Question: “Where do these Broadway lyrics come from?” says my real estate-muddled brain.
Answer: Oh, you may have you been singing the BLUES because the movers are delayed or prepping for a sale has forced you into an AirBnB while the bathrooms are being gutted.
Question: Interest rates are rising! What does that mean to you as a buyer or a seller?
Answer: Mortgage interest rates have already jumped significantly in the last month or two, leaving both sellers and buyers to speculate what this could mean to them. Buyers are wondering if it’s even worth it to still try to buy a home when their buying power has diminished. Sellers are wondering whether they missed that sweet spot for listing, since many buyers may be getting discouraged, or not even qualify any longer, due to higher interest rates.
Question: How was the first quarter 2022 real estate market in the City of Alexandria?
Answer: Each quarter we take an in-depth look at contract activity in the City of Alexandria compared to the same quarter of the previous year. To put contract activity into context for the first quarter of 2022, we need to take a look at inventory. The lack of inventory is both consistent and persistent, and it is the reality that dominates that market.
Question: Real estate jargon. Just what are you talking about?
Answer: Real estate agents use a lot of industry specific lingo. To the new home buyer, it may sound like we’re speaking a different language. It’s not unusual to have a client say, “what does that mean?”
Question: Now that the spring flowers are blooming, I am excited about freshening up my house. Do you have any suggestions that will make a big impact, but not break the bank?
Answer: Thank you for asking! I just refreshed my own home over the past year and am thrilled with the outcome! I am happy to share my examples and to make a few more suggestions.
Question: Love It or List It?
Answer: Whether or not you’ve seen the TV show, the “LOVE IT OR LIST IT?” question is one familiar to many. Once upon a time, that question was somewhat straightforward, but now with many supply chain constraints and limited housing inventory, it’s more complicated. Let’s break down the two options.
Question: In this “seller’s market” do I even need to…Paint my house? Replace the carpet? Fix the wood rot? Remodel the kitchen? Do anything??
Answer: The short answer is — Yes! However, it’s complicated, so the BIG question is — How much money do you want to make?
Question: What is all this talk about waiving contingencies? It seems unfair.
Answer: If you’re a buyer now, or will be in the near future, you may be asking yourself, “do I really have to risk so much to win a home?” I challenge you instead think of it this way, “what strategies can I implement to reduce risk and position myself to win a home?” In our market of multiple offers, escalated costs, and the practice of waiving “everything,” it can feel like you, the buyer, are taking all the risk. However, the risk to you can shrink if you come in with a good, solid strategy.
Question: Do I need to renovate in order to sell?
Answer: Home Sellers are bombarded these days with offers to buy their homes, ways to renovate to get the highest offer, and how to obtain the absolute highest price. It can be confusing, even paralyzing — the answer is a resounding “it depends.”
Question: How do I avoid being a juicy chapter in a real estate tell-all book?
Answer: Realtors don’t judge, but we have seen everything… and we could write a book! Don’t become a juicy chapter!
Question: How will I know?
Answer: When searching for “the one”, so many have the same question. To quote the late, great Whitney Houston — “How will I know?”
