What do buyers need from their agents?

Are you in the market to buy a home?  Wondering what to ask of your realtor in the home buying process?

Some of these questions you may already have the answer to, particularly if you have purchased a home in the past.  If this is your first home purchase, this post by the KCM Blog may help.

Discuss your questions, fears and concerns with your realtor.  This is your purchase and you deserve to be happy!

If you are ready to purchase a home, call me today.  I have experience, integrity and understand how to make the process enjoyable and satisfying....

Thank you

Carla Brooks

703-577-4960

brkslong@aol.com

PS picture is a courtesy of free digital photos

Another beautiful weekend!

Not all the hydrangea blossoms were destroyed by latent frost....

Enjoy the weekend.  If you would like to buy or sell a home, call me today. I am here to help.

Thank you

Carla Brooks

703-577-4960

brkslong@aol.com

Giving Thanks Today

SEVENTY YEARS AGO TODAY, tens of thousands of American soldiers, sailors and airmen, along with thousands of allied troops, stormed the beaches of Normandy in Operation Overlord — D-Day — and saved the world. We remember, and give thanks to everyone who preserved freedom and our country.

God Bless America!

Carla Brooks

Clematis Love

Ran into this bush today, thought I'd take a few photos for you to enjoy.

If you would like to buy or sell a home, call me today.  I am here to help.

Thank you

Carla Brooks

703-577-4960

brkslong@aol.com

Interest Rates are still at an all time low

My first home was financed at 13% plus.  It was a small, two level townhome in Prince William County.  Eventually, it increased in value and we were able to afford a small, two level rambler with a yard for our kids to play in.  The rambler mortgage was financed by the seller along with a down payment from our townhome sale proceeds.  We saved alot of money by securing the seller financed loan since interest rates were 12% plus at the time we moved.

We made our mortgage payment directly to the seller each month.  This mortgage payment plus social security income was the sellers retirement income.  Today, seniors on fixed income are struggling to make ends meet.  A 10% rate of return in unheard of!

Interest rates on residential mortgages are incredibly low today.  Home prices, on the other hand, have steadily increased over time, despite the financial downturn in 2008.

The KCM blog has a graph of the cost of money over time.  It can be viewed here

It is always interesting to look back on the past and use that information to make sense of the present.

If you are interested in qualifying for a loan call me today.  I can refer you to an experienced lender.

                                                                 Thank you

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

PS the picture is a courtesy of Free digital photos

Should I move up to a bigger home today or tomorrow?

 Now, this is an interesting topic.  The KCM Blog has a great post about "moving up".

If you are contemplating a move up, check out the post here .

If you thinking of selling your home or buying a home, call me today for a free consultation.  Its a complicated world and I can assist in clarifying the details!

                                                    Thank you

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

Space is a friend of the Rhododendron bush

The ability of the rhododendron bush to trail off into any and every direction is amazing.  That is why I prefer the rhododendron to be planted in a part of the yard that can accommodate unlimited growth.  Here is a rhododendron bush in my back yard that is is full bloom:

I am quite certain this bush has never been trimmed.  The pictures do not do justice to the scope of the branches.

One common mistake that landscapers and homeowners make is to plant trees and bushes too close together.  It is important to anticipate the eventual growth area of the planting and allow enough space for the planting to reach its potential.

My next door neighbor has a massive purple rhododendron on the side of his house. It is a real beauty and grows quite nicely in the shade.

This white beauty grows in an area of my back yard that is full of trees and leafy mulch.  It was nice to work in the yard this weekend and enjoy the beauty of nature.

I hope you had a relaxing weekend.  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