The Real Estate Key - Issue 1

The Real Estate Key
What You Need to Know
By Belinda Jacobson-Loehle

Contents
Sellers:
| Home Staging - Quick Sale, Higher Sales Price
| 5 Budget-Friendly Home Improvements to Boost Resale Value
| How to Increase Curb Appeal
| Light Up Your Home to Sell During All Seasons!
| Get Your Home Shipshape for Listing
| Clean Up, Clean Out and Learn to Live with Less
| Why You Need an Open House
| A Handy Checklist: Prep Your Home to Sell Quickly
Homebuyers:
| Home Inspections: 8 Important Things You Can Learn
| Why Buy a Home Warranty
| End-of-Year and Holiday Season Real Estate Bargains!
| Condominium and Fee Simple Ownership – What These Terms Mean for the Homebuyer
| What You Should Know About EMF and Power Lines
First Time Homebuyers:
Copyright © 2016 Belidna Jacobson
Design © 2016 by Chelsea Tompkins
All rights reserved. No part of the book may be reproduced
in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means - except
in the case of breif quotations embodied in articles or
reviews - without written permission from its publisher.
| Forget Toasters. Try a Home Registry!
| Home Buying 101: What Can You Expect When Purchasing a Home?
| Virginia Supports Homebuyers Savings Plan
| Finance Options: What First Time Home Buyers Should Know
Selecting A Realtor:
| Real Estate Agent Qualifications - What Do They Mean?
| Why You Need a Dedicated (and Real) Realtor
Page 1 Page 2

This cannot be accomplished if the knickknacks and pictures are too specific
to the current owners. Try going into a home, for example, where there are china
closets filled with collections of baby dolls. While this might be interesting, what if
you hate dolls and can’t get past the visual? If you can’t, your emotional response to
the home is also affected. You don’t want this to happen when you are trying to sell
your home.
You also do not want to obstruct your home’s architectural features — you
want to showcase them. No matter what kind of home you live in, that home has
certain features built into the structure. Some of these features are simple, some
decorative and some functional. No matter what, you do not want to cover up what
makes your home unique and attractive. For example, what if the edges of your
walls are curved, as opposed to angled? You would want to make sure furniture is
placed in such a way that the ends of walls are exposed. Or say you have a column
in your living room. You would not want to put a cabinet in front of it. Architects
spend a lot of time designing homes in specific ways. You need a stager to help you
identify what those are and highlight appropriately.
Home Staging
Quicker Sale, Higher Sales Price
A professional home stager has the experience and know-how to make your
home attract potential buyers and keep them interested, not only as they tour the
home, but after. Home staging creates a lasting visual and emotional effect that
truly influences the potential buyer.
It’s not just about making the home “prettier.” Home staging is about using
the principles of space, color and interior decorating. It’s about depersonalizing the
rooms. It’s about accentuating a home’s architectural features. And it’s about selling
your home faster for the higher price.
You want potential buyers to see the best representation of your home that
you can possibly provide. Home staging ensures that your home not only invites,
but intrigues, through color choice and placement of furniture and décor. Home
stagers assess paint, flooring and furniture. They take into account open space —
how much is attractive, and how much is too much? And a home stager will address
clutter. After all, a cluttered house is rarely attractive to potential buyers. Buyers
want to see the home, not the personal belongings in the home.
This brings us to the concept of depersonalizing rooms. Depersonalizing
sounds negative. In fact, it’s the opposite. You want to depersonalize your home so
potential buyers can visualize the home as theirs, not yours.
Page 3 Page 4

5 Budget-Friendly Home Improvements
to
Boost Resale Value
If you’re planning on reselling your house, you don’t want to dump a ton of money into
making home improvements that won’t ultimately pay off for you when you could be saving
that money for a down payment on your next dream home. It’s important to know which home
improvements will both better your life in your current home and add resale value and which
fixes are best left for the next owner. Here are some frugal fixes that we’ve found can boost your
home’s resale value:
Give your kitchen a facelift – This spot can make or break a home sale, so it’s very
important to have a clean and updated kitchen when your house goes on the market.
You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars completely remodeling this room. You can give
your kitchen a budget makeover that will make it sparkle again. You can cheaply and easily
replace your kitchen faucet, update old lighting fixtures and add new cabinet door handles.
On a slightly larger budget, you can improve your existing kitchen cabinets by hiring a
refacing company. They can refinish the cabinet boxes and add new doors and drawers to
make your cabinets shine again.
Make your appliances match – Kitchen appliances that don’t match can be a turn-off for
potential buyers. You don’t have to buy all new appliances to get a matching set. You
can simply get a new cover for your existing appliances. If you’re looking to switch your
white dishwasher face for a black one (or vice versa), you may be in luck. Many models of
dishwashers have a reversible front panel. You just need to unscrew it and flip the panel
around.
Add a bedroom in less than a week – If you have a 2-bedroom house with a den, one of the
reasons this room can’t be considered a bedroom may be because it doesn’t have a closet.
If you’re only missing a closet, you can easily add one for less than $1500 in about one week.
The value this added bedroom brings to your house far outweighs the cost of building a
closet.
Clean up for curb appeal – If your house doesn’t look appealing from the outside, you can
improve your curb appeal with a few plants, a lawnmower, a power washer and some
elbow grease. Make sure your lawn is mowed and weeded. Adding a few plants, flowers and
some new mulch can do wonders to make your home warm and inviting for potential buyers.
Rent (or borrow) a power washer and give your siding and walkways a good scrub.
Spruce up your storage space – If your house lacks closet space, redesigned closets can
help improve your resale value and make your remaining time in your home much more
pleasant and organized. You can do it yourself with closet systems from your local home
improvement store, design new closets online or call in a professional to help maximize the
storage space you have.
Page 5 Page 6

