Prince William County Virginia Home Buying Grants and Down Payment ProgramsEquity First Realty understands that saving money for a down payment and closing costs is one of the most challenging aspects of the home buying process. Partnering with various banks allows us to offer a variety of cost assistance programs and open doors for more homebuyers through our partner banks. The programs allow buyers to put money towards a down payment and closing costs through our various banking vendors.What’s currently offered through our banking vendors?• Up to $5,000 for first-time buyers.• Up to $10,000 for first-time buyers.• Up to $7,500 for community partners: law enforcement, firefighters, healthcare professionals, or educators.• Up to $7,500 for veterans and service members. The Veteran’s Pur... 02/28/2016

Inheriting a home that is in rough shape "What do you do? Who do you call?" Today's blog post just an example of what kind of calls we field in a day. It is a success story about a caller that called used Google to find a local real estate agent who could sell their home fast in i Virginia. They called me last Saturday morning on July 25th 2015. The phone rang and I answered. The person on the other line introduced himself and said I am in town to settle my Mom's estate. She past away two months ago and I am here emptying the house. But it is far worse than I thought and more than I can handle from so far away I think I need to talk to your about selling it. I explained I had a cancellation and I could come over in the next morning. I did. Sure enough when I got to the home I could see ... 07/30/2015

My oh my, how houses have changed over the past 50 years. The typical 3 bedroom, 1 bath house fifty years ago had 1,200 square feet, plus a carport.  Today, the typical single family home measures 2,500 square feet, has 4 bedrooms and 2.5 bath, and a 2-car garage.        Home builders brought us new features in homes with each passing decade.   The 1960's brought us the master bedroom suite... a separate batroom for Mom and Dad in their bedroom. The 1970's brought us the Family Room.  Until then, we watched TV and read the newspaper in the Living Room.  Those activities were moved to the Family Room and the Living Room became a receiving room for guests. The 1980's brought us Gourmet Kitchens with kitchen islands, cooktops, double ovens, built-in microwaves ovens, and fancy faucets.  Th... 09/23/2014

Wordless Wednesday with Jacqueline and Penelope at Old Bridge Veterinary  - Dr Kawasaki.     Since moving to Prince William in 1989 we have been going to Old Bridge Vet and Groomers with all our pets.  They've been outstanding with our pet's needs. This is Penelope our Persian Himalayan kitten. Old Bridge Veterinary is located at 3604 Old Bridge Road, Woodbridge  VA,  22192                      07/30/2014

Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center Ok, the best kept secret.  One of my favorites for Outside Movie Night.  Now there is a new place in Wooodbridge, Virginia area for summer fun.     Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center, Woodbridge, Virginia.  The Town Center boosts retail stores likes, Wegmans, Ulta, White House Black, Golfsmith, Jos A. Bank, Chico's & Charming Charlies to name a few.  Some great restaurants I have tried, Firebirds, PF Changs, Uncle Julios's, Zoe's Kitchen & Potbelly Sandwich Shop.  I have not made it to the other restaurants yet, but they are on my list.   Stonebridge has activities for children as well as adults throughout the summer. Where:  14900 Potomac Town Place Woodbridge, VA  22191 Summer Movie Nights at Stonebridge July 20th Despicable Me 2 July 27th The Blind ... 07/14/2014

Five benefits to using a knowledgeable agent when wholesaling properties for real estate investment.  1. They Can Find the Deals- they know what you are looking for and no how to spot investment deals and wholesaling opportunities no matter if you are in Northern VA and the DC Metro areas or whatever market you are in.   2. They provide Market Analysis- because agents have access to the mls, they can give you accurate comps for solds, pendings, actives, and rentals.  This will help an investor analyze what kind of deal is best for a property: Flip, Rent for cash flow, pre-hab, or wholesale outright. 3. Access to Properties- when you need to view the interior of homes the agents have access.  Real Estate for sale in Northern VA can often be locked up for fear of vandelism. NoVA real esta... 05/15/2014

Looking for great entertainment this weekend? On Saturday, August 17th, 2013, Jimmy Buffett & The Coral Reefer Band will be appearing at Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow Virginia. The concert begins at 8 pm! Tickets are now on sale and to secure your ticket, you can go to the website: Live Nation - Jimmy BuffettBy the way, for those not as familiar with this area, Bristow Virginia is just outside of the Haymarket homes for sale area and Gainesville VA. I hope you enjoy the show! Jimmy Buffett Appearing at Jiffy Lube Live Bristow Virginia. 08/15/2013

As a resident of Prince William County please be aware of what fireworks are permitted for use and also -  fireworks safety precautions. Let's have a wonderful and safe celebration! Click on links for Prince William County information: Use and Possession of Fireworks.  Frequently asked Questions. Fireworks Safety Information Permissible Fireworks See:  From Our Home To Yours.  Happy 4th of July!     Thinking of Buying a Home or Selling your Home?   For Exceptional Real Estate Services Call or Text Kathleen  at: 703-850-9663 Email:  Kathleen.Vetrano@CBmove.com Are you thinking of Relocation to Northern Virginia?  Call or Email for Relocation Information. 07/03/2011

Prince William County VA Listing Alerts! Thinking about buying a home in Prince William County northern VA and you have a neighborhood or search parameters that you would loved to be notified when a new listing becomes available, a home in a specific neighborhood has a huge price reduction, a new listing comes on the market, or a home comes back on the market because a contract feel through or is withdrawn from the market?  Well you can here!  To assist you in your Prince William County VA home search I have a Home Scanner Alert that you can be notified when you save a personal Home Scanner Search!   Sign up for instant alerts with our HomeScanner!  You'll be one step closer to Home! 02/19/2011

