MD, VA Foreclosures, First Time Buyers Grants, CDA Loans MD, Rehab Loans MD & VA

LAWS ABOUT THE USE OF CELL PHONES, TEXTING and BROKER LIABILITY.

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 12:02:51 -0600

LAWS ABOUT THE USE OF CELL PHONES, TEXTING and BROKER LIABILITY.

BE RISK AVERSE. Folks who know me know that I am very risk averse. That said, we can't live in a cocoon and we can't eliminate all risk to ourselves or our businesses. We can, however, take affirmative steps to limit liability.

This post inspired by June Lewis who wrote a thoughtful article today on this timely subject.

THE MATTER OF "DISTRACTED RESTRICTIONS" WHEN DRIVING. This subject came to my attention several years ago. Granted, it was prior to the introduction of texting. However, I believe that the risk to real estate brokers when an agent is texting is the same as an agent using a cell phone while on real estate business.

Cooley Godward, a Virginia-based law firm, was slapped with a $30 million wrongful death suit where an employee of theirs was conducting business on her cell phone when she struck and killed a fifteen-year-old boy with her car.

A good article about this matter can be found at Employers Guide to Cell Phone.

When I read about the Gooley Goodward case in Virginia, I contacted my attorney and, after consultation, we decided that, in order to limit broker liability, which would be similar to the law firm liability in the Cooley case, Homefinders.com would implement a BROKER POLICY to the effect that Independent Contractors who were agents of the brokerage would acknowledge receipt of a NOTICE that it was broker policy that agents would not use cell phones while driving.

Agents signed the acknowledgment letter and it was kept in their employee file.

I could not control agents' use of their cell phone while driving. However, implementation of the broker policy served several purposes.

It made agents more aware of the dangers of talking on the cell phone while driving.
It gave some protection to my real estate brokerage and myself as the broker.

WE ARE ALL AN "ACCIDENT ABOUT TO HAPPEN". To this day, I do not talk on my cell while driving. Calls go to my 800# and I check messages regularly. If I make an outgoing call on my cell while in my vehicle, I first pull over to a safe place. That said, I understand well the pressure for agents to be connected while on the road. Agents on my network are usually anxious to answer a call from me because they know it's important. I'm usually calling with a buyer referral. However, I still would not encourage them to answer a call while driving. With a "HANDS FREE" device, voice activated agents may have a margin of safety. However, law enforcement folks claim that simple talking is distracting. I don't have an answer for that, or anything else for that matter. I would just like to raise the awareness of the subject for my ActiveRain friends. When an agent doesn't answer, I assume that they are driving and wait a reasonable time before calling another agent to make the referral.

"Hey, let's be careful out there." Sergeant Phil Esterhaus, Hill Street Blues.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.

ALDIE VIRGINIA ITALIAN RESTAURANT - GOOD FOOD IN SOUTHERN LOUDOUN COUNTY.

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:30:36 -0600

STONE RIDGE IS A LOVELY RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY IN SOUTHERN LOUDOUN COUNTY ALONG ROUTE 50 JUST EAST OF ROUTE 15 AND VERY CONVENIENT TO THE DULLES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

LIVING IN ALDIE OFFERS SO MUCH TO HOME OWNERS:

Highly ranked public schools.
Convenient commute to Fairfax County.
Minutes to Dulles International Airport.
Good value for resale homes.
Excellent value and variety of builders for new home buyers.

VISIT CIRO, a lovely Italian Restaurant @ Stone Ridge in Aldie.

* * * * * *

NEW HOMES IN ALDIE IN THE $600,000 PRICE RANGE ON 1/3 ACRE.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.

Serving home buyers in Loudoun County Virginia. Ask about the Homefinders.com New Home Buyers REBATE.

For a tour of homes in Loudoun County, VA, contact Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988. Experienced REALTORS helping home buyers in Loudoun County, Virginia real estate.

To search the full database of ACTIVE homes listed for sale in Loudoun, use our convenient Home Search in Loudoun County web site.

http://www.homefinders.com
http://www.loudoun-county-va-homes.com
http://www.loudoun-real-estate.com
http://www.e-homesleesburg.com
http://www.realestatelovettsville.com
http://www.new-homes-loudoun-county.com
http://www.newhomeslovettsville.com
http://www.newhomeshamiltonva.com
http://www.realestateleesburg.com

Homefinders.com Video

ALDIE VIRGINIA and a WONDERFUL ITALIAN RESTAURANT - Real Estate Agents Know How To Eat!!

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:53:04 -0600

CIRO - A WONDERFUL ITALIAN RESTAURANT IN ALDIE, VIRGINIA.

