January 25, 2013

7 Tips for Success in Real Estate from Paul Gale

As part of a series of mentoring sessions, Central Properties invited Paul Gale, a successful Sales Manager for Long & Foster in McLean VA, to talk to our agents. Paul tailored his talk for Real Estate Agents looking to build successful careers, building on the famous “7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” Here are some highlights, and most of it applies to any profession! To start, have a good mindset about what you’re doing. Find what makes you passionate in your career, and believe in what you’re doing. Be a team player. Everything must hinge upon core values of honesty, […]
March 12, 2013

Seminar: How to Appeal DC Property Taxes [Deanwood, March 26, 2013]

Central Properties agent Ericka Black is hosting a seminar on March 26th to help DC homeowners learn about property tax appeals, which can lead to lower property taxes. Last year Ericka successfully appealed her property tax assessment, and she’s bringing together Campbell Johnson and Kaye Darr of the Urban Housing Alliance to train others for 2013. Don’t miss this FREE seminar, learn about your rights: property tax appeals are due on April 1st! WHEN: Tuesday, March 26th at 6pm WHERE: Ward Memorial AME Church, 241 42nd St NE, Washington DC RSVP by 3/24 to: [email protected] Have more questions? Need help […]
April 4, 2013

8 Things to Look For at the Open House

It’s a great time of year to get a jump on the home buying competition by checking out open houses in DC Maryland and Virginia. Before getting in the car to run to the nearest “Open Sunday” sign, take note of these tips. The first tip is to do your research with your Realtor or online to find the properties in the neighborhoods that interest you. There are great mobile apps that can guide your search as well. Realtor.com, Trulia and other big sites have great mobile apps which let you search for open houses by list or map and […]
April 25, 2013
Getting a Mortgage

6 Key Considerations When Applying for a Mortgage

For most would-be homebuyers, making a run at homeownership is going to mean getting approved for a home loan. It’s a process that, at best, can be stressful and confusing. Borrowers can be better prepared by taking steps to study their options and learn what to expect from a lender. “It’s surprising to me that people tend to spend more time in pre-purchase research for a car than they do for a home mortgage,” says Chris George, president of home mortgage lender CMG Financial. Keeping up to date on changes in the mortgage market is necessary, because the government, which essentially […]
January 6, 2014

Starting Your Career in Real Estate: How to Get Licensed in DC, VA & MD

If you’re interested in starting your real estate career in the DC area, first you should decide which jurisdictions you want to be licensed in. Many agents in the area find it’s beneficial to get licensed in more than one state so they can serve buyers and sellers as they move about the region. Wherever you chose to start, first you’ll need to hit the books. Here is the step-by-step process to get your license in DC, MD or VA: Have more questions? Need help buying or selling your home? Talk to us: we can help!   1 Step 1 […]
January 6, 2014
First Time Homebuyers

5 Tips for First Time Homebuyers

Are you thinking about buying your first home this year? It has been said repeatedly that this is one of the biggest financial decisions you will ever make. It’s both an exciting and nerve-racking time for perspective homeowners. Setting realistic expectations is a must; rarely do first time home buyers purchase their dream home. That may happen on the second or third purchase. The first step is to save! According the National Association of Realtors, 32% of all buyers cut spending on luxury or non-essential items. Twenty-six percent cut spending on entertainment, 20% cut spending on clothes and 13% canceled […]
January 24, 2014

5 Tips To Prepare Your Home for Sale

If one of your goals for this year is to sell your home, here’s five easy ways to improve the odds of getting the offer you are looking for: 1. Price it right First thing is to set a price at the lower end of your property’s realistic price range. A home that’s priced right for the market attracts serious buyers. An overpriced home may miss out on the all important first few weeks of showings, after which time the listing will appear stale. Have more questions? Need help buying or selling your home? Talk to us: we can help!   […]
July 2, 2014

REALTORS: Discover The Secrets of Branding to Boost Business

Realtors who attended the Central Properties Mentors Series event on “Branding for Success” were treated to a crash course on the importance of defining and positioning their personal brands in real estate. The presenter, Dave Mangan founder of Idea House, explained that branding is shorthand for what people think of you, and that managing your brand is a way to influence how you’re perceived in the marketplace. Personal branding is tied to your reputation and to the perception of others. For better or worse, “branding” is happening whether you think about it or not. So it’s a good idea to […]