Hampton Roads Real Estate Services
Buying or Selling Your Home Just Got Easier.
We Can Help You Through The Buying & Selling Process
First Landing Realty offers a wide range of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, and the rest of the 757 Real Estate Services to help find your next forever home, sell your current home, or expand your investment portfolio. Our agents have years of experience in and around Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads, and are ready to tackle all your real estate needs.
We know that buying & selling can be very stressful, which is why we cater our services to fit your specific needs. Give us a call today at (757) 226-7417 and see how First Landing Realty can streamline the buying and selling process for you. We can help you determine what you should sell your current home for and what is a fair market price for your new home.
Discover Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads offers a compelling real estate market characterized by a diverse economy, beautiful coastal living, and a rich cultural heritage. With a strong military presence, including several major bases, the area provides job stability and a steady influx of new residents, creating an ongoing demand for housing.
The region's vibrant waterfront communities, coupled with a range of amenities such as parks, beaches, and historical sites, make it attractive to families, retirees, and young professionals alike.
Additionally, affordable property prices compared to other metropolitan areas, along with a variety of housing options—from historic homes to modern developments—position Hampton Roads as a prime location for both buyers and investors looking to capitalize on its growth potential.
Getting Ready to Buy Hampton Roads Real Estate
Purchasing a property is probably one of the biggest financial decisions you will ever make. Regardless of whether you are a first-time homebuyer or an experienced investor, you must make careful decisions throughout the buying process. Below are some things to consider before you buy.
Are you tired of paying expensive rent, or have you simply outgrown your current home? Are you looking for an investment property? Having a clear sense of your “why” behind a new purchase will help you evaluate the right factors and choose the best property.
Other Things to Consider
Get Your Financials in Order
Now is not a good time to make sudden career changes or large purchases. You want to approach your property purchase from a position of financial stability. Large purchases or loans can affect your credit and balance sheet in a way that can limit your buying options. Your credit score will have a significant impact on the type of property you can buy, your interest rate, and the overall property price. We can work with one of our preferred lenders to get an updated credit report to know exactly where it stands. The lender will research your credit ratings from the three credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. We are happy to recommend seasoned, knowledgeable lenders in the residential, construction, commercial, and investment real estate fields.
Organize Your Finances
When it’s time to make an offer, you’ll want to know you’re fully prepared to close the deal. In order to avoid delays, bidding wars, or conflicts, preparing your finances is crucial.
Prequalify
Prequalifying for a loan will help you with the following:
Tips for Buying
Don’t Max Out Your Budget
Just because you’ve been approved for a maximum amount doesn't mean you should spend it all on the home's sale price. You will want to set some of that aside for closing costs, taxes, and potential home repairs or remodeling.
Get to Know the Area
Make sure the neighborhood works for you and your family—are you close to schools, and is shopping conveniently located? Location is important because it’s the one feature that can’t be changed.
Don’t Skip the Home Inspection
Inspections are worth their weight in gold and will draw attention to problems you may not otherwise see, giving you peace of mind and allowing you to make more informed decisions about your purchase.
Get Pre-Approved
Getting pre-approved by a lender lets the seller know you are serious and ready to purchase a home and that you are not just window shopping.
What Price Range Can I Afford?
Resources for Hampton Roads Homebuyers
The journey to homeownership starts by understanding how much you can afford. One major thing to consider is your down payment, if any. Many consumers believe it's impossible to buy a home without at least 20 percent down. But thanks to various government-sponsored programs, many people can now buy a house with as little as 3.5 percent toward a down payment. Veterans of the U.S. military have zero-down programs available.
Finding a knowledgeable Mortgage Loan Officer is key to receiving the most up-to-date information on available lending options. Feel free to check out our vetted list of preferred lenders below—or, if you just want to run some quick rough numbers, check out our free mortgage calculator.
Preparing to Sell Hampton Roads Real Estate
Why Sell?
Why do you want to sell your property? Do you intend to simply find a larger property, or do you plan on moving to another neighborhood, school district, city, or state? You might think your reasons are obvious, but it would do well to consider the implications of each option for your lifestyle, opportunities, and finances. Being clear about your intentions for selling will make it easier for us to determine the most appropriate option for your specified financial, lifestyle, and real estate goals.
When Should I Sell?
Establish your time frame for selling early on. If you have a personal consideration, like a job offer, that doesn’t allow you much flexibility for your selling time frame, then your agent will work with you. We can help you accelerate the process by giving you a thorough market analysis and action plan to best fit your goals. If you do not need to sell immediately, we will sit down with you and review current market conditions to find the ideal time to sell.
