Wednesday, December 31, 2014

New Year's Resolutions to Help Sell Your Northern Virginia Home

Many homeowners in Northern Virginia are now realizing the positive direction in which the market is heading— and as a result, plan to sell their homes in 2015. Low mortgage rates are said to continue, as well as steady home value appreciation and an increasing number of motivated homebuyers. 

 If you're ready to sell in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, McLean or Mount Vernon this coming year, here are three home seller's resolutions that can help bring you success in 2015.

 Appeal to buyers online
As your real estate agent in NoVa, I have a strategy for seeking out homebuyers in the first place they look— online. Listing photos are especially important to grabbing a buyer's attention. Staying away from the online aspect of a listing may just yield you less activity.

 Don't sell before you are ready
One of the biggest rules for listing your home is to not do so until you are ready. Have you listened to your agent's advice for selling and pricing? Have you prepared your home for sale, cleaning and removing clutter? Do you know where you will go when you sell? If you've tackled all of these, you can move forward with the selling process.

 Think of your home as an investment
It is inevitable that you will have strong emotions connected to your Northern Virginia home. After all, a home holds memories. But it is important as a home seller that you are able to think of you home as an investment. If your emotions get in the way, you could end up passing by a great offer or avoid negotiating with a serious homebuyer.

 2015 will be a lucrative time to be both a homebuyer and home seller in Northern Virginia. Winter was recently even named the best time to sell! Consider these new year's resolutions as a NoVa home seller and you just may be met with success (and a new home!) in the year ahead.
I happily serve the areas of Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, Burke, Centreville, Chantilly, Clifton, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Great Falls, Herndon, Lake Ridge, McLean, Mount Vernon, Reston, Rosslyn, Springfield, Tyson’s Corner and Vienna. 
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Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Keeping Your Northern Virginia Home Safe While You're Away for the Holidays

It's common for many Northern Virginia homeowners to head out of town for the holidays, from Christmas through New Year's. If you're packing up this week to visit your friends and family, be sure to take the extra precautions to keep your home safe. 

 Follow the tips below to ensure you're not met with a holiday disaster upon your return to your home in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, McLean or Mount Vernon. 

  • Update the entryways to your Northern Virginia home. Burglars are more likely to target homes with older doors and dilapidated window frames. Take a step back to look at your home from a new perspective and fortify the entry points.
  • You may have already taken the time to put your lights on a timer, but going to extra mile to make your home look occupied is key to preventing theft. If you can, rely on your neighbors to pick up your mail and shovel if snow falls while you're away.
  • Know where all of your valuables are when you leave. If you'll be leaving valuable items in your house while you travel, take inventory before you go. You can even use household items like flour bags and cupboards to keep them out of sight.
  • Do not post your location on social media. It's important to keep your travels off of social media if your home will be unoccupied. The last thing you need is for someone to see you'll be out of town for a week and pay your NoVa home a visit.
  • Light up the rooms. As I mentioned above, timers can be helpful to make it look like someone is home. Burglars know lights are typically left on during the holidays, so changing lights are essential.  
When you return to Northern Virginia, do not hesitate to contact me! My experience in local real estate can help you both buy a new home and sell your current property in the new year.
I happily serve the areas of Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, Burke, Centreville, Chantilly, Clifton, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Great Falls, Herndon, Lake Ridge, McLean, Mount Vernon, Reston, Rosslyn, Springfield, Tyson’s Corner and Vienna. 
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Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Northern Virginia Real Estate: Winter Found as Best Time to Sell

According to a new real estate brokerage Redfin, the winter season will be the best time to sell your Northern Virginia home. In fact, sellers who list during this time of year will actually find it to be the most opportune time to make a move. 

 Winter officially lasts from December 21 through March 20 and during this time, the Northern Virginia real estate market will see an influx of more focused, more motivated home sellers and buyers.

 The study also found that February is "historically the best month to list, with an average of 66 percent of homes listed then selling within 90 days." Despite the cold weather, researchers found that sellers were better off listing their home in the winter than in any other month.

 In fact, in their research, Redfin found December 2012 listings produced the highest percentage of sales prices above-asking for the entire year. 

