Fairfax County VA Home Search Website Blog

In today’s economy, people are looking for ways to save money.  This is also true when it comes to selling their homes.  Some homeowners believe that selling their homes without a Fairfax County Virginia real estate agent will save them thousands.

Is selling your home on your own right for you?  After weighing some of the advantages and disadvantages to selling your home without a Fairfax County Virginia real estate agent, you will be able to make a more informed decision on which choice is best for you.

Here are three advantages to selling your home as a For Sale By Owner (FSBO):

1. You may save money by eliminating the commission.  Selling your house as a FSBO means you don’t have to pay commission to a listing agent.  The average commission is 6% of the sales price, so you could possibly save that amount.  Unfortunately, buyers know that too.  So, most buyers believe that if you are selling on your own and not paying a commission, they should get the savings – not you.
2. The Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is now available to you.  A FSBO can now be advertised on many local Multiple Listing Services.  In the past, this tool was only available to real estate agents and brokers.  You will usually have to pay a fee to get your home listed on the MLS.
3. Offers and counter offers can be negotiated face to face between you and the buyer.  You don’t have to wait for your listing agent to talk with the buyer’s agent and get all the paperwork drawn up.  However, if you are not skilled in negotiation, you may leave money on the table.

One other thing to take into consideration before you put up your For Sale By Owner sign is the state of your local real estate market.  If it is a buyer’s market, you will most likely have a hard time selling your home by yourself.  It’s easier to sell your home by yourself when there is a seller’s market.

If you’re still not sure if selling as a FSBO is right for you, and you have plenty of time, you can try selling your home without an agent.  If your home hasn’t sold after a few months, you can then hire a Fairfax County Virginia real estate agent.

If you’d like information on how to sell your home on your own or what paperwork you need, I’d be happy to help.  Call me today at 703-909-3939 or by email at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com.

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

Is it really that difficult to sell your home by yourself?  It depends.  Do you like to market, negotiate and fill out legal documents?  If yes, you may prefer to sell your home without the help of a Fairfax County Virginia real estate agent.

Before you make your decision, consider these three disadvantages to selling your home as a For Sale By Owner (FSBO):

1. You may under-price or over-price your home.  If you’ve overpriced your home, you won’t get many interested buyers.  When you drop the price of your home a few weeks later, you’ll have missed the “new on the market” window of opportunity that brings in a lot of potential buyers.  If you under-price your home, buyers will wonder what’s wrong with it, and, if it sells, you’ll be leaving money on the table.
2. You have to pay to market and advertise your home.  When you sell your own house, you’ll spend money on marketing and advertising costs including for sale signs, online ads, print ads in newspapers and real estate magazines as well as the cost to be included in the MLS.  When you hire a Fairfax County Virginia real estate agent, they pay to market and advertise your home.
3. You are responsible for all the legal paperwork needed to sell your home.  This means you must know what paperwork is required by the state and how to fill it out correctly.  If you fail to do this properly, it can delay the sale or leave you open for a lawsuit down the line if something is wrong or missing.

If you determine that listing your home as a FSBO is not right for you right now, hire a Fairfax County Virginia real estate agent to sell your home for you.  Although you’ll have to pay commission, it will save you time and effort (and maybe even money) in the long run.

If you’ve decided to hire a Fairfax County Virginia real estate agent, I’d be honored to be interviewed for the job.  Please give me a call me at 703-909-3939 or by email 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

Yes, it’s still a buyer’s market, and there doesn’t appear to be a change coming any time soon.  What makes this a buyers’ market?  There are more homes for sale than people who want to buy them.  That means it takes longer for homes to sell, and buyers can be pickier.

If you want or need to sell your Alexandria VA home, here are four tips to help you do that in today’s real estate market:

1. Be choosy about the real estate agent you hire.  Interview at least three agents.  Ask questions about how they’d market your Alexandria VA home.  You want someone who markets aggressively and uses both online and offline marketing techniques.  Find out how many homes they’ve sold in your neighborhood within the last six months.  You want an agent who has recently sold homes in your area – not just listed them, but actually taken them all the way through to closing.
2. Implement the advice you get from your agent.  Find out what you should do to prepare you home for sale by asking, “What changes should I make to my home?”  Then do what your agent recommends before putting your home on the market.  What might seem unimportant to you can mean the difference between selling your home quickly and having it sit on the market for months.  Today’s buyers can afford to be picky, so they consider even minor home maintenance issues a sign of neglect and a reason not to buy your home.
3. Price it right.  You’ve taken the time to hire a knowledgeable agent.  Now, take his or her advice, especially when it comes to pricing.  They have the tools and up-to-date information needed to find out what homes similar to yours have sold for recently and how much you can get for yours.
4. Be willing to negotiate.  If you’re unwilling to make concessions, buyers are willing to walk away.  Remember, with the large number of homes for sale, buyers have many other options.

Yes, it’s more challenging to sell your home in a buyer’s market.  But it is definitely possible, if you are proactive.

