Homes For Sale Frederick Md

Year In Review Real Estate Market Statistics for Frederick County MD

Chris & Karen Highland (Turning Point Real Estate) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:46:27 -0800

A picture paints a thousand words. Here are 3 thousand:

Homes For Sale Frederick Md by The Highland Group/ Real Estate Teams in Frederick Maryland

301 401-5119

Karen@365Frederick.com

Frederick County Real Estate Market Report for September 2009

Chris & Karen Highland (Turning Point Real Estate) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:41:18 -0700

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

County-wide	2009	2008	% Change
Avg. Price	$277,056	$290,129	-5%
Median Price	$240,000	$262,000	-8%
DOM	98	120	-18%
# homes sold	230	205	+12%

New Listings:	383
Total Marked Contract:	169
Total Marked Contingent:	122
Total Pending (contract + contingent)	291

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

Homes For Sale Frederick Md by The Highland Group/ Real Estate Teams in Frederick Maryland

301 401-5119

Karen@365Frederick.com

Frederick County Real Estate Market Report for June 2009

Chris & Karen Highland (Turning Point Real Estate) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:05:27 -0700

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.

County-wide	2009	2008	% Change
Avg. Price	$278,312	$310,900	-11%
Median Price	$260,000	$272,500	-5%
DOM	116	131	-11%
# homes sold	237	198	+20%

New Listings:	390
Total Marked Contract:	175
Total Marked Contingent:	144
Total Pending (contract + contingent)	319

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.

Homes For Sale Frederick Md by The Highland Group/ Real Estate Teams in Frederick Maryland

301 401-5119

Karen@365Frederick.com

Great Read For Those Type-A Personality Realtors - The Overload Syndrome

Chris & Karen Highland (Turning Point Real Estate) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 14:49:47 -0700

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.

Homes For Sale Frederick Md by The Highland Group/ Real Estate Teams in Frederick Maryland

301 401-5119

Karen@365Frederick.com

Quotes for Success

Chris & Karen Highland (Turning Point Real Estate) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:36:33 -0700

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!

Homes For Sale Frederick Md by The Highland Group/ Real Estate Teams in Frederick Maryland

301 401-5119

Karen@365Frederick.com

In Honor of Captain Richard Phillips

Chris & Karen Highland (Turning Point Real Estate) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 09:24:08 -0700

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!

Homes For Sale Frederick Md by The Highland Group/ Real Estate Teams in Frederick Maryland

301 401-5119

Karen@365Frederick.com

Midweek Quotes to Stay on Track

Chris & Karen Highland (Turning Point Real Estate) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:00:28 -0700

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!

Homes For Sale Frederick Md by The Highland Group/ Real Estate Teams in Frederick Maryland

301 401-5119

Karen@365Frederick.com

Need the Funds to Buy a Frederick County Foreclosure?

Chris & Karen Highland (Turning Point Real Estate) — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 18:24:23 -0700

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

Homes For Sale Frederick Md by The Highland Group/ Real Estate Teams in Frederick Maryland

301 401-5119

Karen@365Frederick.com

Quotes for Productivity

Chris & Karen Highland (Turning Point Real Estate) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 11:30:58 -0700

"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!

Homes For Sale Frederick Md by The Highland Group/ Real Estate Teams in Frederick Maryland

301 401-5119

Karen@365Frederick.com

Three Quotes to Start the Week on the Right Foot

Chris & Karen Highland (Turning Point Real Estate) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:49:53 -0700

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!

Homes For Sale Frederick Md by The Highland Group/ Real Estate Teams in Frederick Maryland

301 401-5119

Karen@365Frederick.com

First Saturday in April in Downtown Frederick

Chris & Karen Highland (Turning Point Real Estate) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:37:44 -0700

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

Homes For Sale Frederick Md by The Highland Group/ Real Estate Teams in Frederick Maryland

301 401-5119

Karen@365Frederick.com

Greater SEO by Capitalizing on Longer Search Queries

Chris & Karen Highland (Turning Point Real Estate) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 18:37:31 -0700

I've read several times lately on SEO blogs and articles that there are new statistics about longer search queries that should affect how we real estate bloggers craft our posts.

