5 Home Selling Tips for the Short Sale Seller

Short selling a home is not the same as your average 30-day home sale.  With much of the housing industry still saturated with short sale listings, homeowners must take a strategic approach to getting their short sale listings sold in a timely manner.  Here are 5 important home selling tips for the short sale seller!

Prepare your home for the sale.  Maintain pride of ownership by preparing your home for the sale.  Remove excessive items from the home and repair inexpensive items.  You should also remove excessive items from kitchen counter-tops and bathroom vanities.  Clean the home daily ... mop, dust, vacuum ... do whatever it takes to make your home shine!  Remember to "declutter" your home as well.  All unwanted items should be discarded and all unnecessary items should be stored away.  Buyers have hundreds of choices.  If your home does not show well, buyers will simply move on to the next property.

Imagine yourself as the buyer.  When you imagine yourself as the buyer, it places you in the critical mindset needed to evaluate your home.  Walk through your home with pen and pad in hand and evaluate each room separately.  Jot down any noticeable aversions. Pay special attention to the ceilings, carpets, floors, and walls in each room.  If the walls need retouching or the carpets need cleaning, take a moment to repair and clean these items. Other minor fixes may include washing the walls and cleaning the baseboards to bring on that extra shine.

Host a mock showing.  There is no better way to get an honest opinion of your home than to host a mock showing.  To accomplish this task, simply invite a few friends, family members or neighbors over to rate your home. Prior to their arrival, you should prepare a few short questions regarding the appearance of your home.  Questions may be open-ended, true and false, fill-in-blank or a combination of all three. To encourage honesty, allow each person to rate your home anonymously.  You should also wait to view the opinions of your guests after they have all departed for the evening.

Rearrange your furniture.  Rearranging your furniture is a very inexpensive way to showcase the features of your home.  Larger items such as sofas, couches and large chairs should be placed against a wall to avoid the appearance of a much smaller room.  Do not place large items in front of the window. Doing so will prevent sunlight from entering the room.  When rearranging your furniture, items should be strategically placed to maximize the flow of energy in the home.  To arrive at the perfect look and feel throughout the home, you may need to move smaller items from one room and place them in another. Borrowing items from one room and placing them in another will help create a fresh new look in every room in the house.

Price to entice.  Short selling your home can be a lengthy process.  This means the new buyers may be under contract with you for several months before closing and moving into their new home.  To keep the new buyers motivated, you must ensure that your home is "priced to entice" … in other words, priced to sell.  Overpricing your home is simply not an option if you expect a qualified buyer to wait several months to close on your home.  Your REALTOR® should be able to assist you with properly pricing your home.  Although each neighborhood is different, as a general rule you should probably consider pricing your home approximately 5% less than regular home sales in your neighborhood.

For additional information or to confidentially discuss the possibility of short selling your home, please contact me for assistance.

If you are interested in buying or selling real estate in Alexandria, Lorton, Woodbridge or any of the surrounding areas in northern Virginia and Maryland, please contact me for assistance.  My specializations include first-time home buyers, home sellers, luxury homes, short sales, foreclosures, relocation, and divorce.   

Lisa Dunham, MBA, CDPE, ABR, ePRO 
Allison James Estates & Homes 
703-298-6546 (Mobile) 
Lisa@LisaDunham.com
www.LisaDunham.com

            

7 Key Ways to Avoid Foreclosure

Are you or someone you know facing the possibility of foreclosure?  Here are seven ways to avoid foreclosure now.  

1. Reinstatement.  The homeowner pays the total amount owed to bring the mortgage payments current.  This includes all overdue payments as well as the current amount due.  To obtain lender approval for reinstatement, the homeowner must be able to demonstrate to the lender that funds are available for repayment and the amount in arrearage will be made current within a short time.  Some lenders will negotiate up to 24 months for reinstatement. 
    
2. Forebearance or Repayment Plan.  Through negotiations with the lender, the homeowner agrees to repay the amount in arrears over a specified period of time.
    