The food is fabulous, the ambiance relaxing and welcoming and convenient, in Stone Ridge @ Aldie, Route 50, just East of Route 15.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.

* * * * * *

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.

Serving home buyers in Loudoun County Virginia. Ask about the Homefinders.com New Home Buyers REBATE.

For a tour of homes in Loudoun County, VA, contact Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988. Experienced REALTORS helping home buyers in Loudoun County, Virginia real estate.

To search the full database of ACTIVE homes listed for sale in Loudoun, use our convenient Home Search in Loudoun County web site.

Homefinders.com Video

GUESS WHO??

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:35:39 -0600

GUESS WHO??

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.

GRANTS for DOWN PAYMENTSOR CLOSING COSTS in NORTHERN VIRGINIA. $7,500 GRANT to help with Down Payment and Closing Cost for Home Buyers.

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:22:33 -0600

GRANTS for Down Payments in Northern Virginia.

$7,500 GRANTS FOR HOME BUYERS IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA for DOWN PAYMENT OR CLOSING COSTS.

GRANTS for DOWN PAYMENTSOR CLOSING COSTS in NORTHERN VIRGINIA. $7,500 GRANT to help with Down Payment and Closing Cost for Home Buyers.

First Time Home Buyers or Buyers who have NOT owned real estate for the past 3 years.

N E W S F L A S H!

FOR HOME BUYERS IN Northern Virginia. Homefinders.com has partnered with local lenders to provide a GRANT of $7,500 to our qualifying home buyers.

Counties in the Homefinders.com market area eligible for this $7,500 GRANT include Alexandria, Arlington, King George, Fairfax, Prince William, Loudoun, Culpeper, Stafford, Spotsylvania and Fauquier Counties.

FIRST COME FIRST SERVED. Last year this GRANT money was exhausted in October 2009.

To make application contact Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.

Limited availability of GRANTS for approximately 75 home buyers.

Some income limits apply depending on the number of people in the household. All household income will be included and all residents of a household will count.

GET PRE-APPROVED for your home mortgage and GRANT money soon! Applications are being taken beginning March 8, 2010.

Just call Homefinders.com and we'll preliminarily qualify you. If you preliminarily qualify for the GRANT, a mortgage loan application and GRANT application will be taken by an experienced loan officer.

This GRANT MONEY can be used with FHA, VA and Conventional loans and can be used in conjunction with other grant programs and the Tax Credit.

HOW TO GET STARTED:

1. Call Homefinders.com to qualify.

2. Homefinders.com will arrange for you to make home loan and GRANT application.

3. HOMEFINDERS.COM will arrange a tour of homes in your qualifying price range.

DON'T DELAY!! Last year, we had 5 approved home buyers who missed the GRANT opportunity when the money ran out in October 2009.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.

NEW HOME IN ASHBURN, BRAMBLETON. 3 MONTHS FROM SETTLEMENT AND MOVING ALONG.

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 08:49:18 -0600

WE WERE ON PINS AND NEEDLES YESTERDAY AS WE DROVE UP TO THE CONSTRUCTION SITE.

Relocating home buyers, referred by an ActiveRain member, Bill Gassett, Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate, who represented these folks in the sale of their town home near Boston, went to contract a couple of months ago to build a home in Loudoun County, Virginia.

We had toured every new home builder in the county and these home sites offered the best new home buying opportunity when considering:

Price
Location
Amenities
Quality Construction

These homes represent THE BEST BUY IN THE COUNTY FOR THE PRICE RANGE $450,000 - $550,000.

I met the buyer at the site yesterday to see what progress had been made considering our weather for the past 2 months which has been the worst winter that I can recall for the past 30 years. I knew that there would have been weather delays so I've avoided visiting the site.

It was a lovely day, about 40 F. with a brisk wind, but sunny and very pleasant.

EUREKA! There's a home going up for my buyers. He, the home buyer, was almost giddy when he looked at the site (so was I).

Thank goodness, we should be able to close on time and my thanks (referral fee) will be made timely to the ActiveRain member who entrusted these lovely buyers in my care.

Garage Left Side Load. Ready to start the 2nd Level.

Garage Left, Center Foyer, Library / Den on the right. Open 2 Stroy Foyer.

Community Center with Recreation Area, Kitchen, Tennis Courts, Outside Swimming Pool.

Lovely 4 Bedroom, 2 1/2 Bath Colonial with a Family Room, Living Room, Dining Room, 2 Story Foyer, Library/Den, 2 Car Garage (side load), full unfinished basement, all on a lovely 1/3 acre corner lot. Price: About $490,000.

* * * * * *

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.

Serving home buyers in Loudoun County Virginia. Ask about the Homefinders.com New Home Buyers REBATE.

