Here's my contribution to "Funny Friday."  I don't know where I first heard this story but I thought it was funny.  I hope you enjoy! Bear Dinner A man was hiking through the woods when he suddenly heard a loud noise behind him.  He paused his trek to listen and possibly investigate if perhaps a tree had fallen or something similar to cause such a loud noise.  As he peered through the trees behind him, he saw 2 large bears running straight for him.  So he did what any self-respecting hiker would do - RUN! He ran and ran as if his life depended upon it, which it did!  Glancing over his shoulder, he saw that the bears were gaining on him!  So he ran harder and faster.  A few harrowing minutes later, he glanced over his shoulder again.  Closer still, the bears were still coming after him. ... 02/26/2010

It's official!  The lease has been signed and the keys are in my hands. EOP Real Estate's Maryland office has an official home: 12053B Tech Road Silver Spring, MD 20904 We are excited about this next step and are looking forward to opening the doors for business in late March 2010. Tomorrow - I get to go shopping for office furniture. I think we should plan an AR gathering there when we are fully operational.     02/26/2010

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There are 68 homes on the market FOR SALE or Rentals within 1.5 mile of the downtown Silver Spring Metro Station at the time of this report (02/21/2010). Twenty-four of those available are FOR RENT.  While there is a studio apartment on the market for rent, the least expensive rental is a one bedroom apartment including utilities and covered parking listed at $1,150/month.  While there is a four bedroom rental on the market at this time, the most expensive RENTAL is a two bedroom two bath apartment with garage parking on the market for $2,375.     Forty-four homes are on the market FOR SALE in this area too. While there are studio apartments on the market, the least expensive on the market for sale is a one bedroom one bath condo apartment listed for $44,900.  While there is a eight-bed... 02/21/2010

Silver Spring, Maryland is centrally located in the Washington D.C. area with easy access to downtown DC , 495 to Virginia, or 95 to Baltimore.  Silver Spring offers something for everyone with shopping, dining, entertainment and offers a variety of housing and neighborhood styles. Downtown Silver Spring, where my office is located had had a total growth of development in the recent years with outdoor mall offering plenty of stores anchored by retailers like Borders Books, Whole Foods, and Majestic Theatre.   Silver Spring properties offer urban condos/lofts, charming cape cods, large colonials, modern lofts, split levels, and more.  Any type of home you are looking for can be found in the areas that make up Silver Spring.  There truly is something for everyone lifestyle from city or t... 02/18/2010

Silver Spring MD Homes For Sale  Please share this information with your friends that wish to purchase or sell a home in the area. Do you qualify for a tax credit?  The Home Buyer Tax Credit now includes current home owners as well as first time buyers. The deadline for contracts is 4/30/10. This link provides the highlights of the program: http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/glance.php Homes for Sale, Pre-foreclosures, REO:   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  active listings excluding the lender owned foreclosures (REO) and the short sale listings.   226 homes priced at $300,000 and be... 02/16/2010

Silver Spring MD Trustee Sales - Harvey West Auctioneers Harvey West Auctioneers has scheduled Maryland trustee sales. Trustee sales auctions are open to the public and all qualified bidders. These sales are foreclosures by the secured mortgage lenders. Buyers should carefully read the newspaper advertisements that appear for three weeks before the sale date.  The required deposits must be in the form of cash or certified funds. Most of the bidders use cashier's checks that are payable to themselves and endorse the checks when they are successful. Always check for cancellations before attending trustee sales. Seek professional advice if you do not have full knowledge of the risks. Since these transactions are not conditioned on the availability of mortgage financing, buyers should alway... 02/12/2010

Here is the latest set of Market Reports that I have filed on the Silver Spring Md. area.  Stop back often catch the most up to date information I have made available.  If there is something you need please send me an email. Thank you.   Silver Spring (Aspen Hill) Md. 20906 - excluding Leisure World •-          Detached •-          Townhouses •-          Condos Silver Spring (Leisure World)                 Silver Spring (Colesville) Md. 20905 Silver Spring (Wheaton) Md.  20902 •-            02/10/2010

