Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com in Maryland and Virginia

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY REAL ESTATE. The real estate market says "It's Time To Buy!"

Lenn Harley Homefinders.com MD & VA Real Estate — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 18:08:45 -0500

HOME BUYERS in NORTHERN VIRGINIA ARE WAITING FOR PRICES TO COME DOWN.

Prices for homes in Prince Willaim County VA are down. Prices have been reduced dramatically.

Bristow * Dale City * Dumfries * Gainesville * Haymarket

Manassas * Nokesville * Triangle * Woodbridge

The average price for a home SOLD in Prince William County in September 2007 was $370,506.
The average price for a home SOLD in Prince William County in September 2008 was $230,999.
The average rental unit in Prince William County in September 2008 was rented for $1694 a month.
$1696 a month will pay the mortgage payment for a home in the $250,000 price range.

HOME OWNERS ARE NOT PAYING ANY MORE FOR THEIR MORTGAGE PAYMENT THAN THEY WOULD PAY FOR RENT.

Every day we speak with home buyers interested in knowing, "is it time to buy?"

FACT: Interest rates are still low for the average price ranges.
FACT: There are many homes in all price ranges in inventory.
FACT: Foreclosures can be an excellent buy.
FACT: Short Sales can be an excellent buy.
FACT: Relocation Company owned homes can be an excellent buy.

HOME BUYERS CAN BUY A HOME RATHER THAN RENTING A HOUSE. Think of the adventure of painting your bedrooms your favorite colors. You can plant Mums in the Fall. You can plant Tulip bulbs for next spring. The children can be enrolled in school for the long term.

The average rent in Prince William County is about $1700 per month. $1700 per month invested in home ownership will buy these homes. Income needed to buy a home in this price range is about $80,000.

City	Zip5	ListPrice	Adv Subdivision	BR	FB	HB	# Gar	YrBlt
Woodbridge	22193	$249,900	DALE CITY	3	2	1	1	1986
Manassas	20109	$239,000	FAIRMONT	3	2	1	2	1985
Dale City	22193	$249,000	DALE CITY	4	2	0		1985
Triangle	22172	$250,000	FULLER HEIGHTS	3	2	0	2	1988
Click City For Photo

EXAMPLES OF HOMES IN PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY IN PRICE RANGES COMPARABLE TO THE AVERAGE RENTAL. Click "City" to see the full description.

Demographics

--Average Income Families W/Children $83,000

--Average Age 32

--Percent Married 62.4

--Percent With Children 44.9

--Percent High School Graduates 92

--Percent College Graduates 41.8

--Land Area 337.8 sq. mi.

--County Population 350,000

--Population Density Per Sq. Mile 1032

--Population Growth Rate 4.4% (5 years)

SEARCH LISTINGSand you can view all active listings offered for sale in the Homesdatabase.com site. Homesdatabase works like the Multiple List System, MLS, works for real estate agents. You can search by location, price, features, style, lot size and more. Enjoy and when you find the homes you'd like to tour, contact us. You can also enter your information for daily updates. Or E-Mail Lenn Harley.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988.

BUYERS AGENTS helping home buyers find the best home for their money. There is no fee to our home buyers and all resale homes come with a one year home warranty.

We Can Help!

GAITHERSBURG FORECLOSURES, OCTOBER 2008. Bank owned homes for sale in Gaithersburg, MD.

Lenn Harley Homefinders.com MD & VA Real Estate — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 07:24:28 -0500

GAITHERSBURG FORECLOSURES IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD. Bank owned Single Family Homes, all vacant and ready for you, priced from $229,900 to $774,900. There are also about 14 town homes and about 6 condo foreclosures for sale in Gaithersburg.

The average price for Single Family foreclosed homes for sale in Gaithersburg in October is about $317,922.
The average price for ALL Single Family homes for sale in Gaithersburg in October is about $547,444.

FORECLOSURES CAN SAVE YOU MONEY.

City	Zip5	ListPrice	Adv Subdivision	BR	FB	HB	# Gar	YrBlt
Gaithersburg	20882	$260,900	DAMASCUS OUTSIDE	5	3	0	2	1949
Gaithersburg	20877	$263,900	DEER PARK	2	1	0		1954
Gaithersburg	20879	$259,000	EDINBURGH	4	2	0	1	1985
Gaithersburg	20879	$240,900	EDINBURGH	3	2	1	1	1987
Gaithersburg	20877	$229,900	EMORY GROVE PARK	3	1	1		1979
Gaithersburg	20877	$251,900	EMORY GROVE PARK	3	1	1		1978
Gaithersburg	20877	$354,900	EMORY GROVE PARK	3	2	1		1984
Gaithersburg	20879	$374,900	FLOWER HILL	4	2	2	1	1984
Gaithersburg	20879	$253,800	FLOWER HILL	4	3	0		1983
Gaithersburg	20877	$271,900	GAITHERSBURG OUTSIDE	4	2	0	1	1934
Gaithersburg	20882	$774,900	GREENHILLS FARM	5	4	1	2	1991
Gaithersburg	20879	$282,600	HUNTERS WOODS	3	2	1	1	1981
Gaithersburg	20879	$314,900	QUAIL VALLEY	4	2	1	2	1976
Gaithersburg	20879	$289,900	QUAIL VALLEY	4	2	1	2	1976
Gaithersburg	20877	$330,500	SAYBROOKE	4	2	1	1	1988
Gaithersburg	20877	$362,900	SAYBROOKE	4	2	1		1988
Gaithersburg	20882	$320,000	THE PLANTATIONS	4	2	1		1979
Gaithersburg	20877	$284,900	WALNUT HILL	4	2	1	2	1968

