Tips & Trends

The 6 Rules for Structuring 1031 Exchanges

Need help structuring 1031 exchanges? Here are the six rules to follow while completing the process: Six rules for structuring 1031 exchanges, provided by Coakley Realty.     You May Also Be Interested In… What is a 1031 exchange?  How can I structure my 1031 exchange? …

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and commercial real estate

New Year’s Resolutions for Your Home

Every year you tell yourself, “This year it’s going to be different. This year I’m going to stick to my New Year’s resolutions!” Well, at Coakley Realty, we agree—this year it is going to be different! That’s because we’re going to make New Year’s resolutions to improve our homes, and…

Quarter Century with Coakley Realty: Hitting the 10-Year Mark

During 2014, as Coakley Realty, Inc. celebrates a quarter century in business, we’re pausing to look back while we continue to move forward with our “one stop shop” approach to meeting all of your real estate needs. We hope you will enjoy Part Two of our series, in which we…

Quarter Century with Coakley Realty: 20 Years and Growing

We trust you’ve been enjoying our time capsules from Coakley Realty’s 25 years in business. Our fourth installment spotlights what was going on at home and abroad in 2004 – 2008, when we hit the 20-year mark in providing full-service residential and commercial real estate solutions for clients in Greater…

Quarter Century with Coakley Realty: Into the 21st Century

We’re back with Part Three of our five-part series celebrating Coakley Realty’s quarter century in business. From 1999 to 2003, empowered by our “one stop shop” approach to meeting all of your real estate needs, we continued to grow stronger. Here’s a look back at what was going on nationally,…

Entitlement: Raw Land to Raw Profit

 

Quarter Century with Coakley Realty: The First 5 Years

Coakley Realty’s first office As Coakley Realty, Inc. celebrates 25 years in business in 2014—an achievement made possible by our innovative growth model and culture of expertise, nimble structure, and focus on client outcomes—we’d like you to join us in looking back at what has happened during the past quarter…

What to Expect Under ObamaCare in 2014

The most appropriate phrase for health insurance in 2014 is, “The times, they are a-changin’!” Below are the most significant issues that will affect you.

The 1031 Tax-Deferred Exchange Process: How to Start & What to Expect

The Basics Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, permits a Taxpayer to relinquish (transfer) property held for “productive use in a trade or business” or for “investment” in exchange for a “like-kind” replacement property which is intended to be held for “productive use in a…

Maryland Passes “Rain Tax”

The Stormwater Fee, commonly referred to as the “rain tax,” was passed in the state of Maryland and went into effect on July 1, 2013

You’re Invited to the 29th Annual Big Brothers Big Sisters Golf Open in Potomac

Help us support Big Brother Big Sisters National Capital Area by attending their 29th Annual Golf Open!

Coakley Realty Celebrates 25th Anniversary!

We are thrilled to have reached this momentous milestone in our company’s history.

Don’t Miss Out

Rory Coakley, board chair of Big Brother Big Sister National Capital Area, visited Let’s Talk Live to discuss the upcoming benefit concert at the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club.

You’re Invited!

At Coakley Realty, we are big supporters of Big Brothers Big Sisters, and we’d like to invite you to join us at a benefit concert featuring blues legends Memphis Gold, Jay Summerour, and Howlin’ at the Moon! Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club 7719 Wisconsin Avenue Bethesda, MD 20814 Wednesday,…

We’re Dedicated to Making a Difference

Rory Coakley, board chair of Big Brother Big Sister National Capital Area, visited Let’s Talk Live to discuss the upcoming benefit concert at the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club.

Don’t Pay More than Your Fair Share…

If you own real estate property in Washington, DC, time is running out to file your tax appeals!

Deadline for DC Tax Appeals Is Approaching…

The deadline for tax appeals in Washington, DC is approaching!

Coakley Realty Celebrates 25th Anniversary!

Coakley Realty is pleased to announce that we are celebrating our 25th anniversary!

