Doug Francis Real Estate

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Buyer Tips

Seller Tips

Living Here

A Collection of Buyer Tips

Take a few minutes and scroll through this collection of tips for home buyers. Just so you know, I like to write about experiences that clients have because you may be dealing with a similar issue and it might shed a little helpful insight.

A Search for Simplicity and Market Pressure

By Doug Francis

Front porch simplicity

Any home buyer's search for simplicity in the current Vienna real estate market will feel the immense pressure to make a super competitive offer on literally anything that pops up which checks most of the boxes. It's all around, even for sellers moving to a new market, the national inventory is slim and under crushing pressure. Take a look at Continue Reading

Filed Under: Blog, Home Buyer Tips, Home Seller Tips Tagged With: Vienna Real Estate

Earnest Money Today

By Doug Francis

earnest money deposit

Really, it's more than just cash. Your earnest money or deposit needs to be deposited within the specific timeframe outlined in your home sales contract. That contract will give you the framework and required deadline, but know you need to follow certain specific steps. As a quick refresher... when you put in an offer to buy a home, your Continue Reading

Filed Under: Blog, Home Buyer Tips Tagged With: Home Buyer Tips

Your Deposit Deadline

By Doug Francis

The Deposit is essential to a real estate contract

Why do you need to check your contract for specific deadlines? When you have finally been able to get a seller to accept your offer, the last thing you want to hear is that you missed a deadline in the sales contract. There are deadlines for inspections or contingencies that keep the whole process rolling. Simply, they mean that there is Continue Reading

Filed Under: Blog, Home Buyer Tips Tagged With: Contract, Home Buyer Tips

See the Video Tour Yet?

By Doug Francis

real estate video tour

"Our video tour numbers were up 933% in April, 2020" - Sotheby's International Realty Yup. This caught my attention too Over the past two decades, giving online real estate shoppers more information has been a high priority for companies eager to find the next big thing. But the problem facing videos was poor image quality or platforms Continue Reading

Filed Under: Blog, Home Buyer Tips, Home Seller Tips Tagged With: Home Buyer Tips, Home Seller Tips

Newer homes in Vienna

By Doug Francis

front porch vienna va

Deciding to buy a new home in Vienna can often leave buyers waiting nine to twelve months, committed to making hundreds of critical last-minute selections from appliances to floor colors (to pick just two), leaving them totally exasperated month after month. Last year, a few clients bought excellent "almost new" custom homes that were only two, Continue Reading

Filed Under: Blog, Home Buyer Tips, Living Here Tagged With: Home Buyer Tips, new homes, Vienna Real Estate

Add a Sewer Scope to your Home Inspection

By Doug Francis

sewer line inspection

Having a home inspection continues to be essential for anyone who is buying a home in the Vienna real estate market. Since Virginia is a "caveat emptor" state, home buyers will often learn more during a three hour inspection than they would in three years of living in the house. Home inspections are important and continue to get more Continue Reading

Filed Under: Blog, Home Buyer Tips, Home Seller Tips Tagged With: home inspection, Vienna Real Estate

Title Search – A Next Step after going to Contract

By Doug Francis

Title Search in Vienna Real Estate

Having a professional Title Search is an important step that should be ordered by every home buyer quickly after they have entered into a contract to buy a home. Yes, you may see who the seller is online in the county tax records, but there are possibly more specifics out there that require a professional search. Did you notice that I said Continue Reading

Filed Under: Blog, Home Buyer Tips Tagged With: Home Buyer Tips, Vienna Real Estate

Locking-In, Commuting, Schools, and …

By Doug Francis

MAC Maple Avenue Vienna VA

Updated in 2023 Three common questions I'm hearing in 2019 are: Locking in a mortgage rate Mortgage rates dropped unexpectedly in early 2019 providing a unique opportunity for anyone who is house hunting to lock-in a long-term mortgage rate. This is really cheap money and it can really help you financially since it is a fixed expense Continue Reading

Filed Under: Blog, Home Buyer Tips, Living Here Tagged With: Home Buyer Tips, Vienna Real Estate

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Vienna real estate agent Doug Francis

When we bought our house in Vienna, we were thinking about raising the kids, building an addition, and knowing the neighbors. Today, home buyers are attracted to Vienna because of the sense of community, walkability, and small town lifestyle.

So, what’s next after your 25 years? It’s a conversation many of my clients are having with me as they plan to move to the beach, travel, or get closer to grandkids. Helping them see their future, sell their current home, and move ahead with their updated plan has been an interesting new chapter.

My background: I am an active licensed agent in Virginia, have negotiated hundreds of sales contracts, work at TTR Sotheby’s International Realty in McLean, and still sell homes in all price ranges. I donate to the Town of Vienna tree replacement fund, participate in a neighborhood citizens association, and try my best to stay in shape.

Let’s discuss your moving plans: Email doug@dougfrancis.com or call me at (703) 304-6827 .  Cheers!

Considering selling your home?

https://youtu.be/0ZSodCtsfkY

Just Sold!

Plum Street home with swimming pool

Looking for a house with a pool in Vienna, VA?

Sold!

https://vimeo.com/1003798838?loop=0

Planning to sell your home?

Case Studies

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Have a question?

Homeowners: Add a level of privacy

name withheld by request

Privacy: Hiding your name

Looking for testimonials?

Read through a collection of client comments originally posted on Zillow, Google and Trulia. See what my clients say...

Looking for a Custom Home?

Insights into New Homes in Vienna VA
Staged kitchen for real estate marketing

Here’s my home seller checklist… imagine you’re Getting Ready to Sell

Getting started is the hardest part for many clients. My Vienna home seller checklist will help you get the ball rolling today.

“Doug nailed it! Within days, we had three offers, one of which not only met, but far exceeded all of our goals.”
– R. Pollard

“He truly was a partner integrating us unto the community and made it easy for us to take advantage of all Vienna has to offer.”
– A. D’Eredita

“We are so thankful we found Doug to guide us through the complex home selling and buying processes!”
– Scott and Jennie

About Doug Francis

I am a Realtor with TTR Sotheby's International Realty® just outside Washington D.C. in Northern Virginia. I'm licensed in Virginia with a focus on Vienna, VA real estate since 1991.

That deep knowledge is valuable, especially in today's fast-paced market where advice is critical. Although many of my clients are personally referred, I am available to help you too and am accepting new clients right now.

Feel free to contact me at 703-304-6827 or email me at doug@dougfrancis.com anytime!

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Contact

Doug: (703) 304-6827

TTR Sotheby's International Realty
6723 Whittier Avenue McLean, VA 22101

Office: 703-319-3344
Why do people hire me?

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Vienna Real Estate Guide

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