Virginia Residential Real Estate Blog

What is your home walkscore?

VHDA/SPARC prg - Home Loans below market available for First-Time Homebuyers in Loudoun

New Construction Single Family homes in Loudoun County Virginia from Low $400K-$500K

Senate and House pass tax credit extension for 1st Time Homebuyers!!!

Five ways to cut your heating cost in Virginia

Yet again Northern Virginia rated top 13 metro area with strongest econony!!!

Do's and Don'ts of holding homes title in LLC

Condo in the heart of ViennaUpdated Unit**Short Sale Prof. Negotiated

Ten Facts about the First-Time Homebuyer Credit

120,000 New Jobs Coming to DC Metro area

List of best & wrost cell phone with Radiation level

New FHA Condo Approval Process Will Mean More Options For Virginia Condo Buyers

Single Family home in FairfaxMins to Capital Beltway & Thomas Jefferson High School

20 uses of my versatile buddy – duct tape

Traditional Sale*Single Family home in Leesburg for Sale

Don’t Wait-Only 138 Days to Claim Your Share of the Tax Credit

Calculate your Carbon Footprint

Tax Free Week for Back to School Shopping

The Price, the Commute, the Schools, The Ammenities....

Buy or Sell First your current home?

Ecofriendly Roof from Wales

For Rent: 4 Brs,2 Full and 2 Half Baths**Centreville

142 Baylor Sterling Virginia : Better Than Renting

New Listing: 3 Acres+Horse Barn+Shed with Scenic in Leesburg

Virginia Residential Real Estate Blog

What is your home walkscore?

VHDA/SPARC prg - Home Loans below market available for First-Time Homebuyers in Loudoun

New Construction Single Family homes in Loudoun County Virginia from Low $400K-$500K

New Construction townhomes in Loudoun County Virginia priced from Low $300K

Senate and House pass tax credit extension for 1st Time Homebuyers!!!

Five ways to cut your heating cost in Virginia

Yet again Northern Virginia rated top 13 metro area with strongest econony!!!

Do's and Don'ts of holding homes title in LLC

**Condo in the heart of Vienna**Updated Unit**Short Sale Prof. Negotiated

Ten Facts about the First-Time Homebuyer Credit

120,000 New Jobs Coming to DC Metro area

List of best & wrost cell phone with Radiation level

New FHA Condo Approval Process Will Mean More Options For Virginia Condo Buyers

Single Family home in Fairfax**Mins to Capital Beltway & Thomas Jefferson High School**

20 uses of my versatile buddy – duct tape

Traditional Sale*Single Family home in Leesburg for Sale

Don’t Wait-Only 138 Days to Claim Your Share of the Tax Credit

Calculate your Carbon Footprint

Tax Free Week for Back to School Shopping

The Price, the Commute, the Schools, The Ammenities....

Buy or Sell First your current home?

Ecofriendly Roof from Wales

For Rent: 4 Brs,2 Full and 2 Half Baths**Centreville

142 Baylor Sterling Virginia : Better Than Renting

New Listing: 3 Acres+Horse Barn+Shed with Scenic in Leesburg

Condo in the heart of ViennaUpdated Unit**Short Sale Prof. Negotiated

Single Family home in FairfaxMins to Capital Beltway & Thomas Jefferson High School

West Riding- Ryan Homes

Martins Chase- Lennar Homes

The Reserve at Belle Terra-Oakridge Communities

Little River Commons- Ryan Homes

The Pines- Drees Homes

Courtland Rural Village Singles- NV Homes

Brambleton: 1920's Collection- Van Metre Homes

Greene Mill Preserve II- Stanley Martin

Aldie Glen At Kirkpatrick Farms- Ryan Homes

Stratshire Crossing- Winchester Homes

Winsbury- Richmond America

South Riding - The Villages- Toll Brothers

South Riding - The Heritage- Toll Brothers

West Riding- Ryan Homes

Martins Chase- Lennar Homes

The Reserve at Belle Terra-Oakridge Communities

Little River Commons- Ryan Homes

The Pines- Drees Homes

Courtland Rural Village Singles- NV Homes

Brambleton: 1920's Collection- Van Metre Homes

Greene Mill Preserve II- Stanley Martin

Aldie Glen At Kirkpatrick Farms- Ryan Homes

Stratshire Crossing- Winchester Homes

Winsbury- Richmond America

South Riding - The Villages- Toll Brothers

Courtland Rural Village Towns-NVHomes

Oaklawn: Pulte Homes

South Riding - The Amberlea : Toll Brothers

South Riding - The Greens: Toll Brothers Almost sold out

Goose Creek Village: Centex Homes

Little River Commons- NV Homes

Stone Ridge/Hamilton Grove- Van Metre Homes

West Riding - Townhomes- Ryan Homes

Braddock Corner - Liberty Series- Winchester Homes

Brambleton: Magic Collection- Beazer Homes

Windermere- Pulte Homes

Lansdowne Town Center/Berkeley Row- Van Metre Homes

South Riding - The Heritage- Toll Brothers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

Ritu Desai (Samson Properties) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:43:25 -0600

Find out what is the Walk Score in the Neighborhood you live?

www.WalkScore.com

How It Works Walk

Score calculates the walkability of an address based on the distance from your house to nearby amenities. Walk Score measures how easy it is to live a car-lite lifestyle—not how pretty the area is for walking.

I thought this will help us in marketing yet another unique feature about the home. The higher the walkability score will help determine buyers the convienence of the neighborhood.

