The Kathy O'Neal Team Blog

Open House April 7, 2013 - 1 to 4 PM - 4528 Cub Run Road - Chantilly, VA 20151

Kathy O'Neal (The Kathy O'Neal Team - RE/MAX Premier) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:46:01 -0700

We will be holding an Open House for 4528 Cub Run Road in Chantilly, Virginia (20151) this Sunday, April 7, 2013.

The property is an attractive single family home on a quiet cul-de-sac in the popular Pleasant Valley community.

The property is not yet listed, but will be toward week's end. In the meantime, feel free to contact us if you have questions.

We also invite you to use any of our Property Search tools if you are looking for homes in the Chantilly or Northern Virginia area.

We hope to see you this Sunday!

The Kathy O'Neal Team serves home buyers, home sellers, and investors in the Chantilly, Western Fairfax region, and throughout the Northern Virginia area. Let us know how we can help you!

CANCELLED: 15116 Bernadette Court in Chantilly, VA: Open House - Sunday April 7 - 1 to 4 PM

Kathy O'Neal (The Kathy O'Neal Team - RE/MAX Premier) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 15:11:09 -0700

Due to a ratified Contract, this Open House (on Bernadette Court) is now cancelled.

However, we will be doing an Open House for another Pleasant Valley home, at the same time. The location is 4528 Cub Run Road.

We hope you can come by and visit!

_____________________________________________________________

If you are considering single family homes for sale in the Chantilly area, do come by for an Open House this Sunday (1 to 4 PM), April 7 to see one of our current listed properties at 15116 Bernadette Court in Chantilly, Virginia (20151).

This is an especially clean, sharp, well-maintained home with lots of upgrades. You can find out more about this home on our website. If you have any questions, or would like to see the property before or after the Open House, just call or email and I will get you whatever information you need.

[The Kathy O'Neal Team serves home buyers and sellers in Northern Virginia, with special focus on Chantilly, Centreville, and the communities of the Western Fairfax region.]

Quick Tips For Moving To A New Home In Miserable Weather

Kathy O'Neal (The Kathy O'Neal Team - RE/MAX Premier) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 06:42:22 -0800

Ideally, when you are moving to a new Northern Virginia home, you will want to do it on a pleasant and sunny day which makes everything much easier.

However, if you are moving in the winter, or an unexpected deluge shows up on your pre-arranged moving day, it can really dampen your enthusiasm and throw a wrench into your plans.

It can also make you worry about your possessions being damaged as you move them into your new home.

Don't worry; it's still possible to move your possessions in the rain, snow or cold. All you need is a little bit of technique, forethought and planning.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when you are moving on a day with terrible weather:

Dress For Success

Make sure everyone in the family is dressed warmly. You will be going back and forth from indoors to outdoors a lot, so it might be tempting to not bother with your warm clothes.

However, it's important to dress appropriately. You don't want anyone catching a cold.

Wear multiple layers that you can take off or put on accordingly. Also, remember a rainproof layer if it's pouring.

Ensure Safety

In snowy climates, clear the driveway and the front porch of snow and ice, and sprinkle them with salt.

This is very important to ensure that no one slips and falls while carrying boxes out of the old house and into your new home.

The last interruption you need on moving day is a trip to the emergency room.

Wrap Up Your Belongings

If it is raining or snowing you will need to protect your belongings from getting wet.

Wrap your furniture in waterproof plastic and seal your boxes with packing tape and plastic.

Invest in enough of these supplies before the moving day so you don't have to run to the store to buy more in the middle of your move.

Keep It Clean

At your new house, set up an area at the front door with towels so that everyone can dry off the boxes and themselves to avoid tracking rain or snow into the new house.

As these simple tips point out, packing and moving in the rain or snow is a problem that can be overcome with appropriate planning.

Plus, sometimes moving in the winter can give you an advantage because there will be a low service demand that can decrease your moving costs.

And if you are preparing your home to sell, please know that The Kathy O’Neal Team is here for you!

Please feel free to contact us anytime! We have a section devoted to seller strategies on our website that may prove helpful!

[The Kathy O'Neal Team serves home buyers and sellers in Northern Virginia, with special focus on Chantilly, Centreville, and the communities of the Western Fairfax region.]

Help Your Pets Adjust To Your New Northern Virginia Home

Kathy O'Neal (The Kathy O'Neal Team - RE/MAX Premier) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 08:40:43 -0800

Moving to a new home can be a difficult transition for everyone in the family, including the furry, four-legged members.

Dogs and cats develop a strong bond with their environment so when they are relocated from their territory it can cause them stress.

Here are some tips to ease your pets' transition to a new home :

Keep Your Mood Calm
Pets are very tuned-in to your emotions and will sense your mood. If you are stressed throughout the moving process, your cat or dog will pick up on this and it will make him anxious. Try to remain calm and give your pet plenty of attention and reassurance during the process of moving.

Transporting Your Pet
A few weeks before the move, introduce your pet to his pet carrier so that he becomes familiar with it. It will be much less scary for him to be transported in a carrier, which already has recognizable smells and perhaps a favorite chew toy or blanket inside. When you are moving your pets to your new home, it is a good idea not to feed them for about three hours before setting off, as this can help to prevent accidents while in transit.

Upon Arrival
When you get to your new Northern Virginia residence, place your pets in one room of the house and provide them with water, food, and a few familiar possessions. Keep them in a closed room while you move things in, as the process of moving boxes and furniture can be chaotic and doors can be left open. Once everything has been moved in, you can take the time to give your pet some one-on-one attention.

Dogs find routines comforting, so try to stick to the same schedule of feeding and walking in your new home. Cats will want to explore and rub their scent all over the house to claim it as their territory. A cat might attempt to return to its old home after a move, so keep it indoors for a few weeks at first.

These are just a few ways that you can make moving to a new home a better experience for your beloved pets. If you'd like more suggestions for helping your pets and family adjust to a move, call or email me with your questions. The Kathy O'Neal Team is here to help you find your new home!

[The Kathy O'Neal Team serves home buyers and sellers in Northern Virginia, with special focus on Chantilly, Centreville, and the communities of the Western Fairfax region.]

