Whether Montclair, Dumfries residents are looking for a home equity line of credit, a refi, or a new mortgage, when it comes to getting a loan, everyone knows that it’s the credit score that ultimately determines the outcome. Yet when it comes to a working knowledge of what major factors affect your score, a new survey shows that many of us are less certain than we should be.

The Consumer Federation of America is a nonprofit outfit that from time to time releases reports designed to improve that situation. Their latest is a sort of report card on how much average adults understand about credit scoring —  the key factor in getting a loan of any kind.

On the plus side of the report card, CFA says that people who have obtained one or more of their own…

538 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

The graduations are just finishing up, most summer getaways are booked, and with the end of June soon to be coming our way, many homeowners may be thinking more about holiday weekends and BBQs than home maintenance. But for those selling a home in Westridge, Woodbridge this summer, keeping ahead of upkeep issues will become an important part of the project. Some items that bear watching: 

The best time to clean air conditioners is before you fire them up for the first time…but since the AC always seem to be needed sooner than expected, few of us do. Never mind: sooner is better than later — and if you're selling your home in Westridge, Woodbridge this summer, you'll want to keep the home comfortable at all times for potential buyers. Your owner's…

791 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

   Suppose you are driving past one of those ‘For Sale by Owner’ yard signs…and the house looks good!

Do you screech to a halt, jump out and rush up to the front door to – quick! – sign a deal? More likely, you jot down the phone number (hopefully one is visible, though with For Sale By Owner signs, it’s not always the case) so you can call up your agent to get the details.

Veteran buyers considering a Port Potomac, Woodbridge For Sale by Owner (FSBO) property know why it’s highly beneficial to use their agent from the start.  Even if you have found the home yourself, you should want that first call to go to an agent.

Here’s why:

  • Agents offer advanced relationships that stand to improve your bottom line. For example, timing often can make…

525 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Each May, the United States celebrates a day called Memorial Day. Does Memorial Day have meaning? What is the history of Memorial Day?

Memorial Day was first widely observed in May 1868. The celebration commemorated the sacrifices of the Civil War and the proclamation was made by General John A Logan. Following the proclamation, participants decorated graves of more than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers. 

In years since World War 1, the day has become a celebration of honor for those who died in all America's wars, as well as those who are Veterans and current members of the US military. 

In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday. The United States celebrates this holiday the last Monday of…

629 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax County Home Sales Projections to Watch through January, 2018 Cited, Reports the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors® and GMU’s Center For Regional Analysis
Fairfax – The Northern Virginia Association of Realtors®, along with the GMU- Center for Regional Analysis, announces its new housing market forecast for median prices, number of sales and inventory for Fairfax and Arlington counties and the city of Alexandria through January 2018.

“Housing trends are up in Fairfax County,” said Dr. Terry Clower, Director of George Mason’s Center for Regional Analysis. “Based on new forecasts, by year’s end, we will see year-over-year improvements in prices -- up 5.8 percent, units sold – up 3.1 percent, and even a rebound in…

619 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Short sales in Westridge, Woodbridge can hold the key to more than one real estate-related issue. For cash-strapped borrowers, short sale success means relieving an unsustainable obligation without having to go through foreclosure. For sharp-eyed buyers, Westridge, Woodbridge short sales can present outstanding opportunities to purchase properties otherwise beyond their affordability range.

Both are reasons to applaud the rising number of short sales. Nationally, the latest projections foresee a continuation of their rising trajectory. The OCC’s most recent report on mortgage performance credits short sales for the decline in both serious mortgage delinquencies and completed foreclosures.

For potential short sale buyers, several questions are good…

488 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

After weeks of dealing with inspections, appraisals, repairs, and the sheaf of paperwork created by your mortgage company, The Final Walk-Through should come as a welcome relief to those buying a home in Port Potomac, Woodbridge this summer. Despite its ominous name, that final walk-through is anything but — it provides the last layer of protection for the new homebuyers.

Typically occurring in the final 24 hours before the scheduled close of escrow, this is no mere formality. It’s your ultimate opportunity to inspect the home and ensure that it is in the same condition as when you agreed to purchase it. It is also your chance to make sure that the seller has completed any agreed-upon repairs and to see that the home is being turned over in “broom…

892 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

Close to 70% of families say they have a dog or a cat in their household. If you are in that sizeable majority and are planning on relocating to Montclair, Dumfries, there are some planning steps you can take to help ease the move for your four-legged family members. 

Since the daily routine is going to be thoroughly undermined, on the day of your move, do as much as is practical to retain a calm atmosphere. If possible, provide a small quiet area where the pets can stay out of the way and safely clear of any wide-open doors. If you have portable fencing that’s strong enough to do the job, remember to make it available with the first wave of unpacking.

Fostering calm is especially important while your goods are being moved in and out by big, scary…

540 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

When I update Port Potomac Woodbridge readers about the latest news in housing prices, it’s usually not as ‘latest’ as I’d like. The reason is that there is a delay in most of the truly reliable indexes that measure housing prices. The big indexes are national (Port Potomac Woodbridge housing prices are another matter), and they have a built-in two-month delay.

We can look at trends and directions, but if there is a change afoot, we won’t be sure of that for about 60 days.

Last week, The Wall Street Journal found a way to present unusually fresh numbers. Reporter Nick Timiraos ignored the S&P/Case-Shiller Index, which reported statistics from back in March, and leapfrogged into April with the first solid news about our much-anticipated spring…

530 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post

If you are selling a home in Westridge, Woodbridge this year, even in the improving market you certainly know there is a great deal more to it than sticking a sign in your front yard. It will be a competition between like-minded homeowners — some with very competitive properties to offer. This is where the help of a trained professional and the network that is the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) can make all the difference.

You’ve probably worked with it before: the MLS is a central online database hub where licensed real estate agents representing available homes list and promote them. It’s a central marketplace in the same way that the New York Stock Exchange is (only without a NASDAQ to compete for customers). The National Association of Realtors®…

644 Views, 0 Comments

Read Full Post