New Homes in Loudoun County, Virginia, Buyer REBATE

WHY A BUYER'S AGENT FOR ME?

A Buyers Agent who is representing YOU in your home search will help you. 

1.  Find homes for sale that meet your qualifying price range and location of choice.  This is important because obtaining a mortgage loan is not easy today unless you clearly qualify for financing.  The easy loans written during the real estate boom of 2002-2006 are gone.  An experienced Buyer's Agent working in your best interest will recommend mortgage loan officers that have an established record of success getting our buyers to closing on time and with no hidden charges.

2.   Provide you with resources to help you become familiar with the communities in your search area.  A Buyers Agent can help you obtain the zoning, transportation, public school, recreational facilities, etc. that are important criteria in your search. 

3.  Alert you to visible defects in a property that you may not otherwise note when you tour homes for sale.  While your Buyer's Agent is not a home inspector, we often observe defects that we have seen in other properties or that have been included in home inspections on other properties.  You will benefit from our experience with many transactions.  If your buyer's agent knows of a defect in a property, you will know. 

4.  How Does A Buyer Select A Buyer's Agent?  We recommend taking a home tour with an agent to observe them in action.  If the agent is thorough in showing the home and is showing you homes in your qualifying price range, then it becomes a matter of personality.  If you are comfortable with the agent and believes that they will help you find the best home in your price range in your area of choice, it is probably a good match. 

5.  Does the Buyer's Agent have the necessary credentials to represent your interests?  Is the agent a REALTOR® who has pledged to adhere to the REALTORS® Code of Ethics?  This is important because the National Association of Realtors and the local REALTOR Associations offer the consumers a way to file a complaint if you believe that you have been treated in an unethical manner by a member agent. 

6.  Does the agent have their license with a broker who has Errors and Omissions Insurance.  This is important because it provides the agent with insurance in the event there is an error or omission on the part of the agent that causes you financial damage. 

7.  Does the agent practice real estate full time?  While it is possible for a licensed real estate sales person to work part time as an agent, if you are in need of tours during the week or have a short time to find a home, you may be better served by a Buyer's Agent for whom practicing real estate sales is a full time job.  Some necessary events such as the settlement of your home purchase can only be done during normal working hours on week days. 

8.  Buyers need comparable pricing information too.  Only a Buyers Agent is going to provide you with information about homes that have sold in the area.  This is the information that appraisers use to value properties.  Only a Buyers Agent will tell you, based on recent sales information, the market value of homes for sale.  The listing agent's job is to get the most money for a home possible.  They represent the seller's interest, not yours.  Negotiating prices with good market knowledge will save you money. 

Homefinders.com works with a network of experienced Buyer's Bgents who specialize in New Homes, Farms, Homes with Acreage, Homes in rural or urban areas.  We can help you find homes that meet your criteria and special needs in Loudoun County real estate.

Dedicated Buyers Agents ready to help you find a wonderful home in Loudoun County, Virginia.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800=711-7988, E-mail.

FREEZERS AND REFRIGERATORS IN THE GARAGE?

Freezers and refrigerators in garages are fine when the outlets and wiring are adequate.  Home owners need to be mindful of the electrical capacity in their home and in the garage.  GFCIs are not always present in garages in older homes. 

Often the electrical service in older homes isn't adequate.  Michael Thornton, a home inspector in Nashville, TN give some helpful advice for home owners who consider this option for additional freezer or refrigerator storage. 

MAJOR BUILDERS KNOW THAT PRESERVING TREES WHEN DEVELOPING A SITE PLAN WILL HELP SELL HOMES.

BUILDING ON PASTURE LAND.  Builders or developers often have little opportunity to preserve trees in a new home community.  Often the land being developed is former farm land was cleared 100 years ago and has been used for pasture or crops over the years.

THE GOAL IS TO SAVE TREES.  When we find a piece of land that is zoned for development, the developer must determine what can be done to preserve as much wooded stock as possible while maximizing the number of bailable lots that they can sell.  Heavily wooded land is more expensive to develop and builders often clear just enough to accommodate homes.  The trend over the past 10 years or so has been to preserve as many trees as possible, even in urban communities.  While some home sites will require "reforestation" to meet county or state standards for building permits, the old method of "clear cutting" to remove construction barriers is largely gone in most areas. 

