Andy's Fine Homes

02/25/2025

Our Real Estate Market is NOT Crashing

Despite what you may have heard or read, the DC-area real estate market is not crashing. I have examined the statistics. Property values have not dropped, and new listings have not surged.

In the local metropolitan area, 2,829 new listings were placed on the market from Feb. 1-15 — virtually the same as the 2,820 listed in that period last year. In Fairfax County (the biggest segment of our local market), there were 7% FEWER new listings in the first half of this February than last year.

The DC metropolitan area has more federal employees than any other metropolitan area in the country, so it may seem plausible that federal layoffs would affect the real estate market, but it's important to remember that federal employees make up only 9% of the local workforce, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

09/22/2024

Behind the red door is a surprisingly large house that was just renovated. It has too many great features to list here, including soaring ceilings, gleaming oak floors, and new stainless steel kitchen appliances. Come check it out!

08/15/2024

The real estate world changed yesterday! If you’re considering buying a home, you should understand this. Until yesterday, when a Realtor listed a home for sale on the Multiple Listing Service, the listing would indicate what commission, if any, the seller would pay to a buyer’s agent. That is no longer allowed.

From now on, buyer’s agent commissions are not determined until the buyer and seller agree on terms of the sale contract. Some or all of your agent’s earnings may come out of your own pocket, and what you pay for your home may be affected by the amount of that fee and by your agent’s negotiation skills.

This means it is more important than ever to choose the right agent to represent you as a buyer. Any agent can show you a home, but you need someone who brings relevant skills into the transaction and adds something to the process. For most people, buying a home is the biggest financial transaction of their life. Don’t be afraid to ask a Realtor what distinguishes her or him from the other two million real estate agents in the nation, and how that will benefit you as a buyer.

My superpower is that I can walk into a house and know instantly which are the load-bearing walls; within five minutes, I can come up with ways to improve the layout, fit in an extra bathroom, etc. Beyond that, my legal experience makes me a good negotiator, and good negotiation skills will be even more important under the new rules.

I am not the only skilled Realtor, of course, but whoever you choose, choose carefully.

10/14/2023

Come see this luxury townhouse that has been beautifully renovated with incredible attention to detail!

09/14/2021

Real estate is not necessarily a desk job: here I am measuring maple flooring for a house I am renovating.

01/25/2021

It's great to be part of an office that salutes me for doing what I love: helping people find their dream homes and sell their major assets. I have had several careers and worked many places, but I say without hesitation that KW United is the best place I have ever worked!

10/31/2020

10/17/2020

Come see this beautifully renovated house that is much larger than it looks from the outside. New eat-in kitchen has room for a family of six! New bathrooms, new roof, and many more recent updates.

Open on Sunday Oct. 18, 2-4 PM. At $639,000, 2900 Oak Knoll Drive, Falls Church, VA 22042, is a bargain; come snap it up before someone else does.

05/06/2020