New construction homes can have hidden costs, which is why you have to pay attention to the details when deciding on a new build.
When touring model homes, always ask the builder about what’s standard and what’s considered an upgraded feature with additional costs.
Buy on your terms and work with our team to navigate the ins and outs of purchasing the new construction home of your dreams!
Don’t Mistake “New Construction” with “All-Inclusive”
There are many advantages of buying a new construction home—low-maintenance living, brand-new appliances, and minimal repair costs are just a few. Plus, a new build provides a blank slate for buyers to begin making sweet new memories!
While buyers should be excited about all these benefits, they should also be aware of the potential hidden costs associated with purchasing a new build. We’re here to ensure you know exactly what is included in the overall cost of your new construction home.
Protect yourself before there’s a problem
Just like an existing home, a brand-new home can have hidden issues that could require repairs. Something as simple as inadequate plumbing or roofing could result in sizable amounts of damage—this is why you have to protect yourself by being proactive in the home-buying process. All builders have their own nuances, which is why you should take the time to research different options before deciding on the right one. If you want some tried and true recommendations, your agent can provide valuable insight. Every home, including new builds, should be checked by an independent home inspector who isn’t affiliated with the builder.
Before you commit to purchasing a new build, make sure to read the fine print of the home warranty. You may have to rely on your warranty if any issues arise that aren’t covered by your homeowners’ insurance policy. And remember, not every warranty is the same, so it’s important to determine exactly what your warranty covers and the length of the coverage.
Stay true to your non-negotiables
Newly-built homes aren’t guaranteed to include all the necessities, so you need to know what to expect from a standard model. It’s quite common for new builds to come without certain interior items, such as appliances and window treatments, plus exterior fencing and landscaping.
Before you make an offer, talk to your builder with your agent present and ask about the features included in your future home. Everything from drawer handles to light fixtures could cost extra, so be sure to compile a list of non-negotiables to budget for things you can’t live without.
Don’t be duped by the mesmerizing model home
The model homes you’ll tour often have all the available upgrades the builder offers—we’re talking gourmet kitchens with granite countertops and open-concept floor plans with beautiful hardwood flooring. However, these top-level features could cost you thousands of dollars more than the builder’s grade basics.
You can work with your agent to figure out which features are included in the standard model’s base price. Be sure to focus on what originally made you fall in love with the property, not all the bells and whistles you see in the showy model. When contemplating which upgrades are worth the cost, think about the home’s future resale value—will the upgrades increase your return on investment and appeal to a variety of buyers? This is a prime opportunity to lean on your agent’s expertise to determine which upgrades will add the most value to your home.
Ready to Buy a New Build?
When you buy a new construction home, you always want to have a trusted real estate agent by your side. Remember, the builder’s sales agent has the builder’s best interest in mind—not yours. We have the new construction experience needed to guide you through the negotiation process and make sure you’re getting your money’s worth. Contact us to learn more about new construction properties in the area, and we’ll get the ball rolling on buying your new home today!
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your Real Estate Advisors for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my home worth?” is the #1 question asked by homeowners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.
To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.
The question of whether the real estate market is a bubble ready to pop seems to be dominating a lot of conversations – and everyone has an opinion. Yet, when it comes down to it, the opinions that carry the most weight are the ones based on experience and expertise.
Here are four expert opinions from professionals and organizations that have devoted their careers to giving great advice to the housing industry.
“… conditions today are quite different than in the early 2000s, particularly in terms of credit availability. The current climb in house prices instead reflects strong demand amid tight supply, helped along by record-low interest rates.”
“The housing market is in line with fundamentals as interest rates are attractive and incomes are high due to fiscal stimulus, making debt servicing relatively affordable and allowing buyers to qualify for larger mortgages. Underwriting standards are still strong, so there is little risk of a bubble developing.”
“It’s not clear at all to me that things are going to slow down significantly in the near future. In 2005, I had a strong sense that the hot market would turn and that, when it turned, things would get very ugly. Today, I don’t have that sense at all, because all of the fundamentals are there. Demand will be high for a while, because Millennials need houses. Prices will keep rising for a while, because inventory is so low.”