 Many home sellers tend to wait until the spring to list, but taking advantage of the current real estate market could help you reap the rewards. The winter season offers less competition, smaller inventory to keep eyes focused on your property, and motivated buyers as many will be relocating for the beginning of the new year.

 Thinking of selling this winter? The months of December, January, February and March are more likely to net sellers above asking price as compared to sales in June through November. 

 With my expertise in real estate, I can help you find the best homebuyer for your property and close the best possible deal on your end. Don't let the winter discourage you from selling your home in Northern Virginia— this time of year is equally as advantageous as the spring and summer months!
I happily serve the areas of Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, Burke, Centreville, Chantilly, Clifton, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Great Falls, Herndon, Lake Ridge, McLean, Mount Vernon, Reston, Rosslyn, Springfield, Tyson’s Corner and Vienna. 
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Tuesday, December 9, 2014

2015 Looking Like an Exciting Year for Northern Virginia, DC Real Estate

Realtor.com has already called 2015 the "Year of the First-time Homebuyer" and for Northern Virginia and DC real estate, it is looking like it will be a great year at that.

 With the rising costs of rent expected to continue, new 3% down payment programs rolling out, and CNN Money even naming DC one of the 10 hottest markets for 2015, homebuyers have much to look forward to in the coming year. With my expertise in real estate, I would be happy to help you sell your current home in Mount Vernon, Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, McLean or find your dream home in the NoVa and DC area next year. There is much to take advantage of given the optimistic housing outlook.

 Here are just a few of the main points both buyers and sellers can look forward to in the real estate market:
  • Home value appreciation will cool down, from around 6 percent to 2.5 percent.
  • Rents will continue to rise, to the tune of 3.5 percent annually through 2015, and as a result, homeownership will continue to be the better investment.
  • Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's new mortgage programs allowing for as little as 3% down on a home purchase.
  • In terms of new household formation, DC will be among the top 5 metro areas and hold that place over the net 5 years, according to Realtor.com's Chief Economist.
  • Home sales continuing to rise, thus strengthening the real estate market and boosting home seller confidence.
If buying new or selling your current home is on your to-do list for the next year, do not hesitate to contact me! With all of the positive factors coming up in the real estate market, 2015 is looking like an exciting year!
I happily serve the areas of Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, Burke, Centreville, Chantilly, Clifton, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Great Falls, Herndon, Lake Ridge, McLean, Mount Vernon, Reston, Rosslyn, Springfield, Tyson’s Corner and Vienna. 
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Tuesday, December 2, 2014

4 Ways to Prepare Your Northern Virginia Home for Winter

Temperatures are dropping and the snow is falling in Northern Virginia— winter is almost here! But even if you're feeling ready for the snowy season to settle in, your home in Alexandria, Arlington, McLean, Mount Vernon and Centreville will need some attention. 

Bundling up the attic and protecting your pipes are just two winter preparation tasks to cross off of your list this month!

Insulate the hot water heater
Depending on where your water heater is located in your Northern Virginia home, insulation can be especially important this winter. If the heater is located in the garage, for instance, it will have to work that much harder to heat in such a cold room. Adding an insulating blanket over your heater can help it to remain efficient all winter long.

Find gaps and holes where heat can escape
Heating your home can be pricey— you don't want to let all of the heat escape out of a tiny crack in the attic or through faulty windows. Take a walk around your home, feeling for places where cold air may be creeping in (and thus, heat traveling out). Pay attention to window panes and around door frames.

Warm up the attic
By repairing the insulation in your NoVa home's attic, you can save up to 20 percent on utility bills. Be sure to patch any air leaks here and check that your attic door is just as insulated as the rest of the space.

Protect the pipes
Water can freeze inside your pipes and cause them to burst, giving way to an expensive repair bill. To prevent this, always keep your thermostat set at or above 55 degrees F, even if you'll be away from home.

Winter can be a lovely time in Northern Virginia, don't let these common homeowner hassles get you down. I have decades of experience working in the real estate market and I'd be happy to assist you with your homebuyer or seller goals this year! 

I happily serve the areas of Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, Burke, Centreville, Chantilly, Clifton, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Great Falls, Herndon, Lake Ridge, McLean, Mount Vernon, Reston, Rosslyn, Springfield, Tyson’s Corner and Vienna. 
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