Real Estate Investing, Sell Your House

Prince George’s County leads Maryland for Home Price Gains

Prince George’s County, Maryland, remains the most affordable housing market in the D.C. region, but prices there are rising at the fastest pace in suburban Maryland.

Prince George’s is home to Six Flags America, the Capitol Wheel, and the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center – not to mention a number of parks and gardens full of green hiking trails. The county also lays claim to the University of Maryland’s main campus in College Park, with more than 40,000 students.

In September 2019, the median price of what sold in Prince George’s County was $315,000. That’s $21,000, or 7%, more than the median price of what sold in Prince George’s County a year ago.

The median home price in Prince George’s County is still almost $275,000 lower than the median price in Arlington County, Virginia, the region’s most expensive county for home prices.

In Prince George’s County, two positive trends for sellers over the past year are that the median sale price has increased and the average days on the market has decreased. However, the decrease in units sold and sold dollar volume – especially when paired with the 16.5% increase in new listings – may be cause for concern for investors looking to sell freshly rehabbed properties in the coming months.

For sellers in Prince George’s County, buyers are willing to pay full price. The list-versus-sale price in the county last month was 99.5%, and what sold went under contract in an average of 32 days. The number of homes on the market in Prince George’s County is down 34% from last fall.

If you are interested in selling your home fast Maryland, DC and Virginia residents, there is no better time than now. So call 8 Day Home Sale today at 240-847-0859 for a Same-Day Cash Offer on Your House

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Investing, Real Estate Investing, Rentals

What to Look for When Choosing a Rental Property

Are you interested in purchasing property to rent to others in Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC, or Baltimore? Whether this is your first time investing in rental property or if you have some experience, there are a few characteristics you should take into account when considering a property to make sure that you are getting the most for your investment.

Location

The area and neighborhood where the property is should play a crucial role in your decision process. The area will significantly affect the rent prices, the type of tenants that you will attract, and potentially your vacancy rate.

Development Opportunities

Referencing the location, what changes will the area experience in the coming years? If there is significant development planned around the property including shopping centers, apartment complexes, and business parks, it is a good sign and can have positive impacts on the property’s value over time.

Nearby Schools

If you are in the market for family-sized rental properties, the quality of the local schools should play a significant role in your decision-making process. Having quality schools close to your property will significantly improve its value in many ways besides price. For instance, families will be willing to stay longer if their kids are enrolled in a school they like which helps you reduce your vacancy rates.

Work that Needs to Be Done

When looking at rental properties, you should perform an adequate evaluation of the condition of the home. If you aren’t very experienced, you can hire someone to take a look at the property to make sure that you know what you are buying. If the home needs extensive work and you don’t have the skills or desire to fix it, it’s best to pass and find a property that is in better condition.

Property Taxes

Property taxes will vary from area to area, and because you are hoping to generate income from the rental property, you need to know how much you’ll be losing to taxes. Visit the local assessment office to see the property tax rates for the area so you can accurately include it in your revenue estimates.

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Buying a New House, Real Estate Investing

How to Buy a House in Maryland That Will Appreciate in Value

Real estate is believed to be among one of the top 3 long term investments in the United States, coming only second place to stocks and ranking better than gold. In some economies particularly those in Europe, real estate is ranked highest in stable returns for any investment.

But where does the value of real estate come from? Do you just buy a house haphazardly or are there strategies? When you think of real estate investing, most people make it sound easy. House flipping shows have glamorized real estate, portraying many falsehoods and leaving out pitfalls. In terms of primary residences, many people believe any house they buy will go up in value no matter what. Buying houses should be taken as seriously as all other forms of investing.

Here are some tips for buying a house in Maryland or Washington DC that will appreciate in value:

1. Check your location

Let’s say you see a nice property that is really affordable and is selling at a lower price than the usual market price, it wouldn’t be a wise decision to just go straight ahead and buy the property before doing your research. Go to the local board and look for the plan of the neighborhood. If there is going to be an industrial area or even a land dump close by, the value of that particular property will drastically decrease.

2. Unusually High Houses for Sale

Unless a neighborhood is in its initial development stages, you should be wary of acquiring a property if more than five other houses in the area are for sale. People might be running away from that neighborhood for some a reason. Zillow is a great resource for this.

3. Facilities

What facilities are in the area where you want to purchase property? The three facilities which are a must and will have a positive impact on the overall value of your house are schools, medical centers and shopping malls. If an area does not have these three or any plans indicating that these will be there soon, then it’s not a wise idea for you to get a property in such an area.

4. Fixer uppers are the best

Houses that will require work are usually the best investment. You can buy a house and get a 203K loan for renovations. This will usually lead to $30,000+ in instant equity.

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