Ritu Desai (Samson Properties) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:58:17 -0600

On Nov. 6th the Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA) has announced Fiscal Year 10 funding allocations under its SPARC program (Sponsoring Partnerships and Revitalizing Communities), a below-market-rate loan program administered by the Loudoun County Department of Family Services.

The funds will be available through June 30, 2010 or until fully utilized. Applicants must be first-time homebuyers and meet VHDA's standard eligibility requirements. Sales price and income limits apply.

Discounts on VHDA first-trust loans will be available at one-half percent (1/2%) below VHDA's loan program rates and available to homebuyers with incomes from $21,550 to $82,150 (adjusted by family size; families of five or more may qualify at higher income levels). These loans are targeted only to households purchasing a foreclosed home (short sales not eligible) in one of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) areas. Current eligible areas are Sterling and Sugarland Run with a zip code of 20164. A map of the eligible area can be found here.

More information about SPARC is available online from VHDA at http://www.vhda.com/ or by contacting one of the VHDA-approved lenders who will be able to explain more about this program. Only VHDA-approved lenders can offer SPARC funding.

For information, contact Karen Thorson, Department of Family Services, at 571-258-3814 or karen.thorson@loudoun.gov.

Ritu Desai (Samson Properties) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:46:44 -0600

Specs # Bedrooms# 3-5 Full Baths: 2 Half Baths: 1 Garage: Yes

Priced From: the high $300s

Sq. Ft From: 1950+

Location: Chantilly, VA 20152

Specs # Bedrooms# 4 Full Baths: 2-4 Half Baths: 1 Garage: Yes

Priced From: $400K

Sq. Ft From: Not yet released

Location: Ashburn, VA

Specs # Bedrooms# 4 Full Baths: 2-4 Half Baths: 1 Garage: Yes

Priced From: $400K

Sq. Ft From: 2423+

Location: Ashburn, VA

Specs # Bedrooms#3- 4 Full Baths: 2 Half Baths: 1 Garage: Yes

Priced From: Low $400K

Sq. Ft From: 1952+

Location: Chantilly, VA 20152

Specs # Bedrooms#3- 4 Full Baths: 2 Half Baths: 1 Garage: Yes

Priced From: Low $400K

Sq. Ft From: 1914+

Location: Chantilly, VA 20152

Specs # Bedrooms#4 Full Baths: 2 Half Baths: 1 Garage: Yes

Priced From: Low $400K

Sq. Ft From: 2722+

Location: Leesburg, VA 20175

Specs # Bedrooms: 4 Full Baths: 2 Half Baths: 1 Garage: Yes

Priced From: mid $400K

Sq. Ft From: 2047+

Location: Ashburn, VA 20148

Specs # Bedrooms: 4 Full Baths: 2 Half Baths: 1 Garage: Yes

Priced From: mid $400K

Sq. Ft From: 2155+

Location: Ashburn, VA 20148

Specs # Bedrooms: 3-4 Full Baths: 2 Half Baths: 1 Garage: Yes

Priced From: mid $400K

Sq. Ft From: 2439+

Location: Aldie, VA 20105

Specs # Bedrooms: 4 Full Baths: 2 Half Baths: 1 Garage: Yes

Priced From: mid to high $400K

Sq. Ft From: 2673+

Location: Aldie, VA 20105

Specs # Bedrooms: 4 Full Baths: 2 Half Baths: 1 Garage: Yes

Priced From: high $400K

Sq. Ft From: 2600+

Location: Dulles, VA 20166

Specs # Bedrooms: 4 Full Baths: 2 Half Baths: 1 Garage: Yes

Priced From: high $400K

Specs # Bedrooms# 3 Full Baths:3 Half Baths: 1 Garage: Yes

Style: Townhome

Priced From: the low $400K

Sq. Ft From: 1841+

Location: Lansdowne, VA 20176

Specs # Bedrooms# 3 Full Baths:3 Half Baths: 1 Garage: Yes

Style: Townhome

Priced From: the low $400K

Sq. Ft From: 2300+

Location: South Riding, VA 20152

For more details contact either the builder or Ritu Desai, Samson Properties at 703-625-4949 or email her at Info@eNOVAHomes.com

Contact Ritu Desai,
Realtor, EcoBroker, ABR,ePRO
at Samson Properties
  Cell: 703-625-4949 or Email:Info@eNOVAHomes.com
www.eNOVAHOmes.com
             You are interested in purchasing or selling a property in Northern Virginia
                        Arlington County, Alexandria City, Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Falls Church City & Prince William county.

Ritu Desai (Samson Properties) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:26:23 -0600

HUGE NEWS!!! The House today passed the Tax Credit Extension for 1st Time Homebuyers…. adding current homeowners. This comes on the heals of The Senate passing it last week.

The President is expected to sign by the end of this week. Here’s what I’m hearing on C-Span as I write this:

• 1st Time Homebuyers Tax Credit of $8000. extends to Contracts written by April 30, 2010 and you must close by June 30, 2010

• Current homeowners that have lived in their home for 5+ years and want to “move on”, will get a $6500 tax credit when they sell their current home and purchase their next home

• The income thresholds move from, individuals $75K to $150K and couples from $150K to $225K! That’s Gross Adjusted Income

Great news for homebuyers, Realtors, Lenders, and the Economy going into the Holidays and Winter!!!

Ritu Desai (Samson Properties) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:30:01 -0500

As much as I love Northern Virginia's autumn daunting fact is winter is right around the corner. Whether we get a mild or a bad winter it never hurts to be prepared for stormy days.