Silver Spring MD Trustee Sales - Harvey West Auctioneers Harvey West Auctioneers has scheduled Maryland trustee sales. Trustee sales auctions are open to the public and all qualified bidders. These sales are foreclosures by the secured mortgage lenders. Buyers should carefully read the newspaper advertisements that appear for three weeks before the sale date.  The required deposits must be in the form of cash or certified funds. Most of the bidders use cashier's checks that are payable to themselves and endorse the checks when they are successful. Always check for cancellations before attending trustee sales. Seek professional advice if you do not have full knowledge of the risks. Since these transactions are not conditioned on the availability of mortgage financing, buyers should alway... 02/01/2010

The 2010 Resolution Breaking, Ultimate Sugar High (Candy Store has opened in the Old Building that I last remember as being an Army Recruiting Station:8408 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, Downtown 20910 The smell inside the shop is intoxicating.  They make the candy in the building, fresh, no preservatives.  You can watch it being made.  If you are old enough to remember the candy sold exclusively at Woodward and Lothrup "Woodies" stores in Wheaton Plaza, Montgomery Mall, Chevy Chase and the original Downtown Woodies you are probably going to be in nostalgia heaven when you taste it.  The caramels are out of this world, even if you are not a "candy person".   Velatis has a history of candy making that goes back over 150 years starting in Richmond, Va during the civil war and in Washingto... 01/31/2010

Silver Spring MD Trustee Sales - Harvey West Auctioneers Harvey West Auctioneers has scheduled Maryland trustee sales. Trustee sales auctions are open to the public and all qualified bidders. These sales are foreclosures by the secured mortgage lenders. Buyers should carefully read the newspaper advertisements that appear for three weeks before the sale date.  The required deposits must be in the form of cash or certified funds. Most of the bidders use cashier's checks that are payable to themselves and endorse the checks when they are successful. Always check for cancellations before attending trustee sales. Seek professional advice if you do not have full knowledge of the risks. Since these transactions are not conditioned on the availability of mortgage financing, buyers should alway... 01/25/2010

Glenmont Metro Station Area Market Report - Jan 2010 There are 80 homes on the market FOR SALE or FOR RENT within 1.5 mile of the Glenmont Metro Station at the time of this report (01/23/2010). The least expensive of the 15 rentals currently on the market is a one-bedroom garden apartment listed at $1100/month.  The apartment is short walk to the METRO station and includes all your utilities too.   The most expensive is a four-bedroom two full bath detached home with off street parking and a two car garage listed for $2,600.   While there are one-bedroom apartments on the market FOR SALE, he least expensive for the 65 homes is a two-bedroom one bath garden apartment listed for $105,000.  While there are several six-bedroom homes on the market; the most expensive home FOR SALE is a nine-... 01/23/2010

Forrest Glen Metro Station neighborhood market report January, 2010 There are 60 homes on the market FOR SALE or FOR RENT within 1 mile of the Forrest Glen Metro Station at the time of this report (01/24/2010). There are a total of 12 units currently on the market FOR RENT.  While there are one-bedroom apartments on the market, the least expensive rental is a two bedroom apartment including utilities listed at $1250/month.  The most expensive is a five-bedroom four full bath colonial with a basement, fireplace and a two car garage listed for $3,200.   There are a total of 48 units currently on the market FOR SALE.  The least expensive for sale is a one-bedroom condo apartment list for $133,900. While there are four and even five bedroom homes on the market, the most expensive home FOR S... 01/23/2010

Wheaton Metro station neighborhood market report There are 80 homes on the market FOR SALE or RENT within 1 mile of the Wheaton Metro Station at the time of this report (01/024/2010). The least expensive of the 11 on the Rentals on the market is a two-bedroom detached home listed at $1600/month.  The most expensive RENTAL is a six-bedroom, three full bath detached home with a large 4 car detached garage listed at $2895/month.  While there are several one-bedroom condos on the market, the least expensive of the 69 FOR SALE is a two-bedroom one bath apartment listed for $149,900. The most expensive home FOR SALE is a nine-bedroom six full bath one half bath detached home with several fireplaces listed for $799,000. If you or anyone you know would be interested in one of these homes, or lo... 01/23/2010

