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We are still half way through our 2011-2012 school year in Loudoun County. For parents it is good news that Loudoun County School has released their schedule for 2012-2013 out ahead of the time this year. Especially if you are planning vacation or have to make advance child care arrangements this calendar will help you to plan out your child next school year.
2012-2013 Loudoun School Calendar
 Jacki's Determined Soles is hosting a wine and chocolate tasting to raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The event will be held at Vinifera Wine Bar & Bistro located at 11750 Sunrise Valley Drive Reston, VA.
The event will also include representatives from:
Loudoun Valley Vineyards
Fabbioli Cellars
Tarara Winery
Notaviva Vineyards
...and we are pleased to announce the addition of 8 Chains North Winery and Vineyards to the event!
Each winery will be pouring two wines specifically chosen to pair with chocolate from MC2 Confections.
Wine and chocolate will be available for purchase at the event so you can stock up for Valentine's day!
Cost of the tasting is $15 per person with all proceeds going to the National MS Society. In addition there will be a silent auction with many exciting items.
To Purchase Tickets: You can prepay for the event.
Date: Feb. 12th 2012
NOTE: No tickets will be mailed for this event. Anyone who pre-pays will receive a confirmation notice from paypal and an additional confirmation from JDS a few days before the wine tasting. Thank you to all who have pre-paid. We'll see you on Sunday!
Child care will be available at the Reston Heights Westin during the wine tasting. There are 40 slots available and the cost is $10 per child which covers up to 3 hours of child care. Many thanks to our volunteer babysitters! Child care MUST BE PRE-PAID. To pre-pay please use the link below.
I recently listed a beautiful town home in Herndon 20171 for rent. The home was active on the market for about couple of days. My current tenants called me with a panic and confusion stating "Some strangers about 3-4 group of people where ringing the door bell and wanted to preview the home?" Speaking to one of them I found out that there was a n advertisement of the same home with the property address listed for lot more cheaper price. The advertisement claimed that they are the owners and they live overseas. One of the person I spoke to was standing with cashier's check and so called owner had emailed him a copy of lease.
If you are reading or looking for rental what you can do:
1. Don't send cashier's check to any P.O box address!!
2. When in doubt use any of the search engines and look up the property. If you find the same home listed by a Realtor® call them and confirm the status.
3. Even if you drive by the home which sounds legal property address, ring the doorbell or ask the neighbors around.
4. When you see these kind of advertisement on sites like Craiglist please flag them!!!
5. If you are already part of the scam inform the local sheriff office.
As a Northern Virginia Home buyer Realtor I do see quite a few instance where the DIY work of the seller is clearly reflected in the home inspection. Remember if you do decide to do a DIY work, your insurance may not cover your work so that savings goes off the window. Via Michael Thornton - Nashville, TN area Home Inspector - 615.661.0297 (Complete Home Inspections, Inc.):
The Most Dangerous Item In Our Homes...
53% of household fires can can be traced back to electrical problems. Fire deaths are generally higher when portable heaters and other small appliances are used. Many of these fires can be traced back to the misuse and abuse of extension cords.
Extension cords are one of the most dangerous items we bring into our homes. Overloaded circuits, poor maintenance, improperly sized for application, trip hazards and overheating are a few of the many among perils associated with these items.
 The attached photo is a classic example why insurance companies classify extension cords as a fire safety hazard. The home owner used an extension cord that was designed and rated for light duty use such as lamps and other "light duty" appliances to run the air conditioner unit. Depending upon the size or tonnage of the unit, these can pull any where from 12 - 15 continuous duty amps which severely overloads the capacity of this light duty cord which is rated for 5-7 continuous duty amps.
For Your Own Safety
• Routinely check your electrical appliances and wiring.
• Frayed or cracked wires cause fires. Replace them immediately.
• Replace any electrical tool if it shocks, overheats, shorts out, or gives off smoke or sparks.
• Keep electrical appliances away from wet floors and counters.
