Buying a home can be tough, but it doesn't have to be. When you’re thinking about buying a home in Waldorf Maryland, you’re going to need to know what to look for! Here we’re going to go over the five things you need to know before you buy a home in Southern Maryland; knowing whether your future home sweet home will be sublime or a lemon can make the difference between a money pit and a dream home. Let’s get started!

• Ask About Utilities When Buying a Home:

  
  

Those floor length windows look fantastic, but a drafty window is a money sink that you won’t be able to escape. Ask for copies of the last six months of utility bills so you can know the hidden costs that lurk within! If there are “simple” solutions like new windows, consider talking to the seller about paying for the upgrade (in full or in part) to get the home sold faster.

• Google the Address:

Googling the address will help you find out all the little things a home owner might try to omit; burglaries, fires, or maybe a giant cell tower being built in the backyard can help you make sure that the you're buying a home that you really want.

• Know the Neighbors Before Buying a Home:

Don’t hesitate to ask the neighbors if they mind talking about the house and the neighborhood! Ask them if people watch out for each other, if there are any neighborhood snoops or cranks, and if there are any problems (who wants to deal with $50 fines for having a pink flamingo on their lawn from the home owners association?) that you need to be aware of before buying the home.

• Ask About Taxes When Buying a Home:

Asking about taxes is one of the most important things you need to ask the sellers before considering buying a home. Many people sell a house to avoid the latest tax bill, so you’ll want to see tax records for the last five years so you can see how much tax rates fluctuate and how often the property will be reappraised.

• Get a Home Inspector:

  
  

While we all hope that the seller is going to disclose any problems with the property, it’s better to be safe now than sorry later. A home inspector will help you identify any structural issues like a bad septic tank, cracked foundation, a bad roof or other things that can become hidden costs that you have to pay down the road long after buying a home. Just because a home has problems now doesn’t mean that you can’t buy it, but you will want to work with the seller to get problems fixed before you buy.

Never let your hopes lead you into buying the wrong home; with mortgage rates at the best percentages in decades, you can get both a great deal and a great home.

Charles County, Maryland home owners may finally have some good news!

Good News #1 - Active Listing Volume Has Fallen

There are less homes for sale in Charles County. A lot less. 12 months ago we had 991 homes on the market. Today that number is only 731, the lowest it's been in 5 years! Less homes for sake means less choices for buyers, but a better opportunity for sellers to be able to actually sell their home. If the inventory in Charles County, Maryland falls to around 600 homes active on the market we should start to see sales prices start to climb again!

Good News #2 - Pending Contracts Are Up

The number of properties currently under contract has gone up, to a total of 169 homes in Charles County. That's an increase of 6.3% in pending home sales from a year ago! The best part about this news is that it happened without a huge government incentive program to entice people to buy a home. Buyers in Charles County are finally starting to see the value in home ownership again, and super-low interest rates have certainly helped get people off the fence.

Good News #3 - Average Days on Market (DOM) is Falling

Average days on market (DOM) is the measurement of how many days, on average, a home is on the market before it goes under contract. In a "normal" market, that time frame is usually around 90-100 days. DOM in Charles County, Maryland, has been as high as 154 days at the worst of the market crash, but we're seeing that number trend lower in recent months. It's a great indicator that the market is finally heading in the right direction!

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I am excited to share that CENTURY 21 NEW MILLENNIUM HAS ADDED REAL ESTATE BRANCHES IN WALDORF AND COLUMBIA MARYLAND to better serve YOUR Real Estate needs in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area.

I am Margaret C. CENTURY 21 NEW MILLENIUM Real Estate Agent Serving Charles, Calvert and St Mary's Counties. The WALDORF Office will make it even easier for me to be your REALTOR® in Charles County, Maryland. If YOU are interested in Buying, Selling or Investing in Southern Maryland I am ready to help YOU.

Call or Text Margaret C. at 301 481 8407

On February 1, 2012 CENTURY 21 NEW MILLENNIUM announced that it has merged in CENTURY 21 Associates' branches in WALDORF, COLUMBIA AND ANNAPOLIS, MD. CENTURY 21 NEW MILLENNIUM is a full service Real Estate Brokerage Company including: mortgage financing, title, investing, settlement, property management, property insurance, global relocation assistance, and commercial real estate.

CENTURY 21 NEW MILLENNIUM has offices located in Annapolis, Columbia, Dunkirk, La Plata, Lexington Park, Lusby and Waldorf, Maryland and Alexandria, Centreville, Culpeper, Fredericksburg, Gainesville, McLean, Stafford, and Woodbridge, Virginia. Call Margaret C. 301 481 8407 and I will help YOU get connected.

I am Margaret C. Taylor REALTOR® qualified to help YOU Buy or Sell your home or Invest in real estate. YOU need a Buyer’s Agent, or Listing Agent, to represent YOU.

ASK A QUESTION HERE RealEstate@MargaretC.com

CALL or TEXT 301 481 8407 for a FREE Consultation. Ask for MARGARET C.