Fairfax County VA Home Search Website Blog

With a new year beginning, it’s time for you to get rid of last year’s baggage and concentrate on making 2012 the best it can be. So if you had a Alexandria VA home for sale in 2011 and it’s still on the market, then you only need to have one New Year’s resolution: do whatever it takes to sell that house!

This economy has made it challenging to get acceptable offers from prospective buyers. While this is extremely discouraging, the lack of offers might mean it’s time to bite the bullet and lower the price on your Alexandria VA home for sale. Then you might be able to sell quickly and start a new lease on life.

Below are reasons you should lower your price now to sell fast and start anew:

• It costs time and money to keep a house on the market. Maintaining a house and waiting for the right offer is a full-time job. There is constant cleaning, upkeep and improvements that can cost you time and money — which you could be investing into your new house.
• Your home may be overpriced. If you aren’t receiving any offers, have your real estate agent pull information on comparable properties in your neighborhood that have recently sold. This will give you get a better idea of where you should be priced.
• Your real estate agent recommends it. He or she knows your market and can tell if your property has been for sale longer than expected. If a property sits on the market too long, potential buyers might suspect that something is wrong. If your house has more days on market than your agent expected it to have, then it’s probably time to reduce the price.

Consider dropping your price so you can accomplish your New Year’s resolution early in 2012. Reducing your price might also draw attention to your property, increase activity and bring more people through the doors.

If your Alexandria VA home for sale isn’t currently listed with an agent, and you’re ready to get it sold, please call me at 703-909-3939 or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com. I’ll implement my proven marketing plan to get your home sold as quickly as possible.

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

Urban legends can be found within every industry, and Fairfax County Virginia real estate is no exception. Getting a big discount because a home needs minor repairs or being able to acquire 100 percent financing in a snap definitely isn’t as easy as it sounds and is probably just what you think — a big fat myth.

Whether you’re an experienced buyer or it’s your first time purchasing Fairfax County Virginia real estate, do your research and don’t get sidetracked by enticing fables that might cause you to miss out on your dream home. Below are three debunked mortgage urban legends that have been plaguing the industry for years.

1. You can get a foreclosed home for almost nothing. While foreclosed homes do tend to sell consistently lower than other homes on the market, they’re not always a great deal. Banks are required to sell a property as close to fair market value as possible, and only drop the price in small increments after 60 to 90 days. Foreclosed homes are also usually in worse repair and banks are less likely to negotiate on them.
2. As a first-time homebuyer, it’s easy to get 100 percent financing. While some homebuyers might be nostalgic for the subprime mortgage era when anyone could obtain full financing — that just isn’t the case any longer. While there is assistance out there, most first-time buyer programs require that you put down a certain amount.
3. A fixer-upper means a lowball offer. Gone are the days when just because a home needed a little cosmetic help you could make an incredibly low offer. Don’t do it because you’ll get rejected, and the buyer won’t take you seriously.

The market may be down, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to walk away with a steal. Save your money, keep your credit score in check and don’t fall prey to any of these common Fairfax County Virginia real estate urban legends.

If you’re in the market for a new home or you’d like to hear about more urban legends that buyers typically fall for, 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

Many people are downsizing these days, either because they’re empty nesters and no longer need the room, they’re getting older and want a smaller space to maintain or they’re reducing their financial burdens or environmental impact.

If you’ve made the decision to downsize to a smaller Alexandria VA home, here are five tips to help you make the transition:

1. Start early: Downsizing to a smaller home is much less stressful if you have plenty of time to sort through your belongings to figure out what you’re getting rid of and what you’re keeping. Plan to do this at least a month before you put your home up for sale. (Bonus benefit: it makes your house look less cluttered and more desirable to buyers.)
2. Evaluate your needs: Take an honest look at your lifestyle and what you truly enjoy. Are you really going to learn to play that piano? If you haven’t used it or thought about it in over a year, the answer is probably no. Advertise it in your local newspaper and sell it! For anything you’re having a hard time letting go of, put it in storage for six months. If you don’t think about it during that time, give it away or sell it.
3. Measure the rooms in your new Alexandria VA home: Measure the rooms in your new home as well as the furniture you want to take with you. Then, create a floor plan of your new home including the location of doors and windows and where you can place each piece of furniture. You know what to do with any furniture that doesn’t fit.
4. Assess the storage in your new home: While you’re getting room measurements, make sure to evaluate the storage situation in your new home. Will you have fewer kitchen cabinets? How many closets will you have? To make up for lost space, search for hidden storage options and consider investing in inexpensive storage systems.
5. Relax and enjoy: You no longer have to worry about the financial burden or time-draining tasks of maintaining a big home.

If you need help selling your current home or finding a smaller Alexandria VA home to buy, 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

Happy New Year! Now that the champagne corks have been popped and Auld Lang Syne sung, the clean slate of a fresh year may have you busily writing up resolution lists of 2012 goals.

Top of the list for my goals is to continue providing exceptional customer service to my clients!

Whether you’re a long-standing client I’ve seen through several purchases or a first-time home buyer considering taking the plunge, I want to make sure you’re as happy as you can be with your Alexandria VA home decisions.  I always welcome suggestions on how I may be of more help, so please connect with me and share your thoughts.

If you’re like many Americans, your resolutions probably involve ways to become healthier and happier. Buying your first Alexandria VA home or moving to a home that better fits your needs could certainly add to a happier 2012.

Maybe your family is growing and you need more room. Or maybe the kids have grown and gone, and you’d like to downsize to a more manageable space. Perhaps you’re considering investing in a second home. Now that prices are low, buying a second home could again make sense as a long-term investment.

I believe in envisioning the future you want. So make a plan today that includes the Alexandria VA home of your dreams; a place where family and friends gather in friendship and good will.

May 2012 bring you fresh opportunities to realize your dreams. And again, Happy New Year!

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