27 Months Of Consecutive Job Growth Helping Home Prices Rise

Kathy O'Neal (The Kathy O'Neal Team - RE/MAX Premier) — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 08:35:03 -0800

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Non-Farm Payrolls report for December exceeded Wall Street's expectations by 5,000 net new jobs, showing 155,000 positions created in December.

The December tally raised the economy's 12-month total to 1.84 million net new jobs created nationwide. Jobs added in December mark the 27th consecutive month of job growth.

Job sectors showing the strongest growth to close out 2012 included:

Health Care
Drinking and Eating Establishments
Construction
Manufacturing

Private-sector hiring is driving the jobs market, too. 168,000 new private sector jobs were added in December. Government jobs fell by thirteen thousand.

Monthly job creation has averaged +153,000 jobs since 12 months ago. It's a fine measure of growth but economists believe it's not enough job creation to significantly reduce the national unemployment rate. 14.4 percent of workers are categorized as under-employed.

December's national unemployment rate was 7.8 percent, representing 4.8 million job seekers. This figure matched Wall Street's expectations and was equal to November revised unemployment rate of 7.8 percent.

The improving jobs market and national unemployment rate make an impact on both mortgage rates and Northern Virginia home prices.

Job creation suggests an expanding economy, which typically leads mortgage rates higher. In addition, with more employed persons nationwide, the potential home buyer pool grows larger, which introduces new demand to the housing market. With more demand, all things equal, home prices rise.

Job growth is one reason why home values climbed more than 5 percent in 2012, according to the Federal Home Finance Agency; and why the national housing supply would be exhausted in fewer than 5 months, at the current sales pace. Demand for homes is high and today's low mortgage rates are extending buyer purchasing power in the Chantilly area.

For home buyers, the expanding U.S. economy and steady job growth suggests that home prices may not rocket higher this year, but will continue to increase, little by little.

If you are considering purchasing a home we are here to help! Our website has many useful tools for home buying and you can contact me directly with any questions.

[The Kathy O'Neal Team serves home buyers and sellers in Northern Virginia, with special focus on Chantilly, Centreville, and the communities of the Western Fairfax region.]

How To Improve Your FICO Score

Kathy O'Neal (The Kathy O'Neal Team - RE/MAX Premier) — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 07:32:30 -0700

Northern Virginia Homeowners - The U.S. housing market recovery is underway. New home sales are at a multi-year high, housing starts are at pre-recession levels, and home builders plan for a strong 2013.

Since late-2011, falling mortgage rates have boosted buyer purchasing power. Now, today, in many U.S. markets, the number of active home buyers outnumbers the number of active home sellers. It's among the reasons why home supplies remain scarce and why home prices are rising.

Roughly 20 percent of today's home buyers purchase homes with cash. For everyone else, the ability to gain mortgage approval depends on income, assets, and, most importantly, credit scores. Your credit score is a predictor of your future payment performance and lenders pay close attention.

If you plan to buy a home in the Northern Virginia area or anywhere else in the next 12 months, spend some time with this The Today Show interview. It's five minutes of practical credit scoring advice, including separation of credit score myth from credit score fact.

Among the credit scoring tips shared :

How to get your credit checked without harming your credit score
The value of using automatic payments with credit cards
How to use "old" credit cards to boost your credit score

You'll also learn about utility companies and why you should never be late with payment.

As compared to August 2011, last month's average, mortgage-financing home buyer's FICO score improved 9 points to 750. The average "denied" mortgage applicant's FICO score was 704. Clearly, standards are high. However, credit scoring is a system and, with time, you can improve your rating.

Watch the interview and find ways to make your credit score better. With better credit comes better mortgage rates.

And if you are considering buying or selling a property in Northern Virginia let us know how we can help! As always, we are here to serve Chantilly and Northern Virginia area home buyers and sellers with our signature personal and state-of-the-art service which is described in the voices of our clients in this Testimonial video.

[The Kathy O'Neal Team serves home buyers and sellers in Northern Virginia, with special focus on Chantilly, Centreville, and the communities of the Western Fairfax region.]

Existing Home Sales Leap To 2-Year High

Kathy O'Neal (The Kathy O'Neal Team - RE/MAX Premier) — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 08:10:16 -0700

Northern Virginia Homeowners - The home resale market put forth another strong data set last week. Home sales prices are higher nationwide and sales volume has moved to a 2-year high.

According to the National Association of REALTORS®, 4.82 million "existing homes" sold on a seasonally-adjusted, annualized basis in August, representing a near 8 percent improvement from the month prior and a nine percent jump from August 2011.

An existing home is a home which has been previously occupied.

Home sales were unevenly split across price tiers, with more than half of all homes selling for less than $250,000. This suggests that the first-time home buyers and real estate investors continue to be active in today's market as a foundation for growth is built.

According to the Existing Home Sales data :

First-time buyers accounted for 31% of all home sales
Real estate investors accounted for 18% of all home sales
Other, repeat buyers accounted for 51% of all home sales

Also noteworthy is that "distressed homes" accounted for the smallest percentage of overall home sales since the real estate trade group starting tracking such data.

In August, homes in various stages of foreclosures accounted for 12% of all sales and sold at an average discount of 19 percent below market value. Short sale homes accounted for 10% of all sales and sold at an average discount of 13 percent below market value.

Of all the data in the August Existing Home Sales report, though, perhaps most relevant to today's buyers is the shrinking national housing supply.

At August's end, there were 2.47 million homes listed for sale nationwide, a three percent increase from the month prior. However, because the pool of available home buyers is increasing more rapidly than the number of homes for sale, housing supplies fell 0.3 months to 6.1 months.

This means that at the current pace of sales, the entire housing supply would be sold by March 2013.

For today's home buyers, home affordability appears poised to worsen. Mortgage rates and home prices remain low today, but market conditions like these rarely last long. Talk to your real estate agent about what options you have ahead of you. 2012 is coming to a close.

By 2013, the housing recovery may be fully underway.

