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Our latest articles
April 16, 2019
We Buy Houses No Matter the Condition
Selling houses is a long and complicated process that usually makes one go through extensive paperwork, regardless of how good the real estate market is. In most cases, sellers also have to worry about renovations and repairs in the house that they are selling because buyers and investors don’t buy houses as-is. If anything, this significantly delays the closing of the home sale which can extend your timeframe up to 60 days or more.
However, we, as investors, buy houses as-is, in their current condition without demanding any repairs, renovations or changes. Not just that but we close the deal on the actual value of your home, and that too, in a matter of only 7-10 days.
This not only speeds up the entire buying and selling process but saves you from incurring major repair costs and offers you a great many other advantages over selling through a realtor.
Here is how we buy houses in any condition and give you a chance to sell your house fast without any delays or obstacles.
We Offer Ease and Convenience
When selling your house, you are typically expected to remove all your belongings and basically, get it clean. You can’t leave your things behind. You have to ensure that you remove all personal items , from the house and clean it..
That is something you don’t have to worry about when selling your house to us. You can leave all the things you don’t want or need. Once you sign the contract with us, we promise to take care of everything that has to do with the house. You just move the things you want to keep and we will handle hauling away everything else.
Zero Inspections
When selling through realtors, one usually has to wait for the ‘inspection report’ that helps the buyers make an informed decision. After a thorough inspection of your house, if the buyers don’t like the condition of your home, they can decide to cancel the deal, or ask that you make improvements.
We do our own inspections. For us, the condition doesn’t matter, and we buy houses fast in their actual, current conditions.
We Do the Work Ourselves
Buyers usually look for houses for two main reasons; either to live in it or to use it as a rental property. In either case, they look for houses that won’t require them to spend too much on repairs or upgrades. If the house does need repairs and renovations, these buyers will probably ask you for credit against the purchase price for the required changes.
Since we buy houses as they are, we do all the work ourselves. In fact, we have purchased over a hundred houses and have even rebuilt some of them from scratch. When we say we buy houses as-is, we truly mean it. Once you sign a contract with us, we promise to take care of everything without you having to worry about anything. Contact us now to have the most convenient and hassle-free selling experience ever.
April 16, 2019
Should you sell your house FSBO?
According to a report by the National Association of Realtors, FSBO houses are sold at a lower price compared to those houses sold by real estate agents. Many people assume that selling a house through an agent is a more expensive option. Well, that depends. An agent may get you more for your house than if you try to sell it yourself, but we may be able to get you more than if you were to sell with a real estate professional!
What’s the difference you ask?
Well, a real estate agent uses MLS to list and sell your house. On the other hand, a real estate professional simply buys your house as it is and you get instant cash.
As a homeowner, you may not have access to the same knowledge as real estate agents. They are able to see what comparable houses sold for, and how long it would take to get a certain price for a house. With a seller’s agent by your side, you will be able to find out about the current housing prices circulating in the market, as well as the best strategies to sell your house for top dollar. If you want to sell your house fast in Capitol Heights, MD, then you may want to rethink listing your house for sale by owner.
4 Brothers Buy Houses gives you the option that will allow you to sell your house within two weeks and without paying commissions. In fact, if you want to take longer and explore a few options, then we are all for it. Here are four reasons why you should not take the FSBO route and let us buy your house.
Reason #1
Lower Sale Price
The actual process of selling your house is pretty long and grueling. If you are opting for the FSBO route just because you think you will save on the commission, then think again. You will probably have to pay a few hundred dollars to the agent for the sale, as well as other fees for the paperwork. Moreover, you might not get the amount you were hoping for. With 4 Brothers Buy Houses, you don’t have to pay commissions on either side, you won’t have to make repairs and WE pay the closing costs. We handle all the paperwork to make the transaction easy for you.
Reason #2
Slower Sale
Not as many people will be looking at a house that is for sale by owner because many are relying on agents to find a house for them. Most of the time agents are looking at the MLS. The longer your house sits on the market, the more its value will fall. So if you are thinking about doing a FSBO but need a quick sale, you may want to give 4 Brothers a call so you have their offer in case the FSBO route takes too long.
