How can I photograph Fireworks? Tips on how to photograph firework displays. - 06/30/11 08:48 PM

With the 4th of July just around the corner, Marilyn Weir out of Houston, TX graciously shared some firework photography tips.  Please leave your comments on the original post.
Via Marilyn Wier, ABR, CDPE, CIPS, CLHMS, CRS, SRES (RE/MAX Space Center):
With the 4th of July coming up, I know I will have my camera out and ready to catch some great photos of the magnificent fireworks I see. However I spend half the time trying to figure out what settings I should have my camera on to get the fireworks to even show up! I did some research and I found … (0 comments)

House for Sale---Mailbox Included - 06/30/11 12:34 PM
As a Bristow-Gainesville-Haymarket area real estate agent, most of what I get to list and sell are residential properties in planned subdivisions with HOA's (home owners associations.)  The mail boxes are very uniform, as required by the HOA.  As such, when a Seller is leaving an HOA controlled community, there is never a thought of taking the mailbox with them.  The mailbox was there when they moved in and will be there when they leave.
Rural property may present another story.  When there is no HOA to control what a mailbox needs to be, many home owners pour their personalities into … (26 comments)

The Bristow, Virginia Real Estate Market and Your Home's Value - 06/28/11 05:54 PM
The Bristow, Virginia Real Estate Market and Your Home's Value
The Bristow, Virginia real estate market has seen more than its fair share of Short Sales recently.  And two years or so ago, it was flooded with Foreclosures.  So is that why prices decreased in Bristow?
The short answer is NO.  The longer answer is an explanation as to why Short Sales and Foreclosures are not to blame for a decline in market values.
Blaming Short Sales and Foreclosures for falling home values is simply incorrect.  Home prices in our area had become so high that exotic mortgages were the only … (5 comments)

Braemar Single Family Home, Listed for $327,500 (Regular Sale) - 06/26/11 09:58 PM
… (5 comments)

Communication: The Component That Can Make or Break Your Business - 06/26/11 09:55 PM
Communication:  The Component That Can Make or Break Your Business
Communcation with your clients, or potential clients, is critical.  I remember learning this lesson during the year 2006 when listngs were lingering on the market and Sellers, whose Listing Agents had disappeared in to thin air, were fired.  Since the agent wasn't there in any way, shape or form, the Sellers were able to rationalize that it was the absentee agent's fault that their home wasn't selling.
My Broker coached me as a newer agent to touch base with my Sellers once a week, whether I had good news, bad news … (11 comments)

Just Listed: Two Car Garage, End Unit Townhouse in Piedmont for $349,000 - 06/25/11 04:27 PM
… (4 comments)

Another Northern Virginia Short Sale--SOLD! - 06/24/11 05:28 PM
Another Northern Virginia Short Sale--SOLD!
It's always a good day when a Northern Virginia Short Sale Agent can proudly proclaim one of their Short Sale listings is officially SOLD.   This Northern Virginia Short Sale hit the market on March 23, 2011 priced at $735,000.  The neighborhood of Faircrest in Centreville being in such high demand, we had the winning offer before six hours on the market had passed.
This particular Northern Virginia Short Sale was a Wells Fargo Short Sale and had two loans with that bank.  I've never found Wells Fargo "double headers" to be a problem, so I wasn't surprised when … (13 comments)

Sellers in Panic Mode Can Be Their Own Worst Enemy - 06/23/11 07:12 PM
Sellers in panic mode can be their own worst enemy.  Selling  your home is no small chore.  It's first filled with the feat of making your home appear as though you never cook, lounge, sleep or shower in your home.  No one lives the way homes are staged.  So keeping up with the staging and neat factor when you're on the market starts grinding your nerves.
Then, when you are fortunate enough to have a Buyer want to puchase your home at a price and terms acceptable to you, you have to get ready to vacate.  Packing and moving are among chores … (17 comments)

Here's a Bad Way to Start a Northern Virginia Short Sale - 06/22/11 05:41 PM
Here's a Bad Way to Start a Northern Virginia Short Sale
I was out for a listing appointment this afternoon with Sellers who happen to be in a positive equity position in their home.  Their home is in a neighborhood where I already have a Northern Virginia Short Sale listed and under contract.  When I ran the comps for the listing appointment, I knew I'd be dealing with a home in much better condition than the Short Sale I had listed.  Imagine my surprise when seeing the active listings I found a home listed for about 115% of market value for … (14 comments)

Northern Virginia Short Sales: I've Never Done This Before. Are You Experienced? - 06/22/11 05:24 PM
Northern Virginia Short Sales:  I've Never Done This Before.  Are You Experienced?
Every time I sit down with a Northern Virginia Seller who is about to list their home as a Short Sale, I get the feeling that we've entered a confessional and the Seller feels the need to get something off their chest.  "I've never done a Short Sale before.  Are you experienced; because I really don't know what to ask you."
There is a lot of confusion and fear of the unknown for Northern Virigina Sellers facing the prospect of a Short Sale.  It's one of the reasons that … (3 comments)

