buying a home in northern virginia: Is It the Right Time to Buy in NoVA? - 01/29/14 11:54 PM
Are you trying to decide if it is time to buy a home in Northern Virginia? What is the first step? The most significant part of buying a house is, of course, the acquisition of a mortgage loan. There are new mortgage rules in place. These rules were enacted for the protection of both the borrower and the lender.
 
In order to issue Qualified Mortgage (QM) loans, lenders must verify the borrower's ability to pay back the loan. That means delving deeply into the credit history, employment, assets, etc., of the applicant. If the loan results in more than a … (2 comments)

buying a home in northern virginia: Getting the Best Deal You Can in Northern Virginia - 10/30/12 10:46 PM
 
When you’re ready to buy a home in Northern Virginia, getting pre-approved for your financing is a good idea. It will help you narrow down the market to those properties that are within your range. It’s not the only thing you should have ready to go, though. The most valuable part of your negotiating arsenal may not be financial at all – it may be information.
The first step to being a well-informed buyer is to ask your agent to prepare a market analysis for you. Also known as a CMA, this is a list of homes that are similar … (0 comments)

buying a home in northern virginia: Picking Up the Pace in Northern Virginia - 10/24/12 03:54 AM
At Labor Day, we saw solid evidence that the housing market was in recovery mode. Summer market statistics showed a diminishing backlog of homes in foreclosure, increases in sale prices, and continuing record-low mortgage rates. Here in Northern Virginia, the market news is still good as we head into the autumn and winter months.
Nationwide the rate of housing starts rocketed to a four-year high during September up 15% from August – the best it’s been since the summer of 2008 before the downturn stopped nearly all building and lending in its tracks. Housing starts are important because they are … (0 comments)

buying a home in northern virginia: Prevent Pitfalls When House Hunting in Northern Virginia - 10/17/12 07:01 AM
Buying a home here in Northern Virginia is admittedly a very big step. Homes are big investments, but they’re not simply financial investments. Finding the right one for you and your lifestyle requires an investment in time, too – house hunting time as well as house thinking time. Getting your housing priorities in line before the hunt begins is essential, but staying on your game during the hunt is just as important. Get geared up for your home buying venture with these tips that can help you avoid common property buying pitfalls.
Buyers typically make quick emotional judgments about the properties … (0 comments)