Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Silver Line Buzz

What's the latest metro construction chatter?

The current topic of concern with the Silver Line Metro Construction is the lack of parking at the metro stops and the logistics of how the metro line riders will get to and from the 4 stations being built.

Years ago, when the Dulles Metro organizational teams were meeting with area residents to solicit their ideas and thoughts on the subject, the idea of shuttle buses providing transportation to and fro was the solution. I had no idea the transportation issue was still an issue. I saw the signs "Imagine People instead of cars" and figured this issue had been resolved.

Apparently not.

Not only apparently not, supposedly there is no funding for the majority of bus routes, sidewalks, trails, bicycle routes and protected crosswalks the area is in need of. Hmmm...

We need to put on our thinking caps and come up with solutions and hopefully those solutions will be within a reasonable budget. You don't suppose we could go back to horses and carts?

Or perhaps dig a moat around the four stations and use our imaginations?

or maybe appeal to an non-earthly power to sprinkle some magic upon us?

We need some words of wisdom and a plan:

And we need them quickly as the Silver Line at Tysons Corner is set to open in 2013. It may seem like there is plenty of time to devise solutions yet it will be here before we know it.

Any suggestions?

Best,

Carla Brooks

PS All photos are from the My Bookhouse series by Olive Beaupre' Miller.

PPS If you or anyone that you know would like to buy or sell a home I am here to earn your business, call me today!

Monday, April 4, 2011

Have you frozen your jeans lately?

I signed up with Apartment Therapy last year for the daily posts. For those who haven't heard of Apartment Therapy, its a daily home fashion and accessory blog. Each day it features a home tour, a daily find and so forth. I found this video yesterday on how to care for your quality jeans: Put them in the freezer!

Never would have thought of it in lieu of washing them. Supposedly freezing instead of washing preserves the denim. Here's the link if you are interested:

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/at-email/how-to-freeze-your-jeans-143246

Its always nice to get fresh ideas on home decor and the latest gadgets available for the home.

Hope you have a great day!

Carla Brooks

PS Photo courtesy of http://www.freedigitalphotos.net

PPS If you or someone you know would like to buy or sell a home give me a call today! I am here to earn your business...

Halleluyah!

Good morning to all!

A milestone has been reached for Tysons Corner. Its been a long, slow journey through time...

and an up hill climb....

Area residents and business owners have been praying for a Tyson Corner identity for years. The confusion over whether a property was in McLean or Vienna has caused angst to all concerned.

It has just been announced that zip codes in Vienna (22182) and McLean (22102) are now considered a Tysons and/or Tysons Corner mailing address by the United States Postal Service. We now have a solid identity. We don't have our own zip code.... perhaps in due time that will be granted as well...yet...lets celebrate the progress that has been made....

Have a great day!

Carla Brooks

PS If you want to buy or sell a home call me today, I am here to earn your business!

PPS All photos are from the "My Bookhouse" series by Olive Beaupre' Miller.

Friday, March 25, 2011

How Important are Paint Colors in the sale of a home?

The importance of neutral paint color in the sale of a home cannot be overemphasized. Its right up there with Location, location location!

Although your home may be beautifully decorated, the chance of every buyer out there having the same taste is remote.

Consider the top 10 reasons to go with neutral paint on sale day:

1. Your home will be ready to move in ready on settlement day. This is important for the buyer. The more "to do's" that add up in the buyers mind, the less chance they will put in an offer for full price.

2. If you keep your magenta and yellow walls, the buyer looking in your neighborhood will prefer blue and green tones. Murphy's law!

3. There will be no discussion among couples regarding whether to keep the paint color or go with their favorite color (which is often not the same).

4. Furniture placement is simply easier to imagine with a neutral background. Potential buyers are as attached as you are to their favorite furniture pieces so imagining them in your home is a major plus.

5. Fix up costs for sale, if done within a certain time frame, are deductible. Check with your accountant on this point.

6. Buyers are typically cash poor on settlement day. They have spent money on inspections (home, septic, well, termite required mortgage escrow reserves, transfer taxes etc.) and want the comfort level of not having a ready made "to do" list when they move in.

7. Many buyers are not able to take time out of their schedules to paint themselves and/or they aren't able and don't have the expertise to do so.

8. If your goal as a seller is to sell in the shortest time frame for the highest and best price having a neutral canvas in your home will ensure you meet your goals!

9. Offering an allowance for paint and carpet will not do the trick if it does not allow a buyer to imagine themselves in the property. Plus the allowance may not be allowed by the mortgage lender at settlement.

