Zillow offers HOME VALUE REPORT to show Changes (Increase of Decline)

How Does Your City Rate? Zillow’s latest Home Value Report shows that over the past year, U.S. single-family home values have decreased by 5.5%, while condo values have declined by 7.4%. VALUE CHANGES  ASHBURN 20148

Realtor.com shows online marketing surpasses all other media when it comes to marketing your home for sale.

Just the facts… Realtor.com has been funding some really big research projects and has released that for the year 2008, people seeking information about the local housing market are 500% more likely to sell a home if it has been advertised on the Internet (rather than simply relying on the newspaper).  To those of us living in the Dulles Technology Corridor, this comes as no surprise; but for many people and agents in the housing markets nationwide, they are scratching their heads wondering why properties not aggressively marketed by Internet are not selling at as fast a rate…

With the release of these new stats that show the dramatic rise in popularity of the Internets, these same folks can look back with 20/20 vision in hindsight and say, “Who knew?”. To that I would just laugh and answer, “Anybody under 40 or anyone living in Loudoun County–that’s who.”

Cheers, everyone. May all your internet footprints be left in the soft sand of the virtual beach standing on the edge of the real estate marketing ocean. Thanks for the statistical support Realtor.com–those of us out here who love the net and all the positive life changes the web has the power to bring us are really grateful to you.   

Ashburn makes Sperling’s “Best Places to Live” List

Real Estate

Virginia

Ashburn

ZIP: 20147

Nearest metro area: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
Population: 56,223

Median home price: $625,000
Median household income: $96,588
Unemployment rate: 2%
Commute time: 33.6 minutes
Violent crime index: 2

2007 Comprehensive Real Estate Market Stats

from Coldwell Banker Market Watch… The Real Story of 2007 Real Estate Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage February 1, 2008 – When deciding on how the real estate market is doing, we must first identify to which market we are referring – the residential resale market, new residential construction market, or the various types of commercial real estate. We must also look at what geographical location to consider since some areas are doing better than others. (Refer to the county graphs to see last month’s activity.) When assessing the residential resale market where most of us spend our time, there are two issues to consider — 1) number of actual sales and 2) home prices. With 2007 concluded, many who are reporting on the final figures are passing judgment on whether the year was good or bad. If you look at the second issue of home prices, the growing oversupply of inventory in most areas has pushed prices downward. For buyers who purchased two to three years ago who must sell today, that is not good news. For buyers who are looking to purchase today, it is great news to have many choices of homes at lower prices. Let’s consider the first issue – the number of actual sales in 2007. Back in 2001, the number of resale (existing) homes nationally hit an all time record of 5.3 million sales and the market was good. In 2002, we were thrilled to see another record at 5.6 million home sales which was considered a great year in real estate. Although some thought it couldn’t get any better, the market continued to reach new heights each year: 2003 = 6.2 million, 2004 = 6.8 million, 2005 = 7.1 million. Then in 2006, inventories were growing, but still 6.5 million homes were sold. Although less than the peak of the previous year, it was still the third best year in history. Then, despite all the doom and gloom from the media about the market in 2007, 5.6 million homes were sold, the same number sold as our great year of 2002. People are still buying existing homes and they should. Sellers are still selling their homes, not for as much as two and three years ago, but for most, more than they bought it for. If we can assist you or any one you know to better understand what is happening in our current market, please let us know.   Kae Davis Licensed VA Realtor, Real Estate Agent Hostess EverythingAshburn.COM   Steve Lizik Licensed VA Realtor, Associate Broker CBRB Ashburn Dulles Post Sponsor     Alexandria City Anne Arundel Arlington Baltimore Baltimore City Calvert Caroline Carroll Cecil Charles Culpeper Dorchester Fairfax Fauquier Frederick Harford Howard Kent Loudoun Montgomery Prince Georges Prince William Queen Anne Stafford St. Mary’s Talbot Washington County, MD Washington, DC

Northern Virginia 2007 Year in Real Estate Market Activity

Looking for market watch information on Real Estate home sales in Northern Virginia? Check out the following links to Coldwell Banker reports. Listing total inventory on the market (as reported by MRIS), under contract, price changes, back on market, and new listings, the reports are vary helpful to real estate sales professionals, owners, and potential incoming buyers for our DC Metro region. These post links reflect 2007 sales figures.

