karen briscoe: "It's a Wonderful Life" and Profession - 12/08/16 08:38 AM
It is a tradition in our family every year during the holiday season to watch the Frank Capra classic “It’s a Wonderful Life”. In fact I’ve seen it so many times that I can quote word-for-word many of the scenes. Perhaps it is because of all the real estate lessons contained within!
The heart of why it is so meaningful for me to be a real estate agent is played out in the scene where the family is at the dinner table. George Bailey’s younger brother Harry is preparing for a party that he is trying to get his big brother to … (3 comments)

karen briscoe: "The Holiday" Classic Home Swap - 11/30/16 12:19 PM
“The Holiday” is a movie about two ladies who are both coming out of bad relationships and decide to “home swap” as a means of getting away.   One is a society column editor from London and the other is a movie producer from LA.  The homes are stereotypical for the locale.  The London home is actually a “quaint cottage” in slow paced Surrey and the Los Angeles home is top shelf glamour amongst Hollywood stars.
The movie portrays as well that homes take on the owner’s personality – or perhaps is it the other way around?  Swapping for the characters in the movie … (2 comments)

karen briscoe: The “Blind Side” to Buying and Selling Real Estate - 11/19/16 12:25 AM
The movie “The Blind Side” that stars Sandra Bullock is based on the extraordinary true story chronicled in the New York Times bestseller book with the same title by Michael Lewis. The tale is about football, yet as a real estate agent there are parallels to the buying and selling of real estate. 
In football, the blind side for a quarterback occurs when they can’t see over their shoulder what may be coming to block them. It became a common phrase when Lawrence Taylor altered the environment and forced opposing coaches and players to adapt. As Taylor said afterwards when imagining himself in a … (3 comments)

karen briscoe: PRESS RELEASE: What Does the Election Outcome Mean for the Real Estate Market in Northern Virginia?… - 11/09/16 04:20 AM
McLean, VA – Principal of HBC Group, Keller Williams Realty and author, Karen Briscoe, provides information on how the election results may affect the Northern Virginia and Washington DC region real estate market moving forward.
 
With the outcome of the 2016 election fresh on our minds here in the Northern Virginia area, principal of HBC Group, Keller Williams Realty and author, Karen Briscoe, shares insights into the potential influence of the election on the housing market moving forward.
 
"The 2016 election is unprecedented and the outcome may have been unexpected to many, thus we do not know the extent for certain.  It is … (1 comments)

karen briscoe: All in the Family - 11/02/16 05:19 AM
“All in the Family” is a sitcom circa 1970’s. As the purchase and sale of a home has such significant ramifications, I’ve found that in almost all cases there are peripheral people involved.  Usually it is family members but also there can be financial advisors, close friends, neighbors and business associates.  All seem to have an opinion on what the client should be doing.  And like the telephone game of old, that message can come through to the agent in a distorted fashion.  This being right before Thanksgiving, seems like an appropriate time to discuss how it affects the purchase and sale … (2 comments)

karen briscoe: Change Agents – Superman and Wonder Woman - 10/28/16 04:51 AM
Halloween is celebrated this coming October 31st. One of the best parts is the parade of kids trick or treating in costume at our door. I love when children take on the character of super heroes. Think of Superman and Wonder Woman! The male cartoon character Superman changes from Clark Kent, a mild mannered reporter to super hero who defends truth, justice and the American Way. Wonder Woman heralds from a blend of many heroines who protects people in danger with the use of truth as one of her weapon. 
 
