| |
ocean city: First March 2011 & Now April 2011; Stats Are Even Better! - 06/14/11 09:53 PM
First March 2011 & Now April 2011 ; Stats Are Even Better!
As I stated in an earlier blog, concerning the increased Real Estate sales for March 2011 in Worcester County Maryland, we are seeing Buyers purchasing their dream homes at the beach! When we compare April 2010 to April 2011, we have an increase of 27.7% of homes purchased! Of the 24 counties located in Maryland, only 5 counties can claim an INCREASE during April! Ocean City's valuable Real Estate has a lot to do with these numbers climbing! I'm looking forward to this trend continuing through the rest of 2011!
… (2 comments)
|
ocean city: Stats Are In For Worcester County Maryland... March 2011! - 06/14/11 09:39 PM
Stats Are In For Worcester County Maryland... March 2011!
Although March 2011 seems like a long time ago, it's great to know that Worcester County,MD actually had a 4.4% increase in Real Estate sales as compared to 2010! What is really great about this increase is the fact that out of the 24 counties in Maryland only 9 saw an increase in sales compared to March 2010! In my opinion, this statistic is the result of Buyers realizing the great values available in Ocean City Maryland, a fabulous beach town located on the Atlantic Ocean!
I think we'll continue to see … (1 comments)
|
ocean city: Craig's List... Who Knew? - 04/27/11 01:45 PM
My friend recently had a year-round rental available for rent in Ocean City, MD. Before she advertised it for rent in one of our 2 local papers that are published every Friday, she decided to try it on Craig's List,a free internet site! She had a tremendous response and had it rented within the week!
Since my tenant of 4 years decided to move, I too decided to advertise on Craig's List for a yearly tenant. I had a very large response and quickly signed a lease with a very nice gentleman.
Then I had a call from a friend asking … (7 comments)
|
ocean city: Today's The Day!!! - 01/04/11 03:05 PM
Today's The Day!!!
It was suppose to happen last May. And then in June. And then September. And then December.
But on January 4,2011, it actually happened! Ocean Downs CASINO opened! (Located in Berlin,MD... about 10 minutes from Ocean City,MD!)
Now this might not be a big deal if you live in Las Vegas,NV or Atlantic City,NJ. But this resort town is excited! We have tons of fun things to do while vacationing in Ocean City,Maryland. And now we have one more!
GAMBLING!
There are about 720 Slot machines available. (Table games are not available.)
I haven't been there YET! I'll … (2 comments)
|
ocean city: Magnetic Car Signs Are a Great Marketing Tool! - 09/15/10 01:32 PM
Magnetic Car Signs Are a Great Marketing Tool!
I want to share something that occurred at the local Ocean City gas station this morning.
I was pumping much needed gas when I started chatting with the fellow at the next pump. He was gassing his motorcycle. It's Bike Week in Ocean City Maryland and I assumed he was a tourist. It turns out that he is a local.
He looked at the signs on my car and requested a handful of my business cards. Apparently, he is a local BUS DRIVER and likes to give REALTOR cards to the people who … (3 comments)
|
ocean city: The Tourists Have Arrived in OCEAN CITY,Maryland - 07/04/10 02:23 PM
The Tourists Have Arrived! Summer has officially begun in Ocean City, Maryland! It's sunny,hot and a perfect beach day here at the BEACH!
There will be 3 sets of fireworks tonight! Northside Park, Division Street over the Ocean and 49th Street,bayside thanks to Seacret's! If you're not here in Ocean City, get in your car and start driving!
Happy 4TH of July from Ocean City, Maryland!
… (0 comments)
|
ocean city: Updates From OCEAN CITY (& surrounding areas) in MARYLAND! - 04/18/10 01:45 PM
Updates From OCEAN CITY (& surrounding areas) in MARYLAND!
This is a report from our wonderful MLS system,FLEX, for the week of April 8th thru April 15th,2010!
In Ocean City, MD: 36 New Condo Listings & 4 Single Family Listings..... 30 Condos went Pending & 1 Single Family
... 16 Condos Settled & 1 Single Settled !! It was a great week!
In Ocean Pines & Berlin,MD: 15 New Single Family Homes were Listed.... 7 Single Family Homes went Pending....
