Covering nearly 500 square miles, the county is split into five regions that are distinctly different:

North County: Bounded by the Capital Beltway and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, North County attracts government and University of Maryland employees and students to towns like University Heights, Mt. Ranier, College Park, Laurel, and Greenbelt. Despite the freeways and the MetroLine tracks, the North County section of PGC has plenty of green space and recreational land available in Greenbelt Park, Lake Artemesia Park, and the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center.

Central County: Set east of the Capitol Beltway, fast-growing Central County includes Mitchellville, Woodmore, Greater Upper Marlboro, Springdale, and Bowie, the largest city in the county, with a population of more than 50,000. Bowie has many century homes from the days when the town was the site of thoroughbred horse racing, but there are many contemporary homes in the area as well. The Newton White Manor is a popular location for weddings and political events, while the Ogden Bowie Mansions, Allen Point, Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis Trail, and other planned trails and lakes attract sportsmen.

Rural Tier: The rural area beyond the Beltway was the original area settled in the county and was composed of small, unincorporated parishes and the county’s largest collection of tobacco manor mansions and historic homes. Residents aim to keep the area rural. Patuxent River Park draws birdwatchers, canoeing enthusiasts, and kayakers.

Inner Beltway: This densely populated area of PGC borders the District of Columbia’s northeastern and southeastern quadrant. Capitol Heights, “The Gateway to the Nation’s Capitol,” District Heights, Forestville, Suitland and Seat Pleasant are the major communities, which were developed around 1904 for those who wanted to live on the outskirts of the district. A Metro station runs through Capitol Heights. The area around it is an Enterprise Zone, ripe for development.

South County: Communities such as Clinton, Oxon Hill, Temple Hills and Fort Washington are on the Potomac River, where the National Harbor project has been developed into a major area for shopping, entrainment, and riverside condos.

Over the past four years, Prince George’s County has seen home values drop by 60%. With homes in the area averaging less the $172,000, homebuyers have a good chance to buy a beautiful home with urban amenities and rural charm, both nearby. The State of Maryland, the county, and individual towns have many programs in place to help buyers settle there, as well as to help current residents living in Prince George’s County prevent foreclosure.

To this end, Prince William County was the proud recipient of $200 million in road improvements that directly impact the county, as a part of federal transportation funding. As Rob Clapper, President and CEO of the Prince William Chamber of Commerce noted when Governor Bob McDonnell made the announcement, the funding, “… will facilitate the movement of goods and people in our community. Our 2011 Legislative Agenda also emphasizes roads projects that would spur economic development. Obviously, we are excited at the progress the governor’s announcements represent for businesses in the Prince William region.”

The improvements will include numerous improvement such adding lanes, building new interchanges at Gainesville, and widening I-66, replacing some bridges, and widening, adding lanes, and improving traffic management on other area roads.

Not only will the road improvements reduce congestion for the workforce, they will assist visitors who come to see other area attractions. Prince William County is the site of the Marine Corps Heritage Museum, the Hylton Performing Arts Center, the Old Dominion Speedway, and the Manassas National Battlefield Park. It will also be the location for the new American Wartime Museum and the 150th commemoration of the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War and the famous First and Second Battles of Manassas. Other tourist destination are the Potomac Mills outlet mall, the 10th most popular tourist destination in the state, the Jiffy Lube Live concert facility, and Prince William Forest Park – the largest National Park Service property in the Washington, D.C. region.

The roadwork is a step in the right direct to complete the county’s 2008 Comprehensive Plan for land use in the area. The county hopes to attract increasing numbers of high-paying professional jobs with transit-oriented housing to serve the workforce. New roads, widened roads, and well-engineered traffic management will compliment expanded regional mass transit. As the Metro service is expanded to Tysons Corner in Fairfax County, legislators discuss the possible expansions of the Metro into Prince William County as well as other options.

With the area growing, stay tuned for other upcoming improvements in Prince William County.

Centered in the heart of the city is Dupont Circle, one of the most famous, affluent, and prominent districts within D.C. Its deep rooted art culture, funky shops, and trendy bars and restaurants make Dupont Circle one of the most sought after in the D.C. area. In a 2009 poll by NBC Washington.com, it even won out over Georgetown as the best place to live in the District.

