buying a home: Buying or Selling; It's just a good time to do it!
- 10/05/15 12:42 AM
Real Estate is a competitive market these days. In both fields of buying or selling a home, there are lots of strategies one can use to gain the edge. In the recovering market right now, it’s hard to say whether it’s a better time to look or list, which is why I’m going to argue for both. Selling can be tricky because you want traffic, you want competition so you can get the best price. Right now as we get closer to the winter season, inventory on homes traditionally goes down. This can mean more demand for your … (2 comments)
buying a home: Millennials Trying to Escape Rat Race Find Themselves in a Rent Trap
- 08/27/15 01:09 AM
The national rent average has steadily increased with demand and not just in U.S. major cities. These increases aren’t in pace with the average renters’ incomes, meaning that a higher percentage of their income is allotted to housing. In addition to this financial pressure, there are more renters today than there have been in previous decades and they rent for longer on average. This is due to a variety of reasons, mainly changing priorities among millennials. Less desire to marry young, being more career-focused and less eager to put down roots are all trends among millennials. However, renting for longer at … (1 comments)
(Last name has been redacted to protect clients privacy - Survey Sept. 2014) What makes a good real estate agent? Is it the way they dress, or maybe the amount of money they spend staging your house? Is it maybe the fact that they think outside the box and tailor their ideas to your specific home or perhaps the fact they they hire a photographer? If you must know it’s everything, it’s the things that your agent doesn’t do that makes them an unsuccessful one. Often when I get a client it is my job and responsibility to … (0 comments)
A brand new iPhone is rumored to be announced tomorrow which a lot of us find somewhat exciting. It’s insane that just a few years back we didn’t have smart phones but now a lot of us can’t live without them. They really are a marvelous piece of technology that allows us to access an unlimited amount of information with the press of a touch screen. So how can these mini computers that we have help us when it comes to real estate? Actually, in many many ways. Let’s break down my favorite five apps … (2 comments)
Have you noticed that the Halloween stores are opening up earlier and earlier every year? I definitely have and it is a gentle reminder that fall is fast approaching. Next thing you know, the trees will be changing to rich oranges, reds and yellows. Thinking of redoing your home's interior? Find some inspiration based on fall colors. Reds When it comes to red, less is more. In the case of the color red it is important to approach it with the upmost care because it can be a over empowering color. Despite what you … (1 comments)
buying a home: Millennials.... Wait Who?
- 08/19/14 08:51 AM
(Image Courtesy of CruiseLawNews.com) When I heard the term for the first time I figured it had something to do with Twitter, Instagram or something.... But then I read an article that talks about their importance in the housing market. This is when I decided to really pay attention to what they were all about. So what is a millennial anyway? The easiest way to define it is anyone who has become an adult around the year two thousand, making them individuals in their early to mid thirties. It is amazing that we celebrated the year two … (2 comments)
buying a home: RVA - From Young Professionals to Baby Boomers
- 08/11/14 01:03 AM
Wanda Fears (804) 909-2777 Often times when we talk about RVA, we talk about how it is an ideal place for young professionals to purchase a home for many reasons: affordable housing, a booming job market, fine dining and entertainment. It was also recently voted as one of the happiest cities in the United States. These are all great reasons to purchase property in the area, however they are not the only group of people who can benefit from what Richmond has to offer. RichmondBizSense.com wrote a very interesting article recently that talks about the relationship between the Baby Boomer … (0 comments)
When you’re in the market for a new home, you might ask yourself if you want a home that is one or more stories. Maybe you haven’t actually thought about it that much but I would like to share with you today what are some of the advantages and disadvantages that you may not have thought of when considering purchasing a home with multiple levels. Stairs Unless you have an elevator, you’ll be dealing with stairs if you have more than one floor. This can be problematic if you have kids, pets or older folks in the house … (1 comments)
buying a home: In The Neighborhood: Short Pump
- 07/16/14 06:29 AM
Wanda Fears (804) 909-2777 We’ve reviewed other neighborhoods in the past, but we’d like to move right along to another area that is exponentially growing into one of the most prominent and dynamic neighborhoods in the Metro Richmond Area. Short Pump and the neighborhood that surrounds it in the West End have many attractive qualities: shopping, restaurants, good schools and it is a short distance from both downtown and many corporate offices. Initially Short Pump was targeted to families with kids, but a more recent trend has shown to appeal young professionals who have jobs at places like … (1 comments)
