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The DC Area Market

The DC area is one of the most desirable real estate markets in the world, and we understand that navigating the property buying process can be a huge undertaking. With our years of experience and breadth of knowledge, you are in good hands. We are here to make the process as seamless as possible. We will guide and advise you during every step of the buying process to help you find the perfect home that fits your needs, budget, and lifestyle.

Meet the Team

Jack Shorb CEO

REALTOR ® | Licensed in DC/MD/VA

301.767.7545

jack@theshorbteam.com

Justin Kelley Director of Client Experience

REALTOR ® | Licensed in DC/MD/VA

860.484.2039

justin@theshorbteam.com

Ellie Shorb Senior Sales Advisor

REALTOR ® | Licensed in DC/MD/VA 240.338.8919

ellie@theshorbteam.com

Sklar Director of Operations

Chloe

Our Recent Sales

Our team works across DC, Maryland, and Virginia to help our buyers at all price points.

To view our recent sales to get a sense of our experience, scan the QR code below, or visit our page by googling The Shorb Team.

Scan the QR code with your phone’s camera to see our recent sales

Our Commitment to You

Our Commitment to Our Clients

• Care and honesty

• Constant communication

• Actively searching for properties on and off the market

• Available for showings

• Offer you winning strategies

• Full access to our resources

• Lifelong ongoing relationship

• 112-step written process with proven success

Types of

Representation

• Buyer Representation

• Seller Representation

• Designated Representation

• Dual Representation

What is Buyer Agency?

• Allows us to write your offer, negotiate for you, and represent your best interests

• Fiduciary duties: loyalty, confidentiality, disclosure, obedience, reasonable care and diligence, and accounting

• Fee to Buyer Agent

• Broker admin fee (Unless a VA Loan)

• Buyer paperwork

What We Need From You

Clear and transparent communication

Be candid with us so we can better serve you.

Pre-approval/proof of funds and buyer agency before showings

This will set you up for success.

Trust the process

Be willing to use our winning formula as a guide to your success.

Showing Guidelines

If you like a house, let us know

This allows us to take steps to make sure you don’t miss out.

Keep a rolling top 3 favorite properties

But don’t lose sight of #1’s timeline | 85% rule | Focus on your non-negotiables

Don’t fall in love until we hand you the keys

Balancing logic vs. emotion

We provide the info & strategy, you are the decision maker

Criteria, location, offer strategy, etc.

The Buyer Roadmap

8 Partner with an Agent Determine Your Financing Strategy Review the Market Visit Properties Prepare Offer Strategy Offer and Negotiation Ratification (Under Contract) Navigating Contingency Period

10 Final Walk-Through Settlement

Steps to Buying

First, Let's Get to Know More About Your Goals

In this meeting, you have the floor. Our goal is to learn more about you and your specific goals in real estate. We will talk about things like where you live now, financing options, an example timeline, and what specifically you are looking for in your next home.

Next, Research Financing Options

After our exploratory meeting, the most important second step is to plan your financing of the property. Whether you are taking out a loan, paying in cash, or receiving gift funds, our team is equipped to advise you on the right strategy for you. Whatever financing you are obtaining, make sure to receive the proper documentation (pre-approval letter or proof of funds) so that when we find the right house, you are in a position to write an offer.

Review the Market and Our Process

In this meeting, we will review our Buyer Guide to go over best practices to be a successful buyer in the DMV. We will then set you up on a personalized search during this meeting, giving you access to everything on the MLS.

Visit Properties

Offer Writing Deep Dive

When writing an offer with our team, you will feel confident with the ins and outs of how to craft a great offer. Each property and seller is unique: the way they priced the home, the seller’s needs, and the number of interested buyers. We are here to advise you on pricing, contingencies, and negotiating strategies to give you the strongest chance of securing your dream home while protecting your interests as our priority.

Offer and Negotiation

Our team will work to showcase you, the buyer, to the listing agent and seller in the best possible light. The seller and listing agent then review the offer(s) and either accept or counter the offer. Generally, the seller and buyer come to an agreement the same day or the following day.

Ratification (Under Contract!)

Once price, contingencies, and timeline have been agreed upon, the owner will countersign the contract to approve your offer and contingencies (if any). Congrats! You’re one step closer to becoming a homeowner.

