We’ve all heard the old adage “location, location, location”. But what does that really mean when you’re looking to buy a home? Generally the phrase means “The 3 most important things in determining the value of Real Estate is location, location, location.” There is debate on when and who coined the popular term first, and you can read an interesting article on the subject in the New York Times written by William Safire.
For our discussion today though, we are going to look a little deeper than just value.
LOCATION – PHYSICAL
The type of lifestyle you and your family enjoy is a key component on where to buy a home. Do you like a more Urban setting where shops, restaurants and amenities are close by? Maybe even within walking distance? Or would your family prefer a more tranquil Rural setting with a little more privacy? The “stage” your family is in plays a large part in this decision. Younger couples, and singles just starting out tend to want a more urban/city location. Couples that are ready to start a family might want a more suburban/neighborhood kind of feel to raise their children. Before finalizing your decision on location, it’s a very good idea to take a look around the areas in the daytime and at night. This will give the buyer a more comprehensive idea of the neighborhoods they are considering.
LOCATION – PERSONAL
Where are your family and friends located? Is it important for you to be close to grandma? Or are you looking for that happy balance between close enough to visit, but not right next door.
LOCATION – WORK
Commuting to your work place is another major factor, especially in our area! Northern Virginia is a growing, busy place to live. Some people are more tolerant of a longer commute than others. Do you want to be within walking distance of public transportation? We have an extensive public transportation system that includes bus services, metro, VRE, carpools, commuter buses, and more. These options can help with commuting to work. Most people still like to drive themselves to work, so knowing how long your commute will be is useful information when deciding on the location of where to buy a home.
LOCATION – SCHOOL DISTRICT
Families with school age children will want to consider school districts. Although our area has very strong school systems, the curriculum, teaching methods, and educational options available to the students can vary greatly. Buyers should definitely factor in the educational needs of their children and compare the different school options before deciding on where to buy.
A little prior planning and research can help a buyer make the process of finding a home a lot easier if you narrow down your location early on. Then you can really focus in on your desired neighborhoods and find the right home for you!
Download our List of Useful Websites to use for research on schools, amenities, transportation, safety, etc. Please keep in mind that although our list doesn’t encompass every site out there, it’s a great place to start!
Craftsman homes have an emphasis on natural materials — wood, stone, and brick. They tend to boast wide front porches. The interior has an open floor plan with features like built-in furniture, big fireplaces and exposed beams.
This style is reflective of “today’s modern”, with an emphasis on connecting the indoors with the outdoors. Contemporary homes tend to have an emphasis on energy efficiency, can be made from sustainable materials, and generally have lots of natural light throughout the home.
Reminiscent of the 1600’s, there are many variations of the Colonial style home due to the diversity of the early American settlers. Homes can be known for their symmetry, and are most often characterized by evenly spaced shuttered windows. Dormers, columns, and chimneys can also be evenly proportioned to complement its formal style.
The most common type of Colonial home is “Georgian” and it is much simpler in architecture. Like all Colonial styles, Georgian focuses on rigid symmetry. It is most often a box shape and is adorned with windows, which are typically five across, with shutters. They often have paneled front doors below a decorative portico.
The Prairie style was built based on the idea that a home should serve all practical needs and reflect simplicity. The Arts and Crafts Movement was very influential to its design and can feature many of the same concepts, such as built-in furniture, simple materials, and open floor plans. This home may also feature a long flat roof, rows of windows, horizontal lines, and organic patterns.
Sometimes called a row house but now more commonly known as a townhouse, it became popular in the early 19th century due to limited space and the financial benefits for the architect/builder. Efficiency and use of space is first and foremost and they are typically two or more levels with a traditional layout, side hallways, and smaller yards.
Also referred to as “Condos”, they are generally built like an apartment with many units in one building. In our area it refers to ownership of the property. Brambleton actually has townhome styled condos as well.
THE most important tip to buying your first home is to find an experienced Realtor and have an initial consultation. Your Realtor will lay out the entire buying process and give you an idea of what to expect, along with a timeline of the events leading up to you closing on your home. In today’s ever changing market place, being represented by a strong Realtor is paramount. New lending laws, called 
-What type of home are you looking for?
a certain amount and being comfortable with the payments at that amount can sometimes be different. Say you buy a house worth X amount of dollars, then the down payment and closing costs will be X, and the PITI (principal, interest, taxes, insurance) plus HOA/Condo fees will be X. Once you are comfortable with those amounts, you will have less anxiety looking at homes in your price range. Another reason to get pre-approved is to find out what type of loan you will be using. The type of loan – whether it’s conventional, VA, FHA, or some other program, could make a difference in your home purchase. For example, some condos are not FHA certified, meaning they would not qualify for a FHA loan. This would be important to know before you got your heart set on a condo only to find out you cannot purchase it with your preferred loan program.
