Saving for a down payment may seem difficult, especially if you're new to the idea of buying a home. It's not impossible, though, and a carefully planned strategy can make all the difference in helping you save. Here are a few suggestions from our real estate agents to help you save up a down payment.
As you save for your down payment, don't forget that there are programs to help reduce the down payment burden for first-time homebuyers. For more information about down payments or questions about buying your first home, contact us today.
Sometimes a myth is fun to believe, but other times, it has a negative impact on your ability to accomplish your goals. Our real estate agents know that real estate myths are fairly common in our industry. Here are several we've heard over the years that we want to debunk.
Our team has the experience needed to help you successfully navigate the Central Virginia real estate market. Contact us today for assistance!
Credit scores have long been a mystery to homebuyers, in both how they are determined and how they matter in the long run. Most people think that if you pay your bills on time, you'll have a good score, but our real estate agents can tell you that there is far more to it than that. But while the exact formula used to determine your score is not public knowledge, you still have a great deal of control over it. Here's how you can optimize your credit score and qualify for a mortgage with a good rate.
If you're considering Richmond homes for sale, be sure to contact us for help navigating the mortgage process.
Our first video is all about HOW & WHY to do the real estate home search. Some ways are better than others (looking at you, Zillow) – learn how to search with the home experts!
Central Virginia had a very active December 2020! After an unexpected year, we are happy to see the market staying active and fast-moving!
December had thousands of transactions and we're seeing big jumps in higher home prices as time goes on, month over month, year over year.
Let's see what 2021 will bring for CVA! Contact Napier Realtors ERA for your buying and selling needs and view homes for sale now.
October had thousands of transactions and we're seeing big jumps in higher home prices as time goes on, month over month, year over year.
Contact Napier Realtors ERA for your buying and selling needs. https://www.napierera.com/contact/
From Dinwiddie to Colonial Heights, to Fort Lee from Petersburg – we've got the Tri Cities covered!
Contact Napier Realtors ERA for your buying and selling needs. https://www.napierera.com/contact/
September had thousands of transactions and we're seeing big jumps in higher home prices as time goes on, month over month, year over year.
Contact Napier Realtors ERA for your buying and selling needs. https://www.napierera.com/contact/
August had thousands of transactions and we're seeing higher home prices as time goes on, month over month, year over year.
Contact Napier Realtors ERA for your buying and selling needs. https://www.napierera.com/contact/
Buying a new home can be exciting, complicated, and overwhelming all at the same time. After all, it's also commonly considered one of the largest financial decisions many people will make in a lifetime. With so much on the line, it can be easy to make mistakes, especially if you're buying your first home. Being prepared is the best way to avoid costly pitfalls. If you're considering these Richmond homes for sale, below are six things to know before you buy.
If you're in the market for your first home, our real estate agents can help guide you along the way. Contact us today!
The time to list your home in Central Virginia could be now! Home inventory is low, and prices are rising. The real estate market in our area continues to be extremely active and in the month of July alone, 2525 homes were listed, and 2655 homes were successfully sold! The average sales price in our area was $320,592 in July 2020, up 6.8% over last year.
If you've been putting off listing your home, this could be the perfect opportunity to contact a Napier ERA sales professional, who can give you an accurate assessment of what you can expect in your local market.
Contact Napier ERA today to get started!
Central Virginia is still buying and selling in Summer 2020! June had thousands of transactions and we're seeing higher home prices as time goes on. Even the average price has increased since June 2019. Watch our latest video for all the latest numbers.
Contact Napier Realtors ERA for your buying and selling needs.
May & June are going strong in Richmond's Real Estate Market
It's a GREAT time to list your home in Central Virginia because home inventory is low and prices are rising.
The real estate market in our area continues to be extremely active and in the month of May alone, 2,513 homes were listed, and 1,952 homes were successfully sold!The average sales price in our area was $300,826 in May 2020 compared to $288,203 last May – more than a 4% increase!
If you've been putting off listing your home, this could be the perfect opportunity to contact a Napier ERA sales professional, who can give you an accurate assessment of what you can expect in your market.
Contact Napier ERA today to get started!
Central Virginia is still buying and selling in Spring 2020! April brought us over 4000 transactions – and May is going strong!
Keep up with all the latest Richmond housing news when you Subscribe to our YouTube Channel and Like Us on Facebook
Home design trends are fun to stay updated on, which is why there are so many TV shows dedicated to highlighting them! But seeing a trend take shape on a home renovation show is different from considering it as a prospective homeowner. Open floor plans have cycled in and out of fashion for quite a long time, and according to The Spruce, the most recent trend started in the 1990s. If you're considering homes built after 1950, you'll probably see a few open floor plans among the Richmond homes for sale. Determining whether they are right for you involves paying attention to several key factors.
