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... 04/07/2013

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... 04/05/2013

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... 04/05/2013

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... 04/05/2013

Historic Kentlands Carriage House 321 Kent Square Road, Kentlands, Gaithersburg, Maryland   Walks through your home neighborhood are more interesting when you take a few photographs and learn more about the community. The one story Colonial Revival style Carriage House was constructed around 1920.  It is located next to the Gaithersburg Arts Barn which was built around 1900. The Carriage House, at 321 Kent Square Road, is currently owned by the Kentlands Citizens Assembly.  The property received a historic designation from the City of Gaithersburg in December, 2012. Photowalking is good for physical and mental health.  I usually photograph flowers but also look for interesting buildings.  Take advantage of the nice spring weather and walk through your home community.   Carriage House, K... 04/05/2013

Kentlands  Historic Area 330 Firehouse Lane, Kentlands, Gaithersburg, MD   On my regular walks through the Kentlands community, I often wondered about the history of the interesting building at 330 Firehouse Lane.  I thought that it was one of the original historic buildings in the community but noticed that it was not mentioned in articles that discussed the historical buildings.  So, I decided to contact the architect that occupies the ground floor to ask about the history. Mike Watkins of Michael Watkins Architect, LLC responded immediately.  He explained  that  the lot was conveyed to him by Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zybeck, the Miami based architects and planners that were retained by the developers in 1988.  Mike opened an office for them at 320 Firehouse Lane.  The develo... 04/04/2013

Kentlands Historic Building - Flour Mill  320 Firehouse Lane, Kentlands, Gaithersburg, MD   This one story colonial revival style building was built around 1920.  The original use as for a flour mill.  The property currently serves as the local office of Duany Plater-Syberk & Company, architects and urban planners. The Gaithersburg City Council approved a historic designation for the property in December. The location is next to the Gaithersburg Arts Barn and across the street from the old Kentlands Firehouse. Kentlands is a neo-traditional community in Gaithersburg, Maryland, in the suburbs of Washington, DC.  Kentlands is one of the preferred areas for families that are relocated to the DC Metro Area.   Flour Mill, Kentlands, Historic Building, 320 Firehouse Lane IMG_2295 Photograph b... 04/04/2013

Kentlands Happy Hour, Friday, April 5, 2013   The April TGIF Kentlands Happy Hour is scheduled for Friday evening, April 5, 2013 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  This event is for Kentlands residents and is a good time to meet friends and neighbors before going out for dinner. The community Happy Hours are held at the Kentlands Clubhouse.  Wine, beer, soft drinks, bottled water and light hors d’oeuvres will be served.  Please RSVP to the Clubhouse, 301-948-2071. Note on your calendar that the May Kentlands Happy Hour is scheduled for May 3.   Kentlands, Spring Flowers IMG_9120 Photograph by Roy Kelley using a Canon PowerShot G11 camera. Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 04/04/2013

When you park, take your keys   The Maryland State Police issued a warning to drivers who park their cars and leave their keys in the vehicle.  It is against the law to leave your car running. In Gaithersburg, you not only have a chance to have your car stolen but also a $70 fine and one point on your drivers license.  More than 16,000 cars were stolen in Maryland last year and many of them were easy targets.  Half of the stolen cars were unlocked and about a third had the keys in the ignition.  And, do not even think about leaving a child in a car seat with the engine idling.  The moment you are away is the moment it takes to have your car stolen.    Orchids, Brookside Gardens IMG_2658 Photograph by Roy Kelley using a Canon PowerShot G11 camera. Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 04/04/2013

FAQ:  Do you edit your photographs?   All of my photographs are edited before they are placed on social media sites or used in blogs.  Some photographs do not need much and some have dramatic improvements with editing.  When editing real estate photographs, the goal is to improve the image but all should avoid over editing. When you are taking hobby photographs, you have no restrictions on editing and play with the colors just to have fun.  Those that follow my blogs know that I enjoy photographing flowers.  I always retain the actual image that may improved but is still realistic.  I create additional images when I wish to change to colors or create images of our Imagination series. Currently, I use the free iPiccy.com photo editing service.  If you need and easy to use photo editor, g... 04/01/2013

Kentlands Adult Basketball League Season Begins This Week   The season for the Kentlands Adult Basketball League runs from April 3rd to October 2nd, every Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m., weather permitting. The first session for the new season is this Wednesday at the Kentlands Clubhouse court. All Kentlands residents age 35 and over are welcome.   For more information, please contact Dean Roy at daroy12@hotmail.com.   Orchids, Brookside Gardens IMG_2648 Photograph by Roy Kelley using a Canon PowerShot G11 camera. Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs 04/01/2013

What is the best way to search for lender owned foreclosures in Montgomery County, MD?   Your buyer agent will help you find lender owned foreclosures in Montgomery County, Maryland as well as other counties in Maryland. There is a single multiple listing service (MRIS) for the region and there is a specific category for lender owned foreclosures. So, at any time, your agent can provide a current list of the available lender owned properties (REO).   At any given time there will be an inventory of lender owned foreclosures that are not yet listed on MRIS.  Some have title issues or occupants that have not yet been evicted.  The REO homes are not available for purchase until they are actually listed for sale.  The listing agents will list them on MRIS as soon as they receive those instru... 04/01/2013

