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Gaithersburg, MD Real Estate News

By Roy Kelley
(Retired)
Spring Flowers, Longwood Gardens   Dolores and I spent a day at Longwood Gardens to enjoy and photograph the spring flowers.   Longwood Gardens is located in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, just west of Wilmington, Delaware.  With over 1,100 acres of gardens and a very large Conservatory, this is a world class travel destination.  We are members and try to attend all of the major annual exhibits. We took several hundred photographs.  In is always good to have your camera in hand to capture the colors of the season.  These are some of the images that I just filed on Flickr.   Flowers, Longwood Gardens IMG_4335   Tulips, Longwood Gardens IMG_4374   Flowers, Longwood Gardens IMG_4334   Daffodil, Longwood Gardens IMG_4341   Tulips, Longwood Gardens IMG_4346   Tulips, Longwood Gardens IMG_4353...
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Spring Blooms at Brookside Gardens: Beyond the Usual   Brookside Gardens, in the Wheaton Regional Park in Montgomery County, Maryland is one of our favorite places to visit for flower shows, conservatory displays and walks through the beautiful gardens.  Brookside Gardens attracts over 400,000 visitors each year from around the world.  Visitors do not need to be able to speak English to enjoy the beauty of floral displays. Enjoy the colors of the season with your camera in hand.  You will want to be able to capture the special moments.   Tulip, Brookside Gardens IMG_8258 Tulip, Brookside Gardens IMG_8257 Tulip, Brookside Gardens IMG_8256 Tulip, Brookside Gardens IMG_8254 Tulip, Brookside Gardens IMG_8251 Tulip, Brookside Gardens IMG_8250 Photographs by Roy Kelley using a Canon PowerShot...
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By Roy Kelley
(Retired)
Flower photograph inspired painting   One of my flower photographs has inspired a painting.  Clara Nelson asked for my permission to use a photograph as inspiration for one of her paintings.  The image below shows a photograph of her painting.  The photograph that she selected is part of my Inspiration series. Enjoy the colors of spring with your camera in hand.  One of your pictures may also inspire a painting.     Aqua Iris by Clara Nelson
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The colors of the season at Green Spring Gardens   If you follow my blogs, you already know that I like to take photowalks.  If you are not familiar with photowalking, it simply means taking photographs while you are on a walk.   Most of my walks are in our home neighborhood ,  Kentlands, in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Dolores and I also like to photowalk through local and regional gardens as we seek to capture the colors of the season.  The photographs in this photoblog were taken in April at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, Virginia. Spring is a good time to begin a regular walking program for good health.  Add your camera and have a higher level of enjoyment.  It is easy to put aside the problems of the moment as you focus your camera on a beautiful tree, plant or flower.   Green Spri...
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By Roy Kelley
(Retired)
Do you hesitate to ask for help?   From time to time, all of us need assistance with personal or business issues that impact our daily lives.  What stops us for asking for the needed help?  Is it fear, vanity, pride or just simple reluctance to ask for help?   Within the ActiveRain network, we have the benefit of designated Ambassadors that have agreed to share their experience and expertise with other members.   This spring is a good time for a fresh approach.  Let’s resolve to ask for assistance, without hesitation, when we need it. The following is a timely article by Alicia Forest.  Alicia allows use of her article in blogs as long as her complete blurb is included.   Asking for Help: The Fastest Path to Business Success By Alicia Forest, MBA The Business Shifter™ I don't know why b...
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Gaithersburg Neighborhood Matching Grant Program   Every Gaithersburg neighborhood should be preparing to submit an application requesting funding for physical improvements under the Neighborhood Matching Grant Program.    Previously the funds have been used for a variety of needs including community block parties.  It is a good time to meet with your neighbors and community leaders to discuss specific needs for matching funds.  If the sidewalk in front of your home needs repair or more street lighting is needed, now is the time to speak up. This is the official notice from the City of Gaithersburg: The City of Gaithersburg will begin accepting applications on Wednesday, May 15, 2013, for funding under the Frederick J. Felton Neighborhood Matching Grant Program.  The program provides an...
