How Staging Can Get You More Money For Your Home

May 14, 2012 by · Leave a Comment 

Watch the video below to find out how staging your home can help you get more money when you sell! For more information, please contact us. And if you’re selling your home (or are just curious), we’d be happy to provide you with a free market analysis of your home’s value!

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North Arlington (Orange Line) Condo Update: May 2012

May 11, 2012 by · Leave a Comment 

Zip Codes 22201 and 22203 (includes Ballston, Virginia Square, Clarendon)

Sign up for a market conditions report.

See market data for all of Arlington.

See more Buyer Resources.

See last month’s post on Orange Line Condo prices.

Ready to start your search?  Sign up for a free first time home buyer class in Arlington (registration required).

Contact us for more information.

Source: MRIS. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Stats exclude retirement communities and co-ops.

1 BR Units2BR Units
ACTIVE LISTINGS as of May 11, 2012
Average List Price$334,181$481,547
Number of Active Listings3842
Average Property DOM(P) – Actives4958
SOLD LISTINGS for April 2012
Average Sold Price for Previous Month (does not include seller subsidies)$349,097$479,526
Number of Sold Listings in Previous Month1819
Average Property DOM(P) – Solds2743

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WE Give, Arlington! Dine Out to Support Local Non-Profits!

May 7, 2012 by · Leave a Comment 

WE Give, a new partnership formed by two local Realtors, Katie Wethman, principal of The Wethman Group, and Heidi Ellenberger Jones,  principal of Modern Jones, is pleased to announce the launch of a monthly community fund raising event held in Arlington. The purpose of WE Give is to raise funds for various local charities as well as to provide a networking and social forum for Arlington neighbors who support these causes.

The inaugural event takes place Monday, May 21st, at 6:00 pm at Restaurant 3, located at 2950 Clarendon Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia, 22201, and supports Operation Second Chance’s Ride Allegheny. Come enjoy dinner, and at least 30% of everything spent on food and drink will go to the charity, courtesy of the sponsors. Just make reservations for the 6pm seating and be sure to tell them you’re with WE Give.

About this month’s organization:
What started 12 years ago as a bicycling challenge amongst neighborhood friends has turned into a tradition of adventure, camaraderie and meaning for a worthy cause called Operation Second Chance.

“The Ride”
Ride Allegheny is a 300 mile bicycling fund raiser starting Thursday October 4th on the Allegheny Heritage Trail www.atatrail.org in Pittsburgh PA, connecting with the C&O Canal Trail www.bikewashington.org/canal in Cumberland MD and finishing Sunday October 7th at Smokey Glenn Farm www.smokeyglenfarm.com in Gaithersburg Maryland. The total ride will take place over the course of four days averaging 80 miles a days. Pre-register online www.rideallegheny.org, stay informed, raise some money and get ready for the ride of your life.

“The Need”
For our 12th annual ride we are targeting 100 adventurous rider types who are up for a challenge, into a lot of fun, a healthy dose of countryside and a commitment to help heroes move on. Our target for this year’s event is $ 170,000.

Donations make the work Operation Second Chance does possible. The need is real and unfortunately the magnitude of the problem grows as the War continues. Please give us your support and become a rider or a corporate sponsor.

About Operation Second Chance
Operation Second Chance began in 2004 when Cindy McGrew started visiting wounded soldiers and Marines at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. She quickly realized the many needs of the soldiers and their families. Her commitment to helping fill those needs gave rise to Operation Second Chance, whose mission is to provide support for the soldiers and Marines at Walter Reed, and then to further assist them as they transition either back to duty or back to civilian life. For more information about Operation Second Chance, visit www.operationsecondchance.org.

Other local charities are currently being considered for upcoming events. Please call 703-655-7672 for more information.

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The Spring Market Continues to Sizzle

The Wethman Group is pleased to announce our newest Realtor, Brianne Riley! A San Francisco Bay Area native, Brianne has lived and worked in the Washington, DC, area since 2005, when she thought DC would be a fun place to live “for a year or two” after college. Years later, she feels right at home and enjoys helping others make the move to the metro area. She holds a Juris Doctor from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law in Washington, DC, as well as a BA from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. We are thrilled to have her on board!

In local market news, the Spring market has kicked off! Northern Virginia inventory spiked dramatically by the end of March, but Arlington is still laying low, roughly on par with last year, while DC is down dramatically. Don’t get too excited though, Northern Virginia, because contracts were also dramatically up, so we maintained our running low ratio of listings-to-sales, still hovering at about three months or less (six months is considered a “balanced” market).

Interest rates remain low, though we are off the lows of sub-4%.

If you are thinking of buying a home, come to one of our free first-time home buyer classes at Arlington Central Library. The next class is Tuesday, May 22nd, at 7pm.  You can register here

If you know someone looking to move, please contact us. And if you’re thinking of selling, we’ll be happy to provide you with a free market analysis of your home and review of statistics in your local neighborhood.

