Comments for Northern Virginia Real Estate http://northernvirginiarealestate.wordpress.com Real Estate Simplified Wed, 14 Jan 2009 06:02:49 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on It’s a Condo… It’s a Townhouse… It’s a……….. by joe http://northernvirginiarealestate.wordpress.com/2007/04/10/its-a-condo-its-a-townhouse-its-a/#comment-749 joe Wed, 14 Jan 2009 06:02:49 +0000 http://northernvirginiarealestate.wordpress.com/2007/04/10/its-a-condo-its-a-townhouse-its-a/#comment-749 I just wanted to thank you for your article on condo vs. townhome. I always wondered the difference. Makes sense now. :) I just wanted to thank you for your article on condo vs. townhome. I always wondered the difference. Makes sense now. :)

]]> Comment on Condo Fees – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly by John Riley http://northernvirginiarealestate.wordpress.com/2007/07/31/condo-fees-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-746 John Riley Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:01:22 +0000 http://northernvirginiarealestate.wordpress.com/2007/07/31/condo-fees-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-746 By Tenants of course I meant Owners ocupying the units. By Tenants of course I meant Owners ocupying the units.

]]> Comment on Condo Fees – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly by John Riley http://northernvirginiarealestate.wordpress.com/2007/07/31/condo-fees-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-745 John Riley Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:00:37 +0000 http://northernvirginiarealestate.wordpress.com/2007/07/31/condo-fees-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-745 With new construction in the current market - how is the Condo Fee apportioned when a substantial percentage of the units are unsold? Does the builder bear the cost - or do the tenants have to pay the full cost of maintaining the entire building. With new construction in the current market – how is the Condo Fee apportioned when a substantial percentage of the units are unsold? Does the builder bear the cost – or do the tenants have to pay the full cost of maintaining the entire building.

]]> Comment on All in Good Faith… by Heather http://northernvirginiarealestate.wordpress.com/2007/05/10/all-in-good-faith/#comment-743 Heather Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:48:06 +0000 http://northernvirginiarealestate.wordpress.com/2007/05/10/all-in-good-faith/#comment-743 If you put down good faith money and make an offer can the seller sell the home to another party without letting you make a counter offer? Does the good faith money only protect the home if you have a signed contract with the buyer? If you put down good faith money and make an offer can the seller sell the home to another party without letting you make a counter offer?
Does the good faith money only protect the home if you have a signed contract with the buyer?

]]> Comment on Virginia’s Property Owners Association Act (POA) by sallda http://northernvirginiarealestate.wordpress.com/2007/06/21/virginias-property-owners-association-act-poa/#comment-741 sallda Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:04:14 +0000 http://northernvirginiarealestate.wordpress.com/2007/06/21/virginias-property-owners-association-act-poa/#comment-741 Are these rules easily available and are they set in stone or just guidelines, this can make a big difference to who will make an offer for the property. Are these rules easily available and are they set in stone or just guidelines, this can make a big difference to who will make an offer for the property.

]]> Comment on Condo Fees – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly by Jennifer http://northernvirginiarealestate.wordpress.com/2007/07/31/condo-fees-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-565 Jennifer Fri, 14 Dec 2007 13:13:16 +0000 http://northernvirginiarealestate.wordpress.com/2007/07/31/condo-fees-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-565 Thanks for your comment, John. I didn't make up the rules, but I can shed some light on the suppositions... the only way the association has to set guidelines is to "assume" that the larger the unit, perhaps the more occupants. To your example above, if you have 4 people living in your unit, that's 4 people walking across the floors, tracking in dirt, snow, etc... 4 people making trash, etc... also, water and sewer are covered in most condos, and thus an increased occupancy would use more of those resources. Same is true for any shared facilities like an exercise room, pool, etc... the more occupants, the more it costs. Again, I didn't make the rules, but it probably works out equitably for everyone maybe 75% of the time. If you'd like to investigate other options (townhomes or single family) give me a call - I'd be happy to talk with you at any time. Jennifer Klaussen 703-593-0877 www.theArlingtonDirt.com (new blogsite) Thanks for your comment, John. I didn’t make up the rules, but I can shed some light on the suppositions… the only way the association has to set guidelines is to “assume” that the larger the unit, perhaps the more occupants. To your example above, if you have 4 people living in your unit, that’s 4 people walking across the floors, tracking in dirt, snow, etc… 4 people making trash, etc… also, water and sewer are covered in most condos, and thus an increased occupancy would use more of those resources. Same is true for any shared facilities like an exercise room, pool, etc… the more occupants, the more it costs.

Again, I didn’t make the rules, but it probably works out equitably for everyone maybe 75% of the time.

If you’d like to investigate other options (townhomes or single family) give me a call – I’d be happy to talk with you at any time.

