Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Why to Hire a Northern Virginia Real Estate Agent

If you've been perusing Northern Virginia real estate, dreaming of becoming a homeowner, and finally contemplating buying a home in Northern Virginia— one of the greatest decisions you can make to get there is hiring a real estate agent. Many homebuyers may wonder the benefits of hiring a real estate agent when searching for their new home in Alexandra, Arlington, or Fairfax. The following should help you realize that hiring a trusted, experienced real estate professional is just the first step in achieving your homebuyer and home seller dreams.

They have the education and experience
Real estate agents know the ins and outs of their particular area. For instance, the best neighborhoods in NOVA and DC, the homes for sale in Northern Virginia that are exactly what you're looking for. You don't need to know everything about real estate in your area— leave it to the pros.

They have neighborhood expertise
As your Northern Virginia real estate agent, I can help you compare the values of similar homes in your area to achieve a great listing price and how to get your home sold. When you hire a real estate agent, you don't have to do the research.

They have professional networks
As one of the top producing professionals in the Northern Virginia and DC areas, I have created a professional network in the industry over the past three decades. It's helpful to tap into this network when the time comes to buy or sell Northern Virginia real estate and hiring a trusted industry expert can do just that.

They handle the paperwork
Think of all the paperwork that comes with buying a home in Northern Virginia. Many purchase agreements can run 10 pages or more and with me as your real estate agent, I will walk you through step by step. In hiring a real estate agent, you have someone who's done this before and knows each step in the process.

They negotiate and buffer
Real estate agents are there to negotiate the deals, making sure you are getting a great one, and buffer out the builder's agents and other industry insiders that might try to take advantage of a homebuyer or home seller in your position. Your real estate agent acts with your best interests in mind to help you get what you want.

They answer questions
Because this is undoubtedly the biggest purchase you will make in your life, you will have questions. And you should have answers. Your real estate agent will be there to answer questions before, during, and after the closing, ready to assist you with whatever you might need.

Photo via KCM
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


Posted by at 1 comment:
Labels: , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Northern Virginia Real Estate Trends— Buying a House Before Marriage

The American dream of owning a home is still alive and well and it seems more popular among those soon to be married. According to AOL Real Estate, Northern Virginia homebuyers may actually be better off purchasing a home before they tie the knot. Here are some reasons to consider buying a home in the Northern Virginia or DC areas if you're in this situation:

Debt
The most limiting factor in buying Northern Virginia real estate is the debt of your future spouse. For instance, if your future spouse has a low credit score, credit card debt, auto loans, and other financial obligations, you may have trouble qualifying for homes for sale in Northern Virginia. In some cases, by purchasing a house before you're married, you can avoid this problem.

 Credit Score
If you have a higher credit score than your future spouse, it is important to know that lenders often take the lower of the scores. Because of this, you may be granted a higher interest rate even if you have a higher credit score. The way around it? You guessed it. Buying a home before you get married— if you know your credit scores now, you may be able to improve them before the time comes to buy.

 Cash
If your spouse cannot source cash deposits in their bank account, it's a losing situation for the both of you. AOL Real Estate advises, "the mortgage company is still required by federal law to source any deposits beyond one's normal income source. [This is] another problem that's solved by buying the house first."

 Loan Type
When using a conventional loan for your Northern Virginia home, and the other spouse is not included on the loan, their debts will not be included in your ratio that determines how much you are able to borrow in a home loan. However, they will be factored in when using FHA, VA, and USDA loans.

The moral of this real estate story? Buying a home when you're married can limit your lending options. Ready to start the search with a trusted, experienced real estate professional? Contact me today to discuss your options and begin the home search.


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



Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Your Trusted, Experienced Northern Virginia Real Estate Agent

When it comes to selling or buying Northern Virginia real estate, you have a lot of decisions to make— and it all starts with finding a trusted real estate professional. Beginning your search for homes for sale in Northern Virginia will be a much smoother process when you have an experienced industry professional on your side. But can you really put a price on experience? One real estate study says yes, you can.

