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Gaithersburg, MD Real Estate News

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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Gaithersburg Police Offer Bicycle Safety Tips The spring weather means that more bicyclists will be out on the local roadways.  The bicyclists need to be very careful and motorists need to be extra cautious.  The following press release is from the Gaithersburg Police Department.  The safety issues are a good topic for family discussions.  Every family should have safety as a high priority.  Children need to be reminded that bicyclists are required to comply with the rules of the road. Gaithersburg, MD   The Gaithersburg Police would like to remind citizens that with spring finally here and efforts underway to educate individuals and drivers about pedestrian safety, we can’t forget about the bicyclists, too. According to a fact sheet issued by the U. Department of Transportation’s Natio...
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The colors of spring at Green Spring Gardens   Some of the local residents may not yet have discovered Green Spring Gardens.  This is a 27 acre public garden located at 4306 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, Virginia 22312.  They have eight acres of demonstration gardens that are designed to appeal to the home gardener. Add Green Spring Gardens to you list of places to visit.  Be sure to have your camera in hand for your visit.  Check their website for Spring and Fall Garden Day programs that are offered in May and September. www.greenspring.org These are April photographs.   Green Spring Gardens IMG_7973   Green Spring Gardens IMG_7972   Green Spring Gardens IMG_7971   Green Spring Gardens IMG_7966   Green Spring Gardens IMG_7965   Green Spring Gardens IMG_7967 Photographs by Roy Kelley u...
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Emancipation Day, District of Columbia, April 16   Emancipation Day is a holiday in the District of Columbia.  This holiday marks the anniversary of the signing of the Compensated Emancipation Act on April 16, 1862 by President  Abraham Lincoln.  It is held annually on April 16. Local government offices are closed in Washington, DC and a number of events take place to share the history of the District of Columbia in general and slavery in particular. Slavery was legal until 1865 in most of the area that is now the United States. The Compensation Emancipation Act freed more than 3,000 slaves in the District of Columbia.  However, slavery did not officially end in the rest of the country until the end of the American Civil War in 1865. Did you know that slavery was abolished in the Briti...
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Low inventory impacts home prices in DC Metro Region Median sales prices were up in all areas of the region in March, 2013   The following statistics are provided by RBI, RealEstate Business Intelligence and are based on data generated by the regional multiple listing service, MRIS.   The chart the shows the median prices for the various areas in the region is very good information for families that are being relocated to the area.   Home buyers need to be well prepared for multiple contract competition in preferred areas. At $372,500, the median sale price in the Washington DC Metro Region is 8.0 percent higher than this time last year, and the highest March median price in five years. The low inventory of active listings continues to put upward pressure on prices around the region. On...
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Will radon cause lung cancer in your family?   The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency has reported that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after active smoking and the leading cause among non-smokers. Radon is estimated to cause over 21,000 deaths in the United States each year. As shocking as the statistics may seem, an estimated 88% of Americans do not know that radon is a leading cause of lung cancer.  These families do not understand the connection between lung  cancer and the environment in their residence. Many radon induced lung cancer deaths could be prevented by testing for and mitigating high radon levels.  In existing homes, most radon testing and mitigation takes place as part of a real estate transaction. Less than 30% of tested homes are tested outside of ...
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Is your carpet causing illness in your family?   A family in the area has a young child that was experiencing chronic illnesses.  It seemed that every time the child caught a cold, he also ended up with a severe asthma attack that required a trip to the hospital.  One of the family members is a retired nurse that took the toddler for multiple tests to try to figure out what was causing the problems. The home environment was eventually identified as the problem.  The old carpet, after years of shampooing, had mildew and mold that was aggravating the child’s respiratory system.  The solution in this case was to replace the carpet with wood flooring.  This story was told in an article titled Ailing house, ailing people, in The Washington Post. According to the article in The Washington Pos...
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Sandbagging Traffic Camera Boxes in Maryland   Those of us that live in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC know that we have to be on constant alert for traffic cameras when we are out and about.  Cameras check our speed, cameras check to see if we stop behind the white line at traffic stops, they check to see if we are blocking an intersection after the light has changed, and heaven help you if you actually run through a red light or pass a stopped school bus.  Yes, there are cameras mounted on some of the school buses. Many of the traffic cameras are located in boxes placed along the roadways.  And, the locations are frequently changed to keep us alert.  Now, some area police officers have devised a new way to slow down traffic.  They are placing speed camera boxes without the cam...