And if you are considering buying or selling real estate, we invite you to hear what others are saying about The Kathy O’Neal Team. As always, we are here to serve Chantilly and Northern Virginia area home buyers and sellers with our signature personal and state-of-the-art service.

[The Kathy O'Neal Team serves home buyers and sellers in Northern Virginia, with special focus on Chantilly, Centreville, and the communities of the Western Fairfax region.]

Virginia Space Makers: Making Life Easier

Kathy O'Neal (The Kathy O'Neal Team - RE/MAX Premier) — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 09:53:33 -0700

Virginia Space Makers is helping Northern Virginia area residents simplify their life.

We have known the good folks at this company ever since Doric Caron and his team did a super job installing organizing systems in our own home.

Ever since then, we give his name to our real estate clients and others when they are looking for this kind of service.

In this part of the world, it is always smart to think about saving time and making life a bit less frantic. Doric has several decades of experience in doing this for area residents. His organizing systems are very high quality and that comes from his personal commitment to do every job in an entirely professional and quality way, and with excellent prices as well.

If you have been thinking about a closet or home office system, or some other way to save time and make you home life more organized, take a look at the Virginia Space Maker website. You will see some clever ways to add time and lower stress to your home life. And with so many people who work at home these days, you may see some options that will help your work life as well.

Here are a few samples...get the full scoop on their website.

If you are doing home improvements with an eye toward the sale of your home, we'd be happy to give you an opinion on your home's current value and answer any questions on which improvements might enhance the sale of your property. Let us know how we can help.

[The Kathy O'Neal Team serves home buyers and sellers in Northern Virginia, with special focus on Chantilly, Centreville, and the communities of the Western Fairfax region.]

Should You Lease Or Buy Your Next Car? It May Affect Your Mortgage.

Kathy O'Neal (The Kathy O'Neal Team - RE/MAX Premier) — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 08:30:25 -0700

Northern Virginia residents should you lease a new car, or should you buy one? Like most financial questions, the answer depends on your situation. For some people, leasing a car presents distinct economic advantages. For others, buying a car is the way to go.

There's plenty of online material to help you choose your optimal path, but this 3-minute piece from NBC's The Today Show serves as an excellent summary. In it, you'll learn about the basics of leasing a car, and for whom leasing can be a great fit. You'll also hear reasons to avoid a lease completely.

The NBC interview makes all of the following points :

Leasing allows you to drive a car that may be "too expensive" to purchase
Leasing puts you in a new car, with the latest safety features and gadgets, every few years
Buying a car means that you have no mileage limits, and can sell at any time

For many people, it concludes, buying a car is preferable to leasing one, with a notable exception being those people who can claim their car or truck as a tax deduction. Be sure to check with your tax advisor if you plan to take that route.

However, for another group -- homeowners and active home buyers -- leasing a car can invite mortgage approval trouble. This is because a car lease payment is assumed by a mortgage underwriter to be a perpetual debt; one that never reduces or gets extinguished. When a lease is complete, it must be replaced with a new lease, and so on.

Therefore, no matter how many payments remain in a lease, mortgage applicants must use the full car lease payment for purposes of a mortgage approval.

By contrast, for people whom are owners of their automobiles, car payments must only be added to debt ratios if more than 10 car payments remain until the car's loan is paid-in-full. For homeowners and buyers in Fairfax , this can improve debt-to-income ratios and support a higher purchase price on a home.

There is no firm rule for whether it is better to lease a car or to own one. The arguments for both sides are compelling and reasonable. Start with the video, then do your own research.

If you are considering purchasing a home in the Northern Virginia area we are here to help! Our website has many useful tools for home buying and you can contact me directly with any questions.

[The Kathy O'Neal Team serves home buyers and sellers in Northern Virginia, with special focus on Chantilly, Centreville, and the communities of the Western Fairfax region.]

Northern VA Homeowners - Clever Ways To Reduce Household Water Usage

Kathy O'Neal (The Kathy O'Neal Team - RE/MAX Premier) — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 08:11:27 -0700

How well do you conserve water?

The government's EPA estimates that the average family of four uses 146,000 gallons of water per year, at a cost of $700. With just a few small changes, however, that cost could drop by as much as 28%.

Northern Virginia homeowners you'll save on more than just your water bill, too. You may save on taxes.

This is because water management is often handled at the municipal level and as water usage grows, so does the need for costly investment in water treatment and delivery systems. Less usage means lower costs.

You'll also enjoy lower home energy bills. 25 percent of a home's energy bill is used to heating water for home use.

So, with the above three benefits in mind, here are three ways to cut your household water usage.

Catch Your Shower Water

Nobody likes to step into a cold shower, and we sometimes run our showers for 5 minutes before stepping in. Even with today's low-flow shower heads, that's 10 gallons of water wasted. Instead of allowing pre-shower water to run down the drain, catch it in a bucket, instead. Then use the bucket to water house plants and your garden.

Stop Pre-Rinsing Dishes

Today's dishwashers are heavy-duty food busters. Don't pre-rinse dishes in the sink, only to move them to the dishwasher where the job will be duplicated. Instead, use a wet sponge to wipe dishes clean, then place them in the dishwasher. The job will get done just as well. Or, for caked on foods, follow the steps above then start the dishwasher. After 3 minutes, pause the cycle to allow water to sit-and-soak on your dishes. Then, restart the cycle as normal.

Test Your Toilets

A single leaking toilet can spill 60 gallons of water per day and there are several places where leaks can occur. The toilet may have a worn out flapper; or, a damaged gasket under the flush valve; or, a crack in the overflow tube. One clear sign of a leak is having to jiggle the handle to make the toilet stop running. To test for leaks, try "the dye test". Fill the toilet tank with food coloring or instant coffee to a deep color and wait 30 minutes. If any of the coloring finds it way to the toilet bowl, you know you have a leak.

In addition to the tips above, the EPA keeps a list of water-saving steps on its website. See how many steps you can take to reduce your home water usage.

And if you are buying or selling a property in Northern Virginia let us know how we can help! As always, we are here to serve Northern Virginia area home buyers and sellers with our signature personal and state-of-the-art service.

[The Kathy O'Neal Team serves home buyers and sellers in Northern Virginia, with special focus on Chantilly, Centreville, and the communities of the Western Fairfax region.]