Act Fast! Deadline Is Approaching…

The deadline for tax appeals in Maryland is approaching! Contact Coakley Realty before February 10 to find out if you’re paying more than you should be on your real estate ta

Time Is Running Out…

If you think you’re being charged more than you should be for your property taxes, time is running out to appeal!

Your Complete Home Buyer Checklist

It’s a new year, a new you, and you want a new home…

Happy Holidays from Coakley Realty!

As the holiday season is upon us, we find ourselves reflecting on the past year and on those who have helped to shape our business in a most significant way…

Tis the Season for Real Estate Tax Appeals

Is your real estate tax assessment too high? Many people spend more than their fair share on their real estate taxes…

The Dangers of Lead Paint in Your Home

This year, we’re thankful for each and every one of our loyal customers because without you we wouldn’t be here today…

Ten Ways to Improve Curb Appeal

When you’re trying to sell your home, one of the most important factors in the mind of potential buyers is the curb appeal…

Do I Need a Home Inspection?

If you’re purchasing a home, the answer is simple: Yes, you need a home inspection. In fact, we recommend including a professional inspection contingency on any offer you put in to purchase a home. Why is waiving the inspection contingency so important you may ask? Continue reading to find out…

How Does the Government Shutdown Affect the Housing Market?

One of the biggest questions regarding the shutdown and how it will affect housing has revolved around the mortgage market, specifically prospective buyers’ access to new home loans. After all, more than 90 percent of all loan activity is underwritten, insured, or owned by the government and its affiliated entities….

August Existing-Home Sales Rise, Limited Inventory Continues to Push Prices

Existing-home sales increased in August and reached the highest level in six-and-a-half years, while the median price shows nine consecutive months of double-digit year-over-year increases, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Total existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums, and co-ops, rose 1.7 percent…

Commercial Real Estate Markets Show Steady, Moderate Growth

Vacancy rates generally are tightening in commercial real estate sectors with modest rent growth, according to the National Association of Realtors® quarterly commercial real estate forecast. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said commercial real estate is on a more moderate growth path. “Office vacancies haven’t declined much because total jobs…

Home Prices Pick Up Steam in Most Metro Areas during Second Quarter

Median home prices continued to rise in the majority of metropolitan areas in the second quarter, with the national year-over-year price showing the strongest gain in seven-and-a-half years, according to the latest quarterly report by the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). Despite rising prices and higher mortgage interest rates, a…

Renters Noticing Growing Housing Market, Say Homeownership Is a Top Priority

Americans overwhelmingly believe owning a home is a good financial decision and a majority of renters say homeownership is one of their highest priorities for the future, according to a survey by the National Association of Realtors®. The 2013 National Housing Pulse Survey also found that renters are thinking more…

May Pending Home Sales Reach Highest Level in Over Six Years

Pending home sales rose in May to the highest level since late 2006, implying a possible spark as mortgage interest rates began to rise, according to the National Association of Realtors®. The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI), a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, increased 6.7 percent to 112.3 in…

Existing-Home Sales Rise in May with Strong Price Increases

Existing-home sales improved in May and remain solidly above what they were a year ago, while the median price continued to rise by double-digit rates from a year earlier, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Total existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums, and…

Confidence in Commercial Market Is Growing

Despite a slow turning economy, commercial practitioners believe the commercial real estate market is not only better off than it was a year ago but also will continue to improve. During the Realtors© Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo, many commercial Realtors© were polled for their thoughts on commercial real…

Metro Area Home Price Increase Trend Continues in First Quarter

Metropolitan area median home prices continued to rise in the first quarter, with the national gain showing the best year-over-year performance in over seven years, according to the latest quarterly report by the National Association of Realtors®. A companion breakout of income requirements to purchase a median-priced home on a…

Try Our Interactive Property Search Map

Coakley Realty is proud to announce a new addition to our repertoire of real estate tools—our interactive property search map! This real-time geo-spatial search platform from SpatialMatch® allows you to fully customize your search, including features such as favorites, lifestyle searches, and more. When you start your property search, you’ll…