The neighborhood is a preferred habitat for the wealthy diplomatic set, but it also prides itself on its culture diversity and welcomes alternative lifestyles. If money were no object, many young adults moving to DC would always choose to live in Dupont Circle. However, real estate and rental prices here are among the highest in the city.

Dupont Circle actually is a circle with a lush green park that is a gathering place, with plenty of benches for socializing. People come to eat lunch, stroll, play chess, people watch, or enjoy the tranquility. There are also 22 Art on Call boxes in the area showcasing the art and history of this vibrant area that represent the work of local artists that pedestrians can enjoy. The tall, beautiful Dupont Memorial Fountain marks the center of Dupont Circle’s thriving commercial district of retail stores, office buildings, cafes, restaurants, and cultural attractions surround the park.

A bit southeast of the downtown, Chinatown in Washington, D.C. is a small, historic neighborhood nestled in along H and I Streets between 5th and 8th Streets. Originally a German area, Chinese immigrants started to populate the area in the 1930s when they were displaced from their original settlement on Pennsylvania Avenue with the building of the Federal Triangle government complex. The new residents added decorative metal latticework and Chinese signage, including the glittering gold and tiled gate, the Friendship Arch, Chinatown’s most visible and beautiful landmark and the gateway to the neighborhood.

D.C.’s 4-block Chinatown is smaller than the Chinatown districts in New York or San Francisco, but it is still an authentic, colorful and charming ethnic community that was renovated several years ago. What people come to Chinatown for is still there. You can still shop for teas and herbs at grocery stores and enjoy a steaming bowl of shrimp dumpling soup at Full Kee or watch the chef making noodles in the window of Chinatown Express. Each winter, the Chinese New Year is still celebrated here in a dazzling fashion complete with a colorful parade featuring drummers, musicians, lion and dragon dancers and thousands of popping firecrackers. The 20 or more Asian restaurant coexist with national chains, which hang their signs out front in Chinese.

However, Chinatown is now a bustling scene for nightlife, shopping and entertainment and up-an-coming place to live and work. There are new and renovated condos in the area, including the Clara Barton, the Lafayette, and Ventana, plus a new mixed-use development Gallery Place with 192 condos and 250,000 square feet of restaurants, bars, and retail. Chinatown is home to 700 Six, a 12 LEED certified green office building.

Dupont Circle and Chinatown rank as two of D.C.’s most interesting neighborhoods.

Resource: http://rrc.dc.gov/rrc/cwp/view,a,1193,q,445658,rrcNav_GID,1415.asp

When you are in a jam, there are always people willing to exploit your plight, but the so-called helpers aren’t always honest.  You may need help, but you don’t want to make things worse by hooking up with a company that either can’t deliver or has no intention of delivering once it has your money.

If you are in a position where you want to sell your home quickly, Express Homebuyers is an honest company with both reputation and resource.  We will buy it from you for cash and complete your deal within a couple weeks. There is no charge for our services. And, we are Better Business Bureau accredited.

Who uses Express Homebuyers?  Many different kinds of people!

• People who have trouble selling because they do not have equity in their home.
  • Those who have experienced the death of a loved one or the need to settle an estate.
  • People who are tired of being a landlord.
  • Those who need to sell because of a divorce.
  • People who are behind on payments or facing foreclosure.
  • Anyone who bought a new home, but can’t sell the old one.
  • People who own vacant houses or houses that need repairs.
  • Those with liens or title problems.
  • People working with a real estate agent who hasn’t come through as promised.
  • Anyone facing a job transfer or relocation.

People from all walks of life who share the need or desire to sell their homes, regardless of repairs needed, can sell for cash, close quickly, and sell to a reliable company accredited by the Better Business Bureau – Express Homebuyers. Contact us today at 877-804-5252 or visit our website to get the process started.  We can wrap up your deal in a couple weeks and even offer you a $2,500 cash advance to help you plan your move.

Reduce your personal DOM today!

A week after Christmas, you may be making New Year’s resolutions that include some things you would like to do but may have little control over.  Getting out of debt or at least in better financial shape may top the list, but unless you are wasting your money on riotous living, it’s pretty hard to get ahead unless you suddenly start making more money.  In the current economy, it is hard to pick up second job to supplement your income at a time when your first one may be risk.

The New Year is typically a time when people consider fresh starts.  One way to do that if your prospects for getting aheadis to rid yourself of house debt for a while.  Perhaps a few years in a rental property or sharing a home with family might put you in a more stable position where you would be better prepared to be a homeowner.

