Rent Move Buy

When you're starting the process of buying or selling a home, you probably have a lot of questions.  So what do you do? You go to your internet browser and search for the answers to your questions, right?  In this episode, Alison addresses all of the most commonly searched real estate questions and gives concise and honest responses that can help inform and answer most if not all buyer and seller questions!    Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions: www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc  

Let's say you have an animal who lives in your home with you -- not necessarily a pet, but perhaps an assistance animal of some sort -- and you're looking to move to a new home.  What rights do you have when navigating your search with your animal in tow?  What if you're a landlord and you have someone with an animal who wants to live in your property -- what rights do YOU have? In this episode, Alison is joined by Abby Volin, a subject matter leader on animal accommodation law, and together they discuss common concerns both for those seeking housing and those providing it. They will answer common questions that are often asked and give context to the topic as a whole.     Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions: www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc and Abby abby.volin@dc.gov  

VA loans are an incredible financing option for those who qualify, but like all special loan types, they have unique conditions and differences from conforming loan types such as conventional, fixed rated, and adjustable rate mortgages. In this episode, Alison is joined by Brandon Frye, a Senior Vice President of Mortgage Lending at Guaranteed Rate in the DC metro area who has regularly helped clients secure VA Loans over the past decade. In this episode they discuss all details of this loan type – who qualifies, specific caveats to the program, and common questions clients have about them.  Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions: www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc and Brandon IG: @bfryemortgage

Love Letters, personal letters written to homeowners when trying to buy a home, have been a hotly contested topic in the real estate world for many years.  So when you're ready to offer on a home, should you write one? What are the pros and cons?  In this episode, Alison is joined by Karen Ringo, Realtor with Compass licensed in DC, MD, and VA who consistently provides ease of process and personalized experience along with direct and healthy communication to each and every client.  Together, Alison and Karen truly break down love letters from all angles and leave the choice up to you whether or not including one in an offer is right for you.   Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions: www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc and Karen www.karenringodmvrealtor.com | IG: @thekarenringo

It's a tough market and with interest rates up and fewer homes being listed so far this year, competition is fierce yet again in the DC-metropolitan area. When buyers find the right home to offer on, they can end up competing against other buyers who feel it's the home for them, too. In this episode, Alison is joined by Michael Fowler, her RARE teammate with over 10 years of experience as a Realtor in DC, MD, and VA who has helped a large number of buyers and sellers navigate multiple offer situations.  Together they discuss the various things to consider when entering into a multiple offer situation along with some tips that hopefully will help you win when and if you enter into such situation yourself.   Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions: www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc and Michael www.michaelfowlercreative.com  

It's rentals season and while the rental market has been an unpredictable rollercoaster over the past 3 years, recent data is showing us that seasonality is once again a factor in overall rental market trends. In this episode, Alison is joined by Emily McDonald, Zillow's rental trends expert. Emily interprets constantly changing data to help renters understand market trends so they can make the most informed decisions possible during their housing journey.  Together they discuss the rental market in general, specific trends in the DMV, things to consider when entering the rental market, and tips & tricks for those on the hunt for their next rental home.   Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions: www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc and Emily emilymcd@zillowgroup.com

Who doesn't love a good HGTV home renovation show? When there's a hot market and high levels of competition, Buyers often find themselves considering purchase options that perhaps they hadn't considered before. In this episode, Alison is joined by Erin Helland, home renovation coach, licensed home inspector, and Owner of Hardhat Diplomat. While still doing renovations of her own, Erin uses her experiences in commercial and residential renovation to guide others through the home improvement process. In this episode, Alison and Erin break down what to consider when buying a fixer upper, from finances, to timeline, to the pain points that can occur throughout the process.  Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions: www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc and Erin www.hardhatdiplomat.com | IG: @hardhatdiplomat

