marshall henderson: Strategies for Homebuyers
- 03/26/22 07:06 AM
Homebuyers Need a Plan of Action
If you are planning to buy a home this year, develop a plan of action.
Learn the steps in the home buying process. What is an earnest money deposit? Why do buyer agents recommend working with a local lender? How do I create a competitive offer?
Join us for our class, How To Buy A Home, on April 20th at 10 am via Zoom. This interactive class will teach you:
How do I begin the home buying process? How do I know if a house is well built? How do I make an offer on a property? … (5 comments)
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marshall henderson: Capitol Hill Condo's For Sale
- 01/20/22 10:54 AM
Wednesday, January 20th, 2022
Capitol Hill & the H Street Corridor
Housing Inventory From the Multiple Listing Service
23 2+ bedroom condos or cooperatives for sale 55 2+ bedroom end or interior rowhouses for sale 2 2+ bedroom detached homes for sale Housing inventory is historically low but that doesn't mean you can't find a home in Washington DC. Capitol Hill and the H Street Corridor are two of the oldest neighborhoods in the nation's capital.
If the SW Waterfront, home of the Nationals Stadium, is where you want to live, there are currently--
32 2+ bedroom condos, cooperative, rowhouses, and/or detached homes for sale Housing … (0 comments)
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marshall henderson: Washington DC Holiday Market
- 11/20/21 05:38 AM
Washington DC is a beautiful city all year round. But during the fall and winter months, Washington DC is magical. With the Capitol, Supreme Court building & National Mall decked out with holiday swag, It's a great time of year to walk and take in the charm.
The 17th Annual Downtown Holiday Market is happening right now through December 23rd. At 8th & F Streets NW, the holiday outdoor market takes over two city blocks. The main entrance is at the National Portrait Gallery which is my favorite art museum in the city.
There's food, drink, and live music and of course lots … (7 comments)
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marshall henderson: How Much of Your Life is Spent Commuting?
- 11/14/21 06:04 AM
Back to Work & Back to the CommuteWith Covid work restrictions being lifted, rush hour in the Washington DC area is back and just as annoying as it was pre-Covid.
On Friday, I rolled along at 20 miles an hour for several miles inching my way to the American Legion Bridge. This bridge is on the top stretch on the Beltway connecting Virginia and Maryland.
On the "bottom" part of the Beltway, drivers cross the Potomac via the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. This bridge connects Virginia to Maryland and Washington DC. There are several smaller bridges over the Potomac connecting Virginia to Washington … (4 comments)
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marshall henderson: Buying a Condo? Be Sure To Read the Condo Documents
- 07/06/21 12:19 PM
A 2020 census report in Washington DC shows the population nearly tripled compared to the previous decade!
This exciting news means more people than ever before are buying condominiums in the District. If you're considering buying a condo in DC, make sure you take the time to review the condo documents.
But first, what is a condominium?
A condominium or condo is a single privately owned unit within a building or community of units.
Condo owners own what's inside the walls of their condo and share the maintenance of common elements like hallways, foyers and staircases, roofs, and rooftop decks.
Every condo or … (1 comments)
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marshall henderson: 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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marshall henderson: 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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marshall henderson: Why Consider an HOA? Wordless Wednesday
- 04/03/19 04:14 AM
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marshall henderson: 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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marshall henderson: 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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marshall henderson: 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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marshall henderson: Why You Should Consider a Sewer Inspection
- 02/15/19 11:03 AM
The sewer inspection monitor screen
If you are buying a home that is over ten years old, you might want to consider a sewer inspection. While this is not typically done in most home inspections, if you plan to remodel and add a bathroom or additional kitchen or bar, a sewer inspection would be the smart thing to do.
We recently had the opportunity to see a sewer inspection in a townhouse built in the early 1950's. The sewer had been put into place about 69 years ago and to our knowledge, had never been inspected.
Signs that you may need a sewer inspection
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marshall henderson: The Problem with Orangeburg Pipe
- 01/21/19 10:29 AM
What You Can't See Can Be Very Expensive
So what is Orangeburg Pipe?
Orangeburg pipe is fiber pipe made from wood pulp and pitch pressed together. The pipes and conduit were made from the 1860s to the 1970s by the Fiber Conduit Company.
The name of the pipe comes from the city where the pipes were manufactured-Orangeburg New York. In the beginning, back in the late 1800s, the company made fiber electrical conduit that was used for electrical wiring in new construction. In fact, the Empire State Building had electrical wiring encased in Orangeburg conduit. But after WWII, there was a need for … (2 comments)
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marshall henderson: 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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marshall henderson: Capitol Christmas Tree-Wordless Wednesday
- 01/02/19 04:41 AM
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marshall henderson: 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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marshall henderson: Homes in Virginia's Shenandoah-Wordless Wednesday
- 12/05/18 05:24 AM
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marshall henderson: Why You Need a Pre-Drywall Home Inspection
- 08/23/18 03:26 PM
Buying a brand new home?
Consider having a pre-drywall home inspection
At this stage of the home building process, the Builder or Site Manager walks through the home with the homeowners. The framing, heating and air ducts, electrical wiring, plumbing and possibly tubs and shower pans will be in place.
Before the drywall is installed, it's easier to make changes to the electrical outlets, lighting, plumbing and/or framing.
What To Look For in a Pre Drywall Walk Through
Take pictures of electrical wiring, plumbing, and air ducts. Our home buyers plan to hang large flat screens on the wall in several rooms. They asked the … (0 comments)
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marshall henderson: Smith Island in the Chesapeake Bay
- 06/28/18 06:17 AM
Photo by 添根 林 on Unsplash
Smith Island is an island on the Chesapeake Bay. For the past 150 years, the island has been shrinking due to erosion and low elevation. It's now just 9.2 square miles and has a population of 267 people.
Smith Island has no airport and no bridges. You can only access the island by boat. The boat trip takes 50 minutes and we'll see all kinds of wildlife along the way!
The island has a fascinating history! It was inhabited by British settlers in the 17th century and the current residents still have speech patterns similar to the original colonial settlers.
Yesterday, I … (1 comments)
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marshall henderson: Big Mistakes Buyers Make When Buying Condos
- 06/26/18 10:51 AM
Are you looking for a slamming deal on a condo?
If that's your focus, you could be making the biggest financial mistake of your life.
Buying a condo is an excellent way to move from renting to owning your own home. In the Greater Washington D.C. area, there are thousands of condos for sale but not all condo associations are well run and in good financial shape.
So how can you avoid making a major mistake when buying a condo?
Take time to review the condo associations financials. In Virginia, you have 3 days to review condo and HOA documents. In Maryland, you have 7 days to … (0 comments)
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Homebuyers Need a Plan of Action 
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