home purchase: Busting myths about buying a house - 05/13/19 04:41 AM
For first time buyers who are just getting started in their search for a home, there is plenty of conflicting information out there. You might hear one, or more, of these statements, from well meaning friends or family.
All of the information that you need is on line. 
You don't need an agent--you can just call the sign agent.
You can apply for your mortgage on line. Just fill out the form and wait for approval.
Buying a house is pretty straight forward...why should anyone make a boat load of money of your purchase?
 
Let me just say that while there is a kernel of truth in (some of) these … (1 comments)

home purchase: Do you need a REALTOR® to buy a New Construction Home?? - 09/17/18 06:46 AM

Are you ready to buy a home and considering going in the route of new construction? It may seem like an easy enough process, where you get to call the shots of how you want your dream home to be, but there is a lot of risk when it comes to new construction if you are going in blindly. It's unfortunately not as trouble free as we'd like to hope, if you don't have the right representative by your side to help with the things that need to be looked out for from a professional's eye. Below, we'll dive into … (2 comments)

home purchase: 10 Steps Toward Buying Your First Home - 01/09/18 05:13 PM
 We all know that practice makes perfect, but what are you supposed to do when you have never bought a home before? How do you get that practice? Why you hire a great Agent with a great team to get you through! It is always a good idea to sit down with a Realtor, or two, and talk to them about the process that they follow and the team of people that they work with. Let me give you a brief description of how I work with my clients.  Initial Conversation: this is when we talk about your goals, your dreams, your fears … (1 comments)

home purchase: What is the most important thing? - 03/31/17 02:18 PM
 
 
When you are preparing to buy a new home, a lot of time and effort goes in to putting together your 'must have,' 'should have,' and 'can't have' lists. What if you turned those ideas upside down and, instead, started thinking about what is the single most important thing you must get in your new home?   Often, when I work with couples, the husband's and wife's lists look very different. Trying to get two people to have the same list, with the same priorities, can be a challenge.  We always end up finding the right place, but I wonder … (2 comments)

home purchase: 5 Ways to WIN in a Crazy Market! - 03/21/17 11:05 AM

Limited listings. Multiple Offers. Escalation Clauses. These are all things that indicate we have moved into a seller's market. But, unfortunately, you are a buyer! What are some things you can do to be ready to compete and help you end up with your dream home?  Get lender pre-approval. Dive deep with your lender. Make your approval contingent only upon identification of property and most recent pay-stubs   They will continue to watch your accounts until close, but don't put off getting them the paperwork they need to make the decision prior to beginning your search. This means everything--tax records, pay stubs, account information--all of … (0 comments)

home purchase: Buyers: Should you call the Listing Agent to see that house? - 01/22/17 03:15 PM
Last night I got an email from a family member saying that they had found a property that interested them and they wanted to see it. They were not sure what the next step was...should they set up a showing with the listing agent? I told them, not if you want to be represented in the purchase!   It is a common misconception among buyers  that the listing agent must show you a property. In fact, unless you know what you are doing (and I mean you have years of experience as a purchaser), you should not go directly to the listing agent. … (5 comments)

home purchase: Buyer Advice: Keep Your Thoughts to Yourself - 01/03/17 09:55 AM
 
This past year was a big one for technology. It seems like everyone has the latest gadgets, from wireless doorbells, to talking towers and, yes, home camera and security systems.   In the past, if you went into a listed property, you and your Realtor could walk around and freely discuss the merits of the property. With the widespread use of technology, you must now expect that you are being recorded, in some capacity. A paragraph has been added to our local listing form (Northern Virginia) that asks a seller to reveal whether or not they are recording activity in their … (49 comments)

home purchase: Buyer Advice: 4 Steps to Searching for a New Home - 11/11/16 04:59 AM
 
While many clients start out thinking they can find a home without the help of a Realtor, they often discover there there is great value in working with one. Once you have gotten past searching on your own using websites that are often outdated, and you decide to hire someone to help and to represent your interests, 1) you can work with your Realtor to set up some automated searches and get some tools from them that will give you real time listing information. It only takes a couple times of finding the 'perfect' house, just to be told  it is already sold (even … (1 comments)

home purchase: Home Buyer Advice: Why should contacting a Lender be your first step? - 11/02/16 04:51 AM
 
