MMK Realty’s Northern Virginia Real Estate Blog

Brain Injury Support Virginia_mmk realty
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MMK Realty Supports Brain Injuries in Virginia

Understanding Brain Injuries in Virginia In Virginia, brain injuries such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) and concussion acquired brain injury (CABI) affect thousands of individuals and their families. These head injuries may be caused by…
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Tips for Winterizing Your Northern Virginia Home

Looking for quick tips for winterizing your Northern Virginia home? Northern Virginia is a wonderful place to live and one of my favorite things about this area is that we enjoy four true weather seasons. Enjoyable as our weather is, Northern…
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Signs That You Should Sell Your Fairfax Area Home Soon_mmk realty
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Signs That You Should Sell Your Fairfax Area Home Soon

Looking for signs that you should sell your Fairfax area home soon? To sell or not to sell? This question is not always an easy one to answer. After all, there are so many memories and happy moments that come with your home. It is probably…
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why military members should buy a home in Northern Virginia
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Why Military Members Should Buy A Home in Northern Virginia

There are a lot of great reasons why military members should buy a home in Northern Virginia. There are two reasons in particular that are especially advantageous to military members: tax benefits and the VA loan--but more on that in a moment.…
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Rent vs. Buy in Northern Virginia Which is Right for You
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Rent vs. Buy in Northern Virginia: Which Is Right For You?

The choice between renting or buying a property is one of the most important financial decisions one needs to make. Which one is better? This is a question that will come up in almost everyone's life. There's a multitude of reasons one might…
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Fall Events Northern Virginia
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5 Northern Virginia Fall Events [2022]

Are you looking for some local favorite Northern Virginia Fall Events in 2022? Fall is a wonderful time to be in Northern Virginia because the weather is beautiful and the activities are abundant. In fact, there are so many great events happening…
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7 Simple Home Repair or Improvement Projects You Can Do Yourself
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7 Simple Home Repair or Improvement Projects You Can Do Yourself

Looking for 7 simple home repair or improvement projects you can do yourself? Part of homeownership is dealing with items that need to be repaired as the need to do so arises. There are home repair projects that are also easy to undertake without…
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Strategies to Add Market Value to Your Home
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5 Strategies to Add Market Value to Your Home

Looking for some strategies to add market value to your home? As is the case with most Americans, your home is likely your most significant financial investment. Thus, like most people, you desire to enhance the market value of your home whenever…
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Being intentional and competitive are musts when buying a home this season. That’s why pre-approval is so important today. Pre-approval from a lender is the only way to know your true price range and how much money you can borrow for your loan. Peter Warden, Editor of The Mortgage Reports, explains: “The lender will check out your personal finances and issue you a letter confirming the amount you’re eligible to borrow. This not only gives you a firm budget for house hunting, but also lets sellers know you’re qualified to make an offer.” Why does that matter so much today? There are many more buyers looking for homes today than there are homes available for sale, and that’s creating some serious competition. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the average home is getting 4.8 offers per sale. As a result, bidding wars are still common. Your pre-approval gives you a leg up in these situations. That’s because you know exactly what you’re approved to borrow before you write your offer, and it lets the seller know you’re qualified to buy their home. This helps both you and the seller feel confident in what you’re bringing to the table. And that puts you in a better position to potentially win a bidding war. As Warden puts it: “There’s another important reason to get preapproved, too. And that’s because there are way more buyers than homes in today’s market — which means you need to be ultra-prepared if you want to win a bidding war. Most sellers are getting multiple offers right now. And most won’t even entertain an offer without a preapproval letter included.” Every advantage you can gain as a buyer is crucial in a market that’s constantly changing. Mortgage rates are rising, home prices are going up, and lending institutions are regularly updating their standards. You’re going to need guidance to navigate these waters, so it’s important to have a team of professionals, such as a loan officer and a trusted real estate advisor, on your side. They’ll help make sure you’re ready to put your best foot forward. Bottom Line Getting pre-approved for a mortgage helps you better understand what you can afford and signals to sellers you’re serious about purchasing their home. Let’s connect so you have the tools you need to succeed as a homebuyer in today’s market.
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Why Pre-Approval Is an Important Step for Today’s Homebuyers

Being intentional and competitive are musts when buying a home this season. That’s why pre-approval is so important today. Pre-approval from a lender is the only way to know your true price range and how much money you can borrow for your…
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Is It Enough To Offer Asking Price in Today’s Housing Market?
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Is It Enough To Offer Asking Price in Today’s Housing Market?

