Every Reston, VA, girl should be able to go to their prom. As the mother of two teenage girls, I can attest first hand that getting a young woman outfitted for her high school Prom can be a very expensive undertaking. Many families, particularly in this challenging economic climate, cannot affor
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01/21/2011
Today is the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Speech. The phrase, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country,' speaks to me like few political snip-its do. I was born after he took office, so there has never been a world that I have lived in whe
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01/20/2011
Craig Rutman is one of my favorite bloggers. He is always funny, and as he says below, he finds the most obscure things to share with his audience. The YouTube video below is WELL worth a couple of minutes of your time. We have all been in situations where we are responding to someone who is ac
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01/20/2011
Sometimes during negotiations, we all get so locked in on what we want that we don't stop to think that there might be a reason that the other side is being so 'difficult.' The story below had a happy ending, and it is a good reminder to all of us that when negotiontions get difficult, we should
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01/18/2011
Answering your First Time Home Buyer Questions Right after the new year, I saw an ActiveRain contest ActiveRain Challenge: Never Answer the Same Question Twice (5000 points). I love a good contest, so I started a series of 'Ask Holly' questions from First Time Buyers. These questions were not a
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01/18/2011
Interested in Northern Virginia Market Statistics? I can provide you with a quick Market Snapshot of what is currently for sale in, and around, your home or the area where you are considering a purchase. Understanding comparable home pricing is more important than ever, and the information provid
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01/13/2011
Dear Holly, I am getting ready to buy my first house. I am a sales rep for a software company and have been very involved in contracts. My fiancee is a lawyer, with a specialty in corporate law. We are considering representing ourselves in the purchase of our first house. My parents are horrifie
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01/12/2011
Dear Holly, I have been working with a Buyer's Agent and feel like we are getting close to writing a contract for my first home. I am very nervous about writing a contract--so much could go wrong! My sister says not to worry, I will be able to get out if it if I change my mind. That doesn't soun
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01/12/2011
Dear Holly, My fiancée and I have been looking at houses on line and putting together our list of 'Needs and Wants.' We are at an impasse. I feel that we need a garage and she feels that we need a gourmet kitchen. We agree on everything else, but since she likes to cook, and I love working on my
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01/10/2011
Dear Holly, I have been speaking with a Realtor who has been providing me with information about properties in my price range. We have plans to start looking at homes next weekend. All of the sudden, he is asking me to sign a contract that says he is my Buyer Agent! I don't like to sign unnecess
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01/10/2011