Patio and path prep – It’s easy to get loose stones in your patio or stone path in your yard.
Make sure these areas are weed-free, in good repair and clean (with no wobbly or broken
stones) to increase your home’s curb appeal.
Siding sprucer – You can freshen up your home’s exterior by painting, repairing, power
washing and/or replacing old siding. You can also refurbish brick exteriors.
Porch and deck pick-me-ups – Your porch or deck may benefit from a good power washing,
or it may need to be completely restained or repainted. A color change and an outdoor
space that’s attractive and in good repair will give you the curb appeal to bring buyers in.
Flower bed fortification – Lay down your weed mats, plant some new perennials and toss in
some fresh mulch. This relatively easy and inexpensive front yard fix will add a splash of
color to your landscape and make the outside of your home more cheery.
Show your lawn some love – Weed killer, seed, fertilizer and water can go a long way. If your
lawn looks like an old western movie (tumbleweeds through a whirlwind of dust), invest
in growing (or sodding) a new lawn to attract prospective buyers.
M
ailbox maintenance – Often it’s not right next to the house, so the mailbox gets
neglected. Check your mailbox to make sure it’s not rusted, is in good working order has
no wood rot in the post. If you’ve had a specialty mailbox installed previously (because who
doesn’t love pulling catalogs out of a wide-mouth bass?) consider installing a tamer, more
HOA-compliant mailbox design.
How to Increase Curb Appeal
Growing up, we’re always taught that it’s what’s on the inside that counts, never judge a
book by its cover and countless other platitudes. But let’s face it, in the real world, sometimes
what’s on the outside does count. No, we’re not being shallow — we’re talking curb appeal. Buyers
frequently assess your home before they ever set foot across the threshold. Armed with this
information, you can go forward and increase the curb appeal of your home so that your first
impression is a lasting impression (one that lasts all the way to the closing table).
Crystal clear windows – Show a sneak peak of the inside of your home without old spider
webs or greasy face prints clouding the view. Clean your windows, inside and out.
Front door finesse – The entryway to your home should be warm and inviting, but also
clean and in good repair. A fresh coat of paint can do a world of good. Also, make sure that
your door’s hardware is pleasing to the eye and is in good shape.
Rotten wood, good riddance – If you have damaged wood on your home’s exterior, such as
shutters or doorframes, repair or replace it for a quick facelift for your home.
Roof repair – Make sure to tidy up your roof by replacing any missing shingles and
cleaning out your gutters.
Page 7 Page 8

Light Up Your Home to Sell
During All Seasons!
Have you ever had a photo taken in light that was just not flattering? It made you cringe,
right? Having the correct lighting is important, not just for your selfies, but for photographing
and staging your home to sell. We think about adorning our homes with festive lights at holiday
times, but you can improve the look of your home year-round with a few extra lights. Changing
the lighting in your home is a simple, inexpensive way to make your home seem open, airy and
warm. Here are some tips for illuminating your home to sell:
Add curb appeal. Motivated homebuyers are viewing your home in daylight hours and
after sundown so make sure it looks its best at all times. You always want to keep your
front exterior lights on but you can add a few simple outdoor light fixtures to add curb
appeal. Solar walkway lights can light up your sidewalk to improve safety and ambiance.
A spotlight or two on the front of your house can also add to your house, improve safety
and give visitors a clear view of your home’s exterior. Landscape light packages sold at your
local Lowe’s and Home Depot stores provide easy install methods while providing dramatic
results inexpensively. If you have a beautiful tree, shrub or flowers let people know by
complementing natural beauty with a little added light. And, of course, if you’re selling
during the holiday season, a few festive white neutral lights will really show your spirit and
help folks envision themselves at home for the holidays when viewing your house.
Use natural light. Whenever possible, take full advantage of natural daylight. Keep blinds
and curtains open during the daytime to light up your home, make it seem open and airy
all day long.
Use flattering light sources. Overhead fluorescent lights are typically harsh while floor
lamps and torchiere lamps create mood and plenty of uplighting. Use soft, warm tones
and rely on smaller lamps to disperse lighting to specific areas. You can also turn lamps
during the day to enlarge the sense of space and brighten up your home.
Add subtle lighting. Small under-counter kitchen lighting shows off your countertops
and makes one of the most important rooms in the house warm and inviting. Add wall
sconce lighting to places that are short on space. If you have art on your walls, you can
showcase it with small light fixtures.
Change a light fixture. Swapping out dated light fixtures for sleeker, more modern versions
can be a wise investment that won’t cost you a lot. Better yet, spray paint old light
fixtures with new modern colors to update any look inexpensively. Installing or updating
attractive light fixtures is worth the money spent and will always catch a buyer’s eye!
Page 9 Page 10