Northern Virginia Home Buyers and Sellers: Home Purchasing Power Jumps To New Highs

Kathy O'Neal (The Kathy O'Neal Team - RE/MAX Premier) — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 15:43:53 -0700

With mortgage rates down to all-time lows, you can buy a lot more home for your money. Home affordability is at an all-time high.

According to Freddie Mac mortgage rate survey several weeks ago, the average 30-year fixed rate mortgage has dropped to 3.62% nationwide. This is down from 4.08% in March, and down from 4.60% from one year ago.

Mortgage rates are "on sale."

Falling mortgage rates can make one of two changes to the way a Northern Virginia home buyer looks at properties. They can either make a given home's monthly housing payment that much more affordable to a buyer, or they can expand that buyer's home purchasing power to a higher, maximum price point.

Since July 2011, that maximum price point increase has been significant.

Assuming a principal + interest payment of $1,000 per month and a 30-year loan term, a category that includes 30-year fixed rate mortgages and most adjustable-rate mortgages, here's a maximum loan size comparison of the last 12 months :

July 2011 : A payment of $1,000 affords a maximum loan size of $197,130
July 2012 : A payment of $1,000 affords a maximum loan size of $219,409

With an increase in maximum loan size of more than $22,000 in just 12 months, it's no wonder that multiple-offer situations are becoming more common -- today's buyers know that low home prices and low mortgage rates are combining to make home buying more affordable than at any time in recent history.

However, the buyer-friendly environment can't last forever.

First, home prices have started to rise nationwide. Demand for homes has outpaced home supply in many U.S. markets and that leads home prices higher. Second, low mortgage rates can't last forever.

A recovering economy will lift mortgage rates back above 4 percent, a scenario that will hit home affordability hard.

Home-buying conditions are optimal this season. If you're in the market for a new home, talk to your real estate agent and loan officer about maximizing your home purchasing power.

And if you are a home buyer, either living in the Northern Virginia area or moving to it, we are here to provide help and information. If you are looking for someone to possibly work with, we invite you to check out our authentic Testimonial Video which is mostly in the voice of people we have helped to realize their real estate goals.

Let us know how we can help!

[The Kathy O'Neal Team serves home buyers and sellers in Northern Virginia, with special focus on Chantilly, Centreville, and the communities of the Western Fairfax region.]

How To Revive A "Brown Lawn"

Kathy O'Neal (The Kathy O'Neal Team - RE/MAX Premier) — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 15:35:06 -0700

During summer months, a lush, green lawn can transform into a brown one within weeks. And heat, while oftentimes a catalyst, is not always the culprit.

As a homeowner in Northern Virginia, you can take precautions to minimize the likelihood of a brown lawn.

First, let's look at the reasons why a lawn may go brown, starting with drought stress.

Drought stress is a condition caused by excessive heat and/or lack of water. Drought stress can lead to dormancy, a normal condition for grasses of all types. A good test for drought stress is to step on one of the grass' brown patches. If your footstep remains as an imprint in the grass, it's likely that your lawn is water-deprived.

Brown spots from drought stress appear randomly and without pattern. This is different from brown spots that may occur because a sprinkler system is miscalibrated, or because some lawn sections are shaded whereas others are exposed to direct sunlight.

Lawns which have been dormant for long periods of time may need to be reseeded.

Drought stress also reduces your lawn's natural defenses against pests and disease. This includes plant-based pests such as weeds which can starve your grass of much-needed food and water, as well as insects such as lawn grubs and chinch bugs.

These two forces, as well, can lead to brownout.

Lastly, your grass may be dying. Either from a lack of aeration; or, cutting grass blades too short to provide "natural shade"; or, over-watering among other reasons, your grass may not live forever and, when it dies, it's likely to thin and turn brown.

The good news is that each of these conditions is non-permanent. You may not have stopped your lawn from turning brown, but, generally, you can nurse it back to being green.

To water a brown lawn back to health, start with a steady watering schedule -- typically 2 hours every few days (approximately 1 inch of water) -- and be careful not to over-water. Then, just wait. It may take a lawn 3-4 weeks to return to its natural green color.

Then, to manage weeds, use an over-the-counter herbicide. For larger weed problems, get treatment by a professional lawn care company. The same is true for pests, too. Tackle them yourself but using a lawn care company can be more efficient and effective.

And if you are getting your Northern Virginia lawn in good shape because you are preparing to sell, please know that the Kathy O’Neal Team is here for you!

Please feel free to contact us anytime! We have a section devoted to seller strategies on our website that may prove helpful!

[The Kathy O'Neal Team serves home buyers and sellers in Northern Virginia, with special focus on Chantilly, Centreville, and the communities of the Western Fairfax region.]

Tips To Keep Your Home Cooler Without Turning Down The Thermostat

Kathy O'Neal (The Kathy O'Neal Team - RE/MAX Premier) — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 06:44:58 -0700

The typical U.S. household "loses" up to 30% of its annual heating and cooling bill to energy inefficiencies, according to ENERGY STAR®.

The good news Northern Virginia homeowners is that there are dozens of ways to help your home perform better.

As the calendar turns to July, and as temperatures warm in DC and nationwide, implement even one of the following cost-saving moves and you can expect your home's energy bill to drop. Implement two or more, and you can expect your bill to drop by a lot.

Keep it simple at the start. When the sun shines through a window on a cloudless day, it can raise a room's temperature by as much as 20 degrees. Therefore, the first energy-saving move to review is the easiest one -- simply close your home's window blinds and shades to block out the sun.

With the shades drawn and the sun blocked, your rooms will stay cooler, and so will your home. This is especially important during the mid-day hours when the sun is at its strongest so, before you leave for work, make sure you've closed your blinds.

The next step is to change your home's air filter.

Air filters are meant to be changed quarterly, or monthly if your home has shedding pets. When your air filter is clean, the HVAC unit won't have to work as hard to push air through your home's air ducts, saving up to another 7% off your annual energy costs.

Next, replace your home's incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient ones.

