An Important Reminder That Spring Is More Than Just A Time To Watch The Flowers Blossom. SPRING MEANS REAL ESTATE BUSINESS!!  Are You Ready?? For as long as I can remember, the real estate sales season for the year to come begins just about the time the SPRING season arrives.  Every wonder why??  Some reasons are below.  You may have a few to add.      1.  Corporate relocations focus on the spring months to make personnel transfers.     2.  Buying in the Spring months will permit students to complete the year in place.     3.  Buying in the Spring months avoids the risk of winter weather difficulties.     4.  Tradition of buying in the Spring.     5.  Tradition of selling in the Spring.     6.  Many homes for sale put on a colorful landscaping show in the Spring months. For years, as an... 03/05/2014

THE WEATHER IN LOVETTSVILLE, VIRGINIA on March 4, 2014. I didn't believe it either. At least we still have electricity.  Today looks to be sunny and with minimum wind. Got to haul in more wood.  Tue7am8am9am10am11am12pm1pm2pm ForecastTemp (°F)RealFeel®Humidity 7am 8am 9am 10am 11am 12pm 1pm 2pm Partly Sunny Partly Sunny Partly Sunny Partly Sunny Mostly Sunny Mostly Sunny Mostly Sunny Mostly Sunny -1° 3° 7° 15° 22° 24° 26° 27° 2° 7° 14° 25° 33° 36° 37° 36° 96% 93% 85% 71% 62% 55% 50% 47% _______________________________________________________________________                                                   Not quite yet young man.  Not quite yet!!!                            Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988, serving home buyers in Loudoun County Virginia.   03/03/2014

                                                   Space Cowboys What is more exciting than being an astronaut and crew member on a space ship??  I can't imagine anything more exciting, challenging, difficult and rewarding than going into space and returning safely. In Space Cowboys, NASA is faced with a challenge that they don't have the ability to solve.  Seems that a Russian satellite is having a mechanical/engineering problem and is likely to collide with the Earth.  What's curious about the situation is that the Russians aren't supposed to have certain technology involved in the design of the guidance system.  Space Cowboys to the rescue.  That defective guidance system was designed by Clint Eastwood 40 years ago.  How did the Russians even get the technology??  So, when NASA tries... 02/21/2014

HEY MR. HOME BUYER.  WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE AN OFFER ON THIS PIG IN A POKE??? I don't know what it is about disclosures, but often in MD and VA getting required disclosures up front is just not easy.  Maryland has a 5 page disclosure/disclaimer statement.  Virginia has a property disclosure that doesn't disclose but advises the buyer to get a home inspection. I want disclosures BEFORE showing a home for sale.  If there are defects that are disclosed, I want to review them and guide the home buyer accordingly.  Alternately, I want disclosures to at least be available in the home for sale. Our MLS has a feature that permits listing agents to upload the required disclosures and they are available right there with the property listing.  Yet, while things are improving, it's rare to find the... 02/20/2014

Homes for Sale in Lovettsville, $500,000 or more.  Loudoun County, Virginia 20180. Luxury Homes and the best prices in Loudoun County. MARC Train just 2 miles away. $899,000 12628 MOUNTAIN RD 3 BR 3 full BA MLS# LO7985148 LOVETTSVILLE Zip: 20180 Subdivision: SHORT HILL Status: ACTIVE ? Listing Agency:BelleTerra REALTORS Multiple Photos|Virtual Tour|PropertyWizard™|Email $879,000 12860 BEEBE CT 5 BR 5 full 1 half BA MLS# LO8242782 LOVETTSVILLE Zip: 20180 Subdivision: BRUCE Status: ACTIVE ? Listing Agency:RE/MAX Real Estate Group Multiple Photos|Virtual Tour|PropertyWizard™|Email $799,000 40207 LOVETTSVILLE RD 4 BR 1 full 1 half BA MLS# LO7845717 LOVETTSVILLE Zip: 20180 Subdivision: SANBOWER-PFEIFER Status: ACTIVE ? Listing Agency:Century 21 Redwood Realty   $741,300 38685 BOLINGTON RD 4 ... 02/17/2014

Ramblers or Ranchers or Ranch Homes are popular with many home buyers.  SEE:  Ramblers for Sale in Loudoun County Virginia, February 10, 2014.                                     ____________Steps in a home present problems for many home owners.  However, there are other features that make the one story home popular with many home buyers and owners. Ramblers are often larger lots and offer more privacy.Steps are a problem or even a barrier for many home owners.Families with children often desire a one story home for safety. (CBS News) Every six minutes, an American child under the age of 5 falls down the stairs and is rushed to the hospital. That's the latest from the first nationally representative review of stair-related injuries in children. The report found nearly 932,000 children y... 02/10/2014