Prince William County VA Foreclosure Homes Looking for a great deal in Prince William county real estate?  Take a number, you are not alone.  Everyone wants a deal these days they want the most home for the least amount of money.  So have you considered buying Prince William County foreclosed homes for sale?  You should.  Prince William foreclosed homes are not for everyone.  Sometimes foreclosures VA need a lot of work and have been neglected for a while.  The phrase "AS IS" turns off a lot of persons that do not understand what really is at play and what their rights are when buying foreclosed homes for sale in Prince William County Virginia. Prince William foreclosures homes are homes offered for sale that were orignally taken back by the lender or bank that made the original loan on... 08/28/2010

    Independence Day commemorates the formal adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, setting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. This most American of holidays will be marked by parades, fireworks and backyard barbecues across the country. However, it was not declared a legal holiday until 1941. There are 31 towns and cities nationwide with "liberty" in their name. The most populous one is Liberty, Missouri (30,568). Iowa, with four of these towns and cities, has more than any other state: Libertyville, New Liberty, North Liberty and West Liberty. 07/03/2010

Come one come all! This 21st Century Elegance embraces the Comforts of Tradition in this gorgeous 5 bedroom 4.5 bath all brick home. A magnificent floor plan featuring, expansive windows, archways, coffered ceilings, and stunningly designed rooms fill over 8500 sq ft of living space. Terraced gardens surround a heated pool and patio; this home is perfect for entertaining friends and family. Quietly situated on 1.75 acres...10314 FOREST MAPLE RD, VIENNA, VA 22182, priced at $1,630,000.  Interested parties please contact Cheryl Thomson at 703.216,5635 or email at cherylt729@yahoo.com  FX7369411.              06/27/2010

Keeping things organized at home is a challenge. Here are some tips to keeping a house in order in three critical areas. Laundry RoomMany companies specialize in manufacturing laundry organization systems. They consist of wall-mount panels with shelves, baskets and hooks to hold items such as hangers, paper towels, detergent, fabric softener and ironing boards. Some manufacturers and retailers of such systems include Brookstone (brookstone.com), Meijer (meijer.com) and Target (target.com) ClosetsThe best way to get a closet in order is to install a closet organizing system. There are two types: prepackaged kits or a custom organizing system. Custom units can be purchased by the linear foot. Prepackaged kits are sold in prefabricated sections. The latter are less expensive but less versa... 05/21/2010

Trying to reduce the rising number of foreclosures in the U.S., the Treasury Department introduced a new federal program that makes it easier to process a short sale for people unable to keep their homes. Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives (HAFA) streamlines the process for doing a short sale or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure for distressed homeowners who do not qualify for a federal home loan modification through the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) or have missed consecutive payments after a modification. The HAFA program started April 5, 2010, and ends December 31, 2012. Federal rules require servicers participating in HAMP to implement HAFA. The new program also requires borrowers to be released fully from future liabilities related to their first mortgage, including c... 05/05/2010

....if you are purchasing a home and don't know by now, here is a brief summary. A short sale is when a home is sold for less than the amount owed on the mortgage for the home. This occurs when the bank agrees to take less than the full amount due on the mortgage. A seller does not have to be behind on a home loan to seek a short sale. If sellers wish to pursue a short sale, they must owe more than what the home is worth, demonstrate the house cannot be sold for the amount owed, and suffer from a legitimate financial hardship that makes the mortgage unaffordable. The next step in the short sale process is to assemble a short sale package. This package will include such things as a financial statement showing monthly expenses, income documentation, bank statements, tax returns, a listing... 04/28/2010

If you are searching for a home in the Prince William County Virginia or surrounding area's you will want to know about this site. In my opinion it is one of the best sites for consumers to find homes. what other homes nearby have sold for in the community with one click you can see how well it is priced compared to others you can see what has been written about that home or property on the Internet with one click you can see how it is priced compared to tax assessment -with on click! you can see how that listing agent prices homes and what their track record has been when excepting offers ( this is powerful) you can see comments from other Buyers Agents who have visited the home ( if available) if you have an iPhone there is a cell phone app from FranklyMLS.com ( I use this tool daily)... 04/28/2010

...I just found out myself about this new EPA rule pertaining to lead paint.  To help us comply with those new rules, NAR have set up a Lead Paint Renovation Rule Compliance Guide at REALTOR.org that "describes the new lead-based paint safety practices established by the rule, and what steps real estate agents, brokers, and property managers need to take to comply with the new procedures." We all need to stay abreast of the many changes we encounter in our profession. 04/25/2010

Interested in becoming part of a networking and desk top tool where REALTORS and vendors in the community are?  Check out www.pwfind.com. Vendors interested please contact me at cheryl@buyercoach.com. 04/10/2010

A home is probably the most valuable asset you will ever own, so it must be protected with adequate insurance. The basic homeowner insurance policy covers against damage from thunderstorms, lightning, fire, smoke, burglary, defacement of property, civilian chaos, vehicle or aircraft damage, and volcanic eruptions. More comprehensive policies cover against damage by earthquakes, floods, ice, sleet or the malfunction of an air conditioner or heating unit. Condominium owners are typically required to have an insurance policy that only reimburses them for loss of their belongings. The condo association should provide structural insurance, which covers the roof, outside and adjoining walls. There are two primary types of home insurance: Actual cash value coverage pays the value of property o... 03/26/2010

This list from HGTV's Frontdoor.com shows ten things first-time buyers should know including a description of buyer's agents and their value to new buyers. Share this list on your Web site or blog to encourage first-time buyers to work with a buyer's rep like you in their home search! (Frontdoor.com, March 8, 2010, MarketWatch) 03/12/2010