“Looking back at the bubble years, house prices exceeded house-buying power in 2006 nationally, but today house-buying power is nearly twice as high as the median sale price nationally…
Many find it hard to believe, but housing is actually undervalued in most markets and the gap between house-buying power and sale prices indicates there’s room for further house price growth in the months to come.”
Bottom Line
All four strongly believe that we’re not in a bubble and won’t see crashing home values as we did in 2008. And they’re not alone – Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, and Merrill Lynch share the same opinion.
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your Real Estate Advisors for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my home worth?” is the #1 question asked by homeowners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.
To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.
Orange County, Virginia, has become one of the most popular areas for people with families. Even though it’s a mostly rural area, it is still close to large cities like Richmond, DC, Charlottesville, etc. Rural areas and suburbs have become desired locations for families looking for new homes, or vacation homes, especially during the pandemic. With that in mind, we want to cover a simple and useful Virginia home loan guide and get you one step closer to your dream house! Let’s get started!
What is a home loan?
Let’s start by defining what a home loan is. Also known as a mortgage, it is a type of loan used only to purchase a house. A lender creates a contract with the borrower for a specified amount of money. The borrower uses that money to buy a house and pays monthly installments to the lender over a period of 15 to 30 years.
When you start browsing the hottest neighborhoods in Orange County, Virginia, be sure to check with your agent what the average cost of homes is. That will tell you if your credit score will allow you to get the amount you will need to buy a house.
Let’s break down the structure of a monthly loan
One of the most critical parts of our instructional is to teach you how to calculate your monthly payment. To get the amount of your monthly loan payment, take the principal amount (the sum that the lender borrows you) and apply the interest rate to it.
conventional fixed-rate mortgage – a kind of loan that conforms to the size of the loan and your financial budget, and the interest rate is fixed until it is fully paid;
adjustable-rate mortgage – interest rate fluctuates and will change based on the predetermined index;
FHA mortgage – Federal Housing Administration loan has more flexible lending requirements than a conventional loan. It also includes insurance premiums, but more of that in the next section;
VA mortgage – Department of Veteran Affairs loan will allow eligible service members to purchase a home with a low down payment, or without a down payment;
Jumbo mortgage – this type of loan is what you would usually use if you want to purchase a luxury home when the price exceeds conforming loan limits. To get it, you need a high credit score and a low debt-to-income ratio;
What are insurance premiums and property taxes?
When buying a home in Virginia, you also need to pay an annual insurance premium that protects your home from any damage. It also protects you from a financial loss or if someone gets injured on your property. Furthermore, you need to pay quarterly property taxes to your local municipality.
It often happens that a lender pays for both the taxes and insurance premiums. In that case, you will actually pay more than your monthly mortgage payment, and that money goes into your escrow account. Then, the lender uses it to cover the expenses when they are due.
When we consider the cost of purchasing a home, paying your real estate agent, and organizing a relocation, you can see how important it is to precisely calculate all of the expenses and know your financial limit. Through this guide, we will also teach you how to save money whenever possible. Since you cannot cut corners when it comes to paying your lender, you can at least consider consulting Verified Movers, and they will connect you with affordable and licensed moving companies in the area.
What is a promissory note?
When you sign the contract with your lender, there is also a second agreement included. It is called a promissory note, and when you sign it, you oblige yourself to repay your home loan and the interest rate. Furthermore, you pledge to stick to the repayment schedule.
A second mortgage and how to use it
It is a common practice to get a second mortgage after you purchase your house. This loan comes in two forms: home equity loan and home equity line of credit.
While with a home equity loan, you borrow a sum of money and pay it back with interest over time, a home equity line of credit works a bit differently. You can borrow a granted amount of money over time, and you can split it. That means you can borrow one amount during this year and the rest during the following year. This means you can calculate how much money you need, and you are not under the obligation to get the whole sum.
A second mortgage is calculated if you take the total cost of your home and subtract the remaining mortgage balance. If you bought a home worth $150,000, and you have $100,000 to pay, that means you own a percentage of your home in the sum of $50,000. That sum is how much you can borrow for your second mortgage.
One of the major benefits of a second mortgage is that you can spend it on anything you want. While you can do home renovation projects, you can also spend money on anything else, like paying for relocation. With that money, you can hire movers that provide an easy and stress-free process. It will undoubtedly make your life a whole lot easier and free up some time to focus on other more pressing matters.
