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Advice for Northern Virginia home buyers, from budgeting and financing to offers, inspections and closing.
Daniel ParkNo. 88
Older homes can be great buys if the bones are sound. Here’s how to separate cosmetic issues from costly ones in Northern Virginia’s older housing stock.
Keep reading: Buying an Older Home: How to Tell If a House Has Good BonesDaniel ParkNo. 84
What to check before buying a teardown or buildable lot in Arlington or Fairfax County: zoning, grading and stormwater rules, utilities, and the true all-in budget.
Keep reading: Buying a Teardown or Lot in Arlington or Fairfax: Costs and Due DiligenceDaniel ParkNo. 81
A home inspection is your best look under the hood before you buy. Here’s what inspectors check, what they don’t, and how to turn a long report into smart next steps.
Keep reading: The Home Inspection: What Inspectors Check and How to Read the ReportDaniel ParkNo. 74
The down payment is only part of it. Here's every bucket of cash a Northern Virginia buyer needs, when each one is due, and a worked example on a $600,000 home.
Keep reading: How Much Cash Do You Need to Buy a Home in Northern Virginia?Daniel ParkNo. 71
You probably need less than you think. Here are five common down payment myths, and the facts that can help you buy sooner.
Keep reading: 5 Down Payment Myths That Keep Buyers Renting Too LongDaniel ParkNo. 69
Not every street in Northern Virginia is maintained by the state. Here’s how to tell who plows and repaves your road, and why it matters before you buy.
Keep reading: Who Maintains the Road? Private Roads and HOAs in Northern VirginiaDaniel ParkNo. 68
Contingent, pending and under contract sound alike, but they signal very different things. Here’s how Bright MLS statuses work in Northern Virginia.
Keep reading: Contingent vs. Pending vs. Under Contract: What Listing Statuses MeanDaniel ParkNo. 64
Owned, financed, leased or PPA: how solar panels affect a Northern Virginia home sale, from appraisal and title to HOA rules, tax credits and negotiation.
Keep reading: Buying or Selling a Home With Solar Panels: Owned vs. LeasedDaniel ParkNo. 63
A comparative market analysis turns recent sales into a realistic price range. Here’s how it works, how it differs from online estimates and how to read one.
Keep reading: What Is a CMA? How Agents Estimate What a Home Will Sell ForDaniel ParkNo. 58
If you’re buying in an HOA or condo in Virginia, the resale certificate is the most important stack of paper you’ll get. Here’s what’s in it, how long you have, and what to read first.
Keep reading: The Virginia Resale Certificate: Reading the HOA and Condo Disclosure Packet