Frederick, MD - Restaurant Week Aug 8-14, 2022I have regularly blogged about Baltimore's Restaurant Week and just discovered that Frederick also has a restaurant week.  I sold several homes in Frederick County last year including homes in Monrovia, Middletown, Mount Airy, Walkersville, and the town of Frederick.  While there I did check out a few restaurants, you should check some out during this coming week too, and take advantage of the specials.Check out the full list of restaurants here.  My favorites are:Black Hog BBQ at 118 S Market St. - everyone that knows me, knows I like some good Q and I was not disappointed here!!Magoo's Pub & Eatery located at 1A W 2nd StThatcher & Rye at 228 N Market St.Please take time to get out and enjoy these and the other local eateries in Frederick.  08/09/2022

Let's explore "the unintended" or "intended Consequences" of the Frederick County Planning Commission's adoption of the Sugarloaf Treasured Landscape Management Plan. The July 13th meeting where the plan was adopted should be a major concern of everyone who owns property in Frederick County. Watching the meeting on (FCGTV during a ten-minute span from 1:28 to 1:38), I was astounded as Commissioner Hix blatantly disregards the public testimony of the Frederick County Association of REALTORS®, myself, and many others over the effect the plan will have on property values. After the vote to adopt the plan, Commissioner Sepe, due to the serious flaws with the plan, asked that her name be removed from the plan prior to being sent to the County Council. It is quite evident the plan has been f... 08/08/2022

Welcome to 11321 Country Club Rd. New Market, Maryland. Located in Westwinds, one of Frederick's premier swim & tennis communities.This well maintained custom home has a main level owners suite, double walk-in closets, recently remodeled luxury bath that includes a garden tub, separate shower & double vanity. The living room has two story ceiling with a gas fireplace, and gleaming hardwood floors. The kitchen includes a center island, granite counters and stainless steel appliances. Large breakfast area leads to the multi tier deck . upper level includes two additional bedrooms and two renovated full bathrooms. The lower level is fully finished with a large family room , rec room, two additional bedrooms with luxury vinyl plank floors and full renovated bath. The basement walks out to t... 07/22/2022

Maryland’s June 2022 Housing Statistics Suggests a SlowdownAs Prices Continue to Rise   ANNAPOLIS, MD—July 18, 2022—Home sales in June continued to slow down as prices continued to rise, according to the June 2022 Maryland REALTORS® Housing Statistics report. While the average sales price rose 10.1% to $487,470, compared to June 2021’s figure of $442,882, and the median sales price rose 8.7% to $410,000, unit sales dropped 23.2%, 8,573 units against the June 2021 figure of 11,164.  Another indicator of sales movement, pending sales, which looks at the number of houses under contract, dropped 17.4% to 8,308. Since March 2022, the percentage of pending sales has steadily decreased. In March 2022, pending sales dropped 7.3%. The number of new listings has also dropped steadily since March;... 07/19/2022

One of the first lessons a student is taught before they can become a REALTOR® is the definition of "Bundle of Rights". When purchasing real estate you receive the right of possession, control, exclusion, enjoyment/profit, and disposition.  Property rights are protected by the constitution but are also subject to statutory codes determined by individual States. The land use decision and planning process entails a delicate balancing of interests. The decision makers need to consider significant impacts and alternative mitigation measures.Currently, the Frederick County Planning Commission draft of the Sugarloaf Treasured Landscape Management Plan is out of step with and unrepresentative of the Livable Frederick Master Plan. The local government planners have seemly abandoned the notion o... 07/14/2022

Celebrate Frederick the 35th annual Frederick’s Fourth of July party at Baker Park will be held from Noon to dusk on Monday, July 4th!  This is Frederick Counties largest Independence Day celebration featuring two stages of live entertainment along with family-friendly rides, fireworks, vendors, and some familiar local celebrities! Enjoy sampling festival foods and local & national beer, wine & spirit selections in the Beer Gardens. Access to Frederick’s Fourth of July festivities are completely FREE along with Citywide parking! 06/30/2022

Prospect Hall is a well-known landmark property that was originally known as "Red Hill" when owned by Daniel Dulaney, a colonial civic leader and member of the Maryland General Assembly in the mid to late 1700s representing Frederick County. The historic mansion sits on one of the highest elevations outside of Frederick City. Construction began around 1787 however the current mansion known as Prospect Hall was probably not completed until 1810. The white, three-story structure, designed in a Greek revival style with additional Federal elements, has a storied past.   The Dulaney family was very involved with the American Revolution as patriots and an acquaintance of General George Washington.  Washington’s horse named Blueskin was raised at Prospect Hall and was also retired here until h... 06/27/2022

