Thursday, August 29, 2013

10 tips for homebuyers

Buying a home can be tricky. Here are 10 tips that will help. 1. Determine Your Needs The process of purchasing a home can be especially daunting if you don’t take the time to determine your needs. A real estate professional will be able to best assist you if you are willing to answer a few important questions: What is your current lifestyle and how will that play into the neighborhood or community you choose? e.g. sports enthusiast that requires hiking trails within the neighborhood Size of home including bedrooms, bathrooms, and specialty rooms such as media or pool room. Style of home: Ranch vs. Two-Story and Tudor vs. Cape Cod 2. Consider the Cost of Homeownership There are various financial commitments to consider, most importantly how a new home will fit into your budget. You need to ensure that you can afford the monthly mortgage payment, as well as any expenses including utilities and/or possible homeowner’s association fees. 3. Interview a Real Estate Professional The interview process is one of the important first steps in buying a home. An experienced sales associate will be eager to share their expertise and skills so you can make an educated decision. Ask for references and listen to what other people have to say about their experiences with a particular agent. Ultimately, you want to find someone that knows your area, has a good grasp on current market conditions and that you feel comfortable with. 4. Decide if You Will Build or Buy Resale Are you going to buy an existing home or build something new? There are pros and cons to both, with each a reflection of your lifestyle and needs. This calls for thorough research to identify which of the above is beneficial to you as an aspiring homeowner. 5. Location, Location, Location Location is one of the key factors to consider in any home purchase. Make sure that you buy a home in areas where the value of property is set to increase as opposed to those with low prices and high chances of stagnation. 6. Understand Mortgage Options Speak with a mortgage professional about your options and make sure to share details about your current financial situation, including your monthly budget for a new home. They will be able to offer guidance on which loan program will work best for you. 7. The Benefits of a Home Inspection A home inspector will inspect the home prior to purchase to examine for structural and safety issues. An inspection is not required, but a wise choice as it will determine if the home is structurally sound and wiring and pluming are up to code. They will also check for safety hazards, including loose railings, rotted or damaged porch or entryway steps and broken windows. 8. Get Everything in Writing The best way to protect yourself is to ensure that every part of your transaction is captured in writing. An example of this would be repairs the seller agrees to make prior to closing. Your real estate professional is there to make certain those repairs are added to an addendum which becomes a part of the purchase agreement. You do not want to have a casual conversation with the seller that could be left to interpretation when it comes to the largest purchase you will probably ever make. 9. Finalize the Purchase To avoid problems at the closing table, make sure you have a clear understanding of what to expect. Go through your loan details one last time so there are no surprises when it comes to interest rate, loan amount or mortgage term. There will be a substantial amount of paperwork to sign so give yourself plenty of time to adequately review the details. 10. Home Improvements Your home is a valuable asset. Once you close, continue to put aside money on a monthly basis for any necessary repairs or maintenance. It’s also important to note that certain upgrades may contribute to lower insurance premiums. This makes it important for you to stay in touch with your real estate professional. They can provide guidance on value boosting renovations. For more professional real estate advice and help please visit www.JohnGintySells.com and sign up for a free account.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

18 secrets to a longer life

18 secrets to a longer life... http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/ss/slideshow-longer-life-secrets?ecd=wnl_lbt_082813&ctr=wnl-lbt-082813_ld-stry&mb= www.JohnGintySells.com

Your Facebook friends could hurt your chances of mortgage approval

Your Facebook friends could possibly hurt your ability to be approved for a mortgage. Mortgage lending companies are looking at your Facebook friends to see if any of them have defaulted on a mortgage. If so, it hurts your status with them. Follow this link for a full article about this.... http://money.cnn.com/2013/08/26/technology/social/facebook-credit-score/index.html?hpt=hp_t3 www.JohnGintySells.com

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

The One Thing

Do you have a child in school (High School or College) who is more focused on Facebook and other social media sites? "The One Thing" by Gary Keller is a fantastic book that will help your child focus on what is important. Follow the link below to watch a short video of college students telling their experience with the book and how it impacted their lives. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2aHVWxN4tQ&feature=youtu.be www.JohnGintySells.com