How to secure a mortgage
When you apply for a mortgage, the first step is to research lenders and find the best interest rates for your pocket. Securing a mortgage is a lengthy process, though. The main requirements are a favorable credit score, a low debt-to-income ratio, and a down payment.
A credit score is considered good if it’s above 670. You can still get it with a lower credit score, but your interest rate will be higher. Your debt-to-income ratio should be below 36%, and the down payment is at least 20% of the price. The higher the down payment is, the lower the interest.
Virginia home loan guide made easy
Do not be frightened by the process of getting a mortgage. We hope that this Virginia home loan guide has everything you need to go through the process with ease. Once you have your dream home secured, you will have a lot to do Virginia and you will never be bored. Best of luck in buying the home of your dreams!
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your Real Estate Advisors for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my home worth?” is the #1 question asked by homeowners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.
To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.
Our real estate expertise goes far beyond just buying or selling your home—you can rely on us for quality resources before and after you’ve moved.
Whether you’re searching for the best local handyman, a notary, or something else entirely, you can trust our vetted providers to get the job done.
If you ever need a real estate recommendation—today or years down the road—just give us a call for personalized advice!
Unlock Our Exclusive Real Estate Recommendations
We like to consider ourselves real estate experts, and we love being able to share our knowledge with you! Throughout our years of working in the housing market, we’ve formed deep relationships with not only our clients, but with local trusted businesses, too. We’ve vetted these vendors ourselves so that you don’t have to play the costly game of trial and error.
Need some personalized recommendations or strategic advice? Here’s how your agent can serve you even after you’ve moved.
Sellers, we don’t stop at “SOLD”
When we say we’re by your side every step of the way, we mean it—which means our services never stop at “SOLD!” Whether we’ve just listed your home or already sold it, we know there’s always more work to be done. Seemingly small details go a long way in making a house a home. We’ve worked with the best professional landscapers, painters, and cleaners in the area—all contacts you need to put the finishing touches on your space.
We consider our clients to be one of our own, which means our exclusive buying and selling resources are always available to you. At any time, you can see if your home value has increased using our free estimator or jumpstart the buying process after you sell with our advanced search tool. Our real estate professionals have gained invaluable experience in working with our clients, so we try to return the favor whenever possible by providing in-depth insight.
New homeowners, you’re not done with us yet
We loved helping you find your dream home so much that we want to keep working with you—and honestly, we think we’re going to need each other! Homeownership is a huge investment, so you want your new place to be in tip-top shape at all times.
First things first, it’s important to change your locks when you move into your home, since you don’t know who might have a copy of your keys. Don’t know of a local locksmith? Don’t worry, we’ll open some doors for you! Don’t let a household repair linger just because you don’t know a trusted provider who can get the job done. Whether you’re looking for a handyman to lend a helping hand on a home project or need repairs for your HVAC, you can count on our personalized recommendations for the most reliable providers in the area!
And for when you’ve been watching (maybe too much) HGTV…
We get it, watching Fixer Upper makes you want to DIY your entire home, especially if you’re thinking about listing soon or just moved in. But for when you’re not in the mood to do it all yourself, we’ve got contacts for everything from new light fixtures to full-on home renovations. Our desire for you to live in your dream home doesn’t stop when you sign the closing documents, and we will always be available to help with any home improvements.
Want Access to Our Preferred Vendors?
Working with a top-notch real estate agent means you’ve gained a partner for life. So when anything comes up in your buying, selling, or homeownership journey, just give us a call!
Whether you’re at the beginning of the selling process or have already bought your dream home, you can always rely on us to connect you with the area’s best vendors. Contact us today for any recommendations you may need—and don’t forget, we’re locals too, and we love to catch up with our clients!
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your Real Estate Advisors for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my home worth?” is the #1 question asked by homeowners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.
To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.
As more of us become aware of the fact that we might have too much stuff laying around, decluttering has gone from an occasional chore to a lifestyle trend. This is a positive shift, especially given the global problems caused by waste, but it can be difficult to know how to go about it.
The facts are, a less cluttered house can reduce your stress and lead to a happier life according to clinical psychologist Jaime Zuckerman. Not only is it good for your mental health, it can also be good for your wallet as decluttering and taking care of cleaning and tidying projects can actually increase your home appraisal.