Relocating to Northern Virginia and Think a Short Sale is Going to be a Bargain? Think Again! - 06/19/11 11:22 AM
Relocating to Northern Virginia and Think a Short Sale is Going to be a Bargain?  Think Again!
Real estate agents know that all real estate is local.  The national real estate news is rarely indicative of our local markets.  And comparing a real estate market like one in Florida to Northern Virginia and expecting similarities is just not likely.
I recently met relocating Buyers from Ft. Lauderdale.  They advised me they wanted to buy a Short Sale.  With the relocation stress of starting a new job and needing to be settled, I naturally inquired as to WHY they felt a Short Sale … (4 comments)

Victory Lakes Single Family Home Report: May 2011 - 06/18/11 01:16 PM
School is out for the summer of 2011 and the amenities in Victory Lakes will no doubt be seeing more residents, especially the pool.  Before we jump into the comfort of summer vacation mode, let's take a look back at the resale activity for single family homes in Victory Lakes for May 2011.  Unless otherwise noted, comparisons will be made to our prior report, April 2011.
VICTORY LAKES SINGLE FAMILY HOMES FOR SALE
4 Active Listings
All Short Sales
High List Price was $575,000
Low List Price was $399,900
Average List Price was $456,388
There was one less single family home … (3 comments)

Braemar Open House: Saturday, June 18, 2011 from 2pm-5pm - 06/17/11 05:37 PM
Here's a great opportunity to see one of the best single family home values in Braemar.  It's a Courtyard home located at 10033 Pentland Hills Way in Bristow and is listed for $327,500.  It's got a fantastic contemporary floor plan with three large bedrooms, one of which is the Master Suite with his/hers closets and a luxury bathroom.  The laundry room is also on the bedroom level for convenience.
As stated, the main level floor plan is contemporary.  Formal living and dining rooms are at an angle to another another.  The family room is open to the kitchen, the latter sporting hardwood … (0 comments)

Another Northern Virginia Short Sale--SOLD! - 06/16/11 09:49 PM
Selling a Northern Virginia Short Sale is not something a Northern Virginia Short Sale Agent ever takes for granted.  Getting a two loan/two bank deal to the finish line when you literally had lost all hope in the middle is the best.  And that's what happened today.  First Trust was Aurora Loan Services and the Second Trust was Real Time Resolutions.
The Seller contacted me last fall to list for Short Sale.  That was seven days before her home was to be sold on the courthouse steps...the final act of the foreclosure process.  We go the listing on the market on … (9 comments)

From Septic to Short Sales, It's All in a Day's Work - 06/15/11 04:21 PM
Today is more than half over, and I've gotten a lot accomplished.  However, it got off to an unusual start.
I had to meet a State Health Department employee at a rural property to inspect the septic system.  The meeting was set for 9:30am.  To get to this listing, I usually allot myself 45 minutes drive time.  I wore blue jeans, a t-shirt and tied my hair back in a pony tail and threw a baseball cap on.  This wasn't attire I would normally meet a client in, but it was a meeting going over a septic system.  The system was dug up … (17 comments)

Victory Lakes Townhouse Report: May 2011 - 06/14/11 03:45 PM
Summer isn't quite officially here, but school will soon be out and children will be enjoying the Victory Lakes' pool and other amenities.  Before the sunshine gets your mind drifting, let's take a look back at the market activity for townhouses in Victory Lakes for May.  Unless otherwise noted, comparisons will be to last report (April 2011.)
VICTORY LAKES ACTIVE TOWNHOUSE LISTINGS
9 Active Listings
7 New Construction, 2 Regular Sales
High List Price was $366,300
Low List Price was $275,000
Average List Price was $323,412
There were exactly the same number of active listings in May as there were in … (2 comments)

Kingsbrooke Single Family Home Report: May 2011 - 06/12/11 11:25 AM
It is just a matter of days before school lets out and summer vacation mode officially begins in Bristow's community of Kingsbrooke.  Before then, let's stop and take a look back to May's Kingsbrooke single family home resale market and see what we have to report.  Comparisons, unless otherwise noted while be made to last month's report (April 2011.)
ACTIVE KINGSBROOKE SINGLE FAMILY HOME LISTINGS
1 Active Listing
 A Short Sale
High List Price was $300,000
Low List Price was $300,000
Average List Price was $300,000
There was one less active listing during May, than there was in April.  This one is … (2 comments)

Kingsbrooke Townhouse Report: May 2011 - 06/11/11 06:57 PM
Bristow, Virginia went from the weather warming up to becoming sweltering in a matter of weeks.  Thank goodness the Kingsbrooke community pool is now open for residents to have a place to cool themselves off.  While you're doing that, I'll go ahead and give you the stats on the Kingsbrooke townhouse market for the month of May.  As always, comparisons will be made to last month's report (April 2011.)
KINGBROOKE ACTIVE TOWNHOUSE LISTINGS
4 Active Listings
2 Regular Sales, 2 Short Sales
High List Price was $244,000
Low List Price was $199,000
Average List Price was $222,600
There were double the number … (4 comments)

