What the Upcoming Recession Means for Real Estate



Many of my investors ask me when the next recession is going to happen. The truth is that I don’t know. All I can do is look for answers. Many smart economists predict that the recession might start in 2020.

Our economy has been expanding since 2009 and we have seen almost a decade of growth. All signs point toward a recession soon. However, to my friends that invest in real estate, there’s no need to panic. With the exception of the 2008 recession, real estate has done really well in the past five economic recessions. A recession doesn’t equate to trouble in the real estate market.


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I wouldn’t be concerned about falling home prices in an upcoming recession.

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This recession will occur when the GDP begins to shrink for multiple quarters in a row. It’s more complex than that, but that’s what it is on a basic level. We don’t have any data to indicate that the real estate market will cause another recession, which is the only way a recession would really affect real estate.

So, I’m not concerned about dropping house prices during the upcoming recession. You shouldn’t be either. If you have any questions about the recession or about anything else related to real estate, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
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Location: Arlington County, Arlington, VA, USA

What You Need to Disclose in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C.



Today I want to talk about property disclosure as the seller.

Many people have asked me what they need to disclose about their property when selling. To answer this, I should start by saying that what you have to disclose depends on where you live. Each state actually has different rules about disclosures.

Virginia, for example, is a “buyer-beware” state. If you read Virginia's one-page disclosure, it pretty much says that the seller doesn't know anything about the house and the buyer will need to do their own inspection. In other words, you don't have to disclose much of anything.

However, keep in mind that if you are concealing some kind of trouble, such as a leaky roof or a crack in the foundation, that actually becomes a disclosable item and you are violating the law. You may even get in trouble after the settlement for doing it. I recommend always disclosing a problem if you're aware of it. Just because you disclose it does not mean that you have to fix it.
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There is a federal law that requires homeowners of homes built prior to 1978 to disclose whether there is any lead-based paint in the house.

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In Maryland and D.C., meanwhile, the laws are different. There is a much longer disclosure form. However, sellers can also do a one-page disclosure where they can say that they don’t know anything about the house and that the buyer will need to do a home inspection to figure it out.

Regardless of which state you live in, there is a federal law that requires homeowners of homes built prior to 1978 to disclose whether there is any lead-based paint in the house. You must also disclose if there are any inspections. Everybody needs to fill out this form if your home was built before 1978.

If you are concealing something, you may get in trouble after the settlement. For this reason, I say that it is better to disclose and to be safe than sorry.

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to reach out to me by phone or email. I look forward to speaking with you soon.
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Location: Sterling, VA, USA
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