Making a Home Shine in the Winter - 02/25/11 08:05 PM
 There is still another month of winter ahead, and the possibility of wintry weather for even longer. While it is not quite yet the traditional "spring market," it is still a good time to sell a home as buyers look to take advantage of historically low mortgage rates.
 Sellers who have their homes on the market now, can benefit from the following tips that will help make their home shine even when the sun isn't.
 Prove energy efficiency: Prepare a list of all the things you have done to make your home more energy efficient, such as adding insulation in attics … (2 comments)

The Problem with Public Records - 02/24/11 11:56 AM

Public records have come a long way in the past decade. In the "old days" trying to view public records on any given property typically required driving into town, waiting in a long line and then digging through large volumes of dusty old books. Today all that has changed as local government digitized public records; with a few clicks of the mouse, it's possible to view all types of pertinent data about a property. Annual taxes, current ownership, square footage, style, age, condition of the home, additional improvements and even the type of water supply.
Unfortunately, it's just as easy … (5 comments)

Real Estate Water Cooler ~ News You Can Use! - 02/24/11 11:42 AM

If you're into bottom-fishing, now may be the time to start trolling for real estate. At least that's the advice of Michael Corbett, author of Before You Buy: The Homebuyer's Handbook for Today's Market. "I'm pretty comfortable saying that five years from now, people are going to be saying, ‘Damn, if I had just bought in 2011,' " said Corbett, who is also host of the "Mansions & Millionaires" segment on the syndicated TV show "Extra." "Prices are bumping along the bottom and rates are really low," he said. "When you have those two together, you have the perfect buying … (2 comments)

Easements Sometimes Override Private Property Rights - 02/21/11 05:50 PM

 
Suppose you're quietly enjoying your new home one morning, when you're disturbed by a crowd of strangers in hiking gear, passing through your property. You confront them and discover that they have been using the path by your house for years in order to access a public hiking trail. Can you stop them? Possibly. But private property owners should be aware that in some instances, access can be allowed through private property so the public can reach sites such as state parks or campgrounds. Failure to allow access can subject landowners to lawsuits and legal liability. One example occurred … (2 comments)

Hard Work Pays Off!! - 02/20/11 03:53 PM
‎2010 was a productive year for us. This year is off to a great start as well with three settlements last week and more next week! Looking forward to another great year!!







4 Ranking in Top Weichert Family of Companies - Dollar Volume

 #8 Ranking in Top Sales

#1 Weichert Lead Network Closed Units

#3 Ranking in Top Weichert Family of Companies - Units
 Pictured - Jim Weichert, Paul Chrisman, Jac'e Botti, Ray Chappell, Rob Steward, Jeannie Steward

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 Search For Properties Like The Agents Do! Find Your Ideal Home … (2 comments)

Real Estate Water Cooler ~ News You Can Use! - 02/20/11 12:13 PM


Home sales rebounded in 49 states during the fourth quarter with 78 markets just over half of the available metropolitan areas experiencing price gains from a year ago, while most of the rest saw price weakness, according to the latest survey by the National Association of REALTORS. Total state existing-home sales, including single-family and condo, jumped 15.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.8 million in the fourth quarter from 4.16 million in the third quarter, but were 19.5 percent below a surge to an unsustainable cyclical peak of 5.97 million in the fourth quarter of 2009, … (0 comments)

Purchasing a Vacation Home - 02/19/11 04:04 PM
 If you have visions of long summer weekends at a country or beach house, now is the ideal time to purchase your second home. Not only do low mortgage rates and affordable prices provide amazing opportunities for vacation-home buyers, but those who buy now can close on their home in enough time to enjoy it this summer.
Here are some reasons why the time is right to invest in a second home:
Prices and mortgage rates are about as low as they go. Today's buyers can get a lot more for their money than they could in the past -- and … (6 comments)

Home Sales Rebounded in Fourth Quarter - 02/16/11 01:04 PM
Home sales rebounded in 49 states during the fourth quarter with 78 markets -- just over half of the available metropolitan areas -- experiencing price gains from a year ago, according to the latest survey by the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
Total state existing-home sales, including single-family and condo, jumped 15.4 percent from the previous quarter. In addition, the national median existing single-family price was up 0.2 percent from the fourth quarter of 2009.
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, is encouraged by the trend. "Home sales clearly recovered in the latter part of 2010 and are helping to absorb the … (3 comments)

Home Sales Up, Prices Stabilizing - 02/13/11 11:24 AM

Home sales rebounded in 49 states during the fourth quarter with 78 markets - just over half of the available metropolitan areas - experiencing price gains from a year ago, while most of the rest saw price weakness, according to the latest survey by the National Association of Realtors (NAR).  Total state existing-home sales, including single-family and condo, jumped 15.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate1 of 4.80 million in the fourth quarter from 4.16 million in the third quarter, but were 19.5 percent below a surge to an unsustainable cyclical peak of 5.97 million in the fourth quarter … (3 comments)