In a recent report, Hitwise noted that longer search queries are becoming more popular. The statistics show that the number of 1-word and 2-word searches have decreased, and 3-word searches have stayed the same. 4-word searches have increased 2%, 5-word searches have increased 6%, 6-word searches have increased 8% and 7-word searches have increased 12%. The stunning increase is in 8+ word searches: up 22%. This is from a study comparing January '09 to January '08.

What this means to me is that people are searching more and more by typing in whole entire questions and phrases. As bloggers, we should be able to get better results by structuring the titles, headings and bold typed print in our posts to capture those terms.

Some terms that come to mind:

How to buy a bank-owned property

homes for sale in historic district, Mayberry RFD

houses for sale near such and such school

buyers agent in Hobokenville, TN

The study also noted that google got 72% of the searches in January 2009 compared to 66% in January 2008, a 9% growth. So we should be focusing the bulk of our SEO efforts on Google.

Homes For Sale Frederick Md by The Highland Group/ Real Estate Teams in Frederick Maryland

301 401-5119

Karen@365Frederick.com

Credit Score Enhancement - You Can Improve Your Credit Scores

Chris & Karen Highland (Turning Point Real Estate) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 10:20:25 -0800

Credit scores change all the time to reflect your credit patterns. Any time you check your credit score, it is like a snapshot of your score at one given moment in time, when actually your score goes up or down, based on how you manage your credit. Most of the time, a score doesn't change much from month to month.

It is a good idea to check your score about every 6 months, and 6 months prior to buying a home. That way, if you find your score is not what you'd like, you have several months to take steps to improve it, what is known as Credit Score Enhancement.

Although credit scoring models are complex and differ among creditors, there are some basic breakdowns of scoring to go by:

35% of your score is made up of your payment history.
30% is made up of the amount owed.
15% is made up of the length of credit history.
10% is made up of new credit.
10% is made up of the types of credit used.

1. The best way to enhance your score is to pay your bills on time. Managing your credit well over a period of time is the best thing you can do. (35%) Most scoring models take into account how late a payment is, how recently the late payment occurred, and how many late payments there are in total. Once you have a late payment, the damage is done. The negative impact of the late payment will dissipate with time, (it will stay on the report for 7 years) and late payments involving smaller amounts are not as significant as those with larger amounts.

2. Limit outstanding debt. (30%). Most of the models take into consideration for the ratio of amount of debt to amount of credit. Ideally, you should keep that amount to 30% or lower. The higher the ratio, the more negative the score. Owing a lot of money on your accounts can indicate that you are over-extended. Having a small balance and making the minimum payment is the way to show that you use credit responsibly, and is actually better than having no balance at all. Check to make sure that your revolving accounts are reporting your credit; it does no good to have the credit if it is not being reported.

3. Preserve the length of your credit history. (15%). Don't close unused accounts, because the length of your credit history is important. An insufficient credit history can have a negative effect on your score. Also, don't open up new accounts rapidly, as this decreases the average age of your credit accounts, and it is considered risky behavior in most credit scoring models. It's good to keep and occasionally use old credit cards to maintain a good score.

4. Avoid recent credit applications. (10%). Every time someone makes an inquiry into your credit, as when you open a new account, it negatively affects your score. (It doesn't affect it if you look into your own credit.) You should always read the fine print in 'special' credit offers, and if you have any question about the legitimacy, don't accept it. These solicitations are treated as 'soft' inquiries, which don't affect your score; but when you accept the offer, it is treated as a 'hard' inquiry that is factored into the score. Definitely, don't apply for a card you don't think you are likely to get.

When you are applying for a loan, the credit scoring companies generally allow multiple inquiries in a 14-day period. Inquiries from employers are not counted. Most of the time, for most people, one credit inquiry will result in less than five points being deducted from the score.

