Author Archive
Getting your home totally organized: Hiring a Professional Organizer (Part 1)
September 4th, 2010 categories: Buyer Strategies, Home Life, Seller Strategies
EPISODE 45 – REAL ESTATE IN CHANTILLY
Hiring a professional organizer in the Chantilly and Centreville area may be a lot easier after you have heard this set of Chantilly Radio shows.
Karen Gardiner of Simplify for Life gives us information and insights on how to create a productivity revolution in your life as you get your home more organized.
We address questions that may be on your mind if you have ever though about the value of getting your home – and your life – more organized and under control.
• What exactly does a professional organizer do?
• What can you expect if you hire one?
• What are the benefits and value, and how much will you spend?
If you are a Chantilly or Northern Virginia area home seller or home buyer you will also benefit as we discuss how organizing can enhance the sale of your home as a seller, or get your started on the right path with a fully organized home as a buyer.
The Kathy O’Neal Team strongly believes that well prepared homes will serve their sellers far better than their less competitive counter-parts. Home organizing is one strategy to remember as you get your property ready to sell in the current market.
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Reduce Home Energy Costs: Seal Those Leaks
September 1st, 2010 categories: Home Life
Your Chantilly or Centreville home may not be drafty now as September begins, but Fall is just about here.
Pretty soon the cooler temps will be kicking in. It is a good time to consider doing something to reduce air leaks in your home.
The first thing I’d recommend is to listen to our Chantilly Radio series on home energy efficiency. Very informative series. If you are planning on getting serious about saving dollars on energy costs, you will want to listen to this set of podcasts on the topic of home energy efficiency.
You really can save a lot. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, up to 30 percent can be cut from a home’s energy costs just by reducing drafts.
That’s a lot of wasted Chantilly air.
And you don’t have to be a Super Handyman. There are some pretty easy things you can do. Check out the DIY Guide To Sealing and Insulating a home, for a government resource.
Additionally, you can get a 13-page PDF with detailed images, instructions, and recommendation to help you with the work.
If you are talking more than small fixes, of course you may need to hire help. But given the amount you can save, it may be one of the best home improvement investments you will make.
And if you are doing improvements in anticipation of putting your home on the market, take advantage of MARKET SNAPSHOT. And of course we are always here to help you with an analysis of your home’s current market value.
(Image courtesy: US Department of Energy)
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Unclog your sink when Drano won’t do it
August 23rd, 2010 categories: Home Life
Please don’t take this as a reason to not call a plumber when you really need one. But, if you get a clogged sink it may be an easy DIY job.
Check out this Lowe’s video and possibly save yourself time and money next time the sink gets clogged.
And to prevent your home buying or home selling from getting clogged, definitely call us!
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Mortgage rates at record lows
August 20th, 2010 categories: Buyer Strategies, Mortgage & Finance
Chantilly, Centreville, and Northern Virginia area home buyers had a pretty good week as far as mortgage interest rates are concerned.
This past week saw another new low for conforming rates. We are talking some of the lowest levels in mortgage rate history.
From Freddie Mac data we are seeing the 30-year fixed rate averaging 4.42% nationally with points cost of 0.7 points. Each point is equal to 1% of the loan amount.
Keep in mind that mortgage rates and mortgage fees generally move in the opposite direction. So you have to determine how the loan is structured and what your personal needs are to make sure you get something that fits your financing needs. Obviously, that is where a high quality loan professional comes in. Make sure you are working with someone who will puts your needs first. You have lots of options and variations in making mortgage financing choices.
Bottom line: periods of difficulty are accompanied by opportunity. If a home buy or a refinancing is right for you, remember that you are literally in a period of the lowest mortgage rates in history.
By the way, if you are a home seller in the Northern Virginia area, and are wondering what homes in your neighborhood have actually sold for, take advantage of MARKET SNAPSHOT.
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RE/MAX Life Achievement and Hall of Fame Awards: An occasion to say “Thank You!”
August 18th, 2010 categories: Uncategorized
We rarely talk about real estate industry awards we have received.
My team and I focus on our clients and they always have the last word on how well we do.
But I will make a quick exception to our rare mention of awards by sharing that we recently received two honors from RE/MAX International: The Lifetime Achievement Award and induction into the REMAX Hall of Fame.
These citations are reserved for a relatively small number within the REMAX system who have achieved significant production milestones.
From a purely consumer point of view, I think the awards make a statement about the level of experience of the agent. When your real estate professional is working full-time within the profession, and is doing business in all markets, they typically are seasoned pros, not inexperienced, and not learning at your expense. They have the resources to invest in the systems that deliver high value to their clients. I know we are forever working on enhancing our systems in order to bring our buyers and sellers the best technology and personal service possible.
To all of the past, present, and future clients we are privileged to serve, thank you sincerely for allowing us to serve you.
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Chantilly, Centreville and Other Home Buyers: Be aware of these FHA changes
August 17th, 2010 categories: Buyer Strategies, Mortgage & Finance
Chantilly and Centreville home buyers will want to be aware that FHA is doing another round of modification on its mortgage insurance requirements.
The changes will impact the initial as well as annual premiums, starting with cases on October 4.
With a 30-year fixed-rate FHA mortgage, and at least 5 percent equity, the numbers look like this:
- Upfront MIP drops to 1.000% of the amount borrowed from 2.250%
- Annual MIP increases to 0.850% of the amount borrowed from 0.500%
For Chantilly and Centreville home buyers, as well as others using the program, this MIP change lowers the upfront cost of an FHA-insured mortgage, but increases the long-term costs.
FHA believes the change will help them by about 300 million in annual premiums. This should at least help to bring more financial stability to this much used program.
