Topic
Rates, loans, down payments, closing costs and the personal finance side of real estate.
Daniel ParkNo. 197
A neutral, practical look at how the 2026 midterm results could affect home prices, mortgage rates and federal jobs in Northern Virginia, DC and Maryland.
Keep reading: The 2026 Midterms and DMV Real Estate: What Could Change, What Won’tDaniel ParkNo. 193
After a September hike to 3.75% to 4.00%, the Fed meets again October 27 and 28. Here’s where rates stand, why the Fed is tightening and what it means for your home plans.
Keep reading: The Fed Is Raising Rates Again: What It Means for Buyers, Sellers and OwnersDaniel ParkNo. 192
Your Closing Disclosure arrives at least three business days before closing. Here's how to read all five pages, what to compare, and which changes to question.
Keep reading: How to Read Your Closing Disclosure Line by LineDaniel ParkNo. 184
With a condo, the lender approves the building too. Here's what warrantable, non-warrantable and FHA- or VA-approved mean, and how to check before you offer.
Keep reading: Condo Financing: Warrantable, Non-Warrantable and FHA-Approved BuildingsDaniel ParkNo. 179
Scammers target home buyers with fake wiring instructions. Here’s how the scam works, the red flags and the simple steps that keep your money safe.
Keep reading: Real Estate Wire Fraud: How to Protect Your Down PaymentDaniel 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. 170
A lower credit score can raise your mortgage rate, your PMI and your monthly payment. Here's how score-based pricing works and how to improve your number first.
Keep reading: How Your Credit Score Changes Your Mortgage Rate and PaymentDaniel ParkNo. 169
If your assessment is higher than your home’s market value, you can ask the county to lower it. Here’s the process, the evidence that works and what it’s worth.
Keep reading: How to Appeal Your Property Tax Assessment in Northern VirginiaDaniel 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. 165
Real estate tax rates differ by more than 30 cents per $100 across Northern Virginia. Here’s what the same home would cost in each place, plus the car tax.
Keep reading: Northern Virginia Property Taxes: Rates, Real Bills and What Newcomers Miss