Wednesday, April 30, 2014

How to Stand Out as a Northern Virginia Homebuyer

While the cooler weather is winding down, the temperatures aren't the only thing picking up. According to a new study, the number of Northern Virginia homeowners planning to buy a new home is about to change dramatically. When comparing with past years, the local real estate markets in Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church are going to see a much larger influx of homebuyers.

Now that homebuyers are flocking to local markets, how can you stand out? Grab a pen and paper and make yourself a checklist to ensure you're on the right track to buy a home in Northern Virginia. Here are a few tips to give you that homebuyer edge over the others this year:

Clean Your Finances
After you spring clean your home this year, turn to your finances. A seller doesn't know your financial situation, so despite how confident you are in obtaining a mortgage, they might not feel the same. Oftentimes when sellers are in a rush to sell, they do not want to worry about financing potentially falling through.

To be pro-active, you can get pre-approved by your lender. The pre-approval process is extensive and involves paperwork to detail your income and assets. For both your Northern Virginia real estate agent and the home seller, this letter of approval offers peace of mind that you're serious about buying.

Work with the Seller
Think about it— when you're competing with other buyers, the best thing you can do is to work with the seller. Be flexible! There are likely a number of buyers in 
Northern Virginia real estate who are set on dates, numbers, and come packaged with contingencies. Show that you are willing to work with the seller on the home sale puts you ahead of other buyers who may have the purchase contingent upon their own home sale.Sellers are more willing to work with buyers who don't have extra hoops to jump through.

Be Quick
Found a home in 
Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church that you love? One that meets all of your wants and needs? You may want to act fast. Other homebuyers may have started the process and love the home as much as you do. Remember, sometimes an accepted offer can come down to a matter of minutes between buyers.


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.

Earle Whitmore

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