Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Kevin Carr - Keller Williams Realty Featured Realtor Of The Week 11-21-08

Kevin Carr

KEVIN M CARR
Keller Williams Realty Leesburg
Today's market offers opportunities and challenges for buyers, sellers and the real estate agent. Everyone is becoming familiar with the terms short sale and foreclosures. These transactions can be trying for all parties involved. It is important to let the clients know that these transactions are quite different from the traditional sale. It requires additional time to educate the client. I have learned the timing discussing the process helps the client to set reasonable expectations. In turn , this reduces the stress these transactions can cause.

The current market offers opportunity for the first time home buyer, investors and individuals relocating to the area. Prices have dropped to near 2003 levels and this has created affordability for many who were previously priced out of the market. But as a realtor we must guide the clients through the new real estate landscape.

I am a seasoned financial executive for over 20 years with Fortune 500 companies. My role allowed me to effectively negotiate and execute contracts and manage the implementation of the transaction. These skills have proven invaluable when working with my clients
I have lived in Connecticut, New York and California prior to moving to Loudoun County four years ago. II am married and we have four children. Two have moved for careers in New York City. I am active in my local church and serve on the alumni admission board for Georgetown University.

My goals as a realtor is to build a relationship with my clients that is build on trust and honest, timely and open communication. We work together to establish goals and timelines that reflect the clients' needs as well as current market conditions. I want the purchase/sale to be a win win.

Kevin Carr: Keller Williams Realty, Leesburg - 703 * 637 * 0610

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Real Estate In Northern Virginia - You Have Questions? We Have Answers!

The Northern Virginia Real Estate Group, Keller Williams Realty is happy to announce the launch of its latest technological website or in this case a Forum this Friday. The Name of the Forum says it all!

REAL ESTATE IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA

Here visitors to the site can post their questions in categories such as, but not limited to:
Buying A Home In Northern Virginia
Selling A Home In Northern Virginia
Real Estate Market Conditions In Northern Virginia
First Time Home Buyers
Short Sales
Foreclosures
Mortgage and Lending Questions
Home De'cor
Public and Private Schools in Northern Virginia
Government Affairs and Issues in Northern Virginia
Relocating To Northern Virginia
Home Inspections
Home Assessments
Home Appraisals
Property Management
Brokers Opens
Open Houses
Curb Appeal
Northern Virginia Community Events and Entertainment
Pre-qualifications
Pre-Approval

Just To name a Few Oh And Did We Mention you can Chat Live With Us?

If you are a Keller Williams Realty Agent in Northern Virginia or more specifically Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Clarke County, Frederick County, Fauquier County, Prince William County, Arlington County, or Alexandria Virginia, and would like to participate in answering questions that people may have in the above categories please contact us

Remember if you have Questions? We Have Answers! Real Estate In Northern Virginia

Appraisals Vs Assessments What's The Difference

Once again Vicky Chrisner, the Real Estate Whisperer has written yet another wonderful article to educate home buyers and home sellers alike.


There is a difference between "appraisals" and "assessments" although the words are commonly used interchangeably. A educated consumer knows the differences:

Assessments
  • Completed using an automated valuation program.
  • Generally done once per year.
  • Used to determine real estate taxes.
  • Should be within a margin of error of +/- 10%.

Appraisals

  • Done by licensed appraiser who looks at the home, and comps.
  • Values property "real time" (as of the date of the report).
  • Used to support sales prices or loan amounts.
  • Should be as close to Fair Market Value as possible.
To read The Real Estate Whisperers entire article on this subject click on the link

Profile: Round Hill Virginia Real Estate - 20141

Round Hill Virginia, located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains was incorporated in 1900. The Town Of Round Hill is located in Western Loudoun County Virginia
The Town Of Round Hill gets its name from the 910 foot high hill located 2 miles from the center of town. To look at the gallery of Historic Round Hill Photos click on the link. Round Hill Virginia has many communities from which to call home.

The Villages Of Round Hill
Lake Point Village
West Lake Village
Greenwood Commons
Upper Lakes Village
Hillwood Estates
Fallswood
Stoneleigh
Round Hill West
Creekside At Round Hill
and many more.