For a tour of homes in Loudoun County, VA, contact Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988. Experienced REALTORS helping home buyers in Loudoun County, Virginia real estate.

To search the full database of ACTIVE homes listed for sale in Loudoun, use our convenient Home Search in Loudoun County web site.

Homefinders.com Video

$7,500 GRANT FOR HOME BUYERS IN MARYLAND for DOWN PAYMENT OR CLOSING COSTS.

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 16:43:38 -0600

$7,500 GRANT FOR HOME BUYERS IN MARYLAND for DOWN PAYMENT and CLOSING COSTS.

First Time Home Buyers or Buyers who have NOT owned real estate for the past 3 years.

N E W S F L A S H!

FOR HOME BUYERS IN Maryland. Homefinders.com has partnered with local lenders to provide a GRANT of $7,500 to our qualifying home buyers.

Counties elegible in Maryland include all counties, mainland and Eastern Shore. Homefinders.com market areas elegible for the $5,000 GRANT include Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Carroll, Charles, Frederick, Howard, Harford, Montgomery, Prince George's, St. Mary's and Washington and Eastern Shore.

FIRST COME FIRST SERVED. Last year this GRANT money was exhausted in October 2009.

To make application contact Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.

Limited availability of GRANTS for approximately 116 home buyers.

Some income limits apply depending on the number of people in the household. All household income will be included and all residents of a household will count.

GET PRE-APPROVED for your home mortgage and GRANT money soon! Applications are being taken beginning March 8, 2010.

Just call Homefinders.com and we'll preliminarily qualify you. If you preliminarily qualify for the GRANT, a mortgage loan application will be taken by an experienced loan officer.

This GRANT MONEY can be used with FHA, VA and Conventional loans and can be used in conjunction with other grant programs and the Tax Credit.

HOW TO GET STARTED:

1. Call Homefinders.com to qualify.

2. Homefinders.com will arrange for you to make loan and GRANT application.

3. HOMEFINDERS.COM will arrange a tour of homes in your qualifying price range.

DON'T DELAY!! Last year, we had 5 approved home buyers who missed the GRANT opportunity when the money ran out in October 2009.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.

AT LAST, A GROUP I CAN UNDERSTAND! A PLACE TO LEARN. . . OR RANT. . . ABOUT UNDERWRITERS.

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 05:42:28 -0600

AT LAST, A GROUP I CAN UNDERSTAND! A PLACE TO LEARN. . . OR RANT. . . ABOUT UNDERWRITERS.

Charles Dailey has introduced a new group, UNDERWRITING, that should be of interest to all real estate agents and brokers who have ever had a home buyer's loan application rejected by an underwriter, which probably includes every agent and broker who has had more than 5 settlements.

WHO WILL WANT TO JOIN THIS GROUP?? Any ActiveRain member who:

Has ever worked with a home buyer who has:

1. Searched for homes for weeks/months/years and finally. . . . finally, find the perfect house,

2. Managed to get a ratified Contract of Sale after a week of serious gut-wrenching negotiation,

3. Made loan application with a loan officer who speaks to the prospective borrower in Uniform Residential Loan Application (Form1003) 'ese.

4. Produced documents to a loan processor who works at a custom built desk the right side of which is a shute that leads to a BLACK HOLE and who was trained at birth to advise borrowers, "If I don't get a copy of your third grade school transcript by 3:00 p.m., your loan application will probably be rejected."

5. Manage to hurdle through steps 1 through 4 only to hear from the loan officer 2 days before the scheduled settlement date in the Contract of Sale with a "Time Is Of The Essence" clause, that. . .

"the file is in UNDERWRITING".

6. Then, about 24 hours prior to the scheduled closing, as you drive to the airport to pick up your home buyer who traveled 3,000 miles to attend the closing, you receive a phone call from the loan officer that the Underwriter wants:

* Another appraisal.

* Another comp with a kitchen in the upper level, such is found in the subject "Bi-Level" floor plan of which only 3 exist in a 10 mile radius and none have sold for 5 years. The Underwriter doesn't want to use the Appraiser's Split Foyer, Split Level, Colonial or Rambler models with similar square feet and amenities.

* All of the contractor receipts for upgrades to the property in the past 3 years to justify the remodeled price accepted by the home buyer, the county permit office and the appraiser.

*Another appraisal.

While the experience of many real estate agents and brokers will differ from the above actual Underwriter rejects, if you've been around this business very long, you've experienced similar experiences, or heard of them from other agents and brokers.