• Be mindful of electrical appliances in the bathroom and kitchen.
• Only buy electrical products evaluated by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or other Nationally recognized lab.
• Keep clothes, curtains, and other potentially combustible items at least three feet from all space heaters.
• If an appliance has a three-prong plug, use it only in a three-slot outlet. Never force it to fit into a two-slot outlet or extension cord.
• Don't allow children to play with or around electrical appliances like space heaters, irons, and hair dryers.
• Use safety closures to "child-proof" electrical outlets.
• Use electrical extension cords wisely; never overload extension cords or wall sockets.
• Immediately shut off, then professionally replace, light switches that are hot to the touch and lights that flicker.
This posting and the contents herein are the intellectual property of Michael Thornton of Complete Home Inspections, Inc. providing home inspections for Brentwood, Nashville, Davidson and Williamson County TN. This post is a contribution to the ActiveRain Real Estate Network.
For all your inspection needs in the Brentwood, Franklin & Nashville TN real estate markets
Call us today:
Complete Home Inspections, inc.
The guys with the hats...
615.661.0297
Brentwood, TN
Scan the QR code below for business card info
With the new changes implemented in the Northern Virginia Real Estate Regional Contract staring January 2012 it is important for purchaser to understand the AS IS clause! Via GITA BANTWAL, REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI BUCKS County & Philadelphia, PA HOMES (RE/MAX Centre Realtors):
"AS IS" home purchase . What buyers should know before writing the purchase agreement.
This is not legal advice and buyers should seek legal advice when purchasing a home. Laws may be different in different States Ask your Real estate agent to guide you about disclosure laws in the state.
Before making an offer on a home please know that when sellers say they are selling the home ' as is ' it does not mean that you cannot have a home inspection. In fact you should always have a home inspected by a quailfied home inspector.
The purpose of the home inspection is to find out about material defects . If it is going to cost too much to repair / replace items mentioned by the home inspector, based on the contingency clause in your agreement of sale, you can decide whether you want to purchase the home or not. When the seller is selling 'as is,' it means that the seller is not going to do repairs. This is quite common in bank owned homes .
It is important to get a home inspection even when you are buying a home 'AS IS'
The sellers may have a number of reasons for selling 'AS IS.'
1. They may not have enough money to pay for repairs.
2.They may not know any handymen or contractors to get the work done.
3. They may be scared to have strangers come to the house to repair the items.
4.They may not want to be bothered with repairs and may not mind selling for less money. They may have listed accordingly.
5.It may be an inconvenience to repair or replace items that need it for a number of reasons including health issues, relocation etc.
If your contract states that you have the option to back out of the contract if you are not satisfied with the inspection report you can do so. You can also try to get the seller to credit you at settlement for items mentioned in the inspection report.
In some instances the seller may be willing to adjust the price or give you credit at settlement.
Another misconception buyers have about AS IS sales is they think that they will get all the furniture in the house when they buy the house. Furniture is not part of real estate . Fixtures that are permanently installed are included but the furniture is not included unless it is mentioned in the mls and you should then mention in the agreement of sale that it should be included. All inclusions and exclusions should be spelled out. It is common for washer, dryer and refrigerator to be negotiable items, because they are not permanently attached they are not fixtures.
Also make sure you have a clause that says the place should be broom clean, There have been sellers who have left all the junk in the basement saying it was sold AS IS . You may have to buy a home in this condition if it is a foreclosed hom.
It is important to work with a good buyer agent and a good attorney when buying a home.
Sellers should disclose known material defects even if they are selling AS IS. Check with your agent or attorney about discosure laws.
