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Living in the Broadlands Community – Ashburn, VA

The Broadlands Community is a protected wildlife habitat lying within Ashburn, VA. It is conveniently located close to the Dulles Greenway, Dulles Shopping Center, and has outstanding amenities.

For the children, the Broadlands Community offers a swim team named the Piranhas, many tot lots, biking trails and family events such as the Broadlands Halloween Parade every year. In addition, the Broadlands Nature Center offers year round programs for the kids and a place to visit turtles, doves, fish, frogs and a friendly snake who loves to be fed. The Nature Center offers children a place to learn about waterfowl, fishing, worms and countless other natural creatures living in Broadlands. Unfortunately, the Nature Center is closed for renovations right now. Check out www.broadlandshoa.org for updates on when it will re-open.

Broadlands also offers pools to residents and non-residents as well during the season of May-Sept. Non resident households can purchase passes to gain access to the Southern Walk Pool and Community Pool.

For the adults, Broadlands has a wonderful variety of places to eat out and socialize such as Clydes at Willow Creek, The Original Steakhouse and Sports Theater which is probably the all time best place in Ashburn to watch a sporting event, Glory Days (another great place to catch a game), Bonefish Grill, and many Chinese and Tai Restaraunts…way too many to list..But you won’t go hungry. And don’t forget Bingo! Shopping is also close by with both a Harris Teeter, Lidl and a Safeway within the community, not to mention Walgreen’s, hair salons, and pet food stores to name a few.

Broadlands Community has quite a few walking trails. For an inclusive map, see the Broadlands Pedestrian Map.

As of November 6th 2023, 34 homes in Broadlands have sold Year – to – Date. Of those, 23 were single family homes and 11 were Townhomes.

For a list of homes that are Coming Soon, Active, Active Under Contract, Pending or Sold within the last year, click here. To keep up to date on home sales or homes coming on the market in the Broadlands Community, email [email protected] or call 703-963-7407 to get the latest information in the neighborhood sent to you.

Safe Neighborhoods in Loudoun County: Online Crime Statistics

Buying, Local

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 utilizes a website for daily crime reports which is located at https://www.loudoun.gov/4727/Daily-Incident-Report. Here you can look at the towns to see where incidents have occurred and what type of incidents. The archive will allow you to look at reports in the past as well.

In addition to the daily crime reports, you may find viewing trends helpful. This information is found at the LCSO Significant Incident Report link.

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Dept Facebook page posts the latest incidents or traffic alerts plus other timely information. If you are on social media alot, this may be a good place to keep up to date with the happenings on Facebook.

Not directly related to crime incidents but something that could be of interest to you, is to receive the latest alerts from Loudoun County. The alerts you can receive include emergency information, news releases, traffic information, weather alerts, election information and more. To sign up, vist www.loudoun.gov/alert.

When you are out looking at homes and start to question the safety of the neighborhood, please don’t be shocked if your real estate agent can’t give you that kind of information. It’s not that we don’t want to give it to you. We do… and we definitely want you to feel safe in your new home and out of harms way. But we have some ethics and laws that prevent us from steering our clients either to or from neighborhoods.

As a real estate agent, we have to abide by these regulations. While I can’t tell you whether or not the home you love is in a safe neighborhood, I can and will tell you that whatever home you are looking at, please check the crime reports for that neighborhood and town.

Also, if the concern comes up, I advise my clients to observe the area as they drive through. Check out the general vibe of the neighborhood and see how they feel. Oftentimes, you can learn a lot just by driving through the streets or business areas nearby.

If you have any questions about Loudoun County, please reach out or leave a comment below!

5 Questions To Ask When Buying A House

Buying

By: HouseLogic

Published: January 8, 2020

There are no dumb questions to ask a real estate agent.

Home buying seems simple enough: Find a house you like that’s close to work or school, tell someone you want to buy it, and move in.

But there’s more to it than that. You’ll have to find and get approved by a lender who will let you borrow a few hundred thousand dollars, lock in a mortgage rate, figure out how much house you can afford, put in an offer that will entice the seller, get an inspection and an appraisal, pay closing costs and sign a whole bunch of paperwork.

Phew! We need a break just thinking about all the questions to ask when buying a house.

Your real estate agent can help you understand the process. But if you don’t ask questions or get your agent to clarify something you don’t understand, they’re not going to know you’re confused. And you won’t learn anything.

