Relocating to DC / Northern VA?
Approximately one third of my clients are buyers relocating to Northern Virginia and Washington, DC from other states or from overseas.
Relocating to the Washington metro area
If you are new and unfamiliar with the area, you will find that the metropolitan Washington, DC housing market is somewhat unique in that it encompasses three jurisdictions, the District of Columbia, the State of Maryland, and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Let me explain:
The local real estate market is based around a Multiple Listing Service (MLS) that includes all properties throughout Northern Virginia, Washington, DC and DC’s Maryland suburbs. All agents have access to view all properties in the MLS, however only agents licensed in each jurisdiction can show property or perform a transaction in that jurisdiction.
This means that, for example, agents licensed in Virginia can not show property in Washington, DC or Maryland unless they also hold a Washington, DC and/or Maryland real estate license. The same rule applies for everyone. In order for real estate agents to show property or participate in a transaction, they must be licensed in that jurisdiction. Any agent may become licensed in a jurisdictions, however each jurisdiction requires separate studies and exams as the laws are slightly different.
I hold licenses in all three jurisdictions, Virginia, Washington, DC and Maryland.
The metro area neighborhoods
Having lived in the area for nearly 15 years I am very familiar with nearly all neighborhoods. Personally, I have lived in various Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland neighborhoods and find that each location has its own pros and cons. Interestingly, people that like one location tend to not like the other at all.
People who prefer suburbs seem to have strong feelings about why they prefer Virginia over Maryland suburbs or vice versa. For those who prefer the city, suburbs are not an option. From a sociological perspective it can be fascinating.
Finding a home
Trying to find a home from a distance poses unique challenges. In 9 out of 10 occasions, clients typically email or call me to discuss their needs and we schedule time to preview homes when they visit the area. I try to block the whole day in my schedule so we can see as many properties as possible in order to get a feel for what is around.
That typically gets repeated a few days in a row over a few trips/visits. It is “intense” home searching! In between trips I email listing updates but also provide you with access to the MLS so you can also browse properties if you wish. When the home is found, then all contracts and paperwork can be done via fax or email as needed.
