Northern Virginia's Premier Real Estate Blog

Relocating to Vienna VA

2011-10-27T13:18:00.000-04:00

Those looking to relocate to Northern VA should consider buying a home or condo in Vienna and partake in the life style it affords its resident. Vienna has something to satisfy anyone and live in style whether the Town of Vienna or the high pace business district of Tysons Corner. Residents of Vienna have access to multiple commuter Metro lines, world known business district, world class restaurants, outstanding shopping, excellent public and private schools, and easy access to our nation’s capital.

The Town of Vienna is one mile southwest of Tysons corner and has numerous restaurants, shopping, and any other business or service one needs. Maple Ave. (Rt123) runs through the heart of Vienna and has chains like Whole Foods, Outback, Fresh Market and several Starbucks. The heart and soul of the Town of Vienna is made up of the local business’s likeMaplewood Grill, Cenans Bakery, Bazin’s on Churchand Jammin Java to just name a few. This area is a truly walkable community and offers events year round like its Oktoberfest, Town Green Concert Series, 4^th of July fireworks, and the annual Halloween Parade. Here is more information on the walkability of the Town of Vienna, Walking in Vienna .

Tysons Corner is a world known Business District in Northern VA because of the many recognizable corporations that are headquartered or have major regional offices in the area. There are plenty of companies in Tysons Corner like Booz Allen Hamilton, Capital One, Freddie Mac, Gannett, Hilton, MicroSrategy, SAIC, Spacenet, and USA Today have their Corporate Headquarters located here. These along with countless other corporations who have office located in Tysons Corner make this area a giant in almost any industry. With commute times only expected to increase in the DC Metro area many are looking to live close to the office. Those searching for a more urban lifestyle can consider purchasing a condo centrally located in Tysons corner. Tysons Corner is split with part located in Vienna and part considered Mclean, another great area in Northern VA but all in Fairfax County.

To Continue this article on Relocating to Vienna VA and Tysons Corner, click http://calljoey.com/vienna-relocation.asp

Ayr Hill Heights, Vienna VA

2011-10-27T13:14:00.001-04:00

Ayr Hill Heights neighborhood is just north of the Town of Vienna and comprises of 58 homes built from the mid 50’s to the early 60’s. The neighborhood is approximately 1 mile from the businesses on Church Street and Maple Avenue but still in walking distance. This is less convenient access but allows for less street traffic as opposed to the neighborhoods that are within a block or two. Like much of Vienna in the most recent decade some of the original homes have been torn down and more modern larger Colonial or Adirondack style homes have been built. With Vienna lot prices increasing it can make financial sense to tear down rather than remodel the existing older home. There are many opportunities for buyers looking to build a custom home or buy an existing small rambler in the Town of Vienna, contact me to visit the listing currently availability in Vienna.

To continue this article and visit my Vienna Relocation Page, click this link, Ayr Hill heights.

Ayr Hill Neighborhood, Vienna VA

2011-09-21T10:34:00.002-04:00

The Ayr Hill subdivision is small with just 54 properties but occupies an excellent location in the North East section of the Town of Vienna (see map). The Ayr Hill community, like many in the Town of Vienna, is an excellent walking community with easy access to many businesses on Church St. and Maple Ave. Many of the original homes were built in the 40’s and 50’s and the remainder being build through the decades since. In the most recent decade many of the original homes, particularly on Ayr Hill Ave, have been torn down and more modern larger Colonial or Adirondack style homes have been built. The location of this walkable community is highly sought after with newer homes or custom homes being priced from 1.2 to 2.2 million. With Vienna lot prices increasing it can make financial sense to tear down rather than remodel the existing older home. There are many opportunities for buyers looking to build a custom home or buy an existing small rambler in the Town of Vienna, contact me to visit the listing currently availability in Vienna or to meet with any local builders.

To continue this article about Ayr Hill community and other neighborhoods in Vienna, please click here, Ayr Hill Neighborhood, Vienna VA.

Joey Remondino has been on CBS, Washington Post, WUSA Channel 9, and Washingtonian as a Real Estate Expert and is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Vienna, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, andFairfax Counties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate. Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process,contact me.

To search for a home please click, Search For Home Listings.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here Market Snapshot

East Vienna Woods in Vienna VA.

2011-08-19T14:08:00.006-04:00

Tucked away in the South East part of the Town of Vienna in Fairfax County is East Vienna Woods Subdivision. Much smaller than its big counterpart Vienna Woods since it only makes up 166 homes but it exudes the same charm that many Vienna neighborhoods boast. The neighborhood runs mainly along Branch Rd. and Echoles St including some of the surrounding streets as you can see by the map. Most of East Vienna Woods was originally build from 1956 to 1959 but newer homes have been built on empty lots through the years. In the most recent decade some of the original ramblers have been torn down to build more modern larger Colonial or Adirondack style homes. With Vienna lot prices increasing it can make financial sense to tear down rather than remodel the existing older home. There are many opportunities for buyers looking to build a dream home or buy an existing small rambler in a quiet and beautiful neighborhood like East Vienna Woods, contact me to visit the listing currently availability in Vienna with a REALTOR.

To continue this article, click East Vienna Woods in Vienna VA

Radon in Loudoun

2011-08-17T12:11:00.003-04:00

Loudoun County homes can have Radon Gas just like any other place in Northern VA and should be a concern for home owners. Many home buyers in Loudoun completed an inspection when they purchased their home to determine if Radon was present. The sales contract used by REALTORS in the area can contain a Radon Gas Inspection Contingency at the time of offer if chosen to be included. During the years of the real estate market boom, many home buyers excluded this contingency to make their offer more competitive and never perform a Radon Test. EPA recommends testing for radon gas every two years due to soil movement and/or settlement cracks that may form in a home.

Joey Remondino has been featured on CBS, Washington Post, WUSA Channel 9, and Washingtonian as a Real Estate Expert and is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Vienna, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate.

Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process, contact me.

To search for a home please click, Search For Home Listings.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here Market Snapshot

Radon in Prince William

2011-08-17T11:10:00.004-04:00

Radon Gas is in many Prince William County homes just like any other place in Northern VA and should be a concern for home owners. Many home buyers in Prince William completed an inspection when they purchased their home to determine if Radon was present. The sales contract used by REALTORS in the area can contain a Radon Gas Inspection Contingency at the time of offer if chosen to be included. During the years of the real estate market boom, many home buyers excluded this contingency to make their offer more competitive and never perform a Radon Test. EPA recommends testing for radon gas every two years due to soil movement and/or settlement cracks that may form in a home.

Risks of Buying a Short Sale in Northern VA.

2011-08-04T11:03:00.016-04:00

Short sales in Northern VA pose risks to buyers that normally would not be a concern with a normal home purchase. I have written several articles a few years back on the topic of short sale risks and what a short sale could cost a buyer if it is denied. Home buyers that would like to refer back to those short sale articles, here they are, Losing Money Trying to Buy a Short Sale and The Risk of Buying a Short Sale. Those articles are still valid but I am updating those articles and discussing all the points here in one.

Northern Virgini a Short Sales have become more common place in today’s real estate market and in these economic conditions. Short sales will most certainly be part of the real estate landscape for years to come. This is the reason it is important for home buyers in Northern VA to understand the risks and costs involved in buying a short sale. Buying a short sale is not for the faint of heart but can be a viable option for some Northern VA homebuyers. Currently an excellent way to get a home with instant equity in the Northern VA area is to purchase a short sale, the right way. Real estate investors have been purchasing short sales since 2007.

To continue reading this article please click here, Risks of Buying a Short Sale in Norterhn VA.

Joey Remondino has been featured on CBS, Washington Post, WUSA Channel 9, and Washingtonian as a Real Estate Expert and is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Vienna, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate. Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process, contact me.

To search for a home please click, Search For Home Listings.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here Market Snapshot

Purchasing a Short Sale in Northern VA Can Pay

2011-08-04T08:04:00.006-04:00

It is always good to be recognized as a Top Producing agent in Northern VA, but better then that is when my clients start a life in their dream home. Unfortunatly there are some short sales in Northern VA that can still take many months to get approved. My clients where patiant and had the opportunity to wait many months for their offer to be approved by the mortgage holder of a short sale. There is a risk purchasing short sales but paid off in the long run for them, and the refferal letter below is proof.

"My husband and I were first time home buyers and got stuck in an absolute short-sale NIGHTMARE but Joey still made our dream home a reality. After months and months of waiting and bizarre bank issues most realtors would have told us to give up and move on but Joey understood our unique situation and stuck by us for over a year simultaneously working to get the short sale home moving and helping us search for other possible properties. He stayed in constant contact with not only the selling realtor but the two banks involved in the short sale and our prospective mortgage company and gave us updates so we always new exactly where we were in the process. After 14 months our dream home finally came through at $30,000 less than we were originally planning to pay for it! None of this would have happened without Joey and we would highly recommend him to anyone looking to buy a home in the area."

Jeff and Michelle

Here are some articles for short sales in Northern VA

The Risk of Buying A Short Sale

Why Use A Short Sale Expert

Why Buy A Short Sale

What to Offer on A Short Sale

And for many other articles go to, Northern VA Short Sales.

Joey Remondino has been featured on CBS, Washington Post, WUSA Channel 9, and Washingtonian as a Real Estate Expert and is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Vienna, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, andFairfax Counties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate. Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process,contact me.

To search for a home please click, Search For Home Listings.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here Market Snapshot

Reward of Buying a Short Sale in Northern VA

2011-08-03T13:45:00.009-04:00

The reward of buying a short sale in Northern VA is to save money and build instant equity when the keys are passed over the settlement table. When buyers are looking for real estate, either a home or investment, and comes across a short sale they should keep some points in mind. The price of a short sale home will usually be below market value and many times below foreclosure prices of comparable homes in good condition. This is the case for one reasons, Short sales can take on average of 3 to 4 months to get bank approved or declined and can waste time. Here is an article describing these short sale risks in Northern VA, The Risks of buying a short sale.

To continue this article, please visit Reward of Buying a Short Sale in Northern VA on my web site.

Radon in Alexandria

2011-07-12T13:14:00.007-04:00

Homes in Alexandria can contain Radon Gas just like any other place in Northern VA and should be a concern for home owners. The Northern Virginia Real Estate Sales Contract that is most utilized when purchasing a home can contain a Radon Gas inspection contingency at the time of offer. Some home buyers choose not to conduct a radon gas test or to make an offer more competitive may have excluded this contingency. Those home owners in Alexandria that have not tested for Radon Gas should consider doing so in the near future.

My Walk to Vienna

2011-07-11T11:14:00.021-04:00

Saturday, my wife was out shopping all day with her mother, yes she negotiated well, and I was home with two beautiful ladies, my daughters. The princess’s were not being to lady like with the doors slamming and constant bickering. The feeling in my stomach was not from my daughters fighting over Princess Aurora but the concern on the damage my wife was inflicting on the credit card. With this in mind and an empty stomach, I decided to bribe my kids with ice cream and save myself a few bucks. We were headed into town to get ingredients for a fresh tomato pesto Panini.

I threw some shoes on my daughters who were both in their ballerina costumes from a dance recital a few weeks back. I figured we would only be gone for a few minutes and it was not worth the negotiation to get them to change……..Yes, I have taught all the ladies in the house how to negotiate, I obviously didn’t think that one through…..

The first stop was the local Giant in the heart of the town of Vienna, VA for some fresh tomatos and motzarella.

With my two ballerinas in tow, we quickly checked out in the self serve checkout and headed to a Vienna local favorite, Cenan’s Bakary. We purchased a fresh loaf of San Francisco Sourdough bread, basil pesto spread, and a cannoli that was just made hours ago. (Did you see my last name)

Now it was time to pay up on the bribe so that hopefully the remainder of the day would be quieter, Baskin Robins. Within the matter of minutes we had made our selection of rainbow sherbet and strawberry cheesecake, the girls are all about the color pink. We were on our way home walking past Norms Beer since I still had a refrigerator full from the StoneHouse 4th of July party. Once we returned home, I sat the kids down with their ice cream and then created a most delectibla Panini to enjoy in peace and quiet.

The question I am sure you are asking now is ….how does this story have anything to do with purchasing a home? That’s a good question………….

I will start by telling you this entire journey took 21 minutes to complete and we walked every step of the way. I believe there is a huge value in living in a walk able community that offers mass transit, restaurants, shopping, and other household buisness’s. In Northern VA the homes in these communities sell higher and faster than homes with little to know walkability. There are many real estate websites like Trulia.com that are ranking homes so that potential buyers can get a feel if it is walk able. This is best done by a local agent that knows the area and the market. Here are some of the better Northern VA Walkable communities. Town of Vienna, Fairfax City, Arlington, Alexandria, City of Manassas, Falls Church, and Mclean just to name a few.

Vienna and Mclean Short Sales

2011-06-21T14:21:00.007-04:00

Vienna and McLean are like any other area in Northern VA and not immune to the many short sale homes that are available for buyers. In 2007 I listed and sold my first short sale in a time when few understood the beginnings of the collapse of the real estate market. Many of the principles and process I learned to get that one approved, I continue to use to this day and the main reason why I have not changed any of my short sale articles. The term short sale is more common today in real estate and the main reason why they are a viable option for more home buyers in Northern VA. Understanding the short sale process and all its pit falls is the most important aspect of getting a short sale approved and closed in Vienna and Mclean or anywhere in Northern VA. To find more articles and information on short sales and foreclosure please visit Northern Virginia Short Sales and REO’s.

Home Sellers in Northern VA needing to short sale, not only have the looming anxiety of losing their home but also need to find an agent who is a short sale expert. Many home sellers have trouble determining what makes an agent a short sale expert. Unfortunately unbeknownst to many would be short sellers, hiring an agent without short sale knowledge and experience can make the difference between approval or foreclosure. The only published national short sale success rate available is a USA today report that estimated a disappointing 23% closing rate in 2009. This has most certainly increased due to the simple fact people, including real estate agents, understand short sales better than before.

Short sales in Vienna or Mclean are like any other, the size of the loss that a lender may be taking does not weigh as much in the approval as the need or percentage of market value does. The most important aspect of these is the need for a short sale by a home owner. Lenders will only approve a short sale if there is a clear financial and/or personal distress causing the inability to make mortgage payments. Those who can afford the payment and/or have no reason to move but just want out of their loan since they are upside down will not get approved.

