One of the first tips I give people when they tell me they plan to buy a house next year is to focus on their Debt-to-Income ratio. Most clients who buy homes get a mortgage, and find out quickly that their finances are about to get scrutinized. Even though ads for rocket-easy mortgages make it appear simple, they will still want you to provide Continue Reading
First Steps In the Process | Home Buyers
When we have our first meeting and discuss plans with any new real estate client, I like to review a basic home buying costs worksheet. Knowing the numbers is empowering because it allows clients to see the costs of buying a home and determine a future household budget. I use estimates based on typical costs that I see in Vienna real estate Continue Reading
Looking back at 2016 and ahead to 2017
Three clients had babies... two girls and one boy. People don't often think about the life events Realtors are a part of every year. We step into roles where lives are in the process of changing. Living is more than lifestyle Here are a few notables from 2016... 2016 kicked off helping sisters and a brother sell their childhood home 30 Continue Reading
How to Inspect a Flipped House
If you are considering buying a flipped house... make sure that you have a home inspection contingency included in your offer. Unfortunately, here in the always-active Vienna real estate market, a flipped house is often the only affordable option in the average price ranges. If you aren't familiar with the term, a flipped house is property Continue Reading
How to be ahead of Termites | The WDI Report
Far, far from the set of A Bug's Life... Hey, this is Virginia and we have termites. Millions of tunneling termites in the soil headed toward your house. A few times every year, I get emails from people asking questions about termites, termite inspections, termite damage, WDI report, and termite related issues that have complicated their Continue Reading
Considering buying an expanded Vienna rambler?
I have looked at a few expanded "pop-top" ramblers in Vienna recently with clients and each had a few quirky issues that you might want to consider too. Just to set the stage, a typical Vienna rambler was built in the late 1950s or early 1960s and has two levels: a basement, and main living floor. Plumbing Structural I-beam Heating Continue Reading
The Value of a Back-Up Offer
Deciding to be a back-up offer isn't a buyer's ideal situation, but in a competitive, fast-paced real estate market when offers are reviewed on Tuesday evening, then being #2 really isn't such a bad thing. And sellers, you should feel lucky to have a back-up... just in case. Back-up offers provide home buyers and home sellers unique Continue Reading
How HGTV has helped real estate
There isn't a buyer client I meet who hasn't watched HGTV. And, that's a good thing! Last week while waiting for my daughter's dental appointment to finish, I got sucked into watching an exciting HGTV show called Flip or Flop. Okay, maybe exciting is a little much for a TV show, but, as a real estate agent, I often see the potential when Continue Reading
Getting Fios into a New Home
You probably expect Internet service in your new home. I know the answer is yes... But it is important to understand, early on, the scope of your post-Settlement "project" especially completing the last 100 feet getting Fios into your new home. Vienna, Virginia is active with construction these days with builders paying high prices to Continue Reading
Facebook and Real Estate Negotiations
Emotions can run high during real estate negotiations. Super high. Recently, an out-of-area Facebook friend posted that she had bought, The House! There were over 150 Likes and dozens of comments. Then... the topic disappeared from her News Feed. Everyone understands that it is exciting to buy something new, and a house sale is Continue Reading
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