Maryland’s May 2022 Housing Statistics Reveals Slight Easing of Inventory Amidst Rising Prices and Fewer Homes Sold   ANNAPOLIS, MD—June 13, 2022—Home prices continued to rise, according to the latest Maryland REALTORS® Housing Statistics report, with average sales prices rising 11.4% to $484,283, compared to 2021’s figure of $434,847. Median sales prices rose 9.5% to $405,000 against last year’s median price of $370,000. As these prices have risen, unit sales have continued to drop; units sold in May 2022 dropped 12.3% to 8,467 versus last year’s volume of 9,658. While active inventory dropped 25.3% in May, the inventory gap between 2022 and 2021 appears to be shrinking since January 2022, when active inventory dropped 41.8%. Months of inventory have been increasing as well: since Febr... 06/22/2022

 Mount Olivet Cemetery in Frederick, Maryland is the final resting place for the author of the Star-Spangled Banner, Francis Scott Key. FSK grew up in Frederick County and became a lawyer. After the British burned Washington DC in early September 1814  Dr. William Beanes an acquaintance of FSK was arrested. John S. Skinner, a US government agent for prisoner exchange, asked FSK to accompany him to help secure the release of Dr. Beanes. They were successful in negotiating his release. However the British feared they would divulge their plan to attack Baltimore and detained them on a truce ship during the battle. This is how FSK became an eyewitness to the bombardment of Fort McHenry. In the pre-dawn hours of September 14, 1814, seeing the stars and stripes still flying above the fort ins... 06/14/2022

 Located in Frederick, Maryland at 6 James Street this two bedroom one bath single family home has been recently renovated with engineered wood floors, HVAC / heat pump, a designer kitchen with stainless steel appliances, and granite counters.   New roof installed in June 2022, remodeled bathroom with new vanity. The large fenced rear yard with a patio overlooks Maryvale Park. Convenient downtown living, close to shopping, schools, Baker Park, restaurants, and commuter routes. Priced at $285,900 why buy a town home or a condo when you can own this super starter single family for less? ACT FAST and schedule an appointment today.     06/10/2022

  One of Frederick, Maryland's most famous residents was a 95 year old widow, Barbara Fritche, who in 1862 taunted the Confederate troops by waving the Stars and Stripes as they passed through town. The Barbara Fritchie house is located at 154 West Patrick Street, 1 block from Mackintosh REALTORS Historic District office.     John Greenleaf Whitter's poem "The Ballad of Barbara Fritchie" was published in October 1863 in The Atlantic Monthly. This would immortalize Fritchie and raised patriotic spirits throughout the Union at a time when an emotional boost was needed as a response to the Civil War.  The poem would go on to inspire a play and later a film featuring the famous line "Shoot if you must this old gray head, but spare your country's flag."Barbara Fritchie would never hear the p... 06/09/2022

Welcome to 9059 Seward Street, Frederick, Maryland. This well-maintained brick front colonial, Ryan Homes   Ravenwood model, in The Villages of Urbana. Super convenient location to the library, shopping, schools, and minutes from I-270. There is a two-story foyer with ceramic tile, a large designer kitchen with hardwood floors, granite counters, a center island with a wine rack, a breakfast room flooded with natural light, a vaulted ceiling, and hardwood floors.  The kitchen is open to the family room with, a gas fireplace. Formal dining area with bay window, hardwood floors. Finished basement with large rec-room wired for a sound system, full bath, and storage room.   The owner's suite includes a large walk-in closet, a private luxury bath with a garden tub, double sinks, and a separat... 05/26/2022

 Best time to see the Full Super Flower Blood Moon Eclipse tomorrow Sunday May 15th ~ 16th 2022.Sunday's full moon is also considered a Super Moon meaning it looks bigger and brighter than usual because it's at the closest point to Earth in its orbit.If you happen to miss this one the next one will occur on November 8th, 2022. 05/14/2022

