100 Tunis Court, Stephens City, VA 22655 *SOLD*

Updated four bedroom home in Ablin Village, one block from Bass Hoover Elementary. New flooring throughout majority of main level, freshly painted. Kitchen and bathrooms are updated, this home is ready for someone new to move in.

Brand new fence surrounds large backyard and custom cement patio area for entertaining. Home features two living rooms and several rooms which could make a home office. Great location, close to commuter routes, restaurants and groceries.

1800 Sq Ft

4 bedrooms 2.5 baths

Offered for $285,000

Presented by Meghan Pachas 

**SOLD**

Should You Decorate When Selling Your Home During The Holiday Season?

The holidays are arguably the most festive time of the year. And for many people, part of that festiveness is plenty of festive, holiday-themed decorations. But if you’re selling your home, going too over-the-top with your decorations can put off potential buyers.

So, the question is, can you decorate your home for the holidays without hurting your home sale?

An article from realtor.com outlined the rules you need to follow if you want to get into the holiday spirit with your decorations without derailing your home sale, including:

  • Avoid personalized decorations. If you want to sell your home, potential buyers need to be able to picture themselves in the space. But if your home is plastered with personalized holiday decorations, it’s going to be nearly impossible to do that—so while you might love your personalized Christmas stockings or your array of holiday cards from friends and family, keep them packed away until your home is sold.
  • Go classic. Classic, elegant holiday decorations are always going to have a wider appeal to buyers than more kitschy, over-the-top decor.
  • Look to your neighbors. Your buyers are looking at your neighborhood just as much as they’re looking at your home—so when it comes to holiday decor, look to your neighbors for inspiration. If every home on your block is decked out for the holidays, you don’t want to skip decorating altogether—and, on the flip side, if your neighbors all opted out of holiday decorations, your don’t want to deck your home in bright lights and an avalanche of “Happy Holidays”-inspired decor.

Bottom line? It is possible to sell your home and decorate it for the holidays—as long as you decorate with potential buyers (and your home sale) in mind.

Nearly Half of Americans Are Planning To Relocate in 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many people to reexamine where they live—and in response, many are choosing to relocate.

But how many people are looking to relocate—and what’s driving those relocation decisions?

recent survey from LendingTree found that nearly half (46 percent) of respondents were planning to relocate in the next year—and that number was even higher for people who can work remotely (64 percent).

The biggest factors driving relocation decisions included:

  • A desire to reduce living expenses (44 percent);
  • Feeling their current home was too small (27 percent); and
  • Looking for different features in a home (27 percent)

The Takeaway:

So, what does that mean for you? If you’ve been thinking about relocating and buying a new home? You’re not alone. And if you’ve been thinking about selling, with so many Americans considering relocation in the near future, many of those people are going to be in the market for a new home—making now a great time to list.

 

Winter Real Estate Market Will Be Remarkably Hot

Winter is typically a slower season in real estate—but 2020 is poised to change that in a big way.

Low inventory, high buyer demand, and record-low interest rates are setting up this winter season to be one of the best seller’s markets in recent history—and if you’re thinking about selling your home, now is a great time to make a move.

But how can you take advantage of this historic market?

recent article from realtor.com outlined the ways sellers can make the most out of this winter’s market, including:

  • Price high. Typically you don’t want to price your home too high, but in a market like this, there is more leeway for you to list on the higher end of the price range for your house. This is due to low inventory, high demand, and low interest rates making it possible for a buyer to feel fine about paying a bit more for a house.
  • Offer virtual tours. A lot of buyers are still hesitant to go tour homes in person—so, if you want your home to sell quickly and profitably, make it easy for buyers to tour your home without stepping foot inside. Virtual tours are a great way to allow buyers to get a feel for your home while still social distancing—and are an essential selling tool during COVID-19.
  • Don’t accept an offer too quickly. In today’s homes, many homes are getting multiple offers—so don’t jump on the first offer you receive and say “yes” too quickly. Owners typically have 24 to 48 hours to respond to an offer, so give yourself plenty of time to consider the offer, allow any other offers to roll in, and make the best (and most profitable) decision for your home sale.

The Takeaway:

So, what does this mean for you? We are heading into a serious seller’s market this winter. So, if you’re thinking about selling, it’s important to understand the current state of real estate—and use that knowledge to take advantage of this historic seller’s market.

In Today’s Market, Homes Are Selling High And In Record Time—Making It The Perfect Time To Sell

When you sell your home, you want it to sell quickly and profitably—and according to those standards, there’s never been a better time to sell than right now.

According to recent data from the National Association of REALTORS®, the median existing home price in September 2020 was $311,800—up 14.8 percent year-over-year.

And not only are homes selling at high prices, they’re also selling fast. A whopping 71 percent of homes sold in September were on the market for less than a month. On average, homes in September were on the market for just 21 days—the shortest time frame on record and down from 32 days in September 2019.

According to Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of REALTORS®, Low interest rates and high demand are driving the current buying frenzy. “Home sales traditionally taper off toward the end of the year, but in September they surged beyond what we normally see during this season,” Yun said in a recent press release outlining NAR’s findings. “I would attribute this jump to record-low interest rates and an abundance of buyers in the marketplace.”

The Takeaway:

So, what does this mean for you? Not only are home prices high in today’s market, but properties are selling in record time—so if you’ve been thinking about selling your home, now is the time to make a move.