If you're thinking it's time to do something about your cold house and your high heating bills, here are five win-win suggestions that will help you do both.

1. REPLACE YOUR FURNACE FILTER
A clogged filter makes your furnace work harder to deliver the same amount of heat, which wastes energy by keeping the furnace on for a longer period in order to bring the house up to the requested temperature.

If you have a central heating system (used for heat only), replace the filter once a year, at the start of the heating season. If you have a heat pump or a furnace with central air conditioning, replace it twice a year, at the start of the heating season and at the start of the cooling season. While replacing the filter, always use a shop vacuum to clean up as much dust and debris within the filter cavity as you can reach.

2. INSTALL A PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTAT
Programmable thermostats work a whole lot better than your memory. They give you the ability to have a lot more control over your heating and cooling systems, and they will add both convenience and energy savings by raising and lowering the heat at preset times so you don't have to remember to do it.

A programmable thermostat will bring the system on and shut it off based not only on temperature, but on time as well. For example, the thermostat can be programmed to turn on the heat to a certain level at 6 a.m. when you get up, and turn it down again at 8 a.m. when you leave for work. It also can be set for different cycles on different days of the week, and can be overridden with the touch of a single button to temporarily raise or lower the heat.

3. INSULATE DUCTWORK
Since the ducts are running through an unheated space, whether in your attic, crawlspace, basement, or garage, duct insulation is a huge part of the system's ability to retain heated air within the ducts until it gets delivered into the house. All of the ducts in unheated spaces should be completely wrapped without any gaps, and the insulation should be of sufficient thickness to provide good insulating value -- typically around R-8, which is approximately 2 1/2 inches of fiberglass.

4. CLEAN WALL AND BASEBOARD HEATERS
As with a central furnace, it's very important that wall heaters and baseboard heaters be cleaned at the start of every heating season. Before cleaning, however, first try to minimize the potential for dust buildup in the heaters. This might be done by rearranging furniture, increasing fresh air in the room, or increasing air flow in front of the heaters.

To clean baseboard heaters, first shut off the circuit breaker that supplies power to the heater. To be certain you have the correct breaker, turn the thermostat up to high for 30 seconds or so and make sure that the heater does not come on. Remove the front cover and use a vacuum to clean out the inside of the heater, being careful not to damage the aluminum fins inside the heater. If you notice that the fins are bent, you can use a fin comb, available through many heating contractors and other retailers of heating equipment, to straighten them out again.

For wall heaters, shut off the circuit breaker for the heater, and verify that it's off as described above. Remove the screws that hold the grill in place, and remove the grill. Wash the grill in hot soapy water, dry it, and set it aside. You can then clean the inside of the heater using a vacuum, taking care not to touch the heating elements, or you can blow out dust using the blower side of your shop vacuum.

Note: Be sure to refer to the instruction book that came with the heater, or check with the manufacturer's Web site for specific cleaning instructions and safety precautions.

5. COVER AND WEATHERSTRIP ROOM AIR CONDITIONERS
If you have a room air conditioner that sits in a window or mounts into an opening in the exterior wall, they have the potential to leak a lot of air. If the air conditioner is in a window and is easy to remove, your best bet is to remove it, clean it, and then store it for next summer.

If it's not easily removed, then examine the unit carefully to see if there is any daylight coming in around it. You can use foam tape, expandable spray foam, or other weatherstripping materials to close up the gaps around the case. Finally, buy or build a cover that will slip over the unit from the outside and prevent cold air from coming through it and into the house.

Ritu Desai (Samson Properties) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:52:45 -0500

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

Overall rank: 13

The unemployment rate in the D.C. area fell in both June and July, as it gained jobs in government and defense contracting sectors. Employment in the D.C. metro peaked in the third quarter of last year. Gross metropolitan product peaked in the second quarter. Home prices fell 5.7% in the second quarter compared with the same period a year earlier. And the unemployment rate in June was 6.5%, up 2.7 points from a year earlier. (Please see below for the various criteria used by the Brookings Institution to determine the overall ranking.)

Job growth (since peak) rank: 6
Gross Metro Product (since peak) rank: 1
Unemployment change (year over year) rank: 18
Home price change (year over year) rank: 72

Complete list at : http://images.businessweek.com/ss/09/10/1022_40_strongest_us_metro_economies/14.htm

Contact Ritu Desai,
Realtor, EcoBroker, ABR,ePRO
at Samson Properties
  Cell: 703-625-4949 or Email:Info@eNOVAHomes.com
www.eNOVAHOmes.com
             You are interested in purchasing or selling a property in Northern Virginia
                        Arlington County, Alexandria City, Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Falls Church City & Prince William county.

Ritu Desai (Samson Properties) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:21:04 -0500

If you are an investor or a home owner have been thinking about buying or transferring your home title in LLC. check out the following Q&A

DEAR BENNY: I own several single-family rental homes. In talking to advisors, one says I should put the houses into LLCs for liability protection. Another said, don't bother. If you get sued, your liability protection on your homeowners policy plus your umbrella policy will cover you. Obviously, the latter provides only attorney and possible judgment costs, but does the LLC really keep you from being sued, or protect you if you are sued, so that you would not need to use the umbrella policy? –Bruce

DEAR BRUCE. It is my understanding that an umbrella policy is not that costly, so I would recommend that you consider both options: Get the umbrella policy and put all of your rental properties in separate limited liability companies.