According to the Wall Street Journal, veteran real estate agents vastly outsell their rookie counterparts, at prices around 12 percent or more of their less experienced counterparts. "Veteran agents tend to list more new properties, more townhouses and condominiums and larger properties."

"The more experience you have, the more likely you are to sell the properties you list," said Bennie Waller, professor of finance and real estate at Longwood University in Farmville, Va. "The more likely you are to sell [the home] at a higher price and the less time it stays on the market."

In fact, two-thirds of properties listed by veteran agents sold, while only half of properties listed by rookie agents sold. But why? As you may have guessed, veteran agents have greater knowledge of neighborhoods and a larger network of homebuyers and sellers, as well as relationships with home inspectors, appraisers, and mortgage brokers.

That's where I come in. With over three decades of experience in helping Northern Virginia/DC homebuyers and sellers make the most of their investment and lifestyle needs, I have the knowledge of the area to help you achieve your Northern Virginia real estate goals. As one of the top producing professionals in the Northern Virginia/DC area, you can count on me to sell your home in the area and help you find one that meets your needs— in the right amount of time.

Looking to sell (or buy) a home in Northern Virginia or Washington, DC area? I am your trusted, experienced real estate professional that can help you achieve your real estate goals and needs. Contact me today to start your process of moving to a new home!

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
Posted by at 1 comment:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Staying Safe When Buying Northern Virginia Real Estate

When banking or shopping online, many consumers feel comfortable in the state of their security. You can protect your credit card numbers, use certified payment methods, and stay on track to avoiding identity theft— but how about when buying Northern Virginia real estate? When starting your home search online, there are online precautions to take to ensure both you and your personal information are kept safe.

"People who are looking for a home have money and criminals are out there watching," says the head of global research and analysis team of antivirus and security software company Kaspersky Lab. "It's like walking around a minefield. Buyers need to take steps to protect their information from identify theft and their computer from viruses."

Update Your Computer's Security
If you head online to look for homes for sale in Northern Virginia, your new computer can quickly become riddled with malware. The easiest precaution you can take it updating your computer's security software— anti-virus, anti-phishing, anti-spyware and a firewall.

Update Your Browser
It's easy to lose sight of your personal information when using an outdated browser. Be sure to update your browser of choice by downloading the latest version and make sure all plug-ins have been updated as well.

Pick Up The Phone
It's not always a wise idea to send personal and confidential information through the internet. Sometimes picking up the phone to relay that information and confirm a person's identity can protect you from a world of headache later.

Shred Away
I am sponsoring a shredding event on September 21. You are welcome to bring papers to shred via our professional shredding truck. Come have a cup of coffee and a doughnut— and relax! There's no taking out staples, removing clips, or taking papers out of notebooks. You can simply drive up, dump your shredding documents, and be on your way!

The shredding event is on Saturday, September 21 from 10 AM to 1 PM at my office. 7010 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA 22003. Feel free to call with any questions: 703-750-2900.


Earle Whitmore
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Who's Buying Northern Virginia Real Estate? This Group!

More and more homebuyers have been entering the real estate market, looking for homes for sale in Northern Virginia. But who makes up this group of homebuyers? According to the National Association of Realtors, "more Americans are opting to live alone, with single buyers making up a quarter of all home purchases last year."

"In the U.S., there are 33 million one-person households, and living solo is an international trend," MSN Real Estate also reported.

But why are so many Northern Virginia homebuyers living alone? The fact, as determined by sociologists, remains that among this local real estate demographic, many of them are marrying later, divorcing more, and living longer.

It has also been determined recently that more homebuyers looking for Northern Virginia real estate are single women."Solo households are mostly women: 18 million women live alone versus 14 million men [with] the majority of solo households in cities and metro areas," one sociologist reported.

