Topic
Advice for Northern Virginia home buyers, from budgeting and financing to offers, inspections and closing.
Daniel ParkNo. 159
Your mortgage payment is only part of the story. Here’s a full monthly budget for a Northern Virginia home, including the costs most buyers forget.
Keep reading: The True Cost of Owning a Home in Northern Virginia (Beyond the Mortgage)Daniel ParkNo. 155
The right agent saves you time, money and stress. Here are ten signs of a great REALTOR®, plus questions to ask before you hire one.
Keep reading: What a Great REALTOR® Looks Like: 10 Signs You’ve Found the Right AgentDaniel ParkNo. 154
A renovation loan lets you finance the purchase and the repairs in one mortgage. Here's how FHA 203(k), Fannie Mae HomeStyle and other options compare for Northern Virginia buyers.
Keep reading: Renovation Loans Explained: FHA 203(k), Fannie Mae HomeStyle and Other OptionsDaniel ParkNo. 153
Virginia is largely a buyer beware state, which surprises many buyers and sellers. Here’s what sellers must disclose and how buyers protect themselves.
Keep reading: Virginia Seller Disclosures: What “Buyer Beware” Really MeansDaniel ParkNo. 152
Virginia Housing offers low down payment loans, grants that never need repaying and a second mortgage for the down payment. Here's how each works and who qualifies.
Keep reading: Virginia Housing Programs for First-Time Buyers: Loans, Grants and Who QualifiesDaniel ParkNo. 151
An ARM can save you real money in the early years, or cost you later. Here’s how caps, indexes and resets work, with a worked example on a $600,000 loan.
Keep reading: Adjustable-Rate Mortgages Explained: When an ARM Makes Sense and When It Doesn’tDaniel ParkNo. 149
Buying your first home is easier when you know the steps. Here’s a clear, 10-step roadmap from budgeting to closing day in Northern Virginia.
Keep reading: First-Time Home Buyer Roadmap: 10 Steps From Savings to KeysDaniel ParkNo. 145
Family help is one of the most common ways buyers get into a home. Here’s how to document a gift the right way so it doesn’t slow down your loan.
Keep reading: Using Gift Money for a Down Payment: Rules, Paperwork and Tax FactsDaniel ParkNo. 143
Association fees can be a bargain or a warning sign. Here’s what they usually pay for and the seven red flags to look for in the documents.
Keep reading: HOA and Condo Fees: What They Cover and 7 Red Flags to Watch ForDaniel ParkNo. 139
Your debt-to-income ratio often matters more than your credit score in deciding how much home you can buy. Here’s how to calculate it and improve it.
Keep reading: Debt-to-Income Ratio Explained: The Number That Decides Your Budget