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An Open Letter

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Dear Friends,

I know that with COVID-19 comes a lot of uncertainty, anxiety, and even fear as we anticipate what is to come. I want to make sure you know that I am here to help in any capacity you may need–whether that is real estate advice or otherwise.

As a realtor in the DC area for over 30 years, I know lots of local professionals, and I am happy to connect you with wonderful people and companies who can help meet your needs (again, whether real estate related or not) during this challenging time. Despite the constant barrage of bad news, there are good people out there who want to do their part for others–particularly for those whose health or livelihood are directly impacted by this virus.

When it comes to real estate, I’ve gotten questions from some of you about whether it’s even wise to buy or sell a home during this unprecedented time. I want to take this opportunity to assure you that the market continues to hum along–homes are still selling and buyers are still buying. I have had several offers come in this week on my listings, and I continue to have conversations with buyers who are actively shopping for a new home.

Furthermore, real estate professionals are making adjustments to the way we do business to ensure that we carry on working as usual and that the health and safety of our clients is first priority. I am no exception!

For sellers, I can easily replace an in home consultation with a Facetime call or video conference and virtually gather the information I need to put your home on the market. I also have ways to work around showings, including making full use of my relationships with people and companies who buy homes outright.

For buyers, I am more than happy to tour a home and have you right there with me on Facetime, Skype, you name it–there are plenty of ways to provide a virtual tour of your dream home while you remain in the comfort of your current home.

I am here to offer sound advice based on facts, market conditions, and research–if you need a voice of reason, please give me a call!

And beyond the real estate market, if you need someone to talk to, to connect you with local resources, or simply to offer support, I am here!

Don’t hesitate to reach out to me at 240-401-5577 or lise@lisehowe.com at any time.

Finally, a huge thank you to our medical professionals, grocery store clerks, sanitation workers, mailmen and women, and everyone else risking their health so we can maintain some normalcy in these difficult times.

And to everyone who is uniquely vulnerable right now based on their livelihood, their health, their age, or anything else–I am thinking of you and I am here if you’d like to reach out.

Sincerely,

Lise Howe
240-401-5577
lise@lisehowe.com
The Lise Howe Group
Keller Williams Capital Properties
4646 40th Street NW
Washington DC 20016

How to Prepare for a Home Refi

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prepare for home refi

With interest rates hitting incredibly low numbers, you might be thinking of refinancing your home. You may be considering whether to choose a 30 year fixed mortgage again with so many options to choose from. Regardless of which type of mortgage you choose, you want to be prepared when you call your lender. Remember when you got your finances in order to apply for your original mortgage? You want to prepare for a home refi in the same way.

5 Home Features to Make Aging in Place Easier

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While my mother in law no longer lives on her own (at the age of 107 this is understandable), she was able to stay in her home and live independently for longer as a result of some of the home improvements listed below–and particularly due to living in a one level home.

If you’re looking to buy a new home and hope to stay there for the rest of your life, look ahead to what you might want as you age. We believe that adding features that make a house more accessible when you purchase is much easier than having to make modifications later.

Here are five home features to look for in a “forever home” that can make age-related limitations easier to deal with:

Get the Right Insurance If You Are a Landlord

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Having the right insurance if you are a landlord is crucial. You want to be protected against all possible claims and damage from a slip and fall to a massive fire. How do you know what is the right insurance if you are a landlord?

2020 Housing Market and Economic Trends

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Now that we’re almost 2 months into 2020, you may be wondering what the remainder of the year will hold for the economy and the housing market specifically. Let’s start with the economy as a whole–and don’t worry, it appears things are looking up! Stocks picked up right where they left off in 2019 by touching all-time highs. And Bonds, which also performed well in 2019, continue to hover near three-year highs, keeping home loan rates near 3-year lows.

