Fairfax County VA Home Search Website Blog

The data from the 2011 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers is now available. Here are the significant changes you need to know that will help you market your Fairfax County Virginia real estate and get it sold:

1. Most buyers are married: 64 percent of all buyers are married couples (up five percent from 2010), 18 percent are single women, 10 percent single men and 7 percent unmarried couples.
2. Your property is competing against 12 other homes: Buyers searched a median of 12 weeks and visited 12 homes, both unchanged from 2010.
3. Multiple bedrooms and bathrooms are preferred: The typical home had 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
4. Most buyers want single-family homes: 77 percent of respondents purchased a detached single-family home, 9 percent a condo and 8 percent a townhouse or rowhouse.
5. You need to promote your home to buyer’s agents: 60 percent of buyers working with real estate professionals were represented by a buyer’s agent.
6. Hire a Fairfax County Virginia real estate agent to sell your home: 87 percent of home buyers use real estate agents to find their home. 91 percent of buyers who used the Internet to search for a home purchased through a real estate agent.
7. Market your home online, with yard signs and at open houses: When buyers were asked where they first learned about the home they purchased, 40 percent said the Internet; 11 percent said a yard sign or open house.

Want to work with a Fairfax County Virginia real estate agent who knows how to market your home to get it sold? Let me show you my proven marketing plan. Schedule an appointment with me today by calling me at 703-909-3939 or emailing me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com.

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

Should you be marketing to first-time home buyers in order to sell your Fairfax County Virginia  real estate? The 2011 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers has a wealth of information on first-time home buyers and will help you figure out if you should market to this large and important group of buyers.

Here are the stats (courtesy of AgBeat.com) you need to know about first-time home buyers before selling your Fairfax County Virginia real estate:

• Long-term survey averages show that 4 out of 10 buyers are typically first-time buyers. This segment is critical to a housing recovery because they help existing home owners sell and make a trade.
• The median age of first-time buyers was 31 and the median income was $62,400, up from $59,900 in the 2010 study.
• The typical first-time buyer purchased a 1,570 square foot home costing $155,000.
• First-time buyers who financed their purchase used a variety of resources for the down payment: 79 percent tapped into savings; 26 percent received a gift from a friend or relative, typically from their parents; and 7 percent received a loan from a relative or friend. Nine percent sold stocks or bonds and 8 percent tapped into a 401(k) fund.

Ninety-four percent of entry-level buyers chose a fixed-rate mortgage. Fifty-four percent of first-time buyers financed with a low-down payment FHA mortgage, and 6 percent used the VA loan program which requires no down payment.

What this Information Means to You

If you’re selling an existing, entry-level home, you’ll most likely be selling to a first-time home buyer with a median age of 31 and a median income of $62,400. First-time home buyers are most likely to get a fixed-rate, FHA mortgage. Gear your marketing toward that buyer to have more success.

If you’re ready to sell your Fairfax County Virginia real estate, whether it appeals to first-time buyers or other types of buyers, I’ll market it to get it sold as quickly and for as much as possible. 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

To successfully market your Alexandria VA home for sale, you have to get buyers to want them. So, what do they want? Based on the data just in from the 2011 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, here are what buyers want in a neighborhood in order of importance:

1. 67 percent favor a quality neighborhood
2. 49 percent of buyers said they want convenience to jobs
3. 45 percent look at the overall affordability of Alexandria VA homes for sale in the neighborhood
4. 39 percent prefer to live close to family and friends
5. 28 percent of buyers are interested in having shopping close by
6. 27 percent want a quality school district
7. 22 percent ask for a neighborhood that is convenient to schools
8. 21 percent like to live close to entertainment or leisure activities

Assess your neighborhood. Which of the attributes most desired by buyers does your neighborhood have? Showcase those features in the marketing materials for your home:

• Mention the schools, shopping, entertainment and leisure activities that are close to your home.
• Give statistics on the quality of your school district.
• Take photos of your neighborhood that flaunt its quality.

Need help marketing your home? I specialize in selling Alexandria VA homes for sale in your neighborhood. If you’re ready to sell your home, let me market your neighborhood and home to get it sold now. Please 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

One way lenders increase their profits on your Fairfax County Virginia real estate mortgage is by charging settlement fees. While many fees are standard and required, others may be negotiated.

Shop Around For Better Closing Fees

The Good Faith Estimate (GFE), as required by RESPA, is presented to you after you apply for a loan to purchase your Fairfax County Virginia real estate. It gives you a heads up as to what fees you should expect at closing.

If you don’t like the numbers you’re seeing on the GFE, shop around with other lenders. If you were approved for one loan, you can likely be approved for another.  Collect comparable GFEs and see how the interest rate, monthly payments, points, and closing fees stack up. Your best bet is to tell your lenders that you’re comparison shopping, so they give you the best numbers possible.

