Haymarket Homes Guide

DC METRO REAL ESTATE

Serving the Real Estate needs of the communities of Manassas, Bristow, Haymarket, Warrenton, Gainesville and Culpeper  in Northern Virginia


Dave Scardina  
Broker / Owner

703-829-SOLD

866-909-0900

Haymarket Homes Guide

Haymarket has special regulations


Every area has its own building regulations. You need to know how these restrictions will affect the design of your Haymarket home. Issues to consider include zoning, setbacks, rights of way and easements. Most subdivisions have CC&Rs (Covenants, Codes and Restrictions). Studies of Haymarket demonstrate that these carefully to make sure they are not too restrictive for your needs or create excessive building costs.

Qualifying the Buyer for your Haymarket Property


Either you or your agent will want to weed out potential buyers who cannot afford to purchase your Haymarket home. Items to investigate include the buyer’s debt and credit history, current income and employment, the availability of cash for a down payment, the time the buyer needs before closing on the home and the buyer’s level of interest in your home as compared to other properties.


Haymarket Home Improvement


Don't change the general architecture of the home, and make sure that renovations match. For example, a modern steel door doesn't belong on a ranch house built in the 1970s. Be aware of the features in Haymarket.

Do it Yourself?
Be extremely confident you're capable of taking on a project before trying to do it yourself. When it comes time to sell your Haymarket home, believe me buyers can and do spot all the signs of amateur work and they discount their offer accordingly.


Haymarket Real Estate Cycles


During a slow economic time, fewer people are buying homes in the Haymarket market. Even so, some homeowners find themselves in a situation where they must sell. Families grow beyond the capacity of the home, employees get relocated, and some may even find themselves unable to make their mortgage payment - perhaps because of a layoff in the family.

During sellers' markets, Haymarket real estate sells quickly and sellers have a lot of pricing power. As a result, prices rise more rapidly than at other times. During buyers' markets, Haymarket real estate may sit on the market for a while before selling, so sellers become more flexible and may even drop their prices.


Guidelines for Buying Haymarket


The Internet is great but nothing really substitutes for your personal inspection of homes that are for sale in the Haymarket. When you have visited plenty of homes online and in person when the right property comes along you will know it.

It is perfectly normal for buyers to have a general idea of what they want in a home without a great deal of specificity. Research, both online and in person will help you define your Haymarket needs but you can and should know your financial needs before you even start looking. I recommend that buyers go through the process of prequalifying with a lender or at least with a real estate agent in order to narrow the search among homes that are a possibility. Many agents refuse to show homes to prospective buyers who have not been pre-qualified.


When Haymarket Does Not Sell


Here is where your agent’s expertise and diligence comes into play. A top agent will consider what similar Haymarket have sold for within the last 3 to 6 months and compare those homes condition, features and location with your home. If there are no comparable sales in the area, which is often the case with custom or one-of-a-kind properties, the agent may suggest that you obtain a formal appraisal.

A homeowner who must sell and sell quickly needs to price their Haymarket at or slightly below market to ensure a quick sale. A different homeowner may want to sell but has time and wants to get the top market price. These homeowners will often price the home slightly above current market prices and expect interested buyers to offer a lower amount to start the negotiation.