MRIS has published the real estate sales statistics for Frederick County for September 2009*

Note:  There are currently 1587 properties (about 1300 are residential) listed for sale in Frederick County, continuing to come down month after month. That makes roughly a 6 month inventory, a balanced market.  The number of homes sold as well as the number of pending sales is still higher than this time last year, although starting to show the usual seasonal decline.

*Other notable sales statistics:   62% of the 230 sales were under $300,000, still reflecting the surge in first-time buyers and investors getting deals in the present market.

Compare to Frederick County Real Estate Market Report for August 2009 

Comimg: Frederick City Real Estate Market Report for September 2009, Real Estate Market Report for Frederick Communities - September 2009

*All statistics are gathered from the MRIS, Metropolitan Regional Information System, and while accurate, are not guaranteed.

                                        
                                                                                                                                                                                                       
                                  The Highland Real Estate Group                      
        Chris & Karen Highland * Frederick County MD Real Estate Agents
                                Specializing in Frederick County Real Estate 
                                                                             301-831-9947         301-831-9947                       301-831-9947         301-831-9947
                                            Real Estate Teams, LLC
                                               isell4u2@msn.com   

Real Estate Market Statistics have been published by MRIS, Metropolitan Regional Information Systems.* Frederick County continues to see an increase in sales, as investors and first-time buyers take advantage of the low interest rates and the bargain prices.

The number of sales has increased, and the inventory, down to 1739, has decreased, creating a 7 to 9 month inventory in most Frederick Communities.  Urbana and Walkersville are experiencing a seller's market with a 5-month and 3.5 month inventory, respectively.

The pending sales are the highest we've seen since August 2006, promising a robust market to continue.  Most months the sales are about half foreclosures, and about 300 homes go into foreclosure status each month in Frederick County, according to Realtytrac.com.  Per capita, Frederick County has the 2nd highest foreclosure rate in Maryland, with Prince George's County being the highest by a wide margin.

*All information is deemed accurate, but not guaranteed.

The Overload Syndrome - by Dr. Richard Swenson 

Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives - by Dr. Richard Swenson

I read Margin years ago when I was a busy mom with 4 young children and a husband who was trying to start a carreer in Real Estate during a recession.  Hmmm...sound familiar?

Swenson is a Medical Doctor, and comes from a physical and spiritual perspective.  The first book he wrote was Margin, Overload is a sequal of that book. 

The concept is basically that we have become a society of people that leaves no margin on the pages of our lives.  In every way, whether our time, activities, finances, etc., we fill up our pages to the very edge, leaving no margin.  When we live that way for any length of time, says Dr. Swenson, we burn out.  We also find that, in an emergency, we have no margin of energy, finances, or emotion to give to meet the needs the emergency creates.

For those of us who are working harder than ever in a tough market, this is a great reminder to leave some room to breathe.

Sometimes I drag myself into a Monday morning, especially if I've had a busy weekend.  Here are some quotes that might get you (and me) energized:

"Success is neither magical nor mysterious.  Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying basic fundamentals."   ...Jim Rohn    -Motivational Speaker - Author

"When you dig another out of their troubles, you find a place to bury your own"...Anonymous

"Take charge of your attitude.  Don't let anyone else choose it for you."     ... H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

"Never decide to do nothing just because you can only do a little.  Do what you can." ... H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

"Don't be afraid to take a big step if one is indicated.  You can't cross a chasm in two small jumps."     ... David Lloyd George

And just because I feel like it... 

"Age is not important unless you're a cheese."     ... Helen Hayes

Have a successful week everyone!

Captain Richard Phillips was a true hero during this pirate ordeal.  It seems that we are all looking for inspiration from real heros who display selfless courage. 

"I once heard it said that Courage is fire and bullying is smoke."

P. R. ‘Randy' Cooney - Team Leader - Keller Williams Arizona Realty

"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles."     ... Christopher Reeve

"Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile."     ... Albert Einstein

"Heroes, martyrs, and soldiers give their lives for causes they deem more valuable than themselves."     ... Edwin Louis Cole

"One Person with courage makes a majority." ...Andrew Jackson

"Greater Love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."  ...Jesus

...Have a courageous week everyone!

Midweek quotes for a pick-me-up:

"Good Enough is Not Good Enough if Excellence is Your Objective."     ... Steve Reid

"I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me, and 90% how I react to it."     ... Charles Swindoll

"have a fresh start any moment you choose; for this thing we call ‘failure' is not the falling down, but the staying down."     ... Mary Pickford

 "The chief cause of stress is reality.  For fast acting relief, try slowing down."     ... Lily Tomlin 

And for those times when that certain agent, client, buyer, seller, broker... is driving you nuts: 
"I learned long ago never to wrestle with a pig.  You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it."     ...  Cyrus Ching

Have a Great Wednesday All!

The State of Maryland is stepping up to the plate to help would-be buyers come up with the funds for downpayment and closing costs to buy foreclosures in certain targeted zip codes.  The State of Maryland has $28,778,469, which has been allocated from the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) funds.  This money is to be administered to Frederick buyers under the Neighborhood Conservation Initiative. 

You can sign up at their website for notification of when the program will start and information.  There are income limits, target areas, and certain targeted employeees.  Check out the details on their website.

                                 The Highland Real Estate Group
                            Chris & Karen Highland *   301-831-9947
                                        Real Estate Teams, LLC
                                     email us: isell4u2@msn.com 
                                       

"Life is like a ten-speed bike.  Most of us have gears we never use."     ... Charles Schultz

"Quit now, you'll never make it.  If you disregard this advice, you'll be halfway there."     ... David Zucker

"Never let the fear of striking out get in your way."     ... Babe Ruth

"If you have a job without aggravations, you don't have a job."     ... Malcolm Forbes

...

Here's to a very productive week!

Following the theme of Working Harder and Smarter:

"Concentration comes out of a combination of confidence and hunger."     ... Arnold Palmer

"Focus on making things better, not bigger."     ... H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

"I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble."     ... Helen Keller

"I have never been disabled in my dreams."     ... Christopher Reeve

.....Have a great week!

First Saturday in the Historic District is always a great time to get out and explore the downtown Frederick shops and restaurants.  There are carriage rides, live music in the streets, and shops are open until 9 pm. 

Last First Saturday we enjoyed a wine tasting at the Frederick Basket Company in Everedy Square.  We found a great new winery, Black Ankle Winery, located in Mt. Airy.  I particularly loved their Syrah. 

One of the events planned for April's First Saturday is something near and dear to my heart.  There will be a used book sale at Frederick Coffee Company in Everedy Square, to benefit the C. Burr Artz Library.  You can donate books between now and then at Frederick Wine Cellars, at  221 N. East Street.

Hope to see you there!

              
                                 
                           The Highland Real Estate Group                      
       Chris & Karen Highland * Frederick County MD Real Estate Agents
                        Specializing in Frederick County Real Estate 
                                             301-831-9947
                                      Real Estate Teams, LLC
                                          isell4u2@msn.com 
                                        Pictures of Frederick