“There are no such things as stupid questions,” says REALTOR® Ryan Fitzgerald in Raleigh, N.C. “If you have a question, ask it, no matter how foolish it sounds in your own head.”

Don’t be afraid. Ask away. You’re making one of the biggest financial transactions of your life, so it’s a good idea to tap into your agent’s expertise.

Here are some questions to ask a real estate agent when buying a house.

1. How Many Clients Have You Helped Purchase Homes?

Before you pick a real estate professional, ask them how many clients they’ve worked with to find a home. Your real estate agent is supposed to be an expert, so one with a lot of experience will be a big help to a newbie home buyer like you.

That’s not to say a newly licensed agent can’t be a good one. But agents learn on the job. The more sales they’ve completed, and the more people they’ve helped buy a home, the more wisdom they have to share with you.

Related: The 14 Best Questions to Ask An Agent

2. How Old Is The HVAC, Water Heater, And Roof Of This Home?

It’s easy to be dazzled by 12-foot ceilings, crown molding, and other aesthetic features, but you need to pay attention to the nuts and bolts of the house. We’re talking the unsexy stuff like the HVAC system, water heater, roof, electrical system, and plumbing.

“Knowing the age and condition of the major items will help you gauge how much your home could potentially cost once you move in,” Fitzgerald says. “The older the home, the more likely you are to have higher maintenance costs.”

These items could have more impact on a home’s value than quartz countertops or hardwood floors, because it’s expensive when they malfunction. A leaking hot water heater can do thousands of dollars of damage. And replacing an aging HVAC system can start at more than $5,000, putting it in the major expense category.

3. What If The Home Inspection Reveals Major Issues?

We won’t lie: The home inspection is one of the most nerve-wracking days of the homebuying process. It’s when you find out about every wart on the place you fell in love with at the showing.

Most of the time the inspection goes as expected. But if you aren’t expecting a major issue and the inspector discovers something awful like a rusting sewer main or walls full of termites, it can be panic attack time.

Breathe. “What should I do when the inspector has bad news?” is one of the most common questions to ask when buying a house. Talk to your agent.

Your agent can calm you down so you can plan your next move, whether it’s “Let’s kiss this money pit of a house goodbye” or “Let’s negotiate with the seller and get those repairs done so you can close on time.”

4. What Happens If The Appraisal Comes Back Low?

In competitive markets where there are more buyers than sellers, it’s possible to end up in a bidding war over a house. This can drive the sales price higher than the appraised value of the home. Lenders balk when the price is higher than the value, and this can jam up the deal.

Ask your agent what you should do if the appraisal comes in low. An experienced agent will have been in the situation before and have good advice. You’ll have a couple of options, including ordering a second appraisal, covering the difference in cash, or walking away from the deal.

No matter what happens, keep your cool. Just because the appraisal is low doesn’t mean the deal will fall through.

“When things don’t go as expected, it’s important to remain level-headed. You never want to allow your emotions to be too up or too down when buying a home,” Fitzgerald says.

Related: How to Make the Appraisal Work, and When to Walk Away

5. What Do We Need To Do To Prepare For Closing?

Closing day is essentially the transfer of ownership, but it’s not just a formality. It needs to go well. This is when you sign the final paperwork and get the keys to the house.

One of the most important questions to ask a real estateagentis exactly what you need to bring for the big day. You’ll probably need your ID, a check for the closing costs, and proof of homeowner’s insurance.

Asking in advance will keep you organized and help your first big real estate transaction run smoothly. You don’t want to get there and realize you forgot a key piece of paperwork that keeps the deal from closing. Fewer things are as disappointing than not going home from a closing with keys to your new house.

So ask questions. Knowledge is power, so there are no silly questions to ask when buying a house.

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Related: Closing — How to Seal The Deal

New Construction – Spotlight on a Newly Built Powers Home in Loudoun County – 42 Quarter Branch Rd, Lovettsville, VA

Buying

With inventory still at very low levels, the appeal of buying new construction is something a buyer might want to consider. Many builders are now offering incentives to buy that cannot be found when trying to purchase existing homes and competing with other buyers in the market.

The nicest existing homes are still seeing multiple offers which compromises the buyer’s ability to negotiate things like home inspections or for a home sale contingency. With new construction, buyers can get a brand new home with a home warranty and often receive a seller credit as well as some contingency allowances.

Lets take a look at this lovely new construction home in Lovettsville built by Powers Homes on 42 Quarter Branch Rd and listed by Sam Fisher with On The Market Properties.