Navigating Contingency Period

Now that we are under contract, we will arrange to conduct any home inspections, deposit the earnest money, and review any HOA/condo documents. If you are utilizing a mortgage, you will work with the lender to approve your loan while they conduct an appraisal. If you are paying in cash, you will ensure your funds are liquid for the settlement day. Our team will hold your hand through each step. 1 2 3 5 6 4 7 8

Now the fun part — seeing homes! We will schedule private showings at your convenience, and you can supplement your search by attending open houses. Most houses generally go on the market WednesdayFriday each week. When you see a home that excites you, it’s best to tour it as soon as possible. You will begin to narrow your search after finding qualities you love and ruling out those you do not. Once we have found a property that meets 85% of our criteria, we will discuss our offer strategy!

Steps to Buying

Final Walk-Through

We are almost to the finish line, and we have done almost all of our due diligence. Prior to closing, we will do a final walk-through to ensure the condition has not changed since our last visit and that the terms of the contract have all been satisfied.

Settlement

We will sit down at the closing table with the settlement company and sign the documents. Bring your personal checkbook and ID. Once everything is settled, we hand you the keys, and you are officially a new homeowner! Time to start planning your housewarming party!

Potential Costs and Tax Information

Lender Fees

• Application fee (~$30)

• Appraisal (~$300—$600)

• Origination fees (per lender)

Inspection

• Home Inspection (~$300—$800)

• Radon Inspection (~$150)

• Plumbing Inspection (~$150)

• Wood Destroying Insect Inspection ($30-$100)

Closing Costs

• 2.5% - 3.5% of Sales Price

• Lender fees (if applicable)

• Title fees (title search, title insurance, settlement costs)

• Prepaids

Taxes

• DC = 1.1–1.45% of sales price

• MD = 0.25% of sale price + county tax

• VA = 0.25% of sales price + county tax

Buyer Programs

• DC and MD first-time home buyer tax credit

• Homestead Deduction

• Tax Abatement

• Don’t forget to ask your lender about the mortgage interest write-off (your net)

*All figures stated on this page are estimates. Your inspector, lender, and title company can provide more accurate figures.

Financing Your Property Purchase

After connecting with your real estate team, the most important second step is to plan your financing of the property. Will you be paying cash? Using a mortgage? Is someone gifting you funds towards the purchase?

Whatever financing you are obtaining, make sure to receive the proper documentation (pre-approval letter or proof of funds) so that when we find the right house, you are in a position to write an offer. Our buyer agency agreement ensures confidentiality; we will never discuss financial information with anyone besides you and your financier without your expressed written permission.

Paying "Cash"

• When submitting an offer with cash, you will need a proof of funds letter.

• This can either be a bank statement or a letter from your bank or financial advisor explaining that you have enough funds to cover the purchase.

• Please note: You will need to show that you have funds to cover both the purchase price and closing costs.

Using a Mortgage Loan

• Local lenders are more reliable and will position your offer stronger in the seller’s eyes

• Multiple pre-approvals in a 30-day window = only counts as one credit check

• Make sure your lender provides you with their cell phone number and works weekends!

• Send your lender properties we tour to run precise numbers for you

• Compare not only their mortgage rates but also their closing costs

• Full approval > Pre approval

• Make sure your lender can fully explain the mortgage process and provide education

• Ask them about their closing timeline (ideally 30 days or less) and appraisal timeline (ideally 21 days or less)

• Reminder: Do not make any big purchases during your home-buying journey without asking your lender if it will affect your purchase first! (i.e., car, large furniture, etc.)

Gift Funds

• This is common in the DC area

• Important to discuss this scenario with the lender during your first conversation

• Speak to the gift provider as early in the process as possible to provide clarity

Offer Writing Deep Dive

Offer Pricing

• Does paying at or above the asking price mean I am overpaying for a property?

• Each listing agent/ seller has a different strategy when pricing their property.

• A house is worth what a buyer is willing to pay for it.

Build Rapport with the Seller's Agent

• We speak with the listing agent to discover pertinent details that the seller is looking for in an offer.

• Register your offer so that we are notified if other offers come in.

• Reputation in our market

Our Negotiation Strategy

• Successful negotiation = win-win

• Reducing price with strong terms.

• Each property will have a unique strategy.

Standard Offer Terms

Most Common Contingency Addenda

Note: Bullet points ranked from most favorable to seller to most favorable to buyer

Home Inspection Contingency

• Waive Inspection

• Pre-offer home inspection (walk & talk)

• Right to void

• Right to negotiate

Financing Contingency

• Waived Financing Contingency (Cash, Full Approval)

• Include (short timeline)

• Include (long timeline)

Appraisal Contingency

• Waive Appraisal Contingency

• Appraisal Contingency with gap coverage

• Include (short timeline)

• Include (long timeline)

Radon Contingency

• Waive

• Include (short timeline)

• Include (long timeline)

Seller Credit

• Percent or Dollar (lender conversation first)

Escalation Clause

• Escalator vs. Cap

Post Settlement Occupancy

• Free rent back

• Charge the monthly payment on a daily pro-rated basis

• Security Deposit

Frequently Asked Questions

Why work with an agent?