3. Loan Modification.  The homeowner successfully negotiates with the lender to obtain a lower monthly mortgage payment.  This can be done by modifying the interest rate and/or principal balance on the existing loan.
    
4. Short Refi.  The lender agrees to refinance the existing mortgage for less than what is currently owed on the property.  With so many homeowners "upside down" in their homes (property value is less than the total amount owed), now is a great time to negotiate a short refi.
    
5. Short Sale.  With lender approval, the home is sold at an amount less than the payoff of the existing loan.  Today, short sales are now being approved for a variety of reasons under far less scrutiny.  In addition, many banks and lien holders are offering financial incentives up to $30,000 for a successful short sale transaction.  Find out if you qualify today.
    
6. Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program (HAFA).  Homeowners who qualify for the HAFA Program can sell their homes under pre-approved short sale terms and receive a cash incentive of $3,000 for the purposes of relocating.
    
7. Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP).  Offered to eligible military employees and federal civilian employees under specific guidelines. The program offers homeowner assistance in private home sales, government home purchases, as well as other specific areas.

To prevent your home from going into foreclosure, please contact me for immediate assistance!

If you are interested in buying or selling real estate in Alexandria, Lorton, Woodbridge or any of the surrounding areas in northern Virginia and Maryland, please contact me for assistance.  My specializations include first-time home buyers, home sellers, luxury homes, short sales, foreclosures, relocation, and divorce.   

Lisa Dunham, MBA, CDPE, ABR, ePRO 
Allison James Estates & Homes 
703-298-6546 (Mobile) 
Lisa@LisaDunham.com
www.LisaDunham.com

            

Single Women Prove Husbands Are Great, But Not Always Necessary!

I have long admired the single woman…not just any single woman…but a single woman with drive, ambition and fearless determination! She can be easily recognized by her uncompromising commitment to excel regardless of her circumstances. As you may be aware, the single woman wears many hats, often simultaneously. Many refer to her as mother, daughter, sister, and friend while others respectfully address her as founder, author, doctor, or counselor. Regardless of her position or title, the single woman is becoming a definitive force in the housing industry. How does she do it? Fearless Determination!

This week the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) recognized the fearless determination of many single women. According to the NAR, single women are buying homes in record numbers. Last year, single women accounted for 20% of all home buyers while single men accounted for 12%. Single women are buying homes at nearly twice the rate of single men and the number continues to rise. So why are single women buying homes solo? Of course, I cannot speak for all women…nor will I attempt to speak for any of them. In fact, the underlying reason why single women are purchasing homes on their own is really NOT that important. What IS important is to continue to encourage single women to go after their dreams of homeownership.  

To do my part in helping more single women become homeowners, I would like to personally extend an invitation to assist all single women in fulfilling their dreams of homeownership. If you are a single woman of fearless determination and are interested in purchasing a home anywhere in northern Virginia or Maryland, please contact me for assistance. Regardless of your financial status or credit scores…good credit, bad credit, or no credit…please feel free to contact me for assistance. If you are a single woman of fearless determination, I am committed to helping you position yourself to become the next single female homeowner! Together, we can ensure that the statistics continue to rise.

If you are interested in buying or selling real estate in Alexandria, Lorton, Woodbridge or any of the surrounding areas in northern Virginia and Maryland, please contact me for assistance.  My specializations include first-time home buyers, home sellers, luxury homes, short sales, foreclosures, relocation, and divorce.   

Lisa Dunham, MBA, CDPE, ABR, ePRO 
Allison James Estates & Homes 
703-298-6546 (Mobile) 
Lisa@LisaDunham.com
www.LisaDunham.com

            

Kingstowne Real Estate … What’s all the BUZZ about Living in Kingstowne?