If you’re planning to buy a home this season, you’re probably thinking about what you’ll need to do to get your offer accepted. In previous years, it was common for buyers to try and determine how much less than the asking price they could…
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How To Approach Rising Mortgage Rates as a Buyer

In the last few weeks, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate from Freddie Mac inched up to 5%. While that news may have you questioning the timing of your home search, the truth is, timing has never been more important. Even though you…
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Where Are Mortgage Rates Headed?
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Where Are Mortgage Rates Headed?

There’s never been a truer statement regarding forecasting mortgage rates than the one offered last year by Mark Fleming, Chief Economist at First American: “You know, the fallacy of economic forecasting is: Don't ever try and forecast…
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Balancing Your Wants and Needs as a Homebuyer Today
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Balancing Your Wants and Needs as a Homebuyer Today

Since the number of homes for sale is low today, it can feel challenging to find one that checks all your boxes. But if you know which features are absolutely essential in your next home and which ones are just nice bonuses, you can land a home…
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What You Can Expect from the Spring Housing Market
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What You Can Expect from the Spring Housing Market

What You Can Expect from the Spring Housing Market As the spring housing market kicks off, you likely want to know what you can expect this season when it comes to buying or selling a house. While there are multiple factors causing…
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Don’t Get Caught Off Guard by Closing Costs
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Don’t Get Caught Off Guard by Closing Costs

As a homebuyer, it’s important to plan and budget for the expenses you’ll encounter when you purchase a home. While most people understand the need to save for a down payment, a recent survey found 41% of homebuyers were surprised by their…
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How Supply and Demand Can Impact Your Buying and Selling Goals
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How Supply and Demand Can Impact Your Buying and Selling Goals

In today’s housing market, there are far more buyers looking for homes than sellers listing their houses. Based on the concept of supply and demand, this means home prices will naturally rise. Why is that? When there are more people trying…
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4 Simple Graphs Showing Why This Is Not a Housing Bubble
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4 Simple Graphs Showing Why This Is Not a Housing Bubble

A recent survey revealed that many consumers believe there’s a housing bubble beginning to form. That feeling is understandable, as year-over-year home price appreciation is still in the double digits. However, this market is very different…
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homeownership in 2022
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Achieving the Dream of Homeownership

Wondering how to achieve the dream of homeownership in 2022? Homeownership has long been considered the American Dream, and it’s one every American should feel confident and powerful pursuing. But owning a home is also a deeply personal…
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what’s going to happen with home prices
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What’s Going To Happen with Home Prices This Year?

Are you wondering what’s going to happen with home prices this year? You are not alone. After almost two years of double-digit increases, many experts thought home price appreciation would decelerate or happen at a slower pace in the last…
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Why Now Is a Great Time To Sell Your House
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Why Now Is a Great Time To Sell Your House

As we near the end of the year, more homeowners are realizing the benefits of today’s sellers’ market. Record-breaking home price appreciation, growing equity, low inventory, and competitive mortgage rates are motivating homeowners to make…
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How To Think Strategically as a Buyer in Today’s Market
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How To Think Strategically as a Buyer in Today’s Market

The game of chess can provide incredible lessons to apply to all aspects of life, including the homebuying process. Chess requires you to plan and think about your strategy from the very beginning of the game. The homebuying process, like…
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Home upgrades with the worst ROI

Home improvement projects typically increase the home's value - until they don't. Or at least, they don't increase it enough. It's not unusual for homeowners to spend thousands of dollars on renovations hoping they'll be able to score more once…
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Home Is Where the Heart Is More than Ever This Year

There’s no denying the financial benefits of homeownership, but what’s often overlooked are the feelings of gratitude, security, pride, and comfort we get from owning a home. This year, those emotions are stronger than ever. We’ve lived…
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The Big Question: Should You Renovate or Move?
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The Big Question: Should You Renovate or Move?

