Real Homebuyers of Virginia (Behind the Scenes)

Do you ever walk into a home for sale and everything is so perfect right down to the fake fruit, you wonder if anyone actually ever lived there? You have just stepped into the “Reality TV” world of home buying. Yes, this is a real home and people once occupied it but probably not with the color schemes, decorations, furniture, etc that you see in front of you. There is a behind the scene group of designers for hire called “Stagers”. Stagers are very similar to Interior Designers in the fact that they prepare and decorate your house for it to sell at the highest price possible. A home is a public extension of the buyer and his fashion sense. Home sellers and Real Estate Professionals understand the significance of aesthetics to a consumer, so that is where a Stager comes into play. A Stager goes a bit beyond an Interior Designer because they understand that a house is more than aesthetics, they analyze market trends and spruce up the inner and outer portions of a home. In Real Estate, preparing a home requires more than staging a pretty picture; it takes brains to analyze the market as well!

For Sale: 4BR/3 1BA Single Family House in Fredericksburg, VA, $3,200,000

Currently there are plans in place for this GORGEOUS waterfront lot in historic downtown Fredericksburg, VA but buyers are more than welcome to BYOP (Bring Your Own Plans!)

Take a look! For Sale: 4BR/3 1BA Single Family House in Fredericksburg, VA, $3,200,000

The Home-Buying Process: Headache or Piece of Cake?

The process of buying a new home seems daunting whether you're a seasoned or first time home buyer. Knowing where to start and having a couple of good tips in your back pocket are extremely helpful and essential to a happy home buying experience. There are tons of blogs and articles for consumers to reference for “Great Home Buying Tips”. As a licensed Real Estate Professional, I've come across a couple of planning tools, definitions and tips that I've found to be indispensable when searching for the perfect home. Some of these may be common sense but always good to keep on the Home Buyer checklist!

1.     Preparation is Key: You don't play a football game without plays, you don't go on a roadtrip without a map, and you definitely don't want to dive into purchasing one of the biggest investments of your life without a little preparation.
      Set up a Personal Budget: if you don't have one yet, now is the time to get a budget going. You then have a clear picture of how much you spend daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly. This allows you to make a valid decision on how much you can actually afford to spend on your new home. You will be able to give your real estate agent a clear picture of your needs price wise (after all of that work you can throw in a couple of “wants” as well). Your Real Estate Agent can then work on your behalf with a bank to get you a manageable loan with affordable mortgage payments. The worst situation is having to change your lifestyle to fit a new home payment. Let your home work for you!

2.     Pre-Approval vs. Pre-Qualification: Both of these terms sound like money in the bank, especially to first time home buyers but there is a difference. To be “pre-qualified” means that you have shared your income, debt, and credit information with a lender for an estimate of what you can afford. However being pre-approved places you one step further in your home buying process. To be “pre-approved” means the dirty work of analysing your actual credit report and debt-to-income ratio has been done by the lender to reduce the chance of there being any surprises or denials from the bank. I would recommend taking a look at your credit report beforehand as well. Of course everyone loves surprises but that is one surprise you want to try and avoid.
Note: If there are multiple offers on the property and you have been pre-approved, this often gives you a leg up on the other buyers who may not be because the seller at least knows exactly what you can afford. (Brownie Points!)

3.     Remember the Total Package: So you go shopping for that cute new outfit, but then you remember that you don't have shoes to match, and that purse of yours is falling apart at the seams...by the time you add tax your $20 purchase has turned into a $100 monstrosity! Remember that there are added costs to buying a home. In addition to your mortgage, there will be closing costs, property insurance and tax, and a down payment (or Private Mortgage Insurance if there is not at least a 20% down payment). Make sure you take all costs into account before you settle on that one outfit....or house.

4.     Be Practical: Of course you're going to gush over that 3 story colonial complete with a pool, fireplace, and wood flooring throughout that just so happens to be in your price range. But you must take your NEEDS into account. Sure that pool sounds nice but do you have the means to pay for the upkeep? Make a list of your absolute “must haves”. Do you have children? You will need at least “x” amount of rooms. Do you have outdoor pets? Your new home might require a fence. This is your investment make it not only luxurious but functional!

Life on the River...

With summer just around the corner, who could resist indulging in their own little piece of paradise on the river?! This is just a snapshot of the 1.92 Acres right off of the Rappahanock River in scenic Fredericksburg, VA.