Posts Tagged ‘Washington DC’

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Preparing For A Real Estate Transaction in 2012

Friday, December 30th, 2011

Happy New Year everyone! With just a few days before we say goodbye to 2011 and welcome 2012 with open arms, I thought we would spend a few minutes talking about what you can do to prepare to buy or sell a home next year. Buying and selling real estate often takes many months of preparation and getting started now can make the process that much easier.

Start with evaluating your credit score. You have certainly seen commercials on television, heard others talking about it and read numerous articles about the importance of your credit score when buying a home. This remains true. It is always a good idea to review your credit report from all three credit reporting bureaus annually, which makes the beginning of a new year the perfect time — it’s an annual reminder that will not change.

Evaluate your credit history with each company to ensure accurate information is being reported by current and former creditors. If you do find an error that could negatively impact your ability to obtain a mortgage, you will have plenty of notice and time to fix the problem. Nothing would hurt your chances of buying your dream home faster than the inability to secure a mortgage for your dream home — especially when other offers may be on the table.

Consolidate expenses where possible, and save the money. Many companies offer “bundle” packages for their services that will allow you to receive the same services at a lower price. Saving the extra money for a down payment on a home allows many first time home buyers to secure a lower interest rate and may even eliminate the requirement for private mortgage insurance, or PMI.

Research the areas you think you want to buy a home in before you begin house shopping. Even though it can be fun to browse through homes until you find the perfect one for your family, imagine the frustration when it turns out your dream home comes with a tax bill you cannot afford, or that you are unhappy with the school choices in the area. Knowing what to expect from the area and community before you choose a property is the easiest approach.

For more tips or if you have questions, just give me a call and I’d be happy to help!

Have a safe New Year’s Eve and a happy new year. I look forward to working with you soon!

~ Michelle

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Using Social Media To Sell Your Washington, D.C. Home

Friday, July 29th, 2011

Hi everyone! Hope you all are handling the sunshine and high temperatures without too much pain and suffering. I was just talking with my friends in the Trinidad neighborhood last week and we quickly agreed we shouldn’t complain about the weather. We wait all year for summer to get here, and when it does, we complain about being too hot. I guess we just can’t be made happy these days. : )

But back to the subject at hand. Unless you live in a cave or under a rock (and obviously that’s not true – you have Internet access!), you are aware of the growing popularity of social media. Social media is the general name given to online tools such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and various other products which encourage collective collaboration and sharing of information. Even though most of the products started out as a way for people to interact with family and friends around the world, they have quickly become powerful marketing and business tools as well.

Using social media to sell your home – whether in Washington, D.C., Palisades, Trinidad or NW DC – is a great idea. The ease and availability of these tools allows information to pass from one person to a countless amount in a matter of mere moments. All it takes is a click of a button and your friends can share the information about your home to their friends, who can pass it on to their friends and this can continue forever. The marketing capabilities of these networks is nearly unmatched. Even though the results may be somewhat hard to quantify on paper, if it sells the house – that’s a pretty steadfast confirmation of its power.

I use social media tools in both my personal and professional lives for this very reason. When I have a property listed that I think is perfect for a particular person, I’m quick to jump on Facebook and share the info. And I always make sure to tell that person to pass the information on if they know of anyone in the market to buy a home in Washington DC. This is just one more tool in my tool box of ways to get the best and quickest results possible for my clients. It’s this attention to detail I hope will turn my clients into faithful and long-time clients.

Find me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter for the latest news and trends in the Washington DC real estate market. Plus, as always, a little fun as well.

~ Michelle

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Jazz Festival Anyone?

Thursday, May 26th, 2011

Spring is here and this weekend as we take time to remember friends and loved ones on Memorial Day, enjoy some of the musical magic offered by the DC Jazz Festival. My friends from the Chevy Chase area will be attending and I hope to see many of our friends and neighbors there too.

The largest music festival in Washington, DC, the DC Jazz Festival offers more than 100 performances in dozens of locations throughout the city. The Festival organization invests in year-round music education for DC students and residents, promotes music education in schools and supports continued efforts to diversify the jazz music audience. What a great program, that adds to the community through cultural advancement – exactly what we need.

So gather your friends, coworkers, friends and everyone else and explore your city – there is surely something for everyone!

Be safe this holiday weekend and enjoy all that jazz!

~ Michelle

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The Perfect Time For Buying A Washington, DC Home

Thursday, February 10th, 2011

Is there a perfect time for buying a home in the Washington, DC area? Simply, yes. But the answer is probably not what you expect.

