northern virginia real estate: Happy Belated New Year
- 01/22/09 04:34 AM
OK, so I'm like 3 weeks late with this post. I've been super busy, and that's a great thing.Over the last few weeks that I've been MIA, I've been reading a lot about how horrible 2008 was for real estate, and how 2009 isn't going to be much better. But my year is starting off great. I live in a market that has fared well through the downturn. I can't ignore all the negative articles out there about how hard it will be. But I can read each and take it with a grain of salt. And I will. And I … (0 comments)
northern virginia real estate: 2008 Wrap-Up
- 12/31/08 05:18 AM
As 2008 comes to a close, I’d like to take a look back on the year. In many aspects, it wasn’t a pretty one: the meltdown of the credit markets, the explosion of foreclosures, the list goes on. But I’m not going to dwell on the negatives. Sure, it was a tough year for a lot of people. My heart goes out to those who find themselves without a home or a job, or both. All in all, I had a good year, and for that, I’m eternally grateful. I’d like to thank all of my clients who entrusted me with … (0 comments)
northern virginia real estate: This Week's Tip You Can't Live Without
- 12/14/08 11:53 AM
The holidays are upon us, so I'm going to keep it short and sweet this week. If you're looking for a house in the Washington, DC area, you need to visit HomesDatabase.com. This site is the public face of the local MLS. If the home is for sale and listed with a broker, you will find it here. The site is good and you can get pretty specific with your search. And when you find a house you like, you can just pass along the MLS# to your agent. It makes it nice and easy for us to find the home … (0 comments)
northern virginia real estate: Remodeling: What Gets the Best Bang for Your Buck?
- 12/08/08 01:07 AM
Thinking of remodeling or upgrading before you sell but you’re not sure where to start? You’re in luck. The results are in for Remodeling Magazine’s annual Cost vs. Value report, which is produced in cooperation with Realtor® magazine. This year’s big winners are decks, kitchens & baths (big surprise), and vinyl siding. If you add a wooden deck, you’ll recoup 81.8% of the cost when you resell, and a composite deck will get you 73.7%. Kitchens and baths are perennial winners. The 2008 average for a minor kitchen upgrade was $21,246, with $16,881 recouped at resale, or 79.5%. Not too shabby. … (4 comments)
northern virginia real estate: Random Thoughts (or, I’m woefully unprepared and just decided to say whatever is on my mind)
- 12/01/08 04:50 AM
With Thanksgiving last week, I took some much-needed time off. Which means I didn’t prepare anything for this week’s blog posting. At least I’m honest. So here are a few things off the top of my head: Mortgage rates have dropped! If you’re looking to refinance, now might be the time. Rates for 30-year fixed loans are down below 6%, which is just awesome. Same with 15-year loans. Do refinance if you have steady income, good credit, and your house is worth more than what you owe. Don’t even think about it if none of the above applies to you. More … (0 comments)
northern virginia real estate: The Importance of Pre-qualification (or, Just do what I tell you)
- 11/24/08 01:11 AM
Ok, so you're ready to buy a home. You've spent hours on the internet looking at homes in your area. Before you even THINK about calling an agent and asking them to chauffer you around on the weekend, do yourself a big, huge favor. CALL A LOAN OFFICER. Do not go to INeedALoanNowPlease.com. Call a real, live loan officer that works for a bank that will still be here next week. I know that might be a little tricky right now, as seemingly invincible outfits are going under. If you're not sure whom to call, ask a real estate agent. If … (0 comments)
northern virginia real estate: Welcome
- 11/14/08 06:29 AM
Welcome to the first installment of my blog. For the most part, I’ll cover real estate related material. Occasionally, I might go off on a tangent about some other subject near and dear to my heart, but I’ll try to keep everything timely and informative. With a little luck, I might even manage to make the material interesting and humorous. That’s the goal, anyway. A lot of real estate blogs are written by agents for other agents. Not mine. I want a direct line to you, the average person wandering around in cyberspace hoping to gain a bit of knowledge about … (1 comments)
OK, so I'm like 3 weeks late with this post. I've been super busy, and that's a great thing.Over the last few weeks that I've been MIA, I've been reading a lot about how horrible 2008 was for real estate, and how 2009 isn't going to be much better. But my year is starting off great. I live in a market that has fared well through the downturn. I can't ignore all the negative articles out there about how hard it will be. But I can read each and take it with a grain of salt. And I will. And I … (0 comments)
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