Fairfax County VA Home Search Website Blog

The availability of Fairfax County Virginia real estate and real estate throughout the U.S. is tremendous. Whether you’re looking for investment real estate or a vacation home, you can get great deals when buying U.S. real estate.

Here are 5 reasons why now is a good time to invest in U.S. and Fairfax County Virginia real estate:

REASON #1:  More for your money.

With the decline in the value of the U.S. dollar, foreign investors get a lot more for their money when purchasing U.S. real estate.  For example, on April 21, 2011, if you had $250,000 Canadian dollars to invest in real estate it would purchase an American home worth $262,109 U.S. dollars.

REASON #2:  The average American home price has dropped.

With the days of inflated prices for American real estate gone, so is the worry of huge losses when the market falls.   The American real estate market has reached an equilibrium allowing it to once again be a safe long term investment.

REASON #3:  America is diverse.

From ski slopes to desert dunes to ocean waves, America has it all.  Whether you love warm sandy beaches or rolling hills lined with grapevines, the choices are numerous.  Not your style? Try Brooklyn’s delicious diners or California’s Rodeo Drive.

REASON #4:  Earn income from your U.S. real estate.

Purchasing American real estate opens up the opportunity to gain rental income.  There are many property management companies that can oversee the day-to-day operations of your property in your absence.

REASON #5:  Sun and fun all year long.

If you live in Canada or other cold-weather areas, you can escape the long winters when you purchase real estate in warm-weather areas like Arizona, Florida, New Mexico, Texas or California, to name a few.  Year-round golf and warm beaches can make any winter worth looking forward to.

If you’d like more information on purchasing Fairfax County Virginia real estate, give me a call today at 703-909-3939 or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com.

Steve Hawkins
Long and Foster REALTORS®
Springfield, Virginia
www.HomeSearchWebsite.com
Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com
703-909-3939

Buying one of the Alexandria VA homes for sale by owner (FSBO) has benefits and drawbacks. Analyzing the pros and cons of buying a home directly from the homeowner can help you decide whether this is the best move for you.

Pros of buying a FSBO

• You get the house you want.  If the home of your dreams happens to be a Alexandria VA home for sale by owner, don’t worry.  You can still have your real estate agent represent you while buying the home.  That way you get the home you want with a knowledgeable agent looking out for your best interests and helping you get the best price and terms.
• Sellers may price their homes too low.  In their eagerness to sell their homes, sellers may offer their homes at prices lower than the market value.  But, don’t count on this because the typical FSBO is priced at or higher than the market average.
• You can communicate directly with the owner.  You and your real estate agent don’t have to go through a third party (the seller’s agent) to negotiate with the seller.

Cons of buying a FSBO

• Sellers want to maximize profits.  Why do owners decide to sell their homes as FSBOs?  It’s usually because they believe they can maximize their profits by not paying a listing agent to sell their homes.  They’re not doing it so they can give the buyer a great deal.   If you’re thinking you can pay less for a FSBO than for a home listed through a real estate agent, think again.  Statistics show that you pay as much or more for FSBOs, especially if you purchase it without the help of a real estate agent who is a skilled negotiator.
• Homeowners may withhold important information. Even though homeowners are required by law to disclose any information that would impact the buyer’s decision to purchase the property, they may not.  They may intentionally withhold the information to get you to buy the house, or they may unintentionally withhold the information because they don’t know that it’s the law.
• Difficult negotiations. Sellers may refuse to lower the price of their homes, even if the homes are overpriced, or they may not want to pay for needed repairs.  The home owner is also more personally connected to the property than a real estate agent would be and therefore may be more sensitive to any form of critique.

Whether you want to buy a Alexandria VA home for sale by owner or a home listed with a real estate agent, I can help you get the best terms and price.  I’ll also look out for your best interests and make sure all the i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed.  If that sounds good to you, give me a call today at 703-909-3939 or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com.

Steve Hawkins
Long and Foster REALTORS®
Springfield, Virginia
www.HomeSearchWebsite.com
Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com
703-909-3939

The Alexandria VA home which you’re preparing to buy (or the land on which the home was built) was most likely owned by several other people before you. If there was ever a problem with the property title, it could cause you trouble.

Avoid ownership concerns down the road by understanding problems that may occur with the property title and how to protect your property.

Title Problems

Problems with property titles include forged signatures, unpaid real estate taxes, other liens on the property, undisclosed heirs and errors or omissions in deeds.

Property Title Search

To uncover problems with the property’s title, have a title search done after your sales contract has been accepted.  If any problems are found with the title, they can be fixed before you close on the property.