Maryland’s April 2022 Housing Statistics ShowsContinued Price Increases Amidst Lower Sales, Shrinking Inventory ANNAPOLIS, MD—May 12, 2022—Home sales in Maryland dropped 13.9% in April 2022, according to Maryland REALTORS®, the state’s largest trade association with more than 29,000 REALTOR® members. As in months past, while sales declined, prices continued to rise with the average sales price rising to 8.1% to $464,620 and the median sales price climbing 8.3% to $390,000.  Fewer homes being sold, rising prices, and supply and labor issues continue to negatively impact available inventory. The number of pending units—houses under contract—dropped 8.12% to 9,112, compared to 2021’s figure of 9,917. Active inventory—homes available for sale—fell dramatically to 7,033 homes, a 30.55% drop ... 05/13/2022

Maryland’s March 2022 Housing Data Continues Seven-Month Trend of Rising Prices and Fewer Sales ANNAPOLIS, MD—April 2022—Home sales prices continued to climb in Maryland’s March 2022 housing market, while the number of units sold dropped 8%, 7,548 against 8,204 units sold in March 2021. The average sales price rose 8% to $438,619 versus last year’s figure of $406,070. Median sales prices rose 8.7%, rising to $375,000, against the March 2021 figure of $345,000. For seven straight months, prices have risen as the number of units sold have fallen. The number of units pending—homes under contract—dropped 7.3%, 9,126 versus 9,846 in 2021. Despite the drop in units pending, the homes that sell are moving more quickly, as median days on market dropped to just six days; In February 2022 this fi... 04/26/2022

This well maintained NVR colonial is located in Willow Brook at 88 Harrison Court on a quiet cul-de-sac lot.   The main level includes hardwood floors throughout. There is a large kitchen with an island, and granite counters open to a large family room with a stone gas fireplace.  The deck off the kitchen leads to a  fenced rear yard. The owner suite includes a full bath and walk-in closet. There is a finished basement with a large rec-room and full bath, a two-car garage with attic pull-down stairs for additional storage.   Super convenient location near Rt 15, shopping, schools, and a community park is located just around the corner. For further details contact Buzz    04/07/2022

Circa 1900 renovated semi detached downtown duplex located at 102 E. 4TH Street,  includes 3 BR 2 1/2 BA, living room / den with built-ins, fireplace and hardwood floors through out this beautiful home.   Kitchen was recently renovated with quartz counter tops, breakfast bar, open to family room , dining area with exposed brick wall. Laundry room with pantry and 1/2 bath located off the kitchen.  Owner's suite includes hardwood floors, built-ins, ceiling fan , walk-in-closet, private bath with heated marble floors, claw-foot tub, separate shower & double vanity. Nicely landscaped rear yard with privacy fence & brick patio. Full basement with concrete floor & rear Bilco door to back yard.  Super convenient to restaurants, Carroll Creek and all downtown living has to offer. This one has t... 03/29/2022

Median Sales Prices continue to break records across the region due to the limited supply of listings for sale and the high buyer demand that one expects this time of year. Rising prices aren’t scaring buyers off; sales are close to what they were in February 2020, and days on market are at February 2021 levels.  Last year, there were 6.12 million homes sold in the U.S. That’s up from 5.64 million in 2020 — despite low inventory, high buyer demand, and unprecedented appreciation in many markets including the DMV area. The resale market is still feeling the effects of the shortage of labor and materials resulting in the under building of new construction during Covid in 2020 & 21. There were 762,000 new construction homes sold in 2021, down from 822,000 in 2020. This is very short of the... 03/22/2022

18. That is the number of offers my buyers competed with and beat - without compromising their budget nor wish list - to be able to celebrate Happy Closing Day in Frederick, MD last Friday!*My buyers are now happy new owners of a charming end unit townhouse that was once the model home for the Willow Brook community. As typical for former model homes, it came with a few bonuses, such as extra wide crown molding, recessed lighting, a gas fireplace and 3rd full bath in the finished basement. They did everything right and were rewarded not only with a turn-key home, but a purchase price that was thousands below the appraised value. Happy endings! It's what I do.This transaction was truly a special one. I got to work with and represent a new generation of home buyers.. my past clients' chil... 03/21/2022

 My weekly motivation message from my Alma mater High Point University's President Nido Qubein is timely advise not only for people in sales, but everyone. The Sundown Rule , if you receive a text, email or voice mail you should reply by sundown.  One of my biggest pet peeves is real estate agents who ignor email, text messages and voice mails. It is critical to as an agent to provide a client with timely information to help facilitate a transaction. It is also crucial that you reply to every message received to show the sender you care and what they have to say is important.    03/15/2022