Express Homebuyers can help you turn things around quickly.  We will buy your home for cash!  Call us and within a couple weeks, we will have assumed all of your housing headaches.  You can reach us at 1-877-804-5252 or on our Express Homebuyers website.

You know, though, that preparing your home for sale will be a challenge.  The house needs a face lift to make it appealing to buyers.  To get the place looking as good as you’d like in time to get it on the market, sell it, and find yourself the replacement home you want will just take too much time. What do you do?

Maybe you inherited a home that would give you a chance to be a homeowner but it just isn’t what you want.  Even if you fixed it up, it is still too far from your job or maybe the schools aren’t what you want for your children.  You could list and sell the place on your own, but that’s seems like a lot of aggravation.  What do you do?

When you’ve been out looking at houses, you have found your new, perfect home.  The problem is, the house is so fine and in such a good location that other competing buyers are coming to the same conclusion.  The Realtor® mentions that there are other interested buyers so you have to move fast.  Maybe your existing home hasn’t sold yet or maybe you fear having enough cash up front to make your move on the new home you want.  The Bank of Mom and Dad is closed for big withdrawals and you need the cash quickly. What do you do?

You’ve just been transferred or maybe you’ve been offered a great job out of state.  You may want to buy in the new location, but in any case, you need to go!  Selling your home long distance is not want you have in mind. What do you do?

You may be in circumstances where buying another home is the last thing you want to do right now.  You know that your home is very salable but you’re on the verge of foreclosure, you’ve lost your job, you’re at the midst of a divorce, and you want or need to move on quickly.  What do you do?

Express Homebuyers can help you. We specialize in buying houses directly from home sellers like you who need a fast and reliable home-selling solution.  When you call us, you will receive an immediate offer, and you will be able to save time and money.  How do we do this?  Well, we’ve been doing this since 2003 and since then we have purchased 600+ properties in the DC metro area.  We have bought houses that needed repairs, houses that had tenants in them, houses that had been on the market for months and no one else wanted to buy, houses from people that were facing different situations (bankruptcy, foreclosure, divorce, relocation, job loss, death in the family) and needed to sell their house fast. We’ll buy your home as-is, without closing costs, commissions, or paperwork!

If you want to learn more about us or would like to get an offer for your house call us 1-877-804-5252 or check out our Express Homebuyers website for more details.  If you are looking for an affordable home, we can help you too.  Since our business is buying homes, refurbishing them into tip-top condition, and then reselling them, we have a number of refurbished homes we offer for sale. Check out the many other affordable new-home values we have to offer.

P.S. – Tell us you saw our free report Secrets to Selling your House in Seven Days or Less and if we buy your house we will give you a $100 gift card to Home Depot to help you get a few things for your new place.

Homeowners with the ability to pay the mortgage they agreed to when they got the loan are one intended audience for the Making Home Affordable plan set in place by President Obama in February, 2009.  Borrowers with Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac-backed loans held by participating lenders can qualify for loan modifications that hold payments to 31% of incomes.

How the President’s Plan Works

For someone whose payment has risen to 45% of their income, the lender must absorb the loss to reduce the payment to 38%; the government will pay the difference between 38% and 31%. To reach this goal, the interest rate can be reduced to as low as 2% for five years.  Participants are encouraged to work with HUD counselors to assess their housing situation.  The program is free.

Lenders receive incentives when they successfully complete a loan modification, but lenders are so understaffed in their departments that they are slow to respond to eligible homeowners.  At this point 360,165 trial modifications have been started and 571,354  offers made; this represents about 12% of the 3-4 million eligible homeowners expected to be helped. In July, President Obama chided the lenders and asked them to increase hiring to assure that at least 500,000 trial modification are in place by November, 2009.

The original plan was limited to mortgages that were 105% of the value of the home; but this was increased to 125% in July.   In hard hit areas of the country like Nevada, California, and Florida, where percentages of “underwater” mortgages are high, many are disqualified from participating in the program. Critics allege that, because the program does not mandate principle reduction and because lenders have been slow to respond, the program will fall short of its goal of how many people it will help.  The President admonished lenders and loan servicers to increase hiring to assure that 500,000 modifications are in progress by November, 2009.