The second major aspect of getting a short sale in Vienna or Mclean approved and getting it sold is pricing it correctly. Pricing a home to sell whether it is a short sale or regular sale is detrimental from the first day the home is placed on the market. Pricing any home is 50% technical and 50% art depending on current market conditions the day it is listed in the MLS. This is even more important when it comes to short sales for several reasons. The first and most obvious is if a short sale is not priced aggressively enough and buyers aren’t interested, the home most certainly will never short sell. The art of pricing comes in since a short sale needs to be priced low enough to attract buyers willing to take the short sale risk but also priced high enough to get the lender to approve the short sale. Nothing will annoy a bank short sale negotiator more than a home owner or listing agent giving a home away. Normally there are pricing thresholds in place by lenders that need to be met in order for a short sale to be approved but can be a moving target. Finding a real estate agent who understands these short sale pricing thresholds is the key to getting an approval.

A facet of the short sale process that is still true for all parties involved with buying and selling a short sale is remaining patient. Lenders/Banks continue to make the short sale process very convoluted and slow and can take time to negotiate a deal. The average short sale takes three to four months to get approved which means finding a patient buyer is paramount to getting to closing. Short sale sellers have to contend with the mounds of financial documentation that is required to be submitted for the approval, click here for a list of required short documentation . Many times the banks/lenders request updated material multiple times because of the long time period between application and approval. When the time comes for the approval some lenders then attempt to short change the real estate agent and negotiate a lower commission. With the extra work, expense, and the risk of short sales and the chance they will not get approved has kept many real estate agents out of the short sale arena.

The first steps when considering a short sale in Vienna or Mclean is to contact your bank, or banks if you have multiple mortgages, and contacting a short sale expert in Northern VA. For a free consultation to determine if a short sale is right for you, please contact me.

*******If you are still wondering, since my first short sale in 2007, I have a 93% short sale success rate with all homes that I list and 100% success rate with owner occupied short sales.

Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process, contact me.

To search for a home please click, Search For Home Listings.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here Market Snapshot

New Home at 230 Ayr Hill Ave, Vienna VA

2011-06-14T14:41:00.001-04:00

Walk in Vienna

2011-06-07T14:37:00.007-04:00

A Walk in Vienna

The Town of Vienna is approximately 14 miles outside of the nation’s capitol of Washington D.C. and has continued to keep a small town sprite of community while Northern Virginia has expanded and grown. The Town of Vienna is truly a walkable community with many activities and business’s available in one area. Maple Avenue (Rt. 123) has numerous restaurants, shops, and other business’s to fill the needs of any household. Step back into simpler times on Historic Church Street with its many family run business’s unique to Vienna and street festivals through out the year. Some annual events in Vienna are Walk on The Hill, Viva Vienna!, July 4th, Halloween Parade, and Holiday Stroll to name a few. Visit Centennial Park or take a stroll anywhere in Vienna to visit with neighbors and friends and truly appreciate the community of Vienna. There is something for everyone in Vienna.

Vienna Attractions

Community Center
The Vienna Community Center offers facilities for many community events like fairs, fashion shows, bazaars, plays, antique exhibits, and countless summer youth class’s. At the heart of the center is a teen center Club Phoenix that offers many events year round for neighborhood teens.
Parks
The Town of Vienna maintains a variety of parks throughout the town that can be enjoyed year round. The major parks of Northside, Southside, Glyndon, and Meadow Lane include baseball fields, tennis courts, picnic tables, playgrounds, nature trails, basketball courts, and hiking and biking trails. Glyndon and Meadow Lane Parks have pavilions that may be reserved for picnics.

W & OD Trail
The Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park is a 45 mile asphalt trail that runs from Arlington to Purcellville and is the gem of Northern VA. Bikers and Runners can enjoy 45 miles of asphalt trail and there is even 32 miles of crushed stone and dirt bridal paths for horse back. This trail cuts through the heart of the Town of Vienna for residents to enjoy. Mile marker 12 on the W & OD Trail is a in Vienna a great opportunity for those who want to take advantage of this park.

Tysons Corner
The largest concentration of office space in Northern VA and the 11th largest shopping mall in the United States are located in Tysons Corner and only 2 miles from the Town of Vienna. A true shopaholic can appreciate the 300 stores available in Tysons Corner Center or the upscale shopping of Tysons Galleria. A workaholic can find plenty of business in Tysons Corner since Booz Allen Hamilton, Capital One, Freddie Mac, Gannett, Hilton, MicroSrategy, SAIC, Spacenet, and USA Today have their Corporate Headquarters located here. These along with countless other corporations who have office located in Tysons Corner make this area a giant in almost any industry.

Contact me or visit here to set up a private tour of homes on the market in Vienna Va.

Build a New Home in Wedderburn Estates, Vienna Va

2010-12-29T10:58:00.007-05:00

New communities in the Vienna and Tysons Corner area in Fairfax County do not come along often and is why Wedderburn Estates is a great opportunity to buy a new home in Vienna. This new neighborhood is located just outside the city limits of the town of Vienna off of Cedar Lane. The Wedderburn Estates community, when completed, will be 23 all brick or stone single family homes on approximately 8,000 to 10,000 square foot lots. The neighborhood is being constructed by Courtland Homes, a local Northern Virginia Builder. I would consider Cortland Homes to be more like a large production home build but still has some flexibility of a custom home builder. For more information describing the process of negotiating a home in the Wedderburn Estates neighborhood read Negotiating With New Home Builder in Northern VA.

I advise all my buyers that with any home, location is the one aspect that cannot be changed once a property has been purchased. Like the saying goes location, location, location. The Wedderburn Estates neighborhood is centrally located to shopping, mass transit, interstates, and many other activities. The Town of Vienna and all it has to offer is a short distance with numerous restaurants, shopping, and any other business or service one needs. Maple Ave. runs through the heart of Vienna and has big names like Whole Foods, Outback, and several Starbucks. The heart and soul of Vienna is made up of the local business’s like Maplewood Grill, Cenans Bakery, Bazin’s on Church and Jammin Java to just name a few. The Town of Vienna is a truly walkable community and offers events year round like its Oktoberfest, 4th of July fireworks, and the Halloween Parade.

The true shopaholic will salivate since Tysons Corner Center is just about 2 miles away from the Wedderburn Estates subdivision. This is the 11th largest mall in the United States and for those who need more upscale shopping Tysons Galleria is just down the street.

The commuters who like to take mass transit will be happy to know residents of Wedderburn Estates community have multiple choices. The Metro currently has the Orange Line Vienna station and the Dunn Loring Stations close by with plenty of parking for those who arrive early. The new metro silver line will have three Tysons Corner stations when completed in 2013. This combined with the metro bus system will allow commuter to have a stress free commute.

Lets not forget that many of the homes in Wedderburn Estates will back up to the popular bike and walking trail, the W&OD. The Washington and Old Dominion trail was originally a railroad that has been transformed to a 45 mile walking, running, cycling, and skating trail. A 32 mile gravel trail runs along part of the paved trail for horse back riding. This is a true treasure in Northern Virginia and offers a great benefit to home owners in the Wedderburn Estates neighborhood who will have an access trail in the neighborhood to the W&OD.

The public schools that service the Wedderburn Estates community are some of the best in the area. Fairfax County has an excellent school system but I do recommend to do research when looking to be in a specific school district. There are many aspects of what makes a great school and a good tool is my article, What Are The Best Schools in Northern VA. The public schools for Wedderburn Estates are below, check with the county to verify school districts ****Wedderburn Estates is next to the school district line which is subject to change, please check with Fairfax County Schools.

Cunningham Park Elementary
Thoreau Middle
James Madison High

Buying a home from a new home builder can be confusing and much different than buying an existing home or a custom home. When visiting any model home bring a new home agent as a guide to negotiate and to represent your needs, contact me. The standard for Northern Virginia real estate is the seller pays the commission including new home builders, read Who Pays The Commission. There is a big difference between buying a production home like in Wedderburn Estates and building a custom home. Read the buying and negotiating process of new home builder in Northern VA for production builders and custom builders in Fairfax to understand the difference. No matter which type of home you are considering, contact me I can help determine which option is best for your needs, contact me.

Joey Remondino has been featured on CBS, Washington Post, WUSA Channel 9, and Washingtonian as a Real Estate Expert and is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Vienna, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate. Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process, contact me.

To search for a home please click, Search For Home Listings.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here Market Snapshot

New Home Builder Ratings in Northern VA, 2010

2010-12-28T11:22:00.008-05:00

Building a new home in Northern VA can be confusing for home buyers and is the reason it’s important for buyers to be armed with the right information and new home REALTOR. Rating new home builders in Northern VA is a difficult task since there are many aspects to building and completing the sale of a home. A resource that gives a good starting point is the 2010 Home Builder Customer Satisfaction Ratings and 2010 Home Builder Quality Ratings for the Northern Va area conducted by JD Power. The builders included in this ranking are what I call large production home builders and not custom builders. Custom home building is a different process, if you are looking for a custom home builder check out this article about custom home builders in Fairfax County.

These ratings are based from surveys of new home buyers who have recently purchased a home in the Washington DC market which includes Northern VA real estate buyers. In order to be eligible, builders have to first close a minimum of 150 homes in the respective market along with other specific qualifications that will be discussed later. There have been some changes since my 2009 ratings of new home builders including the addition of many builders that were absent from the 2009 home builder ratings. These Northern Va home builders that have been included in this year are Brookfield Homes, D.R. Horton, Stanley Martin Homes and K Hovnanian.

The 2010 New Home Builder Customer Satisfaction Study is a in-depth survey into 9 aspects of new builder customer service including home quality; builder's warranty/customer service staff; price/value; builder's sales staff; construction manager; home readiness; recreational facilities provided by the builder; builder's design center; and location. The Northern VA new builder with the best customer satisfaction for 2010 was M/I Homes taking the top spot from last year’s winner Pulte Homes. Other home builders Ryan Homes and Ryland Homes where not far behind in the survey. The overall customer satisfaction for all home builders increased again for a third year straight. With an economy that continues to struggle and a buyer’s market in Northern VA, new home builders are working harder to satisfy buyers. The home builders that brought up the rear in home builder customer satisfaction were Stanley Martin Homes, D.R. Horton and Brookfield Homes which are all also new to the survey this year. Let’s hope this year’s merger of Centex Homes by Pulte Homes has not negatively affected the quality of Pulte and improves both brands survey.

The 2010 Home Builder Quality Ratings is the second survey that home buyers should note when searching for a new home builder in Northern VA. This study takes into consideration the number of problems that take place in a new home and the severity of the problem involved. The study pinpoints and designates 41 categories including bathroom; drywall; electrical/appliances; flooring/stairs; home exterior; interior paint; kitchen; windows/doors; and other possible significant problem areas. The builder that prevailed as the best for new home builder quality in Northern Va area was M/I Homes, taking the top spot from last year’s winner Winchester Homes. They were followed closely in quality by Ryland Homes, and Pulte Homes who both won in one other market. Keep in mind for builders to qualify only needed 50 completed surveys are needed, so these results can vary dramatically with one bad survey.

The economy and the real estate meltdown have been difficult on all those businesses associated to real estate in Northern VA including New Home Builders. Taking this and all the other market conditions into consideration, many builders pricing can be negotiated. Visit this article for more information on the building process and negotiating with new home builders in Northern VA. These ratings should be used as one of many tools when buying in a new home community in Northern Va. There are so many aspects to purchasing from a new home builder and these survey results should not be the only resource. The best advice should come from a new home REALTOR who is a new home builder expert in Northern VA, contact me. The best thing about having a new home agent like me by your side is the builder pays the commission, visit who pays the commission.

Joey Remondino has been featured on CBS, Washington Post, WUSA Channel 9, and Washingtonian as a Real Estate Expert and is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Vienna, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate.

Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process, contact me.

To search for a home please click, Search For Home Listings.For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here Market Snapshot

Vienna Custom Homes

2010-12-13T12:44:00.008-05:00

Take a drive through numerous neighborhoods in Vienna VA., like Vienna Woods, and a clear trend has been taking shape in the last decade. Tear down an existing home built in the 50s and 60s to build a much larger modern custom home in this highly sought after area, Vienna. With few existing empty lots available in Vienna, the choices for would be home owners to build the home of their dreams are slim. This leaves the challenge for Vienna home buyers to find an available home to purchase and tear down then seek out a reputable home builder to build the dream home. This can prove to be a daunting and perplexing undertaking and at times very costly if mistakes are made. These beginning steps and decisions are the most important to having a smooth and exciting home building process. This article will give you some guidance on steps that need to be taken to build a custom home in Vienna but is in no way a do it yourself guide. There are too many aspects and different scenarios that can and will arise from contract to settlement when building a new custom home.

In order to decide if building a custom home or buying an existing home in Vienna is right for your needs, the first step is to find a skilled REALTOR to guide you through the process. (**Multiple shameless plugs for me are coming**) The agent should be knowledgeable and experienced with the custom home building process and fully capable of guiding the buyer every step of the process, contact me to help. The agent should also know and have worked with multiple custom home builders who have built homes in Fairfax County. Buyers building a Custom home in Vienna, just like any home buyer in Northern Virginia, should have a buyer broker agreement since Virginia is a “buyer beware” state, here is an article that further explains buyer agency, Caveat Emptor or Buyer Beware in Virginia. The custom in Virginia is that the buyer’s broker normally gets paid by the seller or builder, here is an article explaining Who Pays the Commission, so arm yourself with an expert, contact me.

Avoid stopping into a model home or calling a builder directly without an agent, they will not pay your agent if you bring one in on the deal later. Here is an article that explains how this works with all new home builders, Negotiating with New Home Builders in Northern VA.

Once armed with a skill agent, buyers deciding to build a custom home should find a lender who has available financing for a construction loan. Keep in mind that in order to finance the construction of a custom home, the buyer will need 20% down of the entire endeavor. Having a pre approval letter from a mortgage lender will allow better negotiations with the builder of choice. It is always a good idea for your chosen lender to meet and discuss payout process with the custom home builder so there is no work stoppage.

There are different options and routs to take to build a custom home in terms of lot choice. Some Vienna custom home builders like JDA and Ayrhill Homes have lots available and/or spec homes currently under construction. (Spec Home is defined as a new home that has been built on speculation that a buyer will be found) This may make the process faster since they have already acquired the lot. Those home buyers who have time and want to find their own lot and/or tear down home can also go with some other Fairfax County custom home builders like Dovetail Custom Homes or Reel Homes and who may also have lots available. Again, give me a call before you contact the builder so you have a custom home expert on your side, contact me.

