How You Can Get a Home for Half Price

No, this is not a joke. Not a prank.  Not a gimmick.

The government has a little known program called the 'Good Neighbor Next Door' Program.

The U.S. Housing and Urban Development agency, HUD for short, has properties all across the country that they sell for 1/2 price of what the current market value is.

So if a house is listed for $100,000, you could get it for $50,000.

You can sell it after 3 years and keep the profit.

Wowsa!

How it works:

• The government has an inventory of houses located in Revitalization Areas
• They offer these homes for 50% of list price
• In return you commit to live there for 3 years.
• Also the  FHA Insured Mortgage Program can make down payment as low as $100

Who is eligible:

• Law enforcement
• Pre-K- 12 Teachers
• Firefighters
• EMT's

Why they do it:

• HUD wants to strengthen Americas communities

The catch:

• You sign a silent second mortgage for the other 50% that you must repay if you move or sell in less than the three year period.

The property inventory changes weekly.

Check it out the link below, and don't forget to come to Heather Maier when you are moving, buying, selling or looking to rent in the Northern Virginia area.  

I'll treat you right!

That's it!  If you found this information helpful 

please share it with a friend!

Best wishes,

Heather Maier

email: HeatherNovaHomes@gmail.com

305-281-1873

Link directly to government website: 

http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/housing/sfh/reo/goodn/gnndabot

Top 10 Ways To Know If You Are Ready To Sell Your Home.

When to sell your home is a highly personal decision and must be based on both facts and lifestyle considerations.

1.  Ask yourself why you want to sell?
    Are you underwater in your mortgage, wanting to downsize, 
    or just simply sick of moving the lawn?

2.  Equity.  Will you make, lose or break even?
     The best way to make an educated decision is to assess the value by having 
     Heather create a comprehensive and details Comparative Market Analysis for you.  
     This will arm you with a great deal of information to make a good decision.

3.  When do you want to move?
     Simple as it may sounds, people sometimes do overlook that moving in winter is
     slightly less convenient.

4.  Is everyone involved ready and committed to this move?
    If not, often sabotage creeps in to the situation in multiple ways.

5.  Is your home ready?
     Do you have unfinished projects, repairs, long overlooked maintenance things 
    you need to tend to?

6.  Are you prepared for staging?
     To make your house presentable you should be ready and willing to put away and 
     store and de-clutter many of your belongings. This means you won't have ready 
     access to your 'stuff' til the house sells.

7. Are ready to keep your home show ready?
    This means keeping your home sparkling and spotless all the time.

8.  Remove your valuables.
     I recommend putting all your valuables and jeweler in a safety deposit box or 
     locked safe.

9. Modify dinners. 
    If you tend to cook with a lot of strong spices and items with strong odors, 
    you may want to avoid cooking in your home during peak show times.  

10.  Be ready to split like a banana.
       It is best to leave your home when potential buyers are coming by to view 
       your home.  

       Find a place in your neighborhood that is comfy and safe for you to go to on                     whenever these showing opportunities arise.

If you found this information helpful please share it with a friend!

Don't forget to call Heather Maier when you are ready to buy, sell, rent, or want to find our your homes current value.  

Best wishes,

Heather Maier

email: HeatherNovaHomes@gmail.com

305-281-1873

Top 10 Smart & Sassy Weekend Projects

Improving your home need not be overly time consuming or expensive.  

Enjoy these smart, quick, easy and budget friendly upgrades you can do to your home this weekend!

Here are 10 smart weekend Projects:

1.  Landscaping.  Curb appeal will have a great affect on your daily quality of life by how it welcomes you home everyday, and it adds value by making it more attractive to potential buyers someday.

2.  Exterior paint and polish.  A weekend scrub down or paint job is well worth your time and effort.

3.  Windows.  Wash them.  Seal them.  Paint the trim.  Very nice.

4.  Front entrance:  Make it clean, tidy and presentable.  Paint the front door a welcoming color and place flower  pots on either side of the door.  Putting in a really nice front door is a good idea.

5.  Deep cleaning.  This allows you to see areas of your home you would usually not see and may identify and leaks or issues so you can take care of issues while they are still small.

