Buying and selling property is a specialized market where industry professionals often speak a language not everyone outside the industry understands. You can pick up most of the terminology you need as you go, but establishing a solid foundation for your learning is important. If you can learn the top… read more →
Each decade has had its share of questionable home design, from the extensive wood paneling and Harvest Gold appliances of the 1970s to the next decade’s overuse of glass blocks, vertical blinds and country-style decor. Some of these serve as powerful buyer-repellant; others just ding the price, as people figure… read more →
Fourth of July Fireworks in the Washington DC Area Find 4th of July fireworks and Independence Day celebrations on the National Mall and around the capital region in Maryland and Virginia. Independence Day at Mount Vernon July 4, 2015. The Red, White and Blue event features musical performances, a wreathlaying… read more →
Selling your home is a real art form these days. The marketing! The staging! Yet there’s one thing that you, Joe or Sally Homeowner, often forget: Would-be buyers don’t care how much you love your pets. And they’re not interested in seeing — or smelling — evidence of Fido or… read more →
For some home sellers, it’s been a long year without a home sale. That means some buyers, smelling the desperation, may be able to cut a better deal. Sellers who have had their homes on the market a long time are eager to move on. Other sellers will choose to let… read more →
Living alone? You trendsetter, you. The Census says 33 million of us live solo. That’s a quarter of American households, according to the National Association of Realtors. The popularization of the solo life — in 1970, one-person households comprised just 17% of all households — is a historic change in human… read more →
The competition for rental homes is heating up. That increase in demand is driving up rents in some markets. Consider these eye-opening statistics: 25% of renters spend more than half of their income on rent and utilities, according to a recent study. Another quarter of renters spend between 30% and… read more →
Homeowners insurance isn’t a topic that most people like to think about. For first-time homebuyers, the prospect of adding home insurance to the other long list of costs can seem daunting. Yet homeowners’ insurance isn’t just required for your mortgage, it’s an important part of a plan to keep you… read more →
These days, the trend among cash-strapped home sellers seems to be to say less in hopes of getting more at closing. But in the long run, this less-than-full disclosure can prove costly. Sellers must disclose anything that could affect the property’s value or desirability, from big problems such as a… read more →
The VA appraisal is a crucial part of the home-buying process for qualified veterans and service members. VA appraisals focus on valuation and a more broad-based check of property conditions that could affect health, safety, or marketability. Every VA buyer needs to clear the appraisal hurdle. But understand that an… read more →