Associate Broker, Long & Foster Real Estate
Many have opted to sit out the process of buying a home in 2023 and 2024 due to higher mortgage interest rates, the thought being that they will enter the market when rates come down. What those buyers are not considering is the other buyers that will also be entering the market when, and if, Read More ...
Selling a home can be a stressful process. How we live is not how we sell. Home owners usually know their properties need polishing, but may not know how much. From the moment I meet future sellers I help them evaluate the projects they should be taking on prior to listing, and just as importantly, Read More ...
It Takes a Great Agent to Recognize Another Great Agent If there is one thing that I have learned about the real estate industry since becoming a part of it in 2005, it is that not everyone licensed to do this job bring the same level of seriousness and professionalism to it. It’s the same Read More …
Coming Soon: 2 Bedroom/1 Bath Townhouse in Centreville for $260,000 If you are in the market for a down sized or first time home in the convenient commuter location of Centreville, this end unit townhouse in Newgate may be just the ticket. One the new carpet has been installed on the upper level and the Read More …
Do Sellers Get to See the Buyer’s Appraisal? If a seller is seeing a buyer’s appraisal, there is a problem. The only time a seller gets to see their buyer’s appraisal is if the value is lower than the agreed upon sales price. At least, that’s how it works in the Northern Virginia area, which Read More …
How Much Does Your Lender Care? Earlier in the week, I was reviewing offers on a listing I have in Fairfax City. As is my business practice, I called each lender from the pre-approval letters accompanying offers. It’s important to know whether or not the lender can meet the settlement date and time frames in Read More …
Happy First Time Buyer in Middletown, VA It is not often that I have the time to venture outside of the areas of Bristow, Gainesville, Manassas, Haymarket and areas east to assist clients. This year, however, has been unlike any other year in a lot of aspects…my travel distance to serve clients being one of Read More …
Sellers Sure Get Generous as Moving Approaches Moving is one of life’s ugly chores. Boxing up everything you own can be an overwhelming task. You get to see how much stuff you had that you simply forgot about. Makes you re-evaluate what you actually want to take with you. I often counsel sellers with a Read More …
Fairfax City Duplex Under Contract in 5 Days It was late afternoon on Halloween when this three bedroom, one and a half bathroom duplex became an active listing. Priced at $375,000, I was a little shocked that there had been no calls during the “coming soon” period of the listing. By November 1st, this home Read More …
November 2020, A Decision Looms on the Horizon Don’t worry. I’m not going to talk about politics. If you are as sick as I am of the non-stop yammering on 24 hour news channels about the election, breathe a sigh of relief. The decision looming on the horizon I am going to address is one Read More …
Why I Will Not Practice Dual Agency Getting started in the real estate business, I quickly learned the best way to do business is to know who you are working for and not to go against that party. Dual agency is a legal, but not something that I will ever participate in. Dual agency is Read More …
Is It Too Late to List? Many people are of the belief that if you aren’t listing during warmer months (spring and summer,) you have no chance of selling your home. Since I have been a licensed agent in 2005, holidays are among some of the most hectic times in our market. Serious buyers are Read More …