Loan Modification Won’t Work for Some

Unfortunately, during the housing boom, some homeowners bought homes that are too expensive for them, perhaps by overstating their incomes.  Lured by easy credit terms during the housing boom, these homeowners now find themselves in homes too expensive to heat, maintain, and insure, as well as pay for.  Others have  lost their jobs in this period of high unemployment and may not be able to predict when they will be working again or if their salaries will remain the same.

A loan modification, especially one that doesn’t significantly reduce the payment, can only prolong the agony of foreclosure in these cases.   For people in this condition, as well as for people who don’t want to keep the home, there are better alternatives than loan modification to prevent foreclosure.

Express Home Buyers offers one solution to people who aren’t candidates for loan modification but feel trapped with a high mortgage.  We will buy your home fast – most sales close within two weeks of your accepting our offer.  Since we buy the home directly from you, you do not have to list your home with a real estate agent or deal with banks or lawyer to negotiate a settlement for you.  We even offer you a $2,500 cash advance to help you move to new housing.

We buy homes in Baltimore and Southern Maryland; the Metro DC area; and Hampton Roads, Richmond, and Northern Virginia. Learn more about “The Express Homebuyers Advantage” and make the call to sell your home quick!

Being in this situation is not what you anticipated when you scraped and saved for your home. However, if you can adopt the philosophy that homes and material things are replaceable, you can get through the situation and aim for a fresh start.  Short sales, foreclosure, or  bankruptcy can provide this. What you should aim for is the solution that has the smallest long term impact on your credit score and the greatest chance for you to move onto the next step with dignity.

Preserving your credit score is important. Not only is a good credit score necessary to get future credit and get it at a decent rate, it may impact your ability to rent or buy a house, get insurance, and even get a job. If you fall on hard times, you will take an inevitable hit.  Your concern should be with preserving your score as best you can. The means that in order of the least damage to your credit, it is short sale, foreclosure, and bankruptcy.

Short sale: If your home’s value is not enough to pay off the mortgage, you could ask your lender to authorize a short sale where you can sell the home for less than you owe.  This approach saves the lender time and money compared to a foreclosure and allows you have more time to plan your nest move as the process takes a while. You will lose 80 to 100 points on your credit request, but within 18 months the impact on your score should lessen.

Foreclosure: When the bank takes your home, you lose 200 to 300 points on score and can’t buy another home for at least three years.  Given the large numbers of foreclosures these days, foreclosure might have a relatively small social stigma and economic impact over time.

Bankruptcy: Bankruptcy will remove your debts or allow you to repay them over time, depending on whether you file Chapter 7 or 13 bankruptcy.  The number of points you lose depends on what your credit score was before you filed, but the event will stay on your record from 7 to 10 years. Despite the effect on your credit rating, this may still be the best choice if you are burdened down with a lot of other debts besides your mortgage.

Any of these methods can offer a fresh start to you if you are in trouble.  If you want to sell your home now, Express Home Buyers can offer exciting alternatives. Whether you are in financial trouble, face foreclosure, have a property that needs a lot of work, or have an inherited house, we can sell your house fast. Because with us, it’s Guaranteed2Sell.

Whether or not you’re planning to sell your house any time soon, it never hurts to get things in order.  Even the tidiest homeowners are amazed by how quickly houses can become inundated by the clutter and items they accumulate.
Here are some easy tips toward consistently maintaining order and balance in your home, and ensuring that come sale time you don’t find yourself waging the war against disorder for the first time.

You Need Discipline and a Game Plan

• Instead of dabbling and making gradual improvements here and there throughout the home, focus your efforts on one room at a time.  Don’t move onto another room until the task at hand has been thoroughly completed.
• Force yourself to stay disciplined, and adopt the “in and out” approach.  For every new item you add to a room, remove an older one.
• If you have kids, make the cleaning process fun for them (yes, it is possible).  Whether it’s by giving them incentives to keep their rooms tidy and their personal belongings out of public spaces, or showing them how rewarding the result can be give them a tangible reason(reward, privilege, bribe)  to observe these rules even when they haven’t been reminded to.
• Have a vision of what the room SHOULD look like before you tackle it.
• Use hangers to sort the clothes you wear the most from the ones you break out only on special occasions.  Needless to say, garments that are out of season should be kept separately (a sealed, moth-proof rack for your hangers can be a crucial investment for your basement/attic space).
• When considering whether or not to retire an item, force yourself to decide whether you really, REALLY need it.  If you have a hard time deciding, you know what to do.
• Treat your kitchen as a sacred area: the real estate that includes your stove, sink, refrigerator and countertops should be occupied by useful items only.

