Divorcing couples with a house to sell could loose valuable dollars by putting a listed price in the court order. The real estate market is constanly changing. One minute prices are going up the next they are going down. Using an appraisal or CMA from a month or so ago that values the house at say $500,000 could be out of date today when you had 3 homes in the neighborhood that sold for between $525,000-$550,000.  If you happen to be in a declining market and homes are now selling for less than $500,000 you become that over priced listing that just sits there with out showings.  Worse yet you get the bottom feeders who then low ball it. Fixed prices in court orders can not keep up with the market at that given time. Other things that can effect price is condition. Are there pet roaming ... 10/18/2021

The Impact of Credit in Divorce Finance While going through a divorce, a credit score might seem like the smallest concern, but a surprise drop can undermine all progress being made toward the resolution of the real estate side of the case. Lenders do not give divorcing spouses special treatment, so it’s vital to understand how credit can tank a buy-out or new purchase that is otherwise secure. Whether or not a divorcing spouse will be able to qualify for a mortgage and secure housing is tied to their credit score, so they will need to know how to protect it while going through a divorce. Here are five things to keep in mind as a divorcing spouse plans a new future.  Factor in Joint Debt: Mutual debt can impair future financing because both sides are impacted even though only one side m... 08/25/2021

Divorce and As-is” in Court Orders Are a ChallengeBy Laurel StarkGetting your client to agree to anything can feel like it requires an act of Congress. When your client vehemently refuses to lift a finger or spend a dime on the house in order to sell it, you may be inclined to tell them they won’t have to, as long as they just agree to sell it.  This happens by adding a clause in the court order that reads “the property is to be sold as is”. That makes complete sense - from the divorce process’s point of view. From the real estate side, it can lead the transaction directly into a brick wall. This brick wall is named the “as-is” stipulation.  This rang true in a recent case. The house was ordered to be sold “as is.” Additionally, the house payment had not been made in three years, it was... 07/19/2021

June 2021 Real Estate Market UpdateJune 2021 started out strong but we are seeing a slight slow down as buyers are getting contract fatig. After writing mulitpal offers and getting beat out, they are not as eager to do it again.  As of  June 29 2021 159 listings Coming Soon  Average sale price has dropped slightly to $471,000 from $480,000 in May 861 Solds 970 Under Contract 511 Active Days On market is on average 5 50% - 55% of all contracts seen higher than list price.   Here is a snapshot of May's Real Estate Market.   Should you have any questions about the current real estate market, or any other real estate issues, I’m here as a resource.  07/02/2021

Divorce Listings And Investors - Beware!By Laurel Stark, CEO & Founder, The Ilumni InstituteDivorcing spouses with a house to sell need to ensure they do not fall prey to unscrupulous activities that could cost them tens of thousands of dollars- sometimes more. There is a lot that goes on behind the real estate scenes with investors (especially in this hot market). We all know that the goal of the investor is to profit, and in real estate that means "buying low and selling high." In the current market where we are seeing many offer for just one property, it is hard for investors to accomplish their goal of making an acquisition at a low enough price to turn a profit.That means getting creative at the divorcing couples expense!Most investors know that most Realtors can be their ticket in... 06/30/2021

Cry For Help From a Blog Post ReaderYesterday, as I was walking from one end of the Gettysburg Battlefield Park with my young cousin, my phone rang.  Thankfully, the number of interruptions to my day off were minimal.  In addition to two short client calls, there was one from an unknown number.  There is always promise in an unknown number, particularly those with an area code local to my service area.On the other end of the call was a worried home seller.  He was under contract to sell his home, in the middle of trying to remediate HOA violations and unable to get a return call from his HOA.  Hmm.  Maybe a For Sale By Owner?  Nope.  He has an agent who has also not answered his call in DAYS.  That's not good.While empathizing with his situation, I expressed that I really could not get ... 06/16/2021

Generational Impact of Covid-19 on Divorce By Laurel Stark, CEO & Founder, The Ilumni InstituteIn a recent consumer report, WGSN shared insights in to how different generations respond to stress such as COVID-19. Gen Zers are leading the way in divorce filings, according to Pew Research Center. Baby Boomers are increasing their divorce rate by 109%. The culture of these generations vary greatly. As a professional at the helm of the most stressful crisis of their lives, CDRE's - Certified Divorce Real Estate Expert, can offer customized solutions for each generation. Baby Boomers (born between 1946-1964) are increasingly afraid of going out. As such, they are embracing virtual connections at higher levels. Most Boomers have smart phones, texting and talking are the common uses, but now t... 06/14/2021

