Things To Do In Alexandria VA -
November 2011 Events Calendar

 There’s no shortage of things to do in and around Old Town Alexandria for the month of November 2011.  In addition to celebrating Veteran’s Day, there are numerous plays, concerts, and even cooking demonstrations!  Click here for a print friendly version of my November 2011 events calendar, and I’ll look forward to seeing you in and around Alexandria VA this month!

Northern Virginia Market Watch Video for September 2011

Reiterating that all real estate is local, and the local forecast continues to outperform the national real estate market.  Pending sales were up from last September.  In September 2010, the number of pending sales was 2,231 and for September 2011 the number of pending sales was 2,394, an increase of 7.3%.  Rock bottom interest rates continue to add fuel to the desire to make a home purchase. The number of homes for sale decreased.  In September 2010, there were 11,802 homes on the market, while the number dropped to 9,130 this past September.  The median sales price increased from $350,000 in September 2010, to $362,000 in September 2011.

See Also – Northern Virginia Market Watch for July 2011

First-Time Military Buyers Can Also Get $5000 For Alexandria VA Homes

Military homebuyers have the privilege of purchasing a home with a VA loan in Alexandria VA.  This provides the opportunity to purchase a home with no down payment.  VA home buyers can request that sellers pay their closing costs.  However, in cases where the seller is unable or unwilling to pay for the buyer’s closing costs, this can prevent closing from taking place putting the brakes on your Alexandria VA home purchase.

There is a $5,000 grant that is making it easier for first-time military homebuyers to purchase a home. As reported from Realtor.org, active duty personnel, veterans, retured members of the military, and employees of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defence are eligible to apply for up to $5000 in down payment and closing costs in the purchase of a first home.  The national nonprofit Pentagon Federal Credit Union Foundation is offering the assistance through its Dream Makers program and says the grants can be applied to a mortgage from any financial institution and applicants do not have to be members of Pentagon Federal Credit Union to apply.

According to the Dream Makers program, you are a first-time home buyer if you have not owned a home in the last three years, or if you have lost your home through divorce or disaster.

See Also: Frequently Asked Questions About A VA Home Loan

See Also: $7500 Grant Program For First-Time Buyers

See Also: Video: Biggest Buyer Blunder – The Importance of Loan Approval

Preparing for Irene in Alexandria VA – Homeowner Tip for Insurance

4th of July Events In Alexandria VA and Washington DC 2011

There will be colors bursting all over Washington DC this weekend as we celebrate Independence Day!  Here is a list of 4th of July activities in and around the Alexandria area for 2011.

WASHINGTON DC
4th of July Fireworks on the National Mall
Fireworks Time: At dark, usually around 9:15 p.m.
Rain Date: July 5th
Launch Location: The fireworks are launched from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and light up the sky over the Washington Monument.

VIRGINIA
Alexandria Oronoco Bay Park, 100 Madison St., Alexandria, Virginia. Celebrate Alexandria’s Birthday & the USA’s on Saturday, July 9, 2011, 4-10 p.m. Enjoy a concert by the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra at 8:30 p.m. and fireworks at 9:30 p.m.

Falls Church
George Mason High School, 7124 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, Virginia. Live music will start at 7 p.m. followed by fireworks at 9:30 p.m.

Fairfax July 4, (rain date – fireworks only July 5) Fairfax City, Independence Day Parade through the downtown area beginning at 10 a.m. Musical entertainment begins at 7 p.m. at Fairfax High School with a spectacular fireworks display at dark. (703) 385-7858.

McLean
Langley High School, 6520 Georgetown Pike McLean, Virginia. (703) 790-0123. Music performances, food, games, and activities for kids. Grounds open at 6 p.m. Fireworks at dark. 

Leesburg
 Ida Lee Park, Rt. 15 (King Street) and Ida Lee Drive, Leesburg, Virginia. (703) 777-1368. Gates open at 6 p.m. Fireworks around 9:30 p.m.

King’s Dominion
16000 Theme Park Way, Doswell, Virginia. Independence Day celebrations and fireworks.

MARYLAND
 National Harbor July 3, 2011. Gaylord National Resort, National Harbor, Maryland. Fireworks and summer festival, beginning at 6:30 p.m., tickets are required. 

“Boom, boom, boom.  Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon!”  – Katy Perry, Firework

VA Compromise Sale Program Offers Cash To Distressed Military Homeowners 
$1500 Paid At Closing

Alexandria VA Short Sales – The Alexandria VA real estate market has made it tough for some military homeowners who are upside down on their mortgage to sell their home. The Department of Veteran Affairs has recently authorized a cash incentive of $1500 to homeowners who successfully complete a VA Compromise Sale. 

What is a VA Compromise Sale?  A VA Compromise sale is when the sale of your home is not enough to cover your VA mortgage balance.  As the borrower, you can request a claim from the VA to pay the short amount that will cover what is owed on the mortgage.  The mortgage lienholder is paid in full and the property is sold to the new purchaser with the lien fully released.

The $1500 incentive is shown on the HUD-1 settlement statement at closing, so the credit to the seller is not paid prior to the sale.  Much like the federal government’s HAFA short sale program where distressed homeowners can receive up to $3000, the VA Compromise Sale has guidelines:

• The property must be sold for fair market value.
• The closing costs must be reasonable and customary.
• The compromise sale must be less costly for the Government than foreclosure.
• There must be a financial hardship on the part of the seller.
• On loans that originated on or before December 31, 1989, the seller must be willing to sign a
  promissory note.
• There must be no second liens or other liens (unless the amount is insignificant). In
  situations whereby there are second liens or other liens, the seller can request that the
  lienholder consider releasing the lien and converting the loan to a personal loan.
• The seller must first obtain a sales contract in order to be considered for the program.
• To protect the seller’s interest, the seller should make the sales contract contingent and/or
  subject to the approval of a VA compromise sale.
• Once it is determined that a homeowner may qualify for VA compromise sale, the realtor or the
  homeowner should contact the homeowner’s lender and/or the VA.