Just because you rent and don't own the place where you live, it doesn't mean you need to be fearful of making changes to your space, adding what you like, and making a home your own. But oftentimes renters are nervous to do too much for fear that changes to their space can cause issues down the road. In this episode, Alison is joined by Imani Keal, creator of Imani At Home, a DC-based home & lifestyle content channel that has amassed a huge following since its 2020 inception. Imani believes that all people, regardless of whether they rent or own, should invest in their happiness by improving the spaces in which they live, and together on this episode, she and Alison share renter-friendly DIYs, tips for the design-obsessed renter, and advice on how to navigate renovation conversations with landlords.   Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions: www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc and Imani www.imaniathome.com | IG: @imaniathome

Housing affordability in the Washington DC metro area has been and continues to be challenging for many people, and though it's not a new concept to commute into a city for work, the pandemic has made this a trending topic and consideration, especially in the DMV. In this episode, Alison is joined by Mimi Montgomery, the Home & Features Editor at Washingtonian Magazine who recently researched and penned an article about DC area home buyers moving to Richmond, VA for more affordable housing and a lower cost of living. In this episode, they discuss the findings of Mimi's research and point out some of the potential concerns when considering a 2+ hour move from the place where your job is located.   Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions: www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc and Mimi Montgomery twitter: @mimi_montgom | mmontgomery@washingtonian.com

It's Spring 2023, the market is heating back up, and Buyers are coming out of the woodwork to explore their options for homeownership in the DC, MD, and VA. Oftentimes as first time buyers enter the market and begin their search, they come across co-op listings but don't truly understand what they are or how they work. In this episode, Alison is joined by Jeff Morelli, a Lender with Caliber Home Loans who has over 25 years of experience providing every type of home loan available, and together they break down what a cooperative is and how to buy into one, how it differs from a condominium, perceived pros and cons of owning one, and how one finances a co-op transaction. Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions: www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc and Jeff Morelli jeff.morelli@caliberhomeloans.com

Taxes: we all pay em and 99% of the time, we don't know the ins and outs of the complicated tax code that exists in this country. At some point in our lives, we likely hear that our taxes can be affected by real estate – if we own it, invest in it, or sell it, but beyond that, there are a lot of nuances that we may not really grasp.  In this episode, Alison is joined by Ted Phillips, aka The Dely Ray CPA, and together they discuss tax implications and concepts that can and will apply to anyone involved in a real estate transaction.  Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions: www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc and www.thedelraycpa.com

With enforcement of newer short term rental laws in the DC area, some people may find themselves unable to rent their investment properties as short terms on platforms like AirBnB or VRBO. But what if another option, in addition to long term rentals are medium term rental? In this episode, Alison is joined by Zeanna McIntyre, an investor, Realtor, coach, and co-author of “30 Day Stay: An Investor's Guide to Mastering the Medium-term Rental.” Together they discuss what medium term rentals are, how they can be a sweet spot for cash flow, and how to generally navigate them.   Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions: www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc and www.zeonamcintyre.com

What is a condo or homeowners association? What are the differences between the two?  And what do they even do or provide a homeowner? In this episode, seasoned Agents Michael Fowler and Alison break down all that you need to know about them and what documents one should especially pay attention to when deciding to buy a property that is guided by one of these associations.  Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions: www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc

Divorce is far from an exciting thing to think about or go through, but the fact of that matter is that many of us may have to deal with one at some point in our lives… and one of the most stressed over parts of a divorce is, “What happens to my house or the homes we own?”  In this episode I'm joined by Alex Xanttopoulos, a principal at Roop Law located in Tysons Corner, Virginia. In this episode, Alex and Alison speak about some things to do (and not do) when going through a divorce and answer common questions that people have when starting to go through the process. Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions: www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc

Refinances are something that are often discussed between Mortgage Lenders and their clients, and they received a ton of press in Fall 2022 when rates skyrocketed.  But if you're new to home buying, getting a mortgage may be confusing enough, let alone getting a new refinanced mortgage down the road. In this episode, Brandon Frye, SVP or Mortgage Lending at Guaranteed Rate and Alison explain and discuss refinances - when to consider them, how they work, and why they can be a valuable tool for buyers and homeowners. Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions: www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc

It's November 2022 and home mortgage interest rates have more than doubled from where they were a year ago. The economy is in a much different place, job security has changed, and people who anticipated starting a real estate purchase or sale are now considering if this is a good time to move ahead.  In this episode, John Downs, Founder of Downs Mortgage Group and SVP at Vellum Mortgage and Alison discuss their thoughts on what one should do when rates are high. Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions: www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc

There are many many realtors out there and chances are you have a friend or family member who works in the real estate industry.  So when you go to buy or sell, should you work with them as a client? In this episode, Alison breaks down why you should use your friend or family member to represent you in one of the biggest transactions of your life… or at least strongly consider it.  Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions: www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc

The Washington, D.C. area real estate market is cut-throat.  It is one of the most expensive housing markets in the country with homes getting listed, sold, and rented in record time...so naturally, new buyers, sellers, and renters have many questions that they need answering before diving in headfirst. On Rent Move Buy, The RARE's official housing podcast, Realtor Alison Scimeca takes a refreshingly authentic approach to answer all of the area's burning real estate questions. For more info, head to theraredc.com and subscribe on Spotify, Apple, or whichever podcast streaming source you prefer, and please feel free to reach out to us with comments and questions! @theRAREdc or alison@theraredc.com

There's no single answer to the question “Should I rent or buy?” but there certainly are questions one can ask to help determine what the right decision is for them. Rianka Dorsainvil ia a Certified Financial Planner and the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of 2050 Wealth Partners a virtual, fee-only comprehensive financial planning firm dedicated to serving first-generation wealth-builders, entrepreneurs, and thriving professionals. Because so much of the decision to rent or buy comes down to one's finances and financial goals, a CFP® can offer insight beyond what traditional real estate professionals have on this topic. In this episode, Rianka and Alison discuss their thoughts on how to best evaluate renting vs buying and list things to think about and consider as one makes this important decision. Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions: www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc and Rianka: 2050wealthpartners.com IG: @Rianka_d

Amid rising interest rates and an inability to compete in the housing market, many buyers are exploring their options and considering homes needing major renovations or building new.  Once someone decides to move in that direction, they then have to decide how to navigate: hire a design / build firm?  Separately hire an architect and contractor? In this episode, Sean Ruppert of award-winning design / build OPaL and Alison discuss some of the differences for people new to these concepts. Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions: www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc

According to Statista, in Q1 of 2022, U.S. homeowners have already spent $370 billion on home renovations. While some homeowners are fixing homes up to sell, much of the focus is on repairing and renovating homes that are newly acquired in addition to projects for people who feel priced out of or frustrated by the market and have opted to modify their current homes in lieu of selling and moving. So when it's time to move forward with home renovation projects, how does one really maneuver through the various steps? In this episode, Alison and guest Erin Helland, Founder and Owner of Hard Hat Diplomat, home improvement consulting service, discuss the steps involved in planning for home renovations so homeowners can confidently engage with contractors and go in with eyes open.  ______________________________________ Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions: www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc and Erin Helland: www.hardhatdiplomat.com

Buying a home in the DC-area can be scary and intimidating for lots of reasons, but something that's been said a lot, especially lately while there is low inventory and high home prices, is that buying your first home is impossible.  Of course, REALTORs will tell you that it IS possible… but sometimes that might come off as salesy and insincere.  So in today's episode, guest Michael Fowler and Alison share their experiences with how they purchased their first homes in the area, how those purchases helped them with subsequent home purchases, and where they are now in the home owning journey.  Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions: www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc

