Buying a Northern Virginia home? Get a full Home Search    Selling your Northern Virginia home? Free Home Price Evaluation There are a few different theories in regards to the best possible time to close on a home. Some people believe that it’s better to close later on in a month, and others believe that it is better to close earlier in the month, but there are advantages and disadvantages to both. If you wait until later in the month, you can avoid more closing costs and pay less overall. However, if you wait until the end of the month, closing deadlines can get in the way because it’s a bottleneck at the end of the month. All of the lenders want to clear their books at the end of the month, and this is the same with the title companies. When you close on the first day of the month you can skip a month of payment. This is a good strategy for saving a little bit of money. These extra funds can be used for repairs or upgrades on your home. Because things can get so hectic at the end of the month, we think that it’s better to close at the beginning of the month. It’s the least stressful way to close on a home. If you have any further questions about real estate in Alexandria, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me! We look forward to hearing from you!

Buying a Northern Virginia home? Get a full Home Search   Selling your Northern Virginia home? Free Home Price Evaluation Today we are going to talk to you all about the home inspection process in Northern Virginia when you’re out there looking to buy a home. The home inspection process only happens for buyers after they have gone through their due diligence with the seller. Once the buyer and seller agree on the price and terms of their deal, the time comes for the inspection period. You want to protect your investment and make sure you know what condition the home you're buying is in before you make the deal final. The best way to do this is with a home inspection from a home inspector that is ASHI certified. This is a special certification that holds home inspectors to a higher standard. When you get your inspection report, there are definitely going to be items listed. However, we recommend that you focus on the big problems and the big systems instead of minor cosmetic issues. Pay special attention to any and all problems associated with your HVAC system, the roof, electric, plumbing, and appliances. You can still ask the seller to repair those smaller items, but it all depends on your particular situation. If you have any questions for us about home inspections, or would like us to recommend a good home inspector, just give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help out in any way we can!

Buying a Northern Virginia home? Get a full Home Search    Selling your Northern Virginia home? Free Home Price Evaluation Leverage is when you use something to its maximum value. In financial terms, you often use other people’s money. How does this translate into the real estate market? Let’s start with a $100,000 property. After investing $10,000 into it, it appreciates by 3%. Not only does the property gain $3,000 in value, you see that $3,000 -- a 30% increase -- in your return on investment. You’re left with $13,000. This is a way to use leverage to gain wealth! It’s a strategy you can use to your advantage in the real estate industry. If you’re interested in pursuing this opportunity or learning more, give me a call or send me an email today. We can make it happen together!

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Buying a Northern Virginia home? Get a full Home Search   Selling your Northern Virginia home? Free Home Price Evaluation People often ask, "What type of renovations should I invest in before listing my property?" Fortunately, I have advice about the most valuable renovations to invest in. First, add a fresh coat of paint. Painting is the cheapest way to add value to your home. A crisp, clean property appeals to the buyer and makes a huge difference. Second, replace the carpets. You may get away with a simple wash. However, if your carpet is worn out, consider the fairly small investment to replace it entirely. Third, declutter the property. This isn't a costly investment, but it requires time. Ultimately, it will help make your home more appealing to buyers. Finally, create curb appeal. You have only one chance to make a first impression! Clean up the yard. Plant flowers. Ensure the entryway looks nice. Make your property shine. Buyers should fall in love with your home. Buying a home is an emotional experience. Give buyers the ultimate experience. If you have any questions, give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Buying a Northern Virginia home? Get a full Home Search   Selling your Northern Virginia home? Free Home Price Evaluation As the fall passes, it's time to start preparing for winter. Many clients ask, “Should I wait until the springtime to sell my home?” I hear this three times a day! Yes, there are clear advantages to selling during the colder months. Between December and March, the likelihood of selling your home within six months is 65% higher compared to any other time of year. During the winter, the average days on the market is 26 days. Inventory drops and likewise, competition decreases. Additionally, interest rates are still at an all time low! Take advantage of this opportunity while it lasts. We’re at a historic time! Over the last 45 years, this is the third lowest interest rate the local market has experienced. If you’d like to learn more, please visit my website, give me a call, or send me an email directly!

