TEMPTING AS IT MAY BE to buy perennials and shrubs in luscious spring bloom, fall is a better time to plant them in the West's mild-winter regions. A plant set out now has summer's peak heat behind it, the probability of soaking rains ahead of it, and still-warm soil to encourage its immediate and deep root growth. But finding a good selection of trees, shrubs, and perennials in nurseries can be more difficult in fall, and many of the plants you do find are not in bloom. Although fall is best for planting most permanent landscape plants, spring is best for frost-tender types, such as citrus, hibiscus, and bougainvillea. Also hold off planting perennials, trees, and shrubs of borderline hardiness. Following are the pros and cons of fall planting, as well as some suggestions for finding ... 09/10/2010

For many starting a remodeling project may be a daunting task. The cost alone is enough to scare people away from making their dr eams come true of enjoying the perfect bathroom. But what if you had a simple to-do list and recommendations on the brands or companies that could offer you their services at a low cost? Or better yet; What if you had simple recommendations on how to budget yourself and hire professionals to help you achieve the perfect look only whenever you need them? Any remodeling project starts with a budget. You don't have to be an expert in finance to be able to budget the renovation of your bathroom, which may be fluctuate between 8,000 and 10,000 dollars, the national average. According to experts at BathroomUS.com, your best bet is to create two different budgets: o... 09/03/2010

 Summer is one of the busiest times of the year, with lots of outdoor activities and entertaining on tap. In the midst of all that fun, it's important not to lose sight of essential home maintenance tasks that are necessary to keep your house in working order and ready for even more entertaining during the seasons and years ahead. Some of the tasks that you should focus on before summer's end include: Change your air filter. Filters protect your home from pollutants and allergens, and should be changed frequently. The good news is that filters are inexpensive and easy to change. Inspect your roof. You should take a look at your roof twice a year to clear debris and find any missing and/or loose shingles. While doing so, take time to trim back branches that overhang the roof and ensure t... 08/13/2010

  Usually when we point out a big story, it is a good sign that this issue is about to go away. One week after we focused upon the Greek debt crisis, the markets' mood regarding the crisis grew from volatility to outright panic. As we mentioned last week, we are sure that some are looking at Europe and wondering if other dominos are about fall. As a result, the markets' volatility not only continued, but spiraled out of control on what we will now call "Scary Thursday." And what a wild ride it was with the Dow down around 500 points in a matter of minutes. However, believe it or not, there is some good news coming out of this story. For the first time in a long time we seem not to be focused upon our own economy. This does not mean that things are great back home, but we seem to be ass... 05/11/2010

  According to the Chinese calendar, 2010 is the Year of the Tiger. But in real estate, 2010 may come to be known as the "Year of the First-Time Home Buyer." Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Economy.com, says there will be 1.84 million homes sold to first-time home buyers in 2010, compared with 1.73 million in 2009. These buyers will invariably make some mistakes that they will come to regret a few years down the road, some experts say, including failing to use a real estate professional to help them manage the transaction. Real estate professionals have the time and the knowledge to sift through thousands of listings, creating market analyses to judge pricing and other key features, points out Ray Boss Jr., a practitioner with RE/MAX Realty Group in Maryland. "I would want someo... 04/26/2010

Homebuyers wishing to take advantage of the $8,000 and $6,500 tax credits have only two shopping weekends left before the tax credits expire. In order to claim the tax credit, first-time and repeat buyers must enter into a binding contract to purchase a home no later than Friday, April 30, and close by June 30.With only a short time left, here are some tips to help buyers meet this all-important deadline... Visit as many houses as possible, including weekend Open Houses and individual home showings set up by your real estate agent. This will help you find the perfect property and give you confidence that you have made an offer on the right home for you and your family. Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Not only will this provide you with valuable information about how much house you can ... 04/16/2010

