northern virginia real estate blog: When They Tell You Their Company is #1, Ask for the Proof! - 06/27/08 05:15 PM
Numerous agents and companies go around touting:
"We're #1"
"Top Company in Sales"
"Highest Sales Volume in the Region"
"We Sell More"
"Highest Number of Sales"
Anybody can say it, but can they all prove it?
That's what's important.
Next time an agent says that their company is the … (17 comments)
|
northern virginia real estate blog: What's Hot & What's Not for Real Estate this Summer - 06/24/08 07:35 PM
Unlike the latest hit song or fleeting celebrity of Ashley Dupre (who? oh yeah, that was Eliot Spitzer's call girl), real estate is always a hot topic. Whether the market's going up or going down, having a home and a place to rest your head at night will always rank … (91 comments)
|
northern virginia real estate blog: Now Taking Requests - 06/17/08 10:27 AM
As a Northern Virginia and D.C. REALTOR (and blogger), I see it as part of my job and duty to provide you (my readers) with valuable information about the area real estate market and I've been doing that for over a year, since March 2007. If you're new to this blog, … (6 comments)
|
northern virginia real estate blog: Abbreviations & Acronyms: The New Language of Real Estate - 04/27/08 01:06 PM
If you're just getting in the market for real estate, chances are you're hearing a lot of unfamiliar terms these days, especially on the mortgage side of things. Real estate introduces you to entirely new language. One filled with lots of words that are thrown around by your mortgage lender, REALTOR, … (53 comments)
|
northern virginia real estate blog: Are the Northern Virginia Golden Zip Codes Losing their Luster? - 04/27/08 11:52 AM
What are the Golden Zip Codes?
Each year, Washingtonian Magazine publishes a list of the top 50 neighborhoods in and around Washington D.C. by the median sales price of homes. This allows the reader to determine the areas of Washington D.C., Northern Virginia, and suburban Maryland with the highest concentrations of … (6 comments)
|
northern virginia real estate blog: Your Homebuying Horoscope - 03/11/08 02:41 PM
For some it is a daily habit or guilty pleasure -- turning in the newspaper to the comics and finding the daily horoscope. Maybe not every day, but admit it, you glance a peek at your fortune and see what the stars have to say from time to time.
Here's today's Homebuying … (28 comments)
|
northern virginia real estate blog: Please Help Me Dance into the Sweet Sixteen - 03/09/08 04:24 PM
Thank you for your support in helping me get this far. I hope you'll continue to help as I pursue success in the First Annual Blog Brawl hosted by the Virginia Association of REALTORS on their blog VARBuzz.
In college basketball, the Sweet Sixteen is the elite group of 16 teams that … (26 comments)
|
northern virginia real estate blog: Gentlemen (and ladies), start your engines: It's time to sell! - 03/07/08 11:46 AM
Gentlemen (and ladies), start your engines: It's time to sell! As we round the corner into the third month of 2008, it's time to rev up your plans, clean up your home, contact your experienced REALTOR and get your home on the market to sell.
You've been thinking about selling your home … (36 comments)
|
northern virginia real estate blog: Northern Virginia Real Estate Blog - 01/22/08 09:10 PM
We, at In2VA.com are so happy to be a part of this blogging community of Active Rain. We've made so many friends in the process and learned so much from others in the same field.
This is a part of our blog network. Our main blog is in our site: Northern Virginia … (0 comments)
|
northern virginia real estate blog: Tell Your Clients What Can Go Wrong & When So They Don't Blame You - 10/15/07 09:56 PM
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
This famous quote by Benjamin Franklin applies to many situations in life, but especially to real estate.
Unfortunately, few people heed this warning and end up having to clean up a big mess after the fact than avoiding the disasters from the onset. … (38 comments)
|
northern virginia real estate blog: Giving Back to the Community -- More Than Just Money - 10/06/07 02:21 PM
Realtors serve their local community in more ways than one. They help bolster the community reputation and encourage people to move there. Realtors care about the community where they live and work and constantly strive to improve the neighborhoods and property values.
Most successful Realtors throughout the country serve … (42 comments)
|
northern virginia real estate blog: May I Please Have This Dance?: The Real Estate Waltz - 10/01/07 09:36 AM
Married to a professional ballroom dance instructor and as an avid dancer myself, I often use dance metaphors when discussing real estate.