Everyone I meet is a potential home buyer. Some are home buying veterans, having purchased several homes already, and some are novices, considering their first home purchase. I give everyone the same advice when they ask me what the first step in the process should be--contact a mortgage lender.  We all love those home buying shows.  The buyer and their agent look at three homes, the buyer and listing agents chat and the buyer ends up with the house that best suits them. In reality, this could not be further from the truth.  If you want to buy a home, your first … (1 comments)

home purchase: Buyers: Understanding Earnest Money - 05/04/15 01:04 AM
There are a lot of things that go into putting together a successful offer to purchase property in the Northern Virginia real estate market. One aspect, the importance of which is often overlooked, is the Earnest Money.
  In Virginia, an offer to purchase a home or land requires consideration. This is called Earnest Money in our contract. This consideration is an amount, selected by the buyer, that demonstrates to the seller the buyer's intent to follow the contract through to settlement.  My clients often ask me 'how much' Earnest Money is expected. There is no set answer. I have read about … (0 comments)

home purchase: Buyers: Why Talk to a Lender First? - 04/28/15 11:09 PM
 
You finally decide to get serious and place that call to the Realtor that your friend/mom/boss recommended. You are shocked to find that instead of making an appointment to go look at that cute neighborhood down the street, he/she is referring you to a Mortgage Lender. Why do you have to talk to a lender? You aren't that close to buying! Guess what? You have a good agent who will work on your behalf!
 In the Northern Virginia real estate market, a listing agent who is protecting their seller, will not encourage a client to accept an offer unless that offer is accompanied by a … (2 comments)

home purchase: How My Clients Buy a Home - 03/12/15 05:47 AM
I read a post recently (and I apologize for not linking it, but I cannot find it!) about how millenials are being grouped together and treated as a single entity for marketing purposes. The auther stated, correctly, that they should not all be treated the same way, that each 'Millenial' is a person with preferences and their own unique style.
I could not agree more! I treat all my clients the same way and adapt to each client's preferences.
When I get a call from a client or referral stating that they want to buy a new home, the very first … (2 comments)

home purchase: As a buyer, do you suffer from Analysis Paralysis? - 02/07/15 01:06 AM
 
Do you suffer from home buying analysis paralysis?   Working with buyers can be a satisfying job. What can be more fulfilling than helping someone find the home of their dreams? Of course the other side of that equation is being unable to find someone the home of the dreams and, yet, continuing to try and try and try.   There is always a reason that a home won't work for you. It can be too big (or too small), too far out (or too close-in), on a busy street (or isolated), too overdone (or not done enough).  If a buyer is … (6 comments)

home purchase: How to get started finding your next home - 01/06/15 01:12 AM
 
You have made the decision to buy a new house, but how do you get started?   Here are 5 things you can easily do to get you going on the path to home ownership:   Identify some areas that you like and that are in your price range. This is a step towards getting started, but it is also one that will continue until the day you settle on your new home. Ask your friends and family for a Realtor® referral. Most people report being very satisfied with their Realtor®, so why not take advantage of their experience?  Wouldn't … (4 comments)

home purchase: 5 Reasons a Realtor would FIRE a Client - 08/29/14 04:58 AM
 
This week, I heard from two different colleagues that they had 'let their buyer client go.'  In both cases, they had spent substantial time and resources to showing houses, writing and submitting contracts (yes, multiple) and generally being available to them.   So why would a Realtor® 'fire' a client like this? After all, aren't doing these things our job? Here are a couple of reasons that a Realtor might 'fire' a client.   1.     The Client is never going to buy a new home in the near future. We don't get paid until a client settles on their … (4 comments)

home purchase: Buying a Nothern Virginia Home: Multiple Contracts - 02/24/14 09:01 PM
If you are planning to buy a Northern Virginia  home this Spring, be prepared to be decisive, flexible and quick. Why? The era of writing multiple contracts before securing a home is back.
Working with buyers in the popular $300,000-$400,000 price range, I have seen a lack of listings and a competitive buying environment.
Recently,  I wrote the 3rd contract for some buyers in this competitive range. The sellers, operating from a position of strength (there are more buyers than listings) have options; if they reject or counter a contract, they know that more buyers will come along. We received a counter offer … (1 comments)

home purchase: First Time Home Buyers--Who Will Be Living There? - 10/04/10 11:59 PM
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)

home purchase: First Time Home Buyer-Speak--Translating It for Success - 10/03/10 11:54 PM
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 … (11 comments)

home purchase: Why You Should Buy Now...Even Without a Buyer Tax Incentive - 08/17/10 04:39 AM
The government tax credits for new home buyers have, for the most part, expired, but there is still a major incentive to buy right now--Interest rates haven't been this low since the early 1970s!Anyone who has ever bought a home understands the difference that an interest rate can make for your monthly payment. Often times purchasers will pay from half-a-point to two points (a point usually costs about 1% of the loan) to secure a lower rate. This decreases both their monthly payment, as well as the amount of money paid over the life of a loan.If you can buy a house at … (7 comments)

home purchase: Buyers: What Your Realtor Needs From You - 07/26/10 01:53 AM
As Buyer Agents, we commit to representing you in finding and purchasing your new home.  It is a huge commitment.  It often seems that Buyer Clients do not understand their part in this contract.  This is not a post intended to 'bash' buyers, but rather let them know what our expectations for them are during the transaction.1.    Please return our calls.  If we call you about a property that meets your requirements, please call back.  At least in my market, a well-priced home that meets all of your requirements (and probably the requirements of many other buyers) is not always easy to … (18 comments)

 


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