Act Like Katy Perry If You Want To Find Your Dream Home. Seriously.

Frustrated Homebuyer

If you stop in to almost any real estate office in Northern VA, you would hear tale after tale of frustrated homebuyers . . .

  • Buyers who have fallen in love with homes, only to be outbid by other buyers who had more cash.
  • Buyers who are tired of such low inventory and can’t find a home they like or can afford.
  • Buyers who have lost out on their potential dream home because it sold two hours after it went on the market and they couldn’t move that fast.

So what’s a buyer to do?

ACT LIKE KATY PERRY!

(In case you don’t know who Katy Perry is, she’s a 28 year old singer who has had five #1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100.)

Downtown Los Angeles skyline at night.

Recently, Katy Perry bought two adjacent homes in the Hollywood Hills (for $11.2 million!). Rumors are that she plans to use them as a “compound” of sorts. At any rate, the Hollywood Hills is a very sought after area and homes like this don’t come available very often – especially adjacent to one another. And the real estate market there is very similar to our Northern VA market. My colleague Dave Ockun, a top Hollywood Realtor reports “My last listing in the Hollywood Hills sold all cash at full price with a 2 week close. Great inventory is gone immediately!”

So how did Katy Perry make this happen?

She bought homes that were not active in the MLS!

Here’s the thing. You don’t have to be a famous singer or movie star to accomplish the same result – finding your dream home. You just need to work with a real estate team who thinks outside the box, has connections, knows about hidden inventory and is willing to work hard to make your dreams come true. Find yourself the best Realtor in Northern VA.

The Belt Team has done this for Buyers many times over the years. We can’t reveal all our secrets here, but they include things like secret Facebook groups, underground connections built over many years and more.

So if you are really serious about finding your dream home, call our Lead Buyer Specialist Tom Reilly at (703) 242-3975. He makes dreams come true. (In fact, the day we did the photo shoot for the picture below, Tom was actually negotiating a deal for one of his buyers WHILE the photographer was shooting!)

The Belt Team Helps Buyers Find Homes Not On The Market

Buyers & Sellers In Northern VA Need To OutFox The Competition

Streets Named Fox in Northern VA

Have you ever driven around to look at homes in Northern VA and noticed how many streets and subdivisions have the word “fox” in them?

  • Foxhound Rd in McLean Hunt, (McLean)
  • Fox Run Court in Wayside (Vienna)
  • Foxstone Drive in Foxstone (Vienna)
  • Fox Mill Road in Fox Vale Estates (Oakton)
  • Fox Den Lane in Fox Lake (Oakton)
  • Foxhall Road in Foxhall (McLean)
  • Fox Rest Lane in Oakden (Vienna)
  • Fox Forest Drive in Fox Run (Great Falls)
  • Fox Ripple Ln in Coppermill (Herndon)
  • Fox Woods Drive in Monroe Manor (Herndon)
  • Fox Grape Lane in Greentree Village (Springfield)

And the list goes on and on.

We have a fox in our neighborhood at the moment. Perhaps that’s why I’ve been more attuned to noticing all the streets & subdivisions with the word “fox” in them. And this fox is smart.

She knows the area like the back of her hand . . .all the ins & outs & secret hiding places. We live in a well developed area and yet, she has no problem staying hidden and keeping her babies safe from prying eyes & other animals. (I did catch one glimpse and boy were they cute!) And she has found multiple neighbors in our area who feed her. (Who needs to hunt when people will just leave food out for you? Crazy isn’t it?!)

This fox is probably using tactics that are a LOT different than those used by the foxes that were living “in these here parts” before the area was developed. But times have changed and this fox has adapted to her environment.

Buyers & Sellers in Northern VA need to do the same thing. Whether you are buying a home or selling a home, market conditions have probably changed since the last time you did this. You are competing and your goal is to outfox the competition. (Sometimes “outfox” has a negative connotation. But we like the definition “outsmart, outwit, outperform, beat through cleverness”.)

Your Realtor should have specific strategies that can help you do that.

(How do you know whether they are foxy or not? Check out their track record. Do they “win” for their clients frequently? Call their past clients and ask them! Or check out their online reviews. That will tell you a LOT!)

We won’t list our strategies here. That wouldn’t be foxy. We save them for our clients! (That’s why they think we’re the best Realtors in Northern VA!) But give us a call at (703) 242-3975 if you’d like to outfox the competition in the Northern VA Real Estate Market. Our mission is “Changing Lives For The Better, One Family At A Time!” And nothing makes us happier than happy clients!

Happy Belt Team Sellers

Lead Buyer Specialist The Belt Team

Just Listed in McLean Hamlet!

Looking for a home in the sought after McLean Hamlet? We just listed one!

McLean Hamlet Home For Sale

This stately white brick home sits on a lovely corner lot in sought after McLean Hamlet. Enjoy a spacious & unique floorplan that features a country kitchen & family room combination with woodburning fireplace, wide beam farmhouse wood floors, attractive ceramic tile kit floor, large island with oversize work space, tile backsplash & wood shutters. 5 bedrooms, 3 baths including a huge hall bath w/whirlpool tub, separate shower & two sinks. Delightful sunroom addition off the rear of the home. Plus a patio w/hot tub! Ideal commuting location, top schools & convenient to everything! $955,000

Call (703) 242-3975 for more info.

Search more homes for sale in McLean

Buyer’s Market Or Seller’s Market In Northern VA

If you’re thinking of buying or selling a home, you’re probably wondering whether it’s a Buyer’s Market or a Seller’s Market. .You may even already know the answer – or at least you think you do!