When it comes time to sell your house fast, you will be more than rewarded for the work you have done on the front end. Of course, if you do decide to sell your house in the Maryland, Washington DC or Virginia area, give us a call. We can help.

What’s a Short Sale?

Let’s assume you understand the basics of the concept, and are familiar with the broad strokes: basically, a short sale is what occurs when a lender agrees to accept less than the amount owed against a home because there is no longer enough equity to sell and pay all costs of sale.  Put simply, if your payments are in arrears and it’s looking more and more like the lender won’t be able to recoup the full cost of the home, a short sale may be their best way of their getting something rather than nothing.

It Isn’t Perfect, But…

There’s no question that a short sale is far from an ideal outcome for anyone who owns a home.  If you find yourself in dire straits with either foreclosure or a short sale looming as your only two options, which do you choose?  Consider which does more damage to your credit?  Opinions on this topic vary, but the bottom line is, they both do a lot of harm.  Foreclosure typically knocks between 200 and 300 points off your score, while short sales have been known to trim your credit rating by anywhere from 100 to 300 points.  Bottom line: your credit will suffer either way, although you have a slightly better chance of losing less money and credit rating if you work with a real estate agent and negotiate a short sale.

It’s a Way to Protect Your Credit Rating.

We understand how hard it is for anyone to be facing these possibilities; if you’d like to know more about this process or have any other real estate questions answered, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Express Realty Services has a fully-staffed short sale department; we can help you work through every facet of your short-sale negotiation.

Important Steps to Avoid Foreclosure at All Costs

Let’s start by talking over a few ways to avoid having this happen to you.  We already wrote a bit about short sales, and their effect on your rating. Here are some other ways you can try to keep the possibility of foreclosure from becoming a reality.  The first and most basic is to keep in touch with your lender.  No one likes hearing bad news, and it can be easier to let unopened bills and late notices pile up in your trash than deal with the reality of your situation.  If you find yourself falling behind on your payments, contact your lender and discuss the possibility of modifying your loan (and negotiating one with a lower interest rate, for example).  Occasionally, you can ask for forbearance, a period during which the lender agrees to let you temporarily stop making payments until you have your situation sorted out.
Suppose you decide instead to move, most likely into a more affordable home or a rented apartment.  In the event that the amount of your mortgage exceeds the value of the house, consider a short sale.  Sometimes, you can simply turn your home over to the lender and cancel your remaining debt (a process called a “deed in lieu of foreclosure”), but like all of your other options if you’re at this critical stage, think it over carefully.

Whatever You Do, Act Now—Your Situation Won’t Fix Itself

Whatever your situation or plan for the future, we wish you the best of luck, and are always here to take any and all questions you may have.

The Best Endorsements Come From Our Partners

Given how the business works, it’s always gratifying to get the approval of our peers, especially that of real estate professionals as highly regarded as Daryl Laster of the DC-based Lance Horsley Team.  A Chicago native with an MBA in Finance and Entrepreneurial Studies from the University of Illinois, Mr. Laster made his name in the restaurant industry before establishing himself in real estate.   A licensed realtor in the DC, MD and VA areas and an integral part of a company acknowledged by many as DC’s Loft Specialists, he had the following to say about his dealings with our firm:

A Peer Review

“Express Home Buyers is an absolute dream to work with.  Their renovations are truly impressive.  Renovations include high quality, hi-end materials and workmanship.  In my opinion, the project was a true renovation in that plumbing, electrical and structural repairs are done when needed, not lipstick on a sow as I often see.”
“Marc [Hershkowitz], as a listing agent for EHB, was equally delightful to work with.  My buyer has custom requests and Marc facilitated her requested with relative ease.  And of course, the buyer agent bonus was like whip cream & a cherry on my sundae.  Thanks again Marc for all!”

Thanks Mr. Laster

We are extremely grateful for all positive feedback and endorsements we receive, especially when they come from a realtor as accomplished as Mr. Laster.
If you’d like to understand why we enjoy excellent relationships with many of our industry peers, visit our website and browse the homes we have available.  We promise to provide you with the same high-level of service and professionalism that Mr. Laster refers to above!