This step can be costly up-front, but over the long-term, savings are big. Not only do energy-efficient light bulbs such as CFLs and LEDs last for years, but they don't pump heat back into a room like an incandescent bulb will.

Incandescent bulbs are shown to convert 97.5% of their energy into heat, meaning just 2.5% of their supplied energy is used for light. This 97.5% then warms up your house, which costs money to cool.

And, lastly, if your home has ceiling fans, use them.

When a ceiling fan is running, it can make a room feel up to 8 degrees cooler. Just remember that ceiling fans cool you and not the room. Be sure to turn them off when you leave the room.

And when you are preparing your home for the possibility of selling here in the Northern Virginia area (or moving from elsewhere), please know that I am here to help! You can contact me directly with any questions.

If you are searching for a Northern Virginia area real estate agent, trying to make sure you make a great choice from the start, I invite you to visit our real estate Testimonial Video. It is an honest presentation of what makes us different.

[The Kathy O'Neal Team serves home buyers and sellers in Northern Virginia, with special focus on Chantilly, Centreville, and the communities of the Western Fairfax region.]

Phoenix Leads Annual Home Price Gains, According To Case-Shiller Index

Kathy O'Neal (The Kathy O'Neal Team - RE/MAX Premier) — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 11:48:56 -0700

Northern Virginia area home buyers interested in the trends in real estate home prices may know that Standard & Poors released its March 2012 Case-Shiller Index last week. The index is meant to measure changes in home prices from month-to-month, and from year-to-year, in select U.S. cities.

According to the report, home values rose in 12 of the Case-Shiller Index's 20 tracked markets, and one market remained unchanged.

The Washington D.C. area was one of the metropolitan areas that came in with an increase in home prices.

Of the Case-Shiller markets, Phoenix, Arizona posted the largest one-year gain, climbing 6.1 percent. Atlanta, Georgia posted the largest one-year loss. Values falling more than seventeen percent there year-over-year.

Overall, the Case-Shiller Index was relatively unchanged in March as compared to the month prior, but down nearly 3 percent on an annual basis. Nationwide, says Standard & Poor's, home values are back to the levels of late-2002.

Don't be overly concerned, however. Though widely-cited, the Case-Shiller Index is a flawed and misleading metric. It's methodology almost guarantees it.

The first flaw in the Case-Shiller Index is its limited geography. Despite there being more than 3,100 municipalities nationwide, the Case-Shiller Index tracks just 20 of them. They're not the 20 largest ones, either. Houston, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Jose are specifically excluded from the Case-Shiller Index and each is among the Top 10 Most Populous Cities in the United States.

Minneapolis (#48) and Tampa (#55), by contrast, are included.

The Case-Shiller Index's second flaw is that only tracks the sales of single-family, detached homes. Sales of condominiums and multi-unit homes carry no weight in the index whatsoever -- even in cities such as Chicago and New York in which condos can account for a large percentage of the overall real estate market.

And thirdly, when the Case-Shiller Index is published, it's published on a two-month delay. Buyers and sellers in Northern Virginia don't need housing data from two months ago -- they need data from today. The Case-Shiller Index tells us what housing was, in other words. It doesn't tell us how housing is.

Buyers and sellers need real-time, actionable information. You can't get that from the flawed Case-Shiller Index. For more accurate, relevant real estate data, talk to your real estate professional instead. If you are home buying or home selling in the Northern Virginia area my team and I are always here for you.

Also a resource for you if you live in the Northern Virginia area, use my MARKET SNAPSHOT program to get actual "SOLD" prices of homes in your community. And if you want a quick estimate of your home's current market value, of course, just let me know.

[The Kathy O'Neal Team serves home buyers and sellers in Northern Virginia, with special focus on Chantilly, Centreville, and the communities of the Western Fairfax region.]

How To Keep A Clean Refrigerator

Kathy O'Neal (The Kathy O'Neal Team - RE/MAX Premier) — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 11:36:49 -0700

Northern Virginia homeowners - do you clean your refrigerator regularly, or only after you've run out of space? If your answer is the latter, your refrigerator may be harboring dangerous bacteria that can make you, your family, and your house guests ill.

Refrigerators should be cleaned monthly, inside and out, ideally. The process involves removing all foods, cleaning all shelves, and wiping down drawers. Spoiled food is removed and old containers reclaimed.

The process takes 20 minutes. Here's how to do it.

First, prepare your cleaning stations, including filling a sink with soapy water, and having drying towels handy. Complete this step before you start to remove food from the refrigerator. This limits the amount of time that food has available to reach room temperature.

Next, remove all food from the appliance. Throw out old food past its expiration, and leftovers which have been in containers for more than a few days. Check dairy products for expiration dates -- especially cheeses and creams. Toss fruits and vegetables that have spoiled. Wipe down condiment jars and bottles with a damp towel.

Next, with the refrigerator empty, remove all shelves and drawers and wash them in the water-filled sink. Scrub to remove any caked-on foods and spills. Rinse off the soapy water and dry the part on your drying towels.

Then, while the shelves and drawers are drying, using a mixture of baking soda and water, wipe down the interior surfaces of your appliance. The mixture should be roughly 2 tablespoons of baking soda for every 1 gallon of water. Wipe the mixture off with a clean towel.

Lastly, move the shelves and drawers back into the refrigerator and replace all of the food that's "good".

Refrigerators can be a dirty place. We rarely wash our hands before handling food in a refrigerator and that can contribute to a bacteria-heavy environment. A good cleaning, though, can keep our foods -- and our home -- healthy.

Clean your refrigerator regularly.

[The Kathy O'Neal Team serves home buyers and sellers in Northern Virginia, with special focus on Chantilly, Centreville, and the communities of the Western Fairfax region.]

Save Energy For Summer: Flip Your Ceiling Fan Rotation

Kathy O'Neal (The Kathy O'Neal Team - RE/MAX Premier) — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 09:36:34 -0700

Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer and, in Chantilly as well as many parts of the country, weekend weather was indistinguishable from what one might expect in August.

Temperatures climbed into the 90s throughout the Southwest, South Central, Midwest and Southeast and even crossed 100 degrees in parts of Kansas.