Frequently in the DMV area, buyers purchase a home they know they'll only live in for a few years, and when they are able to upgrade, they're sometimes in a position to rent their first home out instead of selling it.  Other times, people decide to buy a property with the sole purpose of renting it out as an investment.  But being a Landlord in DC, MD, or VA isn't necessarily a simple process that one can haphazardly jump into. Barry Lieberman is a Property Manager with over 15 years of experience managing, leasing, and selling homes for his clients. In this episode, Alison and Barry discuss the ins and outs of what's necessary to being a Landlord in the area and how one can navigate becoming a landlord in the DMV for the first time. Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions: www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc and Barry at www.bclmgt.com

Pre-pandemic, nomadic lifestyles weren't something many residents in the DMV region often considered, but since the covid19 pandemic and the subsequent ease of working from home or in some cases, from anywhere, people have started reconsidering how much room they need, where and how to live. Add to that the issue of housing affordability in the area, and maybe you decide you want to build a tiny home… so where do you start?  Where can you keep it? Lee Pera is a geographer and tiny home consultant who in 2012 built her own tiny home and started the nation's first urban tiny home community in Washington DC. In this episode, Lee and Alison discuss navigating tiny homes in DC, MD, and VA and outline best first steps for one to take. Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions: www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc and www.leepera.com

In recent years, DC, MD, and VA have established new goals and targets for responding to climate change, including a commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Solar energy is emissions free, and installing solar panels on your home is one clear way that one can help us all achieve these goals. In this episode, Alison is joined by Aliza Vaida of EnergySage, a company that offers valuable educational resources, calculators and marketplaces to help people learn about and shop for solar with confidence. Together they discuss how solar can work for homeowners and renters in the area, and how one can go about figuring out what options are best for each person. Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions: www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc

In 2020, the United States saw a massive rise in dog adoption and fostering and the DC Metropolitan Area was no exception.  This growth in interest led many people in the area to start considering how a dog would fit not only into their lives, but their homes, which oftentimes were rental buildings or where they would be sharing floors, walls, and common areas with other people. Liza Malnik is the Outreach Coordinator for Partner for Animal Welfare (P.A.W.), a nonprofit organization serving DC, MD, and VA whose mission is to facilitate the rescue of homeless dogs and cats and place them in loving forever homes. In this episode, we break down all of the things to consider when looking to foster, adopt, or take a new pet into one's home, whether you are renting, moving to the area, or own here already. Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions! www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc

If you are self-employed, want to buy a home, and would like to get a mortgage, the process is not the same as when you are an employee and have a steady paycheck and known salary. In this episode, Alison is joined by John Downs, a mortgage lender with over 20 years of experience lending in DC, MD, and VA who has an incredibly successful track record in helping self-employed people obtain loans. Together they discuss how the process works in general for non-W2 employees and changes that have happened in the process since the covid-19 pandemic.  Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions: www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc and jdowns@vellummortgage.com

What are home warranties? Do they really work and what do they cost? In this episode, Certified Home Inspector and Owner of Protect the Investment, Tory Hunnicut, and Alison discuss much of the details of home warranties that Buyers should know as they consider if getting one is right for them from pros & cons, when they make sense, and when they don't.  Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions: www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc

When there seems to be dozens of people you know or meet in the real estate industry, how do you choose who to work with to represent you in a transaction?  In this episode, Alison and Guest Host Michael Fowler tackle some Agent basics, like the difference between an Agent, REALTOR, and Broker, and discuss things you can do to find the right person to entrust with the awesome responsibility of guiding you through your home purchases and sales. Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions: www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc

In Episode 31, our Part I episode about short term rentals, we discussed the market for AirBnBs and VRBOs with Karl Scarlett, the Founder and Owner of Great Dwellings, a Washington DC-based property management company that helps homeowners manage their long and short-term vacation rentals. In this episode, Karl's Partner, Zac Rushton, delves into the specifics of how one runs a successful and popular rental so that hosts can maximize their returns and keep customers coming back time and time again. Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions: www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc

Your house is one of your most valuable assets so making sure you have a plan for how it will be taken care of after you pass is something all homeowners should consider and understand.  Marissa Bagasra is an attorney who practices and specializes in estate law in DC, MD, and VA. In this episode, we discuss the process of what happens to one's home when they pass away in all three jurisdictions so you can plan for the unexpected and hopefully make these decisions ahead of a time when they need to be made. Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions: www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc and Marissa: mbagasra@rcplaw.net

