Northern Virginia Homes Guide & Blog

New Residential Listing by Dan in Historic Occoquan

Just Listed by Dan!  424 Fortress Way, Occoquan, VA

Virginia Residential Housing Sales Update- from VAR

The Virginia Association of REALTORS has made available data which may better explain the "real" story about housing sales currently in the Commonwealth.

(PLEASE  CLICK  ON  IMAGE  TO  ENLARGE)  

[Source:  Virginia Association of REALTORS]

Latest Mortgage Interest Rates- as of Week Ending- June 20th

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) announced their most current data (averages for contract interest rates): 

30 Year Fixed Interest Rate =  6.39 %
15 Year Fixed Interest Rate = 5.95 %
1 Year Adjustable Rate Mortgage = 7.09 %
Source: Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)

Clematis, The Spectacular Climber --You Can't Have Enough

Clematis, pronounced CLEM-UH-TUS, is the climbing, flowering, perennial cultivar, available in many colors with spectacular displays from spring to fall (depending on the cultivar). Mostly planted in the ground (potted, would be seasonal), clematis can be a winner in your landscape.  The care instructions have always been to avoid having the base exposed to hot sun; i.e., you need to provide shading for the base only.  A sunny location produces best results.

Look for Clematis variety "Jackmanii" and others at your favorite garden center.  Support the vine with lattice, fencing, trellises, obelisk-like frames, stakes. etc.  Requires average watering (don't over-water).  Likes well-drained, loamy, organically enriched soil.

When you have succeeded in getting your clematis to produce a multitude of flowers, you'll need to be prepared to enlarge the support system.

[Article content solely that of Dan Bonner, part-time gardener and horticulturist.] 

Latest Mortgage Interest Rates- as of Week Ending- June 13th

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) announced their most current data (averages for contract interest rates): 

30 Year Fixed Interest Rate =  6.57 %
15 Year Fixed Interest Rate = 6.14 %
1 Year Adjustable Rate Mortgage = 7.22 %
Source: Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)

Adding Future Value to Your Home--Enhancing the "Effective Age"

In the appraisal process of establishing value of real property, the appraiser must identify both the property's chronological age (simply today's date in years less the date in which the property was built) and the "effective age".

The "effective age" is the subjective determination of a reduced age which results from major system improvements made to the property.  These can be kitchen and bathroom re-models, HVAC replacements, new roofing systems, exterior siding replacements, etc.

As an example, with a single family home property built in 1988, or 20 years ago, having a new roof installed,  new HVAC installed, and having kitchen appliances recently replaced would contribute to an effective age of 10 to 12 years. 

If the property were to be marketed for sale in the short term, the seller, generally, would be creating a higher buyer interest and would receive an increase in valuation (if the property were to be appraised).
(Article content is solely that of Dan Bonner.)

       

Happy * Father's * Day - 2008

Father's Day Greetings to All Fathers---

FLAG DAY - 2008

 It's Flag Day!

Latest Mortgage Interest Rates- as of Week Ending- June 6th

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) announced their most current data (averages for contract interest rates): 

30 Year Fixed Interest Rate =  6.24 %
15 Year Fixed Interest Rate = 5.78 %
1 Year Adjustable Rate Mortgage = 6.87 %
Source: Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)

Big Tips for Gardeners with Small Gardens

If you're really into gardening, even just a little, you'll want to have many of the new cultivars and new plant selections which make the news.  Neat.  Then, you run out of planting areas.  So, what's a gardener to do?

Start with identifying those plants you now have which spread laterally and seek to control them.  One effective way is to install a plastic pot circling the subject plant (minus the pot's top and bottom which you remove) in the ground, sunk below ground level.  Determine the size you want your plant to have, first-- maximum or minimum.  That's it!  Then, the root system will not (or should not) invade nearby plants and you'll be able to install more new favorites.

A second need for gardeners of smaller gardens is to regularly divide their plants.  Have any hostas or day lilies? Irises?  If you have recognized this to-do task in advance, you can do this in early spring.  Those extra plants can be "passed on" to friends or neighbors.  Otherwise, without recognizing the need to divide, your small garden will become overgrown quickly.

[Article content solely that of Dan Bonner, part-time gardener and horticulturist.]