For Northern Virginia homeowners with ceiling fans, the change of season offers a timely reminder to change the direction in which ceiling fan blades rotate. Properly-rotating ceiling fan blades not only cool your home more efficiently, but can lower your energy bill, too.

Ceiling fans are meant to amplify your home's natural heating and cooling systems. Using the equivalent energy of a 100-watt light bulb, on a cool day, a ceiling fan will recirculate warmer air, making a room feel up to 6 degrees warmer.

On a warm day, a ceiling fan can reduce a room's effective temperature by 4 degrees. It accomplishes this by pushing colder air back into a room, creating a "windchill effect" on the skin. This is a far more economical way to regulate temperature as compared setting a home thermostat up or down by 4 degrees.

The key is to have the ceiling fan blades running in the proper direction.

When your home's heating system is on, rotate fan blades clockwise
When your home's cooling system is on, rotate fan blades counter-clockwise

For additional cost savings with a ceiling fan, remember to turn it off when you're not in the room. Ceiling fans don't cool the air; neither do they warm it. Rather, ceiling fans move air which gives the sensation of a room being cooler or warmer. With nobody in the room, there's no need to run the fan.

If your home is without ceiling fans, and you'd like to install one or many, the process is inexpensive and easy. There are videos online which walk you through the steps, or you can call a qualified electrician.

Need an electricians name? Call or email me -- I'm happy to offer a referral in the Chantilly area and surrounding communities. And if you are getting your Northern Virginia home in good shape because you are preparing to sell, please know that the Kathy O’Neal Team is here for you!

[The Kathy O'Neal Team serves home buyers and sellers in Northern Virginia, with special focus on Chantilly, Centreville, and the communities of the Western Fairfax region.]

Small Repairs That Can Raise Your Sales Price

Kathy O'Neal (The Kathy O'Neal Team - RE/MAX Premier) — Mon, 14 May 2012 19:30:46 -0700

If you're a Chantilly homeowners actively preparing to list your home for sale Chantilly, resist the temptation to make major home improvements. Nationwide, home improvement projects recoup just 58 cents on the dollar, says Remodeling Magazine.

Rather, for a better return on your time and money, focus on the minor projects instead. It's the smaller projects in Chantilly that tend to have a bigger, long-term payoff.

So, how do you determine which projects are the "smaller ones"? It's obvious when you think like a buyer.

Consider: Home buyers don't always notice when your home is in working order. In fact, they expect it to be that way. What they do notice, however, is when things are "broken." When a buyer sees torn screens in your windows or burnt out light bulbs, it makes him wonder what else in the home has not been cared for.

This is one reason why - especially during warmer months - it's sensible to hire an exterminator prior to selling your home. If a prospective buyer uncovers bugs in your bathroom, it can leave a lasting, negative impression - one that won't likely lead to a purchase contrast.

So, with "small repairs" in mind, here are 5 simple projects that you can tackle in a weekend, and that will help your home show better. Each is low-cost and high-impact:

Repair or remove torn screen doors
Fix all leaky faucets and toilets
Touch up holes and cracks in paint, interior and exterior
Apply a lubricant to squeaky doors and cabinets
Get "clutter" into storage and physically out of the way

In addition, you'll want to pull weeds from your yard, seed any bare spots you find, and lay down fresh mulch, where appropriate.

You won't need to spend big bucks to get your home ready for sale but the time spent on repairs will have a pay-off in the end. Homes that show better often sell much faster, and at higher prices.

If you are in the Chantilly or Northern Virginia area and would like a quick opinion on any aspect of getting your home ready for sale please don't hesitate to contact us anytime! We have a section devoted to seller strategies on our website that may prove helpful!

[The Kathy O'Neal Team serves home buyers and sellers in Northern Virginia, with special focus on Chantilly, Centreville, and the communities of the Western Fairfax region.]

America's 20 Best Small Towns

Kathy O'Neal (The Kathy O'Neal Team - RE/MAX Premier) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 09:35:28 -0700

Northern Virginia homeowners, looking for places to visit this summer? America is stuffed with world-class "big cities"; New York, San Francisco and Chicago make for three great examples. But beyond the biggest cities, there are some wonderful small towns to visit, too.

Smithsonian.com highlights 20 of them on its website. One of them is within a few hours drive from the Washington DC area.

Focusing on cities with 25,000 residents or fewer, the publication ranked areas high in "culture"; towns with high concentrations of museums, public gardens, art galleries and other cultural assets including resident orchestras.

The author states "big cities and grand institutions per se don't produce creative works; individuals do. And being reminded of that is fun".

The Top 10 Small Towns in America, as judged by Smithsonian.com :

Great Barrington, Massachusetts
Taos, New Mexico
Red Bank, New Jersey
Mill Valley, California
Gig Harbor, Washington
Durango, Colorado
Butler, Pennsylvania
Marfa, Texas
Naples, Florida
Staunton, Virginia

Other notable cities on the list include Princeton, New Jersey; Beckley City, West Virginia; and Siloam Springs, Arkansas.

The Smithsonian.com website provides an in-depth review of each of its twenty listed cities, including historical notes and quotes from key community members. It makes for good reading by local residents and visitors, alike.

Review the complete rankings online.

And if you are a home buyer or home seller, either living in the Northern Virginia area or moving to it, we are here to provide help and information. If you are looking for someone to possibly work with, we invite you to check out our authentic Testimonial Video which is mostly in the voice of people we have helped to realize their real estate goals.

Let us know how we can help!

[The Kathy O'Neal Team serves home buyers and sellers in Northern Virginia, with special focus on Chantilly, Centreville, and the communities of the Western Fairfax region.]

When Should I Change My Home's Air Filters?

Kathy O'Neal (The Kathy O'Neal Team - RE/MAX Premier) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 11:12:47 -0700

How long has it been since you last changed your home's air filters, Northern Virginia homeowners?

Home air filters trap and remove dust and particles from the air you breathe; leaving "clean air" to circulate your home.

Clean air in your home is important because it promotes better health.

One way to keep to keep your home's air as clean as possible is to replace its used air filters at least once per quarter; or once monthly in homes with shedding pets or that otherwise "get dusty".