Get Your Home Shipshape
for Listing
Home Checklist
Get a home inspection prior to listing your home. Show buyers that you’re proactive about
getting repairs done and giving them the best possible value when they purchase your
home. Once the home inspection is done, you’ll know which repairs are important for you to
tackle right away.
Get rid of clutter. When people view your home, they want to see the potential for their
family in the house, not your collection of National Geographic Magazine from 1987 to
the present. Pre-pack or throw away items you don’t regularly use. Organize the items that
are left and clean your house from top to bottom. Buyers want storage room, so show them
how much room you have by keeping your storage spaces uncluttered.
Make sure your flooring is up-to-date. Buyers don’t want to tackle replacing all the
flooring after they move in. If your current flooring is dirty, worn or dated, you may
want to consider updating it prior to putting your home on the market.
Create curb appeal. Your home’s curb appeal gives buyers their first impression. You want
this to be a positive experience so they remember your home and want to buy it. Keep
your yard weed-free. Add greenery as the season permits.
Create a neutral color palette inside. Buyers don’t want a long list of improvements to make
after they move in. Help attract buyers with a fresh coat of paint or two. Neutral colors
and clean walls with no holes will attract buyers.
Depersonalize your home. Even though you may love your hometown football team,
you never know what will be a turn-off for potential buyers. Try to take as many
personal decorative items out of your home while it’s on the market to avoid alienating any
customers. Allow them to see themselves living in your home by removing family photos and
memorabilia.
Anticipate your buyers’ needs. Your buyers already have a list of what they want. Racking
up items, no matter how small, on their future to-do list is a quick way to lose a buyer.
Help them check off items on their wish list instead of creating their to-do list.
In the Gainesville, Bristow and Haymarket Virginia area, many people wait to sell their
homes in the spring or summer, but that doesn’t mean you should wait on preparing. To obtain
the best price for your home, you need two main components: a realtor who will go the distance
to get you the best deal and a home that is well-prepped. Get ready to list your home by checking
off the items below.
Make your home move-in ready. Once you’ve had your inspection and prioritized your
to-do list, create a budget and a timeline to make your home move-in ready. Maybe
you need to replace a few windows, apply a few coats of fresh paint or spackle all the places
where your photos hung. Set yourself up for success by getting your home move-in ready
before it even hits the market.
Stage to sell. A well-staged home can make the buyer feel at home. Make sure you have
good lighting and properly placed furniture for showings.
Page 11 Page 12

Clean-Up, Clean-out
and Learn to Live with Less
A decluttered home is a happy home, especially if you’re considering selling in the near future. So
get your boxes and bags, along with my suggestions, and get to work! You’ll feel so much better
with fewer things filling up your home or distracting your attention. Here are some tips to get
you moving in the right direction:
Donate, donate, donate – Get rid of clutter and possibly lower your tax liability by donating
goods to charity. Donations of goods to charities are tax deductible, and donating is a
good way to give back to your community while you declutter your home. Clearly this is
a win-win for all. If you have items that are in good or workable condition, find the right
charity and donate them. Consider making donations to the Habitat for Humanity Restore
facility at its new location, 10159 Hastings Drive in Manassas! They are currently accepting
donations Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 to 5pm.
Habitat accepts houseware, appliances and recycled construction material, to include old
cabinets, countertops, ceiling fans, faucets and more! The Salvation Army in Manassas is
another great organization that accepts donations. Located at 11201 Ball Ford Rd., donations
are taken Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
If you don’t use it, get rid of it – Trinkets from vacations past are only collecting dust and
taking up space in your home, and old school projects have seen better days. Once you
decide to let those items go, you will feel better and have more space for storage.
Don’t forget to keep your house safe by getting rid of hazardous material – Old paint cans
can really stack up (literally), and dangerous fertilizer bags aren’t safe to have sitting
around. The Prince William County landfill, located at 13000 Balls Ford Rd., will accept
hazardous waste material, electronics and selected chemicals on the second Saturday
of every month from 10am-3pm. The larger landfill, located at 14811 Dumfries Rd., takes
everything.
Make a little extra cash – What better way to make a little extra cash than to sell
unwanted or unused items online? You could use an auction site like eBay for smaller,
easier to ship items. For furniture and other large items that are still in good condition, you
can sell them on Craig’s List. You can also sell your items at a local consignment shop.
Use social media – Give items away for free! You can post your items on social media
such as Craig’s List without the hassle of hauling it to a donation center. Just get the
unwanted stationary bike or desk to the curb or garage and your job is done.
S
ave time and organize – Once you have decluttered your home, organize your remaining
items so that you have a system for keeping your home tidy. If there’s a place for
everything, day-to-day cleaning won’t take so long. With fewer items lying around your
house you can devote that extra time to a new hobby, an extra workout or spending more
quality time with your family.
Page 13 Page 14