Let’s take Vienna & Oakton as an example. Local headlines (and even our blog!) are proclaiming “Seller’s Market”, “Homes Flying Off The Shelves”, “Multiple Contracts”, “Two Months of Housing Supply“. So let’s break it down and see what’s really happening!

  • There are currently 217 homes on the market in Vienna and Oakton.
  • In the past month, 147 homes went under contract.
  • That means there is STILL less than a 2 month housing supply and that Vienna and Oakton remain in a Seller’s Market.

However, be careful of generalities! Here’s an example of why.

  • In the million dollar+ price range – there are 121 homes on the market.
  • In the past month, only 26 homes went under contract.
  • So that means in the million dollar+ price range – it’s NOT a Seller’s Market, it’s a Balanced Market.

Now – let’s look at the other extreme.

  • In the price range of $300,000 or less – there are 7 homes on the market in Vienna & Oakton.
  • In the past 30 days, 18 homes in this price range have gone under contract.
  • You can only imagine how competitive THAT market is. Seller’s Market does not even come close to describing the situation.

If you are a Buyer or Seller, it’s imperative that you ask your Realtor to break down the market in very specific terms for you BEFORE you put your home on the market or BEFORE you start looking for a home. You need ALL the statistics in order to price your home properly or to know how to craft an offer to purchase. Strategies are vastly different in a Seller’s Market, Balanced Market & Buyer’s Market!

General weekly statistics on the Vienna & Oakton markets are below. Call The Belt Team at (703) 242-3975 for more specific info or for an analysis on any area of Northern VA.

Vienna Real Estate (22180,22181, 22182):

Search Homes For Sale in Vienna

  • Number of Contracts: 18
  • Average Days on Market for Active Listings: 81 days
  • Average Days on Market for Listings That Went Under Contract: 19 days
  • Inventory: 136 homes on the market
  • Number of Months Supply of Homes (Based on past 90 day contract rate): 1.3 months
  • Number of Months Supply of Homes (Based on past 30 day contract rate): 1.4 months

What Is My Vienna Home Worth?

Oakton Real Estate (22124):

Search Homes For Sale in Oakton

  • Number of Contracts: 8
  • Average Days on Market for Active Listings: 103 days
  • Average Days on Market for Listings That Went Under Contract: 42 days
  • Inventory: 81 homes on the market
  • Number of Months Supply of Homes (Based on past 90 day contract rate): 1.8 months
  • Number of Months Supply of Homes (Based on past 30 day contract rate): 1.6 months

What Is My Oakton Home Worth?

Our mission is “Changing Lives For The Better – One Family At A Time!” How Can We Help YOU?!

Top Northern Virginia Realtors

Home For Sale in McLean Hamlet

Have you been waiting for a home in the McLean Hamlet to come on the market? If so – we’ve got one for you! It’s on Oberon Way. Call (703) 242-3975 for more info!

McLean Hunt Home For Sale

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How much is my Northern VA home worth?

Best Strategy For Buying In A Seller’s Market

Most, if not all, of Northern VA is in a Seller’s Market. So what’s the best way to find a home to buy under these circumstances?

Also – find out how the national real estate market is faring. One trend has lasted for 14 straight months. Find out what that is!

Search Homes For Sale In Northern VA

If you want to buy or sell a home in Northern VA – fill out the form below.

Vienna, Oakton Market Update – Plus A Great Homebuying Opportunity!

What’s happened in the real estate market in Vienna and Oakton over the past week?

  • Inventory in Vienna inched up to it highest point this year. 131 homes are now on the market. Inventory in Oakton remained stable and 81 homes are for sale there.
  • Both Vienna and Oakton remain in a Seller’s Market with less than 2 months of housing inventory.
  • Home sales are swift. This past week, 27 homes sold in Vienna & Oakton. One home was on the market for 330 days. But the rest of the homes averaged only 13 days on the market.

Opportunity Knocking in Vienna Oakton Opportunity Is Knocking

However, 8 homes have been on the market for more than a year! If you’re interested in a list of these homes and would like to discuss crafting an offer on one of them – give us a call (703-242-3975) or fill out the form below. Opportunity may be knocking on YOUR door!

The homes are listed from $998,000 to $2,895,837.

Here are the rest of this past week’s statistics:

Vienna Real Estate (22180,22181, 22182):

Search Homes For Sale in Vienna

  • Number of Contracts: 16
  • Average Days on Market for Active Listings: 85days
  • Average Days on Market for Listings That Went Under Contract: 29 days
  • Inventory: 131 homes on the market
  • Number of Months Supply of Homes (Based on past 90 day contract rate): 1.3 months
  • Number of Months Supply of Homes (Based on past 30 day contract rate): 1.3 months

What Is My Vienna Home Worth?

Oakton Real Estate (22124):

Search Homes For Sale in Oakton

  • Number of Contracts: 11
  • Average Days on Market for Active Listings: 100 days
  • Average Days on Market for Listings That Went Under Contract: 18 days
  • Inventory: 81 homes on the market
  • Number of Months Supply of Homes (Based on past 90 day contract rate): 1.8 months
  • Number of Months Supply of Homes (Based on past 30 day contract rate): 1.6 months

What Is My Oakton Home Worth?

Our mission is “Changing Lives For The Better – One Family At A Time!” How Can We Help YOU?!

Northern VA Home Sales