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Review of the Wethman Group

April 30, 2012 by · Leave a Comment 

We here at the Wethman Group are so lucky to work with wonderful clients.  In fact, over 60% of our business since 2010 has been referrals from past clients and friends.  We strive to make every transaction smooth and constantly troubleshoot potential issues.  We’re grateful for our clients and the referrals they send us.  Here are some recent client reviews on Zillow:

I met Katie through her first time home buyers classes. I was impressed that someone will take from their free time to share her knowledge with people that may or may not be her clients. Some months later we met for coffee and I explained to Katie what I wanted. We also discussed if she and I were a good match. We were. Katie is extremely diligent and returns all your calls and emails in a timely manner. Being a first time home buyer I was very confused and overloaded with information. Katie held my hand along the process and explain all the very different aspects of the home buying process that I had to be aware of until they became clear. One of my favorite things about the way Katie works is that I was able to review and sign documents electronically. If there was a question in a critical part of the process, Katie explained this process through videos on her Youtube channel. After closing, we still keep in touch and she will definitely be my realtor when when I decide to move to bigger quarters. Highly recommended!!!!

As first-time homebuyers, we appreciated Katie’s expertise and the Wethman Group’s resources for guiding us through the process. We purchased a semi-detached home in Arlington in 2011. Katie’s knowledge of the local market (a unique market!) is unparalleled. In addition to being responsive regarding the property and contract negotiations, Katie’s understanding of the financial commitment involved and the settlement process was a key reason we would highly recommend her to others.

Katie and her team know this complicated process inside and out, and they utilize the tools that make it easy for busy families to navigate it all easily. Additionally, her recommendations for related services (inspection, moving, remodeling, etc.) were right on the money. Total package with the Wethman Group! Thank you, Katie!

We’d like to make your home buying or home selling experience a great one, too.  Contact us to hear more about us and how we work hard for you!

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Washington, DC Housing Market Stats for March 2012

April 26, 2012 by · Leave a Comment 

Watch the video below to find out what’s happening in the Washington, DC real estate market. If you’d like more information, contact us. And if you’re thinking of selling (or are just curious), we’d be happy to provide you with a free market analysis of your home’s value.

 

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Top Blog Posts for Home Sellers

April 23, 2012 by · Leave a Comment 

We have some great posts on our blogs from over the years, but sometimes it can be hard to sift through them all to find what you need! So we’ve collected here a starting point for sellers to start researching the home selling process.

Getting Started

Choosing a listing agent is the most important part of the process.  Here are some myths about choosing an agent, including whether open houses work, and whether you need a ‘neighborhood specialist’.  We would love to speak with you about what makes us different and how we will sell your home faster, for more money, and with less hassle.  Contact us for a no-obligation meeting.

Want to find out what houses in your neighborhood are going for?  Sign up for a free market snapshot here.

Wondering how to simultaneously buy and sell and not end up homeless or with two mortgages?  We have some tools at our disposal.  Read the three part series here.

Timing is everything when deciding when to go on the market.  Should you list in the winter? Wait til Spring?  Well, it all depends, as you can read about in this article.

Are you underwater on your mortgage?  Find out is a short sale is right for you.

 

On the Market

Staging can be important in getting top dollar for your home in the least amount of time.  Check out our Staging Tips here.

Marketing your home is what draws the buyers in.  From pricing it right to fabulous wide-angle photos, to open houses, here is a marketing plan that will get your home sold.

 

Contract to Close

The work isn’t all done once you get the offer.  You still need to get through the home inspection.  Get a head start by making your home inspection-friendly.

 

The Wethman Group helped buy and sell over 40 homes in 2011.  Let us show you why the majority of our business is referrals from past happy clients. Contact us for a free market summary and marketing overview.

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North Arlington (Orange Line) Condo Update: April 2012

April 18, 2012 by · Leave a Comment 

Zip Codes 22201 and 22203 (includes Ballston, Virginia Square, Clarendon)

Sign up for a market conditions report.

See market data for all of Arlington.

See more Buyer Resources.

See last month’s post on Orange Line Condo prices.

Ready to start your search?  Sign up for a free first time home buyer class in Arlington (registration required).

Contact us for more information.

Source: MRIS. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Stats exclude retirement communities and co-ops.

1 BR Units2BR Units
ACTIVE LISTINGS as of April 12, 2012
Average List Price$327,793$494,135
Number of Active Listings4034
Average Property DOM(P) – Actives5546
SOLD LISTINGS for March 2012
Average Sold Price for Previous Month (does not include seller subsidies)$325,115$533,367
Number of Sold Listings in Previous Month109
Average Property DOM(P) – Solds7852

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The Wethman Group Welcomes Brianne Riley!

April 16, 2012 by · Leave a Comment 

The Wethman Group is growing!  We are pleased to announce Brianne Riley has joined us as a Realtor.

A San Francisco Bay Area native, Brianne has lived and worked in the Washington, DC, area since 2005, when she thought DC would be a fun place to live “for a year or two” after college. Years later, she feels right at home and enjoys helping others make the move to the metro area.

Brianne specializes in representing buyers, allowing her to be an advocate and expert in the home-buying process, while also helping clients enjoy the many fun aspects of finding and buying a new home. She holds a Juris Doctor from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law in Washington, DC, as well as a BA from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon.

Brianne is licensed in Virginia and will soon be licensed in DC and Maryland.

Welcome Brianne!

Are you ready to start your home search?  Contact us!

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The Benefits of Consulting an Agent Before Buying a Home

April 13, 2012 by · Leave a Comment 

Watch the video below to find out all the benefits of consulting a real estate agent before buying a home!

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