We recently had a conversation about some important market trends with Latham Schweitzer, a premier real estate agent with Long & Foster who has a deep background in real estate appraisal. “I am seeing signs that the market is changing. Walk and talks still have...
Like any other form of investment, commercial real estate requires due diligence to assure that the investment will bring a Return on Investment (ROI). Some of this diligence occurs before purchase, while other aspects are part of ensuring the ongoing viability of the investment. Instead...
Hiring a contractor to build or renovate your home is going to be expensive, and most homeowners may do this at most once or twice in a lifetime, so they aren’t experts at the process. Managing the money – whether it’s your own, or a...
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has declared January to be National Radon Action Month, and residents of Northern Virginia should be particularly concerned about this issue. The EPA estimates that radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, and the second leading...
When it comes to responsible homeownership, the list of areas that need regular maintenance and inspection is long. While electrical systems aren’t on many people’s semi- or even annual to-do list, it’s important to remember this crucial component of every home. Some issues are more...
When investing in a custom home, the last thing a homeowner wants is to move in and discover the job wasn’t completed to satisfaction. Since most homeowners may not remember or know to look for all the details, it’s quite useful to have a trained...
Home inspectors see homes for sale as a major part of their business. They become familiar with many possible ways that a seller chooses to present their house to prospective buyers. While a hot sellers’ market may mean that sellers don’t need to do much...
It starts with the Golden Rule, but there are so many other ways to think about others – “giver’s gain,” “pay it forward,” or “one good deed deserves another” to name a few. As the season changes, it’s a good time for everyone to reflect...
When it comes to your home, what do hanging a picture and building a two-story addition have in common? They both require a plan, and that plan needs to be executed. Believe it or not, determining the weight of the picture, deciding on the (right)...
In a Seller’s Market, the process of buying a home is a sprint with dizzying turn-around times at every phase of the buying process. In Northern Virginia, the low inventory of real estate, particularly single-family homes, means that buying is highly competitive, and buyers have...