Life, as we celebrate it, is too short. Planning for it is very important, and the legacy can live on towards the next generation if done right. With this, it is my honor and privilege to introduce to you our local partner for this week's Thankful Thursday series -- locals S&T Law Group with Sarah and Toula in Fairfax, Virginia to talk about estate planning and buying a home under LLC in planning for the future.What is Estate PlanningFirst off, we need to identify what estate planning is. Estate planning is the preparation of tasks that serve to manage an individual's assets at the time of their death or being incapacitated. For the most part, estate plans are set up with the help of an attorney experienced in estate law, which is what the S&T Law Group is so good at. (Photo by Scott Gr... 10/22/2021

Hey there! Here's another entry for our Real Estate Alphabet Soup, where we learn more about the real estate industry one letter at a time. This word appears a lot not just in real estate, but also in a lot of fields and places like malls, boutiques, restaurants, fastfood chains, e-commerce stores, and many more. Without further ado, let's welcome today's letter...S for SaleIn real estate, we have a lot of property types that we can put into sale. With that comes the different types of sales as well, such as (1) the standard sale, which is a traditional buyer and seller; (2) foreclosure, where the bank owns a property which is usually called the REO or bank-owned property; and (3) short sales. When we have the financial crisis, the homeowner owned more than waht the market value of the ... 10/19/2021

Another one for today! Welcome to another episode of Real Estate Alphabet Soup. This time, we'll be talking about my profession, something that I really take pride of. I've met a lot of wonderful people in my line of work and I can never be more proud of saying that I am a...R for Realtor®This is my favorite letter so far, and I am so proud of being a realtor. Realtors like me belong in the National Association of Realtors, which is a huge umbrella with a lot of local-level realtor associations under it. At the local level, I belong to GCAAR or Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors, which covers Maryland and DC. I also belong in NVAR, or the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors, which, you guessed it, are home for the Northern Virginia realtors like me.We do have a Code of E... 10/18/2021

Hey there! Here goes another episode of the Real Estate Alphabet Soup for today, where we learn more about real estate one letter at a time. Now we're at the letter Q. We'll be talking about one of the important things in filing for a mortgage as a home buyer.Q for Qualifying RatiosQualifying ratios are the ones that the mortgage lender will use to qualify you for the home mortgage. This includes your debt-to-income ratio, for scores back in ratios, you name it.Also, in an event that you are making an application for rent in the DMV area, your lender or the property manager will utilize the ratio before they will lease you the property in the area. So know your DTI or your qualifying ratios if you are planning to buy a home.Wondering how you can get a loan and you need more information ... 10/18/2021

It is a beautiful Monday we're having today, everyone! We're back at it again with the Real Estate Alphabet Soup, and we are now at the letter P. We''ll be discussing about one of the insurances that you need to know about real estate so hang in there for some knowledge today.P for Private Mortgage InsuranceWhen applying for a mortgage, the lender will most likely need you to go for a down payment (typically 20%) of the home value. In the event that the home buyer or borrower can't pay for the said amount, the lender may charge you a PMI, or a Private Mortgage Insurance, as a part of getting a mortgage. This is to mainly protect the lender in the event of the buyer defaulting into payment. There are a lot of options within the PMI program. You have upfront PMI, monthly PMI, or lender pa... 10/18/2021

Happy Friday! As the weekend approaches, we're now officially past half way the Alphabet Soup! Today' we'll be discussing one of the contract types in real estate for today's letter, letter N.N for Non-Contingent ContractIn the heat of the market in early 2021, the buyers are writing an offer with no financing, no appraisal, and not even hiring a home inspector to do a radon test. This is what a non-contingent contract is -- a buyer submitting an offer with no contingencies. This usually happens when the market is hot as they are competing with other buyers as well.There are also new construction contracts that are non-contingent. Many buyers do this in the heat of the market, and writing an offer like this can get tricky, especially if you're competing over a number of other buyers tha... 10/15/2021

And just like that, it's October! Still in the middle of the Fall season, and the holidays are just right around the corner. If you're wondering what fun activity you should do before Halloween, it's hiking! In my opinion, you should go for hiking at least once in your life, as it has a lot of benefits. It keeps you healthy, it gives the adrenaline rush and the serotonin boost you need once in a while, and you get to take a lot of instagrammable shots along the way.With that being said, here's my personal top five hiking trails that you can visit this fall hiking season:1. Shenandoah National Park(Photo by lorimcm on Unsplash)This list isn't complete and legit if we don't start with this thing of beauty. The Shenandoah National Park is just right within the Blue Ridge mountains, taking ... 09/30/2021

Most iconic history person studied in American history, and you've seen a $5 bill, chances are you've already seen this guy's picture: He's Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States of America from 1861 to 1865. He led the US through the Civil War, preserved the Union, and is notable for abolishing slavery and modernizing the U.S. economy. With his notable works and achievements as a president, he will come down as one of the icons of the American Government, gaining recognition throughout the world. The Lincoln Memorial will then be built for him in 1922, 57 years after his death.Speaking of his death, he died on April 15, 1865, at the hands of John Wilkes Booth. He was assassinated at the, you guessed it, the Ford's Theater in Washington, DC, which is the National Histo... 09/21/2021

