When I refi'd my home last spring - I was feeling pretty darn good. I *know* people; good loan officers. I *know* the market and should be able to know exactly when to get the best interest rate. Who knew it would keep sliding down?! Today I have seen 30 Year Fixed loans for under 4.75% and 5/1...

11/30/2009

Washington, DC : Market Update 11/30/09

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Current Number of Homes Active and Under Contract in the Washington DC area: Here is the breakdown as of November 30th, 2009 As the market starts to slow down for the Holidays; homes are still selling and inventory is still decreasing. Prince Georges County continues to show the highest chan...

11/30/2009

Property Managers and their overpriced Resale Packages...

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It is very ironic that I am writing this post about an issue I had today. I wrote a similar entry about a year and half ago and someone in fact emailed me a question after reading that post. So I have another story about the same subject... Today I ordered a Resale Package for a Client who is...

11/30/2009

Market Inventory - on the Decline

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Here is a great depiction showing just how the inventory of homes of sale have decreased since Jan 08. Experts say that a "Balanced" market; that is a market which is neither a sellers nor a buyers market; is one where there is about 6 months of inventory. Well as you can see; in most of the Wa...

11/24/2009

If is smells - it probably STINKS !!!

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Many Real Estate agent are working with buyers trying to purchase foreclosed properties. They are challenging transactions and are becoming increasingly difficult. It seems the lenders have learned that when you price them competitively - they will sell. Not in weeks; but days! That being said...

11/24/2009

If you don't level with your agent - they can't help you.

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Recently I had a client who was buying a home. They came ready with a pre-approval letter and the willingness to buy a home seemingly within their price range. Once we found a home - we went through the offer; negotiated and formalized the contract. When I asked to make sure everything was all ...

11/17/2009

Dear Lazy Agent....

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Dear Lazy Listing Agent, I have a client in town for 2 days. We do not have time to waste looking at crappy homes. Since you only had time to take 4 pictures of this 4 bedroom, 3 level home; we have decided to not waste our time looking at your listing. I know you said it looks "amazing" - b...

11/04/2009

DC Housing Market sure better than much of the country.

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I have said it before and I will say it again. The Housing market in Metro Washington DC - is good. Just this week; an out of town buyer was shocked when I told her that the 10 of the 14 homes she asked to see last week - were Under Contract. "Isn't it a Buyer's Market?"; she asked. "Not Reall...

11/02/2009

Make sure your Retirement Home is Financially Secure

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Every year, many older adults sell their home and move into Retirement communities. These communities offer many facilities, including meal service, activities and some medical assistance. However, recent news has been breaking about many of these communities running out of money and going bankr...

11/02/2009