How to Sell a House in 21 Days
I started to write this post in early November, soon after my clients and I ratified the contract on their house and right about when the story was published on the Newsplex. I almost didn't do the Newsplex story.* (see the end of this post…
When Do Homes Come on the Market in Charlottesville? March and April
Original Story from January 2011. I wrote this story in January of this year, but think it's as relevant now as it was then for those who are wondering, "when should I start thinking about putting my house on the market" or "when should I…
Thinking about Buying or Selling in the Spring?
If you're thinking about buying a home or selling a home in the Charlottesville area in the spring, these are three stories of interest: 1 - When do homes come on the market in Charlottesville? Short answer: Spring. Longer answer: look at the data. 2…
FHA and Condos in Charlottesville – Are they Eligible?
Guest post from Matt Hodges with Presidential Mortgage*: Condominiums are a challenge to finance through FHA. Condominiums had a brief period when lenders overlooked eligibility and approved every loan, as long as the borrower was qualified – that period ended some four years ago. Today,…
Should Sellers be More Patient?
The Wall Street Journal asks: Should people really be cutting their prices to sell their houses? Answer: Yes. Price matters. "… Your home may truly be worth more than what that distressed home down the street is, but that distressed home is essentially killing the…
5 Things to Do NOW If You’re Putting your House on the Market in the Spring
1 - Take pictures now. 2 - Start conserving energy and water. "How much does it cost to operate this home"? is one of the most common questions buyers are asking now. 3 - Do those things now that you've been meaning to do since…
Waiting (to Sell your Home) Is the Hardest Part
I think of this song whenever I talk to sellers who are frustrated by their homes not selling. Put simply: Sometimes the buyer for your house is not in the market right now. As a seller, you and your real estate agent: - could be…
If you Want to Sell your House (In Charlottesville) – Do it Now
You may be well advised to try to sell it now. The surge is coming. In addition to the above, these are five excellent reasons to sell your house now … five reasons that I have been telling my clients since well before I read…
Note from the Trenches (of a seller in Charlottesville)
If memory serves … I was marketing a house in Albemarle County. We received an offer which my clients accepted, but it was contingent on the sale of that buyer's house. Another offer came in, and my sellers "kicked out"* the first contract to accept…
Contingent Offers – Better than Nothing. And Maybe All You’ll Get
A simple tweet from a client sums up what sellers need to know. "A house we liked wouldn't accept contingency. We moved on, found better house, moved in today. They're still on market. Dropped price again." Sellers: If you get an offer, replace the word…