If You Don’t Want the Monkey on Your Back… Stop Buying BananasEvery once in a while, I meet someone who seems to carry the same problems around with them for years. The deal that fell apart. The client who disappeared. The market that changed. The opportunity they missed.They talk about it.They complain about it.They replay it over and over.And I sometimes think to myself…If you don’t want the monkey on your back… stop buying bananas.Because monkeys show up where the bananas are.In real estate, and in life, problems don’t usually become huge overnight. They grow because we feed them. We avoid the uncomfortable phone call. We delay fixing the small repair. We ignore the paperwork that needs attention. We let a small misunderstanding turn into a big one. We don't share that there may be a... 03/11/2026

Did They Pull a Permit? A Quick Check Every Buyer Should KnowWhen buying a home in Baltimore or Baltimore County, one simple question can save a lot of surprises later:“Was a permit pulled for that work?”Over the years, I’ve shown homes with beautiful new kitchens, finished basements, decks, and updated electrical panels. They look great, but sometimes buyers and agents forget to check whether the proper permits were issued and inspected.The good news is that in both Baltimore City and Baltimore County, permit records are public and can usually be searched online by address. With just a few clicks, you can often see if permits were issued for things like electrical work, plumbing, structural changes, or additions, and whether the work passed inspection.Why does this matter? Because perm... 03/12/2026

St. Patrick’s Day Parade at Rio, Sat., March 14It’s all things Irish as the City of Gaithersburg, The Peterson Companies, and Rio host the 24th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 14. Bagpipe bands, Celtic dancers, fire trucks, and community groups of all kinds wind their way down Grand Corner Avenue starting at 10 a.m. Following the parade, stay for a festive Shamrock Stroll with specials, music, and activities throughout Rio. Free parking is available in three garages along Washingtonian Boulevard.Dorthy Winder, City of Gaithersburg retiree and the parade’s lead planner and organizer for nearly 15 years, will serve as this year’s Grand Marshal. The parade will be emceed by Carolyn Muller, Director of Parks, Recreation and Culture.This is a City of Gaithersburg, Maryland... 03/13/2026

Some homes look great online. In fact, some homes look too great online. And every so often, you walk into a property and realize the listing and the house are telling two completely different stories. I seem to come across this more often than not. Occasionally, the surprise is a happy one; homes are much better than they were presented online. Not so with this charming stone rancher in Baltimore County, pictured above. On screen, it checked all the boxes: three bedrooms, a lovely view (golf-course, they claimed), privacy, and charm. It was the kind of listing that photographed well in the autumn sun. When I stopped by in person, however, the true picture was a bit different: The "three bedrooms" were actually just two, plus a den or home office.  The "golf-course view" took a lot of i... 03/11/2026