McLean Home Review

Some Advice For The First Time Home Buyer

11. March 2010

First Time Home Buyers First Step The first step in your home buying process is talking with a mortgage lender to determine how much house you can afford. The mortgage lender will ask you questions about your personal finances: income; debt; credit history; and assets. They will eventually want to know your social security number and [...]

The Perils Of Dropping Your Price Too Late

10. March 2010

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Later, when you drop your price, your house is “old news.” You will never be able to recapture that flurry of initial activity you would have had with a realistic price. Your house could take longer to sell. Even if you do successfully sell at an above market price, your buyer will need a mortgage. The [...]

The Psychology Of Moving

1. March 2010

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THE PSYCHOLOGY OF MOVING By SARAH KERSHAW Published: February 25, 2010 In The New York Times IN the nine years since he came to New York with $500 in his pocket, Martin-Christopher Harper estimates that he has moved at least 40 times. When he lists the neighborhoods he has lived in — in chronological order — he sounds like [...]

E Is For Executive…Local Attractions

25. February 2010

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February 25, 2010 We will focus our tour this month within the confines of the District of Columbia, beginning with the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, located next to the White House. It was originally built in the 19th century as a home for the State, War, and Navy department, but presently serves as office space for [...]

When Dealing With Contractors

15. February 2010

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Crooks go where the money is. So with Americans spending as much as $22 billion a year on construction projects, it’s no surprise that home improvement has become a favorite target for fraud artists. Some of these shady characters use amazingly well-polished hoaxes that are tricky to spot until it’s too late. The vast majority of [...]

Your Property Tax Bill

12. February 2010

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Owning a home is an expensive proposition. There’s maintenance, landscaping, utilities, renovations, and, of course, taxes. It’s your civic duty to pay the latter, but it’s also your right not to yield a penny more than your fair share. It’s possible to trim your property tax bill by appealing the assessed value of your home. But [...]

Move Or Improve?

5. February 2010

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What do you do when your family outgrows your house, or when the quirks you once found charming about the place just aren’t livable anymore? A few years ago, the answers were easy. With house values climbing an average of 50% from 2001 to 2005 and lenders handing out big checks to nearly anyone who [...]

Is A Bathroom Addition The Right Choice For you?

20. January 2010

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Decide whether a bathroom addition is right for you by evaluating the project cost versus the potential increase in home value. Generally, if you can afford the average $40,000 price tag, a bathroom addition is a good investment. A new bathroom can recoup almost 60% of your initial investment at resale, according to Remodeling Magazine’s Cost [...]

Avoid Forclosure Rescue Scams

20. January 2010

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By: Donna Fuscaldo Published: January 15, 2010 With foreclosure rescue scams widespread as more homeowners fall behind on mortgage payments, be smart if you seek help. A record high 2.8 mllion properties were hit with foreclosure notices (http://www.realtytrac.com/contentmanagement/pressrelease.aspx?channelid=9&accnt=0&itemid=8333) in 2009, putting even more Americans at risk of facing foreclosure rescue scams. Homeowners who fall behind on mortgage payments [...]

Getting A Loan Today…

11. September 2009

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RATES REMAIN AT SURPRISING LOWS The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 5.07 percent for the week, down from last week’s 5.08 percent and last year’s 5.93 percent, according to Freddie Mac. The 15-year FRM was 4.50 percent versus 4.54 percent last week and 5.54 percent last year. Five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) averaged 4.51 percent [...]