Real estate agents have many attributes of super heroes. A professional agent … (2 comments)

karen briscoe: White Water Rafting Lessons - 10/21/16 03:19 AM
White water rafting on the Upper Gauley River in West Virginia is an extreme adventure challenge with intense nonstop action, ranked high in the world and tops in the United States. It is recommended for only serious whitewater enthusiasts as it requires precise maneuvering, skills and attention as you navigate challenging tight technical rapids. These include steep drops, narrow chutes, rock ledges and crashing white water. The fall is the ideal time to raft the Upper Gauley as the dam at Summersville Lake is opened after Labor Day, thus creating the most exhilarating rapids experience.
One of the professional rafting guides on the Gauley River is … (0 comments)

karen briscoe: McLean and Great Falls Real Estate Enjoys Best Number of Sales in Decade - 10/05/16 02:52 AM
The McLean and Great Falls real estate market has experienced a robust number of sales in the 1st three quarters of 2016. The number of transactions is up 9% over 2015 same time frame. In addition, compared to the 2006 market, it is up almost 16%.  This is excellent news for the market area as we enter into fourth quarter and the national election cycle. It indicates an environment for the potential for price appreciation in some segments, provided demand remains strong relative to supply.
The segment that performed the best in these zip codes was the lower brackets, considered to be anything … (0 comments)

karen briscoe: PRESS RELEASE: Book Launch Reception “Real Estate Success in 5 Minutes A Day” - 10/02/16 09:27 PM
McLean, VA. – A reception was held for the recent launch of Karen Briscoe’s book “Real Estate Success in 5 Minutes A Day.” The event celebrated this important milestone in Karen’s career and thanked those who have supported her throughout her journey.
The reception was held on Thursday September 29th, 2016 at the Starnut Gourmet in McLean. Hosts were Keller Williams Agents Lizzy Conroy (Vice President, HBC Group) Ron Cathell (Owner, Team Cathell) and Amina Basic (CEO and Team Leader, KW). Wine, cheese, small bites and sweets were served. Autographed copies of the book were available for purchase at the reception.
“Real Estate … (0 comments)

karen briscoe: The Air is Crisp in the Fall Real Estate Market - 09/23/16 06:46 AM
Fall has officially arrived! In the fall of the year, professional real estate agents are frequently asked the question: “Should I wait until the spring?”
The primary reason why people should buy and sell real estate is because it is the right time for their particular situation. In any given market at any given point in time there are Buyers ready, willing and able to purchase real estate. And there are Sellers who it is time to move. However, many people want to “time the market” thinking that if they do it will optimize their purchase or sale.
The spring is not necessarily … (3 comments)

karen briscoe: Oreo Cookie of Negotiations - 09/16/16 02:08 AM

 
The Oreo is the top-selling cookie in the 20th century and a classic sweet treat in American homes. As many students return to school in the fall, I think of all the cookies packed in lunch boxes. There too is a real estate message in this popular sandwich cookie. 
First, let’s recall the construction of an Oreo cookie. It is two, typically chocolate, circle shaped cookies with a cream filling “sandwiched” between these two cookie pieces. 
In negotiations, think of the seller as one of the cookies and the buyer as the other cookie.  What is sandwiched in between these two entities is the “sweet spot”.  No doubt, … (2 comments)

karen briscoe: Good Schools Can Equal Higher Residential Real Estate Market Value - 09/09/16 12:34 AM
School is back in session for most students in the fall.  One of the key factors that contribute to the market value for residential real estate is the quality of the public schools.  The local public school can be an even larger factor than style, age and size of the home.  Public school district falls into the category of location, because in the majority of cases the school is location dependent.  Test scores, which translate into ranking, is the indicator that many people rely on to determine whether a school is considered good.  So even if the owner does not need … (2 comments)

karen briscoe: Maintain the Pace of Play - 08/25/16 02:29 AM
On the golf course recently it was apparent how important it is to maintain the pace of play. The principle is that every player is responsible to assure that they do not hold up the other players by their actions. This includes staying up with the group in front as well as not holding up the group behind. There are techniques that professionals use for staying on schedule, amateurs are well advised to heed. Failure to play the course in a timely fashion can result in a warning from the course Marshall, penalties, not being able to finish the round and … (0 comments)

