Termite treatment requires several special skills that call for a professional. First, knowledge of building construction and the lifecycle of a termite can help inspectors identify entry-points for these pests. Typically, entry-points are hidden or difficult to access. Secondly, termite treatment often requires special equipment like masonry drills, soil treatment rods, pumps, and hundreds of gallons of liquid pesticides. This pest control chemical is generally injected along the foundation, beneath concrete slabs, inside foundation walls, and down into subterranean tunnels.

You may see termite treatment products in stores, but these are used only for small scale jobs – like getting rid of termites in a mailbox post or a tool shed that is not attached to the home. Do-it-yourself products cannot tackle a widespread infestation. For that, you will need the services of a professional contractor. To find a termite treatment company, you should investigate references and get several different estimates. Look for a company that agrees to treat termite resurgence at no additional charge. When comparing services, make sure you are comparing apples to apples, as some companies focus on liquid termiticide treatments, while others may try baiting.

If you have any further questions about dealing with termites in your Potomac real estate or Washington DC area home, please don’t hesitate to call us and ask for some referrals, we have worked with quite a few termite companies and will make sure you find the right one for your job!

Think “Location, Location, Location!” You want the shortest commute to your respective workplaces with the most amenities right around the corner. You want a neighborhood that is appreciating in value, not declining. You want a home with good local schools, shopping, services, and scenery.

Decide upon your “non-negotiable” features before you start looking to minimize arguments. Likely a few compromises will need to be made on any home, but buyers need to know their deal-breakers before starting the hunt. For instance, a wife may need a spacious living room to entertain a close extended family for the holidays, while a husband may prefer to have a two-car garage with added storage space for his tools.

Bring a checklist. It can become disorienting to look at many different houses, so the more organized you are, the better! Print off a standard checklist of features for each room so you can make notes while you tour. Take pictures or print out the original listing and staple it to your checklist.

Get pre-approved! A mortgage pre-approval letter will help you secure the home of your dreams as soon as you find it. You’ll know just how much house you can afford and you may be able to use this as a bargaining chip at some point during the real estate buying process.

For more information when researching or buying Bethesda real estate or Chevy Chase real estate, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to assist you.

Government agencies like the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Commission, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal Housing Finance Agency recommend saving 20 percent for a downpayment before real estate buying. So, that would mean you’d save $20,000 for a $100,000 home. However, the Center for Responsible Lending argues that the downpayment should be much lower to make housing more affordable and accessible to the general public.

One thing to keep in mind when real estate buying is that the more you can afford upfront, the less you will pay for interest over time. According to the Mint Life magazine, you will pay about $50,900 MORE toward interest on a $100,000 home if you opt for a 30-year, rather than a 15-year, loan. Even if you can’t afford a 15-year loan with higher monthly payments, you can shave five years off your repayment term and save $18,000 in interest just by paying an extra $48 per month. If you add on an extra $123 per month, you’ll cut your term by 10 years and save $35,000, so it’s something to keep in mind if you’re real estate buying soon.

If you have any questions at all about buying Chevy Chase real estate, Bethesda homes for sale, or any property in and around D.C., please don’t hesitate to contact us, and we will be happy to answer as best we can.

Can we afford it? Your lender may say “yes,” but think about the monthly payments you’ll be making, the moving expenses, remodeling costs, and your savings cushion. Real estate buying shouldn’t bankrupt you.

Is the home in good condition? If the home needs a new roof, plumbing, electrical wiring upgrades, or a new foundation, you can expect to pay a lot. “Fixer-Upper” homes can quickly become money pits. On the other hand, a home that is move-in-ready will save you a lot of expense and headache.

Is it the right size? Families will need considerable size for dining, more than one bathroom, and several bedrooms. You’ll want a garage that can fit both vehicles. You should take a look at the storage space and try to imagine where your furniture will be situated.

Do you feel comfortable in the home? You’ll want to consider things like central / forced air, programmable thermostats, window positioning, stairs and layout.

Are you able to tackle maintenance? Swimming pools look wonderful, but they are a ton of work. The same is true of ornamental trees and hardwood floors.

Real estate buying is a big ordeal, but it’s also very rewarding when you find a place where your family can flourish.

• You’ll need a downpayment of at least 3.5 percent, but ideally 20 percent, to get a good mortgage rate.
• You’ll also need to pay for a home inspector to look over a prospective home for you ($200-$400).
• Factor in another 3 percent for credit check, title insurance, survey, escrow, and loan origination fees.
• Most people buy homeowner’s insurance to protect your asset from weather or other property damage.
• Utility costs are most likely to rise now that you’ll be heating, cooling and caring for a much larger space.
• Then there is always the monumental task of paying for your own maintenance and upkeep… from leaky faucets and cracked shingles, to fences that need mending and driveways that need repaving.

