Economic Initiatives | op. Skip to main content Economic Initiatives Twitter Facebook Mobile Maps Webcasts. Crime Map | Latest Crime Alerts | DC Police Union. My website - Search for Properties, Open Houses or Set up your own search! MRIS Email - Instruction Manual (pdf) Webcast: What is a Market Snapshot? MRIS - (Video 2min) What is the 411 on my properties I get emailed daily? Ten Apps Every Homebuyer Should Have. When it comes to staying organize and efficient during the home-buying process your best tool might already be in your pocket: your smartphone.
Whether you are buying a house, getting a mortgage or doing some remodeling, here are 10 must-have real estate apps. HomeSnap If you’re checking out a potential neighborhood and stumble across a home for sale, this free app for the IPhone allows you to upload a picture of the home and it will display available interior pictures, selling price, and previous sale history.
The app culls data from Multiple Listing Service and allows users to schedule showings. House Hunter Continue Reading Below It’s hard to keep track of all the details when house hunting, but House Hunter does all the hard work for you by providing a scorecard that organizes notes and photos of potential homes. AroundMe When it comes to real estate, it’s all about location. The Dictionary of Real Estate Terms Home Value Pro Opens a New Window. Mortgage Calculator Mortgage Rates Houzz. First Time Home Buyer Tips. There are few things as exciting as purchasing your first home and beginning to build a life, whether you have chosen a bachelor pad in an up and coming area, a modern family home in a quiet suburb, or a period property that you want to restore to its former glory. Follow the first time home buyer tips below and you will be well on your way to living the dream. While buying your first property is a hugely exciting step, it is risky by nature.
While older more experienced buyers, who may have bought and sold a number of houses during their lifetime, will be able to spot a dud at 20 paces, those without this experience may find themselves blinded to the pitfalls of a home by the excitement of becoming a property owner. It is also easy to fall in love with every home you can afford the first time you buy a property (or none because you are unable to determine the wants from the needs). First Steps For New Home Buyers What Should I Look For In A Home? Research Each Property. 6 Stellar Reasons to Buy a Home in 2016 - Real Estate News and Advice. Is it really 2016 already? For those of you who happen to be planning on buying a home in the new year—or even just trying to—there’s a whole lot to celebrate.
Why? A variety of financial vectors have dovetailed to make this the perfect storm for home buyers to get out there and make an (winning) offer. Here are six home-buying reasons to be thankful while ringing in the new year: Reason No. 1: Interest rates are still at record lows Even though they may creep up at any moment, it’s nonetheless a fact that interest rates on home loans are at historic lows, with a 30-year fixed-rate home loan still hovering around 4%. “Remember 18.5% in the ’80s?” Reason No. 2: Rents have skyrocketed Another reason home buyers are lucky is that rents are going up, up, up!
“In most metropolitan cities, monthly rent is comparable to that of a monthly mortgage payment, sometimes more,” says Heather Garriock, mortgage agent for The Mortgage Group. Reason No. 3: Home prices are stabilizing Please, Mr. iPhone App Ranks Search For mortgage-- TopAppCharts.com. Tax Deductions For Home Buyers. With what typically feels like a sieve, draining directly to the government, this guide on tax deductions for home buyers should help consumers plan for and perhaps net a future tax refund instead of filling Uncle Sam’s pockets. Each January we get the subtle reminders that our annual tax filings will be due soon which means employers will start sending W2’s, clients will send 1099’s, and banks will send dividend statements (hopefully) and interest and mortgage statements.
Since consumers do not have to file their annual taxes until April 15, the earlier you gain a better understanding of the tax deductions for home buyers, as well as how to calculate your homeowner tax benefits, the easier you will be able to understand both your costs and the tax implications. Regardless of the type of home you purchase, in most instances you will need to be able to itemize your taxes in order to qualify for the below home buyer tax deductions and credits. Breakdown of Home Ownership Costs Capital Gains. Jennifer's RE/MAX Property Website - Access my realtor database of homes! The Home Buying Process. 16th Street Heights: DC’s Sleeper Neighborhood. A Home for Sale in 16th Street Heights 16th Street Heights, the quiet residential neighborhood between 16th Street and Georgia Avenue, is perhaps the complete opposite of Columbia Heights, its neighbor to the south.