Gaithersburg School of Skate The Gaithersburg Skate Park is now open.  Parents will be happy to see that a School of Skate will now be offered to improve the skills of young people that want to enjoy the Skate Park. This is an excellent program and parents are encouraged to have their children receive the instruction that will make skating more enjoyable and much safer. This is the official notice from the City of Gaithersburg: The Gaithersburg Skate Park presents the School of Skate, taught by the City’s very own private instructors! Through a combination of group and one-on-one instruction, our skate instructors create a positive environment that will help your child become a safer, better skater. Although the beginner and intermediate clinics cover different skills, instruction will ... 04/01/2013

Should we select a listing agent with multiple professional designations?   Professional designations used by real estate agents should certainly be considered.  However, the designations do not all carry the same amount of significance.  Some designations require multiple courses and much experience while other designations may be obtained by taking a two day course.  If you really want to place weight on the designations, you need to know what was required to obtain them. Some experienced agents have dropped the use of designations because of the annual cost of keeping them. I am included in that group.  On the other hand, I have a law degree and a degree in financing and have taken hundreds of professional courses.  Home sellers and home buyers should take a close look at the educati... 04/01/2013

Mortgage Financing for First Time Home Buyers Montgomery County Housing Opportunities Commission   Montgomery County, Maryland offers several special mortgage financing programs through the Housing Opportunities Commission.  Qualified first time home buyers can obtain 30 year fixed interest rates with no points.  Check for the daily interest rates and more information at www.hocmc.org. Click on Mortgage and Financing Programs. One of the available options is to receive 3% of the sales price in purchase assistance which may be used for the down payment or closing costs.  The deferred purchase assistance loan is without an interest charge.  The borrowers do not have to work in Montgomery County.  The property must be located in Montgomery County, MD.   The maximum sales price is $429,619.... 03/31/2013

Gaithersburg Make a Difference Day, Friday, April 5, 2013  Use less!  Do more!  Gaithersburg residents are making their commitments to change some habits for the benefit of our environment as we approach Make a Difference Day on Friday, April 5, 2013.  Small actions can add up to significant savings in our consumption of water, energy, and other natural resources. Insulate. More insulation means a smaller energy transfer between your home and the exterior environment, or your water heater and the surrounding air. Fix water leaks in the bathroom, kitchen, garden, etc. Did you know that an American home can waste, on average, more than 10,000 gallons of water every year due to running toilets, dripping faucets, and other household leaks?  Nationwide, more than 1 trillion gallons of water ... 03/28/2013

Montgomery County Police Remind Pedestrians to be Careful   During March, there have been several incidents involving pedestrians in Montgomery County, Maryland.  A pedestrian was struck by an automobile on a street near our home.  When I take regular walks through the Kentlands community , I frequently see careless drivers as they talk on their cell phones while driving through the area.  It is against the law to use a cell phone while driving but many appear to be above the law. As a friendly reminder, the Montgomery County Police are offering a few tips that will help make the roads a safer place. Drivers Look for pedestrians before you enter or exit a driveway. This is when you cross the sidewalk where pedestrians walk. Since they are on the sidewalk, they might be less alert than w... 03/28/2013

Why do I need a pre-approval letter before looking at homes?   When prospective home buyers need mortgage financing, we ask them to meet with their mortgage lender to obtain pre-approval as one of the initial steps in the home purchase process.   The housing inventory is very low in the area and multiple contract competition should be anticipated by home buyers and real estate investors.  Purchasers need to be comfortable when they need to make quick decisions in this fast moving market. For many home buyers, the maximum mortgage amount for which they will qualify will determine the price range for the home search.  It is fine to look at less expensive houses, but it is not productive to be considering homes that are beyond the means of the buyers. The maximum price is important to know... 03/27/2013

What information is required from the home seller for a short sale?   Home owners that owe more than the current value of their home may need to consider a short sale if they need to sell their home.  Short sale transactions require the approval of the secured mortgage lenders.  When we take a short sale listing, we recommend the use of an attorney to actually handle the negotiations with the lenders.  We use Michael Hollman at Village Settlements in Kentlands.  Mike has successfully negotiated short sales for many years.  His services are part of our real estate listing package.   Mike will discuss the specific needs with the mortgage borrowers and work with them to establish a plan of action.  The short sale route is not the best for every family.  Some borrowers should file for bankr... 03/27/2013

Photowalking in Kentlands:  Early Spring Flowers Seeking the Colors of the Season An important part of my regular exercise program is walking through Kentlands, our home community in Gaithersburg, Maryland.  The walks are usually extended to Lakelands, the adjoining neighborhood.   The exercise becomes photowalking when I have my camera in hand. It is always interesting to seek the colors of the season to capture in photographs.  Our winter weather has extended into spring and the flowers are still limited.  These photographs provide examples of the current colors to be found.   When you are out and about, make sure you notice the beauty of very small blooms like the crocuses . It has snowed in Kentlands this week and you have probably seen in the news that the cherry blossoms have been... 03/26/2013