Rising from the ashes is a revised guideline from HUD stating that home buyers using FHA loans are allowed to tap into the $8,000 first-time home buyer credit to pay closing costs at the time they settle on their home. They still need to have the 3.5% down payment. HUD sent out a memo in early May announcing this program as many of you readers Continue Reading
My innocent trip to Arlington County Court
When I meet with clients, I like to discuss that I consider the equal opportunity laws to be the "highest law of the land". Some of you may remember me actually saying those words because I know that they carry some serious consequences if they are violated. We just had the fortieth anniversary of the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 which Continue Reading
I am not a lead…
Is it time for a paradigm shift in the real estate business? I am not a lead Continue Reading
The “net price” of a real estate sale
After looking through some home sales data with a client in Oakton, it seemed like a good idea to clarify some of the determining factors when examining homes sales comparables that influence current pricing of homes. Determining a net sales price for a home is impossible if you are looking at recent sales data published in the local newspaper. Continue Reading
An Oakton Virginia home selling tip for the gardener…
It takes more than the crystal ball to understand real estate
Are you still looking into that crystal ball? You know, like when you were searching for the bottom of the market, the lowest interest rate to refinance, or if the economy is sending a signal of a turn around. In the April 27th issue of BusinessWeek, there was an article titled "What Good are Economists Anyway?" that really put the screws to Continue Reading
Are you a sick and tired home seller?
It is a good question. Are you a sick and tired home seller? Then I ask that you call your agent right now and that's a sales tip (see below). We have all seen the airport and health personnel wearing masks or scanning people for fevers, all looking for swine flu suspects who are traveling home from a trip abroad. Yes, I said HOME the place Continue Reading
In real estate, get it in writing.
“Let’s get it in writing so there isn’t any confusion later,†is advice that I give my clients all the time. And you would assume that all real estate agents give their clients the same line when a potential sticky situation presents itself. Did I say “assume� Prior to a home inspection on one of my listings, I mentioned to the Continue Reading