If the trees are there, the builders or developers will preserve as many as possible.  In fact, counties are now restricting the amount of clear cutting that builders or developers can do.  That's a good thing.

The community below has a number of lovely homes in price ranges from the mid $500,000 range to over $1,000,000.  Many homes are on wooded lots and offer a lovely ambiance.  Two properties are priced over $1,000,000 with significant acreage. 

Click the price below for more information and photos.  Contact Homefinders.com for a tour of homes for sale in Leesburg, VA.

Homes in Leesburg are popular with new and resale home buyers.  In addition to the fabulous kitchen and master bedroom with a garden bath, a wooded lot is requested by many home buyers and these lots demand a premium for homes in Leesburg, VA.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988, E-mail.

Loudoun County VA
Real Estate and Homes

Help for Loudoun County Virginia Home Buyers.

BANK OWNED PROPERTIES IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA are priced at market value.  Many home buyers believe that the price on a foreclosure has something to do with "what the bank has in it".  Not so.  Bank owned properties are priced based on either an appraisal by a licensed appraiser or by a "Broker's Price Opinion".  Either give the bank information about recently sold properties in in a similar location, similarly situated and similar size.  These homes for sale in Northern Virginia should be and usually are priced below market for the neighborhoods the properties often are in need of at least cosmetic repair. 

"AS IS" PROPERTIES.  Further, since the bank usually makes no disclosure as to condition, makes no warranties for systems or appliances, structure, roof, etc., they are discounted from the average market for that area.  What this means to home buyers is that foreclosures are a good buy.  Of course, a home buyer must be careful and we always recommend a home inspection, even if the bank doesn't make repairs, if there are serious structural defects that you have not been able to identify prior to writing a contract, you can void the contract and you and your buyer's agent will find another property for you to consider. 

BUYERS ARE LOOKING FOR BARGAINS.  I received a call this a.m. from a prospective home buyer inquiring about foreclosures in Northern Virginia.  There are quite a number of them.  However, bank owned properties as a percentage of all homes actively listed for sale is not huge when compared to other real estate markets such as California, Arizona, Florida, Michigan and others.   The caller started the conversation off with, "will the bank take 50% of the price in the computer?" 

Now, I can't speak for banks, but I have access to SOLD statistics and study them regularly.  I quickly advised the caller that, not only are properties in our area going for 50% of list price, they are often receiving multiple offers and selling for OVER LIST PRICE.  I have too much respect for the agents in my network to expect them to show multiple properties to buyers who are making offers that are out of the range of reasonable. 

Most bank owned properties for sale are in the lower price ranges and located in urban areas.  However  foreclosures are located throughout the area and in all locations and price ranges.  YES, there are luxury bank owned homes for sale.  Lately, home owner buyers are competing with serious investor buyers who write conventional contracts with no inspections and 20% down.  It's hard to compete with investor buyers who know value, have cash and usually close quickly. 

DON'T LIMIT YOUR SEARCH TO FORECLOSURES.  Since the foreclosures are only a small percentage of our over all listing inventory, we include them in all buyer tours.  If a suitable home for our buyer turns out to be a foreclosure, fine.  If it is a short sale, fine.  If it is a homeowner listings, fine.  We search for the best home for our buyers.  We do help buyers understand the process for different seller's and they are prepared to wait for bank owned properties and wait even longer for short sale listings.  Bottom line.  Find the best home for your needs. 

You're going to wake up in it every day. 

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988, E-mail.

Arlington County		Alexandria Old Town County		Fairfax County		Fall's Church City		Fauquier County
King George County		Loudoun County		Spotsylvania County		Stafford County		Prince William County

OUR MARKET HAS REALLY PICKED UP STEAM. 

• Buyers are calling all day long. 
• Offers are being written daily by agents in my network. 
• E-mail inqiries from my IDX site come in 24 hours a day.
• Interest rates are the best in memory.
• Prices are the best they have been in 6 years.

Even Lenn is showing homes.  If a buyer wants to buy in my neighborhood and they will agree to put up with me, they are going to have a home buying adventure.  I do warn buyers that I will insist that we dot every "i" and cross every "t".   However, I know my market and I try to make searching for a home an enjoyable and successful experience. 