Gita Bantwal is a Realtor with RE/MAX Centre Realtors in Bucks County, a Northern suburb of Philadelphia. You can view 1000s of listings on her web site www.GitaBantwal.com
She can be reached at 215-343-8200x124 or direct 215-275-8491 or via email gita01@aol.com
Gita specializes in Active adult communities and is a Seniors Real Estate Specialist. She holds the ABR designation (Accredited Buyers Representative) and specializes in selling to first time buyers as well as move up buyers.Gita also hold the CRS designation , Certified Residential Specialist and the CDPE designation as well. Information about real estate market is deemed to be correct but is subject to errors and omissions and should be verified independently.. Opinion expressed by me or others in my post and comments is not to be construed to be legal advice.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUBSCRIBE TO MY BLOG CLICK HERE
 Spring of 2010 was filled with home buyers in the market wanting to take advantage of the $8000 tax credit. Spring of 2011 had all the positive data that influenced Northern Virginia real estate market. So what is in for the real estate market in Northern Virginia for Spring 2012?
From the New Construction Perspective: Builders in the surrounding counties including Fairfax, Loudoun & Prince William have raised their base price, incentives/credits have reduced and lot premiums are back. We have also seen an increase in number of builders and communities opened up since 2010 which were on hold for a pretty long time. Speaking to most of the builders sales rep they are selling ahead of their scheduled sales forecast. Over all they are very positive about the coming up spring market.
From the Resale Market Perspective: We still facing the same issue we had last year that is low inventory. I have buyers waiting on the homes in subdivisions/area to be on the market so they can submit an offer and purchase a home. This has caused in some cases multiple offers/ bidding war situation. So if you are a seller and thinking about selling your home my advice is you may want to take advantage of the current low inventory market. In winter cold months though we have smaller pool of buyers but they are serious buyer house hunting. In order to create bang in the market for your home do your homework that is de-clutter, stage your home and price it right.
From the Buyer's Perspective: While I personally the buyers are in same mind set that they were couple years back. Some are more prepared to take advantage of the market and others are on the fence about what is unknown in the near future of the market. Fortunately Northern Virginia's low unemployment (4.2%) has attracted tremendous relocation opportunity, increase in consumer confidence especially for home owner who are considering moving up into a large home, buy an investment property and definitely attract lot first time home buyer since rentals are expensive in our area. If you don't want to be caught up in the spring market start working with your Realtor® now.
From the Mortgage/Lender Perspective: We still keep hearing "Interest are historically at lowest rate". Financial guidelines are getting restrict and more and more regulations are getting in place. Banks have implemented new restriction that requires certain the credit scores which will determine your interest rate and/or down payment requirement. We had a fluctuation of FHA loan amount limit we swing from $625K back to $729K. On the positive note, few lenders had introduce new in house incentive programs for example with Wells Fargo you can purchase a home with 2% down payment. FHA (3.5% down payment) is still the strongest mortgage type loan for most of the primary resident buyers. 203K Loan has attracted the purchase of distress homes. 80/10/10 loans are back with some lenders and No PMI programs are also an option. Speak to your lender to understand your financial qualification.
My Perspective as a Realtor® : In the current real estate market housing is like a half filled glass of water. As I say to my buyers and sellers we are going to have a good percentage of pessimist and optimist house hunter in the market just like any other market place. Depending on what is the purpose/goal of your purchase, housing market can be great for a long term investor or a Northern Virginia home owner. If you are ready to put your roots down, spread your eggs in different investment stream and/or enjoy the pride of home ownership, "HOME" is right for you. Even if the market slides with the uncertainty of the foreclosure or short sale or government spending or who get's elected in a long run the rewards may pay off. Housing was never a short term investment.
For home owners who are under water you have more options than four or five years ago. With programs like Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives (HAFA) and Short Sale you can avoid foreclosure retains on your credit history. Many home owners who lost their homes to short sale or HAFA may be eligible to purchase a home as early as within three years.
January and February typically kicks off with a slow start due to many facts like winter weather and middle of the school year. I am not here to convenience you whether you should buy or not. But knowing the facts will help you decide whether this market is for you or not. Here are few of my related blogs you can review to help you decide if you are ready to become a home owner.
Jan -2012 Northern Virginia Real Estate Market report
Historic Data of Northern Virginia Real Estate Market
If you are relocating or buying or selling team up with a Local Realtor Ritu Desai at Samson Properties, who knows the market and the Northern Virginia area!
