Luxury for Less: Jan. 16

Welcome to Luxury For Less, a weekly column highlighting the best deals in luxury real estate. Written by Brandy Schantz of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, Luxury For Less offers tips and tricks navigating the competitive real estate market and securing the home of your dreams. To learn more, visit ttrsir.com.

The big question on everyone’s mind right now is, “How will the government shutdown affect the housing market?”

The honest answer right now is, not that much. While there are many people who are opting to wait until this is over to buy, it hasn’t affected the overall market just yet. Time will tell how much it will affect the market but according to the National Association of Realtors, 75% of realtors have experienced no impact at all.

This prompted me to think of the VA loan, a loan I am very familiar with as an Army veteran myself and one that is not affected by the current shutdown. I thought this would be a great time to discuss how you can use your VA loan to get into an expensive real estate market such as this one.

When many people think of VA loans, they think of low limits and young soldiers trying to buy a home with little or no money down. In the D.C. metro area, we are surrounded more by senior officers and retired military who are embarking on their second career than young soldiers. The VA loan can be a great loan for those active military and veterans to get into what seems like an impossible market.

First, the VA loan “limit” is not a limit at all. It’s just the amount you can borrow with no money down. Any amount above that limit, $726,525 for the D.C. metro area, requires a down payment of 25%. For example; if you are purchasing a home for $1.3M, you are responsible for a 25% down payment of $573,475 or $143,368.

The VA loan has many benefits including possible lower interest rates so I encourage those who are eligible to consider using their VA loan rather than a conventional loan.

To better understand what loan programs work best for you, be sure to contact an experienced loan professional. To learn more about how the VA loan can work for you, contact my go to VA loan professional, Heather Devoto at [email protected].

Now check out some of this week’s luxury properties for less:

• 9222 Brian Drive Vienna (Reduced $100,000)
• 9134 Ermatrude Court Vienna (Reduced $34,900)
• 6928 Butternut Court McLean (Reduced $50,000)
• 6806 Lupine Lane McLean (Reduced $425,000)
• 10127 Nedra Drive Great Falls (Reduced $35,000)

The properties listed are a small selection of properties available in the Tyson’s Corner area. For a full list of properties listed on MLS and private exclusives, please contact Brandy Schantz.