January & February 2008 Sales Figures for Carriage Homes in Braemar - 02/28/08 09:05 AM
Carriage Homes in Braemar have been a constant source of sales during the downtrending market in Prince William County.  These last two month, a total of three Carriage Homes sold. 
First of all, if you are not familiar with the Carriage Homes, to put it plainly, they are the homes in Braemar that Brookfield built with detached garages.  Not all of the Carriage Homes have garages, but if they do, they are not attached to the home.  The Carriage Homes are modest single family homes and have a variety of four floorplans: Maplewood, Norwood, Oakdale and Parkdale.  Those models are listed … (7 comments)

Happy Buyers in Sterling, VA - 02/27/08 04:40 PM
What a great day for a settlement!  My buyers made a terrific deal on this 3 level, one car garage townhouse in Sterling, VA.   The unit has a fully fenced backyard, deck, finished basement, three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms.  Don't forget the walkout basement and hardwood floors on the main level.  With about $900 out of their own pockets, they bought their first home for only $285,000 on a VA loan.  No money down!   The seller paid for their closing costs!
If you've been contemplating your first home purchase, give me a call.  Every buyer I have had the … (7 comments)

Anybody Still Working with Rentals in the Hollywood or Santa Monica Area? - 02/26/08 10:11 PM
I have a family member who is selling his home and moving to the So. Cal. area.  He is looking in the areas of Studio City, Hollywood, West Hollywood or Santa Monica for a place to RENT.  He will very likely be relocating premantly, but needs someone to help with a rental first.  If you are interested in the introduction, let me know.  I did not see a way to put this on the referral site.  Only buyers and sellers.
… (4 comments)

Am I Missing Something? Don't ARMS Have an Adjustment Limit? - 02/26/08 09:57 AM
It seems that everyday when I turn on the news, I hear more and more about the housing crisis in our country.  Foreclosures continue to increase, home sales are decreasing.  And somehow, ARM mortgages are the ones that are given the bad wrap.
ARMS have specific adjustments...at least the plain old vanilla ARMS do.  So why are THEY the ones to blame.
Seems to me that people went for the EXTRAVAGANT, OFF-THE-BEATEN-PATH, MAGIC WAND loans.  And if they have any type of adjustment, they are considered ARMS.   One in particular that has nailed too many people on my street is a … (5 comments)

So You THINK You Live in Braemar - 02/25/08 10:54 PM
As a Realtor, I got involved in my HOA because I understand the benefit of great community amenities and community covenants.  But when I first learned about Tartan Hills Village's relationship to Braemar (the larger community that THV is located within), I was shocked. 
To begin, the concept of Braemar is a larger community HOA with "subassociations".  These subassociations are smaller, and remind me of states within the United States.  If that analogy holds true, then Tartan Hills Village is Washington, DC.  No vote on Braemar's larger board, like the other subassociations have, and only a recreational agreement allowing us to … (6 comments)

Money Merge Accounts: A Pessimist's Perspective - 02/25/08 04:07 PM
I logged onto one of my AR groups yesterday and saw an ad for MMAs (Money Merge Accounts).  It was stated that this type of account could help you pay off your mortgage, giving you more money to spend, and utterly change your life.  Who wouldn't want THAT?!!! 
Dad taught me, "IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE. IT PROBABLY IS." 
So for a different perspective, by someone that has sat through a one-on-one sales pitch for the MMA, I'd love to describe WHAT their purpose is, and WHY they don't work.
The purpose of the MMA is this:  You … (5 comments)

Parents Know Best---Or Should You Listen To Your Realtor? - 02/24/08 12:18 PM
Parents are always the first ones we go to for advice, especially with big decisions that they have already been through.  And why not?  They raised us from infancy.  They taught us right from wrong, nursed our physical and emotional wounds, and helped us blossom into the adults we are today. 
In the last year I've been blessed to work with many first time homebuyers and young couples. Some need the advice of Mom and Dad more than others.   While we trust everything our parents tell us, it is important to note that it may have been DECADES, since these parents were involved in a real estate transaction.  Many … (5 comments)

Great Buyer Reactions!! - 02/22/08 04:41 PM
In my three years selling homes, I had never gotten that one buyer that had a reaction I will never forget....that was...until today.
It began with a negotiation that had my buyer and I on the edge of our seats.  An additional offer came in at the last minute, just when we had verbally accepted an offer from the Bank (Bank Owned Property...of course).  Suddenly it was a new playing field.  Start over.  Highest and best offer.  And at zero-dark-thirty last night, "The bank won't except an escalation clause.  We need your absolute best offer."  What a nail biter.
She won the negotiations … (2 comments)

If I Can't Have This House----No One Can!!! - 02/17/08 06:28 PM
After a day of looking in the $250,000-$300,000 price range in the community of South Riding in Loudoun County, Virginia I am utterly exhausted.  It is more of a mental fatigue than a physical one.
99% of the homes I have seen in the pat three months have been bank owned properties. 
Yep, bank owned,  priced to sell and ......TRASHED!!!
I get so tired of seeing what others will do to the homes they LOVED, simply because they got themselves in over their heads.   It is rare to deal with families that know they are in a short sale situation, … (8 comments)

Keeping your Home Secure! - 02/16/08 11:32 AM
In my neighborhood of Braemar in Prince William County, VA we've experienced a couple of break-ins recently.  While no one was hurt and very little was taken, there is nothing like it to shake up the neighborhood and make you feel vulnerable. 
Several of my neighbors and I got together and made a list of things we could all do to deter burglaries.  Inevitably, as the economy trends down, we will all see in an increase in such actitivies.  But here's how you can deter burglars from your home and neighborhood:
1.  Keep your porch lights on all night.  This deters would be … (6 comments)

Combination Boxes...Why I Won't Use Them - 02/15/08 06:20 PM
The real estate market in Northern Virginia has seen an increase in Foreclosure listings, Short Sale listings and the unfortunate rise of combination boxes.  I know they about 75% cheaper than electronic lockboxes, but that's no reason to use them.  This step back in technology has brought out the worst in some listing and, unfortunately, a lot of buyers agents.
These inexpensive devices are cheapening the respect I have for listing agents.  About three weeks ago I met someone who wanted to see a particular rental.  I was not available to show it to them right away, but called the listing agent … (18 comments)

What Second Mortgages May Do to Make Money When Facing A Short Sale - 02/01/08 10:57 AM
I would start this particular post by saying that I was surprised when this happened in a transaction where I was a buyer representative, but at this point nothing in a short sale transaction surprises me. 
As a Buyer's Agent, I try to prepare my buyers for the gut wrenching drama that can come with writing on a Short Sale property.  The problem in my market (Northern Virginia) is that just about all homes under $250-$300K are short sales or foreclosures.  And these are the buyers, first time home buyers to be exact, that I have had the pleasure of working … (7 comments)

 
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Chris Ann Cleland, Associate Broker, Northern VA

Bristow, VA

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Long & Foster REALTORS®, Gainesville, VA

Address: 7526 Limestone Drive, Gainesville, VA, 20155

Office Phone: (703) 402-0037

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