With more homebuyers being single and searching for real estate in Northern Virginia, the perk is being able to focus on lifestyles and how that translates into real estate— home features, home styles, and housing characteristics that play into a homebuyer's specific interests.

Agents say single person households may tend to be drawn to more low-maintenance homes, typically condos, and yet according to data, still place a high priority on buying homes in Northern Virginia that are in good school districts— for resale purposes.

The biggest challenge for single homebuyers is qualifying for a mortgage— do you fall into that category? If you're looking to buy a house in Northern Virginia and begin discussing your options for financing your new home, contact me today.

Let me show you the Best Real Estate in Northern Virginia and help you find your dream home!

Earle Whitmore





Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Mortgages and the Northern Virginia Home Seller

The word mortgage is in every NOVA homebuyer and seller's vocabulary and now, as rates rise with Northern Virginia real estate supply and demand, it's important to know the basics. Cash offers may come in and you might be tempted, but knowing how to prioritize and sort through the others might actually be the better option. A better approach is indeed to consider all of your home seller opportunities:

 Cash Offers
An all-cash offer should always peak a home seller's interest, especially since this often provides a quicker sale and closing. After all, a failure to secure proper financing for one's NOVA real estate transaction is the number one reason why deals fall through. 

 "A cash offer isn't a guarantee, however. And there's another downside for the seller: Most cash offers come from investors looking to "fix and flip" houses they buy at a discount," one home loan expert told MSN Real Estate. "These investors don't plan to occupy these houses for the long term, if at all."

 Taking a cash offer is often a good bet that you'll receive your money quicker and sell faster, but on the other hand, with a homebuyer who secures financing, you might be able to make money in the process.

 Pre-qualification Letters
These letters are written by lenders to state that a homebuyer is qualified to obtain financing for homes for sale in Northern Virginia. But, not all of these are created equal, and it's up to the real estate agent and seller to do some research to determine which are best. While loan officers cannot give a homebuyers personal details, they can discuss their strengths and just how qualified they are.

 Closing Deals
Either way, NOVA home sellers have the ability to choose which offer best suits them and their real estate needs and wants. Cash offers do often mean a closing is imminent and a quick one at that, with no hassle of financing. But if you, the home seller, feel strongly about another offer, it's important you research before making the final decision.

 Selling your home in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax County, or the DC area? Contact me today to plan out the best strategy for closing on your home.


Earle Whitmore


Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Northern Virginia Real Estate: Pricing Your NOVA Home to Sell

There's no doubt that more homebuyers are making their way into the Northern Virginia real estate market, with confidence high in buying a house. As a result, confidence is building with sellers too— with more ready to list their homes and move on to their next dream home in the NOVA or DC area.

First on their list? Pricing their home appropriately. Pricing one's home can be a tricky subject and can cause a home to sit with no activity if its not done well. In this case, the key to pricing your NOVA home to sell begins with pricing it on the higher end.

According to a new study by researchers Grace Bucchianeri and Julia Minson, "the higher a home is priced at the outset, the more likely it is that it will get a higher offer from a buyer."

That may come as a surprise to NOVA home sellers as a popular pricing strategy in real estate is to underprice a home in order to spark a bidding war. However, the researchers in this new study say this is ineffective as there are seldom enough buyers in a given real estate market to create the "herding effect" to increase prices. In fact, the researchers found underpricing a home could actually lead to a lower sales price than anticipated.

NOVA homebuyers may take into account a wide range of housing prices in their home search, but always refer back to their original first impressions when making a decision to buy a house in Northern Virginia. 

Your best bet and first item on your home seller to-do list? Wow the homebuyers with curb appeal, as well as interior staging, and price your home on the higher side to inspire higher sales prices. Ready to take the next step in selling your NOVA home or make a move to Alexandria, Fairfax, or other area of our great NOVA community? Contact us today!
Earle Whitmore


Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)