buyers edge: Buying a Home in Maryland? Let's talk
- 10/15/20 01:04 PM
Should you put your house buying plans on hold?
"Is it still crazy competive for buyers right now?" and "Is it possible to get a deal on a house for sale?" are common questions from home buyers these days. My answer to both questions is, Yes!
According to new September 2020 data from the Maryland Association of Realtors, in 2020 the active inventory meaning the houses for sale through the Multiple Listing Service is 10,117. In 2019 there were 25, 146 homes for sale.
In addition, the average days a house stays on the market for sale in Maryland in 2020 is 8 days. … (3 comments)
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buyers edge: Guide to Buying a Home During the Pandemic
- 09/14/20 10:57 AM
Does finding a home feel like an impossible dream?
As an exclusive buyers agent, I help people buy homes and it's tough out here. Last night one of my buyer clients sent me a text saying, "Did you see what the house on 13th sold for? $80,000 over the list price!" My clients offer was one of 15 offers for the 1500 square foot rowhouse.
My client made a decent offer for the rowhouse on 13th in N.E. Washington DC. He even decided to escalate a little over the list price and keep the appraisal contingency. But as I told him, you can't … (3 comments)
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buyers edge: Are Your Home Buying Plans On Hold?
- 04/30/20 01:07 PM
In the middle of a worldwide pandemic, our lives have flipped upside down.
No rush hour delays, no happy hours with friends, no fixed work schedules
Life changed so quickly & dramatically, it feels like we are in the middle of a catacalysmic shift, silently altering the way we live today and the way we will live tomorrow.
So what does this mean for you-the home buyer who had planned to be house hunting this Spring?
I am working with a few home buyers who have to find a home this Spring or they won't have a place to live. One couple has to find … (4 comments)
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buyers edge: You Can't Ignore This Plumbing Problem!
- 02/24/20 11:04 AM
Every weekend house tour gives me the opportunity to see something I've never seen before!
I've seen beautiful homes that have beautiful hardwood floors clean and freshly polished, new interior doors, fresh paint in the walls and trim and curb appeal that makes me smile when I pull up to the house!
Here is some unsolicited advice to anyone who may be putting their house on the market for sale.
Clean Your House & Repair Obvious Plumbing and Electrical Issues
Really?
I think the money spent on this amount of duct tape could have gone to fixing the problem.
If you are buying a home, … (4 comments)
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buyers edge: The Work Life Balance
- 09/10/19 06:32 PM
Balancing Work & Life Is A Challenge
In the business of real estate, it's a challenge to carve out time for yourself. Just today, I checked my schedule and then rechecked the calendar to be sure I could spend the hour and a half it takes to get a manicure and pedicure. When I settled into the chair and relaxed, it was great!
It had been too long since I gave myself some time to recharge and I'm reminded that I should practice what I preach!
Practice deep breathing, the belly breathing that requires deep exhalations and big inhalations. Consider breathing in for … (5 comments)
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buyers edge: First Time Home Buyer Class this Saturday!
- 06/04/19 05:35 AM
Considering your first home purchase?
Learn how to buy a home from true buyer agents in our comfortable office setting in downtown Bethesda Maryland.
Saturday, June 8th
9:30 am at 4849 Rugby Avenue Bethesda Maryland 20814
The ninety-minute comprehensive workshop is free but space is limited to 20 people. The instructors are Lynn Spiegel, Stephen Mercer, Marshall Henderson, and Victoria Ray Henderson-experienced true buyer agents and members of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents.
You’ll be given educational materials and the class will cover several critical home buying topics, including, but not limited to, the following:
· An overview of loans and what type of loan may work best for your situation
· An explanation … (3 comments)
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buyers edge: The Post-Occupancy Agreement
- 05/22/19 10:42 AM
Important Details To Understand When Signing a Post-Occupancy Agreement
Photo by Kaitlyn Baker on Unsplash
Home buyers planning to purchase a home in the current market need to consider all their options to be competitive. It's not uncommon for a seller to review four or more offers for a single property in the Greater Washington DC area. Here are a few ways buyers can make an attractive offer-
All Cash Offers are frequently given more attention than offers with conventional, FHA or VA financing. Writing a Contract with Limited Contingencies. The home inspection addendum includes the following options: the right to negotiate and cancel, the right … (1 comments)
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buyers edge: Ignorance is Not Bliss in Real Estate
- 05/06/19 11:47 AM
Photo by Darius Bashar on Unsplash
The Consumer Federation of America
released a report in January 2019 titled,
The Agency Mess
Home Buyer & Seller Confusion and Costs related to diverse and poorly enforced State laws about the Role and Responsibility of Real Estate Agents
I encourage all home buyers and sellers to read this extensive report since it impacts one of the most expensive financial decision you will make in your lifetime. The author of the report Stephen Brobeck had this to say,
"Today, many home buyers and sellers do not know whether their agent is representing their interests, those of the other party, or those of neither. Given … (2 comments)
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buyers edge: May feels like the happiest month of the year-Wordless Wednesday
- 05/01/19 07:50 AM
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buyers edge: How Not To Be A Bitter Buyer
- 04/09/19 12:06 PM
The escalation clause is used by home buyers who are competing with other buyers in a multiple offer situation.