Round Hill Elementary School is the only Loudoun County Public School currently that resides in the Town of Round Hill. Not all children that live in will go to Round Hill VirginiaRound Hill Elementary.

Residents of the town could also see their children go to Mountain View Elementary School located just 3 mile away in Purcellville Virginia. If you have children in middle school chances are they will go to either Blue Ridge Middle School or Harmony Intermediate School depending on their grade level. Finally if you have children that are of High School age, your children will go to Loudoun Valley High School located in Purcellville Virginia. A new High School for Western Loudoun County was just approved to be built. Woodgrove High School will also be located in Purcellville Virginia.

Below are community Links of Homes Currently For Sale in Round Hill Virginia


Round Hill Virginia Real Estate

Round Hill Virginia Real Estate 20141

Round Hill

Highlands

Highlands Of Round Hill

Stoneleigh

Darling Acres

Light Ridge Manor

Woodlands At Round Hill

Ridgeview Estates

The Orchards Of Round Hill

Hillwood Oaks

Lake Point

Lake Point Round Hill

Blue Ridge Summit

Harwood

Airmont

Brookdale Farms

Hamlets Of Blue Ridge

Lodge Land Farms

White Hall Farm

Mountain Valley

FitzPatrick

If you are considering Buying or Selling A Home in Round Hill Virginia. You want a real estate agent that knows the communities of Round Hill Virginia. You need a Round Hill Real Estate Agent.


Monday, November 17, 2008

Cheryl Carte - Keller Williams Realty Realtor Of The Week - 11- 14 - 08




Cheryl Carte - Keller Williams Realty Leesburg Virginia - Loudoun County

I have lived in Loudoun County for 34 years. I attended Broad Run High School in the days we referred to it as Corn Field High!

After attending WVU, I married and returned to Good Ole' Loudoun to raise a family. During the past 34 years I've gone from raising 4 wonderful kids, 28, 26, 23 & 21 on a 30 acre working farm in Western Loudoun to residing with my husband, Tim ( Agent Support ) and my Jack Russel, Dordy as empty Nester's in the great town of Purcellville. I devoted 13 years to working with Loudoun County Public Schools, now to Real Estate!

I've seen our Market turn over 3 times, from Double Digit Interest Rates to Over Inflated Home Prices but we Always Bounce Back. We are fortunate to live in an area of diversity with high turn around. Our greatest asset is Our Location to the Highest Ranking Government in this World and no matter what the Stock Market or Retail Market does we will always have the Greatest Job Opportunities Offered.

The time to buy is Now! Whether it's an Investment or Home Sweet Home, the Market is Ripe & Ready for Harvest.

The Carte Blanche Team is Here to Share Our Knowledge & Experience with YOU.

As a Purchaser we offer our services at no cost to you.

As a Seller our Team is ready to help get the most valve out of your property with Aggressive Marketing & Realistic Goals.

THE CARTE BLANCHE TEAM Strives to Treat Each & Every Client With The Utmost Integrity & Respect, Maintaining Honesty & Displaying Hard Core Values To Insure A smooth Transaction

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Going Once Going Twice Sold

What Should Buyers Know About Auctions? Vicky Chrisner aka " The Real Estate Whisperer" is a Certified Auction Specialist. Here is what she has to say about Auctions!

Auctions
are just one more tool, which can be good for both buyers and seller in today's market. As they are being used with increasing frequency, I get more and more questions... and I hear potential buyers saying things that they assume but which are completely wrong. Sadly, I also hear inaccuracies about auctions and intimidation with the auction process, even from real estate agents.

So, as a Certified Auction Specialist, and an agent who works with both buyers and sellers, I thought I should make an effort to educate the public on the process. As it is a large topic, I will attempt to share what I know through a series of posts...which are intended to educate buyers, sellers and the general public.