Helping people buy and sell homes is what we do full time. While your home purchases may be years apart, we help buyers and sellers every day and know how to guide you through every step. We know how to analyze a property, negotiate on your behalf, and help you win in a bidding war. You need our team to advise and represent you on a purchase of this importance to you before viewing homes.

How do I know when a home is worth writing an offer on?

Once you have crafted your list of “must-have” criteria and finalized a strategy to find your next home, we will begin seeing properties in person. After viewing each home, we will look back at your criteria to see if any given home meets 80% of your needs. Knowing “perfection” does not exist in a home, we recommend that a home with 80% of your needs might be the “one.” Those who pass up on an “80% home” often wish they had written an offer on it when the “perfect” one does not appear in future searches.

Why work with a local lender?

While your bank may be great for checking/savings accounts and credit cards, they were not primarily built to provide home loans and tend to fall short of expectations when it matters the most. Working with a local, veteran loan officer within a well-known mortgage brokerage puts you on an even playing field with the other buyers in the DMV’s ultra-competitive market. From local market knowledge, full loan approval upfront, access to local appraisers, and short closing timelines, you will give yourself the edge to win and possibly get a more desirable sales price for a home, not to mention savings on the loan costs.

How much do I need for a down payment?

While the traditional down payment is 20%, and there are benefits with this amount, you can buy a home with as little as 3% down! There are special programs available for first-time homebuyers, veterans, specific professions, and more. A mortgage broker will help you determine what is best for your unique situation, as well as the implications of the different down payment options.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s included in closing costs?

First-time homebuyers are sometimes surprised at the end of the purchase when they have to pay significant closing costs. Closing costs include a variety of expenses and fees, such as the title search, title insurance, taxes, lender costs, and some upfront housing expenses like homeowners' insurance. Average closing costs are between 1.5–2.5% of the purchase price, and can be estimated well in advance for a specific listing so that you’re prepared.

What

does my condo fee/ HOA pay for?

Home Owners’ Association dues pay for the operating costs (such as staff, utilities, insurance, and property management) for the current year, as well as any long-term repairs and replacements (renovations or structural restoration). We will want to make sure the association has reserves to minimize the likelihood of any large special assessments. Before purchasing a property with an HOA, it’s important to understand exactly what is/is not covered, as well as all of the rules.

Can I visit the property once under contract?

You are only contractually allowed to visit the property for your home inspection if you have a home inspection contingency, and for your final walkthrough, right before you close on the property. We recommend bringing a tape measure with you to your home inspection if you would like to get measurements for furniture! Also note that the property only has to be “broomed clean” by the seller prior to settlement. You are welcome to hire professional cleaners before you move in after you close.

Condo vs. Co-op?

Cooperative apartments (co-ops) and condominiums (condos) represent distinct forms of property ownership. In a co-op, individuals purchase shares in a corporation that owns the entire building, with ownership determined by the number of shares held. Co-op boards have significant influence over decision-making and may enforce a rigorous approval process for prospective buyers. Monthly fees cover building expenses and property taxes paid collectively, which can reduce the tax burden for owners. On the other hand, condominium owners own real property, have more autonomy, and participate in decisions through a condo association. Condos typically have a less stringent approval process, and owners pay individual property taxes.

Glossary

Appraisal: When buyers are purchasing a home with a loan, their lender will order an appraisal. The appraiser will give an opinion of value based on an examination of the property itself, as well as the sale price of comparable homes in the area. If the offer you accept has a loan, we will provide data to assist in supporting the contract price, And will coordinate the scheduling of the appraisal with you.

Assessed value: This is how much a home is worth according to a public tax assessor, which is used to determine how much city or state tax the owner owes. This does not reflect the actual market value.

Contingency: A provision of an agreement that keeps the agreement from being fully legally binding until a certain condition is met. Some of the most common contingencies we might see are home inspection, appraisal, and financing.

Down payment: The amount a buyer is putting down in cash at settlement (the rest of the purchase price will be the loan amount). When reviewing offers, a strong down payment of 20%+ can show financial strength and can make a loan more likely to be approved.

