1. Start saving. Do you have enough money saved to qualify for a mortgage and cover your down payment? Ideally, you should have 20 percent of the purchase price saved as a down payment, however, there are mortgage programs available downpayments as low as 3.5%. Also, don’t forget to factor in closing costs. Closing costs — including taxes, attorney’s fee, and transfer fees — average between 2 and 7 percent of the home price. Hopefully you can ask the seller of your dream home to pay your closing costs, but it is important to be prepared with the funds ready.

2. . Select where you want to live. Compile a list of three or four neighborhoods you’d like to live in, taking into account items such as schools, recreational facilities, area expansion plans, and safety.

3. Develop your home wish list. Then, prioritize the features on your list. What is most important to you? Do you need 3 or 4 bedrooms now? Or will you in the future? Its also important to think of the resale value of your home. What is the neighborhood like – mostly families? Or city dwellers with no children. Being familiar with this is important in prioritizing your needs.

4. Decide what you can afford. Generally, you can afford a home equal in value to between two and three times your gross income, however, step 5 will be important in helping you guage what the sale price you should be looking in.

5. Determine your mortgage qualifications. How large of mortgage do you qualify for? Also, explore different loan options — such as 30-year or 15-year fixed mortgages or ARMs — and decide what’s best for you.

6. Get your credit in order. Obtain a copy of your credit report to make sure it is accurate and to correct any errors immediately. A credit report provides a history of your credit, bad debts, and any late payments.

7. Get preapproved. Organize all the documentation a lender will need to preapprove you for a loan. You might need W-2 forms, copies of at least one pay stub, account numbers, and copies of two to four months of bank or credit union statements.

8. Weigh other sources of help with a down payment. Do you qualify for any special mortgage or down payment assistance programs? Check with your state and local government on down payment assistance programs for first-time buyers. Or, if you have an IRA account, you can use the money you’ve saved to buy your fist home without paying a penalty for early withdrawal.

9. Calculate the costs of homeownership. This should include property taxes, insurance, maintenance and utilities, and association fees, if applicable. This is something your mortgage loan officer can help you with.

10. Contact a REALTOR®. Find an experienced REALTOR® who can help guide you through the process.

Search for your Dream Home, Visit WWW.MyVADreamHome.com

Sonja Adams
Samson Properties, LLC
14526 Lee Road, Suite 100
Chantilly, VA 20151
703-963-7407

This market report encompasses all properties over 3 acres including homes and farms. Land is excluded from this report. The average days on market was 165 days which was an increase from February’s number. One property was under contract within 3 days of listing however. Below is some information which breaks down the stats for the Lowest, Highest and Average List and Sales Price for these homes which closed in March, 2010.
Loudoun County Farms and Country Properties Sold in March, 2010 – Stats

Low List Price – $224,900                        Low Sold Price – $200,000
High List Price – $1,590,000                   High Sold Price – $1,450,000
Avg List Price – $677,134                        Avg Sold Price – $630,571
Seller Subsidy – Low – $0
Seller Subsidy – High – $20,000
Seller Subsidy – Avg – $3,216

To View the Actual Loudoun County Farms and Country Homes Sold in February, 2010, click here

To View the Actual Loudoun County Farms and Country Homes Sold in January, 2010, click here

To View the 2009 Loudoun County Farms and Country Homes Sold, click Here

Call Sonja Adams at 703-963-7407 Today for your free market analysis of your home!

To Search For Homes in the MLS, Click Here

Sonja Adams
Samson Properties, LLC
14526 Lee Road, #100
Chantilly, VA 20151

This market report encompasses all properties over 3 acres including homes and farms.  Land is excluded from this report.  The average days on market was 123 days which was a significant decrease from January’s number.  One property was under contract within 7 days of listing however.  Below is some information which breaks down the stats for the Lowest, Highest and Average List and Sales Price for these homes which closed in February, 2010.

