McGrath Real Estate Blog

Smoke Detectors & Rentals

March 3, 2013 by Lindsay Curtis Leave a Comment

You want to make sure your home is protected from fire year round and the best way to do that is to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Renters Tagged With: annual inspections, fire safety, ionized smoke detector, MSNBC, photo-electric sensor detector, rental properties, smoke detectors

Understanding the New 3.8% Tax – Does It Affect You?

February 25, 2013 by Lindsay Curtis Leave a Comment

Written by Jon Nichols, Certified Public Accountant with Huey & Associates It was a very … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Client Topics, Clients, Investment Tagged With: 3.8% Tax, capital gains, cash flow, cost basis analysis, CPA, excise tax, gross income, Huey & Associates, investment, medicare surtax, Obamacare, primary residence exclusion, Property Management, Tax, taxable gain

Rental Applications – Why We Process the Way We Do

February 14, 2013 by Lindsay Curtis Leave a Comment

There are several key factors that contribute to a successful Landlord experience, includ- ing a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Client How Tos, Client Topics, Clients Tagged With: Application, color, credit score, elderliness, employment, employment verification, fair housing law, familial status, handicap, income, income requirement, Landlord, Leasing, national origin, northern virginia, processing, Property Management, prospective tenant, race, red flags, religion, rental history, renter, sex, tenant

Year in Review: Sales Market

February 5, 2013 by Lindsay Curtis Leave a Comment

National While the Washington DC Metro area has shown increases in sales prices for the last … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Client Topics, Clients Tagged With: Days on Market, housing market, median prices, metro, nar, national association of realtors, New Construction, northern virginia, nvar, one loudon, realtor, residential sales, reston, sales market, sales prices, shadow inventory, tysons, unemployment, var, virginia association of realtors

ListingBook – An Easy & Great Way to Stay Current with Home Values

January 30, 2013 by Lindsay Curtis Leave a Comment

Whether you’re seriously interested in buying another home, selling your current home, or you’re … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Client How Tos, Clients Tagged With: achieved price, asking price, community information, home values, listingbook, map search, MLS, mortgage payments, MRIS, neighborhood comparables, northern virginia, property value, rental market, sales market

Considering Renting Your Home? How to Choose a Property Manager

December 5, 2012 by Lindsay Curtis Leave a Comment

If you are considering renting your home there are several initial questions that come to mind; how … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Client How Tos, Client Topics, Clients Tagged With: Accounting, committment, fees, Inspections, Landlord, Leasing, management, northern virginia, Property Management, questions to ask, rental property, Rentals, Repairs

Summer 2012 Sales & Rental Market Wrap Up

November 20, 2012 by Lindsay Curtis Leave a Comment

Historically, the spring and summer are the busiest time of year in the real estate market. If you … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Client Topics, Clients Tagged With: Days on Market, investment, northern virginia, purcashing, rental increase, rental market, sales market, washington dc

Refinancing – The Math Behind Your Interest Payment

November 14, 2012 by Lindsay Curtis Leave a Comment

We often encourage you to treat your rental property “as a business”. As with any other … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Client Topics, Clients, Investment Tagged With: closing costs, equity, escrow, expense, Foreign Service, interest, interest payment, interest rate, investment, lender, northern virginia, owner occupant, refinance, sales services, SDFCU, settlement cost

Stay Warm: Winterizing Your Rental

October 17, 2012 by Lindsay Leave a Comment

Don’t be without heat this winter! McGrath Real Estate Services, Inc. would like for this fall and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Renters Tagged With: cold weather, drains, filters, fire, holiday home care, hose bibs, Maintenance, northern virginia, Property Management, Repairs, shutoff valves, sprinkler system, winter maintenance, winterizing

It’s Election Year: Make Sure You’re Registered to Vote!

October 8, 2012 by Lindsay Curtis Leave a Comment

If you are an American citizen over the age of 18, it’s your right to vote in local, state and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Clients, Renters Tagged With: 2012, ballot, board of elections, election, election year, northern virginia, October 15th, polls, presidential election, register to vote, Virginia