As a fiduciary financial advisor in Arlington, Holland Capital helps high earners who rent decide whether buying a Northern Virginia home still fits, and where to hold the down payment money until they choose. We serve Arlington clients over video and phone, and see them in person, by appointment, at the Regus center in Virginia Square.
A strong income. A lease that renews each year. A down payment fund with no date on it.
Arlington is home to about 244,000 people, and about 41% of its homes are owner-occupied. Households here have a median income near $142,000, and median home value sits near $895,000. The federal government is a major employer, and Amazon’s HQ2 is based in Arlington.
Renting is common here, and it does not mean you are behind. The question is whether owning fits your savings, your career and how long you expect to stay. A written plan, for a set fee, compares both paths with your numbers, and what you pay us is the same whichever you pick. Before hiring anyone, ask whether fiduciary duty covers their advice to you and where their income comes from.
The Cost of Owning, Next to Your Rent
We add up the monthly cost of owning in your price range: mortgage, property tax, insurance, any condo or homeowners association fee and upkeep. That total sits beside your rent.
Buying and selling both carry costs, so your expected stay matters as much as the price.
Where the Down Payment Waits
Money you may spend on a home within a few years has a short time horizon. We match where it sits to when you might need it, so a market drop is less likely to upset your plans. Our tax-efficient investing page explains why the account type matters.
RETIREMENT ENGINEERING™
The Order Matters
Five retirement decisions and why timing matters.
Retirement Saving Still Counts
A growing home fund can crowd out retirement saving. We confirm your workplace plan still gets what your plan calls for, and our 401(k) guide has the details.
If you would like us to run the portfolio later, investment management with us is an option to weigh on its own, invested to a policy statement written for you.
How We Work with Clients in Arlington
Holland Capital Management is an independent registered investment adviser and a fiduciary. M. Chad Holland, CFA, CFP® works directly with clients and is responsible for the planning and advice.
Please send your lease, recent pay stubs, statements for the home fund and retirement accounts, and your target price range.
You receive a written rent-or-buy comparison for a fixed fee you approve first. Use it yourself, give it to your current advisor or let us carry it out.
The first conversation is free. If there is work worth doing after that, we will define the scope and cost before you decide whether to move forward.
Our offices are in Charlotte, North Carolina and Winter Park, Florida. We work with clients in Arlington primarily by video or phone. When an in-person meeting makes sense, we meet by appointment at the Regus center at 4250 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 600, in Virginia Square.
For clients whose investments we manage, accounts are held directly at Charles Schwab in the client’s own name. Holland Capital manages the investments but does not take custody of client assets. If a client ever needs in-person assistance from Schwab, the closest branch is in Alexandria at 1920 Ballenger Avenue.
We work with clients throughout Virginia. You can see the other Virginia communities we serve here.
Our what we do page explains how a planning engagement works.
RETIREMENT ENGINEERING™
The Order Matters
Five retirement decisions and why timing matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Large Should My Down Payment Fund Be?
It depends on the price range, the loan type and the cash you want left after closing. We work back from those to a target amount and date.
Should a Fiduciary Financial Advisor Weigh In on Renting Versus Buying?
Holland Capital acts as a fiduciary when providing financial planning and investment advice. When you rent, the comparison follows your goals, whether that means buy now, buy later or keep renting.
The plan’s price is fixed in advance; managing investments, if you ever ask, carries its own separate fee, which you learn before you choose.
Where Do We Meet Arlington Clients?
Meetings in Arlington are by appointment at the Regus center, 4250 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 600, in Virginia Square.
Most of the work itself happens by video or phone.
Photo: ajay_suresh / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0, cropped.