Some people call in “decluttering experts,” but the truth is that unless you have a hoarding situation on your hands, you don’t need this service. Courtesy of The Licata Group, here are some tips for how you can minimize and declutter on your own.
Thinking of purchasing or selling a property? The Licata Group can help you navigate the Lake of the Woods housing market. Call us today at (540) 388-2541.
Pick a Decluttering Strategy
If you don’t know where to start with decluttering, there are many existing strategies you can use. These range from the now-famous KonMari method of sorting and decluttering possessions to the Minimalist Game, where you get rid of an increasing number of things based on the day of the month. Pick one that seems doable for you, and you may find the structure of a defined method helps you actually follow through.
Make Plans for Getting Rid of Stuff
What do you do with the bags of stuff you’ve decided to get rid of? Whether you’re going to the recycling center or a charity, know exactly when, where, and how you’ll tackle things. Alternatively, arrange a pick-up from an organization that offers that service.
Additionally, if you have any large, bulky items you no longer need, consider hiring junk haulers to properly dispose of them. In addition to appliances, professional removal services will handle things like mattresses, carpeting, and furniture. What’s more, they’ll make sure these items end up where they belong, whether it’s a junkyard or a local recycling center.
Hack Your Storage Space
Some of us aren’t blessed with a lot of storage space, even post-declutter. Luckily, there are organization hacks to help you with every room in the house. Use under-bed space in the bedroom, invest in furniture and decor that doubles as storage (such as trunks and ottomans), and use narrow spaces (like the one between your fridge and cabinet) to install vertical storage. And if you want to spruce up those shelves and drawers, use removable wallpaper, which you can find in a number of modern looks. This is also a good solution since it’s easy to swap out designs whenever the mood strikes you.
Set Up a Cleaning Schedule
Now that your home is looking tidy and clutter-free, it’s time to keep it clean. Set a regular cleaning schedule — and then stick to it. For some, this could mean setting aside Sunday mornings for cleaning; for others, a weekly schedule with a couple of small daily tasks is easier. Just make sure it fits with your routine and you can actually picture yourself doing it.
Control Your Buying
According to the Atlantic, Americans bought an average of 66 garments in 2017. Are spending habits like these part of why you had to declutter in the first place? If so, you need to re-evaluate this, or you will end up with a cluttered closet again in a matter of months.
You don’t have to go full minimalist or swear to never buy anything again, but you can learn to buy less stuff. Buy good-quality items that last longer, remove temptations like email mailing lists and free delivery subscriptions, and buy only items that you have a planned, concrete use for.
The act of decluttering itself can be fun and exhilarating. It feels great to see a home that feels cleaner, tidier, and more relaxing. Realistically, the hardest part is keeping things that way. The secret to effective decluttering is not to approach it as a one-time exercise, but as a gradual change in your consumer and home maintenance habits. Over time, you will start to value the long-term comfort and ease of a clutter-free home over the intense (but brief) rush of buying and acquiring new stuff.
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Fredericksburg, Stafford, Orange, Locust Grove, Northern Virginia, or even Maryland or DC, we are your Real Estate team committed to finding the perfect home for you! Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my home worth?” is the #1 question asked by homeowners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar, and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, one of our area expert advisors will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.
To see available properties, please visit our website licatagroup.com
As we come to the end of this four-part series, we look to examine the outcome that we will face once this is all over. With that in mind, we ask ourselves the final question; are we going to see the same outcome and devastation that we saw in 2008?
One of the key factors in buying and selling a home is the confidence that people have, and in times like these, memories of past experiences come back to us as we recall all the uncertainties that we faced. But the focus cannot be on what has occurred in the past, but rather what is occurring today and the days to come. With that, we look to see what is being said from the Federal Housing Administration.
The Federal Housing Administration indicated it is enacting an “immediate foreclosure and eviction moratorium for single family homeowners with FHA-insured mortgages” for the next 60 days. The Federal Housing Finance Agency announced it is directing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to suspend foreclosures and evictions for “at least 60 days.”
What we are seeing is things in 2008 that we got wrong that you are now seeing the government respond to in regard to the needs that the consumers and the industry have so that It doesn’t happen again. We are seeing how banks are going to respond individually to borrowers in those situations. Actions like this show that the way this is being handled is significantly different than back then, and there are also structural actions that we can look at that are very different now. The visuals provided below will help to better illustrate this.
