Doug Francis | Realtor

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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.

What is a Back-Up Contract?

March 14, 2018 By Doug Francis

Back Up Real Estate Contract Strategy in low inventory markets

"When one door closes, another opens." - Alexander Graham Bell Breaking bad news to a client is the pits. Imagine the call from the buyer's agent saying, "after the home inspection or after reviewing the Homeowner's Association disclosure docs, that the Buyer is declaring the contract Void." Then you have to call your client with the bad Continue Reading

Filed Under: Blog, Home Buyer Tips, Home Seller Tips, Living Here Tagged With: Home Buyer Tips, Home Seller Tips, Vienna Virginia

Town of Vienna Real Estate Tax Rate 2022

February 21, 2018 By Doug Francis

Vienna VA Town Green

Revised Vienna VA real estate tax rate for 2022 Town of Vienna Real Estate 2022 fiscal year tax rate shall be $.205 (or 20.5 cents) per every $100 of assessed value. Real estate taxes are paid annually in two installments, due July 28, 2022 and December 5, 2022. The town’s real estate tax rate is 20.5 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. Town of Continue Reading

Filed Under: Blog, Home Buyer Tips, Living Here Tagged With: 22180, real estate, tax rate, Vienna Virginia

Consider ARMs Again for Your Mortgage

February 7, 2018 By Doug Francis

ARMs versus Fixed Rate Mortgage

Are we at an Inflection Point? Over the last decade, when home buyers were looking at mortgage rates there wasn't a big difference between fixed rate mortgages and adjustable rate mortgages (ARM). In fact, super-low 30-year fixed rates have ruled the market. Although I don't have a crystal ball, the tea leaves that I'm reading show a Continue Reading

Filed Under: Blog, Home Buyer Tips, Mortgage Finance Tagged With: Home Buyer Tips, mortgage, real estate

On finding hidden new homes in Vienna

January 23, 2018 By Doug Francis

Hidden new home inventory in Vienna VA

Ask anyone who lives in Vienna or McLean, and they will tell you about the impressive number of new homes being built. Many are custom homes being built for long-time owners, but more often it is an investor or builder scraping off an old house to build a new, semi-custom house to sell. What is happening here in Vienna, McLean, or Falls Continue Reading

Filed Under: Blog, Home Buyer Tips Tagged With: buyer agent, Home Buyer Tips, real estate, Vienna Virginia

How to pick a Settlement Agent

January 14, 2018 By Doug Francis

MBH Title in Vienna VA

Selecting a Settlement Agent often comes down to a quick decision based on a recommendation from your Realtor. A quick decision? This is an interesting topic since home buyers, in Virginia, are given the option to select a Settlement Agent when they put together their offer to purchase. The idea is that they can compare fees and services, Continue Reading

Filed Under: Blog, Home Buyer Tips Tagged With: Home Buyer Tips, real estate, Vienna Virginia

Tearing Down and Recycling in Vienna

October 15, 2017 By Doug Francis

vienna tear down recycling

Before we tear down older ramblers or splits in Vienna, there is a period of time when contractors will take houses apart so anything of value can be recycled or donated to a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization. Copper pipes HVAC systems Appliances Storm Doors But many people don't think about wood boards being recycled Continue Reading

Filed Under: Blog, Home Buyer Tips, Home Seller Tips Tagged With: new construction, sell my home, tear down, Vienna Virginia

The Equifax Hack and Buying a Home

September 21, 2017 By Doug Francis

Impact on real estate buyers after Equifax hack

My clients will remember when I said, "Don't go out and buy his and her BMWs until after you are finished buying the house!" Those days were so simple. Innocent really, almost charming. All that has changed after the recent hack of Equifax essentially exposed everyone's personal financial information to a remote outpost on the Dark Web... Continue Reading

Filed Under: Blog, Home Buyer Tips, Home Seller Tips, Living Here Tagged With: FICO, Home Buyer Tips, Home Seller Tips, real estate

Deposit Amounts and Negotiations

September 17, 2017 By Doug Francis

Earnest Money Deposit

Sitting at their kitchen table while explaining the sales contract and putting together a competitive written offer, I was asked... "What's the earnest money deposit formula in Virginia?"  this Vienna home buyer studiously asked. This really isn't an uncommon question because most buyers are reading websites written by mortgage lenders, Continue Reading

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

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Vienna real estate agent Doug Francis

I’m so excited that you found me! Yes, this site covers real estate, but also a lot about lifestyle and  living in Vienna, Virginia outside Washington, D.C.

There is a lot of info here, and you can also contact me with any specific real estate questions. And, at home consultations are available too.

My background… I’ve been an active licensed agent in Virginia for 25 years, work at TTR Sotheby’s International Realty in McLean, and 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 me help you: Email doug@dougfrancis.com or call me at (703) 304-6827 to discuss your plans. Cheers!

Filmed in Vienna and McLean

https://youtu.be/ClqEIV1zoQg

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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

The Wire Fraud Warning

I sat in on a presentation by an FBI Special Agent who discussed many types of financial fraud which are being used across the internet. Victims are everywhere including real estate buyers and investors, to lonely widows in romance scams who unwittingly launder large sums of money for fraudsters. But let’s just focus on Real […]

“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 have been a full-time Realtor licensed in Virginia since 1991, and cover a big territory specializing in the Vienna real estate market and custom homes for sale.

I have unique knowledge of digital real estate marketing, and my marketing starts here. My clients have been attracted to my results-oriented strategy for years, and I am accepting new clients for 2023 right now.

Thanks for reading, and 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
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Doug Francis Vienna Real Estate 2021
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