Fairfax County VA Home Search Website Blog

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

When planning on moving from your current condo in Arlington VA, does it make the most sense to buy first or wait until your current property sells? There are a lot of factors that go into that decision. Hashed out below are the pros and cons of each, so that you can decide which factors are higher on your list of priorities.

Buy first if …

• It’s the home or condo you’ve always wanted. If you’ve absolutely found your dream home, you should consider buying it now — even if your current property hasn’t sold. You might regret it later if you let the opportunity pass you by.  Just make sure the home is truly worth it.
• It’s too good of a deal to pass up. If you’ve researched the comparables and you know the property you want to buy is a great deal, then you should consider going ahead with the purchase. Waiting to sell your condo in Arlington VA might cost you more in the long run if you lose out on this bargain.
• There’s more demand than supply. In a seller’s market (not right now in most places), you won’t need to worry about selling your property.
• You have the money.  Check with your real estate agent to find out how long it’s taking to sell condos comparable to yours these days.  Then, do the math to determine if you have enough in savings to make the down payment on your new home or condo and pay the mortgages of both properties while you’re waiting for your current condo to sell.

Sell first if …

• You want to get the most money for your condo. If you’re not in any hurry, you’ll be less tempted to take a lower offer. You also have negotiating power.  It’s hard to hold firm on a price, if you’re carrying two mortgages.
• You can include a contingency clause in your contract. Add a contingency that allows you to remain in your condo until you close on a new property. It may be difficult to get the buyer to agree, but if they do, you’ll have plenty of time to find the perfect new property.  This one may be very difficult to accomplish because you certainly do not want to lose a buyer in this real estate market just to be able to stay in your condo longer.
• You can handle moving twice.  If you sell your condo in Arlington VA first, you can always live in a short-term rental until you find your new place.
• You don’t want to be stressed about selling. The idea of carrying a second mortgage is enough to cause many people to reach for their blood pressure medication.

Give me a call at 703-909-3939 or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com, if you need help deciding the right timing to sell or buy Fairfax County Virginia real estate.

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

Summer time and the livin’ is buggy. But before you run and start spraying pesticides, wait! Do you really want those nasty chemicals in your condo in Arlington VA, where you live, eat and breathe? Here are some non-toxic alternative methods to control bugs:

• Keep it clean. Just like your mother said, don’t let dirty dishes pile up, and don’t leave spills and crumbs on kitchen counters. If you do, you’ll be inviting ants and worse into your condo in Arlington VA.
• Use boric acid. You can get this odorless powder at any drug store. It can be hard to find though, so just ask the pharmacist where it is. It’s cheap, safe and effective. Just sprinkle it lightly wherever you’ve seen critters, especially along cracks and crevices.
• Trap them. When it’s fresh fruit and tomato season, it’s fruit fly season. Who knows where they come from, but there they are. Here’s how to make a simple fruit fly trap: Put a dash of beer, wine or sugar water and yeast in a jar. Then cut the very corner off of a plastic bag and poke that corner down into the jar, keeping it above the liquid level. Secure the bag to the jar with a rubber band, and you have a funnel leading fruit flies in, but they can’t find their way back out.
• Live and let live. They may be hairy, they may be scary, but spiders are doing you a favor. They’re every other bug’s worst nightmare. But ok, you don’t want them inside. Here’s the safest, most nonviolent, good-karma way to get them out: Get a clear glass or jar and place it over the spider. Then use a stiff card like a postcard to slide under it. This acts as a lid on the jar to keep the spider in. Simply take it outside and release the spider to live another day. Show the kids how to do this, and you won’t find any more bugs smashed on your walls.

If you want more handy tips like these to use in your condo in Arlington VA, subscribe to my blog. It’s free!

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

Although selling your home or condo in Arlington VA as a short sale probably isn’t what you’d prefer, it may be the best option for you.  The good news is that short sales are becoming the preferred option for lenders hampered by the huge number of foreclosures.

To get you started on your short sale journey, here’s the condensed version of how to sell your home or condo in Arlington VA as a short sale:

1.  Hire an experienced real estate professional.  Find a real estate attorney and/or agent who have successfully closed a lot of short sales.  REALTORS® with the Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation will have a thorough understanding of how to assist their clients in foreclosure avoidance options. Having experienced professionals guide you through the process is crucial to your success.  You want them working for you as soon as possible because they’ll be communicating and negotiating with your lender.

2.  Start now.  As soon as you know you can no longer afford your home, hire your real estate professionals and get started.  The longer you wait to get the short sale process started, the harder it’s going to be.  Like everything in life, the more options you have the better off you are.  Don’t wait until foreclosure is your only option.

