Doug Francis | Realtor

  • Our Business
  • About Me
  • Sell Your Home
  • Contact

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

Intent to Proceed Confusion

May 21, 2016 By Doug Francis

Mortgage intent to proceed

  Do you know when to lock-in your rate or when to pay for your appraisal? Is it your Intent to Proceed? These are two mortgage action-items that buyers will need to complete once their contract has been ratified. Over the past week, I have seen two incidents when there was confusion between home buyers and Bank of America. Continue Reading

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

Mortgage Tip | Stolen Identity Tax Refund Fraud

November 7, 2015 By Doug Francis

Last June a buyer client called me in a total panic... "Doug, Bank of America just called demanding written copies of our tax returns from the IRS!” “Okay, did they say why?” I asked. “No, and I have been on hold with the IRS for three hours already. It had to do with fake tax returns that someone submitted last year to scam our Continue Reading

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

What is Consummation in Real Estate?

June 4, 2015 By Doug Francis

New real estate consumation from CFPB

When a prominent McLean real estate attorney gave a presentation to our office about the upcoming TILA-RESPA changes, he used "Consummation" of the sale rather than Settlement. The room chuckled like a class of 8th graders, looking at each other and whispering, "Consummation?" Of course we were all thinking along the lines of a proper Wedding Continue Reading

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

The Mortgage Labyrinth

February 23, 2013 By Doug Francis

Anyone trying to get a mortgage these days is jumping through hoops like never before. Even those folks with good jobs, have had a mortgage, who are essentially "platinum level" are getting migraines navigating the new underwriting gauntlet. Yes, welcome to The Mortgage Labyrinth. After passage of the Dodd-Frank Act, there were many new Continue Reading

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: mortgage

Planning to go for an FHA Loan?

February 16, 2011 By Doug Francis

FHA Approved Lending Institution logo

If you are currently in the market to buy a home and plan on using FHA for your mortgage financing, keep in mind that the annual mortgage insurance will be higher for loans assigned case numbers starting April 18, 2011. Local mortgage guy Todd Marumoto of Intercoastal Mortgage in Fairfax, VA sent me an e-mail update about this increase along Continue Reading

Filed Under: Blog, Home Buyer Tips Tagged With: buyer agent, FHA financing, mortgage

Loan Limits for Northern Virginia

December 23, 2010 By Doug Francis

UPDATE Loan limits for Northern Virginia in 2021 ~ Original Article: Relocation home buyers are typically surprised to learn that Northern Virginia has maximum conforming mortgage loan limits that are higher than most regions of the United States. Northern Virginia real estate ranks as "expensive" considering the region has some of the wealthiest Continue Reading

Filed Under: Blog, Home Buyer Tips Tagged With: 22180, home buyer, mortgage, Northern Virginia, real estate

Should We Refinance the Mortgage?

October 7, 2010 By Doug Francis

Refi Commitment Letter

I don't usually ask for your comments right in the first sentence, but I have been talking to many clients, friends and neighbors about refinancing their home mortgage these days. And the stories have been fascinating especially since fixed rates are near 4.0% or less. When I originally wrote the post about Virginia's recordation tax exeption Continue Reading

Filed Under: Blog, Refinance Tagged With: McLean, mortgage, Refinancing, Vienna Virginia

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • Next Page »

Being able to guide my clients through many real estate sales, either moving out, moving in, or just across town, has been a rewarding experience that helps when discussing a plan with a future client.

Being able to help them focus and understand our proven sales plan always eases their anxiety of this looming personal task. And, putting it into bite-sized steps always helps them get where they really want to be.

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 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

Thinking of Moving?

If you want to talk about your house and getting it ready for the market then let's set up a time to talk. Even if it's a second opinion, it's okay. Start here.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Have a question?

Homeowners: Add a level of privacy

name withheld by request

Privacy: Remove 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 a start… imagine you’re Getting Ready to Sell

In 2021, my main strategy is helping each client’s home look their best online with careful planning, staging, and professional photography. The photo above didn’t just happen, it involved my staging team and a creative professional photographer to compose this warm and inviting space. We follow certain steps to add market appeal to every photo. […]

“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 elite clientele has been attracted to my results-oriented strategy for years, and I am accepting new clients now.

Thanks for reading, and feel free to contact me at 703-304-6827 or email me at doug@dougfrancis.com anytime!

Search for a subject

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?

Search for homes in Vienna

Vienna Real Estate Guide

Logo for Washingtonian Best 2020
This material can only be used with written permission.

Equal Housing Opportunity

 

Copyright © 2021 · Minimum Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in