The ‘Must Have’ List: Why Deciding Your Must-Haves Before Viewing Homes is a Great Idea

Knowing what you want before you start looking is a big help when house-hunting. Giving the list of ‘must-have’ items to your real estate professional a few days before you begin touring listings is a great idea because they can find homes that meet as many of your criteria as possible.

Buying a House or Condo? Why the Home Inspection Process is One You Won’t Want to Skimp On

Once you have found that perfect home with the right price and every little feature you were hoping for, it’s important to keep in mind that the home has been presented in a way that accentuates its highlights and shadows any flaws. For this reason, it is crucial that you get a home inspection before completing a purchase.

What a Mortgage Expert Predicts for Interest Rates

We recently received an email update from Debbie Benkert, Senior Loan Officer at 1st Mariner Mortgage in Bethesda. As a mortgage expert, she says she's often asked what interest rates are going to do. And just like anyone who does not have a crystal ball, shes says if she knew for sure what rates were doing, she'd […]

Weekly Market Update – February 28

Montgomery County Market Key Points BUYERS: Our recently limited Inventory has caused home prices to increase. However, these rising home prices coupled with the expected thaw and expected upswing of spring will entice home owners to put their home on the market. So if you've been looking for a home and haven't seen anything yet, keep […]

Insight into the February 2014 Real Estate Market

Hello Again! We're back to fill you in on the latest in MoCo real estate! I’m sure you’ve seen headlines in the newspapers about how weak the D.C. area housing market was last month. Agents have been attributing slow sales to everything from the holiday slumber to icy sidewalks and the weather. While it’s true—you know from my updates over the […]

3 Common First Time Home Buyer Mistakes That Can Cost Thousands

Buying real estate for the first time is a very exciting step in life. It is likely to be one of the biggest financial commitments that you make, so it’s very important to navigate the purchasing process wisely.

5 Great Questions To Ask At An Open House

An open house gives you a great opportunity to look more closely at real estate you might be interested in buying. It also affords you the chance to chat with the owner or real estate agent so you can bring up any issues or hesitations you have with the home.

Beware Of Zombie Titles

With the economic downturn, anyone dealing in real estate quickly became familiar with previously little-known terms such as foreclosure and short sale. Now that the housing market is picking back up and people are moving on, a new term is coming to light — zombie titles.

Nail The Final Walkthrough Before Closing

By the time you get to the final walkthrough on your property, the home buying process is almost complete. However, it is still important to pay close attention to this final step, as it will be crucial in the success of your home purchase.

The final walkthrough is your last opportunity to ensure that everything in the home is in working order and that there are no potential problems waiting for you when you take over ownership of the property.

City Lights Or Starlit Nights, Which Home Location Will You Choose?

If you are looking to buy a home, you might be wondering whether you should be looking for properties that are right in the center of the city or whether a better option would be to buy a property on the outskirts or in a rural area a short drive away.

The rural or urban decision will ultimately be up to you, as there are advantages and disadvantages to either option. The main difference will lie in your priorities – what type of lifestyle is most important to you?