October 4th, 2009:
ABC’s of Home Buying
I’m going to buy a home, what’s the process?
- Go to your bank or lending institution to obtain pre-approval. As part of this you will discover what amount it is willing to lend. This is important both to know your budget and to ensure that your offers are accepted. Failure to pre-approve can ruin your chances for success later.
- Sit down with a Realtor to see what’s available, what meets your needs, and to discover the hidden dangers in home buying.
- Once you have found a property you wish to buy you can proceed with an offer. Your Realtor will provide invaluable assistance by performing a competitive market analysis, a snapshot of recent home sales and their amounts, to determine what will make an offer that gets you the best possible price, without having the seller walk away.
- The seller reviews the offer; if it is rejected, the seller may make a counteroffer. This process can continue back and forth until both parties ratify and accept the offer making the offer a ratified contract.
- A ratified contract then puts into motion a host of background tasks that proceed invisibly to ensure your new home is in good order:
- Home inspected for condition, damage and hidden surprises
- Appraisal to ensure the banks investment is covered by the value of the home
- Loan approval to secure funds for the purchase of your home
- Title Search to ensure the seller really has full right to sell your home
- Walk-through inspection to ensure nothing changes at the last minute with the property
- At settlement the lender’s money and the title transfer come together to deliver you ownership of your new home.
- Now it’s time to move in!
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About the Author — Ben Fornshell is a licensed real estate agent with Condo Alexandria. To learn more about available rentals and purchases in the area check out our free search.
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Colecroft Townhouses
Colecroft is at the Braddock Rd. Metro Station
Colecroft offers excellent and easy access to Braddock Metro. Colecroft is also nicely situated away from main thoroughfares thus keeping through-traffic to a minimum.
While these townhouses were built in 1987, you’ll walk through them and feel like you’re in a much newer community. Something you won’t see in the square footage listed with these is the huge and open finished basements.
Want to see what’s available now in Colecroft?
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About the Author — Ben Fornshell is a licensed real estate agent with Condo Alexandria. To learn more about available rentals and purchases in the area check out our free search.
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Townhouses of Chatham Square
Chatham Square runs close to the water in Olde Towne. Chatham Square stretches along and near Royal St. These new townhouses have a shared garage entering directly into each townhouse, with spectacular hardwood floored living rooms and marble top kitchens. With open, well lit designs, these spacious homes catch the eye. Situated close to Washington St and Route 1, they provide easy access to the Beltway and DC and are just blocks away from the night life of King Street.
Want to see what’s available now in Chatham Square?
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About the Author — Ben Fornshell is a licensed real estate agent with Condo Alexandria. To learn more about available rentals and purchases in the area check out our free search.
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The Many Musicians of Old Town
If you like street music, then you’ll find no better spot to wander than Old Town Alexandria. Through-out the week, especially on weekends, musicians gather in Old Town at street corners and near the waterfront to play music for tips and applause. Most are highly talented professionals, some are learning to play their instrument in front of a crowd. I enjoy them both in different ways.
Here in Old Town Alexandria, you’ll find everything from a lonely saxophone, to steel drums to an entire band. Below I’ve collected a few photos to give you a taste of Old Town’s many musicians.
This foursome was phenomenal singing and playing old time mountain music. It was a great throwback to the Carters because the gal in the front on the guitar was a great singer. The banjo player and bass were on point, and I love the texture that the mandolin (seated behind guitar) provided.
The glass harp as played by Jamie Turner is an old town treat one simply must hear in person to appreciate.
Harpist
This miss not only strummed the harp to perfection but also sang beautifully.
At the waterfront behind the Torpedo Factory there are often a few soloists serving up music for passers-by.
I heard some fine picking and strumming from this pair.
 Will Nesbitt |
About the Author — Will Nesbitt is the principal broker of Condo Alexandria and Will Nesbitt Realty. Will specializes in condos, townhouses and single family residences in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax County, Crystal City, and Kingstowne. Will resides in Belle Haven Estates just outside Alexandria VA in Fairfax County. |
Coming Attractions from the Torpedo Factory condos
Are you looking for two bedrooms in one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Northern Virginia? This is your “heads-up”.