 We are Proud to Introduce our Newest Darnestown Listing  please contact me for your own private tour      rick@handyrealestategroup.com     301-793-6796 Welcome to a true DARNESTOWN CLASSIC. From the moment you drive through the gates & up the circular drive you realize you're in for an architectural treat. This Classic Georgian Colonial has been lovingly cared for & renovated with the utmost taste.  Step through the front doors and onto the pages of Architectural Digest as the designer has massaged this traditional center hall floor plan to perfection. Enter the wing to the left & you're greeted by a kitchen Classic ... the honed marble island & cream cabinets lend the perfect contrast to the dark granite counters & restaurant quality appliances ... & this is just 1 of the of 3 kitche... 03/09/2010

         rick@handyrealestategroup.com              301-793-6796 14810 SPRINGFIELD RD, DARNESTOWN, MD 20874 List Price: $1,295,000 First offered to the public! Exquisite 4 acre private estate "RIDGELAND" offers gracious country charm and splendid amenities. Some of the features include: 2 Indoor kitchens, 1 outdoor kitchen, Completely fenced and gated lot, large carriage house with storage space and home gym, parking for up to 7 cars under roof, exotic marble, and fine custom finishes throughout. LISTING Courtesy of Chris Handy RE/MAX Realty Group (240) 912-4623 14933 KELLEY FARM DR, DARNESTOWN, MD 20874 List Price: $1,290,000 GREAT NEW PRICE! SPECTACULAR SPRING MEADOWS ALL-BRICK ESTATE WTIH OPEN, LIGHT FILLED LIVING W/CUSTOM APPTS.& DETAILS TH/OUT, GOURMET CENTER ISLAND KITCHEN OPENS ... 03/08/2010

         rboothe360@gmail.com             301-793-6796 14810 SPRINGFIELD RD, DARNESTOWN, MD 20874 List Price: $1,295,000 First offered to the public! Exquisite 4 acre private estate "RIDGELAND" offers gracious country charm and splendid amenities. Some of the features include: 2 Indoor kitchens, 1 outdoor kitchen, Completely fenced and gated lot, large carriage house with storage space and home gym, parking for up to 7 cars under roof, exotic marble, and fine custom finishes throughout. LISTING Courtesy of Chris Handy RE/MAX Realty Group (240) 912-4623 14933 KELLEY FARM DR, DARNESTOWN, MD 20874 List Price: $1,290,000 GREAT NEW PRICE! SPECTACULAR SPRING MEADOWS ALL-BRICK ESTATE WTIH OPEN, LIGHT FILLED LIVING W/CUSTOM APPTS.& DETAILS TH/OUT, GOURMET CENTER ISLAND KITCHEN OPENS TO FAMILY ... 03/08/2010

  Currently one home is available in this highly sought after Darnestown neighborhood.  14963 FINEGAN FARM DR, DARNESTOWN, MD 20874       List Price:  $1,699,000  GREAT NEW PRICE! A magnificient home on 2 acres in Darnestown, MD. Mins to River RD, Potomac.Over 9,000 fin sqft of luxury. 5BRs 5.5BAs. Gourmet kithen, top-of-the-line SS appliances, 8ft bumpout 2-story FR w/stone fireplace, wall of windows, Formal DR w/custom mouldings, Private bath & w/i closets in each BR, fin W/O bsemnt, 8'ext rec rm, plenty space 2built your own pool. MUST SEE! listed by Linda Tran, Classic Realty,Ltd. Last Neighborhood Sale:  14930 FINEGAN FARM DR, GERMANTOWN, MD 20874  List Price:  $1,300,000             Sold in December of 2009 for $1,165,000     This was a rare Bank Owned Darnestown Property that Sol... 02/20/2010

02/17/2010

  Above is a picture of my Valentine's day enemy ... The night before my son casually says," hey Dad, that water is on the inside of the door". I looked over to see 3 streams of water running down the inside of our french doors ... NOW WE'RE HAVING FUN! Out comes the ladder & with it the very familiar response from Deb "Don't do it, you're going to kill yourself" :) So, I spent the next hour or so chipping away a few channels through the ice for the melting snow to drain off the roof & decided to call it a night (1AM) ... knowing that my Valentine's day would be spent with a ladder , shovel & hammer. Ice Dams occur when ice builds up on your gutters blocking the escape route for the melting snow on your roof, the water then pools behind the ice dam, refreezes & works its way up under yo... 02/15/2010