Owner’s Title Insurance

Sometimes there are title problems that could not be found in the public records or are unintentionally missed in the title search process.  Owner’s title insurance covers you for any claims and legal fees that arise out of problems with the title on your property.

Specifically, owner’s title insurance protects you from challenges to your legal ownership of real property resulting from liens, encroachments of mortgage property onto the neighboring property, encumbrances, taxes due, mechanics liens and other matters.  The policy will defend the title against lawsuits or reimburse for actual monetary loss up to the policy amount.

Be sure to take out owner’s title insurance, if you’re purchasing a foreclosure or short sale.  The owner’s title insurance policy protects you from forged or other mishandled documentation that may have occurred during the foreclosure or short sale process.  With the rise in short sale scams, this can be crucial in retaining your Alexandria VA home.

Paying for Owner’s Title Insurance

Title insurance is paid for by a one-time fee at closing.  The policy remains in force as long as you or your heirs retain interest in the property.  It can be paid for by the buyer or the seller.  Ask your real estate agent what is typical for your area.

If you’d like to buy one of the Alexandria VA homes for sale, I can guide you through the process from finding a home to the title search and through closing.  Please call me at 703-909-3939 or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com for more information.

Steve Hawkins
Long and Foster REALTORS®
Springfield, Virginia
www.HomeSearchWebsite.com
Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com
703-909-3939

With the overabundance of properties for sale these days, your Alexandria VA home for sale needs to stand out from the crowd.  One of the easiest things you can do to make your home shine is to finish all the basic repairs you’ve been putting off.

Here are 5 little repairs that make a big difference to potential buyers who visit your Alexandria VA home for sale:

1. Perk up the exterior: As we all know, first impressions are crucial.  Give your picket fence, mailbox and front door a fresh coat of paint.  Missing roof shingles and hanging gutters frighten potential buyers, so fix them.  Give buyers the opportunity to think, “Where’s the best place for our couch?” rather than “Oh no, there’s a problem with the roof!”

2. Fix dripping faucets: A dripping faucet calls attention to itself, but it’s not difficult or expensive to fix.   While you’re fixing that dripping faucet, why not replace the fixtures.  It’s a minor expensive that gives your bathroom or kitchen a major facelift.

3. Cover wall cracks: Hairline wall cracks that appear above windows and doors are caused when framing lumber dries out and shrinks or the structure settles.  Although they typically are not signs of structural problems, they may scare away potential buyers.  Cover them with spackling or adhesive-backed fiber mesh drywall tape.

4. Repair floors: Replace chipped or cracked tiles, and clean or replace the grout.  Refinish hardwood floors.  Steam clean or replace carpets.

5. Restore baseboards: If you’re like most people, you haven’t thought about your baseboards for years.  During that time, pets, children and vacuum sweepers beat-up your baseboards making them dirty, scratched eye sores.  Take the time to repair the scrapes by sanding them smooth or filling in dents with spackle.  Then, repaint the entire baseboard from end to end.

If you’re ready to put your Alexandria VA home up for sale, I can help.  Give me a call today at 703-909-3939 or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com for more information.

Steve Hawkins
Long and Foster REALTORS®
Springfield, Virginia
www.HomeSearchWebsite.com
Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com
703-909-3939

With the wide array of homes and condos in Arlington VA on the market today, how do you narrow your search without missing out on that perfect property?

Here are 4 steps you can take to narrow your search for homes and condos in Arlington VA:

Step 1:  Decide on your top priority.  Is it location, price, number of bedrooms or something else?  Once you’ve decided on the most important feature, concentrate your search there.

Step 2:  Search for homes.  Most people start their search online.  There are many real estate web sites you can browse through.  Unfortunately, there are two big challenges to searching online:

1. Home listings quickly become out of date and may have incomplete or inaccurate information.  Overcome this challenge by enlisting the help of a real estate agent.  Your agent can quickly get all the current details on homes and condos in Arlington VA for sale.
2. You can spend hours searching online without finding what you’re looking for.  Overcome this challenge by setting a limit on the amount of time you spend searching online.  Use a timer to remind you when your time is up, then walk away from the computer.

Step 3:  Get comparables.  After you‘ve narrowed the list to your favorite neighborhoods, get a few sales price comparisons that include homes that have sold in the last six months as well as those with contracts pending.  Make sure you are comparing apples to apples, which means to compare homes that are the same size, same style and in the same neighborhood.  Your real estate agent is the best resource for this type of information.

Step 4:  Double check availability.  Once you’ve made your top picks of homes and condos in Arlington VA to view, have your agent make sure the properties are still available and don’t have pending offers.  You don’t want to waste your time going to see a property that is no longer for sale.