Market Activity for Loudoun County by Kae Davis, Licensed VA Realtor

Market Activity for Fairfax County by Helen Susko, Licensed VA Realtor

Market Activity for Prince William County by Steve Lizik, Licensed VA Realtor

A Fresh Outlook for the New Year Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

— January 1, 2008 — The 2008 New Year brings us hope and an opportunity for fresh thinking by casting away past difficulties. Today’s real estate market fits that new-year situation exactly. Just over two years ago, the real estate market was at its peak in number of sales and in the price of houses. The current oversupply of homes for sale in many of our areas is the reason for the decrease in home prices since an oversupply of any commodity puts downward pressure on prices (see the graphs by county for your area). However, just because prices are down, there is no reason that the number of homes purchased should be down. In fact, with interest rates lower now than one year ago and still in the range of 40-year lows, most buyers can purchase a larger home than they could two years ago. Mortgage money is freely available except for those who should not be getting a mortgage anyway. So who is today’s real estate market good for? Today’s buyers who have the best housing situation in years – many housing choices available at reasonable prices with lower interest mortgage money available. Also, sellers who will be buyers right away may sell their property for a little less than hoped for, but can buy one for so much less than in the past. And sellers who price their houses in line with the current market are selling them in weeks instead of months.Let the pessimists be gone. See the current real estate market in its true light – a market that is perfect for buyers and also sellers who will then be buyers. With my expertise in handling the real estate market with fresh thinking, I can assist you or anyone you know in taking advantage of today’s opportunities in real estate. Sincerely yours,  Kae Davis www.cbmove.com/kaedavis