    To be eligible to claim the tax credit, buyers must have owned and lived in their previous home for five consecutive years out of the last eight years. The tax credit does not have to be repaid. The tax credit is equal to 10 percent of the home's purchase price up to a maximum of $6,500. The tax credit applies only to homes priced at $800,000 or less. The credit is available for homes purchased after November 6, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010. However, in cases where a binding sales contract is signed by April 30, 2010, the home purchase qualifies provided it is completed by June 30, 2010. Single taxpayers with incomes up to $125,000 and married couples with incomes up to $225,000 qualify for the full tax credit. For more detailed information on the move-up buyer tax credit: ... 02/11/2010

02/03/2010

The alarm went off & Bill Murray awoke to the sounds of Sonny & Cher singing "I Got You Babe" ... Eventually he made his way to town square (Harris Teeter) ... where Punxsutawney / Darnestown Phil popped out of his hole & was promptly run over by one of the many Dtown residents rushing to get their Starbuck's fix ... but Phil survived stood up & saw his shadow ... Bang Six More Weeks of Winter for Darnestown. More Snow on the Way today ... Best Sledding Hill in the county = Bretton Woods Country Club ... get out & Enjoy it while it lasts. 02/02/2010

Damascus Md. Rental Market Report - December 22, 2009 This is a market report on the homes for rent in the town of Damascus, Md.  The information is taken from the Metropolitan Regional Information System (MRIS) on December 22, 2009. There are a total of ten rentals currently active in the MRIS system listed in Damascus.  The least expensive is a one-bedroom one bath on the market for $800.  The most expensive is a four bedroom, three full bath, one half bath colonial on three-quarters of acre of property for $2,000 per month. While some are new to the market within the last week  the longest has only been on the market for just about six months (170 days), with the average being less than three months (84 days). There is currently three applications registered to rent a home in Damascu... 12/22/2009

Darnestown Homes for Sale, Pre-foreclosures, REO - Montgomery County MD Home owners and prospective home buyers are closely watching the local residential real estate market. We email monthly statistics, but sometimes you need to have a detailed look at what is actually on the market for sale. The following three reports show the properties that are active listings of homes for sale in the area. The properties are sorted by subdivisions. You may sort differently by clicking on the column headers. The first report shows the 20 active listings excluding the lender owned (REO) homes and the short sale listings.   Click the following URL to see the listings:http://mrislistings.mris.com/Matrix/Public/Portal.aspx?k=1135923XDLVP&p=DE-97369591-356 The second report shows the 3 short sale listin... 12/21/2009

DARNESTOWN HOMES FOR SALE, PRE-FORECLOSURES, REO - MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND Home owners and prospective home buyers are closely watching the local residential real estate market. We email monthly statistics, but sometimes you need to have a detailed look at what is actually on the market for sale. The following three reports show the properties that are active listings of homes for sale in the area. The properties are sorted by subdivisions. You may sort differently by clicking on the column headers. The first report shows the 19 active listings excluding the lender owned (REO) homes and the short sale listings.   Click the following URL to see the listings:http://mrislistings.mris.com/Matrix/Public/Portal.aspx?k=1135923XDLVP&p=DE-96467534-71 The second report shows the 2 short sale ... 12/08/2009

6 Bedroom , 4 1/2 Bath located on a 2 + Acre Lot off of Esworthy Road List Price $949,900   listing courtesy ofRE/MAX Realty Services   I represent my buyers as their exclusive Agent ... if you are interested in one of the opportunities in this unprecedented buyer's market ... I would be glad to help.  rick.boothe@longandfoster.com This information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.    07/09/2009

AUCTION CANCELLED****AUCTION CANCELLED****AUCTION CANCELLED   Situated on a Beautiful 20 Acre Spread with large Lake/Pond in the middle of one of Darnestown's finest neighborhoods. The house has almost 11500 Total Square Feet plus an Indoor Pool & a Full size Indoor Basketball Court / Gym. She's definitely in need of some TLC but it is a stunning property. I represent my buyers as their exclusive Agent ... if you are interested in one of the many bank owned properties NOW LISTED for sale ... I would be glad to help.  rick.boothe@longandfoster.com *Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.  06/09/2009