Silver Spring (Aspen Hill) Md. 20906 - Rental Market report - January 2010 This market report is to cover RENTALS in the Silver Spring Md. 20906 zip code, except for those in the senior citizen's community of Leisure World.  A report on conditions in that community can be found in a separate post.  For more Market Reports on the area check on the index of similiar reports. At the time of this report (01/23/2010) there are 30 units available for rent in the area cover by this report.  Since December 23, 2009 there have been a total of eight leases signed to rent homes in the report area, with the average time on market being two months (60 days).  Some of the homes are condo, townhouses, and couple of detached home too.   One Bedroom Currently there are two one-bedroom apartments on the ... 01/23/2010

Here is the latest set of Market Reports that I have filed on the Silver Spring Md. area.  Stop back often catch the most up to date information I have made available.  If there is something you need please send me an email. Thank you.   Silver Spring (Aspen Hill) Md. 20906 - excluding Leisure World     Detached - Last updated 1/22/10     Townhouses - Last updated 1/22/10     Condos - Last updated 1/22/10     Rentals - Last updated 1/23/10 Silver Spring (Colesville) Md. 20905 - last updated 1/26/10          Within 1 mile of Montgomery County METRO stations.     01/22/2010

Silver Spring (Aspen Hill) Md. 20906 - Detached Home - Market Report - Jan 2010 This market report covers the single family Detached and Semi-Detached homes in the 20906 zip code of Silver Spring Md., excluding the senior citizen's community of Leisure World for which there is a separate posting.  For more Market Reports on the area check on the index of similiar reports. At this time (01/22/2010) there are 65 homes on the market. While there are two bedroom homes on the market, the least expensive is a three bedroom one bath home with a basement; on the market for $165,000.  The most expensive is a five bedroom four full bath two half bath home also with a basement and on two acres of land.  This home is on the market for $979,900. While there several of the homes are new to the market... 01/22/2010

Silver Spring (Aspen Hill) Md. 20906 - Townhouse - Market Report - January 2010 This market report is to cover Townhouse FOR SALE in the Silver Spring (Aspen Hill) Md. 20906 zip code, except for those in the senior citizen's community of Leisure World.  If information on detached homes is desired, that can be found in a separate post.  For more Market Reports on the area check on the index of similiar reports. At the time of this report (1/22/10) there are 35 townhouses available for sale in the area cover by this report. While there are two-bedroom homes on the market for sale, the least expensive is a three-bedroom one full bath townhouse on the market for $100,000.  The most expensive at this time is a four-bedroom three full baths with a fireplace currently listed for $399,500.   Wh... 01/22/2010

Silver Spring (Aspen Hill) Md. 20906 - Condo - Market Report - January 2010 This market report is to cover Condos FOR SALE in the Silver Spring (Aspen Hill) Md. 20906 zip code, except for those in the senior citizen community of Leisure World.  If information on Leisure World is desired, that can be found in a separate post.  For more Market Reports on the area check on the index of similiar reports. At the time of this report (01/22/10) there are 23 units available for sale in the area cover by this report. While there are one-bedroom homes on the market for sale, the least expensive is a two-bedroom two full bath home on the market for $39,900. The most expensive is a three-bedroom two full baths listed for $199,000. There are another 26 homes that are under contact at the time of the... 01/22/2010

Whenever I have to deal with getting my car repaired, I feel like I'm wearing a T-shirt that says: "Hi!  I'm Pat, and today I'm a license to print money!" When I got back from Hawaii, my trusty old Lexus would not turn over.  So it was AAA to the rescue.  My battery was not just in a coma.  After eight years of excellent health, it died during the December blizzard.  When the AAA guy put in the new one, he ran a diagnotic test to make sure it was working properly, and it showed my might have an issue with the alternator. The car has been running well, but AAA guy promised me that it would only do so for a short period of time before conking out on me again.  So today, I decided that rather than push my luck, I'd get it checked out. As the warranty just ran out, I called my old friends a... 01/19/2010