Northern Virginia Real Estate Podcast with Jody Donaldson

If you’re thinking of buying a home in the next three months or so, I’m going to give you three questions you need to ask yourself before you dive into the home search.1. Why am I buying in the first place? This is the most important question. For most people, the reason has nothing to do with finances whatsoever. People want a safe place to raise their kids. They want more space for their family, and they want control of the space that they have.

Today, I want to discuss what a home appraisal is and why they are needed when purchasing a house.

.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%; } Looking to sell your home? Get a free home value report Buying a Virginia home? Search all homes for sale Buying a home is one of the biggest investments you can make in your life. You want to make sure it's protected in the event of a disaster or accident. For a home, you will need dwelling coverage, which covers the bricks, mortar, and everything attached to the house. In the event of a fire or total loss, you can rebuild and get back into your home with this type of insurance. However, dwelling insurance doesn't cover detached garages, outdoor sheds, or any other standalone structures on your property. For your personal property, you want to make sure you're covered under your homeowner's insurance policy. Think of your home as a dollhouse. If you picked it up and shook it, everything that falls out would be your personal property. Watches and jewelry are covered, but you may need endorsements or additional coverage based on your collection. When you're trying to figure out where to start, talk to a real person like an insurance adviser or real estate agent. We can help put you on the right path to success. If you have any questions, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!

Buying a home is one of the biggest investments you can make in your life. You want to make sure it’s protected in the event of a disaster or accident. For a home, you will need dwelling coverage, which covers the bricks, mortar, and everything attached to the house. In the event of a fire or total loss, you can rebuild and get back into your home with this type of insurance. However, dwelling insurance doesn’t cover detached garages, outdoor sheds, or any other standalone structures on your property.

Today, we share some tips to help you save money on your home insurance! Megan Merkosky of Brown & Brown Insurance is here to explain.

The latest real estate numbers for Northern Virginia just came out, so I wanted to take a second of your time to update you on them.

.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%; } Looking to sell your home? Get a free home value report Buying a Virginia home? Search all homes for sale Buying and selling a home is a stressful process and lots of different things can go wrong. However, a home warranty can solve a lot of these problems. Here are a few reasons why I believe that a home warranty is a good option.Base plans protect systems and appliances: This is always a good thing to have, and it should provide a lot of peace of mind for you. You can also upgrade your package so that more of your belongings are protected. Products are tailored to your geographic area: Maybe you live on a flood plain, or in an area that's prone to fires. Wherever you are, the warranty will cover your specific area's needs.Service guarantee: Warranty companies provide great vendors that always do their best to provide excellent customer service. I've also seen that most claims made on warranties are handled quickly and efficiently. Sometimes, if they cannot respond fast enough, they'll allow you to hire a local contractor.Peace of mind: The biggest advantage of a home warranty is the peace of mind it allows you to have when you move into a new home. On average, every homeowner goes through two mechanical failures every year. If you have a warranty when something goes wrong, all you have to do is give them a call, pay your deductible, and you're set.  Even if you're selling your home, you can purchase a home warranty during the period of time that it's on the market. This way, if something goes wrong, you can get it fixed quickly and not spend your time worrying when you're just trying to sell your home. You can also use it as a valuable marketing tool when you sell, because buyers like to see homes that are under warranty, and it's easy to transfer the coverage to buyers. Overall, getting a home warranty is a great way to secure peace of mind. Please don't hesitate to ask me about any of this information, I'd be happy to help you!

Buying and selling a home is a stressful process and lots of different things can go wrong. However, a home warranty can solve a lot of these problems. Here are a few reasons why I believe that a home warranty is a good option.

.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%; }  Looking to sell your home? Get a free home value reportBuying a Virginia home? Search all homes for sale Real Estate Business Intelligence, which studies our local real estate market with the George Mason University Center for Regional Analysis, has just released some numbers for our market.New pending contracts increased by 13%The number of closed sales increased by 41.2%There are 8,000 active listings, which is a 26.6% increase over this time last yearOur median sales price of $415,500 is a 4% increase over last yearOur average days on market is sitting at 67 days, which is a two week decrease from last MarchBuyer demand continues to improve, and seller activity is also beginning to pick up On top of all of this, mortgage rates continue to be very low, so it is a phenomenal time to purchase a home. If you're looking to buy or sell this spring, now is the time to get prepared. You don't want to miss out on this market!  Contact me now for a free home consultation! I would love to help you sell your Northern Virginia home.

Real Estate Business Intelligence, which studies our local real estate market with the George Mason University Center for Regional Analysis, has just released some numbers for our market.