Is it important for a listing agent to offer food at an open house?
Why You Need an Open House
A public open house is a critical piece to marketing your home, especially if you need to
do showings by appointment only. Your listing agent has the responsibility to get your home the
most exposure to the public as possible, and while tools like Zillow and Trulia are great for online
marketing, they don’t get people in the door like an open house will.
The open house is a coordinated event with you, the owner, which allows the public to
freely view your home with or without an agent during the timeframe of your choosing. It
reduces the pressure on you as the owner to ready your house with little or no notice, and it
provides freedom to the potential buyer to preview the home in a more leisurely manner. It’s
essentially a win-win situation for both parties.
No. If a listing agent has a unique or desirable property listing, the open house will be
very busy — especially if the house has been professionally staged. It’s best not to have
food at a public open house. You spent a lot of time and effort readying your home for
the open house, and you probably don’t want to go through sweeping up a day’s worth of
crumbs and spills after it’s over. A small dish of candy and perhaps a bottle of water are
considered gracious and all you really need to offer for a regular open house.
If your listing agent is planning a broker’s open house, usually simple luncheon food is
provided. Why do you provide food for brokers? Because you want your listing agent to
keep brokers on site to gain as much feedback as possible to understand the positioning
and the perceived value, architectural flaws and overall perception of the property by
other pros. This information will help your agent make adjustments to tweak your
listing in a more favorable light. You want them to share their property experience with
other agents who may have a buyer for your property. Food encourages people to stay a
little longer and talk.
Here are some frequently asked questions I get about open houses.
Do open houses only attract neighbors?
Not always. Keep in mind, though, that your neighbors are your friends. The more
neighbors who know about your property, the more likely they will tell their friends and
family about your listing.
Are public open houses always scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays?
No. However, many open houses are scheduled on Sunday afternoons to prevent
conflicts with weekend and religious activities. Open houses can be scheduled any time
of the week that works for you and makes sense for potential buyers. The time of day is
also flexible. It’s a good idea to listen to the recommendations of your listing agent and
coordinate a date and time that works best for you and for your potential buyers.
Do public open houses and broker opens always work?
No. They are simply additional marketing tools for your agent to use to provide
exposure to your property. Listen to your listing agent about recommendations to
determine if a public open house or broker’s open will work best, given the location of
the property and time the property is being offered.
Page 15 Page 16

Kitchen
When your house goes on the market, you want to make sure you can sell it as quickly
as possible. By fully preparing before you list, you can help move your house expediently and
prevent buyers from asking for additional improvements or repairs when they purchase. Check
out this checklist of things to do to get your house fully prepared for the market. Then ask
yourself, “How prepared am I?”
Outside
A Handy Checklist:
Prep Your Home to Sell Quickly
| Tidy up your lawn and garden. Cut grass, trim shrubs and trees, replace dead plants and
remove weeds.
| Clean up your yard, patio or deck. Remove any trash, debris and toys from your yard.
| Make sure your driveway and entryway are clutter-free.
| Check your outdoor faucets for leaks and repair any you find.
| Make sure your mailbox, house numbers and exterior lighting are clean and in good
condition.
| Do exterior paint touch-ups as needed.
| Give your house a facelift by painting the front door.
| Inspect your chimney for cracks or missing mortar and have those items repaired if you
find them.
| Make repairs to loose trim, fencing and drain pipes. Clean out the gutters.
| Add a new welcome mat to your front door.
| Clean stains and window screens. If your sidewalk or house is especially dirty, consider
power washing or hiring someone to power wash.
| Garage
| Declutter and organize all the remaining items.
| Sweep and scrub the garage floor.
| Remove any clutter from the countertops. Thoroughly clean counters, sinks and
appliances. Clean your oven inside and out.
| Clean and polish or wax the floor.
| Clean tile or grout and replace it if it’s beyond cleaning.
Bathrooms
| Clean or replace the shower curtain.
| Thoroughly clean the sinks, shower, bathtub, toilet, floors, mirrors and anything with
chrome or porcelain surfaces.
| Clean or replace grout and caulk.
| Fix faucet drips or leaks.
Closets
| Make sure that doors and drawers open and close easily.
| Declutter and tidy up the shelves and racks. Neatly arrange all your shoes and clothing.
| Get a head start on packing and remove all the clothing that’s not in season from your
closet.
Overall
| Do a walk-through as if you were a home buyer. Look for doors, windows, cabinets and
drawers that stick, squeak or are too loose. Look for any issue which may cause a buyer to
ask for additional maintenance on your home.
| Clean your fireplace and remove any smoke stains from the wall and mantle.
| Service your HVAC system and hot water heater.
| Make sure your home smells fresh and inviting. Do this by keeping everything clean and, if
possible, opening the windows occasionally to air out stale odors your home may retain.
Living areas
| Apply a fresh coat of paint anywhere you need one. If your house has brightly painted
walls, consider repainting with light, neutral colors.
| Clean your draperies and vacuum and steam clean your carpets (or hire a professional to
steam clean).
| Make sure all lightbulbs are in working order.
| Clean all of the windows, inside and out.
Page 17 Page 18

Home Inspections
8 Important Things You Can Learn
Having a good realtor in your court makes the home buying process much easier on you.
And good realtors have great connections throughout their community. One such connection is
with a reputable home inspector.
Having a home inspection is one of the most important steps in buying a home. Even
though an inspection is optional, you don’t want to forgo it. Opting for a home inspection can
ensure that the home of your dreams is in great condition before purchasing. Here are eight
important areas a good home inspector will investigate.
Exterior walls – Home inspectors check the quality of exterior walls. This ensures the
home you are buying has siding in good condition.
Foundation – Clearly all homes should have a solid foundation. Home inspectors have eyes
trained to pick out concerns, like cracks, and alert you to potential problems.
Garage – Within garages, inspectors check for sufficient ventilation, the framing of the
area and that all doors are in working order. While you may be simply excited to have the
extra space for vehicles or storage, your inspector looks deeper to make sure you’re safely
covered.
Roof – We all want a solid roof over our heads, and a home inspection will ensure that your
new home has one. Inspectors make sure there are no missing shingles or water damage
and that everything has been properly installed. Additionally, they take a good look at the
gutters and the area around the chimney (if there is one).
Electrical system – Your inspector will determine the type of wiring your home has and
ensure the safety and proper functioning of all outlets. He or she will test the ground
fault interrupters in areas like the garage, kitchen, bathroom, outdoors and anywhere else
where water may be present.
Plumbing system – Your home inspector will make sure your future home is free of leaks
— under sinks, in faucets, or showers and tubs. If the home’s pipes are older, the inspector
may do a particularly close examination to see what material they are made of and what
condition they are in.
HVAC – Your inspector can estimate the age of your air conditioner and furnace and tell
you the condition of each. If either needs repairs, maintenance or replacement, he or she
will let you know.
Insulation – Home inspectors can also examine the home’s insulation and ensure that it is
safe and adequate. Proper insulation means lower utility costs and better climate control.
Your home inspector’s report gives you a bird’s eye view of your potential new home.
You and your realtor can sit down together, work through any items of concern and determine
what, if anything, you’d like to ask the seller to fix. Your realtor will help you create reasonable
and professional requests. If there are major concerns that the seller is not willing to fix, a home
inspection also allows you the freedom to opt out of a contract, thus giving you peace of mind.
Page 19 Page 20

