I Am An Iceberg
March 9, 2010 by Katie Wethman · 1 Comment
A few weeks ago I was in New Orleans for a real estate conference. The Northern Virginia real estate market, however, missed the memo that I would be out of town, and so homes came on the market, deals were negotiated, and clients went under contract despite my absence. Luckily I can work from [...]
How Far Below Asking Price Can I Offer if a Listing is New to Market?
March 6, 2010 by Katie Wethman · Leave a Comment
As I’ve often discussed before (since 2007, even), our local real estate market is really a ‘tale of two markets’ — those listings that are “in the market” — meaning they are priced competitively given their location and condition, and those “out of the market” — meaning they are over-priced given their location and condition.
Though [...]
Arlington Condo Pet Policies
March 5, 2010 by Katie Wethman · Leave a Comment
So you’re ready to buy a condo…But what about your four-legged friends? Will they be able to go with you, or will you be asking Mom to take care of them…again. Well, we’re here to help! Below is a table of the pet policies for a number of Arlington condos. All information is believed to [...]
FAQ: What does MLS stand for?
March 3, 2010 by Katie Wethman · Leave a Comment
MLS, in the real estate world, stands for Multiple Listing Service. See, way back when, in the time of the dinosaurs…okay, not really the dinosaurs, just before computers and databases…homes were recorded by individual brokers on sheets of paper, and literally kept in books in the office. And so agents looked through the books [...]
Real Estate Market Update for DC and Northern Virginia – February 2010
February 28, 2010 by Katie Wethman · Leave a Comment
Anybody ready for spring yet? It feels like real estate has been on hold these last few weeks with our multiple blizzards.
Speaking of snow, as we continue the ‘big dig’ out from under the snow, remember these tips to help prevent snow related flooding in you home. Many homeowners are also dealing with ice [...]
Single Women as Home Buyers
February 13, 2010 by Katie Wethman · Leave a Comment
Single working women are poised to become a financial powerhouse: single women between 25 and 30 are earning more than single men, and women’s earned income is growing faster, according to www.womenhomeowners.com. Even coming out of the current recession, women are positioned better: 82% of job losses affected men, according to the New York Times. [...]
Financing Condos in a Mixed Use Building
February 12, 2010 by Katie Wethman · Leave a Comment
As if condo buyers didn’t have enough headaches trying to buy a condo with the new FHA rules in place, many are also running into troubles with “mixed use” buildings, i.e., condos that have residential units but also commercial space (usually on the ground floor or street level), as is common in urban areas like [...]
Will the New FHA Rules Kill Arlington Condo Sales?
February 10, 2010 by Katie Wethman · Leave a Comment
On February 1, HUD and FHA rolled out major changes to the condo approval process. Previously, buyers wishing to use FHA financing had two options: If the condo was listed in the FHA’s “Approved Project” database, you were good to go. But if it wasn’t, buyers had the option of going through the (now in [...]
Free First Time Home Buyer Class in Arlington, VA
February 8, 2010 by Katie Wethman · Leave a Comment
Are you a first time buyer thinking of starting your search? Low pries, historically low interest rates, and the $8000 tax credit have many people in our area wondering if it’s time to buy. Join us for a free educational session at Arlington County Library.
Wenesday, March 3
7:00pm – 8:15pm
Arlington County Library
1015 N Quincy [...]
Giving a Facelift to a Dated Exterior
February 6, 2010 by Katie Wethman · Leave a Comment
Hard to believe, isn’t it? But look closely and you’ll see the remains of the original home. On the main level, the owners added a welcoming front porch, and swapped the window out for a bay window. Then they “popped the top” and added a second floor, and extended the chimney up. Then they [...]
