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accredited buyers representative: Buyers are Babies! - 02/23/11 06:56 AM
Okay, I admit to using a catchy title to get you to read this because I have noticed a shift in buyer thinking that concerns me. If you are a buyer, a seller, or someone that works with either, please read on... Yes, I am an Accredited Buyers Representative, and I work really hard for my buyers, but honestly Buyers of The World, it is time to realize that you are buying a house, not a custom made, one-of a kind piece of art.  Sure, you might have high expectations, and I believe we all should. But at what point do … (92 comments)

accredited buyers representative: 10 Less Obvious Things to Consider When Buying a House - 02/22/11 09:06 AM
There are a lot more than 10 things that you need to consider when buying a house, but we all need to start somewhere. The idea behind this list is to get you thinking not just about the activity of buying a house, but about how you will live in your new home!

Where do you work? It might be obvious to you, but I find that not everyone really thinks about how their lifestyle could change by either living close to, or far away from, home.  If you work in the city, but are recharged by the country, is … (67 comments)

accredited buyers representative: Buying Your New Home often Means Compromise - 01/11/11 07:33 AM

Dear Holly,
My fiancée and I have been looking at houses on line and putting together our list of 'Needs and Wants.' We are at an impasse. I feel that we need a garage and she feels that we need a gourmet kitchen. We agree on everything else, but since she likes to cook, and I love working on my car, we can't seem to get past this.
The houses that we have both liked--at least so far--do not have both. What would you recommend to help us  decide which one is more important?
Thanks for your help,
First Time Buyer
Trying to get … (3 comments)

accredited buyers representative: How Do I Begin The Process of Buying My First Home? - 01/07/11 08:00 AM
Dear Holly,
I currently rent a townhouse in Alexandria and am thinking about buying something in Reston,VA, closer to where I work. I am pretty nervous about this, but I have been out of college for about 6 years, I have a secure job and it seems like the right time--all my friends have started buying townhouses and condos.  I love that my expenses are manageable and that I get a chance every year to reconsider where I live. With all of the negative press about people buying, and then losing, their homes, I am hoping you can talk to me … (0 comments)

accredited buyers representative: Homes for Sale in Reston, Virginia (20194) - 12/21/10 08:45 AM
Reston, Virginia is a planned community, located in Northern Virginia, Fairfax County, in the suburbs of Washington D.C.
The area is known for its excellent school system, the proximity to Washington D.C., Tysons Corner, Dulles Technology Corridor, Dulles International Airport and the Reston Town Center. 
If you are considering a move to the area, Reston, Virginia, is well worth your consideration.  Unlike many typical suburban areas, the Reston Association takes great pride in the green spaces in Reston. The community feels more like a big park than a residential area. Mature trees, open spaces, parks and recreation areas are found woven throughout.
The … (0 comments)

accredited buyers representative: What is available in Reston, Virginia (20191), December 2010? - 12/13/10 04:31 PM
Reston, Virginia, 20191, often referred to as South Reston, is located South of the Dulles Toll Road. There are currently 18 Active Single-Family Homes listed for sale (average price $516,976), there are  13 Townhouses (average price $439,151)  and 18 Condominiums (average price $217,111)  for sale. Single family homes currently for sale have been on the market for an average of 62 days, townhouses have been on the market for an average of 76 days and condominiums have been  on the market for an average of 69 days. As you can see, there are a variety of home styles and price points from … (1 comments)

accredited buyers representative: What is available in Reston, Virginia (20190), December 2010? - 12/13/10 12:48 PM
In Reston, Virginia, 20190, there are currently  no Active Single-Family Homes available for sale. In the 20190 zip code, there are  13 Townhouses (average price $471,996 )  and 26 Condominiums (average price $345,753)  for sale. Townhouses have been on the market for an average of 76 days and condominiums have been  on the market for an average of 66 days. As you can see, there are a variety of home styles and price points from which to select. There are usually a number of Single Family homes available and I expect that there will be some listed after the new year. … (0 comments)

accredited buyers representative: Buyers, Trust me--One day you will just know! - 11/15/10 06:56 AM
We all have something for which we are on a perpetual, personal quest  For me it is the perfect pair of  shoes. My closet is filled with plenty of 'almosts' and 'pretty close' pairs. I could try to explain to you what makes a shoe 'perfect,' but my words won't be able to duplicate that moment when I slip my foot in and I know that I must buy THAT pair. The same goes for my son's baseball cap requirements...believe me, he has tried to explain and while I mostly 'get it,' I can't select one for him--he must do it himself.The … (7 comments)

accredited buyers representative: Fall is a GREAT time to buy a house! - 11/03/10 01:07 PM
Everyone has heard that Spring is a great time to buy a house.  The inventory is high, the flowers are blooming, the landscapers are out and the frenzy builds.
All the reasons why people love to buy in the Spring are the reasons that make the Fall an even better time to buy!
Why you ask?  Take each of those reasons and flip them around.  In the Fall, the inventory is low, the bushes look overgrown and no one has bothered to keep up with the garden. Best of all, there are far fewer buyers out there. It can be a … (6 comments)

accredited buyers representative: Things to consider when selecting your Realtor® - 10/27/10 11:09 AM
You have reviewed your financials, considered your needs, consulted with your trusted advisors (mom, dad, siblings, best friend, coffee barista) and decided that the time has come to become a home owner.Advice has been varied about how to make this happen. Some think that you should hit the pavement on Sundays and start going to Open Houses. Others think that you should spend a lot of time on-line figuring out what you want and searching for deals. Still others advise you to seek out a Realtor® and start the process with them doing the search.For most people, all three of these … (4 comments)