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Kentlands Happy Hour, Friday May 3, 2013   Dolores and I always enjoy the Kentlands Happy Hours.  It is a good place to meet friends and neighbors before going out for dinner.  The May Happy Hour is scheduled for Friday, May 3, 2013, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Kentlands Clubhouse. The staff will be serving wine, beer, soft drinks and light hors d’oeuvres.  Your challenge is to meet new friends.  Please call 301-948-2071 by May 1 to RSVP for the event. I would like to see the Happy Hour become a sponsored event.  This would be a good opportunity for real estate professionals to do a little networking with Kentlands home owners.   Meadowlark Botanical Gardens IMG_8039 Photograph by Roy Kelley using a Canon PowerShot G11 camera. Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs
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Gaithersburg Paws in the Park, Sunday, April 28   This Sunday, April 28, 2013, is the date for the annual Paws in the Park fundraiser for the Montgomery County Humane Society.  The time is from noon to 4 p.m. and the location is Bohrer Park at Summit Hall, Picnic Pavilion, 510 S. Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD.  Call 240-401-8144 with your questions or visit the website www.mchumane.org . The event includes a one mile walk, law enforcement demonstrations, canine games, licensing and microchipping and much more. The cost is $20 or $35 for a family.  You and your best friend will not want to miss this event. The Montgomery County Humane Society does need your support.   Iris, Kentlands, Spring Flowers IMG_9503 Photograph by Roy Kelley using a Canon PowerShot G11 camera. Roy and Dolore...
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Tulips + Imagination,  Meadowlark Photowalk, iPiccy.com Editing   Spring is a wonderful time for those of us that enjoy photographing the colors of the season.  Flower photography is an enjoyable hobby and walking for a few hours to take pictures is good exercise. If you live in the DC Metro Region, you will want to visit Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, Virginia.  This 95 acre garden is a property of the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority.  The address for your GPS is 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Court, Vienna, VA 22182.  Admission is free. Dolores and I took lots on photographs during an April visit. And, I will be using some of those photographs in future blogs.  The purpose of this blog is to provide a short demonstration of the fun you can have when you use the free iPiccy...
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Make an Impression with Handwritten Notes   Our friend John Ruppert provided this reminder that we should be mailing more personal notes.   Alternative forms of communication have taken us away from the traditional personal notes that have such a great impact on the recipients.  The impact of a personal note is now even greater because most of us receive few of them.  Today is a good day to commit to sending hand written notes every day. “According to a report by the U.S. Postal Service, the average household went from receiving a personal letter once every two weeks in 1987 to once every seven weeks by 2010. It’s no surprise that the number dwindles ever lower given that we live in the age of instant messaging, tweets, and email. But there is a bright side. Handwritten notes now have m...
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By Roy Kelley
(Retired)
Tulips are blooming in Kentlands   Spring is a good time to photowalk through the Kentlands and Lakelands communities in Gaithersburg, Maryland.  I enjoy photographing the flowers and the blossoms.  Many of the daffodils are past their prime but the tulips are blooming in many colors. The photographs in this blog were taken on Friday, April 19, 2013.  What is blooming in your neighborhood?  You are welcome to post your photographs with your comments on this blog.   Tulips, Kentlands IMG_4005   Tulips, Kentlands IMG_4004   Tulip, Kentlands IMG_4003   Tulips, Kentlands IMG_4001   Tulips, Kentlands IMG_3997   Tulip, Kentlands IMG_3995   Tulips, Kentlands IMG_3994   Tulip, Kentlands IMG_3993 Photographs by Roy Kelley using a Canon PowerShot G11 camera. Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs
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Kentlands Farmers Market Opens Saturday, May 4, 2013   Gaithersburg residents look forward to the spring opening of the Farmers Market in Kentlands.  The season for the Farmers Market will run from May 4 through November 23, on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  The location is the Main Street Pavilion at 301 Main Street. There is always a nice selection of fruits and vegetables.  Local artists and craftspeople also have their works on display.  Plan to enjoy a meal after your visit to the Farmers Market.  There are several local restaurants within a short walking distance.     Iris, Kentlands, Spring Flowers IMG_9512 Photograph by Roy Kelley using a Canon PowerShot G11 camera. Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs
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Kentlands Community-wide Follow-Up Inspections Scheduled for May   The following notice as distributed by the Kentlands Citizens Assembly. A number of home owners receive notices of violations relating to maintenance issues earlier this year.  Now that spring weather has arrived, it is time to correct any exterior issues.  Obvious pride of ownership is one of the factors that makes Kentlands one of the preferred communities for families that are re-located to the metropolitan area of the District of Columbia. Communitywide Inspection Services (CIS) will be conducting a second review of Kentlands properties with maintenance issues. Properties that received notification of items needing attention will receive a follow-up inspection of the issues noted in the first letter, beginning in May...