Changing air filters is among the easier do-it-yourself chores for a Fairfax area homeowner; a task that takes less than one minute. The secondary benefit of doing it is that new filters help keep your HVAC unit in tip-top shape.

Here's how to change your home's air filter :

Open the air filter compartment door/slider on your HVAC unit.
Note the size of your current filter. It's typically written on the frame.
Note the direction in which the filter is pointing. There may be an arrow on its frame.
Purchase a new filter at a hardware store. Make sure the sizes matches the size from Step 2.
Remove the old filter.
Replace old filter with the newly purchased one from Step 4. Make sure the arrow is pointing in the same direction as the original filter's arrow.
Using a marker, note the date of filter change on the side of the filter.
Close the air filter compartment door/slider.

And that's it.

When you find a filter type and style that you like, consider buying them in bulk -- it can be helpful to have extra air filters laying around the home for when you need them -- especially during season changes when you may want to replace filters more frequently.

In addition, when purchasing air filters, don't opt for the cheapest available. Often, the least expensive filters allow large particles to recirculate through the HVAC unit, and back in to your home. Choose a mid-level or top-line product instead.

Your home and your health will thank you.

If you are searching for a Northern Virginia area real estate agent, trying to make sure you make a great choice from the start, I invite you to visit of real estate Testimonial Video. It is an honest presentation of what makes us different.

[The Kathy O'Neal Team serves home buyers and sellers in Northern Virginia, with special focus on Chantilly, Centerville, and the communities of the Western Fairfax region.]

Top 10 Sunniest Cities In the United States

Kathy O'Neal (The Kathy O'Neal Team - RE/MAX Premier) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:12:41 -0800

As compared to gloomy days, do "sunny days" put you in a good mood? If you're like many people in the Northern Virginia area , the answer is "yes".

In a study of more than 1,200 people, researchers found that daily weather factors such as temperature, precipitation and length of day can alter a person's emotional state. Of all the weather factors, however, "sunshine" can have the most profound effect.

The most likely reason is because sunshine affects people in a physiological manner.

When the human brain detects sunlight, our bodies produce serotonin, a chemical which promotes happiness and well-being. By contrast, when the brain detect darkness, our bodies produce melatonin, a chemical which promotes sleep cycles.

Sunlight -- quite literally -- leads to happiness.

Understanding the effect of sunlight on human mood, therefore, we must consider the nation's "sunniest cities" as more than just a novelty list. It may be a link to personal well-being, too.

From the National Climactic Data Center, these are the Top 10 Sunniest Cities in the United States :

Yuma, AZ : Sunny on 90% of all days
Redding, CA : Sunny on 88% of all days
Las Vegas, NV : Sunny on 85% of all days
Phoenix, AZ : Sunny on 85% of all days
Tucson, AZ : Sunny on 85% of all days
El Paso, TX : Sunny on 84% of all days
Fresno, CA : Sunny on 79% of all days
Reno, NV : Sunny on 79% of all days
Flagstaff, AZ : Sunny on 78% of all days
Sacramento, CA : Sunny on 78% of all days

The complete Sunshine Rankings as listed by Metropolitan Area is available on the NCDC website.

If you are considering a move to one of these "sunniest cities" please know that I am here to help you with your move. Our websites have lots of tools, and you can contact me directly with any questions. We are always here for you!

[The Kathy O'Neal Team serves home buyers and sellers in Northern Virginia, with special focus on Chantilly, Centreville, and the communities of the Western Fairfax region."]

How To Keep Your Dishwasher Mold-and-Mildew Free

Kathy O'Neal (The Kathy O'Neal Team - RE/MAX Premier) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:44:18 -0800

Chantilly homeowners know that home appliances can be a big investment. Here is something you may have never considered.

Your dishwasher is a breeding ground for mold and mildew.

It's warm, it's dark, and there is a bevy of decaying, organic material in the form of both food particles and soap.

Therefore, you'll want to periodically scrub and disinfect your dishwasher so that it remains clean and healthy, and so that your dishes stay that way, too.

Here's how to clean your dishwasher :

Remove all racks from the dishwasher. Wash with dish-washing detergent and set aside to dry.
Mix 1 part vinegar with 4 parts very hot water into a spray bottle.
Spray the mixture on the dishwasher seal and anywhere else you see discoloration, mold or mildew.
Scrub the affected areas with a non-abrasive scrub brush.
Replace racks in the dishwasher.
Fill a small, dishwasher-safe bowl with white vinegar and place on the top rack.
Without soap, run the dishwasher at the highest temperature setting available.

Then, if after performing these steps, you find that your dishwasher still has an "odor", or if mold or mildew remnants remain, immediately pour 1 cup of baking soda on the floor of your dishwasher, and run the cycle a second time at the highest temperature setting available.

If your mold/mildew problem persists, you should check the dishwasher's drain line. If it's kinked, water may be unable to drain and will pool at the bottom of your dishwasher -- a mold-breeding situation.

You should also check the food trap at the base of the dishwasher for too-large-to-drain pieces of food.

A good dishwasher will last years with proper care and maintenance. Keep yours mold- and mildew-free.

And if you are getting that dishwasher in good shape because you are planning the sale of your Northern Virginia area home, please know that the Kathy O'Neal Team is here for you!

Please feel free to contact us anytime!

[The Kathy O’Neal Team serves home buyers and sellers in Northern Virginia, with special focus on Chantilly, Centreville, and the communities of the Western Fairfax region.]

How Much Equity In Home Improvement Projects?

Kathy O'Neal (The Kathy O'Neal Team - RE/MAX Premier) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 21:33:43 -0800

Consumers are doing lots of home improvement projects with about $110 billion in total volume this quarter.

Overall, these projects are not creating a lot of added home equity value. You may still have great reasons to do a project, but it does not hurt to look at these stats before doing so.

Remodeling Magazine reports in their Cost vs Value Report 2011-2012, that for each home improvement dollar spent in 2012, homeowners can expect to recoup just 58 cents in home equity.

This is way down from 2005, when the cost-to-value ratio was 87 percent.