If you’re ready to work with an agent who has a proven marketing plan that gets Alexandria VA homes sold faster and for the most money possible, 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 housing downturn has a lot of divorcing couples struggling to decide what to do with their home or condo in Arlington VA. Especially when the house is the largest marital asset, the situation can easily become contentious and unclear. Here are five questions to ask yourself before deciding what to do with your shared property.

1. Does keeping your home or condo in Arlington VA make financial sense? Often, once a couple splits, neither party can afford the mortgage payment and maintenance of the house by themselves. If this is the case, selling is most likely your best option.
2. Could you manage to keep living together while separated? When going through a divorce, you may not be able to stand each other’s sight. It won’t work in every situation, but you might want to tough it out and continue sharing the house (just with different bedrooms) until the market rebounds and you can make a profit.
3. Are your emotions getting the better of you? Many people can’t help but develop a strong emotional attachment to a house. That’s certainly understandable, but it doesn’t always make the most monetary sense. It might help if you try viewing the house like any other asset. You’re unlikely to let emotion come into play regarding the yard tools and bedspreads; try to treat the house the same way.
4. How will you split the proceeds? You’ll want to make sure you have a plan in place to split the proceeds when the house does sell. If not, you could be thrown back into a huge argument instead of finally moving on with your life.
5. What if one of you won’t agree to a price? The negotiation process won’t go smoothly if it comes down to an argument between the two sellers. Therefore, you should have some sort of agreement as to your bottom-line price. Also, you’ll need to decide how you’ll handle counter offers.

If you need help determining if now is the best time to sell your home or condo in Arlington VA, call me 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

I’ve been getting a lot of questions about the estimated Fairfax County Virginia real estate values provided by online sources, so I thought I’d answer a few of the most frequently asked questions here today.

Why is the price you think my home can sell for different than the estimated home values provided by online real estate sources?

Because computer programs set those prices.  Here’s how it works in general.  A computer pulls the description of your Fairfax County Virginia real estate from public records.  Using that extremely basic information, such as square footage and number of bedrooms and bathrooms, the computer comes up with a price for your home.

Computer programs cannot personally visit your home and other homes in your neighborhood to see the differences and similarities.  They cannot see that your home has recently been painted and renovated.

Are there any circumstances in which those computer generated values are at least fairly accurate?

The estimated home values could be in the ballpark if all the following are true:

• Your home is in a subdivision in which the homes are very similar;
• Several homes just like yours have sold recently;
• Homes are not being sold as short sales or going into foreclosure;
• Your home is newer and has not had a major renovation or addition that is not in the public records.

While it’s fun to go online to see what your neighbor’s home sold for, don’t use that information as the final word for what your home could sell for in today’s market.

If you’d like a free, in-person, professional analysis of what your Fairfax County Virginia real estate could sell for in today’s market, give me a call today at 703-909-3939 or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com. No obligation, just information.

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

Let’s face it, we all shop for the best deals we can get for our money.  Why should our closing costs be any different? Here are a few tips on how to negotiate good terms for the closing costs on your Fairfax County Virginia real estate.

TIP  #1:  Shop lenders to get a lower interest rate.
It is not unheard of to approach your lender and simply ask for a better rate.  The worst that can happen is to be told no.  The best rates go to those with the best credit scores.  If your credit score is not at its best, improve your credit score so you can qualify for a better interest rate.

TIP #2:  Negotiate lending fees.
Lenders all charge fees for things like loan origination and filling out paperwork.  Although the lending fees are negotiable, most buyers don’t know it.

Ask for justification for each lender fee.  If a lender fee cannot be waived or reduced, ask if it can be credited toward closing costs.

Realize there are some fees that are not negotiable such as taxes, recording fees and prorated interest.

TIP #3:  Pick your own title company.
Most buyers don’t realize they have a choice when purchasing title insurance.  Although the policies are pretty standard, the cost can vary.

For more ideas on how you can reduce closing costs on Fairfax County Virginia real estate, feel free to call me 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

If you’re looking to purchase a new home, then you have a list of priorities. When looking at Alexandria VA homes for sale, families with young children consider proximity to schools and quality of school districts as two of the top concerns on their home buying checklist.

With “back to school” on the brain, your top priority when looking at Alexandria VA homes for sale might be how close a home is to schools. Before you purchase property near a school, take the following considerations into account.

• Top-notch education – If the local school is the best in the surrounding area, then your property value could increase. Houses in your neighborhood will be in high demand because families will want to ensure their children are included in that district.
• Around the block – Living near a school could be beneficial if you have younger children you can walk with. Additionally, your proximity will allow you to react quickly if school closes early or your child gets sick.
• Noise alert – With cars whizzing by and children walking past, you might have to deal with daily commotion and traffic. Depending on how close you live to the school, you could also be subject to noise from recess, after-school practice and Friday night football games.
• School view – Living directly across from a school could actually decrease the value of your home and increase the litter. A view of a high school isn’t as good as a view of a quaint, tree-lined street; and the constant foot and car traffic could mean more mess in your yard.
• Neighborhood watch – Do your research. Some neighborhoods surrounding schools may have better relationships with the school. If your neighborhood association meets monthly with a school, you’ll be able to voice any concerns you might have.