While Columbia Heights has become a business and retail hub in recent years complemented by a slew of new residential developments, 16th Street Heights has virtually nothing in the way of restaurants, bars, stores or new condos. Instead it offers large stately homes in a quiet, green environment with short commutes to downtown. “It makes it a pretty neighborhood to walk around,” Judy Keyserling, who bought her 1920s townhouse in the neighborhood’s southwest corner in 2005, said. One similarity with Columbia Heights is that the neighborhood is attracting buyers. Where It Is Houses: Larger Space, Lower Cost Arts and Crafts Home The average price of detached homes that have sold in the past six months is $564,000, and $448,000 for row houses, according to realtor Kevin Wood.
A New Website Lets You Track DC Developments | Washingtonian. The DC government has more than 40 real-estate developments under its management, spread across the entire city. But keeping track of the construction site in your neighborhood—whether it’s a school reconstruction or hulking, new, mixed-use project—has usually required relentless internet sleuthing and document shuffling. But a website launched Monday evening by the office of Brian Kenner, the city’s deputy mayor for planning and economic development, aims to simplify the process for residents curious about nearby developments. The site contains the basic information on the projects, which range in scale from a stormwater pond in Northeast’s Fort Lincoln to the massive Capitol Crossing project straddling Interstate 395, and sit in every ward except Ward 3.
Each development’s file contains its address, private-sector developer, square footage, city-government manager, estimated completion date, and, if applicable, the catchy brand name it will use when it opens for business. Project Pipeline Database (... - Public Access Dashboard. Where We Live. Washington DC homes, neighborhoods, architecture, and real estate | Curbed DC. Neighborhoods in Washington DC, Northern Virgina, and Maryland. 10 Best-Kept Secrets for Buying a Home | Easy Ideas for Organizing and Cleaning Your Home. Buying Secret #10: Keep Your Money Where It Is It’s not wise to make any huge purchases or move your money around three to six months before buying a new home. You don’t want to take any big chances with your credit profile. Lenders need to see that you’re reliable and they want a complete paper trail so that they can get you the best loan possible. If you open new credit cards, amass too much debt or buy a lot of big-ticket items, you’re going to have a hard time getting a loan.
Buying Secret #9: Get Pre-Approved for Your Home Loan There’s a big difference between a buyer being pre-qualified and a buyer who has a pre-approved mortgage. Anybody can get pre-qualified for a loan. Sell a Home by Staging Useful Tips on Home Inspections How to Avoid Costly Buying Mistakes Get to Know the Neighborhood Remodeling Safety Tips Pros and Cons of Buying a New Home Buying Secret # 7: Don’t Try to Time the Market Don’t obsess with trying to time the market and figure out when is the best time to buy.
How to Avoid Overpaying For a Mortgage. Get The Best Loan Terms When you go to buy a home, if you are like most people you are going to need to get a loan. Because you are borrowing money, you will naturally have to pay a certain amount of interest to the lender. But many home buyers do not realize that the amount of interest you pay, along with other fees, can vary substantially depending on which lender you use. Nobody wants to overpay on their mortgage. To avoid spending too much, it is worthwhile to shop around when you are looking for a loan, and to consider the big picture before you go with a specific lender.
Only by considering all the important factors – including interest rate, points and fees – can you determine what makes a loan the best for you. If you stop and take a look what what less desirable terms can cost you over the length of the loan it is considerable. Things To Consider About Your Loan There are several aspects to getting a mortgage loan that you need to look at, including: Interest Rate Fees Down Payment. Keep You Home Purchase On Track | Prevent Home Sale From Collapsing. By: G. M. Filisko You’ve found your dream home. Make sure missteps don’t prevent a successful closing. A home purchase isn’t complete until you make it to the closing. 1. You may think fudging your income a little or omitting debts when applying for a mortgage will go unnoticed. 2. Lenders double-check buyers’ credit right before the closing to be sure their financial condition hasn’t weakened.
Although it’s tempting to purchase new furniture and other items for your new home, or even a new car, wait until after the closing. 3. The lender may refuse to fund your loan if you quit or change jobs before you close the purchase. 4. If your contract requires you to do something before the sale, do it. 5. Get your funds together a week or so before the closing, so you don’t have to ask for a delay. More from HouseLogic How maintenance adds to home values Reducing closing stress G.M. What New Homeowners Need to Know | New Homeowners Checklist. 1. Not Knowing Where the Main Water Shutoff Valve Is Water from a burst or broken plumbing pipe can spew dozens of gallons into your home’s interior in a matter of minutes, soaking everything in sight — including drywall, flooring, and valuables. In fact, water damage is one of the most common of all household insurance claims.
