Let’s Talk Real Estate!

You Only Have One Chance to Make a First Impression...

So I've put together some tips to help you maximize your home's curb appeal. A well maintained landscape will draw people into your home, and can add as much as 10% to its value. Early Spring is a perfect time to get started.

Apply fresh mulch. It's inexpensive, easy to work with, and it makes your beds look neat and cared for. It's the perfect background for all of your flowers & plantings. Think of mulch as a neutral -- it will really make the colors in your garden pop!

Brighten up outdoor containers. Give them a good scrubbing, trim away any dead leaves or faded blossoms, and use them at your doorways and on your patio or deck.

Add some instant color. Annuals are relatively inexpensive, and slipping a few into your beds will add interest and appeal.

Groom your trees and shrubs. Get rid of dead branches and leaves, and prune them wherever they look overgrown. If they are blocking windows, trim them back as much as you can. You'll get the benefit of more natural light inside, too.

Tidy up your perennials. If you have plants that aren't healthy, now is the time to replace them. (And if you have plants you want to take with you when you move, this is a good time to dig them up.)

Power wash dirty surfaces. Either rent a power washer or hire someone with one to come out and clean your sidewalk, driveway, siding, fence, deck, patio -- anything that's looking grimy and faded. They will look NEW!

If the outside of your home is neat, inviting, and well maintained you are on your way to a successful sale.

 

 

April Showers Bring May Flowers...

so spend March getting your gutters cleaned out -- it's the most important thing you can do to protect your home from water damage.

Gutters are designed to channel water away from your home's foundation, but they need to be kept in good shape and free of clogs, holes and sags. Clogs are the biggest problem, but also the easiest to correct.

Everything that falls from the sky (leaves, twigs, rain, pollen, those twirlybird things) rolls down your roof and into the gutters. At least once a year, and twice if you have a lot of trees nearby, you need to have your gutters cleaned out.

If you don't mind standing on a ladder while you reach in and clear out the muck, you can do them yourself. Use a garden hose to flush them clear once you've removed nature's detritus. Or you can pay someone to do the job for you ($50-250, depending on the size of your house). You can get gutter covers, but they still need regular maintenance.

Are your gutters are sagging? It's likely a hardware problem. Take a look at the hangers (hardware that secures them to the fascia) and their fasteners -- they deteriorate over time, but can be replaced inexpensively. Leaking gutter joints can be caulked on the inside with gutter sealant, which can also be used to fill small holes.

Now turn your attention to your downspouts. They need to extend several feet away from the house or you'll be dumping rain right into your basement. Gutter extensions are cheap (less than $20 each)and easy to install yourself. Next time you have a good rainfall, check and see if you have water pooling near the house...this would be an indication that you should get some extenders.

Once you have your gutters all spruced up, you'll be ready to sit inside and enjoy the sound of rain on the roof without worrying about any water problems. Curl up and read a book. Enjoy.

Selling (or Buying) a Home with an Incurable Defect

I know you're thinking 'What the heck is an incurable defect?' and does my home have one? An incurable defect is something that will always be there, no matter what improvements or updates you make to your home. There are several types, but we're going to focus on location-related problems. Some examples are:

• Location on or near a busy road
• Steep driveways
• Adjacent to a cemetery
• Proximity to power lines or railroad tracks
• Located in a floodplain
• Near schools or sports areas
• Noise from nearby highways or airports
• Odors from factories or farming

These are all issues that cannot be remedied. Although you can frame your defects as benefits -- close to schools is great for young families, busy roads often mean easy commutes, cemeteries are quiet -- adjusting your pricing is usually the best way to address them

Pricing your home below market will help you compete with other homes that do not have the same challenges. And chances are when you purchased your home, it was priced below market for the same reason.

If you're a buyer who has found the perfect home at a price that seems to good to be true, look for the incurable defect. It doesn't mean the house isn't right for you, but be aware that these problems will follow you when you go to sell your home. And location defects are just one type. Layout difficulties can also impact the saleability of a home...but that's an article for another post.  

 

Is Your Roof Showing Its Age?