Figuring out how much to list a home for or price at offer at is far from a perfect science, and picking the wrong price can set up a real estate transaction well or on the wrong foot.  Amit Bhuta is the leader of a top-selling Miami FL Real Estate team that prides themselves on thinking like a consumer and not like a typical real estate agent. In this episode, we discuss things to consider when pricing properties and offer prices that can help you make sure you arrive at a place that you're happy with in the sale or purchase of your home. Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions! www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc

Top 10 Mistakes First Time Home Buyers Should Avoid when Buying in DC / MD/ VA with Guest Michael Fowler (Ep. 35)   Ep. 35 Show Description   Buying your first home is an exciting and sometimes overwhelming process, so it's important to make sure you don't go down some paths that may make the process harder for you in the long run. Michael Fowler is a real estate Agent at Compass in the DC Metro region with over 10 years of experience helping clients rent, sell, and buy real estate. In this episode, he and Alison go through their list of top 10 mistakes to avoid when purchasing your first home so that when you're ready to jump in, that you can go in with eyes open and with your best foot forward.  Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions! www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc

The 1% rule of home maintenance budgeting says that you should plan to spend at least 1% of a home's purchase price for regular home maintenance per year, but what are all of the tasks that should be done regularly to ensure your home stays in tip-top shape? Steph Toler is a Senior Vice President at Flock who's charged with running the company's maintenance, client experience, leasing divisions, and Birdwatch, a monthly management service that tracks and coordinates annualized preventive maintenance tasks and repairs. Proper maintenance of a home is extremely important and can be stressful, especially in a metropolitan area where it's always go go go, so in this episode we aim to give you a place to start when figuring out what needs to be done in a home you already own or one that you may consider buying in the future.  Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions! www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc

As baby boomers continue to age, the U.S. Census Bureau predicts that people over the age of 65 will outnumber those under the age of 18 as soon as 2034. With this being the case, multi-generation housing and so-called aging in place homes are in higher demand and homes with Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are being considered more and more with Buyers. Florence Macauley is a Geriatric Physical Therapist, and CEO & Founder of AgeWise Home, an innovative aging in place consultancy business in the DMV. Plenty of people can't  or don't want to move as they age, and in this episode we discuss how to tackle this topic in general and some helpful ways to get started planning for aging in ones home, should that be what they choose to do. Please enjoy my conversation with Florence Macauley. Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions! www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc

In 2020, the United States saw a massive rise in dog adoption and fostering and the DC Metropolitan Area was no exception.  This growth in interest led many people in the area to start considering how a dog would fit not only into their lives, but their homes, which oftentimes were rental buildings or where they would be sharing floors, walls, and common areas with other people. Liza Malnik is the Outreach Coordinator for Partner for Animal Welfare (P.A.W.), a nonprofit organization serving DC, MD, and VA whose mission is to facilitate the rescue of homeless dogs and cats and place them in loving forever homes. In this episode, we break down all of the things to consider when looking to foster, adopt, or take a new pet into one's home, whether you are renting, moving to the area, or own here already. Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions! www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc

AirBnBs and VRBOs were already widely known as short term housing options by travelers before the pandemic, but since Spring 2020, there has been an even bigger uptick in non-hotel short term rental use (and hosting!) in the DC-area.  Karl Scarlett is the Founder and Owner of Great Dwellings, a Washington DC-based property management company that helps homeowners maximize their homes long and short-term vacation rentals. In this episode, we discuss the interest that short term rentals in the DMV have received both before, during, and after the pandemic along with our predictions for how they'll do in the future.   Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions! www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc and Karl Scarlett at greatdwellings.com