Loudoun County Farms and Country Properties Sold in February, 2010 – Stats

Low List Price – $375,000           Low Sold Price – $362,900
High List Price – $950,000        High Sold Price – $950,000
Avg List Price – $581,039            Avg Sold Price – $573,211

Seller Subsidy – Low – $0
Seller Subsidy – High – $19,979
Seller Subsidy – Avg – $5,572

To View the Actual Loudoun County Farms and Country Homes Sold in February, 2010, click here

To View the Actual Loudoun County Farms and Country Homes Sold in January, 2010, click here

To View the 2009 Loudoun County Farms and Country Homes Sold, click Here

Call Sonja Adams at 703-963-7407 Today for your free market analysis of your home!

To Search For Homes in the MLS, Click Here

Sonja Adams                                                 
Samson Properties, LLC
14526 Lee Road, #100
Chantilly, VA 20151

 There were 8 Single Family homes in South Riding that closed in the first month of this year.  The average days on market was 60 days.  Below is some information which breaks down the stats for the Lowest, Highest and Average List and Sales Price for these homes.

 South Riding Single Family Homes Sold in January, 2010 – Stats

Low List Price – $436,900       Low Sold Price – $449,000
High List Price – $970,000      High Sold Price – $970,000
Avg List Price – $633,837        Avg Sold Price – $629,953

 Seller Subsidy – Low– $0
Seller Subsidy – High – $10,000

Seller Subsidy – Avg – $2,688

To View the Actual Single Family homes sold in January, 2010, click hereTo View the 4th Quarter 2009 South Riding Single Family Market Report, click here

Call Sonja Adams at 703-963-7407 Today for your free market analysis of your home!

To Search For Homes in the MLS, Click Here

Sonja Adams
Samson Properties, LLC
14526 Lee Road, #100
Chantilly, VA 20151

There were 8 Townhomes in South Riding that closed in the first month of this year.  The average days on market was 44 days.  Below is some information which breaks down the stats for the Lowest, Highest and Average List and Sales Price for these homes.

South Riding Townhomes Sold in January, 2010 – Stats

Low List Price – $285,500       Low Sold Price – $290,000
High List Price – $374,995      High Sold Price – $418,411
Avg List Price – $337,368        Avg Sold Price – $338,527

Seller Subsidy – Low– $0
Seller Subsidy – High – $10000

Seller Subsidy – Avg – $3,938

To View the Actual Townhomes sold in January, 2010, click here

 To View the 4th Quarter 2009 South Riding Townhome Market Report, click here

 Call Sonja Adams at 703-963-7407 Today for your free market analysis of your home!

To Search For Homes in the MLS, Click Here

Sonja Adams
Samson Properties, LLC
14526 Lee Road, #100
Chantilly, VA 20151

There were only 4 Condo’s in South Riding that closed in the first month of 2010.  The average days on market was 72 days, however, one property was only listed for 10 days.  Below is some information which breaks down the stats for the Lowest, Highest and Average List and Sales Price for these homes.

 South Riding Condo’s Sold in January, 2010 – Stats

Low List Price – $ 219,900         Low Sold Price – $222,500
High List Price – $299,995         High Sold Price – $300,221
Avg List Price – $269,223           Avg Sold Price – $272,405

Seller Subsidy – Low – $0
Seller Subsidy – High – $0
Seller Subsidy – Avg – $0

 To View the Actual South Riding Condo Homes Sold in January, 2010, click here

 To View the Actual Condo Homes Sold in the 4th Quarter 2009, click here 

 Call Sonja Adams at 703-963-7407 Today for your free market analysis of your home!

To Search For Homes in the MLS, Click Here

Sonja Adams
703-963-7407
Samson Properties, LLC
14526 Lee Road, #100
Chantilly, VA 20151

There were 9 Condo’s in Ashburn that closed in the first month of this year.  The average days on market was 106 days, however, one condo sold the same day it was listed!.  Below is some information which breaks down the stats for the Lowest, Highest and Average List and Sales Price for these homes which closed in the 4th quarter of last year.