6. Feng Shui it.  The harmonious placement of objects in your home really does make a difference in your day to day enjoyment in your home, and how well you connect with the people in it.  

7. Go on an Anti-Clutter Binge!  Get rid of it.  Give it away.                                   
I like the three bin method for sorting. Mark 3 bins this way:  
*   Friends (Use it/Love it) , 
*   Acquaintances (Infrequent use/ not vital) 
*   Strangers (Never use it/Don't love it).        
    Use these to help you determine each objects worth and value to you.  

8.  Paint a room.  You might be surprised on what a lift this can give your home.

9.  Polish those floors.  Depending on what type of floor you have, it needs some care and maintenance.  Be it sealing grout, waxing or just a good scrub, cleaning your floors will brighten your home and make it more pleasant to be in and to show.

10.  Pull out the Fridge, Stove, Washer and Dryer.  Inspect the floors under them and the walls behind them.  This allows you to identify and correct  leaks, mold or gunk that might be attracting pests into your home.

Before you begin any big renovations, it is a good idea to start with a Comparative Market Analysis Home Report.  

This will help you assess what upgrades will bring you the best Return On Investment in your current market.

Comprehensive Comparative Market Analysis Reports provide 

in-depth information that will benefit you greatly

and give you the knowledge you deserve 

about your homes current value.

Call for yours today.  

Your detailed Home Report is not free. I create these in exchange for your donation of any size to one of the charities listed in the top right corner of this page.

Call for your appointment today.  A limited number are offered per month on a first come, first served basis.

Best wishes,

Heather Maier

Email: HeatherNovaHomes@gmail.com

305-281-1873

Please hit the share button & leave a comment below!    

The Northern Virginia Radon Map You Want To See

Making a wise investment means making wise choices.

A radon test is a small investment relative to the peace, safety and ease of correction it provides.

You want the radon test as part of your inspection contingency.   It does cost more, but  it is well worth it.

If radon is found, you can ask the seller to correct this prior to closing.

Correcting a radon issue means putting in venting pipes so it is not built up in the ground beneath your home, and costs somewhere int he neighborhood of $1000.

This map shows the areas of elevated radon

This video provides a good overview about radon, why it is important to check for it, and how to fix it.

That's it!  If you found this information helpful 

please share it with a friend.

Don't forget to call Heather Maier when you are ready to buy, sell or to get a detailed analysis of your homes current market value.

Best wishes,

Heather Maier

email: HeatherNovaHomes@gmail.com

305-281-1873

Crime Mapping: Safety Ratings of Your New Neighborhood

It is best to be as well informed as possible when moving to a new area.

My family moved so many times for my husbands career, that I got quite good at knowing what to look for. Often we had to find and move to a new home sight unseen.  

Once, three days before our move, on a whim I googled the address of the home we would be renting.

The search engines brought up multiple news reports of a major drug bust that just occurred in that home, and how the police had been watching it for months due to gang activity.

Needless to say, there was no way I was moving my family into that house.

I had done all my research, due diligence, and thought we would be moving to safe, quiet, suburban home.   Obviously not the case!

Here are a few links you may find helpful when choosing the are you wish to live in:

https://www.crimereports.com/

http://spotcrime.com

http://sex-offender.vsp.virginia.gov/sor/

None of us have any guarantees about safety or the decency of the people around us, but we can use these tools to help us make the wisest choice we can about where we want to live.

If you found this helpful please share it with a friend!

Don't forget to call Heather Maier when you are ready to buy, sell, rent or need a qualified home analysis to measure how your home value stands in this current market.

Best wishes,

Heather Maier

email: HeatherNovaHomes@gmail.com

305-281-1873

Top 10 Things to Do To Sell Your Home Quickly

Once you have made the decision to sell your home, you probably want to get it sold as quickly as possible so you can move on to the next chapter in your life.

Here are Heather Maier’s top 10 suggestions to help you sell your home quickly

1.  Price it right.  This is the number one factor.

2.  Get a CMA – Comparative Market Analysis so you can make data-driven decisions and make sure you are listing your home for a price that is both fair, and will make your home sell quickly in whatever the current market conditions are.