Now that you have found the perfect lot and home builder the task of planning begins, deciding on the architecture and floor plan. The design phase offers two routs for a floor plan, choose an existing floor plan or get an architect to design one. At this point of the process of building a home, there will be an agreement put in place and possible payment for the design phase only. This is to cover the design expenses of required engineering and architectural work that needs to be completed. I want to issue one caveat; these are general guidelines and are not hard fast rules because I have found every custom home deal is different.

The architecture and engineering is finalized and the vision of a dream home is taking shape, it is time to put pen to paper. The task at hand is to negotiate all the terms and sign the construction contract to start work on the custom home. This may also include a sales contract if the land has not been purchased and will depend on the individual deal at hand. This part of the process should not be rushed and all parties to the deal should have a crystal clear understanding of what is being constructed. When building a custom home, some builders do not use a boiler plate contract depending on the deal and buyers should consider employing a real estate attorney to review the terms.

Let the fun begin…….. Now that all terms are in writing, permits are pulled, demolition has begun and construction of a custom home in Vienna is underway. The arduous but exciting task of color and style selections begins, and hopefully the buyer already has an idea of what levels the builder is including in the contract. This, at times, can be a sticking point if there was not clear communication with price level of selections like electrical fixtures, carpet, tile, cabinets, plumbing fixtures, and garage door to name a few. There are also times that buyers choose too many high end selections that were not laid out in the contract and can cause the contract price to get higher. This is why it is paramount that a clear understanding of what selections are included in the contract price is communicated up front.

While the construction is moving forward, the financing bank is in communication every step of the way. There will be milestones of completeness that will need to be achieved and inspected in order for the lender to authorize further payment. There needs to be a good line of communication between the lender and the builder so the draw schedule is understood and followed. Work stoppage can occur if the lender does not inspect the construction at appropriate times or there is a disagreement on the lender required milestones. Including whether and inspections by the appropriate municipality, this can also add to missing the completion date.

The custom home is complete, the final inspections have been passed and the occupancy permit is gained, there is one last step. The financing lender will verify the occupancy permit and inspect the property so they can initiate the last payment to the builder. Depending on the specific financing the loan may transform into a standard 30 year mortgage or may be a different variation that should be refinancing in the near future.

There are many different choices involved when building a custom home in Northern Virginia which creates numerous variations to this process. Hire a skilled Realtor, contact me, that can first help determine if building a custom home is right for you and then guide you through the process. They should be with you every step of the way and can help remove the fear and much of the stress when building the custom home in Vienna. Call me for a free consultation to determine if building a custom home in Fairfax County is right for you.

Joey Remondino has been featured on CBS, Washington Post, WUSA Channel 9, and Washingtonian as a Real Estate Expert and is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Vienna, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate. Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process, contact me.

To search for a home please click, Search For Home Listings.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here Market Snapshot

Loan Modifications Can and Do Change

2010-11-30T11:52:00.008-05:00

I believe it would be a fair assumption when a bank modifies a home owner’s mortgage that the modification would permanently supersede the original loan terms. This is, of course, unless the bank makes it clear to the owner that the new loan modification terms are only for a specific time period. Making such an assumption could end up costing a homeowner even more money and/or foreclosure. During and leading up to the real estate melt down very few lenders have been crystal clear with their loan terms, but like I always say what the bold print giveth, the fine print taketh away.

Recently I have consulted and helped Fairfax County home owners who received loan modifications that were later repealed by the lender. The owner of one such modification made his new payments for seven months to only be notified the bank wanted a $5,000 payment to bring his loan current per the original loan terms. This loan modification was not through the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) but rather what is being called a Proprietary Modification. Many lenders have been implementing their own loan modifications which can have dramatically different terms from the government backed HAMP. This particular loan modification obviously allowed the lender to revert back to the original loan terms which is exactly what happened. The modified payment the homeowner had been making was $700 less than the original payment and the bank wanted this difference back. This particular bank informed the home owner if payment was not possible the owner was eligible for a short sale. If these terms were not acceptable then foreclosure would be initiated. Ultimately the owner was unable to pay but I was able to negotiate a short sale with the bank and sell the home.

There are also loan modification company’s who, for a fee, will attempt to negotiate a loan modification with the lender for the owner. I recommend avoiding these firms since they may and will charge a fee whether the lender approves a loan modification or not. The client mentioned above used one of these firms and as you have learned it was a waste of $2,000. Northern VA homeowners who are currently or will be behind on their mortgage payments should first contact their lender and preferably before the first missed payment. Another excellent recourse is the HUD sponsored HOPE program, visit the website or call 1-888-995-HOPE. Please contact me if loan modification is not an option to discuss short sale options and if you are a candidate.

Joey Remondino has been featured on CBS, Washington Post, WUSA Channel 9, and Washingtonian as a Real Estate Expert and is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Vienna, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate.

Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process, contact me.

To search for a home please click, Search For Home Listings.For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here Market Snapshot

What is a Proprietary Loan Modification?

2010-11-29T15:52:00.006-05:00

There are two main categories of mortgage loan modifications that financially distressed homeowners can qualify, HAMP or Proprietary Loan Modification. The first is the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) which is subsidized by the United States Government and put in place in 2009 by the Obama Administration. This option gives incentives to lenders to approve modifications for homeowners who can no longer afford their mortgage payments. There are very specific requirements that lenders must follow if a home owner is approved for this program. These modification will normally become permanent loan terms if the homeowner can afford and pays the first three payments on time. The homeowner’s first mortgage balance cannot exceed 125% of the current value of the home. For example if the home is valued at $500,000 and the first mortgage is $625,000 or less. Only loans owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac are required to participate in this program all other lenders are not required to participate. Check with your bank or servicing bank to see who owns or guarantees your loan. These are a few of the many qualification criteria, contact 1-888-995-HOPE or your lender to determine qualifications.

The second category of loan modification are Proprietary Loan Modifications or Private Loan Modifications. These loan modifications are “in-house” plans that can vary greatly depending on the lender and the individual home owner’s financial needs. These loan modifications may have adjustable terms that can increase payments in the future. They may also have profit sharing terms that if in the future when the home is sold and there is a net profit made on the sale. For example if in 2015 the homeowner sells their home for a profit of $50,000 the bank may take all or $25,000 of the profit to make up for the loan modification depending on the terms agreed on at modification. Proprietary loan modifications may or may not help homeowners in trouble but should be the first option to explore. The next step for any home owner that cannot qualify for or afford a loan modification is short sale. The best chance to get a short sale approved and sold is to hire a Short Sale Expert, read this article to understand why use a short sale expert.

Joey Remondino has been featured on CBS, Washington Post, WUSA Channel 9, and Washingtonian as a Real Estate Expert and is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Vienna, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate. Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process, contact me.

To search for a home please click, Search For Home Listings.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here Market Snapshot

Getting Rich from the Real Estate Collapse, Are They Villains?

2010-11-23T17:33:00.019-05:00

A good friend, who happens to be a real estate broker in Nashville TN, posted a video on his facebook page not long ago. He highlighted his severe disappointment in the fact that someone was making excessive amounts of money from the real estate meltdown. There were other people who responded in like kind and viewed OneWest Bank as thieves. Is OneWest Bank the villain since they are making money processing short sales and foreclosures, You take a look to form your own opinion.

Is OneWest Bank the villains here? What is FDIC’s responsibility?

The information in the video appears to be correct as far as I can tell with the research I have

conducted.

The FDIC made a sweetheart deal with OneWest Bank, however it has done its job as intended upon their creation in 1933. They are charged with insuring deposits for the clients of its member banks and acquiring member financial institutions that become insolvent. Let’s not forget that the cash they use to acquire insolvent banks like Indymac and Washington Mutual when they went under are premiums paid by its member banks. These funds are not from the Federal Government or we the tax payers, they are paid by the banks themselves, for now.

The FDIC has the ability to request a loan from the Federal Government should they run out of money which is inevitable with current market conditions. I want to highlight the fact that it would be a loan and would require to be paid back by the member banks. As of this article, the FDIC has over 850 banks identified as problem banks, but keep in mind this is high but has not even reached March 2003 highs of 929 banks. The list is not published for obvious reasons, but Calculated Risk prints their own unofficial list of trouble banks.

OneWest Bank are only guilty oh making a heal of a business deal and are reaping the benefits. I would place the blame on some bad negotiating within FDIC for giving away the farm to OneWest Bank. The other member banks that pay premiums to FDIC should be up in arms over this deal. I want to issue on caveat, OneWest bank may not be the villain in this case, however they do have other issues that the badge of villain should be pinned on them.

With all this being said, let’s not forget that at every bank teller window the FDIC signs reads, “Backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government”. Is OneWest bank then the villain if they are being paid by borrowed dollars from the taxpayer

Joey Remondino has been featured on CBS, Washington Post, WUSA Channel 9, and Washingtonian as a Real Estate Expert and is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Vienna, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate. Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process.

To search for a home please click, Search All Northern Va Listed Homes.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here Market Snapshot

Why Use a Short Sale Expert in Vienna, VA

2010-11-16T11:32:00.006-05:00

It has been almost four years since I settled on my first short sale listing and many aspects I learned on that deal still remain true today. The economy is still struggling and home prices are nowhere close to the highs reached at the top of the market inlate 2006 and early 2007. This means that many homeowners in Northern VA will remain upside down in the foreseeable future. The short sale option will remain a viable solution for homeowners who are upside down and are forced to move. The challenge for homeowners who need to short sale is finding a short sale expert in Vienna to give them the best opportunity to accomplish a short sale. With the national average of short sales going to settlement hovering at a disappointing 23%, sellers should be cautious when hiring an agent or broker.

The first important aspect to getting a home short sold in Vienna is the need. What I mean by this is the seller needs to have some sort of financial distress to even consider trying to negotiate a short sale. Those owners who can no longer make their entire mortgage payment because of job loss, medical expenses, ARM rate adjustment, or any loss of income along those lines have the best chance of getting approved. (If you would like to know if you qualify for a short sale and live in Vienna or Northern VA, please contact me here) Those homeowners who have no reason to move and can afford their mortgage payment are not good candidates to get approved for a short sale. If you are considering a strategic foreclosure, consult a real estate attorney since many lenders have disclosed they will pursue those deficiencies to the full extent of the law.

The other important aspect of getting a short sale to settlement in Vienna, or anywhere in Northern VA, is having a REALTOR or agent that is a short sale expert. Short sales are time consuming, hard work, confusing, and can pay less than regular sales since banks attempt to negotiate lower commissions at the last minute. These are the reasons that short sales are not for the faint of heart and many agents avoid them. Having an expert short sale agent who negotiates the entire sale and settlement of your home is the best option. There are many agents who hire short sale negotiators, aka professional negotiators, to work the short sales they list. There are a few good ones available, but having another middle man can slow the process and muddy the lines of communication. Sellers should also be cautious of National short sale firms since they can and do charge the homeowner thousands whether the short sale settles or not. Over the past years I have found that these “professional short sale negotiators” and national short sale companies do not care for the emotional and financial challenges the home owner is facing.

I am sure at this point you are asking yourself, “so what’s this guy’s percentage of closed short sales” and “if short sales are so hard why does he work them”? Those are good questions, and if you normally read my articles you know that I do not normally make a sales pitch. The reason I am making one now is since most consumers do not understand the effort, skill, and experience it takes to get a short sale to settlement. Many home owners think most agents work short sales to only find out they don’t after their home has been foreclosed. Short sales are not as challenging for me like other agents since I have listed them for years and understand the process the banks require. I also understand they take time and remain patient and I do not give up through the entire process because I know I can get short sales approved. If you need to short sale your home in Vienna or anywhere in Northern VA, give yourself the best chance and list your home with us. I also don’t want to forget, since this housing collapse I have settled 100% of the short sales I have listed that have been owner occupied. Here is my web site that discusses everything concerning short sales in Northern VA.

Below are some other articles I have written through the years about short sales.
What Is A Short Sale
How to Avoid a Short Sale or Foreclosure
Documents Need for a Short Sale
Short Sales in Northern Virginia for a Long Time
Don’t Give up Short Sales Do Close

Joey Remondino has been featured on CBS, Washington Post, WUSA Channel 9, and Washingtonian as a Real Estate Expert and is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Vienna, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate. Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process.

To search for a home please click, Search Listings.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here Market Snapshot

Vienna Woods Subdivision in Vienna VA.

2010-11-15T14:43:00.012-05:00

Whether looking to build a dream home or buy an existing small rambler in a quiet and beautiful neighborhood, Vienna Woods Subdivision may be the solution. This is one of the largest neighborhoods in the Town of Vienna with over 1400 homes and one of the most eclectic. Vienna Woods is located in the south west section of the town close to the intersection of Nutley Street and Interstate 66. The majority of original homes in the subdivision were built over a span from 1952 until 1964 but homes have continued to be built on empty lots through the years. The phenomenon that has occurred a great deal over the past ten years is tarring down old homes to build new much larger custom homes in Vienna.

Vienna Woods neighborhood has many mature trees and landscaped yards which give it a beautiful look and relaxing feel when driving the streets. This subdivision of the Town of Vienna also has two small private clubs in the neighborhood with swimming pools and other recreation. Those homebuyers with children will find this enjoyable, the only challenge is they have long waiting list to become members so contact them early. The first club is the Vienna Aquatic Club which is in the south west part of the Vienna Woods neighborhood. The club has events and party’s throughout the summer months but does not have many activities except pool activities. The secound private club is the Vienna Woods Swim and Tennis Club which is a larger club with more activities. This club has a longer wait list at approximately 5 years, but you may be able to lease someone’s membership a few years sooner than that.

The Vienna Woods subdivision also has several parks that add to the beauty and charm to this part of Vienna, they are Southside Park, Cunningham Park, and Meadow Lane Park. Cunningham park is a small Fairfax County park just behind Cunningham Elementary School and has softball fields, soccer field and a tot lot. Southside Park is operated by the Town of Vienna and has been the site of several 4th of July firework shows. This 17 acre park also has several sport fields and a tot lot. The last of the parks is the Meadow Lane Park and is a joy for any young children. This small park packs a punch with its many slides, swings, and things for kids to climb. Some neighborhood families have left many small tricycles, bikes, and scooters for any children to play on while they visit this park. All of these parks add enjoyment to the residents and help foster strong community.

The public schools that service the Vienna Woods community are some of the best in the area. Fairfax County has an excellent school system but I do recommend to do research when looking to be in a specific school district. There are many aspects of what makes a great school and a good tool is my article, What Are The Best Schools in Northern VA. The public schools for Vienna Woods are below, check with the county to verify school districts for specific addresses since school district lines can change annually.

