Nielsen Rating

This month in Real Estate DC METRO MARKET

Cash for DC Metro Caulkers. How much and when?

TAX DEDUCTIONS AND COMMON SENSE

We are all awaiting the new initiative. Even from a non recession point, this is a good thing for homeowners to spend a little time and money on. If someone told you to spend $500-1000 on your car and get significant better mileage, you would do that – right?

Keeping your home updated is part of responsible home ownership. There is more to that than just adding Stainless Steel Appliances and Granite counter tops.  These to items are in many markets now considered standards. Certainly in the DC Metro Market.

Thank you HGTV!!!

That’s right, HGTV has for a few years been driving the look sellers swoon over when they remodel. The look the Property flippers and designers must have in order to sell.  I don’t disagree that to get the very best price, looks are not deceiving! You have about 30-45 seconds to grab the attention and make a buyer fall in love. Talk about SPEED DATING!!

What we, as Realtors have realized is that these, HOME -FLIP- FLOP-HUNTER -SUPER SELLER -DESIGNER- AND-TRILLION- DOLLAR -LISTING SHOWS also push the bar higher for buyers.

GOING GREEN COSTS GREEN, BUT IT IS WORTH IT!

GREEN has become the new gold, both when you buy it and sell! The consumer is very savvy and way more educated than just a few years back. This is a blessing in disguise! No longer will you have to compete on Appliances, Kitchens and baths. Now you can get the hottest contract with the highest price by burning wood and going

TOTALLY TANKLESS!!! You can  also isolate the attic and push out the Raccoons and Bats.

Install Radiant Heating just like at Grandma’s house?

HOW TO STAY IN FRONT OF THIS ALL

Sellers will constantly need to stay ahead of this curve to get maximum return on their  homes. How do you do that? You have a great relationship with your Realtor. Have them be a sounding board for your fix up or renovation projects. Ask for stats and local ideas. Go look at a couple of houses in the area to get tips and ideas. If you do not have that kind of a relationship with a Real Estate Consultant, get it or find a new one.  You should certainly ditch any  Realtor who says:”I don’t have time for this right now’.  Funny, they have time if you want to sell your home!

So, stand by and wait or  just call me to come out and give you the 411 on what’s next in the green, design or just plain hot area!

I have the time, knowledge and stats to help you make the best choice for you!

Want to know more? Check out this article from YAHOO GREEN

Enjoy,

Justin

The very best neighborhood in the DC Metro Area

I’ve written a little bit about a great neighborhood in McLean, Virginia. It got me thinking about where other great neighborhoods might be. I know a few, but would like to see what you all think. So, maybe this should be a competition of sorts. I’ll see what we can do about that. In the mean time think about it. Where is the best place and why?

Post here or email me at justin@thenielsenrating.com

HAPPENS IN THE VERY BEST OF NEIGHBORHOODS!

Going places on a Sunday afternoon with small kids can cause a few challenges.  The first one is usually that you get into some great conversations and the time goes by all too fast.

Sunday we went to a house party at my client’s house in McLean, VA.  I knew at the time that this would be the perfect neighborhood for them,but I had no idea how truly great a fit it was.

From the get go it seemed like EVERYONE had kids.  Young ones, preteens, babies, toddlers all over the place. They were having fun!  Playing outside!  Who does this anymore? Fantastic neighborhood.  This is among the top ten for anyone who would like great schools and playmates for their kids.

Staying way too long with all these nice people, we also needed to get home and get our kids to bed.  We faced a huge challenge.  The food at the party was great, but the kids played and we talked. So we were HUNGRY!!!  Where to go?

Going to Arlington with a slight hope of meeting up with other friends, we came across LIBERTY TAVERN. Chic and cozy with a classic style and a fantastic menu.  This was going to be interesting.

Upstairs in the restaurant, they were set up for us, kids and all.  Highchairs, Etch-a-sketch, and a kids’ menu with real food. Yes, REAL FOOD FOR KIDS!  They had the usual burger and fries, pizza, etc.  We like to have our kids eat as close to our food as possible.  And they could. The kids’ menu also had yummy orecchiette with butter and cheese, Icelandic Char, veggies, fruit salad and dessert.  It was all very well prepared and came out quickly.

My wife and I had:
Tagliatelle with Rabbit Confit.
Seared Diver Scallops with Lentils
Roasted Duck breast with “Cassoulet”

It was all REALLY good.  My only thought was with true classics come
some real challenges.  Confits are preserved with salt.  Therefore, you need to be VERY careful on how much more you put in the dish.  It was only slightly too salty.

Service was impeccable.  Our server was knowledgeable and prompt.  We talked about food and he recommended many items on the menu.

Great place to bring kids, a date, friends or just watch a game.

Happy New Year!!

It’s again been a bit since last post and although I have several posts up in draft form – here I am!.

January 1 and I have not posted half of what I had set out to post.

Well, the good thing is that with each new year, we can start over.

Here I go about starting over.

We saw a great movie tonight with Meryl Streep and Amy Adams.

Julie and Julia. I highly recommend this movie as a former chef and probably a life long infected foodie.

The commitment the author had to her blog was truly inspiring.

I can only hope for that kind of tenacity and grit!

Happy New Year everyone, welcome to 2010!!!

Justin

Local Wino’s unite!

This is a cause that is near and dear to my heart. Its even good for my heart!