At the current rate, the FHA is on pace to back 1.7 million loans this year.
You will have to make the judgment as to whether getting your FHA case number before October 4 is best for you.
If you’re unsure of how the new FHA mortgage premiums will impact your mortgage, be sure to call or email your loan officer for help, or contact us if you need a few referrals for reliable professionals we have worked with.
By the way, initially the FHA said the implementation would be September 7. It was later amended to October 4, 2010.
If you have you sites set on taking advantage of the opportunities in the current market, either “normal” properties or those that are Short Sales or foreclosures, please know we are here to help you navigate your way to a terrific deal. Let us know how we can help!
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Community Spotlight: Ridings at Blue Spring
August 14th, 2010 categories: Chantilly Loudoun Cnty
Our community profile for this week is Ridings at Blue Spring in Chantilly, Virginia.
RIDINGS AT BLUE SPRING IN CHANTILLY, VA
Ridings at Blue Spring is a small development of homes very close to Pleasant Valley near Route 50 and Pleasant Valley Road, right at the boundary between Fairfax and Loudoun counties.
Here are CURRENT LISTINGS IN RIDINGS AT BLUE SPRING
PLEASE NOTE: Several small communities may have periods when no properties are on the market. If you see no properties listed in the above link, and have questions regarding what else is currently on the market in the immediate area, don’t hesitate to contact Kathy. You can also use our PROPERTY SEARCH tool.
- If you want more information on properties in Ridings at Blue Spring, or any area communities, or if you are interested in FORECLOSURES, SHORT SALES, and BANK OWNED properties, just CONTACT US and we will give you information on whatever is available.
Here are a few other links that will give you more information about this community and others in this general area:
MORE INFORMATION ON RIDINGS AT BLUE SPRING.
MORE INFORMATION ON CHANTILLY-FAIRFAX COUNTY, CHANTILLY- LOUDOUN COUNTY, CENTREVILLE AREA, and NEARBY COMMUNITIES.
Moving to the Northern Virginia area? Check out our Area Living, and of course call or email Kathy if you want quick answers to any questions about property in the Chantilly or Northern Virginia area.
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Selling Your Home in Northern Virginia: Staging for Advantage (Part 4)
August 11th, 2010 categories: PODCASTS, Seller Strategies
EPISODE 44 – REAL ESTATE IN CHANTILLY
If you are planning on selling your Northern Virginia home, give a listen to this series on how to stage your home.
We will likely continue to be in a very competitive market for home sellers, but in any market it is in the best interests of sellers to stage their home well.
We discuss primary strategies to get your home looking better so that you will be able to compete in a market where buyers have lots of choices. Will your property stand out in such a way that prospective buyers will come back to take that second look? Or will it be quickly put aside in favor of others that seem to “feel” better?
In this series of shows professional Home Stager Jackie Brannan of Home Transformations takes us through some of the main strategies and insights that informed sellers need to know. Among other things, we discuss:
The Kathy O’Neal Team strongly believes that time and effort spent in preparing the home before it goes to market is one of the smartest and most cost efficient moves a home seller can make. This is a classic case of “paying it forward.” Well prepared homes are likely to do far better than their less appealing counterparts.
If you live in the Northern Virginia area and are within a year or so of putting your home on the market, we invite you to take advantage of our free home estimate and staging consultation. Call Kathy for details.
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Selling Your Home in Northern Virginia: Staging for Advantage (Part 3)
August 3rd, 2010 categories: PODCASTS, Seller Strategies
EPISODE 43 – REAL ESTATE IN CHANTILLY
If you are planning on selling your Northern Virginia home, give a listen to this series on how to stage your home.
We will likely continue to be in a very competitive market for home sellers, but in any market it is in the best interests of sellers to stage their home well.
We discuss primary strategies to get your home looking better so that you will be able to compete in a market where buyers have lots of choices. Will your property stand out in such a way that prospective buyers will come back to take that second look? Or will it be quickly put aside in favor of others that seem to “feel” better?
In this series of shows professional Home Stager Jackie Brannan of Home Transformations takes us through some of the main strategies and insights that informed sellers need to know. Among other things, we discuss:
The Kathy O’Neal Team strongly believes that time and effort spent in preparing the home before it goes to market is one of the smartest and most cost efficient moves a home seller can make. This is a classic case of “paying it forward.” Well prepared homes are likely to do far better than their less appealing counterparts.
If you live in the Northern Virginia area and are within a year or so of putting your home on the market, we invite you to take advantage of our free home estimate and staging consultation. Call Kathy for details.
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Selling Your Home in Northern Virginia: Staging for Advantage (Part 2)
July 26th, 2010 categories: PODCASTS, Seller Strategies
EPISODE 42 – REAL ESTATE IN CHANTILLY
If you are planning on selling your Northern Virginia home, give a listen to this series on how to stage your home.
We will likely continue to be in a very competitive market for home sellers, but in any market it is in the best interests of sellers to stage their home well.
We discuss primary strategies to get your home looking better so that you will be able to compete in a market where buyers have lots of choices. Will your property stand out in such a way that prospective buyers will come back to take that second look? Or will it be quickly put aside in favor of others that seem to “feel” better?
In this series of shows professional Home Stager Jackie Brannan of Home Transformations takes us through some of the main strategies and insights that informed sellers need to know. Among other things, we discuss:
The Kathy O’Neal Team strongly believes that time and effort spent in preparing the home before it goes to market is one of the smartest and most cost efficient moves a home seller can make. This is a classic case of “paying it forward.” Well prepared homes are likely to do far better than their less appealing counterparts.
If you live in the Northern Virginia area and are within a year or so of putting your home on the market, we invite you to take advantage of our free home estimate and staging consultation. Call Kathy for details.
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