Who is on title and why it matters is sometimes over looked. Facts:Husband and wife married 16 years ago. About five years in the marriage they bought a house. In March of 2017, they divorce. Husband remained living in the house, they both are on title to the house, and both remained on the mortgage. The property deed states that  the property is owned by "right of survivorship", and the the divorce decree did not address any specific terms regarding the house other than title vesting remains in place until further agreement.  In 2018 the husband remarried. His new wife moved into the house, they had a set of twin daughters in 2020. They have been paying the mortgage out of the joint income.  The husband suddenly passed away a few months ago - with out a will. The deed to the property w... 06/07/2021

Divorce & Capital Gains on Real Property Property values have skyrocketed over the last couple of years in the Gainesville, VA housing market - leaving Uncle Sam to be the fly in the ointment!  First and foremost, disclaimer: I am not an accountant and this shall not be construed as tax advice.  I had a recent divorce case where the wife was blind sited by the capital gains hit. She faced a $62,000 hit when she agreed to take the couples rental property in the divorce - a condo they bought when they first married.  In the divorce the husband keep the big house and she got the condo. She planned to sell the condo and use the equity to buy a house closer to the kids. That's when she got hit with reality! What she didn't know when she agreed to take the condo and sell it later was that she... 06/02/2021

A Certified Divorce Real Estate Expert (CDRE™) is a REALTOR who has passed The Ilumni Institute’s rigorous certification program. This program is application-only, and is taught by a faculty of family law attorneys, mediators, certified mortgage professionals, and real estate experts, with judicial officers as guest speakers.REQUIREMENTS Licensed Realtor for 3+ Years | Minimum 45 Closings |License in Good Standing | No Disciplinary ActionsAPPLICATION Resume | Written Essay | Two Letters of Recommendation |Proof of Production | Screening Interview | Attorney InterviewLIVE 4O-HOUR COURSE Anatomy of Divorce | The Landscape of Divorce Finance | Divorce Court 101 |The Ethics of CDREs | Communication, Bias & Neutrality | The Divorce Listings Process |Observe Live Proceedings in Family Court |... 05/13/2021

Here are 5 real estate words to increase your vocabulary. 1- C.L.U.E.A C.L.U.E report is a comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange. It is a file that is compiled on you by the insurance industry. 2- ComminglingCommingling is to mix funds held in trust with other funds. Example a builder or broker hold funds in trust ( should be deposited into trust account) instead the money is deposited in to a general account. 3- Slant DrillingSlant drilling is a method of drilling fo oil or gas in an ajoining property when property rights have not been granted.4- GNMAGNMA (Ginnie Mae) Goverment National Mortgage Assoication. A federal association working with F.H.A. , which offers special assistance in obtaining mortgages and purchase mortgages.5- Abstract of TitileAbstract of title is a compilation... 04/14/2021

When selling your home you should prepare your home for the home inspection. Being prepared will make the home inspection less stressful and less likely that the inspector will need to make a follow up trip.  The inspector will need to have access to a lot of things you may not be thinking about.Example: 1- Attic- besure it's unlocked and clear away items from the attic access. If the attic access is in the garage remove vehicles and any boxes that might be in the way.2- Gas Appliances -Confirm all appliances and gas fireplaces have lit pilot lights. Confirm all untilites are on. This is especially important in a property that you might be renting or that is vacant. 3- Plumbing - Clear out under the cabinet area and sinks for the inspector to have easy access to.4- Alarm system- Turn of... 04/09/2021

Stonewall Golf Gainesville, VA  will be hosting a Sip & Swing Golf Clinic Friday, April 9, 2021 from 6pm-7pm. Learning to golf has never been as much fun and easier. Its a full swing golf clinic led by PGA  favorite, Patrick McCarthy. Price included ball range and one hour of instructions. Golf clubs provided if needed. The event is open to the first 8 people to RSVP. Come as a solo or bring a friend.Price $26.00 for members $36.00 for non members. Payment in advance.Everyone MUST RSVP on the Women on Course website to reserve a spot. Here is the link: https://www.womenoncourse.com/sip-amp;-swing-edp-4478-04-2021.html Susan Jacobs, Real Estate Collaboration Specialist- DivorceSamson Properties703-437-4418Susan@SusanOJacobs.com wwwSusanJacobs.com 04/08/2021