Other Things to Consider
What is the Market Like?
Typically, homes sell more frequently in the summer months because they look their best—lawns are green and flowers are blooming. Nice landscaping can be very attractive to buyers. Many families will buy in the summer months because they want their kids to finish out the school year before they move. Economic conditions also determine real estate demands. Selling your house during periods of low interest rates can benefit you because buyers will obtain mortgage loans more easily. Periods of low unemployment and pent-up demand also ensure an accessible pool of potential buyers. We will help you determine the best-selling price for your property by looking at a myriad of factors, including the current market value, comparable properties, amenities, finances, repairs, square footage, and more.
Optimize Your Finances
Selling your property is a big financial decision. It requires an in-depth look at your current financial situation, as well as future opportunities. Many independent property owners overestimate the value of their home. This leads to properties sitting idly on the market for long periods of time. On the flip side, if you price your property too low, you could cheat yourself out of thousands of dollars. Having an experienced agent on your side will prevent you from making these mistakes. When you work with us, we will create a detailed report so you can easily assess the financial impact of selling your property. We will also help you create effective tax-saving and estate planning strategies. We are committed to helping you take control of your finances and use them to their full potential.
What is My Property Worth?
Without a professional agent, most independent property sellers tend to overestimate the value of their property. You can avoid this pitfall by consulting with an experienced real estate listing agent. You can do a lot to increase the appeal of your property and to create a lasting impact on potential buyers.
Tips for Selling Your Home
Give Your House a Deep Clean
First impressions are everything. Before you decide to list your home, give it a deep clean. Clean toilets, wipe down surfaces, mop floors, clean rugs, and scrub bathrooms—even consider calling in the professionals to ensure that your home is in the best condition it can possibly be.
Declutter the Home
When a home is clutter-free, buyers are able to focus on the actual home instead of on the piles of mail, laundry, and general mess in your home. Potential buyers want to envision their items on your counter, rather than resisting the urge to clean up your mess. Decluttering and organizing will go a long way in appealing to potential buyers.
Call a Handyman
Call a Handyman: When selling a house, you should make sure everything that needs to be fixed has been taken care of before listing the home. Potential buyers will come into your home knowing you took care of it, giving them more peace of mind.
Paint the Walls
Not only is painting a great way to clean up the walls, but making the overall color scheme neutral will increase the appeal to potential buyers, making it easier for them to envision their belongings in the house. Get rid of any bright, outdated paint colors and go with a neutral palette throughout the house.
Increase Your Curb Appeal:
The outside aesthetic of your home is just as important as the inside. Give buyers a good feeling before they even open the front door. Landscaping, mulching, flowers, pressure washing the driveway, and the exterior of the home are all simple ways to increase the value of your home.
Stage Your Home
Staged homes tend to fill quickly because they feel homier. If you have neutral furniture that you can leave in the home, do it; otherwise, consider a professional staging company.
Depersonalize Your Home
You want to leave a few nice, framed photos around the house to make the home appear inviting and lived in, but in general, removing your very personal items, such as family photos, will let the potential buyers see their photos in those places, versus yours.
What to Do to Prepare
Curb Appeal. Update your landscaping. If you have a lawn, make sure it’s well-manicured. Depending on the season, you might consider adding some colorful flowers or fresh greenery.
Simple upgrades such as window repairs, carpet and tile treatments, and a fresh coat of paint will instantly highlight the property’s details.
There is beauty in simplicity. Remove the extra personal items and clutter to keep a cleaner look. Your agent may suggest adding mirrors to certain walls, fresh flowers to dining tables, or candles in the kitchen.
If the property does have any complications, we will help you create a thorough disclosure statement. We will also make sure the necessary inspections and repairs are handled in the case of a crucial issue.
Buyers feel more comfortable discussing the property directly with the agent. Your agent will engage with their expertise in your property and the most important negotiating factors.
Free Comparative Market Analysis
What's Your Home Worth?
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Hampton Roads Homes For Sale
Find the Perfect Home
We want to make your experience in finding your next dream home an enjoyable one! Find houses for sale in Hampton Roads and surrounding areas by selecting from our list of available properties, or by entering your search criteria below. Give us a call today, and we will help you find your forever home!
Get Started Today
When you are ready to get started, call us at (757) 226-7417 or click below, and one of our agents will be in touch.