M Squared Real Estate

Oct 02

M Squared Announces Complete Sell Out of 515 Q Street Condominium

October 2, 2012 By Mark Mlakar Leave a Comment

M Squared Real Estate, a leading real estate marketing and sales firm in the nation’s capital, has today announced the complete sell-out of all units within the 515 Q Street development within just one week. M Squared Real Estate has today announced that the new 515 Q Street property located in Washington, DC, has been completely sold out. Interest in the units was exceptionally high, thanks in large part to the innovative, ultra-modern design and the limited availability of units. All … [Read more...]

Filed Under: M Squared Company News Tagged With: 515 q street, 515 q street condominium, Condominium, devereux ventures, m squared, m squared real estate, New Construction, new development, real estate, shaw, sold out, under contract, washington dc

Aug 10

5 States Home To 50% Of Foreclosure Activity Nationwide

August 10, 2012 By Mark Mlakar Leave a Comment

Foreclosure pipelines are re-filling nationwide. According to data from RealtyTrac, a national foreclosure-tracking firm, the number of foreclosure filings dipped below 192,000 in July 2012, a 3 percent decrease from the month prior. RealtyTrac defines a "foreclosure filing" as any foreclosure-related action, including a Notice of Default, a Scheduled Auction, or a Bank Repossession. July marks the 22nd straight month during which foreclosure filings fell on a year-over-year basis. At … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Buying Real Estate in Washington, DC Tagged With: Connecticut, foreclosure, Foreclosure Filing, Foreclosures, July, New Jersey, North Dakota, RealtyTrac, South Dakota, Washington D.C.

May 21

America’s 10 Richest Counties

May 21, 2012 By Mark Mlakar Leave a Comment

There are 3,033 counties in the United States. Which 10 are the richest in terms of median household income? Not surprisingly, those near major economic centers rank high. In a study based on household income estimates from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey, Loudoun County, Virginia captures the number one spot in America's Richest Counties. Loudoun County is a Washington, D.C. suburb and is home to Dulles International Airport, as well as a well-educated workforce. The … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Buying Real Estate in Washington, DC Tagged With: dc, District of Columbia, Falls Church Virginia, Federal Spending, Forbes, Loudoun County, Loudoun County Virginia, Maryland, Median Income, real estate, richest counties, Virginia, washington dc

May 16

M Squared Real Estate Announces Ultra-Modern, New Condo Residences for Shaw, Washington DC.

May 16, 2012 By Mark Mlakar Leave a Comment

M Squared Real Estate has today announced the upcoming availability of residences within the new 515 Q Street Condominium property. Set within the bustling Shaw neighborhood and developed by Devereux Ventures, these new residences offer luxury living within one of Washington DC’s most sought after areas. Of course, owners will find much more to love than the location. 515 Q Street is a new condominium development, featuring all-new construction and three different residences. Constructed … [Read more...]

Filed Under: M Squared Company News Tagged With: 515 q street, Condominium, development, devereux ventures, New Construction, real estate, Renovation, shaw, washington dc

May 07

Small Repairs That Can Raise Your Sales Price

May 7, 2012 By Mark Mlakar 1 Comment

If you're actively preparing to list your home for sale, resist the temptation to make major home improvements. Nationwide, home improvement projects recoup just 58 cents on the dollar, says Remodeling Magazine. Rather, for a better return on your time and money, focus on the minor projects instead. It's the smaller projects in DC that tend to have a bigger, long-term payoff. So, how do you determine which projects are the "smaller ones"? It's obvious when you think like a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Selling Real Estate in Washington, DC Tagged With: DIY, Home, Home Repair, real estate, Remodeling Magazine, Renovation, sell, selling real estate

Apr 24

The Fed Starts A 2-Day Meeting Today. Make A Strategy.

April 24, 2012 By Mark Mlakar Leave a Comment

The Federal Open Market Committee begins a 2-day meeting today in the nation's capitol. It's the group's third of 8 scheduled meetings this year. Mortgage rates are expected to change upon the Fed's adjournment. Led by Chairman Ben Bernanke, the FOMC is a 12-person, Federal Reserve sub-committee. The FOMC is the group within the Fed which votes on U.S. monetary policy. "Making monetary policy" can mean a lot of things, and the action for which the FOMC is most well-known is its setting of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Buying Real Estate in Washington, DC Tagged With: Ben Bernanke, District of Columbia, Fed Funds Rate, Federal funds rate, Federal Open Market Committee, Federal Reserve, Federal Reserve System, Fixed rate mortgage, FOMC, Mortgage loan, washington dc

Apr 13

Mortgage Rates Fall For Third Straight Week

April 13, 2012 By Mark Mlakar Leave a Comment

After a brief surge north of 4 percent last month, mortgage rates have settled down, near their lowest levels of all-time. According to Freddie Mac's weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey, for applicants willing to pay 0.7 discount points plus a complete set of closing costs, the average 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate fell to 3.88 percent this week. 0.7 discount points adds $700 to your mortgage closing costs for each $100,000 borrowed. Mortgage rates are down this week on "safe … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Buying Real Estate in Washington, DC Tagged With: dc, Discount Points, District of Columbia, Fixed rate mortgage, Freddie Mac, mortgage, Mortgage loan, North Central Region, Point (mortgage), Spain, Wall Street, washington dc

Apr 12

What $300k Buys You in Logan Circle, Washington DC

April 12, 2012 By Mark Mlakar Leave a Comment

In Washington DC, we have a sellers' market. Inventory is down and prices are up. This week, we're taking a look at Logan Circle. With dozens of restaurants and shops, Logan Circle has become one of DC's most sought-after neighborhoods. So what does Logan Circle have to offer the first-time homebuyer with a budget of $300k? Today, not much. Currently, only five properties are being offered in Logan Circle at this price point. Let's take a look. 1239 Vermont Ave NW #601 - … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Buying Real Estate in Washington, DC, Neighborhood News Tagged With: $300k, Broker, condo, dc, dc home sales, District of Columbia, loft, logan circle, Real estate broker, Residential, Sales, washington dc

Feb 29

Pending Home Sales Rise To 22-Month High

February 29, 2012 By Mark Mlakar Leave a Comment

The housing market appears headed for a strong spring season. After a brief setback in December, the Pending Home Sales Index resumed its climb in January, posting a 2 percent gain over the month prior. The data puts pressure on DC home buyers. This is because a "pending home" is a home that's under contract to sell, but has not yet sold. It's tracked by the National Association of REALTORS® and, among all housing statistics, it's the only one that's "forward-looking". The Pending Home … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Buying Real Estate in Washington, DC Tagged With: Existing Home Sales, NAR, National Association of Realtors, Pending Home Sales, Pending Home Sales Index, real estate, Real estate economics, Real estate pricing, washington dc

Nov 10

Banks Resume Tightening Mortgage Guidelines

November 10, 2011 By Mark Mlakar Leave a Comment

As part of its quarterly survey to member banks nationwide, the Federal Reserve asked senior loan officers whether last quarter's "prime" residential mortgage guidelines have tightened, loosened, or remained as-is. A "prime" borrower is defined as one with a well-documented, high-performance credit history; with low debt-to-income ratios; and who chooses to finance a home via a traditional fixed-rate or adjustable-rate mortgage product. After a 2-year easing cycle, the nation's biggest … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Buying Real Estate in Washington, DC Tagged With: Adjustable-rate mortgage, buying real estate, Debt-to-income ratio, Federal Reserve, Federal Reserve System, Mortgage loan, mortgage rates, Prime Mortgages, real estate, Senior Loan Officer Survey, washington dc