3.  Clean up the front of your home.  First impressions count.

4.  Remove all clutter and organize. Organizing shows that your home has been well cared for.

5.  Pack up and store as much as you can.  Let your home be a blank slate for the buyers to imagine it as their own.

6.  Purge!  Get rid of all the things you don’t use, need or like.

7.  Clean. Clean everything.  Windowsills, baseboards, windows. Everything. Clean counts.

8.  Organize those closets.  Not only will this make your home more presentable for sale, but it will make things easier for your come move time.

9.  Make your kitchen spotless! Including organizing the cupboards. 

10.  Make the house smell clean, pleasant and inviting. 

These are the essential things for you to do in order to help your home sell quickly.

Are you ready to get your Custom Home Report?

Heather will prepare you a custom and detailed report in exchange for a donation of any size to one of her listed charities. CALL TODAY!

EMAIL: HeatherNovaHomes@gmail.com for more info.

CALL: 305.281.1873

What is a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA)?

A Comparative Market Analysis is a handy little tool most people would like to have.

Just like all tools, they are not the same in all hands.  I use state of the art technology and databases to create usable information for you.  

    -  A CMA will provide an educated, data based approximate estimate of your homes value.

·   -  It must be produced by a trained and licensed Real Estate Professional.

·   -  While there are standards and procedures, not all CMA’s are equal.

·         I use cutting edge technology, tapping into the most up to the moment records, with computerized data analytics with experienced human interpretation to bring you the best and truest assessment of your home.

WHY YOU WANT A CMA:

1.  It provides a good assessment of what your house could sell for.

2.  Investors and Buyers can get more detailed information and determine if the asking price really does reflect current market value before committing to buy.

3.  It helps you choose home improvements and upgrades wisely, determine which will bring you the best return on investment, and avoid over improving in the wrong areas.

4.  It helps you determine if your home value has risen enough that you may be eligible to ask for a home equity loan.

5.  It provides valuable insights and information to make your more knowlegable about your homes worth when looking at refinaincing.

6.  Some lenders may reduce your monthly mortgage payments by removing the Premium Mortgage Insurance if you can show your home value has increased, giving you no owe less than 80% of the homes current value.  (Every lender is different)

7.  It gives you first hand knowledge and about your homes value in todays current market.

·    

You can get your custom-made Home Comparative Market Analysis in exchange for your donation of any size made directly to any charity listed in my links section. (See the top right of this page)

You will receive one custom made, comprehensive, state of the art report 

giving you a good overview of your home’s current market value.  

This service is provided by appointment only.

Reserve your place today! 

Email:  HeatherNovaHomes@gmail.com

Phone: 305-281-1873

What you should know about renting in Northern Virginia

Here are 10 things you may wish to know before renting in Virginia:

1.  Read the fine print.  Always make sure you know what you are agreeing to.

2.  Some leases require you to pay HOA (Home Owner Association) or Condo Fees in addition to the rent you are already paying.

3.  Prepare to pay a nonrefundable application fee for the places you want to rent.

4.  Know your credit score before you apply.  Many landlords will not consider tenants with a credit score below a certain level.

5.  Have your checkbook ready.  When you apply, be ready to submit a check for the first month’s rent and security deposit with it.

 

6.  Always disclose pets.  There are plenty of pet friendly communities.  Expect your pet deposit to be around $250- $500.

7.  Be aware of carpet cleaning requirements. Especially when you have pets.  Many landlords require the carpets be cleaned annually or bi-annually.

8.  Know your budget and how much you can really afford.

9.  Plan your timing.  Landlords won’t hold a property empty for an extra month until you’re ready to move.

10.  Call Heather Maier to help find your new rental home!

·         Get access to properties and databases not available to the general public.

·         Save your time by having Heather pre-screen potential properties for you.

·         Avoid discouragement. Find out quickly if the property you are interested in has already been rented.  Quite often it takes the public websites and rental sites up to a week to show it is not longer available.

·         Find the best deals that meet your criteria and lifestyle desires.

·         Get facts in advance so you won’t be surprised by clauses and fine print later.

IMPORTANT:  Most people do not know that it is the landlord that almost always takes care of my finders fee for you!  So you, my friend, have no reason not to call today!