Jennifer Klaussen
703-593-0877
http://www.theArlingtonDirt.com (new blogsite)

]]> Comment on Condo Fees – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly by John Harrison http://northernvirginiarealestate.wordpress.com/2007/07/31/condo-fees-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-563 John Harrison Fri, 14 Dec 2007 08:01:48 +0000 http://northernvirginiarealestate.wordpress.com/2007/07/31/condo-fees-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/#comment-563 Why does an owner with more sq. footage living space in a condo, pay a higher "condo fee," when all the costs for common space maintenance should be equal for each individual owner? Examples: Exterior building maintenance and preventive maintenance Grounds maintenance Trash removal Snow removel Administrative costs for the association, etc. Because I have and pay a higher mortgage for my unit, why does that mean I have to pay a higher fee? There is nothing that benefits my unit in anyway by paying the higher fee. All the cost for services in the common areas are the same regardless of the size of each unit. Why does an owner with more sq. footage living space in a condo, pay a higher “condo fee,” when all the costs for common space maintenance should be equal for each individual owner?

Examples:

Exterior building maintenance and preventive maintenance
Grounds maintenance
Trash removal
Snow removel

Administrative costs for the association, etc.

Because I have and pay a higher mortgage for my unit, why does that mean I have to pay a higher fee? There is nothing that benefits my unit in anyway by paying the higher fee. All the cost for services in the common areas are the same regardless of the size of each unit.

]]> Comment on The ABC’s of Foreclosures, Short Sales and REOs – Definitions and Terminology – PART III by Jennifer http://northernvirginiarealestate.wordpress.com/2007/09/13/the-abc%e2%80%99s-of-foreclosures-short-sales-and-reos-definitions-and-terminology-part-iii/#comment-541 Jennifer Tue, 11 Dec 2007 16:38:36 +0000 http://northernvirginiarealestate.wordpress.com/2007/09/13/the-abc%e2%80%99s-of-foreclosures-short-sales-and-reos-definitions-and-terminology-part-iii/#comment-541 thanks for your message onthuhlist - you need to check out one of the other articles in this series that deals with REO - which is bank owned properties (http://northernvirginiarealestate.wordpress.com/2007/09/11/the-abc%e2%80%99s-of-foreclosures-short-sales-and-reos-definitions-and-terminology-part-ii/) - perhaps that will clear up your questions? Otherwise, you're welcome to email me directly at jennifer@theArlingtonDirt.com. thanks for your message onthuhlist – you need to check out one of the other articles in this series that deals with REO – which is bank owned properties (http://northernvirginiarealestate.wordpress.com/2007/09/11/the-abc%e2%80%99s-of-foreclosures-short-sales-and-reos-definitions-and-terminology-part-ii/) – perhaps that will clear up your questions? Otherwise, you’re welcome to email me directly at jennifer@theArlingtonDirt.com.

]]> Comment on The ABC’s of Foreclosures, Short Sales and REOs – Definitions and Terminology – PART III by onthuhlist http://northernvirginiarealestate.wordpress.com/2007/09/13/the-abc%e2%80%99s-of-foreclosures-short-sales-and-reos-definitions-and-terminology-part-iii/#comment-540 onthuhlist Tue, 11 Dec 2007 15:17:47 +0000 http://northernvirginiarealestate.wordpress.com/2007/09/13/the-abc%e2%80%99s-of-foreclosures-short-sales-and-reos-definitions-and-terminology-part-iii/#comment-540 What if the lender is the seller? How do addendums and short sales work in this case? There are a couple of homes in my city, both owned by banks (I verified this through the city assessor's website). One was a sheriff's deed transfer to a bank, and the other was a PTA that transferred deed to freddie mac. However, both listings mention addendums. I tried to understand your blog entry, but was confused what you meant by 'seller' - are you referring to a homeowner in foreclosure? In the case of these two listings that are bank-owned, would an addendum mean that perhaps there is an outstanding home equity loan on the house, and that equity loan is owned by another lender? I think both homes may be short sales. The Freddie Mac home is in good shape with new bathroom fixtures etc. (perhaps due to Freddie Mac's guidelines). But the other home looks distressed and may need quite a bit of work. Thanks! onthuhlist What if the lender is the seller? How do addendums and short sales work in this case? There are a couple of homes in my city, both owned by banks (I verified this through the city assessor’s website). One was a sheriff’s deed transfer to a bank, and the other was a PTA that transferred deed to freddie mac. However, both listings mention addendums. I tried to understand your blog entry, but was confused what you meant by ’seller’ – are you referring to a homeowner in foreclosure? In the case of these two listings that are bank-owned, would an addendum mean that perhaps there is an outstanding home equity loan on the house, and that equity loan is owned by another lender? I think both homes may be short sales. The Freddie Mac home is in good shape with new bathroom fixtures etc. (perhaps due to Freddie Mac’s guidelines). But the other home looks distressed and may need quite a bit of work.

Thanks!

onthuhlist

]]> Comment on About Jennifer Klaussen by Joseph Ferrara.sellsius http://northernvirginiarealestate.wordpress.com/about/#comment-209 Joseph Ferrara.sellsius Thu, 18 Oct 2007 19:38:21 +0000 #comment-209 Hi Jennifer. How are you? Hi Jennifer. How are you?

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