While there are many pros and cons to living near schools, you need to decide what is best for your family.

Whether you’re interested in Alexandria VA homes for sale near or far away from schools, I can help you find a home that fits your priorities.  Call me 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 homes or condos in Arlington VA when you live in another state or country can be challenging.  Here are a few simple ideas to help make things a little less hectic.

• Investigate online.  Most people know to search for homes or condos in Arlington VA online,  but what about searching for a neighborhood?  Although you can’t search each and every individual neighborhood, you can research almost any city online.  This gives you a pretty good idea of what the area has to offer in the way of schools, shopping and safety.
• Hire a buyer’s agent.  While you’re searching online, your buyer’s agent can search the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for you.  She or he can email newly listed properties to you daily.
• Use your buyer’s agent as your eyes, ears and nose.  When you find a home that meets your needs, ask your buyer’s agent to visit it in person.  Have him or her take photos of the interior and exterior of the property and email them to you.  S/he can even take a video and post it on YouTube for you to see.  Ask your buyer’s agent to tell you what the home smells like and how loud (or quiet) the neighborhood is.
• Share as much information with your agent as you can.  The more you research the area, the more information you are going to have to give to your agent.  Talk with your agent and let her or him know what you have found and any areas that you may have decided against.  This will save you and your agent time.
• Visit to get a personal impression.  If at all possible, after you’ve narrowed the properties down to the top two or three, personally visit them.  While you can buy a house sight unseen, it’s best to make at least one trip to get a feel for which home most appeals to you.

For more information on long distance home buying or other tips to make your search for homes or condos in Arlington VA easier, give me a call at 703-909-3939 or send an email to Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com.

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

As Britain’s Prince William and his bride, Kate, traveled through the United States last month, people were wondering if the royal couple might be looking to purchase vacation property. I’m sure there were many REALTORS® who would have happily sold them a chic Los Angeles bungalow, a high-rise New York penthouse or a relaxing Hawaiian retreat.

While Will and Kate may never buy Fairfax County Virginia real estate, plenty of foreigners are looking for investment and vacation properties within the fifty states.  If you live outside the United States and are considering purchasing property, below are a few tips to help point you in the right direction.

• Ensure you’ll actually visit – If your purchase is for pleasure, make sure you have the funds set aside to vacation at your new abode at least once a year. If flights are hard to come by and you can’t make the trip, you may come to resent your relaxing retreat.
• Hire a Fairfax County Virginia real estate agent – Even if you visit the area often, employ the expertise of an agent who knows the location and the housing market. She or he will be able to provide you with a wider selection, find you hidden gems, know up-and-coming hot spots and send you information on properties that fit your priorities as soon as they’re on the market.
• Take advantage of tax benefits – The US government supports foreign investment and has created many tax deductions and credits for overseas buyers.
• Look into a real estate attorney – You may want to seek out and hire a lawyer who specializes in dealing with foreigners’ property purchases. He or she will be able to ensure all of your documents are properly drawn up, overseas legal errors are compensated for and you’re receiving all of the eligible tax breaks.

Don’t spend a minute feeling confused about the process of buying Unites States property. If you’re interested in Fairfax County Virginia real estate, call me at 703-909-3939 or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com for more information … I promise to treat you like royalty!

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

There are a few mistakes that many first-time home buyers make.  Here are three of the most common mistakes and how you can avoid them when purchasing your first Alexandria VA home.

Mistake #1:  Assuming your credit is good.
The information in your credit report determines whether you can get a loan — and how much interest you will have to pay – so it pays to be certain your credit reports are accurate.

Check your credit reports for free from all three credit reporting companies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — to make sure everything is correct.  If you find errors, contact both the credit reporting company and the information provider (the person, company or organization that provided information about you to a credit reporting company) involved in the errors and ask them to fix the credit report errors.

Mistake #2:  Getting pre-qualified, not pre-approved, for a loan.
It’s far better to be pre-approved for a loan than to be pre-qualified.   Here’s why…

With pre-qualification, your lender does a preliminary evaluation of your ability to pay for a home and gives an estimate of the mortgage amount they’ll give you.  The lender does not verify the information you provide.

With pre-approval, your lender verifies your income, assets, debts and credit history.  They provide you with written confirmation of the mortgage amount for which you’re approved. That written confirmation demonstrates to the seller that you are committed to buying and can give you an advantage over other buyers.

Mistake #3:  Allowing emotions to influence your decisions.
Buying a home is an investment.  It needs to be treated as any other investment.  You don’t buy stocks because they are pretty and you shouldn’t pick your Alexandria VA home that way either.  Make sure the home you buy fits your needs and allows you room to grow over the next few years. As with any sound investment, time is the key to a good return.

If you are a first-time home buyer, I would be happy to help you find and get the best price for you first Alexandria VA home.   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