The Big Question: Should You Renovate or Move? The last 18 months changed what many buyers are looking for in a home. Recently, the American Institute of Architects released their AIA Home Design Trends Survey results for Q3 2021. The survey…
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What Does the Future Hold for Home Prices_mmk realty
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What Does the Future Hold for Home Prices?

What Does the Future Hold for Home Prices? If you’re looking to buy or sell a house, chances are you’ve heard talk about today’s rising home prices. And while this increase in home values is great news for sellers, you may be wondering…
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What Do Past Years Tell Us About Today’s Real Estate Market?

What Do Past Years Tell Us About Today’s Real Estate Market?

What Do Past Years Tell Us About Today’s Real Estate Market? As you follow the news, you’re likely seeing headlines discussing what’s going on in today’s housing market. Chances are high that some of the more recent storylines you’ve…
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The Truth About Today’s Buyer Demand
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The Truth About Today’s Buyer Demand

When it comes to the latest news in real estate, there are a lot of sensational headlines in the media. In times like this, when it can be hard to know what to believe, put your trust in the experts. Those of us in the housing market respect…
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Is It Time To Move on to a New Home?
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Is It Time To Move on to a New Home?

If you’ve been in your home for longer than five years, you’re not alone. According to recent data from First American, homeowners are staying put much longer than historical averages (see graph below):As the graph shows, before 2008, homeowners…
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Real Estate: It’s Still a Lack of Supply, Not a Lack of Demand
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Real Estate: It’s Still a Lack of Supply, Not a Lack of Demand

One of the major questions real estate experts are asking today is whether prospective homebuyers still believe purchasing a home makes sense. Some claim rapidly rising home prices are impacting demand and, by extension, leading to the recent…
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elling Your House? Make Sure You Price It Right.
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Selling Your House? Make Sure You Price It Right.

Selling your house? Make sure you price it right. There’s no denying we’re in a sellers’ market. With low inventory and high buyer demand, homes today are selling above the asking price at a record rate. According to the latest Realtors…
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4 Major Incentives To Sell This Summer
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4 Major Incentives To Sell This Summer

While the housing market forecast for the second half of the year remains positive, there may not be a better time to sell than right now. Here are four things to consider if you’re trying to decide if now’s the right time to make a move. 4…
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What’s Motivating People To Move Right Now?
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What’s Motivating People To Move Right Now?

So, what's motivating people to move right now? Well, that's a loaded question! Okay, so this year, Americans are moving for a variety of reasons. The health crisis has truly reshaped our lifestyles and our needs. Spending so much more time…
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Should you sell your home right now? Homebuyers are flooding the housing market right now to take advantage of record-low mortgage rates. Many have a sense of urgency to find a home soon since experts forecast a steady rise in both rates and home prices this year and next. As a result, buyer demand greatly outweighs the current housing supply. Here’s how the shortage of houses for sale sets yours up to be the oasis in an inventory desert.
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Your House Could Be the Oasis in an Inventory Desert

Should you sell your home right now? Homebuyers are flooding the housing market right now to take advantage of record-low mortgage rates. Many have a sense of urgency to find a home soon since experts forecast a steady rise in both rates and…
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Why Waiting to Buy a Home Could Cost You a Small Fortune
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Why Waiting to Buy a Home Could Cost You a Small Fortune

Wondering if should wait to buy a home? Many people are sitting on the fence trying to decide if now’s the time to buy a home. Some are renters who have a strong desire to become homeowners but are unsure if buying right now makes sense.…
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Common Myths About Northern Virginia Real Estate Agents_mmk realty
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Don’t Believe These Common Myths About Northern Virginia Real Estate Agents

Truth: there are some common myths about Northern Virginia Real Estate agents that you probably assume are true! Planning to sell your home in Northern Virginia is a big decision. Most of us start the process with an internet search, but sorting…
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Your Tax Refund and Stimulus Savings May Help You Achieve Homeownership This Year
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Your Stimulus May Help You Achieve Homeownership

If you’re planning to buy a home this year, saving for a down payment is one of the most important steps in the process. One of the best ways to jumpstart your savings is by starting with the help of your tax refund. Using data from…
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benefits of homeownership
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Homeownership Is Full of Financial Benefits

A Fannie Mae survey recently revealed some of the most highly-rated benefits of homeownership, which continue to be key drivers in today’s power-packed housing market. Here are the top four financial benefits of owning a home according to…
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Why hire a Realtor to Sell Your Home in Northern Virginia_mmk realty northern virginia real estate
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Why hire a Realtor to Sell Your Home in Northern Virginia?

