Supply and Demand

"The educated consumer is our best customer" was the mantra used by "Syms" Department store many years ago.  Who could argue with their logic?

If one has a good product, at a competitive price,then the educated consumer will be able to recognize it for what it is and be more apt to purchase it.

Likewise, in real estate.  An educated consumer should understand how supply and demand determine pricing in a local real estate market.

That's why I love the Long & Foster Market Minute reports.  One can search by zip code area and find out the latest statistics on the housing market.  Try it!

And call me with any questions you might have.  I would love to work with you to buy and/or sell a home...

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

Great Flyer

Is the real estate market where we want it to be?  Not yet, most of us are thinking.  There is room for improvement.  Great strides have been made this year, however, and we should take a moment to celebrate the progress!  See this post by the KCM Blog to understand the current momentum in the real estate market.

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

                                                                       Carla
                                                               brkslong@aol.com
                                                               703-577-4960

Stay informed on the new taxes on real estate and other investments

Starting in 2013, the new health care law language mandates an additional tax on investments(including real estate) for certain taxpayers.  The National Assocation of Realtors has created a booklet explaining this additional tax. 

Click here: NAR to read first hand about this new tax.

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

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

The role of a realtor

I'm on the run today yet wanted to reach out to all of you that are checking my lately (post-less) blog.  Apologies extended, I haven't quite gotten back from the power outages etc that threw off my schedule.  And, as I'm sure you've read in your local papers, the real estate market has been in full throttle this year so I must take care of first things first!

 In any event, I just read the current post on the KCM Blog this morning and as usual the information was very relevant to real estate and great information for buyers and sellers to absorb.

The topic of conversation is the difference between excellent and perfect.

Here is the post: The KCM blog

Thanks for visiting and enjoy the day!

If you'd like to make the most of your real estate experience call me today!

                                                          Carla 
                                                     703-577-4960

                                                 brkslong@aol.com

Scenes in Virginia 1861

Ever wonder about the visual scenes in Northern Virginia and Washington around the breakout of the Civil War?   Constance Cary Harrison recounts her observations in an article in the Century War Book:

Her family was the first family in the state to "manumit" slaves.  (I had to look this word up) It means to "free from bondage".  Her family lived in the same neighborhood as Colonel Robert E Lee.  In the holiday season of 1860, friends and neighbors were very reluctant to accept the notion of war breaking out in the Union. Holiday parties were scheduled as usual.

The annual Holiday (Christmas) get together in the neighborhood at Plantation Vauclause was held and the reality of impending war was observed yet the celebrations proceeded as planned.  Egg nog and apple toddy's were in ample supply and enjoyed by all.    All the youth attending the party eventually became a part of the Confederate forces.  A year later, Vauclause Plantation did not exist. Surrounding trees were cut down and used to construct a fort to defend Washington.

Once the war was declared imminent, the women and children were relocated to Manassas for safekeeping.   Constance observed one neighborhood family burying their family silver in boxes in their yard for fear the possessions would be stolen by looters.  After the war, she observed the silver lying loose in the soil, the boxes having long rotted away.

 The women and children that were relocated to Manassas, recalled saluting each passing train as the rail cars moved soldiers from one point to another in preparation for battle with Union troops.

On 7/18/1861 the first guns at Manassas were heard at Blackburns Ford.  As the day wore on no word arrived until the slow trickle of wounded soldiers began.  Some wounded soldiers were treated on site, others were taken to the hospital in nearby Culpeper.  Some soldiers appeared with notes attached to their clothing explaining the status of various soldiers to their loved ones.  One mother heard, in regards to her 15 year old son, that due to extreme fatique he lay sound asleep on the battlefield with guns blasting all around him.

Constance and her cousins were summoned to make the first 3 battle flags for the Confederates.  One flag was for General Johnston, one for  General Beauregard and the last for General Van Dorn.  When the latter died in Tennessee, the battle worn flag was returned to Constance.  Today the flag rests in the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, Virginia.


The Maryland Historical Society @ 201 W Monument Street, Baltimore MD (410-685-3750) has a 5000 square foot exhibition describing the three phases of the Civil War. (http://www.mdhs.org/)  $6 admission ($5 seniors, $4 3-18, free for those 2 and under


If you would like to make the most of your real estate experience call me today.  I am here to earn your trust and I will treat your transaction as if it were my own.

                                                        Carla
                                                 703-577-4960
                                             brkslong@aol.com

Short Sale versus foreclosure

According to the latest business news, charts and graphs, the real estate market in Northern Virginia is on the road to recovery.  Sales are up and prices are up.

Still, there are many homeowners who owe more than their home is worth.  Even though the sales prices of homes have moved upwards, they are still not at the pricing levels of 2005, 2006 and 2007.  Some homeowners are prepared to wait out the storm and hold onto the property for as long as it takes.



Some homeowners, on the other hand, cannot afford to wait out the storm and are truly in distressed situations.  They need to sell their homes and they do not have the cash to bring to the settlement table to cover the difference between the sales price and the liens on the property.  What to do?

There are two options: Foreclosure on the courthouse steps or a bank approved "short sale".

Going through a foreclosure is a serious and credit-damaging event.  The foreclosure on the credit report will most likely prevent homeowners from purchasing homes anywhere from 5 to 7 years in the future.  The foreclosure is also an expensive procedure for the banks.  They will incur attorney fees and trustee fees.

In a  "short sale", the bank agrees to approve the sale of a property for less than the mortgage(s) owed by the homeowner.  The "short sale" will damage the homeowners credit yet for a shorter period of time.  In fact, some homeowners will be able to purchase a home within 2-3 years from the date of the short sale. The "short sale" will most likely not be as costly to the bank as the foreclosure in terms of attorney fees and trustee fees.  A win win for all concerned.

If you are a buyer in the market for a home, short sales should not be overlooked as possible properties to purchase.  Unless, of course, your particular situation will not allow you to be at the mercy of the banks time table for settlement.

If you are in a distressed situation call me today for information on the short sale process.

                                              Carla
                                   brkslong@aol.com

                                     703-577-4960

Time Saver Tip

One thing I've enjoyed through the years is watching perennials re-bloom in the pots they were planted in the previous year(s).  This way, I don't have to go out and buy new plants and then plant them.  An instant garden of delight appears on my deck each year.

Here is some Yarrow that was planted 3 years ago:

Here are some Garden Phlox (paniculata "Laura")--they have the most delicious smell!!!

Here are some mums that were given to me as a hostess gift years ago, somehow I haven't been able to kill them along the way:

These "bunny ears" were given to me by a neighbor at least 15 years ago:

How about some favorite hosta?  I've had to remove some of  my favorite hosta from the yard and place on my deck since the deer were eating them to the ground.  I dare them to walk onto my deck!!  So far so good...

Here's a wonderful jade plant that I've had for 20+ years.  I bring it inside each fall and outside each spring:

Of course nothing can replace the fresh basil and potato vines that have to be planted fresh each year:

Hope you're enjoying the summer weather and if you'd like to buy or sell a home call me today!

Carla 

703-577-4960

brkslong@aol.com