ADVICE TO AGENTS: BEWARE THE TICKLER FILE: Try to find out from the loan officer if their mortgage company policy is to permit loan officers and processors to operate with a "tickler file" system. This file management system is dangerous to the health of your buyer and their agent. It will insure that the processor will wait until the very last minute to demand additional documentation after the buyer has already produced every document in their possession. Don't do business with loan officers who sell themselves to prospective borrowers and "turn the file over to their processor". The loan officer sold the loan, they should know what's going on with it.

One of my favorite "tickler file" last minute requests is the processor who contacts the buyer with a demand for a letter from their landlord detailing the dates of their rent payments for the past 2 years and if they don't get it to the processor before 3:00 p.m. (the day before settlement), their loan will be rejected. Yes, that actually happened.

Many years ago, I was advised by a wise managing broker, when I inquired about the duties of the Underwriter, that:

An agent's job is to sell a house.
A loan officer's job is to prepare the loan application file for Underwriting.
An Underwriter's job is to blow holes in it.

IT JUST GOES WITH THE TERRITORY.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.

LEESBURG VA NEW HOMES FOR SALE - BEST BUY IN LEESBURG TO-BE-BUILT HOMES - Buyer's REBATE!

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:22:42 -0600

LEESBURG VA NEW HOMES FOR SALE - BEST BUY IN LEESBURG TO-BE-BUILT HOMES - Buyer's REBATE!

LOVELY NEW HOMES FOR SALE AT THE BEST PRICES IN LEESBURG. These homes are constructed in a classic "wrap around porch" design. All models have 4 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths, 2 Car Garages, Gourmet Kitchens (Island, wall oven, granite counter tops, Garden Baths (separate soaking tub and shower).

City	Zip5	ListPrice	BR	FB	HB	# Gar	Style	YrBlt
Leesburg	20176	$379,990	4	2	1	2	Colonial	2010
Leesburg	20176	$389,990	4	2	1	2	Colonial	2010
Leesburg	20176	$394,990	4	2	1	2	Colonial	2010
Leesburg	20176	$419,990	4	3	1	2	Colonial	2010
Leesburg	20176	$429,115	4	3	1	2	Colonial	2010
Leesburg	20176	$434,990	4	2	1	2	Colonial	2010
Leesburg	20176	$449,990	4	3	1	2	Colonial	2010

The Homefinders.com New Home Buyers' REBATE for these homes in $4,500. Call Lenn for information.

* * * * * *

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.

Serving home buyers in Loudoun County Virginia. Ask about the Homefinders.com New Home Buyers REBATE.

For a tour of homes in Loudoun County, VA, contact Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988. Experienced REALTORS helping home buyers in Loudoun County, Virginia real estate.

To search the full database of ACTIVE homes listed for sale in Loudoun, use our convenient Home Search in Loudoun County web site.

Homefinders.com Video

LOVETTSVILLE VA IS STILL IN WINTER WEATHER BUT I HAVE TULIPS BLOOMING IN MY SUNROOM IN EARLY MARCH.

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:06:07 -0600

LOVETTSVILLE VA IS STILL IN WINTER WEATHER BUT I HAVE TULIPS BLOOMING IN MY SUN ROOM IN EARLY MARCH.

Back in early February, I brought the 4 pots of Tulips I was "forcing" in my garage. I'm not sure of the date when these bulbs were planted but it would have been around November or early December. I'd have planted them in the yard, but I just never got to it. So, in the pots of soil they went, covered and placed on a table in my garage.

Early February, I could see the "shoots"peeking through the soil, so I brought them in, watered them thoroughly, put them in a sheltered location in a corner of the Kitchen to avoid shock. About 2 weeks ago, I put them in my Sun Room.

WHAT A WAY TO WAIT FOR SPRING.

WEATHER FOR LOVETTSVILLE, VIRGINIA, CURRENT CONDITIONS:

Temperature: Noon March 5, 2010 - 44 F.
Expected low tonight: 23 F.
Humidity: 39%
Wind: North at 12 mph
Barometer: 30.09
Sunrise: 6:38 a.m.
Sunset: 6:07 p.m.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988. Serving home buyers in Maryland and Northern Virginia.

LOUDOUN COUNTY REAL ESTATE MARKET REPORT and HOMES FOR SALE MARCH 2010.

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:41:05 -0600

LOUDOUN COUNTY REAL ESTATE MARKET REPORT and HOMES FOR SALE MARCH 2010.

FRESH FROM THE LOUDOUN COUNTY REAL ESTATE AND HOMES MLS SOLD REPORTS FOR FEBRUARY.

List prices for Single Family Homes SOLD in February 2010.

Aldie- 3 Single Family Homes SOLD in February 2010.

New Home on the right priced at $599,990 base price.

Low price sold - $394,900

High price sold - $725,000

Average price sold - $581,807.