This first visual shows us exactly where we were in 2008, and what you’ll notice is that there were $828 Billion in cash out refinances back then, and homes were basically being used as ATM machines to which cash was being taken out to harvest equity from their home, a lot of which was being put in depreciating assets. When we start to look at today in the last 3 years, cash out refinances are a fraction of what they were leading up to 2008. What this entails, is that people have learned their lesson and are no longer doing what they have done in the past with the equity in their homes, and today the equity position is very different than what it once was, with over 50% of homes in the united states having over 50% equity. In 2008, people were walking away from homes when they had negative equity, but that is no longer the case.
We are in a very different situation today than we were back then. Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it, and its fair to say that the government and the American people have learned their lesson.
As we started out this year, we saw a market where income is rising, and mortgage rates have been falling. What this has created is a drop for the historic norm in the payment as a % of income, as demonstrated in the visual above. Historically speaking, the norm percentage of income that has been dedicated to their mortgage has been 21.2%, and right now what we’ve seen leading into this, is that number being 14.8%. This is significantly lower than the historic norm speaking in leverage to the consumer in relative to housing.
In conclusion, what we are seeing now and, in the months/years to come is not going to be the same as we saw after the crash in 2008. Homeowners have learned from their past mistakes, and the government is taking the necessary precautions to ensure that history does not repeat itself. While the uncertainty factor remains for a lot of what is occurring in the county and the world, it can be said with confidence that we will come out of this stronger, and better than going into it.
We hope that this four-part series has shed some light into the biggest questions that you may have right now. If you have any other questions about the current market and what’s to come, feel free to give us a call at (540) 388-2541.
Moving into part three of our four part series, the next question that we need to ask is: Are we headed towards another recession, and what does that mean?
When we talk about where we are today, the reality is that we can feel the slowdown occurring across the county, and it will continue to have an impact on economic activity. When addressing this question/concern, we have to ask ourselves what a recession truly is. A recession is a slowdown in economic activity. Now when we hear the word “recession” we immediately have these ideas and thoughts of what the prior recession was. If we talk about an economic slowdown, it’s very different, and keeping that in mind as we continue to talk about it is critically important in these times. To help discuss this, we’ll turn to the experts. Bill McBride from Calculated Risk had this to say:
“With this sudden economic stop, and with many states shutting down by closing down schools, bars restaurants etc. my view is the US economy is now in a recession (started in March 2020), and GDP will decline sharply in Q2 (as Goldman Sachs is forecasting). The length of the recession will depend on the course of the pandemic.”
Now certainly we can say that we are feeling this slowdown, and it can be said that we will continue to feel this throughout the course of the pandemic. If we look at where we were in 2008 compared to today, 2008 was like a tornado that had ripped through our town and tore things that had to be slowly rebuilt over time, and what we are experiencing today is a heavy snowstorm that is shutting things down. What we do know is that as time moves on, we will start to see things open back up again. We will be able to go to bars, restaurants and sporting events with the only challenge being getting into these places as everyone is going to be out and about.
Looking at that graphically speaking, the figure above provided by Goldman Sachs begins to show a “V” of recovery, and not a “U” like we saw in 2008, being a sharp decline followed by a sharp increase displaying further strong gains as we head into 2021. When looking at what the experts have to say, Wells Fargo agrees as well, saying “We do not expect a repeat of the severe recession of 2008-2009, because the virus and oil shocks are not endemic to the financial system, but are, rather, external. Once the virus infection rate peaks, we expect a recovery to gain momentum into the final quarter of the year and especially into 2021.”
Referring back to the analogy previously used, we will not have to rebuild our financial system like in 2008. Once the snow melts from this current storm, things will kick in, and that’s why we see that “V” curve instead of the “U” curve.
So rather than use the actual word “recession” we should look to use the definition, being an “economic slowdown” and if that does happen, we need to look at our history of events that have shown similarities to what is occurring, and what we can expect to see moving forward. The visual provided below shows what has occurred with changes in home price over the last 5 recessions.
What we can see from this graphic is that in three of the last five recessions, home prices actually increased as a result. We did see a slight decrease in 1991, but what we all really remember is the significant decrease shown in 2008.
