The Jewel Of Montgomery County Maryland . . . - 09/27/08 03:36 PM
The Jewel of Montgomery County, can you guess what it is?  It is located in on the Border of Rockville and Bethesda.  It is very easy to get to, it even has it's own Metro access.  No one lives there, and everyone is welcome.   You can sing, eat, learn and be amazed.  Rich and poor alike flock to see the famous and maybe not so famous.
Have you already guessed?  It is the Strathmore Hall Art Center and they are celebrating 25 years of Art.  The Strathmore Art Center is located on the Grovsvenor Metro stop, perfect for anyone to get to!!  You would … (6 comments)

Greater Capital Area Association of REALTORS® Summit and Economic Report - 09/27/08 01:41 PM
Friday, September 26, 2008 and GCCAR Summit was held at the North Bethesda Marriot in Rockville, near White Flint.  It was a meeting of agents from all companies and our board leaders to listen to reports on the economy , take continuing education classes for our licenses and discuss the impending use of the Sentrilock Keyboxes.  It is also fun to see folks you have not seen in a long time.
I was most interested in what in what Ken Fears, Manager, Regional Economics,  who speaks to NAR on housing trends had to say.   Listening to an economist speak is not the most exciting thing … (0 comments)

Remember Lucy and Her Wine Making Fun? - 09/25/08 09:07 PM
Remember Lucy and her wine making fun?  Well, here is your chance to experience the same thing.  The Sugarloaf Mountain Vinyard is hosting the GRAPE STOMP '08 Saturday and Sunday, October 18th and 19th.  The fun will start at Noon until 5:00pm. 
What a fine time to come out to the winery for the Fall Harvest.  There will be food, music and vineyard tours!!  How fun would that be?  You don't even have to go out to California!!  The winery has a new tasting room and patio. 
There will be wine tastings, music, fun for all.   There will be a grape stomping contest,  … (15 comments)

Ghost Hunting on the Streets of Frederick Maryland - 09/25/08 08:11 PM
It is getting to be that time of year again.  Spider webs, cauldrons and spooky characters.  Some like to go to Haunted houses, haunted forests, but my idea of fun is the  Candlelight Ghost Tours in Frederick Maryland.
Did you know that Frederick is over 250 years old?   Many of the major Civil War battles were fought  around Frederick County.  The Battle of Antietam, South Mountain and the Monocacy Battle.   Frederick was the largest city during these battles and many of the wounded soldiers came to Frederick for medical help.
Downtown Frederick has been restored and updated over the years.  Just think of the small quaint alley ways, … (2 comments)

How to Really Measure Success in Real Estate - 09/22/08 07:40 PM
I have always been blessed as an agent in my area in terms of being "successful" .  Many REALTORS® have different ways of calculating success.  Some will count how many homes they sold at the end of the year, others will use their income as the gage for their success.  I gage my success in a different way.  For me, it is the relationships that I establish that will hopefully last a lifetime.
Many of my clients are first time homebuyers.  I am honored to be involved in a person or couple's first home purchase.  It is a milestone in their life that … (28 comments)

PLEASE look at this Killer's face... He may visit your office... - 09/16/08 09:07 PM
Please review this information and contact authorities if you see this person.
Via Celina Gleason:
I want everyone in the ActiveRain industry to see this guy's face.  This joker shot a young lady execution style in the dry cleaners just feet away from my real estate office in my wonderful, sleepy little town.  He INTENDED to kill her, but thankfully, the bullet only mushroomed at the base of her skull.  Miracle?  I'd say that is the understatement of the Century!  Not one artery was hit, not one major nerve was damaged - not even a crack in her skull!  The most damage he did … (9 comments)

Does Your Blog Look Like A Blog or a Mini IDX? - 09/16/08 01:44 PM
The other day I was looking through Localism after I posted some market reports.  There are a few of us that do most of the posting there.  We have some similar information, but each of us have some information that is our own.
Then as I was going through my particular area and noticed that there was a newcomer.  I noticed that his telephone area code was from another area and I wondered what brought him to my neck of the woods? I did not recognize his name so I went to his home page and started to check him out.  This agent … (46 comments)

Remembering 9-11 - 09/11/08 10:08 AM
Today is a beautiful day here in Maryland.  Many folks don't think of Maryland as Washington DC directly, but our area is part of the entire Washington DC area suburbs. 
9-11 was a tragic day in our nation's history and was a very scary day here in the DC area.  My recollection of the day was coming in from my morning trek with my dog to have the TODAY SHOW on television and they were reporting about the first plane that hit the first Tower of the World Trade Center.  As I stood there watching, the second plane crashed into the next … (21 comments)

Support Your Local Darnestown Lemonade Stand - 09/08/08 07:36 PM
One of my favorite memories from my childhood was setting up the card table at the end of the driveway and sellin' lemonade. I would be in charge of the sign. One paper cup of our best stuff would run ya a nickel. My mom would make the lemonade, or Kool-Aid if we had a special request and we would go out front and wait for the mad run on our lemonade stand.  Strangers would stop by and get a cup or so and we had our regulars that would have a cup or so and visit with us. 
When we were all out, we were in … (19 comments)

The March to Washington D.C. - Taking back Down Payment Assistance Programs - 09/08/08 12:56 PM
If you are an agent or a purchaser that uses DPAs I want to bring to your attention that our Friend Jeff Belonger will be speaking at the rally.  If you would like to organize a group to head down to DC on Wednesday, please let me know.
When you read this very informative post, please make sure that you read through the comment section as well.  Many people have asked Jeff some very important questions and brought up some points that Jeff clearly answer and makes it understandable for all of us.
Via Jeff Belonger -- The FHA Expert.com -- FHA … (2 comments)

Open House Sunday, September 7th 1:00 to 4:00 - 09/05/08 08:03 PM

… (1 comments)

Fall Fun For All, Butler's Orchard, a Montgomery County Gem - 09/05/08 10:15 AM
Back when I was a kid I didn't really like Fall. I guess it was the end of the Summer vacation and the start of school . Now, it is my favorite time of the year. The weather is cooler, holidays are on the way and the turning of the leaves make this time of the year something I look forward to.
During the Fall, one of the best things you can do is visit Butler's Orchard in Germantown Maryland. Butler's Orchard has been a working farm for 50 years. It is also a country store and entertainment for any and … (1 comments)

Rockville Antique Car Show 2008 - 09/03/08 09:25 PM
Come out on Saturday, October 18th 2008, from 8:30 am to 4:00 at the Mansion at the Rockville Civic Center Park to see some of the East coasts most prized possessions! 
This will be one of the largest antique car shows in the area.  There will be 22 different car clubs at the event.  There will be everything from Packard's to Rolls Royces.  This is known for being one of the best non judging shows in the country.  There will be food, vendors and music.
The show is open to spectators at 11:00 am.  If you are interested in being a vendor, you … (3 comments)

Open House Tragedy Diverted!! - 09/03/08 08:34 PM
I was out showing homes a few Sundays back.  My first time home buyers and I are out on a glorious day looking at houses.  We saw some good ones and some not so good. 
We pulled up to a listing that was an open house.  The agent had just arrived and she was getting the house all ready for her open.  She was turning on the lights, opening the blinds.  She had started up stairs and told us to make ourselves at home and look around.  So we did.
The house was in great shape, staged, updates - a truly loved … (35 comments)