... 5 Single Family Homes Settled!! ... No new Condo activity! Lots of … (3 comments)
|
ocean city: Planning Your MAY Vacation In Ocean City,Maryland! - 03/28/10 12:15 PM
Planning Your MAY Vacation In Ocean City,Maryland!
While making your May vacation plans at the beach, please consider some of these fun activities to enhance your time spent here:
May 1...Crab Soup Cookoff! For a tiny pittance, taste & help judge these yummy crab soup recipes!
May 6-9... Springfest in Ocean City! This is one of the BIGGEST Festivals of the year. It is used to kick-off the Summer Season! 2 huge tents house the Crafts, Food, & Entertainment!
May 7-8... Music Festival for the upper grades! Held at the Convention Center!
May 15-16... Salute to the Services! Special discounts to … (1 comments)
|
ocean city: I Need Recommendations! - 03/18/10 04:15 PM
I've had a fiasco of a week trying to order a new printer! I ordered, it didn't come, I re-ordered, the 1st one came, it was the wrong one (discovered this after getting someone to carry it up to my office and then back to my car!), I cancelled second order, it's coming ANYWAY, I'm driving from Ocean City, Md to Dover, Delaware tomorrow to return first printer and BUY one while I'm standing in the store!!!!... at a DIFFERENT STORE!!!
Can anyone recommend a workhorse of an all-in-one PRINTER for under $250?
… (3 comments)
|
ocean city: First the Snow and Now the Rain! What's Happening in OCEAN CITY,MD? - 03/12/10 03:42 PM
First the Snow and Now the Rain! What's Happening?
This is Ocean City, Maryland, known for it's WARM, SUNNY weather, beautiful beaches and fun activities! Of late, you'd think we had moved the town about 200 miles to the north! We've had tons of snow, which has finally melted , but, apparently, we're now in the monsoon season!
It's pouring and foggy!
I'm still hoping that we awaken to bright, sunny skys tomorrow ,so we can all enjoy the St. Patrick's Day Parade and all the fun at 45th Street!
However, if Mother Nature doesn't cooperate, we can still all have … (3 comments)
|
ocean city: At Last! We're Snowless! - 03/05/10 10:22 AM
What a winter we've had here at the beach! Snow, snow and more snow! When asked about our NORMAL winter weather, I usually reply that we might have an inch of slush here and there. Not this year! We've had enough snow for 10 years! (Actually, I've been in Ocean City, MD since 1992 and only remember 1 snow storm of any substance!)
It is now forecasted to be a wonderful, sunny weekend here at the beach! Hang up your snow shovels, grab your windbreaker and head to Ocean City! Don't forget to visit our 3 mile Boardwalk!
… (0 comments)
|
ocean city: What's In Your Survival Kit? - 02/26/10 01:38 PM
What's In Your Survival Kit?
As I mentioned in a Blog a few weeks ago, my van got stranded in a snow drift during Ocean City's first blizzard-like snowfall. Since the Ocean City police had commandeered all of AAA's tow trucks, my van remained stuck for 2 days! My only option was to stay at a nearby hotel... for 2 days!
After this non-life threatening, but certainly inconvenient, adventure, I decided that my vehicle needed a "survival kit"!
This bag( it's approximately 5"x8"x10") is what now resides in the back of my van: it contains.... tee-shirt (cover-up/nightshirt), underwear, sox, tooth care … (5 comments)
|
ocean city: Dressing DOWN For Success! - 02/22/10 10:47 AM
Dressing DOWN For Success!
This might sound a bit strange but I had to change my mode of dressing when I moved to OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND!
I started in real estate in 1986 in Severna Park, MARYLAND. This was a PRIMARY market area. Because we are judged on how we present ourselves, it was suits (not sports coats!) for the men and suits/dresses with nylons and heels for the women! This mode of dressing was very appropriate for the communities between Baltimore and Annapolis!
Then in 1992, I moved to OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND, a SECONDARY market place. I continued dressing as … (10 comments)
|
ocean city: I Felt Like I was in Grade School Today! - 02/20/10 01:52 PM
I Felt Like I was in Grade School Today!
While sitting here in Ocean City, MD, reading Activerain blogs (and gathering great new information... thank you, The Lovely Wife!) the fire alarm went off! Since I haven't heard an alarm since I was little (oops! not true!!!! I taught school for 17 years and had regular practice drills!), I'm walked to the hall and asked " Are we doing a practice drill.... in this freezing weather?". Apparently not!