Why Buy a Home Warranty?
When we show people a home, we are very thorough about asking questions to ensure
you are getting the best value for your home-buying dollar. In addition, you will probably have a
home inspector check your potential new home for existing issues or issues that may arise in the
near future. Even with all this, though, you should consider getting a home warranty, either as
the buyer or the seller, to get the peace of mind that you have either just sold or purchased a wellfunctioning
home.
A home warranty protects the actual structures, systems and appliances in your home. It’s
not a replacement for home owners insurance, which protects your home and your belongings
in the event of a fire or other catastrophe. A home warranty is a good supplement to have just
in case you have issues with your major appliances, systems or structure of your home that
result from the natural breakdown of manmade materials over time. A home warranty typically
costs a little up front with a small fee each time services are needed, but can potentially save you
thousands on repairs over time. Inevitably, things in your home will break, and it’s good to have
the reassurance a home warranty can provide.
Not all home warranties are created equal. I highly recommend a 2-10 Home Buyers
Warranty for my customers. A warranty from a company like 2-10 can help cover your repair
costs on things like your HVAC system, plumbing, hot water heater, wiring, etc. You can purchase
separate structural coverage which can cover things like foundation systems, beams, columns,
load-bearing walls and more. You can also get additional coverage for items like pools, septic
tanks, roof leaks, wells or extra refrigerators and freezers. Most policies last one year, but are
renewable every year.
How can a warranty benefit a potential seller? Sometimes people selling their homes
purchase a home warranty to protect their investment during the time their house is listed and
as an added bonus for purchasers. Buyers who may
have depleted their savings to purchase a new home
won’t have any additional major expenses should
repairs arise in the first year they own their home.
If you’re the buyer, you will probably want
to keep your out-of-pocket expenses low, especially
if you depleted some of your savings as a down
payment on a home. You may want to consider
purchasing a home warranty to ensure that you don’t
have any major expenditures in your first year of
home ownership.
End-of-Year Holiday Season Real Estate Bargains!
We tend to think of the holiday season as a shopping season for gifts and food, but not for
major investments. With major shopping days at the end of the year like Black Friday and Cyber
Monday, we think of buying discounted toys, games and electronics. But around the holidays
is actually a great time to look at purchasing a new home, too. Here are some reasons why you
should shop at the end of the year:
New homes may be less expensive – Much like retailers, builders also want to close out the
year with less inventory on their books. This could translate to a great deal for you as
the buyer. Shopping for a brand new home during, and right after, the holiday season could
really pay off. Some builders even offer incentives like free or discounted upgrades, so keep
your eyes peeled for deals.
Investors are looking to liquidate – Real estate investors also do not want to close the year
out with a lot of inventory on their books. It’s more profitable for them to flip properties
quickly, and they may be willing to lower their prices or take a little less than the asking price
to sell quickly. An experienced real estate agent can help you find investor-owned properties
that you can snap up for a great price.
People want a fresh start for the new year – Around the beginning of the new year, people
are motivated to make major changes in their lives. Maybe moving is on their agenda, but
they really don’t want to wait for spring to get into that new home. Eager sellers can offer
fantastic deals for buyers, so take a look now and see what bargains are out there.
Sellers listing in off-peak times may have a bigger sense of urgency – People listing their
homes in the winter months may have a bigger need to sell their homes than those who
can wait until more optimal times to sell. There may be a little more wiggle room in the price,
or you may be able to ask for help with closing costs as an added bonus.
There is less competition among buyers – Fewer people looking to buy means you may not
be up against as many competing offers that may drive up your bid on a home.
We know the holidays are a busy time of year, but with a little bit of planning and
preparation, you can balance home shopping with all of the festivities. Finding a great
home for a lower price will be well worth the little bit of extra effort.
Page 21 Page 22