THE BENEFITS OF BUYING A FORECLOSURE include buying a property priced at market or below and priced by the foreclosing bank to sell. There is no individual home owner pricing the home based on what they wish to net or what they need to buy a new home. While there are many homes on the market for sale in Montgomery County, many are not selling because they are priced much higher than smart buyers are willing to pay. Prices for homes in Gaithersburg have been reduced significantly in the past 2-3 years. However, when compared with bank foreclosures, many properties are still overpriced for the market. You can rely on Homefinders.com agents and brokers to provide you, our home buyers, with information about recent sales in the area so that you will have the pricing information needed to make good home buying decisions.

FORECLOSED HOMES FOR SALE IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD - Single Family Homes Detached.

For a more detailed view of these foreclosed bank owned homes for sale in Montgomery County, visit Homesdatabase.com. When you find homes you would like to tour with our experienced foreclosure agent, call Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com 800-711-7988.

FIXER UPPER IN PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Virginia. SUCCESS.

Lenn Harley Homefinders.com MD & VA Real Estate — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:10:45 -0500

FIXER UPPERS CAN BE A GOOD BUY. Homes in need of renovation, repairs or upgrades are often priced significantly below market. A wonderful example is a home that we recently sold in Prince William County, VA.

IT'S A WONDERFUL HOME, BUT. . . Everyone agreed that the house was surely worth the list price $200,000, and probably more. The previous owner had started upgrades including adding a family room, new kitchen and master bath, ran out of money and the house was foreclosed. However, our buyer wanted the house so we proceeded with a VA financed offer with the seller paying closing. The contract was accepted and we waited for the VA appraisal.

You can see where repairs were started and not completed. Also some upgraded windows and doors were damaged and needed to be replaced.

Upgraded window will be easy to replace. The house has a wonderful whirlpool bath.

VA APPRAISALS CAN BE TRICKY. This home is a foreclosure. The home was priced at $200,000. The VA appraisal came in for $222,500. Yipee!!

However, while the VA appraisal came in at $222,500, the VA appraisal was conditioned on about $15,000-$20,000 in required repairs. Since the contract was "as is" which is routine for bank owned properties, the bank would not make the repairs and things looked bleak for our buyer. He really wanted the home, but was not in a position to do a conventional loan.

A SUMMARY OF THE VA APPRAISER'S CONDITION STATEMENT:

Improvements - Condition of the Property

AT THE TIME OF THE INSPECTION THE SUBJECT WAS IN AVERAGE CONDITION. THE SUBJECT HAD AN ADDITION THAT CONSISTED OF A FAMILY ROOM, WITH A MASTER BEDROOM AND BATH ABOVE. THESE WERE NOT COMPLETE, THEY WERE IN NEED OF DRYWALL FINISH AND PAINT,(SEE PHOTOS) THERE WERE EXPOSED WIRES FROM FIXTURES, THE SWITCH AND PLUG COVERS WERE MISSING, MASTER BATH HAD THE VANITY MISSING. THE SAFETY RAILS ON DOORS WERE MISSING. THERE WERE NO COUNTY PERMITS VISIBLE. IT IS A REQUIREMENT OF THIS REPORT THAT THESE ITEMS BE COMPLETED, AND THAT THEY BE INSPECTED BY THE APPROPRIATE PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY AGENCY FOR STRUCTURAL STABILITY AND CODE VIOLATIONS. THE REPORT VALUE IS MADE AS COMPLETED.

"HEY, CHANGE THE FINANCING TO FHA (203k)?" It seemed to me that this was a perfect property for FHA 203(k) financing.

MORE APPRAISALS. So, the financing was changed to FHA 203(k). That meant two more appraisals. The first FHA appraisal would be for the house in it's present condition, which came in at $220,000. The buyer and our agent met with a General Contractor and got the price, DOM, floor plan, cost breakdown, etc. to complete the construction. The lender ordered the second appraisal. . . . . we waited.

THE LAST APPRAISAL. Good News!! The appraisal for the house after construction is $260,000.

THAT IS THE POWER OF THE HOME IMPROVEMENT PURCHASE AND RENOVATION LOAN.

Happy Home Buyer * Happy Buyer's Agent * Happy Lender * Happy Seller * Happy Lenn

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988, E-mail. Real estate talk.

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY FIRST TIME HOME BUYER PROGRAMS. IT'S NOT THE PRICE OF THE HOME, IT'S THE MONTHLY PAYMENT!

Lenn Harley Homefinders.com MD & VA Real Estate — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 09:13:18 -0500

FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS IN PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VIRGINIA have many questions about mortgages, but the most important piece of information to most of my callers is:

"What would the monthly payment be?"