We all grabbed our coats, purses and CELL PHONES and headed down the back stairwell ,which just happens to be by my … (2 comments)
|
ocean city: Google Alerts! Thanks Sam Miller! - 02/17/10 03:15 PM
Per Sam Miller's suggestion in his Activerain Blog, I signed up for Google Alerts! It's only been a couple of days, but I've already received VALUABLE information that I wouldn't have known about without Sam's great Blog!
The first day I put in my Listings.(I haven't fine tuned this area yet! We use building names here and I'm getting information about far away places!) ) Then I alerted Google to look for my name,(Kathy Opatka,Opatka) my town (Ocean City,Maryland),and areas in the surrounding states( Fenwick Island, Delaware) and my company name (Remax)! I received great information about local happenings and also … (1 comments)
|
ocean city: Stuck in an OCEANFRONT Hotel! - 02/13/10 02:30 PM
Two weekends ago, I continued to work as the "light dusting" of snow fell from the sky in OCEAN CITY, Maryland! On Coastal Highway, which I could see from my window, the cars were moving nicely, though the snow continued to fall. What I hadn't considered, was the wind swirling the snow around my van in the back parking lot!
After much effort to dig my van out of the two foot drifts, I called my trusty AAA! Told that It would be a 90 minute wait for the tow truck to arrive, I returned to my office to continue working. … (6 comments)
|
ocean city: Are We "flipping" into a Sellers Market? - 01/17/10 03:21 PM
While reading my December 2009 REALTOR (Maryland) magazine(yes, I'm a bit behind in my reading!), I noted that we had a large increase of properties sold in Worcester County,Maryland (Ocean City is located in this county). This increase was comparing October 2008 with October 2009.
Apparently, 67 properties were sold in 2008 compared with 101 settled properties in 2009! Sales are usually very slow in Ocean City from Thanksgiving to the third week of January, as Holidays and weather dictate our visitors. Because of this, I won't be using November, December nor January to help determine whether our market is changing.
… (2 comments)
|
ocean city: Our Beach Took a Beatin'! - 11/27/09 01:35 PM
Nor'Ida stopped by Ocean City, Maryland a little over a week ago and overstayed her visit! Tropical Storm Ida pounded our beach, grabbed our sand and headed up the coastline, only after a 3 day long visit!
Pictures in today's local paper show that huge chunks of beach have disappeared, with 6 foot dropoffs being the norm! It has been estimated that it will take $10 million dollars to bring the sand back inland from the Atlantic Ocean.
Having lived in Ocean City for a long time, I know that the Beach will be replenished way before our tourist season begins … (7 comments)
|
ocean city: Thank Goodness I Didn't Need to Show Property on Saturday! - 08/09/09 04:21 PM
What? You don't want to show property on a Saturday ... the Prime Time showing day? Are you... (fill in the blank with your favorite word for "unbalanced"!)?
Those were my exact thoughts last Saturday as I attempted to return home from an early breakfast meeting. Using every short cut I knew, it took me one and a half hours to drive a normal 25 minute ride! And I was eternally grateful that I didn't need to enter the island, meet Buyer's ,find parking spaces, apologize to cleaning crews and maneuver around our wonderful vacationers!
Saturday is Turn-Around Day in Ocean … (10 comments)
|
ocean city: I STILL Need Paper! - 06/24/09 03:36 PM
Yes, I realize that this is the internet and we can folder-save every wonderful idea that we read in our shared Blogs, but I STILL need paper! If someone takes the time to make a List of How-To ideas that I find useful, I highlight them, hit print, write my own comments/thoughts on the page and store it in a segmented looseleaf binder. This non-techy tool keeps growing each time I read a Blog that I know I'm going to reference in the future! Although I do use the "folders" for company minutes, newsletters, client comments, etc., I'm just not ready to … (8 comments)
|
|
|
|
|
|
KATHY OPATKA Ocean City, MD & Bethany Beach, DE
Ocean City,
MD
More about me…
RE/MAX By The Sea
Address: 300 Oceanview Pkwy / RT 1, Bethany Beach, DE, 19930
Office Phone: (302) 537-3171
Cell Phone: (410) 430-1860
Email Me
 Listings
Links
Archives
|
;)
;)
;)