Mix and Mismatch
Open floor plans work best when the decor scheme is consistent, or at least harmonious, between spaces. A farmhouse kitchen and a shabby chic dining room will work well together, but if your coffee table is glass and chrome and your kitchen table weathered wood, the lack of a wall between the two will make that contrast jarring. This includes major appliances, so if you have a chrome refrigerator that you love, it may wind up influencing the look of the entire first floor. A closed floor plan creates a mental "reset" as you move through doors to new rooms, so if you have very different styles for different rooms, a closed floor plan might be for you. If you have an eclectic style, or if your preferred style is consistent throughout your home, an open floor plan is a great way to show that off.
The Family That Stays Together
If you have children, floor plans affect family life in distinct ways. The flow of sound in the household isn't broken up by doors, which may not be the best situation when you're trying to get a toddler to nap so you can make a phone call. Some open floor plans have closed kitchens, which can be crucial to the safety of very young children. Older kids and teens may want privacy. But opening up a floor plan can also encourage the family to interact more. You may get to hear more about your teen's day at school besides the fact that it was "fine." But if you need to tiptoe backward out of the nursery so you can finally watch a movie, a closed floor plan is best.
Over the Overflow
Without walls and doors to break up a space, everything moves freely. This can include heated or cooled air into spaces that aren't being used, dust into far corners, and various household items into spaces where they don't belong. For large homes with young children, keeping heating and cooling costs down while maintaining an organized home could be challenging. But if your dream home is small and you keep clutter to a minimum, an open floor plan can be an excellent choice.
Our REALTORS® will be happy to discuss the best floor plan options for the way you live.
There is no universally ideal home design, which is why there are so many. Whether a home design is on trend is much less important than your comfort. We're here to help you find the home you love, so contact us today.
Our REALTORS® know getting a mortgage on the best terms is something all buyers think about. That's especially true of first-time buyers! When you're exploring the best Richmond homes for sale, sound financing means peace of mind.
Luckily, the mortgage process is a lot easier than it seems at first!
The more you know, the simpler it is to get a mortgage loan you can be happy with. We'd like to address one of the most common questions about home financing our team gets: The difference between pre-qualifying for a loan versus receiving pre-approval.
When it comes to getting a great home loan, starting sooner makes life easier.
Prequalification and preapproval are steps you take to smooth the path to your final loan package. You can think of one of them as the trial run, while the other is the "real deal."
Pre-qualifying can happen in a matter of minutes the first time you talk to your lender. You discuss your finances and get a ballpark estimate for what loan amount you can expect. It's not necessary to document your income, and you're not committing.
Pre-qualification is often the first or second step someone takes before starting a house hunt since it indicates what homes and neighborhoods to focus on. It's a good idea to check with several different lenders and take an average of their estimates.
Pre-approval, on the other hand, represents a conditional commitment by your lender. During the pre-approval process, you submit detailed documentation of your income. The lender takes extra steps to verify your financial health, including a detailed credit check.
Once you "pass" pre-approval, your loan package is effectively ready. You can bid on a home at or below your conditional loan approval amount. However, you need to act quickly. Specific loan amounts and rates are usually only locked in for 30-90 days.
A loan commitment is a final step. It's issued only when the lender approves both the funding amount and the property. This takes longer because lenders want to make sure the home is insurable, usually by awaiting the results of a home inspection.
Technically, you can skip pre-qualification if you wish. It is not a requirement, but it will give you some beneficial advantages as you move through the buying process.
First and foremost, you'll never have to guess how much funding you may qualify for. That saves you time and effort you might otherwise waste on properties that won't fit your budget.
Plus, you have the chance to see whether a given lender seems right for you. How a lender responds to your questions and discusses your needs can provide you with plenty of insight.
Pre-approval is valuable, too. Although it's not the same as a loan commitment, it gives you a negotiating edge when working with sellers. They'll know you are ready to move forward right away. Only cash bidders can offer sellers a faster process.
Whether you're pre-approved, pre-qualified, or just getting started, Napier ERA is here for you.
Our experienced team members are experts in the Richmond area. We'll work with you to find properties fitting your needs and your budget. Contact us to find out more.
For first-time buyers, furnishing a new home is equal parts fun and intimidating. Give a gift this holiday season that will help warm up a new home.
Get holiday gift inspiration from this baker's dozen list of holiday gifts for first-time homebuyers compiled by our REALTORS®.
