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Welcome > Resources > Top Real Estate Links ...

Useful Real Estate Web Sites

Here's a short list of some of the more useful real estate and real estate related sites on the web. When you click on any of the links below, you'll see the site you chose, along with a form at the bottom of your screen. Use it to get answers for any questions you might have about anything you find.

Remember: It's my job to know more about real estate than any web site!

Alexandria Moving Companies
With just a few clicks 123 Movers can find you Fast, Free, no obligation quotes from local & interstate moving companies, auto transport specialists, self storage organizations, international movers and more. Relocation can be a stressful event so let us help you find the moving services you need by searching our directory of licensed movers.

GOVERNMENT REAL ESTATE RESOURCES
Try the US Census Bureau, FedStats.com, or the Bureau of Labor Statistics for useful information. The HUD web site is full of resources. Don't forget Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or Ginnie Mae. Get home buying tips from the Federal Consumer Information Center.

LOCAL INFO
Find your local Chamber of Commerce or State Government.

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Buying Land and New Construction >Beware of Fat Clay

When building a home, you should have the soil on the construction site tested for plasticity to determine how it will change under different moisture conditions. This is important because some soil is so "plastic" that (if the condition is not corrected) it can actually break concrete floors, crack the walls and destroy the foundation of your home. Highly plastic soil is sometimes referred to as "fat clay" that swells excessively and loses stability when it becomes wet. Fine-grained soils that contain a high percentage of clay are greatly affected by water, turning to mud when it rains and undergoing large volume changes-sometimes up to 40 or 50 percent, as the soil dries. Not only do clays swell and lose stability when they become wet, but they also retard the drainage of water. If plastic soil is found on your building site, the ground must be over-excavated and replaced with clean gravel. Homebuilders often choose not to include a basement, or to protect the basement walls from excess moisture by surrounding them with a layer of gravel. A fine-grained clay-filled soil with a high plasticity index may require considerable treatment, especially if used in a moist location.

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Q	Where was the great land boom (1919) in which investors paid up to $25,000 for lots not yet dredged up from the ocean?
A	The great Florida land boom brought hundreds of investors to the state after Carl Fisher founded Miami Beach in 1919.
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Ray Gernhart and Associates, REALTOR®, real estate agent and broker for Washington D.C., Northern Virginia and Alexandria, Virginia home listings, property and land for sale - NUMBER1EXPERT(tm)

Ray Gernhart and Associates
RE/MAX Allegiance
5100 Leesburg Pike
Alexandria, VA. 22302
Direct: 703-824-4731
Toll Free: 800-278-8504
Cell: 703-855-6384
Fax: 866-253-8757
talktoray@NUMBER1EXPERT.com
With Ray's successful career of over twenty years in real estate, he has personally experienced all the ups and downs of the market. Since 1984, he has coordinated hundreds of new home sales as well as easing the transition for families as they move on to new horizons. Ray's expertise lies in his complete understanding of all facets of real estate, from buying and selling, to an all-encompassing grasp of the individual financial aspects for each client. Call or email America's NUMBER1EXPERT™ in real estate for the Alexandria area today!

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