Tiny Varner

OK, so I'm like 3 weeks late with this post. I've been super busy, and that's a great thing.

Over the last few weeks that I've been MIA, I've been reading a lot about how horrible 2008 was for real estate, and how 2009 isn't going to be much better. But my year is starting off great. I live in a market that has fared well through the downturn. I can't ignore all the negative articles out there about how hard it will be. But I can read each and take it with a grain of salt. And I will. And I won't let all the negativity bring me down.

That's my first resolution. Now, I don't normally make resolutions. We all know the success rate of resolutions. But this year, instead of making unattainable resolutions, I'll keep it simple.

My second resolution will be to provide even better service to my clients. When my phone rings at 10pm (if I'm not already asleep), I'll answer it with a smile. Face it, chances are I'll be asleep. I'm not exciting anymore.

My third resolution will be to get more education to be able to provide better advice to my clients.

This year it's not about how much money I can make. This year it's about exceeding my clients' expectations. And by doing so, I hope to make lots of money. Somehow, it just works out that way, and I'm okay with that.

As 2008 comes to a close, I’d like to take a look back on the year. In many aspects, it wasn’t a pretty one: the meltdown of the credit markets, the explosion of foreclosures, the list goes on. But I’m not going to dwell on the negatives. Sure, it was a tough year for a lot of people. My heart goes out to those who find themselves without a home or a job, or both.

All in all, I had a good year, and for that, I’m eternally grateful. I’d like to thank all of my clients who entrusted me with what is most likely their biggest financial investment. I hope I served you well…I certainly tried. And if I fell short in some area, let me know. I’m continually trying to improve my service and I can’t do that if I’m unaware of what I could be doing better.

I’m also thankful that I got to know some of you pretty well. It’s amazing what you talk about when you’re driving around looking at countless houses. Some of my clients have become friends, and I’m incredibly lucky in that respect.

Thank you all for making 2008 a wonderful year.

Have a safe and Happy New Year, and I’ll see you in ’09. Now pop the champagne!

The holidays are upon us, so I'm going to keep it short and sweet this week.

If you're looking for a house in the Washington, DC area, you need to visit HomesDatabase.com. This site is the public face of the local MLS. If the home is for sale and listed with a broker, you will find it here. The site is good and you can get pretty specific with your search. And when you find a house you like, you can just pass along the MLS# to your agent. It makes it nice and easy for us to find the home and get you more information regarding the listing.

On another note, if you want to make a ridiculous amount of money and are willing to take a huge risk (face it, you don't make gobs of cash without having the stomach for serious risk), consider renting out your house for the Inauguration. You'll probably be glad that you got out of Dodge and you might make up the money you've lost in the stock market. E-mail me any questions you might have about the process.

That's it for now. Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

Thinking of remodeling or upgrading before you sell but you’re not sure where to start? You’re in luck. The results are in for Remodeling Magazine’s annual Cost vs. Value report, which is produced in cooperation with Realtor® magazine. This year’s big winners are decks, kitchens & baths (big surprise), and vinyl siding.

If you add a wooden deck, you’ll recoup 81.8% of the cost when you resell, and a composite deck will get you 73.7%.

Kitchens and baths are perennial winners. The 2008 average for a minor kitchen upgrade was $21,246, with $16,881 recouped at resale, or 79.5%. Not too shabby. And ditching that pink and black tile in the bathroom will return 74.6%.

Vinyl siding replacement was another big winner in the report. The average cost in ’08 for the job was $10,256. You’ll recoup 80.7% of the cost at resale, or $8,274. And getting rid of those old, drafty windows and replacing them with low-maintenance vinyl windows will not only cut down on your heating and cooling costs, but you’ll recoup 77.2% of the cost at resale. Sweet.

Just one more thing: Before you start any of the work, check references and make sure your contractor is licensed! Thanks for stopping by, and tune in next week for more information you just can’t live without. Have a great week!

With Thanksgiving last week, I took some much-needed time off. Which means I didn’t prepare anything for this week’s blog posting. At least I’m honest. So here are a few things off the top of my head:

Mortgage rates have dropped! If you’re looking to refinance, now might be the time. Rates for 30-year fixed loans are down below 6%, which is just awesome. Same with 15-year loans. Do refinance if you have steady income, good credit, and your house is worth more than what you owe. Don’t even think about it if none of the above applies to you.

More good news: the number of homes sales is increasing in our area. In both Northern Virginia and Montgomery County, prices have dropped from October ’07 to October ’08, but the number of units sold has increased. In NoVA, sales are up almost 30%, while prices have dropped nearly 18%. In Montgomery County, sales are up just over 7% and prices are down 8.5%. Not bad, and I think it’s a sign that our market is stabilizing.

That’s it for now. I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and are working through all the leftovers in your fridge! Peace out.