Common closing fees you can expect to see on your Good Faith Estimate include:

• Appraisal Fee – Fee for an independent appraisal of the value of the property. This fee often ranges from $350 to $500. Note that payment for this fee is sometimes required prior to closing.
• Credit Report Fee – This is the cost of acquiring a credit report.
• Title Insurance Fee – This is the fee paid to a title company for research and insurance related to the title of the property.
• Processing Fee – The processing fee covers the cost of the person who handles collecting the paperwork, such as credit reports and employment history, for underwriting. Sometimes, the processor is the loan officer. 
• Loan Origination Fee – Also called underwriting fee, administrative fee or processing fee, the loan origination fee is charged by the lender for evaluating and preparing your mortgage loan. This fee can cover the lender’s attorney’s fees, document preparation costs, notary fees, and similar charges.
• Application Fee – This fee covers the processing of an application for mortgage insurance.

All loans have fees; there’s no escaping them.  If there aren’t any fees, the cost of making the loan has been wrapped up in other areas such as the interest rate or points.  So as you comparison shop, remember to look to the long-term cost of the loan, not just settlement fees. 

That said, with some comparison shopping and negotiation, you may be able to decrease your fee amounts without the price being woven elsewhere into the loan for your Fairfax County Virginia real estate.

Whether you’re ready to buy or need more information before taking the plunge, I can help. 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

You’ve heard of purchasing antiques, jewelry and collectibles at auction, but the idea of purchasing Fairfax County VA homes for sale could be a little daunting. Not only is the investment larger than normal, but the process might seem too quick for those who like to take their time and ensure they’ve checked off every box on their house hunting list.

While purchasing property at an auction isn’t the normal route for most buyers, that’s no reason to discount it. So if you’re interested in Fairfax County VA homes for sale that are up for auction, take the following tips into consideration before you make a bid.

• Get in contact with the auction firm. Firms want to explain how the sales process works, so that buyers won’t be intimidated and will be more likely to bid. The more bidders, the higher the price could be driven up.
• Have the property inspected and appraised prior to the auction. While this usually comes out of your own pocket, it will give you a better idea of how high you’re willing to bid.
• Consider a pre-auction offer. If you can’t live without this property, then you might want to consider putting in an offer before the auction. However, it will need to be an extremely desirable offer for the seller to call off the auction. If you want a deal on the house, then just wait until auction day.
• Read the auction terms carefully. Even if you’ve bid on property at auction before, reread the terms for this specific house. All auctions are different.
• Set a budget and stick to it. Decide how high you’re willing to bid and make sure you take into account the buyer’s premium fee. This is a fee that they add on to the highest bid in order to create a contract price.

Don’t let a dream house slip away just because you’re unfamiliar with how auctions work. You can get a great deal and will maybe even enjoy the excitement of the bidding. Follow the steps above, or attend an auction before you dive in — they’re public, so anyone can go to watch.

If you’re in the market for Fairfax County VA homes for sale or would like to learn more about how property auctions work, 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

As a real estate agent, I spend a lot of time rushing in and out of Alexandria VA homes. It’s easy for me to get caught up in the hustle-bustle of real estate transactions, and I forget to slow down to appreciate the pleasure of owning a home. So today, I want to take a moment to reflect on the home aspect of real estate.

My job (one I love) is to help people just like you find a house that suits their lives.  Once you move in, you make that house into a home. 

Holiday Traditions 
Your Alexandria VA home is where you and your loved ones celebrate holidays and where you create and continue family traditions. Whether you deck the halls with layers of tinsel and wreaths or have the whole family over to spin Hanukkah dreidels, the spirit of the season comes from the energy of the people gathering together in your home. 

Season of Family Warmth
While you’re making your famous sugar cookies or spiking your secret-recipe punch with extra holiday cheer, pause for a moment to enjoy the warmth and beauty of your Alexandria VA home. My wish for you is that you live every day like it’s a holiday, being thankful and spending time with loved ones.

Happy Holidays!
May your home be filled with the joy of family and friends this holiday season. There’s truly no place like home for the holidays!

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

Now that winter is here, we’re spending more time indoors and keeping our homes closed up against the cold. These two factors mean we should pay more attention to the air quality in our homes. Here are some things to consider at your home or condo in Arlington VA:

• Ban the use of pesticides in your home. Insecticides are toxic to all life forms, not just insects. Many are carcinogenic. If you have a serious pest problem like roaches, try using boric acid against them. Otherwise, the occasional spider or beetle is not a real threat to you.
• Simplify cleaning. Most commercially available cleaners are a stew of chemicals. You don’t need to be breathing their fumes. Instead, you can use baking soda and/or white vinegar for most jobs.
• Ventilate the bathroom. In order to prevent mold and mildew in the steamy bathroom, it pays to use the exhaust fan when showering.
• Use the range hood. If you cook with gas, those fumes are adding carbon monoxide and other pollutants to the air in your home or condo in Arlington VA. Make sure your hood exhausts the fumes to the outdoors.
• Get some houseplants. They not only add beauty and a bit of nature to your home, they also clean the air! Some of those known to be best include spider plants and philodendrons, both very easy to grow.
• Don’t burn scented candles. Sorry, but the fact is, scented candles are a serious source of indoor air pollution. See the next tip for an alternative.
• Use essential oils. You can use a diffuser to disperse essential oils that smell good and also kill germs and mold. Some of these include clove oil, cinnamon and lemon. If it’s the flame that you love, invest in pure beeswax candles, but never leave a lit candle unattended.

