A Quick Minute of Motivation…

The Dip – Part 4 – wrapping up this motivational series.  Here’s something else you need to stop doing to get out of the dip – stop with the excuses!  Don’t build a house of failure!

Feel free to contact Scott if you need more motivation!  703-652-5777 or scottmacdonald@remax.net

Scott’s Market Minute 2/10/17

Scott’s Market Minute – here are Scott’s thoughts on the market this week…..

Contact Scott MacDonald, Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Gateway for more information and a personal assessment to meet your goals.703-652-5777 or scottmacdonald@remax.net

 

A Quick Minute of Motivation…

The Dip – Part 3
Even if you are NOT experiencing a real estate dip, check out what Scott’s Motivation Minute has to say about your ATTITUDE.

Contact Scott MacDonald 703-652-5777 Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Gateway for more information and motivation!

 

 

A Quick Minute of Motivation…

Part 2 – The Dip

Is the current market causing you to experience a dip? Check out this quick minute of motivation from Scott as he tells you what you need to focus on to get out of the dip!

And feel free to contact him if you need some more motivation! 703-652-5777 or scottmacdonald@remax.net

February Market Update

So Far This Year…

Nothing can stop the real estate market here in Northern Virginia; not the rising interest rates, not the pull back of the FHA mortgage insurance premium reduction, not lack of inventory, and especially not this cold weather we are experiencing.

Sales are strong and we appear to be headed for a robust spring housing market.  In addition to the group of buyers we are currently working with, we are getting lots of online leads from additional buyers asking about houses; both new builds andrrg-logo_small resale. Typically, this group will become home buyers in three to nine months – stay tuned for more details as we get down the road with these leads.

Today’s buyers are looking in all price ranges and in all locations throughout Northern Virginia. As you would imagine, the lower price points are in very high demand, but so are higher priced properties in areas like McLean and North Arlington.  We have some soft spots (lowering of prices and accumulation of days on the market) in the Great Falls area, but typically, if houses are priced right, in good condition and have been staged, they are selling quickly!  Thus, inventory is at a four year low with just over 3,900 existing homes currently for sale. We expect properties to come on the market in February, but with the demand we are experiencing now, they too should sell quickly.

So, what are the lessons we have learned so far in 2017?  If you are a buyer, act quickly! If you find a home meets your criteria and suits your lifestyle, make an offer, don’t wait.  Many properties are receiving numerous offers; therefore they are selling quickly.

If you are a seller, get your house “right” and get it on the market sooner rather than later – there is a strong appetite for housing today.  Buyers are out there and ready to make a move.

If you would like to discuss your situation in more detail, please feel free to call me today.  I would enjoy meeting with you to determine which is the best option for you to pursue.

Stay warm!

Scott can be reached at 703-652-5777 or scottmacdonald@remax.net.

A Quick Minute of Motivation…

Are you experiencing a real estate dip (it’s not a rut)? Don’t lose motivation!  Here’s some motivation to get you out of that ‘dip’ – a quick minute of motivation message from Scott.

Contact Scott MacDonald 702-652-5777 Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Gateway for more information and motivation!

The 5 P’s of Marketing and Real Estate

At RE/MAX Gateway, we strive to add value to our agents so their businesses flourish and grow. We provide various professional development training classes, mentor programs and we make one-to-one coaching available with our highly experienced, top producing management team. In doing so, we help our agents meet or exceed their goals ever year! 5-ps-traditional-marketing

Here is an example of what we do to help agents with their marketing plans, to give them more focus and get better results.

The ‘marketing mix’ is a foundation concept in marketing that consists of the “5 P’s” – Product, Promotion, Price, Place and People.  This is how we relate these fundamentals to real estate marketing:

  1. Product
    1. In real estate, you are your product. What are you doing to improve?
    2. Your properties are another product. How are you gaining knowledge of available properties and areas?
  2. Promotion
    1. How you market yourself.
    2. How you market your properties.
    3. How you interpret the economy to your clients and the marketplace.
  3. Price
    1. What is the value that you bring to your clients and the marketplace?
    2. The fees to your clients, whether buyers or sellers.
    3. How you properly price your product (houses).
  4. Place
    1. Where you sell and market yourself.
    2. Where your business is primarily located.
  5. People
    1. The company you are affiliated with and what that means.
    2. The clientele you wish to serve.
    3. The person you strive to become.

We help our agents use these tangible and intangible “P’s” by incorporating them into their business plans, helping them become top producing agents with balanced lives. Several of our agents have received numerous awards from RE/MAX including the Hall of Fame Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award by incorporating this marketing and mindset into their businesses.

Want to learn more? Please feel free to call me to set up a confidential interview at 703-652-5777 or scottmacdonald@remax.net.

Scott’s Market Minute – 1/27/17

Keeping you up to date on the real estate market in Northern Virginia.  Demand is HIGH, supply is LOW. Hear what Scott has to say…now is the time to….

Contact Scott MacDonald 702-652-5777 Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Gateway for more information and a personal assessment to meet your goals.

Understanding Prepayment Penalities

penaltyFor most of us, the idea of paying off our mortgage well in advance is elating. But before you make this big move, it’s important to understand prepayment penalties, and what they could mean for you.

Simply put, a prepayment penalty means you will have to pay the lender a percentage of the principal, or some other stated amount, if you decide to repay the loan early. While this may seem wild (being charged for making your payment early!?), it’s actually quite common.

Some mortgages have prepayment penalties written into them. However, the prepayment clause is usually in effect for only one to three years and may be waived for special circumstances. Lenders impose the penalty to recover any losses related to your early payment.

If you are in the market for a home loan, ask about prepayment penalties before signing on. If you are applying for a new loan, the penalty should be disclosed in the truth-in-lending statement. Read the fine print and weigh all your options.

If you already have a home loan, call your lender or dig through your paperwork to spot any prepayment penalty clauses you may have missed.

As a Member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, I have a wealth of real estate and home ownership information that may be of help to you. Feel free to contact me any time to learn more about this important information, and be sure to forward this article on to any friends or family that may be interested as well.

Northern Virginia Real Estate, Housing Inventory and Snowmagedon 2016

Scott MacDonald video update about the local housing market statistics and the impact on buying and selling a home in Northern Virginia – even with Winter Storm Jonas and the possibility of Snowmageddon 2016!  click to play video

Scott Market Minute 2016JAN22

Now is a great time to buy and sell a house!

Contact Scott MacDonald 702-652-5777 Broker for RE/MAX Gateway for more information and a personal assessment of your housing goals.

Scott MacDonald

RE/MAX Gateway