It's a Seller's Market currently in the DMV, but that doesn't mean that a Seller doesn't have to do anything in preparation for sale.  Some listings still sit on the market because they didn't receive the proper TLC needed to get the listing noticed and under contract quickly. Jason Saft is a real estate industry veteran with over 15 years of record breaking sales and is the creator of “Staged To Sell,” a 30-point action plan that he applies to all properties he transforms.  This creative vision organically led to the growth of Staged To Sell which has become a go-to resource for other real estate agents and their sellers.  In this episode, we discuss how Jason reinvents and reintroduces properties that have failed to sell in the past, along with some new ways of evaluating what a home needs before hitting the market.   Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions! www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc

When looking to purchase a home in the DMV, Buyers usually consider multiple neighborhoods to buy and live in. Rosslyn vs Foggy Bottom, Brightwood vs Silver Spring… but the fact that these different neighborhoods aren't always in the same state or jurisdiction means that they'll have different taxing structures, laws, and regulations that can affect which place really makes the most sense to buy in. Charles Huang is a real estate attorney with KVS Title who has worked in real estate law since 2015. In this episode, Charles and Alison break down some of the key distinctions between DC, MD, and VA, from taxes, level of disclosure, and rental laws so Buyers can consider more than one jurisdiction with eyes open and be aware of the differences. Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions! www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc

With the rise of HGTV and various television programs that tout the fun, enjoyment, and value that comes out of home flipping, people all over the country have had a dramatic interest in trying out their luck with a flip. But is it as straightforward and easy as it’s often made to look on tv? Especially in the DC metro area? Jordan Ghrist is a seasoned residential developer working in the DMV who has directed the building process of over 80 homes throughout his career. He has experience in all areas of the home flipping process, from evaluation, acquisition, development, sale of homes, and of varying complexity and cost throughout DC, MD, and VA. In this episode we talk about what it takes to flip a home in the area and the considerations a newbie home flipper should consider before trying it out on their own. Subscribe to our show and feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions! www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com IG: @theraredc

Whether it’s buying a home from another state or from abroad, there are certain disadvantages to searching and buying when a person isn't currently living in the place where they want to move to.  So what do you do when you find yourself in this position? Jocelyn Lederman is a top Realtor with Compass in DC, MD, and VA whose commitment to seamless communication has led to a large number of successful client home purchases from abroad. In this episode, Jocelyn and Alison discuss the hurdles Buyers from overseas may encounter, and how to work through them effectively. Feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions! www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com | IG: @theraredc Guest Jocelyn Lederman: jocelyn@compass.com

What do you really need to do if you want to buy a home in the DC-area?  Is there a simple list you can follow? In this episode, Alison and guest, Karen Ringo, tackle that question and give a how-to breakdown along with some tips that Buyers or soon-to-be Buyers can follow to help them confidently start and move through what can often be an intimidating process. Feel free to reach out to us on The RARE website or directly to Alison with comments and questions! www.theRAREdc.com | alison@theraredc.com | IG: @theraredc

A question on everyone’s mind lately is: are we in a housing bubble?  With over 20 years’ experience in the mortgage industry, John has been a top 5 mortgage lender in the DC Metro area for the past decade and has been fielding this question from homeowners for years. John has lived through several housing cycles and his perspective on bubbles, greed, booms, bust and how it relates to where are now in 2021 sheds some much needed insight on topic that has been on everyone’s mind. In this episode, we cover what a housing bubble is and discuss if the DMV is truly headed towards one or not.    Please feel free to reach out to us with comments and questions! Founder of The RARE | Realtor® Alison Scimeca: @theraredc or info@theraredc.com

Does housing inequity in this country exist? Without a doubt. The real estate industry and its generation to generation wealth creation has been out of reach for many Black and Brown individuals due to overtly racist practices and policies that prevented the accumulation of wealth through home/property ownership. In this episode, we speak with Lisa Wise, Founder of birdSEED, who aims to shift the conversation and invite those who have squarely benefited from an industry that excluded others to consider their responsibility to help undo the damage.   Please feel free to reach out to us with comments and questions! Founder of The RARE | Realtor® Alison Scimeca: @theraredc or info@theraredc.com To donate to birdSEED: https://birdseedfoundation.com/donate

