If you are preparing to sell your home, you should be aware of the capital gains tax implications. There is a good chance that you will not owe any capital gains taxes on the sale of your principal residence if you meet certain federal requirements. And, if you do, the amount of capital gains that you pay on will be significantly reduced.

When selling your home, you’re the boss when it comes to deciding when to move. Depending on your particular situation, there are three times you can consider vacating your current home – before, during, or after the sale. Like a lot of decisions pertinent to the home sale process, a number of trade-offs can come into play.

One of the most popular blogs I’ve written revolves around what happens to the earnest money deposit when a buyer changes his mind after going to contract. This reminds us that, while everyone has likely heard of an earnest money deposit before, a little clarification is likely needed. Here's what happens when a buyer decides they no longer want to buy your home after beginning the process.

Unfortunately for many consumers, there’s a misperception that there’s a fall market and a spring market in the Washington DC region. Frankly, this is a myth promulgated by the media and some real estate agents, including me for many years. But I studied 31 years of real estate markets and with only two exceptions in late stage bull markets, there is not a fall market of notable value.

Contributed by Adriana Parreira Cora, Realtor with the Eric Stewart Group of Long & Foster There we were on a busy Saturday, standing in line at La Madeleine. My boys were hungry and restless, both had been tagging along with me and their father on our errands. They refrained from running around the long rolls of silk and cotton at G Street Fabrics while I shopped for notions to replace their winter coats missing buttons. They waited patiently for dad to surface from CVS with a bag of first aid supplies to patch their soccer inflicted bruises. In exchange for their good behavior, we promised them a visit to Toys R’Us, our next stop. We ordered hot chocolate and pastries, sat down at the outside patio and enjoyed the sunny, unusually warm fall afternoon while the boys talked about the new toys they would get. There we were, at Mid-Pike Plaza twenty years ago.

CONTRIBUTED BY DR. ERIK TAMMARU, REALTOR WITH THE ERIC STEWART GROUP OF L&F When speaking with prospective clients or friends, I’m often asked about the outlook for real estate in the coming year and whether it’s a good time to buy or sell.

CONTRIBUTED BYJIM BECKLEY, REALTOR WITH THE ERIC STEWART GROUP OF LONG & FOSTER REAL ESTATE As we enter the spring market of 2019, the local home inventory is at historic lows. Selling a home is no different than selling anything else; when supply is low and demand is high, prices and competition rise. So how does a buyer position him/herself to win the home of his/her dreams when that exact home is also a favorite of another buyer who is also submitting an offer?

CONTRIBUTED BY DEBBIE ZECH, REALTOR WITH THE ERIC STEWART GROUP OF LONG & FOSTER REAL ESTATE Excitement continues to build as plans for Amazon’s new HQ2 in Crystal City unfold. Of course this raises more questions than answers – what will be the effect on traffic, will the current public transportation be adequate, will our schools become more overcrowded – and of course, what will happen to housing prices and availability.

Contributed by Helen Flynn, Realtor® & SRES®, with the Eric Stewart Group of Long & Foster January is a time for new resolutions, lists, changes, dreams, and plans. Here we are again in January wondering what this new year will bring. Many times last year clients would tell me they were thinking about making a move “next year” or "next spring”. Perhaps you are thinking about thinking about making a move. I am often asked the question, “How will I know it is time?”

Thank you to our clients for the last year - 2018 was one of our greatest, and we can't wait to see what 2019 continues to bring. Our listing agents are here to help you sell your home with confidence and our buyers agents are here to assist in all of your home buying needs.