The second most important piece of information first time home buyers seek is:

"Can you tell me about the FIRST TIME HOME BUYER programs available in Prince William County?"

WHO ARE FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS? First Time Home Buyers are in all ages and all home price ranges, but, most are relatively young, 29-40 years of age in our experience. Of course we have First Time Home Buyers that are fresh out of college and many who are in their 40s and 50s. First Time Home Buyers usually have stable salaried employment and are seeking to buy rather than rent because they have come to a point where they believe that they would like to have a home of their own. Many just have a desire to stop paying rent. Low interest rates help to make mortgage payment competitive with rents. The desire of most Americans to own their home is a strong motivating factor. Location is also an important interest to home buyers who wish to be closer to METRO, work location, favorite school, or church. Many families decide to buy their first home when the children reach school age.

LOWER HOME PRICES ENCOURAGE FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS. Home prices in Prince William County reached the high point in about the end of 2005. Prices remained steady for about 2 years. However, in the past year, prices for Prince William County homes have declined to make buying a very attractive alternative to renting.

HOME PRICES HAVE BEEN REDUCED DRAMATICALLY IN THE PAST 2 YEARS.

The average price for all homes listed for sale in Prince William County in September 2006 was $412,893.
The average price for all homes listed for sale in Prince William County in September 2008 is $230,999.

WHAT WOULD MY MORTGAGE PAYMENT BE???

The average mortgage payment for a home in Prince William County in September 2006 ($412,893) was $2,582.67.
The average mortgage payment for a home in Prince William County in September 2008 ($230,999) is $1,390.90.

HOMES ARE MORE AFFORDABLE TODAY THAN THEY HAVE BEEN IN SEVERAL YEARS.

The income to qualify for a mortgage loan of $412,893 is about $108,000.
The income to qualify for a mortgage loan of $230,999 is about $60,000.

FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS OFTEN NEED DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE.

Homefinders devotes a considerable amount of time looking for help for First Time Home Buyers. Some of the programs that will help are:

$10,000 Grant for First Time Home Buyers. Funding is due to renew January 1, 2008.
VHDA is available and a First Time Home Buyers needs 1% of the purchase price to buy.
VA loans for eligible home buyer can buy with no money down and all closing can be paid by the seller.
FHA 203(k) Home Improvement Loan is available to all home buyers for Fixer Upper homes.
Special opportunities are available with foreclosed, bank owned homes for sale.

IS IT TIME TO BUY A HOME? YOU BET IT IS.

Contact Homefinders.com for an analysis of your home buying needs and qualifications. Once we have your price range, we can arrange a tour of homes in your area of choice and qualifying price range.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988, E-Mail.

SEARCH LISTINGS and you can view all active listings offered for sale in Prince William County, Virignia. Homesdatabase works like the Multiple List System, MLS, works for real estate agents. You can search by location, price, features, style, lot size and more. Enjoy and when you find the homes you'd like to tour, contact us. You can also enter your information for daily updates.

Real estate talk

NORTHERN VIRGINIA REAL ESTATE IS A BUYERS' MARKET - LET'S GO HOUSE SHOPPING!

Lenn Harley Homefinders.com MD & VA Real Estate — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:15:11 -0500

THE HOUSING MARKET IS HAVING THE SALE OF THE CENTURY. HOME PRICES IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA ARE THE LOWEST SINCE ABOUT 2003. Buyers waiting for the market to reach the "bottom", need to go shopping.

FORECLOSURES ARE SELLING. Short Sales are moving. Home owners who must sell because of job transfers, family growth, good deal on new construction or other reasons have dropped prices dramatically and in many cases, will help buyers with closing costs.

NORTHERN VIRGINIA REAL ESTATE IS ON SALE

County	Average List Price	Active Listings	# Foreclosures
Arlington	$581,477	1119	17
Fairfax	$456,727	7545	344
King George	$283,403	266	1
Loudoun	$367,149	2756	106
Prince William	$251,384	4309	433
Stafford	$278,918	1270	56

FHA Financing is available for financing for all of the average price ranges above.

VA financing is available for all of the above price ranges with NO DOWN PAYMENT and the seller can pay all of the buyer's closing (negotiable). Many homes are affordable for VA buyers reassigned to Northern Virginia through BRAC transfers.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988, E-Mail.

Real estate talk

FLORIDA RELOCATION SUCCESS. NETWORKING WORKS. I LOVE IT WHEN A PLAN COMES TOGETHER

Lenn Harley Homefinders.com MD & VA Real Estate — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:11:22 -0500

REAL ESTATE BROKERS AND AGENTS WORKING TOGETHER can lead to successful home sales and everyone wins. The key is working with agents who know their business, know the area market, know the stock and are honest. The below is an example of networking at it's best.

* * * * WANTED! A FEW GOOD REALTORS ® * * * *

REFERRALS SOMETIMES TAKE PATIENCE. Some time ago I fell in love with a real estate broker, Bryant Tutas, known as Broker Bryant in Kissimmee, Florida. Shhhhh, he's married to a fiesty lady who wears a sidearm and we don't want to upset her. She's recuperating from emergency surgery. I can't say the timing of the emergency surgery was helpful, but when you're working with experienced real estate folks who know how to handle an emergency, they get the job done.

