Is Your Brain Affecting Your Real Estate Decisions?
What neuroscience tells us about aging, real estate, and the decisions we stop seeing clearly Over the past several years, I have noticed a pattern playing out in some of my client relationships, in your families, in your partnerships, and perhaps one day in the mirror. It is the pattern of an owner/investor who cannot […]
How’s the NoVa Office Market, Really? A Look Back at Q1
The NoVa Office Market: Two Very Different Stories The Northern Virginia office market ended Q1 2026 with an overall vacancy rate of 20.4%, unchanged for three straight quarters. Whether that’s good or bad depends on perspective — and the reality is, it’s both. (For a deeper look at how Alexandria is responding to office vacancy, […]
Alexandria’s Office-to-Residential Conversion Wave: Progress or Peril?
Alexandria Office to Residential Conversion The morning headlines keep coming, each one sounding like a real estate revolution: another vacant office building in Alexandria transforming into hundreds of new apartments or hotel space. CityHouse Old Town. TideLock. 801 North (everyone knows it as the former offices of AAA). The Herron Hotel. What started as a […]
Why Your Children Probably Don’t Want to Inherit Your Commercial Property (And What to Do About It)
Let me say the inside words out loud. Your children don’t want your commercial property. They just want the money. You spent 25 years paying down that mortgage. You renovated it, and you made memories there. Maybe you built your entire business there. It’s natural that you might have thoughts of it staying in the […]
The One Big Beautiful Bill: Game-Changing Tax Advantages for Northern Virginia Commercial Real Estate Investors
The One Big Beautiful Bill: Game-Changing Tax Advantages for Northern Virginia Commercial Real Estate Investors The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law on July 4, 2025¹, represents the most significant commercial real estate tax legislation since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. For small and medium-sized commercial real estate investors in […]
Why Comprehensive Record-Keeping is Crucial During a Lease Transaction
As a commercial buyer or tenant, maintaining meticulous documentation throughout the lease process is not just smart—it’s essential. While your real estate agent serves as a valuable resource, never rely solely on them to manage every detail. Capture every aspect of your transaction in writing to ensure you are protecting your interests. From the initial […]
Maximize Your Dental Practice’s Reach: Low-Cost Marketing Strategies
Maximize Your Dental Practice’s Reach: Low-Cost Marketing Strategies In today’s competitive market, there are standing out and building strong connections is essential, especially for startup dental practices. Here’s a quick guide to elevate your marketing efforts without breaking the bank: Network with Referral Partners: Build relationships with other medical providers, such as orthodontists, pediatricians, and […]
Understanding the Differences: Medical Office vs. Retail Spaces in Northern VA
Medical Office vs. Retail When it comes to commercial real estate in Northern VA, understanding the disparities between medical office and retail spaces is crucial for making an informed decision for your next medical site. Lease Structures: Medical office leases often offer full-service arrangements, encompassing all occupancy costs like base rent, utilities, taxes, and cleaning. […]
Alexandria Chamber of Commerce Business Leader of the Year: Donnie Simpson
Recently I had the honor to introduce the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce Business Leader of the Year Donnie Simpson at the annual Best in Business Awards event. In preparing my remarks I had the opportunity to reflect on the power and importance of role models in my life.
Observations of Legacy Businesses
Recently I had several wildly different customer experiences with legacy automotive companies that left me thinking about how our customers feel about their interactions with TARTAN.