Monthly Archives: June 2011

Weekend Happenings July 1-July 4

Posted on June 30, 2011 by Margie

Happy Fourth of July! Weekend Happenings include Fringe Festival Preview, City Dance & Music with Milkshake, Grillfish Bayfest, Waves at Matsushima, and A Capitol Fourth. Continue reading →

Posted in Living in Northern Virginia, Weekend Happenings | Tagged A Capitol Fourth, City Dance & Music with Milkshake, Fringe Fest Preview, Grillfish Bayfest, Waves at Matsushima | Leave a comment

2 Upcoming Decisions That Might Affect Housing

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Margie

The upcoming decision on the QRM requirement for a 20% down payment and the expiration of higher government backed loan limits will likely impact housing. Continue reading →

Posted in Buying a Home, Selling a Home, The State of Real Estate | Tagged buying a home, buying a house, loan limits, QRM, risk-retention proposal, selling a home, selling a house | Leave a comment

8 Questions to Ask Before You Put an Offer on a Short Sale

Posted on June 28, 2011 by Margie

A short sale is when a homeowner lists their home for sale, contingent on receiving approval from their lender(s) to sell the home for a price that falls short of the amount owed on the mortgage(s). If you are considering putting an offer on a short sale, here are eight questions you should ask first. Continue reading →

Posted in Buying a Home | Tagged buying a home, buying a house, buying a short sale, home buyer, home buyers, house buyer, Northern VA, northern virginia, short sale | 2 Comments

Healthcare Bill Does NOT Include a Real Estate Transfer Tax

Posted on June 24, 2011 by Margie

I just received a forwarded email that claims the new Healthcare Bill includes a 3.8% tax on real estate transfers. This is NOT true. These emails were making the rounds several months ago causing the National Association of Realtors … Continue reading →

Posted in The State of Real Estate | Tagged 3.8% tax, healthcare bill, tax on real estate transfers, tax when you sell your home | Leave a comment

Weekend Happenings June 24-June 26

Posted on June 24, 2011 by Margie

Take advantage of the rain-free weekend! Friday Reggae Night–7:30pm, free with tickets, Carter Barron Amphitheatre: A local favorite, The Washington Post Going Out Guide Weekend Concert Series Reggae Night featuring Archives (f. Lenny Kurlou), Passion Reggae Band and Carl Malcolm … Continue reading →

Posted in Living in Northern Virginia, Weekend Happenings | Tagged DC Caribbean Carnival, Del Ray Music Festival, Georgetown Waterfront Festival, National Capital BBQ Battle, Northern Virginia Brewfest, Reggae Night, weekend happenings, what to do on the weekend | Leave a comment

What Is Today’s Home Buyer Looking For?

Posted on June 16, 2011 by Margie

The more a seller knows about their potential buyer, the more thy can leverage that knowledge to maximize their sales price. Today’s home buyer falls into 3 age groups: Baby Boomers (45+ years old), Gen-Xers (35-44 years old), and Gen-Yers (17-34 years old), and 3 categories: first-time buyers, repeat buyers, and investors. Continue reading →

Posted in Selling a Home | Tagged home buyer, house buyer, Northern VA, northern virginia, selling a home, selling a house, what home buyers look for | Leave a comment

Northern Virginia Housing Statistics, May 2011

Posted on June 15, 2011 by Margie

May, in Northern Virginia, has typically been one of the most active months of the year for home sales. That is not true this year. Despite the best home affordability index in decades and historically low interest rates, buyers are just not buying. Continue reading →

Posted in Real Estate Statistics, Uncategorized | Tagged housing statistics, Northern VA, northern virginia | 2 Comments

Waiting for the bottom to buy a home may not be the best strategy

Posted on June 11, 2011 by Margie

When will we know we have hit the bottom of the housing market when prices are at their lowest? Probably not until we can look back and see this bottom. If you “wait for the bottom” to buy a home, the reality is that you will probably be purchasing once prices are already starting to inch up. This chart explains why waiting is probably not the best strategy. Continue reading →

Posted in Buying a Home | Tagged bottom of market, buying a home, buying a house, lowest housing prices, Northern VA, northern virginia | Leave a comment

Your Home Can Help Fund Retirement

Posted on June 8, 2011 by Margie

Americans are looking for ways to fund their retirement years. Have you considered refinancing to a 15 year fixed rate? Yes, it will increase your monthly payment, but you will pay the loan off in less time and save $10,000’s in interest. Once your mortgage is paid off, you will be living rent free which is the equivalent of increasing your monthly income by your mortgage amount. Continue reading →

Posted in Homeowners | Tagged housing, Northern VA, northern virginia, refinancing, retirement | Leave a comment