The message that needs to be taken from this is that recession does not equal a housing crisis.
As we continue to look for answers to some of the biggest
questions surrounding this crisis, we start to wonder what kind of effect the
stock market has on the housing market, and how much of an impact we will see
as a result. We begin by asking ourselves; When the stock market goes down as
quickly has it has been, does it have a tremendous effect on home prices?
Often the best answers to questions is another question itself, and in this case, we look to the last crisis that occurred; being the crash of 2008. So, we ask, will this be just like 2008?
To help answer this, we take a look at the graph provided above which shows the crash of 2008, to the S&P Correction of the same time. The graph illustrates the S&P Correction at 51% during that time, and the Annual Home Price Deprecation that occurred just under 20%.
In a quote by David Rosenberg, he explains that what we are experiencing now has more in common with what we experienced in 2001 (9/11) than with 2008.
“What 9/11 has in common with what is happening today is
that this shock has also generated fear, angst, and anxiety among the general
public. People avoided crowds then as they believed another terrorist attack
was coming and are acting the same today to avoid getting sick. The same parts
of the economy are under pressure – airlines, leisure, hospitality,
restaurants, entertainment – consumer discretionary services in general.” –
David Rosenberg, Gluskin Sheff + Associates Inc.’s Chief Economist.
When breaking down what was said by Mr. Rosenberg, we can see that this event lines up more with how we acted when 9/11 occurred. To help better illustrate this comparison, we will look at the graph below similarly as we did for 2008, but instead observe what occurred with 9/11 as well as the Dot.com crash.
Here we can see that the S&P Correction was at 45%,
however cumulatively over the same time, Housing Price Appreciation was
up almost 24%. This shows that housing reacted very differently during 9/11 and
the Dot.com crash compared to how it reacted in 2008. This visual helps make
the case that it’s not unreasonable to say that if what we’re experiencing
right now is a lot more like 9/11 and not 2008, than the housing market will react a lot more
like it did during 9/11 and the Dot.com crash than it did in 2008. Annual Home
Price Appreciation reacted very well, and based of off what’s occurred so far,
we can make the argument that we are seeing similar situations now.
When the pandemic began, the housing market was off to a tremendous start, with home sale reports showing the highest number of houses sold within the last 13 years, on an annual basis. While a bit of a slowdown has occurred due to the events going on, we can say that when this is all over, and it will be, we can expect the market to come roaring back and continue that trend that started the year off.
As unfortunate as it can be when homeowners fall behind on mortgage payments and must face the possibility of losing their homes, short sales and foreclosures provide them options for moving on financially. The terms are often used interchangeably, but they’re actually quite different, with varying timelines and financial impact on the homeowner. Here’s a brief overview. A short sale comes into play when a homeowner needs to sell their home but the home is worth less than the remaining balance that they owe. The lender can allow the homeowner to sell the home for less than the amount owed, freeing the homeowner from the financial predicament. On the buyer side, short sales typically take three to four months to complete and many of the closing and repair costs are shifted from the seller to the lender. On the other hand, a foreclosure occurs when a homeowner can no longer make payments on their home so the bank begins the process of repossessing it. A foreclosure usually moves much faster than a short sale and is more financially damaging to the homeowner. After foreclosure the bank can sell the home in a foreclosure auction. For buyers, foreclosures are riskier than short sales, because homes are often bought sight unseen, with no inspection or warranty.
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your Real Estate Advisors for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my home worth?” is the #1 question asked by home owners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.
To see available Lake of the Woods properties, please visit our site.
When you’re thinking about buying property, one of the
first questions that pop to mind is, “Should I do this on my own or hire
some assistance?” In a huge majority of cases, the answer is that doing
everything on your own will make the process much, much harder, and we’d also
be very surprised if you got a good deal without some assistance. In most
cases, the only real question is: “Should I hire a real estate agent or a
lawyer?” Both can be of invaluable assistance when it’s time to buy a
property, but the ways they can help differ.