The concept of limited liability companies (LLC) is relatively new -- probably started in the 1980s. Its primary purpose is to insulate the property owner from personal liability should there be a court judgment against the property. For example, if a child was injured because of lead paint in the property and a judgment was entered against the LLC, if the proper procedures for maintaining a LLC were kept, it would be difficult -- if not impossible -- for that judgment to attach personally against the member (or members) of that LLC.

This column does not permit a lengthy explanation of what an LLC is and how it works. However, if you own several properties, each should be held in a separate LLC. Otherwise, a judgment against the LLC will impact on all of the properties that are held by that LLC.

Some basic rules to preserve the independence of an LLC: (1) Do not commingle your own funds with that of the LLC; (2) If you are the sole member of the LLC -- or its managing member -- make sure that whenever you sign any papers, you add the word "member" after your signature. You want to make sure that the world understands that you are not acting in your own capacity but only as the representative of the LLC.

It would even be helpful to have at least two members for the LLC. Clever attorneys may be able to "pierce the corporate veil" of a single-member LLC.

Contact Ritu Desai,

Realtor, EcoBroker, ABR,ePRO

at Samson Properties

Cell: 703-625-4949 or Email:Info@eNOVAHomes.com

www.eNOVAHOmes.com

You are interested in purchasing or selling a property in Northern Virginia
Arlington, Alexandria City, Loudoun, Fairfax, Falls Church City & Prince William county.

Ritu Desai (Samson Properties) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 09:56:38 -0500

Ritu Desai | Samson Realty | 703-625-4949

Price: $189,000 USD MLS#: FX7174515 2627 GLENGYLE DR #98, Vienna, VA

Condo in the Heart of Vienna

2BR/1.5BA Condo

offered at $189,900

Year Built	1977
Sq Footage	1,018
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	1 full, 1 partial
Floors	1
Parking	1 Uncovered spaces
Lot Size	Unspecified
HOA/Maint	$246 per month

DESCRIPTION

*GREAT CONDO IN THE HEART OF VIENNA
*WALK TO SHOPS & DINING
*MINS TO VIENNA METRO
* HARDWOOD FLOORING THRU OUT THE UNIT
*LARGE LIVING ROOM WITH SLIDING DOOR TO PRIVATE PATIO WITH LOT OF ROOM FOR ENTERTAINING
*UPDATED KITCHEN WITH WINDOW, SPACE FOR TABLE & 16x16 TILED FLOORING
* OVERSIZED MASTER WITH FULL BATH & CLOSET
* EQUALLY LARGE 2ND BEDROOM
* QUIET LOCATION WITH ENTRANCE OFF OF COURTYARD WITH MATURE SHADE TREES & LAWN
*ALL NEWER WINDOWS,HEAT PUMP&WATER HEATER

**PROFESSIONALLY NEGOTIATED SHORT SALE**

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C	- Central heat	- Hardwood floor
- Tile floor	- Living room	- Dishwasher
- Refrigerator	- Stove/Oven	- Washer
- Dryer	- Laundry area - inside	- Balcony, Deck, or Patio

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Front	Kitchen
Rear	Patio
Photo 5	Photo 6

Contact info:

Ritu Desai

Samson Realty

703-625-4949

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Oct 7, 2009, 6:38am PDT

Ritu Desai (Samson Properties) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:16:31 -0500

Ten Facts about the First-Time Homebuyer Credit

Many taxpayers who purchase a home this year will qualify for an $8,000 federal tax credit in Virginia and around the country. The refundable first-time homebuyer credit is a major tax provision in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. But time is running out to qualify for this credit.

Here are ten things the IRS wants you to know about the first-time homebuyer credit:

1. To be considered a first-time homebuyer, you – and your spouse if you are married – must not have jointly or separately owned another principal residence during the three years prior to the date of purchase.

2. You cannot claim the credit before there is a completed sale and purchase of the residence. The sale and purchase are generally completed at the time of closing on the purchase.

3. To qualify for the credit, the completed purchase must occur before December 1, 2009.

4. The home must be located in the United States.

5. The credit is either 10 percent of the purchase price of the home or $8,000, whichever is less.

6. The amount of the credit begins to phase out for taxpayers whose modified adjusted gross income is more than $75,000 or $150,000 for joint filers.

7. The credit is fully refundable. A homebuyer with no taxable income, who qualifies for the credit, may file for the sole purpose of claiming the credit and receive a refund. The credit will be paid out to eligible taxpayers, even if they owe no tax or the credit is more than the tax owed.

8. The credit is claimed on IRS Form 5405, First-Time Homebuyers Credit.

9. Taxpayers can claim the credit for a qualified 2009 purchase on either their 2008 or 2009 tax return. For those who have filed a 2008 return, a Form 1040X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return can be filed in order to get a refund in 2009.

10. The credit for qualified 2009 purchases does not have to be repaid, as long as the home remains your main home for 36 months after the purchase date.

Qualified taxpayers who have been considering a main home purchase may find extra incentive from this tax credit to buy now so they can complete the purchase before the December 1 deadline.

For more information on this and other key tax provisions of the Recovery Act visit the official IRS Website at IRS.gov/Recovery.

Links: First-Time Homebuyer Credit

Ritu Desai (Samson Properties) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:46:49 -0500

With the housing industry already on rebound if everything goes as projected Federal government will hire up to 120,0000 people for jobs in DC, Maryland & Virginia area over the next few years.

Such a hiring boom would have widespread benefits, economists who study the region's employment and housing patterns said. It could reduce the region's unemployment rate, now at 6.2 percent, if jobless people here are hired, and it could revive stagnant home sales if people outside the area are hired. Moreover, as agencies expand to accommodate more workers, they could opt to lease space, boosting the moribund commercial office market.

