105 articles in Real Estate Education
How Harrisonburg VA real estate can build long-term wealth: rental strategies, equity, and running the numbers on investment property in the Shenandoa...
Harrisonburg VA real estate is one of the Valley's most approachable wealth-builders. How first-time investors get started — and pitfalls to avoid.
What does contingent mean in real estate? A Harrisonburg buyer's guide to contingencies, pending listings, and making offers on Valley homes.
A complete guide to closing costs for homebuyers in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, Virginia — what to expect, who pays, and how to reduce them.
Learn how home appraisals work in Harrisonburg VA, what appraisers look for, how much they cost, and what to do if your appraisal comes in low. A comp...
Profiting in a Competitive Real Estate Market This month we had Nhan Lam guest speaking on: How to Profit in a Competitive Real Estate Market. Nhan is...
First impressions matter, and this is particularly true in real estate. Whether you’re looking for ways to increase the value of your home, or just lo...
With the Fourth of July right around the corner, you may be brainstorming ideas on how to celebrate with friends or family in a time of social distanc...
A kitchen is central to both the style and functionality of a home. The average American spends about 40 minutes per day in the kitchen preparing food...
As many of us find ourselves working from home, you may realize the temporary work space you had set up in the corner of the kitchen was fine in the f...
Client Care Packages provided by Funkhouser Group Even in the face of COVID-19, the real estate market in Shenandoah Valley remains active. Funkhouser...
Although the Covid-19 pandemic has forced most of us to shelter-in-place, some of us may find it necessary to move to a new shelter. A move could be…
In a time of social distancing, if you are looking to purchase a home, you may be wondering how to go about touring houses without exposing yourself o...
The rapid spread of COVID-19 has lead to a world-wide and state-mandated move to shelter in place. For now, our homes are not just emotional sanctuari...
In recent years, homeowners have opted to replace their kitchen cabinets for open shelves. When done correctly, open shelving can complement all style...
For several years, some of the residents in the Massanutten area have been working towards making the community an incorporated town. The movement has...
For several years, some of the residents in the Massanutten area have been working towards making the community an incorporated town. The movement has...
On January 27th, 2020, Rockingham County Schools voted to enact a redistricting proposal with the hopes of alleviating overcrowding at two schools. Th...
Congratulations, you’ve just moved into your new home! But now what? You’ll need to be prepared for the unexpected when it comes to maintaining your n...
If you are not familiar with the term Feng Shui, Wikipedia describes it as: "Feng shui is a Chinese metaphysical and quasi-philosophical system that s...
Avoid Changing your Financial Profile If you have your house under contract, this probably means that you have gotten a pre-approval/qualification let...
A home is, for most of us, the biggest expenditure we will ever make. How do you figure out how much home you can afford? The Calculations New website...
In our last post we explored some of the pros of buying new construction. In this post we’ll look at the downside of buying new construction, and the...
One of the decisions you will need to make in choosing a new home is whether you want to look at pre-owned homes or new construction, either custom-b...
When it comes to choosing a new home, it’s important to define your must-haves. These are items on your wishlist that are non-negotiable. It’s importa...
If you are looking for a new home, there are many real estate professionals out there who will want to work with you. How do you select the right real...
Buying a new home doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are 10 Simple Steps to follow to buy your first home. 1. Credit Score Find out your credit sc...
Owning one’s own home is truly part of the American dream. Home ownership means many different things, being rooted and grounded in a community, havin...
There are a plethora of misconceptions and myths concerning real estate agents in our society today. While these do hold true for some unethical agent...
The truth about open houses. There is a longstanding myth within the real estate profession that hosting open houses is one of the key steps to sellin...
Whether you are a parent, babysitter, friend, or relative, if you are having small children in your home it is incredibly important to make sure you a...
Landscaping is one of the easiest options available to significantly improve the value of your home. While there is no magic number for return on…
Summer is coming quickly here in the Shenandoah Valley. While summer brings many wonderful things, one unwelcome thing it brings is a higher prevalenc...
Saving money is one of the main reasons people sell For Sale By Owner (FSBO). It makes logical sense. If a person sells their house for $200,000, they...
Advertising your home by posting pictures online is one of the first and most important marketing steps you will take when selling your home. More and...