5. Manage the number and types of accounts you have. (10%) Someone who has not credit accounts could possibly be considered a higher risk than someone who has some credit card debt. The trick is to manage it wisely. Too many credit accounts can have a negative affect on your score. The ideal number of credit cards is 3 to 5. Having more will not have much effect on your score. Here is a good general rule: Don't close an account unless it was created in the past two years and you have more than 6 credit cards. You could affect the ratio between credit limit and available credit previously mentioned that will reduce your score.

Generallly, a mix of credit cards, retail accounts, installment loans and mortgage loans results in a better score, but all are not neccessary. The lack of a mortgage, for instance, won't negatively affect your score, but it will probably not be as high as it could be with one. You should not go out and open accounts that you don't have in an effort to increase the types of accounts.

There is Hope. If you have less than desirable credit scores, don't lose hope, there are definite things you can do to enhance your credit scores. If you start practicing these good credit management tips now, you'll most likely be in much better shape in 6 months, which is really not a long time.

                       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

Homes For Sale Frederick Md by The Highland Group/ Real Estate Teams in Frederick Maryland

301 401-5119

Karen@365Frederick.com

Stunning Two-Story Condominium for Sale in Rockville

Chris & Karen Highland (Turning Point Real Estate) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:13:49 -0800

Stunning 2-Story Condominium For Sale in North Creek Place Rockville

Stunning Contemporary Condo

• 1,080 sq. ft., 1 bath, 2 bdrm 2 story - MLS® $215,000

North Creek Place, Rockville - Stunning contemporary 2-story condo. Gracious Foyer leads up to bedrooms and den, or down to spacious living, dining and kitchen, or dine al fresco on your balcony. Large Master walk-in closet, bonus den, neutral carpet and ceramic tile. Great location, in the middle of everything, yet quietly situated in neighborhood. HOA includes water,sewer, gas, trash pickup, maintenance, pool, and common areas, jog/walk paths. Minutes from Twinbrook Metro.

Property information

Homes For Sale Frederick Md by The Highland Group/ Real Estate Teams in Frederick Maryland

301 401-5119

Karen@365Frederick.com

Frederick Real Estate Market Statitistics for January 2009

Chris & Karen Highland (Turning Point Real Estate) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 09:38:26 -0800

Frederick Real Estate market statistics are out for January 2009. We're seeing signs of good news on the horizon. Take a look:

Frederick County Real Estate market statistics for January 2009:

2009 2008 % Change

Total Sold Dollar Volume:	$ 32,183,215	$ 42,681,600	- 24.60 %
Average Sold Price:	$ 268,193	$ 341,453	- 21.46 %
Median Sold Price:	$ 239,950	$ 295,000	- 18.66 %
Total Units Sold:	120	125	- 4.00 %
Average Days on Market:	152	149	2.01 %
Average List Price for Solds:	$ 309,618	$ 381,112	- 18.76 %
Avg Sale Price as a percentage of Avg List Price:	86.62 %	89.59 %

* Other notable statistics:

Of the 120 total sales, 24% were in the $150K to $200K range. This is in part, reflective of the increase number of first-time buyers. 18% were in the $300K to $350K range, (the move-up range) and 16% were in the $200K to $250K range, again, first-time buyers. We're seeing c. 2003 prices in REO sales.

FHA and VA loans outnumbered conventional loans, as far as financing.

44% of the homes sold took over 120 days on the market to sell. 33% sold in under 60 days.

There are presently 1792 homes on the market, 329 new listings for the month of January, and 183 pending. This gives us an absorption rate of about 10 months.

