Real estate, particularly commercial real estate, can be a profitable investment. However, there are times when a commercial real estate investment can backfire badly. Unlike many other forms of investment, real estate needs some fairly intense research before any commitment is made. Some of the pitfalls include: Major developments proposed in the area, Tenants considering [...]
Although there are a lot of properties on the market at present, finding the right one for your family may still be difficult. If you are looking at real estate in Virginia, for example, and you’re not in a hurry, receiving email alerts when new properties are listed may be the best approach. This can [...]
Mortgages are becoming harder to acquire as financial institutions tighten their credit requirements. Fannie Mae has a loan quality initiative that most lenders will start to follow. This will only serve to put more pressure on those trying to acquire mortgages. In fact, under this initiative, those who have been approved for a mortgage may [...]
There have been numerous reports in the media over the last couple of weeks regarding weak real estate markets. There is also new data showing home loan applications at a 10 year low. With a lot of properties on the market and a shrinking supply of buyers, is now a good time to be investing [...]
That title may be a bit of a mouthful but there is no denying the concept behind it. When buying a home, getting an inspection done and acting on the report quickly is a must. In the past, sellers were fairly honest. What you saw was what you got. There was little in the way [...]
Virginia has some of the best land when it come to rural industries. The equine industry has been noted for its fabulous equestrian lodges in and around the Virginia area yet over the last 2-3 years real estate in Virginia has seen prices slide quite alarmingly. It is also an area where you could snare [...]
Buying a home is one of those areas in modern society where you can almost do everything online. If not online then by cell phone. Now we have the addition of the iPad and I’m sure it won’t be long before that becomes a popular tool as well. Despite all this technology, the human touch [...]
There are home buyers in the market at present that are finding it difficult to obtain mortgages and it’s not due to a poor credit history. In fact, many of these buyers have excellent credit history; the problem is, it is invisible to lenders. Over the years, credit unions and niche banks have worked well [...]
When it comes to real estate, what is a ‘great deal’? In a way it all comes down to meeting needs. If you think a ‘great deal’ is a home that is discounted by 20%-30% then forget it – investors and others in the industry will snap these properties up the moment they come on [...]
There is far more to selling a home than just engaging a real estate agent. Agents can do a lot for you, but you have to do a lot of work yourself. We wrote earlier about what makes the perfect buyer – so what would make an ideal seller? I said it takes a lot [...]
There are a lot of home buyers that rushed everything through before the end of April so that they could claim a tax credit before it came to an end. Having beaten that deadline, it could be a timely reminder to keep the pressure on. If you haven’t completed the sale by the end of [...]
This could be written tongue in cheek, but it’s not. A buyer or seller needs to have the best when it comes to real estate agents. As agents, we also have an idea of who makes the best buyers and sellers. If you check out the following traits, you will understand why. The Perfect Home [...]
We all lead busy lives and if both parties in a couple are working, finding time together to view properties can be a real lesson in coordination. Often, couples make it far too hard on themselves by not really thinking the home buying process through. There are a number of factors involved in buying a [...]
Condos are popular with young couples and retirees, particularly those close to the city centers. Maryland is no different, although at present there is somewhat of an oversupply of condos in Maryland and while some can be purchased cheaply there are some traps to watch out for. Economic downturns hit everyone and people deal with [...]
Buying real estate in Washington DC is a little different to buying real estate in many other areas. To begin with, there are no suburbs to search. Some search services let you search by district or quadrant. We have compiled a short list of tips for newcomers to the DC district. Search by zip code [...]
Having a real estate that is available at any time can be reassuring to both sellers and buyers. You would be surprised how many times someone suddenly has a panic attack when they don’t know the answer to a simple question regarding the sale or purchase of real estate. I don’t necessarily encourage you to [...]
This may sound a little strange, but for those looking to buy a new home, one of the most important steps is to let your real estate agent get to know you. I am not necessarily talking about inviting them out to dinner and opening your soul to them, but if a real estate agent [...]
The finance sector is believed to be holding a lot of real estate that has been acquired through the foreclosure process. This is real estate that is sitting as a cost to these business houses and over time, if they are not sold through REO sales, they are offered for auction. Private auction houses auction [...]
We live in a busy world and this can be seen in the way many buyers approach their house hunting. The internet is often one of their first stops, searching through the MLS. Once they find a home that appeals to them they will view the photos, perhaps even check out the area using Google [...]
Buying a home is the single biggest expense most people make in their lifetimes. In the majority of cases, the purchase is made using someone else’s money in the form of a mortgage. That is a point that most of us can agree on. However, you need to understand the costs involved with a mortgage [...]
With technology advances moving so quickly, sometimes it is hard to keep track of what online tools are available for those entering the home buying market. There are a lot of tools available and the following is really only scratching the surface, however, we have identified the most important tools that can help those home [...]
Selling real estate is no different to selling any other product. As a buyer, you need to consider everything including the fact the photos, videos and open houses are generally staged to show a property at its pristine best. This doesn’t always reflect daily life and can conceal problems, sometimes intentionally, sometimes not. Of course, [...]
In some states like Virginia, Maryland and D.C., dual agency is permitted so long as there is a full disclosure to all parties. For the real estate agent, it is a bonus since they then receive both the selling and buying commissions once the sale has been completed. For buyers and sellers, does it mean [...]
Selling real estate in today’s market is fairly tough since there are far more sellers than there are buyers. To sell your property, you need every advantage you can gain. The question is, can a professional real estate stager help you get a better price? First, for those who are not familiar with what a [...]
Buying a home can be a lot of fun; it can also be a time of stress. There are several things you can do to ease the stress, particularly during the negotiation process. There is one area that sellers and their agents rely on during the negotiation process and that is your emotions. Agents, in [...]
Good real estate agents are around for a long time. Over time, they learn a few little tricks of the trade that help them to stand out from the rest. One example of this is the way marketing materials are used for those wanting to sell their properties. We have often mentioned the use of [...]
Home buying can be a tough task and although we are in a ‘buyers’ market at present, that doesn’t mean you have plenty of time. If you have found the right house for your needs, you may still be competing with others for that home. Time is still of essence when buying a home so [...]
What does the ideal real estate agent look like in 2010? What did they look like ten years ago? This is a hard question since everyone has different needs. However, there are four attributes that you could apply across the board to today’s real estate agents – if they meet all four attributes then you [...]
We live in an age where technology is all around us, even in the real estate industry. If you are considering entering the market to buy (or sell) a property, then it makes sense to use every tool available. This includes technology and the internet can be a great source of information on what you [...]
The housing market rides a little like a roller coaster at times and we seem to be starting another slow but steady climb to another peak. The peak is a long way off yet, but prices do seem to be creeping. Some interesting survey results recently may excite some investors – if it doesn’t, perhaps [...]