Another Wells Fargo Short Sale--SOLD! - 06/10/11 05:22 PM
This Wells Fargo Short Sale hit the market on January 29, 2011 for $147,500.  It was a one loan, FHA Short Sale. 
After a price reduction to $135,000 on February 28th, this Wells Fargo Short Sale found its next owners.   The contract was written on March 1st and was submitted to Wells Fargo for Short Sale Approval right away.  In this case, Short Sale Approval came on April 27th.  It ieven offered the Sellers a financial incentive for conducting the Short Sale.
On June 10th, this Wells Fargo Short Sale made it to settlement.  The home sold for $137,000.  The Buyers … (13 comments)

If It Seems Too Good To Be True, It Probably Is - 06/09/11 09:49 PM
If It Seems Too  Good To Be True, It Probably Is
As if it weren't hot enough in Northern Virginia with our one-hundred degree temps, I was driving around with my seat warmer on today.  Seems fitting.  I put myself in the proverbial hot seat last week when I did a post about personal responsibility when signing subprime mortgages.  From what I'm hearing from about half of the crowd that commented on the post, all real estate professionals, there is none, zero, nada, zilch personal responsibility in these choices for the Buyer who signed their life away on the dotted line … (35 comments)

Another Prince William County Short Sale---SOLD! - 06/08/11 07:41 PM
Another Prince William County Short Sale---SOLD!
This Prince William County Short Sale, located in the the community of Rippon Landing in Woodbridge, hit the market on April 15th.  Needing some updating in the bedrooms, bathrooms and basement, along with fresh carpet and paint, it was priced at $103,500.  Within the first hour on the market, the phone was ringing off the hook with interest in this Woodbridge townhouse.
The winning offer was written on April 15th.  While there were higher offers, this was a case of it's not always the highest offer that wins the bidding.  It's highest and BEST.  And … (12 comments)

SOLD: Morris Farm Single Family Home in Gainesville - 06/07/11 06:39 PM
SOLD:  Morris FarmSingle Family Home in Gainesville

This Chevy Chase floor plan by Craftmark, built in 2007 hit the market as a resale on April 23, 2011.  It was a healthy sale, meaning the home owners had equity in the home.  They would have loved to have stayed in it, but needed to sell due to a military relocation.
The home was in great shape and offered any impatient buyer a great alternative to building new construction in Morris Farm and having to wait six months for it.  The kitchen was decked out with granite counters and loads of cabinet … (7 comments)

The McMansion Extra Value Package : Is it REALLY the Bank's Fault You Can't Afford Your Home Now? - 06/05/11 04:32 PM
The McMansion Extra Value Package :  Is it REALLY the Bank's Fault You Can't Afford Your Home Now?
A few years into the turn of the millenium, the real estate market was hot!  Price were going up, up, up for homes.  Meanwhile the monthly price folks were paying was going down, down, down.  Doesn't make a whole lot of sense, does it?  But plenty of Buyers were lined up with their mortgage applications in hand, ready to take the low payment and associated "risk" of the interest only loans.  And of course, there would no hope of refinancing into a loan that … (92 comments)

There Are No Last Minute Changes in Short Sales - 06/05/11 04:05 PM
There Are No Last Minute Changes in Short Sales
Right now the image of Tom Hanks in the movie A League of Their Own is playing through my head.  The scene where he informs one of his players, "There's no...CRYING in baseball."  I can see myself delivering a line in the same manner, only it would be to a Buyer's Agent who is representing Buyers on one of my Short Sales to settle in less than a week.  My line is simply, "There are no....LAST MINUTE CHANGES in Short Sales." 
This morning, I received an email from this Buyer's Agent who had attached an … (14 comments)

Open Saturday, June 4th from 1pm-4pm: 4650 Spring Run Road in Warrenton, VA - 06/03/11 11:38 PM
… (12 comments)

Piedmont: Luxury in the Form of a Gated, Golf Community in Haymarket and Gainesville - 06/03/11 12:37 PM
Piedmont:  Luxury in the Form of a Gated, Golf Community in Haymarket and Gainesville

With over 1500 homes with addresses in Haymarket and Gainesville, Piedmont is a gated, golf community that offers a lifestyle of luxury.  Homes inside the gates range from large single family homes on larger lots in the Kendrick to smaller single family homes with detached garages.  There are even garage townhouses for those looking for attached homes.  Piedmont has something for just about every buyer.
Not all homes that are part of Piedmont are physically located behind the security gates.  There are pockets of homes that belong to Piedmont that are adjacent to … (11 comments)

Just Listed: Lovely Colonial with Main Level Bedroom in Piedmont for $435,000 - 06/01/11 04:28 PM
… (10 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

Cell Phone: (703) 402-0037

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