Email: HeatherNovaHomes@gmail.com

305-281.1873

How to Get Into The Making Home Affordable Program

If you are struggling to make your mortgage payments you may be eligible for assistance through the Making Home Affordable Program. (HAMP for short).

What HAMP does:

If you can get in the HAMP program it lowers your monthly mortgage payments in order to make them more affordable and sustainable for the long term.

Here are the basic facts about this program:

1.  It is an official program of the Department of Treasury and Housing and Urban Development.

2.  It seeks to help homeowners avoid foreclosure. 

3.  It may lower your monthly payments for long term sustainability.

4.  It is available for your primary residence and for homes and properties that are not your primary residence.

5.  Not all lenders participate in this program.  Here is the government list of participating lenders:  http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/get-started/contact-mortgage/Pages/default.aspx 

6.  Explore the different programs to see which one might be right for you prior to contacting your lender or the HUD Counselor.  http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/get-started/finding-the-right-program/Pages/default.aspx

7.  You can work with a HUD Counselor to advise and advocate for you:  You can call 888-995-HOPE (4673), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, to immediately speak to an expert advisor in over 160 languages. This around-the-clock service is available completely free of charge.  http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/get-started/housing-expert/Pages/default.aspx

Remember, don't be discouraged.  

Keep looking and asking for help.  

New programs and policies are coming about 

all the time to help homeowners.

If you would like a detailed market report showing the current market value of your home,  you can do so by emailing or calling Heather to make an appointment today.

These reports are extremely valuable in keeping you informed and having facts at your fingertips prior to talking with your lender.

Your report is created for you in exchange for a donation of any size to one of the charities listed at the top right corner of this page.

Best wishes,

Heather Maier

email:  HeatherNovaHomes@gmail.com

305.281.1873

Underwater mortgages down 42%!

Due to market conditions, a staggering number of homeowners  found themselves owing more on their homes then their homes were worth.

This latest report released by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is a good sign that the real estate market is recovering.

As of the end of June 2013 the numbers of homeowner who owe more than what their mortgage is currently worth dropped from 12.1 million to 7.1 million.  

Here are some other good recovery signs:

- More lenders are making loan modification programs available

- There are more foreclosure mitigation service and options available.

- The Making Home Affordable Program continues to press lenders to identify and respond to struggling mortgage holders prior to any foreclosure actions.

If you would like to assess your homes current market value please feel free to email or give a call to set up an appointment.

These home reports are intensive, and full of detailed information that provides you with a good overview of how your home sits in current market conditions.

Reports are created for you in exchange for a donation of any size to one of my current charities.  (View the list on the top right of this page).

Best wishes,

Heather Maier

Email:  HeatherNovaHomes@gmail.com

305-281-1873

Why I became a Real Estate Agent

Why did I become a real estate agent?

I guess the real question is why does anyone do what they love?

My hobby has always been looking for, reviewing and analyzing the profitability of different properties for myself and others.   It is a natural fit and something I have always enjoyed doing without pay.

When I found myself at a cross roads, being very successful yet very unhappy in the work I was doing, I decided to be bold and make a change.   This kind of work is less secure than what I was used to.  There are so many unpredictable and uncontrollable variables that can affect your ability to make a living.

The one thing I knew for sure is that I know how to work in a way that gets results.

I have always been that person who can take difficult or seemingly impossible situations and straighten them out.   I am that guy you call when you have a concept or idea, and can make it happen.

 Results.  Results is what I do.

Good results are what people need and are counting on in all their real estate transactions.

Whether buying, selling or renting, I put 100% into making things go as smoothly and profitably as possible.

I like working with people, and enjoy making this process easier, well informed and less intimidating for them.   Giving people good information so that they can make good data based decisions is an essential part of the service I provide.

Another key reason I switched to this career is to have the flexibility to work with nice people.  Simple as that may sound, working with pleasant, nice people really adds to my enjoyment and quality of life.

I was blessed to have multiple offers and opportunities of Brokers to work with, and I chose what was the best fit for me.  I was the first agent for a start up brokerage, working for a young broker that I sensed was going to be very successful.

I followed my instincts and was glad I did.

Working for Kareem Fleming @ KaZo Properites and KaZo Property Management has been one of the best decisions I ever made.