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April is Volunteerism Month in Gaithersburg   The City of Gaithersburg, Maryland has declared April as Volunteerism Month.  Mayor Sidney Katz is encouraging every resident to step up and share their talents with the community.   We are fortunate to live in a community that celebrates the hard work and dedication of hundreds of volunteers that make a difference in the quality of life in our community.  The following is from the official City of Gaithersburg notice: “Volunteers are the backbone of our community,” said Gaithersburg Mayor Sidney Katz.  “They supplement and enhance the work of nonprofit organizations, schools and City staff, ultimately adding to the quality of life in Gaithersburg and setting an example for future generations.”  The proclamation highlights just a few of the ...
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Gaithersburg ActiveRain Meet Up with Fernando Herboso This has been a busy week for meet ups.  On Tuesday, Dolores and I attended  Lenn Harley’s Meet Up in Lovettsville, Virginia.  On Wednesday, I was a co-host for Pat Kennedy’s Meet Up in Washington, DC.  On Thursday, Dolores and I attended the Gaithersburg, Maryland Meet Up hosted by Fernando Herboso. The Gaithersburg Meet Up was held at Guapo’s Restaurant which is located in the Washingtonian Center.  It was the second Meet Up to be held at that location.  The attendees were Fernando Herboso, Carlos Herboso, Susan Kirk, Lenn Harley, Dolores Kelley and Roy Kelley. Cherry blossoms were blooming in the area and we are enjoying the colors of the spring flowers.  We had perfect weather for all three of the area events.   District of Colum...
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By Roy Kelley
(Retired)
Cherry Blossoms in Kentlands   We promised a peak period of blooming cherry blossoms for those that would attend our ActiveRain Meet Up on  Wednesday at Pat Kennedy’ s house in Washington, DC.  The weather was beautiful for the Meet Up.  Yolanda Cordova-Gilbert and her husband Bob Gilbert traveled the longest distance to the luncheon.  They flew in from Katy, Texas.  When I got home to Kentlands after the luncheon, I walked half a block to take these photographs to share with you.  Enjoy the colors of spring and be sure to have your camera in hand to capture the special moments that you will want to share. District of Columbia ActiveRain Meet with Pat Kennedy Lovettsville ActiveRain Meet Up with Lenn Harley   Kentlands, Blossoms IMG_3480 Kentlands, Blossoms IMG_3479 Kentlands, Blossoms ...
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Art Reception at the Gaithersburg Arts Barn, Tuesday, April 9, 2013 311 Kent Square Road, Kentlands, Gaithersburg, Maryland   Those of us that live in Kentlands are lucky to have the Gaithersburg  Arts Barn within our community.  We need to take advantage of the available activities.  This Tuesday night is a good time to gather with friends and neighbors to see the current exhibit of the works of area artists.  This is the official notice from the City of Gaithersburg: The City of Gaithersburg presents an exhibit featuring oil paintings by Carol Bucklin and Ray Burns, photography by Fran Stetina, and metal sculptures and jewelry by Arts Entwine at the Arts Barn Gallery, March 29 through May 26, 2013.  The gallery is located at 311 Kent Square Road in Gaithersburg, with viewing hours Mon...
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Not Your Average Joe’s, A Kentlands Favorite Not Your Average Joe’s at 345 Kentlands Boulevard, Kentlands, Gaithersburg, Maryland is one of the newer restaurants in the area.  It has been very successful.  Spring weather is now here and their outdoor patio is now open. Dolores and I recently had lunch with my sister and brother in law at Not Your Average Joe’s.  The food was very good.  It is nice to have this restaurant in the neighborhood and within walking distance of our home.   NOT JUST ANOTHER RESTAURANT ( from the website) There was no shortage of restaurants when Not Your Average Joe’s first opened in 1994. There was, however, a shortage of great restaurants with reasonable prices in the suburbs. Tired of driving too far and paying too much, Steve Silverstein decided to build th...
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Maryland Historic Property, Kentlands Mansion   The Kentlands Mansion at 320 Kent Square Road, Kentlands, Gaithersburg, Maryland is a well know landmark in the area. The building was constructed around 1900 by Frederick A. Tschiffely, Jr.  Records show that the cost was $10,000.  The Mansion is currently owned by the City of Gaithersburg and is used as a rental space for public and private functions.   The City of Gaithersburg approved a historic designation for the property last November. The Kentlands Mansion and the other historic buildings that are nearby are features that are enjoyed when I take photowalks through our home community. The Gaithersburg Arts Barn, a location for many art and community events, is located directly behind the Mansion.  By the way, the Mansion faces one o...
