Does Your Agent Have the Training to Really Help You in a Tough Sale? - 01/30/09 06:01 PM
 
If you are a property owner trying to get out of an untenable mortgage situation, does your agent know everything they should about your options?  The truth is, very few Maryland agents are trained in handling distressed properties.  Only about 4% of homes that are marketed as short sales actually make it to closing in Maryland.  That number is astonishing, considering there are record numbers of homeowners trying to sell their homes in a short sale.
The statistics for agents who have a CDPE certification is vastly different.  Among those trained agents, 77% of the short sales they market actually … (2 comments)

Can I Get A STEAL in the Frederick Real Estate Market? - 01/26/09 09:58 PM
There are always savvy buyers and investors asking the question, "Can I get a steal?"  Our answer is usually, "It depends."  It depends on your definition of a steal.  Can you get something 20% below market?  Yes, but do you mind putting some work into it?  If you don't, this is your market.  There are many REO's (Bank-owned, foreclosures) on the market at incredible prices.  But you have to be ready to jump when you find one.  Take this one, for example:

822 Apache Court  This house was listed for $399,000 last year, then went into foreclosure.  It was listed … (3 comments)

What is a Short Sale? - 01/25/09 06:06 PM
Many buyers are noticing "third-party approval" and "short sale" tags on descriptions of listings.  In most cases, the third party is the bank, and the listing is most likely a short-sale.  A homeowner who, for any of several reasons, is having trouble making their mortgage payment, can often avoid foreclosure by entering into what is called a short sale agreement with the lender.  They can negotiate with the bank to sell their home for an amount that is "short" of what they owe. 
Banks are not in the business of owning property, and are willing to negotiate on a short sale … (0 comments)

Top Ten Books - 01/22/09 02:56 PM
These are my Top Ten Reads, the books that I will, or have read over and over again:
10.  The Screwtape Letters, by C.S. Lewis.  Actually, any book by C.S. Lewis goes in the number 10 spot, I don't really care which one.  He was brilliant, and I am always better for reading him.
9.   The Prisoner of Zenda, by Anthony Hope.  A little-known book, first published in 1894. A rollicking, swashbuckling adventure, hard to put down. 
8.  The Thirty-nine Steps, by John Buchan.  Alfred Hitchcock based his movie on this book, but went way off the track.  This is about the gentleman spy … (19 comments)

End of the Year Frederick MD Real Estate Statistics - 2008 - 01/20/09 12:53 PM
Frederick County Real Estate Statistics 2008 Year in Review:
          January                                 2008              2007         % Change        Average Sold Price:                  341,453       365,151             -6%        Median Sold Price:                    295,000       322,500            -9%          February        Average Sold Price:                  338,888       343,392             -1%        Median Sold Price:                    295,000       305,000             -3%          March        Average Sold Price:                  323,628       340,773             -5%        Median Sold Price:                    290,000       307,500             -6%          April        Average Sold Price:                  322,660       375,549            -14%        Median Sold Price:                    289,900       309,950             -6%          May        Average Sold Price:                  325,104        349,718             -7%        Median Sold Price:                   286,000         323,950           -12%          June        Average Sold Price:                  310,917        345,473           -10%        Median Sold Price                     272,500        309,450           -12%          July        Average Sold Price:                  327,235        366,884            -11%        Median Sold Price:                   295,000         316,250             -7%          August        Average Sold Price:                  298,973        359,949            -17%        Median Sold Price:                    265,000        315,000            … (2 comments)

Posting Local Articles for Greater SEO - 01/09/09 10:47 AM
I have had 2 super successes lately with my blog posts, that brought a lot of traffic, traffic that continues.
In the late summer, I posted an article on my local city website, Frederick.com.  I did a massive amount of research, and it took me about a week to write.  The Mortgage Meltdown:  A Realtor's Perspectivewas published on the site, with links back to my website and blog, of course.   The Old Courthouse in Historic Frederick, MD
Shortly after it was published, I got an email from the website administrator saying that he thought the information was pertinent to more than … (41 comments)

Future Growth in the Historic District, Downtown Frederick MD - 01/05/09 05:20 PM
The building on the Carroll Creek Linear Park is entering its final stage, and there is more beauty and charm to come!
  Excavation has begun on the new Parking garage on the corner of Carroll Street and All Saints Street. The Wormald Company, of Worman's Mill fame, is building a group of Condominiums next to the parking garage, the Galleria.  Plans have not been made available yet.  
  One Commerce Plaza, on the corner of East Street and Commerce, will include office condominiums, restaurant and retail, with the possibility of a banquet facility/conference center, totaling 114,000square feet. Some integral parking will be available. We hope to see it … (4 comments)

 
Chris & Karen Highland (Turning Point Real Estate)

Chris & Karen Highland

Frederick, MD

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Turning Point Real Estate

Address: 8923 Fingerboard Road, Frederick, MD, 21704

Office Phone: (301) 831-8232

Cell Phone: (304) 401-5119

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Homes For Sale Frederick Md

Real Estate Information and Homes for sale in the Frederick, MD area.

Husband and wife team, Chris and Karen Highland are the core of The Highland Real Estate Group.

We have been selling families on Frederick for 18 years. Integrity, Experience, and Enthusiasm, our by-line, speaks to what we have to offer. We've seen buyer's and sellers markets, hot and slow markets. We have the experience to help people navigate through the challenges that this present market presents.

We have lived in Frederick County for 20 years, and are raising our 4 children here. We love living in Frederick ourselves and are enthusiastic about the great values and quality of life people find here.

We believe that our job is to be a customer service specialist, and as such, we are committed to serving our clients to the best of our abilities. Our hope is that our clients will find our professionalism and attention to their needs and goals so satisfactory that they will choose to use us again, and that they will gladly recommend us to relatives and friends.

After 18 years, our hopes have been realized, because over 80% of our business comes from repeat clients and referrals.

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    We have 18 years of experience in Frederick, Carroll, Howard, Montgomery and Washington Counties. We have worked with all types of buyers, from first-time buyers to luxury home buyers and retirees. Chris has had experience in management as well as his own real estate business. Giving oversight to 90+ agents has multiplied his knowledge of a myriad of issues that surround a real estate transaction.

    Chris has a nationally recognized certification, CDPE, Certified Distressed Property Expert. If you or someone you know is having trouble making their mortgage payments, call us, we may be able to help you avoid foreclosure.



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