Ashburn - 21 Single Family Homes SOLD in February 2010.

Low price sold - $400,000

High price sold - $819,500

Average price sold - $569,478.

Chantilly - 9 Single Family Homes SOLD in February 2010.

Low price sold - $369,900

High price sold - $899,990

Average price sold - $602,399.

Great Falls - 1 Single Family Home SOLD in February 2010.

List Price $519,900.

Hamilton - 2 Single Family Homes SOLD in February 2010.

Low price sold - $542,000

High price sold - $574,900

Average price sold - $558,450.

Leesburg - 26 Single Family Homes SOLD in February 2010.

New Home on the right priced at $475,990 base price.

Low price sold - $195,000

High price sold - $929,900

Average price sold - $496,156.

Lovettsville - 4 Single Family Homes SOLD in February 2010.

New Home on the right priced at $360,000 base price.

Low price sold - $299,990

High price sold - $600,000

Average price sold - $449,998.

Middleburg - 2 Single Family Homes SOLD in February 2010.

Low price sold - $289,000

High price sold - $950,500

Average price sold - $619,500.

Purcellville - 8 Single Family Homes SOLD in February 2010.

Low price sold - $345,000

High price sold - $706,185

Average price sold - $495,073.

Round Hill - 6 Single Family Homes SOLD in February 2010.

Low price sold - $300,000

High price sold - $629,608

Average price sold - $426,608.

Sterling - 18 Single Family Homes SOLD in February 2010.

Low price sold - $166,250

High price sold - $614,900

Average price sold - $329,236.

Waterford - 2 Single Family Homes SOLD in February 2010.

New Home on the right priced at $750,000 base price.

Low price sold - $509,250

High price sold - $600,000

Average price sold - $554,950.

HISTORY OF HOME PRICES IN LOUDOUN COUNTY 2006-2010.

February 2006 - 202 Single Family Homes sold with an average list price of $712,349.
February 2007 - 203 Single Family Homes sold with an average list price of $624,047.
February 2008 - 129 Single Family Homes sold with an average list price of $581,785.
February 2009 - 156 Single Family Homes sold with an average list price of $431,640.
February 2010 - 102 Single Family Homes sold with an average list price of $494,468.

YES! Prices are increasing.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.

Serving home buyers in Loudoun County Virginia. Ask about the Homefinders.com New Home Buyers REBATE.

For a tour of homes in Loudoun County, VA, contact Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988. Experienced REALTORS helping home buyers in Loudoun County, Virginia real estate.

To search the full database of ACTIVE homes listed for sale in Loudoun, use our convenient Home Search in Loudoun County web site.

Homefinders.com Video

Aldie	20105	Poeonian Springs	20129
Middleburg	20117	Sterling	20165
Purcellville	20132	Sterling	20166
Bluemont	20135	Leesburg	20175
Round Hill	20141	Leesburg	20176
Ashburn	20147	Upperville	20184
Chantilly	20153	Lovettsville	20180
Sterling	20164	Waterford	20197

LEESBURG VIRGINIA - REAL ESTATE, GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL ATTRACTIONS AND AMENITIES.

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:04:24 -0600

LEESBURG VIRGINIA - REAL ESTATE, GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL ATTRACTIONS AND AMENITIES.

If you're thinking of relocating to Leesburg Virginia, you probably have a lot of questions about homes in the area, demographics, geography and the atmosphere for Leesburg. We aim to please. Send a question about Leesburg and we'll try to get the answer for you. For now, some of your questions may be answered below.

LEESBURG, THE OLD AND THE NEW

OLD HISTORIC COURT HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BLDG.

OLD HISTORIC MANOR HOME Circa 1800 . . . . . . . . . . . . . NEW LEESBURG HOME STYLE - 2009

LEESBURG MAPS AND FACTS

Population 2010	39,000
Average Income 2010	$95,000
Cost of Living Indes	134
Average Winter Temp.	25 F.
Average Summer Temp.	89 F.
Average Rainfall	42" Year
Average Snowfall	12" Year
Sunny Days	200 Year
School $$ Per Stunden	$6,731 Yr.
Umemployment 2010	3%

AVERAGE LIST PRICES SINGLE FAMILY HOMES FOR SALE

Low List Price	$169,000
High List Price	$4,900,000
Average List	$888,248

No. Listings	208 Properties

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.

Serving home buyers in Loudoun County Virginia. Ask about the Homefinders.com New Home Buyers REBATE.

For a tour of homes in Loudoun County, VA, contact Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988. Experienced REALTORS helping home buyers in Loudoun County, Virginia real estate.

To search the full database of ACTIVE homes listed for sale in Loudoun, use our convenient Home Search in Loudoun County web site.

