It seems our fall weather is already a bit colder than last year and the heating bills have already started to go up. Many of us had hoped for a break of a month or two before winter heating bills hit our mail box but this year it appears it won't happen.
The question becomes, "Is there anything we can do to help ourselves with energy savings?" The answer is, "Yes" and in fact, a while back, I stumbled across this article that takes about two minutes to read. I've been preparing my house in much the same ways recommended by the writer. Here is the link: 17 Ways to Reduce Home Energy Costs - Money-saving tips for managing your home energy expenses.
In this time of what should be serious energy conservation, lets all do are part to save and preserve our environment as well as our personal dollars.
David L. Burrows, Realtor®
Envirian of Warrenton, Warrenton, VA
Phone: (888) 673-7866 x119
Burrows Properties
Burrows' Thoughts worth considering: "One reason to have a Home Inspection by a Professional Inspector is not only to find possible defects, but to help the new home owner to understand the need for proper maintenance on the items the Inspection brings to the purchasers attention."
Interested in Some Great Reading on selling your home? Take a look at these articles on my website: Selling Your Home: Where do you begin?
Seller Guidance: I would encourage you to employ a Realtor® to help you sell your home. When your agent or another agent is showing your house, go away and let them do your work for you. I also urge you to utilize my FREE SELLERS TOOLKIT before selling your house.
Buyer Guidance: I would encourage you to really check out anything and everything you are told by a well meaning seller. Employ the services of a Buyer's Agent to help you discern what you read and listen to about the area you are thinking of calling home. I would also urge you to get my FREE BUYERS TOOLKIT before heading out on the journey to find your new house.
Try this link to help you find your next home: Fairfax Homes For Sale When you land on the main page try one of our custom searches listed on the bottom of the page. No registration is necessary for the Fairfax MLS general search on my site. If you check the box to receive automated updates sent to your email, you will be required to give us your name and a valid email address.
Northern Virginia Information - Here you will find answers to your questions about schools, auto registration, taxes, things to do this weekend, popular destinations. It only takes a moment to look and it is free with no registration required!
Click on the following link for your Complimentary eCalendar & Daily Planner. This is a Free Gift from David. There is absolutely NO sign-up, registration, tricks, or gimmicks. It really is free for you to enjoy! This is a great tool for keeping track of your schedule for all of your Real Estate needs. There is NO obligation.
This blog may contain links to other Web sites operated by third parties. These links are provided as a convenience to access the information contained therein. David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton have not reviewed all of the information on other sites and disclaim any responsibility for the content of any other sites or the products or services that may be offered on or through those sites. Inclusion of a link to another site does not indicate any endorsement or approval of the site or its content.
David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton disclaim liability for any damages or losses, direct or indirect, that may result from use of or reliance on information contained in this blog.
There are many reasons why some homes listed "For Sale" remain on the market longer than others. Sometimes it can be a busy road and that often means noise that penetrates thru doors and walls. Other times it can be property that is too close to industrial businesses; perhaps the builder has had a poor reputation; maybe it's the zoning or there have been issues with the house that are quite well publicized. Other times it can be the house was totally beat up by the previous owners before it went back to the bank and on the market. These reasons and others can extend the amount of time it takes to sell a house.
Here is what I have always told my buyers when they think they have found the right house that has been on the market for an extended period of time!
"This may really be the house for you. Be aware, the same reason or reasons this house has been on the market for six months, a year, however long it has been listed, is in all probability the same reason or reasons when you go to sell (if you buy this house) it will be on the market for an extended amount of time all over again".
What I penned above is almost always true. The one exception from above might be a beat up house can often be restored with some effort and won't be obviously scarred to prospective buyers.
Does this mean you shouldn't buy the house? No, but it does mean, "Buyer Beware". Know that your love for this house, your purchasing it, pampering it and caring for it will probably not speed up the process of selling it all over again when you are ready to move. The same reasons that kept it on the market before will probably keep it on the market for an extended period of time all over again.
