Enjoy the Spring Day!

It is so nice to bring the outdoors inside:)

If you would like to buy or sell a home, call me today.  I will treat your transaction as if it were my own.

Thank you

                                                                Carla Brooks
                                                            brkslong@aol.com
                                                               703-577-4960

Honey, our realtor said its "ok" to keep up with the "Joneses"

Did I really say that?  Haha, sort of...

The number one question I'm asked from homeowners is "What updates do I need to do to sell the home?"  Unfortunately, there is not one right answer to this question.  Each home is in its own state of repair and each neighborhood has its own resale threshold.

Should I install a whole new kitchen or paint the cabinetry & install new countertops?

Granite or Quartz? (if you missed my post on Granite vs Quartz you can find it here )
 Stainless Steel, White or Black appliances?
New bathroom or short cut makeover?
Should I remove the tub and install a shower?

New lighting? New Carpeting?

Wood floors or Wood laminate?
Blinds, Soft Shutters or Roman shades?

New windows? New roof? New gutters?
New HVAC?

And the list goes on...

And yes, home improvements is one time when its ok to keep up with the Joneses.  The home is typically the largest financial investment that one has.  Why not make the most of it?

A well maintained home will sell faster and bring in more sales proceeds.  Upgrades are important and the buyers will pay more for them and have the peace of mind that they have purchased a home that has been cared for by the previous owners.

If you have a home that you are thinking of selling, call me today for suggestions on what to do before the property goes to market.  Preparation is the key to having a successful sale.

Enjoy the beautiful weather and thank you for visiting The Silver Lyne...

                                                Carla Brooks
                                                703-577-4960
                                              brkslong@aol.com

Update on the Silver Line Metro

Here's an informative video on the Silver Line Metro Construction.

 The Silver Line will open soon, the first step in providing a metro line service to Dulles Airport.  It has been a long road of lane closures, ramp closures, ramp relocations, dust, new turn lanes and so forth.  We are almost there!

If you have time, click on the link above and learn all about it.

If you would like to buy or sell a home, call me today.  I will treat each transaction as if it were my own.

Thanks for visiting my blog,

                                                     Carla Brooks
                                                    703-577-4960
                                                 

brkslong@aol.com

Lets Take Action Together

Yesterday I caught a short blurb on the morning news.

 Prediction: If we don't we something about the sugar levels in all our food, 1/3 of all US citizens will eventually have diabetes.

The truth is, almost all food we buy has sugar added.  The ingredients don't always say sugar, it can be high fructose corn syrup or another name.

I stopped by the grocery store yesterday and confirmed this as I shopped the aisles.  I could not find a breakfast cereal that did not have sugar added.  Ingredients are listed in the order of quantity contained in the item.  Sugar was not only added, it was the second, third or fourth ingredient.  Apparently, the food manufacturers want their products to taste the best, so they add in the sugar.  Because of  this added sugar,  our bodies are  becoming less and less able to metabolize the sugar.

Lets take action today and write a letter of concern to a food manufacturer and call on one representative in Congress to make the diabetes epidemic a top priority.

Here is my letter.  I chose Pepperidge Farm since I love their bread.  I read the ingredient panel this morning and sure enough, high fructose corn syrup is added in (and it not in the less than 2% ingredients)

Dear Pepperidge Farm,

I love your bread and many other products you produce.

I am urging you to stop adding sugar into your products.  I want food that is healthy for me, not food that will eventually cause me to become diabetic.

There is a diabetes epidemic in the United States and you are contributing to the problem by adding sugar to your products (except desserts).

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Carla Brooks

PS I have included my email address so that you may respond to this request.


Your local Congressional Representative's contact information can be found online on any search engine.

I hope you can find time to take action today.  Our health is our most important asset.  Without our health we will not have quality of life.

If you would like to buy or sell a home call me today, I will treat your transaction as if it were my own!


Thank you for visiting my blog

Carla Brooks
703-577-4960
brkslong@aol.com

Now that your contract has been accepted....

Okay, so you are ready to buy a home, your contract is accepted and you've made loan application...

Here is a list of things not to do while your loan is being processed so as not jeopardize the funding of your loan:


Do not deposit funds into your bank account.



Do not open or close a new bank account and/or credit line.


Do not transfer or change your bank account.


Do not pay off or close any accounts.


Do not make any large purchases (i.e. no new vehicles, furniture, boats etc)


Do not co-sign any loans


Consult your loan officer for any major changes you might be contemplating.

Looking forward to sunshine and warmer temperatures today so enjoy!

If you would like to buy or sell a home call me, I will treat your transaction as if it were my own!

Thank you for visiting my blog,

Carla Brooks
brkslong@aol.com
703-577-4960

The "Price" of a home and the "Cost" of a home

Sellers are concerned about the "price" their home will sell for.  The "price" is the gross proceeds they will receive on settlement day.  Expenses such as commissions, taxes, legal fees and such will be deducted from this "price" on the HUD 1 settlement sheet to arrive at the "net proceeds".

Buyers, on the other hand, should be concerned about the "cost" of a home as well as the sales "price"   negotiated in the sales contract.

This "cost" can be displayed in terms of the monthly PITI.  The monthly PITI is the principal and interest paid on the mortgage and the real estate taxes and hazard insurance as monthly costs.

It is projected interest rates will reach 5.7% by 2015.  The KCM Blog has an excellent post on this topic this morning as well as the wonderful chart below.  Simply click on the link to go directly to the post.

In the meantime, lets concentrate on 2014.  The interest rates are still low, in terms of the history of mortgage rates in this country.  It is an excellent time to buy and sell.

If you would like to buy or sell a home call me today.  I will treat your transaction as if it were my own.

Thank you for visiting my blog, have a great day!

                                                           Carla Brooks
                                                          703-577-4960
                                                     brkslong@aol.com

Tips for a Smooth Settlement

The March/April 2014 Review publication lists the top 10 tips for a smooth settlement. 

They are as follows:

1. Communication between the lender and the title company should be continuous once a contract is ratified.

2. All required Inspections(property, termite, well & septic) should be performed promptly to avoid delays in settlement.

3.  Schedule the walk through inspection early enough so any issues can be addressed ahead of time.

4. Any seller repairs should be completed as soon as possible with receipts forwarded to the buyers agent long before the final walk through.

5. Provide utility numbers to both sellers and buyers and establish the transfer dates by confirming with selling agent and listing agent.

6. The seller should keep their homeowners insurance in place until the transaction goes to public recordation.

7. Both buyers and sellers must have a picture ID on hand at the settlement table. The buyers and sellers should have a cashiers check for amounts due at settlement.  Personal checks can be used only to settle small issues.

8. Buyers and sellers not attending settlement must arrange in advance for a power of attorney.

9.  Estate sales require the signature of every beneficiary to the estate.  Prepare in advance for those signatures.

10. A court appointed attorney for a minor beneficiary must be present at settlement.

Preparation is the key!

If you are ready to buy or sell a home call me today.  I will treat your transaction as if it were my own.

Thank you for visiting my blog.

                                                                          Carla Brooks
                                                                          703-577-4960
                                                                      brkslong@aol.com