Waterford View Estates in Lovettsville, Virginia. 20180, New & Resales One of the most beautiful residential communities in Lovettsville, Virginia is Waterford View Estates.  This community was developed by Miller and Smith in about 2002, sales in Waterview View Estates slowed in the general real estate market slow-down in about 2006.  However, with wonderful home sites of 3 acres or more offering mountain views, the community is now offering wonderful home sites for new home buyers.  The builder is now K.Hovanian.  K.Hovanian is one of this Buyer's Agent's favorite builder.  I've sold this builder's homes in Maryland and Northern Virginia and the buyers are always pleased.  See existing and new homes for sale in Waterview below and, when you're ready to tour homes for sale, just call L... 02/09/2014

Homes for Sale in Lovettsville Virginia.  Priced right.Homes from 8 to 244 years old, if you're looking for value, homes in Lovettsville are well priced. Convenient to Leesburg, Purcellville, Dulles Toll Road, and MARC Train, many homes in Lovettsville are attractive to home buyers due to the transportation alternatives available. MARC Train Station in Brunswick MD, is just 2 miles from downtown Lovettsville. Homes for sale in Lovettsville, February 2014.                     City         List Price       List Date  Yr. Built Lovettsville $373,000 19-Nov-13 1988 Lovettsville $385,000 30-Nov-13 2006 Lovettsville $400,000 15-Jan-14 1962 Lovettsville $499,500 16-Nov-13 1770 Lovettsville $499,900 20-Oct-13 1992 Lovettsville $499,900 2-Aug-13 1973 Lovettsville $574,987 22-Mar-13 2002 Lovettsv... 02/09/2014

Thinking of Buying, Building in Rural Loudoun County? Do the Resarch. The last thing a real estate agent wants is to sell a property and have the buyer/client find out after closing that they have limited use of their recent rural purchase. THAT'S WHY WE RESEARCH, RESEARCH and then RESEARCH more for our buyer clients. Don't forget.  Virginia is a caveat emptor state and home sellers have no responsibility to disclose, verify or provide any information about the property they are selling.  Buying a home in rural areas requires a higher focus on matters of boundaries, water and sewer disposal, land use and much more. When selling rural properties in Loudoun County, some of the matters we research include: 1.  Is the property consistent with your planned use?2.  Is the water supply (well) ... 02/05/2014

New Homes in Lovettsville VA, $365,000 to $750,000.  Buyer REBATE. New Homes in Lovettsville, Virginia.  Best buys in the Loudoun County new home market. NEW HOMES IN LOVETTSVILLE, NEW CONSTRUCTION IN NEW TOWN CENTER Prices begin in the $365,000 range. Homefinders.com new home buyers REBATE, $3,500 to $7,500 (1% of purchase price). Closing from builder - $5,000. Contact Lenn for brochure or to tour lots. 800-711-7988. Lovettsville is our home and we'll help you make Lovettsville your home too.NEW HOMES IN LOVETTSVILLE, VIRGINIA include: Click photo below for more information. $389,990 4 Bedrooms 2 full 1 half Baths MLS# LO8048989 LOVETTSVILLE Zip: 20180 Subdivision: LOVETTSVILLE TOWN CENTER Status: ACTIVE ? Listing Agency:RE/MAX Gateway, LLC PropertyWizard™|Email $389,900 3 Bedrooms 2 f... 02/02/2014

Sick and Tired of the Cold???  Think of the Benefits. No one loves a warm summer more than I.  I find comfort in the sun's rays, especially when moving from indoors or from a shady area.  In fact, I believe that the ancient Egyptians were on to something with the worship of RA.  After all, good old RA was expected to bring creative power.  We can all use a bit of creative power. How often have we heard the advice of our elders proclaim that "we need some really cold weather to kill off the germs".  I've heard that all my life.  Who knows, there may be some truth in the statement. Another old addage is, of course, "we need some really cold weather to kill the bugs that kill trees".  Heard that all my life too and all one needs to become a believer is to read about the Emerald Ash Borer. ... 01/30/2014

Grocery Shopping in Lovettsville.  It's Very "Convenient"!! History.  Lovettsville Town Center was a wonderful plan.  It involved a grocery store, Trader Joe's, and some professional offices.  Also planned were several hundred new homes.  It was a lovely plan - - - until the housing crash of 2006.  Two of the three new home builders pulled out.  They were way overpriced for the Lovettsville market and only built 6 homes in 4 years.  The remaining builder was very smart and offered homes in a price that justified the commute to Lovettsville.  That builder (Ryan Homes) is still building and going strong.  I fully expect them to complete the New Town community.                   Lovettsville is a wonderful small town in northern Loudoun County, just 2 miles from the Potomac River crossing ... 01/26/2014

Homes for Sale in Lovettsville, Virginia, New and Resales. NEW HOMES FOR SALE IN LOVETTSVILLE - There are two significant communities in Lovettsville offering new homes, both to-be-built. Lovettsville Town Center.  These homes are constructed by Ryan Homes and offer good value, a well planned development and some very lovely home styles.  Priced from a base of about $364,900 to about $439,900, you'll love the community and the homes.  To-be-built purchasing allows maximum customization.  Call Lenn for an introduction to the builder and tour of the community and area of Lovettsville. Waterford View.  Construction by K.Hovanian Homes, these semi-luxury homes are built on 3 acres or more for an estate feel.  Base priced from about $490,000 to about $650,000.  With mountain views and a well... 01/22/2014