GOOD BUSINESS BEGINS WITH TRUST. Several months ago, about a year ago in fact, Broker Bryant kindly responded to my request that we work together to seek referral business whereby I would seek home buyers relocating from MD and Northern Virginia to Central Florida. It was a long shot, but shucks, life is an adventure and I thought it worth a shot with prices so low in Bryant's area, how could retiring buyers resist.

WORKING TOGETHER IS WHAT MAKES IT WORK. The idea was for me to add a few web pages to Homefinders.com and refer contacts to Bryant. We were looking at a small market area, but then, once the initial few hours to develop the site, it would be self sustaining. There isn't any out of pocket expense for me to add a page or two. Of course we needed a Florida map. Bryant contributed valuable content and we were on our way. The site went live and was indexed and on page 1 in Google SERP in a couple of days. Then, the web site went on autopilot. A few calls and e-mails came in but were not worthwhile.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE A GOOD BUYER IS COMING FROM. A few months ago, I received a contact from a lovely lady who was interested in buying a home in Central Florida. I contacted Bryant and alerted him about the buyers. Bryant took over from there and maintained a relationship with the buyers until they arrived to buy a home about 3 weeks ago. Unfortunately, TLWs suffered a critical medical crisis the very morning the Bryant was due to show our buyers homes. Can anything else go wrong this year???

QUICK ACTION SAVED THE DAY. Knowing that he wouldn't be able to leave TLW to show homes, he contacted an ActiveRain Goddess, Allison Stewart. Allison went into action and took these lovely buyers by the hand.

SUCCESS!! Allison sold our buyers a home in a matter of hours and sent them back to England to wait for settlement. Settlement went smoothly (cash buyers) this week and we have some happy buyers.

TLW is back home where she belongs, agitating for chocolate brownies. Broker Bryant is playing nurse and happy that things are right with the world. Allison has the knowledge that she's a trooper and a good Buyer's Agent. Lenn's happy because, after a year, the Florida web site has produced a good buyer and a good referral fee.

I love it when a plan comes together!

Real estate talk.

VICTORIAN HOMES IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD. PERFECT FOR FIXER UPPER PURCHASE AND RENOVATION LOANS

Lenn Harley Homefinders.com MD & VA Real Estate — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 18:36:31 -0500

The Victorian Homes in Montgomery County, Maryland are very popular with home buyers who want to enjoy a taste of American history. Victorian Homes in Montgomery County are often in the quiet neighborhoods close to the conveniences of the down town areas. These Colonial era properties offer much for home owners, size, style, flexibility for renovation and remodeling. There are foreclosure opportunities in many towns in Maryland that offer wonderful opportunities for fixer upper purchase and financing.

Some of the lovely homes in these communities. Many Victorian Homes will benefit tremendously through the use of Fixer Upper Purchase and Finance Loans. Upgrades for the interior and exterior can be upgraded, repairs made and all financed in one home loan.

BEFORE and AFTER idea for renovation of older homes.

Upgrade and/or repair the roof, windows, door, steps, porch and railings, add garage and more.

Towns were many Colonial and Victorian style homes are located include Darnestown, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Kensington, Laytonsville, Rockville, Silver Spring, Takoma Park.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988, E-mail. Experienced in Renovation purchase and financing. Real estate talk.

QUESTION: WHAT IS A REAL ESTATE TAX? ANSWER: A FEE LEVIED BY GOVERNMENT AGAINST PROPERTY OWNERS.

Lenn Harley Homefinders.com MD & VA Real Estate — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 06:49:27 -0500

* * * * ATTENTION ALL PROPERTY OWNERS * * * *

QUESTION: What is a real estate tax?
ANSWER: Fee levied by government against property owners.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR REAL ESTATE ASSESSMENT IS???

DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN ASK FOR A REASSESSMENT??

In November 2007, I wrote a post to my ActiveRain blog about property assessments. The response was not overwhelming. But, being the stubborn old coot that I am, I'm writing it again.

For real estate agents and brokers who market to past buyers, send them a letter with the name and address of the tax assessment office for their home. This may be the best piece of marketing material you can send a former buyer client. If they are successful in having their tax assessment reduced, they will save real money and remember that the advice came from their real estate agent.

EXAMPLE:

Tax Year	Total Tax Value	Land Value	Improvement

2008	425,000	250,000	175,000
2007	510,000	310,000	200,000
2006	480,000	300,000	180,000

ASK YOUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT FOR A REAL ESTATE ASSESSMENT.

FACT: In many geographical areas, real estate values have fallen significantly in the past 24 months.

FACT: Some local governments do not reassess every year. Some local governments reassess every 3 years or so. If your tax assessment was over a year ago, it may be high.

FACT: Local governments are losing money because most of their budget is funded through real estate taxes.

FACT: Local governments have no incentive to reassess properties in a declining real estate market.

FACT: Citizens can be pro-active in getting property assessments lowered.

FACT: Many state and local governments must, by law, balance their budget.

FACT: Real estate taxes and assessments are determined by local governments.

FACT: Citizens can exert pressure on local governments to trim spending to balance their budgets and not merely tax their property owners to pay for their spending.

Homeowners who purchased a home in the past three years may be able to obtain a market valuation from their Buyers Agent.