Homefinders.com Video

THE LATEST WORD FROM LENDERS ABOUT SHORT SALES - OR WAS IT?

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:07:39 -0600

MORE AND MORE SHORT SALE LISTINGS in your market??? SAME HERE.

GET USED TO IT! It's going to get worse before it gets better.

LIVE AUDIO CONFERENCE - NEW GOV'T SHORT SALE PROGRAM

Yesterday, I attended an interesting conference on Short Sales. 1.5 hours of short sale talk presented by speakers from Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Campbell Surveys, Freddie Mac, and two additional information providers.

The MD/Northern VA market is not as bad as some geographical areas across the country, the worse being CA/NV/FL and some others. However, in some price ranges, it's difficult to find a property listed for sale that isn't a distressed sale. Freddie Mac has had a 600% increase in Short Sales in the past year and predicts twice that number this year. I ran stats for 4 counties in my market area and found short sale listings as follows:

	ACTIVE Listings	Short Sale Listings
County #1	4614	1480
County #2	2647	500
County #3	2364	389
County #4	1136	246

These numbers reflect ALL listings. The percentage of Short Sale listing is higher in lower price ranges.

WHAT IS A DISTRESSED SALE?? Depends on whom you ask!

This is important because the definition of "distressed sale" as determined by Wells Fargo and Bank of America does not include Short Sales. These top two lenders consider Short Sales regular sales. They consider distressed sales to be bank owned listings.

However, on page 14 of the SURVEY, Short Sales are, indeed, included in the survey as a distressed sale.

FOR A REVIEW OF THE MATERIAL COVERED IN THE CONFERENCE, read the 66 page report of the survey prepared by Campbell Surveys. It's worth your time if you are at all involved in listing or selling Short Sales.

SEE:

Title: Understanding the New Rules of the Short Sale Game:
Subtitle: What Major Players Are Doing to Increase Activity

THE SHORT SALE GAME?? Take notice of the title of the Survey, "Understanding the New Rules of the Short Sale GAME".

Some of the "rules" of the Short Sale GAME as determined by Wells Fargo, Bank of America, et al. include:

1. Portfolio held mortgages will close far faster than those mortgages, first or seconds, held by investors including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Wells Fargo claims a 37 day start to finish short sale approval for portfolio borrowers.

2. Real estate commissions are treated more favorably when the listing agent lists and markets the property as a regular sale, meaning market value of regular home owner sales (excluding bank owned).

3. The lenders are looking for "market offers" and expect the short sale listings to be competitive with regular home owner listings.

4. Home buyers who are approved by Wells Fargo Mortgage will have a competitive advantage if they finance their purchase with Wells Fargo. With these major bank players, buyer's agents might as well get used to this practice if they are not already. We've seen this practice with Bank of America and Wells Fargo in our market for some years now.

GET READY FOR "EQUATOR". Beginning on page 36 of the Survey, you'll be introduced to a new tracking system being implemented to manage Short Sales for the lender. IF, and it is a big IF, the lenders use and update this tracking system timely, it could be a helpful tool for listing agents. Anything will be an improvement over the many hours that listing agents spend on the phone trying to get status of Short Sale contracts.

All in all, the conference was interesting, although from start to finish, other than the promise of Equator, I heard little that will expedite approvals if there are investors involved. What I did get from the participants was:

Portfolio loans will receive approval faster than investor held loans.
Lenders are going to be seeking "market value" for the properties.
Lenders are going to use their position to attempt to finance short sale buyers.
Lenders will support agents commissions as agreed if the listing agents market the properties aggressively.
Lenders do not consider Short Sales to be "distressed listings".
Short Sales are complicated by many diverse interests and lenders.
Fannie and Freddie have no viable programs to help home owners keep their homes.

The Live Audio Conference - New Government Short Sale Program, was sponsored by the Dulles Area Association of Realtors ("DAAR"). Not a week goes by without opportunities for well presented and managed seminars, luncheon meetings with speakers from our local real estate market ara. DAAR is a small local board devoted to LOUDOUN COUNTY REALTORS. DAAR is are staffed by friendly and helpful folks and offers a wealth of CE and other resources to help Loudoun County Realtors be the best that we can be to serve the home buying and selling consumer.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.

BOWIE MARYLAND REAL ESTATE MARKET REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 2010 for Zip Codes 20715, 20716, 20720, 20721.

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:51:19 -0600

BOWIE MARYLAND REAL ESTATE MARKET REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 2010 for Zip Codes 20715, 20716, 20720, 20721.

BOWIE, Maryland, one of the most popular location for home owners in Prince George's County, Maryland.