Any of these items would make wonderful accents for the beautiful Richmond homes for sale. Whether you're buying or selling, contact us to get started.
While showing our clients the best Richmond homes for sale, many of our REALTORS® have gotten questions about HOAs.
An HOA – Homeowners Association – is an organization that oversees property maintenance and special amenities for a particular group of homes. HOAs can be established in an average neighborhood, but you will usually find them in planned communities and some apartments.
Before you move into an HOA home, you need to meet with a representative. That person will go over the guidelines contained in a document called the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions. This spells out what residents can and can't do.
Naturally, there are pros and cons to the decision to move forward:
The key to a successful experience with a homeowners association is to gather information from multiple sources. In addition to HOA representatives, talk to current residents – and previous ones, if possible.
The experts at Napier ERA will help you find the ideal HOA development for you.
Contact us today to get started.
Between packing and loading the truck to transporting kids, pets, and belongings to a new home, moving can be stressful. Although most people breathe a big sigh of relief when they land in their new surroundings, getting settled can also be overwhelming. Our REALTORS® know that there's so much more to settling in than moving furniture and unpacking. Here are some tips on how to make the process run smoothly and get settled into your new place.
Are you interested in learning more about Richmond homes for sale? We can help you find a home you'll love. Contact us to get started.
In a crowded marketplace, homebuyers are doing anything they can to stand apart from the crowd. And while making a smart bid is important, it's not always the highest bidder who wins. Often, it's a personal touch that wins sellers over.
Our real estate agents have found that writing a personalized offer letter is one of the best ways to make yourself stand out. Here's why it works – and how you can write a great message that puts you at the head of the pack.
Buying a home is a financial decision, but it's also a personal one. Selling a home is the same way. There are a lot of emotions tied up in the process of selling a house, especially if the seller has lived there for a long time, made a lot of memories, or maybe even raised a family there. In many cases, the seller doesn't just want to sell the house; they want to make sure it's in good hands.
That's where writing a letter comes in. It's an opportunity to make a personal connection with the seller, to let them know that you're the right person to live in their house and that you see the house as more than a collection of rooms – that you care. The personal touch of writing a letter can also give you a leg up if you aren't the highest bidder on the property. Writing a great personalized offer letter is a perfect option if you're in one of these situations:
Writing a letter is an opportunity to convey your feelings about the house, but it's important not to get too swept up in your emotions. Plan your message carefully, and follow these tips to write an offer letter that stands out:
Contact us today to learn more about making a great offer that no seller can ignore. From start to finish, our real estate agents are here to help you along on your journey toward homeownership.
So, you're ready to make the leap from renting to owning your own home, but you're worried that your credit score might hold you back. If that's the case, you're far from alone. Our real estate agents get a lot of questions about how prospective homeowners can improve their credit score before buying a house, and we're here to provide some answers.
We firmly believe that homeownership should be within everyone's reach, and we're committed to providing the tools you need to make that dream a reality. In fact, we've designed a home-buying tool just for you! You enter a few pieces of information, and we'll return a list of homes we think are affordable for you based upon those entries.
Our mortgage partner, Movement Mortgage, is available to assist you in qualifying for and obtaining a home loan.
Contact us today to learn more about how you can boost your credit score and improve your ability to own your own home.
Fall is in the air and the holiday season is gearing up. As you prepare to do your holiday shopping, our real estate agents want you to know that there is no better gift to your family than a new home. As you consider homes for sale in Henrico, the following are seven tips that can turn your homeownership dreams into a reality this holiday season.
When visions of new homes replace the sugarplums and fairies in your dreams, Napier ERA Real Estate can help you make your home ownership dreams a reality. Contact us to start searching for homes for sale in Henrico this holiday season and to learn more about our services.
Richmond has long enjoyed a rich and diverse culinary scene. Recently, though, it has attracted more attention – drawing visitors from across the U.S. and even around the world.
In late 2016, WalletHub helped put Richmond on the map, noting it was #1 Per Capita in Craft Breweries and Wineries among America's 150 top cities and #9 overall for the best food and within the top ten in four other categories. In 2017, Zagat added Richmond to their list of the "30 most exciting food cities in America 2017."
No matter if you're taking a long weekend or checking out Richmond homes for sale, there are some local restaurants you simply shouldn't overlook. If you're ready to get a true taste of Richmond, we've got some memorable recommendations for you!
Once you get a taste of all Richmond has to offer, you might just find you're not so eager to leave. Contact Napier ERA and we'll help you find the right new home for you in the heart of Richmond or any of our welcoming local communities.