Check them out here:  http://mbbwl.org

MBBWL’s mission is to represent a diverse group of Maryland constituents in advocating for improved alcohol laws in our state. Our vision is to make Maryland one of the most progressive states with regards to alcohol regulation by enabling consumers, wineries and retailers.

MBBWL was formed in 2005 to advocate for beer & wine laws that:

1. Benefit consumers
2. Promote competition
3. Protect the environment
4. Support Maryland’s brewers and wineries

MBBWL represents all Marylanders — consumers, retailers, producers and distributors — who share our values. Specific reforms that we support include allowing consumers to order wine delivered directly to them. We have over 3,000 members and welcome your interest.

Justin

Snow White, Dirty Harry and the Gnome Home?

FUNKY, FUNNY AND FUNCTIONAL?

Don’t get me wrong I really like this house. Maybe not enough to want to buy it or live in it, but I find it very cool.

You still need to be a little brave and very secure to build a home like this. Some might call it Chutzpuh, I don’t know.

This house is in a close suburb to Washington DC. Bethesda is north of DC on the other side in Maryland.

Most houses in the area are very conservative in looks with some very liberal owners.

My guess is that most neighbors are  just fine with the house.

SHE LOVES IT!!

Hands down, this is one of my daughter’s favorite homes and she gets the giggles

every time we pass it. That alone, is worth a detour on our way home.

Years ago in Carmel by the Sea, California I saw houses that look like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs lived there.

That was naturally silly for even stars like them have a  hard time with those prices! I actually met Mr. Clint Eastwood there one evening.

A VERY nice guy. Is it a coincidence that Dirty Harry lives there?  I think not! He is a huge fan of Snow White!

What do you think? Style and purpose? Fun? Hate it?

If it’s not broken, don’t fix it ! Actually, just expand it!

It’s almost here, Congress is so very close to extending the tax credit for another 6 months.

Highlights so far are on an next credit that is given to existing homeowners up to $6500 if they have

lived in their home 5 years out of the past 8. This is to prevent investors from jumping on this great

opportunity. The bill should hit the floor tomorrow! We’ll see!

1000’s of DC Condos for sale, but YOU can’t buy them!

After following the news and looking at every single TV show about buying a home, you are READY!!!
Well, sit back and read this little story about how things have managed to go horribly wrong for the DC condominium market.
Condos became all the rage in a city that seemed to have a constant influx of new blood with capital to spend.  We have all the makings of a very successful professional town. Georgetown University, Howard University, George Washington University and American University. Congress and a ton of government and local agencies.  Let’s not forget all the embassies and other international organizations. Quite a funny mix considering…
DC is a truly unique place. Transition does not even begin to describe what this tiny southern plot of land is all about.  I have been here for about 14 years and I only know 5 others that have been here longer than me!!  Just kidding, of course!  Seriously though, when you think of it, it barely makes sense for a great deal of the population to buy something and settle down in DC.  At some point, many of these condo owners decided to become investors. The thought was to keep the condos and rent them out while they steadily appreciated. In essence not a bad idea and many a Realtor must have been pushing the initial investors with this notion.
Here we are years later.  The market has turned.  There are plenty of great condos for sale, but no one can buy them!!! Why?  Current FHA and Fannie/Freddie home loan guidelines require at least 51% owner occupancy. Many buildings just don’t fit the bill.  There are just too many renters in most condo buildings in DC. Some are officially rented out as investment properties, but many are not. Many condo associations are not aware or turn a blind eye to the situation.  Your Realtor needs to be aware of this situation because it makes it virtually impossible to get financing.

Well gee, Justin, what do we do about this?

Condo owners, you need to go to your condo/coop boards with the message that they need to start limiting rentals. Otherwise you will be hanging on to your condo for a LONG time. The condo my client wanted so dearly to buy was actually an estate sale, and we had negotiated the price all the way down. Then, through the management company and condo documents, it came out that there was only 13% (I REPEAT! 13%) owner occupancy!! That my friends makes it IMPOSSIBLE to buy unless you are paying COLD HARD CASH!!

Set the stage, camera, ready, action!

A few years back I was getting all these emails from marketing companies. They were probably sent to a lot of Realtors in the DC Metro Area. They had great headlines to peek your curiosity.

Like,

All you need to know about staging.
* Sell your listings faster and for more money!
* Home owners need your help right now!
* Get more listings, NOW!

Sounds great doesn’t it? How could I have been an agent without this tool in my tool belt?

I naturally opened up a few and checked out what was out there. How could I acquire these new found skills? Well, for a minor sum of $ 399, they could be mine. I would spend a day or two in classes learning the latest and greatest in how to get my clients to move their furniture around. After that there was also a Feng Shui component that could be added and learned. I thought about it and realized that I would need to tell people what I thought about their tastes and styles. Hard things for an agent to say and do. I just got the listing and now I have to tell them to move everything around so we actually can sell this place. WOW!!!

But I realized that this is the core of what being a real estate agent and consultant is all about. It is having the gumption and skill to not only approach a problem but also the tact and sensitivity to do it with respect. Certainly there are things that need to happen and words that need to be said, but if you don’t believe your agent can guide you and be honest, then you have the wrong agent!

I actually believe that through the years a good consultant should be your first stop adviser on current market trends, remodeling ideas, landscaping and how to enhance without spending a fortune.

So, lean hard on your Realtor and make sure you get your moneys worth! Call them for a free consultation today.

Justin Nielsen is a Real Estate Consultant doing business in The District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia.