First-time home buyers have lots of hurdles to climb during the transaction that is considered the most expensive purchase you will ever make.  I'm talking about buying your first home.  The hurdles, though, can be overcome relatively easily by having a trained professional on your side and by knowing what's in store.  To that end, here is Step 9 of "Nine Steps to Buying a Home."  It is my hope that you will find valuable information in this series that will help you not only negotiate the real estate sea on which you currently find yourself but also that you will be clearer about what to expect from here. Step 9:  Go Ahead, Sign Away! Even in purchasing a home, you've got options.  Today, let's talk about home buying programs. There are different types of loans: Fixed Rate Mortgage - t... 09/28/2010

Silver Spring, MD Homes For Sale For $250,000 Or Less   Active Listings, Short Sales, REO Listings Of Lender Owned Foreclosures - Montgomery County   Investor Alert - Please contact us if you need a report like this for another zip code.   What is available in homes for sale for $250,000 or less?   This is a question that is being asked by real estate investors as they seek to build their rental portfolios. Homes in the area make good rental properties because of the convenience to employment centers, shopping and public transportation. And, the schools have an outstanding reputation. Many are pleased to find that there is a very good selection of homes for sale below the $250,000 price level.    Blooming for Silver Spring home buyers. This is what is available today:   If you exclude t... 09/27/2010

This past week I and my fellow Washington DC Staging Chapter (Washington DC IAHSP Chapter) had the honor and privaledge to redesign the Fisher House in Washinton DC. Fisher House is where military personnel and their families stay while getting treated at Walter Reed Military Hospital. Every year we choose a charitable project to donoate goods, and time and talent to give back to our community of Washington DC and the surrounding area. We spent the week painting ,gardening, replacing appliances, pulls, artwork, and furniture , then staging those areas with accessories.  It was amazing how all the pieces came together even when we thought it may have been "too big" a project. Home Depot came through with a HUGE donation and together with all the collected donations we were able to trans... 09/18/2010

First-time home buyers have lots of hurdles to climb during the transaction that is considered the most expensive purchase you will ever make.  I'm talking about buying your first home.  The hurdles, though, can be overcome relatively easily by having a trained professional on your side and by knowing what's in store.  To that end, here is Step 8 of "Nine Steps to Buying a Home."  It is my hope that you will find valuable information in this series that will help you not only negotiate the real estate sea on which you currently find yourself but also that you will be clearer about what to expect from here.Step 8:  Be Secure and Insure!Even in purchasing a home, you've got options.  Today, let's talk about home buying programs.There are different types of loans: Fixed Rate Mortgage - the... 09/08/2010

Don't Forget!  Don't miss our First-Time Home Buyer Webinar and Seminar next week!     Join us from the comfort of your home onWednesday, September 15, 2010Time: 7 - 8:00pmTo register: E-mail Here or Call: 800-666-3705 x208 Join us in person onSaturday, September 10, 2009Time: 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.To register: E-mail Here orCall: 800-666-3705 x208Location: Silver Spring, Maryland You won't want to miss the webinar or seminar! Questions will be answered such as:  Is it too late to take advantage of the Federal Tax credit? How much money is required for a down payment? Are there any other buying programs available to me that are like the Federal Tax credit program?We hope to "see" you next week!Emcee Arah RE/MAX Excellence Realtor with Architectural DimensionServing all your Real Estate ne... 09/08/2010

First-time home buyers have lots of hurdles to climb during the transaction that is considered the most expensive purchase you will ever make.  I'm talking about buying your first home.  The hurdles, though, can be overcome relatively easily by having a trained professional on your side and by knowing what's in store.  To that end, here is Step 7 of "Nine Steps to Buying a Home."  It is my hope that you will find valuable information in this series that will help you not only negotiate the real estate sea on which you currently find yourself but also that you will be clearer about what to expect from here. Step 7:  Inspect it or Forget it! Once you've found a great house, and made your offer, now you need to ensure that it really is a great house.  How?  Get it inspected! There are diff... 09/06/2010

Don't Miss Our September First-Time Home Buyer Webinar and Seminar! Some of the subjects that will be discussed at our monthly home buyer's webinar include: Is it too late to take advantage of the Federal Tax credit? How much money is required for a down payment? What exactly are closing costs? What is an ernest money deposit? Are there any other buying programs available to me that are like the Federal Tax credit program?Join us from the comfort of your home or office for an informative home buyer's webinar! (Call-in details will be e-mailed to you upon registration.) Date: Wednesday, September 15, 2010Time: 7 - 8:00pmTo register: E-mail Here or Call: 800-666-3705 x208 If you prefer a face-to-face meeting, join us for our local home buyer's seminar! (The address will be e-mailed to you... 09/03/2010

First-time home buyers have lots of hurdles to climb during the transaction that is considered the most expensive purchase you will ever make.  I'm talking about buying your first home.  The hurdles, though, can be overcome relatively easily by having a trained professional on your side and by knowing what's in store.  To that end, here is Step 6 of "Nine Steps to Buying a Home."  It is my hope that you will find valuable information in this series that will help you not only negotiate the real estate sea on which you currently find yourself but also that you will be clearer about what to expect from here.Step 6:  Name Your Price - Make an OfferEven in purchasing a home, you've got options.  Today, let's talk about home buying programs.There are different types of loans: Fixed Rate Mort... 09/03/2010

First-time home buyers have lots of hurdles to climb during the transaction that is considered the most expensive purchase you will ever make.  I'm talking about buying your first home.  The hurdles, though, can be overcome relatively easily by having a trained professional on your side and by knowing what's in store.  To that end, in the next several blog posts here, I will discuss Nine Steps to Buying a Home.  It is my hope that you will find valuable information in this series that will help you not only negotiate the real estate sea on which you currently find yourself but also that you will be clearer about what to expect from here.Step 1:  What's Enough? What's Too Much?  Basically, how much house can you afford?Before you decide which neighborhood you want to live in, before you ... 08/25/2010

Washington DC: A Fleet of Bicycles A program was already going to be launched in DC which would have placed just over a thousand bikes around the nation's capitol for a bike sharing program. Visiting DC?  Leave Your Bike at Home But now, efforts are underway to increase that number by more than triple.  After all, a thousand bikes sounds like a lot until you consider that the DC region has over 3 million people residing there. Through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or "TIGER Discretionary Grant", program authorized and implemented pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the "Recovery Act") a proposal is being made for just such an increase in the bike sharing program. DC already has some of the most congested roadways in the nation so... 08/25/2010

  So here we are, the housing market in the palm of our hands...... or is it? I just read a news article you can see HERE on PR Newswire that says home owners confidence has dipped.  The article says that 1 in 3 home owners think the worst is yet to come, and 38% think home values have reached rock bottom.  The article breaks down further questions of what consumers "think." It is nice to see what consumers believe in different parts of the United States, but an article like this is too broad for its own good.  There are areas that have already seen rock bottom and are leveling off, there are some that have never skipped a beat, and there are some that will continue to go lower. I can't speak for my other fellow REALTORS, but this summer has been the busiest on record for me personally ... 08/19/2010

Just Listed Condo Silver Spring Maryland.  10859 Amherst Ave Unit201, Silver Spring Maryland.  3 Bedrooms and 2 Full Baths Condo located in Silver Spring Maryland.  Completely Renovated, Beautiful and unique split level Condo. Gorgeous Red Oak Hardwood Floors, Granite Counters, 42' Solid Cherry Cabinets, Custom Tiled Back splash, Inlayed Ceramic Tile in Bathrooms, Glass Shower in Master. Center courtyard with pool and fitness center. Ample Free Parking. Stacked Washer/Dryer. Custom Binds. WALK TO METRO.                                                                                                                             VALERIE OFOMA, REALTORLong & Foster Real Estate, Inc.Silver Spring Downtown Office8701 Georgia Avenue, Suite 100Silver Spring, MD  20910301-650-4400 (ofc)202-641-76... 08/08/2010

First-time home buyers have lots of hurdles to climb during the transaction that is considered the most expensive purchase you will ever make.  I'm talking about buying your first home.  The hurdles, though, can be overcome relatively easily by having a trained professional on your side and by knowing what's in store.  To that end, here is Step 5 in "Nine Steps to Buying a Home."  It is my hope that you will find valuable information in this series that will help you not only negotiate the real estate sea on which you currently find yourself but also that you will be clearer about what to expect from here. Step 5:  On Your Mark, Get Set, LOOK! Shop for your home. It felt like forever getting to this point, didn't it?  Now you're finally ready to actually look for a home.  But hold on!  ... 08/04/2010

Making the most of...Craig’s List As real estate professionals, we are always looking for great marketing options.  If you haven’t already tried it, Craig’s List is a great way to market yourself, your listings, open houses, and much more. Marketing Your Listings on Craig’s List If you use a service such as Postlets or vFlyers, you can copy the code for your listing flyers and past it right into a Craig’s List post for a beautiful html version of your listing flyer.  Then, simply post it under the real estate section and city for your listing. Be sure to remove and repost your flyers on Craig's List every week to keep them fresh in the listings. Post price reductions on Craig’s List to give your listings added exposure in their city listings. Post open houses on Craig's List to tell peo... 08/04/2010

Homeowners had only 3 options when they can no longer afford to pay for your mortgage   A Short Sale A Deed-in-Lieu-of-Foreclosure Foreclosure   Fannie Mae has come up with a 4th option to help homeowners: Introducing Deed-For-Lease-Program from Fannie Mae A new program that allows you to temporarily lease your home. You first transfer the ownership of your home to the mortgage company (called a Deed-in-Lieu of Foreclosure, see below) in exchange through foreclosure. . .READ THE REST HERE         Technorati Tags: short sales maryland short sale MD,md realtor short sales,short sales annandale 08/03/2010

Making the most of...Vacations Ahhh, the vacation!  Family or personal, it jut doesn’t matter.  A vacation is a vacation.  However, how many of us have realized after the fact that our vacation wasn’t all it was cracked up to be?  There are ways to ensure that your vacation will be better than you even anticipated! Tips for making the most of your vacations: Choose a destination that will have something of interest to everyone in the group.  (Keep in mind that young children may not be interested in the Grand Canyon!) Find a place that holds something for everyone. Get reviews before you book your trip.  Other people will give honest feedback on their trips to help you know what to do and what not to do on your trip. Destinations (hotels and vacation packages) sometimes offer guarantees... 07/30/2010

First-time home buyers have lots of hurdles to climb during the transaction that is considered the most expensive purchase you will ever make.  I'm talking about buying your first home.  The hurdles, though, can be overcome relatively easily by having a trained professional on your side and by knowing what's in store.  To that end, here is Step 4 in "Nine Steps to Buying a Home."  It is my hope that you will find valuable information in this series that will help you not only negotiate the real estate sea on which you currently find yourself but also that you will be clearer about what to expect from here. Step 4:  You've Got Options - Home Buying Programs Even in purchasing a home, you've got options.  Today, let's talk about home buying programs. Homeownership Voucher Program - Maryla... 07/28/2010

Silver Spring, MD Homes For Sale For $250,000 Or Less   Active Listings, Short Sales, REO Listings Of Lender Owned Foreclosures - Montgomery County   Investor Alert - Please contact us if you need a report like this for another zip code.    Blooming for Maryland real estate investors. What is available in homes for sale for $250,000 or less?   This is a question that is being asked by real estate investors as they seek to build their rental portfolios. Homes in the area make good rental properties because of the convenience to employment centers, shopping and public transportation. And, the schools have an outstanding reputation. Many are pleased to find that there is a very good selection of homes for sale below the $250,000 price level.   This is what is available today:   If you excl... 07/28/2010

CarlosLONGMEADSilverSpring Homes  For Sale in Longmead in Silver Spring 20906  Longmead in Silver Spring MD Homes For Sale 20906 Homes for sale in Longmead Silver Spring 20906 Market Report  as of 07/26/2010 the inventory consist of: Homes For Sale: 19 Homes  Under Contract: 17 Homes  Sold For The Year: 43     * Including all FORECLOSURES AND SHORT SALES FOR Longmead in Silver Spring MD Foreclosures  Silver Spring Maryland Happenings for the Summer in Silver Spring MD  Silver Spring Summer Events!   Enjoy the Summer 2010 in Silver Spring with these exciting events! ·         Wings of Fancy Live Butterfly Exhibit ·         Fenton Street Market ·         Wildcat Steppers ·         Meet the Author Events ·         The Rainbow Company Inter-Active Theatre ·         Revels Festival Day ·   ... 07/26/2010

The shark is back! Heading home from the Beltway and approaching Downtown Silver Spring at the DC Line this afternoon, I could see the tail from far away. I fiddled for my cell phone and was lucky enough to catch a few seconds at a red light. Check out that “dorsal fin”—(thanks, Amanda!)—on the roof! The Discovery Channel headquarters are decked out in celebration of the station’s “Shark Week,” a series of scary programs scheduled to run the first week of August. So, if you live in Silver Spring, or in nearby Shepherd Park/DC and Rock Creek Forest, if you regularly shop or party here, or if you pass through the Red Line Metro stop in the next few days, watch out. The 50-foot head of the pet's got a lot of sharp teeth. To get back to our headline, however, what does the shark have to do ... 07/22/2010