karen briscoe: Heavy Traffic = A Day at the Beach - 08/19/16 04:36 AM
One of the most valuable qualities of property is being located near views of water – be it river, lake, ocean. There are several reasons for this phenomenon. One is water occurs naturally in most environments and thus there is a limited supply of locations that are in close proximity. Another is that the sounds of water rushing, splashing, even crashing onto the shore can be calming to the senses. This state is desirable and thus can add value to the location.  
Early in my career as a real estate agent I had a client who wanted to purchase a home … (0 comments)

karen briscoe: Who you Gonna Call? - 08/11/16 05:10 AM
“Who you gonna call?” is a line in the lyrics of the popular movie “Ghostbusters.” It has one of those crazy tunes that can get stuck in my head.  The application to real estate is by the creation of brand awareness when people have a real estate need or referral, who do they think of?  It should come as no surprise that people will think of the real estate agent that they know best. Or perhaps markets the most.  One of the key objectives to an agent’s success in the real estate industry is to not be a secret agent.
It often is … (0 comments)

karen briscoe: Olympian Level Realtor® Perseveres - 08/04/16 04:55 AM
The opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is August 5th.  The international Olympics are played on even years, alternating between summer and winter sports.  There is much publicity and many commentaries that focus on the qualities it takes for an athlete to the reach the Olympic level.  What attributes and qualifications would a real estate agent need to possess to be considered an Olympic grade professional?
Olympic athletes are persistent and persevere even through difficult challenges and obstacles.  A professional Realtor® too exhibits these qualities.   Buying and selling real property is a complex multi-faceted process. Further … (0 comments)

karen briscoe: Connectors of People and Houses - 07/28/16 05:07 AM
Like a lot of boys when our son was young he was passionate about any toy that connected things together.  One of his all-time favorites was the K’NEX Amazin’ 8 Coaster Building Set.  The instructions and photos provided a visual for one way to connect and build a roller coaster.  Drew was occupied for hours as he followed the instructions to put it together based on the information.  It didn’t take him long though to visualize creative “out of the box” ways that he could connect the pieces together.
Real estate agents are connectors of people and houses. One way of doing so … (0 comments)

karen briscoe: Roller Coaster of Markets - 07/21/16 02:00 AM

In the summer months many people enjoy visiting theme parks for recreation. Riding the roller coasters was one of our kids’ favorite amusement park activities. The highs and lows and twists and turns made for an adventurous ride. The real estate market too has highs and lows and twists and turns. No matter how long you have been riding it, there are some parts that you can anticipate and others that can take you by surprise.
When the market is in an upward trajectory, the climb is filled with great expectation. Sellers may be seeing price appreciations never experienced before. Many wonder … (0 comments)

karen briscoe: Catch A Wave - 07/14/16 02:29 AM
Photo by Louise Palanker The Beach Boys classic summer song proclaims the words of every real estate agent’s dream come true: “Catch a wave and you’re sitting on top of the world.”  This phenomenon takes place most often in extreme market conditions. A client sells in a market of rapidly rising prices and strong demand.  The buyer enters the market when there is a lot of supply with many choices and not much demand. It is the professional real estate agent that recognizes how to manage the opportunity when these markets occur and advises clients accordingly.
The seller is “sitting on top … (1 comments)

karen briscoe: McLean and Great Falls Real Estate Enjoys Strong 1st Half 2016 - 07/05/16 02:21 AM
              
The real estate market in the first half of 2016 was robust in McLean and Great Falls. The number of transactions is up 6% over 2015 same time frame. In addition, compared to the 2006 market ten years ago, it is up over 18%.  This is excellent news for the market area as we enter into the summer season. It indicates an environment for the potential for price appreciation, provided demand remains strong relative to supply.
As was the case for the first quarter 2016, the segment that performed the best in these zip codes was … (0 comments)

 
Karen Briscoe, Your Agent For Life! (Huckaby Briscoe Conroy Group - Keller Williams)

Karen Briscoe

Your Agent For Life!

McLean, VA

More about me…

Huckaby Briscoe Conroy Group - Keller Williams

Address: 6820 Elm Street, McLean, VA, 22101

Office: (703) 734-0192

Mobile: (703) 582-6818



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