Doug Francis | Realtor

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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

Warning: If You Skip this Home Buyer Tip, You Pretty Much Want a Headache

December 18, 2010 By Doug Francis

Did you think there wasn't a top must do? This isn't a tip exclusively for first-time home buyers, so please don't think that you are too savvy to begin with a review of your credit report. The credit report and the resulting FICO Score hold the proverbial keys to your next castle, but can also be the stealthy iceberg that sinks the ship. Why Continue Reading

Filed Under: Blog, Home Buyer Tips Tagged With: 22180, FICO, Home Buyer Tips, real estate, Vienna Virginia

Your FICO Score will take a hit from Damage Points

December 9, 2009 By Doug Francis

Real Estate Agents have all wondered how FICO Scores are impacted when events happen to consumers, and FICO has released an informative chart that you need to see. It seems that if you have a high score and are 30 days late on your minimum payment then your penalty will actually be greater than someone who already has a lower score. This great Continue Reading

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Credit score, FICO, mortgage, real estate

Your FICO score matters!

September 15, 2009 By Doug Francis

Okay, driving through Fairfax County I share my thoughts on the essentials of knowing your FICO Score and the importance of getting a credit report  early on in the home buying process. If the FICO Score isn't 700 720 then there may be ways to improve it... since 720+ is the magic number for availability and good pricing. So after you have Continue Reading

Filed Under: Blog, Video Blogs Tagged With: buyer, FICO, home search, lender, mortgage, real estate

Buying a short-sale in Northern Virginia

April 10, 2009 By Doug Francis

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

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: buyer agent, FICO, foreclosure, short-sale

Fannie and Freddie loans are more expensive April 1

March 11, 2009 By Doug Francis

The L.A. Times recently published a piece discussing how Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were raising fees, and toughening credit rules depending on FICO credit scores. So start watching for "delivery fees" if you are putting down less than 30%. That's not a typo! below 700, add 1.5% 700-720, add .75% 721-739, add .25% Meaning, if you Continue Reading

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: delivery fee, discount points, economic stimulus, Fannie Mae, FICO, Freddie Mac, mortgage

Vienna real estate agent Doug Francis

Helping my clients add value to their homes has always been important to me. My step-by-step recommendations are intended to increase market appeal, return more than invested, and help net more when selling.

Beyond just sellers, I have helped many new homeowners make smart design decisions when remodeling. We gutted our house and totally remodeled it, and I pass that experience along because living in a nice house is simply better.

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.

Questions? 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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Insights into New Homes in Vienna VA

Real Estate Offers | What’s In and What’s Out

Changes in Latitudes Attitudes This story may sound slightly made up, but the 2022 real estate market across Northern Virginia was full of fast-paced drama which is still kind of hard to picture. The brakes weren’t just tapped… they were slammed! Or to create a picture for you, we went from a wild Category 5 […]

“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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Doug: (703) 304-6827

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

Office: 703-319-3344
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