Matching Your Listing to the Right Agent

We are the right agent for listing your home! Read this article and then check us out at www.homes-database.com. Then you'll know too that we are sensitive to your needs, use the Web to promote your home, create special pages just for you in our website to showcase your home, use traditional advertising means to get the word out, use the power of the web with the regional MLS to get your home noticed, and utilize our Long and Foster agent network to sell your home.

We have the right attitude, right tools, and the right prices. When you are looking to match your listing to the right agent, think of me, John Day, of Homes Buy Day. You'll receive top-notch performance and aggressive marketing action to get top dollar for you home.

Hurricanes and Home Damage

We get hurricanes even in Maryland. Well not quite like Florida or for that matter Louisiana, but just the same we can feel affects of hurricanes too.

With all the press on Hurricane Katrina, we found this photo detail interesting of what the devastation looks like for the different levels of hurricanes.

Katrina was a category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale so:

C4 ExtremeExtensive damage is done to roofs, windows, and doors; roof systems on small buildings completely fail; some curtain walls fail.

Check out the other photos and you'll understand at a glance, hurricanes are nothing to fool around with. Your home can be insured, we can help you find a new home, we can even sell your land, but we can not help you replace your family if they are lost in a hurricane.

Home Warranty Information

Make sure to read this important article about home warranties.

• Make sure you won't have problems getting service if something fails. I know of one instance where a major home warranty company told a home owner that they did not have someone to send out for a water heater repair. The owner tried to get service for some time. Finally, the policy expired and the owner was told the company couldn't help. They did finally agree to honor the repair, but only a percentage of it. The bottom line: find out now if the company can provide service.

Although you may also know of horror stories with home warranties, they can be good too. A home warranty can give a buyer peace of mind and help to close your sale.

Don't discount the importance of a home warranty in the home buying or selling process.

Flood Insurance Do You Need It

You just need to have been flooded once to know that your regular home owner's insurance does not cover flooding.

When you buy your home, you will know whether you are located in a flood plain as this will be stated on your appraisal under description of your property. Even if you are not in a documented flood plain, you may still want to consider having flood insurance.

The rates for coverage are suprisingly low. This article gives additional details to this important home coverage that you may well want to consider.

Staying Secure If The Real Estate Bubble Bursts

We've talked about the Housing Bubble before and this article is very interesting reading on how to stay secure in event that the bubble bursts. These were the best tips, but this article has more.

"Common Sense Bubble Tactics

Keep your overall debt load as low as possible to help you manage an unplanned move

Use equity funds to increase your home's value, not buy luxury items

Try to buy a home with good resale potential

Pay attention to your local market. Watch sales trends and read what your local and regional experts have to say about a potential real estate bubble in your area, but keep in mind that even the experts don't agree on where, when--or if--the bubble will burst. If it does, just hang in there, because over time real estate is a great investment. Prices will rise again."

Great common sense advice. When you work with me, John Day, being a professional real estate agent, I understand our market and can guide you to the locations that have historically been good resale potential areas to help you weather a bubble burst.

Real Estate Earnest Money Deposit

"Earnest money is the "binder" or "good faith deposit" you offer a seller when you sign a contract to buy real estate. It is your money and should be held in trust and credited to you on the day of closing, when the real estate becomes yours."

This article says it all! If you are buying, make sure you know what is to happen with your Earnest Money or deposit if you do not close on the sale. If you are selling your house as a for sale by owner, you are governed under the same laws as all other real estate transactions. Make sure you know the law!

Having a professional real estate agent explain and take care of the details on deposits is an investment in your future. If you were to lose your deposit because of poor management or lack of knowledge of the law, it could be devastating!

Housing Expenses and Income

The National Housing Conference has a very neat tool that lets you determine how much money you need to be making to afford to live in a specific area both by yearly wage and hourly wage.

For Washington DC the figure is $107,507 with rents costing an average of $1187 per month. With figures like that, it pays to really look at the condo and townhome market and look to buy if you can. Baltimore is cheaper and so are the other outlying areas around Washington DC.

We have listings for condos and townhomes and they can really be great alternatives to apartment living plus you will be saving toward the future in your "real estate piggy bank".

Give a call and let us show you some of the great listings available in nice communities with wonderful amenities.

Home Equity Versus Long-Term Cash Out

This is very interesting reading from the Washington Post of the new trends of more home buyers not opting for the typical home equity loan and opting instead for a long term mortgage with cash out. The trends that this article states make it very good reading.

• "...the gap between short-term home equity rates and long-term prime mortgage rates is likely to persist or even widen."

Make sure to read this information before you buy your next home, it may make a difference in your mortgage plans.

Types of Real Estate Listing Agreements

This article explains the different types of listing agreements that you may come across as you plan to sell your home and research your listing agent.

You may find this valuable and interesting reading. When you are ready for a professional market analysis of your home, don't forget to call us first. Our analysis is free without obligation.

When you select us to market your home, we use the full power of Long and Fosters national name recognition to get your home noticed. Not only that but we have a comprehensive network of agents who all have access to your listing and are eager to show it to prospective buyers.

What is a Quit Claim Deed

This is an interesting and helpful explanation of a Quit Claim Deed, sometimes mistakenly called a Quick Claim Deed. The main reason for understanding what a Quit Claim Deed is, is to make sure that you do not have an issue with the title on your home when you purchase or sell.

This is a great reason to have Title Insurance, to give you and your lender peace of mind that your property is owned clearly by you, the buyer.

There is nothing worse than finding out that your title is clouded by a legal problem or that a transfer of rights was done improperly.

Make sure that you deal with a reputable real estate agent who understands all of these issues and can guide you in making sure that the title to your newly purchase dream home doesn't have a past that will be sure to come back and haunt you.

We understand Quit Claim Deeds and Title Insurance and can provide the buying and selling guidance that will clearly make a difference in your peace of mind.

Homes Buy Day Monthly Newsletter

Here's a copy of our monthly newsletter. This is interesting reading on the Housing Bubble, Doom & Gloom With a Twist and Flipping Homes. I hope that you will enjoy this informative monthly newsletter.

If you moving into the Washington DC area, I am an expert in helping find the area that matches your needs and lifestyle. You can count on Long and Foster and me, John Day, to show you homes and properties that will exceed your expectations and to help guide you successfully through the buying process in our hot Maryland real estate market. It has become more and more important to deal with a knowledgeable realtor when sellers are collecting 3 to 5 offers on their home and are deciding which buyer will get the contract. I can help you get your dream home! Call me today at 410-507-2909 to get started right away.

Featured Listings

We have just added some beautiful new homes to our listing section. Here is an image of just one of the new beauties that you should check out today.

This home located in Upper Marlboro, Maryland in the Marlboro Downs subdivision is a beautiful brick front colonial home ready just for you.

We have several other nice homes that we have listed recently. If you want to review all of the listings that are available in our region visit our search page to search the entire MLS system entering your own unique search criteria.

Call us today at (410) 507-2909 to see this home in person or others similar to it. When you work with John Day of Homes Buy Day, you get the professional Long and Foster service that you can depend on with first-class personalized service.