Tag: Quote of the day

“Using a real estate agent is a very good idea,” says the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). "All the details involved in home buying [and selling], particularly the financial ones, can be mind-boggling. A good professional can guide you through the entire process and make the experience much easier." Selecting the right professional is the key to a successful real estate transaction. Better than working with a simple real estate agent, you’ll want the services of a Realtor®.

What’s the Difference Between a Real Estate Agent and a Realtor?

More than two million people have earned real estate licenses but only a small percentage of these are Realtors. Realtors are members in good standing of the National Association of Realtors, their state association of Realtors and a local real estate board. Realtors are held to high standards of ethical behavior and must undergo continuing education annually to remain accredited. All agents of Nesbitt Realty are Realtors!

What Does a Realtor Do?

Realtors in {Location_Name} are required by law to:

• perform necessary and customary acts to assist in the purchase or sale of real estate.
• perform these acts in good faith and with reasonable care.
• properly account for money or other property placed in his or her care.
• disclose “adverse material facts” which are, or should be, within the agent’s knowledge.

Realtors can help buyers pre-qualify for mortgages and keep abreast of the latest home listings. They can assist sellers in preparing their homes and screening potential buyers. They can show investors the properties that fit their risk profiles and long-term investment strategies. Nesbitt Realty in {Location_Name} can quickly locate the perfect home for you, or sell your home in the shortest possible time frame. Our agents can efficiently organize and coordinate meetings with potential buyers and sellers. A Nesbitt Realty Realtor will be well acquainted with the important things you'll want to know about the neighborhood you may be considering:

• the quality of schools,
• the safety of the community,
• traffic volume,
• price,
• Metro accessibility
• nearby parks and attractions

Our agents have immediate access to homes as soon as they are put on the market, saving you hours of wasted drive-around time. When you’re ready to make an offer on a house, our Realtor will help structure the deal to save you money. He or she will explain the advantages and disadvantages of different types of mortgages and guide you through the mounds of paperwork. When it comes to selling your home, a Realtor will save you time and aggravation. Their commission will vary depending on your location. Realtors pay for all advertising, schedule all open houses and make sure potential buyers are qualified. The money they can save you is often more than the cost of their commissions.

• Homes for sale in Northern VA -- This our fastest and most comprehensive house hunting tool

Planning on Selling in {Location_Name}?

If you're planning to sell your home, Nesbitt Realty can help. Our Realtors are familiar with the real estate market in {Location_Name}. A Realtor can 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 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. Learn more about selling your home

Buying your own home is on most people's bucket list but there are time when renting might be the better choice.

Try before you buy

Not sure if a neighborhood in {Location_Name} is really right for you or perhaps you need time to assess an area before making a long term commitment. If that's the case, then renting could be a good option for you. Renting gives you the opportunity to see if  a neighborhood lives up to your expectations and  suits your needs before you buy. For example, you can sign a one year lease for a two bedroom condo in Shirlington, with the option to extend the lease if you like the neighborhood.  If you don’t like it and say for example, a 4 bedroom, 2 story home in Lorton is more your style, then you can always relocate.

Pay as You Go

Many Americans live from pay check to pay check and renting a property can help you draw up a realistic budget and live within your means. Before you sign a lease you know what your rent will be and you can work this amount into your monthly budget. When you do your calculations remember that you will need to pay a security deposit upfront and the rate depends on your credit score. If you have a good credit score your property manager might only charge one months’ rent. On the other hand if you have a poor credit score your security deposit could be two months rent. But keep in mind that the security deposit can be refunded if you meet the requirements of the move out inspection. Because rent is a fixed monthly cost, you will know exactly what portion of your income to allocate to rent and what portion remains for bills and other necessities. If you are realistic about the property you can afford to rent then you will have money left over every month for fun expenditures, nightlife and personal hobbies.

Short Term Commitment

Not sure if, as a Washington DC commuting, GS-5, you want to live in {Location_Name}? Do you dream of relocating to California and exploring Napa Valley, Los Angeles and San Francisco? Are you an active duty member of the military with no idea of where your next assignment might take you? There are many reasons why people don't want to make a long term property commitment and renting means that you won't be tied down and makes it easier to move at a moments notice. Or perhaps  you just have no interest in the responsibility of becoming a homeowner? Then renting, as opposed to buying, could be the right choice for you. As a renter you won’t have to worry about footing the bill to repair a leaky roof, paying monthly condo fees, or paying for garden services to pick up the leaves from your Mount Vernon home. Renting a property can enable you to live the lifestyle you want without the responsibility and financial commitment of owning your own home.

Build Your Credit and Save for a Down Payment

Buying a house is a huge financial commitment. It is usually the biggest single purchase most people make in their lives. Renting a property and being a responsible tenant can help you achieve your ultimate goal of owning your own home. Paying your rent on time is an excellent way to build your credit score and  show lenders that you can manage your money. If you are realistic about the rent you can afford, and you are frugal with your money, you can build up your savings for buying a home in the future. Renting will also make you aware of the true costs of owning a property and prepare you for the financial commitment and accountability of home ownership.

Roommates

Not everyone wants to live alone and sharing a house with friends can be fun and lead to priceless memories, but it also has the added advantage of being cheaper than going solo. However, it is worth remembering that choosing good roommates can be challenging. Just because you are good friends doesn't mean that you will be good roommates. Nobody is perfect, and some of your friends might have annoying habits that you just won't be able to live with, so think  carefully before asking someone to move in with you. There are many different neighborhoods in Northern Virginia that will meet your specific requirements for a neighborhood, such as easy access to the metro, a main street vibe or proximity to good school, and your needs in a property, like a certain architectural style, luxury features and affordability.  With so many options to choose from it is worth asking an experienced Nesbitt Realty Realtor, like Stuart Nesbitt, to help you find the perfect rental property.

Nesbitt Realty takes property management very seriously. Our agents and full-time staff are full-time in the property management business and we meet weekly to keep abreast of industry changes and to hone our best practices in property management. Nesbitt Realty is a family business that strives for excellence in real estate. That means working hard to analyze the best possible solution to maximize our landlord's return on investment. We work hard to meet the requirements of the Virginia Residential Landlord Tenant Act, the demands of the tenant and the needs of the landlord. Call us to find out more about what makes us different from other property managers. We serve most of Northern Virginia and have offices across the area. We manage single-family homes, townhouses and condominiums. Read more about property management service Why do our customers adore us? because we cherish our customers.