Ashburn Condo’s Sold in January, 2010 – Stats

 Low List Price – $99,000           Low Sold Price – $101,000
 High List Price – $245,000        High Sold Price – $245,000
 Avg List Price – $207,254          Avg Sold Price – $195,778

 Seller Subsidy – Low – $0
 Seller Subsidy – High – 6,000
 Seller Subsidy – Avg – $2,222

 To View the Actual Condo Homes Sold in Ashburn for January, 2010, click here

 To View the Actual Condo Homes Sold in the 4th Quarter 2009, click here

Call Sonja Adams at 703-963-7407 Today for your free market analysis of your home!

To Search For Homes in the MLS, Click Here

 Sonja Adams
 Samson Properties, LLC
 14526 Lee Road, #100
 Chantilly, VA 20151
 703-963-7407

This market report encompasses all properties over 3 acres including homes and farms.  Land is excluded from this report.  The average days on market was 245 days, however,the quickest home was under contract within 9 days of listing.  Below is some information which breaks down the stats for the Lowest, Highest and Average List and Sales Price for these homes which closed in January, 2010.

Loudoun County Farms and Country Properties Sold in January, 2010 – Stats

Low List Price – $299,900           Low Sold Price – $289,000

High List Price – $5,250,000       High Sold Price – $4,250,000

Avg List Price – $952,493            Avg Sold Price – $878,900

Seller Subsidy – Low – $0

Seller Subsidy – High – $15,000

Seller Subsidy – Avg – $3027

To View the Actual Loudoun County Farms and Country Homes Sold in January, 2010, click here

To View the 2009 Loudoun County Farms and Country Homes Sold, click Here

Call Sonja Adams at 703-963-7407 Today for your free market analysis of your home!

To Search For Homes in the MLS, Click Here

Sonja Adams

Samson Properties, LLC

14526 Lee Road, #100

Chantilly, VA 20151

Yes!!! The Loudoun Summer Music Fest Concert Series will be back this year!  The shaky concert series has suffered from low attendance last year due to the storms as well as lack of sponsorship, but it looks like there is a new sponsor who is starting to sell tickets this Friday, March 5th!

So far Billy Currington and Dark Star Orchestra are scheduled with more bands to come.  Check out http://www.loudounsummermusicfest.com/ for the upcoming schedule.

Looks like you can buy general admission advanced tickets for only $16.50 and then there are several season packages you can purchase as well.  I don’t know about you but I’m psyched for the 2010 season!

Searching for your dream home?  Visit www.MyVADreamHome.com

Sonja Adams

703-963-7407

Samson Properties, LLC

14526 Lee Road, Suite 100

Chantilly, VA 20151

One of the most common questions realtors face when they are working with buyers is about safety concerns regarding the neighborhoods being looked at.  Where is that information found?  There are several sources such as the local papers, homeowners associations, etc…but probably the best source is from the Loudoun County website.

 Loudoun County has recently teamed up with CrimeReports.com (www.CrimeReports.com) which is an online mapping service utilizing Google Maps and calls-for-service data from the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office Computer Aid Dispatch service (CAD).   CAD is an application used for the coordination, assignment and communication with the Sherrif’s who are out on patrol answering calls for service.

 The calls for service data is what CrimeReports.com uses to post information on crime reports such as date, event number, event location (street, city, etc) and what the event type was.  Information regarding descriptions of the data fields can be found here:  http://www.loudoun.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=2290.

 If you are researching a potential neighborhood, keep in mind that the website is updated every morning at 1:00 am…the most recent 30 days data is available for your review.

This website has mainly high level information, however, if you need up to the minute information, you can access the Alert Loudoun system. More detailed crime report information may be found at the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office Daily Crime Report site.

 Check out http://www.crimereports.com/ for Loudoun County Crime Incidents.  This is a great tool to help you in your home search.

Search for Homes in Loudoun County!

Sonja Adams

703-963-7407

Samson Properties, LLC

14526 Lee Road, Suite 100

Chantilly, VA 20151