Cunningham Park Elementary
Marshall Road Elementary
Thoreau Middle
James Madison High

There are many homes in this community that are within walking distance to the Orange Line Metro Station on Nutley Street. This will allow some commuters to not have to worry about driving or parking with a leisurely stroll to the station. The Vienna Woods community is so large some residents may have a bit of a walk. Whichever way, being close to a metro station is always good if you have to commute into the city or not.

Buying a home in Vienna Woods or b uilding a custom home affords many area amenities to live in style. The Town of Vienna has many events year round that residents can enjoy and plenty of restaurants and shopping. For more detail about the town of Vienna read this article. There is plenty of shopping available just a few miles away at Tysons Corner Center the 11th largest mall in the United States. Those who would like more upscale shopping Tysons Galleria (aka Tysons II) will fit that need perfectly.

To perform a home search to see available listings in this neighborhood please click Here and enter Vienna Woods under Subdivision. Then click here to schedule a showing.

There are opportunities to build a custom home in Vienna Woods, click here if you would like more information on building a custom home in Vienna. I can help you find a lot and a home builder in Vienna to build your dream home. Click here to contact me an schedule a meeting with Vienna area home builders.

Joey Remondino has been featured on CBS, Washington Post, WUSA Channel 9, and Washingtonian as a Real Estate Expert and is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Vienna, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate. Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process.

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot

Radon in Fairfax County

2010-11-11T13:45:00.009-05:00

Radon is an invisible, odorless, tasteless radioactive gas that is usually found in igneous rocks but sometimes can also be in well water. The natural breakdown or decay of uranium in the soil creates the radon gas and it can seep up through the soil which is found in nearly all soil. This gas can enter into a home through cracks in floors, gaps around pipes, cavities in walls, and the water supply to name a few. This radon gas then can become trapped inside homes and create unsafe levels. Since radon is radioactive the inhalation of high levels of the gas causes an estimated 20,000 lung cancer deaths a year as reported by the Surgeon General’s Office in the United States.

The EPA, Surgeon General, American Lung Association, National Safety Council, and American Medical Association recommend testing in homes since this is the only way to know ones radon levels. There are no immediate symptoms since the medical effects are long term and the reason why testing in home should be performed. In Fairfax County, like anywhere else, high levels can be found in one home while very low levels can be found in all neighboring homes. Below is Radon Level Map of Fairfax County and the color code definitions found on the EPA web site for Radon, yellow=lowest levels, orange=medium, and red= highest levels..

Testing For Radon
When buying a home in Fairfax, buyers should include a Radon Inspection C ontingency to their initial offer. Most home sellers will allow for this inspection along with a home inspection in the first 7 to 10 days. (Consult With Your Realtor) Have a certified Radon Inspector perform the test; here is a list of Certified Radon Home Inspectors. Once the results of the Radon test are obtained and if the levels show above the EPA defined high level, the buyer may have three options. Buyers may accept the home as is, request the sellers to install a system to reduce the high levels, or possibly walk away from the deal. I do recommend following the advice of your agent or broker, hopefully me, who knows and understands the details of your real estate needs.

If you already own a home and would like to test it yourself here is a place to find Home Test Kits.

Those building a new home, ask your builder if they are using radon resistant construction techniques, here is a Directory of Builder offered by the EPA.

Reducing Radon Gas Levels
There are multiple ways a contractor can reduce radon levels in a home, even do it yourself homeowners can install some Radon Mitigation systems. There are two main methods, the first being a systems that keep radon from entering a home to begin with. The other method is expelling the Radon Gas from the home so high levels are never reached. Here is a guide offered be the EPA to help with the reduction of radon, Consumers Guide to Radon Reduction.
The best advice I can give when buying a home in Fairfax County or anywhere in Northern VA is find a knowledgeable and skilled full time real estate agent to guide you through the home buying or home selling process.

Joey Remondino has been featured on CBS, Washington Post, WUSA Channel 9, and Washingtonian as a Real Estate Expert and is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Vienna, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate. Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process.

To search for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot

Westwood Manor Neighborhood in Vienna VA

2010-11-10T21:24:00.009-05:00

The Westwood Manor subdivision is conveniently located in the northeast part of the Town of Vienna VA . The neighborhood partially surrounds the beautiful and exclusive Westwood Country Club with its tranquil 157 acres. This community has 158 single family detached homes that were mainly built from 1963 to 1967 in the retro split level style of the time. The lots are generally around a third of an acre but a few of the neighbors boast half acre lots. These things create a well maintained landscape throughout the neighborhood and along with the many mature trees keep the residents in touch with nature. As you can see by the picture this also generates many falling leaves in autumn but this is a small price to pay to relocate to such a beautiful neighborhood.

Many homes on Fairway Drive and Westbriar Drive back to the Westwood Country Club and if you don’t mind a golf ball or two this gives a more open view. Those golfers looking to relocate to this subdivision should keep in mind the initiation fees to the private country club can run $70,000. A not so expensive outing would be a leisurely stroll to Foxstone Park and the trails it offers. Many may be somewhat familiar with this now famous park since it was the drop site for convicted FBI spy Robert Hanssen. Hanssen would drop packages of secret intelligence to be picked up by Russian intelligence in Foxstone Park. A great movie to watch that is based on this story was the 2007 film Breach.

The public schools that service the Westwood Manor community are some of the best in the area. Fairfax County has an excellent school system but I do recommend to do research when looking to be in a specific school district. There are many aspects of what makes a great school and a good tool is my article, What Are The Best Schools in Northern VA. The public schools for Westwood Manor are below, check with the county to verify school districts for specific addresses.

Westbriar Elementary
Kilmer Middle School
James Madison High School

Th e Town of Vienna and all it has to offer is a short walk away with numerous restaurants, shopping, and any other business or service one needs. Maple Ave. runs through the heart of Vienna and has big names like Whole Foods, Outback, and several Starbucks. The heart and soul of Vienna is made up of the local business’s like Maplewood Grill, Cenans Bakery, Bazin’s on Church and Jammin Java to just name a few. The Town of Vienna is a truly walkable community and offers events year round like its Oktoberfest, 4th of July fireworks, and the Halloween Parade.

The true shopaholic will salivate since Tysons Corner Center is just over 1 mile away from real estate in Westwood Manor subdivision. This is the 11th largest mall in the United States and for those who need more upscale shopping Tysons Galleria (aka Tysons II) is just down the street.

The commuters who like to take mass transit will be happy to know residents of this community have multiple choices. The Metro currently has the Orange Line Vienna station just over three miles away with plenty of parking for those who arrive early. The new metro silver line will have four Tysons Corner stops when completed in 2013. This combined with the metro bus system allow commuters to have a stress free commute.

To search for available homes in the Westwood Manor neighborhood please click Here and then enter Westwood Manor under Subdivision. Then click here to schedule a showing.

Joey Remondino has been featured on CBS, Washington Post, WUSA Channel 9, and Washingtonian as a Real Estate Expert and is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Vienna, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate. Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process.

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot

Vienna’s Annual Halloween Parade

2010-11-10T11:57:00.005-05:00

The Town of Vienna holds an annual Halloween parade which draws many residents from the town and Fairfax County. This event was established in 1946 when Vienna kids wanted to show off their costumes and has continued to grow larger every year since. This year was the first time my daughters participated in the parade along with an estimated 30, 000 spectators. Any children who want to show off their costume are welcome to walk in the parade and normally meet at the Virginia Commerce Bank parking lot at 374 Maple Ave. The children continue the tradition and lead the parade and once they reach the end can then sit and become spectators.

Our family fun begins with picking up our children early from school before the Vienna Police begin road closures. We gather all of the costumes and meet at someone’s home in the neighborhood to enjoy a meal with friends. Once all the kids are fed we get them into their costumes to walk to the rendezvous point to lead the parade. The children truly enjoyed the parade and the opportunity to walk and wave at all the spectators. Many individuals and business’s participate with a float or other entry in the parade with some sparing no expense. For more information about the Town of Vienna Halloween Parade visit, http://www.blogger.com/www.viennahalloweenparade.org

Events like this help strengthen this community and allow neighbors in the Town of Vienna to grow closer. There are many festivals and events held in Vienna which makes it a true walkable community. Home buyers in Northern VA want to live in strong communities and helps increase everyone’s value of their homes and lives.

Joey Remondino has been featured on CBS, Washington Post, WUSA Channel 9, and Washingtonian as a Real Estate Expert and is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Vienna, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate. Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process.

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot

The Best Time to Buy and Sell Your Home in Northern VA!

2010-11-09T10:10:00.006-05:00

Every time I see an advertisement for a real estate broker’s or the Association of REALTORS on TV I notice they always make the blanket statement, “It’s a great time to buy and sell a home”. Many new agents are trained to give a positive answer no matter the market conditions when asked, “How is the real estate market?” They give some blanket answer like, “the market is outstanding, and I have never been busier”. I understand this business and the fact we need to always remain positive but how can home buyers and sellers trust an agent’s advice when it is always the same?

The answer to, “how is the real estate market” depends on the individual needs of the person looking to buy or sell real estate. A home owner in Vienna VA who purchased their home in 2006 and could sell it for 800,000 now but owes 950,000 may not think the market is “outstanding”. Unless this homeowner has to move for a job transfer or something along those lines that’s forcing the move. On the other hand it is a perfect time for a first time home buyer to purchase a home in Northern Va. with aggressive pricing and historic low interest rates. Armed with a skilled real estate agent and an approval letter, a home buyer in Northern Va could take full advantage of the low prices.

There are those homeowners in Northern VA who choose not to move because they cannot get the price they once could in years past. I find they have an unrealistic expectation of what someone is willing to pay in a down economy. Home owners who are up sizing or downsizing and staying in Northern VA need to realize this is a great time to sell their current home and move. A home owner may be selling their home at 20% less then what they could get a few years back but the home they purchase will also be 20% less than a few years back. Prices will eventually go up and you will get more for your home but the home you purchase will also be more expensive. Find a skilled broker or agent and get a good deal now.
I am not only talking the talk but I have walked the walk, since I just sold my home and bought another home in Vienna Va. It was time for us to get a bigger home closer to my wife’s office before our daughter began the school year. I sold my home in 2 days with multiple offers and got a great price for it, but of course not a 2007 price. We found a beautiful home in the Town of Vienna that fit all of our needs and got a great price, nowhere close to the 2007 price. With the pricing I received and the extremely low interest rates, I ended up getting an overall better deal than if I had done the exact same real estate deal in 2007.

When asking or accepting advice from a real estate agent make sure they first understand your needs. The real estate market is complex and abundant with opportunities but can be costly if mistakes are made. Negotiating the ins and outs of today’s market is challenging with foreclosures, REO, real estate short sales, inspections, contingencies, and finding the right lender to name a few. Get a skilled, professional full time agent or broker because reading all the blogs in the world will not fully prepare you to go it alone.

Joey Remondino has been featured on CBS, Washington Post, WUSA Channel 9, and Washingtonian as a Real Estate Expert and is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Vienna, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate. Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process.

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot

Would You Sell a Dirty Car, Then Why Would You Sell A Dirty House?

2010-11-02T15:34:00.007-04:00

It’s almost time for me to get another SUV since my current one is running a bit high on the miles and is not too shinny inside. Since I drive around home buyers in Vienna and all of Northern Va often, it is better for business to have a vehicle that is clean and allows my clients to be as comfortable as possible. I get a kick out of talking to car salesmen because it helps sharpen my negotiating skills on something other than real estate.

With this in mind, I am not sure if I am going to trade in or sell my current Tahoe myself. I think I may sell it outright since there is a good market for used SUV’s, I will get more then if I trade it in. It sure could use a good cleaning and wax, but I think I will just sell it as is, Goldfish in the seats and all.

RrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrCH…

Hit the Breaks…..

This would be one of the dumbest things I have done since my days in the Phi Sigma Kappa house back in collage…..I will save those stories for another day.

I want to get the best price I possibly can for my Tahoe, so I will have it washed, waxed, shampooed, and cleaned inside and out. This will get rid of all those Goldfish my daughters have dropped on the floor and in the cracks of the seats.

Just about everyone has their car cleaned and some even have it serviced to include a fresh oil change before they sell or trade it in for a new vehicle. Please explain to me why so many people put their home on the market in Northern Va and do not have it cleaned and staged. A well staged home that is priced right will sell and sell fast. A home is the largest single asset for most and when preparing to put it on the market a little money should be invested to get the best price. This is a principle that works in any market and should always be followed.

Joey Remondino is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Vienna, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate. Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process.

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot

Murder, Ghosts, Demons and Death…Which Disclosures are Required in Northern Va.?

2010-10-29T11:21:00.012-04:00

Halloween is here and the home I just bought in Vienna VA has two goblins terrorizing the family cat daily. I can’t blame the previous owners for this problem, because these two goblins I brought with me when I moved, they are my daughters. This leaves the question, what about those home buyers who buy a house and later find out that a murder of an entire family took place 45 years ago in their newly acquired home? What about those Confederate Civil War ghosts that haunt homes in Old Town Manassas still hoping to win the war? Whose responsibility is it to disclose such stigmas to buyers in Northern VA?

Let’s not forget Caveat Emptor, or Buyer Beware in Northern VA which should remind all buyers to get an agent. A real estate agent or broker can make sure buyers are getting the correct disclosures and be a guide through the entire home buying and selling process. As a buyer it is customary for the sellers to pay all the commission, so get the help and check out Who Pays the Commission for further information.

Now on with the freak show……………..

Be afraid…be very afraid…

Well, that’s if you believe in ghosts, demons, goblins, Jason, or Michael Myers since the Commonwealth of Virginia does not require any disclosure of such stigmas along with most states. While you are trembling lets include to this list violent crimes to include murder, even if it was an entire family. There are more plausible reasons to not require disclosure then there are to require these types of stigmatic disclosures in Northern Va. The first and most important fact is that states and local governments do not recognize the existence of ghosts, haunting, or spiritual beliefs along those lines. How can anyone disclose something that does not exist…or does it? Another aspect is the separation of state and religion, the state does not recognize any religion or the belief of a soul and what happens to that soul upon death. Therefore the Virginia does not require the disclosure of the act of death or murder since it does not effect the property. The only thing the Virginia may require on a piece of real estate is if the death or murder leaves bodily fluid or a skeleton….oh yes I said bodily fluid, are you scared now? This is required since it then becomes a bio hazard or health hazard. This must be cleaned once the local authorities discover such health hazard, and once cleaned it is then no longer a hazard.

Many people feel fear and run from ghosts, while some like Annie Wilder see green and an opportunity with haunted homes. Since purchasing her house she has written multiple books and turned her haunted house into a money making machine. I am sure this time of year she keeps busy, see clip below.

