The arrival of summer at Solutions also heralds the sight of moving trucks in many neighborhoods across the area. In fact, this year, the weekend of June 27 & 28 was recently named the “busiest weekend of the year” by several local moving companies. Many people take advantage of this time of year, when […]
What is an Escrow Money Deposit and Who Holds it?
Here at Solutions, we often get asked by First Time Home Buyers, “What is an Escrow Money Deposit (EMD), and why do you need it?” In short, during the purchase offer stage, it’s like a deposit that a Buyer puts down to show that they’d like to purchase a property in good faith. An EMD […]
What is the Title Insurance, and Why is it Important?
Here at Solutions, we are often asked by our Buyer clients why they need title insurance and, when they order it, what’s involved in the process. Buying a home is a long, complex transaction. Title insurance is an important part since it insures and assures the Buyer that all liens placed against the prior owners […]
Do I Need a Home Inspection?
Here at Solutions, we often get asked by our new clients if they really need a home inspection when buying a home. As Virginia is a “Caveat Emptor,” or “Buyer Beware,” state, it’s really the only way to see if the home has any defects or hidden issues as most Buyers don’t have the necessary […]
Five New Home Trends Charlottesville VA
What are the 2015 Home Trends? Where once McMansions reigned supreme in new house sales, buyers today are now asking for more energy efficient, customized and smaller models. While we aren’t quite at a Jetsons-style home with dinner at the push of a button, innovation and invention are at the forefront of building industry trends. […]
Spring Tips to Make Your Home Shine
Spring is the ideal time for Buyers to find their dream home, so Sellers can take advantage of this by getting their homes ready with these seasonal staging tips: Start with a Spring Cleaning Clean until your home sparkles – and don’t forget the windows, blinds, gutters, molding and ceiling fans! Then, turn your attention […]
Buyer Beware: Red Flags when Purchasing a Home
Top Things to Watch For When Buying a Home Virginia is a “Buyer Beware” state when it comes to purchasing a home. While there are lead based paint and the standard seller disclosures included in most active area listings, Sellers don’t always disclose the whole truth to potential Buyers, especially if they’re motivated to sell. […]
How to Prevent Freezing Pipes
How to Prevent Freezing Pipes With the recent bone-chilling temps here in Central Virginia, many homeowners are understandably concerned about the possibility of frozen or burst pipes. In fact, every winter season, pipes in a home are at risk of damage from freezing conditions. Pipes most at risk for freezing include: exposed pipes in unheated […]
Some Home Tax Deductions You Might Forget!
When it comes to the “owning vs. renting” debate, it appears that owning a home wins when it comes to tax time. Below are a few homeownership-related tax deductions and strategies to lower your tax bill: Mortgage Interest Deduction One of the best deductions itemizing homeowners can take advantage of is the mortgage interest deduction, […]
Should I Appeal My Charlottesville Tax Assessment?
It’s Tax Assessment Time Again It’s tax assessment time again in the city of Charlottesville. Here at Solutions, we’ve taken a look at the recent press release from the city of Charlottesville and have found out a few things about this year’s assessments. Many residents get understandably nervous when their assessments go up as that […]
Best Month and Day to Buy or Sell a Home?
Is there a Best Time to Make an Offer on a House? We recently posted about the best time of year to list your home – spring – and best day of the week to list – Thursday – but is there a best month to buy? Although many experts say the best month to make […]
The Pros & Cons of Owning a Home in a Rural Area
Many people come to the Central Virginia area because of the natural beauty in the form of the Blue Ridge and Southwest Mountains that surround the towns of Charlottesville, Ivy, Crozet, Earlysville, Afton, Earlysville, Free Union and Ruckersville, to name a few. Although you might be familiar with the challenges that living in a more […]
Questions to Ask A Mortgage Lender Before Writing an Offer
Questions to Ask A Mortgage Lender Before Writing an Offer You’ve chosen your dream house, gotten pre-qualified and are about to write your offer – so now what? At Solutions, we recommend finding out as much as possible about your mortgage before you make the next big leap. In fact it is a good idea […]
Homeownership Based on Age
Does Your Age Make a Difference When It Comes To Owning a Home? When it comes time to make the leap from renting to owning, many people wonder if it makes a difference depending on their age. We all know about the Baby Boomers – those born from 1946-1964 – the Gen X-ers – those […]
Tips for saving on Winter Energy Bills
How to Save Energy This Fall & Winter As the cooler days and nights of fall turn into full blown winter, thoughts turn to how to keep your house warm and snug. Here are some strategies to help you save energy. Some of the tips below are free and can be used on a daily […]
How to pick a home builder in Charlottesville
Here at Solutions we get asked questions all the time about working with area home builders. When thinking about building your dream home, you have your choice between the larger companies and several well-established smaller local builders. If you prefer the “hands-on” approach, working with a small builder may be your best option, and selecting […]
Getting to know the Belmont Neighborhood
Here at Solutions we get asked a lot of questions about the different neighborhoods in Charlottesville. The area known as “Belmont” comes up a great many times in conversation as it’s near the Downtown Mall, has lots of charm, boasts wonderful examples of architecture from the late 1800s to modern day, is the perfect neighborhood […]
What’s the Difference between a Pre-Qualification Letter and a Pre-Approval for a Loan?
Here at Solutions we get many questions from our Buyers about how to best prepare ahead of time for purchasing their dream house. Our local housing market has very low inventory right now, so, when a great listing comes on the market that is in the right location and is priced well, you can almost […]
Questions Buyers should be asking their Agents
Here at Solutions, we get asked lots of questions by clients in their search for their dream home. Because of Equal Housing Laws, there are some we’re prevented by law from answering, but there are a number of answers we can find out or sources we can point you towards to look up the info […]
Costs To Add Into Your Budget When Buying a Home
Ever wonder how much a house truly costs? You can crunch the latest mortgage rates, estimate your tax & insurance payments, and take a realistic look at how much house you can afford after getting pre-qualified with a lender, but there are more expenses involved in home buying than just the property costs. And those additional […]