Real estate practice is busy and that's a good thing. 

SO, WHAT'S THE MESSAGE, LENN?

The message is, with the Spring real estate market showing activity, it's time to bank some savings for times later in the year when buyer or seller traffic may be slow.  Enjoy the Spring real estate market, however, don't forget the details.  Let's get these contracts to settlement.  Make sure that you are on top of the transactions under your management.  Over the years, I've seen too many agents enjoy the cash flow when sales were good, spend it and then not have resources for the necessities when sales slow, which they always do. 

GET YOUR CONTRACT TO SETTLEMENT.

*  Make sure your home buyer is looking at homes in the price range for which they are qualified. 

*  Try to preview homes to tour so you're not surprised and won't be wasting valuable showing time. 

*  If your buyer is using their VA benefits, get a copy of the VA Certificate of Eligibility and make sure that the buyers' VA record is up to date and current with their full benefits.   It isn't unusual to find that their last VA loan guarentee has not been reflected on their VA records. 

*  If your buyer is using an FHA loan, make sure that they don't already have one.  It isn't unusual for buyers to have other FHA loans in their name or as a co-borrower. 

*  If your buyer's loan is conventional and they own another home they plan to rent, make sure they have the required equity in the home they plan to rent it.   The requirements for borrowers with rental properties has become more difficult, especially if they haven't rented their home for 2 years and have little to no equity.

*  If your buyers are looking in rural areas, make sure that your buyers visits the proper county offices to research the well and septic records for that property.  it isn't unusual for owners to use wells and septics for years without servicing the equipment. 

*  If your buyers are looking at property that has been upgraded, renovated or imporved, you will want to make sure that, if required, the improvements were completed with the proper county permits in place.  Home owner improvements may not appraise if the appraiser believes that a property has safety issues due to unpermitted home owner modifications. 

SO MANY DETAILS TO REMEMBER.  IT'S NECESSARY PAY ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS TO PROVIDE THE KIND OF EXPERT ADVICE AND GUIDANCE THAT TODAY'S HOME BUYERS EXPECT. 

                                                               You'll have a heppy home buyer.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988, E-mail.

WHAT?  TAKE AWAY THE CUL-DE-SAC?  HAVE THEY LOST THEIR MIND? 

Apparently this is a serious movement in sub-diviison planning.  I've heard rumors.  I've seen hints in news reports of new ideas from planners for new communities or sub-divisions.  More communities with roads connecting to surrounding older neighborhoods.  Fewer and fewer single entry communities with perimeter conservation areas.  Block grid designs and fewer or no cul-de-sacs and circles.

Virginia is taking aim at one of the most enduring symbols of suburbia: the  cul-de-sac.  I've seen other news reports of similar acts by planners across the country.

The positive features of the newly designed communities with through street connecting to older neighborhoods will be quicker access to shopping areas and transportation alternatives.  Of course, the planners don't mention that these new designs will also encourage speeding.  If the uniqueness of the cul-de-sac is gone, home owners will either be faced with automobiles through or several speed bumps in every block. 

From my experience, the most desirable lots in the above site plan would be lots 5, 6, 7, 9, 12, 13, and 14.  They will have a lot premium when the first lots are sold and will be more attractive and offer more value to buyers and sellers on resale. 

So, I suppose with the downsizing of lot sizes to permit more build-able lots in each new home development, the cul-de-sac lots will also become a thing of the past.  They will, however, demand a premium for some time to come with families with children who wish to reduce traffic in front of their home. 

So long cul-de-sac old friend.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988, E-mail.

Foreclosures in Loudoun County come in all sizes and styles.  Below are bank owned homes just waiting for offers.  Home ownes can have horses on lots with 3 acres or more. 

LUXURY HOMES FOR SALE IN LOUDOUN COUNTY MEAN GOOD VALUE.   Bank owned homes for sale come in all prices, descriptions and styles.  Loudoun County has fewer foreclosures for the number of homes for sale when compared to other counties in Northern Virginia.  However, there is value in these bank owned homes. 

Click price below for photos and descriptions of foreclosures for sale in Loudoun County. 

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988, E-mail.

IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS, I'VE PRESENTED TWO CONTRACTS WHEREBY MY BUYERS WERE OUTBID ON FULL PRICE OFFERS.  Lovettsville homes for sale and Purcellville homes for sale are wonderful locations for home buyers.  Popular public schools, close to MARC Train and the Dulles Greenway, these Western Loudoun County homes for sale offer the best prices in 3-4 years. 

How long has it been since that was happening?  Quite some time.  Further, I selected 4 homes to show another home buyer tomorrow and one of the listings has two contracts on it, a primary and a back-up.

What's causing the rush to buy??  Price, price, price!  So far, the buyers with whom I'm working are all employed in Northern Virginia.  What is interesting is that they are not hesitating to come to Loudoun County.  For some time, many buyers wanted to stay closer in to DC for fear that the gasoline prices would again rise and they'd have an expensive commute.  $2.00 a gallon gasoline appears to be acceptable.

One thing for sure, in conversations with my buyers, low interest rates and low home prices are working their magic to encourage home buyers to make the right decision.  What are they looking for?  Homes on 3 acres or more, with 4 bedrooms or more, 2-3 full baths, 2-3 car garage, priced from $400,000 to $600,000.  We have a number of homes that meet those criteria.  Many are vacant.  Some are short sales so they may go off and back on the market.  That often happens and I'll be watching. 

Tomorrow I'm showing homes in the $400,000 to $550,000 price on 10 acres or more. 

HOMES IN WESTERN LOUDOUN COUNTY FOR SALE WITH ACREAGE - No Short Sales.

To see photos and descriptions of homes for sale in Loudoun County click price.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988, E-Mail.

         "NEVER A FEE TO BUYERS"

SPRING CLEANING TIME. 

Larry's article below inspired me.  I'm going to tackle that garage today.  At least for a half hour.  Then, on to the basement and old files.  Then. . . .

You get the message.  Spring seems to be a time for renewal and cleaning up.  

Larry's post is a wonderful beginning. 

                       ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

VIRGINIA HOME BUYERS WITH VA ELIGIBILITY, Active Duty or former military members have a wonderful opportunity to buy homes at the best prices in many years.  Home prices in the VA eligibility range of $417,000 offer a lot of home for the money.  Further, sellers who need to sell can pay up to all of your closing costs.  The VA loan is the best truly NO DOWN PAYMENT loan today.  It's available only to eligible present or past service members. 

Northern Virginia homes are located in close proximity to several military bases.  See map below for popular locations for BRAC transfers.  Homefinders is located in all of the areas below and we love working with VA Financing home buyers.

• Arlington County - Fort Myers
• Alexandria - Coast Guard Station
• Fairfax County - Ft. Belvoir
• King George - Dahlgren
• Prince William - Quantico
• Stafford - Quantico

Military home buyers in Virginia have a wonderful opportunity to buy homes at fantastic prices.  Active Duty Military Service Personnel relocating to or living in Northern Virginia will find home prices that make real estate in Virginia a good buy for the first time in many years.  VA Eligibility price ranges bring homes not possible for many years for our military buyers today.  The price is right for Military Buyers now. 

VA Financing is easier than ever.  Contact Homefinders.com for Free Mortgage Qualification * Free Home Tours * Free Home Warranty.  Our agents and lenders know how to help home buyers using VA financing.

                                       NO DOWN PAYMENT * ALL CLOSING PAID

HOMES IN VA ELIGIBILITY PRICES

HOMES NEAR MILITARY BASES IN MARYLAND.  the Virginia military buyers' real estate map below and you'll see that Northern Virginia is a prominent location for transferring military home buyers in popular locations for Single Family Homes in King George, Stafford, Prince William, . 

Homes near military bases where homes for sale offer good value comfortably in the Veteran's Administration eligibility range.  The homes below represent homes in the $350,000 to $400,000 price range and offer the features most requested by our military home buyers.

Click Price to see photos and more information

Note that the farther homes are from DC, the more house buyers get for their money.  Townhomes are popular in Alexandria and Arlington.

Search Listings for homes for sale in Homesdatabase.com/lennharley.  Only ACTIVEListings will be shown and you can see photos, descriptions, location. Once you've found homes that look interesting, call Homefinders for a tour, 800-711-7988. If you are a relocating buyer but not yet arrived, call or e-mail for a relocation package. We can help!

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988, E-mail.