Buying or selling a home in Northern Virginia is much easier when you know the right steps (SEE Selling a Home in Northern Virginia & D.C.: Step by Step … (19 comments)
|
northern virginia real estate blog: A Closer Look at Title Insurance - 09/29/07 08:19 AM
“What is this charge for?”“What does owner’s title insurance insure me against and why should I buy it?”“Why am I required to purchase lender’s title insurance?”
Many a REALTOR has faced these questions and blank stares from a buyer at a settlement who notices the fees for title insurance on the … (22 comments)
|
northern virginia real estate blog: How Much is the Monthly Payment?: A Simple Formula - 09/29/07 07:01 AM
In the early stages of the home buying process, many clients will often ask me what the monthly payment will be based on a price of a particular property.
It is impossible to answer this question without knowing more about the situation:
what is your credit score?what is the interest rate on … (29 comments)
|
northern virginia real estate blog: Choosing a Good Negotiator for Your Real Estate Deal - 09/28/07 06:17 PM
When selecting your Realtor to represent you in the purchase or sale of a home in Northern Virginia there are several criteria that you may look for in terms of that agent's skills:
Knowledgeable about the area and your selected neighborhoodUnderstands and can explain the real estate purchase or sales processConnected to … (14 comments)
|
northern virginia real estate blog: Meeting Some of the Lovely Ladies of Blogging - 09/27/07 09:57 PM
Today, we had a mini-Bloggers Connect of sorts. After 3 months on Active Rain, I had the opportunity to meet face-to-face with some wonderful Realtors who were complete strangers to me prior to July 2007, but were already good friends before we ever met in person.
Once you leave the designation of … (44 comments)
|
northern virginia real estate blog: 25% of My Broker's License - 09/26/07 06:49 PM
Six weeks ago I wrote that I was Taking the Next Big Step in Real Estate and starting classes to get my Virginia Broker's License. Many of you commented back then about your experiences in getting a broker's license and wished me luck in this new endeavor.
Well, here's an update. … (28 comments)
|
northern virginia real estate blog: Waiting for the Bottom: Don't Bother - 09/24/07 12:13 AM
Everybody wants a good deal!
That's basic human nature and the basic rules of real estate, investing, the stock market, and finance. Buy Low -- Sell High. You don't make money by buying an item -- whether it be a commodity like gold, a house, Google stock (boy I wish I bought … (46 comments)
|
northern virginia real estate blog: Why You Should Purchase Your Next Home in Arlington, Virginia - 09/21/07 04:44 PM
This is a contest entry to the The Active Rain Buyer Challenge Dear Ms. Hilton,
Thank you for contacting me regarding your potential move to Arlington, Virginia. I appreciate you selecting me as your Realtor of choice for your move to our region. Before outlining for you the specific homes … (64 comments)
|
northern virginia real estate blog: Where the Homes Are: Current Inventory of Homes in Alexandria - 09/20/07 11:44 PM
Last week I wrote that home sales are holding steady in Alexandria, Virginia. The market has not slowed in Alexandria City as much as some other places in the Northern Virginia.
Today, I had the opportunity to attend a presentation by Christine Todd, CEO of the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors, … (6 comments)
|
northern virginia real estate blog: It’s the Smart Move: Greater Washington D.C. has the Most Educated Populace in the Country - 09/17/07 04:35 PM
The Greater Washington Initiative (an affiliate of the Greater Washington Board of Trade) is currently running an advertisement in the newspapers that this morning caught my eye over breakfast.
The ad drives home the facts that in the Greater Washington D.C. area 47% of the workforce have a bachelor’s … (4 comments)
|
northern virginia real estate blog: What to Look for in Condominium Resale Disclosure Documents - 09/13/07 04:59 PM
In the D.C. and Northern Virginia area, there is a big market for condominiums. In some areas, like Alexandria City, and the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor of North Arlington, condos actually represent the majority of available housing.
One key item to be aware of when purchasing or selling a condominium is the rules … (7 comments)
|
northern virginia real estate blog: Slow Market? No, it's Holding Steady in Alexandria, Virginia - 09/13/07 03:53 PM
Wherever I go these days, whomever I speak with, upon finding out that I am a Realtor, says the same thing "How are you doing these days? Slow market isn't it? Tough real estate market, eh?"