How Low Appraisals Affect the Market & What You Can Do About It

Get help with a low appraisal! Contact us now » As anyone whose home appraisal has been lower than expected can attest, low valuations are causing friction in the housing market. A recent survey of more than 3,000 members of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) found that 11 percent…

Your First-Time Home Buyer Down Payment Options

For many first-time home buyers, there’s one big question looming in their minds: how am I going to afford a down payment? There are many people in the DC Metropolitan area who have good debt/income ratios and good credit, but don’t have the liquid assets available to pay for a…

Sellers Are Returning to the Washington, DC Housing Market

Spring is not the only thing returning to the Washington region this month—an increased home inventory is also returning to the DC housing market. New listings increased more than 13 percent across all property segments in February compared with the previous month, according to a report released Monday by RealEstate…

The Stages of Leasing & Moving into a Commercial Property

There are many reasons why you or your company could be looking into a new commercial property, including starting a new business, expanding, relocating, and more. Relocating or moving into a new space is a very fluid process that has many ongoing stages. You’ll need to allow time for the…

How to Feng Shui Your Home

If you want to start 2013 off right, a few changes around the house can do the trick. You don’t have to go to great lengths—applying some basic principles of feng shui can make a world of difference. Best of all, it doesn’t have to cost much (if anything) at…

Real Estate Provisions in the “Fiscal Cliff” Bill

On Jan. 1 both the Senate and House passed H.R. 8 legislation to avert the “fiscal cliff.” The bill was signed into law by President Barack Obama on Jan. 2. Below is a summary of real estate related provisions in the bill: Real Estate Tax Extenders Mortgage Cancellation Relief is…

Now Is the Time to Start Thinking About Lower Real Estate Taxes

Are you paying more real estate taxes than you should be? Did you know you can appeal your real estate taxes and assessments every year? In the state of Maryland, properties are assessed once every three years, and they are assessed annually in Virginia and Washington, DC—notices are sent out…

Frequency of Cash Sales Increasing, Time on Market Decreasing

All-cash buyers have surged since the housing downturn while the typical amount of time it takes to sell a home is shrinking, revealing the changing dynamics of today’s real estate market trends for home buyers and sellers. “We’ve seen a tremendous increase in cash buyers since the housing downturn that…

Coakley Realty’s Moving Resources Guide

When it comes to moving, there are a lot of things you need to think about: finding the right moving company, packing up all your belongings, selling your home, and getting to your new place, not to mention choosing the right real estate company in the area to help with…

Stop By Our Open House in Gaithersburg, Maryland

Don’t miss out on this bright and open Colonial style townhome near the Kentlands! Visit our open house in Gaithersburg, Maryland on Sunday, October 7 from 1 – 3 p.m. We will be featuring a two-level piggyback-style townhome with a full brick façade. This home has a prime location in…

Home Sales and Job Creation Would Rise with Sensible Lending Standards

New survey findings, combined with an analysis of historic credit scores and loan performance, show home sales could be notably higher by returning to reasonably safe and sound lending standards, which also would create new jobs, according to the National Association of Realtors®. “Sensible lending standards would permit 500,000 to…

Number of Homes Available and Time on Market Are Both Down

A new measure shows the typical amount of time it takes to sell a home is shrinking, and for traditional sellers, it is now in the range of historic norms for a balanced market, well below the cyclical peak reached in 2009, according to the National Association of Realtors®. The…

Packing Tips for Your Move

Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer working with us to find your perfect dream home or you’re putting your home up for sale in search of a new place, we understand that sometimes packing things up can cause a lot of stress. That’s why the experienced real estate agents at Coakley…

How to Prepare a House for Sale

After you’ve contacted an experienced real estate company like Coakley Realty to help you sell your home, what do you do next? When you want to prepare a house for sale, you want to set the stage for potential buyers so they can envision themselves living in your house, but…

Commercial Real Estate Investment Tips

Commercial real estate is one of the most profitable investments on the market today, but initially it can be a big risk. However, there are some guidelines to follow that can make the process much easier. Think big. Whether you’re buying a five or a 10 unit apartment building, you’re…

