Audrey's Adventures in Real Estate

Last Sunday our office had an office BBQ at the Seneca Creek State Park in Gaithersburg.  It was a really fun afternoon.  Our office does a really great job keeping us things positive and fun. 

Kara Hurley, one of our office managers and party organizer extrodinaire, thought it would be a fun afternoon for us all to come out and hang out together and just let go of the market for a bit.  I think it is really a great thing that even in tight times our brokers and managers are trying to keep things up and positive for all.

The office supplied the burgers and Hot dogs, the rest of us brought all of the side dishes.  There was more than enough for all.  Everyone was invited, the kids and all.

For a fund raiser our broker, Ken Crowley what a sport, let us pie him for donations to the Children's Miracle Network.  I went to pie my broker and at first I felt really weird about it and he assured me it was okay.  So I did.  It was fun.

I am glad in a time when things are tough our office is there to support each other in work related situations, but in fun situations too.

Here are the before and after photos of my broker, Ken Crowley!!

I belong to the Maryland Farm Bureau and really feel it is a worthwhile cause. It is a non profit organization that is privately run to support our Maryland Farmers. 

 It costs $60.00 a year and I save on my Home owner's Insurance on my home.  I think we save about $110 a year.  Maybe that is not a huge amount, but you also get benefits for belong to the Farm Bureau.

Here are the Farm Bureau's top ten reasons you should join;

1.  Maryland Farm Bureau is the organized

voice of Maryland agriculture

2. We advocate for an abundant, affordable,

and safe food supply

3.  You save hundreds of dollars by using the

many member-only benefits

4.  We support a healthy, viable agricultural

industry which means more open, green

space

5.  We educate the general public on the

importance of Maryland agriculture

6.  Farm Bureau's successful grassroots

structure allows for member participation

7.  Maryland Farm Bureau supports the next

generation by offering college scholarships

8.  Farm Bureau promotes the safe and

humane treatment of animals

9.  You join locally at the county level, but also

benefit from the state and national Farm

Bureau organizations

10. Farm Bureau offers participation opportunities

for all ages

We have been members for years and enjoy the discounts we receive from our membership and helping our community at the same time.  Go to their website and sign up today!  Maryland Farm Bureau

Well, not really ME in particular.  I am talking about where you can go to check folks out that may come into your home to do work or if you are shopping for a home, you may want to check the sex offender registry.

We all want to protect our families, no question about it.  In the past, people have bought homes only to find out that a criminal or sex offender lives right down the street.  That could be unnerving to say the least.  However, it is up to YOU to find the information and make the final decision.

It is not  the real estate agent's responsibilty  to have this knowledge, it even states this more than once in my contract of sale in Maryland.  So, I want to give you a couple of sites where you can go to look up some of this information.

The state of Maryland has a sex offender registry listed on the state website at MD.org.  You may also look up information on the FBI's site at www.FBI.gov and go to your state's information page.

If you are looking for work to be done around your home and want to hire a professional, one place you could start is by going to the State of Maryland's website, www.Maryland.gov  and look up business licenses.  Another site to look up records for people is Maryland judiciary cases.  You might even find yourself in there the last time you got a speeding ticket!!

Be safe, check folks out, know they are the professionals they say that they are.

I received a phone call from some parents trying to help their daughter who is behind on her condo today.  That is a pretty common thing in our current market these days. She is in arrears on her payments by 5 months.  They have talked to the bank about listing the condo as a short sale and called me up.

I have never met these folks before but I could hear the anguish and frustration in their voices.  They have paid some of their daughter's mortgage payments for her, enough to keep her in the condo.  She is still in arrears though.  It has now come to the point where they have to make a decision.

You see, their beautiful 27 year old daughter is not only behind on her mortgage, she is letting her life slip away one day at a time.  She is addicted to Oxycotin.  It is a terrible addiction that some people subcome to . 

It can take away their lives and slowly destroy everything for them, and those around it who want to fix it, for their beloved but cant.

Their daughter lost her job, she had a great sales job, but the drugs took that away too.

I spoke to the parents candidly about the market and the likelihood of a sale that would be acceptable to the bank.  Of course, the condo is upside down in value.  We discussed renting the condo, and other alternatives to save the property.  I told them I would be glad to help them and give them my all.  I am just a phone call away.

The drug has taken away her relationships from friends and family, but she is  blessed with loving parents, that are there for her.  The parents shared with me that they have now put their daughter in rehab and hopefully this will help her and give her the strength to stay away from such sadness and destruction.  They pray for her to live in the bright future that lies ahead for her with the love of Mom and Dad.

I think I heard a bit of calm in their voice at the end of our conversation.  I sent them information, gave them phone numbers to call and I think they feel like they have a direction to head in, not just he unknown.  I was glad for that and that they thought my information was helpful to them.  Whatever path they choose, I pray for a recovery for their daughter and for their family.