Photo by Ryan Franco on Unsplash
In the Greater Washington DC area, buyers are competing for houses on the market near a Metro station, shops, and restaurants. In Arlington Virginia, where the Amazon headquarters will soon be located, the competition is tough. Last week, we submitted a contract on a one bedroom condo in Arlington and ours was one of twelve offers! We included an escalation clause which looks something like this;
Sales Price $350,000 with an escalation factor of $1000 and a cap at $365,000
This means the … (3 comments)
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buyers edge: Cherry Blossoms in the Washington DC Area
- 03/25/19 11:08 AM
Walking along the Tidal Basin when the cherry trees are in bloom is a magical experience.
Photo by Mark Tegethoff on Unsplash
One year I remember seeing tourists with tiny pink blossoms in their hair and on their clothes. There was a slight breeze and pink swirly blossoms were flying everywhere. Like I said, magical. But it's also crowded and it's easy to walk right into someone as you gaze up at the beautiful blossoms.
If you are planning to visit Washington DC to see the cherry blossoms in full peak bloom, the weekend of April 13th & 14th should be your target time to visit. There … (3 comments)
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buyers edge: 5 Top Tips for Visiting Open Houses
- 03/22/19 06:38 AM
The real estate agent at an open house works for the seller.
In many states, there is a sign, usually next to the sign in sheet, saying the agent at the open house works for the listing brokerage and the seller.
If you are new to the real estate game, be polite to the open house agent but don't divulge too much about your personal situation. You don't want to compromise your bargaining position if you intend to put an offer on a house.
Here are a few tips on what to do when visiting an open house.
Don't show your hand-Remember, the … (27 comments)
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buyers edge: A Podcast for Home Buyers
- 03/11/19 05:54 AM
A home buying podcast is in the works!
Photo by Jason Rosewell on Unsplash
I spent about half an hour on the phone with a buyer client yesterday explaining the first steps to take as you prepare to buy a home.
We talked about the importance of meeting with a lender to be pre-approved for a loan. I explained the importance of choosing the right location. This is a critical first step and should factor your daily commute, schools and other criteria that impacts your daily life. We had a good laugh about HGTV and the shows that make home improvement projects look so easy! But … (0 comments)
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buyers edge: Are You Really Ready to Buy A Home?
- 02/22/19 02:22 PM
Spring is in the air in the Greater Washington DC area!
Do you know how I can tell?
Photo by William Stitt on Unsplash
We are competing with many contracts for almost every house and condo for sale within walking distance to a Metro station.
If you are a first time home buyer, follow these steps for success to find your home
Talk to a lender before you begin looking for a home. A reputable local lender will help you determine your price range. He/she will also explain the types of loan packages and explain the options to find the best plan that works for you and your … (2 comments)
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buyers edge: Top 5 Tips for Selling Your Home
- 01/11/19 11:55 AM
How To Sell Your Home Quickly
Advice from an Exclusive Buyers Agent
1. Paint the interior walls a neutral color - If you want to make your house as appealing as possible to potential buyers, paint walls beige or off an off white color. And take the time to do it right! Take the switch plates and outlet covers off BEFORE you paint the wall.
This picture shows what NOT to do before painting a wall. In the remarks section of the listing description for this house, it read, "all rooms freshly painted!" They were painted all right but it looked like a very cheap … (3 comments)
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buyers edge: 5 Best New Year Resolutions for 2019
- 12/30/18 01:23 PM
Photo by NordWood Themes on Unsplash
Thanks to Facebook, Twitter & Instagram, I'm all caught up on the latest and hippest new year resolutions. So this blog will not include plans to lose weight, eat healthy foods, exercise or make new friends.
My 5 best New Year resolutions are practical and aim to make daily life easier and more enjoyable. So here goes!
Organize family photos with Digmypics.com -We literally have thousands of pictures of family and friends. Some are framed and hanging on the walls of our home but the majority of the photos we have are in boxes and stored under a staircase. I … (4 comments)
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buyers edge: Homes in Virginia's Shenandoah-Wordless Wednesday
- 12/05/18 05:24 AM
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buyers edge: Arched Door in NW Washington D.C. -Wordless Wednesday
- 11/07/18 05:04 AM
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buyers edge: 7 Things to do in November in Washington D.C.
- 11/05/18 09:24 AM
November in D.C. offers so much to do & enjoy!
Visit the National Arboretum at 3501 New York Avenue N.E., the U.S. Botanic Garden 100 Maryland Avenue S.W, the Downtown Holiday Market from November 23rd - December 23rd at 8th and F Streets N.W., Zoolights at the National Zoo from November 23rd - January 1st and that's just some of the events happening in and around Washington D.C. during the month of November.
Capital Food Fight Washington D.C. is a food capital! The Food Fight brings out some of D.C.'s best and brightest chefs and hosted by restaurant owner and author, Jose Andres. Local chefs battle it out using secret ingredients and guest … (0 comments)
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buyers edge: Should You Consider a Post Occupancy Agreement
- 09/24/18 11:56 AM
A post-occupancy agreement happens when a buyer & seller agree to allow the sellers to stay in the property after settlement.
Photo by Roberto Nickson (@g) on Unsplash
When it goes well, the seller leaves the property on or before the agreed upon date. The buyer completes the final inspection with their buyer's agent and finds no problems. At that point, buyer & seller agree to release the security deposit funds (security deposit from the seller held in escrow by the settlement attorney) and everyone is happy!
But the post-occupancy agreement can get complicated and messy especially when the buyer and/or seller don't understand how it works. So here … (10 comments)
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Should you put your house buying plans on hold? 
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