Wondering why you should hire a Realtor to sell your home in Northern Virginia? Having trouble finding a solid buyer for your home in Northern Virginia? If that’s you, then you need an experienced realtor who knows how to get your home ready…
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What Credit Score Do You Need for a Mortgage?
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What Credit Score Do You Need for a Mortgage?

According to data from the most recent Origination Insight Report by Ellie Mae, the average FICO® score on closed loans reached 753 in February. As lending standards have tightened recently, many are concerned over whether or not their credit…
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To Renovate or Not To Renovate Before You Sell
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To Renovate or Not To Renovate Before You Sell

When thinking about selling, homeowners often feel they need to get their house ready with some remodeling to make it more appealing to buyers. However, with so many buyers competing for available homes right now, renovations may not be…
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The Reason Mortgage Rates Are Projected to Increase and What It Means for You
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The Reason Mortgage Rates Are Projected to Increase and What It Means for You

The Reason Mortgage Rates Are Projected to Increase and What It Means for You We’re currently experiencing historically low mortgage rates. Over the last fifty years, the average on a Freddie Mac 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has been 7.76%.…
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Where Have All the Houses Gone
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Where Have All the Houses Gone?

In today’s housing market, it seems harder than ever to find a home to buy. Before the health crisis hit us a year ago, there was already a shortage of homes for sale. When many homeowners delayed their plans to sell at the same time that…
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Do I Really Need a 20% Down Payment to Buy a Home?
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Do I Really Need a 20% Down Payment to Buy a Home?

Is the idea of saving for a down payment holding you back from buying a home right now? You may be eager to take advantage of today’s low mortgage rates, but the thought of needing a large down payment might make you want to pump the brakes.…
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Will Low Mortgage Rates Continue through 2021
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Will Low Mortgage Rates Continue through 2021?

With mortgage interest rates hitting record lows so many times recently, some are wondering if we’ll see low rates continue throughout 2021, or if they’ll start to rise. Recently, Freddie Mac released their quarterly forecast, noting: “The…
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3 Reasons We’re Definitely Not in a Housing Bubbl
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3 Reasons We’re Definitely Not in a Housing Bubble

Home values appreciated by about ten percent in 2020, and they’re forecast to appreciate by about five percent this year. This has some voicing concern that we may be in another housing bubble like the one we experienced a little over a decade…
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4 Reasons People Are Buying Homes in 2021
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4 Reasons People Are Buying Homes in 2021

According to many experts, the real estate market is expected to continue growing in 2021, and it’s largely driven by the lasting impact the pandemic is having on our lifestyles. As many of us spend extra time at home, we’re reevaluating…
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Why Right Now May Be the Time to Sell Your House
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Why Right Now May Be the Time to Sell Your House

Why Right Now May Be the Time to Sell Your House The housing market made an incredible recovery in 2020 and is now positioned for an even stronger year in 2021. Record-low mortgage interest rates are a driving factor in this continued momentum,…
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Staging Tips
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Staging Tips to Help You Get Top Dollar for Your Northern Virginia Home

Are you looking for staging tips to help get your Northern Virginia home sold? Through the years, you’ve worked hard to maintain your home and keep it in its best-possible condition. Outside of making it a nicer place to live, you’ve probably…
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how to be a good neighbor fairfax virginia
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Tips on how to be a good neighbor in Fairfax Virginia

Are you new to Northern Virginia? Are you looking for tips on how to be a good neighbor in Fairfax Virginia? Unless you live in a log cabin in the middle of the woods, chances are you do have neighbors that are a part of your community. Given…
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Home Selling Tips for Seniors
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Home Selling Tips for Seniors

Looking for home selling tips for seniors? Home selling is a difficult and challenging process especially if you've been a part of it for many years. There are both practical and emotional considerations when selling your home. Let's break down…
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how to building your home’s annual maintenance checklist
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How to start building your home’s annual maintenance checklist