Quick-twitch reaction is needed to stave off a major bummer. Before disaster hits, find your water shutoff valve, which will be located where a water main enters your house. Make sure everyone knows where it’s located and how to close the valve. A little penetrating oil on the valve stem makes sure it’ll work when you need it to. 2. Ah, spring! This free service keeps you safe and helps avoid costly repairs. The ground around your foundation should slope away from your house at least 6 inches over 10 feet. This kind of water damage doesn’t happen overnight — it’s accumulative — so the sooner you get after it, the better (and smarter) you’ll be. 4. 6. Related: Buying A Fixer Upper | Fixer Upper Homes | Buying A Home. By: G. M. Filisko When you buy a fixer-upper house, you can save a ton of money, or get yourself in a financial fix.
Trying to decide whether to buy a fixer-upper house? Follow these seven steps, and you’ll know how much you can afford, how much to offer, and whether a fixer-upper house is right for you. 1. TV remodeling shows make home improvement work look like a snap. Do you really have the skills to do it? 2. Get your contractor into the house to do a walk-through, so he can give you a written cost estimate on the tasks he’s going to do.If you’re doing the work yourself, price the supplies.Either way, tack on 10% to 20% to cover unforeseen problems that often arise with a fixer-upper house. 3.
Ask local officials if the work you’re going to do requires a permit and how much that permit costs. 4. Get written estimates for repairs before you commit to buying a home with structural issues. Don’t purchase a home that needs major structural work unless: 5. 6. 7. Home inspection. G.M. Inman Why did the interest rate forecast for 2016 change? - March 21. Tax Deductions For Home Buyers. Tax Topics - Topic 455 Moving Expenses. Topic 455 - Moving Expenses If you moved due to a change in your job or business location, or because you started a new job or business, you may be able to deduct your reasonable moving expenses but not any expenses for meals.
You can deduct your moving expenses if you meet all three of the following requirements: Your move closely relates to the start of work You meet the distance test You meet the time test Move Related to Start of Work - Your move must closely relate both in time and in place to the start of work at your new location. You can consider moving expenses incurred within one year from the date you first reported to work at the new location as closely related in time to the start of work.
A move generally relates closely in place if the distance from your new home to the new job location is not more than the distance from your former home to the new job location. What Are The Benefits Of A Having A Pre-Listing Home Inspection. Should I Have A Home Inspection On My Home Before Selling It? What Are The Benefits Of A Pre-Listing Home Inspection Getting your home inspected before you list it for sale can streamline the sales process and help you avoid any unexpected surprises. What most sellers don’t realize is the home inspection is the place where more sales fall apart than any other. A pre-listing home inspection will allow you to get a clear picture about the state of your house – including any problems that may derail a sale. Why You Should Get A Pre-Listing Home Inspection Home inspections are generally performed on behalf of a buyer so that the party purchasing the home knows the true condition of the house. 1. By getting an inspection before listing, you can help eliminate a lot of stress surrounding the sale. 2.
The price you set for your home is one of the most important parts of the sales process. 3. Pre-Listing Home Inspections Can Speed Up The Sales Process 4. 5. 6. 7. . © 2016, Kyle Hiscock. 3 Tips for Evaluating Multiple Offers In Real Estate - Wendy Weir Relocation. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Multiple offers are a home seller’s dream. But when they come in, it’s not necessarily all roses. How To Generate Multiple Offers On A Home In Real Estate via Kyle Hiscock Receiving multiple offers means you’ve presented your home to the market in its best possible light and that you’ve positioned it correctly concerning price. Identify the best buyer and work with them to make a deal The best buyer isn’t necessarily the one with the highest-priced offer.
The best buyer has seen the home multiple times and has made themselves known to you and your agent. A good listing agent will be quick to identify who is the best buyer. How to Handle a Real Estate Offer via Bill Gassett Use the terms of a lower-priced offer with your best buyer If you have a few offers, they may run the gamut from over-asking to lowballing. If your agent can go back to the buyers’ agents and say “We’ve received four offers,” it will make the top two buyers want it even more. What is a Mortgage Pre-Approval Vs Pre-Qualification? Common Issues Found During the Home Inspection.
Clever Packing Tips for a Stress-Free Move. Things to Consider About a Neighborhood When Buying a Home.