A great, one-of-a-kind new service has just hit Harrisonburg, and they want your compost. Soil Cycles, a nonprofit started in June by two Harrisonbur...
One part of a real estate contract that can result in a significant amount of stress, confusion, and conflict, between buyer and seller, are inclusio...
There may not be a formal sign up yet, but you may have noticed a space in the Walmart shopping plaza has opened up for business. Wisam’s Salon and…
Like many terms in the real estate industry, it can be hard to really get a handle on what a term like "PMI" means, but we’re breaking down the facts...
In the Daily News Record, an article discussed Harrisonburg's current recycling program. The article states that the city is "examining recycling prog...
According to the NAR's 2017 Remodeling Impact Report, adding a new roof will bring 109% return on your investment. The NAR estimated that the job woul...
Despite many of our yards currently being rivers, there will be a time soon when it would be nice to sit around a fire and grill hot dogs and roast sm...
Gross income is the total amount of income you can get in a property. This is important to understand because this number isn't necessarily guaranteed...
Moving into a new home is an exciting time, and you’re probably daydreaming about decor and paint schemes and new furniture. But before you get into t...
So we're about get a lot of snow. Is this something to be concerned about? How do you know when your roof has too much snow on it? First and foremost,...
Can you picture the exact home you want to buy? That's great! If you can't, don't worry! Many people can't imagine exactly what they are looking for....
This blog is part of my Developments in the Harmony Heights Area series. Click here to see what other blogs I've written and what will be coming. Gi...
I am introducing the blog series on developments around the Harmony Heights area. You may have seen development happening or heard rumors of things to...
As we have been hearing since before the boom, Harrisonburg is growing! That being said, some new developments still come up from time to time within...
Folks, if you haven't been in a corn maze in a while, you are in for a treat. North River Corn Maze has new designs this year. If you aren't familiar...
By now, you may have driven past the intersection of Country Club Rd and East Market St and seen some construction activity. This is where the new Ald...
If you haven't filed your taxes, now would be a good time. Even if you have filed them, it's a good to know what deductibles are possible to claim as...
If you are interested in getting your house ready for an appraisal, someone is likely applying for a loan on your house. Whether someone is buying you...
Here you will find an overview of deductibles you can use in relation to Real Estate. For more information, or advice, contact a CPA or tax attorney....
The process of selling a home and buying a new one can be stressful especially if you are moving out of one and into the other on the day of settleme...
Time will tell if winter storm Helena will amount to much in the Valley but it is smart to be prepared for snow in winter. It may be time to upgrade t...
Nothing will stop a buyer faster than a bad first impression. What can you do to make sure your house smells fresh and inviting? Pet Odors First begin...
The election day is tomorrow. I hope everyone plans to go out and vote! Polls are open from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm. If you don't know your voting precinct...
According to Realtor.com, when making upgrades to sell your home, adding attic insulation is the most cost effective upgrade. In fact, adding insulati...
If you are an active buyer in the Harrisonburg and Rockingham area, you have probably had a house you are interested in go under contract. So, what ar...
I talk with a lot of people who purchased homes at the peak of the bubble. In Harrisonburg/Rockingham, the peak of the market, in terms of median sale...
If you are thinking of maximizing the resale potential of outdoor remodeling, take a look at this helpful infographic from the National Association of...
With all the well built real estate websites available, you may wonder why you would want to use the local MLS to find houses? The truth is, the MLS i...
According to the NPR broadcast linked below, national home sales continue to rise but the amount of first time home buyers remains stagnant. Is it tha...
Going Green The environment is a growing concern for many people. Going green has been has been an increasingly common phrase for products, organizat...
Have you ever wanted to be a part of a record? Well you may have your chance today! Come to Westover pool today (June 24th, 2016) at 11:15 for the wor...
Harrisonburg City has announced their plans for road construction in 2016. While this may mean some inconvenience, it is important to maintain the roa...
Zillow has recently been promoting their new video tour feature. Video tours have been a round for a while. You probably have probably watched one in...
The National Association of Realtors released a quarterly report stating that the national median sales price was $217,600 during the first quarter of...
As a frequent commuter on Reservoir, I welcome the news of Reservoir St getting some updates. The city plans on updating Reservoir St from the county...
Research Shows According to this graph from the National Association or Realtors, most people would move to a similar place to where they currently li...
