Over the past 3-4 years I have read article after article talking about how the US Real Estate market is a bargain for foreign investment. This turns out to be especially true for China. Billions of Dollars in properties are being gobbled up all over the country.

Should we be worried or sad about this? I don’t really know, not my line of work. What interests me is why are American investors not seeing the same opportunities. Well, maybe they are, just not as visibly or on that scale. I also think that we have forgotten what a great investment actually looks like. Expecting outrageous returns hurt the market  and took us down a horrible path. Correcting that will take years.

Should you buy just because it is cheap?

What will the expected return be? Is it even realistic?

Here is just one article about the subject

http://bigrockinvestments.com/chinese-interest-hawaii-market/

Here in the DC Metro Area, we have an abundance of opportunities to invest in great Real Estate and the time is now.

Investments are always to be taken seriously, but there is a method to the madness. It’s called homework of DUE DILIGENCE!

Ask questions! Get the numbers looked at. Have enough of a margin to cover a rainy day or a month!

Later this week I will discuss the top ten things to look at when investing in Real Estate.

Looking at DC Citywide. Let’s start the year and see where it goes! Happy New Year!

FHA LOAN DISCUSSION WITH BRIAN MARTUCCI AND JUSTIN NIELSEN

Real Estate Market Statistics for DC Metro | RBI.

Amazing numbers to look at.

Prices are up slightly

Rates are down

MANY qualified buyers out there

WE NEED GREAT HOMES TO SELL!!

BRIAN MARTUCCI is one of my favorite lenders in the DC Metro Area. He is my go to guy when I need a quick and precise answer about loans.

Green Summer Pool Kit from Eco Home Store

This post has nothing to do with DC Metro Real Estate!

Being green is very popular in the DC Metro area. I’m totally not sure if it is because it’s the right thing to do, or if it is a peer pressure thing. We like it in our family and it serves os well health wise. We usual shop at 2 stores. MOM’s, My Organic Market in Rockville and at the ever expanding Whole foods Stores. They recently opened a giant store in Rockville and not so long ago in Chevy Chase. There is the perpetual joke that you might spend your whole pay check there!

Being green is a life style choice and once you start going down that path it can open up a whole new world! You can get almost anything GREEN! Even a Coffin! I am not sure it is healthier at that point, but it’s probably better for the planet.

I met up with some friends today and talked strategy and goals for their small but thriving company. I am on the board of Eco Home Store. It’s a great concept that my friends Shelley and Donna have been working on for a few years. They have launched several Groupon and Living Social campaigns to get people aware of how many green products there really are out there, Green Flash Drive anyone?

Check out the Eco Home Store website, let me know what you think. Any products you would like to see here?

Surf and save some green while being green!

Open Houses do work in the DC Metro Real Estate Area

In a listing presentation, the OPEN HOUSE always question comes up. It often comes up before I get to it in the long list of things to talk about.

And it is a great question! Usually followed by many others like:

What is an OPEN HOUSE?

Does it work and even matter?

How will we advertise it?

Do we bake cookies?

Can we stay for it?, WHY NOT?

The list goes on and on. I am of the opinion that OPEN HOUSES do matter and have an important value. I’m not saying that because it is also seen as a real way for Realtors to get new clients. I believe we owe it to the public to keep this tradition alive. There is something great about a house full of new people checking out this “potential’ new home. Of course the statistics point to most being neighbors or just curious about the house.

IF the house however is priced, staged, marketed and the event is done correctly, there is a VERY high chance the new owners will be there to look at this house their agent sent them. In the DC Metro Real Estate Market, this happens a lot. Skilled Realtors do all the great legwork in advance and put together a great open house. INSIST ON THIS SERVICE!

As with everything in Real Estate and especially in the DC METRO Real Estate Market. Preparation and planing is key. Get all the marketing out there ESPECIALLY online.

If your Realtor doesn’t do OPEN HOUSES because “they are a waste of time”. Maybe they should put more time and effort in the whole process and get that home sold!

ENJOY this wonderful spring market!

BTW, we all do OPEN HOUSES at DC Living Real Estate LLC.

Check out our new website at DCLIVING.COM

TAX DEDUCTIONS AND COMMON SENSE

Whoa! Check out the new roof!

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

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

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.