CONSUMERS:  WHERE ARE YOU SPENDING YOUR MONTHLY "HOUSING" DOLLARS? Do you rent your home?  Or, are you buying your home? Just because a budget for housing is moderate, that doesn't mean a person should forego the benefits of home ownership.  Inspired by a post this a.m. by Fred Cope.  See HERE. When buying their first home, the new home owners are probably going to acquire a long time debt.  If the price of their new home is $100,000, the amount financed is probably going to be from 80% to 100% of the purchase price.  YOU DO OWN YOUR HOME.  What is often overlooked is that, while the home purchase may be financed, the home is OWNED by the persons who purchased it.  Following the purchase, owners will usually pay for the home through regular payments which are a combination of small but ... 01/20/2014

Termites Causing A Problem?  What About The Surveyor, The Appraiser, The Underwriter? It's not over 'till it's over. The outbuildings, detached garage are going to be considered by a few more folks than the home inspector. Inspired by Clint Mckee, Home Inspector. What about the surveyor?What about the appraiser?What about the title insurer? Sure, the pest inspector often will limit their report to infestations of the living structure.  Same with a fence or shed.  However, if it's attached to the house or on a lot line, all of these entities will have an interest.  Further, that doesn't mean that the buyer won't have doubts when there is ANY negative report from ANY entity.  If a shed is over a lot line, the survey will show it.If a fence is over a lot line, the survey will show it.  The... 01/18/2014

A Bit Of Mischief To Start The New Year.  The Devil Makes Me Do It. How to handle "the roofing matter" when showing resale homes.  Yes, to me it's "the roofing matter".   How an agent treats roofs that may be beyond their useful life depends on many things.   This post was inspired by a thread of comments about selling homes and how to treat homes with older roofs when it comes to home inspections, insurance coverage and lender requirements. No, I'm not a roofer, but when I see a roof that is clearly not in great condition, no sand/gravel on the tiles, curled and swollen tiles, it doesn't take a roofer, a home inspector or a Rhodes Scholar to make a new roof a condition of the contract.  What does that mean??  It means that there is a clause in the offer to buy whereby the seller agrees... 01/01/2014

Why Resales Continue to Lag New Home Sales.  Could it be feasibility?? PREDICTIONS FOR A HOUSING BOOM in 2014?  We see these articles regularly from the national reporters.  Some who have actual real estate knowledge and many who do not.  The same articles could easily simply be republished year after year with a simple change in the year, 2010, 2013, 2014, etc. A HOUSING BOOM IN 2014?  A lot of wishful thinking IMO.  Until and unless the government reverses some of the mandates of 2013 and lets the housing industry get back to the market driven force it was for 50 years, the housing industry will continue to shrink as a percentage of our GDP.  The CFPB alone will dramatically reduce the number of qualified home buyers.  Did the national reporter take this into consideration when they m... 12/31/2013

ATTENTION NEW REAL ESTATE AGENTS!   From the voices of experience.  Inspired by an article this a.m. by Margaret Rome.  Read this factual guide for real estate agents.  Margaret is well experienced and understands the many limitations faced by home owners wishing to become home buyers and the limitations of agents to help those buyers. Home To Sell Contingency.  This is one of the reasons home buyers, especially contingent buyers benefit from a relationship with an experienced agent.  Their goals of purchasing a different home are aspirational and quite often lack feasibility.  If a home buyer lacks feasibility (can close on a home purchase in 30-60 days), an agent can best manage their time understanding the commitment required to help buyers achieve their goal.  Credit Issues.  If one... 12/31/2013

New Homes for Sale Lovettsville, Virginia, Special Incentives today. The builder for the new homes showing below telephoned me about 3:00 p.m. yesterday to advise me of special incentives for new home buyers purchasing this week.  I'll report back after I get the "specials for December".  This is Ryan Homes, the builder in Lovettsville Town Center, a very successful community in Lovettsville for many years.  Why successful?  Because when Ryan came in to Lovettsville, they introduced models that reflected what home buyers wanted in prices for new homes in Northern Loudoun County. Below is a home that Homefinders.com helped one of our buyer/client purchase in Lovettsville Town Center.  The home is spectacular and the square feet and amenities in the home make this home a special place for... 12/22/2013

New Homes for Sale, $400,000 to $500,000 base price in  Lovettsville VA, Loudoun County.  Homefinders.com helps with our Home Buyer's REBATE. One Percent of the purchase price of your new home purchase in Lovettsville is our gift to YOU when you work with Homefinders.com.  We know the builders, Ryan Homes and K.Hovanian are offering new homes, to be built, in Lovettsville.  We've sold homes in this community.  We've sold homes built by these builders. Our experience will help YOU know what you're buying. Of course, if a new home is not your preference, there are many existing homes for sale in Lovettsville.  Just call Lenn for a tour, 800-711-7988. Lovettsville Virginia is our home and new home sales is our speciality. Just call Lenn, 800-711-7988, for a tour of the model home.  We can ... 12/22/2013