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Issues that kill your mortgage

There are several issues that, if overlooked, can be deal killers for your mortgage. I am sure you know several of them, but this short article mentions a few that most people are not aware of. Give it a read and if you would like to discuss further please contact me. I am always happy to help. http://dcmortgagecoach.com/2013/08/these-overlooked-issues-can-become-deal-killers-for-your-mortgage-application.html?fb_source=pubv1 If you're in the market to buy in Northern Virginia (Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church City, Fairfax City, Prince William County) visit www.JohnGintySells.com. Be sure to register for a free account in the top right corner and I will be in touch with you shortly thereafter. You can also set up a free listing alert.

Monday, August 19, 2013

Keller Williams ranked #1

Keller Williams is ranked #1. Ready to join the #1 real estate company? Contact me today and I'll be happy to help you get started. http://blog.kw.com/2013/06/02/real-trends-500-ranks-keller-williams-realty-1/ www.JohnGintySells.com

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Listing Bloopers

Selling your home? Avoid these listing bloopers.... http://pro.truliablog.com/sellers/8-listing-bloopers-to-avoid-this-summer/?ecampaign=anews&eurl=pro.truliablog.com%2Fsellers%2F8-listing-bloopers-to-avoid-this-summer www.JohnGintySells.com

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

www.JohnGintySells.com making strides

Keller Williams Capital Properties had a great team meeting this morning, followed by an amazing tech class taught by one of our talented agents. I am motivated to take John Ginty Real Estate to the next level. Newest goal - improve my website www.JohnGintySells.com How I will achieve that goal - Under communities served consumers will soon be able to find information about specific neighborhoods, such as Brambleton, Cedar Lakes, Cavalier Park, Cavalier Fox Lake, Westport, and Sully Station. Right now consumers are only able to search by towns, such as Herndon, Fairfax, Chantilly, Centreville, and Burke. It will be much more beneficial when consumers want to know more about specific neighborhoods within a town and they are able to get it at www.JohnGintySells.com. For example if you are thinking how much is my home in Fairfax Farms of Fairfax worth, you will be able to click on the Fairfax Farms, find out some useful statistics, and request a free home market analysis. Another example - let's say you want to buy a home in Rockland Village of Chantilly. Soon enough at www.JohnGintySells.com you will be able to search for homes for sale specifically in the Rockland Village subdivison of Chantilly. I am very excited for this next step and to see John Ginty Real Estate get even more successful.

John Ginty Real Estate: Get the App

Check out the brand new John Ginty Real Estate app. It will provide access to millions of listings from your mobile device.
Keller Williams: Get the App

www.JohnGintySells.com

Sunday, August 11, 2013

DON'T PANIC!

No need to panic! Homeownership rates back to normal.... http://www.varealtor.com/news/2013/07/homeownership-rate-nobody-panic www.JohnGintySells.com

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Investing in Northern Virginia - Part Two

Yesterday I posted a blog about investing in Northern Virginia and becoming a landlord. I had one investor reach out to me and she will be coming to Northern Virginia soon to begin her path towards extra monthly income. Here is a link to part two of the article about being a landlord I posted yesterday. http://pro.truliablog.com/rentals/so-you-want-to-be-a-landlord-part-two-addressing-common-fears-among-new-landlords/ www.JohnGintySells.com

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Investing in Northern Virginia

Want to earn extra monthly income and do next to nothing to earn it? Invest in Northern Virginia and become a landlord. Northern Virginia is one of the strongest real estate markets in the US. We are usually the last to take a hit when the economy declines and first to bounce back. Being so close to Washington D.C., Northern Virginia is an excellent place to be a landlord with so many government employees and military folks constantly moving in and out of the area. Here is an article to help you with being a landlord... http://pro.truliablog.com/rentals/so-you-want-to-be-a-landlord-do-the-numbers-work/ Contact me today to start on your path to investments. www.JohnGintySells.com