It just might be time to repair or replace it. Here are some guidelines to help you decide exactly what your roof needs are.

You should get in the habit of checking your roof at least once a year. Signs inside your home that you might need to make some changes sooner rather than later include dark areas on ceilings, paint peeling on the underside of roof overhangs, damp spots alongside the fireplace, and water stains on the pipes that vent your hot water heater or furnace.

Take a pair of binoculars and check your roof for cracked caulk or rust spots on the flashing, shingles that are buckled, curled or blistered, or worn areas around chimneys, pipes and skylights. If you see any of these problems, especially on an older roof, have a professional take a look at it. Most local roofers will do this for free in hopes of securing the job.

Leaks in an otherwise sound roof can often be repaired for a moderate fee. But if you need to replace your roof, it's a big ticket. Remodeling magazine's Cost vs Value Report for 2011-12 puts an average cost of $18,672, with $12,098 recouped at sale. If you need to take this step be sure to get several bids.

Once you choose a contractor, be sure they are licensed and insured. Be clear on exactly what their bid includes: disposal of old roofing materials, hourly rate for structural repairs, gutter costs, damage to your landscaping. For additional information on your options, here's an article at houselogic.com. While you're at that website, take a look around...it's a terrific resource.

4 Reasons to See Open Houses this Weekend - Maybe One of Ours!

Yes, I know it's a very busy holiday weekend, regardless of your religious affiliation. But this is the height of the Spring market -- homes that are in good condition and priced right are selling in a matter of days, with multiple offers.

Low interest rates, lack of inventory, and an improving economy have all helped turn the market around, but four big financial reasons should be pushing you out the door to see what's available:

    1) Interest rates are increasing. That means housing will cost more, even if prices stay low. Waiting for the market to "bottom out" isn't making as much sense as it did just a few months ago.

    2) The 30 year mortgage may be on its last legs. The government's role in supporting home ownership is changing, with the possible elimination of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and a guaranteed 30 year rate may soon be a thing of the past.

    3) Qualifying for a mortgage is going to get tougher. Minimum credit scores of 690, 20% down payments, increasingly conservative debt ratios -- these are all proposed changes to requirements for a qualified residential mortgage.

    4) Rents are going up. As the supply of available rentals decreases, and demand for them increases, rental costs are expected to go up accordingly.

So pack your gang into the car and take a look at some of the fine homes open this weekend. We have two Open Houses on Saturday - 211 S. Lee Street in Falls Church City and 306 Commerce Street in Old Town Alexandria.

And on Sunday, you could stop in at 2748 S. Buchanan Street or 4839 Little Falls Road, both in Arlington, or 1824 Westmoreland Street in McLean. We even have a listing at 427 Lincoln Avenue in Falls Church City that's open Sunday. Follow the links for more photos and information.

Enjoy your holiday, and then get out there and see what the Spring real estate market has to offer you. It's a great time to buy!

More FREE Seminars for April and May!

Our series of FREE seminars "Let's Talk Tuesdays!" continues to draw people into the  office, so we're keeping them going with some new topics and the repeat of some popular ones. Every Tuesday evening from 7-8pm we offer real estate related seminars, with time for questions afterward. You can sign up online or call 703-536-7001 to reserve your place.

• April 5 - First Time Homebuyer
• April 12 - Home Inspections - common issues
• April 19 - Empty Nester
• April 26 - Growing Pains - expand or build?
• May 3 - Staging your Home to Sell
• May 10 - Home Mortgage update (Frank/Dodd bill implementation)
• May 17 - Homeowner's Insurance - information
• May 24 - Seniors Housing Choices
• May 31 - Estate Planning

Hope to see you here this Spring! And if there's a topic you'd like to see us include in the future, please suggest it. We're always open to your ideas.

 

 

 

 

Will You Buy a Home in 2011?