Whether you are thinking of buying a foreclosed home as an investment or as a place to call your home, here are some things to keep in mind when buying this type of property: 1. Placing An Offer You might think that the seller or bank will take any offer that you present. That may not be the case, most of the time these homes that are about to be foreclosed have heavily discounted prices, but there is a reason for this. They want to get rid of the property quickly and want to get some revenue in … (0 comments)
I’ve often wanted to talk about what each of the different neighborhoods that Richmond has to offer. I thought the best place to start was with my own personal experience, I live in Bon Air. As a Real Estate Agent for Long & Foster, it is my duty to figure out what makes each part of town unique so I can communicate this information with my customers. I really love Bon Air and I would like to tell you why. Bon Air is a great location, it is close enough to downtown, about 15 … (0 comments)
buying a home: Credit Scores and Homeownership
- 06/16/14 03:10 AM
Three digits can greatly affect your quality of life. I’m talking about your credit score. A good credit score can mean the difference between being able to own a home, car, or even getting a job. When it comes to home buying, the higher your credit score, the lower the interest rate on your mortgage. That difference can amount to hundreds of dollars a month and tens of thousands of dollars over the life of your loan. Today I’ll go through some do’s and don’ts to improve or keep your credit score in a great range. Do Regularly check your credit report. You can … (0 comments)
buying a home: Choosing Wanda Fears as a Realtor: A client’s perspective
- 04/24/14 12:33 AM
I’m a big fan of self improvement and am constantly working to become a better Realtor. One of the ways I do that is through client feedback. So for today’s blog I asked a 3rd party to interview one of my clients to find out what made them choose me as a Realtor and to evaluate my services. Below is a transcript from this interview with Sierra, a busy, successful career woman I had the privilege of helping find a home for her and her family. In addition to helping me know what makes an impression on my clients, it can … (0 comments)
buying a home: Create a Walk Through Checklist
- 04/24/14 12:28 AM
It’s an exciting time! You’re about 24 hours away from owning your new home and it’s time for the final walk through. In your excitement, don’t overlook the important final details. This is the last time you’ll be able to inspect the property to make sure agreed upon repairs were made, and that no new problems have arisen. Below are some guidelines to check when completing your walk through. ___Repairs If repairs were agreed upon, these are usually the first items I check. Were they completed and done properly? ____ Check for Items you purchased with the house Were appliances included? Drapes? Specific … (0 comments)
buying a home: Top Ten Things to Look for in a Home
- 04/24/14 12:25 AM
It can be easy to get carried away with bells and whistles when shopping for a home, but as we mentioned previously, that can lead to an emotional home purchase. So like David Letterman, I’ve put together a top ten list of things you should look for in a home to ensure you’re a happy homeowner for many years to come and a happy seller. 1. Location: The number one rule of real estate reigns supreme. Is this a location that is desirable to other buyers? But more importantly, is it convenient for you? Make sure it’s a reasonable commute, an … (0 comments)
buying a home: Relocating to Richmond: A Client’s Perspective
- 04/23/14 10:10 PM
I’ve been in Richmond a long time and one of my favorite things is introducing those relocating here to the wonderful homes and communities Richmond has to offer. One thing I can’t do is offer perspective on what it’s like to have to find someone out of the blue to help you locate a new home in a new city. That’s why I asked one of my clients, Dr. Rebecca Etz, to share with you today her experience of working with me to relocate to Richmond from Princeton, New Jersey. Below you’ll find a summary of her buying story: We … (0 comments)
buying a home: When is the Right Time to Buy?
- 10/20/13 11:57 PM
As a newly wed couple, once you decide to buy your first home, figuring out the right time to invest can be tough for many. From a purely real estate sector point of view, it’s common knowledge that there was a great recession in 2008, but since that point in time, it has slowly been bouncing back. During recovery phases, prices of properties will be low but will continue to grow with time. In past posts, we’ve covered why it’s a great time to make a housing investment, but before jumping right into investing in a property, here are some points to … (0 comments)
Updates on real estate market in Richmond, Virginia and surrounding counties such as Chesterfield, Bon Air, Chester, Midlothian, Hanover, Glen Allen, Henrico, Richmond, Virginia. Also thoughts on market changes in 2010, Information on housing for sale at Virginia Commonwealth University,
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