Kingstowne is one of Alexandria’s (Fairfax County) most popular housing communities. As a Kingstowne resident for nearly 15 years, I have witnessed tremendous growth and development throughout the Kingstowne area. Now with more than 5300 homes, several restaurants, a 227,359 square-foot shopping center, post office, car wash and a host of other amenities, Kingstowne is the perfect place to call home.

What’s all the BUZZ about living in Kingstowne? There are many fabulous features that make Kingstowne a great place to live! In addition to the landscaped grounds and finely manicured lawns that eloquently showcase the beauty of the community, Kingstowne also features a beautiful man-made lake. The lake, which is immediately visible upon entry into Kingstowne, is located adjacent to the Chancery on the Lake Condominiums, thus providing its residents with extraordinary lakeside views. If you are interested in buying a condo in Kingstowne, Chancery on the Lake Condominiums is the perfect community. With 170 single and multi-level units in 13 buildings, this condominium complex has the perfect condo to suit your needs. 

Other fabulous features!  Other fabulous features keeping the BUZZ going in Kingstowne include three community centers, two swimming pools, two state-of-the-art fitness centers, an aerobics studio, tennis courts, volley ball courts, numerous tot lots, and approximately 22 miles of bike trails and walking trails. All activities and amenities are within walking distance of Kingstowne area homes.  For addition information on living in Kingstowne, please read my blog titled Buying a Home in Kingstowne? Discover the Kingstowne Experience …!  If you are active duty military with relocation plans to Fort Belvoir, please view my blog titled Relocating to Fort Belvoir? Find the Perfect House in Kingstowne VA.

Interested in buying a home in Kingstowne? Feel free to contact me for assistance. For immediate access to Kingstowne real estate and homes for sale, simply follow the preceding link. 

If you are interested in buying or selling real estate in Alexandria, Lorton, Woodbridge or any of the surrounding areas in northern Virginia and Maryland, please contact me for assistance.  My specializations include first-time home buyers, home sellers, luxury homes, short sales, foreclosures, relocation, and divorce.   

Lisa Dunham, MBA, CDPE, ABR, ePRO 
Allison James Estates & Homes 
703-298-6546 (Mobile) 
Lisa@LisaDunham.com
www.LisaDunham.com

            

Relocating to Fort Belvoir? Find the Perfect House in Kingstowne, VA!

Kingstowne is a popular suburban community comprised of over 5300 homes.  Located in northern Virginia’s Fairfax County (Alexandria), Kingstowne is a commuter’s dream away from the neighboring Fort Belvoir Army Installation.  With only a 10-minute drive separating the two, Kingstowne offers a variety of single and multi-level condominiums, townhouses, and single family homes from which to choose.  Known for its rich architectural styles and tasteful home designs, Kingstowne offers a unique and rewarding experience for each individual home buyer.  

Living in Kingstowne has its advantages!  One of the many advantages to living in Kingstowne is the convenience of the Kingstowne Shopping Center. Residents enjoy a full range of eateries, home stores, and retail stores all located within walking distance of area homes.  For more information on the shops available in Kingstowne, please read my blog titled Buying a Home in Kingstowne?  Discover the Kingstowne Experience…!

Kingstowne is also home to the well-celebrated Kingstowne Farmer’s Market.  Each year from May 7 – October 29, Kingstowne residents enjoy a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, and cut flowers from local area producers.  Other delectable treats available at the Kingstowne Farmer’s Market include an assortment of organic foods, fresh eggs, home-baked bread, cookies, and other baked goods, milk, cheese, meat products, as well as hand-made arts and crafts.  Feel free to stop by the Kingstowne Farmer’s Market and find out first-hand what all the fuss is about!

If you are relocating to Fort Belvoir, consider buying your next home in Kingstowne, VA!  Lots of military families currently reside in Kingstowne and I am certain that … together … we can find the perfect home for you too!  For information on Kingstowne condos, townhouses, and single family homes currently available for sale, simply click the link to search Kingstowne homes for sale now.  For questions regarding the listings or to schedule a showing, please contact me for assistance.