Why
You Should Hire a Lawyer
What makes a real estate agent different from a lawyer when it comes to buying a property? First of all, by law, real estate agents cannot give legal advice. While you are not obligated by law to hire a lawyer when buying a property here (unlike in some other states), you may have some legal questions that only a lawyer can answer. For example, you may want to rent a property for some time (let’s say for a year) before making the decision on whether you should buy the property or not. If the seller agrees to that, an attorney can draft this unusual contract and provide legal advice on the matter that a real estate agent could not.
A good lawyer will help you by answering all the legal questions that a real estate agent cannot lawfully answer.
As lawyers charge an hourly fee,
before buying a property and moving in with the help of experienced
professionals from dumbomoving.com,
it’s a good idea to make a list of all the legal questions you may have and arrange
a meeting with an attorney. Then, you can ask everything you need, as well as
make arrangements on all the additional services you may need that a real
estate agent can’t help you with (drafting the contract from the previous
paragraph, for example).
Why
You Should Hire a Real Estate Agent
While a lawyer will help you with
some specific parts of the home buying procedure, you’ll still need to hire a
real estate agent as well. A real estate professional will be with you every
step of the way, acting as a sort of a guide to your home buying process. And
if you’re buying a property, you’ll be pleased to learn that sellers are the
ones who will pay the agents of both parties. The commission is usually 10
percent of the arranged home price, divided equally between the two agents. The
logic behind this rule is that sellers will be receiving a lot of money, and so
they should be the ones to pay all agents who will take care of the buying-selling
process.
So, if you hire a real estate agent, your wallet won’t have a problem with that; you will basically get an invaluable service for free. And what exactly does that service entail? Buying a property is a complex procedure – lots of paperwork will need to be done, inspectors will need to be hired, a comparative home prices analysis will need to be prepared, etc. While some lawyers will try to convince you that they can do everything on their own, that is most often not the case. Real estate professionals will be better at all of these tasks, simply because they have dedicated their lives to buying and selling real estate; they have much more experience and they know how to use it.
Apart from many other ways that a real estate agent can help you, he or she will be able to find a perfect house for you in the specified neighborhood.
This gives them an edge in all sorts
of home-buying tasks. Apart from the ones we have already mentioned, they are
also much better at negotiating. Let’s say that, for example, some parts
of the home will need to be fixed. You’ll need to determine whether you or the
seller will be the one who has to make these repairs. In this case, a good real
estate agent will help you negotiate an arrangement that is better for you
financially. What’s more, an experienced real estate agent who is a good fit
for you will be acquainted with the neighborhood where you’re looking for your
dream home. He or she will know just what to look for based on your
description.
Additional
Things to Have in Mind
So, should you hire a real estate agent or a lawyer? The answer is – why not both? Combining the individual strengths of these two professions will get you the best deal. Rely on attorneys for legal advice that a real estate agent cannot offer, and hire a real estate agent for everything else.
Before you hire a real estate agent and a lawyer who will seal the deal, you’ll need to have some things in mind. Alt text: A man signing a contract.
Still, simply hiring any real estate
agent and lawyer is not enough; you will need to find a dependable and competent real estate agent, and the same goes for your lawyer. Here is what to look
out for:
Sometimes, it may so happen that an opportunity to share a real estate agent with the seller emerges. In our opinion, that would be wrong to do. As real estate agents make a living off of commissions, they might be looking for the sellers’ best interest in this situation and not yours. Ethical agents who won’t do this certainly exist, but it’s best to be on the safe side anyway.
Real estate agents may press you to offer a higher price because of similarly unethical reasons. The more you pay, the larger their commission, after all. What’s more, some of them will be afraid to negotiate because doing so might mean that they won’t get to close the deal. If it seems that your agent doesn’t respect your opinion and is only looking to close the deal as soon as possible, it is best to find a different agent. Doing research on your own regarding home prices in the given neighborhood will help you avoid such unpleasant situations.
Most lawyers prefer to be hired and paid only after the home buying process is complete. However, it may suit you more to only pay for one consulting session or one or two specific tasks. That can be arranged, just have the arrangement in writing (better safe than sorry).
Whether you’re looking for homes for sale in Fredericksburg, Stafford, Orange, Locust Grove, Norther Virginia or even Maryland or DC, we are your Real Estate team committed to finding the perfect home for you! Thinking of selling? In any market condition, “what is my home worth?” is the #1 question asked by homeowners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar, and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, one of our area expert advisors will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata.