The facts are that the real estate market is always tough. If it isn't tough for … (7 comments)
|
northern virginia real estate blog: Where Were You on September 11th? (or how September 11th launched my real estate career) -- Part 2 of 2 - 09/11/07 06:55 AM
If you haven't already read it, please read Part 1 where I detail my personal experience on September 11th.
Part 2: How September 11th launched my real estate career
Yesterday, I posted my personal story about September 11th. Today, I tell the story of how I transitioned after September 11th from a … (35 comments)
|
northern virginia real estate blog: Purchaser's Closing Costs in Virginia - 09/08/07 05:09 PM
What are closing costs? An Explanation for Northern Virginia homebuyers
Buyers purchasing a home for the first time need to be aware of closing costs involved with the purchase. In Virginia, closing costs and pre-paid items fall into several categories and generally run about 2-3% of the sales price. Therefore, a purchaser … (3 comments)
|
northern virginia real estate blog: Watch a Movie and Drink Some Beer in Arlington Virginia - 09/08/07 03:24 PM
Going out to the movies these days is not that pleasant an experience any more.
First of all, tickets are priced sky high -- $10 for an 1.5-2 hour movie that more times than not is mediocre is just too much. When you add in the inevitable soda and popcorn, a … (10 comments)
|
northern virginia real estate blog: Increasing the Value of Your Northern Virginia or D.C. Home - 09/07/07 08:35 AM
… (6 comments)
|
northern virginia real estate blog: Biking Around Northern Virginia and the D.C. Area - 08/31/07 09:49 AM
Throughout the Spring, Summer and Fall, Northern Virginia and D.C. residents enjoy the outdoors. One such way is by taking to the roads, or better yet the paths... the bike paths. Bicycling paths and multi-use trails abound throughout the Greater Washington area. Bicycling is a great way to get some exercise, … (0 comments)
|
northern virginia real estate blog: What to Expect at the Closing Table in Northern Virginia - 08/30/07 01:29 PM
When you are buying or selling a home in Northern Virginia, if everything goes smoothly you will find yourself at a closing or settlement table either in a lawyer's office, or more likely at a settlement or title company. If you've followed my buyer's or seller's flowcharts, you see that the … (4 comments)
|
northern virginia real estate blog: When Lightning Strikes... Your Condo! - 08/27/07 01:56 PM
You never expect it to hit you!
Saturday night around 9:30 p.m., my condo building Alexandria Knolls West in Alexandria, Virginia was struck by lightning. The lightning struck the roof and started a fire. The smoke went down through the elevator shafts causing much of the hallways in the building to fill … (19 comments)
|
northern virginia real estate blog: Where Your Blog Visitors Come From & Why it's Important to Know - 08/24/07 10:45 AM
Do you know where your blog visitors live? I don't mean their street addresses.
When you blog, your writing and posts are launched out into the internet for all to see. While you might be writing mostly for your local audience who comprise most of your potential homebuyers and sellers, you may … (22 comments)
|
northern virginia real estate blog: Six Myths About Northern Virginia Real Estate - 08/23/07 09:25 PM
A myth is something that is widely believed but false.
When buying or selling real estate in Northern Virginia, it is important to understand the process,the realities of the market conditions, and the facts of how to work with an experienced Northern Virginia Realtor.
This article will dispel six of the most widely … (1 comments)
|
northern virginia real estate blog: Selling a Home in Northern Virginia & D.C.: Step by Step Flowchart - 08/22/07 10:18 PM
So, you've got a house to sell in Northern Virginia or D.C. How do you go about doing getting the home on the market and navigating through the complex real estate maze of selling your house. Perhaps you are going to be buying another home in Northern Virginia or D.C. at … (1 comments)
|
northern virginia real estate blog: 7 Things You Must Do to Sell Your Home in Northern Virginia - 08/15/07 09:07 AM
With the record inventories of homes for sale in Northern Virginia, it has become increasingly crucial to follow certain steps in order to sell your home in the current market.
As of this morning, there are close to 9,600 homes for sale in Northern Virginia:
Fairfax County: 7,630 homes for saleAlexandria: 1,353 homes … (4 comments)
|
northern virginia real estate blog: "We can always reduce the price later" -- Price Reductions are NOT A GOOD MARKETING PLAN for Northern Virginia Homes - 08/13/07 02:27 PM
The number one secret for selling homes in Northern Virginia quickly and at the highest possible price is to price the property properly when it first goes on the market for sale. It's long been known that the longer a home lingers on the market, the lower price it is likely … (5 comments)
|