I had the opportunity to personally preview this home and have to say that I am impressed with the workmanship. The options included in the price of 42 Quarter Branch Rd in Lovettsville would cost a buyer a considerable amount of money over the base price with other builders. In addition to all of the amenities this home has, the builder is offering a $10,000 credit to the buyer. The Power Homes motto is “Where Quality is Built in, Not Added On.” I think if you visit one of their homes, you may find this to be a true statement.

View the full listing – 42 Quarter Branch Rd, Lovettsville, VA

This home is the Jackson Model which is a modern day Farmhouse style featuring a lovely wrap around front porch, stone accents on the exterior and interior of the home and absolutely stunning Hickory wood flooring throughout the first level of the home. The floorplan offers a fabulous kitchen boasting shaker cabinets with soft close drawers, stainless steel appliances and quartz countertops including the island and breakfast bar. In addition to all of that, the pantry is to die for – it is literally a walk in pantry with so many built in shelves! Love it!

The kitchen is open to the morning room and ultra spacious family room with stunning gas fireplace and mantle. Off of the family room is the office or a spare bedroom. It truly could be used as a spare bedroom because the main level bathroom is a full bathroom! No need to go upstairs to take a shower! Impressive! But, if you need a home office, you can work in comfort and with the speed of Comcast High Speed internet at your fingertips!

The home has already been painted for you in a lovely two tone color scheme featuring Repose Gray accented by white ceilings and trim.

Upstairs, you will find 5 (yes, I said 5!) bedrooms and 3 full bathrooms. Enough bathrooms for the kids to share the hall bath and a guest suite with its own private bathroom. Of course the Primary suite is spectacular with vaulted ceilings and mountain views plus a gigantic walk in closet! You will find more quartz in the primary bath on the vanity. I loved the large 5 foot long shower and soaking tub. All of the bedrooms upstairs are of a really nice size with lovely carpet and pad.

The lower level is mostly finished with huge storage places and an extra wide walkout basement door/stairs. Finish the additional areas into an extra bedroom, home theater, or make another kitchen for a full in-law suite. So many possibilities exist.

This home has mountain views and easy access to all that the town of Lovettsville has to offer. A grocery store, the community center, restaurants, dog park, equestrian park, and close access to the MARC commuter train make this location stellar!

View the full listing for 42 Quarter Branch Rd, Lovettsville, VA

So, can you see that all of the amenities this home offers makes new construction a really great option? This home is listed by On The Market Properties with Sam Fisher. She has given us permission to post this property. If you would like to see this lovely property, I can set up a showing as a buyer agent. Call Sonja Adams with Keller Williams Realty at 703-963-7407.

View the full listing for 42 Quarter Branch Rd, Lovettsville, VA

10 Moving Tips to Make your Next Move Stress Free!

Buying, Moving, Selling

Is the thought of moving overwhelming to you? Do you want some advice to make your next move a smooth one? Real estate agents are often asked for information on how to move. This is obviously a comprehensive question that usually turns into specific concerns that the client has about their situation. However, there are some common things to consider that will help ease the overwhelm and make the move much easier.

Whether you are moving a few miles or across country, the move process can be challenging. The worst thing you can do is procrastinate on the preparation causing a major rush as you approach your move date. Sometimes a quick move is a big rush and there is nothing you can do about that, but there are still some things you can do to break down the process to help things run smoothly.

Here are ten tips that will help you stay organized and keep your sanity at the same time. These tips,if used, may protect you from costly mistakes before, during or after moving.

Research moving companies

These days, researching reputable companies is much easier, thanks to reviews. But asking your friends or family on their recommendations is a great starting point. You can google companies or check your local facebook groups as well. I always read all the bad reviews on the companies and try to guage the situations and the companies response to the issues at hand. The negative reviews can give you some good insight, however, weighing these against all the good reviews is essential.

It is not uncommon for issues to arise and for people to be unhappy about a move, however, hopefully the good reviews outweigh the negative and you can choose based on a combination or recommendations and reviews.

Be sure to get written estimates! And ask the moving companies about what insurance coverage they offer.

Moving to a new Town or State – More Research

If you are moving to a new area where using your former doctors, banks or other businesses, make a list of your essential businesses you frequently use and start researching companies that can accommodate your needs.

Also, research the local schools if you are still looking for a home. Schools for your children may play a factor in the neighborhoods you decide to move to.