                                      8 Reason to Work with a Real Estate Collaboration Specialist-DivorceWhat make a real estate agent trained in collaborative divorce different?An agent trained in collaborative divorce:1-Works as the project manager and gathers house related documents.2-Makes both spouses aware of all the facts. 3- Works with a team of mortgage professionals, home inspectors, title agencies and insurance agents.4- Helps the lawyer get the two pieces of valuable information that is missing from the case file. 5-Helps the financial professional get the missing documents for the martial balance sheet. 6-A RCS-D helps to protect both spouses credit score and preserve home ownership eligibility. 7- They ask the question: Would you keep the house if you knew all the facts? ... 03/10/2021

So Many Things to Consider Before Listing For RentMeeting with a soon-to-be landlord yesterday, there was so much to cover.  In addition to the preparation of the house, which was the declared reason for the meeting, there were a lot of questions the landlord needed to answer for me to accurately present the listing.How long of a lease minimum and maximum would he accept? I think my thoughts on lease term were eye opening for him. All landlords I have ever met would love a two year commitment unless they are planning to sell in a year.Will pets be accepted?  If so, are there limitations to size, breed or species?  How about pet deposit?  Refundable or not?  Monthly pet rent?  While I am a huge animal lover and enjoy my furry family, I realize the damage that pets can do to a home.  Carp... 01/05/2021

When a Buyer Finds "The One," There is No Stopping ThemThe year 2020 has been one of the most intense seller's markets ever.  In fact, having been licened since 2005, I can honestly say, I have never seen another market like this one.  The demand for housing is out of control.  Sellers were reluctant to list their homes either due to pandemic concerns or due to worries of not being able to find another home to buy.  Only two buyers of the near dozen I helped in the Gainesville market won their home first try out.  Others that lost out in multiple offer scenarios one to five times were discouraged.  They would wonder if they would ever get a home.  As I told each one, "When you find the home that is meant to be yours, there will be no stopping you in writing the offer it takes to win tha... 12/10/2020

Save Money and EnergyMost people don’t know how easy it is to make their homes run on less energy, and here at InterNACHI, we want to change that. Drastic reductions in heating, cooling, and electricity costs can be accomplished through very simple changes, most of which homeowners can do themselves. Of course, for homeowners who want to take advantage of the most up-to-date knowledge and systems in home energy efficiency, InterNACHI energy auditors can perform in-depth testing to find the best energy solutions for your particular home. Why make your home more energy efficient? Here are a few good reasons: Federal, state, utility, and local jurisdictions’ financial incentives, such as tax breaks, are very advantageous for homeowners in most parts of the U.S. It saves money. It costs les... 11/02/2020

"I Can Explain It to You, I Can't Understand It for You"Another day in the Bristow-Gainesville real estate market, another offer submitted for a buyer client to be piled on the mound of offers the seller will receive.  Every buyer has to go through a learning curve when they enter the market, even buyers who have purchased in the past or in another market.  The low inventory and intense buyer demand in the Bristow-Gainesville real estate market have made house hunting feel impossible.  And even though their agent may understand exactly what the terms most likely to win over the stack of other offers, some buyers are simply risk averse.There are buyers that hear strategy for writing offers and pick it up right away.  And then there are buyers that hear strategies over and over and won't ... 10/23/2020

No Man Left Behind During the House Hunt The pace of the real estate market in the Bristow/Gainesville area, really for all of Northern Virginia, is insane.  While seventy percent of my business is being at the helm of listings and assisting my sellers in staging, pricing, marketing and negotiating offers, I have seen it from that side most often.  Incredibly short marketing times and multiple offers are common in all price ranges.   A buyer can fall in love with a home while sitting in their pajamas on the couch at 10pm Sunday night and before their showing Monday at 3pm, it is GONE!  Sellers are in control and buyers may as well be trying to grab a hold of something in the middle of a tornado.  When helping two sets of relocating buyers from out of the area this week, I felt the other... 07/12/2020

One Bedroom Historic Home in Gainesville SOLDOn May 16th (2020,) I had the pleasure of listing a truly unique property in Gainesville, VA.  Three years earlier I had represented the buyer in the purchase of The John Trone House, located at 8200 Buckland Mill Road.  Now, three years later, that owner was ready to move on.  Three years in a one bedroom, one bathroom home was enough for him.  Though he thoroughly appreciated the historic nature of the property, life was moving him in a different direction and he needed more room.To say it is difficult to pull comps for a 194 year old home that is registered as a Federal, State and local landmark is an understatement.  It is nearly impossible.  For starters, I'm not sure the many members of our MLS understand what a historic designation in ... 07/03/2020