1. What is the condition of the current title?
2. Are any deeds required from prior owners? (This is common when the previous owner financed the current seller.)
3. Are there unpaid liens or special assessments due for collection upon sale? (Municipal improvements like new sewer, paid over years, is typically due in full upon closing.)Have you checked the assessment and assessor’s records?
4. Did you complete proper disclosure forms per state law?
5. Are there factors that would make the property difficult to finance with typical lenders? (Examples are older homes, substantial acreage, private water and sewer, numerous out buildings…)
6. Have you obtained an updated Certificate of Occupancy?
7. Did you review existing financing to determine whether it can be assumed?
8. If yes to #8, have you contacted the lender to determine what to do to complete the transaction?
9. Do you know your equity in the property?
10. Is the property governed by a Home Owner’s Association? If yes, are there limitations on the property’s use that should be conveyed to potential buyers?
11. What factors will you use to set an asking price?
12. Did you leave room for negotiation in your asking price?
13. Do you have access to area comps (comparable properties)?
14. How familiar are you with the local property sales market?
15. Can you be unbiased about your home’s faults?
16. Will you attempt to add into the home’s market value either what you’ve “put into it” or “need out of it?”
17. Do you know which legal documents to prepare for a home sale?
18. Where can you obtain said documents?
19. Will you need assistance filling those documents out?

If any of this sounds confusing, we may be of use to you.  We know our way around the paperwork you’ll need to have handy, and have helped hundreds of people like you unload homes fast.  As the greater DC area’s largest home buying agency, we’re the people to talk to if you have a home you need sold.  Keep reading next week when we continue down the list.

Some more numbers, and a bold claim

On the sales side of our operation, we continue to unload homes 3 times faster than the market average. Want some real numbers?  The last 3 homes we sold lasted 27, 7 and 0 days on the market, respectively (that “0” is not a typo; we actually sold the home before it even made it to listing). As the country’s largest home buying firm and the 8th best selling team in the Keller Williams organization nationwide, we are your go-to source for the best real estate deals in the DC Metro area, a region that includes Maryland and Northern Virginia. Because we work closely with the FDIC, Fannie Mae, Countrywide, Wells Fargo, Indy Mac and many others, we ensure that our level of access to foreclosed homes and REO’s is second to none. You can view our up-to-date inventory at www.ExpressHomebuyers.com/email and www.ExpressRs.com. We’ve said it before in this blog, but here it is again: now is the best time to buy a home in the next 30 years.  If you’d like to hear more about why we this, or if you’re interested in either seeing the homes we have available or selling one of your own, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Recently, a blog on our work at Illinois Avenue caught our eye, and we posted this response (You can read the original at Concrete Jungle). Our response is listed here:

“Thanks for your post. We are always happy to clarify our business.

Couple of things. First, it’s easy to take the hard numbers at the beginning and end of a transaction and question the spread and the profit – particularly if one wants to question the profit makers. It is true express Homebuyers purchased the Illinois Avenue property shown here for $150,000, a price we determined after investigating the overall condition of the property, and what it would take to renovate it to our standards—which are top-of-the-market.

In terms of this property, we judged the total cost to renovate it to our standards could be well over $125 to $150 thousand dollars. Just this alone would justify a price equal to similar properties in the neighborhood. Atop our costs of renovation we have to add marketing, listing, commission for agents and a host of other small costs that whittle away the remaining margin.

Finally, the $374,955 is the asking price. It would be ideal if it sells for that, but like all other properties, our listed price survives or dies at the very real hands of the market.

Secondly, we don’t necessarily favor the term “flipping” when it comes to our work. House flippers notoriously buy properties cheap, perform minimal—if any –repair, and try to sell the property as quickly as they can. Our mission remains to add value to all the properties we sell and, in the process, help the individuals who need to sell their properties get a quick solution.

Harold, Express Homebuyers”

It’s not a flea market.

If you’ve ever gone to a street sale or marketplace, you know that haggling is part of the process.  The selling price is whatever you can get it lowered to, and half the fun is low-balling until you and the vendor reach an agreement.  This is not how the home market works.  Drastically overpricing a house isn’t a good policy; potential buyers will be scared off, and will skip over your listing until they find something within their price range.  Your best bet is to determine its market value, and set the price close to this number.