Real estate agents may wish to contact former buyer clients and suggest that they ask for a reassessment of their property. You can't increase the value of their property but you may help them lower their monthly/annual tax payment. Most home owners are paying their annual real estate taxes through an escrow account with their mortgage lender. As the tax bills are sent to the mortgage company, the escrow will be adjusted downward and refunds and/or result in lower monthly payments.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988, E-Mail. Real estate talk.

ROCKVILLE, MD REAL ESTATE MARKET REPORT SEPTEMBER 2008, List vs. Sold Prices

Lenn Harley Homefinders.com MD & VA Real Estate — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 08:16:42 -0500

LIST PRICE vs. CLOSED PRICE IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD, Market Report SEPT, 2008 - Rockville.

Montgomery County Maryland real estate markets offer a market where negotiation is popular. Home buyers often call asking "What is the lowest price the seller will take?"

The only way to discover the lowest price is to make an offer and negotiate the price, terms and conditions until both sides believe that they have the best that they are going to get. Negotiation is more than price in real estate in Montgomery County. How quickly a buyer can close the sale is important for properties that are vacant. Cash buyers can often get better prices because there will not always be a financing contingency. Any contingency included in a contract offer deminishes the value of the offer.

Contingencies often include but are not limited to:

Financing
Closing date
Inspections
Inclusions/Exclusions
Earnest Money Amount/Payment
HOA and Condo Documents
Acceptance

ROCKVILLE MD CLOSED PRICES IN SEPT, 2008.

Communities in Rockville in the average price range include: Manor Lake, Bel Pre, Manor Woods, West End Park, Halprin Village, Twinbrook, Hungerford, Aspen Hill, Weaton Woods, Rockwood, Sycamore Acres, Franklin Park, Brookehaven, Maryvale.

EXAMPLES of SOLD prices in Montgomery County for Single Family Homes for September 2008. The list below shows the list price AND the closed price. The close price reflects the final list price and final closed price.

Examples of homes in the average sold price range:

List price vs. Sold Price Rockville MD September 2008

ListPrice	ClosePrice	City
$332,777	$323,000	Rockville
$599,500	$599,500	Rockville
$350,000	$350,000	Rockville
$246,900	$242,000	Rockville
$319,900	$311,000	Rockville
$349,900	$340,000	Rockville
$600,000	$565,000	Rockville
$450,000	$430,000	Rockville
$315,000	$305,000	Rockville
$359,000	$348,500	Rockville
$549,900	$542,700	Rockville
$399,000	$350,000	Rockville
$675,000	$650,000	Rockville
$849,000	$763,000	Rockville
$349,900	$337,500	Rockville
$349,000	$333,000	Rockville
$575,000	$550,000	Rockville
$439,900	$415,000	Rockville
$275,000	$260,000	Rockville
$669,900	$635,000	Rockville
$311,400	$300,000	Rockville
$769,000	$755,000	Rockville
$449,900	$435,000	Rockville
$705,000	$680,000	Rockville
$299,900	$290,000	Rockville
$299,900	$300,000	Rockville
$434,000	$400,000	Rockville
$399,900	$380,000	Rockville
$915,000	$865,000	Rockville
$420,000	$390,000	Rockville
$320,000	$299,500	Rockville
$310,000	$310,000	Rockville
$356,250	$365,000	Rockville
$375,000	$355,000	Rockville
$424,990	$400,000	Rockville
$237,500	$220,000	Rockville
$298,000	$275,000	Rockville
$299,900	$305,000	Rockville
$629,000	$600,000	Rockville
$325,000	$323,000	Rockville
$264,900	$264,000	Rockville
$440,000	$429,600	Rockville
$270,000	$267,300	Rockville
$775,000	$720,000	Rockville
$675,000	$651,000	Rockville
$729,000	$729,000	Rockville

MARKET REPORT FOR ROCKVILLE ZIP CODE 20852.

Average List Price all properties - $406,643
Average Sold Price all properties - $375,754
Average List to Sold price - 92.40%

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988, e-mail. Real estate talk

Homes for sale in Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Kensington, Laytonsville, Montgomery Village, Potomac, Olney, Burtonsville, Takoma Park

FIXER UPPER HOMES IN LAUREL, MARYLAND, Prince

Lenn Harley Homefinders.com MD & VA Real Estate — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 18:19:39 -0500

LAUREL FIXER UPPER HOMES IN LAUREL MARYLAND CAN HELP HOME BUYERS SAVE WHEN YOU BUY AND REALIZE VALUE IN YOUR NEWLY PURCHASED WHEN THE UPGRADES OF YOUR CHOICE ARE ADDED. The best part of a Home Purchase and Renovation loan is that you can buy your home and finance the improvements, all in one mortgage payment.

For more information about Home Improvement Purchase and Renovation Loans, visit Homefinders Fixer Upper Series for MD and VA.

Laurel, Marylandis a friendly town in the area where northern Prince George's County, Anne Arundel County and Howard County meet. Laurel has a home style and type for everyone. Laurel also has some wonderful Victorian style homes that make wonderful properties for FHA 203(k) or Conventional Purchase and Renovation Financing. Laurel real estate is priced right.