Let me do the work for you.  Give me a call today at 703-909-3939 or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com to find out how I can streamline the search process for you.

Steve Hawkins
Long and Foster REALTORS®
Springfield, Virginia
www.HomeSearchWebsite.com
Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com
703-909-3939

The Fairfax County Virginia real estate market is still a buyer’s market which means, as a buyer, you can get a good price on a home.  However, if you know what to look for, there are properties on which you can get a great price.

Here are three areas of the Fairfax County Virginia real estate market that generally offer the best prices:

1. Homes that have been on the market for several weeks (or months!) -  Have your real estate agent send you homes that have been on the market for several weeks or months.  These property owners are more motivated to sell than the owners of newly listed homes.  They’re more willing to negotiate for lower prices or even give you extras such as home warranties or paying a portion of your closing costs.

2. Bank owned properties.  Bank owned properties (also known as Real Estate Owned or REOs) are homes that go back to the mortgage company after an unsuccessful foreclosure auction.  Like foreclosures, these properties can take longer to close, but the savings can be well worth the extra time.  Your Fairfax County Virginia real estate agent can help you understand the pro’s and con’s with this type of purchase.

3. “As is” properties.  A property listed “as is” means the seller is not willing to fix anything and will not negotiate a price reduction based on needed repairs.  However, if you’re willing to put some money and elbow grease into the property, this could be your opportunity to get more home, in a better location and at a price you can afford.  Renovations can be done over time.  The lower mortgage payment could save you more over the years than the renovations will cost.  Your Fairfax County Virginia real estate agent can help you indentify the renovations that will have the best return for your investment.

If you’d like help finding the best buys in today’s Fairfax County Virginia real estate market, give me a call today at 703-909-3939 or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com.

Steve Hawkins
Long and Foster REALTORS®
Springfield, Virginia
www.HomeSearchWebsite.com
Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com
703-909-3939

One of the most important decisions you’ll make when either buying or selling a home is selecting a Fairfax County Virginia real estate agent.  Picking the right agent for you can save you time, effort, aggravation and money.

Here are five mistakes to avoid when choosing your Fairfax County Virginia real estate agent:

1. Going about it backwards.  Many people start by finding a home for sale they want to visit and then calling about that home.  Instead, select your real estate agent first.  Your agent will help you identify what you want in a home, and will then find homes that meet those criteria.  You’ll save time and frustration by visiting only those homes that fit your needs.

2. Using an agent who represents both you and the other buyer or seller.  This is called dual agency.  A listing agent who also represents the buyer is a dual agent. Dual agents must treat both the seller and the buyers equally.  Which would you prefer, an agent who works exclusively for your best interests or one who has to consider both the seller’s and the buyer’s best interests?

3. Hiring the first agent you meet.  Yes, it takes time to interview at least three real estate agents,  but it’s worth it.  You’ll save that time and more in the long run when you find a knowledgeable agent you enjoy working with.  Making an impulsive decision by saying yes to an agent as soon as he’s finished his presentation is never a good idea.  Take the time to visit with multiple agents, compare their credentials and styles and only then make your selection.

4. Choosing an agent because he’s the only one who agrees with your selling price.  That lone agent who agrees with you may not have done the research needed to set the best price or he may just be telling you what you want to hear.  If multiple agents state that your selling price is wrong, listen to them.  You’re looking for the best advice, not a yes man (or woman).

5. Skipping the reference check.  Even if you’re a great judge of character, take the time and effort to check agents’ references before hiring them.  Ask for at least three references from recent real estate transactions the agent has completed, then follow-up by calling those references.  Ask the clients how they felt about their experience with the agent, if they’d use the agent again, what the best thing was about their experience and what the worst thing was about their experience.

If you’re looking for an experienced Fairfax County Virginia real estate agent, I’d be honored to have an opportunity to interview for the job.  Please give me a call today at 703-909-3939 or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com to schedule an interview.

Steve Hawkins
Long and Foster REALTORS®
Springfield, Virginia
www.HomeSearchWebsite.com
Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com
703-909-3939

Take advantage of this month’s three-day weekend and warmer weather to spruce up the curb appeal of your Alexandria VA home for sale. No matter what kind of house you’re trying to sell, you’ll never get buyers through the door if their first impressions make them want to drive right past.

Whether it’s those Easter decorations still adorning your front porch, the extended family of yard gnomes or simply some bushes gone wild, anything detracting from your property’s curb appeal will automatically make buyers view the rest of your house in a negative light.

Here are 5 tips to improve the curb appeal of your Alexandria VA home for sale:

1. Clean things up. Make sure your yard is mowed, leaves are raked and the kids’ toys are put away. You might have learned to overlook the mess and clutter that comes with a busy and active family, but don’t expect your buyers to do the same.

