This new regional report has come out from the Greater Washington initiative and the news is VERY POSITIVE!  I have placed the graphs from their analysis on the left hand side and below.  It shows what we all have known about the D.C. metro area.

First, the D.C. region has the lowest unemployment rate of all the major job markets in the United States.

Second, the government and the professional & business services hold about 50% of the jobs in the area.

Third, the DC region in the last 10 years has had one of the largest increases in job growth across the United States.

Fourth, the one area - Professional and business service jobs, which accounts for close to 25% of the jobs in the region, is also area that has had the most amount of growth compared to all the major cities in the U.S. Read the rest of this entry »

This is the BEST time to work with investors.  I STRONGLY suggest that you pre-approve them and understand exactly what they can afford previous to working with them.  Once you have done that then you should start looking for properties for them.  Many agents who have come to my workshops have been confused about how to search for distressed properties.  The following are 4 areas in the MRIS form that you can use to search for distressed properties:
1)    In the disclosure field there is one that says “Subject to a Potential Short Sale”
2)    Remarks may state “Short Sale”
3)    Disclosure pick list must say “Potential Short Sale”
4)    In the “Current Financing/Loan Information” the following are possible options: REO Property, Foreclosure, HUD Owned, Pre-Foreclosure

P.S. In the same form I would also either select specific zip codes or cities. Read the rest of this entry »

So are you sick of the increased cost for gas, electric, water and for some of you oil?  Well if you live in the District of Columbia their maybe light at the end of the tunnel.

The District department of environment is conducting FREE home energy audits which is amazing!  The audit allows the homeowner to know where they can save energy costs and pay lower energy bills!  This energy audit usually costs between $300-700 but is FREE for DC Residents.

To get more information and to see how you can do your own audit, if you choose to, you can either call 202-673-6750 or go to http://ddoe.dc.gov/ddoe/cwp/view,a,1209,q,492915.asp Read the rest of this entry »

So I have received the emails.  You all want me to give you all of the companies that you can do BPOs for, not just the top ones which I stated in the last posting.  I know you are going to love me.  The following is a ton of BPO companies:
https://www.w-mgroup.com/Internal/Vendor/AddVendor.aspx

http://www.mgic.com/rev/signup/appraiser.html

http://www.assetval.com/

https://www.bpodirect.com/

http://brokerpriceopinion.com/content/contact.aspx

http://www.clearcapital.com/ Read the rest of this entry »

What the heck is the clue report? That is possibly what you are saying.  Even worse is if you are saying “I don’t have a CLUE!”  Oh you are sooo funny!  I forgot to laugh! :S  Seriously though if you are interested in purchasing a house or currently own a house you need to understand the CLUE report.

So what is it?  The clue report is a centralized database that keeps track of all hazard insurance claims on a house for 7 years.  The important part of this is that the clue report is attached to BOTH the homeowner and the home.  The most troubling issue is that phone calls alone to your insurance adjuster is seen in many states as a claim!  This is not true though for the state of Maryland.  In the 2006 legislature they passed a law stating that ones insurance premium may only go up due to actual damages which are claimed and not just phone calls!  If you want more information on that law you can go here.

Read the rest of this entry »