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Buying a Northern Virginia home? Get a full Home Search   Selling your Northern Virginia home? Free Home Price Evaluation Today, we're talking about getting your property in the best marketing position possible. When we consult with sellers, we offer our 3P2F marketing strategy to protect yourself against seasonal shifts in the market. Now, the 3 P's are Plant, Paint, and Pictures. Planting around the house gives your home extra curb appeal, which buyers are always looking for. Paint gives you the best bang for your buck. When it comes to pictures, take down any family photos and leave up neutral pieces. Buyers want to be able to picture themselves in your home, so keep the pictures as neutral as possible. The two F's stand for Furniture and Fixtures. We have an interior designer on our staff who can help you determine which fixtures to update and how to arrange your furniture in order to appeal to buyers. If you have any questions on today's video, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Buying a Northern Virginia home? Get a full Home Search   Selling your Northern Virginia home? Free Home Price Evaluation When I was younger I worked at a restaurant. The owner of the restaurant didn't have to do a lot of work and he made quite a bit of money. However, the owner of the building didn't have to do ANY work and he was wealthy. This was when I learned the difference between cash flow and wealth building. One of the best ways to generate wealth is to invest in tangible assets such as real estate. Real estate is something that will constantly appreciate in value. Land always gains value over time. Only more and more people are being born in our world, so this is a simple function of supply and demand. We help a lot of investors purchase real estate, and we would like to help you if you're interested. There are a lot of investment opportunities here in Virginia, so please don't hesitate to contact me if you're interested. We look forward to hearing from you!

.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Buying a Northern Virginia home? Get a full Home Search   Selling your Northern Virginia home? Free Home Price Evaluation Today we are going to talk about the accuracy of Zillow’s Zestimates. As a real estate professional, I’m constantly talking to buyers and sellers. A lot of times they bring up their Zestimate, and ask our opinion on how much stock they should put into that value. What I can say about Zestimates is that they do a great job of showing you market trends. If home prices have been going up overall, that will be reflected in their Zestimates. However, it’s what Zestimates don’t take into account that has us hesitant about them. Zillow doesn’t take any remodels or upgrades you’ve done to your home into consideration when determining a value. Nor do they consider the condition and location of your home in their Zestimate. Zillow takes the averages of all property values, and is usually off by an average of 8% when it comes to home price estimates. That’s a big number, and being off by 8% could cost you a lot in the long run. The only way to get an accurate, true figure of what your home is worth is by working with a licensed real estate agent. We can come in and take a look at your home, making sure to note everything that plays a role in your home’s value. This will allow us to determine the best list price for your home. If you have any questions for us, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to speak with you!

Buying a Northern Virginia home? Get a full Home Search   Selling your Northern Virginia home? Free Home Price Evaluation Many times, buyers approach me and say that they want a deal. Some of these buyers think they can find a deal with a foreclosure or short sale. What is the difference between foreclosures, short sales, and traditional transactions? First of all, foreclosures are when the bank takes back the collateral for the loan they made. The bank owns the property, which makes them real estate-owned (or REO) properties. When you put an offer on that property, you have to understand that you are negotiating with an institution. It’s not the same as negotiating with Joe Homeowner. When you negotiate with the bank, you might find yourself saying, “Wouldn’t it make sense to do this instead?” Sure, it would make sense - but you have entered a different type of transaction when you’re negotiating with a bank. The other thing to keep in mind when dealing with the bank is the statute of frauds, which means all negotiations need to be in writing. They may say they accept your offer but that doesn’t mean anything until you get the documents and sign the contract. “ Short sales are anything but short. ” When it comes to short sales, remember that they are anything but short. A short sale happens when the homeowner owes more on the home than what it is worth and they need to sell. In this case, the negotiation is with the lender. Say they owe $300,000 and the property is worth $200,000 - they have to negotiate with that lender for the difference of $100,000. It’s summertime right now and hot as can be. I mention that because if you make an offer today on a short sale, it might be the middle of winter before you get an answer back. Traditional sales are the easiest of the three. They do come with their own challenges, but compared to foreclosures and short sales, the buying process is simpler. If you have more in-depth questions about these three transactions, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

Buying a Northern Virginia home? Get a full Home Search   Selling your Northern Virginia home? Free Home Price Evaluation Clients often ask me, “When I have multiple offers, which offer should I accept?” It’s important to keep in mind that not all offers are created the same. My job is to advise you on the pros and cons of each different offer. Price is an important factor to consider. However, if you have one offer for $400,000 and another for $405,000, the higher offer might not be the best. You also have to consider things like terms and financing. For example, if you get an all cash offer that can close in 15 days, that might be your very best offer. An offer that uses conventional financing is better than an FHA or VA loan for various reasons. For example. VA and FHA loans come with stringent appraisal guidelines. Also, a buyer using conventional financing can typically put more money down. “ The highest price may not be the best offer. ” You should also consider the earnest deposit. Usually, someone will put around $1,000 into an escrow account to show that they are committed to purchasing your property. The more earnest money a buyer offers, the more skin they have in the game. In other words, would you rather have $1,000 in earnest money or $20,000 in earnest money? You would want the $20,000! Finally, there are inspection and appraisal contingencies to consider. As you can see, all offers are not considered the same. You need someone who has a lot of experience to walk you through the process and help you make the best decision. If you have any questions, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!