The Real Estate Bakery by Jonathan Bunn

Loudoun County Fourth Of July Fireworks Displays

Jon — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:53:24 +0000

If you are looking for great fireworks displays this July, avoid DC at all cost (unless you know what you are getting in to)! Loudoun County has some incredible shows that I have listed below…

Tuesday, June 28th

Dulles Town Center - 9:30pm (rain date June 29)
Brambleton Fireworks Display - 9:30pm (rain date June 29)

Friday, July 3rd

South Riding Display at SR Golf Club- 9:30 (rain date July 5)
Waterford - 9pm (rain date July 5)
Lansdowne Resort- 9:25pm (NO rain date) ** There will be a concert beginning at 7:30pm. Fireworks will follow.
Eastern Loudoun Independence Day Celebration - 9:15pm (event is hosted at Sterling Golf Club)
Lovettesville Community Center -9:15pm (Parade will begin at 5:30 at the community center. DC3 will provide entertainment at 7pm)

Saturday, July 4

Franklin Park - 9:30pm (rain date July 5)
Ashburn Village - 9:30pm (rain date July 5)
Middleburg Community Center - dark (rain date July 5)
Hillsboro Community Center - dark (rain date July 6)
Claude Moore Park (old fashioned 4th of July) - Events held all day from 10:30am - 3pm (donations suggested)
Ida Lee Festivities - 9:30pm (rain date July 5) - Parade begins at 10am. Gates open at 6pm for live entertainment before the fireworks display.

** None of these events allow personal fireworks ** The host of this site has NO further information on these events. Please contact the site locations for more information. **

This Aint Last Year’s Real Estate Market

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Brambleton Summer Concert Series

Jon — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:46:45 +0000

The summer concert series are back!

This is one of the most enjoyable parts of the Loudoun area this time of year. Brambleton is hosting their free concert series this year on Thursday nights beginning in July.

July 2nd Jah Works
July 16th Douh Segree
July 30th Crowded Streets
August 13th The Reflex
August 27th Junkfood

Bring your lawn chair and blankets and head down to Brambleton off of Ryan Road and Olympia Drive in Ashburn.

Community Of The Week: BIG BRAMBLETON

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A Cloudy Day For Selling Your Home

Jon — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:11:35 +0000

When you are selling your home, easy is the goal.

It is common to loose site of the beautiful end because of the offensive $10 items that the purchaser requests you make before settlement. You will most likely get through those minor items, but a couple of things you may have forgotten that will stop the train completely are clouds on your title.

To avoid legal terms, a cloud on title, is an item that stands in the way of you conveying your home, cleanly, to the purchaser (this is a bunninition). These could be items such as HOA fee’s that have not been paid, taxes not paid, work done on your home that haven’t been paid for… WHOOOPS!

It is important to make sure that you are up to date on all of your payments when you sell your home. Don’t worry… If you forget something, it will most likely come up in your title search that your settlement company does. If you are trying to sell your home short, it is also a good idea to stay up-to-date on some of these payments (seek legal council).

3 Real Estate Negotiation Tips

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June 2009 - Loudoun County Market Update

Jon — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:32:39 +0000

Prices are up, sales are going through…

Days on market are stabilizing.. So are new listings… Stability??? Not sure yet.

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3 Real Estate Negotiation Tips

Jon — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:26:59 +0000

America has become a very passive aggressive society where confrontation can be intimidating. Carmax has built their company around this idea and many of us would rather pay face value for a car than negotiate with Skip over at Best Auto Deals.

Nevertheless, when purchasing a big ticket item such as a home we know that we can’t just offer asking price if the selling conditions are poor. Here are a few negotiation tips when purchasing a home…

A. Find out what other homes have been selling for. It NEVER maters what the asking price of a home is. It could be too low or too high. Your offer should be based upon comparable sales in the last couple of months. You can find this information by looking at county tax records or your Realtor’s MLS records.

B. When making your offer, ask for the “painted porch.” The “painted porch” represents something that you don’t really care about the seller giving you like the television. However, since they will most likely say no, it will appear that you are compromising and that they should be more willing to give in to other areas.