Yes, the condo is important, but the most important thing is to get their daughter back.  Not to let her be taken away.  I know the best lies ahead for them.

The DC area, with it's suburbs, is ranked as one of the top 5 worst traffic areas in the country.  Right up there with Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Atlanta and DC.  Actually, without looking up the exact statistics, I think these cities are the top 5 worst traffic cities in the country?  I know, I know you folks down in Miami have some complaining to do too, so go ahead.

The traffic is always something we contend with in our area.  Heck, I time showings and appointments around it just so I don't have to run late or suffer the pain of sitting on the Beltway.  You folks that do it day in and day out, I don't know how you do it?  Bless your hearts, I think it must get to you all sometimes.

The good news is once school is out and Summer is here the traffic seems to lighten up in our area. Folks are on vacation and out of the area.  August can be like a ghost town.  I marvel at how empty the parking lot at my office building is during the Summer months.

But then it happens.  Labor Day weekend comes and goes and it is back to the real world for all of us.  Yep, I think the Tuesday after Labor Day is the WORST traffic day of the year.  Everyone is back to work and school.  School buses that you did not have to contend with for the last 3 months are back on the road getting the kids to school.  Frantic parents dropping kids off to school before they have to get to work.  For some reason it seems no one ever schedules enough time.  Racing here and there and then the mother of all traffic jams happens.

I am afraid that day.  I stay home until after 9:30 am on that Tuesday and let you folks do your thing.  I sit and watch the traffic updates on Channel 4 every ten minutes to wait for the all clear.  When you all get to where are going and it is safe to exit the building, then I head out.

Do yourself a favor, get an early start because it is going to be a long day.  Listen to WTOP on your car radio.  They will give you a "traffic and weather update every ten minutes on the 8's".  That could help you take an alternative route in case there is an accident or extra tie up.

Buckle up and be safe!

If you are anything like me and my husband, home improvement is a never ending process.  Don't get me wrong, it is a labor of love but it is definitely labor.  One of the previous owners had done several improvements ten years ago, but we have since improved upon their improvements. 

There are so many choices, it can be daunting.  Where do you start? What is your budget?  That is why the Home Show is a great place to start.  Everyone you want to talk to all in one place! 

We look at it as eating an elephant, one bite at a time and soon you will make progress.  We divided the house into sections as far as cost, if it was something we could do ourselves, and the amount of inconvenience.  The fun part is you get to make your home your very own.

A helpful way to determine these factors would be a visit to the Suburban Maryland Fall Home Show.  The show will be held at the Discovery Soccer Complex in Germantown, Maryland  September 12,13, & 14.  There is an admission is $9.00, kids under 16 are free.

At the show you will find all kinds of vendors that can give you advice on projects you might be contemplating.  Anything from gutters to granite will be at the show.  There will be vendors with goods to sell that you can purchase at the show.

Make a day of it, there will be a concession stand when you need to take a break from shopping.

Have you been to the new Rockville Town Square?  It is fabulous.  There are all kinds of new shops and restaurants.  They even have a Gordon Beirsch brewery/restaurant.  It is so much fun. 

Come out Satruday, August 30th from 10:00 am to 5:00pm for the Rockville Town Square Jazz Festival.

There will be live Jazz all day long, food tastings and the shops at the Rockville Town Square will have store specials.

The tastings will be featuring the Rockville Town Square restaurants including;

Austin Grill, Bobby's Crab Cakes, Greystone Grill, La Tasca Tapas Bar, Oro Pomodoro, Taste of Saigon and many more.  The tastings are $5.00 each, plus tax and they only take cash. So make sure you stop off at the ATM before you come.

The Band Schedule is as follows;

10:15 am The Meritxell Project

11:30 am Swing Speak

1:00 pm  James King

2:30 pm  Donato with Friends

4:00 pm  Daryl Davis

Parking is free after 7:00 pm and on the Weekends. 

For more information you can call 703-690-2329 or rockvilletownsquare.com

Hope you have a great time.

This is the last weekend to see the play at the Gaithersburg Arts Barn.  My Emperor's New Clothes by Larry Shue will be preformed by the Sandy Spring Theatre Group for the last two shows this weekend.  It is a similar version of the story we all grew up with by Hans Christian Anderson.

The Friday show starts at 7:30 and the Saturday shows start at 2:00 in the afternoon.    The Arts Barn is located at 311 Kent Square Road in the heart of the Kentlands.  Tickets are $14.00 for adults and $12.00 for residents of the City of Gaithersburg.

Bring the whole family for a night of fun and story telling.  For more information you can call The City of Gaithersburg at 301-258-6394 or visit gaithersburgmd.gov/artsbarn for more information.

I want to get the word out to as many consumers as possible so you don't fall prey to such programs.  Always call your lender first to discuss your loan, never take advice from some stranger on the phone.