buying: Busting myths about buying a house - 05/13/19 04:41 AM
For first time buyers who are just getting started in their search for a home, there is plenty of conflicting information out there. You might hear one, or more, of these statements, from well meaning friends or family.
All of the information that you need is on line. 
You don't need an agent--you can just call the sign agent.
You can apply for your mortgage on line. Just fill out the form and wait for approval.
Buying a house is pretty straight forward...why should anyone make a boat load of money of your purchase?
 
Let me just say that while there is a kernel of truth in (some of) these … (1 comments)

buying: A Brutal Apology to Consumers from the Real Estate Industry - 09/16/14 01:42 AM

This is a great post by Bryan Robertson! Hire an agent who is willing to work for you...and has the experience to know what they are doing.
Dear Home Buyer or Seller,
 
You've been so patient with the real estate industry and for that, those of us who know what we're doing, are eternally grateful. You've been suffering through poor performance for so long that you now trust a website more than the agent you meet at an open house. We understand, really, that it's hard to put a major financial and legal decision in the hands of someone who … (1 comments)

buying: My take on the Northern Virginia Real Estate Market--6-3-2014 - 06/03/14 05:56 AM
This morning I met my sellers to sign their side of a settlement  and then went on to tour 4 Broker's Opens for some other clients.
Now I find that Realtors® are generally fairly optimistic in their view of things; after all, who wants to work with a negative Realtor®?  When you ask them 'how is the market?' you have to be prepared for 'busy' and 'crazy' whether the market is, in fact, those things or not. Of course the only thing worse than a negative Realtor® is one who hasn't been hired to help a client--so no one wants to … (4 comments)

buying: Home value is in the eye of the buyer, right? - 01/23/14 06:41 AM
If you are thinking of selling your home, you may have been seduced by neighborhood talk about how sought after the homes in your neighborhood are by potential buyers.  With that level of interest, isn't it just a matter finding a buyer who is willing to pay top dollar?
Not so fast…
After the recent real estate meltdown, banks and the government went back to basics and have made the appraisal process more critical in establishing the final sales price.
You can list your home and name your price, find a buyer who agrees to pay the price--and  you may still … (1 comments)

buying: Will you buy a new home in 2014? - 12/30/13 09:57 PM
The New Year often means a reevaluation of our personal goals and objectives. We might want to improve our diet, work out more often, volunteer with more consistency--or maybe we just want to like where we live a little bit better!
If your 2014 goals include selling your home and buying a new one, here are some things to think about before you jump in.
Mortgage rules have changed. Don't begin the process without having an in-depth conversation with a mortgage lender.  A good lender is going to want to have a solid understanding of your financial position. Do not be afraid … (2 comments)

buying: If You Want it, Put It In Writing! - 03/23/13 01:09 AM
The Northern Virginia real estate market is hot. Buyers are competing for homes and finding that they need to be efficient and organized in their approach to making offers to purchase.
  Last month, I listed a home for approximately $450,000. We had over 50 groups through the open house the first Sunday it was listed. We had at least 15 agent-led groups through on the first weekend. By Monday, the calls started coming in.   'My client loves the house. Would your client consider their offer of $425,000?' 'That house is perfect for my client, would your client sell for … (23 comments)

buying: Post Super Bowl Commentary: Understanding Virginia vs. Maryland - 02/03/13 08:59 PM
And the Ravens win Super Bowl 2013...   While I was rooting for the Ravens, having a team from nearby Maryland did not guarantee that the locals were all cheering for Baltimore. In fact, there is a strange unwillingness for the two states to have the same fans--even though the Redskins and the Ravens rarely play one another (although, D.C. is over the river for Virginians, that seems not to be an issue when fans choose to root for the Redskins--and their stadium is in Maryland!).    If you are not from the D.C. Metro area, you may be unaware of the Virginia vs. … (3 comments)

buying: Out Come the Haters! - 01/14/13 07:56 PM
This weekend I received some hate mail.  I occasionally write for a local paper about real estate issues (who doesn't love free publicity?). Last week, I had an article published about how Realtors®, in addition to helping people buy and sell homes, work to protect property rights through our association memberships in local, state and the  National Association of Realtors®.   I received a hate-filled diatribe, via email, explaining to me why Realtors® are such awful people.  The author had taken time to think out his/her (non-sensical) arguments and present them to me in what, I suppose, was a case designed to get me … (80 comments)

buying: How to Make Your Clients Happy--And It is Easy! - 12/07/12 06:59 AM
Any Real Estate professional who wants to remain in business will be interested in keeping their clients happy; happy clients are repeat and referral clients! There is a really, really easy way to make your clients happy. Here is the secret--wait for it, it is coming, here it is...give them what they want!   It is human nature that we are happiest when we feel like we have gotten what we want. I saw a story on the news last night that said people are happiest with their gifts when they receive the gifts they ask for. That is not a surprise. This … (7 comments)

buying: It is never to early to think SPRING! - 12/06/12 07:34 AM
At this time of year, most of us are running around preparing for the holidays and trying to make sure the year ends up successfully. Most of us can't think about new chapters and next steps.
But this is a great time of year to start thinking about buying or selling a home.
If you are a buyer, right now is the time to contact lenders and start getting your financials in order. Remember not to go overboard with gift buying; racking up debt is counter productive to your goal of purchasing a new home.  Remind yourself that it is the … (1 comments)