3.  Prove to your lender that you’re truly a financial hardship case.  If you just want to stop paying your mortgage, you won’t be able to sell your home as a short sale.  You must prove you honestly cannot afford your home by giving your lender a:

• Detailed financial worksheet documenting your expenses and income.
• Copy of your income tax returns for at least the last two years.
• Hardship letter providing details about why you cannot pay your mortgage.

4.  Submit Letter of Authorization.  Write a letter to your lender giving him permission to talk with your real estate professionals about your loan.  Include the names of all the borrowers and their social security numbers, your real estate professionals’ names and contact information, your home’s address and loan reference number.

5.  Take the advice of your real estate professionals.  You hired them for their expertise.  Now, take their advice and allow the pros to guide you the rest of the way through this process.

Whether you have questions about short sales, foreclosures or traditional homes and condos in Arlington VA, I can help.  Please 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

If you’re short on time, here’s a list that’ll take you one minute to read and will give you 9 tips to get your condo in Arlington VA (or home) sold faster:

1.  Set the right price.  A condo in Arlington VA priced correctly from the start will sell faster.

2.  Provide a thorough disclosure statement.  This builds trust between you and your prospective buyer.

3.  Add a one-year home warranty.  They’re reasonably priced and provide peace of mind for the buyer.

4.  Offer financial incentives. There are a variety of financial incentives you can offer depending on the needs of the condo and the buyer.  Here are a few to consider:

• Cost to replace the carpet
• Cost to repair a problem that is found during the home inspection
• Part or all of the buyer’s closing cost

5. Make your condo shine.  Fix it.  Paint it.  Clean it.  Polish it.  If there’s anything you’ve put off, do it now.  Your home has to be at its very best.

6. Get a pro’s opinion.  Ask your agent what they recommend you do to get your condo in tip-top shape for marketing.   Then do it!

7. Stage your condo.  This has proven to be one of the best things you can do to get your condo sold faster and for more money.  Many real estate agents now provide staging services for their clients, so ask your agent about this.

8. Remain unemotional.  Keep emotions out of decisions you make when selling your condo, especially during the negotiation process.  Look at this as strictly a business transaction; you’ll stay sane and sell your condo in Arlington VA faster.

9. Work with qualified buyers.  Ask your agent to qualify buyers before submitting any offers to you.  Qualified buyers should submit at least a pre-qualification but preferably a pre-approval letter from a reputable lender with their offer.

Want more details on any of this tips or need additional ideas to get your condo in Arlington VA (or home) sold?  Give me a call at 703-909-3939 or email me at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com, and I’ll give you all the specifics on how to implement these tips and answer any questions you have.

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

Buying a home or condo in Arlington VA is one of the few occasions in which some form of negotiation is the rule rather than the exception.  Just because it is the norm, however, does not mean that most people are good at it. 

Here are a few tips to help you negotiate the best deal when buying your next home:

1. Know your bottom line.  Determine your bottom line and stick to it.  This sometimes means you have to be willing to walk away from a deal.   It also means being realistic about what you’re asking from the seller.  Many sellers are faced with the fact that their home or condo may not be worth what they paid for it.  This puts limits on the concessions a seller can offer.

2. Stay flexible.  For example, what if the home or condo in Arlington VA you’d like to buy needs a new heating system.  The seller is unwilling to replace the unit but is willing to put $3,000 toward your closing costs.  The $3,000 you’re saving in closing costs will cover the cost of a new heating system.  If all you focus on is the seller replacing the heating system, you miss the chance to achieve your overall goal, which is purchasing a home without paying for a new heating system.

3. Find out how long the property has been for sale.  If the property is newly listed, the seller is less likely to lower the price significantly or offer other concessions.  However, if the home or condo in Arlington VA has been for sale for 12 months or longer, the homeowner is more motivated to sell, and you’re more likely to get a great deal.

4. Work with a pro.  No one is better at knowing what sellers want and how to negotiate great real estate deals than professional real estate agents.  Unless you are an experienced, savvy negotiator, leave it to the pros. 

Thinking of buying a home or condo in Arlington VA?  I would be pleased to represent you in your next real estate purchase.  You can reach me by phone at 703-909-3939 or send me an email Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com.

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

Today’s turbulent real estate market means the days of selling condos in Arlington VA without any planning or preparation are a distant memory for most people. Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket, because there is tons of competition and buyers are not hunting condos in Arlington VA in a hurry like they once were. To sell your condo quickly, staging and well-thought-out marketing plans are now necessities — not luxuries.

