Happy Earth Day 2009! I feel like I really chipped-in today by recycling a house built in 1968. Yes, selling it to new owners! Doug is helping save the planet again. Disclaimer: note that my sale was in Vienna, Virginia and not Hawaii as depicted in this photo. Did you know that the economic slowdown has had a "green" effect on landfills? Continue Reading
Local Stories
The following is an archive of my articles about builders, strategies, home inspections, financing, painting, staging, tips, and skills. Start reading and you can search the archive anytime.
In real estate, get it in writing.
“Let’s get it in writing so there isn’t any confusion later,†is advice that I give my clients all the time. And you would assume that all real estate agents give their clients the same line when a potential sticky situation presents itself. Did I say “assume� Prior to a home inspection on one of my listings, I mentioned to the Continue Reading
Buying a short-sale in Northern Virginia
So you pulled up a listing in the neighborhood that you would kill to live in and it is priced $100,000 below the last sale. "Honey, get the keys cause we are gonna buy that house", you say wildly. What you did not see written into the comments section is this home is a short-sale that needs the lender's approval. Someone in the sale is coming Continue Reading
5395 Abernathy Ct, Fairfax, Virginia – FX6998101
Just Sold! Built just four years ago and in very good condition for a foreclosure. Stanley Martin "Newport" with the sunroom! View Larger Map Continue Reading
Home Buying Course 409 (Spring Semester)
Prereq: loan pre-approval 305, buyer consultation 206, cost estimate review 108, time frame 201 Okay, this isn't a real college level class but it is at the level a home buyer needs to be if they want to take advantage of today's real estate market. There is an "on-sale" mentality that has taken hold in our area, and home buyers who have been on Continue Reading
Best home buyer’s market in 20 years!
AN UPDATE: Please note the date on this blog post. Here I am in May 2012 and the tide has turned in favor of home sellers in most of Northern Virginia. If you really want to see a contrast, take a look at this blog post on the Vienna Virginia real estate market in 2012! -Cheers I wrote an update post on the expanded tax credit for home Continue Reading
First-time home buyer credit of $8,000 set to expire!
Yes, time is running out for the $8,000 first time home buyer credit! This economic stimulus plan for the nation's real estate market has certainly been appreciated by people people, like me. Not to sound selfish, but any real estate agent will tell you that there are clients who have been "on the fence", waiting for that magical moment when Continue Reading