Bowie Is For Families -

Families of One Person - Bowie offers a wealth of resources for First Time Home Buyers seeking starter homes such as Condominium Homes, Town Homes, and Single Family Homes of all sizes and prices.

Families with Children- Bowie offers wonderful amenities; recreation centers with indoor and outdoor swimming facllities, ball fields, fresh water ponds / lakes for fishing and paddle boating, popular public schools and private schools, homes with acreage, homes in prices that help the family budget.

For all homes buyer, Bowie offers fantastic shopping, transportation and entertainment amenities.

HOMES SOLD IN BOWIE IN FEBRUARY 2010.

SOLD HOMES IN ZIP CODE 20715in February 2010. Communities include Chapel Forge, Overbrook, Meadowbrook, Rockledge, Foxhill, Idlewild, Whitehall.

City	Zip5	ListPrice	ClosePrice	BR	FB	HB	# Gar	Lot Acres	YrBlt
Bowie	20715	$279,990	$275,000	3	2	0	2	0.289	1966
Bowie	20715	$260,000	$247,500	3	2	0	1	0.239	1966
Bowie	20715	$249,900	$243,500	4	2	0		0.207	1966
Bowie	20715	$306,000	$306,000	4	2	1	1	0.249	1966
Bowie	20715	$269,990	$265,000	3	2	0	1	0.224	1964
Bowie	20715	$223,250	$225,000	3	2	0	2	0.363	1966
Bowie	20715	$219,900	$235,000	3	2	0	1	0.23	1967
Bowie	20715	$259,900	$250,000	3	2	1	1	0.246	1963
Bowie	20715	$239,900	$260,000	4	2	1	2	0.319	1964
Bowie	20715	$289,900	$275,000	4	2	0	1	0.215	1965
Bowie	20715	$310,000	$300,000	3	2	0		0.415	1966

SOLD HOMES IN ZIP CODE 20716in February 2010. Communities include Pointer Ridge, Northview, Enfield Chase, Heather Hills, Covington, Amber Meadows, Oaktree.

City	Zip5	ListPrice	ClosePrice	BR	FB	HB	# Gar	Lot Acres	YrBlt
Bowie	20716	$210,000	$205,200	3	2	0	2	0.298	1949
Bowie	20716	$229,900	$229,900	3	2	0		0.224	1979
Bowie	20716	$304,900	$304,900	4	2	1	2	0.23	1970
Bowie	20716	$319,950	$305,000	4	2	1	2	0.262	1968
Bowie	20716	$175,000	$162,500	4	1	1		0.353	1973

SOLD HOMES IN ZIP CODE 20720 in February 2010. Communities include Adnell, Birchmere Landing, Town of Bowie, Fairwood, Highbridge, Hillmead Station, Lakeview, Marleigh, Northridge, Oakstone, Spring Manor, Spring Meadows, Westwood.

City	Zip5	ListPrice	ClosePrice	BR	FB	HB	# Gar	Lot Acres	YrBlt
Bowie	20720	$399,000	$396,000	5	2	1	2	0.197	2005
Bowie	20720	$370,000	$365,000	5	3	1	2	0.193	2005
Bowie	20720	$300,000	$305,000	5	3	1	2	0.454	2001
Bowie	20720	$199,000	$196,000	3	1	0		0.23	1963
Bowie	20720	$239,900	$220,000	5	3	1		0.646	1999
Bowie	20720	$405,990	$405,990	4	2	1	2	0.182	2009
Bowie	20720	$427,450	$415,000	4	3	1		0.46	2007
Bowie	20720	$259,900	$263,000	4	2	1	2	0.226	1982
Bowie	20720	$544,900	$535,000	5	5	1	3	1.06	2005
Bowie	20720	$485,000	$477,000	4	3	1	2	0.226	2009

SOLD HOMES IN ZIP CODE 20721in February 2010. Communities include Arbor Park, Ashleigh, Balk Hill, Canterbury Estates, Collington Station, East Hampton, Enterprise, Foxlake, Kettering, Mount Oak, Newbridge, Tall Oaks Crossing, Woodmore, Woodmore Highlands, Woodmore South.

City	Zip5	ListPrice	ClosePrice	BR	FB	HB	# Gar	Lot Acres	YrBlt
Bowie	20721	$310,000	$310,000	4	2	1	2	0.275	1992
Bowie	20721	$279,900	$278,250	4	3	2	2	0.264	1988
Bowie	20721	$275,000	$275,000	4	2	1	2	0.306	1992
Bowie	20721	$361,000	$375,000	4	2	1	2	0.314	2004
Bowie	20721	$324,900	$324,900	4	6	0	4	0.776	2008
Bowie	20721	$299,900	$292,000	4	2	2	2	0.458	1978
Bowie	20721	$279,900	$280,000	3	3	1	2	0.22	1989
Bowie	20721	$285,000	$285,000	4	3	1	2	0.368	1990
Bowie	20721	$275,000	$270,000	4	2	1	2	0.257	1999
Bowie	20721	$418,435	$375,000	4	3	1	2	0.111	2009

EXAMPLES OF HOMES FOR SALE IN BOWIE Below is a Cape Cod in Bowie and a Colonial in Northridge.