If you have pets, make sure you know where the closest emergency vet is and start researching what local vets are accepting new clients and what kind of reviews that they have.

Make a list of businesses and/or people who will need your change of address. Also, think ahead to your moving day… do you have pets that need to be secured for the move? Where will they be while the movers are there? Can you take them to a friend’s house or boarding? Or do you have a secure location for them to be during the move? Plan ahead so they are accounted for and you don’t have to worry about one of them slipping out a door.

De-Cluttering Continues

If you’ve been thinking about moving for awhile, you probably already started the de-cluttering process to prepare for listing and selling your home, however, when you move, you probably will want to re-evaluate what you are going to pack.

To get the packing process started, start by donating what you don’t want or begin to sell things online. A garage sale is another quick way to get rid of things you don’t want to move.

Start Packing

Begin packing as you declutter and as early as you can. Doing a little every day makes the entire process run much smoother. Purchase your packing materials and get a box labeling system in place. You will want to label your boxes depending on the room and / or essential things you will need to open sooner at your new home.

Important Documents and Valuables

Keep your important documents separate and easily accessible. If you are purchasing a new home, make sure your financial documents are within easy reach. It never fails that just when you think you’ve given the lender everything they need that something comes up and you need that one document that you can’t remember what box you packed it in. All documents should be kept separate and easily accessible. It will make life so much easier.

Be sire to pack jewelry or valuables separately as well. Take photos of high ticket items and note any current damage on furniture so you have a record in case something happens.

Food

Try to use up as much of your food in your fridge, freezer and pantry as you can. While you are home decluttering and packing it is the perfect time to either eat the food in your kitchen or sort through the stuff you don’t want to take. Moving food is not the easiest, especially if its frozen or food that needs to be refrigerated.

Change of Address

Fill out a change of address form before you move. You can specify the timing of your actual address change, but don’t leave this to the last minute. Trying to locate missing mail after you move is not fun!

Utilities

I typically advise my clients to cut off their utilities the day after their closing on the home they are selling just in case something happens. The buyer will typically turn the utilities on in their name the day of closing, so your utilities will get shut off when the companies make the transfer. I just tend to err on the side of caution. And don’t forget to turn on the utilities at your new home either. You definitely want the lights on and your heat or a/c working!

Household Documents

Leave the warranties, and important household docs for the new owner. It’s a helpful touch and you don’t need them in your new home. I also advise my seller clients to let me know if they have leftover paint from the house – the new buyer might want it to do touch ups or repaint areas in the house.

Cleaning

It’s helpful if you can clean as you are decluttering and packing but hiring move out cleaners is a big help. You will be more then likely exhausted from the move. Schedule the cleaners to come after your move is done!

Enjoy Your New Home!

Hopefully this list of tips will help you stay organized and lessen the stress of your move! If you take each step of your move carefully and think through everything, you can focus less on the hectic nature and more on the exciting new chapter of your life!

What does Highest and Best Mean?

Buying, Selling

If you are buying or selling a home in today’s market, you may come across the term “Highest and Best Offer” or “Please submit your highest and best offer”. What exactly does that mean?

In the current market conditions, buyers are facing multiple offers on the homes they are interested in writing an offer for. Seller’s are also navigating multiple offers and want to be able to ensure that they get the most attractive offer when selling their homes.

Highest and Best Offers essentially mean that the buyer should put their best foot forward. They should offer the highest dollar amount they are willing and/or able to offer as well as present and offer with the most appealing contingency situation for the seller. I do not recommend waiving home inspection or other contingencies for my buyers, however, sometimes to win in a multiple offer situation, buyers find it necessary to waive their inspections. This is great for the seller and seller’s definitely look at the whole picture when reviewing and deciding on the winning offer.

Is the highest sales price always going to win in a multiple offer situation? No, not always. The listing agent and the seller should be reviewing the contracts as a whole and taking contingencies and even the closing date into consideration when making their final decision.

I’m often asked by buyers what they should offer. I usually tell them that the offer they submit should be one which they don’t regret if they win or lose the house. If they offer a substantial amount over the list price to win, at the end of the day, if they are the winning offer, that sales price offer should be one they are ok with paying for and won’t feel like they have any regrets afterwards. If they lose the house because they didn’t offer enough or someone else had waived contingencies, the buyer should also be ok with losing the house.

A buyer should feel like they put their best foot forward and be ok with the outcome either way.