Partnership for Public Service, a nonprofit that helps find candidates for federal jobs, released a report last week that listed projected hires for hundreds of agencies between now and 2012. In total, the government is expected to hire 600,000 people, including 19,071 nurses at the Department of Veterans Affairs, 9,800 Border Patrol agents, 3,774 criminal investigators for the Labor Department, 6,282 contract representatives at the Treasury Department, and 3,500 claims assistants and examiners at the Social Security Administration.

For complete news article please click here

Ritu Desai (Samson Properties) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 11:38:12 -0500

While the debate over cell phone radiation and increased risk of cancer has been hotly debated between researchers and the cell phone industry. The news was telecast on Washington DC metro Fox news yesterday.

Here's the best and worst cell phones in the rankings, which include more than 1200 phones.

Lowest Radiation:
1. Samsung Impression (SGH-a877) [AT&T]
2. Motorola RAZR V8 [CellularONE]
3. Samsung SGH-t229 [T-Mobile]
4. Samsung Rugby (SGH-a837) [AT&T]
5. Samsung Propel Pro (SGH-i627) [AT&T]
6. Samsung Gravity (SGH-t459) [CellularONE, T-Mobile]
7. T-Mobile Sidekick [T-Mobile]
8. LG Xenon (GR500) [AT&T]
9. Motorola Karma QA1 [AT&T]
10. Sanyo Katana II [Kajeet]

Highest radiation:
1. Motorola MOTO VU204 [Verizon Wireless]
2. T-Mobile myTouch 3G [T-Mobile]
3. Kyocera Jax S1300 [Virgin Mobile]
4. Blackberry Curve 8330 [Sprint, U.S. Cellular, Verizon Wireless, MetroPCS]
5. Motorola W385 [U.S. Cellular, Verizon Wireless]
6. T-Mobile Shadow [T-Mobile]
7. Motorola C290 [Sprint, Kajeet]
8. Motorola i335 [Sprint]
9. Motorola MOTO VE240 [Cricket, MetroPCS]
10. Blackberry Bold 9000 [AT&T]

For complete news article click here

Ritu Desai (Samson Properties) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:10:51 -0500

Beginning October 1, there will be some changes to the FHA Condo Approval process this will mean more purchasing options for Northern Virginia condo buyers and through out the nation.

Over the last 2 years condo financing has become increasingly harder with tightening guidelines, restrictive mortgage insurance policies and loan level price adjustments which made condo financing much more expensive for anyone without a big down payment.

Up until now, Condo projects were either already approved or listed on HUD’s website for FHA financing, or they could be “spot approved” for an FHA loan, meaning the lender could get evidence that the Condo project met FHA guidelines and approve a loan on one of the units. This DIDN’T approve the project through HUD though, so the next time someone wanted to get an FHA loan on a unit in the same project, they also had to go through the “spot approval” process.

Under the new rules, FHA lenders will have the authority to actually approve a Condominium project for HUD. This means that there will be no more “spot approvals”, but once a loan is done on a unit in a development, it will be added to the approved list and future loans in the project will be easier to do. Over time, this should really streamline the time it takes to do FHA loans on condos. The drawback is that it may take longer and be far more difficult to get an FHA loan done on that first unit in the project, so keep that in mind when writing an offer on a Condo that is not on HUD’s approved list.

Ritu Desai (Samson Properties) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 08:37:16 -0500

Ritu Desai | Samson Properties | 703-625-4949

5065 Twinbrook Run Drive, Fairfax, VA

**Estate Home**Seller Relocating Grab the opportunity**

4BR/3.5BA Single Family House

offered at $835,000

Year Built	2002
Sq Footage	3,322
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	3 full, 1 partial
Floors	3
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	11,191 sqft
HOA/Maint	$37 per month

DESCRIPTION

• Gorgeous brick front sun filled NV’s Brandenburg model with 3 finished levels, 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths & 2 car garage.
•  9 feet ceiling on first floor & upper level.
•  Custom window treatment thru out the home.
•  Neutral freshly painted interior and professional cleaned carpets.
•  Two story foyer entrance with palladium window, plant shelf and Oak stairways
•  Formal living with bay window and custom crown molding
•  Huge formal dining room with elegant chandelier light fixture and chair & crown molding.
•  Study/Den/office off the main level with built in bookshelves
•  Well lit laundry room with utility sink and mud room from the garage entrance
•  Gourmet kitchen perfect for entertaining . Features hardwood flooring, huge center island, raised bar, cook top, double oven, abundance of 42” maple cabinets, profile refrigerator, large walk in pantry Corian counter tops and double bowl Corian sink and tons of recesses lights.
•  Breakfast room off kitchen with French door leading to future deck/patio.
•  Expanded family room separate by custom columns, cozy raised gas fireplace , soothing built in aquarium, wall of windows and ceiling fan with elegant light fixture
•  Luxurious master suit with tray ceilings, contemporary ceiling fan with a light fixture, sitting area and a huge his and her walk in closet. Matching bedding set will convey.
•  Private super master bath with soaking tub, oversized shower, dual sink, linen closet, tray ceiling & a vanity area.
•  Oversized second, third & fourth bedrooms with spacious closet space.
•  Spacious second full bath with dual sink and a tub off hall way.
•  Fully finished basement with wet bar, oversized cabinets, refrigerator, dish washer, gym and a full bath.
•  Zone heating and cooling.
•  Location, Location, Location: Minutes to beltway, all major highways, shopping, dining and top rated school Thomas Jefferson & Robinson pyramids.

