If you’re a homebuyer, what kind of questions should you be asking your lender? Not all lenders are created equal, so asking certain questions will prevent you from running into challenges during and after the home-buying process. First of all, you need to ask what you’ll pay regarding any points or fees. To find out what else you should ask your lender, watch my latest video.

By now, most of you will have heard various experts talk about how we’re either headed for or are already in a real estate bubble. However, the reality of the situation is more complicated than that. The overall market jumped from it’s low in 2009 to a much better position in 2013, and then it jumped again by a small amount between 2013 and today. What does that mean for the future? It’s hard to be sure. To hear more about the alleged real estate bubble we’re in, watch my latest video.

If you’re getting your home ready for the market, there are five upgrades you need to avoid making if you want to sell it for top dollar. For example, don’t make any home office improvements. If you need a home office, that’s fine, but we find that it’s better to market a home with an extra bedroom than one that has a home office. To find out what other upgrades you need to avoid when preparing your home for the market, watch my latest video.

Today I’m going to answer a question one of my clients recently asked me: “What should I actually ask my real estate agent?” This can depend on whether you’re a buyer or a seller, but there are two things you should ask an agent about no matter what: their experience level and how they plan on communicating with you. Your goal should be to look for a connection. To find out what else you can ask an agent before hiring them in order to make sure they’re the right fit, watch my latest video.

Over winter, the market was pretty slow-paced. However, now that the sun is back and spring is here, things are picking up. Inventory is still low; we’re sitting at about two month’s worth. This plants us firmly in a seller’s market, and prices are high. However, that is mitigated by the fact that interest rates are still very low at the moment, so buyers and sellers both have opportunities in this market. For more details, watch my latest video.

Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or you just haven’t done a real estate transaction in a few years, there are certain terms you need to know in order to navigate the home buying or selling process. Today, I have a short list of key terms for you to know so you can be an educated person in the real estate market. To see the list of important terms, watch my latest video

When buying a home, there are certain considerations you need to make that I want to share with you today. The first is the feel of the home’s surrounding neighborhood. Take a drive or a walk through that neighborhood after it gets dark and see how it feels. Outside of the emotional appeal of your home, there are other outside intangibles that are very important. To find out what else you should consider when buying a home, watch my latest video.

What are the advantages of staging your home for sale? When you list your home, you need it to be emotionally appealing to buyers. By staging your home, you can create this emotional appeal by allowing buyers to see the home as their own. To learn more about the advantages of staging, watch my latest video.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has officially been signed into law. How will the new tax reform impact the real estate market? There are a few things in the final bill that are good for real estate, and a couple that aren’t as good. The National Association of Realtors predicts that the market could dip as much as 10%, but the jury is still out. To learn more, watch this short video.

The holidays are a great time to reflect on the things we’re thankful for. Here on the Greetings Virginia team, we’re thankful for all of you. Your ongoing support and business have allowed us to have a very successful 2017. We hope the year has been just as prosperous for you. To hear our full message, watch this short video.