4 Must-Visit Breweries in Northern Virginia

Northern Virginia is a great place for craft beer, and I have four breweries that you should check out.

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If you’re like me, you know that we’ve had a lot of new breweries pop up here in Northern Virginia. Here are a few that I recommend checking out:

• 2 Silos Brewery in Manassas at Farm Brew Live. I’ve been to Farm Brew Live, and it’s a fantastic venue which features live events and lots of great food as well.
• Adroit Theory in Purcellville. This is a smaller brewery that focuses a lot on barrel-aged beers. One in particular that I recommend you try is called War Cannibal.

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Richmond is a bit of a hike for those in our area, but it’s worth it for good beer.

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Richmond, Virginia was recently voted as the No. 1 beer spot in the world. Richmond is a bit of a hike for those in our area, but it’s worth it for good beer, and here are some Richmond watering holes you won’t want to miss out on:

• Center of the Universe Brewing Company in Ashland. Some of their good beers include Orange Is the New Stout and Ray Ray’s Pale Ale.
• Castleburg Brewery and Taproom. This venue has a medieval theme, and two beers I recommend there are the Black Knight IPA and the Executioner’s Porter.

There are plenty of other great brewing spots in Virginia and I’m always ready to try one out, so if you have any places you’d recommend or you just want to talk beer, feel free to give me a shout.

If you have any other questions or real estate needs, don’t hesitate to call or email me. I’d be happy to help you.

How to Save for Your Down Payment on Your Next Home

If you plan on buying a home but aren’t sure how you can save enough money for your down payment, I have seven tips to help you today.

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If you are planning on buying a home, there are a few things you can do to save for the down payment. Here are the top seven tips:

1. Start with the end in mind. Meet with me and meet with a lender to determine a ballpark figure of how much you will need for your down payment. That way, you’ll know what your goal is before you start saving.

2. Reassess your TV packages. There are a lot of packages out there that can help you save on cable. You can negotiate with your cable company, or you can use a streaming service like Netflix or Hulu. Do some research and find the one that suits your needs best.

3. Reassess your gym membership. There are a ton of online classes, DVD sets, and even apps that can help you exercise for less money than your gym membership. Work out at home and save yourself some time and money.

4. Start selling some of your stuff. We all have stuff that just sits around our house. You can sell those items on Facebook Marketplace or eBay. You can even have a yard sale. Declutter and put some money in your pocket at the same time.

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Declutter and save money at the same time.

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5. Get a cash back rewards credit card. If you already purchase things like food or gas with a credit card, why not earn a little bit of money back? That way, you can save while making those purchases.

6. Put away your tax refund. A lot of us get that refund in the next couple of months, so set it aside and reinvest it into your down payment.

7. Call me. You might not even need money for a down payment. There are a number of first-time homebuyer programs, as well as programs for military men and women, first responders, and educators. We can talk to a lender to see if we can get you into a home with little to no money down.

If you have any other questions about saving for your down payment or the home buying process, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

Looking Back on Our 2017 Market and Looking Ahead to 2018

2017 was a great year for our market, and I see it staying hot in 2018.

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The Northern Virginia market had a fantastic year in 2017.

There were a total of 36,597 home sales, which was an increase of 4.3% from 2016 when only 35,089 homes sold. During that same time span, the median sales prices increased 3.5% from $430,000 to $445,000. From 2016 to 2017, the average days on market dropped from 22 days to 14 days, which is fantastic. People were putting their homes on the market and selling them rather quickly. 

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In 2017, people were putting their homes on the market and selling them rather quickly.

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In 2018, I see the market staying hot for a little while. It’s still a good time to sell, and interest rates are still good. Toward the middle and end of the year, I think we’ll see a bit of a shift toward a buyer’s market. 

If you have any more questions about our market moving forward, you’re curious how much your home is worth, or you’re thinking of buying a home soon, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.