**Compare to December 2008 Frederick County Real Estate Market Statistics.

Real Estate Market Statistics for Frederick City January 2009:

2009 2008 % Change

Zip Code 21701

Total Sold Dollar Volume:	$4,695,000	$7,060,835	- 33.51 %
Average Sold Price:	$ 247,105	$ 320,947	- 23.01 %
Median Sold Price:	$ 187,000	$ 253,000	- 26.09 %
Total Units Sold:	19	22	- 13.64 %
Average Days on Market:	184	182	1.10 %
Average List Price for Solds:	$ 280,553	$ 350,629	- 19.99 %
Avg Sale Price as a percentage of Avg List Price:	88.08 %	91.53 %

341 Active Listings 26 Pending Sales Absorption Rate: 13 months

Zip Code 21702

Total Sold Dollar Volume:	$ 6,629,093	$ 8,208,250	- 19.24 %
Average Sold Price:	$ 220,970	$ 328,330	- 32.70 %
Median Sold Price:	$ 203,000	$ 250,000	- 18.80 %
Total Units Sold:	30	25	20.00 %
Average Days on Market:	153	178	- 14.04 %
Average List Price for Solds:	$ 249,519	$ 371,044	- 32.75 %
Avg Sale Price as a percentage of Avg List Price:	88.56 %	88.49 %

314 Active Listings 47 Pending Sales Absorption Rate: 7 months

Zip Code 21703

Total Sold Dollar Volume:	$ 4,749,000	$ 6,058,014	- 21.61 %
Average Sold Price:	$ 215,864	$ 288,477	- 25.17 %
Median Sold Price:	$ 189,950	$ 235,440	- 19.32 %
Total Units Sold:	22	21	4.76 %
Average Days on Market:	136	139	- 2.16 %
Average List Price for Solds:	$ 243,223	$ 313,697	- 22.47 %
Avg Sale Price as a percentage of Avg List Price:	88.75 %	91.96 %

300 Active Listings 33 Pending Sales Absorption Rate: 9 Months

To see Real estate statistics for January 2009 for Mount Airy, New Market, Middletown, Walkersville, and Urbana. Thurmont and Brunswick each had 4 sales. Ijamsville had 3 sales, Monrovia and Adamstown each had 2 sales. Jefferson had none.

Homes For Sale Frederick Md by The Highland Group/ Real Estate Teams in Frederick Maryland

301 401-5119

Karen@365Frederick.com

Why I Sell Frederick Real Estate

Chris & Karen Highland (Turning Point Real Estate) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:07:03 -0800

I was recently chatting on a discussion board on Zillow.com. I was shocked to receive an onslaught of crude e-language from a number of very jaded "non-buyers". The fallout from this last real estate fiasco has left some real bitter folks out there.

One of the worst effects of the last bursting "bubble", in my opinion, is that it has caused many people to look at real estate buying and selling like they do day-trading. Especially people under 30. That is a real disservice, because real estate is not that kind of investment. Historically, real estate is a patient, over-time kind of equity builder, not a quick in and out gain. (Take a ride on the Real Estate Roller Coaster to get an idea)

Let me tell my own family's real estate story as an example. My parents bought a piece of property after my Dad retired from the Navy in 1971. They paid $4000 cash for 2+ acres in Florida. We lived in a mobile home while we built a house. Later, they subdivided, built a new house and sold the old home for 70K. Later they sold the new house for 160K. They bought a house in town for 65K, put 22K into it and sold it later for 165K. With all that buying and selling, and some saving, they made several hundred K's which are now my brother's and my inheritance. Pretty Cool.

Fast forward to 1989. My husband and I bought our first home, a Condo in Damascus, MD. It was what we could afford. We sold it after 2 years, made 22K, a nice down-payment on a modest single-family. We had to move out to the next county, Frederick County, to get something we could afford.

Immediately after moving in, we lost 15% of our value, then 20% after the next year. (Remember the stagflation of the 90″s?) But, oh well, you have to have a place to live. And the tax write-off is still an advantage. We stayed there for 13 years, watched the market eventually come back, (I still maintain that it always will, its just a matter of time.) We sold it and took out 90K. Since moving to our present home, values have declined 10 to 15%, but by the time we're ready to move again, they'll be back up. We'll probably downscale to a townhouse, or maybe even a Condo again, the kids will be gone. We'll probably have a nice sum to put down and have a lower mortgage. We might invest some of it. Pretty Cool again.

So, all this to say, real estate is a good investment, it should be part of everyone's portfolio if they can possibly make it happen. The problem with the experience of this decade is that it is not normal. Something is wrong when values increase by 20% year over year. As steep as the incline is, unfortunatlely that's as precipitous as the fall off will be.

One of the negatives: this decade has shaped many people's view of the Real Estate industry, and we have some work to do to build back trust. Like any industry, though, there are those few bad apples that stink up the place, but most people are good local business people who are part of the community and are there to stay. Chris and I are here to stay and believe that we're actually helping people make a wise investment for their family.

I've learned a lot as a result of my parents' being savvy with real estate. Thanks Mom and Dad, I only want to be as smart as you! Hopefully, our real estate equity will be my children's inheritance.

So, you see, I love selling real estate! It's something I believe in, how could I not?!

                          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

Homes For Sale Frederick Md by The Highland Group/ Real Estate Teams in Frederick Maryland

301 401-5119

Karen@365Frederick.com

My Top Ten FUN Movies of ALL Time

Chris & Karen Highland (Turning Point Real Estate) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 13:05:57 -0800

These are movies that are simply for enjoyment, no moral lesson or learning bent involved (not that I'm against any of those). But some things are just plain fun!

10. Starwars - episodes 4, 5, and 6. (we were all disappointed with 1 through 3)

9. Lord of the Rings - all of them. I have never seen a movie that so accurately illustrated the book. My family of 6 were all smitten.

8. The Matrix - We leave the DVD in the car and if we travel anywhere longer than 20 minutes, my kids watch the scene where they rescue Lawrence Fishburn.

7. Memento - We think this is fascinating.

6. All of the Die Hard movies - Yippee-kiyo-kiyay! Let's face it, it's fun to watch things blow up.

5. All of the Lethal Weapon movies - I can't think of another acting duo that has such chemistry.

4. Patriot Games and Hunt for Red October - I put these together because I can't decide which one makes me sit on the edge of my seat more.

3. Shawshank Redemption - I love the relationship in this movie, its untouchable.

2. Signs, Sixth Sense, The Village, Lady in the Water - I think M. Night is a genious and am the first in line whenever a movie comes out.

1. The Usual Suspects - I love to watch this with someone who has never seen it. It is a masterpeice.

There you have it, the funnest films ever...what are yours?

Homes For Sale Frederick Md by The Highland Group/ Real Estate Teams in Frederick Maryland

301 401-5119

Karen@365Frederick.com

Restored 1860 Home in Historic Downtown Frederick for Sale

Chris & Karen Highland (Turning Point Real Estate) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 21:04:14 -0800

This completely renovated and expanded historic home in downtown Frederick is a beauty. Titled "The Yellow House" on the Maryland Historical Trust. A short walk to Carroll Creek Park lets you enjoy award-winning restaurants and unique specialty shops in the highly acclaimed Historic District.

This 1860 home has been renovated to include modern amenities like completely new bathrooms with custom tile-work, vaulted ceilings in each of the spacious three bedrooms, master bedroom with private master bath with custom tile surround.

The stunning kitchen includes granite countertops, upgraded appliances and maple cabinets. A sunny eat-in area is adjacent to the family room; or dine al fresco under the covered porch, enjoying the spacious, private back yard.

The georgeous great room takes advantage of the exposed beams from the original log construction of the 1860 house. Enjoy the perfect combination of historic charm and modern ammenities in one of Frederick's historic "leaning" homes. Priced at $339,900. Reduced to $299,900!

Call us for a personal tour of this beautifully restored historic home. See the visual tour of this stunning home on our website.

                  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

Homes For Sale Frederick Md by The Highland Group/ Real Estate Teams in Frederick Maryland

301 401-5119

Karen@365Frederick.com

Does Your Agent Have the Training to Really Help You in a Tough Sale?