C. Once you make your request, sit quietly… Remember, the first one who speaks looses. If you make an offer and out of discomfort immediately begin telling them what is not important to you or telling them that you are willing to flex then you loose. Bite your tongue and remain still. Silence appears strong.

Much of the negotiation power in real estate is given to your Realtor. Not all Realtors are the same… Choose wisely.

This Aint Last Year’s Real Estate Market

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But There Are Sooo Many Signs Up!

Jon — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 10:17:30 +0000

Have you ever noticed that when you are in the market to buy something you begin to see it everywhere? For example, as soon as you begin car shopping and become interested in a specific car, it seems like everyone already has the one you like. The same is true for selling your home.

You would think that with all of the “For Sale” signs up around the area that there would be a lot of inventory available. Even when you search online… now seeing a home available doesn’t necessarily mean it is still around. Many agents simply keep a real estate sign up for advertising their name or company. I often have people contact with homes that interest them only to let them know it is already under contract.

Since short sales are contingent upon the bank accepting the offer, agents many times leave them active online when they are not really available for some one else to purchase (some would argue).

“At this moment, in the zip code of 20147 (Ashburn) there are 129 homes with Fee Simple ownership (not condos) available for sale. 31 of them are short sales. The others are either foreclosures, regular sales, or they are not disclosing their type of sale. Of the 31 homes listed as short sales over 9 of them already have contracts on them that the bank is looking at. However, the agents have left them ACTIVE. ”

Why do the agents leave them active?

1. If the seller has signed off on the contract and they are simply waiting for a bank response then the status should be changed- acording to MLS rules.
2. Agents who leave them active are most likely trying to get multiple offers or pick up new clients.
3. Many agents in this area have no ethics and will wait for a warning before making a change.

Why should you care?

1. Active listings that are not active harm your property value because they create a false sense of supply.
2. If you are buying, you may be wasting your time viewing homes that aren’t available.

This Aint Last Year’s Real Estate Market

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Brambleton, Broadlands, & Loudoun Valley Home Sale Stats- June 09

Jon — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:55:19 +0000

These stats are very similar to what we are seeing in 20147 (North Ashburn). Again, there is still a clog in the system delaying the amount of settlements we should be seeing and keeping more homes appearing active than there really are.

Ashburn Village, Belmont, And Ashburn Farm June Home Sale Stats

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Ashburn Village, Belmont, And Ashburn Farm June Home Sale Stats

Jon — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 23:39:08 +0000

May was a good month for Ashburn home sales… However, the clog in the system remains due to slow response times from the banks on short sales. This is why we continue to see a lot of homes under contract and only half as many going to settlement.

A Route 15 Drive

These stats DO NOT include condos. They are deemed reliable but should be verified for accuracy.

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20015 Belmont Station Drive, Ashburn VA

Jon — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:01:00 +0000

I have never posted any of my listings on this site… Today is a new day so I want to make you aware of this home I have listed in Ashburn that is an incredible deal. This 8,030 sq foot home on .68 acres has had no expense spared on upgrades. It is located in The Chase At Belmont Country Club.

Priced below market at $949,990
Built in 2005! Only 1 owner.
6 Spacious Bedrooms, 6 Full Baths, 2 Half Baths
Fully Finished Walkout Basement, Huge Wet Bar, Wine Room, and Media Room
Hardwood Flooring On All Of Main Level. Gourmet Kitchen.
3 Car Garage.

If you are interested in receiving more information or you would like to view this home contact me!

Belmont Country Club: Ashburn’s Luxury Golf Community

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A Route 15 Drive

Jon — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 21:08:08 +0000

I have currently have a home I am selling for a client in Prince William County. This affords me many beautiful drives down route 15 from Loudoun to PW. I thought I would share a few of the photos I have been able to take along the way.

photos taken by Jonathan Bunn- Copywritten- don’t use

Hot Off Of The Press

This Aint Last Year’s Real Estate Market

Loudoun County Public And Private Golf Courses

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