Know your surroundings.

Another good move is to take into account what comparable homes in the neighborhood have sold (or are selling) for; if the other two story townhouse across the street has already been appraised and priced, it might not be a good idea to list yours on the market for twice as much.  Still, use common sense when determining a price.  If your home is in better condition or has features that many of the other homes in the area lack, don’t be afraid to set the bar higher.  Hiring a professional can be useful in this case because they can provide you with a CMA, or Comparative Market Analysis, which evaluates your home against others in the area.

As you are probably well aware, we are the largest homebuying service in the greater DC area.  We buy and sell hundreds of homes every year, and can save you the time, frustration and cost of shopping your house for months on an increasingly stingy market.  If you’d like to talk to us about your home or would like to know more about how we operate, take a look at our website and feel free to give us a call when you’re ready.

Downsizing

This can have several meanings.  If funds are tight and spending needs to be reduced, a less expensive house can make all the difference.  The number many use as their cutoff point is 60%, as in they know it’s time to unload their home when mortgage payments eat up over 60% of their monthly paycheck.  Sometimes the decision to downsize isn’t made out of necessity, but for the sake of convenience.  If your family becomes smaller (when a child leaves for college, for example) it may be time to look for a home with fewer bedrooms and less overall space.

More trouble than it’s worth

If you’ve ever owned an old car, you’ve probably had the following conversation at least once:
“You should really get those brakes fixed.”
“No way, that repair would probably cost more than the whole car is worth at this point.”
This probably won’t literally be the case for your home, but a house that constantly needs repairs can be an incredible waste of time and money.  If your “things to fix” list keeps growing and you’re racking up serious expenses, consider scaling down to a more affordable renovated home, one whose issues have already been identified and corrected.

If you can relate to any of these circumstances and decide that selling your home is the right move, check out our website at www.expresshomebuyers.com, we’re happy to discuss your situation and assist you by either buying or helping you sell your home.

Scam #1 – The “Helping Hand” Company

We ran across this particular trap about two years ago – it came from the Better Business Bureau and it’s a doosie. These companies look like the “We Buy Wretched Houses” companies that pepper the landscape with flyers and get-out-of-your-mess-quick promises. You sit down with them, and they tell you they will buy your house for a specified period of time. Not only that, they promise you can continue to live in the house while you pay them much reduced rate with a promise that when you catch up on your finances, they will sell you the house back for very reasonable terms. They pick up your late payments and penalties, and you get back to regular payments.

Sounds pretty good.

What you are not aware of is the papers you sign include some non-traditional mortgage terms. The favorite of these helping hands companies is a binding rider that notes “a deed will be executed if you are 10 or more days late on a payment.” Translated, it means the company will take immediate possession of your house and any and all equity if you are 10 days late on any payment during the contracted time period.

Best Course of Action – Use You Head and Call In Professionals

If you need to sell your house fast, our advice is pretty straightforward: avoid doing really dumb things because you are in a state of personal financial panic. Here are the best steps we can suggest:

1. Work with Professionals
   Only deal with companies who have an established history of home buying.
2. Check them Out
   If you have any concerns about the buyer, don’t hesitate to check them out. We always ask our skeptical clients to check out the Better Business Bureau.
3. Always Know What You’re Signing
   Don’t be shy; ask for help! A lawyer or even your mortgage company can help you if you want professional advice from a third party. Never, ever sign a contract that you haven’t read – “oh, that’s just standard contract stuff” – or don’t fully understand.
4. Be Willing to Walk Away
   If you have any doubts about the buyer or the contract — or if it just doesn’t feel right — just walk.

Of Course, Call Us
Many times, people facing foreclosure call us just for advice. We’re glad to help, whether you choose to sell your house to us or not. We buy houses fast, we’re Better Business Bureau accredited. With Express Homebuyers you can sell your house quick, and be secure and comfortable doing it. We’ll introduce scam #2 from this week’s Washington Post next time.

Chances Are You’re Reading This For One of Three or Four Good Reasons.

First, you may have fallen on hard times. If anything, the current economy has taken any shame out of this position. There are few of us who aren’t affected to a greater or lesser degree. Second, your house may be in a condition in which you can’t sell it unless you spend lots of money fixing it up – money you don’t have. Third, you may have inherited a house through a family event like a death or retirement. Finally, your house might be close to foreclosure, and you simply don’t know what to do next.