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

- Central A/C	- Central heat	- Fireplace
- Walk-in closet	- Hardwood floor	- Family room
- Living room	- Bonus/Rec room	- Office/Den
- Dining room	- Breakfast nook	- Dishwasher
- Refrigerator	- Microwave	- Attic
- Basement	- Laundry area - inside	- Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

- Garage parking

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Front	Kitchen
Study	Master Bedroom
Basement	Exterior Rear

Contact info:

Ritu Desai

Samson Properties

703-625-4949

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Aug 12, 2009, 5:28am PDT

Ritu Desai (Samson Properties) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 21:48:02 -0500

Being frugal and environment friendly (instead of buying reissuing the stuff) can be married by the versatile nature of the duct tape.

Duct tape, which is available in a variety of funky colors, can come in handy in a number of situations from the practical to the downright wacky. We heard a case where the high school gal made her prom dress out of duct tape.

There's even a study showing it can take off warts, although more evidence is needed to confirm this.

Here are just some of its many uses:

Prevent stale chips. Fold up the top of a partially finished bag and seal it with a piece of duct tape.
Repair a vacuum hose by wrapping duct tape around it.
Fix a plastic trash can.
Replace a shower curtain grommet. Cover the broken hole with duct tape and then make a new hole for curtain ring.
Reinforce a broken book binding, or use it as a book cover
Fix flip-flops, or build a better sandal.
Repair broken game cartridges.
Repair any gaps in your heating and cooling ducts
Duct tape can be used as a temporary patch in your vinyl siding or roof patch.
Catch flying insects by hanging strips of duct tape from porch and use it like flypaper. (You can also try this one inside.)
Protect yourself from ticks by wrapping duct tape around your pant cuffs so ticks can't crawl in.
Repair outdoor furniture. You can use it to cover holes in outdoor cushions or to replace lawn chair webbing.
Stop a leak in a garden hose.
Temporarily repair a leaky tent.
Cover an old pair of sneakers with duct tape to make an instant pair of waterproof shoes. You can also use it to keep rubber boots from leaking.
Extend the life of sporting equipment such as hockey sticks (wrap bottom of stick with duct tape) and skateboard shoes (place duct tape on worn out areas of shoe).
Hang holiday lights
Tighten the shin guard

19. Make a bandage in a pinch -You've gotten a bad scrape. Here's how to protect it until you get a proper bandage. Fold tissue paper or paper towel to cover the wound and cover this with duct tape. It may not be attractive, but it works in a jam.

20. Remove lint on clothing!

Do you have you would like to share?

Ritu Desai (Samson Properties) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 09:48:46 -0500

Ritu Desai | Samson Properties | 703-625-4949

210 Lake View Way, Leesburg, VA

Gorgeous Sun-filled Richmond America's Upton II model Single Family Home

4BR/2.5BA Single Family House

offered at $524,000

Year Built	1997
Sq Footage	3,080
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Floors	3
Parking	2 Car garage
Lot Size	12,196 sqft
HOA/Maint	$15 per month

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

• Central A/C	• Central heat	• Fireplace
• High/Vaulted ceiling	• Walk-in closet	• Hardwood floor
• Family room	• Living room	• Office/Den
• Dining room	• Breakfast nook	• Dishwasher
• Refrigerator	• Attic	• Basement
• Washer	• Dryer	• Laundry area - inside
• Balcony, Deck, or Patio

COMMUNITY FEATURES

• Garage parking

• Playground

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Front	Kitchen
Family Room	Master Bedroom
Patio	Yard

Contact info:

Ritu Desai

Samson Properties

703-625-4949

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jul 24, 2009, 6:19am PDT

Ritu Desai (Samson Properties) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:57:22 -0500

Via Cindy Jones-Northern Virginia Real Estate & Military Relocation Services (RE/MAX Allegiance #1 RE/MAX Company in the World):

The rush is on. The deadline for purchasing a home using the $8000 tax credit is November 30, 2009. You might be surprised to find out how quickly the remaining days left to take advantage of the "free" money from the government will click away.

Let's take a look at how you might use up your time remaining.

Before you even head out the door to look at houses you need to have made contact with a lender and start the pre-approval process. The further you get along in this process before you get in a car to look at a home the better. For timing we will say that this process will take you a week because you are super organized and have all of the documents on hand that your lender needs. (7 Days Gone)

Now you are ready to actually head out and look. With lower inventory (below $250,000) than a year ago, it would be realistic to think that it will take you 30 days to find a house. Then there is the contract ratification process. If you are lucky and you have focused on seller owned properties you may be able to get a ratified within 7 days. (37 Days Gone)

With the new appraisal rules (HVCC) and the new lender rules (HERA) going into effect you can expect that getting your final loan approval will be 30-45 days. For our calendar we will take the longest number just to be safe. (45 days Gone).

How are we doing so far? Looks like we have knocked 89 days off the calendar leaving 49 days left until the deadline. Whew looks like you have plenty of time to get this done.

Wait we forgot to add in the days that FHA is going to require for a second appraisal (it is happening more and more) or the processing time at the settlement company. So let's pad those 89 days with an extra 7 to be on the safe side. Now we have taken a total 96 days off the calendar. Leaving you 42 days to move in and enjoy your new home.

If you take longer to find a home, if the lender takes longer to approve your loan or you think you want to buy a short sale....then you may have waited to long!

