Buying a new home is one of the most exciting experiences in life. And if you’re like most homebuyers, you’ll be planning your furniture placement and decor before the ink dries on your offer. But before you run to the nearest home decor outlet, take a deep breath. First, you’ll need to delay any major purchases before you close on your new home. A large outlay or additional line of credit could lower your credit score and, thus, impact your mortgage terms.1 Second, moving and closing costs can add up quickly, so it’s important to be strategic with your remaining budget. But don’t worry! Ther ..read more

Mortgage interest rates have just clipped 8%, making affordability less affordable.  But what is there was a way to buy a home and get the below market rates of yesterday (or yesteryear)? It's possible with an assumable loan.  With an assuamable loan, you're buying the home but you're also buying the current seller's loan and interst rate.  How exactly does this work and what's involved?  Watch my latest episode of Facebook Live at 12:05 where Marti Watson of Potomac Title Group Services walks us though how this works. Despite high interest rates, the Alexandria VA real es ..read more

Whew!  Mortgage interest rates, inflation, the supply of homes at record lows, and it's still a seller's market.  There's no doubt that there's a lot going on right now in the economy and in the real estate market.  It can be overwhelming, confusing, and down right frustrating.  And when you're frustrated, a lot of times, you can become paralyzed. It's totally understandable to be overwhelmed right now.  The good thing is, we've prepared this 2023 Fall Home Selling Guide to break it all down, show your the facts (not the fear), and the graphics to help it to all make ..read more

What Barbara Corcoran Says About Mortgage Rates and Home Prices 'Shark Tank' star Barbara Corcoran recently appeared on Good Morning America to chime in on mortgage rages and prices.  Here's what she had to say: Corcoran explains, "The housing market is surprisingly strong, everybody's surprised by it. Houses are not staying on the market, they all sell, one third of them sell for over ask price, and there are just not enough houses to go around. So, as a result of that, the housing market is as strong as ever and it's so frustrating for buyers." For those asking about waiting until the ..read more

Buying in Alexandria VA | Reasons To Consider Condos in Your Home Search Are you having trouble finding a home that fits your needs and your budget? If so, you should know there’s an option worth considering – condominiums, also known as condos. According to Bankrate: “A condo can be a more affordable entry point to homeownership than a single-family home. And as a homeowner, you’ll build equity over time and have access to tax benefits that a renter wouldn’t.” That’s why expanding your search to include additional housing types, like condominiums, could help you accomplish your homeownersh ..read more

Real Estate Review | What Are the Experts Saying About the Spring 2023 Housing Market? The housing market’s been going through a lot of change lately, and there’s been uncertainty surrounding what will happen this spring. You may be wondering if more homes will go on the market, what’s next with home prices and mortgage rates, or what the best advice is for someone in your position right now. Take a look at what the industry experts are saying right now about the spring housing market and what it means for you: Selma Hepp, Chief Economist, CoreLogic: “We see more competition among buyers ..read more

Coming Soon | 1BR Reston Condo at The Savoy Reston Town Center Condo Coming Soon Thinking about renewing your lease? This condo may be an opportunity for you to own for less than rent.  Why not take advantage of low monthly condo fees with an abundance of community amenities, walking distance to metro, and a move-in home that has been freshly painted, plus a garage space that conveys. Located steps away from the Reston Town Center, Inova Reston Hospital, and close to metro, this second floor condo will be listed at $310,000.  Who wouldn't want to be close to a wide variety of restau ..read more

Why Aren’t Alexandria VA Home Prices Crashing? There have been a lot of shifts in the Alexandria VA housing market recently. Mortgage rates rose dramatically last year, impacting many people’s ability to buy a home. And after several years of rapid price appreciation, home prices finally peaked last summer on a national level. These changes led to a rise in headlines saying prices would end up crashing. Even though we’re no longer seeing the buyer frenzy that drove home values up during the pandemic, prices have been relatively flat at the national level. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the ..read more

Buying a Home in Alexandria VA | How Homeownership Is Life Changing for Many Women Throughout Women’s History Month, we reflect on the impact women have in our lives, and that includes impact on the housing market. In fact, since at least 1981, single women have bought more homes than single men each year, and they make up 17% of all households. Why Is Homeownership So Important to Women? The rise in women pursuing homeownership hasn’t just made an impact on the housing market. It’s also been an asset for those buyers and their households. That’s because homeownership has many benefits, bot ..read more

Alexandria VA 2023 Spring Home Buyer Guide Just Released - Download Now No doubt that the biggest thing to watch in the Alexandria VA real estate market in 2022 was interest rates.  We literally saw interest rates double, which impacted affordability.  We saw a slight slow down in November and December, and it looked like the market was finally turning in favor for buyers, but lo and behold, once January came around, the frenzy started back up again.  Trying to follow and predict this market can give you whiplash.  So, if you're thinking about buying a home in Alexandria V ..read more