Taking Photos of Homes

I’m currently working on a listing presentation, and decided to use my own house.  The rain had stopped, so I removed a couple of those annoying free newspapers from the driveway, and set up my shot.  Through the camera lense, I noticed that I couldn’t capture the best part of the house – the farmers porch, due to an overgrown tree.  A angle shot helped somewhat, but didn’t stop the faded shutters and cracked driveway from jumping right out at me when I uploaded the photo.  So it seems that a photo can really provide a pair of fresh eyes on a situation, and provide you with a to-do list.  I also realized that brickwork doesn’t photograph well when wet, but does highlight the lawn.

Raising your Credit Score

Is your credit score less then perfect?  Here’s a video from a DC-area realtor that gives six tips on raising your credit score.

Woodbridge Home Gets 47 Offers!

“it seems like I have to spend our first outing giving [the buyers] a reality check because they are sure they can find some amazing home for a ridiculously low price.  People hear that is a buyer’s market and they think that they can give low-ball offers.  Eventually they do realize that bidding wars are common here in Prince William County–but only after hard lessons learned.” Link

Fairfax County Fall Festival

Saturday, October 10, 2009
10 AM to 5 PM
Old Town Fairfax
(raindate October 11)

The City of Fairfax would like to invite you to join in celebrating the 33rd annual Fall Festival. What started out as a small market for artisans to display their wares has grown to a festival with over 400 arts, crafts, information, food & gourmet food vendors, children’s activities and fabulous musical entertainment.

The New Car Show will once again be provided by the Fairfax City Auto Dealers Association. A business expo area will also be a part of the festival.

Even though we have grown up, we still consider ourselves very much a hometown community with a hometown festival. We look forward to seeing you in historic downtown Fairfax on October 10th from 10am to 5pm and in case of rain join us on October 11th.

Free Admission to the festival.

Pets are kindly discouraged at the festival. For the animals’ safety and the safety of individuals attending the festival, please leave pets at home.

The City of Fairfax is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in all city programs, services and activities and will provide accommodations upon request. To request accommodations; please call 703.385.7949 one week prior to event.

For more details about the Fall Festival, call 703.385.7858 Link

Virginia & DC House Auction

When: Saturday Oct. 3, 2009
Where: Renaissance Washington DC Hotel : Room- Grand Ballroom 999 Ninth St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Time: Registration Starts Promptly at 8:00 a.m. Auction starts promptly at 9:30 a.m.
OPEN HOUSE DATES: from 11AM to 4PM
What to bring: Last 2 yrs W-2 – $2,500 Cashier’s Check ($5,000 for each subsequent) – Checkbook for balance of 5% Earnest Money Deposit (15% for each subsequent)

Properties open for inspection from 11AM to 4PM on 9/19/09, 9/26/09 & 9/27/09. Please check individual property for specific open house information. Link

Signs of Life in Prince William Housing Prices

“Average home prices rose for the first time in at least two years in Virginia’s Prince William and Loudoun counties, the Washington area’s most troubled housing markets, according to the most recent data from the local multiple listing service.”

… “The most frenzied buying activity is taking place in the lower price brackets.”

More

FHA Limits

Did you know that as of January 1st of 2009, the limits for FHA houses were raised?  In fact combined with the drop in home prices, the limits now seem astronomically high.  For Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William Counties, the limit is a whopping $729,750!

Congress Hints at Extending the First-Time Buyer Credit

“Will Congress extend the wildly popular $8,000 home-buyer tax credit beyond its Nov. 30 expiration date?

That’s a question generating huge pressure on Capitol Hill from would-be buyers who haven’t found the right house, realty agents, builders, lenders and squads of lobbyists working on their behalf.

Here’s the first hint of an answer: On Sept. 17, the leadership of Congress’s primary tax-writing committee introduced a tax credit bill that’s likely to zip through the House and quickly move to the Senate. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.) sponsored the bipartisan Service Members Homeownership Tax Act (H.R. 3590), which would extend the credit 12 months for thousands of military, Foreign Service and intelligence agency personnel who have been posted abroad in 2009.” More

$8,000 Home Buyer Tax Credit

Are you a first time home buyer? You may qualify for a big tax credit toward your first home, and although it’s currently scheduled to end soon, Congress may consider extending the program.

* The tax credit is for first-time home buyers only. For the tax credit program, the IRS defines a first-time home buyer as someone who has not owned a principal residence during the three-year period prior to the purchase.
* The tax credit does not have to be repaid.
* The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home’s purchase price up to a maximum of $8,000.
* The credit is available for homes purchased on or after January 1, 2009 and before December 1, 2009.
* Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 qualify for the full tax credit.

More Info

Real Estate Stats for Northern Virginia

Here are some real estate statistics for a few northern Virginia towns:

Centreville | Chantilly | Clifton | Fairfax | Manassas | Fairfax Station