After the erratic market we've had in real estate these last few years, there's a lot of pent-up demand for housing. Will 2011 be the year when buyers get off the fence? If you're one of those hesitating, here are some things to consider:

Why do you want to buy a home? The main reasons have little to do with finances. We buy our homes to have a good place to raise our children, a safe place for our families to live; to have more space, and control of that space. There is talk of 2011 being the year a house again becomes a home (as opposed to a short-term investment). If you do buy this year, be sure that you are buying a home that you can live in comfortably for awhile.

How long is awhile? At least until you can make some money when you sell -- experts are projecting a cumulative appreciation of over 10% by 2015 for homes purchased in 2010. And prices are still down, so buying before they start back up makes a lot of sense.

Have home prices stabilized? In most of the country, they may slip a little bit more in 2011. But interest rates are starting to creep up, so you need to keep your cost (monthly payment) in mind when you are crunching numbers. Waiting for the rock bottom price won't do you any good if the interest rate came up while you waited. That teeny percentage stretched out over the life of your mortgage can cost you more in the end.

So go ahead and look. Your home is one of the largest investments you will make, and whether you're making your first purchase, trading up for a more substantial home, or downsizing, 2011 could be a great year in real estate. Sit down at your computer -- over 80% of home searches begin on the internet. It's the perfect activity for ffffffffreezing February!

Free Seminars at Fall Properties

Our series of free seminars, "Let's Talk Tuesdays!" is back in full swing -- on Tuesday evenings from 7-8pm, we're presenting a great lineup of seminar topics. You can sign up on our website, or by calling Karen at 703-536-7001. There's always time for your questions, so come in and talk to a professional about your concerns. Here is the schedule through the end of March:

Jan. 25 - Tax Deferred Exchange - What you should know about buying and selling investment property

Feb. 1 - Home Inspections - We will explore common problems to look out for

Feb. 8 - Rent vs Buy - We will provide budget tips for first time homebuyers

Feb 15 - Build, Remodel or Move - We will discuss three options facing homeowners looking to expand

Feb. 22 - Empty Nester - What options you might consider after the kids move out

Mar. 1 - Home Staging and Decluttering - Great tips before you start your Spring cleaning

Mar. 8 - Curb Appeal - We will discuss home exterior tips and landscaping

Mar. 15 - Buying Investment Property - Tax tips and key considerations you should be aware of

Mar. 22 - Inheriting Real Estate and Estate Planning - Local professionals will present these topics

Mar. 29 - How To Choose a Realtor - What makes some Realtors better than others

Join us at our offices at 212-A N. West Street in the City of Falls Church. 

Start Your Home Ownership with this terrific Condo at Fairlington Mews

  

On Sunday,8/22, take a drive to South Fairlington and come to an Open House at our new listing - 4656 S. 34th Street, #B1, in Arlington 22206. This is a top floor 1bedroom+loft, 1bath unit with soaring cathedral ceiling with skylight and ceiling fan. It draws your eye up the spiral staircase to the enclosed loft, featuring a custom garden-style window--what a great room!

This home features a cheerful bright kitchen with recessed lighting, separate dining room, laundry, spacious bedroom, and storage space in the attic. The refinished hardwood floors, replacement windows, and decorative moldings all speak to pride of home ownership. With interest rates unbelieveably low, you should really think about buying. This home is priced at $320,000, and it will be a terrific beginning for someone -- why not you?

Stop in at the Open House from 1-4pm!

Seminar Series Starts in August

Fall Properties has put together a series of seminars as a service to our clients and community.

These seminars will be held in our new office in the City of Falls Church:

Tuesday, August 10: Preparing your home for sale: Curb appeal and Staging tips

Tuesday, September 14: Inheriting Real Estate: What you need to know

Tuesday, September 28: Home Affordability: Loan Financing Options

Tuesday, October 5: Subdividing Property: What you need to know

Tuesday, October 19: 'Green Tax Credits': Home Improvements that pay you back 

These seminars will be held at the Fairlington Community Center in Arlington:

Tuesday, August 3 and 17: Home Affordability: Loan Financing Options

Tuesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 16: Preparing your home for sale: Home Staging Tips

All seminars will run from 7-8pm, with time after for questions. Please call us (703-536-7001) or sign up on our website to reserve a seat for any of our seminar topics