Chris & Karen Highland (Turning Point Real Estate) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 18:01:04 -0800

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 go to settlement. Does your agent have the training he or she needs to really help you get to settlement?

Two homes recently went into foreclosure right on my street. Both homeowners had lost their jobs, and were in desperate situations. In both cases, their realtors had no idea how to communicate with the banks and get these homeowners what they needed to do a short sale. Both homes languished on the market, overpriced, because that was the amount the homeowner paid for their home. Neither agent knew how to negotiate to get these homes approved for sale at an amount "short" of what was owed, nor how to properly place these homes on the market.

The sad fact is that these homeowners suffered a loss on their credit scores of between 300 and 350 points because of the foreclosure. In a short sale, the loss of credit is about 50 points, a loss which is much easier to recover.

If you are in a distressed situation, make sure your agent is CDPE certified, and knows everything they need to know about your options.

Homes For Sale Frederick Md by The Highland Group/ Real Estate Teams in Frederick Maryland

301 401-5119

Karen@365Frederick.com

Can I Get A STEAL in the Frederick Real Estate Market?

Chris & Karen Highland (Turning Point Real Estate) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 21:58:12 -0800

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 on January 8, for $216,000, and sold in 9 days. This was a steal. Yes, the steals are out there, if you can move on them quickly.

To see more deals, use our free search tool:

Homes For Sale Frederick Md by The Highland Group/ Real Estate Teams in Frederick Maryland

301 401-5119

Karen@365Frederick.com

What is a Short Sale?

Chris & Karen Highland (Turning Point Real Estate) — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:06:22 -0800

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 much more these days than ever before. The large number of defaults, because of the amount of bad subprime loans made over the last few years, has the banks overwhelmed. Short sales have been around for years, just not in the volume we're seeing today. It used to be that you had to search extensively to find a real estate agent who specialized in distressed properties; now, in some neighborhoods, over half the homes on the market are bank-owned or short sales.

The short sale process has been getting a lot of bad press lately, and much of it deserved. Did you know that in Maryland, only 1 in 31 short sale listings ever make it to settlement? The reason is basically two-fold: 1. Most Realtors don't know what they are doing when it comes to short sales, and 2. Banks are overwhelmed and understaffed. So understaffed that they don't have the ability to communicate with realtors. (We speak Greek, they speak Swahili!)

Realtors can learn the detailed process in 2 ways: trial and error, or by being trained.

Chris and I chose the latter. We've aquired a certification with extensive training and ongoing support that has equipped us to deal with distressed properties. CDPE, Certified Distressed Property Expert. The statistics for CDPE agents: 77% of their short sale listings go to settlement. Knowlege and education make the difference

Call us today if you, or someone you know is having trouble making their mortgage payment. We may be able to help you or them avoid foreclosure. 301-831-9947. We'll help you asess your options.

                                                  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

Homes For Sale Frederick Md by The Highland Group/ Real Estate Teams in Frederick Maryland

301 401-5119

Karen@365Frederick.com

Top Ten Books

Chris & Karen Highland (Turning Point Real Estate) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:56:55 -0800

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 of WWI, and 007 has nothing on Richard Hannay. There are actually 4 books in the series, this being the first. I read this one aloud to my 3 sons, and they all got hooked and had to read the rest.

7. The Scarlet Pimpernel, by Baroness Orczy. These are actually a series, and once you read the first action-packed book, you will be hooked. They take place during the French Revolution, and you cannot miss the English contempt for the Frogs. So much fun.

6. Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott. My daughter and I read this aloud, and shed a tear at the end of just about every chapter. This is the perfect example of why they call them 'The Classics'.

5. Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austin. Another girlie book, you might be thinking, but my son read this when he was 14 and loved it. The witty writing and quirkie personalities are one-of-a-kind. I pick this up now and then for a good laugh.

4. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith. Such a heartwarming story, full of witty characters and a glimpse of a New York we'll never know again.

3. Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkein. This series elevated reading in my kids' minds. After reading the first one aloud, they all picked them up and finished them at their own pace. Of course, we watched the movies and made Halloween costumes for years. They have a love of good literature all because of J.R.R. Tolkein, and I am grateful.

2. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. I love this book because it was so well-written. A masterpiece that was a joy to read. A deep story told from the point of view of an 8-year-old child prodigy. I read that, other than 3 short stories that weren't that good, this was all that Harper Lee had published, sort of like her life's work. It certainly stands out as that.

1. The Shack, by William Paul Young. I just finished this in December, and re-read it in January. I can't say enough about this book. It is fiction, it is wild, it will blow your theology to the moon. It is written in such a way that it really doesn't matter what your religious background is. It will impact you one way or another. I think I will be digesting it for a long time.

So, those are my top 10 reads, it was really hard to narrow it down, there are so many more that I can think of. I'd love to hear yours!

Homes For Sale Frederick Md by The Highland Group/ Real Estate Teams in Frederick Maryland

301 401-5119

Karen@365Frederick.com

End of the Year Frederick MD Real Estate Statistics - 2008

Chris & Karen Highland (Turning Point Real Estate) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:53:45 -0800

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            -16%
          September
        Average Sold Price:                290,129         340,478           -15%
        Median Sold Price:                 262,000         295,500            -11%
          October
        Average Sold Price:                276,620        328,826            -16%
        Median Sold Price:                  234,500         287,000            -18%
          November
        Average Sold Price:                 263,156         314,510            -16%
        Median Sold Price:                  231,000         273,300            -14%
          December
        Average Sold Price:                 276,595          326,373            -15%
        Median Sold Price:                  239,900          282,838            -15%

And for the Visual People:

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Homes For Sale Frederick Md by The Highland Group/ Real Estate Teams in Frederick Maryland

301 401-5119

Karen@365Frederick.com

Posting Local Articles for Greater SEO

Chris & Karen Highland (Turning Point Real Estate) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 10:47:16 -0800

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 just the Frederick area, so he had syndicated the article on all 28 of their websites all across the Mid-Atlantic. Wow, happy accident! (I'm so glad that I did such a painstakingly thorough job on my sources!)

The second blog post that hit a home run was my post on "Appealing Your Tax Assessment". My husband happened to hear on the radio that the tax assessor's office was having a community information meeting at the public library, about 2 days before the meeting was to take place. I thought that this was information people would want to know, so we went and I took copious notes. I also sent out an email to everyone on my list, telling them if they couldn't make it, to check my blog, I would post about it. It is still getting hits, and probably will for a while. I offered to do a quick CMA for people if they would call, and I've received some calls, which are new contacts for my database.

I can't say I am clever enough to figure out what people are going to be googling, but every once in a while I stumble across a good one, and I think I'm learning from these experiences. So, stay tuned to local happenings and national news, and write about those things and how they affect your community in your blog. Here's to more success for all of us in 2009!

Homes For Sale Frederick Md by The Highland Group/ Real Estate Teams in Frederick Maryland

301 401-5119

Karen@365Frederick.com

Future Growth in the Historic District, Downtown Frederick MD

Chris & Karen Highland (Turning Point Real Estate) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:20:43 -0800

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 114,000
square feet. Some integral parking will be available. We hope to see it materialize at the end of 2010!

The new Central Office for the Frederick County School Board, 191 East Street, is projected to be completed in Summer 2010. The 90,000 square foot space will consolidate all the various offices into one place.

McCutcheon's Apple Products will not be outdone either! They have plans for a beautiful new McCutcheons retail store along Carroll Creek. There will be retail space for lease to several other businesses as well as the McCutcheons store. McCutcheons is our own home-grown family owned business since 1938.

This is the Gazette Photo of the Carroll Creek Linear Park when it first opened in Spring 2006.

To see Real Estate Information and homes for sale in the Historic District, Downtown Frederick MD.

The Highland Real Estate Group

Homes For Sale Frederick Md by The Highland Group/ Real Estate Teams in Frederick Maryland

301 401-5119

Karen@365Frederick.com