Here we present three economic trends to watch for the remainder of the year:

Don’t fight the Fed. As the saying goes, there doesn’t appear to be any chance of a Fed rate hike in 2020. The economy is strong, but not too strong. Plus, the Fed is fighting disinflation, so a rate hike would counter those efforts. Moreover, it’s a presidential election year and the Fed has historically tried it’s best to avoid any monetary policy moves in those years.
Bottom line: good for Stocks and less good for Bonds.

Stock gains. Post-World War II, Stocks on average have gained 10.1% in presidential election years where the incumbent is up for re-election. It’s tough to fight that trend, even with Stocks soaring in 2019. Bottom line: Stocks are set to finish 2020 higher.
$1,000,000,000,000. That was what the U.S. spent in holiday retail shopping in 2019. That massive record highlights the strength of the U.S. consumer who makes up 70% of the U.S. economy.

What can we gather from these trends? That absent a Black Swan event or unforeseen negative surprise, 2020 is shaping up to be a great year for the U.S. economy, with the labor market strong, wages rising, inflation muted, and interest rates low.

Moving on to the housing market, it looks like 2020 should be an interesting year for residential real estate. Because predicting housing market trends can be challenging, we examined combined projections from the most trusted entities in the industry to bring you as accurate a forecast as possible. We review mortgage rates, home sales, and home prices–and the predictions for 2020 may surprise you.

Looking to Buy an Investment Property in the DC area? Consider the I-270 Life Sciences Corridor!

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Depending on how closely you follow development in DC and the surrounding area, you may have heard of the I-270 life sciences corridor: a 37 mile stretch of life sciences companies along I-270 that snakes from Bethesda through Rockville, Gaithersburg, Germantown, and Clarksburg. The corridor spans two counties (Montgomery and Frederick) and hosts 140 companies and counting that employee over 19,000 people between them.

One reason that buying a property along the corridor is a smart move? There are more massive developments underway that will bring plenty more jobs and plenty more employees in need of housing! Read on for some information about several of the largest planned developments.

Put Love in Your Life – Adopt a Dog or Cat!

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Adopt a Dog or a Cat

Adopt a dog or cat and put love in your life! I just adopted a standard poodle from a rescue organization and I am feeling the love! There is so much emphasis in February to design the perfect romantic Valentine’s Day. Of course it is fun to sip champagne and eat chocolates, but it’s only an evening. True love is what we all are after – in one form or another. Maybe this is the year to find that true love in the eyes of a rescued pet!

Romantic Things to Do in the DC Area

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romantic activities in Washington DC for children

February is here, which means many are scrambling to make plans for Valentine’s Day. If you are looking for some romantic things to do in the DC area, we have a few suggestions. While we recognize some people have a strong distaste for Valentine’s Day and choose not to acknowledge it, others enjoy the opportunity to spend some time with their loved one, or at the very least view the day as a good excuse to eat chocolate.

If you’re one of those people who enjoys celebrating Valentine’s Day, we’ve compiled a list of romantic things to do in the DC area. If you fall into the first category and wish that February 14th were just a normal day, then feel free to stop reading here (but consider treating yourself to some Valentine’s candy–that’s harmless!)

Neighborhood Spotlight: Alexandria

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Let’s get one thing out of the way: we recognize that Alexandria isn’t exactly a neighborhood. With a population of around 150,000 and around 200 independent restaurants and boutiques, Alexandria is better described as a small city. Nonetheless, we chose to feature it because it’s chock full of things to do and comes with some major perks for residents. For starters, living in Alexandria means an easy commute whether you work in DC or Northern Virginia! Alexandria offers easy metro access and it’s a hop, skip, and a jump to Reagan National airport for those who travel frequently. And, if you’re moving to the area to join the ranks at Amazon’s new HQ2, Alexandria is a perfect spot to call home–close to Arlington but with arguably more charm!

Even if you aren’t looking to move in 2020, this small city is most certainly worth a visit for both DMV locals and out of town visitors alike. Don’t take our word for it–Alexandria was named a Top 3 Best Small City in the U.S. by the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards in 2019! Read on for our guide to this lovely and historic town.