and how they are handled by homeowners insurance.
Homeowners Insurance can cover most winter-related claims if the policy is set up properly. Considering the high cost of the average insurance claim, it’s important to know what is and isn’t covered.
Trip & fall lawsuits
Make sure to properly clear your sidewalk area of snow and ice because you may be liable for someone tripping and falling on the sidewalk outside of your house in hazardous conditions. The liability coverage on your homeowners insurance will cover this and Seth recommends that everyone have a minimum of $500,000 in liability coverage.
Burst pipes due to freezing
During the winter months, freezing pipes are a common issue that can lead to major problems. When the temperature drops, water inside your pipes can freeze, causing the pipes to expand and potentially burst. This can lead to significant water damage, expensive repairs, and the inconvenience of being without running water. To prevent freezing pipes, make sure to insulate any exposed pipes, especially those in unheated areas. If you do experience freezing pipes, it is important to call a plumber right away to help clear the pipe. In most cases, damage caused by a burst pipe from freezing is covered by insurance, a common exception is to a vacant home with the heat off.
Wind damage
Whether wind directly damages your home or causes a tree to fall on your home, most policies cover the resulting damage. The deductible that you pay for this type of claim may be different than your normal deductible. Depending on your policy, this could be 2-5 times larger than your normal deductible. Some insurance companies have raised these deductibles and unless you have read your declaration pages (not common), you may not be aware of the changes.
Accelerate Investor Conference. Photo credit: Sean Kelley
Accelerate Investor Conference. Photo credit: Sean Kelley
Accelerate Investor Conference. Photo credit: Sean Kelley
Arlington’s startup scene is getting another major boost this fall. Arlington Economic Development (AED) is sponsoring the 2025 Accelerate Investor Conference, coming to George Mason University’s Arlington campus Nov. 5–6, bringing together investors, founders and innovators from across the Mid-Atlantic for two days of connections, capital and conversation.
Hosted by Mason Enterprise at George Mason University, Accelerate is all about bridging the gap between startups ready to scale and investors looking for the next big thing. Expect a mix of company pitches, industry panels, networking sessions and awards — all focused on helping founders move from the late Seed stage to Series A funding.
“The Accelerate Investor Conference came about as the result of input from the tech community, investors, and entrepreneurs, acknowledging a market gap – the need for capital at the late Seed to Series A funding stage and opportunities for the tech community to convene,” said Paula Sorrell, Associate Vice President of Innovation & Economic Development at Mason Enterprise.
Entrepreneurs Welcome
This year, Accelerate is opening part of its program to the wider entrepreneur community. A limited number of complimentary tickets are being offered to founders and startup supporters to attend a Venture Capital Fireside Chat, Silicon Valley Investment Panel and networking reception on Wednesday, Nov. 5, from 3:30 to 6 p.m., tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
What’s Happening at Accelerate
Throughout the conference, attendees will hear from investors, university innovation leaders and founders who’ve successfully scaled their businesses. The agenda includes sessions on dual use technologies and the new era of the venture capital industry, among many others, company pitches and networking meetups designed to connect startups directly with venture capitalists.
The event wraps up with a gala dinner and awards celebration, sponsored by AED, recognizing standout startups and student teams from across the region.
For AED, the sponsorship is part of a larger effort to strengthen Arlington’s innovation ecosystem — connecting entrepreneurs with the resources, investors and partners they need to thrive.
“The energy around events like Accelerate shows just how much momentum Arlington’s startup community has,” said Michael Stiefvater, Arlington Economic Development’s Director of Business Investment. “We recently saw an Arlington startup get the final investment check to close their round at an Accelerate event, which tells us these events are bringing together the right people to fuel results.”
Want to stay in the know about Arlington’s innovation scene? Subscribe to AED’s Innovation Newsletter for updates on upcoming events, funding opportunities and exclusive opportunities.
Each week, “Just Reduced” spotlights properties in Arlington County whose price 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: While Arlington Realty, Inc. provides this information for the community, it may not be the listing company of these homes.
As of October 27, there are 190 detached homes, 51 townhouses and 254 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.
This regularly scheduled sponsored 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: Do you have any information on the new townhouse development near the Crystal City Metro?
Answer: Over the weekend, EYA opened sales for a new townhouse development that will bring 42 3BR/2.5BA/2,000SF townhouses to National Landing (Crystal City/Pentagon City) and has put seven under contract in less than 48 hours. They are expected to be ready for move-in in 2026/2027.
The community will be called Highlands Row and is located at the corner of Fern and 18th (South Hayes) replacing existing parking lots in the Crystal House complex, 1-2 blocks south of familiar landmarks like the Pentagon City Mall, Costco, and Amazon HQ2, and a block west of the Crystal City Metro.
First Townhomes in Crystal/Pentagon City
It will be the first true townhouse community within walking distance of the Crystal City and Pentagon City Metros, which is a shocking fact and highlights Arlington’s housing and zoning shortcomings.
The only other townhouse-like product in the area is a 1980 community of two-over-two condos that range from ~1,400-1,600SF and hardly function as a townhouse. The other townhouse communities in the 22202 zip code are in more residential neighborhoods, well outside of what most would consider walkable to Metro and the urban centers of National Landing.
Before returning to the main topic of this article, I want to reiterate how crazy it is that Arlington has not found a way to bring townhouses to the Crytal/Pentagon City Metro area until now, despite it being an area perfectly suited to that type of housing.
This sponsored column is by Law Office of James Montana PLLC. All questions about it should be directed to James Montana, Esq., Janice Chen, Esq., and Victoria Khaydar, Esq., practicing attorneys at 