Reason #3
Difficult Transaction
Ask any homeowner who opted for the FSBO route and you will find out that they went to great lengths for the transfer of the title. Then, there’s the closing process that can take days due to the negotiations. Sounds too taxing, right? If you want to avoid this mess, then contact 4 Brothers Buy Houses. As real estate investors, they handle all these steps for you.
Reason #4
Too Many Negotiations
The whole back and forth of crafting an offer and then receiving a counteroffer can be very annoying. Your asking price might be too high, which doesn’t sit well with the potential buyer so they send in another offer. Sometimes, homeowners feel insulted when they receive a low-ball offer. You don’t have to worry about any of these things when selling your house to 4 Brothers Buy Houses. Our specialty is that we buy houses with cash to make your transaction easy. To all those homeowners out there who want to sell their house fast, simply fill our form and submit it. We will visit your house to make an offer. If we reach a price that we both agree on, we will handle everything all the way through closing. For more information on how we buy houses fast in Capitol Heights, MD and what you need to do as a homeowner, call at 202-780-9793.
April 16, 2019
Sell your House in DC without Paying Closing Costs
Real estate transactions are typically finalized on the basis of “closing costs”, the burden of which often falls upon the seller. These costs basically involve an assortment of fees that are paid at the closing of the home sale deal. These costs are incurred either by the buyer or the seller when the title or ownership of the property is transferred from one party to another.
However, lucky for you, there is a way for you to sell your house without paying or worrying about closing costs. When selling to us, you can sell your house fast and seal the real estate deal quickly because we pay all closing costs.
Common Closing Costs
Selling a house is usually deemed to be a profitable transaction, especially for the seller. Real estate is almost always appreciating, so profits are all but guaranteed. However, in several unfortunate circumstances, this potential profit can be eaten by huge closing costs that the sellers have to bear.
Closing costs greatly depend on factors like where you live, the property you are selling, etc. This means that they can vary widely based on these factors. However, there is a list of typical costs that are included in the closing.
Some of these closing costs include the application fee, closing or escrow fee, grantor taxes, loan payoff fee, attorney fees, and title insurance, to name a few.
In a typical real estate transaction, it is very rare that buyers offer to pay these closing costs, so it is the sellers who have to bear the expenses. You can expect to pay somewhere between 6%-10% of the selling price in closing costs.
We Pay Closing Costs for You
Once you factor in the sellers closing costs, you might find yourself reconsidering the whole idea of selling and end up wondering if it is even worth all your time, money and effort.
4 brothers won’t give you any reason to pause or rethink your decision to sell because we pay the closing costs for you. We buy houses in DC from homeowners who don’t want to deal with realtors or worry about the realtor fees. Not just that, we also won’t let you worry about any of the other seller closing costs either.
We Take Care of Everything
Although you may net almost the same with us as you would with a realtor, all this happens without the hassle and extensive time required to find a potential buyer.
Once the contract is signed, we pay your closing costs and ensure a professional real estate transaction. We try to make the entire process of selling your home easy. It can be a very stressful time so we take on the burden of most seller hassles. If you wish to sell your house fast in DC without any hassle, delays or inconvenience, contact us now and let us draft the best real estate deal for you.
April 16, 2019
3 Advantages of Selling Your House Fast
The process of selling a house can be very tough on a homeowner. Finding a real estate agent, making sure that the house is at the top in the MLS search, negotiating on the price, listening to counteroffers, and what not… taking all these steps can get on a person’s nerves. What if there was an easier way you could sell your house fast in Fairmount Heights, MD? You wouldn’t have to go through the hassle of getting your house listed and then waiting for potential buyers to make an offer. Not to mention, you’ll have to keep your home clean 24/7 so that strangers can tour your house.
We understand that it can be very scary to let strangers into your house. There’s no way of knowing whether they are potential buyers or casing the house. A bit dramatic, but one can never be too sure. Coming back to the point, one of the biggest advantages of selling your house fast is that you get instant cash.