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Ritu Desai | Samson Properties | (703) 625-4949 | 2526 Walnut Leaf Ln, Herndon, VA | | No Repair Dedutible*7 Year Old Home Shows Very Well*
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| 3BR/2+2BA Townhouse
| | $2,100/month |
| Bedrooms | 3 | | Bathrooms | 2 full, 2 partial | | Sq Footage | 1,622 | | Parking | 2 dedicated | | Pet Policy | Cats, Dogs, Conditional | | Deposit | $2,100 |
DESCRIPTION
**BEAUTIFUL 7 YEAR OLD PULTE'S OAKLEIGH MODEL TOWNHOME
** HOME FACING WOODED COMMON AREA FOR PRIVACY
**LARGE KITCHEN WITH WALL OF WINDOWS, GE APPLS, GAS STOVE, 42" CABINETS, RECESSES LIGHTS, TILED CERAMIC FLOORING, PLUS SPACE FOR TABLE AND BREAKFAST BAR
**SPACIOUS FAMILY ROOM OFF KITCHEN
**DOUBLE SIDED FIREPLACE BETWEEN LIVING & DINING ROOM
**MASTER BEDROOM WITH TRAY CEILING, WALK IN CLOTHES, LUXRIOUS BATH WITH DUAL VANITY, SOAKING TUB AND SEPERATE SHOWER
**CONVIENENT WASHER & DRYER AT BEDROOM LEVEL
** LARGE SECONDARY BEDROOMS
**FULLY FINISHED RECREATION ROOM & BATH ON LOWER LEVEL
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| see additional photos below |
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RENTAL FEATURES
| - Air conditioning |
- Central heat |
- Fireplace |
| - Walk-in closet |
- Tile floor |
- Family room |
| - Living room |
- Bonus/Rec room |
- Dining room |
| - Breakfast nook |
- Dishwasher |
- Refrigerator |
| - Stove/Oven |
- Microwave |
- Attic |
| - Basement |
- Washer |
- Dryer |
| - Laundry area - inside |
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COMMUNITY FEATURES
| - Garage parking |
- Playground |
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LEASE TERMS
** HOUSE & CARPET WILL BE PROF. CLEANED PRIOR TO LEASE DATE
** PETS WELCOMED CASE BY CASE
** $500 PET DEPOSIT
** NO REPAIR DEDUCTIBLE
** SORRY NO SMOKERS
** $40 PER PERSON APPLICATION FEE | | | | |
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS
 Front |
 Living Room |
 Formal Dining Room |
 Kitchen |
 Breakfast Room |
 Master Bedroom |
 Bedroom 2 |
 Bedroom 3 |
 Recreation Room |
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Contact info: |
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Ritu Desai |
Samson Properties |
(703) 625-4949 |
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| Equal Opportunity Housing
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| Posted: Jan 26, 2012, 5:29am PST |
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My novice Northern Virginia investors get excited when they read the listings of property for auction starting bid at $10K in local newspaper such as Washington Examiner or Washington Post. Every investors dream is to buy "steal deal" and flip it for profits. However sometimes these deals can cost you everything!!! So before you run with your hard earned cash to purchase that deal here are few thing to consider.
 DID YOU KNOW??? When buying at any of the Northern Virginia Court house steps:
- Auctioneer does not guaranteed clear title
- The home may have other liens apart from the auctioned lien.
- Any tax lien including IRS, local county taxes you will be responsible to pay off apart from purchase price.
- Title insurance company won't under write the insurance for these properties.
- Without the legal proceeding of foreclosure, all subordinate liens remain attached to the property!! Including: Home-equity loans (HELOCs), any construction liens, second loan, mechanic liens etc. You are responsible for the outstanding debt.
- Good luck with getting inside the home...hence you have no clue what inside condition of the home is or inspect the home beforehand.
- If the property is occupied you are responsible to evict the occupant. You may have to compensate the occupant to move out of the property.