It pays to consider which projects will help your home equity.

Remodeling Magazine's "Mid-Range Project" list :

Steel Entry Door Replacement : Cost, $1,238; Recoup, 73.0%
Attic Bedroom : Cost, $50,184; Recoup, 72.5%
Minor Kitchen Remodel : Cost, $19,588; Recoup, 72.1%
Garage Door Replacement : Cost, $1,512; Recoup, 71.9%
Wood Deck Addition : Cost, $10,350; Recoup 70.1%

Projects which have a relatively low cost-to-value ratio include the following. Consider them if they have a high personal value, but not necessarily for their home equity value:

Home Office Remodel : Cost, $27,963; Recoup, 42.9%
Sunroom Addition : Cost, $34,133; Recoup, 45.9%
Backup Power Generator : Cost, $14,760; Recoup, 47.5%
Bathroom Addition : Cost, $140,096512; Recoup, 51.0%
Fiberglass Entry Door Replacement : Cost, $3,536; Recoup 56.3%

Projects that include the replacement of doors, siding and windows occupy the list's first 6 slots in the cost-to-value ratio.

As always, if you live in the Northern Virginia area or are planning a move to this area, we are here to help you learn what is available in both the new and resale home market. Let us know how we can help!

You can see the complete Cost vs Value report online.

[The Kathy O’Neal Team serves home buyers and sellers in Northern Virginia, with special focus on Chantilly, Centreville, and the communities of the Western Fairfax region.]

Haute Dogs and Fries in Purcellville VA: You Will Love This Place!

Kathy O'Neal (The Kathy O'Neal Team - RE/MAX Premier) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 18:52:55 -0800

The Kathy O'Neal Team appreciates other businesses that have a strong customer focus and are serious about quality.

That's why we wanted to share a good word about a terrific restaurant we recently visited in Purcellville.

Haute Dogs and Fries is taking a beloved American food icon and lifting it to a whole new level. By that I don't mean that you will get a Hot Dog that is so "fancy" that it has lost its authenticity. No, no, no! The dogs here are as real as it gets...they are just also delicious, fresh, well-prepared, and the best part is that you can get them just about any way you might like them.

Along with quite a few ways you may learn to love....lots of topping variations that will tempt you to go beyond mustard and relish, if you so choose.

Along with the honor of being among this year's 2011 Best Bargain Restaurants in the Washingtonian Magazine, Haute Dogs and Fries is garnering lots of other honors as well.

If you want to try other sausage type specialties, you will also find creative menu items that owners Pamela and Lionel prepare from very fresh local sources.

One of the special treats of a visit here is the co-star of the establishment's name..."Fries!" Have you ever wondered if there were any really, really fine french fries anywhere to be found, other than making them from scratch at home? If so, ya gotta give the fries here there day in the sun. We found them to be worth a trip back....no, made that worth many trips back!

Pay a visit to Haute Dogs and Fries next time you are anywhere in the vicinity of Purcellville. They are keeping an American tradition alive and well!

PS - If you don't eat meat, give the veggie dog a try. It was terrific!

[The Kathy O’Neal Team serves home buyers and sellers in Northern Virginia, with special focus on Chantilly, Centreville, and the communities of the Western Fairfax region.]

New HARP Guidelines for Home Owners

Kathy O'Neal (The Kathy O'Neal Team - RE/MAX Premier) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 20:00:39 -0700

Recently the Federal Home Finance Agency announced significant changes to its Home Affordable Refinance Program Monday. The HARP (Home Affordable Refinance Program) was initiated to help "underwater homeowners" get their home refinanced.

There are over a million homeowners nationwide - and many home owners here in Chantilly and the Northern Virginia area - who might be helped by these changes. Given the historically low interest rates, it is wise to know about this program.

There are four basic qualifying criteria:

Your current home loan must be guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac
Your home must be a 1- to 4-unit property
You must have a perfect mortgage payment history going back 6 months
You may not have had more than one 30-day late payment on your mortgage going back 12 months

One of really big features of the updated program is that the government is waiving loan-to-value requirements on HARP loans. Homeowners' participation is no longer restricted by their home's appraised value. Actually, the new HARP doesn't even require an appraisal, in most situations.

Under the new HARP program guidelines, an underwater mortgages can be refinanced without LTV limit or penalty.

According to the government's official press release, lenders are expected to be offering the program as of December 1, 2011.

If you want to check it out, start by seeing if your loan is backed by Freddie or Fannie. Here is where you can go for that:

Fannie Mae loan lookup : http://www.fanniemae.com/loanlookup/
Freddie Mac loan lookup : https://ww3.freddiemac.com/corporate/

You can also call your lender directly.

If being underwater is not an issue, but you are looking for a few reputable lending sources, of course, let me know and I will be glad to provide you with a few referrals.

If you are home buying or home selling in the Northern Virginia area, please know I am always here for you!

[The Kathy O’Neal Team serves home buyers and sellers in Northern Virginia, with special focus on Chantilly, Centreville, and the communities of the Western Fairfax region.]

Time to consider refinancing your home?

Kathy O'Neal (The Kathy O'Neal Team - RE/MAX Premier) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 13:10:26 -0700

Many Chantilly and Northern Virginia home owners, like those elsewhere, have wondered about refinancing their home, given the amazingly low prevailing interest rates.

If this has been on your mind, take a few moments to view this Today Show video. Even though this was aired in September, I think you will most of the info current.

One of the key questions of course, is whether the costs of doing a refi outweigh the benefits.

Key points include:

Lower rates mean higher costs. At least check out the slightly higher-rate option from your bank.
Falling home values may make it harder to refinance in the future. Your window of opportunity may be now.
If you have had a 30-year loan for many years, consider a 15-year mortgage to avoid "resetting" your term.

You will find lots of quality information in this short video.

If you need a quick reading on the current market value of your Northern Virginia home, or if you want a refeerral to a few quality loan officers, please let me know. We are always here for you!

[The Kathy O’Neal Team serves home buyers and sellers in Northern Virginia, with special focus on Chantilly, Centreville, and the communities of the Western Fairfax region.]