Along with condominium ownership come condominium fees. These fees typically
cover the cost of maintaining everything outside of your individual unit, although
water consumption is often times a part of the condominium fee instead of an added
cost. The condo association will have a master insurance policy on the jointly owned
components of the property, and you will only need to insure what’s inside your unit. A
condo association makes decisions on when and how the money from condo fees will be
spent, whether that’s on unit improvements, repairs or managing common areas. As a
condominium owner, you should never have to worry about replacing the roof, repairing
windows or painting the structure’s exterior. Your condo fee will cover it!
Before purchasing a condominium, read the Condominium Declaration document
to understand your responsibility and that of the condominium association. There are
several condominium documents, which are mandated by the state and require the latest
version of information and budgets to be provided to every purchaser. A purchaser will
receive this information prior to closing. Review them carefully. If you have questions,
don’t hesitate to ask your realtor.
Fee Simple Ownership
Condominium and Fee Simple Ownership
What These Terms Mean for the Homebuyer
When you’re a first time homebuyer, chances are you’re adding a lot of new terms
to your vocabulary. Escrow, closing costs…what does it all mean? They don’t teach you
about real estate transactions in high school, so when and where are you supposed to
acquire this knowledge? The best way is by asking a professional realtor. Today we want
to examine two popular types of ownership for homebuyers and what that means to you
— condominium and fee simple ownership.
Condominiums
Condos sometimes look like apartments or multi-unit structures, but they can
also look like townhomes, garden homes or duplexes. If you purchase a condominium,
you generally own the space inside the unit as an individual. You also jointly own the
common elements of the building, or an undivided interest in the land and the structure
held in common with other condominium owners in the building. The common elements
are typically exterior walls, the roof, decks, plus the common land areas and recreational
facilities.
Fee simple ownership is a “freehold” estate, which means that you own the land and
everything on the land for the duration of your life with the right to transfer it to your
heirs, depose of it at any time or place restriction on it as you wish. It is regarded as the
highest level of ownership in this country. As the owner, you are responsible to maintain
and insure everything on the parcel of land.
Although you own everything on the property, you may still have to pay dues and
be a part of a homeowners association. Homeowners associations usually have rules and
regulations about how you can alter the outside of your home and whether recreational
vehicles are permitted to be stored on the property. Their goal is to make sure the
neighborhood remains beautiful and well maintained so that home values stay as high as
possible (for everyone’s benefit).
Understand What You’re Buying
No matter which type of home you choose to purchase, make sure you fully
understand what owning that type of property entails. Familiarize yourself with the rules
and regulations of the condo association or the homeowners association. When deciding
what to buy, make sure to factor in dues for either of these associations into your budget.
As a first time homebuyer, don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you need so that
you’re crystal clear on what you’re signing. There’s no shame in asking questions, and your
realtor is here for just that purpose.
Page 23 Page 24

What You Should Know About Electromagnetic
Fields (EMF) and Power Lines
Electromagnetic Fields, or EMF, has caused some stir locally, as Dominion Power plans to
put up power lines in Western Prince William County. We thought it would be helpful to provide
some research about EMF so people can make informed decisions, especially if they are moving
into the area.
To start, EMF is the combined energy of electric and magnetic fields that surrounds any
electrical device when it’s plugged in and turned on. Some people believe EMF may cause health
issues, and they’re particularly concerned with living near power lines. How worrisome are power
lines for your health? The United States Environmental Protection Agency has published some
information about the safety of EMF.
According to the EPA, experiments have not clearly shown that exposure to EMF increases
your risk for cancer. The issue is still being studied by scientists. They also say the strength of the
field fades the further you get from the source.
Powerlines and smart meters do emit EMF; however according to the EPA, the fields from
power lines have a much lower frequency than other types of EMF like microwaves or radio
waves.
The National Institute of Environmental Health Science explains the difference between
types of EMFs and which you may have to worry about as a potential health threat. Non-ionizing
EMFs are emitted from sources like power lines, microwave ovens, computers, cell phones and
Bluetooth devices. Non-ionizing EMFs are defined by the NIH as “low to mid-frequency radiation
which is generally perceived as harmless due to its lack of potency.”
The other type of EMFs are ionizing and are emitted from sources like ultraviolet
light, some gamma rays and certain x-rays. Ionizing EMFs are defined by NIH as “mid to highfrequency
radiation which can, under certain circumstances, lead to cellular and/or DNA damage
with prolonged exposure.”
If you happen to live near a power line, the amount of EMFs reaching inside your home
will be very small.
NIH says that scientists have performed studies on the effects of EMF exposure to see
if it causes disease. They said there were some studies that reported biological effects from
EMF exposure, but many biological effects are within the normal range of variation and not
necessarily negative health effects.
Both the EPA and the NIH essentially say that while EMFs should continue to be studied
to ensure the safety of being exposed to them, there is not enough scientific evidence to say that
there is any ill effect on your health from exposure to EMFs from power lines.
Page 25 Page 26

Home Buying 101:
What Can You Expect When Purchasing a Home?
Buying a home is exciting, but it can also be stressful, especially for first time
homebuyers. The process may seem overwhelming, lengthy and confusing. There’s so
much to do! But, with the right network of professionals — a loan officer and realtor, for
starters — you can make it through.
Once you have a lender, you will want to get pre-qualified or pre-approved for
financing and receive the lender’s pre-qualification letter. When you do, you will
have a better sense of which homes are in your price range and the responsibility you
will have when making the purchase. Getting pre-qualified will also save you a lot of
time once you start looking at homes and will help make your offer competitive.
The next step is to meet with a local realtor. You will want a realtor who is familiar
with the area in which you are looking and educated in the latest real estate
trends. A good realtor will be able to show you the kinds of homes in your budget,
explain how to structure an offer and negotiate on your behalf to get the home of
your choice.
When you begin looking at homes, you should have a checklist. How many
bedrooms and bathrooms will you need? How much property would you like
to maintain? Do you need a basement? What size garage is important? These are all
factors to consider as you begin the home buying process.
Have you decided on a home? If so, with the help of your realtor, it’s time to make
the offer. The offer will include an earnest money deposit, which is a good faith
deposit. You will have to place money up front with the offer to show you are serious
about buying a home. Your realtor will address the need for inspections and will
prepare the offer in a way that best meets your needs and remains competitive.
Prior to closing the transaction, you will have a final walk-through inspection
to verify the condition of the property. When it is time to go to settlement or
closing with a title company or an attorney, you will be asked sign off on the loan
commitment and accept the transfer of title along with several other documents to
make your purchase official. Once you accept the keys, the house is yours!
As you can see, this process is not simple, nor is it necessarily short – but don’t let
that scare you out of buying a home! Finding the right team of experts will help make for
a smooth and hassle-free experience.
Here are some of the steps you will take when you go to buy your home.
You will need to start by checking your credit and resolving any issues that may
prevent you from buying a home. There are many companies out there that will
check your credit for you. Or, you can check your credit yourself. By law, you are
entitled to receive a free credit report from a credit bureau such as Experian once
every twelve months.
Next, you will need to find a loan officer through a bank, mortgage lending
institution or a local realtor. You will want to get a lender who can explain your
financing options and the requirements of each so you can make an informed buying
decision.
Page 27 Page 28

