Read your contract carefully

Aubrey Nesbitt
Aubrey Nesbitt
Read Your Contract Carefully Many renters barely even skim their rental agreement before signing their name at the bottom. Most renters are primarily concerned with the monthly charges, one time only fees, required deposits and other financial matters. Once they verify this information is accurate according to their conversations with the leasing agent, they often sign the agreement with no questions asked. This is a mistake because a rental agreement is a legal contract which may have a host of important information which the renter should be aware of before signing the document. Continue reading

Consider the Amenities

Stuart takes a moment for a picture at the office
Stuart takes a moment for a picture at the office
The amenities on a rental property can often be the deciding factor for many renters. The available amenities may make a less affordable property seem more appealing. Conversely a property which is more expensive may be considered worthwhile if the amenities offered are considered valuable enough to compensate for the higher price. When making this decision, homeowners should consider their own personal preferences as well as their budgetary constraints to make an informed decision. Before making a decision to rent a property, the renter should carefully consider which amenities are necessary, which amenities are optional but highly desired and how much the renter is willing to pay for these amenities. Continue reading

10 Ways To Find Investment Properties in Arlington

Stuart strikes a pose at the office
Stuart strikes a pose at the office
If you really want the best deals in investment properties, you have to increase your odds by finding more deals. Who is more likely to get a cheap apartment building, an investor that looks through the MLS listings and calls it a day, or the one that uses ten resources? Here are the ten: 1. Talk. Let people know you are looking and sometimes the properties will come to you. There are a lot of owners out there who want to sell, but haven't yet listed their property. Continue reading

6 Reasons Why You Should Buy Real Estate in January

Julie Nesbitt
January and New Year's Day give you the perfect occasion to buy real estate. Not only can you pick up a bargain property from a motivated seller, you can save on your purchase expenses. 1. Home shoppers put off looking for a home because of holiday decorating, shopping, and parties. Plus, the cold weather makes home buyers prefer to stay home; they wait for warm weather to buy real estate. Get the edge with little competition from other buyers. Continue reading

Condo Shortage on the Horizon?

Palomar
Hotel Palomar occupies the same building as the Waterview.
According to Tom Meyer of Condo 1, "Arlington is a boom town. Just look at the cranes in Courthouse, Clarendon, Ballston. New office buildings, new rental projects, new restaurants and retail. BUT .... New condos? Nope!" Real estate data seems indicate that condo and home prices in Arlington are about to rise.  Tom says, "We are about to enter a phase of economic recovery in which thousands of new Arlington residents will be paying lots of $$$ for rental apartments. Of course, they move in and immediately realize that they would be better off converting that money into home equity in their own condo. But there has been virtually no new supply built in the past five years. This bodes very well for future condo prices in the R-B Corridor."