Speaking of haunting, the home in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington DC from The Exorcist sold in 2003 for a whopping $2,025,000. (Pictured Below) How scary would it be to watch the 1973 film The Exorcist in this home on Halloween? The question to ask is would that stop buyers from making an offer or actually demand a higher sales price? The view of the Potomac River and Francis Scott Key Bridge this home affords is worth a cool million alone, let’s not forget location, location, location. Those home buyers who have at least 3 million and change and would consider this one if it came on the market would not need to worry since this home was only used for the film. The actually location of the exorcism has been debated for years and purported to have taken place in Cottage City Maryland but has been a closely guarded secret by those actually involved.

The home buying process can be scary for many reasons, make sure you are getting the right information. With so many aspects to purchasing a home it is a necessity to hire the best real estate broker who is looking out for you and your needs. Don’t forget to do some research on your own, make sure you are not buying a house previously owned by Elton M. Jackson Virgina’s own serial killer.

Joey Remondino is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Vienna, Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate. Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process.

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot

Selling or Buying a Smokers Home in Northern VA.

2010-10-07T15:36:00.007-04:00

In September of 2002 I gave up smoking, and now it is hard to believe that I ever smoked in the first place. I chose to never smoke in our house for two reasons; my wife hated it and everything inside would end up stinking. The normal smoker can’t smell the stench exuding from their skin and cloths and many times claim their home does not smell. I can tell you, even if a smoker never smokes in the house some home buyers can still smell it in the closets and furniture. This makes smoky homes a challenge to sell anywhere in Northern VA. There is hope for home owners, you can get the smell out of a home but it will take time, work, and money.

I just recently sold a house in Fairfax VA of a long time smoker who always smoked inside his home for almost 11 years. The moment the front door opened anyone, who doesn’t smoke, could immediately smell this was a smoker’s house. The owner tried to convince me that the smell was mainly from multiple wood burning fireplace’s however most non smokers with a canny nose can tell the difference. The owner had previously attempted to sell the home with another broker who advised not to do anything about the smell. Needless to say, they were unable to find a buyer who was willing to overlook the strong stench of stale smoke.

The steps we need to take were time consuming but ended up paying off in the long run once we listed the home. The two biggest changes we had to make where to replace all the carpet in the home, which was 11years old, and put a fresh coat of paint throughout the house. Along with a list of small tasks including no longer smoking in the home we had permanently expelled the smoke smell from the home. The home sold within 40 days and the owner was happy with the price he received.

Taking into consideration the number of asthmatics and health conscious home buyers, it is no wonder smokers homes can be challenging to sell, if they sell at all. In today’s economy and real estate market in Northern VA, sellers need every advantage to make their home stand out. Give me the opportunity to help you achieve your real estate goal whether that’s selling or buying a home in Fairfax or Prince William County.

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot

What is the Difference Between a Real Estate Agent and Real Estate Broker in Northern VA

2010-10-05T14:38:00.008-04:00

It is not just you asking this question, I am asked by first time home buyers and sellers in Fairfax and Prince William just as much as those seasoned pros that have bought and sold many homes in Northern Virginia. The real estate dictionary has over 500 pages of terms and understanding the difference between a Virginia broker and agent is one of the more important concepts. I find many agents do not understand the difference which may be the root of bigger problems, but I will save that for another blog. Below are the definitions important to know:

Real Estate Brokerage Firm- A corporation, association, partnership, limited liability company, or sole proprietorship which is required to have a separate brokerage firm license to transact real estate.

Real Estate Broker or Principle Broker- Any person holding a broker’s license designated by the firm, who, for compensation or valuable consideration (i) sells or offers for sale, buys or offers to buy, or negotiates the purchase or sale or exchange of real estate, including units or interest in condominiums, cooperative interest, or time-shares in a time-share program even though they may be deemed to be securities, or (ii) leases or offers to lease, or rents or offers for rent, any real estate or the improvements thereon for others. This person is also responsible for all activities of the firm to ensure compliance with all license law and rules by all the firms licensees to include agents and associate brokers.

Associate Broker- Any person holding a broker license other then the designated principle broker. This person has to meet the same educational and experience requirements as a principle broker but is subject to the same restriction of real estate activity as a salesperson.

Managing Broker-Any person holding a Broker License as an Associate Broker and not the principle broker but manages a specific branch or office for the Principle Broker and Firm. The large non-franchise firms normally have this title, like Long and Foster or Weichert Realtors in their individual offices.

Real Estate Agent- Any person licensed who for compensation or valuable consideration is employed either directly or indirectly by, or affiliated as an independent contractor with, a real estate broker, to sell or offer to sell, or to buy or offer to buy, or to negotiate the purchase, sale or exchange of real estate, or to lease, rent or offer for rent any real estate, or to negotiate leases thereof, or of the improvements thereon.

REALTOR- Any person or business entity who is a member of the local, state, and/or National Association of REALTORS. This is a trade organization that has a membership fee and has nothing to do with Virginia licensing laws or regulations and any of the above licensees can also be a REALTOR.

In simple term, normally you have a brokerage firm like StoneHouse Realty Inc that has a designated principle broker responsible for all the licensees with the firm. If the brokerage firm has multiple offices they may employ someone to manage each individual office as the managing broker. The associate brokers and agents are not employees and are normally independently contracted and are supposed to be monitored by the managing broker and Principle Broker. Breaking this concept down further, the only individual who can buy, sell, or lease and is ultimately responsible is the principle broker. Agents cannot buy, sell, or lease real estate in Virginia unless their license is under the supervision of a Principle Broker. As the Principle Broker of StoneHouse Realty Inc., I have the knowledge and experience to help you with your Northern VA real estate needs, please feel free to call me.

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot

Ratings of New Home Builders in Northern Va

2010-06-01T21:56:00.007-04:00

I just recently received a phone call from another REALTOR asking if I was aware of any consumer ratings of new builders in Northern VA. He paid me a complement when he mentioned through my articles that I appeared to be a new builder expert in Northern Va. If I could remember his name I would mention it: however I do not recall, but I will thank him for the idea. With this in mind I have researched and found few resources for determining the quality of the new home builders in Northern Va. The only reasonable resource I have found has been performed by JD Powers and includes the 2009 New Home Builder Customer Satisfaction Study and 2009 Home Builder Quality Ratings. These rankings appear to be based from survey responses to recent buyers of new homes in the Washington DC market which includes Northern VA.

The 2009 New Home Builder Customer Satisfaction Study is a in-depth survey into 9 aspects of new builder customer service including workmanship/materials; builder's warranty/customer service staff; price/value; builder's sales staff; construction manager; home readiness; recreational facilities provided by the builder; builder's design center; and location. The new builder in the Northern Va area that prevailed as the best with customer satisfaction for 2009 was Pulte Homes. The overall consumer satisfaction with all the new home builders surveyed increased from 2008 to 2009. This increase has been caused due to the fewer number of home buyers and the competition to win their business by the builders. This benefits consumers in the long run because of the better quality built home and satisfaction with the process. Three home builders that dominate the Northern Va landscape with new developments but received only average ratings where Richmond American, Centex Homes, and Toll Brothers. With my experience this is not far from the truth but let’s hope the expected third quarter merger of Pulte Homes and Centex Homes will improve Centex’s ratings.

The 2009 Home Builder Quality Ratings is a report that potential buyers should note when starting new home shopping. This study takes into consideration the number of problems that take place in a new home and the severity of the problem involved. The study pinpointed and designated 41 problem categories to include bathroom; drywall; electrical/appliances; flooring/stairs; home exterior; interior paint; kitchen; windows/doors; and other significant problems. The builder that prevailed in the Northern Va area was Winchester Homes. They were followed closely in quality by Van Metre Homes, Ryland Homes, M/I Homes, and Pulte Homes who actually won in 5 other markets.

These reports can help as a guide; however, the best advice should be gained from a full time skilled new builder REALTOR. The first red flag I have identified with these reports are the multiple large builders that are absent. They have not included Brookfield Homes, Beazer Homes, D.R. Horton Homes, Drees Homes, Stanley Martin Homes and K Hovnanian Homes to name a few who build homes in Northern Va. I would think it is hard to rank new home builders with so many great builders missing from the competition.

When hunting for a home whether it is a newly built home or a resale you should first prioritize your search criteria. This will help determine which criteria are go/no go and which you are willing to compromise if the market is not able to fill all your requirements. Buying from a new home builder has some different processes and nuances then purchasing a resale home. It is very necessary to have a Buyer agent accompany you on every visit to a model home of a new builder in Northern Va. It is even better to have a skill REALTOR that is an excellent new home builder negotiator, like myself. There are specific strategies and tactics to negotiating with new home sales reps in Northern Va. Here is an article that goes into more detail about these new home buying strategies, Negotiating With New Home Builders in Northern Va. If you are considering buying a home from a new builder please contact me for a free consultation and also remember the builder will pay the commission.

Joey Remondino is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties to name a few. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate. Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process.

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot

Home Maintenance Tips

2010-05-26T13:17:00.006-04:00

Outdoor Lighting for Curb Appeal and Safety

Well-planned outdoor lighting improves curb appeal, safety, and security for your home. Read
5 Tips for Inspecting and Maintaining Your Garage

Routine maintenance will help your garage retain its value and keep it trouble-free for decades. Read
Save Water and Money with a Rain Barrel

Using rain barrels to harvest rainwater from your roof is a simple, low-expense solution for conserving water and saving on your water bill. Read
Fast Fixes for Common Gutter Problems

Maintaining gutters is the most important thing you can do to prevent water from damaging your house, and keeping them in shape is an easy homeowner task. Read
Water Heaters: 5 Tips for Saving Energy

Water heating accounts for up to 25% of household energy costs, but there are inexpensive things you can do to increase efficiency and reduce energy bills. Read

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

Bigger Then the “F” Bomb

2010-05-12T13:38:00.016-04:00

Yes it’s true; I drop the “F” bomb many times a day, but don’t judge me because its use has become so wide spread across the country that it’s now the norm. I must admit though, sometimes it feels good to just let it fly being in the real estate business. I hope the excessive use of this repulsive word will diminish so that the next generation escapes its effects. I have done my best to shelter my daughters and wife by refraining from the use of the “F” bomb while in their presence. In order to give my clients the best real estate services in Northern VA I have to answer my mobile phone when my family is in ear shot. This is when it has occasionally escaped my lips to contaminate the minds of my daughters. Taking into consideration the collapse in the real estate market and bank bail outs it is no wonder so many people are still dropping the Foreclosure bomb. What did you think I was talking about?

Oh…….That “F” Bomb, the only time that comes out of my mouth is usually on the golf course.

I have noticed recently in the media, a.k.a. ad sales, that a new term is becoming more common and is worse than the “F” bomb, the “SF” bomb. This new incarnation of duplicity stands for “strategic foreclosure” and I am baffled by the way it has spread so quickly as a serious option for home owners. This concept was again brought to my attention recently on the today show as seen on this clip.

Let’s get this straight, a strategic foreclosure is defined as a home owner with a home mortgage who is financially capable of making the payments to pay back the loan but chooses to walk away. Wow, I think I just threw up a little bit.

I want to make sure we are clear where the line is, I am not referring to people who have to leave or can’t afford their home because of unforeseen circumstances. This would include things like death of an owner, divorce, job transfer, job lose, or a financial issue like sudden medical bills, a increase in payment from an ARM or other financial loses of this nature. These types of home owners would best be served by short selling in order to get out from under their mortgage before walking away. These scenarios are wide spread and those who financially cannot afford their mortgage should not be embarrassed or feel unethical. Short sales do close but it takes time and there must be a financial need in order to get a bank approval, here is an article that goes into more detail, What is a Short Sale.

I am perplexed by those like Jon Maddux who advises home owners to walk away and justifies it by saying that’s what everyone else is doing. In his article Strategic Foreclosure and The Last Man on The Boat he says, you should walk away “If you have watched your neighbors jump out of the sinking boat and jump on to life rafts and it seems like your the last man on the boat.” Wow, that’s the dumbest thing I have ever heard in my life. I guess this type of unethical, and greedy moral ignorance should be categorized with Bernard Madoff, Enron, and Allen Stanford. Without those people who do the right thing and keep their promises, the life boat we call the American Government will sink with all of us. We need to take some social responsibility and stop hoping someone else will carry the weight.

The home owners in financial trouble and cannot afford the mortgage should explore all options including loan modification, short sale, deed in lieu, foreclosure and possibly Bankruptcy (consult an attorney). Those home owners who can afford their mortgage payment but are upside down and have no good reason to move should keep paying. It can be stressful and discouraging to be in either of these scenarios, but take solace in knowing you will do the right thing. In this market there are millions who are upside-down can afford their house payment and continue to keep their promise to pay their mortgage.

Joey Remondino is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. Specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, and commercial real estate. Joey can guide you through any real estate buying or selling process.

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot

Centreville Crossing Community In Centreville Virginia

2010-05-10T16:47:00.006-04:00

The reason to buy a new home from a builder as opposed to an existing resale normally comes down to a few points. A newly built home has never been lived in, the ability for a buyer to pick options, and a new home has warranty on everything for at least a year sometimes more. These tend to be the predominant comments I get from home buyers. The question each individual needs to determine is if these reason out weight the increase in price over existing homes for sale. A home buyer can only decide this based on their individual needs, as an agent I will give options and advice based on those needs.

With this in mind, the community build by Ryland Homes, the Centreville Crossing Leesburg model is listed 14% higher than the 32 current listings within a 2 mile radius. The biggest difference in the majority of the active listings included is they are townhomes. Analyzing averages of comparables can be a moving target but in the hands of a skilled real estate agent can be fruitful. The Centreville Crossing communities are condominiums which create some basic differences but can give direction to buyers negotiating with Ryland Homes. New home builders are generally open to negotiations but they will not divulge this for obvious reasons. This is why buyers in Northern Va should have an agent to represent them who are skilled in negotiating with new home builders. Here is an article, Negotiating with new home Builders in Northern VA, that describes in more detail some tactics in negotiating new homes.

Those in the market to buy a home should also keep in mind association fees when considering affordability. These fees can be considerable depending on what is included, like Centreville Crossings $207 fee includes the Master Insurance, trash, and water. Many first time home buyers forget or are not aware of other expenses associated with being a home owner. These kinds of fees can make homes more or less attractive when on the market. With all these and many other considerations buyers should have a real estate agent when visiting Centreville Crossing or any other new community in Northern Va.

