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buyer: Death of a Short Sale - 05/10/12 04:31 AM
RIP, Short Sale from Hell. It was inevitable that this Short Sale would die a long and painful death. The indicators have been there all along; multiple banks, a second that has been sold multiple times, deadlines that came and went, a real estate market that has continued to improve since last fall. And finally, today, the public announcement of the Trustee Sale on the steps of the courthouse. Could we have done anything differently? The very, very frustrating thing is that, no, we could not have done anything differently. We provided a solid contract with few contingencies. My client was … (4 comments)

buyer: Perception is Reality in Real Estate - 03/21/12 04:25 AM
Buying or Selling a home can be very stressful. Hiring a Realtor can help, but cannot entirely prevent, missteps along the way.
As a party to the transaction, you will be called upon to respond at different points in the transaction. How you react--and even when--can affect how the other side views your offer.  Does this matter? It can.  I recently worked with a move-up buyer. They found the house of their dreams and submitted an offer. The sellers countered. The buyers, understandably nervous, took some time to think about the counter and how they wanted to respond. The sellers interpreted … (5 comments)

buyer: When It Comes To Buying a House, Unique is Not Always Better - 02/06/12 08:43 AM
As I show buyers homes, I am constantly pointing out features that will, and will not, make it easier to sell in the future. I think it is critically important to consider resale, even as you are selecting the home you want to buy.   If you are considering a condominium, for example, it is best to buy the model that has the features most in common with the other units in the development. You might be attracted to a 3 bedroom, 1 bath model, but remember, when you go to sell, that might not be the most popular model available if most … (6 comments)

buyer: Be the Best Seller You Can Be! - 06/07/11 02:54 PM
It isn't easy having your house on the market. It feels like a constant series of intrusions into your private life. You can't live they way you normally do, your schedule is constantly being adjusted and the kids and/or pets are out of sorts. Keep your eye on the prize. It isn't easy being a buyer either! As Realtors, we are often the mediators between buyers and sellers. They both, ultimately, have the same objective; for the Seller to sell the house to the buyer. We end up facilitating exactly how that takes place.  Emotions are raw and, sometimes, feelings are … (4 comments)

buyer: 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)

buyer: Interested in Northern Virginia Market Statistics? - 01/14/11 07:15 AM
Interested in Northern Virginia Market Statistics? I can provide you with a quick Market Snapshot of what is currently for sale in, and around, your home or the area where you are considering a purchase.
Understanding comparable home pricing is more important than ever, and the information provided in this Market Snapshot will provide invaluable data as you begin to determine either the sale price for your home or the purchase price of your next home. Simply enter your information in the box below and within a couple of minutes, you will receive a fantastic interactive Market Snapshot. It will show … (3 comments)

buyer: Looking for a New Home in Northern Virginia? Let me help. - 12/21/10 07:39 AM
If one of your New Years Resolutions is to buy a new home in Northern Virginia, let me help you get started. There is no shortage of information available on line, but if you have done any amount of searching, what you will find is that it is hard to know what information is current and what is not. I believe that most agents make an effort to keep their information current, however, we cannot always control what happens to it on-line. Let me explain why. When I post a listing to the MLS, I am making it available as public … (0 comments)

buyer: 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)

buyer: Hard work is the new BUZZ! - 11/09/10 11:51 AM
For those of you who do not live with a  14 year old boy, you may not know that Call of Duty: Black Ops went on sale at midnight. My son, thankfully, did not push to be one of those in line (so I did not have to say 'no'), but he told me last night that he is sure that at least one of his friends (and likely more) were in line!Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows  will be released on November 19, 2010. My son HAS asked to go to the midnight show. Like any good parent, I responded … (0 comments)

buyer: 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)

buyer: I've figured out what kind of house I want...what is next? - 10/24/10 06:11 PM

In  yesterday's post, I need a new house...now what?, I covered information about the initial steps a buyer will take after deciding to buy a new house.
Now that those steps have been completed, the purchase process will move into 'Phase 2.'  In this phase, you will get up from behind your desk and begin going out to see homes. What are the search steps in this process?

Search Step #1: You will likely receive some on-line listings to review. Most will have pictures and video for you to consider.  You will continue to refine your criteria as you get … (2 comments)

buyer: I need a new house...now what? - 10/23/10 09:04 AM
There is usually one event or problem that will launch you into home buying mode.For some it is a life-event. Maybe you have a new family member or the kids have all moved out. You may need to accommodate an older family member or be tired of walking your dog up and down a narrow sidewalk. For many people, it is simply a growing frustration with limitations of their current home (size, layout, location, etc.).One day, whatever the catalyst, you simply know that you must buy a new home.What should you do? How should you begin?  If you have a Realtor® … (1 comments)

buyer: Your Best Resource for Finding an Out-of-Town Realtor® - 10/13/10 08:52 AM
Chances are good that you trust your personal Realtor®. Just as likely, you are concerned about  trusting other Realtors®--especially if you are entering a new real estate market. How can you go about finding an out-of-town Realtor® that you can trust? How about connecting with the one Realtor® that you already know has your back?Most Realtors® belong to one or more networks that provide them with access to Realtor®s with different specialties all over the country.  It might be a corporate affiliation or a professional accreditation that provides them with access to these resources. But whatever the source, most Realtors® can … (4 comments)

buyer: 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)

buyer: 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)

buyer: Educating the Savvy Seller - 08/27/10 11:19 AM
Most of my clients have bought and sold several homes. They have obviously done this successfully as it has brought them to the point where they have yet another home to sell.They often tell me that they are very comfortable preparing their homes for sale and that they have always done very well selling their homes. I let them know that I am glad to hear this. It  will make the process easier for everyone as we identify those things that will need to be done. Because there WILL be things that need to be done.Decorating your house and being on … (2 comments)

buyer: Financing Contingencies are a Joke! - 08/08/10 10:30 AM
The point of a financing contingency is to protect the seller from accepting a contract and finding out right before closing that the buyer can't get financing.  It also allows a buyer to get out of a contract if they are not going to be able to secure financing (although in this day and age they should know this before applying!). My experience is that they no longer operate to provide any protection for the seller; almost all approvals are being made just days before closing in today's market.Four or five months ago, I started putting a 28 day Financing and Appraisal contingency into … (8 comments)

buyer: 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)

buyer: Understanding The Listing Status Field - 09/03/09 10:07 AM
The Internet is invaluable for bringing us quick and, hopefully ,accurate information. As we look at the data, however, it is not always clear what that information means. If you find yourself reviewing listings on line and are not sure of  the different status catogories, here is a brief explanation (Since all MLS systems are regional, the information provided is accurate for the MRIS system that we use in many parts of Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia).   Active: Fully available. This does not mean that no contracts have been submitted, just that there has not been one ratified. Contract: … (0 comments)

buyer: 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)

 


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