Virginia Supports Homebuyer
Savings Plans
It’s an exciting time to be a first-time homebuyer in Virginia! Why? Among other
reasons, Virginia has a homebuyer savings plan.
Many people still have not heard of the Virginia bill (HB 331), the first-time
homebuyer savings plan introduced by the Virginia Housing Commission. This is
an amazing, relatively new piece of legislation that encourages saving for a home by
reducing Virginia state tax.
Here is what you need to know to take advantage of this plan.
How does it work?
First, an investment or savings account is designated by a qualified, first-time
homebuyer for the sole purpose of saving for a home. You can designate almost
any existing account as a first-time homebuyer savings plan
To create the plan, you include a form when you file your state taxes. The form
will state that you should not be taxed on any earning (such as capital gains or
interest) because the account is for a qualified, first-time homebuyer purchasing a
home.
After you use the money towards the closing costs on a first home, you send in a
different form to the Department of Taxation, showing that the funds were put
toward an “eligible cost.”
The bill allows for individual income tax subtraction for income earned on
contributions to the account if the funds are used for saving for a home.
Who is a qualified homebuyer?
qualified homebuyer would be someone living in Virginia who has never owned
A property, individually or jointly, anywhere in the United States. The Virginia
Association of Realtors says, “If you owned a home at some point but did not
purchase one — e.g., if you inherited — you can still qualify.”
What are qualified expenses?
Qualified expenses are anything included on the settlement statement, such as a
down payment, closing costs, inspections and lender fees.
How much money can be put into the account?
The bill limits the amount of principal that can be contributed to
any account to $50,000 and limits the total amount that can be
retained in an account at any time to $150,000.
What are the restrictions?
Money saved cannot be used for anything other than
eligible costs without penalty.
If money is withdrawn from the account for purposes other
than to pay eligible costs, any income previously subtracted
would be subject to state tax, and a five percent penalty would
be imposed.
Note, there are no penalties if the funds
are withdrawn because of the death
or disability of the account beneficiary, if
there is a disbursement of assets protected
under federal bankruptcy laws or if funds are
transferred to another first-time
homebuyer savings account.
Page 29 Page 30

Finance Options
What First-Time Homebuyers Should Know
First-time home buyers have a lot to think about, but probably the first thing is how
they will afford a home. Fortunately, there are many programs designed to help first-time
home buyers make their dreams of owning a home come true. It all comes down to the
amount of your down payment and your credit scores. Here are some of the options.
Low-Cost Conventional Loans
Conventional loans are the more traditional loans, ones that are not affiliated with
a government program but follow government regulated guidelines. If a homebuyer can
qualify for a conventional loan, that’s great! Depending on the market rates, these loans
can be some of the best around, especially now when rates are hovering below 4%.
With the relaxation of lending regulations over the past year, there are
conventional loan programs available with as little as 3% down with no mortgage
insurance premium! The applicant must meet the necessary guidelines, but this type of
loan certainly is worth exploring.
FHA Loans
Loans that are insured by the Federal Housing Administration are known as FHA
loans. These are loans given through private lenders, which are regulated by the FHA.
FHA loans permit down payments as low as 3.5%. The most attractive feature for an
FHA loan applicant is that FHA will allow for lower credit scores than those allowed for
conventional loans. If your credit score is not pristine, this may be the place to turn.
USDA
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a singly family
guaranteed loan program. The loan program helps approved lenders offer low and
moderate income households opportunity to buy a primary residence in an eligible rural
area. The loans cover building, rehabilitating, improving or relocating the home.
While these loans can be
extremely helpful to those who might
not otherwise be able to afford a
home, there are restrictions. However,
if you meet the guidelines, USDA
financing is a great program for many
first-time homebuyers.
VHDA
VHDA stands for Virginia Housing Development Authority. The VHDA is a nonprofit
organization, which was developed by the Commonwealth in 1972. The VHDA’s
mission is to provide mortgages, specifically for first-time homebuyers and developers
of affordable rental properties. The VHDA uses no state taxpayer dollars. Rather, the
organization raises money in capital markets to fund loans.
VHDA offers a variety of loans with low down payments. Borrowers might even
qualify for assistance with down payments and closing costs. Note, though, that the
VHDA sets its own rules for income eligibility.
VA Loans
VA loans are granted through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA). The
program is open to eligible veterans, current service members and surviving spouses. VA
loans are made by private lenders and guaranteed by the VA.
One positive of VA loans is that these loans offer low-cost refinance options. They
also offer protection if the borrower has difficulty paying the loan. These loans do not
require a monthly mortgage insurance payment; however they do require a fee to be
paid at closing. VA loans come with low or no down payment and are attractive to many
eligible service members and their families.
With all these options, first-time homebuyers have a good chance of finding a
program that meets their needs. It’s important to compare and contrast the options,
though, to find the best rates and programs. A good mortgage lender can help educate
first-time homebuyers and lead them through the process.
Page 31 Page 32