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot

Pictures Sell Homes in Northern Virginia

2010-05-07T09:54:00.007-04:00

As a real estate agent and broker one of the primary jobs I perform is to help my clients list and sell their home. There are a great number of aspects and detail included in this service in order to get a home sold. I devote a substantial amount of time collecting data and pouring over research to find the most useful tools to get homes sold. Then I put these tools to use for my clients to determine what works in the field. This allows me to achieve results for my sellers by selling faster and for the best market price.

I think for most consumers understand that one of the most useful marketing tools to sell a home in Fairfax County, Prince William County, or any place in Northern VA is the use of pictures. Pictures of inside and outside of a home are best displayed in online advertising where most buyers shop for homes. The pictures should accentuate a home and not detract from it, how can anyone expect to sell a home with a picture like this being posted in the MLS and online.

The first rule of utilizing pictures for selling real estate is that it should be a good and accurate picture depicting the true reality of the home. This means no touch ups with photo shop to create a false impression, which only upsets disillusioned buyers once they visit the home. When taking pictures be sure to clean and stage the home so that each picture accentuates the homes full potential. Once the pictures are taken owners should make sure they have a real estate agent that is going to actually post the pictures in advertising and the MLS. Without the pictures being placed in advertising how can anyone expect buyers to see the home or get the home to sell?
There are many other aspects and important details to the use of pictures that I could discuss. This is just one major aspect of employing a knowledgably, experienced, full time agent who works smart and not only hard. Please call or email me if you would like more details on how I can sell your home or if you would like examples of current listings.

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot

Home For Sale in Kingsbrooke Community, Bristow VA

2010-05-06T20:12:00.003-04:00

The Process of Negotiating and Buying from New Home Builders in Northern Va.

2010-04-22T08:32:00.012-04:00

The attraction of owning a home that has never been occupied and can be customized to one’s own tastes is appealing. There are many aspects to buying and negotiating a newly built home from a builder, some straight forward while some can be confusing and end up costing more money. Many Northern Virginia home buyers unknowingly walk into a trap whenever they stop to visit those irresistible model homes without a REALTOR.

New home builders normally ask for buyers to register, this registration has a space to identify the buyer’s agent. There are some builders who will not pay a buyer’s agent if the agent does not accompany or become registered upon the first visit to the model. A funny example is when my wife visited a model home in Vienna Virginia a few years back when we were looking to buy a new home. The sales representative requested her to fill out a registration card before she toured the model. My wife was happy to oblige and while filling out the card she noticed the card stated “agent must be present upon initial visit”. She told the sale representative that I was an agent, and the sales representative said that did not matter he needs to be here. After a few minutes of debate, my wife being the spicy Irish/Italian she is, proceeded to fill out the registration with a fictitious name. I am not condoning this approach but I am strongly recommending employing an agent to tour model homes. This along with many other tactics, the sales representative gains the advantage with any future negotiating for the builder. For detail on negotiating with new home builders like Toll Brothers , Ryan Homes, Stanley Martin, Pulte, NV Homes, Richmond American, Beazer, Lennar, Drees, Centex, and Brookfield read, Negotiating with New Home Builders in Northern VA.

Once a buyer has fallen in love with the model, the builder sales representative does whatever it takes to get the buyers to sit down and run some numbers. This is one of the most important times of the process for a buyer to have an experienced new home agent. A bit of advice from experience, this is not the time to look at the bottom line price and say “wow”. This is one of many things that should not be said when discussing anything with the builder sales rep. Please contact me if you would like an experienced new home builder agent to represent you in the buying process.

With everything signed and lending in place for the buyer much of the abstruse aspects of the process have passed. As long as the home is not already built or a spec home the home buyer will now have the chance to select colors and options. This should be an exciting task as long as there is plenty of time allotted to make such selections. Consider driving the neighborhood before the appointment and see the color combinations that others choose. Once the colors are selected be sure to verify each and every one with the builder so there are no costly mistakes. In the past it has proved difficult to convince the builder that a mistake was made on their part.

Let the construction begin……It always seems to take forever for builders to break ground and get the foundation and/or basement in place. There are many reasons for this slow process that I will not get into but below is an example.

Now that the foundation and basement are placed the main structure can be built and will be surprisingly fast. The windows and doors and inserted shortly after much of the structure is in place and the home is wrapped.

When the home is under roof the remaining process should remain steady but is time consuming because of the detail of work now involved. The electrical, plumbing, and HVAC are a few of the many details that now take place. This is about the time the buyer should meet with the builder’s superintendent and perform a pre drywall walk through. The main purpose of this is to make sure the floor plan and structural options are being built per the contract.

The new home is almost complete and settlement is just around the corner, just a hand full of things to do in order to make the transaction smooth. One of these items will be a walk through and the technical placement of the blue tape.

The blue tape is for the buyer to mark all the imperfections to be fixed before the final walk through and settlement of the new home. These are usually small issues that can easily be fixed in a short amount of time by the builder. Then a week later the final walk through and settlement will take place. This day should go smoothly as long as all the work and preparations have been completed by all the parties involved. The process should have been overseen by the buyer’s agent and orchestrated by the builder’s sales representative and superintendent.

This article is a basic overview of some of the activities that need to be taken in the new home buying process in Northern Va. There are many other activities associated with purchasing a newly built home from a builder. When considering a new home have a knowledgeable real estate agent to help navigate the process, of course I hope you contact me.

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot

Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas, Va.

2010-04-21T11:59:00.006-04:00

Driving route 234 Bypass just on the edge of Manassas City limits stands a unique building peaking over the tree line on the George Mason Campus. This exquisitely designed building is a new state-of-the-art facility that will provide a venue for residents in Manassas, Prince William County, and all of Northern VA to enjoy the performing arts. This work of art was designed by Holzman Moss Bottino Architecture out of New York, NY who have been designing public and institutional buildings for more the 20 years.

This exciting cultural complex contains two theatres, the first being the Gregory Family Theatre which is a flexible space ideal for theatre, chamber groups, dance and cabaret. The second theatre is the much larger Merchant Hall that can seat 1,121 and designed for no seat to be any further away from the stage then 75 feet. The suprisingly intimate feel of both theatres will allow all in attendance enjoy every moment of each performance. The Didlake Grand Foyer is awe inspiring with its 85 foot tall copper leaf mural perfect for receptions or public gatherings.

Together George Mason University, the City of Manassas, and Prince William County have improved the community and region with this spectacular facility. Thank you for providing this opportunity for the performing and visual arts to touch more lives. the Hylton Performing Arts Centre will continue to bring culture to Northern Virginia for years to come and hopefully inspire many local artists in the future.

EVENT CALENDAR AND TO BUY TICKETS

Joey Remondino is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. Specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, real estate. Joey can guide you through the real estate buying or selling process.

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot

Check My Real Estate Agents Licensed Northern Virginia

2010-03-27T07:18:00.004-04:00

I read an article this morning about a woman who was practicing real estate for several years without a license. It was finally another broker who researched the license for this particular person to find they were in fact not licensed. The Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation is the place to check someone’s license status. The great thing about this site is the capability to look up and verify real estate agents license, contractor’s license, auctioneers license, appraisers license, even tattooing and body piercing license to name a few.

There is a time that every homeowner will have to employ a real estate agent or a contractor for their property. This site should be in everyone’s favorite places in Northern Virginia to verify who they are employing. This is a good place to start when employing a real estate agent in Northern Virginia to help buy or sell a home, make sure they have an active license.

Click Here: LICENSE LOOKUP AND DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS

Joey Remondino is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. Specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, real estate. Joey can guide you through the real estate buying or selling process.

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The Northern Virginia MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot

New Home Listing in Bristow Virginia

2010-03-23T14:15:00.005-04:00

Great Falls Park, Northern Virginia

2010-03-20T18:39:00.004-04:00

One of the amazing opportunities living in the United States of America affords us is the U.S. Parks Services. In Northern Virginia one of my favorite places to visit is the Great Falls Park just outside of the 495 beltway and a few miles from Tysons Corner. I just returned a few hours ago from a visit to the Park I enjoyed with my family and my friends and their children. Be prepared to pay a small fee for entry, the beauty of nature and the falls on the Potomac River are worth the fee.
The park has many over looks to choose from to see the falls and a few that may be discovered by venturing out on one’s own. There are plenty of picnic benches and a few grills to bring lunch and make a day of it. The park has many trails to hike and enjoy some peace and quiet or to just find a quite spot to read. There are no playgrounds for children to play on but natures own jungle gym of rocks to clime and explore. With space galore a yard game like Bocce Ball is good or just bring a football or Frisbee. No trip to the park would be complete without your best friend, just be sure to keep him on a leash. I will not give you a lesson but there is Great Falls Virginia history, not to be confused with the smaller Great Falls Maryland, check out the visitors center for more information or to just get an ice cream.
I will pass on a bit of advice from experience when visiting the park. The park becomes very full on those beautiful weekend days so leave early to avoid sitting in traffic. I have found that if I arrive by 10:30 am entry is easy and there are plenty of picnic tables and grills to claim.

Joey Remondino is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. Specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, real estate. Joey can guide you through the real estate buying or selling process.

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot

Who Pays The Commission

2010-03-17T06:50:00.005-04:00

When my wife and I were newlyweds all those years ago we decided it was time to shop for our first home. I was in banking at the time but being a first time home buyer, we did not know some of the basics involved in a home purchase. One of these question that is simple for any of those who have worked with a Realtor, which we didn’t know, is how does my real estate agent get paid? This was very important to us since we needed as much money as possible to purchase our first home.

The custom for Northern Virginia, and most states for that matter, is the seller of real estate pays the listing broker and the selling broker commission. The agents are then paid by their respective brokers a percentage of the commission after the brokers take. This means those first time home buyers will have more money to purchase a home. Those buying a home should hire a Realtor first before going house hunting and especially before stopping at a new home builder sales office.
There are two things all buyers should be aware of when it comes to hiring an agent. The first is that many brokers, normally the national firms, add other fees to the agreement that buyers are required to pay. These fees are called processing fees, administrative fees, or whatever creative names brokers may give them. My experience working for large firms and small all buyers should refuse to pay any extra fee charged by their broker. This should be discussed with the agent at the time of signing the buyer broker agreement and removed from that agreement. If the broker and agent cannot make profit from the sales commission any buyer should be concerned.

Buyers should also understand one important aspect of the buyer broker agreement they sign to hire their broker. The standard agreement used in Northern Virginia has a stated commission amount that is inserted into the contract. The buyers are on the hook for this commission if the sellers do not pay this amount. The good thing for buyers is their agent will know before looking at a home, whether the sellers are paying the commission and how much. Buyers should request their agent to let them know when the sellers are not paying the entire commission.
For further information on buyer representation read Caveat Emptor, or Buyer Beware in Virginia.

Joey Remondino is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. Specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, real estate. Joey can guide you through the real estate buying or selling process.

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot

Sully Estates in Centreville Virginia

2010-03-12T17:14:00.010-05:00

Sully Estates is a picturesque community in Fairfax County just minutes from interstate 66 for and Dulles airport for those commuting executives. This exclusive neighborhood is the perfect community for those who are employed by the aerospace industry since just a few miles east is the Westfield’s Business district. Westfield’s is occupied by many large defense contractors such as Northrop Grummen, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Aerospace Corp, General Dynamics, and CACI to name a few. There is also a large government facility that surly awards contracts to these companies, The National Reconnaissance Office or NRO for short.

Sully Estates is an established community with space one needs to enjoy the fruits of labor and relax in privacy. The community was slowly built over 10 years beginning in 1991 by a number of local custom home builders. The property of each individual home is large compared to Northern Virginia standards with the smallest lots at 5 acres up to over 11 acres. This custom community has a large verity of unique homes which adds character to the neighborhood and distinctive feel for each owner. There is plenty of open space to enjoy nature and to get away from the hustle and bustle of the suburbs.

The Chantilly and Centreville area have many of the necessary amenities to live in style. Just a few miles east is the private Chantilly National Gold and Country Club that will provide numerous activities for all members of the family or just the golfer that needs his or her weekly fix. Let’s not forget Virginia is still the south and to enjoy some country fun without the dirt under the nails Cox Farm is just around the corner. Cox Farm is a Northern Virginia tradition with events and Festivals taking place most of the year with the largest attraction being the Fall Festival in October.

The schools in Fairfax County are known for being ranked with the top schools in the country. The public schools are, Elementary-Virginia Run, Middle-Stone, and the high school is Westfield High. Please visit the article What Are The Best Schools in Northern Virginia for further search on area public, private, or boarding schools.

Click on the link below and then check “Birds Eye View” in the left corner of the map for a closer look at the Sully Estates community.

Satellite View of Sully Estates

Please contact me for further information or private showing of homes in this community or ones like it in Northern Virginia.

Joey Remondino is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. Specializing in residential real estate in Northern Virginia including Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties. Trained and experienced expert in Estate Homes, New Home Sales, Relocation, real estate. Joey can guide you through the real estate buying or selling process.

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot

Pleasant View Estates in Centreville Virginia

2010-03-12T12:09:00.008-05:00

This is an exquisite estate community in Fairfax County just on the divide of the towns of Centreville and Chantilly Va. Pleasant View is the perfect community for those who are employed by the aerospace industry since just a few miles east is the Westfield’s Business district. Westfield’s is occupied by many large defense contractors such as Northrop Grummen, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Aerospace Corp, General Dynamics, and CACI to name a few. There is also a large government facility that surly awards contracts to these companies, The National Reconnaissance Office or NRO for short.

Pleasant View Estates is a small community with lots ranging from a quarter acre up to almost two acres with plenty of community trees surrounding. The homes were build between 2001 and 2003 so that any homebuyer can expect open floor plans with modern amenities to be included in most homes. The homes were designed and built by two major national builders who have a proven track record of excellent quality, Pulte Homes and Brookfield Homes. The homes have uniquely designed and very widely in elevation and curb appeal which makes the community charming and unlike many cookie cutter neighborhoods in Northern Va.
The Chantilly and Centreville area have many of the necessary amenities to live in style. Just a few miles east is the private Chantilly National Gold and Country Club that will provide numerous activities for all members of the family or just the golfer that needs his or her weekly fix. Let’s not forget Virginia is still the south and to enjoy some country fun without the dirt under the nails Cox Farm is just around the corner. Cox Farm is a Northern Virginia tradition with events and Festivals taking place most of the year with the largest attraction being the Fall Festival in October.

The schools in Fairfax County are known for being ranked with the top schools in the country. The public schools are, Elementary-Virginia Run, Middle-Stone, and the high school is Westfield High. Please visit the article What Are The Best Schools in Northern Virginia for further search on area public, private, or boarding schools.