Wondering how to start building your home’s annual maintenance checklist? There are few experiences more exhilarating than getting the keys to your first-ever home in Northern Virginia. After all, it’s yours. With all that freedom, however,…
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MMK Realty Earns Platinum Top Producer Award
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Sold! MMK Realty Earns Platinum Top Producer Award

Just in, MMK Realty earns Platinum Top Producer Award! As a real estate agent in Northern Virginia, I have been at this for many years. I have spent countless hours and many weekends working tirelessly to help my clients get their properties…
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Top Fall Home Maintenance Tips for Northern Virginia Homeowners_mmk realty
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Updated! Top Fall Home Maintenance Tips for Northern Virginia Homeowners

Fall is just around the corner and fall home maintenance should be on every homeowners radar. I have been in the business a long time and time and time again I come across homeowners that need reminders about what they should be doing in the…
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MMK Realty Making a Splash in Northern Virginia Real Estate

My daughter recently said to me, “Mom, you are making a splash in real estate!” Then, she showed me a collage she had put together representing who she thinks I am as a Realtor. I certainly had a “mom moment” as I felt my heart melt.…
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6 Virtual Attractions to Enjoy in Northern Virginia Right Now_MMK Realty
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6 Virtual Attractions to Enjoy in Northern Virginia Right Now

Are you looking for virtual attractions to enjoy in Northern Virginia right now? We are heading into August in Northern Virginia and that means hot weather. With continued uncertainty about COVID-19 and triple digit heat, you are probably going…
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Northern Virginia Summer Home Maintenance Guide
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Northern Virginia Summer Home Maintenance Guide

Looking for a Northern Virginia summer home maintenance guide? Summer is upon us here in Northern Virginia and that means it is time for us to get outside--and take care of our summer home maintenance. Currently, summer home maintenance is probably…
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considering mortgage forebearance_mmk realty
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Considering Mortgage Forbearance on Your Northern Virginia Home?

Are you considering mortgage forbearance on your Northern Virginia home? While mortgage forbearance can be a lifesaver from some, in most of cases opting for forbearance is not a good idea. If you can make your payments, continue to do. The…
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Michelle Williams of MMK Realty LLC launches The McKendall Foundation
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Michelle Williams of MMK Realty LLC launches The McKendall Foundation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Michelle Williams of MMK Realty LLC launches The McKendall Foundation LLC in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic! Together we're raising money to support those that suffer from Congenital Heart and Lung Disease who will…
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Smart Ways Realtors are Managing Transactions during the COVID-19 Pandemic MMK realty northern virginia real estate
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Smart Ways Realtors are Managing Transactions during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Are you looking for ways Realtors are managing transactions during the COVID-19 Pandemic? Here in Northern Virginia, we (like much of the U.S.) are slowly realizing and beginning to adapt to life during the COVID-19 Pandemic. News headlines…
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6 DIY Spring Home Improvement Tips for Your Northern Virginia Home_mmk realty llc
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6 DIY Spring Home Improvement Tips for Your Northern Virginia Home

Are you looking for spring home improvement tips for your Northern Virginia home? Let us face it, DIY repurposing is not going anywhere anytime soon. Why, because there is so much to love about repurposing old items. Not only can you explore…
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Michelle Williams Earns Military Relocation Professional Certification

For Immediate Release: Military Relocation Professional Certification Military Personnel and Veterans Benefit from Realtor® Expertise in Military Benefits, the Relocation Process, and Support FAIRFAX, VA MAY 20, 2019. Michelle Williams…
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decluttering tips for northern virginia homeowner_mmk realty llc northern virginia real estate
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New Year New Home: Decluttering Tips for Northern Virginia Homeowners

Are you looking for decluttering tips to help get you motivated and organized? It is 2020 after all, and while you may still may be decompressing from the holidays you are probably at least thinking about how you want to improve your home in…
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Most Popular Interior Design Trends in 2019
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12 Most Popular Interior Design Trends in 2019

Looking for the most popular interior design trends in 2019? With each passing year there are interesting developments when it comes to interior design and decorating. There are 12 interior design trends that are capturing the attention of people…
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great things to do in Northern Virginia
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21 Great Things To Do In Northern Virginia

Looking for great things to do in Northern Virginia? Growing up a Navy Commander’s daughter, I have seen a lot of places over the years but one thing is for certain, Northern Virginia is a great place to live. One of the things I love about…
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