Author: stevedean

How to Volunteer in DC This Holiday Season

When you sit down to write out a list of presents for friends and family, don’t forget about the gift of giving back to those in need.

Luckily, DC offers up an impressive selection of opportunities to get involved this holiday season.

If you’re looking to dish out a hot meal, check out Martha’s Table, Miriam’s Kitchen, or So Others May Eat. Or, for those who are hoping to spend some time with furry friends, try reaching out to Lucky Dog Animal Rescue, the Humane Rescue Alliance, or DC Paws Rescue.

#LocalLifestyle

The Why to Title Insurance

Title Insurance is an insurance policy designed to keep the buyer and/or their mortgage lender from risks associated with defects in the title (ownership) of the property.

Title Insurance is an insurance policy designed to keep the buyer and/or their mortgage lender from risks associated with defects in the title (ownership) of the property. Title Insurance is offered as either a standard policy or an enhanced policy. A standard policy covers defects in the title up to the date of settlement. An enhanced policy covers defects in the title before and after settlement.

Covered claims can range from any of the following and more: undiscovered easements that affect the use of your property, errors, fraud or illegal signatures on the title paperwork going back many transactions, errors in public records, a disputed will from a previous owner, and previously unreleased liens on the property that could make it difficult to sell. Title insurance companies will usually assume the risk of defending the claim. Title insurance companies pay out claims on a policy at a rate that is ten times higher than the payout rate on homeowner’s policies.

If you ever have any questions about anything involving real estate, please contact us, schedule a time for a video or phone call, or give us a call!

Plant your own happiness!

Houseplants are good for your health – not just for their visual beauty.

Houseplants are good for your health – not just for their visual beauty. Extensive research by NASA has revealed that houseplants can remove up to 87% of air toxins in 2 hours. Studies have also proven that indoor plants improve concentration and productivity (by up to 15 %), reduce stress levels, and boost your mood.

This time of year is a great time to start introducing a few plants into your space. You may start to notice good changes!

Want an up-to-the-minute glance of your neighborhood?

We can set up a Compass Collection for you that will do just that!

Please contact us or call us and we can outline what types of properties you’re interested in and where you want your report to cover. We will set you up on Compass’ one of a kind platform to share immediate updates on market activity. We can even set up several if you would like so you can watch more than one area. You can receive updates weekly, daily, or in real time and you can unsubscribe any time if your interests change. This kind of information can help you avoid missing a property that might interest you, or it can help you stay on top of the level of market activity.

We are here to help!

Curious to check out the newest listings?

When you’re searching for a new home, you deserve to know all of your options—and that’s where we come in.

With Compass Coming Soon, we offer you an inside look at properties before they hit the market. When you’re searching for a new home, you deserve to know all of your options—and that’s where we come in.

Get access to thousands of new listings before anyone else, only at compass.com.

Ready to learn more? Contact us or call us for more information.

No hidden fees, no interest charged – ever.

What if you could sell your home faster, at a higher price, without spending upfront on home improvements?

Exclusive to Compass, our Concierge program is designed to prepare your home for sale. From staging to landscaping to roofing repairs and other home improvement services, we’ll assess every opportunity to elevate your home’s value.

Once the necessary improvements have been determined, Compass will cover all costs, collecting payment for the services rendered at or after the time of the property’s closing. By investing in your home’s potential, we aim to provide a swifter, more profitable sale.

To learn more, give us a call or visit bit.ly/discoverconcierge

Optimism about the market

The average pencil is seven inches long, with just a half-inch eraser – in case you thought optimism was dead! — Robert Brault

One thing that is always true about the real estate market is that it is cyclical. Values increase and decrease over time, just like interest rates. Real estate markets are even influenced within micro- neighborhoods, meaning what happens on one block may not be occurring a few blocks over.

If you are wondering what is going on in a particular local area, please be in touch so we can do a micro-evaluation of that market for you! This insight can save you money and time when you are ready to make a move.

If you ever have any questions about anything involving real estate, please contact us, schedule a time for a video or phone call, or give us a call!

What’s with ceiling fans? Do they really save energy?

Air conditioning uses more household energy than anything else by far at 36 cents per hour on average, which is about 25% of your home energy usage.

Running a ceiling fan costs about a penny per hour. Ceiling fans don’t cool rooms but they cool your skin through the wind-chill effect.

The Department of Energy says that if you use a ceiling fan at the same time as your air conditioning, you can raise the temperature setting by four degrees without a change in comfort.

Just don’t leave the ceiling fan running when you leave the house!

What is an absorption rate, and why should you care?

An absorption rate is a calculation that indicates how many months of inventory are remaining available in a certain micro real estate market at the current rate of properties going under contract.

The rate of properties coming on the market is just one piece of the market conditions puzzle.

Are there enough buyers for the number of properties available, or are there too many properties available? Too many properties can mean that it might take eight months or a year at the current rate of sales for the current inventory to sell. That often leads to prices softening, which would indicate a buyer’s market.

In short, you should be sure to know what is going on in your micro-market before making a move.

Contact us or give us a call if you would like to discuss!

Guiding You Home

Your trusted real estate advisors

One of the most fulfilling parts of our job is helping our clients navigate the many challenges that arise during the course of a real estate transaction. Whether there are issues with title to the property, confusion about the underlying mortgage on your coop, or property condition disclosures—just to name a few—we consider ourselves to be a catalyst for resolving the unexpected. The more experience an agent has, the more likely they are to be able to quickly resolve an issue so you can get to the end of the transaction with a smile on your face and the results you deserve.

Let us know how we can help you prepare for your next real estate transaction today! Please contact us or give us a call!