Earnest money deposits are one of the most critical parts of the home buying process. To show a seller that an offer is serious and made in good faith, a prospective homebuyer will include a check with their offer, for typically 1-2% of the purchase price.
Continue reading “What Are The 3 Ways Buyers Can Lose Their Earnest Money Deposit?”
Is sustainability important to buyers?
When you are buying a home, the financial vernacular can get a little confusing. You have heard of earnest money deposits and down payments, but do you need one over the other? Do you need to accommodate for both? Are they the same thing?
Continue reading “What Is The Difference Between An Earnest Money Deposit And A Down Payment?”
Last night I met with a couple interested in moving to a larger home from their four bedroom, two-and-one-half bath, split level. Their main motivation for wanting to move is one of square footage; they’re interested in bigger bedrooms, a larger living room, and more kitchen space.
One of the most frustrating aspects of searching for a new home is the time wasted looking at properties that ultimately don’t interest you.
Continue reading “Home Buying: How to Determine your Search Criteria”
I’ve heard of many kinds of scams over the years, but more recently I’ve seen a scam involving skimming money from unsuspecting tenants who are applying to lease residential real estate from an out- of-town landlord. Here’s the story.
Continue reading “Insider Story: Real Estate Scam – Don’t Let This Happen To You!”
This week our blog features a piece written by Adriana Parreira Cora, an agent with our Group who will be featured on Eric Stewart’s radio show on WMAL 105.9FM THIS Sunday morning, September 2nd, at 8 AM. Follow along with her as she recounts her trip to New York, what she’s observed about New York neighborhoods, and how this relates back to the DC area.
Continue reading “Real Estate Observations from Brooklyn, New York – by Adriana Parreira Cora”
I recently took a listing in Alexandria, VA, and the seller requested that I create and share a “coming soon” listing with other local agents, even though it won’t be on the open market for six months. She prefers to sell it quietly, and I offered a discount on my commission if we’re able to do it without the extensive (and expensive) marketing that we use for homes on the open market.
Continue reading “How do you buy a home before it hits the open market?”
2018’s housing market is hot, with Seattle, Washington enduring the highest rise in home prices, up 14 percent from 2017. So how does Seattle’s market compare to ours in the Washington DC metro area?
Continue reading “How does the DC market compare to Seattle?”
The high value of luxury homes comes from the unique perks they offer, and selling any home entails communicating its value for the price. When people seek luxury, they search for amenities like tennis courts, a pool, a magnificent view, a coveted location, and an expansive lot. The more high-end amenities a home offers, the stronger the perception of its luxury status.
The weather is sweltering and the air is still and thick. You’ve just finished some rigorous yard work and the sweat is dripping off of you. Wouldn’t you like to take a cool, refreshing dip in your crystal blue pool? Who wouldn’t? But how does having a pool affect your property value?
Continue reading “How does having a pool affect the value of your home?”