Preparing your Virginia House for Quick Sale in a Changing Real Estate Market

How to Prepare Your House for Sale (from article on About.com)   Prepping and staging a house. Every seller wants her home to sell fast and bring top dollar. Does that sound good to you? Well, it’s not luck that makes that happen. It’s careful planning and knowing how to professionally spruce up your home that will send home buyers scurrying for their checkbooks.Here is how to prep a house and turn it into an irresistible and marketable home.  Here’s How: Disassociate Yourself With Your Home. Say to yourself, “This is not my home; it is a house — a product to be sold much like a box of cereal on the grocery store shelf. Make the mental decision to “let go” of your emotions and focus on the fact that soon this house will no longer be yours. Picture yourself handing over the keys and envelopes containing appliance warranties to the new owners! Say goodbye to every room. Don’t look backwards — look toward the future.   De-Personalize. Pack up those personal photographs and family heirlooms. Buyers can’t see past personal artifacts, and you don’t want them to be distracted. You want buyers to imagine their own photos on the walls, and they can’t do that if yours are there! You don’t want to make any buyer ask, “I wonder what kind of people live in this home?” You want buyers to say, “I can see myself living here.”   De-Clutter! People collect an amazing quantity of junk. Consider this: if you haven’t used it in over a year, you probably don’t need it. If you don’t need it, why not donate it or throw it away? Remove all books from bookcases. Pack up those knickknacks. Clean off everything on kitchen counters. Put essential items used daily in a small box that can be stored in a closet when not in use. Think of this process as a head-start on the packing you will eventually need to do anyway.   Rearrange Bedroom Closets and Kitchen Cabinets. Buyers love to snoop and will open closet and cabinet doors. Think of the message it sends if items fall out! Now imagine what a buyer believes about you if she sees everything organized. It says you probably take good care of the rest of the house as well. This means: Alphabetize spice jars. Neatly stack dishes. Turn coffee cup handles facing the same way. Hang shirts together, buttoned and facing the same direction. Line up shoes.   Rent a Storage Unit. Almost every home shows better with less furniture. Remove pieces of furniture that block or hamper paths and walkways and put them in storage. Since your bookcases are now empty, store them. Remove extra leaves from your dining room table to make the room appear larger. Leave just enough furniture in each room to showcase the room’s purpose and plenty of room to move around. You don’t want buyers scratching their heads and saying, “What is this room used for?”   Remove/Replace Favorite Items. If you want to take window coverings, built-in appliances or fixtures with you, remove them now. If the chandelier in the dining room once belonged to your great grandmother, take it down. If a buyer never sees it, she won’t want it. Once you tell a buyer she can’t have an item, she will covet it, and it could blow your deal. Pack those items and replace them, if necessary.   Make Minor Repairs.   Replace cracked floor or counter tiles. Patch holes in walls. Fix leaky faucets. Fix doors that don’t close properly and kitchen drawers that jam. Consider painting your walls neutral colors, especially if you have grown accustomed to purple or pink walls. (Don’t give buyers any reason to remember your home as “the house with the orange bathroom.”) Replace burned-out light bulbs. If you’ve considered replacing a worn bedspread, do so now!   Make the House Sparkle!   Wash windows inside and out. Rent a pressure washer and spray down sidewalks and exterior. Clean out cobwebs. Re-caulk tubs, showers and sinks. Polish chrome faucets and mirrors. Clean out the refrigerator. Vacuum daily. Wax floors. Dust furniture, ceiling fan blades and light fixtures. Bleach dingy grout. Replace worn rugs. Hang up fresh towels. Bathroom towels look great fastened with ribbon and bows. Clean and air out any musty smelling areas. Odors are a no-no.   Scrutinize.   Go outside and open your front door. Stand there. Do you want to go inside? Does the house welcome you? Linger in the doorway of every single room and imagine how your house will look to a buyer. Examine carefully how furniture is arranged and move pieces around until it makes sense. Make sure window coverings hang level. Tune in to the room’s statement and its emotional pull. Does it have impact and pizzazz? Does it look like nobody lives in this house? You’re almost finished.   Check Curb Appeal. If a buyer won’t get out of her agent’s car because she doesn’t like the exterior of your home, you’ll never get her inside. Keep the sidewalks cleared. Mow the lawn. Paint faded window trim. Plant yellow flowers or group flower pots together. Yellow evokes a buying emotion. Marigolds are inexpensive. Trim your bushes. Make sure visitors can clearly read your house number.

Article submission courtesy of David Korrie To contact David, please email: dkorrie@yahoo.com or visit his website www.davidkorrie.com for more information.

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Ashburn Dulles 44050 Ashburn Village Shopping Plaza, Suite 163 Ashburn, VA 20147

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A NEW NoVA REALTOR?

The following real estate professionals are available to assist you with the buying and selling of residential and commercial real estate properties in the following Northern Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland properties:

Virginia Agents

Kae Davis

• Licensed Virginia Sales Agent
• Internet Marketing Consultant
• Real Estate Assistant [Virtual Marketing and Real Estate Services]
• Webmaster EverythingAshburn.COM
• “Brambletonian”

Steve Lizik

• Licensed Broker
• Associate Broker
• Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Ashburn Dulles Training Mentor
• Certified Residential Real Estate Agent
• Certified Commerial Real Estate Agent
• D.A.A.R. Instructor [Dulles Area Association of Realtors]
• 15+ years experience as a Realtor, Sales Associate, Managing Broker, and Service Provider to Communities in Northern Virginia and Loudoun County
• Winchester Resident [Formerly a Seneca Ridge Resident]

Maryland Agents

Mike O’Hara

• Licensed Real Estate Sales Professional VA & MD
• Rentals and Residential Property Lisiting
• Buyers Agency in the Baltimore Washington Area
• Trained in Short Sale and Bank Forclosure
• Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Ashburn Dulles Associate
• Sterling Resident

Steve Lizik [LICENSING AS ASSOCIATE BROKER IN MD IN SPRING 2008]

• Residential And Commercial Property Expert