We’ll soon be offering a condominium for sale at the famed Torpedo Factory condos in Old Town Alexandria VA.
There are a few details we’re going to take care of before formally offering the place for sale, but one of the highlights of the home has to be the patio and sunroom.
At the edge of the formal gardens in the courtyard of the Torpedo Factory condos, this home is just paces from all the many attractions and activities of Old Town. The restaurants, the waterfront and everything that is wonderful about Old Town Alexandria is at your doorstep when you live at the Torpedo Factory.
Call 703 765 0300 to inquire about the availability of this home which promises to be priced right and delivered in top condition.
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About the Author — Will Nesbitt is the principal broker of Condo Alexandria and Will Nesbitt Realty. Will specializes in condos, townhouses and single family residences in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax County, Crystal City, and Kingstowne. Will resides in Belle Haven Estates just outside Alexandria VA in Fairfax County. |
Living near the United States Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria VA
The United States Patent and Trademark Office is located in the Carlyle District of Old Town Alexandria VA. The USPTO is one of Alexandria’s top employers and a magnet for sharp, well-educated folks from across the country. Commuters have easy access to the USPTO because it’s located a few blocks from Alexandria’s King Street Metro and just inside the Capitol Beltway. The mission of the USPTO is to protect the interests of inventors of intellectual property, while providing for the good of the nation and the market.
The Carlyle District and Old Town have many upscale shops, restaurants, hotels and restaurants. Young patent examiners may have a hard time finding an affordable residence in Old Town or the Carlyle District, but have many choices close by in Huntington, New Alexandria and the West End of Alexandria.
Alexandria’s DASH bus
DASH (Driving Alexandrians Safely Home) buses operate around, across and near the city of Alexandria, Virginia.
DASH buses are clean, safe and an effective way to get around Alexandria.
Boarding the bus is simple and easy. When the bus arrives, just step into the bus and then deposit the exact fare or use your WMATA SmarTrip card. If you have any questions about routes or transfers ask the driver and then take a seat. On some of the most popular routes or during rush hours, there might not be any available seats. In that case just move as far to the rear of the bus as possible. (This makes it easier for others to board easily.)
If you’re new to city buses, you need to be aware that the bus driver doesn’t always stop at all bus stops! To signal to the driver that your stop is approaching, press the yellow signal strip or pull the bell cord. It’s best to do this about a block from your destination so the driver has timely notice to stop at the next bus stop. When exiting the bus, the rear door is easiest because others may be waiting to board through the front door.
DASH riders are expect to follow a few simple rules of safety and courtesy:
- Smoking, eating, or drinking is not permitted on the bus.
- Radios, I-pods and other devices may be used only if they cannot be heard by others
- There are a limited number of priority seats that are reserved for senior citizens and disabled persons. You may sit in these seats, but riders are expected to volunteer that seat if the seat is needed by a senior citizen or disabled person. If the bus is full, riders are expected to volunteer seats as needed.
- All passengers must keep their feet off the seats.
DASH drivers may refuse service to anyone who does not observe these rules or to anyone whose behavior is disruptive or hazardous to vehicle or passenger safety.
You’re invited to a Pie Social in Alexandria
This is a chance for all of our bakers to strut their stuff! That’s right: Alexandria Fun with Friends is hosting a good ole fashion pie social on Octuber 16th 2009.
Each attendee should bring a homemade dessert (preferably a pie). We’ll look
at the pies. Smell the pies. Talk about the pies and then the highlight of the evening: WE’LL EAT THE PIES! 
We’ll bring a few boardgames and we encourage you to do the same, or at the
least be prepared to play. Some of our members play musical instruments
and we encourage them to bring their best.
There is NO CHARGE for this event if you bring a homemade dessert! If you bring a store-bought dessert there is an attendance fee of $5 and if you don’t
bring anything there is an attendance fee of $15. If you absolutely can’t bake, let us know right away. At least one person can bring milk and paper plates.
For details and to RSVP you’ll need to join Alexandria Fun with Friends.
