It's a waste of time and energy to look at homes that are outside of the budget, so prequalification is the first step for any home buyer. If you choose to work with Nesbitt Realty here are many of the steps that we'll be taking on the road to home ownership.
Julie Nesbitt is an Accredited Buyer's Agent and Top Producing agent. Put her experience to work for you.
Tour properties --- We'll take a top level tour of some of the properties that are in your budget. This gives the client something concrete and real to think about so that you can decide whether this home ownership thing is for you or not. It also gives us a chance to see which properties most interest you so that we can rely upon our experience to identify communities and properties you may have overlooked.
Revisiting --- We'll revisit those communities that hold the greatest interest and look at everything available in those communities.
A few more choices --- If none of these really feel right, we'll find a few more to consider and continue with the search.
Make an offer --- When we've found the property that stirs the soul, fits the budget and feels right, your agent will prepare an offer. At that time we'll collect earnest money.
The earnest money is evidence that the seller is serious about the purchase and is held in escrow until the sale is completed. We'll submit a preapproval letter, a copy of the earnest money deposit and the signed offer for the seller to consider.
Negotiations --- Sometimes there is a difference between the asking price and the selling price. The selling price is determined by negotiation. We'll pass drafts of the contract back and forth until the buyer and seller have agreed on all terms.
Loan processing --- Your loan officer will then collect additional documentation from the you and from your agent. This documentation will serve the purpose of proving the representations made in the loan application process. The buyer will produce pay stubs, bank statements etc. The loan office and agent will also order an appraisal as required by all lenders.
Settlement --- Settlement is the word used to describe the actual transfer of ownership. We'll settle on the property in a timely fashion on an agreed upon date. Settlement will occur at a title company's office and a settlement agent will ensure that funds are present as is marketable title.
Ownership --- Here's where the fun begins ... as does the responsibility of home ownership.
What exactly Does a Realtor in {Location_Name} Do?
Law requires realtors to:
Perform certain mandatory and standard acts to help out with the purchase or sale of real estate.
Properly account for the money or alternative property placed in her or his attention.
Disclose untoward material facts that are, or should be, inside the broker’s knowledge.
Sellers can be assisted by Realtors in screening prospective buyers and preparing their homes. Realtors can demonstrate to investors the properties that meet their risk profiles and long-term investment strategies.
Nesbitt Realty can quickly locate the perfect home in {Location_Name} for you. Our Realtors can efficiently organize and coordinate meetings with sellers and potential buyers. A Nesbitt Realty Realtor is well acquainted with all the important things you'll want to learn about the area you may be considering:
the quality of schools,
association fees,
Metro availability,
community amenities such as shops, parks and restaurants.
Our brokers have immediate use of homes when they are put on the market, saving you hours of wasted drive-around time. When you’re prepared to make an offer on a house, our Realtor will help structure the deal to help you save money. She or he will clarify the pros and cons of different types of mortgages and guide you through the piles of paperwork.
If you want to sell your home, Nesbitt Realty can sell the property in {Location_Name} fast and at the best price. Our Realtors are experienced and familiar with the real estate market in Northern Virginia. A Realtor can help you determine the best listing price for your property. We know how to market your home to get the best price as quickly as possibly. Nesbitt Realty knows how the home selling process in {Location_Name} works, so we are ready to assist you every step of the way. Nesbitt Realty has access to the MRIS (our local multiple listing service). MRIS is the MLS database that agents use to find homes for sale in the area. Our agent will add your property to it. Working with a Realtor will make the home selling process run smoothly and much simpler than if you attempt to do it on your own. We're a local family-run business and we appreciate the opportunity to serve your needs.
Learn more about selling your home
If you've never hired the services of a property manager before, you'll probably want to learn as much as possible about the process and what exactly property managers' portfolio entails. In the broadest sense, here's what all property managers do (or promise to do):
We All Must Start Somewhere.
Collect rents. Place rents into an escrow account. Disburse funds to pay bills, income to landlords, and fees to the property management company.
Keep a record of all money and receipts and furnish that record on a regular basis to the landlord.
Deal with HOA/COA.
Manage tenant relations including maintenance requests and late fee notices. We also deal with a laundry list of tenant problems: unauthorized guests, unauthorized pets, parking issues, tenant cleanliness, noise violations, neighbor complaints, etc. If necessary, we manage the process of prosecuting actions to evict tenants.
Ensure compliance with state laws, local ordinances, licensing requirements, association rules, Fair Housing laws, insurance requirements, and IRS requirements.
Manage and dispatch handymen as needed.
Inspect the property at the time of move-in at the time of move-out and make random inspections during tenancy.
Money in general does not flow from the landlord to the property manager. Money flows from the tenant to the property manager to the landlord. Fees and commissions are withheld from collected rents.
Our standard agreement is a one year term, but either party can terminate the arrangement with a 30-day-notice.
The next step is to learn a little more about what differentiates us from other property managers.
[Learn more about our property management services now.]
No one puts forth more effort than Nesbitt Realty.
Finding the Perfect Rental Property in {Location_Name}
Every person may be defined as an individual, and as such we all have different wants and needs. This applies to all aspects of our lives but may be particularly frustrating while searching for a home. In the rental market, it is clear that one size does not fit all and being able to find the perfect property poses a serious challenge.
Adding to the challenge is the fact that occupancy rates and rents in desirable areas may be high, and it is often difficult to find a property that suits both your budget and your requirements. Even in areas where there are more available properties it might still be difficult to find something that ticks all the boxes.
Here are a few tips to take some of the stress out of the search:
Know Your Needs
You, as a potential renter in {Location_Name}, should be well-aware of your needs. Some people are simply looking for a place to eat, sleep and shower while others are looking for a lifestyle or a space that will accommodate various activities, such as working, entertaining and hobbies. Think about what the space needs to do for you and make a list of your specific requirements. For example, do you need built in kitchen appliances? Is a washer and dryer essential or is there a laundry nearby? Do you need easy access to the metro or do you need parking for a car? These are questions only you can answer. After you have answered these questions the best you can, you need to consider the all-important budget. What will your money get you and what are you prepared to sacrifice to stay within budget?
Remember when you assess your requirements to differentiate between wants and needs because, unfortunately, you will most likely have to make a compromise somewhere. Your needs are the things you cannot survive without and your wants are those little extras that make your life more comfortable but are not essential. Take your list of requirements and mark your wants and needs in different colors and then rank them in order of importance. Remember your needs are always more important than your wants.
Use Our Tools
Once you know what you need and you have a good idea of the basic features you are looking for in {Location_Name}, it is then time to turn to our website. The website is designed to give you a good idea of the cost and type of properties available in Northern Virginia and help you identify potential rental properties. This should hopefully take the frustration out of the search by enabling you to eliminate properties that do not meet your needs or budget.
Get Our Recommendations
Rental Agents cannot tell you what you need or which property to choose but they can give you invaluable advice. Once you have identified your requirements, contact our Rental Agents to help you find the right property. Clearly explain to the agent what you are searching for. Our agents know the area and the market; and if they know what you are looking for, they can probably take you directly to a property that ticks all the right boxes. [Read more about rental agents.]
Julie Nesbitt is an ABR who has served buyers in some of Alexandria’s most exclusive neighborhoods. She is a top producing agent who has listed and sold property in Northern Virginia. In addition to helping folks buy, sell and rent property in Northern Virginia, Julie is the primary administrator of the property management services performed by Nesbitt Realty and Condo Alexandria. Call Julie at (703)765-0300.
No one puts forth more effort than Nesbitt Realty.
