Market updates, home buying guides, and property selling strategies across Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington, DC.
If you are buying a home in Gaithersburg, Kentlands, Lakelands, or elsewhere in 20878 because you already imagine adding a deck, replacing a fence, installing a shed, or changing the exterior, investigate those plans before assuming they are possible. For properties within the City of Gaithersburg, a project can involve multiple layers of requirements. The […]
If you’re considering a remodeled home in Gaithersburg, Maryland, don’t evaluate the renovation only by how it looks. Buyers should also investigate what work was completed, whether permits were required, and what available City records show. The City of Gaithersburg requires residential permits for many common improvement projects. Examples include basement finishing, kitchen and bathroom […]
If you are selling a home in Montgomery County, Maryland, preparing the listing should include a review of both state and county disclosure requirements. Maryland law generally requires a seller of covered single-family residential property to provide either a residential property condition disclosure statement or a residential property disclaimer statement, subject to specific exceptions. Montgomery […]
If you are buying a home in Frederick County, Maryland, do not assume every property is taxed exactly the same way. For FY2027, Frederick County’s published resources identify a county real property tax rate of $1.11 per $100 of assessed value, while certain municipalities can have tax-equity adjustments and their own local tax considerations. For […]
If you are buying a home in Ashburn, Virginia, calculate property taxes using the individual parcel rather than a generic estimate for the ZIP code. Loudoun County’s 2026 general real taxable property rate is $0.805 per $100 of assessed value, but additional tax districts can apply to certain properties. Loudoun County’s Metrorail Service Districts, for […]
Buying a historic home in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia can require a different type of due diligence than purchasing a property without historic-district regulations. If a property is within Alexandria’s locally regulated Old and Historic Alexandria District, certain exterior changes visible from a public right of way require a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Board […]
When buying a condominium in Washington, DC, reviewing the unit itself is only part of the due diligence process. Buyers should also understand the condominium association, its finances, its rules, and the resale information provided under DC law. For qualifying condominium resales, DC law requires the seller to obtain and furnish specific condominium instruments and […]
If you are buying a home in Washington, DC, one locally specific closing expense deserves attention early in your budget: deed recordation tax. The DC Office of Tax and Revenue currently lists the residential recordation tax rate at 1.1% of consideration or fair market value for transfers under $400,000 and 1.45% on the entire applicable […]
If you are buying or selling a home in Gaithersburg, Maryland, a property may have several different values attached to it at the same time. The seller may have an asking price, the buyer may agree to a different contract price, Maryland may have an assessed value for property-tax purposes, and a mortgage lender may […]
If you are preparing to sell a home in Kentlands in Gaithersburg, Maryland, the most useful comparable sales are generally homes that resemble your property in meaningful ways—not simply the three closest recent sales. Property type, size, condition, location within the market, features, and timing can all affect how useful a comparable sale is. Maryland’s […]