Online Exposure For Your Home - 02/11/11 08:43 PM
 According to a 2010 National Association of Realtors survey, 89 percent of homebuyers used the Internet during their home search. As consumers continue to rely on the web as an important source of information, it is critical for home sellers to ensure their property receives significant exposure online.
Here are some important points about marketing your home online that you should keep in mind:
Be sure your real estate sales professional strategically places your home on the Internet to gain maximum exposure. Real estate websites get a lot of traffic. For example, Weichert.com had more than 3.5 million visits in January … (1 comments)

GOING GREEN PRODUCT REVIEWS: THREE ITEMS YOU NEED TO HAVE - 02/09/11 11:52 AM

Search For Properties Like The Agents Do! Find Your Ideal Home With Our Free MLS Search Engine! Every Active Listing On The MLS In REAL TIME! Waste No More Time With Listings Which Are Under Contract Or Sold! Germantown Clarksburg Darnestown & More! ~ MD ~ DC ~ VA ~ WV ~ VA ~ DE ~ This is the way to shop for properties! Narrow your search by entering exactly the features you're looking for! We Can Also Put You On Our Automated MLS Search Which Will E-Mail You When Properties Matching Your Criteria Enter The System On Day Zero On … (0 comments)

SHOW AND TELL: HOW-TO VIDEOS FOR HOME PROJECTS - 02/09/11 11:47 AM
Ever wish you had a handyman with you when doing home projects? Well this is just short of that. Watch these videos and you will see how easy projects can be.
Many times the best way to improve your home's value is to add mini-renovations and upgraded components. These Lowes' videos feature step-by-step instructions and will guide you through the most popular home improvement projects.Bath
How To Replace a Bath Exhaust Fan Doors & Windows
How To Measure Blinds How To Install Window Blinds How to Install a Pre-hung Exterior Door How to Install a Deadbolt Lock How to Install a … (2 comments)

Keys to Assessing Your Home's Real Market Value - 02/09/11 11:42 AM
 
 
To understand how houses are rated, you need to begin with a clear definition of "market value." In real estate terms, market value is the price at which something can be freely bought and sold within a reasonable period of time. The concept refers to the conditions necessary for a fair sale, meaning the buyer and seller are acting wisely and knowledgeably, and the price is not affected by any artificial stimulus. A reasonable time in real estate parlance generally means between one to three months.
If you're considering putting your home on the market, you need to know … (2 comments)

Five Steps To Developing A Great Relationship With A Remodeling Contractor - 02/05/11 10:36 AM
Here are five steps to developing a great relationship with a remodeling contractor.
Be Serious. Let the contractor know if you are ready to remodel or just kicking the tires. Gary Palmer, a Charlotte, N.C.-based general contractor, says seeking multiple bids is fine, but dont waste his or her time by letting the bidding process drag on for weeks.
Do your homework. Before seeking bids, develop two files. One should include information, including photos, of what you like. The other should include a list of what you dont like.
Listen to the experts. A good contractor can tell you whether the … (0 comments)

Preventing Frozen Pipes - 02/04/11 09:06 PM
 We are in the midst of one of the coldest, snowiest winters in history. While we know to bundle ourselves up to keep warm, many people forget to make sure their pipes stay warm as well. A pipe that bursts can cause significant damage, so homeowners should pay special attention to pipes that have frozen in the past or that are near exterior walls.
Here are some tips to help avoid property damage from frozen pipes:
Remove hoses from outside yard faucets to allow for proper drainage. If you have a sprinkler system, drain all outdoor pipes and turn off the … (1 comments)

Signs of an Improving Real Estate Market - 02/02/11 12:43 PM
In recent weeks, several encouraging reports have been released, pointing to an improvement in the real estate market and the economy in general. The latest positive news includes the following:
According to the National Association of Realtors, sales of existing homes rose 12.3 percent in December. This was the fifth monthly increase in the past six months.
Sales of new single-family homes rose 17.5 percent in December to the highest level in eight months.
Pending home sales rose 2 percent in December, marking the fifth increase in the past six months.
According to a recent Gallup poll, 67 percent of Americans … (2 comments)

 
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Rob & Jeannie Steward

Clarksburg, MD

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RE/MAX Realty Centre

Address: 23315 Frederick Road, Clarksburg, MD, 20871

Office Phone: (301) 591-3920

Cell Phone: (301) 213-7351

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Realtors ~ Rob & Jeannie Steward


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