buying: How Do I Decide How Much House To Buy? - 06/10/11 01:37 AM
How Do I Decide How Much House To Buy? Dear Holly, I have been working really hard and think I am ready to buy my first home. I am getting conflicting advice; some folks are recommending I buy the cheapest thing I can afford in the area where I want to live, others are suggesting I stretch a little and get an extra bedroom and bath. Do you think I should go cheap or go for broke? Thanks, Confused about my purchase Dear Confused about my purchase, As I am sure you can attest, there is no shortage of advice out … (4 comments)

buying: Thanks, but I don't want that job...I have my house to worry about - 11/15/10 09:36 AM
This afternoon on NPR I heard a story about the ramifications of the housing market affecting job growth,  The Housing Dilemma: It's Holding Workers Back by Yuki Noguchi.
It turns out that when people can't sell or rent their home, they are likely to turn down the opportunity for a better job in a new place. This means fewer opportunities for promotions, since many people improve their living standard by changing companies, which often means a transfer. As a result these workers may experience less upward mobility and, ultimately, less disposable income.
Both companies and the Government are making changes to policies … (6 comments)

buying: We Almost have the Contingencies Removed...Don't We? - 06/18/10 04:11 AM
It has happened often enough this year to be a pattern. A very well qualified buyer with a significant down-payment, a traditional sale (not short sale or foreclosure), standard contingencies (HOA, Inspections, financing and appraisal) and reasonable time frames.
Guess what, we can't get the contingencies removed! Yes, we get the inspections done, negotiate and finalize the agreement.  Check! We provide documents, the waiting period expires and that one is done, too. Check! But the appraisal and financing contingencies--apparently those are just 'guidelines.'
I have read a number of blogs lately saying that communications is the key to this issue. Phooey! … (7 comments)

buying: Coming Around Again in Fashion and Real Estate - 10/22/09 12:19 AM
If  you are a woman of a 'certain age,' you have probably heard the fashion adage 'if you remember wearing it before you probably shouldn't wear it again.'  In case you are not familiar with this concept, examples of  it include: hip-huggers, micro-mini skirts, thigh-high boots and leggings as pants. Like Fashion, the Real Estate industry is experiencing a resurgence/recycling of products and processes from the past. Unlike Fashion, however, the recycled Real Estate practices are worth a second look--both for Realtors and for Buyers and Sellers. There was a time, in the not-so-long-ago-past, when buyers would almost never consider buying … (6 comments)

buying: Is it the House or Is It the Neighborhood? - 09/28/09 06:02 AM
Are you looking for a great house or a great neighborhood?
Luckily, when it comes to buying a home, not everyone is looking for the same thing. Someone who is looking for acreage, is probably less likely to be concerned about finding a very involved neighborhood association. Another buyer who is looking to find a 'Mayberry' type setting,  replete with Memorial Day Parades and Halloween Parties for the tots, is probably not as focused on lot privacy. When you put your wish list together,  most of us focus on the number of bedrooms and the number of baths. Next on the … (7 comments)

buying: A Fresh Look At Buying A Home, Part I - 08/24/09 02:48 AM
Most of us were raised to get an education, start a career and buy a home. So you find yourself having finished your education and happy in the resulting career. The next step, logically, is to buy your first home. Before you pull up Craig's List and start hitting the Sunday Open Houses, there are a number of things you should consider. Most of us think that the number of bedrooms and the location are the big decision factors, but there is a lot more thought that needs to go in to such a large investment.
 This is list is not … (2 comments)

buying: 'How is the Real Estate Market?' - 06/09/09 09:08 AM
Every day, at least once, I am asked, 'How is the real estate market?' Wow.  I used to be able to say, "great" and move on to their specific questions about  their house projects and what has sold recently. These days, I try to be positive, because the truth is that I am super busy.  The difference between now and 'before' is that every transaction is just REALLY hard!  The buyers want to buy, the sellers want to sell, the lenders want to lend and the Realtors want to make it all happen; so why is everything so hard? There is … (2 comments)

buying: Don't Be Seduced By that Pretty House and All That Land - 06/04/09 11:31 PM
Today, I was talking to a friend at my son's class pool party. It was being held at a community pool surrounded by lovely homes on regular, suburban-sized lots. As we got to talking, she shared with me her mild regret that when they moved 'out'--further to the West--they opted for land over community. She said they have a wonderful house on 3 acres, but no one close by for their kids to play with and no where for the children to do swim team. The community where the pool party was being held really suited their family now--but not then.  … (3 comments)

buying: Buying Green - 04/18/08 06:21 AM
There has been a lot written lately about the importance of ‘greening' your home--but it is mostly geared toward remodeling. But buying a new home is a wonderful opportunity to work towards protecting the environment, too.  There are some simple things that you can ask about a house that you are considering that can help you to evaluate how ‘green' the house is and what you can do to improve its carbon emission footprint.
The government has provided a really great website to help you understand the right questions to ask and to find tools to evaluate your current, and future, house.  … (0 comments)

 


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