Commonly asked questions from military homeowners considering a VA Compromise Sale:

1. How do I find out the market value of my home? Part of our service including providing a comparative market analysis, which is a report of the sales activity in your neighborhood.  This will show what homes have sold for, and how long they stayed on the market.  With a VA Compromise Sale, a VA appraisal is ordered by the mortgage lender.  The VA will likely not approve a sale that is less than the VA appraised value.
2. What if I do have a second lien?  Approval of a second lien will be on a case-by-case basis by the VA.  If there are large additional liens on the property, we will help you negotiate an arrangement with the lienholder so that the property can still be sold.  This may include negotiating a short payoff, or a promissory note.
3. What if I owe past due condo fees or HOA fees?  Contact the HOA or condo association immediately to find out the total amount due, and start making arrangements to bring your account current. The VA will likely not pay any money towards delinquent condo or HOA fees.  Associations have the authority to place a lien on your property and may also start the foreclosure process.
4. If I sell my home with a VA Compromise Sale, can I use my VA loan again?  Yes, but only after you have paid back your entitlement.

 If you are a military homeowner and have received your PCS orders to leave the Pentagon, Fort Belvoir, or Quantico, please call me at 703-623-8759 to see if you are eligible for the benefits that may help you if you need to sell your home.

Alexandria VA Short Sales – Listing Agent Earnes LDPD To Specialize In Luxury Home Sales

Alexandria VA Listing Agent Uses QR Code Technology To Market Homes For Sale

Well, you don’t have to stare it. You won’t see a 3-dimensional object come floating to the surface. But if you have a smartphone, such as an iPhone, Blackberry, Palm, or Droid, you may already know what to do.

This fuzzy looking barcode is called a QR code, which is short for Quick Response code. A consumer can scan this image with a QR reader app on their smartphone, and once the image is captured, the phone’s web application will automatically open and take them to the individual property website for the listed home.

This is an important feature that has spread in popularity here in the United States.  Overseas, QR codes are extrememly common, and once you become familiar with this fuzzy barcode, you’ll start to notice them everywhere from billboards to print materials.

So how does this benefit a homeowner who is trying to sell their Alexandria VA home? Well, as an Alexandria VA listing agent, part of my job is to stay informed on the ways that consumers are searching for homes. If your home is constantly being seen where buyers are looking, then that will increase your chances of getting your home sold!

Alexandria VA Listing Agent Graduates From Harris Real Estate University Specializing In Short Sales

Tamara Inzunza, a veteran Realtor with McEnearney Associates, Inc. in Alexandria, VA has earned the prestigious Harris Real Estate University Accredited Short Sale Designation (ASD), having completed extensive training in negotiating and closing Short Sales. This expertise is invaluable at a time when the nation’s housing market is devastated by millions of distressed home owners thrust into the foreclosure process.

The Short Sale of a property allows the distressed owner, through their Realtor, to find a buyer willing to purchase their home before they are forced into the foreclosure process. The owner can then use proceeds to repay their lender, even if the amount is less than what they actually owe on the property. In the current economy, nearly all lenders are willing to consider Short Sales because they are less costly and time-consuming than foreclosures.

“The Harris Real Estate University ASD designation has been invaluable as I work with sellers and lenders on complicated Short Sales.  The best action against foreclosure is Short Sale, if a loan modification is no longer an option,” said Inzunza, “It is so rewarding to be able to help families save their homes from foreclosure.”

Tim and Julie Harris, founders of the Harris Real Estate University in Las Vegas, NV, said “Realtors like Tamara Inzunza with the HREU ASD designation have valuable training in Short Sales and can offer homeowners a better alternative to foreclosure, which inevitably destroys their credit rating and prevents them from having the ability to purchase a new home for seven years. Through our in-depth training and continuous education programs, these agents are trained to aggressively seek sellers and buyers using our extensive marketing techniques.”  Inzunza also received training and earned the Certified HAFA Speciliast and Luxury Distressed Property Designation.  “McEnearney Associates is a recognized leader in luxury home sales in Alexandria VA and throughout Northern Virginia and DC.  I wanted to bring this value to my company so that my colleagues can continue to maintain the relationships they have with their existing clients, and have a company specialist who can provide confidential service to luxury homeowners in distress.”

The Harris Real Estate University opened in 1998, and provides Distressed Property Agent training through webinars, teleseminars and teleconferencing. Agents can earn their Short Sale Listing designation remotely from their offices all across the nation. The HREU ASD is the premier designation for Realtors who want to specialize in helping distressed home owners.

“Our goal is to prepare agents enrolled in the program for the increasingly competitive Short Sale market. It’s becoming more difficult for uncertified agents to out-sell and out-perform our graduates. Our comprehensive Short Sale Certification gives them everything they need to gain an edge over other agents in their service areas and to provide the assistance that distressed homeowners need,” Harris said.

If you feel you are in need of more information about foreclosure alternatives, or if you are under water on your mortgage payments, call Tamara Inzunza for more information 703-623-8759.

Specializing in the sale of residential homes in the Alexandria, VA and Washington DC area, Tamara Inzunza lists and sells homes in Alexandria City, Fairfax County, and Prince William County. Contact Tamara Inzunza at 703-623-8759 for more information, or visit www.MyPrivateShortSale.com