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Buying

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Buy A Home In Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Or Austin, Texas

At Mars Hill Realty Group, we're here to listen, inform and guide you through one of the most important decisions in your life—BUYING A HOME.  Our comprehensive knowledge of each unique community and neighborhood helps you to narrow down your home choice quickly. We are knowledgeable, decisive, respected, and confident so you can set aside the added worries of not knowing where to begin, what you can truly afford, or how you can avoid the numerous other pitfalls of purchasing a home in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area or Austin, Texas.

In a market where there are no such things as “easy transactions”, our team draws on our communication, managerial, business management and negotiating skills to successfully navigate transactions. As a firm believer in being armed with knowledge, Mars Hill Realty Group strives to educate our customers so that they are making informed decisions throughout the entire process. Our philosophy is three-fold: the right price, at the right time, with the least amount of stress, while keeping in mind the market can dictate the situation at times.

Most real estate agents see the price as the only area of negotiation. This is an unwise practice called positional negotiation, which prevents proper communication between two parties resulting in a better win-win result. We believe that price is just one aspect of a buyer’s negotiation strategy, and other terms, such as contract timelines, closing costs and repairs can be equally important. We do all of this and still manage to keep our offers under 96% of list price, beating out the average agent in price reductions. We will negotiate for your home as though it were our own. If you’re looking for the most competent advocate for your next home purchase, your search ends here.

At Mars Hill, our team enjoys helping buyers find their dream home. That's why we work with each client individually, taking the time to understand their unique lifestyles, needs, and wishes. This is about more than a certain number of bedrooms or a particular zip code. This is about your life. And it's important to us.

Choose Mars Hill Realty To Help You Buy

You should understand that no matter who you decide to hire, there are specific steps necessary to successfully buy your new home. Today's market requires proactive, aggressive strategies and a good understanding of the overall market.

  • We are committed, full-time real estate professionals with many years of experience
  • We will provide you with the highest level of service, making the process as easy and enjoyable as possible.
  • We will listen attentively to your needs and wants, and then come back to you with a plan that works for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
The answer to the question is YES! There are many reasons why you should talk with a bank and get pre-approved before looking at homes. First and foremost, talking with a bank before looking at homes can help you understand exactly how much you can afford. There is no reason to look at homes that are listed for $750,000 if you can only afford up to $700,000. If you’re a first-time home buyer, talking with a bank before looking at homes is strongly suggested, as there are many first-time home buyer programs available. These programs can vary from state to state and county to county, so knowing exactly what’s available to you is critical. Another important reason to talk with a bank before looking at homes is so you understand exactly what costs are associated with buying a home. There are many home buyers who don’t understand the difference between a down payment, pre-paid items, and escrows, which can be thoroughly explained by a mortgage professional. A mortgage professional can give you advice on the type of financing you should be looking to obtain and whether or not you should request the seller to contribute towards your closing costs, also known as a seller’s concession.
Buying a home can be a very solid investment. This being said, renting can also be a better option for some, depending on the circumstances. One of the most important things to consider is the length of time you plan on staying in a home, if you were to purchase. If the answer is only a few years, it may be a better decision to continue renting. Another question to ask yourself is whether you are ready to take on the additional responsibilities of owning a home, such as general home maintenance. Are you ready for that?
It is a wise idea to have a realtor when buying a home. Here’s why: real estate agents are professionals who work on your behalf and advocate for your interests. In most cases, sellers have a real estate agent working for them so you want someone on your side who has your back in negotiations and can help you understand the complex lingo in contracts, for example. Using a Realtor can save you time and possible headaches down the road.
When buying a home, you are the only one who can determine how much you should offer a seller. Certainly, it’s suggested you ask for your Realtor’s advice and thoughts, but ultimately you are the only person who decides how much you will offer.
Anything that’s considered a fixture is typically included when purchasing a house — think cabinets, faucets and window blinds. However, there could be items that you think are included with the home but actually aren’t. This depends on your state’s laws. The listing description should spell out any exclusions that the seller is not including, but that’s not always the case.
The down payment isn’t the only cash you’ll be forking over on closing day. You’ll also be responsible for closing costs, which typically include loan origination fees and third-party fees for title research, processing of paperwork, an appraisal and other administrative tasks. Expect to pay around 2 percent to 5 percent of the home’s purchase price in closing costs, but that can vary depending on your area. The closing disclosure, which a lender is required to provide to you three business days before closing, will spell out all of your loan fees and how much cash you’ll need to close.