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Waiting to Buy a House

August 1, 2013 By Doug Francis

George Bailey Bailey Building and Loan

Taking a stand against Mr. Potter
Copyright ~ Paramount Pictures

Wait?

Wait for what?

Until their children are old enough to leave them?”

This quote comes at a crucial moment from George Bailey in Frank Capra’s 1946 film, It’s a Wonderful Life.

In essence, George’s family managed the Building and Loan in a small town in New York during the Great Depression. They worked like many of today’s mortgage lenders allowing people to put down a percentage of the value of a home and finance the rest over time ~ which was a cutting edge concept back in the 1930s.

As I watch my own children grow up, I am happy to know that they are growing up in a home that we own thanks to a mortgage. It sounds like a fairy tale sometimes, but you should know that getting our first mortgage on our old home was not easy… even for me, a savvy real estate guy.

To put my story on the record, since I am self employed and mortgage lenders have never really liked self employed people, my wife and I qualified on her teacher salary only and used a first-time buyer mortgage program. Hey, it worked!

One of my goals when meeting with home buyers for the first time is to crunch numbers, discuss financing and make some suggestions ~ especially when I feel they have been reading (on the Internet) confusing information. I am not a mortgage professional but I keep my ear to the ground, talk with other clients, and have a good idea of options and mortgage people clients should call (none of those mortgage people pay me).

My goal is simple: Be creative and help people improve their lives.

“Do you know how long it takes a working man to save $5,000?” – George Bailey

During the Great Depression, that $5k probably would have taken a lifetime to save, but I still hear comments like that from people putting together a down payment to buy a house.

______________________________________________________________________

Really, if you are 25 to 39 and don’t own a home then I want to encourage you to start the process today

I completely understand that this idea may seem daunting, or that you have been able to dodge and procrastinate on this project for the past four years. But, the time is now to take action and explore your options.

Think for a minute, where do you picture yourself in 2021?

Here is an exercise: Say out loud, “Yeah, it’s 2021 and am living in… (you need to fill this part in).

(this space is intentionally left blank)

 

Let me know where this step took you, cheers!

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

About Doug Francis

A Realtor specializing in unique and new homes around Vienna, Virginia, Doug started writing a first-hand blog about his everyday real estate experiences a decade ago. In-depth, helpful and fun has always been the objective. Outside real estate, he was profiled in a commercial for Verisign's "Where the World Clicks" global ad campaign, and was quoted in Money Magazine's Best Places to Live article on Vienna (#3!). He's a Boston University graduate who feels morning coffee is non-negotiable.

Vienna real estate agent Doug Francis

Everyone has a different reason for moving. Helping people focus and put a life plan together isn’t what most people think of when they hear “Realtor”.

Where you are in life today will be our starting point, from first home, marriage, kids, cross-country relocation, retirement, divorce, to estates. Yes, I’ve helped people navigate happy and difficult times.

All conversations are confidential, and helping my clients achieve their unique goals is my mission.

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

Office: 703-319-3344
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