Our first post is "Auctions, Part 1: Where is the Auction Held?" . By understanding where the auction is, you automatically know certain things about how the auction will be promoted and run. To read the first part of Vicky's series click on the link above. Vicky Chrisner is a real estate agent working for Keller Williams Realty in the Leesburg Virginia office

Friday, November 7, 2008

Profile: Purcellville Virginia Real Estate 20132



Purcellville Virginia is an incorporated Town in Western Loudoun County Virginia. Purcellville is one of the largest western Loudoun Towns with a population of around 16,ooo. There are currently 4 Elementary Schools, Lincoln, Emerick, Hillsboro, and Moutain View. There is one Middle school Blue Ridge Middle, and currently one High School, Loudoun Valley High, althouh a second high school may be coming. Purcellville has its own newspaper called the Purcellville Gazette. Purcellville has a variety of restaurants as well from fast food to fine dinig restaurants such as Magnolias and The Grill. There are currently two grocery stores located in the heart of town, with a third on the way. Purcellville is only twelve miles from Down Town Leesburg. Purcellville offers a variety of home types from town houses to estate homes. If you are considering Buying or Selling a home in Purcellville Virginia take a look at the neighborhood links and home prices below. When you are ready to Buy or Sell a Home in Purcellvile Virginia, contact Keller Williams Realty and the Northern Virginia Real Estate Group.

Purcellville Virginia

Old Dominion Valley

Hirst Farm

Giles

James Land

Wright Farm

Village Case

Locust Grove

Purcellville

Fieldstone Farm

Willowin Farm

CramerChestnut Hills

Oak Knoll Farms

Farmington On The Green

Catoctin Meadows

Wheatland Estates

Silcott Meadow

Kingsbridge Manor

Villages Of Purcellville

Main Street Village

Lincoln Acres

Philomont

Browns Farm

Wellington

Ashley Springs

Between Hills

Zylstra

Hunt Country Estates

Salem Farms

Cortland Square

Heidi Vargas - Keller Williams Realty Realtor Of The Week - 11-07-08


Hi, I'm Heidi Vargas a Resident of Northern VA for 12 years and Loudoun County/Leesburg for 8. I relocated after graduating from the University of South Florida. I'm an enthusiastic, passionate, and consistent Top Producer for the last 7 years AND was Rookie of the Year in my first!

My commitment is to provide a higher level of values, standards and services. I strive to deliver beyond my clients expectations, resulting in world-class service and referability.

Some quotes from clients:
"...She focuses on details, without losing site of the big picture. She's innovative but also realistic. She accurately reads the market, and knows the value of homes..."
"...Heidi was professional, honest, caring, and always available. She was determined to sell our previous home in a poor market, and extremely supportive with finding a home in the area that we craved on a budget that we could afford..."

Whether you are a first time buyer or an experienced investor, you will find useful information about how to choose the "right" property, making an offer, negotiating, financing, mortgage rates, moving, and everything involved in making an informed real estate decision in todays market.

My Thoughts On The Current Market:

Ever Wonder What To Do...Should I Listen to the Media?? Should I Listen to the Blogs?? Do I have Enough Money to Buy a Home in the Current Market Conditions?????

Get the Facts From The Experts!!! NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY...and I know that you have probably think I'm saying that becuase this is my business.....well, it's partly true :)

HOWEVER, the Government has made it so that you CAN buy...with the new guidelines within FHA lending, VHDA, Mortgage Companies Incentives to close by the end of the year and MOST of all the $7,500 Tax Credit for 1st Time Home Buyers!

FOR INVESTORS...you can get the deal of your life on some properties!!

There are plenty of homes out there, you just have to take the plunge. You don't know what is going to happen next year with the lending guidelines, so if you are considering it...JUST DO IT!! So as I said in the begining...Get The Facts!

For more information and a FREE NO OBLIGATION CONSULTATION on Selling your current home or purchasing a Home....Please contact Heidi at Heidi Vargas and Associates

Heidi Vargas and her team know both the Loudoun County Real Estate Market and Fairfax County Real Estate Market

Call Us: 703 637 0610

Thursday, November 6, 2008

The Nova Home Guy Profiles Chantilly Virginia - 20151







Today we find the Nova Home Guy is profiling Chantilly, Virginia located in Fairfax County. Where is Chantilly VA? West of Fairfax City VA. North of Centreville VA. South of Oak Hill (South Herndon) VA. East of Dulles International Airport.

