Real Estate The Importance of an Emergency Fund When Planning on Buying a Home By Bill Stern, Branch Manager for CMG Home Loans Saving for your home doesn’t end with a down payment. If you’re looking to buy a home, do you have an emergency fund? If you’re like many prospective first-time home buyers, this question may have sent a chill of anxiety down your spine. You’re not alone. […]
Neighborhood Guides Top January Events Around The DMV After the busy winter holidays, life often seems to slow down in January. But many of us see the new year as the perfect time to try something different. Although it’s not great weather for outdoor festivals, the DMV boasts impressive cultural offerings including live theater, music, and world-class museums. Check out our list of […]
Featured Keeping Your Pets Safe During The Holidays Our furry soulmates are an important part of our holiday tradition and they’re counting on us to keep them safe. It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Unless you’re a beloved pet. In that case, it might be confusing, scary, and chaotic. That’s because while their humans may be bustling to & fro’ and […]
Home Inspiration Hostess Gifts with a Local Spin No good guest shows up empty-handed, but who says you have to show up to the holiday party with a bottle of wine or tin of cookies? While no one would turn those gifts away, it can also be fun to treat a friend or loved one to something a bit more memorable and outside […]
Real Estate What NAR’s Report Says About Buyers & Sellers It’s not just interest rates that are rising, so are the ages of home buyers and sellers. Each fall the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) releases a comprehensive report on the demographics of real estate clients and compiles research on sales activities. This year, one of the most talked about trends was the rising age […]
Real Estate Financing a Fixer-Upper When the housing market is this tight, considering a home that needs a bit of work can pay off big dividends for flexible buyers. Let’s face it, when purchasing a new home, most of us would prefer to purchase one with upgraded kitchens and baths, a new roof, new windows, new systems, and our favorite […]
Home Inspiration Essential Items to Include in Your Guest Room Holiday guests will be knocking on your front door before you know it! To ensure that your guest room is well-equipped for the season, you’ll want to take some time in the coming weeks to make it as cozy and welcoming as possible using these tips from DMV designers. Incorporate plush touches Make your at-home […]
Real Estate When Do You Need a Licensed Contractor vs. a Handyman? Picking the right pro for the job takes a little homework. There comes a day in every homeowner’s life when you realize: it’s time for reinforcements. Whether it’s a leaky pipe, a new electrical box, replacing an appliance, or drying a wet basement, finding a fix starts with choosing the right expert for the job. […]
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Real Estate Navigating the Financing Contingency When “Show me the money!” meets “Not so fast!” in buying a home. On the winding road from purchase offer to contract ratification to settlement, there are a few speedbumps that both buyers and sellers must navigate together. Contingencies are one type of speedbump, additional agreements that the contract will continue to move forward as […]
Home Inspiration Curtain Calls: The Five Best Window Treatment Trends for 2025 This week’s article is giving us inspiration on current window curtain trends by our partners at The Scout Guide. Thoughtful window dressings can elevate a room, provide proper privacy, and even affect your heating and cooling bills. Whether your motives are leaning in a decorative direction or steadfastly functional, read on for the window treatment […]
Home Inspiration Designer Tips for Decorating a Front Porch for Fall Fall is here, and what better way to welcome the change of weather than by decorating your front porch? We spoke with five area designers who shared their tips for creating a setup that’s seasonal and stylish.  Go Natural Skip the plastic decorations and outfit your porch with what Ann Gottlieb refers to as “authentic […]
Real Estate The State of the Housing Market in Washington, DC & Surrounding Areas – October 2024 Market in a Minute & StatPak October 2024 We profile the most important market indicators every month – contract activity, interest rates, inventory, affordability and direction of the market – in an easy to read and digest summary. It’s not just the numbers; it provides context to understand why the numbers are important and what […]
Home Inspiration Plant Bulbs Now for Spring Blooms This week’s blog post is provided by Artscapes Living. Planting a garden that blooms throughout the year takes a little planning, so here’s a little tip for spring blooms: you need to plant bulbs NOW. One of the most popular and beloved choices for spring gardens is the tulip. Tulips: A Classic Choice Tulips are […]
Real Estate Homebuyers, Prepare! Strategic Advice From a Financial Planner Economic signs point to some financial breaks for homebuyers through the end of 2024 into 2025. September brought several positive changes to the real estate market for homebuyers, including the Federal Reserve’s decision to cut rates for the first time in more than four years, an improvement in the home affordability index by 4.1%, and […]
Real Estate Rate Cuts, Inflation, Elections…Oh My! How Housing Will Be Affected By Upcoming Market Changes By Bill Stern, Branch Manager for CMG Home Loans A combination of political uncertainty, economic policy shifts, and broader market forces makes this a complex time for the housing market. The housing market is at a crossroads, and a combination of economic policies and political developments will determine its path in the months ahead. One […]
Real Estate What Your Realtor® Wants You To Know About Home Safety Take a look at these smart and handy tips to keep yourself and your property safe. September is Realtor® Safety Month and keeping a home safe takes the work of everyone. Here are some things your Agent would like you to keep in mind to protect both your person and your property as compiled from […]
Home Inspiration 3 Area Designers Share The Most Common Kitchen Requests They Receive Kitchen trends come and go—for example, a few years back, all-white kitchens were all the rage, while nowadays, people are enjoying experimenting with bolder colored cabinetry and finishes. When locals dial up an interior designer to get some help revamping their cooking space, what exactly are they asking for? We spoke with three designers—one in […]
Real Estate Is That Condo You’re Eyeing (or Selling) on a Lending Naughty List? Stricter lending guidelines for condominium sales mean some properties may not be eligible for certain financing. Underwriting a residential mortgage loan involves a detailed review of the prospective borrower’s financial picture. It also involves a review of the property to be pledged as collateral for the loan. In the case of loans for condominiums, that […]
Real Estate Exploring The Right Retirement Move For You Whatever lifestyle you want to lead in your Golden Years, there’s a way home. As we age, our housing needs and preferences evolve. For many seniors, part of that evolution involves choosing the right retirement community that can significantly impact quality of life, access to care, and overall well-being.  Retirees are a significant demographic with […]
Home Inspiration Design Report: The Hottest Interior Gray Paint Color This week our partners at The Scout Guide give us inspiration on trendy gray paint colors for your home. For most of this century, gray paint has reigned supreme as the neutral interior color of choice. Embraced for its timeless and versatile nature, from warm organic greiges to darker, steely tones, gray continues to check the […]