When I lived in Germany, I always heard that you could buy a castle for 1 Euro. The stipulation would be that you had to restore the castle. I always…
Cheap Kitchen Updates The kitchen is one the best updates you can do to your home to increase it's value. However, it can also be one of the most expe...
In general, it's a good idea to keep receipts for improvements on your home. With those receipts, you can determine the best tax plan with your accoun...
Many people have been looking for the market to fully recover since the bubble burst. Those who purchased a home at the height of the market are…
Timberville had an excellent year for sales: Here are some of the highlights. Click here for the full report. - 2015 sales were higher than all years,...
Data Source: Harrisonburg-Rockingham Association of REALTORS (R) MLS When doing November's market report I noticed something curious: In 2015 we've ha...
According to the NAR, they anticipate the market to be strong nationally in the next 6 months. What can we say about our area? As of December 8th, 201...
So the house of your dreams just went under contract... What are the chances that the contract will fall through? The above is a snap shot of the year...
What is Earnest money? It's in the name. Earnest money is money is a way a buyer can show their good faith to the seller. The funds can help separate...
There has been a lot of hype surrounding the change of the settlement documents. As you can read in myprevious blog, a lot of people were predicting w...
On the national level, commercial real estate prices are officially higher than they were in 2007; at the peak of the market before the crash. Accor...
Austin Garber, Timberville town manager, reports that Walmart has purchased and is planning to develop land on South Main St. by American Legion Dr. W...
If you are not familiar with the new closing documents, named TILA RESPA Integrated Documentation (TRID), that were supposed to come on August 1st, ch...
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is requiring all lenders to begin using new closing documents on August 1st. The new documents are an attempt...
More Info This beautiful country home is sitting on 2 acres of land. Enjoy country views from the front porch. Two storage sheds, and an unfinished ba...
Below is an interactive graphic from the National Association of Realtors. This graphic helps give a simple outline of the sales in the United states...
Do you remember signing a seemingly insurmountable stack of papers to buy your house and get your mortgage? Why would you want to do this again? In es...
Do you have a dream area you want to live in? Do you wish you could choose to be alerted for a specific area? Check out the Map Search option at…
Are you interested in moving to the Broadway/Timberville area? Do you already live in the area and want to know about the local market? Did your neigh...
This blog is part 8 of a series. Click here for: The Process for Selling Your House: An Overview. The selling agent and clients will select a title co...
3 Bed | 2 Full Baths | 2,030 Square Feet | 1.81 Acres Offering space to relax in privacy this well care for home is situated on a large level lot loca...
This blog is part 6 of a series. Click here for: The Process for Selling Your House: An Overview. When choosing a REALTOR®, it's important to get a se...
This blog is part 5 of series. Click here for: The Process for Selling Your House: An Overview. Communication is very important. Establishing a clear…
$164,900 - 3 Beds - 1 Bath - 15543SparMine.com This beautiful country home is sitting on 2 acres of land. Enjoy country views from the front porch. Tw...
Have you found the house of your dreams? Is the house a steal? Is the house so perfect that you want to make sure you get it? Has your Realtor let you...
Mobile: iPad App Promo | Funkhouser Real Estate Group from The Enterprise Network on Vimeo. Download Funkhouser Real Estate Group's app and discover a...
After you have ratified your contract and fulfilled the contingencies, it is time to start thinking about your move! Use our checklist to help you get...
In my previous blog, we checked out Exclusive Vs. Designated Representation. Clickhere for more information. Dual Representation The Seller and Buyer...
Exclusive Representation The Seller and Buyer are exclusively represented by separate Agents and separate Firms. The Agent and the Firm are solely…
The brokerage agreement is new to many people when purchasing Real Estate. It used to be that sellers needed to sign a contract to work with a sellers...
When considering where to buy a house, school district is usually very important to most buyers. Maybe you are re-locating or simply don't know a lot...
Obviously, I think you should choose me as your Realtor®. However, I won't use this article to tell you why you should choose me. Instead, I will ex...
Sales are up! This is great news for people looking to sell their home. As you can see from the graph, home sales are at a 4 year high in the month of...
Mattias Clymer Realtor with Funkhouser Real Estate Group According to Saber Grills, Outdoor Living 2014, 83% said that outdoor living area is the favo...