"Beautiful Downtown Chantilly"Identifying a central core to Chantilly, one would probably pick Route 50 and Centreville Road. The largest big box retail complex including Lowes and one of the few remaining Kmart's in NoVa is located here. Boom era garden condos have already sprouted as have class A office space and several suite hotels and sit down restaurants.South of this intersection lies the Dulles Expo Center. This area hosts class B and light industrial office space surrounding the large exhibition hall.



To read the NoVA Home Guy's entire write up about life in Chantly Virginia click on the link We would also like to thank the NoVA Home Guy for the photos as well




There are several neighborhoods withen Chantilly Virginia that you may like to call home. There are even homes in Loudoun County Virginia with a Chantilly Zip Code 20151 and 20152 which is part of South Riding. due to the fact that Chantilly located in Fairfax County Virginia borders Loudoun County.

If you are considering Buying or Selling A Home in Chantilly Virginia click on one of the Neighborhood links to see which neighborhoods you like and their home prices.

Chantilly

Poplar Tree
Poplar Parc
Poplar Tree Woods
Poplar Tree Estates
Rockland Village
Sutton Oaks
Chantilly Estates
Chantilly Highlands
Chantilly Green
Chantilly Park
Chantilly Place
Chantilly Farm
Meadows Of Chantilly
Estates At Leeton Manor
Baileys
Armfield Farms
Fair Oaks Farms
Foxfield
Greenbriar
Waverly Crossing
Walney Road
Walney VillageHunters Run
Pleasant Valley
Brookfield
Winding Brook
Pinewood Meadows
Brookleigh
Brookside

Thinking of Selling you home in Chantilly Virginia? Give us a call or request a FREE Market Analysis

Thinking of Buying a Home in Chantilly, Virginia? Give us a call today or contact the Nova Home Guy

Are You Ready...

To Call Fairfax County Home?

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Shannon Casper - Keller Williams Realty Realtor Of The Week - 10-31-08


As a native of Northern Virginia, my family has lived in Fairfax County and Loudoun County. My husband and I were drawn to Western Loudoun County because of the natural beauty of the countryside. The Communities we have been blessed to live in have enriched the lives of our family. My husband and I have five children. I cannot think of anywhere else I would want to raise them. We have served our communities in PTA's, Scouting, Coaching and in various positions in our Church. My family is my greatest and most important gift. I feel extraordinary blessed to be a resident of Loudoun County.


My husband and I started our investment in real estate 15 years ago when we were young married couple finishing college. We started with the purchase of a small bungalow style home. We spent almost four years renovating our little home. We sold that small bungalow for twice what we paid! Since that time we have purchased other homes, land and invested in our own personally investment properties. Real Estate has historically been a fiscally sound investment. If I did not believe in investing in real estate I would not be a Professional Real Estate Agent today.


I began my career working for a large new home builder in Fairfax County. This was a great experience and has helped me understand new home construction from the buyer and builders perspective. I also spent many years working as a paralegal. Understanding contracts is a critical part of real estate. All of my experience has helped me become the Real Estate Professional I am today. I am a Top Producing Agent with Keller Williams Realty. I am a member of the National Association of Realtors and a member of Dulles Area Association of Realtors.
Current Market Conditions:
The current market conditions create some serious challenges for the real estate industry. If you purchased your home within the past four years you are among the many home owners who may owe more than their homes current value. The important thing to remember is that the real estate market will recover! If you do not need to sell your home, wait it out. Now would be a great time to make do some updates or remodeling. Doing this will help your home be more marketable when the market rebounds.

The silver lining to our current market conditions is that we now have affordable housing in the Washington Metropolitan Area! If you are a first time homeowner, investor, are currently renting, or are ready to move up, now is a great time to buy! Interest rates are great! Home prices are great! And there is ample inventory to find the home of your choice. If you are considering a move, call me and I would be happy to assist you with your next big move!

Shannon Casper
Bringing Families Home.
Email Shannon Casper