The Washington, D.C. area real estate market is cut-throat.  It is the third-most expensive housing market in the country with homes getting listed, sold, and rented in record time...so naturally new buyers, sellers, and renters have many questions that they need answered before diving in head first. On Rent Move Buy, The RARE’s official housing podcast, Realtor Alison Scimeca takes a refreshingly authentic approach to answering all of the area's burning real estate questions. For more info, head to theraredc.com and subscribe on Spotify, Apple, or whichever podcast streaming source you prefer, and please feel free to reach out to us with comments and questions! @theRAREdc or alison@compass.com

The Washington, D.C. area real estate market is cut-throat.  It is the third-most-expensive housing market in the country with homes getting listed, sold, and rented in record time...so naturally, new buyers, sellers, and renters have many questions that they need answering before diving in headfirst. On Rent Move Buy, The RARE’s official housing podcast, Realtor Alison Scimeca takes a refreshingly authentic approach to answer all of the area's burning real estate questions. For more info, head to theraredc.com and subscribe on Spotify, Apple, or whichever podcast streaming source you prefer, and please feel free to reach out to us with comments and questions! @theRAREdc or alison@compass.com

What is home staging and what value does it really add? Belinda Ramos is a Senior Project Manager at Red House Staging & Interiors with over 10 years of experience who has seen the incredible effects that staging can have when selling a home. In this episode, we’ll talk about relevant statistics, why Sellers should consider staging, and what effects it has on Buyers.   Please feel free to reach out to us with comments and questions! Realtor® Alison Scimeca: @alirun9 or alison@compass.com

When you find a property you love, how much should you offer?  When you’re preparing to sell, how much should you list your property for?  Amit Bhuta is the leader of a top-selling Miami FL Real Estate team that prides themselves on thinking like a consumer and not like a typical real estate agent. In this episode, we discuss our theories on how to price properties along with some things to avoid when trying to arrive at that “right” number.   Please feel free to reach out to us with comments and questions!   Realtor® Alison Scimeca: @alirun9 or alison@compass.com Kevin Mahoney, CFP®: @bykevinmahoney or kevin@illumintfc.com

How does your credit score impact your ability to purchase a home? Chris Jordan leads the Chris Jordan Mortgage Team as a branch manager with Main Street Home Loans. Mortgage Executive Magazine has recognized Chris, who has worked with homebuyers in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia since 2005, as a top 1% mortgage originator. In this episode, we discuss how mortgage lenders factor credit scores into their loan approval process, and ways in which you can improve your credit score before buying a house.   Please feel free to reach out to us with comments and questions!   Realtor® Alison Scimeca: @alirun9 or alison@compass.com Kevin Mahoney, CFP®: @bykevinmahoney or kevin@illumintfc.com

How do mortgage interest rates really work and will they be changing any time soon?  In this episode, we define loan terms and rate types and discuss rate trajectory rates, historically rate changes, and our thoughts on the uncertainty about what the future holds.  Please feel free to reach out to us with comments and questions!   Realtor® Alison Scimeca: @alirun9 or alison@compass.com Kevin Mahoney, CFP®: @bykevinmahoney or kevin@illumintfc.com

What has happened in the D.C. housing market since Amazon chose Northern Virginia for its “HQ2” location in November 2018? What should we expect in the months and years ahead as such a large company starts putting down roots here? Dr. Terry Clower is a professor of public policy at George Mason University and the director of GMU’s Center for Regional Analysis. In this episode, he joins Kevin and Alison to discuss the past, present, and future of Amazon’s new National Landing campus and what that means for the D.C metro area. Please feel free to reach out to us with comments and questions! Realtor® Alison Scimeca: @alirun9 or alison@compass.com Kevin Mahoney, CFP®: @bykevinmahoney or kevin@illumintfc.com