David L. Burrows, Realtor®
Envirian of Warrenton, Warrenton, VA 20186
Phone: (888) 673-7866 x119
Burrows Properties
Credit Tip: Always secure your Mortgage Pre-Approval before going out house shopping. Talk with your Loan Officer to determine if he/she believes you should lock in the rate.
Seller Guidance: I would encourage you to employ a Realtor to help you sell your home. When your agent or another agent is showing your house, go away and let them do your work for you. I also urge you to utilize my FREE SELLERS TOOLKIT before selling your house.
Buyer Guidance: I would encourage you to really check out anything and everything you are told by a well meaning seller. Employ the services of a Buyer's Agent to help you discern what you read and listen to about the area you are thinking of calling home. I would also urge you to get my FREE BUYERS TOOLKIT before heading out on the journey to find your new house.
Try this link to help you find your next home: Fairfax Homes For Sale When you land on the main page try one of our custom searches listed on the bottom of the page. No registration is necessary for the Fairfax MLS general search on my site. If you check the box to receive automated updates sent to your email, you will be required to give us your name and a valid email address.
Northern Virginia Information - Here you will find answers to your questions about schools, auto registration, taxes, things to do this weekend, popular destinations. It only takes a moment to look and it is free with no registration required!
This blog may contain links to other Web sites operated by third parties. These links are provided as a convenience to access the information contained therein. David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton have not reviewed all of the information on other sites and disclaim any responsibility for the content of any other sites or the products or services that may be offered on or through those sites. Inclusion of a link to another site does not indicate any endorsement or approval of the site or its content.
David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton disclaim liability for any damages or losses, direct or indirect, that may result from use of or reliance on information contained in this blog.
Thru the years, I've watched as some people have taken dramatic steps to repair their credit and do so quickly. Other times, I've observed others where the time to repair their credit took longer, but nonetheless they stayed with the task before them and made it happen. Still and unfortunately so, I've watched some people just never get it together financially and years later, after making what they thought was a commitment to get their credit in order, they failed, and at best are still trying to do so.
Here is the good news: The majority of credit problems can be fixed! It involves a couple of steps that you need to follow. First, you have to make a commitment to do the necessary work to repair your credit. My one word definition of commitment is inconvenience! Remember, there is a price to pay in doing anything worthwhile in life and that includes fixing your money problems. It isn't simply, "Am I committed at this moment to make a change financially, but will I be committed two months or three months from now and until the task is completed?" Making a genuine commitment means you will finish the work that is required to do so.
Second, you should seek some advice from a credit counselor, someone in the know about credit repair. Be careful here because there are many running around these days claiming they can repair your credit. Be aware, you will take the essential steps to repair your credit while the counselor will simply guide you in the overall process. This is not a free ride. There is work and much effort that must be given to the project. The reward for finishing it though is huge!
Imagine, you can make a decision today to repair your credit and in perhaps as little as a few weeks or months you can be in your brand new home.
Here is an article that I have found that provides great, additional reading on the subject: Bad Credit Score? Here's How To Fix It
David L. Burrows, Realtor®
Envirian of Warrenton, Warrenton, VA 20186
Phone: (888) 673-7866 x119
Burrows Properties
Credit Tip: Always secure your Mortgage Pre-Approval before going out house shopping. Talk with your Loan Officer to determine if he/she believes you should lock in the rate.
Seller Guidance: I would encourage you to employ a Realtor to help you sell your home. When your agent or another agent is showing your house, go away and let them do your work for you. I also urge you to utilize my FREE SELLERS TOOLKIT before selling your house.
Buyer Guidance: I would encourage you to really check out anything and everything you are told by a well meaning seller. Employ the services of a Buyer's Agent to help you discern what you read and listen to about the area you are thinking of calling home. I would also urge you to get my FREE BUYERS TOOLKIT before heading out on the journey to find your new house.
