NoVA Real Estate
Answers

Straight answers to the questions Northern Virginia buyers and sellers actually ask, researched against official sources, written by our team, published daily.

Costs & Taxes

Who pays closing costs in Virginia, the buyer or the seller?

Both. Virginia buyers generally pay the costs tied to getting the mortgage: appraisal, lender fees, title insu

Legal & Contracts

Do Virginia home sellers have to disclose property defects?

Not the way most people expect. Virginia is a buyer-beware state. Sellers must give you a disclosure statement

Financing

What is the VA loan funding fee, and who pays it?

The VA funding fee is a one-time fee the Department of Veterans Affairs charges on VA home loans to keep the p

Legal & Contracts

Is radon testing required when buying a home in Virginia?

No. Virginia has no law requiring radon testing before a home sale, and no law requiring the seller to fix ele

Selling

Should I sell my Northern Virginia home before buying the next one?

There is no single right answer: it comes down to your cash reserves, your equity, and your tolerance for risk

Legal & Contracts

What happens if my appraisal comes in below the purchase price in Northern Virginia?

A low appraisal does not automatically kill your deal. Under the NVAR contract forms used across Northern Virg

Buying

Is it better to rent or buy a home in Northern Virginia?

Neither renting nor buying is always the smarter move: it depends on how long you plan to stay, how stable you