We are not talking about renovations and staging, but simply contacting a real estate professional who will buy your house as is and offer you cash. The process is simple: call and setup a meeting with 4 Brothers Buy Houses, a professional buyer will arrive at your house to verify condition and make a fair cash offer!
Sounds good?
Let’s have a look at three more advantages a fast house sale offers you:
1. Peace of Mind
Why are you selling your house?
Did you get a divorce and now don’t want to live in a big house?
Are you going to have a baby and need a bigger house for the nursery?
Did you get a promotion and are planning to move?
Whatever the reason may be — the process of selling a house can last 3 to 6 months or maybe even a year. The longer your house stays on the market, the lower its value falls. Working with 4 Brothers and getting cash allows you to be done with the transaction within a month. It will be a load off your mind and you will be free to make your next move.
2. No Taxes and Other Fees
What if your house doesn’t sell within a few months? You will be paying the property taxes, utility bills, insurance, and maintenance the entire time while you ought to be saving for a new house. If you make late payments, it will become quite difficult for you to secure a mortgage for your new house. On the other hand, if you sell your house fast in, Fairmount Heights, MD to 4 Brother Buy Houses, you won’t have to wonder when your house will sell or pay for commissions or closing costs.
3. No Home Inspection
What if we said that you don’t need to do any repairs or renovations and 4 Brothers Buy House will buy your house as it is. When you sell your house on the MLS, you will most likely get a list of improvements that you need to make to the house before someone else will buy it. That’s the beauty of selling your house fast to 4 Brothers. We are investors and not real estate agents! Once we close and you have your money we make the repairs with our money on our time. If you are looking for someone who will help you, so you can sell your house fast in Fairmount Heights, MD then contact 4 Brothers Buy House. We buy houses with cash right after you sign a simple contract with us. For more information about the process, call at 202-780-9793.
August 10, 2018
Insider Tips for Selling Your Home Fast and For More Money
Trying to sell your house fast? Want to make plenty of money at the same time? Selling your home can take a lot of work and sometimes the process can drag on for a while before you find a great buyer. Over time, you may also find yourself coming down in price and you may not get as much as you expected from it. However, there are ways to sell your home fast and still get a great offer if you know the right tips. Below we’ll give you our insider tips and strategies for selling your home fast while still getting a great offer for it.1. Time It Right
The first thing you should do to make sure you sell your home quickly and easily is to make sure you’ve picked the right time to put it on the market. It’s important to realize that certain times of the year are better for selling a house than others. Selling your home in the spring between March and May is usually the ideal time to list your home and when a lot of buyers are out looking for a place.2. Pick Your Price Wisely
You should also make sure that you set your price right from the very beginning. You’ll want to look at other similar homes in your local market and see what they’ve been selling for. While you may think it’s better to put it high to start with and then come down over time, it’s actually not a good idea. If you want it to sell fast you should price it right immediately. Most activity on a newly listed home happens early on and a home that is been on the market for too long may start seeming undesirable to buyers.3. Take Some Amazing Photos
One of the best ways to make your home sale easier is to add high-quality photos to your listing. If necessary, hire a photographer to get it right and make sure that the photos highlight the best things about your home, both inside and out. Great photography can go a long way in marketing your home. Photos can help potential buyers take more interest and decide to schedule a showing.4. Show Your Home Off With a Virtual Tour
In addition to photos, videos and virtual tours can also be a big help in selling a home. If you really want to get it right, you may want to hire a videographer to make a professional looking video. Alternatively, you may just want to do a simple walkthrough on your own using a camera to show buyers the different areas of your home. However you do it, a virtual tour can be a great way to generate a bit more interest and convince more buyers to give you a call.5. Use the Right Words
In addition to visual content, you should also make sure you work hard to write the perfect description for your listing. The description can make or break your listing so make sure to get it right. If there are any unique and especially attractive features about your home make sure you mention these things clearly and vividly. You may also want to mention positive aspects of the area as well such as which school district you’re in and anything else that is notable about your home’s location.6. Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal
It’s also important to boost your home’s curb appeal. Before you take any pictures or invite anyone for showings you’ll want to make sure your home has a great look and will “wow” anybody as soon as they see it. You may want to put on a coat of fresh paint, for example, or add in some extra outside lighting. You may also want to make some other changes to your lawn or yard to make sure it comes across well from the beginning.7. Make the Right First Impression
In addition to improving the outside looks of your home, you should also make sure that the inside looks great as well and gives off the perfect first impression. When potential buyers come into your home, it’s important that they are impressed. You’ll want to clear out any clutter that you can, so it may be a good idea to rent a storage unit to use while you list your home. You’ll also want to be prepared to let a neighbor or friend watch any pets you have when you’re showing your home. Remove any indications of pets or their smells in your home. Signs of pets in your home may turn away some buyers.8. Assist Your Buyer’s Imagination
Besides making a good first impression you should also be attempting to make sure a buyer can see themselves in your home. While clearing out the clutter is part of this, you’ll also want to consider resetting some of the rooms in your home to their originally intended purpose. Consider taking out some of the most unique features and any creative personal touches you’ve added to your home over the years. Ensure that your home seems like a blank slate to buyers.9. Don’t Overdo It On the Upgrades
While you should be aiming to make your home seem as new and attractive as possible to buyers, you shouldn’t overdo it. Too many repairs may be more trouble than they’re worth. If you spend too much time and money on upgrades and repairs you may not make as much once you finally do sell your home. It’s important to strike a good balance between making it attractive to buyers and not spending too much.10. Be Available and Ready
In addition to having all of the points above in mind, you also need to keep in mind that the more available you are for showing your home to buyers the better chance you’ll have to sell your home quickly and for the best price. Be ready to answer calls and be available at the drop of a dime to show your home or get out of the way for an agent to do it. Keep things clean and don’t let dishes pile up in the sink.Using These Tips For Selling Your Home Fast
While it can take a lot of work to make sure your home sells quickly, by using the tips above you’ll make sure you’re selling your home fast while also getting what it’s worth from the sale. Ready to sell your home fast? Contact us today to learn more about what we can do for you.July 25, 2018
10 Reasons to Sell Your House Fast
If you’re getting ready to sell your home for the first time, you’ve probably been bombarded with advice from every person you talk to. Everyone has tips for managing the process, and not a single person will say that it’s an easy journey. That’s because it typically isn’t. A conventional home sale is usually a stressful process that can take months or even longer. It’s not surprising, then, that there’s been a strong trend toward fast home sales to real estate investment companies. Investment companies that buy homes directly provide an alternate process. If you’re curious about whether you should sell your house fast, read on for the reasons our past clients have given.Why Should You Sell Your Home Fast?
Many of the past clients from whom we’ve bought houses have also sold homes in traditional sales before. Below are the benefits to selling your home using our method, based on the feedback from those clients.Simpler Process
The primary purpose of a real estate agent is to find buyers for your home. This is a challenging and complex job, which is why agents need specialized training to be able to do it. While you’re welcome to hire an agent when you sell to a fast-purchase real estate company, it’s not as necessary. This can save you thousands of dollars. In fact, the average real estate commission alone is up to 6% of the sale price. If your home costs $300,000, that’s $18,000 out of your pocket.Avoiding Doubling the Moving Expenses
In a traditional home sale, poor timing can be costly. If your old home sells before you’re ready to move into your new home, you need to find temporary housing. This means you’ll pay moving expenses twice: to move into a temporary space, then again to move into your new home. Moving costs can be in excess of $10,000, especially if you have a family and are moving a long distance away. If you need to move twice, that a huge unnecessary expense (not to mention the cost of your temporary housing).Cut Down on Stress
You might not be able to put a dollar amount on the stress of moving, but that doesn’t make it less important. For most people, housing is their largest expense and it accounts for a large percentage of their income. When that huge monthly expense is up in the air, your stress level goes through the roof too.No Need to Manage Frequent Showings
Another often underestimated difficulty with a traditional home sale is the hassle of each showing. You need to make sure your home is very clean and uncluttered, and you need to bring your family and pets elsewhere. Home showings are difficult enough for a couple or a single person, but when there are kids or pets involved, it’s quite a circus. Sometimes showings happen at the last minute, which adds an extra layer of stress.Don’t Risk Buyer Getting Cold Feet or Sale Falling Through
