We occasionally hear about "strategically walking away from your mortgage"; basically a scenario where you can pay, but because you owe more on your mortgage than the house is worth, you decide to throw in the towel. I have always been against this. This is America; risk big, win big. Risk big, lose big. The chips fall both ways. I owe more on my mortgage than my house is worth, but have kept making my payments; that was the deal I made, and as I have no extenuating circumstances (yet), I continued to do so. But now I wonder if I am doing the right thing, or if I am just smoking crack. Scenario #1 - I am upside down on my mortgage, but I keep making my payment, because I can, and it is the right thing to do. Scenario #2 - I am upside down on my mortgage, and I have been making my paymen... 10/21/2010

Kevin McGrath | Coldwell Banker Elite | 540-604-1843 5702 Heritage Hills Circle, Fredericksburg, VA Unmatched Convenience ! Well Under 5 Minutes To Central Park - Spotsylvania Town Centre - Rt 95 @ Exit 130. 4 Bdrm Single Family House offered at $349,900 Year Built 2005 Sq Footage 3,300 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 3 full, 1 partial Floors 3 Parking Unspecified Lot Size .25 acres HOA/Maint $13 per month DESCRIPTION When you hear location location location - this is what they are talking about. Less than 1 mile from Rt 95 @ Rt 3 (Exit 130) - Withing Walking Distance Of Central Park. Like New 3 Story Colonial - Finished Basement. Spacious Open Floor Plan, Two Story Family Room With Fireplace. see additional photos below PROPERTY FEATURES Central A/C Central heat Fireplace High/Vaulted ceiling Wa... 02/03/2008

Kevin McGrath | Coldwell Banker Elite | 540-604-1843 5702 Heritage Hills Circle, Fredericksburg, VA Unmatched Convenience ! Well Under 5 Minutes To Central Park - Spotsylvania Town Centre - Rt 95 @ Exit 130. 4 Bdrm Single Family House offered at $359,900 Year Built 2005 Sq Footage 3,300 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 3 full, 1 partial Floors 3 Parking Unspecified Lot Size .25 acres HOA/Maint $13 per month DESCRIPTION When you hear location location location - this is what they are talking about. Less than 1 mile from Rt 95 @ Rt 3 (Exit 130) - Withing Walking Distance Of Central Park. Like New 3 Story Colonial - Finished Basement. Spacious Open Floor Plan, Two Story Family Room With Fireplace. see additional photos below PROPERTY FEATURES Central A/C Central heat Fireplace High/Vaulted ceiling Wa... 01/10/2008

We have a listing. A GREAT LISTING. 4 BR. Almost 2 acres, yet close to shopping, schools, minutes from the highway for commuters (we are just outside of DC). It is truly unique in that it is such a large wooded lot so close to town, and we have marketed it that way.We have advertised this thing everywhere. Print. Internet. Local Paper. Magazines. The photos are great. Had an open house. Had a brokers open. Got feedback and the client immediately reacted positvely to the feedback and made some changes. The house is super clean and not cluttered. Retired couple, no kids at home.Everything about this house says it should sell, but we got nothin'.It was, however, built in 1976, so it is a little long in the tooth. It has been completelly refurbished inside and out. Original owner.How much d... 11/20/2007

I list the property. Do all the marketing. It gets shown. A lot. I get a contract. I immediately present it to my client. They immediately make a counter-offer - a fair one. I immediately deliver it to the buyers agent.During the period between when I get the counter-offer from my client, and when I deliver it to the buyers agent - I get another offer. I immediately present it to my client.Yes - I am multi-tasking here. Who among us does not. For me, immediately means immediately. Not 2-3 hours later.Anyway - When I deliver the counter-offer to the buyers agent, I disclose, as agreed upon both in the listing agreement and verbally (as a back up) with my client, that there is another offer, and it might be a good idea to not sit on this.And suddenly, nothing happens. No call. No email. S... 11/19/2007

I'm interested in the winterization process. I know we get houses wintererized, but what is the de-winterization process? Is it necessary, or is it merely a matter of turning on the water and checking for leaks?If anyone out there is familiar with this process, some info would be greatly appreciated.Thanks Kevin McGrathThe Wallace & McGrathColdwell Banker Elite"Selling Homes In The Fredericksburg Virginia Area"www.fredva.com  11/18/2007

With so many foreclosures out there now, selling for so much less than some comps out there, my question is this.Do appraisers look any differently at foreclosures when doing appraisals? For instance, in my neighborhood of 400-550k homes, there is a new foreclosure listing for $299k. It is in really nice shape, no damage that a good cleaning would not take care of.I assume that when it sells for $275k, it will be a comp, and will affect the values of other homes in my neighborhood. I have had a couple of people say otherise, but a sale is a sale, and if it is comparable to other properties, then it is a comp, right? Kevin McGrathThe Wallace & McGrath TeamColdwell Banker Elite"Selling Homes In The Fredericksburg Virginia Area"http://www.fredva.com/ 11/15/2007