Are you still thinking about whether the market might decline a bit more making your dream home just a bit more affordable? Or are you waiting for the interest rates to come down to 4.5% again? If you are then every day you wait is one less day that you have to deal with any issues in your schedule. If you are serious about buying a new home this year and are eligible for the $8000 tax credit then time is of the essence. Don't sit on the fence much longer or you may find yourself looking at the calendar on December 1st and wondering what you were waiting for.

Ritu Desai (Samson Properties) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:33:43 -0500

Its a simple tool that will help you calculate your footprint within couple of minutes. Its a great website with lot of valuable tools to help you save planet earth. Please feel free to share it with your friends and family.

My score was : ECP 322

                                                                                   Contact Ritu Desai,
                                                                        REALTOR, Ecobroker, ABR,ePRO
                                                                                 at Samson Properties
                                                             Cell: 703-625-4949 or Email:Info@eNOVAHomes.com
                                                    You are interested in purchasing or selling a property in Northern Virginia
                        Arlington County, Alexandria City, Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Falls Church City & Prince William county.

Ritu Desai (Samson Properties) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 10:06:05 -0500

Yup the summer just started but the shopping is not too far away. The Virginia sales tax this year is from August 7th to August 9th weekend.

August 7-9, 2009: School Supplies and Clothing. During this three-day period, purchases of certain school supplies, clothing and footwear will be exempt from the Virginia sales tax. Each eligible school supply item must be priced at $20 or less, and each eligible article of clothing and footwear must be priced at $100 or less. For details, visit our School Supplies and Clothing Holiday page.

Click here to check out the Holiday page

Ritu Desai (Samson Properties) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:37:38 -0500

Congratulation!! you made a decision to purchase a home. Now the next big decision is where do you want to buy or live. Especially with the crazy Northern Virginia traffic if can be a challenging decision for a family or any individual.

So how do you find the neighborhoor or area you want to live in?

My answer is additional seris of questions for you: How much are you willing to commute? If you have kids how important are the schools or the neighborhood ammenities? What is your price range? What are must haves in your home? How long do you plan to stay in the home? How likely you will have relocate for your next assignment?

You will find more for your money by purchasing a home further away from the beltway but you have to scarifies the commute time. If metro is essential to your commute then lets stick around inside the beltway.

How do I know ensure this is the place I would love to live?

Once you narrow down certain neighborhoods/area andit meets the financial aspect of purchasing, I advise my clients to drive during the rush hour. Visit the neighborhood during different hours. Speak to the neighbors. Some of the condo and/or home owner association will let you attend their meetings.

Online there is lot of information.Check out the local crime and school information.

Don't hestiate to do all your research before you sign on the contract line!

Contact Ritu Desai,
REALTOR, Ecobroker, ABR,ePRO
at Samson Properties
Cell: 703-625-4949 or Email: Info@eNOVAHomes.com
You are interested in purchasing or selling a property in Northern Virginia including Arlington County, Alexandria City, Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Falls Church City, Prince William county.

Ritu Desai (Samson Properties) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:41:37 -0500

“I currently own a home which I would like to sell, and then buy another. What is the best sequence of steps in this process?”

Depending on what you are in the market to sell/buy, this question can be answer. Your first step would be get the market analysis from your Realtor. Understand how long it typically takes to sell i.e. Days on the market and the market condition in your neighborhood and the area. Also, if you get a chance go by and check out your competition.

Next big questions is can you afford to purchase before you can sell? I had few families where the home was bit over crowded with their kids and personal belongings. It was advisable & affordable for them to first purchase a larger home and then sell their current home. We staged the home for a quick sell.

Start by talking to your lender and get a prequalification. Some lenders will require a copy of the contract from your primary home inorder to process your loan for new purchase.

Concerning our Real Estate contracts, you can either make the home:

a. Contingent on Home Sale: which means if your home does not sale you will not purchase your new home. For any contingencies your buyer walks out on you, you can void the contract.

b. Coinciding settlement: which means if buyers of your home walk away right before settlement, you can either reschedule the settlement or void the contract.

Some may argue that the seller of the new home may not accept a home sale contingency but if they have been on the market for a while and don’t have any potential purchaser for their home it won’t hurt for them to take up the risk and accept your contract.

I personally like using both the home sale & coinciding contingency. What happens once your purchase on your home removes contingencies but run into a personal life-changing situation and cannot come to the settlement table? If you have coinciding contingency you will be covered in the worst-case situation.

Personally having done many dual sided transactions (buy & sell) it takes a good Realtor to pull all the parties together to come to the settlement table. Laying out the strategy and understand each family needs will help this win-win situation.

Contact Ritu Desai,
REALTOR, Ecobroker, ABR,ePRO
at Samson Properties
Cell: 703-625-4949 or Email: Info@eNOVAHomes.com
You are interested in purchasing or selling a property in Northern Virginia including Arlington County, Alexandria City, Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Falls Church City, Prince William county.

Ritu Desai (Samson Properties) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 06:39:50 -0500

If you happen to be in DC visit this week Smithsonian's Folk Festival at the mall. Here are pictures of the environmental friendly roof display. Visit : Smithsonian Folk Festival

Contact Ritu Desai, REALTOR,ABR,ePRO at Samson Realty
Cell: 703-625-4949 or Email: Info@eNOVAHomes.com
You are interested in purchasing or selling a property in Northern Virginia including Arlington County, Alexandria City, Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Falls Church City, Prince William county.

