Happy holidays and a happy and successful new year to us all! This is always the time of year we look back on the year that has passed, and more importantly we look forward to the new year and we make our new year’s resolutions. I’d like to make some resolutions, both business and personal for the new year. And here they are for 2017: Read More
Are housing values dropping now? Potential homebuyers who contact me for a mortgage are now frequently asking if they should wait to buy a home. The implication is that people are now worried that housing values are going to fall. So why buy now? Isn’t it smarter to wait? Maybe, maybe not. It is understandable why everybody is asking the question, “are housing values dropping now?” Read More
Growing up in the Washington DC metro I was sure we had the worst traffic of anywhere in the country. But then I moved to Los Angeles, and San Francisco. We do not have it so bad in the DC area! But it is bad.
Every year a company called INRIX releases its Global Traffic Scorecard and identifies the top 25 U.S. cities with the worst traffic congestion.
Would you rather own a home closer to the city center in Washington DC, and have a short work commute? Or would you rather live outside the city and get more square footage, but have a longer commute? Or maybe you remote work and it doesn’t matter, and you can live wherever you want? Read More
When you buy a new home, you need a mortgage to purchase it. And before you get a mortgage, you need to determine how much mortgage you qualify for. Different sources may qualify you for different mortgage amounts. And how much you qualify for does not necessarily equate to how much you can afford.
How much you can afford is based on your personal budget. When a mortgage lender tells you how much you can qualify for, that is the highest mortgage amount they’ll approve you for. But this may not be the mortgage size you end up closing on. Read More
When you move into a new home there are numerous tasks to track. It is almost impossible to keep everything organized, unless you keep track through a task list or use some sort of technology tool.
Although the closing will seem like a long time off once you get under contract for a new home, it will all happen quickly. And a lot of tasks related to moving into your new home require a lot of advance notice! It is time to start planning things ASAP, do not procrastinate. The below will help. Read More
What are the best neighborhoods in DC? What makes a neighborhood “up and coming” in the DC area? You may have heard of the U-Street corridor and remember that it used to be abandoned buildings and vacant lots. Now it’s where professionals want to live, it’s trendy, and packed with diners and shoppers. Even though it took years of slow transformation, it would have been nice to own property before it got hot. Read More
Homeownership in the Washington DC Metro isn’t just about buying the house—it’s about keeping it standing, safe, efficient, and valuable over time. Yet one of the most common (and costly) mistakes homeowners make is deferring routine maintenance to save money in the short term. Read More
It’s just starting to get cold in DC and surrounding areas. Do you think about how to weatherproof your home? The winters in DC area are usually pretty cold, but there could be a chance for a mild winter this year. Despite it possibly being warmer than usual, it can still get cold enough to turn on the heater. Thankfully there are several ways to cut down on heating costs and save money during the holiday season. Read More