Setting out to tour luxury homes can be a fun way to spend an afternoon, and a great way to get design ideas! But don’t set yourself up to be disappointed when you fall in love with a home who’s price is double (or more!) what you have been pre-qualified for. Know your price range, and stick to viewing homes within that budget. You can always incorporate some of those design elements you admire and give your new home that luxury feel.
Pay close attention to your home inspector at the 
Open houses bring people through your front door. Yes, some of those visitors will be people “just looking”, who have no intention of buying a home at the moment. However, they have friends, relatives, and co-workers that they might mention the home to. Open Houses also attract Buyers that are just starting out on their home search. A lot of new buyers like to get a feel for the area and what type of home they can afford by attending an Open House. A 
Open Houses provide great feedback to the listing Agent and the Seller. Whether it’s a neighbor or a potential Buyer, an experienced Agent is going to try to get as much feedback about the home as possible from the visitors. The kitchen may be updated but the bathrooms are smaller than the house a few doors down. Your yard is landscaped and well cared for, but the house across the street hasn’t seen a mower all season. Maybe last month 3 new families moved in, all with young children. This is the kind of additional feedback on the home and neighborhood that could possibly be helpful to the listing Agent and Seller. This is a great way to gauge the markets response to a home for sale.
Having your home on the market and keeping it 
potentially help our clients. The Digital Summit brought in speakers from some of the top corporations around the world, such as Forbes, Coca Cola, National Geographic, and many others to discuss a wide range of topics. This conference was attended by the world’s leading brands from CBS and CNN to IBM, and of course The JS Realty Team@ Samson Properties!
SHORT SALE
FORECLOSURE
Tons of natural light fill the large living room, where you can access the huge fenced in backyard via sliding glass doors. The yard backs to common grounds for added privacy! The kitchen features a breakfast bar along with tons of counter and cabinet space. Plenty of shelves and a full size washer & dryer can be found in the laundry room. A half bathroom with single sink and designer light fixture can be found on the main level as well.
This elegant 3 level, 4 bedroom, 2 full and 1 half bathroom home in the Brambleton Community has over 3100 sqft of living space. Located across the street from Legacy Park, the open floor plan, high/vaulted ceilings, and huge windows keep this house feeling bright and spacious. Hardwood flooring, designer light fixtures, and ample storage areas can be found throughout the main level.
The kitchen features granite counters, an island, a wine rack, and tons of cabinet space. Off the kitchen is a Breakfast Room and a Family Room with a stone surround gas fire place. Large windows allow tons of natural light into the living and dining rooms.
mounted TV while you soak! An additional bedroom is also found on this level of the home.
The JS Realty Team is please to introduce you to our newest listing!
Hardwood floors can be found throughout the main level. The kitchen features granite counter tops, plenty of cabinet space, and a custom backsplash. Recessed lighting and a breakfast bar complete this beautifully updated kitchen.
Spacious family room has large windows that let in tons of natural light. The dining room boasts designer lighting and access to the fenced-in backyard. 
This is arguably the single most important step. Your Agent needs to know the market and neighborhood very well. You’ll want to hire an Agent with a lot of experience, but in this industry, experience doesn’t equal years in business. What you want to look for is the number of transactions. Finding an Agent that has sold a lot of homes shows you that the agent is successful in selling homes and knows how to negotiate for you. Transaction Experience is the best way for an Agent to learn negotiating skills. Your Agent should also have an extensive marketing plan that includes professional photos, a virtual tour, social media platforms, and a strong web presence. Another important element of a strong listing Agent is monitoring feedback and communicating with you – the Seller.
If you over price your home, you will reduce the number of showings with qualified, serious buyers – because they will know the neighborhood and market. Serious Buyers will have been tracking your neighborhood and today’s Buyers are in tune with the market value. We have heard Sellers say “Let’s just try this price and see what happens”. That strategy does not work well because the first two weeks the home is on the market is when the most buzz and excitement for the new listing is happening. If the Seller has overpriced the home, Buyers will look elsewhere and your listing will lose out on the initial enthusiasm. If the Seller stays overpriced for too long, then the listing becomes “stale” and that tends to encourage low ball offers.
The old adage “you never get a second chance to make a first impression” is very apropos when selling your home. Make sure the front yard, front door, and surrounding area is in top condition. As the Buyer approaches your home and are waiting to get in, they are feeling their first impressions, so make it shine! If you are going to upgrade, concentrate on kitchens, baths, floors, and walls. These will give you the most bang for your buck. Inexpensive fixes like paint, replacing old drapes, replacing door handles, kitchen and bath hardware, light fixtures, and leaky, rusty faucets can go a long way on a tight budget. For more ideas on sprucing up your home check out 
It seems like everyone these days has a crazy, busy schedule. It can be difficult, but if you make your home available for showings and try not to limit the showing times, that can go a long way towards finding the right Buyer and the right price! The key to getting a great contract is to have as many people as possible seeing your home. If you miss out on a Buyer because of restricted showing times, you could have missed your best offer.
With over $200 million in sales, the