Despite all the expenses associated with real estate buying, it is still very much the American Dream. There is nothing like having your own autonomous space and proudly declaring that you are part of the land-owning class! When you want to raise a family or have more control over your life, a home is a sound investment if you can afford it.

If you have any questions at all about buying Bethesda real estate, Potomac real estate, or in any community in and around D.C., please don’t hesitate to contact us, and we will be happy to answer as best we can.

Showing properties 1 - 3 of 16. See more city of Bethesda real estate.
(all data current as of 5/17/2012)

1. $789,000 : 7807 Winterberry Pl, Bethesda
   
   4 beds, 3 full baths

   Lot size: 16,470 sqft
2. $769,000 : 5 Winterberry Ct, Bethesda
   
   5 beds, 3 full baths

   Lot size: 17,414 sqft
3. $779,000 : 4529 Rosedale Ave, Bethesda
   
   3 beds, 2 full baths

   Lot size: 4,800 sqft

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

Prior to listing your house for sale, ensure that the air conditioner and heater are working well by getting them serviced. Buyers generally don’t want a home that needs large investments, like a new furnace, so if the AC and heater are fine, it can appeal to more probable buyers.

Finish any space within your house that obviously requires work, to improve the appeal of your house and boost the value. You can spend a few thousand dollars, and yet make a huge impact on the overall look of your home. This investment can increase the asking price for your home and make it sell a bit quicker than it would with an unfinished basement.

Do not limit yourself to only one search avenue when selling Bethesda real estate. Speaking to an agent, using the Internet, or looking yourself can help you sell your Bethesda real estate. You can’t leave any stone unturned if you want to find the best approaches to achieve your goal of selling your property.

Hit the Internet and seek out sites that will let you post classified ads. You’ll discover that you the increased visibility means more prospective buyers, which only powers your negotiations to higher sale price and faster resolution.

If you need to paint your house before showing it, don’t choose a color simply because you favor it. Always use a traditional color palette, such as off-white, taupe or eggshell. Put a high value on the need for new paint, as it will reflect a feeling of freshness that many buyers will look upon favorably.

Lighting plays an important part in how buyers view your home. Rooms can appear larger with lights on and buyers will be able to focus on the structure of the room. This could increase the number of offers you get on your home.

If you are looking for a quick sale, check comparable prices in the neighborhood, and price your home ten percent cheaper. If your house is priced low, people will be excited and eager to purchase.

Get the buyers’ attention with an inviting home. More people will show interest in a home that looks welcoming and clean.

When trying to sell your house, see to it that your master bedroom is appealing to both sexes. Do not let your bedroom look too much like a bachelor pad. If the bed has three thousand pillows and smells of lilac, men may turn away. Remember, keep the bedroom decor simple, sophisticated and neutral as far as gender goes. Doing this will better allow possible buyers to picture themselves living in this home.

Real estate purchases are generally the biggest investment a person makes in their lives. When you try to sell this investment, it is necessary that you know the ropes of Bethesda real estate sale. Use this article’s tips to increase the chances of you making a good sale.

There may be programs that will assist you with your down payment. You should do your research to see if you are eligible for them. If your seller plays your closing costs it can also help save you a large amount of money.

When you are trying to work out a deal, you should first make a priority list on your goals. Make sure you include every issue under negotiation, including whatever expectations you hold for each. Concentrate your energy on getting those issues that are most important to you. However, it is likely that you will not get every one of your expectations fulfilled. Remember this and stay flexible on the less important issues.

Think about the parking situation in the area you’ll be buying a home. This will be especially important if the home lacks a garage or driveway. You could end up walking long distances just to get to your own home.

When purchasing a foreclosed home, it is wise to assume that there will be repairs that will need to be made. There are a lot of foreclosed King Farm homes that have been vacant for an unknown period of time, this means that there has probably been no maintenance during this time. Many foreclosed King Farm homes need a brand new HVAC system, and can have pests that need to be taken care of.

When you are considering purchasing a building for business use, do your research on the surrounding neighborhood to ensure it is a safe and stable area. Starting a new business in an area of high crime and dilapidated buildings will not win you many customers. Speak with a local Kings Farm real estate agent for advice about favorable locations.