Try this link to help you find your next home: Fairfax Homes For Sale When you land on the main page try one of our custom searches listed on the bottom of the page. No registration is necessary for the Fairfax MLS general search on my site. If you check the box to receive automated updates sent to your email, you will be required to give us your name and a valid email address.
Northern Virginia Information - Here you will find answers to your questions about schools, auto registration, taxes, things to do this weekend, popular destinations. It only takes a moment to look and it is free with no registration required!
This blog may contain links to other Web sites operated by third parties. These links are provided as a convenience to access the information contained therein. David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton have not reviewed all of the information on other sites and disclaim any responsibility for the content of any other sites or the products or services that may be offered on or through those sites. Inclusion of a link to another site does not indicate any endorsement or approval of the site or its content.
David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton disclaim liability for any damages or losses, direct or indirect, that may result from use of or reliance on information contained in this blog.
Some time back, a lady sent me an email after reading one of my previous blogs and told me the following story. A couple had recently purchased a home from a builder who constructs a handful of houses every year in another state. By her own admission both she and her husband had failed to do their homework and hadn't checked the reputation of the builder. They didn't know anything about his background, such as, have there been any complaints filed against him? They hadn't asked for or checked any references and in fact, hadn't toured any of the houses he had constructed in the area except for the one they fell in love with and would finally purchase.
Here is what the writer shared with me and by the way gave me permission to share anonymously: Just before both she and her husband closed on the property, they asked to meet with the builder at the new house one more time. When they arrived they had a few questions which the builder seemed willing to answer without any hesitation. The final question they inquired about was: "Would you show us our property lines on all four sides of the house once again, but this time mark them off? We know we want to install a fence so property boundaries are important to us." The builder, one more time, paced off one side of the house (around 40 feet) and tied a strip of cloth to a tree there. He walked off the other sides and marked the land in a similar fashion.
This couple closed on the house, moved in and everything seemed fine until a few months later when they applied for a permit to install the fence. They were shocked to find, according to the city, they had 15 feet of land on the one side of their house (not around 40) and the land wouldn't be available for purchase because the city owns it! Can you imagine if you thought you had 40 feet and instead had 15?
Thru the years I have learned there can be unexpected surprises when purchasing Real Estate. One thing that often happens is prospective buyer's have the potential to get so taken up with a house and property, they so much fall in love with it, that they often fail to see any serious issues associated with the property until later, after the fact when sometimes it is even too late. I urge everyone reading this to understand you need a Realtor. Don't go it alone when purchasing a house or land. Employ the services of someone who regularly does the work of Real Estate.
One More Thing:
Burrows Properties, is packed full of information to assist buyers and sellers with their Real Estate needs. You do not have to choose me to work with you to use the website. Everything on the site is free and you will have NO obligation whatsoever in using any of the material for your personal benefit.
David L. Burrows, Realtor®
Envirian of Warrenton, Warrenton, VA 20186
Phone: (888) 673-7866 x119
Burrows Properties
Credit Tip: Always secure your Mortgage Pre-Approval before going out house shopping. Talk with your Loan Officer to determine if he/she believes you should lock in the rate.
Seller Guidance: I would encourage you to employ a Realtor to help you sell your home. When your agent or another agent is showing your house, go away and let them do your work for you. I also urge you to utilize my FREE SELLERS TOOLKIT before selling your house.
Buyer Guidance: I would encourage you to really check out anything and everything you are told by a well meaning seller. Employ the services of a Buyer's Agent to help you discern what you read and listen to about the area you are thinking of calling home. I would also urge you to get my FREE BUYERS TOOLKIT before heading out on the journey to find your new house.
Try this link to help you find your next home: Fairfax Homes For Sale When you land on the main page try one of our custom searches listed on the bottom of the page. No registration is necessary for the Fairfax MLS general search on my site. If you check the box to receive automated updates sent to your email, you will be required to give us your name and a valid email address.