Click on the link below and then check “Birds Eye View” in the left corner of the map for a closer look at the Pleasant View Estates community.

Satellite View of Pleasant View Estates

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot

Which Real Estate Firm Is Best?

2010-03-10T09:47:00.007-05:00

When buying and/or selling residential real estate it is easy for a person be become baffled by all the agents and agencies available to choose. A consumer in search of an agent may not understand if they should go with a small local or national real estate firm to hire. In the past there were many differences between two such firms that would help a home buyer or seller determine what was best for their needs. There are so many large national, regional and franchise firms like Weichert, Re/Max, Keller Williams, Exit, Long and Foster, Coldwell Banker to just name a few. Then there are the small local firms in the Northern Virginia and DC Metro Area like Fairfax Realty, Avery Hess, Linton Hall, McEnearney, StoneHouse, Christopher, and Jobin just to name a few.

So who can do the best job representing a buyer to find and purchase a dream home or who can bring the best results for a home seller?

The best results for buying and/or selling real estate have absolutely nothing to do with any of the firms I mention above. Many agents, usually from the larger firms, will try to convince consumers why it is so much better to employee them. This may have been the case 15 years ago but the playing field has been leveled and it’s called technology. There is nothing a large firm can do that any other firm can't duplicate, except maybe buy advertising on the front page of the Washington Post but who really looks for real estate in the paper these days.

It comes down to the agent who is the guide through the process and holds the knowledge, professionalism, and passion of real estate and for helping people. This is the party the consumer should place their trust to understand, accomplish and represent the needs and results desired. Einstein said “Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value” and an agent that creates the greatest value for their client will gain success.

Joey Remondino is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. Specializing in residential and commercial real estate in Northern Virginia including Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties. Trained and experienced expert in New Home Sales, Relocation, Short Sales, REO’s, foreclosures, investments, and commercial real estate. Joey can guide you through the real estate buying or selling process.

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot

What Are The Best Schools in Northern Virginia

2010-03-09T13:04:00.011-05:00

I always believed I could understand or empathize with those who had children long before I had any of my own. This belief immediately disintegrated the moment my wife gave birth to our first daughter. With her first breath I knew that I had been perpetually transformed and placed in a new category, that of parenthood. Those who have a child to rear of their own, whether biological or adopted, understand when I say, you are not in the club until you are in the club. Parents will do just about anything for their children including making sacrifices for our child’s education.

When searching for a home to buy all parents inevitably asks the question, where are the best schools in Northern Virginia?

To continue this article on my website, click this link, The Best Schools in Northern VA.

Joey Remondino is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. Specializing in residential and commercial real estate in Northern Virginia including Centreville, Chantilly, Falls Church, Gainesville, Mclean, Reston, Great Falls, Alexandria, Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax Counties. Trained and experienced expert in New Home Sales, Relocation, Short Sales, REO’s, foreclosures, investments, and commercial real estate. Joey can guide you through the real estate buying or selling process.

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot

Lee’s Square Condo’s in Manassas Virginia.

2010-02-15T15:29:00.008-05:00

I wrote an article over a year back about a community named Lee’s Commons by Ryan Homes at the time a client I represented was considering to buy. My client decided not to buy in that community and chase the elusive REO and the abundant short sale market. With no warning Ryan Homes, the builder, pulled all their equipment, signs and sales office located in the future community. Considering the economy and housing market it was no surprise to find out that the site developer who owned the land had filed for bankruptcy. This left the City of Manassas residence with an unsightly empty real estate lot where some dumped trash and an unfinished building stood reminiscent of abandoned homes in Detroit.

Many who pass this part of route 28 in Old Town Manassas, and prospective buyers will be absolutely thrilled to know that K Hovnanian Homes has arrived. The resurrected community has been renamed Lee Square and will start exactly where the last builder left off. Currently there is no sales office to speak of but K Hovnanian will be placing one there in the near future, surely shooting for the spring market.
I do get asked the question a lot whether a new home is a good deal or is resale the best route to go. The answer to this is based off individual needs but when it comes down to just price a resale home normally wins out. These homes, however, are aggressively priced for being new builds and close amenities that Old Town Manassas has to offer including the VRE and all the other businesses. The pricing for this real estate is exactly where the previous builder was a year ago, the only difference is there are less REO’s (aka foreclosures) available which makes the price more attractive. I, of course, recommend before stopping in to any new builder sales office to employee a Realtor to go with you. There are many reasons why a buyer should have an agent and for the reasons why read this article, Negotiating with New Home Builders in Northern Virginia.

The resale value should remain strong on these units in the future due to the fact of all that Old Town Manassas has to offer. Those commuters that do not want to fight traffic have the VRE within walking distance to these condos. There are also plenty of attractions and restaurants that are within walking distance which makes it attractive to those who want to save on gas. The popularity of True walkable Communities have increased of the past few years and will continue in the future. For more information on the Old Town Manassas area take a look at this article, Relocation information on Manassas Va.

Those buyers looking for a good value on a new condo should consider the Lee Square community. Please contact me if you need a real estate agent to represent you and help negotiate and understand the pitfalls of the builder’s sales contract. Remember the builder will pay your agents commission.

Joey Remondino is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. Specializing in residential and commercial real estate in Northern Virginia including Manassas City, Manassas Park, Prince William, and Fairfax. Trained and experienced expert in New Home Sales, Relocation, Short Sales, REO’s, foreclosures, investments, and commercial real estate. Joey can guide you through the real estate buying or selling process.

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area with no sales calls from an agent, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot

Short Sales in Northern Virginia Will Be Around For A Long Time.

2009-04-28T20:21:00.008-04:00

Oh yes, we all better get use to short sales since they will be around in large volumes for at least the next three years. In the not so distant past, agents and buyers have shunned the short sale property’s as the red headed step child of the sought after REO property (a foreclosed home). With the REO’s now selling at a break neck speed in Prince William and Fairfax county short sales have stepped into a more favorable light than in the past.
……A side note for those who have not read my previous blogs, if you are not at the court room steps buying property then the correct term to use is Real Estate Owned or REO. A foreclosure is the legal proceeding initiated by a creditor to repossess the securing collateral for a loan in default.

A short sale is when the owner is selling their home or property for less then what is owed on the loan secured by said property. The challenge with this process is the fact that the mortgagee or lender has to approve the acceptance of less money then what is owed to them to release the lien. This process can be a very long one, for more on how long a short sale can take in Northern Virginia refer to my article Please Do Not Give Up: Short Sales Do Close.

There are two reasons that short sales have become more of a viable option for buyers and agents over the past few months in Northern Virginia. The first one is the fact that REO’s appear to be in a shorter supply recently because they are so aggressively priced which brings out deal seeking investors or buyers. This causes them to generate multiple offers and sell fast, and creates more aggressive buyers who loose out on multiple properties. With most buyers once they have lost multiple bids on real estate they become more aggressive with the next property negotiation. This is good for our future economy as long as it does not create another irrational exuberance that got us here in the first place. These buyers look more to other options to purchase and low and behold short sales become that option.

With short sales becoming a better option for distressed sellers then foreclosure, more are being listed everyday. This combined with the fact that buyers are willing to make offers on short sales, aka pre-foreclosure, banks have been forced to approve more and more short sales. This leads me to the second reason why these sales are a more viable option for buyers, banks are getting better and more open to approving these deals. When the real estate market started to collapse banks and/or lenders did not know how to deal with short sales nor were they staffed to handle the volume. Now that we are several years into this mess, the banks/lenders have staffed the loss mitigation departments and have processes in place to approve these kinds of deals.

The real estate market in Northern Virginia as a whole is near or at the bottom when it comes to prices. Refer to my article Home Prices Hit Bottom, so I can impress upon you the fact that real estate is local. There are still many people who are out there making their payments but are very upside down on the value of their home. This is due to the fact they pulled money out of their equity or purchased the home when prices where at or near their peak in 2006. Prices will eventually start to increase again at a normal rate so unfortunately many people may be upside down for several more years. This means over the next few years the owners who get a divorce, transferred, or loss of a job will have to short sale. All the professions associated with real estate including buyers and sellers will have to become familiar with this kind of real estate transaction because they will be around in large numbers for a while.

Joey Remondino is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. Specializing in residential homes in Northern Virginia including Manassas City, Manassas Park, Prince William, Fairfax, and Fauquier County. Trained and experienced expert in Relocation, Short Sales, REO’s, foreclosures, investments, and any other residential real estate. Joey can guide you through the home buying or selling process.

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area with no sales calls from an agent, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot

Terms to Know When Buying and Selling a Home in Northern Virginia

2009-02-23T16:50:00.005-05:00

I have defined some real estate terms that may help when reading my articles or when buying and/or selling a home in Manassas, Manassas Park, Prince William County or anywhere in Northern Virginia.

Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) -- Research preformed on a specific subject home to create a report including comparable homes that are currently listed, under contract, expired, and sold to determine a market value range of the subject property. The comparable properties need to have been on the market within 6 months of the report and in close proximity to the subject property. Click here to request a Comparative Market Analysis.

Purchase offer (offer) -- A proposal, which should be in writing, to buy property at specified terms and price.

Sales Contract (contract) – Once all terms of the purchase offer have been agreed upon by the buyer and seller, which should be signed by all parties, the written offer then becomes the sales contract.

Contingency – A provision that is dependent on something else occurring, which again should be in writing. For example a home sale contingency usually means the buyers will buy the subject home if their current home sells. Some other kinds of contingencies include home inspection contingency, radon contingency, lead paint contingency, third party approval contingency (aka short sale contingency), and many others.

Short Sale – Selling a property for less then what is owed on the current loan. Here is an article with an in depth look at short sales in Northern Virginia.

REO – Acronym for Real Estate Owned. A home or property that has been repossessed through the foreclosure process by the lender or investor who owns the loan. REO is the correct term for a home on the market owned by a bank or lender. Many people call these homes foreclosures which is incorrect, see definition of foreclosure below. You can find more information on REO’s in Northern Virginia in my article What Are REO’s.

Foreclosure – A legal means by which a mortgagee can take interest and all legal rights of a property from the owner due to default on paying a mortgage lien or property taxes.

BPO – Acronym for Broker Price Opinion. A written report preformed by a licensed agent or broker to determine an estimated market value of a specific home or property. These are generally used by banks or lenders for REO’s and short sales because they are faster and less expensive then appraisals.

Broker (as related to real estate) – A person who is licensed by the state to perform real estate activities and may collect compensation.

Agent (as related to real estate in Va.) – A person who is licensed by the state to perform real estate activities for a Broker. The state of Virginia only allows licensed Brokers to transact real estate and the agents are allowed to perform real estate duties but only if supervised by a managing broker and/or principle broker.

These terms were defined by me in regards to their real estate meanings in Northern Virginia.

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area with no sales calls from an agent, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot.

Joey Remondino is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. Specializing in residential homes in Northern Virginia including Manassas City, Manassas Park, Prince William, Fairfax, and Fauquier Counties. Trained and experienced expert in Relocation, Short Sales, REO’s, foreclosures, investments, and any other residential real estate. Joey can guide you through the home buying or selling process.

Home Buyers Making Multiple Offers on Real Estate in Manassas and Prince William County

2009-02-22T16:23:00.006-05:00

I prefer to sit down with all prospective buyer clients before we ever look at any homes in order to set their expectations of the home buying process. Most people watch the news, talk to their neighbors and chat with co workers about the real estate market and where it is heading. This makes it easy for most to draw simple conclusions on how to negotiate or what should or shouldn’t happen while attempting to buy a home, foreclosure, REO, short sale or investment property. Home shoppers conclusions are therefore normally drawn from inexperienced people who get their information from other uninformed people, national news or HGTV. Home buyers should be aware of two critical points, the first is to hire a knowledgeable Realtor and always, always remember real estate is local.

Everyone is aware of the current economic collapse and the volatility of the stock market which was evoked by the real estate debacle. What most do not know or keep up with is exactly when did this precipitous fall in prices begin? The answer to this is as vague as a politician during elections since real estate is local and it depends on the individual market to determine exactly when prices began to fall. We can see the first signs of the market beginning its downturn in Manassas City, Manassas Park and much of Prince William County about April of 2006 when home inventory skyrocketed. We do not see this begin in any part of Fairfax County until late in 2006 and even later inside the beltway. When you do more detailed analysis and take a deeper look you can even see dramatic sale price difference from neighborhood to neighborhood in close proximity. This is one reason why it is detrimental to utilize the services of a knowledgeable agent who is familiar and can effective analyze the local market.

Now that I have explained that that markets can be dramatically different and change quickly we will touch on the main point of this article. Believe it or not, for at least the past 6 months homes in Manassas, Manassas Park and much of Prince William County have been generating multiple offers. A townhome in Manassas that clients I represent, who are investors, made an offer on was priced aggressively and generated 28 other offers in only 10 days. This is very unexpected and hard to believe for many home buyers and investors looking to buy over the past few months. This kind of market can generate asking price or above asking price for aggressively priced homes. Some buyers I have worked with made offers on several homes before they realized that the well priced homes were selling for at least asking price. There are homes on the market that are overpriced so it is important to employee an agent you trust. In case you do not trust your agent have them put together a CMA (Comparative Market Analysis) to show the details on the specific neighborhoods current home sale trends.
There are many opportunities in the Manassas and Prince William real estate market to search for the perfect home or investment property at a great price. With the right agent, a little research and some patience it will not take long to take advantage of the current prices.

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the Northern Va. area with no sales calls from an agent, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot.

Joey Remondino is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. Specializing in residential homes in Northern Virginia including Manassas City, Manassas Park, Prince William, Fairfax, and Fauquier Counties. Trained and experienced expert in Relocation, Short Sales, REO’s, foreclosures, investments, and any other residential real estate. Joey can guide you through the home buying or selling process.

Joey Remondino Real Estate Expert Interview on Channel 9 News

2008-11-22T21:48:00.012-05:00

I think the saying goes that any publicity is good publicity and in this case the interview I did with Channel 9 news in the Washington DC area was positive. With the publics knowledge of the current economy most are skeptical about the fact that homes are selling expeditiously in Prince William County, Manassas, and Manassas Park. Homes selling in just days with multiple offers being submitted are becoming a reality once again. The most aggressively priced homes including short sales, REO’s or foreclosures are selling at or even above asking price which is a little reminiscent of the boom just a few years ago. I am in no way saying we will see an irrational exuberance that caused prices to skyrocket but these are good signs of a healing market and the elusive bottom.

