Expert Advice on Real Estate

  • 7 Questions All Home Buyers Should Ask a Realtor

    Below is a GREAT email we got from a prospective buyer considering using us as her Realtor. Below is her email with our responses - every buyer should be asking these questions! Are you a full-time professional Realtor? How long have you [...]

  • How Do You Exactly Help Home Buyers with Technology

    Our firm leverages technology in a number of different ways to help our clients.One example is our free GPS loaner which allows you to take your time in your home search, and search at your speed instead of ours. Using the GPS loaner is [...]

  • What Happens If I Ratify the Contract

    Once you ratify a contract, we will work with you to make sure the inspections get done and all contingencies are released. The main job you as a buyer have is to get your loan paperwork done (i.e., send in your paystubs, pick your loan [...]

  • Can I Buy a Foreclosure / Short-sale / REO Home?

    The foreclosure market is starting to heat up in a big way, and more foreclosures are on the way. Being a smart foreclosure shopper, or at least including foreclosures in your search, is a smart move, but you must approach these homes [...]

  • What Happens at Closing/Settlement?

    Closing (also referred to as "settlement") is a mysterious thing for most buyers & sellers, especially if they've never been through the process before. Here's a little primer: The settlement company is an independent 3rd party that [...]

  • What Exactly is a "Good Faith Estimate"? (Also called a GFE)

    A Good Faith Estimate, or GFE, as it's known by it's Realtor lingo, is an estimate from the lender on what your total payment will be when you buy the house. There are some very important things to know about this GFE: 1) The main thing to [...]

  • Fair Housing: What are the "Protected Classes" in Our Area, and What Does that Mean?

    Here's a handy pamphlet that shows the fair housing protected classes, both on the federal level and in the different Virginia jurisdictions. If you feel a Realtor has discriminated against you, please contact the fair housing number listed [...]

  • What Do 80/15/5 and 80/10/10 and All Those Other Numbers Mean?

    These numbers are referring to the way loans are structured in a purchase.For example, imagine a $100,000 purchase price for ease of numbers.With an 80/15/5, the buyer would be: Getting an 80% first trust loan (this is his primary loan), or [...]

  • Residential Financing Handbook

    Here's a handy "Residential Financing Handbook" . It covers topics like: Conventional loans Jumbo loans FHA Loan programs VA Loan programs First time buyer loan programs Other loan programs And other topics. This handbook [...]

  • What Does "Conforming" and "Jumbo" Mean When it Comes To Loan Amounts?

    Conforming loan amounts are loan amounts under $417,000 (as of 2007). This number is set by Fannie Mae at the end of each year. (The limit back in 1980 when this standard was set by the US Government was $93,750). If a lender wants to be able [...]



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