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 [...]
Can you imagine trying to move house from one side of the country to the other twenty years ago? There was no MLS to preview possible homes to buy, there was no internet to help you find mortgages, or information on potential areas to move to. The only option back then was to personally visit [...]
There are home buyers in the market at present who think that listed prices are really just a starting point. When they find a home they like, their first inclination is to make an offer that is ten or even twenty thousand below that listed price. Making an offer is serious business and as a [...]
Are you an organized seller, a disorganized seller, or simply a seller who doesn’t really care once the contract is drawn. Buying a home can be a big deal for some people – especially if they are first home buyers. Moving from rental accommodations (or staying with the parents) to a home that you actually [...]
Most states, in fact, most counties, have legislation in place that covers a real estate term known as ground rent. You will find that many homes in Baltimore City come under the provisions that apply to ground rent. So what is ground rent and how does it affect someone who is buying a home in [...]
First time home buyers are often caught out by special conditions attached to the sale of a home. In almost every case, those special conditions are advertised with the home, yet buyers chose to overlook them or not take them into consideration when making their final decision. If the price of a home sounds low, [...]
Some people enter in the housing market with a list of features they want that is a mile long. Others come into the market with hardly any features at all on their list. Both are looking to make life very difficult for themselves – the first group, because no house will ever match their criteria [...]
It’s an exciting time for sure and closing on a home consists of many steps involved in sealing the deal on your home buying endeavor. Here are 10 of the big steps you will encounter. Making an offer Once your real estate agent has found you the perfect property, you need to be ready to jump. [...]
Congratulations! You’ve found the home of your dreams. But before you make a formal offer, you need to make sure the home is priced correctly. You don’t want to overpay. Typically used when selling a home, a comparable market analysis (CMA) lists the recent sale information of nearby homes, including how long each home stayed [...]
You’ve done all the preliminary work. Now is where the fun begins: actually looking for your new home. Looking around, attending viewings and open houses can either be daunting or fun, depending on how you view it. Try to see it as a new adventure. If you choose to buy a property directly from a [...]
You are focused and certain: it’s time to buy a house. Your very first home on your own. But wait. Don’t just dive in. Define Your Search Parameters. Almost 80% of all home searches today begin on the Internet. With just a few clicks of the mouse, home buyers can search through hundreds of online [...]
Technology has proven to be a wonderful boon to those looking to buy a home. You can fire up the laptop (or desktop), load up your favorite browser, and spend hours sifting your way through the MLS. For some, this is great – they do spend hours and often it’s as much curiosity as it [...]
Negotiating the purchase (or sale) of real estate can be a real dance at times and sometimes the best way to invite a seller onto the dance floor is by making a lowball offer. There are some dos and don’ts when it comes to making a lowball offer and if you really want to win [...]
Are you a little tired from searching the MLS? You know, buying a home is one of the hardest tasks you will ever perform. The home becomes a part of you and you become a part of it so you want your new home to be just right. That is why it can take a [...]