10. Buyers love the smell of paint when viewing homes, it give them the impression the home has been well. This impression creates the confidence to buy this home!

Are you preparing to sell your home? Call me for a free color consultation today, I can point you in the right direction!

Have a great day!

Carla Brooks

PS Most photos courtesy of www.freedigitalphotos.com

PPS If you or anyone you know would like to buy or sell a home call me today, I am here to earn your business!

Friday, March 18, 2011

Where do I find the current real estate market statistics?

Here we go with the latest monthly market statistics straight from mris.com. And, btw, anyone can log on and review these. One doesn't have to be a member to do so. Simply click on the MRIS button on my blog page and go to Market Statistics.

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February 2011 Real Estate Market Statistics for

Mid-Atlantic Region (MRIS)

Statistic	Values	YoY	MoM
Total Sold Dollar Volume	$1,746,216,263	-1.54%	-0.58%
Closed Sales	5,858	+0.38%	+0.67%
Median Sold Price	$235,000	-5.62%	0%
Avg Sold Price	$298,091	-1.91%	-1.24%
Avg Days on Market	105 days	+19.32%	+5%
Avg Sold to Avg List Ratio	91.35%	-1.59%	+0.34%

80 miles

Road

Aerial

Hybrid

0
77,075
154,150
231,225
308,300
385,375
462,450

County	Median Sold Price	YoY Change	MoM Change

Falls Church City	$462,450	-18.93%	26.7%
Arlington	$441,500	3.88%	0.8%
Alexandria City	$393,000	4.8%	2.01%
Fairfax City	$390,000	15.56%	9.86%
Howard	$385,000	14.58%	11.59%
Rappahannock	$370,000	47.76%	37.55%
Washington	$360,000	7.46%	-4.81%
Fairfax	$357,500	3.62%	-0.69%
Loudoun	$354,250	3.17%	11.57%
Montgomery	$300,000	-7.55%	-11.24%
Talbot	$295,500	-12.05%	17.73%
Anne Arundel	$286,650	6.17%	-3.97%
Calvert	$259,900	8.29%	-2.29%
Fauquier	$250,260	4.28%	15.06%
Queen Anne's	$245,500	-10.73%	13.66%
Clarke	$242,750	10.34%	4.66%
Carroll	$240,000	-14.29%	2.13%
Prince William	$228,925	0.85%	1.86%
Kent	$227,900	158.24%	16.87%
Harford	$227,250	1%	-3.61%
Saint Mary's	$225,000	-21.74%	-5.86%
Frederick (MD)	$215,000	-1.6%	-2.03%
Charles	$210,000	-12.41%	-8.66%
Baltimore	$203,000	-5.58%	4.73%
Orange	$199,900	11.12%	37.86%
Cecil	$199,000	-15.41%	13.1%
Stafford	$191,000	-18.72%	-11.14%
Manassas City	$189,000	26%	35%
Culpeper	$187,500	-7.41%	13.64%
Garrett	$185,000	-8.42%	-52.26%
Madison	$184,000	37.31%	-0.51%
Winchester City	$172,000	8.55%	-4.42%
Manassas Park City	$171,950	-8.17%	4.37%
King George	$171,500	-38.64%	-18.33%
Spotsylvania	$165,150	-5.63%	-3.73%
Frederick (VA)	$159,000	7.07%	-0.63%
Prince George's	$157,000	-15%	-4.85%
Fredericksburg City	$155,000	-27.54%	-38%
Franklin	$152,450	1.26%	2.38%
Jefferson	$132,000	-14.84%	-28.65%
Berkeley	$130,000	-7.14%	13.14%
Warren	$129,900	-21.27%	13.05%
Dorchester	$124,500	-27.15%	13.18%
Washington (MD)	$121,000	-23.42%	-3.2%
Caroline (MD)	$117,762	-44.45%	20.77%
Caroline (VA)	$110,000	-29.62%	6.8%
Morgan	$110,000	-25.68%	-21.37%
Hampshire	$106,450	35.26%	77.42%
Shenandoah	$94,575	-27.22%	-21.19%
Page	$87,000	-55.3%	-38.73%
Hardy	$74,900	-54.19%	-25.1%
Allegany	$67,500	-22.5%	-12.9%
Grant	$64,000	76.8%	-59.56%
Mineral	$60,000	-62.5%	-47.25%
Fulton	$55,000	-53.19%	-42.11%
Baltimore City	$53,000	-51.77%	-26.64%
Pendleton	$0	-100%	n/a