Here’s a Simple, Winning Strategy – Sell Your House Now. Then, Buy Another You Can Afford!

It is really that simple. If your situation is such that you need to get out of your present personal economic crisis, then stop trying to make the huge profit on your house you think you deserve. In any one of the four situations described above, you probably can’t.

But you can profit.

Many real estate investment companies (like ours) are in a position to buy your house outright very quickly. As part of the purchase plan, you will be required to pay off all the debt and difficulty associated with the property. But when you do, you will be free and clear of the house and its troubles when the dust settles.

Now, here’s what to do with the cash you have left.

Simple. Buy a House You Can Afford!

Take the proceeds from your selling off of your personal asset – your house – and use it as a down payment for a house you can afford. Now.

Interest rates are low, houses are at their lowest prices in years, and you are now free and clear of all the financial mess that got you here in the first place. What’s to stop you from buying a new house, and a new start?

Look for the Best Value You Can Find.

For us at Express Homebuyers, this is the fun part.

Our business is buying your previous house, and selling you another, similar home that we have fully renovated. Lots of the folks whose houses we buy turn around and buy one’s we have already remodeled. With new gourmet kitchens, granite counter tops, ceramic floors, and completely reconditioned bathrooms and bedrooms, our houses represent one of the best values on the home marketplace today. We buy houses in Prince Georges County, Montgomery County, Washington DC and Virginia.

We close on them pretty quickly, too – usually in under 30 days.

So, one month from today, you could be walking into a newly remodeled home instead of worrying about the one you’re in. And as a personal economic stimulus package, we think that’s pretty neat.

So, need to sell your house fast? Sell it now and improve your overall financial position. We buy houses like yours every day.

Should You Sell Your House to a Homebuying Company?

Okay, so you’ve investigated all your options, and foreclosure looks imminent. Unfortunately, today that’s not an uncommon occurrence. But knowing you are part of an increasing group isn’t really helpful. Neither are signs hung all over the neighborhood offering to buy your house in a hurry – like this:

Ugly House Buyers

If you are like most homeowners facing foreclosure, you need to make a decision quickly after having reviewed all your options. And selling your home to a company may be the best option for you. Here are some of the advantages:

• Quick closing: A good homebuying company can buy your house in just a few days. They’re experts at it, and know exactly what to expect.
• Cash: Often, these companies have the cash on hand to buy your house outright. Having the cash on hand is a huge advantage, particularly if you need to pay off many of the debts associated with your house or present financial condition.
• Few, if any, closing costs: Or hidden fees and commissions. Most reputable homebuying companies will handle, and pay for, all the closing costs; note, they can not pay mandatory local transfer taxes and fees. Those will still be your responsibilities at the point of sale. However, a good homebuying company will help you with those by making sure you have enough cash on hand at closing to cover these.
• A Positive Ending:If you are like a lot of people in your position, you may have reconciled yourself to a negative – if not ruinous – end to your housing issue. It doesn’t have to be that way. Working with a good homebuying company can turn what appears to be a major financial problem into a positive position.

Let’s be honest, though: you can’t sell your house and expect to avoid the expenses you have on that house. The real advantage here is to get quick cash for the equity you have in the house so you can pay off the mortgage, back taxes, liens, and any other debt associated with the property. You may not get rich, but you’ll have a better chance to get back on your feet with your credit rating intact.

Be Careful. They’re Everywhere!

Wow. We’ve gone from real estate management to selling your house to an unknown company in just four blog posts. That can be pretty scary. How do you know if you’re getting a good deal? If the company is reputable?  What can go wrong?

As you can tell from the number of signs you see on the highway, there are homebuyers everywhere. In our next blog, we’re going to share some tips on what to look for in a homebuying company, and how to find out and avoid some of the major pitfalls if you want to sell your house fast, or sell your house for cash.

But here’s a hint: Check if they’re Better Business Bureau accredited. If not, caveat emptor; buyer beware! You might be tempted to say: “Buy my house, now.” But proceed with caution; not all homebuyers are the same.

Unabashed Advertising

We buy houses fast. And, we’re Better Business Bureau accredited. Since 2003, Express Homebuyers has been buying, refurbishing and selling properties in the Washington DC metro area. If you want to have us buy your house, or know of someone who could benefit from our services, contact us at 1-(877) 907-3232.