Earnest Money Deposit: A portion of the down payment that is sent to the title company and held in escrow until settlement within 5 days of going under contract. 5% of the sales price is customary in the DC area. This amount, upon written release from both parties, can be distributed to the seller if the buyer defaults on the contract.

Homeowner Association: The purpose of an HOA is to manage and maintain common areas and amenities within the community, as well as to enforce rules and regulations designed to preserve property values and the quality of life for residents.

Improvements: We use this word to describe high-return-on-investment property improvements we make to a home prior to listing it for sale on the market. These improvement suggestions come from years of experience helping buyer clients and seeing what is popular in the current market. Some examples of property improvements we see net the biggest gains for homeowners are painting, flooring, staging, lighting, and landscaping.

Inspection: If a buyer has a home inspection contingency, they will hire a professional inspector to visit the property with them. Some buyers may opt to do a pre-offer inspection, which allows them to do a home inspection before writing an offer. The purpose is to check that the house’s plumbing, foundation, appliances, and other features are in working order. Issues that may turn up during an inspection may factor into the negotiation on a final price.

Listing agent: This is the agent who represents the seller in the home-buying process. On the other side is the selling agent, who is assisting the buyer.

Mortgage broker: The broker is an individual or company that is responsible for taking care of all aspects of the deal between borrowers and lenders, whether that be originating the loan or placing it with a funding source such as a bank. We will check in with the lender throughout the deal to make sure that they are meeting their timelines.

MLS: Multiple Listing Service. An MLS is a local or regional organization that collects, compiles, and distributes information about homes listed for sale by its members, who are real estate brokers. It is the primary database used for house hunting and the data therein is often distributed to other real estate listing websites. (Our local MLS is Bright.)

Property Disclosures: These documents largely include the seller’s knowledge of the property during their time living or owning the property. These statements are required by law in most areas. Virginia is referred to as a “buyer beware” state, which means that it is up to the buyer to do their own due diligence. The disclosure package from a seller will typically include notices to the buyer from the seller based on the jurisdiction where the home is located.

Glossary

Special Assessment: A special assessment in real estate is an extra fee imposed on property owners to fund specific community projects or improvements, such as repairs, maintenance, or upgrades.

Title/Settlement Company: Ensures the contract is fair to all parties and manages the money throughout the process. The buyer chooses the company. The title company reviews title, issues title insurance policies, facilitates closings, and files/records paperwork. The title company represents the terms of the contract rather than either party.

Title insurance: An insurance policy that protects a lender’s or owner’s interest in real property from assorted types of unexpected or fraudulent claims of ownership. It’s customary for the buyer to pay for the lender’s title insurance policy.

Testimonials

“As first-time home buyers, we significantly benefited from Jack’s expertise of the home buying process and knowledge of the DC market. They were super helpful in getting our "ducks in a row" for the purchase and incredibly flexible for the house tours in multiple neighborhoods. When we finally found "the one", even in a competitive situation they were able to advise on negotiations to beat out more than 4 other offers. Since purchase, all of their recommended contractors have also been fabulous. Can't recommend The Shorb Team enough!”

DC Buyer

“Justin was integral in us finding the perfect property. He was incredibly responsive every step of the way and understood our priorities clearly. From touring to submitting our application to final walkthroughs and key pick-up, Justin made the process incredibly smooth and stress-free. I would highly recommend Justin for anyone in the DC area looking to rent or buy. We will absolutely be calling him again in the future.”

“My husband and I had the pleasure of working with Ellie Shorb as we purchased our first home. She was incredibly thoughtful and responsive to our needs. She was extremely supportive and went out of her way to listen to our wants and needs. We never in anyway felt pressured or rushed in the process. Ellie went out of her way to ensure we felt fully informed and comfortable before making any decisions. She made the entire experience enjoyable and continues to support and help us as we settle into our new home. We can not say enough wonderful things about Ellie and our experience!”

Virginia Buyer

Maryland Buyer

About Us

Team Partnerships + Accolades

• GCAAR Board Members

• Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)

• Featured in Washingtonian’s 2024 & 2025 “Elite Producers Platinum” in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC!

• We support Young Artists of America, Open Door Sports, Wider Circle, Hope for Henry, Us Against Alzheimer's, Many Hands, St. Albans School, River School Scholarship fund.

Recognized In

We are Excited to Serve You

Your next step is to sit down with one of our team members to have a conversation about your real estate goals and how we can help you achieve them. While this guide is a great start, our team will help you every step of the way. We are excited to go in depth with you about these topics, and help you find the perfect property.