As you search for a home to buy, or prepare your residence to sell, how much thought do you give to its energy efficiency? With fuel costs rising, and shortages already evident, it is time to take an active interest. Old houses are energy sieves except for the occasional (and expensive) newer home, almost all [...]
Washington DC is a great area to live. In spite of being the national capital, it is far from being a congested concrete jungle. Rather it is a sober place with buildings of national and international importance scattered here and there. If you are planning to buy a second home for yourself or you have [...]
Part of buying a new home is moving. It’s fun to buy a new home and all the excitement that goes with a new home such as choosing which bedrooms, new decorating and just new surroundings in general. But the move is the most frustrating of it all. It’s a strenuous process, but these tips [...]
There is a difference between getting Pre-Qualified & Pre-Approved. A Pre-Approval is a document from the lender that confirms to the borrower a loan up to a certain amount based on a completed loan application, credit check, and possibly tax returns and employment verification. This Pre-Approval goes much further with a seller when submitted with [...]
The younger generations have not had the pleasure of growing up with 8 track tapes, no cell phones or computers. Some are even asking the question, what is a starter home? This term is a throwback from post WWII. Not many real estate agents or lenders use this term anymore, so there are a lot [...]
With the interest rates as low as they are in a number of years, first time home buyers are eyeing the markets more than they have in the past. Now is a good time to buy for first time home buyers, that is if they have several things in place before actually looking at homes. [...]
Mortgage rates are at the lowest they have been in several years. The markets have also been very slow. But they are starting to show some improvement and now may be the time to buy real estate in the Washington, DC area. Real estate investors as well as others are in a very good position [...]
The real estate markets are on the rise a little bit. Pending home sales are rising by more than 7%. This is the highest it’s been in 19 months, according to the National Association of Realtors. NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun states: “Housing affordability conditions are at a record high and there is a pent-up [...]
Lately you see a lot of homes sitting on the market for sale for months on end. Yet at the same time, you will see one that gets grabbed up as soon as it hits the market. What factors are involved in these quick sales and how can you get your home to sell faster. [...]
The Washington, DC area has hundreds of real estate agents to choose from. No matter if you are looking to buy or if you are wanting to sell your home, there are a lot of options for you. Some people will try to sell or purchase a home without an agent, but is that really [...]
The Christmas Holiday season is coming up fast. Should you keep your home on the market or not? Many are asking this question. It really is a personal choice in the long run, but it can spell disaster if you do take it off the market. Of course the holiday season is a very busy [...]
Since Washington, DC and the surrounding areas have such a large and diverse population, there is something for everyone. Of course, most people will want something that is comfortable to them and their lifestyle. Here are a few of the hottest markets in the real estate arena: Anacostia Waterfront – This is the fastest growing [...]
We have all gotten a raw deal in one way or another when it comes to where we live. It used to be that you couldn’t find much information on a neighborhood other than the school or Chamber of Commerce. And, their opinions may be a lot different than yours. A new way of looking [...]
You are wanting to sell your house. You know you are up against some big odds as the real estate sales are practically at a stand still. So how are you going to make your home stand apart from the rest? You simply have to stage it, or flip it, or redo it. Whatever term [...]
Today’s economy is not a bowl of cherries. The nation has suffered a severe hardship the last few years and we are not out of the woods yet. Did you know that home prices have dropped more in this current depression than they did during the Great Depression of the 1930′s. That is staggering. This [...]
Certainly, it is a well known fact by now that the economy struck many homeowners hard in the last year or so. There are now an overabundance of foreclosed property in the Washington, DC area as well as other parts of the United States. The lenders don’t want to and can’t keep these homes on [...]
With the year 2012 just around the corner, many are wondering what the future will hold for the real estate market in the Washington, DC area and other parts of the country. Even though it will probably not be an extremely good year, it is also not supposed to be quite so bad as the [...]
Open houses are excellent ways to be able to visit several houses as well as locations to see if anything piques your interest. It is much easier to visit open houses than it is sometimes to make appointments with home owners for a certain time on a certain day. But, what is it that you [...]
So you think you’re ready to jump into home ownership. That’s good. I’ll always encourage people to take a look in that direction. But before you do, ask yourself these 16 questions. Is my income steady? You’ll need at least a year of proof of income, but I recommend that you have had the same [...]
Have you ever wondered how other people find their dream home? It takes time but it also takes searching for the specific needs that you want in your dream home. Everyone wants something different, such as a large kitchen, a pool, more than one bathroom or wheelchair access. It just takes searching for the criteria [...]
House flipping has long been a way to break into the real estate investment business not only for those who buy a sell numerous properties but for individuals as well. House flipping means buying a home that is usually a fixer-upper, making needed repairs, giving it a facelift and then reselling it for a profit. [...]
Homes are available for sale in the Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia areas for low income residents. Buying a home does not have to be for higher income individuals. For those who have lower incomes, first time home buyers and disabled people, there are grants and government programs available to help with buying a home. [...]
The housing crisis have caused many homes to be available on the market in the Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia areas. There are homes available in just about any price range. It is just a matter of taking the time to look for what you like and visiting a lender to get funding in place [...]
Projections from Moody’s for housing markets going forward to 2012 are very different from those of six months ago. Cities that have a strong military and/or university influence are projected to do better in the short term, and that’s where Richmond and Charlottesville in Virginia have strong links. Richmond came in 15th in the top [...]
I know there are a lot of people who prefer to rent a home than buy one. One argument they have used strongly in recent years relates to foreclosure – if you’re renting, you’ll never get foreclosed. Of course, if you can’t afford mortgage payments, then you’ll struggle with rental payments, and the end result [...]
Many home owners feel like they are trapped in their current homes. Selling now would leave them with little or no extra cash so buying a replacement home is also out of the question. So there you are stuck in a home you’re suddenly not happy with, prices are falling and you can’t take advantage [...]
With mortgage interest rates at almost record lows, it is tempting for some home owners to reconsider their current home finance strategies. There are a number of options available to home owners including refinancing at lower rates, selling and buying a better home, or just hanging in there and doing nothing. The latter option is [...]
So, you have found your dream home, made an offer that has been accepted, and even pre-arranged your financing. All that’s left is to conclude the contingencies and to get together on settlement day. It’s all exciting, especially for first home buyers. That excitement could result in an end to your home buying dream – [...]
If you are out and about looking for a home to buy, be careful who you select to represent your interests in the buying process. In many states, including Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C., real estate agents are allowed to represent both the seller and the buyer. This is known as ‘dual agency’, and in [...]
The Internet has become a great tool for home buyers. You can sit at home and wade your way through the MLS looking for that ‘perfect’ home. You can use Google maps to check out the neighborhood, you can even zoom in for a close up of the house, street, and neighbors (although it’s not [...]