The real estate story that has run multiple times on channel 9 news is below. I also recently wrote an article about the improving market conditions here: Home Prices Hit Bottom in Prince William County, Manassas, and Manassas Park. I was also featured in a Washington Post article discussing the same topic, Foreclosures, Falling Prices Spur Pr. William Home Sales. I hope the word gets out that the market is on the mend and people can start felling more positive about the near future.

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the DC Metro area with no sales calls from an agent, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot.

Joey Remondino is a full time Realtor and Broker with StoneHouse Realty Inc. Specializing in residential homes in Northern Virginia including Prince William, Fairfax, and Fauquier Counties. Trained and experienced expert in Relocation, Short Sales, REO’s, foreclosures, investments, and any other residential real estate. Joey can guide you through the home buying or selling process.

New Condos in Manassas Virginia, Lee’s Commons

2008-11-04T09:48:00.008-05:00

I do get asked the question a lot whether a new home is a good deal or is resale the best rout to go. The answer to this is based off individual needs but when it comes down to just price a resale home normally wins out. This is not the case when it comes to the pricing of the new condo subdivision Lee’s Commons being built in Old Town Manassas. The current pricing on these units are very aggressive and are just priced slightly above Foreclosures, REO’s and short sales in the area.

Ryan Homes the builder of these condos have not sold many units lately and that is what I believe the reason for the aggressive pricing. I believe the lack of sales has to do with the simple fact they do not have a model on site yet. This will change soon since the model should be done and decorated by the start of next year. I of course recommend before stopping in to any new builder sales office to employee a Realtor to go with you. There are many reasons why a buyer should have an agent and they can be found in this article, Negotiating with New Home Builders in Northern Virginia.

The resale value should remain strong on these units in the future due to the fact of all that Old Town Manassas has to offer. Those commuters that do not want to fight traffic have the VRE within walking distance to these condos. There are also plenty of attractions and restaurants that are within walking distance which makes it attractive to those who want to save on gas. The popularity of True walkable Communities have increased of the past few years and will continue to do so, For more information on the Old Town Manassas area take a look at this article, Relocation information on Manassas Va.

Those buyers looking for a good value on a new condo should consider the Lee’s Commons community. Please contact me if you need to employ an agent to help negotiate and understand the pitfalls of the builder’s sales contract. Remember the builder will pay the agents commission.

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the DC Metro area with no sales calls from an agent, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot.

Joey Remondino is a full time Realtor and Broker Specializing in residential homes in Northern Virginia including Prince William, Fairfax, and Fauquier Counties. Trained and experienced expert in Relocation, Short Sales, REO’s, foreclosures, investments, and any other residential real estate. Joey can guide you through the home buying or selling process.

What Is The Federal Rate Cut?

2008-11-04T09:48:00.002-05:00

The Federal Reserve cut rates on October 29th to 1% to help the struggling market, but how does this help the consumer?

This is lowering the short term interest rate which in turn will cause banks to lower their prime rate, usually within a few hours or days. This directly affects most car loans, credit cards, student loans, home -equity lines of credit, and home equity loans (aka second mortgages). The one type of loan this does not directly affect is the fixed rate mortgages many people use to purchase homes. These loans are tied to the 10 year treasury bound which fluctuates based on economic outlooks and/or inflation. What this means is even if the Fed lowers short term rates fixed mortgage rates can go up or down, and with this cut they did take a modest up tick.

Arm's, Adjustable Rate Mortgages, are influenced by either Treasury averages or LIBOR depending on the loan and bank; Therefore, many of these loans lowered by their next adjustment in November. These are the basic principles that cover the majority of consumer loans but in no way encompass all loans products available.

Let’s hope this helps the struggling market because with the rate now at 1% there is not much lower it can go.

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the DC Metro area with no sales calls from an agent, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot.

Joey Remondino is a full time Realtor and Broker Specializing in residential homes in Northern Virginia including Prince William, Fairfax, and Fauquier Counties. Trained and experienced expert in Relocation, Short Sales, REO’s, foreclosures, investments, and any other residential real estate. Joey can guide you through the home buying or selling process.

Home Prices Hit Bottom in Prince William County, Manassas, and Manassas Park!

2008-11-03T22:05:00.007-05:00

The late summer and early fall have been a blur for me with all the buyers and investors looking for foreclosures, REO’s, short sales, or whatever deal they can get their hands on. With the credit crisis and the prices that have rapidly declined over the past year or so the deals are plentiful and ripe for the picking. Many agents in the heat of the market can attest to the fact that many properties are receiving many offers and getting over asking price. This however is a result of banks pricing homes so low in order to create a bidding war among aggressive buyers. I personally have several investors and buyers who have lost bids on multiple homes due to the competition that is growing ever larger.

The question I am sure you are asking, is this the bottom of the housing market collapse? Unfortunately the answer to this is as ambiguous as the two Presidential Candidates are when asked a direct question. The answer is yes and no and depends on one obvious but important factor. It depends on the neighborhood.

Many of the home prices in Prince William County, Manassas City, and Manassas Park have been driven down more and faster then most Northern Va. areas because of the huge number of foreclosures and short sales. The reasons for the large numbers of distressed properties are many and very depending on opinion. Whatever the reason the point is some neighborhoods and areas have higher concentrations of distressed homes which cause these areas to be priced lower due to competition. An analysis on how much some of these homes would cost to build shows a price higher then the current list price which makes a good buy.

People are now realizing that some property is selling at prices that are equal to or cheaper then renting. For example there are townhomes in Belmont Station in Manassas Park selling around $175,000 that were selling just a few years ago in the $380,000 price range. (You can find a mortgage calculator here to find your monthly payment.) These homes are within walking distance to the Manassas Park VRE station which makes them more desirable for renters or buyers. I believe that the bottom of this neighborhood has been reached. In the past 4 months homes that were aggressively priced from 155,000 to 175,000 in this neighborhood have gone under contract in the matter of days. Many of these homes had multiple offers placed on them and generated contracts at or above asking price. These homes last sold in this price range in the year 2000 and 2001 before the “irrational exuberance” in the housing market. I have also discovered that in the last three months the average days on the market for homes sold in this neighborhood has been only 26 days.

This is an example of just one neighborhood, I am aware of many more in the area that are without a doubt at or very close to bottom. Please remember this may very based on neighborhood and condition of the home and there are areas that have more room for a price decline. You can also find a report I was interviewed for in the Washington Post discussing the same topic.

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the DC Metro area with no sales calls from an agent, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot.

Joey Remondino is a full time Realtor and Broker Specializing in residential homes in Northern Virginia including Prince William, Fairfax, and Fauquier Counties. Trained and experienced expert in Relocation, Short Sales, REO’s, foreclosures, investments, and any other residential real estate. Joey can guide you through the home buying or selling process.

Please Do Not Give Up: Short Sales Do Close!

2008-08-17T09:39:00.005-04:00

Those of you who have read My Blogin the past are aware that I have been away for 5 months. This is forever in the fast moving no stop world of blogging, but it was required for the benefit of my clients. In this time I have been very busy selling and buying real estate in Northern Va for my clients who are first time home owners, investors, home sellers, and yes selling foreclosures for the banks I work with. The most time consuming client I work with these days are my short sale clients.

I have continued this past spring and summer working with owners who have found themselves upside down in their home. This is a very upsetting for those owners who have to sell their homes due to job loss, divorce, transfer, medical challenges, or many other reasons. I have been working with these clients in Prince William County and the buyers who want to purchase a short sale. The process of getting these sales approved has not become any easier and even with some lenders like Countrywide and Citi Mortgage it has even become more difficult. I have written posts in the past about What is a Short Sale and What Price to Offer on a Short Sale and in all of them I have stressed patience.

The most important aspect of short sales for buyers, sellers, and agents alike has been and will continue to be patience. Lenders, investors, loan servicing centers and banks are slow to respond, loose paperwork, disconnect calls, and plain just do not care for the plight of the individual home owner. This puts the burden of responsibility on the home owner and Agent to be tenacious and constantly call the bank for daily updates on progress of the approval. Sellers need to make sure they hire a local short sale expert who will work hard to get the home under contract and the deal approved by the note holder. The seller also needs to be involved with the process by calling and sending requested paperwork, multiple times.

The home owner who wants to attempt a short sale also has to have a legitimate reason to have to sell their home. These reasons I mentioned earlier including divorce, income loss, rate adjustment, medical bills, transfer, or just can't afford the payment. The agents who are putting short sales on the market just because the owner does not want to be upside down are hurting the rest of the market. These short sales will not get approved and will waste the time of buyers, their agents and is leaving a bad taste for short sales.

I have closed every short sale I have put on the market up to the writing of this article. (I hope I didn't just jinx myself) Each of them had a legitimate reason to sell and the owners were involved in the long process of getting them approved. I have only had one that was relatively simple and that loan was serviced by Aurora Loan Servicing but the rest were very challenging and time consuming. The longest approval process has taken me 150 days to get the property approved and settled and took a great deal of patience and hard work the owner and my part. This deal just closed last month and if you want to see his recommendation letter just click here.
Short Sales do close and will continue to close as long as the listing agent is tenacious and all parties are patient.

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the DC Metro area with no sales calls from an agent, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot.

Joey Remondino is a full time Realtor and Broker Specializing in residential homes in Northern Virginia including Prince William, Fairfax, and Fauquier Counties. Trained and experienced expert in Relocation, Short Sales, REO's, foreclosures, investments, and any other residential real estate. Joey can guide you through the home buying or selling process.

Recommendation From a Client.

2008-08-15T12:21:00.002-04:00

Here is a recommendation from a recent client, I hope I can live up to it.

This letter is to recommend Joey Remondino as the realtor of choice.
I came to Joey after a web search for realtors who perform short sales. I placed calls to several realtors, leaving voice messages for each. Joey responded immediately and we engaged in a lengthy conversation during that initial phone call. I was impressed with his detailed knowledge and professional manner from the start. I also contacted three references, all of whom gave Joey high praise. Joey is personable and he knows his business. He is a consummate professional who understands the market and is aware of current trends and factors that could affect the sale. I interviewed several realtors in my home. Joey was the most well prepared of them all. He was early, impeccably dressed, and had prepared a detailed market analysis and strategy of his approach to sell my home. I had a list of prepared questions and he answered them all. He arranged his schedule to fit my needs, not only for the initial interview, but during our entire relationship. He and I were a team, working together for a common goal. He is excellent with communication, always returning messages in a timely manner and keeping me informed of the absolute latest developments, something that is critical in conducting a short sale. In short sales, there can be many tripping points that can derail the process, and Joey stayed on top of things during some challenging periods.
After a review of his plan and my decision to go forward with Joey, we placed my home on the market in February 2008. After receiving an immediate offer, Joey went into high-gear. Due to the sheer volume of short sale requests, lenders are overwhelmed with paperwork and cases to process. There are frequent missed phone calls and incomplete faxes, with the consequences being delays in processing and approving the short sale as the foreclosure deadline approaches. Joey is keenly aware of this and is a tenacious agent for his clients. He spent countless hours on the phone staying on top of the lender and negotiating deadlines and agreements with the lender and buyer. It is no exaggeration to say that Joey was the glue that held together the delicate short sale that led to my successful outcome. I cannot state in strong enough terms my complete satisfaction with his handling of my sale, and I offer my highest possible recommendation for Joey Remondino for any real estate needs you may have.
Please feel free to contact me at any time – it would be a pleasure to answer any further questions you may have.

Sincerely,
Jed C. Kane

To search the MLS for a home please click, Search The MLS.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood in the DC Metro area with no sales calls from an agent, sign up here MLS Market Snapshot.

Joey Remondino is a full time Realtor and Broker Specializing in residential homes in Northern Virginia including Prince William, Fairfax, and Fauquier Counties. Trained and experienced expert in Relocation, Short Sales, REO’s, foreclosures, investments, and any other residential real estate. Joey can guide you through the home buying or selling process.

The Mayfield Trace Community in Manassas Va.

2008-03-26T11:57:00.012-04:00

The Mayfield Trace community is located in Prince William County near Manassas Virginia just off of Prince William Parkway/ Route 234 Bypass. Pulte Homes began construction of the first single family homes in 2005 and is currently offering new home construction starting near $369,000. The community will consist of over 200 homes when completed including a tot lot and walking trails winding through the neighborhood.

Mayfield Trace is conveniently located near all the necessities required for a fast paced life and for those times needed to just slow down. With the commuter in mind the community is close to the VRE commuter train for a stress free and traffic free commute to Washington DC or other places in Northern VA. Those who decide to brave the traffic the PW Parkway/ 234 Bypass allow easy access to Interstate 66 and 95.

Manassas City is just a few minutes away with dinning, entertainment, shopping and all the other necessary business to live a modern life. Old Town Manassas is a perfect place to dine and enjoy a stroll among the shops or take in an event at the Harris Pavilion. There are activities to fit anyone’s lifestyle including the Old Dominion Speedway and Prince William fair grounds to just name a few. The outdoors activities close by include golf courses, Prince William Forest National Park, and Signal Hill Park all just a few minutes away.

Public Schools for Mayfield Trace

(Schools territory subject to change by the school board)

Bennett Elementary School

Parkside Middle School

Stonewall Jackson High School

For a list of Private Schools in the area please contact Me at 703-586-7226 or Joey@CallJoey.com

The homes in the community can satisfy the pickiest home buyer with diverse floor plans and affordable prices. The standard home style is Colonial with open floor plans from about 1,900 to over 4,000 Sq ft of finished space and all have basements that may or may not be finished. The standard lot size for most of the homes is ¼ acre with a few approaching ½ acre, just enough for some elbow space and not too much maintenance.

Pulte Homes can build a new home for you from any of their six floor plans or you can find a few resale’s on the market. Which ever a buyer is looking for they should have REALTOR represent them through the transaction since Virginia is a buyer beware state. Those buyers looking for a new construction home should know that prices are negotiable and can find some tips in this article, Negotiating With New Home Builders. The home buyers for existing homes can find good deals in the Mayfield Trace neighborhood witch include REO’s/ foreclosed homes and short sales. Those looking to buy or sell in Mayfield Trace can contact me for a free consultation.

For a New Home Search on the MLS Please Click Here.

For a free market report on listings and sales in any neighborhood and with no sales calls from an agent sign up here at MLS Market Snapshot.

Joey Remondino is a full time Realtor specializing in residential homes in Northern Virginia including Prince William, Fairfax, and Fauquier Counties. Trained and experienced expert in Relocation, Short Sales, REO's, investments, and any other residential real estate Joey can guide you through the home buying or selling process.

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