Ritu Desai (Samson Properties) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:28:52 -0500

Details

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20121-Centreville (Compton Valley Estate)

FOR RENT
$1,650 Monthly Large TH for low rental

<!--Listing Primary Photo Max width = 300 Max height = 300-->	<!--Brokerage Name-->Samson Realty
<!--Listing Agent Photo Max width = 225 Max height = 120-->
<!--Agent Name-->Ritu Desai Email Ritu <!--Contact Info in the format [Type of contact]:[number] repeating for each--> Work: 703-896-5775 Cell: 703-625-4949 Fax: 703-896-5775
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	<!--First 10 details in the format [DetailType]:[Detail] next detail-->Address: 6927 COMPTON Type: Residential Style: Single Story Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 2 Suite: No Living Area: Year Built: 0 More Details

	Description


	<!--First 500 words of description--> SPACIOUS 3 LEVELS TOWNHOME BACKING TO SCENIC TREED VIEW HUGE KITCHEN WITH BREAKFAST AREA, WOOD FLOORING,NEWER REFIG,DISHWASHER WALK-OUT TO LARGE DECK OVERLOOKING TREES OVERSIZED BEDROOMS W/BERBER CARPETING FULLY FINISHED BASEMENT WITH CARPETING , DEN, RECREATION ROOM, HALF BATH & UTILITY SINK WALKOUT LEVEL WITH FULLY FENCED BACKYARD & PATIO FULL SIZE WASHER& DRYER CONVEY NEWER EFFICIENT HEATING & COOLING MINS TO MAJOR RTS 28,29,66,VRE,SHOPPING,THEATERS & MUCH MORE PETS ALLOWED CASE BY CASE CARPET & HOME WILL BE PROFESSIONALLY CLEANED PRIOR TO MOVE IN Available as of August 1st 2009** More Description

Brokered and Advertised by Samson Realty LID 3259869

Information is deemed to be correct but not guaranteed.

Ritu Desai (Samson Properties) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:10:22 -0500

Ritu Desai | Samson Realty | 703-625-4949

142 Baylor, Sterling, VA

Cheaper than Renting!!!

3BR/1.5BA Condo

offered at $89,000

Year Built	1965
Sq Footage	1,140
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	1 full, 1 partial
Floors	2
Parking	1
Lot Size	Unspecified
HOA/Maint	$220 per month

DESCRIPTION

*Professionally Negotiated Short Sale*Beautifully Updated Kitchen and all Baths*Gas Heat* Newer Windows**Fully Fenced Backyard*Backs to Common area & playground*

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Walk-in closet
Living room	Breakfast nook	Dishwasher
Stove/Oven	Microwave	Washer
Dryer	Laundry area - inside	Balcony, Deck, or Patio

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Front	Kitchen
Breakfast Room	Full Bath
Exterior Rear	View from the unit

Contact info:

Ritu Desai

Samson Realty

703-625-4949

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jun 26, 2009, 6:24am PDT

Ritu Desai (Samson Properties) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 08:15:07 -0500

Ritu Desai | Samson Realty | 703-625-4949

40583 WOODSIDE PL, Leesburg, VA

NATURE LOVER'S PARADISE ON 3 ACRES*TRADITIONAL SALE* NO HOA

4BR/2.5BA Single Family House

offered at $499,000

Year Built	1971
Sq Footage	Unspecified
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	2 full, 1 partial
Floors	3
Parking	1 Car garage
Lot Size	3.0 acres
HOA/Maint	$0 per month

DESCRIPTION

** Pristine!! Bright and Open 4 Bedrooms/2.5 baths/ 1 car garage on 3 Acres of scenic beauty

** Exterior updates includes roof , windows (1998), Siding and recently replaced storm door and sliding door

** New HVAC (Heat Pump) 2006, Water Heater 2006 & Sump pump

** 3 Stall Barn with water & electricity with fenced rear area for your horses. Riding trails in the neighborhood

** Dog pen

** Intercom

** New Garage door with opener and 2 remotes

** Hardwood flooring through out the home(Main and Upper level)

** 5 Ceiling fans with light fixtures through out the house

** Enjoy entertaining in this large formal dining with elegant chandelier and chair molding

** Spacious living room with box bay window

** Sun-filled kitchen with built in bench and breakfast table

** Updated appliances: Brand new Wall ovens, Refrigerator (2002), Dishwasher (1998) and Cooktop (1998)

** Extra refrigerator in the basement conveys

** Separate laundry room on main level with newer washer & dryer

** Warm and inviting family room with wood burning brick fireplace

** Master suite with sitting area, walk in closet and private bath

** Updated second bathroom

** Princess suite, oversized third and fourth bedrooms

** Huge deck with inspiring views

** Walk out stair level basement

** Intercom

** Close to: Greenway, RT. 15, RT.7, Rt. 50, Evergreen Mills Road, Leesburg town, Shopping, Restaurants and much more

** No HOA

**Why Wait !!! Call Today to Preview this Home

see additional photos below

PROPERTY FEATURES

Central A/C	Central heat	Fireplace
Walk-in closet	Hardwood floor	Family room
Living room	Dining room	Breakfast nook
Dishwasher	Refrigerator	Attic
Basement	Washer	Dryer
Laundry area - inside	Balcony, Deck, or Patio	Yard

COMMUNITY FEATURES

Garage parking

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS

Photo 1	Photo 2
Photo 3	Photo 4
Photo 5	Photo 6

Contact info:

Ritu Desai

Samson Realty

703-625-4949

For sale by agent/broker

Equal Opportunity Housing

Posted: Jun 12, 2009, 4:53am PDT

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