Maryland & DC Real Estate Blog

What Happens If My Appraisal Comes In Low When Buying a Home?

Short answer: Your lender will only lend based on the appraised value, so a low appraisal creates a gap between the price and the loan. But it's a negotiation, not a verdict. You usually have several options, and which ones you have depends on your contract. The fear here is overpaying, or losing a

Kensington vs. Silver Spring, MD: How Do They Compare for Homebuyers?

Town of Kensington welcome sign. Photo by G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Short answer: Kensington and Silver Spring are both in Montgomery County and both are close to Washington, DC, but their size, housing mix and prices look different. Based on the figures on my area pages,

What Does It Cost to Buy a Home in Montgomery County, MD as a First-Time Buyer?

Montgomery County Circuit Court House, Rockville, MD. Photo by Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Short answer: As a first-time buyer in Montgomery County, you'll need money for a down payment, closing costs and a few upfront fees. The good news is that Maryland has programs built to he

Should I Fix Things Before Selling My House, or Sell It As-Is in Maryland?

Short answer: Fix the small, cheap, visible things and anything that affects safety or water. For big-ticket items, it's often smarter to price the house with them in mind than to renovate right before listing. Selling "as-is" is allowed in Maryland, but it doesn't erase your disclosure duties. The