Hooray for the weekend! We all deserve a well-spent weekend after the daily grind during the weekdays! As for me, love visiting various places and my interest is by tapping into nature and/or history, and looking back in time makes me wonder how it's like to live back then and appreciate the things humanity has done over the course of many years to reach where we are at right now. This not only gave me a sense of knowledge and enlightenment, but also a whole different appreciation of the evolution of human society, and just how smart and artistic anyone can be.And what better way to unwind than visiting the local museums around the DMV area. Take a trip down memory lane by visiting different museums for FREE, courtesy of the Smithsonian Magazine. If you are like me and you love visiting... 09/17/2021

Music has always been an important part of human history and is here to stay for a long while. Humans have displayed their appreciation for music in more ways than one, such as dancing with it, making a song cover about it, attending every concert of your favorite artist, collecting musical artifacts and memorabilia, learning how to make music of your own, and so much more. As a long-term resident of the DC metro area, I am still assumed by unique parks and recreations in and around the area. Today, I'll take a look at one of the parks that gave tribute to one of the most iconic artists of the modern music era, and one of the most prominent figures in music history, the Marvin Gaye Park in Washington, DC. About Marvin GayeMarvin Gaye was born on April 2, 1939, in Washington, DC. His lov... 09/16/2021

Going Going G.O.N.E! 👋 Summer Housing Market in the #NorthernVirginia area is still HOT🌞! This beauty was hitched within 24 hours of being on the market with an offer price of $75K over the list price. My Selling Strategies gets the results that sellers are looking for!  ✅Staging ✅Pricing  ✅Marketing ✅And other secret ingredients that go into #sellinghome in DCMetro area. Thinking of selling your home in the Fairfax County or Loudoun County of Northern Virginia? Let's Team up with Ritu Desai Samson Properties top real estate agent. 08/08/2021

Looking for a rental property? This beautiful home at 43072 Hallmark St, Chantilly, VA 20152 is now up for grabs, and oh boy, is it highly on demand right now. (Photo from Zillow)This 4 bedroom/2.5 bathroom home has a two-storey family room and a stunning foyer entrance for an elegant ambiance and comfort.The Main LevelThis home offers the most amazing private home office room with such an enormous space, a living and dining room combo, a beautiful gourmet kitchen with a center island and a dedicated breakfast area. This all comes with the most amazing granite countertops, recessed lightings and a brilliant pantry that allures the inner chef in you.  (Photos from Zillow)The Upper LevelFeel the best comfort after a long day with the HUGE secondary bedrooms in the area with a very spaciou... 07/28/2021

Want to know how to maximize your bottom line in the Northern Virginia seller's market? I'm sharing two quick BUT important tips to help you maximize your profits in today's hot & very competitive market.  07/28/2021

Thinking about buying a new home in Northern Virginia but have to sell your current one first? Trey Reed at Intercoastal Mortgage and I spent time discussing all your options and all the things you need to know especially in today's competitive market.  Together, we can help you map out your move with an effective strategy. 07/27/2021

What's the future of the housing market in the dc metro area? Is it a Bull or Bear future? Here are my 2 cents on the housing market. What drives any market? Demand and NOT Speculation How is the demand created? When there is a need or desire. Sounds economist but here are the facts about the DC Metro region   07/21/2021

Thinking of relocating to Northern Virginia?  One of the common questions I get asked from people out of state is - what is our weather like all year round? In today's video, I break up what the 4 seasons are really like here! What are your thoughts?   07/20/2021

Homes Near Ashburn’s Silver Line Metro Station – 15 July 2021 … Metro’s Silver Line’s Phase 2 extending to and northwest of Dulles Airport is currently planned for early 2022.  There are a number of homes (of all types) located within walking distance of the new and planned Silver Line station (w/i a radius of 1 mile) currently available for sale.  If you've been considering buying near a Metro Station, this might be the moment. Like to see currently available homes near the Silver Line Stations ... Visit New Metro Silver Line Station Homes .  Or, if you’d like give our new Website www.PetesMyRealtor.com a visit. 07/16/2021

Purchasing a home is not just the largest investment but a complex financial and emotional investment. As part of your closing cost, one of the optional insurance you have is Title Insurance.I had an opportunity to sit with the Director of Operation Reid Hubbard from Cardinal Title Group shares with us today WHY title insurance is important AND what does it actually mean!   There are some golden nuggets in this video!  Tag or share with a friend who's in the process of buying a home! This can help them!   07/16/2021

With the rise in the inventory, I had recorded this video back in May calling for signs that the housing market in the Northern Virginia Fairfax and Loudoun county may be seeing a shift. Is there going to be a housing market going to burst?  I share all the details today!   07/15/2021

Thinking of moving to DC metro area. Ever wonder what is like? How expensive it is to live in the Northern Virginia suburbs Fairfax and Loudoun County VirginiaNorthern Virginia is a fantastic place to live!  A place I'm proud to call home and today I'm sharing with you some insight on the everyday cost of living here.  07/08/2021