FIXER HOMES IN LAUREL YES! Select a home in Laurel among the beautiful Victorian style homes along Laurel's Old Town wide streets. Or, select a home in the popular Montpelier community in Laurel and have a home built in the 1960s that are ready for upgrading with a new kitchen, new bathroom fixtures, tile and probably new heat and air conditioning. Perhaps a new roof is due. Many of these homes are over due for landscaping. The lots are ample and decks can be added to enjoy the quiet evenings in this suburban town. Many homes in the Old Town areas of Laurel are walking distance to Main Street with shops and conveniences including the best meat market in the area.  Homes in Laurel are very convenient to Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Rockville, Annapolis and just about any place you need to be between Baltimore and DC. From the wonderful historic Victorian homes in the Laurel Historic District, to the Levitt community in Montpelier and new homes under construction, Laurel has a home for every Laurel home buyer.


THE ADVANTAGES of buying a Fixer Upper in Laurel.   With a Renovation Loan the home owner equity is recognizable once the renovation is completed. You, our home buyers, also have the pleasure of designing the features in your customized home.

EXAMPLE
Home purchase price:    $350,000
Cost of renovation:         $ 35,000
Value after renovation: $390,000

Some of the home improvements that may be financed in your Purchase and Renovation Loan are:

STRUCTURAL ADDITIONS AND ALTERATIONS Chimney repair Additions Additional bath(s) Skylights Finish attics Finish basements Repair termite damage Treat termite infestations

REMODEL Bathrooms Kitchens replace appliances

UPDATING Exterior siding Adding a second level Add porch(s) Add stair railings Attach Carport, Garage

ADD OR REPLACE SYSTEMS Plumbing Connect to Public Service Heating Air conditioning Electrical systems New plumbing fixtures including whirlpool bathtubs

CONTACT US FOR A TOUR OF HOMES IN LAUREL and if you find a jewel in the rough that would be perfect for a renovation loan, Homefinders can help you arrange for a 203(k) or Conventional Purchase and Renovation Loan. Your Homefinders REALTOR will help you from search to settlement.

Montpelier 1068 home, $389,900. Laurel MARC Station

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988, E-Mail. Real estate talk.

DAMASCUS MD HOMES FOR FIXER UPPER RENOVATION PURCHASE AND FINANCING

Lenn Harley Homefinders.com MD & VA Real Estate — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 14:05:23 -0500

A FIXER UPPER HOME IN DAMASCUS is a good way to maximize your buying power. Damascus, Maryland is a wonderful community in Northern Montgomery County.

Homebuyers with a "vision" can benefit from the purchase and financing of fixer upper homes. Many foreclosures on the market today are wonderful candidates for this type of purchase. All a home buyer needs ia an experienced Buyers Agent and a "vision".

EXAMPLE: Buy a house in Damascus for $425,000
Invest $50,000 in Renovations.
Value after Upgrades, $550,000.

WHY DAMASCUS?

DAMASCUS WAS VOTED ONE OF THE TOP 100 PLACES TO LIVE BY MONEY MAGAZINE IN 2007.

THE ADVANTAGE of buying a Fixer Upper in Damascus with a Renovation Loan is the home owner equity available when the renovation is completed. You, our home buyers, also have the pleasure of designing the features in your customized home.

DEPENDING ON THE EXTENT OF THE RENOVATIONS YOU ELECT TO MAKE:

If you decide to upgrade the kitchen, you select the appliances, counter tops, flooring, paint.
If you decide to upgrade the bathroom(s), you select the bathroom fixtures, flooring, tiles, paint.
If you decide to upgrade the exterior of the property, you select the siding, windows, doors.
You may decide to open the floor plan for a more contemporary look and feel. It's up to YOU.

Some of the attractions in Damascus include

* Highly ranked and popular public schools.
* Homes in moderate prices when compared to real estate in other locations in Montgomery County
* Larger than average lot size for Montgomery County.
* Convenience to Route 270 for Montgomery County and DC commuters.

Local shopping in the Town of Damascus for everyday needs. Just look at the variety.

The Damascus Library, 9701 Main Street, Damascus
Shining Stars School of Performing Arts, 9870 Main Street, Damascus
The Red Rooster Restaurant, 10005 Damascus Blvd., Damascus
Little Far East II, 26043 Ridge Rd
Other commercial outlets and services include, Starbucks, Best Buy, Target
Giant and Safeway Super Markets
Car dealerships, auto repair.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988, E-mail. Real estate talk.

FIXER UPPER HOMES IN MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA, WHAT HOME IMPROVEMENTS MAY BE INCLUDED?

Lenn Harley Homefinders.com MD & VA Real Estate — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 07:17:42 -0500

SUGGESTED LIST OF IMPROVEMENTS, UPGRADES, RENOVATIONS AND REPAIRS FOR FHA 203(k) or Conventional Home Improvement Purchase and Finance Loans.

GENERAL, Chimney repair, Additions, Additional bath(s), Skylights, Finish attics, Finish basements, Repair termite damage, Treat termite infestations

REMODEL Bathrooms,Kitchens, replace appliances

UPDATING Exterior siding, Adding a second level, Add porch(s), Add stair railings, Attach Carport, Garage

ADD OR REPLACE SYSTEMS, Plumbing, Connect to Public Service, Heating, Air conditioning, Electrical systems, New plumbing fixtures, including whirlpool bathtubs.