accredited buyers representative: There is a Lifetime Under My Kitchen Sink! - 10/18/10 11:09 AM
I am actually out of town and thinking back to the day when the space under my kitchen sink was wide open and free. You see, right now, the space under my sink is a clean slate...we are staying at a Residence Inn for the weekend while attending my college homecoming. I am thinking about how nice it is to start anew...before we have accumulated any of that 'stuff' that just fills up the space. You know what I mean, the random room atomizers, the stainless cleaner that streaks instead of cleaning, the mostly empty counter cleaner, the box of Dishwasher … (3 comments)

accredited buyers representative: First Time Home Buyers--Who Will Be Living There? - 10/05/10 06:59 AM
In the Washington D.C. Metro area, and specifically Northern Virginia, the search for a first home can be a particular challenge. Single family homes are often out of reach for all but the most successful first time buyer (and even then, only those who are disciplined savers), which leaves the First Time Buyers with a choice of purchasing a townhouse or condominium.With the townhouse and condo options, First Time Home Buyers have to very clearly define their needs. Often this means figuring out who will be living in the property.Will you be living alone, with a significant other, or do you want the … (0 comments)

accredited buyers representative: First Time Home Buyer-Speak--Translating It for Success - 10/04/10 06:54 AM
Working with first time home buyers can be challenge for both the Realtor --and the Buyer. The defining of  a First Time  Buyer's needs is a challenge for all involved. Often the information provided provided by the buyer is really a list of 'wants' based in information gleaned from HGTV shows and on-line websites. By working with a Realtor who is familiar with the local area, the process of refining the list can happen almost organically.  Trying to do it on your own, by contrast, can be an exercise in frustration.Here is an example of what most First Time Home Buyers will tell … (12 comments)

accredited buyers representative: We've Seen the Bottom and It Looks Like We Are Leaving - 09/18/10 11:14 AM
All real estate markets are local. I know there are plenty of places that are still trying to dig out from underneath the burden of foreclosures and shortsales, but in the Reston area of Northern Virginia, and many other parts of NoVa, we seem to have come through the worst of it.Prices appear to have stabilized in Northern Virginia with the Spring Market. The NVAR Monthly Report for June 2010 shows that from June 2009 to June 2010, prices were up 11%. This, of course, was likely to be impacted by the Home Buyer Tax Credit and increased demand. Inventory is … (4 comments)

accredited buyers representative: Am I a Sales Rep? - 05/07/10 12:01 PM
As a Real Estate Broker, there is no doubt that my activity is counted in number of Sales and the way of keeping score is my Volume.  These rubrics are the same as for any other Sales Person. But would you consider me a Sales Representative?
I have been communicating with a potential client who tells me that one of the issues with their prior listing is that there was no one to 'close the deal.'  I have spent plenty of time in corporate marketing and understand that sort of 'sales rep' speak. It really got me thinking about the role … (3 comments)

accredited buyers representative: A Fresh Look At Buying A Home, Part II - 08/25/09 07:48 AM
In my last post I listed some things for buyers to consider as they begin the process of looking for a new home.  In this post, you will find that list continued. Hopefully, the items I bring up here, and in my previous post 'A Fresh Look At Buying A Home, Part I,' will help you to narrow your focus and allow you to begin a more targeted search for your new home.

How do you picture your weekends? Are you a career-oriented single looking for a place with a great master bedroom and close-by work out facility? Or are … (0 comments)

accredited buyers representative: A Fresh Look At Buying A Home, Part I - 08/24/09 09:48 AM
Most of us were raised to get an education, start a career and buy a home. So you find yourself having finished your education and happy in the resulting career. The next step, logically, is to buy your first home. Before you pull up Craig's List and start hitting the Sunday Open Houses, there are a number of things you should consider. Most of us think that the number of bedrooms and the location are the big decision factors, but there is a lot more thought that needs to go in to such a large investment.
 This is list is not … (2 comments)

accredited buyers representative: Would You Rather Pay More For That House? - 05/08/09 07:56 AM
This morning I was watching the local news when ANOTHER of the constant sale commercials for a local department store was aired.  I think I have become immune to these commercials.  I find that when I need something from a store, I go and buy it.  I don't always have the luxury of planning ahead for these purchases; when my son comes home and says he needs a white shirt for tomorrow's orchestra concert, I don't plan for it, I go out and buy it.
One of these local stores offers (very) frequent coupon sales; if you have the coupon with … (0 comments)

accredited buyers representative: What Type of Buyer Are You? - 04/18/09 10:15 AM
Over the years, I have determined that there are two types of buyers: those who can see the possibilities in a home and those who cannot.
I am, and always have been, the possibility type. I can walk in to a house and immediately picture how it would look with different flooring, wider doorways, maybe a wall or two removed.  I like to think that I can be the 'eyes' for my buyers who see only what has been presented to them.
When I prepare a listing for sale, I prepare for the buyer who will 'buy what they see.'
This … (1 comments)

accredited buyers representative: A Letter to My Buyer - 01/14/09 12:22 PM
Dear Buyer,Congratulations on the purchase of your new home! I am sure you will be very happy there.I know that you have been very concerned about this investment. How could you not be? Each day when you turn on the television or read a newspaper or magazine, you are bombarded with negative information about the real estate market.Let me assure you that your choice to invest in this property was a good one for your personal situation. You were thorough and realistic in your search for the correct mortgage product for your family.  You took in to account how long you … (2 comments)

 


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