When you're buying a home in a new city, it's hard to know if you're making the right choice by choosing a specific house—not to mention an entire neighborhood. Home buyers often ask our REALTORS®, "How do I know if this neighborhood is the right one for my family?"
There are a lot of answers to this question; however, finding your own best place to live is a personal process. Your list of wants, needs, and preferences will shape what you're looking for in a home. Understanding how to prepare, prioritize, and reach an informed decision ultimately goes a long way in finding the right Richmond homes.
When you begin to search for homes in our community, here are six tips to help you get started:
Finding the right place to call home takes effort, but it's more than worth it. When you find the right neighborhood, home, and community, you've got a great chance of loving your next home for years to come. Contact us at Napier ERA to get started.
Moving can be stressful. We all know it. As excited as you surely are to be finding your new home in Richmond, there are a lot of important decisions to be made, and many of them aren't easy.
If you're a parent, there may be no more important decision than where your children go to school. That means you need to find not only the perfect home in the area, but also the perfect school. We understand the challenges, which is why our real estate agents are eager to share these tips for finding the right school.
There are two basic strategies for finding a great school in a new city. Either you can find your dream home and then look for great schools nearby, or you can find your dream school and then look for great homes nearby. Either option can work for you, but it's good to start out with a solid plan of attack.
Contact Napier ERA today to learn more about the process of relocating to Richmond, VA. Our team is here to help you every step of the way, from locating your dream home to living your new life to its fullest!
If you're the kind of person who likes to do things on your own, you might find the idea of an FSBO sale – for sale by owner – intriguing. Unfortunately, the benefits that people expect often fail to materialize ... and the final sale turns out to be much less profitable than planned.
Homeowners who are going into their first sale often believe they can save money and even speed up the process by going it alone. When things go poorly at first, it's easy for inexperienced sellers to double down and feel like they just need to "tough it out." By the time they decide to work with a qualified real estate agent, they may have done more harm than good selling their home.
By the time someone is there to get the sale on track, trends in the housing market could be shifting. Sometimes, the changes are positive ones. In many cases, though, sellers find themselves running after the initial conditions that persuaded them to sell in the first place.
That can be a disaster – it could even sabotage the prospects for selling at all.
How FSBOs Go Bad
It would be one thing if an FSBO went south in a few days or even a few weeks – that would leave you time to recover. But problems often unfold slowly, with their own gravity, that brings you inexorably to a failed sale. There are simply so many factors creating headwind against a successful transaction that virtually anyone would struggle with them.
Let's look at some of them:
When you choose to work with Napier ERA, you'll see the value you get from day one. Our real estate agents are experienced local experts who know what it takes to help Richmond homes for sale succeed on the market. For personalized advice that will put you on the road to the sale you really want, simply contact Napier ERA today.
Napier ERA has launched a new program in Central Virginia perfect for those who are ready to purchase a new home, but haven't sold their existing one! It gives you some certainty around when and for how much your home will sell. If you're interested, and think this may be a good fit for you, contact Napier ERA at 804-794-4531!
For the first time since the 2008 housing bubble, homes are going on the market en masse – and the Richmond, VA housing market is one of the hottest places in the United States.
Napier ERA President Jim Napier put this into perspective in the June, 2017 publication of Richmondmag.com:
"Six months' worth of inventory is considered a normal market that favors neither buyer nor seller. On average, the Richmond region has a little more than four months of inventory based on home sales from the first quarter of 2017."
Conditions remain tight throughout desirable Richmond areas:
The seller's market in Richmond is an inspiration for communities all throughout the United States that want to see a vibrant housing market. And who is the economic engine behind it all? It's Millennials--the oldest of whom are about 35 today.
Institutions have long undervalued Millennial purchasing power. The effects of structural issues like the economic downturn coupled with huge and rising student debt have given the generation a pragmatic streak that looks askance at luxury items like diamonds and sports cars.
Now, however, Millennials are entering the housing market in greater numbers.
Suppressed earnings caused by weak economic conditions have given way to a robust employment market granting Millennials a chance to start fresh at building a family and pursuing homeownership.
With $200 billion in buying power and representing about 25 percent of the population, Millennials have come roaring onto the scene – bringing a merciful end to years of think-pieces and stale jibes about avocado toast.
Still, it's essential to approach the Richmond market with eyes open.
Thanks to its many career and educational opportunities, paired with unbeatable amenities and a welcoming community, Richmond is a Millennial magnet.
To make the most of all it has to offer, Millennial home buyers should keep these steps in mind:
At Napier ERA, our real estate agents are dedicated to helping you achieve the dream of homeownership. Our team is made up of the foremost experts on the Richmond real estate market. We will give you the personalized guidance you need to make an informed decision each step of the way. Contact Napier ERA today.