Northern Virginia Information - Here you will find answers to your questions about schools, auto registration, taxes, things to do this weekend, popular destinations. It only takes a moment to look and it is free with no registration required!
This blog may contain links to other Web sites operated by third parties. These links are provided as a convenience to access the information contained therein. David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton have not reviewed all of the information on other sites and disclaim any responsibility for the content of any other sites or the products or services that may be offered on or through those sites. Inclusion of a link to another site does not indicate any endorsement or approval of the site or its content.
David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton disclaim liability for any damages or losses, direct or indirect, that may result from use of or reliance on information contained in this blog.
While managing a Real Estate office I watched one of our agents work with some clients who wanted to buy a house and had gotten their pre-approval for a loan. The realtor's assumption was this couple, with that approval, were actually ready to make the purchase. His clients continued to look for a house but unfortunately were taking longer than what the agent thought they would take. The clients were first time home buyers, purchasing an entry level house, which was really all that they could afford and in fact, barely qualified for the mortgage. Here is the kicker and something to always remember.
This couple failed to get locked in on an interest rate. Interest rates went up which resulted in a higher monthly payment. They no longer qualified for a house in the price range they had really planned to buy because the additional interest would put them over the top of their pre-approved dollar figure. They were forced to look for something less than what they wanted. In their case they were nearly priced right out of the housing market.
It is a simple truth to remember: Every time interest rates go up, some people that would have been able to purchase a home will no longer be qualified, while others will learn they will qualify for less of a house than what they had anticipated before hand and actually believed they could afford. Why? The answer is simple: Perhaps someone is approved for a payment of $2,000 per month. Interest rates rise resulting in a payment of $2195 per month for the same amount of the loan planned on by the borrower just days or weeks before. If the individual buying the house was only eligible for a payment of $2,000, then they will now have to look for something that costs less because the total amount of money they can secure for $2,000 per month just went down.
I would never suggest to anyone that this is the time for you to buy because only you, as a prospective buyer, can determine the best time. On the other hand, interest rates are still quite low, we are still in a buyers market and the present inventory, at this writing, is giving us a wonderful selection of homes to choose from.
David L. Burrows, Realtor®
Envirian of Warrenton, Warrenton, VA 20186
Phone: (888) 673-7866 x119
Burrows Properties
Credit Tip: Always secure your Mortgage Pre-Approval before going out house shopping. Talk with your Loan Officer to determine if he/she believes you should lock in the rate.
Seller Guidance: I would encourage you to employ a Realtor to help you sell your home. When your agent or another agent is showing your house, go away and let them do your work for you. I also urge you to utilize my FREE SELLERS TOOLKIT before selling your house.
Buyer Guidance: I would encourage you to really check out anything and everything you are told by a well meaning seller. Employ the services of a Buyer's Agent to help you discern what you read and listen to about the area you are thinking of calling home. I would also urge you to get my FREE BUYERS TOOLKIT before heading out on the journey to find your new house.
Try this link to help you find your next home: Fairfax Homes For Sale When you land on the main page try one of our custom searches listed on the bottom of the page. No registration is necessary for the Fairfax MLS general search on my site. If you check the box to receive automated updates sent to your email, you will be required to give us your name and a valid email address.
Northern Virginia Information - Here you will find answers to your questions about schools, auto registration, taxes, things to do this weekend, popular destinations. It only takes a moment to look and it is free with no registration required!
This blog may contain links to other Web sites operated by third parties. These links are provided as a convenience to access the information contained therein. David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton have not reviewed all of the information on other sites and disclaim any responsibility for the content of any other sites or the products or services that may be offered on or through those sites. Inclusion of a link to another site does not indicate any endorsement or approval of the site or its content.
David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton disclaim liability for any damages or losses, direct or indirect, that may result from use of or reliance on information contained in this blog.
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
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