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Can I prohibit a purchase by a homosexual when I list my home for sale?   For personal reasons, a Maryland home owner does not wish to sell his home to homosexual buyers.  He further commented that he looked a HUD Fair Housing Poster and did not see homosexuals listed as a protected class.  What advice should be provided by the listing agent? Let’s hope that we are never asked this question in Maryland since there has been so much publicity about the approval of same-sex marriages.  The Federal law has a number of protected classes that should be red flags in our minds when we discuss housing discrimination.  The Federal protected classes are color, familial status, national origin, physical or mental disability, race, religion and sex. In the Federal context, race means male or female....
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Kentlands Historic Building – Gaithersburg Arts Barn 311 Kent Square Road, Kentlands, Gaithersburg, Maryland The Gaithersburg Arts Barn is the location of many community activities. The building, at 311 Kent Square Road, is a two story, five bay brick building with a cedar shake roof.  The barn was constructed around 1900 by Frederick A. Tschiffely, Jr. and was used as a horse stable and a wood shop.  This property is now owned by the City of Gaithersburg and is received a historic designation from the City last November.  The building now serves as an art gallery and artists’ studios.  The former hayloft was converted into a 99 seat theatre for the performing arts. The Arts Barn is located behind the Kentlands Mansion which is also owned by the City of Gaithersburg. Walks through our h...
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Gaithersburg Spring Golf Tournament The City of Gaithersburg hosts its annual Spring Swing Golf Tournament on Friday, May 3, 2013, at the Red Gate Golf Course in Rockville, Maryland.  This 4-player scramble format tournament is limited to the first 30 foursomes. Proceeds from the Gaithersburg Spring Swing Golf Tournament benefit the Youth Coaches Education Program, providing training and support for the dozens of coaches who work with City of Gaithersburg youth throughout the year. The $85 per player fee includes green fees, cart, door prizes, souvenirs, and a post tournament luncheon.  Advance payment and registration is required by Friday, April 26, 2012.  Payment can be made with check or Visa/MasterCard. Sponsorships are also being accepted for the tournament.  Download a registrati...
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The Camellia Society Show & Sale – Brookside Gardens Sponsored by the Camellia Society of Potomac Valley Dolores and I always enjoy our visits to Brookside Gardens in the Wheaton Regional Park in Montgomery County, Maryland.  The gardens attract over 400,000 annual visitors from around the world.  The Visitors Center is the location of several annual flower shows.  The show this weekend features camellias.  If you love camellias, you will want to attend.  Be sure to allow time for a walk through the gardens and to see the floral and plant displays in the Conservatory. Camellia Society Show & Sale Saturday April 6, 1:00-4:30pm Sunday, April 7, 12:30-4:00pm Visitors Center Brookside Gardens 1800 Glenallan Ave. Wheaton, MD 20902  General Information: 301-962-1400 The grounds of Brookside G...
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Saturday, April 6 is Clean Up Day in Kentlands and Lakelands   Tomorrow, Saturday, April 6 is a good time to share your community sprit by participating in the community clean up efforts.  Meet at the Kentlands  Clubhouse at  9 a.m.   The Lakelands clean up efforts will begin at the Lakelands Clubhouse at 1 p.m. Trash bags and pick-up sticks will be provided.   Kentlands & Lakelands Community Clean Up    Saturday, April 6, 2013 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Kentlands 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in Lakelands   Kentlands and Lakelands are located in Gaithersburg, Maryland, in the heart of Montgomery County. This is one of the favorite areas for families that are relocated to the DC Metro Area.   Orchid, Brookside Gardens IMG_2618 Photograph by Roy Kelley using a Canon PowerShot G11 camera. Roy and Dolores Ke...
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Montgomery County, MD Population Exceeds One Million   Census data shows that the population of Montgomery County, Maryland reached 1,004,709 last July.  Montgomery County has been the largest jurisdiction in the state since 1989 and is now the first county in Maryland to reach the million milestone. The total population for the county was up 1.3% from the previous year. 13,097 births exceeded the 5,467 deaths for what is called a “net natural increase”.  8,700 people moved into the county while 3,100 moved out of the county. The strong local economy is expected to continue to attract new residents but a dramatic increase in the population is not expected this year. Families that are being relocated to the area are facing a low inventory of available homes for sale. And, many have exper...
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