In a typical home purchase, there are countless ways the sale could fall through at the last minute. The buyer could get cold feet, or have an issue with their own home’s sale, or their financing could fall through. One of the key advantages of a fast home purchase is that many companies (ours included) pay cash for your house. That eliminates the risk of your buyer’s lender pulling out at the last minute.Avoid Housing Market Changes
The housing markets are constantly changing, both on a large scale and within your own neighborhood. You may put your home up for sale when it’s a seller’s market, but if it doesn’t sell and the market turns, your chance of a sale goes down dramatically. Using a fast process by selling to an investment company, on the other hand, cuts down on that problem.You Choose Your Timing
We’ve already discussed how the timing of your home sale can affect your moving expenses. However, it can cause other problems as well. If you have kids and your new home is in a new school district, moving during the summer can help make the transition smoother. Unfortunately, you don’t have direct control over that timing during a traditional home sale. Many homeowners also have busy seasons and light seasons at work. When you choose a fast home purchase, it lets you time your sale (and your move) during the easiest season for you.No Need to Make Repairs
Repairs on a home you’re selling can be an unexpected expense and delay your sale by weeks or months. When you sell to an investment company, however, we process as-is home sales. This lets you avoid the extra expense, the hassle of renovations or repairs, and the delay in your home sale.Avoid Paying Two Mortgages
Arguably the largest worry people have when selling one home and buying another is the transition between mortgages. If you buy your new home before selling your old one, you’ll be paying two mortgages every month. Many homeowners can’t afford to do this for more than a month or two, so it adds to the stress level. With a fast home purchase, however, you can arrange the timing so this doesn’t happen.Avoid Paying for Upkeep on Two Homes
This is an expense few sellers consider until it happens. If your old home doesn’t sell until three months after you close on your new home, that’s three months of double the maintenance. If you’re paying for lawn maintenance, housekeeping, and other services, this adds up quickly.How to Sell Your House Fast
The ten reasons above are just the most common reasons to sell your house fast. There are plenty of other benefits that apply to specific situations. Regardless, the faster your home sells, the less stress you’ll have and the fewer add expenses you’ll pay. If you’re ready to sell your home quickly, contact our fast home-buying team.June 20, 2018
How to Sell Your House Fast: The Expert Guide
The fact of the matter is that, for most individuals, selling a house is a challenge. Attempting to sell a home for a reasonable price in a timely manner almost always requires a great deal of effort and dedication. Perhaps you’re looking to get your house off the market as quickly as possible? Maybe you’re looking to sell your house fast? If so, there are a number of different tips you should be following. These are the keys to a quick house sale.Get the Price Right Initially
If you’re hoping to sell your house quickly, it’s absolutely vital that you price it right from the beginning. Pricing it too high can turn off potential buyers, making them think that they can’t afford it, or making them think that you aren’t serious about making a sale. In order to price your house correctly, you should survey the selling prices of other houses in your neighborhood. From there, you can come up with a nice ballpark figure.Manicure Your Yard
The fact of the matter is that if the outside of your home doesn’t look nice, buyers won’t even give it the time of day. They will simply pass it over and go searching for other homes to buy. This is why you need to make your yard look as nice as possible. Keep the grass trimmed, make sure that the mulch is looking nice, and eliminate all traces of weeds. By doing this, you will up the curb appeal of your property, making it more attractive to potential buyers.Make Necessary Updates to Your House
When buyers go looking for a house, they are looking for something which feels new to them. They aren’t leaving an old house so that they can go live in another old house. This is why, when selling your home, it’s necessary to renovate and update it. By installing new countertops, flooring, appliances, and otherwise, you serve to make your home more modern and attractive. This greatly ups its value as well as the interest of potential buyers.Remove Personal Items from Your House
When prospective buyers are checking out homes, they envision themselves living in those homes. The problem is that it’s difficult for them to do this if you still have your possessions in the home during the time of the showing. Therefore, it’s wise to remove all personal items from your home while it’s being shown to potential buyers. This doesn’t mean that you need to remove everything; you should keep your furniture where it is. You just need to remove pictures, heirlooms, and any other items which are treasured only by you.Always Be Prepared to Show Your House