2018 will be a promising year for anyone who wants to buy one of the homes for sale in Richmond. Richmond is a desirable real estate market for both growing families and upwardly-mobile professionals, and there are plenty of opportunities to find amazing homes in our community.
While Richmond is still the same great area for home buying it has been for years, some aspects of the housing market are shifting. The more you know, the easier it'll be to navigate your options, make the best choices for you, and find the Richmond home you've been searching for.
Let's review some of the most important trends influencing area home buyers today:
If you are a first-time home buyer with your eye on real estate for sale in the Richmond area, Napier ERA is the expert team that can help make your homeownership dreams come true. Contact Napier ERA today – our real estate agents are looking forward to helping you.
Are you deciding whether to buy a brand new home or an older home in the Richmond area? Both options have their benefits, and Richmond is an excellent place to shop regardless of what type of home you are targeting. Older homes offer that comfortable, "lived in" feel, but may also require more maintenance after you move in. New homes are more likely to offer the latest amenities, unique, customized features, and energy efficient design throughout the home. Our real estate agents are here to help you make the right choice for your needs, with a guide to new homes in Richmond, VA .
If you're looking for the latest design features, modern layouts, convenient tech, and efficient home systems, then buying a new home will often be the best way to cover all of your needs. New homes are often more energy efficient, thanks to efficient, modern appliances, new HVAC systems, and the latest building components. You'll find that new homes also offer diverse floor plans, and unique interior design. And when you're shopping for new homes in Richmond, you'll have plenty of great options to choose from:
Looking for the right real estate team to help you land the new home of your dreams? Contact Napier ERA to buy and sell homes throughout Richmond, VA.
When you're searching for a home in Richmond, finding the perfect neighborhood definitely matters. A favorite location loved by Richmond locals is the Fan District. Located between Broad Street and Main Street, this culture-filled neighborhood lies at the eastern part of the West End area.
So what is so appealing about the Fan District? Find out why Richmond locals love this historical and picturesque neighborhood.
Considered the largest intact Victorian neighborhood in the United States, over 2,000 historic homes line the streets of the Fan District. Largely developed between 1890 - 1930, this area marks a period of economic prosperity for the City of Richmond. In addition to Victorian homes, it also features architecture in assorted well-known styles including Italianate, Richardsonian Romanesque, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Bungalow, American Foursquare, Tudor Revival, Spanish Colonial, and Art Deco.
Monument Avenue
The rich history of Richmond is visible in more than just houses, most prominently featured on Monument Avenue. This street features a grassed divider lined with statues of prominent figures in Richmond history. The majority of these figures represent Confederate Generals such as Robert E. Lee but also include tennis star Arthur Ashe, a Richmond native.
In addition to the year-round display, Monument Avenue is home to many events including those held by Civil War reenactors and a well-known Easter parade. The street is part of the larger Monument Avenue Historic District.
The Fan District is also known for a strong sense of community. This highly walkable area features many restaurants and shops that are easily accessible. Streets feature lower speed limits to ensure pedestrian safety too.
Area residents take pride in their community appearance too, with frequent efforts to maintain yards, clean up after animals, and remove graffiti as detailed by the Fan District Association. But these Richmond residents don't just care about the buildings; they care about the people too.
Fan Village volunteers work to assist older residents, helping them age in place, instead of allowing them to get left behind by new construction and rising costs. Free services offered include simple tasks like taking out the recycling bins or grocery shopping and include kindness such as daily phone calls and well-being checks.
Homes in Richmond are already hot, and homes in the Fan District are even hotter. Home value growth in this neighborhood is currently at 4.8 percent, based on a strong job market, attractive living environment, and reliable home equity.
It's clear that the Fan District provides beauty with picturesque homes, historic artwork, and caring people. Our real estate agents at Napier ERA understand why people fall in love with Richmond community and can help you find a home of your own.
The historic city of Richmond, VA lies in the heart of the Mid-Atlantic region with the sprawling Chesapeake Bay to the east and the majestic Appalachian Mountains to the west. The Richmond area is filled with big-city attractions along with a healthy dose of small-town charm. When you're shopping for Richmond real estate, it's a great idea to take a look at all of the communities that make up the historic Richmond area in order to find the right fit. Today, we'll be taking a closer look at Richmond City along with Henrico County, Chesterfield County and Hanover County.
Ready to find your next home in one of Richmond's communities? Our real estate agents are here to help. Contact Napier ERA for all of your real estate needs in the Richmond, VA area