Most Recent Posts

Happy July 4th! Happy July 4th!

Hope everyone has a great July 4th weekend! -Danilo  Read More →

Negative Equity, Not Sub-Prime to Blame; New 125% Refi LTV

Two interesting discussions are going on right now over at VAR buzz (Disclosure: I wrote one of the posts). The first is about the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) increasing their loan-to-value (LTV) limits from 105 to 125 percent. The second is about how it’s... [Read more]

10 Things To Look Out For With Bank-Owned Property Contracts 10 Things To Look Out For With Bank-Owned Property Contracts

I had the opportunity to attend an excellent  “REO Contracts” (aka “contracts on bank-owned properties”) class yesterday presented by Keith Barrett, Esq of Champion Title in Leesburg, Virginia. The class went over some of the main pitfalls of REO... [Read more]

A Seller’s Guide to the Short-Sale Process A Seller’s Guide to the Short-Sale Process

Some of you may be wondering how you can go about selling your home the “short-sale” route, but aren’t sure how it works. Well, here’s what I call a “Seller’s Guide to the Short Sale Process”… First and foremost, let’s... [Read more]

10 Questions To Ask Before Writing an Offer on a Short-Sale 10 Questions To Ask Before Writing an Offer on a Short-Sale

It’s like the Wild West right now when it comes to short-sales in Loudoun County (and the entire Northern VA area). Some take 60 days to settle while others take 6 months (if they settle at all). Some are handled by agents, title companies and negotiators that know... [Read more]

Do You Qualify for a Loan Modification?

This article about loan modifications was passed along to me by Morgan Brown from Blown Mortgage. It’s a must read if you’re thinking about asking for a loan modification from your bank/lender. Loan Modification Math Too many people considering whether loan... [Read more]

Best Condo Investment Opportunities in Loudoun, Fairfax County Best Condo Investment Opportunities in Loudoun, Fairfax County

Several folks have recently asked me, “Which condo communities in Loudoun and Fairfax County offer the best investment opportunities?” Here are my thoughts and the rationale behind them… Loudoun County The best current bang for your buck on condos for... [Read more]

Can You Make Money “Flipping” Homes in this Market? Can You Make Money “Flipping” Homes in this Market?

Ever since the Loudoun/Northern Virginia real estate market turned in 2005, real estate investors have not really been able to make a lot of money “flipping” homes. In fact, many lost money. This is because prices were still declining and investors ended up... [Read more]

Foreclosure, Bank-Owned, Short-Sale Properties Bulk of Loudoun Home Sales

Foreclosure, bank-owned and short-sale properties make up over half of total home sales in Loudoun County. This has been the case for some time now and will most likely continue through at least the end of 2009, if not longer. A few things I’ve noticed… The... [Read more]