WATER AND SEWER SYSTEMS, Add or replace well, Add or replace septic system (depending on lot size),

EXTERIOR, Roofing, Gutters, Downspouts, Siding.

INTERIOR, Flooring, Tiling, Carpeting.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY, Double pane windows, Insulated exterior doors, Insulation, Solar hot water systems, Caulking, Weather stripping.

LANDSCAPING, Patios and decks, Erosion control, Grading, Tree removal if safety hazard, Repair walkways, Repair driveways, Fencing (if in addition to first $5,000 minimum),

ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES, Remodel kitchens for wheelchair access, Lower kitchen cabinets, Install wider doors and ramps.

Purchase and Renovation Loans in Maryland and Northern Virginia, Local Information

Maryland and Virginia Fixer Upper Opportunities.
Montgomery County, MD.
Bowie, Maryland.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988, E-Mail. Real estate talk.

BOWIE HOMES READY FOR FIXER UPPER BUYERS, FHA 203(k) and CONVENTIONAL PURCHASE and HOME IMPROVEMENT LOANS

Lenn Harley Homefinders.com MD & VA Real Estate — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 07:16:03 -0500

BUYING FIXER UPPER REAL ESTATE and FINANCING WITH A HOME IMPROVEMENT LOAN offers home buyers two ways to save and two loan types, FHA 203 (k) and Conventional Purchase & Home Improvement Loans.

1. Bowie homes in need of upgrading are often sold at deeply discounted prices. You win when buying a foreclosure, vacant home or a property that has not been upgraded for many years. These homes are in popular communities in Bowie and are discounted because they need upgrades to the kitchen, baths, flooring, paint, exterior shingles, roofs and more.

2. Home Improvement Loans permit YOU, the home buyer to select your cabinet styles, appliances, flooring materials, counter top materials for the kitchen, bathroom fixtures, flooring throughout the homes, add family rooms, add a garage, replace the roof, add or upgrade siding, etc. There are many upgrades to a Bowie home that will add significant value to a property purchased at a discount price and upgraded.

BOWIE REAL ESTATE IS AT THE LOWEST PRICE SINCE 2004.

We've been waiting for prices in Bowie to come down and they have. Bowie homes are worth waiting for. The town of Bowie has been a favorite for home buyers since the 1960s when Levitt built the first Bowie community on the former Belair Estate. Over 9,000 homes were built offering well priced real estate on average 1/4 acre lots with community amenities such as ball fields, two lakes, parks and the town of Bowie added swimming pools, an ice rink and many small recreation areas, tot lots through the community. On the north side of Route 50, the home styles are traditional. On the south side of Route 50, the home styles are contemporary. The contemporary style homes in Pointer Ridge are popular for home buyers who like vaulted ceilings, open spaces, overlooks and dramatic styling.

The very popular Colonial with a garage. The varieties of home styles and floor plans in Bowie offer much variety and price ranges. Colonials with 3 bedrooms, 4 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 2 1/2 baths, with 1 car or 2 car garages, many with family room additions.

Bowie Colonial style homes are priced from about $227,000 to $430,000. For some examples of Bowie homes that are good candidates for Purchase & Home Improvement Loans, see:

City	Adv Subdivision	ListPrice	BR	FB	HB	# Gar	YrBlt
Bowie	POINTER RDG AT COLLINGTN (click)	$226,990	3	1	1	1	1973
Bowie	MEADOWBROOK (click)	$299,900	5	2	1	1	1964
Bowie	KENILWORTH (click)	$430,000	4	3	0		1963

The popular Cape Cod. This is one of the most popular models in Bowie wtih 4 bedrooms and 2 full baths The floor plan offers 2 bedrooms and one full bath on each level. This floor plan is very popular with home buyers looking for main floor location bedroom(s). Also on the main level is the large living room, country kitchen with the kitchen and dining space. Many Cape Cod owners have added a family room off the dining area. Since the garage was an option when these homes were constructed, Capes are found with 1 car, 2 car or no garages. Bowie (Levitt Bros. built) homes are easy to upgrade with good bones.

The Bowie Ranch or Rambler home style is always popular with folks who prefer a home with no steps. Since the Bowie Levitt homes have no basements, these are true "no step" floor plans. There is a 3 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath model with vaulted ceilings, and a 4 bedroom model with 2 full baths. 1 and 2 car garage models on ample 1/4 or larger home sites offer room for family room additions.

FIXER UPPER HOMES in Bowie offer value and the opportunity for home buyers to gain equity AND finance the upgrades that make a house your home. All in one loan. You buy your home and then ROLL IN the home improvements that you have designed. You do not have to finance or pay cash for the home improvements that have made your home fabulous with your state of the art kitchen, new carpets, siding, etc.

Contact Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988, E-Mail, to inquire about buying a home in Bowie. Homefinders.com network of experienced agents and brokers will give you the special attention you need. We'll help you

1. BOWIE HOME SEARCH. Find a wonderful property suitable for upgrading that meets your wishes and qualifying price range.