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Gaithersburg Annual Housing Fair, Saturday, April 27, 2013   The Gaithersburg Annual Housing Fair provides information on affordable housing options in the Gaithersburg area.   Advice will be provided for renters as well as those that wish to purchase a home.  Please note that registration is required for the two hour Affordable Housing Orientation.   Those that wish to purchase a home with the use of mortgage financing should make an appointment with a mortgage lender to obtain a pre-approval letter before looking at homes.  We will be happy to recommend lenders that participate in the mortgage programs offered by the Montgomery County Housing Opportunities Commission. This is the official notice from the City of Gaithersburg: The City of Gaithersburg and HIP Services, Inc., a non-prof...
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Signs of Suspicious Behavior: See Something, Say Something, Call 911   The City of Gaithersburg has distributed the following notice from the Department of Homeland Security. Terrorism is a timely topic for family discussions. All of us need to be alert for the signs of terrorism.  Please make an immediate call to 911 if you identify any of these or other suspicious activities. The Department of Homeland Security has developed seven signs of suspicious behavior associated with terrorism (listed below). It is important to call 911 if any of the following behavior is observed: Surveillance: Recording or monitoring activities. May include drawing diagrams, note taking, use of cameras, binoculars or other vision-enhancing devices or possessing floor plans or blueprints of key facilities. El...
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Maryland Spring Colors:  Kentlands Photowalk   An easy way to get some needed exercise is to take walks through your home community.  Add a camera and you will be photowalking as you seek the colors of the season.  My daily photowalks are usually in our home community of Kentlands in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The photographs in this blog were taken on Friday in Kentlands.  We are fortunate to have beautiful weather in Maryland this week.  We have planted flowers and plants.  Today, Dolores and I visited George Washington’s River Farm in Alexandria, Virginia.  We purchased some additional plants, including several more tomato plants for our home garden.   Spring Blossoms, Kentlands IMG_3945   Spring Flowers, Kentlands IMG_3950   Tulips, Kentlands IMG_3943   Tulip, Kentlands IMG_3941   Spri...
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Gaithersburg Rabies Clinics Scheduled for 2013 The following notice was originally distributed by the City of Gaithersburg, Maryland.  The first rabies clinic of the season was held on Sunday, April 21, 2013.  Residents that were unable to take advantage of the first clinic have the opportunity to select another of the available dates.The City of Gaithersburg will be participating in a Free Rabies Clinic for cats and dogs on Sunday, May 19, 2013, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Montgomery County Animal Shelter. There is no fee for the rabies vaccination; however, a City License must be purchased at the clinic.The Montgomery County Animal Services Division sponsors the clinics at the Montgomery County Animal Shelter in Rockville at 14645 Rothgeb Drive, which is just off East Gude Drive.At th...
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By Roy Kelley
(Retired)
Spring is blooming in Kentlands Life is better when there are flowers to photograph.   Dolores and I live in Kentlands, a neo-traditional community in Gaithersburg, Maryland.  This area is part of the Maryland suburbs of the District of Columbia.  Kentlands is great for photowalking.  The homes are pretty and there are many flowers among the white picket fences that are common in the neighborhood. This is a small sample of photographs from my Friday photowalk.  Enjoy the weekend.  Be sure to have your camera in hand to capture the colors of the season. By the way, we have another beautiful sunny day is Maryland and life is very good.     Tulip, Kentlands IMG_3976   Spring Blossoms, Kentlands IMG_3977   Spring Blossoms, Kentlands IMG_3978   Spring Flowers, Kentlands IMG_3975   Pink Dogwo...
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A different approach when dealing with dandelions   When we have dandelions in our lawns, we usually turn to weed killers or the special tools have been developed to dig up the dandelions.  Regardless of the removal techniques are used, many of the dandelions survive to grow to maturity. As I photowalk through Kentlands, I have a different approach to dandelions.  I like to photograph them.  You might not have noticed but every dandelion is different.  Dandelions provide some of the color that we know means that spring has arrived. Enjoy the dandelions in your neighborhood by taking photographs as you  photowalk and seek the colors of the season. No, I do not expect that you will photograph dandelions but I hope that you will walk for good health. These photographs are from my photowalk...
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Montgomery County, MD Real Estate Market Statistics, March 2013   There are 1,809 active listings of homes for sale in Montgomery County, MD.  41 (2.27%) of the available properties are lender owned foreclosures (REO).  134 (7.4%) of the active listings are short sale pre-foreclosures.  Short sale transactions require the approval of the secured mortgage lenders because the proceeds will not cover the outstanding mortgage balances. Let’s compare the current inventory with the real estate market statistics for March, 2013.  During March, the total sold dollar volume of residential properties in Montgomery County, Maryland was $400,424,125, up 25.56% from the same month last year.  There were 826 closed sales, up 13.15%, at a median sold price of $375,000, up 8.7%.  The average sold price...
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