Real Estate Agent Qualifications
What Do They Mean?
When you’re making quite possibly one of the largest transactions of your lifetime,
you want someone with real expertise in your corner. There are many real estate agents
out there for you to choose from, so what makes one real estate agent different from
another?
One way to differentiate between realtors is by examining their qualifications. You’ll
come across a lot of acronyms in your search for a qualified agent. So what does all this
alphabet soup mean when it comes to real estate qualifications? Learn to decode real
estate qualifications so you know you’re getting the cream of the crop when you select
your realtor.
CRS - Council of Residential Specialist – This is the mark of an experienced agent
who has completed advanced professional training and demonstrated outstanding
professional achievement in residential real estate.
ASP - Accredited Staging Professional - Real estate agents learn how to professionally
prepare homes through staging to get top dollar when selling your home.
SRES - Seniors Real Estate Specialist – If you’re over the age of 50 and looking to buy
or sell a home, a Seniors Real Estate Specialist is best equipped to help you. They learn
how to counsel clients through major financial and lifestyle transition in relocating,
refinancing or selling their family homes.
Real Estate Broker – This designation requires many hours of education and testing.
Real estate brokers are licensed to run their own real estate businesses as well as help
you buy or sell a home.
Being a realtor requires quite a bit of training and continuing education, and those
letters mean many late nights studying and hours of test taking to stay on top of the
latest information out there in the real estate world. Being up to speed with the latest
trends, laws, ways to market, negotiation techniques, lending procedures and more is
critical when you want to get the most for your sale and sell in the quickest amount of
time or scoop up the deal of the decade that just went on the market.
GRI - Graduate Realtor Institute – To get this designation, your realtor has to be a
member of the National Association of Realtors in good standing. The coursework for
this includes market knowledge, business skills, systems and avoiding setbacks, fines
and lawsuits
CNE - Certified Negotiation Expert – This professional certification means that your
agent is an expert negotiator. They have learned how to best bargain to get you the
deal you want when buying and selling.
ABR - Accredited Buyer Representative – This designation is for realtors to focus on
working directly with buyer-clients. They learn valuable skills to help you purchase
your home and learn specialized information to help them stay on top of trends and
issues in home buying.
e-PRO - Electronic/Internet certification – This certification expands real estate
agents’ digital skills so they can connect with the online market. They learn to
properly leverage social media to get your home sold quickly and at the best price.
CRS - Council of Residential Specialist – This is the mark of an experienced agent
who has completed advanced professional training and demonstrated outstanding
professional achievement in residential real estate.
Page 33 Page 34

Why You Need a Dedicated(and Real) Realtor
Buying a home is a major investment, which is why it’s best left to the experts —
dedicated, local realtors. Here are nine reasons why we feel Jacobson Realty and Home
Staging is best positioned to help you buy, stage and sell:
Personalized service – We have more time to devote to each client, a client who is an
individual. We will get to know you, what you’re looking for, what you’re not looking for,
what your financial situation is. All of these factors are important when you’re buying or
selling a home.
Home staging – Jacobson Realty and Home Staging offers free home staging services with
experienced home stagers who take their time and assess your home’s appearance, see its
potential and execute a beautifully staged home that will fetch the best offers.
Motivation – We are invested in seeing you succeed. It’s not just about the money. It’s
about our clients’ satisfaction, which is crucial when a home is being sold or purchased.
Choice of agent – When you choose to work with us, you are putting your trust in us, and
we take that seriously. We know there are other realtors out there, and we appreciate
your confidence in us.
Expertise – Our real estate agents have expertise in both the field and your location. Our
realtors have plenty of community connections and insider advice on neighborhoods,
schools, community activities and more.
Flexibility – When you work with Jacobson Realty and Home Staging, you have someone
who wants to make the deal work for you, someone who has the flexibility to be creative
to get you into your dream home or sell your current home.
Diversity – You are not a cookie cutter customer, so why would you benefit from a onesize-fits-all
generic realty service? Experienced agents, who have more time to devote to
you as an individual, can learn what you truly need and help you get there. That’s what
we offer.
Value – We have a wide range of homes we can help you bid on, more flexible financing
options and advice on how to get the best price for your home. In the long run, that saves
you money.
Support – Buying or selling a home is listed as one of the official biggest life stressors. You
don’t want to go through that stress with someone who does not have your best interest
at heart. You want someone who can help bring you through transactions smoothly and
get you where you need to be.
Jacobson Realty and
Home Staging (JRY)
was established by
Broker/Owner Belinda
Jacobson-Loehle in
April 2002.
Belinda is a native
Washingtonian who
grew up in Alexandria,
Virginia and has
lived and worked in
Gainesville, Virginia
since 1995.
She has been a
licensed broker since
1989.
Page 35 Page 36

www.jacobsonrealty1.com