The key to a quick house sale is to have your home viewed by as many prospective buyers as possible. The more people that see your home, the more offers which will be submitted. How do you ensure that as many people see your home as possible? By always being prepared to show your home. Whether it be 7:00 AM or 9:00 PM, you need to be ready and willing to show your home off to prospective buyers. Short on time? It might be a good idea to utilize a real estate agent.Utilize All Available Marketing Avenues
Again, the key to a quick house sale is to have your home viewed by as many potential buyers as possible. To give your home optimal exposure, you need to utilize every marketing avenue that is at your disposal. There are a variety of different places in which you can place house listings. Not only should you be utilizing websites such as Zillow and Trulia, you should be putting your house listing in newspapers, on social media, and all other available marketing platforms.Take Professional-quality Photographs
In most cases, when a prospective buyer first views a home that is for sale, that buyer views said home online. How does a home appear online? In a series of different photographs. But, you shouldn’t use just any photographs of your home. You need to ensure that the photographs you use are of professional quality. Having bright, clear, and illuminating photos of your home will give it a terrific first impression with potential buyers. On the other hand, posting dark, shady, and blurry photos of your home will give potential buyers a horrible first impression.Hire a Real Estate Agent
The simple fact of the matter is that selling a home is a process. In most cases, it is a process which requires a great deal of hard work and dedication. Most home sellers don’t have the time or resources necessary to put forth a full effort. That’s why it’s often wise for home sellers to hire real estate agents. A real estate agent will essentially take over all of your home selling responsibilities, scheduling showings, filing the necessary paperwork, and facilitating necessary updates. If you want to sell your home quickly, hiring a real estate agent would be a great decision.Sell Your House to an Investor
The absolute quickest way to sell a house is by selling it to an investor. There are many investors out there who will buy houses, fix them up, and sell them to others. In many cases, you can strike a deal with an investor within 2 weeks. One of the nicest things about going this route is that it requires minimal work. You won’t have to manicure your lawn, show your home to potential buyers, or make renovations.Looking to Sell Your House Fast?
Wanting to move on from your house as soon as possible? Looking to sell your house fast? If so, and if your house is in the Washington DC area, we here at 4 Brothers Buy Houses are the people to see. We are a real estate investment firm which specializes in buying from those who want to sell their homes quickly. It is our goal to have a deal set in place for you within 10 days. Interested? Contact us today to discuss!August 5, 2017
August 2017 Monthly Housing Market Update
Monthly housing market update for August 2017
Summary: Home prices, non inflation adjusted, are past 2007 levels nationally. Inflation adjusted, prices are just shy of 2007 peak. The rent vs home price index is approaching 2007 levels, and is significantly beyond historical averages. However, it is still off the levels reached at the high point of the previous bubble. Details: Washington, DC – U.S. house prices rose in May, up 0.4 percent from the previous month, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) seasonally adjusted monthly House Price Index (HPI). The previously reported 0.7 percent increase in April was revised downward to reflect a 0.6 percent increase. The FHFA monthly HPI is calculated using home sales price information from mortgages sold to, or guaranteed by, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. From May 2016 to May 2017, house prices were up 6.9 percent. For the nine census divisions, seasonally adjusted monthly price changes from April 2017 to May 2017 ranged from -0.5 percent in the Middle Atlantic division to +1.0 percent in the West South Central division. The 12-month changes were all positive, ranging from +4.0 percent in the Middle Atlantic division to +8.7 percent in the Pacific division. [Link to report] Federal Housing Financing Agency Data- House Price Index (definition below)
Sources:
https://www.advisorperspectives.com/dshort/updates/2017/07/25/fhfa-house-price-index-real-index-level-last-seen-in-august-2007
https://www.fhfa.gov
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/
http://www.macrotrends.net/1314/housing-starts-historical-chart
https://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/chargeoff/delallsa.htmJune 5, 2017
How to Avoid Common Spring Plumbing Problems
As the weather improves and temperatures rise, many homeowners learn that winter is not always kind to a house’s plumbing. Like other housing issues, plumbing problems are normally cheaper and simpler to fix when spotted early, so here are some tips to help you identify common plumbing problems that often appear in spring:
- Check For Leaking Hose Bibs. The hose bib is the low, outdoor faucet where homeowners attach a garden hose. Winter temperatures may cause cracks or splits in the hose bib pipe, especially where the hose was not detached before the winter freeze. Unfortunately, many homeowners don’t realize the problem until spring weather thaws the pipe, revealing leaks and cracks.
