Topic
Advice for Northern Virginia home buyers, from budgeting and financing to offers, inspections and closing.
Daniel ParkNo. 178
The student loan payment a lender uses may not be the one you actually pay. Here is how conventional, FHA and VA guidelines count student debt, and how to plan for it before you shop for a home.
Keep reading: Student Loans and Buying a Home: How Lenders Count Your PaymentDaniel ParkNo. 177
Closing, also called settlement, is when the home becomes yours. Here’s who’s at the table, what you sign, how funds move and when you get the keys.
Keep reading: Closing Day in Virginia: What to Expect, Step by StepDaniel ParkNo. 175
The final walk-through is your last chance to confirm the home is in the condition you agreed to. Use this 20-point checklist to catch problems before you sign.
Keep reading: The Final Walk-Through Checklist: 20 Things to Check Before ClosingDaniel ParkNo. 173
The inspection report is in. Now what? Here’s how to decide what to ask for, when a credit beats a repair and how seller credits are limited by loan type.
Keep reading: Negotiating Repairs After a Home Inspection: Credits, Repairs or Price?Daniel ParkNo. 171
An escalation clause raises your offer automatically to beat competing bids, up to a cap. Here’s how it works, a worked example and the risks to plan for.
Keep reading: Escalation Clauses Explained: How They Work and When to Use OneDaniel ParkNo. 168
Your lender's approval and your comfortable budget are often two different numbers. Here's a step-by-step way to find what you can really afford in Northern Virginia, with a worked example.
Keep reading: How Much House Can I Afford in Northern Virginia? A Realistic Way to Find Your NumberDaniel ParkNo. 167
Price matters, but terms often decide who wins. Here’s how sellers compare offers, a side-by-side example and smart ways to stand out without overpaying.
Keep reading: How to Win in Multiple Offers Without OverpayingDaniel ParkNo. 164
Fixtures generally stay and personal property goes, but the gray zone is wide. Here's what usually conveys in Virginia and how to put it in writing.
Keep reading: What Conveys With a House in Virginia? Fixtures, Appliances and Items to Put in WritingDaniel ParkNo. 163
A prequalification is an estimate. A strong preapproval is a verified plan. Here’s the difference, what lenders check and how to make your letter count.
Keep reading: Preapproval vs. Prequalification: What Sellers Actually Want to SeeDaniel ParkNo. 161
Write-offs that save you taxes can shrink what you qualify for. Here’s how lenders calculate self-employed income and how to plan a year or two ahead.
Keep reading: Self-Employed and Buying a Home? How Lenders See Your Income