Left below: Homes below represent homes in the Luxury Country Club community of Woodmore.

Right below is a typical new home built in Bowie which offers many new homes communities.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com 800-711-7988.

Search Listing of homes for sale in Bowie, Maryland. For a tour of homes for sale, contact Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988. Experienced REALTORS helping home buyers in Bowie, in Prince George's County, Maryland and all things real estate.

HOMEFINDWOOERS VIDEO

Prince George's County Real Estate

http://www.homefinders.com
http://www.laurel-real-estate.com
http://www.homes-prince-georges-maryland.com
http://www.homes-mitchellville-maryland.com
http://www.homes-bowie-maryland.com
http://www.realestatebowie.com

ABOUT LOUDOUN COUNTY VIRGINIA - HOME PRICES IN POPULAR LOCATIONS

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 06:15:07 -0600

ABOUT LOUDOUN COUNTY VIRGINIA - Sound fiscal management makes Loudoun County an attractive location for your real estate purchase.

First the facts about Loudoun County, Virginia.

INCOME: The median household income is about $112,000 which ranks #1 in the nation (2nd year).

TECHNOLOGY: Loudoun County VA is a TECHNOLOGY LEADER and for the 2nd straight year, is ranked #1 in our population category.

TRANSPORTATION: Loudoun County works hard to relieve traffic congestion for our workforce which contributes greatly to the qualify of life for commuters.

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY: Loudoun County's Triple-A status reaffirmed by all major bond rating agencies. Loudoun County bonds are a good investment and responsible fiscal management rewards tax payers for sound policies.

SOUND MONEY MANAGEMENT: The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors reduced funding for the general county government including sound reductions in the public school budgets without compromising quality education for our students.

PUBLIC SCHOOL EXCELLENCE:

	SAT Scores Average
Loudoun County	1593
State of Virginia	1521
National	1509

HOME PRICES IN LOUDOUN COUNTY FIRST QUARTER OF 2010.

LOUDOUN COUNTY	Average List Price	Bedrooms	Baths All	Average Acres	NOTES
Aldie	$847,290	4	4	Seven Acres	#1
Ashburn	$687,493	4	4	One Third Acre	#2
Bluemont	$1,891,579	4	4	Forty-Five Acres	#3
Chantilly	$596,613	4	4	One Third Acre	#4
Hamilton	$722,854	4	4	Seven Acres	#5
Leesburg	$893,157	4	5	5 Acres	#6
Lovettsville	$444,007	4	3	4 Acres	#7
Middleburg	$1,631,959	4	4	30 Acres	#8
Purcellville	$736,967	4	4	8 Acres	#9
Round Hill	$608,298	4	4	4 Acres	#10
Waterford	$953,431	4	5	8 Acres	#11

NOTES

#1, Aldie offers new home construction on 1/3 acre lots in several new home communities.
#2. Ashburn is a popular location for commuters due to proximity to Dulles Airport, Tysons Corner, DC.
#3. Bluemont is a popular horse friendly property location.
$4. Chantilly is the closest residential area to the Dulles International Airport.
$5. Hamilton is a residential community with farms and a few newer communities in town.
$6. Leesburg is the County Seat and offers homes in all prices and lot sizes.
#7. Lovettsville is a rural town popular for properties with acreage and proximity to MARC Train.
#8. Middleburg is the horse capital of the county/state with luxury properties and quaint township.
#9. Purcellville offers small town conveniences and surrounding properties with acreage.
#10. Round Hill is a rural village with convenience to Purcellville for shopping.
#11. Waterford is home to upscale new home developments and surrounding farms.

HOMES IN LOUDOUN COUNTY IN DIFFERENT PRICE RANGES:

Ashburn Homes in the $600,000 price range. . . . . . . Homes in Waterford luxury home community.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988. Serving home buyers in Loudoun County Virginia. Ask about the Homefinders.com New Home Buyers REBATE.

For a tour of homes in Loudoun County, VA, contact Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988. Experienced REALTORS helping home buyers in Loudoun County, Virginia real estate.

To search the full database of ACTIVE homes listed for sale in Loudoun, use our convenient Home Search in Loudoun County web site.

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