Existing-Home Sales Constrained by Tight Supply in May, Prices Continue to Gain

Limited supplies of housing inventory held back existing-home sales in May, but sales maintained a strong lead over levels from last year. In addition, home prices are on a sustained uptrend in all regions, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). Total existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that…

Mortgage Rates Sink to a New Record Low

According to Freddie Mac, one of the nation’s largest backers of mortgage securities along with Fannie Mae, mortgage interest rates have fallen to a new record low. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage interest rate dropped to an average of 3.67 percent in the week ending June 7, which is the sixth…

All Commercial Real Estate Sectors Continue to Improve

Shaking off a prolonged impact from the recession, fundamentals are gradually improving in all of the major commercial real estate sectors, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) quarterly commercial real estate forecast. The apartment rental sector has fully recovered and is growing. The findings also are confirmed in…

Seniors and Young Adults Will Influence U.S. Housing Markets

Aging baby boomers and their echo boomer children will significantly impact trends in the nation’s housing market over the next 20 years. In a new report released by the Bipartisan Policy Center, “Demographic Challenges and Opportunities for U.S. Housing Markets,” researchers at the National Association of Realtors®, The Urban Institute,…

March Pending Home Sales Rise, Market Recovering

Pending home sales have increased in March and are well above where they were a year ago, another signal the housing market is recovering, according to the National Association of Realtors®. The Pending Home Sales Index,* a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, rose 4.1 percent to 101.4 in March…

March Pending Home Sales Rise, Market Recovering

Pending home sales have increased in March and are well above where they were a year ago, another signal the housing market is recovering, according to the National Association of Realtors®. The Pending Home Sales Index,* a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, rose 4.1 percent to 101.4 in March…

Sell Your House Faster in a Tough Market

It’s an extreme buyer’s market – and home values could fall another 5% by year-end. Here’s how to meet the challenge faster, cheaper and better. Faster Underprice the place by 10%. Doing so will be painful, no question. But with cheap foreclosures still flooding real estate markets around the country,…

Washington Region’s Home Prices Heat Up as U.S. Cools Down

The Washington area’s home prices in May outperformed the rest of the nation by leaps and bounds – again – while other markets continue to double dip, a new report says. Prices in May rose 4.9 percent in the Washington region from a year earlier, according to a report issued…

Housing Crisis: A Sign that the Worst is Over

The mortgage delinquency picture is getting brighter, according to an industry report released Thursday, with falling delinquency rates indicating the housing crisis may be at the beginning of its end. A quarterly release from the Mortgage Bankers Association revealed that mortgage payment problems eased during the first three months of…

Moving Tips

Moving is at the top of the list of stressful things that people do. But it doesn’t have to be that way. If you choose the right mover, it can (and should) be a pleasant experience! There a hundreds of movers out there, and these days someone with access to…

Housing Prices Up in Washington Region

The Washington area’s real estate market is continuing to recover, according to several reports this week, which showed that housing prices were up in the region even as they declined across much of the rest of the country. The region’s thriving job market, particularly its relative abundance of high-paying positions…

Housing Prices Up in Washington Region

The Washington area’s real estate market is continuing to recover, according to several reports this week, which showed that housing prices were up in the region even as they declined across much of the rest of the country. The region’s thriving job market, particularly its relative abundance of high-paying positions…

Avoid 4 Common Remodeling Mistakes

The road to bad remodeling is paved with good intentions. Anyone tackling a major project wants his home to look and work better – and to get a reasonable return on investment. But renovations are packed with so much stress and emotion that it’s easy to go wrong. “I see…

Choose Your Real Estate Inspector Carefully

Q: I’m getting ready to move again and I want to know what I should be expecting from a home inspector. Should my realtor hire the inspector or should I? A: Your realtor may set up the appointment, but he cannot choose the inspector. Your client-to-business relationship with the home…

