First steps in buying a home
One of the first steps to purchasing a new home is to get pre-approved for a loan for a purchase price with which you are comfortable. This is the simple part of the equation, virtually a no-brainer in this Seller's market. How do you shop…
We’re Number 90!
According to Money Magazine, we are the number 90 place to live in the nation. I think that we used to be at least in Money's top 10 a couple of years ago, but I could be wrong. Number 90 doesn't have the same ring…
Eminent Domain editorial
In 1954 the Supreme Court declared in Brown v. Board of Education that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. But that same year it also ruled in Berman v. Parker that government's power of eminent domain could be used to seize property in order…
Why do I blog?
First and foremost, I enjoy it. I enjoy having an outlet (that may or may not be read by others) where I can exercise my thoughts and my writing skills, skills that need constant attention. I have a certain passion for writing, reading, politics and…
Eminent Domain
It takes a powerful political issue to pull Reps. Tom DeLay and Maxine Waters onto the same side. In ruling that governments may force homeowners to sell their property for private development, the Supreme Court has created one. From the Realestatejournal. This is good news;…
New listing
I put my new listing on the market today. It really is a great house in a convenient location. It feels like it is out in the country, but it is actually no more than 15 minutes to either the Hollymead Town Center or Pantops…
Why should you get Title Insurance? … and what is it, anyway?
Basically, title insurance provides protection against any problems that may arise out of the property. A title search should turn up any liens attached to the property, from, say, unpaid construction costs, owed taxes or even outstanding parking tickets. There may be unknown missing heirs…
Aargh.
Where are the most secure places to live in America? According to the Farmers Insurance Group, our area is among the top twenty in the country. Wether it's number one, two, or three on a list for something significant, you're sure to see the city…
Pre-approved?
Outstanding article at WashingtonPost.com concerning pre-approvals not being "worth ink they're printed with." This is an all-too common practice right now with the aggressive lending environment in which we are working. More than half of the participants in a nationally representative statistical sample of realty…