Tag: home search

Advice is always free.

Condo Alexandria agents are available by phone consultation most days and will gladly provide information found on this website and advice over the phone free of charge. At no additional charge, Condo Alexandria can process and forward your application to the landlord at any time. Call us at 703 765 0300 if you have questions or need advice.

Condo Alexandria invites you to employ our expertise if you have an immediate and specific rental need. If you choose Condo Alexandria to represent your interests, your agent will work with you and not for any particular landlord or condo association and best of all there is no charge to you the tenant.

The landlord has an agent. Do you?

The landlord is represented by a "listing agent" who works to sell the lease and represent the landlord. Listing agents are motivated to represent a specific property rather than any particular renter. In our capacity as rental agents, Condo Alexandria works for the renter. Our services are most useful to renters who need or want an expert opinion to find the best rental for a specific and immediate need. Our agents already know the area. We don't need to drive across town to know what's there.  If you have a question about a specific community, there is a good chance we've already been there. As your agent, Condo Alexandria will search through thousands of listings and then take you to rentals that best suit your budget, commute, preferences and needs.

Some renters don't need an agent.

If you're the type of renter who doesn't mind the risk of putting yourself at the mercy of the apartment buildings and listing agents; or if you're already a real estate pro, then you might not need a rental agent. You don't need a rental agent if:.

1. you don't need an expert to represent your side of the transaction;
2. you're not moving within 45 days;
3. you don't need any expert advice about what's available in Northern Virginia.

Renters who do not need or want any representation can by-pass Condo Alexandria and contact the listing agent to view properties listed on our website.  The listing agent is found on our website at the bottom of each listing.

Who needs a rental agent?

You need a rental agent only if:

1. you want an advocate for  your rights and your application;
2. you're moving within the next 45 days;
3. you want an expert opinion in your home search.

Our clients tell us what they want, and we find that rental (if it exists).

Touring properties in Northern Virginia

Condo Alexandria agents are eager to serve you and we appreciate the opportunity to be of service. Our website and advice is free of charge and without obligation.  However we will only tour properties with clients. We require our rental clients pay a  retainer which is  fully refunded if and when you sign a lease to rent any property that is in the Multiple Listing Service or our website.* We invite you to interview a Condo Alexandria agent today. Condo Alexandria can help you find the best fit for your budget, your commute, your wants and your needs.  If we can't add value to your transaction, we'll refuse your money and give you what advice we can for free. Tenant Representation Agreement * This retainer will not be refunded in the event the client chooses to rent a property not listed in the MLS, if the client chooses not to rent at all or if the client chooses to work with another agent to complete the transaction.

Sample

Renting is an excellent way to get some firsthand experience in a neighborhood. Renting may let you sign a one-year lease, say in a Shirlington two,-bedroom condo for example, with the option to continue, if you like the neighborhood. An advantage of this is you can test the waters to see if you really love the features of this neighborhood or not. If you do not like where you are, for example, if the four-bedroom, two-story home in Lorton is not your style, you may relocate to another place.

Pay as You Go

Many Americans live from paycheck to paycheck. Upfront, you will have a security deposit with a rate that depends on your credit score. If you have a good credit score, your property manager may only charge one month’s rent, for a security deposit. On the other hand, if you have a poor credit score, your property manager may charge two months’ rent for a security deposit. After this initial fee (which may be refunded if you meet the requirements like passing the move out inspection), it is a comforting feeling to know that after a chunk of your paycheck is put into your monthly rent, there’s a good portion of it left for bills, necessities, and fun expenditures, like neighborhood nightlife, or personal hobbies.

Short-Term Commitment & Little Investment

Not sure if you want to stay in {Location_Name} as a Washington DC commuting GS-5? Do you have plans of living in California and seeing Napa Valley, Los Angeles, and San Francisco firsthand? Are you active duty military with upcoming orders for a new assignment, with no interest in the responsibility of becoming a homeowner? If so, these questions may make you lean towards renting, as opposed to buying. It is nice to know that as a renter, you would not have to concern yourself about footing the bill for a repair on a roof that is falling apart, paying a monthly a condo fee (that could range anywhere from $150-$700), or paying the bill for a lawn service to pick up the leaves from your $1,000,000 Mount Vernon home in fall. Overall, renting may be cheaper up front, but it is not for everyone. Also, who says you simply cannot purchase a property at a later date?

Build Your Credit While You Sock Away Savings for a Down Payment

Paying your bills on time is an excellent way to build your credit score, and to show lenders that you know how to manage your money. If you are frugal, you can take a chip off each pay check, to build up a savings for buying a home in the future. The return on applying your savings to the purchase of the home of your dreams can be exponential. For those with an eye on the future, being a responsible tenant can prepare you financially and teach you the accountability necessary for home ownership.

Roommates

Spending time with friends can make for priceless memories. Living together can be fun and slightly cheaper than going solo. The process of getting a group of friends together to rent out a property may be very rewarding and challenging. A Nesbitt Realty Realtor, like Stuart Nesbitt, is capable of making the later stages of finding and renting a property simple. There are many different neighborhoods in Northern Virginia to choose from, that can fit your specific needs such as:

1. being metro accessible,
2. having a main street,
3. being near a good school,
4. being luxurious,
5. being of a certain type of building style [e.g. high-rise or garden style, for example],
6. being affordable,
7. or even being off the beaten path.

    For more information or to set up an appointment call Stuart at (703)765-0300.