Many people dream of building their own home. If your dream is to build yours in Arlington County then you need to be very careful in your planning, budgeting and team selection to avoid some of the snags I encountered. Of all the places in the Washington area where I’ve renovated homes or built homes,…

Back in May, I was presented with a little house over in Alexandria. The house was vacant and, of course, it was in really rough shape. It was also very small with only two bedrooms, one bathroom and a dated layout that would not appeal to the modern buyer. This little rambler had less than…

Spring is not always the best time to sell. Watch your market closely. If you do choose spring to list your home then list early and beat the crowds.

If you want to sell your home then you have a lot of decisions to make. One of the most important of all those decisions is the list price. Figuring out the best price for any home is much more art than science but it requires a very scientific approach and evaluation of things that…

Sure, if a contractor cheats you or underperforms you can take them to court. But, is it worth the time, effort and upfront cost? Here’s how it went for me when I took legal action against a contractor.

If you’ve decided to sell your own home then make sure you’re prepared.

Before you do anything else make sure you know what you’re getting into. Be confident that it is possible to sell your own home. But, also be aware that it is a lot of work and it can be very frustrating. If you want to get top dollar for your home then you really have to put in the work. The listing agent on a home makes a very big difference. There have been many homes that I’ve looked at and wondered, why isn’t this home selling. It’s priced right. It shows well. Yet the home languishes on the market while surrounding homes go under contract. Then I call the listing agent and the reason becomes clear. A lazy agent can kill a deal. If the agent is not readily available, responsive, accommodating, knowledgeable and pleasant then it can really drag a property down. Very few people have a unique home. If buyers can’t get information and access when they want it then they just go on to the next home. You’re now your home’s agent; be a good one.

Home Renovation Rules for Sellers and Flippers.

An old Marine Corps buddy of mine recently sent me a message. He said he’s retired from the Marine Corps now and he’s interested in real estate investing, specifically flipping. He asked me if I could give him the down and dirty on the business. Flipping is a tough and risky business, don’t let anyone…

I got a call out of the blue the other day. It was an investor whom I’d never met before. She had seen one of my listings on the same street where she had just put a contract on a home. Her home was a foreclosure. I knew the home and I knew what it…

Hi Justin, I love your column, and was wondering is it worth it to buy a $315K home with 20-30K of renovation costs, when comps are $380K? Thanks, Robert Robert, Thanks for connecting and thanks for reading my column. Your question: Is it worth buying a home for $315k when it needs $20-30k in repairs…

Real estate

Building in Arlington County: Nightmare

Choosing Your Home Flipping Strategy

List Your Home Early to Beat the Spring Crowd and Maximize Your Profit

Overpricing Your Home is a Costly Mistake

I Sued A Contractor & Won. But Was it Worth It?

You Can Sell Your Own Home and Save Big on Real Estate Commissions

Home Renovation Rules for Sellers and Flippers

The Downest and Dirtiest Guide to Real Estate Flipping

How to Get Poor Quick in Real Estate Investing

Question: Should I buy a home for $315k that is worth $380k?