- All Deals are CASH Deals!
- You have to close within 15- 30 days!
- 99% of the homes are repurchased by the banks. They have their representatives at the auction.
- Last minute cancellation! Lot of the auctioned properties are pulled out due to one reason or the other at the day of auction. So if you show up and the property auction is cancelled you wasted all that time, energy and resource in finding the deal.
- If the property is truly a deal, beware you will be a small inexperience fish with experienced sharks around you.
Here is an example for worst case scenario:
You purchased a Fairfax County home at an auction for $50K. Later found out that the home has tax lien of $15000, HOA lien of $1000 and an HELOC of $100K. You add up you purchase price of the property plus outstanding debts of $116K +50K that is $166K. If the property is worth in a given market for only $125K you now have got yourself into a huge loss.
Apart from the above debt situation, there is no way for you to know the condition of the property. Are the appliances missing, what if property has extensive mold or water damage, any easement or HOA violations and so on? Above all if the renters or the owners refuse to move out you have to go through Sheriff's office or higher an attorney to evict the occupant.
What you can do before you invest or buy at the court house:
-- Research, Research & more Research...learn everything and anything you can about the property ahead of the time.
-- Go observe other auctions before the auction date for the property you are considering.
-- At auction properties are purchased for CASH only!! Get your funds ready. If you don't close in the time frame given you lose your deposit.
-- Team up with the Title company and/or go to court house and pull up every record related to the property.
-- Go to the property and speak to the occupant on get a chance to preview the home. Be careful some occupant may be crazy.
Your Alternatives are:
As a Virginia residential real estate investors there are plenty of opportunities for an investors for example I met an investor who sends 1000 mailers a month to distress property owner. They will negotiate short sale with the home owner's lenders and take over the title under the company. Some they hold, others fix it and flip for properties. Other option is to bid on a REO (Real Estate Owned) property also known as foreclosure listing on your local MLS. You will receive clean title of the property and you will have option to inspect the property.
Links:
Northern Virginia MLS for your Home search
Fairfax County Court House
Loudoun County Court House
Fairfax County is called the heart of the Northern Virginia area. Fairfax residents have access to major commuter route including: Capital beltway (495), 66, Fairfax County Parkway, Route 29, Route 50, Dulles Airport. Apart from the commute Fairfax County has attracted some federal government offices, which brought lot of government contracting companies and fortunate 500 companies in the area.
Fairfax has dictate always a bit stronger housing market compare to surrounding counties including Loudoun & Prince William in Northern Virginia. As a Fairfax County local Residential Realtor I do see homes that are priced well end getting multiple offers or stay on the market for very short period. However this does not discourage many buyers who absolutely want to live in the Fairfax including zip codes of 22030, 22031, 22032 and 22033.
So what you can find between $350K and $500K in these zip codes?
Condos for sale $350000-$500000 in 22030,22031,22032 and 22033 Fairfax Virginia
Foreclosure Homes for sale $350000- $500000 in 22030,22031,22032 and 22033 Fairfax Virginia
Short Sale Homes for Sale $350000- $500000 in 22030,22031,22032 and 22033 Fairfax Virginia
Single Family homes for sale $350000- $500000 in 22030,22031,22032 and 22033 Fairfax Virginia
Town homes/Townhome for sale $350000- $500000 in 22030,22031,22032 and 22033 Fairfax Virginia
Please visit my blog Purchasing power of $350000 in the above zip code.
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Ritu Desai-Northern Virginia Realtor Fairfax/Loudoun/PW-703-625-4949
Ashburn,
VA
More about me…
Samson Properties
Address: 14526 Lee Road, Suite 100, Chantilly, VA, 20151
Office Phone: (703) 625-4949
Cell Phone: (703) 625-4949
Email Me
 Listings
$2,100
3 br, 2 ba
**BEAUTIFUL 7 YEAR OLD PULTE'S OAKLEIGH MODEL TOWNHOME
** HOME FACING WOODED...
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