buying a home in northern va: What’s All this Fuss about Appraisals-Is it Really That Tough Out There?
- 07/25/09 12:57 AM
It seems like every day an agent is screaming about a low appraisal that has derailed a deal. Yet I wonder if we added up all of the settlements that have taken place since the new HVCC rules had come into play and then asked for the number of settlements that had appraisal issues, we would find the total percentage to be low.Let's face it in many areas our markets were highly over-valued. Yes I know a lot of homeowners are in a rough situation right now but weren't home appraisals part of the issue? One day a home was selling for … (53 comments)
buying a home in northern va: Now Serving Client One Million and One
- 06/12/09 06:20 AM
Recently a call came from a prospective first time buyer who had some questions. They were interviewing agents to see who might be able to help them by a home. As with most agents I always look forward to the opportunity to work with a new buyer and so I was more than happy to answer their questions and send them my first time home buyers guide.The questions were going along well and then one came that had me stymied. "How many clients have you served during your real estate career?"At first I tried to quickly come up with a number … (12 comments)
buying a home in northern va: Military Relocation-Northern Virginia Prices Known to Cause Sticker Shock
- 05/22/09 11:15 PM
Most people hear the term "sticker shock" and they think of cars. For military families relocating to Northern Virginia from other bases around the country the term can also explain their first reaction to housing prices in our area. Today's market has helped lessen that shock but it is still something to consider as you decide whether you should buy a home in the area.One of the many benefits that the military offers is the VA loan which has made a comeback for buyers in Northern Virginia over the last year. The first thing I recommend to anyone with PCS orders is … (9 comments)
buying a home in northern va: Springfield (VA) Neighborhoods Welcoming the new BRAC East Campus
- 05/14/09 12:27 PM
Chances are you will encounter a deer or two in your yard in the Saratoga neighborhood in West Springfield (VA.) With the pockets of woods scattered throughout the neighborhood you will also see rabbits and foxes too. The wildlife is just one reason that make Saratoga a neighborhood that stays on the list of sought after West Springfield neighborhoods. Now with the new National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency being built on the Fort Belvoir Engineering Proving Grounds, buyers will have another reason to consider the Saratoga neighborhood. The Engineering Proving grounds are considered the "New Campus East" as part of BRAC and when … (2 comments)
buying a home in northern va: West Springfield (VA) What Has Happened to Sales in Charlestown 2004-2008
- 03/25/09 12:33 AM
Since we are still early in the 2009 real estate sales cycle, trying to predict whether this year will see an increase or decrease in sales volume for the year seems premature. It is also important to consider that not all neighborhoods or zip codes trend up or down at the same time. One of the neighborhoods that I track closely is Charlestown in West Springfield. This week after showing multiple properties to a military family within an upcoming tour to the Pentagon I compiled the last five years of sales data for the neighborhood. Since Charlestown has multiple floorplans from 2 BR/1.5 BA … (2 comments)
buying a home in northern va: Northern Virginia Buyers-Do You Have $8000 Burning a Hole in Your Pocket?
- 02/19/09 08:30 AM
If you are a first time homebuyer then the answer could be YES. Thanks to the latest round of initiatives by the government some first time homebuyers have a nice tax credit headed their way.First let's not forget that there are some qualifications. The biggest one is that you must qualify for a loan. If you haven't already talked to a mortgage professional let me know and I'll give you the names of great local lenders to call. Next let's review some of the details of new tax credit. 1. Tax credit is good for home purchases between January 1 & December 31, … (14 comments)
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Cindy Jones
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News
It seems like every day an agent is screaming about a low appraisal that has derailed a deal. Yet I wonder if we added up all of the settlements that have taken place since the new HVCC rules had come into play and then asked for the number of settlements that had appraisal issues, we would find the total percentage to be low.Let's face it in many areas our markets were highly over-valued. Yes I know a lot of homeowners are in a rough situation right now but weren't home appraisals part of the issue? One day a home was selling for … (53 comments)
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