I advise my clients on this issue all the time with the same answer: “The perfect time to buy a home is when it makes financial sense.” That shouldn’t be taken as an avoidance tactic, because honestly, if I don’t sell properties, I do not earn an income. But rather than telling every client “NOW!” is the perfect time to buy and letting the consequences of the transaction fall where they may, I prefer my clients only purchase a home if the decision is right for them. The right time should be based on an overall financial approach rather than the tempting offers of a mortgage lender or the state of the housing market today. Forward thinking is important when buying a Washington, DC home.

There are considerations to make before buying a home; considerations that likely will only improve your financial circumstances and stability when handled appropriately.

First, prospective home buyers should think about how long they intend to live in the home. Individuals planning to live in home for five or more years can typically be comfortable purchasing a home, regardless of the housing market. In five years anything can happen and the housing market could be booming once again. If the house is to be consider a temporary dwelling, then chances are the time is not right to purchase the house.

Talk to a mortgage lender, bank or credit to secure pre-approval status before you actually begin looking for a house to purchase. Knowing what you can realistically afford can give insight on whether now is the time to buy. If you are pre-approved for a lower amount that you thought, you may not be able to purchase the quality of home you had hoped for and waiting may improve that – assuming your financial circumstances change as well.

Research and understand all the options available for mortgages. Read the fine print on every mortgage offer and determine if now is the appropriate time to obtain a mortgage. All mortgages are not created equally, and if currently you only qualify for a high interest rate then perhaps it would be better to wait something has changed. Perhaps a credit card with a large outstanding balance is the problem and paying it off would improve your credit score enough to qualify you for a better mortgage.

Think about more than simply the monthly mortgage payment when looking at your overall finances. While the mortgage payment should always be a large consideration, think also about the other home-related expenses you will be responsible for. Taxes, maintenance, general repairs, insurance and other household expenses add up quickly and may push you over the financial breaking point.

I’m always happy to discuss these topics and others with clients, so if you would like additional information on this topic, please let me know. I’m here to help!

~ Michelle

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Tips To Prevent A Home Break-In

Friday, February 4th, 2011

It’s a subject we don’t want to think about, but unfortunately, we have to.  According to the FBI Uniform Crime Reports more than 1.5 million homes were broken into in 2006. The FBI report also states that of those break-ins, a measly 12.6 of the criminals were actually caught that’s less than 200,000 of those homeowners who saw any type of justice for the crime on their property. A couple little known facts about property crimes such as burglary: the majority of break-ins occur during the day when homeowners are at work and nearly 40 percent of all homes broken into are not forced entries. That’s right, 40 percent of the homes were open to intruders – through unlocked windows and doors.

While the statistics can be startling, with a few simple tips, you can help prevent your home from being the subject of criminal activity.

  • Know what others can see. When items like bicycles, snowblowers, lawnmowers and other power tools can easily be seen from the road, they tend to draw thieves like magnets. Simply put these items in the garage or storage space and remove the temptation.
  • Look in your own windows. Open all of your curtains and blinds then take a walk around outside your house and look in. You may be surprised at home much people can see by simply glancing in as they walk or drive by. The popularity of flat screen televisions has grown significantly and with many mounted on the wall, it makes them that much more visible to passing traffic. Look in the windows and notice how many valuable items you have within sight distance and how many are near the window. It may require a bit of rearranging – or even attention to closing the curtains or blinds – but keeping them out of sight is your best bet.
  • Pay attention to your garbage and curbside recycling. When you purchase a new big-ticket item like a television or stereo equipment, don’t advertise your purchase by dismissing the packaging to the curb. Again, this is a tell-tale sign of the valuable items in your home.
  • Secure your yard. This doesn’t mean to install a 12-foot chain link topped with barbed wire fence, rather it simply means maintaining your landscape to avoid providing protection for thieves. Tall shrubs and overgrown trees near your home provide a fantastic hiding place for would-be intruders to wait until they can easily enter your home. That passing car isn’t a problem if they can duck behind the bush under the bedroom window. You don’t have to get rid of them, just keep them manicured.
  • Know your neighbors. While you do not have to become best friends with your neighbors, become friendly enough so they recognize suspicious behavior at your home. Let them know when you’ll be out-of-town for a even a few days so they will not dismiss activity as your own.
  • Pretend it’s Fort Knox. This should go without says, but apparently it needs to be stated for at least 40 percent of the homeowners out there. So, lock your doors and windows all the time. All it takes is once and a thief can make his way into your home and off with your prized possessions.

~ Michelle

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Posted in Lifestyle, Neighborhoods | 2 Comments »

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