2. Stage outside. This means that you need to de-clutter, depersonalize and put your flock of pink flamingos into hibernation. Also, you’ll need to remove dead flowers and store personal accessories like deer statues out of sight.

3. Update your front door. You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on a new storm door, but a new brushed nickel door handle and a little paint will go a long way towards making your house appear fresh and up to date.

4. Hit the lights. Even during the daytime, turn on your exterior lights. It will make your house look bright and cheery, especially if it’s raining.

5. Finally get around to all those little projects. Touch up exterior paint, fix bits of broken trim, put in the new mailbox and repair that loose shutter.

If you’ve completed all these tips, then there are always more ways to give your property a facelift this Memorial Day Weekend.

Give me a call at 703-909-3939 or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com if you need help making an outdoor to-do list for your Alexandria VA home for sale.

Steve Hawkins
Long and Foster REALTORS®
Springfield, Virginia
www.HomeSearchWebsite.com
Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com
703-909-3939

Now that the weather is improving, potential buyers will once again head out to shop for new Arlington VA homes. Make sure all your spring cleaning is finished and everything is spruced up to get ready to sell.

To help you prepare, here are some spring-cleaning tips for Arlington VA homes:

• Be objective: Think of your house as a product. If you distance yourself, you’ll be able to recognize and correct its faults that you’ve gotten used to.
• De-personalize: Pack up your family pictures and personal mementos. Remember, you want buyers to imagine they live in your house, and pictures of your family everywhere won’t help.
• Clean: Scrub, dust and vacuum like you haven’t in years! Nothing makes a better impression than an immaculately clean house. Buyers will often overlook small problems, if they feel like they could serve dinner on your dining room floor.
• Purge furniture: When it comes to spring cleaning, don’t just stop with the dirt. Rent a storage unit and remove any furniture that is over-crowding a room or is out of date. Buyers respond best to houses that have just enough furniture to show each room’s purpose. Anything more just gets in the way.
• Organize: Buyers will snoop through your stuff, so ensure your cabinets and closets are in order. You’ll want to make it look like your house has plenty of storage.
• Invest in curb appeal: Remove weeds from flower beds or put a few pots full of plants near your front door. Go for bright colors that still complement your house color.
• Make minor repairs: The fewer things buyers need or want to fix about your house, the more they’ll like it.
• Remove keepers: If there are any appliances, window coverings, or light fixtures that you want to take to your new house, get them out before buyers walk through. That way, you won’t be expected to throw them in during negotiations. You don’t want your great-grandma’s chandelier to hold up a sale.

If you want to make sure your spring cleaning stacks up to other Arlington VA homes, give me a call today at 703-909-3939 or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com for more information.

Steve Hawkins
Long and Foster REALTORS®
Springfield, Virginia
www.HomeSearchWebsite.com
Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com
703-909-3939

If your Alexandria VA home for sale is sitting on the market month after month, or you’re only receiving ridiculously low offers, then you might be committing one of several common selling slip-ups. Some homes almost sell themselves, but if you don’t have that amazing home in the perfect location, you’ll need to be especially careful that you’re not committing one these four easily-avoidable mistakes.

1. Your Alexandria VA home for sale is priced too high. If no one’s even looking at your house, it may be priced above market value. Check out the competition, and reevaluate how badly you need to sell. If you’re unwilling to drop the price to get buyers through the front door, maybe it’s not a good time for you to sell.

2.  Your house isn’t marketed well. Make sure you and your real estate agent are doing everything possible to get the word out about your home.  Include all of your home’s best assets and many flattering photos in your online marketing. With most home buyers starting their search on the Internet, if your home doesn’t look good online, they may be crossing your home off their list before giving it a chance.

3. You hired a bad real estate agent. If your Alexandria VA home for sale just isn’t selling, it may be because your agent isn’t doing enough to get buyers through the door. Make sure you have detailed and open discussions with your agent from the beginning. That way you’ll each know exactly what you expect from the other.  If you’re not getting the results you want, talk with your agent and put a plan in place to reach your goals.

4. Your home is in poor condition. Make sure all of the necessary fixes and repairs are done. Clean! And, remove as much clutter from your home as you can. You want potential buyers to come in and imagine themselves living there. Don’t make them want to run right back out of the door.

If you need help ensuring you’re not making a common mistake with your Alexandria VA home for sale, give me a call at 703-909-3939 or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com.

Steve Hawkins
Long and Foster REALTORS®
Springfield, Virginia
www.HomeSearchWebsite.com
Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com
703-909-3939