2. CONTRACT OF SALE. Manage the contract preparation to identify market value for the home in it's present condition and the estimated value after repairs and upgrades are completed. Many of the homes in Bowie are bank owned and are known to need repair or upgrades which the bank owners do not do.

3. HOME INSPECTION. Help prepare a cost estimate for repairs. This is done through a home inspection that will identify the upgrades or repairs that will be required to bring the property you select up to satisfactory lender criteria for safety and value. Your Contract of Sale will have a contingency for appraised value to protect you.

4. HOME IMPROVEMENTS. Once you have a contract of sale, it's time to design in detail your upgrades, additions, and repairs to make the home meet your needs for many years. The cost of the upgrades will be financed through your PURCHASE and HOME IMPROVEMENT LOAN.

5. MOVE IN AND MAKE IMPROVEMENTS. Settlement of the Contract of Sale. The home is yours and your upgrades, repairs and additions can be made. You may take occupancy and look forward to completion of the lovely home you have purchased along that will reflect your individual kitchen design, the family room addition, the new garage addition or other design features that you have added to make the house your home.

Joyce Dawkins, Lenn Harley, Jim Habermehl, experienced Buyer Brokers helping Bowie home buyers.

Search Listings

Bowie real estate is the location of choice for many homes for Prince George's County home buyers. Some of the attractions for homes in Bowie are, in addition to lovely Bowie homes, wonderful and convenient shopping at the new Bowie Town Center Mall with Macy's, Sears, Bed Bath & Beyond and many specialty shops and stores. Bowie offers transportation convenience by Route 50, Route 301, Route 197, Route 450 and other transportation alternatives for access to employment centers. Bowie offers popular schools, outdoor parks and new and resale homes in moderate and luxury home price ranges.

Bowie offers many amenities for local residents including Allen Pond and several public golf courses.

Real estate talk.

MARYLAND FIXER-UPPER PROPERTIES AND HOME IMPROVEMENT LOANS - Montgomery County

Lenn Harley Homefinders.com MD & VA Real Estate — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 07:49:37 -0500

HOME IMPROVEMENT LOANS IN Montgomery County, MARYLAND.

Home buyers looking for value and the ability to buy a home and finance your upgrades and improvements should consider Conventional Rehabilitation or FHA 203(k) financing.

Foreclosures, vacant properties and occupied houses in need of repair, upgrading and/or remodelling are eligible for rehabilitation financing. The best news is that you, the home buyer, can finance the cost of the new kitchen, the garage addition, the deck, new roof and many other features to make a house your home.

You, the home buyer, are not limited in the area in which you wish to buy. You are not limited to vacant properties, foreclosures, bank owned or REO homes. YOU select the property that you would like to own. If you can imagine a home with your new kitchen design, new bathroom fixtures, new deck, etc. you will benefit by a home improvement purchase and finance.

Bethesda * Damascus * Gaithersburg * Germantown * Montgomery Village

Olney * Rockville * Silver Spring * Potomac

HOME IN BETHESDA UPGRADED. Before value - $363,000, After value $700,000.

This house in Bethesda was purchased for $363,000 in 2003.

EXTERIOR CONDITIONS

25 year old roof.
Overgrown shrubs in landscaping.
Mature Trees with roots growing close to house.
No deck.
Siding and trim in need of paint.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

IMPROVEMENTS IN PROGRESS
The roof was replaced with 3 layers of old roofing removed.
Repair to roof deck.
Installation of 30 year quality shingles.
New gutters.
Paint exterior.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HOME IMPROVEMENT COMPLETED

New roof.
Siding repaired and painted.
Overgrown landscaping removed.
Lawn established.
Tree removed.
Deck added to back.

This home in Bethesda is an example of what home improvement purchases and financing can do.

This home was purchased for $363,000 in Feb. 2003 and appraised for $700,000 in May, 2005. Extensive upgrades were completed on the interior, new kitchen, new bathrooms, finish second level, new flooring, paint, lighting.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

HOME IMPROVEMENT PURCHASE AND FINANCE - STEP-BY-STEP.

STEP #1 in the process of buying a home and financing through a home improvement loan.

FIND YOUR HOME OF CHOICE. You will want to work with an agent/broker ready to help you find a home that you wish to buy and a property that is eligible for a home improvement loan. You make the decisions about the home you wish to buy. Your Buyer's Agent will show you foreclosure properties, vacant properties, occupied properties that are in your location of choice and within your qualified price range.

PREPARE A FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS. Included in the analysis is:
A determination of the extent of rehabilitation required and/or desired,
A rough estimate of the work needed and/or desired,
An estimate of the market value following completion of the home improvements.

MAKING AN OFFER to buy the home of choice. Your offer to purchase will include:
Offering price, terms and conditions,
Disclosure that the property will be contingent on a 203(k) or conventional home improvement loan approval.

MAKING LOAN APPLICATION. The lender will have experience and expertise in home improvement loans.

COMING SOON -
Cost estimates
Plan review
Appraisal(s)
Lender review
Lender commitment
Loan Settlement
Rehabilitation process
Payment of rehabilitation costs
Final Inspection

Move in your beautiful home.

Courtesy, Lenn Harley, Broker, Homefinders.com, 800-711-7988, E-mail.