If you are planning on starting a family, your home should have plenty of space for everyone. Not only is space important, but so is safety. Things like bad wiring, steps, a pool, and other potential hazards need to be looked at. A house that was previously owned by a family with children might feature a lot of built-in safety devices.

Just because the seller chose not to accept your offer, it does not mean that you cannot find a way to compromise. So, do not lose hope yet. They might offer to make certain repairs to the house, or even pay your closing costs.

Often times, King Farm homes that require a lot of fixing up will be sold at discounted prices. These fixer-uppers allow you to save more money from the outset, then invest in the property as you are able. You will be able to design the home you have always dreamed of and significantly enhance the value of your property. Concentrate on placing emphasis on the home’s possibilities instead of its flaws. Your dream house could be hiding beneath some dingy carpet and outdated wallpaper.

Most people buying King Farm homes for sale are not aware that buying a home is so complex. Lean on this advice when you need to purchase property.

Early in 2009, the median asking price of available houses was just shy of $1.2 million, which happens to be the top value reached at any point since that time, but reached again at the turn of the year in 2011 and then again this past month.  However, in those in-between times, we saw plenty of values much lower, with several weeks getting down to $990,000 and one outlier month spiking all the way down to $931,000.  But that seems to be quite an aberration and we won’t put too much stock into that valuation.

I think the more likely scenario is the one that plays out week after week, not a one shot wonder.  Which is why the last several weeks and months have started to make me feel a little bit more bullish about the local market for Bethesda homes for sale.  Since the end of 2011, we have seen a pretty steady increase in asking prices, which tells me that somewhere sellers are feeling more confident in their ability to find buyers willing to pay those prices.  And success builds on success, so with the continued rising prices, it would not surprise me if we saw a new high recorded when looking at median asking prices of homes in Bethesda MD.

One other note that makes me feel a bit more optimistic than I may have felt last year is the timing of this recent uptick in values.  Last spring, in 2010, prices were actually falling during the spring time, which is traditionally thought of as a good selling season.  That’s not a great combination.  But this spring, prices are on the rise, which may signal that our market is getting back to a more “normal” condition, which would be a welcome change for sellers!

According to the MLS data for Montgomery County, MD, in comparing February 2011 and February 2012, active listings of homes for sale are down approximately 18%.  This number is even greater for King Farm, Rockville homes for sale.  The data shows that inventory of homes for sale has decreased year over year by approximately 30%.  Buyers searching for King Farm homes for sale have asked me,  “George, when do you think that more homes will become available in King Farm?”  That’s a great question!  The better question, in my opinion, is “Why is there a lower inventory?”  Could sellers intentionally be waiting to put up their homes for sale until average sale prices rise?

So what? How does this affect me looking to buy or sell King Farm real estate?  The data clearly show that inventory is down in comparing February 2011 and February 2012.  Many of our buyers report that the low interest rates have motivated them to buy now, which could indicate solid demand in the 2012 spring market.  This high demand may be linked to another interesting statistic–the number of days on the market that it takes to place a home under contract.  In King Farm, for example, the number of days has decreased significantly, from approximately 77 days in 2011  to 22 days in 2012.   With a combination of a low inventory of homes for sale and a high demand,  it would seem that prospective  sellers are likely to seize the opportunity they have been waiting for and list their property now.  This in turn may result in an increase in inventory of homes for sale in King Farm in the near future.  All of this makes me think about how the first quarter of 2012 absorption rate will look… but this is a topic for a later time!

Showing properties 1 - 5 of 7. See more Fallsgrove tract real estate.
(all data current as of 5/17/2012)

1. $869,000 : 508 Golden Oak Ter, Rockville
   
   3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

   Lot size: 4,753 sqft

   Year built: 2003

   Parking spots: 2

   Days on market: 13
2. $150,276 : 9405 Blackwell Rd #101, Rockville
   
   1 bed, 1 full bath

   Home size: 1,061 sq ft

   Year built: 2004

   Days on market: 48
3. $1,149,000 : 420 Long Trail Ter, Rockville
   
   5 beds, 4 full, 2 part baths

   Home size: 5,405 sq ft

   Lot size: 9,686 sqft

   Year built: 2004

   Parking spots: 2

   Days on market: 49
4. $969,000 : 508 Peonies Ter, Rockville
   
   4 beds, 4 full, 1 part baths

   Lot size: 7,298 sqft

   Year built: 2003

   Parking spots: 2

   Days on market: 59
5. $924,900 : 102 Jersey Ln, Rockville
   
   4 beds, 4 full, 1 part baths

   Lot size: 6,720 sqft

   Year built: 2003

   Parking spots: 2

   Days on market: 117

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.