Northern Virginia and Washington, DC, Real Estate
All real estate is local, and given that it's one of the most expensive (not to mention highly leveraged) investments people will ever make, it's more important than ever to stay on top of the LOCAL market. And this particular local market is a tricky one--some neighborhoods are up, most are down, and, as always, whether this is a good time to buy depends on an individual's needs, wants, and finances. This lens focuses on local information, market reports, and my own thoughts on the market. Feel free to contact me to discuss your specific real estate needs.
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Northern Virginia and Washington, DC, Real Estate Blog
Katie's Thoughts on the DC Real Estate Market
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byFirst Time Home Buyers
I'm currently scheduling the more free "First Time Home Buyer" classes. These classes provide an overview of the past market, a look forward, and a discussion of the home buying process. Contact me directly for dates and to register, or check out http://katiewethman.blogspot.com for details.
How to Get Started Buying a Home
A Handy Checklist for First Time Buyers
- Meet with an agent to discuss the process, get recommendations, and determine whether buying makes sense for you. Buying is not always the answer!
- Get your financing in order: Check your credit for free at http://www.annualcreditreport.com, meet with a lender to determine a price range you're comfortable with (NOT the same as figuring out how much you're approved for!) Don't forget to include closing costs and other expenses like condo fees in your budgeting.
- Discuss the price-location-condition tradeoffs with your agent. Define and prioritize your "must have" criteria.
- Visit open houses, preview listings with your agent, and drive through neighborhoods to get a feel for the local market. Search online and set up alerts. I find it takes most of my clients 2-3 months to find a home that meets their needs in their price range.
- When you find a home, discuss negotiation strategy and craft an offer.
- Once the parties agree to the contract terms, conduct inspections and remove contingencies. This typically takes about 30 days.
- Attend settlement ("closing") and move in to your new home!
My Favorite Real Estate Links
- Katie's Web Page
- My real estate web page, filled with market information, helpful links, and tips and tricks for home buyers and sellers.
- Market Reports
- MRIS-provided monthly reports by county and for all of Northern Virginia.
- MLS Search
- My group's website, including a link to a free MLS search tool with a cool interactive map feature.
- What Agents Can't Tell You
- An informative article on what real estate agents are prohibited by law from telling you!
- Home Remodeling Investments
- Best bang-for-your-buck on remodeling your home
- Home Remodeling
- Another great place to check out recouping home remodeling costs
- Tax Info for First Time Homebuyers
- IRS Guidance for home-purchase-related tax deductions
- First Time Buyer Assistance Programs
- A brief discussion HPAP and other first time buyer programs, including a link to a comprehensive list of resources.
- Rent vs Buy Calculator
- My favorite rent versus buy calculator
- Southeast Waterfront Redevelopment
- A local resident's updates on redevelopment around the "Ballpark and Beyond"
Northern Virginia and Washington, DC, Area Resources
- Metro
- Washington Area Metro System
- Traffic
- Live Northern Virginia and DC Traffic Reports
- Schools
- Reports on local schools
- Demographics by zip code
- Allows you to compare up to 20 zip codes with cool graphic displays
- Alexandria City Website
- Alexandria City, VA
- Fairfax County Website
- Fairfax County, VA - includes parts of Falls Church, parts of Alexandria, McLean, Great Falls, Vienna, Oakton, Burke, Annandale, Fairfax, Herndon, Reston, Centreville, Dunn Loring, Merrifield, Springfield, Tysons Corner, and more.
- DC Neighborhoods
- Find links to individual DC neighborhoods on my website here. Includes Adams Morgan, Capitol Hill, Chevy Chase, Columbia Heights, Dupont/Kalorama, Foggy Bottom, Georgetown, Logan Circle, Mount Pleasant, 16th Street Corridor, Southwest, Takoma Park, U Street/Shaw, Woodley Park
- Metro Map/Google Map
- Metro system map combined with google maps
Confused? Need more info?
Let's have coffee and just talk about where the market is going (I LOVE doing that!) - Shoot me an email!
About Me
I'm a licensed REALTOR in VA, DC, and MD, affiliated with Long & Foster, REALTORS.6849 Old Dominion Drive
Suite 200
Mclean, VA 22101
(703) 903-8651
katie@katiewethman.com
Client Feedback
"I would give Katie the very highest recommendation...She skillfully anticipated where we would need help and information, providing both detailed written materials and live coaching, and she answered every one of our questions thoroughly and helpfully...Thanks, Katie!"
Top 10 Places to Visit Outdoors in DC
If you've visited any of these places, please rate it.
National Zoo| FONZ website - National Zoo| FONZ
Home of the National Zoo| FONZ website. Brought to more...2 points
US National Arboretum :.
The US National Arboretum is a beautiful park on t more...1 point
National Mall & Memorial Parks - National Mall & Memorial Parks ...
Officially established in 1965, National Mall & more...1 point
Rock Creek Park - Rock Creek Park (U.S. National Park Service)
This park is where locals have their picnics and f more...1 point
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial Home Page
FDR Memorial is my favorite memorial in DC. Learn more...1 point
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