If you are interested in buying or selling real estate in Alexandria, Lorton, Woodbridge or any of the surrounding areas in northern Virginia and Maryland, please contact me for assistance.  My specializations include first-time home buyers, home sellers, luxury homes, short sales, foreclosures, relocation, and divorce.  Search MLS Listings now.

Lisa Dunham, MBA, CDPE, ABR, ePRO 
Allison James Estates & Homes 
703-298-6546 (Mobile) 
Lisa@LisaDunham.com
www.LisaDunham.com

         

Picking Up the Pieces When Your Dreams of Homeownership Fall Apart!

Homeownership has always been synonymous with “The American Dream.”  With the influx of flexible loan programs, interest only loans, and other mortgage lending options in recent years, many people have been able to achieve “The American Dream.”  But what happens when your dream of homeownership falls apart?  For many families, it is the beginning of an emotional roller coaster with varying periods of despair, avoidance, disillusion, acceptance, and hope.

So, how do you pick up the pieces when your dreams of homeownership fall apart?  You do so by holding fast to “acceptance without blame” and “hope for the future.”  I realize that accomplishing this is no small feat!  Therefore, I would like to extend an offer to assist you along the way.  Regardless of your homeownership status, I invite you to contact me to confidentially discuss the options available to you.  You are…by far…not alone as many homeowners are faced with the same types of scenarios. Therefore, please feel comfortable in contacting me for assistance and know that I will always have your best interest at heart!

If you are interested in buying or selling real estate in Alexandria, Lorton, Woodbridge or any of the surrounding areas in northern Virginia and Maryland, please contact me for assistance.  My specializations include first-time home buyers, home sellers, luxury homes, short sales, foreclosures, relocation, and divorce.  Search MLS Listings now.

Lisa Dunham, MBA, CDPE, ABR, ePRO 
Allison James Estates & Homes 
703-298-6546 (Mobile) 
Lisa@LisaDunham.com
www.LisaDunham.com

         

Should You Google Your Neighbors?

Inspired by recent events, which I have chosen to reveal in limited details, I ponder the question …Should You Google Your Neighbors?  For most home buyers, getting to know your neighbors typically takes place after you have moved into your desired neighborhood.  However on several occasions, real estate agents and their buyer clients have held minimal conversations with various neighbors while previewing homes.

Chatting with community residents is a normal part of the house hunting process.  New buyers want information on the neighbor particulars and existing homeowners are interested in the new buyer.  But … how many times have REALTORS® and their buyer clients chatted with an existing homeowner and the conversation seemed a bit odd?  For many of us, this has probably happened on more than one occasion.  Perhaps you all discussed the occurrence once you returned to the car, shrugged it off, and continued your house hunting endeavors.

Now fast forward a few months ...  

The buyer clients have settled into their new home.  The REALTOR® has since contacted the buyers on a couple of occasions and all seemed well.  One day, the REALTOR® gets a phone call from the buyers.  Remember the neighbor you all chatted with a few months ago?  You know ... the one that seemed a bit odd.  Well as it turns out … the neighbor is a fugitive … on the run for 7 years for multiple felonies.  He was apprehended late last night!

In light of this scenario ... 

Should You Google Your Neighbors?  Of course in this case, it is unlikely that Google would have revealed the neighbor’s true identity because he gave a false name on the day you all met. However, a quick review of the tax records would have revealed that this “odd little neighbor” was not a verifiable homeowner!  

... Have You Googled Your Neighbors Lately? ...

If you are interested in buying or selling real estate in Alexandria, Lorton, Woodbridge or any of the surrounding areas in northern Virginia and Maryland, please contact me for assistance.  My specializations include first-time home buyers, home sellers, luxury homes, short sales, foreclosures, relocation, and divorce.  Search MLS Listings now.

Lisa Dunham, MBA, CDPE, ABR, ePRO 
Allison James Estates & Homes 
703-298-6546 (Mobile) 
Lisa@LisaDunham.com
www.LisaDunham.com