- Clean and Inspect Roof Gutters. Many times, autumn leaves and other detritus builds up in gutters during the winter. Rotting leaves, dirt, and other debris can clog both gutters and downspouts, resulting in puddles and floods as winter snow melts and spring rains begin. Cleaning and inspection of gutters and drains—and making necessary repairs—can often prevent flooding before it occurs.
- Test the Sump Pump.When functioning properly, sump pumps move water out of low lying areas (often, a house’s basement) to a place outside where water can’t harm the home. The pumps don’t normally run in winter, when water is frozen, but spring snow melt can cause big problems if the pump is broken or defective. Test sump pumps, or arrange for professional servicing and maintenance, as soon as possible to prevent spring floods.
- Examine Pipes and Faucets. Cracked pipes are a common winter hazard. Unfortunately, many homeowners don’t discover the problem until spring—often, after the pipe has caused a flood. Inspect all accessible pipes and faucets carefully after the weather warms, and pay attention to losses in water pressure, unexplained banging and noises in pipes, and other signs of potential problems. Call a plumber promptly if you notice a leak or signs of possible cracks in pipes beneath the house.
May 18, 2017
March 2017 Housing Sales and Market Update For Washington, D.C. & Surrounding Area
4 Brothers Buy Houses is proud to share this update on current Washington D.C. area housing sales and market conditions.*
*Market information courtesy of RBIntel.com
In March 2017,Median Housing Prices Reached The Highest March Levels On Record The March 2017 median home sale price in the greater Washington D.C. area was $420,000–the highest March median sales price on record (since RBI record keeping began in 1997).All housing types saw an increase in median sales price, with single-family homes showing the largest increase (7.8%) and condos showing the smallest increase – but even condominium prices rose by an average of 2%. Overall sales volume in the region increased by almost 27% over March 2016 numbers, with closed sales of 4,450 overall – the highest March numbers in a decade. Properties sold, on average, at almost 98% of the listing price, suggesting that the Washington D.C. housing market remains strong. Once again, Falls Church City was the region’s most expensive location (measured by average housing price), with March median sales prices of $605,000; Prince George’s County retained its position as the most affordable in the area, with median sales prices of $268,500.Individual home prices and neighborhood values vary. Pending Sales and New Listings Increased in March 2017. According to figures published by RBIntel.com: The number of new listings in the Washington D.C. area also increased in March, with 47.7% more new listings coming on the market in March than in February of 2017.Although new condominium listings were down (by 8.1%), both townhomes and single-family detached homes showed an increase in new listings coming on the market last month. The sharp increase in new listings is common in spring, as better weather often brings more buyers into the market. Pending sales at the end of March increased by only 1.4% over 2016’s March numbers, but still reached the highest March level in a decade. Average “Days on Market” For Listed Properties Dropped in March 2017. The median days-on-market for listed properties in Washington D.C. and the surrounding counties in March 2017 was only 15 days,13 days lower than the DOM for February 2017.The combination of increased total listings, increased sales, and lower days on market suggests a strong, fast-moving market in the Washington D.C. area this spring. Fairfax County was the fastest regional market last month (median days-on-market: 11), while Falls Church City was the slowest-moving regional market, with a median DOM of 39. Sales numbers vary from county to county, and even among neighborhoods. The speed and success of a housing sale is dependent on many factors, from listing price to home condition and comparable listings in the area. Your personal experience may vary, but knowing the average numbers is still helpful when making plans to sell your home, either through a realtor or to an investor.
