Jeff Pearl's Local VA and MD Blog

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Real Estate Agent - RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA

ARCHIVED BLOG POSTS

2014 

Well, I try to do this about once per quarter, but in this case, it was approx 6 months since I last drained sediment out of our water heater. We have well and septic. But you can imagine how much dirt and grit accumulates in a hot water heater where this is never done. What are the benefits of d...
12/30/2014
Homebuyers, sometimes you have to start with the finished product costs and work backwards.  I got a call a few days ago from a buyer who had $750,000.00 to spend on buying a lot and having a new home built. Actually, it was his builder that called me because he knew I was working on developing s...
12/18/2014
Well, as usual, good news comes with bad news aattached. Since the average short sale forgiveness was over $70,000.00, sellers not having to count that $70,000.00 as income and pay taxes on it is good news.  However, I am showing some short sales now, so any contracts won't close until 2015. Will...
12/17/2014
Many buyers ask questions about laws, mortgages, and taxes. Whether they are doing a short sale, buying, or selling - tax,mortgage, and legal questions should be directed to persons licensed to provide those services. Even if I knew the answer to this question I received this morning:  " Let me k...
12/15/2014
#10 - " Improved Price" -  Overpriced from start, expect small price drops for 6 months. #9 - " Neighborhood Expert " - Does NAR charge for this designation? #8 - " Coming Soon" - It's been up for 39 days. What is your definition of " Soon"? #7 - " Won't Last" - I showed that house 5 months ago? ...
12/12/2014
Well, it's that time a year again when house fires are more common, and people wait until last minute to order firewood and have their chimneys cleaned. People also grab whatever supplemental heat devices they have handy, and most likely havn't been used since last winter. Those include electric ...
12/10/2014
Seems like there are never ending changes in the mortgage industry. Some changes seem to help buyers, other changes hurt buyers. One thing is certain, interest rates are still low for now! But, rates are suppose to go up in mid 2015. I don't think that will surprise anyone. So whether you are a b...
12/10/2014
 Back in mid 2006 I decided to look more closely at selling homes and land by auction. At that time, the market was heading for trouble. That was clear to just about everyone. But many sellers ignored the fact that home values were going to drop by 20-30% or more. Many factors were involved, but ...
12/06/2014
 I've heard agents say for years that it's a waste of time to work from Thanksgiving through New Years. They claim the market is dead, there's no business, no one wants to move during the holidays, buyers don't want to intrude on families that are having company, etc, etc.  I've even seen cases w...
12/05/2014
Well, to start, we had regulations here against signs " that can be moved by the atmosphere". I've seen signs swinging from one eye hook, blown around upside down, tied with ropes to the post to keep them from blowing back and forth, blown completely off, metal signs where the hooks ripped right ...
12/01/2014
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Jeff Pearl

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