If you’d like to find one of the homes or condos in Arlington VA with great indoor air quality (as well as other great qualities), I can help. 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

If you’re closing up your summer vacation home to head for warmer climates or leaving your Alexandria VA home for an extended period, follow these tips to safeguard your home from harsh weather, pests and vandalism:

1. Trim bushes, shrubs and hedges. This isn’t to make your yard prettier. It’s to improve your home’s security by providing an unobstructed view of your doors and windows.
2. Prune tree limbs and branches. You don’t want any branches hanging over your house. They provide easy access to rodents and robbers and could fall during storms damaging your Alexandria VA home.
3. Bring in outdoor furniture and decorations. Don’t chance having your outdoor chairs, tables or decorations destroyed during winter storms.
4. Securely store valuable property. ATVs, bicycles, canoes and riding lawn mowers are easy targets for thieves. Make them harder to steal by locking them up in a shed or garage.
5. Drain the water. Remove water from spas, swimming pools and any other vessels that contain water. You may also want to winterize the toilets in your Alexandria VA home.
6. Empty fridge and freezer. Don’t leave anything in your refrigerator or freezer that can go bad if the electricity is off for an extended period of time. Food that thaws and refreezes is dangerous and can make a big mess. Clean the fridge and freezer to come home to a sweet smelling kitchen.
7. Turn off main water supply. If there’s a leak or your pipes burst, this prevents water from pouring unchecked into your home. To prevent pipes from bursting, open all faucets and drain the waterlines.
8. Set your thermostat to 58 degrees. You want to turn down the heat, but don’t turn it off. Setting it at about 58 degrees should prevent problems.
9. Unplug electronics. Prevent damage from power surges during storms and reduce your electric bill by unplugging all electronics, electrical appliances and charging devices.

Get more home maintenance tips like this one by subscribing to this blog. It’s fast and free!

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

A cozy fire, the smell of pine trees and a plate of warm cookies might be all it takes for buyers to envision themselves celebrating many holidays in your condo in Arlington VA. . So take the time this season to channel Mrs. Claus and cheerfully enhance your home for the holidays with these festive tips:

• Deck the Halls – While you want to remind some buyers of their yearly traditions, you don’t want to offend others. If you usually go overboard with decorations, tone it down a little this year and go for a winter nature theme — think pinecones, snowflakes and the smell of cinnamon.
• Spruce Up the Winter Curb Appeal – In the dead of winter, yards and condo entrances can look barren and bleak. Don’t add to the seasonal depression. Ensure you shovel snow, rake fallen leaves and clear dead flowers from their pots. If your condo doesn’t have a direct outside entrance, spruce up your front door with a welcoming holiday wreath.  Also, with dark settling so early, turn on both indoor and outdoor lights to give your condo in Arlington VA a cozy glow.
• Host a Holiday Open House – With your home in the season’s spirit, it’s the perfect time to have interested buyers walking through. Offer fresh baked cookies and apple cider to seal the deal.
• Be Flexible – Put in the extra effort to keep your home clean so that buyers can drop in anytime. Property purchasers looking at this busy time of year will be seriously interested — and you might be one of the only properties open to them.

By adding a little holiday cheer to your condo in Arlington VA, you could remind potential buyers of happy memories and put them in the giving — or hopefully, buying — spirit.

If you would like more tips to get your home or condo sold during the holiday season, please phone 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

During the holidays, it’s hard to ensure your Alexandria VA home is put together for impromptu parties and visiting family. With all the extra decorations and presents that appear, there never seems to be enough room to keep your house organized and uncluttered. This year, you might consider asking the big man in red for the gift of orderliness.

Instead of asking Santa for the usual new clothing, sports gear or electronics, maybe you should ask him to splurge on even one of the space-expanding strategies below. It might take a little bit of an investment, but you’ll add value to your Alexandria VA home, its interior rooms will appear larger and it will be bought up quickly when the time comes to sell.

• Build a front porch. Extending your entrance out under eaves will improve curb appeal, add charm and create more of an entry space to place coats, boots and umbrellas — which means they’re not lying around your kitchen.
• Order a counter-depth fridge. By purchasing a fridge that aligns with your counters, you’ll keep your kitchen looking sleek and avoid running a hip into an appliance that juts out into the walkway.
• Repurpose an extra too-small bedroom. If there’s a tiny bedroom next to the master, then you might want to consider repurposing it as a walk-in closet or en-suite bathroom. Not only will you have the luxury of more storage, but you’ll also add (especially with another bathroom) value.
• Take advantage of the attic. Open up a one-story house’s kitchen or give the master bedroom a vaulted ceiling by lifting the existing one into the attic. You can put in recessed lighting, add a top row of cabinets or install a skylight to let in extra light.

You don’t need to ask Santa to bring you an entirely new house, just see if he’ll splurge this holiday season on luxury space expanders that open up and add value to your property.

If you’re looking for more ways to invest in your home or would like to move to one of the larger Alexandria VA homes for sale, please 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