A busy spring ahead of us! I'm telling you how to compete with the other buyers and sellers!

From the activity we have seen this winter we are bound to have a busy spring. Recently lower interest rates coupled with easing in lending. It is now easier and more affordable to get into a new home. Whether you are buying or selling it is important to talk about your needs earlier than later in order to position your purchase or sale correctly. 

Selling:

If you plan on selling in the spring you want to start getting your home ready now and talk to me about what needs to be prepared. It will be all about timing this spring. Do not wait around until the Spring inventory hits. You want to be one of the first on the market since there are already a lot of buyers looking. Remember these three points: Photography, Strategic Marketing and Staging. Photography gets people in your home, Marketing gets the correct people in your home, and Staging keeps the correct people coming back to view your home. I am not saying to hire a stager just create a neutral feel and make your home look like a hotel. If you follow these points as well as appropriate pricing your home will sell and sell quick.

Buying:

If you are purchasing you can still find great deals now and when the spring inventory arrives. Just like sellers you will want to be prepared and understand what you are looking for. Right now I am unable to predict if the amount of inventory coming on will exceed the amount of buyers. If this does happen we will not have a frenzy and multiple offer situation. If we do not meet the demand for buyers you can plan on making competitive offers. So how do you make a competitive offer to avoid competing for a home? It is important to be paired with an agent that understands the market. You will also want to make sure you are pre qualified with a letter in hand before you go out to look as well as a neighborhood/area defined. A majority of the buyers throughout this last year have been indecisive(kicking tires) and have no defined area of interest. When you have a defined area you are able to pull the trigger on a house before your competition. Why? Well because you understand what it takes to purchase in the given neighborhood. 

www.ListingDC.com

Charles M. Goodman House to be named a 100 Year Old Building

On February 3rd The City of Alexandria Department of Planning and Zoning suggested approval of the Charles M. Goodman House to be named as a 100 Year Building on the City of Alexandria's 100 Year Old Building list. This will be the 34th building added to this list outside of the City of Alexandria Old Town. Approval will be brought to the City Council Hearing on February 21st.

courtesy of wikimapia.org

courtesy of wikimedia.org

Okay so whats the big deal?
Charles Goodman is an American Modernist Architect that made his fame in the Washington, D.C. Area after World War II. Charles Goodman is responsible for designing numerous homes in the DC Area until his death in 1992. Alexandria, Virginia was his home. Most famously recognized for the design of the Hollin Hills Community in Alexandria and the original design of the National Airport.

Hollin Hills was developed by Robert C. Davenport in which Goodman designed 14 different models for the 450 home development. The only development design by Goodman as the lead architect in Alexandria, Virginia.

Typical Home in Hollin Hills - Courtesy of Clarissa Peterson

About the Charles M. Goodman House
510 North Quaker Lane is an 1870's Farmhouse that was redesigned by Goodman in 1954 the original architect is unknown. He used this home as his principle residence in Alexandria. It was recently sold in 2013 and in May of 2013 it was entered on the National Registry of Historic Places. The periods of specific significance are the years between 1946 and 1960. The house is said to measure around 3,800 sqft and the additions that were added during the time include the kitchen, living room, covered terrace, shed and service building. The property no longer includes all 7 acres they were divided off by Goodman's wife after his death for new homes to be built. These new homes were considered "McMansions". A full report of the historical significance can be found here.

Goodman Home courtesy of nps.gov

Glass enclosed living room of the Goodman addition

 www.ListingAlexandria.com

Written by: Patrick DeLeonibus

Spring is Coming Early!

All over the Washington Metro Area the real estate market is heating up earlier than previously expected. Currently we are experiencing high sales and inventory that is dwindling. There are a number of factors driving sales.

A few factors in play...

Transportation system in the DC Metro
Attractive reports on the outlook of the city
New development projects
Foreign investors
Large national investors
Positive outlooks for the Federal Government
Younger population demanding the urban lifestyle
Talk of rising interest rates for the new year

Georgetown Real Estate

If you previously thought about putting your home on the market in the spring time you may want to get it ready early. When buyers are biting they will tend to pay more when the inventory is lower. I expect this surge in demand to carry throughout the year. The undetermined factor is whether the inventory will match the demand and drive us to lower prices. 

As announced last week by major news outlets the Urban Institute predicts a population increase of at least 2,039,594 by 2030. Information like this being released does not slow down the real estate market, it gives it a nice kick in the butt as full steam ahead. 

I'm going to dub last week as "investor week", I heard from every investor I knew, asking me to find them their next project. Its a great time to live and move to DC.

www.PatrickDeLeonibus.com