Spring Break? Rent a Luxury Vacation House

It’s your vacation. Where would you prefer to return to after a busy day, a cramped hotel room or a real home with a cushy sofa, a patio and a refrigerator to raid? Increasing numbers of holiday goers are choosing the later. The leading site for renting vacation homes, HomeAway.com,…

Picky First-Time Buyers Losing Out on Great Housing Deals

Picky, picky, picky! Are today’s first-time home buyers passing up great deals because they insist on flawless “move-in ready” houses requiring little or no changes – even at the starter-home price levels at which shoppers traditionally have been willing to factor fix-ups and renovations into their offers? Or are they…

Obama Wants Big Changes in Mortgages

The Obama administration on Friday officially unveiled its plan to remake the mortgage market and reduce the government’s role in housing finance by winding down Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The highly anticipated “white paper” outlines steps the administration says will help draw private capital back into the mortgage market,…

Rent vs. Own Ratio to Flip in 2011?

Many Americans are content to rent after witnessing the crumbling housing market in recent years. But with rents on the rise and home prices continuing to fall, a reversal is in sight. It wasn’t hard for many homeowners to bid adieu to 2010. It was the year where, in many…

Buying a Home Now is a No-Brainer

Is now the right time to invest in a house? Trick question. Actually, it’s two questions. Question No. 1: Is now the time to buy? Question No. 2: Is buying a house a good investment? The first answer is easy: With a few exceptions, if you have 20% to put…

Should You Give Your Kid a Down Payment?

Ken and Denise Holick had always intended to help their children buy homes. So when their daughter Katie, 26, told them she’d been apartment hunting for weeks in Columbus without turning up any good prospects, Ken threw out an idea: Why not buy? To cement the deal, the Holicks stepped…

Should We Pay Down the Mortgage or Save for Retirement?

For more than a year, Kim Champney, 40, and Pat Minick, 41, have been kicking in an extra $650 to their $1,048 monthly mortgage payments. “We don’t like carrying a lot of debt,” says Minick, who stays home with their three kids, ages 7, 8 and 10. At this pace,…

How to Turn a Downsizing Idea into Reality

Big changes in your life, like downsizing and moving to a smaller place, usually begin with a few small pricks on the periphery of your consciousness. Eventually, they migrate to the center of your thoughts, in the process becoming an idea whose time has come: Let’s move to a smaller…

Unemployed? Get a Federal Loan to Pay Your Mortgage

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) – Unemployed and can’t pay your mortgage? You can soon apply for a no-interest government loan for up to $50,000 to pay your mortgage and cover your arrears. The loan, which can offer assistance for up to two years, will be forgiven if the homeowner stays in…

A Reward For Responsible Homeowners

FORTUNE – The government has bailed out Wall Street firms, giant banks, creditors of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac – and is trying to bail out people who’ve defaulted or are about to default on their mortgages. But let’s say you’re a hardworking family that has done nothing wrong except…

The Best Moves for Home Buyers and Sellers

Money Magazine) – Plenty of forces, from overly cautious lenders to inaccurate appraisals, are wrecking real estate deals right now. But one of the biggest roadblocks to getting a house sold these days is the disconnect between buyers and sellers. In general, sellers have gotten more realistic in pricing their…

Rise of the Renting Class

FORTUNE – Modern America has long paired the “American Dream” with home ownership. The idea of staying put, paying property taxes and periodically mowing the lawn belonged to citizens who were somehow more American than the poor saps who could only afford to rent the place they called home. The…

Low Mortgage Rates have yet to Fuel Home Sales

Mortgage rates for 30-year fixed loans were unchanged this week at the lowest point in decades, but it hasn’t been enough to jump-start the housing market. Government-sponsored mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average 30-year fixed rate was 4.57 percent. That’s the same as a week earlier, and…

Too Rich to Live?

The estate tax is set to come roaring back in January. That sets the stage for a preserve calculus: End it all—or leave a massive bill for your heirs to deal with. It has come to this: Congress, quite by accident, is incentivizing death. When the Senate allowed the estate…