Do you know how to best present your property? What are the most effective ways to get buyers in the door? Using the tips and techniques below, you can begin to emerge from your rabbit hole and quickly move on to your next home with as much money in your pocket as possible.

Selling techniques for condos in Arlington VA:

• Price it Right – No amount of marketing or staging will help if your property is overpriced. For most people, it’s hard to look at their home or condo objectively.  Compare it to other properties for sale in your neighborhood, and take into account square footage, upgrades, location, and amenities, as well as, current market trends.
• Develop a Marketing Plan – You have to decide the best and most cost-effective way to get potential buyers in your home. Rarely is a newspaper ad or an Internet posting enough. Today’s competitive real estate environment requires more aggressive techniques which includes everything from social media marketing to prompt follow-up chats with potentially interested buyers.
• Stage your Condo – You want your condo to appear its best every time a potential buyer comes to see it. If buyers see dirt and stains, they might begin to wonder about how diligently the rest of the property has been maintained. De-clutter and depersonalize. Turn on all your lights and open all the blinds to make your condo appear as light and open as possible. For open houses, take the extra time to add fresh flowers, build a fire in the fireplace and have something baking in the oven.

Do you need egg-stra help preparing your home or condo in Arlington VA for sale? 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 you’re searching for a new home, don’t get fooled into purchasing a home or condo in Arlington VA you can’t actually afford. Many new homeowners find themselves in a pickle when they fall in love with a property that has high monthly mortgage payments. Being house poor could lead to a confining quality of life, increased stress and possibly foreclosure.

Before buying one of the homes or condos in Arlington VA, do your research to determine all the actual costs involved with purchasing and owning a home.  Without the proper tools and budget, you could be biting off more than you can chew.

Here are four tips to help you get a manageable mortgage:

1. Save up – If you’ve saved and can provide a large down payment, you’ll be able take out a smaller loan, which will result in lower monthly payments.
2. Check on interest rates – Talk with several lenders to compare interest rates. Also, improve your credit score before purchasing property because your credit score partially determines your loan’s interest rate.
3. Decide on the length of the loan – The length of your loan impacts your monthly payments. The shorter the time, the larger your payments will be. Use a mortgage calculator to find out what your monthly payments will be if you go with a 30-year loan versus a 15-year loan.
4. Don’t forget the last-minute costs – Put some extra money aside for any additional expenses that come up during the actual purchase, such as closing costs, taxes and homeowner’s insurance.

Save up a down payment for your home or condo in Arlington VA, get pre-approved for a loan, know your limit for monthly mortgage payments and don’t get fooled by the real estate market. Doing the research before you start looking for a house will reduce your stress and help to ensure you have manageable mortgage payments.

If you need help calculating what your maximum mortgage payments should be or have any questions about purchasing a home, 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

As an owner of one of the homes or condos in Arlington VA, one of the biggest traps you can fall into is over improving your home. 

Turn on any home improvement channel, and they will show you all the latest and greatest in must haves for your home or condo in Arlington VA.  What they don’t tell you is that even the best upgrades won’t guarantee an increase in your resale value.  In fact, most remodel jobs only recoup 60% to 70% of their costs.

Here are some tips to help you avoid over improving your home: 

Assess the value of homes and condos in your neighborhood. 

Unless you plan on staying in your home forever, do some research on the home values in your neighborhood before you begin any home renovations. Ideally, you want to add improvements that increase the resale value of your home while staying within the average market price of homes in your neighborhood. 

For example, if the homes or condos in Arlington VA sell for an average of $250,000, with the highest priced home in the area going for $350,000, make home renovations that increase the value of your property to the average home price of $250,000 or less.  You do not want to be the highest priced home in your neighborhood.  And, the last thing you want to do is to put more money into your home than you can get back. 

Pick the projects you want to tackle. 

Start with home maintenance and repair projects like fixing the foundation, roofing, painting, carpeting and upgrading windows.  If your home isn’t well cared for, it will show and potential buyers will move on to the next home for sale.

“Kitchens and bathrooms sell homes.”  Sound familiar?  Excluding location and price, this is a true statement.  Updating your kitchen and baths are excellent projects to tackle to increase the value of your home.

Refinish or replace rather than completely renovate. 

You don’t have to do a complete kitchen or bath renovation.  Minor improvements such as refinishing cabinets, replacing old hardware and adding new fixtures make a big difference in the appearance of baths and kitchens.  And, you’ll conserve your financial outlay.

If you’re planning to renovate your home or condo before putting it on the market, I can help you identify the projects that will increase your resale value or get your home sold faster.  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