I’m Excited About 2014 and You Should Be Too!

I’m Excited About 2014 and You Should Be Too!

Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful holiday and Christmas season. Today I wanted to quickly go over what the real estate market will look like in 2014. As far as what happened in 2013, a couple highlights were the fact that across the county we saw a 12.5% in values, which is great news. Zillow and other real estate professionals, including myself, are thinking 2014 will bring an additional 3-6% increase in values. That may not be as hot as 2014, but we’re still going in the right direction.

In December 2012, there were 971 closings; fast forward to March 2013 and there were 1,496 closings. As the spring market approaches, we see more homes coming onto the market. In July 2013, we saw 2,496 homes that closed in Northern Virginia. If you’re going to be selling your home in 2014, give us a call and we will set up a pre-listing appointment, learn what your goals and help you achieve those goals.

Stay tuned for more valuable information so you can make informed decisions in the market. Thanks and have a great day!

Why You Should Hire a Buyer’s Agent

Why You Should Hire a Buyer’s Agent

Today I wanted to talk to you about whether or not you should hire a real estate agent when going to buy your next home. Right now, I am in Aldie where there are new construction properties being built. A good buyer’s agent will preview and study the market, know what is on a resale basis and also what is new and coming onto the market. It is my job to go through model and existing homes to show you what specials and financing builders are providing and compare the information to existing properties that is for sale. As a buyer’s agent, I will keep you informed to make the best decision on your next home purchase.

Thanks and have a great day!

How Can You Determine the Value of Your Home?

How Can You Determine the Value of Your Home?

When going to sell your home, it can be difficult to determine the value of your home. We will set up what is called a “pre-listing appointment” where we will look your home and I will also look through other homes on the market to get a sense of the features and benefits of those we will be directly competing with. When comparing prices of other homes to yours, you need to compare the price that it sold for; that’s exactly what an appraiser will do. The active homes don’t establish market value.

Have a great day!

Another House Under Contract!

Another House Under Contract!

I am happy to tell you that in 13 days, we have another house under contract! Now is a great time to sell because even in the fall, homes are flying off the market. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you are on the fence about selling; now is the perfect time!

Homebuyers: 5 Warning Signs You’ve Got a Bad Agent

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If you’re like most homebuyers, you’re probably unfamiliar with the home-buying process, so you tend to second-guess yourself if your agent fails to meet your expectations. Are you being high maintenance, or is this just the way business is done? Take a look at this list of five red flags you could encounter as you shop for a home. If you run into any of these, the problem isn’t you—it’s your agent.

1. Communication Issues
One of the most common complaints homebuyers have about their real estate agents is that they can’t get in touch with them easily. As the housing market heats up, it’s becoming more important to move quickly when you find a home you’re interested in. If your agent isn’t responding to you in a reasonable amount of time and it’s costing you home-buying opportunities, you and your agent are missing out!

2. Power Struggles
It takes a certain level of confidence to walk with homebuyers through one of the most expensive purchases they’ll ever make, but that doesn’t mean your real estate agent can forget that you’re the boss. An agent who pressures you to consider homes that are out of your budget or pushes you to accept a price that’s too high may be more interested in their commission than in helping you find a home you can afford.

3. Lack of Leadership
The opposite side of that coin is an agent who agrees with you on everything and doesn’t offer any guidance. You want an agent who can give you honest advice based on their research and experience—even when you may not fully agree. An agent who’s too wishy-washy may not have the experience you need to negotiate a good deal on your new home.

4. Abundance of Attitude
As we mentioned, you want your agent to have confidence in their ability to do a great job for you, but that shouldn’t translate into rudeness. No matter how many questions you have or how basic they may be, your agent should have the patience to answer each one without a lot of confusing jargon. You should also be able to trust your agent to behave professionally on your behalf. Remember, you don’t have to put up with attitude to get a great real estate agent.

5. You’re Getting Nowhere 
If you’ve been working with your agent for months and aren’t any closer to buying a home than when you started, that’s a big problem. Admittedly, you could be contributing to the problem if you’re being too critical of the homes your agent shows you. But if your agent isn’t showing you homes at all or is showing you homes that you’ve said aren’t right for you, you’re wasting time. It may be time to hire a new agent.