FINE NEST SEPTEMBER 2021 NEWSLETTER

9/23/2021

⚰️ R.I.P Summer 2021, Helloooo Autumn!

Summer may not technically be over yet, but September is one of those months that you either love or hate. For summer lovers, it's all about savoring every last day of warmer weather. For fall lovers, it's eagerly awaiting the first cold snap so the autumn décor and fall fashion can be laid out. Soon, we'll see invites to fall gatherings around bon fires, football games, pumpkin patches, apple orchards, fall festivals and more. Make sure you're ready for the autumn action by checking out the events section for more information on where to be this season!

Fine Nest gladly provides the most up-to-date real estate information and local resources we hope are useful to you and your loved ones as we continue to navigate this unusual time.

The Latest News

September Market Metrics Report

Why the Fall Market Might Be a Better Time to Buy

If you haven't had luck finding your dream home during the spring and summer markets, you may want to consider searching during the fall and winter markets. Unlike the spring/summer markets that see high inventory turnover, increased buyer competition, and peak move-in/move-out rates across the nation; the fall/winter markets typically have lower inventory, lower buyer competition, and much lower move-in/move-out rates. These differences can spell good news for buyers who may be strapped for cash and can't compete with higher offers, need more time to consider their options or just prefer the slower pace of the process.
Sellers can be incentivized to sell their homes more quickly over the fall/winter too. Given the tax write-offs many sellers receive if they sell their homes before the end of the year, buyers can leverage this while negotiating offers that benefit sellers timelines.
Developing a working relationship is paramount for the selling and buying process to go smoothly. This may be the time to land a life long friend in your agent.

The Market is Shifting

For those of you who may not know, the real estate market has begun to shift. The market report from last month showed a slow down in inventory, pending listings, and units sold across NOVA and southern Maryland. This slow down has shown August's numbers as predictably lower compared to the rest of 2021. However, the numbers are still up slightly year over year, which indicates that we are still in a sellers market despite this recent market dip. Nevertheless, it seems the historical sellers market for 2020-2021 has finally begun to morph into its next form.
More recently, sellers have been listing their properties at higher values based on the higher neighborhood comps from the height of the sellers market. However, buyers have seemingly caught on to this as many listings now stay on the market longer than the 1-5 day trend. Price reductions have also become more common, and real estate agents have seen a increase in buyer/seller offer negotiation periods compared to the bidding wars seen in the spring.

Supreme Court Blocks Extension of Eviction Ban

On Thursday 8/26, the Supreme Court blocked President Biden from extending the eviction moratorium into October 2021. The eviction moratorium has been protecting nearly 3.5 million people from facing homelessness during the pandemic. Now, with little protections, tenants will need to either move, pay backlogs of rent, or face eviction. In order to help minimize this blow, the Biden Administration has called on state and local officials to accelerate the efforts in distributing the $46.5 Billion in rental assistance congress approved earlier during the pandemic. In fact, Virginia now leads the nation in federal rent relief distribution!

Fairfax County Enters High Levels of COVID-19 Transmissions

The Delta COVID-19 Variant seems to be tightening its grip across NOVA, with Fairfax County joining the red sea of high Delta COVID-19 transmissions. To learn more about the Delta Variant and it's rate of infection click HERE

Fall Festivals Near You!

Get into the fall spirit by attending these outdoor fun Fall Festivals!

Maryland Renaissance Festival

The Maryland Renaissance Festival is OPEN this 2021 season.
Annapolis, MD from August 21st - October 24th.
Buy Tickets HERE

Octoberfest at Wheatland Spring Brewery

Waterford, VA from September 18-19th
Buy Tickets HERE

Lovettsville Octoberfest

Lovettsville, VA from September September 24-26th
FREE ADMISSION
More information HERE

An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

As many of us start engaging in the popular autumn tradition of apple picking, follow THIS LINK for some fun ideas on what to do with all those apples!

Don't be an Uninformed Homeowner

Owning a home comes with a lot of responsibilities. Besides the more obvious maintenance tasks like mowing the lawn and cleaning the gutters, many homeowners find themselves in the dark about how to maintain their appliances and major systems. Here is a list of all the little things you should do to prolong the longevity of your homes appliances and major systems.

(1) Flush your Tank Water Heater
- Many tank water heaters accumulate sediment at the bottom that can cause the water heater to work harder and fail prematurely without proper maintenance. Prolong your water heaters life by flushing it annually.
(2) Clean your Dryer Vents Regularly
- Dryer vents accumulate with lint over time. If not cleaned regularly, clothes will take more energy to dry and can also severely increase the risk of a house fire.
(3) Regularly change your HVAC Filter
- Believe it or not, but many homeowners do not regularly change their HVAC filters. Failing to maintain your HVAC system can lead to poorer indoor air quality, increased risk of respiratory problems, and reduce the lifespan of your HVAC system.
(4) Regularly Clean your Outdoor AC Unit
- Over the year, lots of leaves and other debris get stuck in your AC unit. Prolong your AC's life by regularly cleaning it.
***Instructions for each of these tips highlighted in RED***