Archive for November, 2011
Computers & Cars
On Saturday, December 10, 2011 Thomas Edison High School will hold a “while quantities last” sale of used vehicles (prices range from $1,500 to $4,300) and refurbished computers, priced at $69 or $159.
I’ve written about the ATF before*. It’s a great program for students who like cars, or hope to land a job in the trade. Specifically, “automotive Trades Foundation (ATF), also known as The Montgomery County Students Automotive Trades Foundation, Inc., is a non-profit foundation established cooperatively by Montgomery County Public Schools and the business community in Montgomery County to promote and Read the rest of this entry »
FHA Raises Loan Limits!
Despite recent grumblings about lack of inventory and lackluster numbers, there is a bright spot on the horizon. Dave Jacobin, long time lender, and on my list of favorites, is here to tell us a little bit about the new loan limits:
Great News! FHA loan limits have gone back to $729,750 in High Cost Areas (that’s our DC marketplace). This is good news for local homebuyers.
Features of FHA financing include (but are not limited to) the following;
- Only 3.5% down payment required
- Down Payment and closing cost can come from a gift from a relative
- The Seller may contribute up to 6% of the Sales Price towards closing costs and pre-paids
- Higher qualifying ratios vs. conventional allowed
- Please note the increase in Read the rest of this entry »
East Bethesda MD 20814 Homes for Sale 11/25/11
Update for 11/25/2011… no new listings (no surprise) & none under contract.
All the homes in this article are currently for sale within East Bethesda. The top of the list features the newest listings, while the bottom showcases those that have been on the market for quite some time. I’ll be updating this post every Friday, so be sure to check back to see what’s new, what’s gone, & what might be coming (and check out the date up top… if it’s not current, neither is this information!). I’ve lived in East Bethesda for over 16 years. I’ve sold real estate in East Bethesda for over 12 years. It’s a wonderful neighborhood within walking distance of two metro stops AND downtown Bethesda. While all of this information is available to you on the various search engines, I’ve taken the time to inject my opinion on the condition, pricing, and likelihood of each property selling… or not. I hope you’ll give me a call if you have any questions. I have loved living here over the years, and I want to share it with other enthusiastic people!
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4523 Cheltenham Drive, $774,900
Perfect little gem of a colonial on a pretty block. 3BR/1FB up. Another 1BR/1FB in the lower level. Pretty kitchen with stainless and granite. Handsome paint and tile throughout. Finished basement. Big shed in the back. It’s one of the smaller colonials, and because of this might be a touch enthusiastic on the price. Recent $25K price reduction. Days on Market: 37 Read the rest of this entry »
Happy Thanksgiving
ICC for Free!
The Inter County Connector (ICC/MD200), connecting I-270 and I-95, is due to open Tuesday, November 22, 2011 (weather permitting). The ICC is Maryland’s first all-electronic toll road that uses highway-speed toll collection as motorists drive under tolling structures, eliminating the need for toll booths. No cash is accepted on the ICC. Drivers are invited to Test Drive the ICC from November 22 through December 4 at no charge.
After the Test Drive, toll rates will vary by time of day to provide reliable travel times, with a higher toll charged during Peak hours and a lower toll charged during Off-Peak and Overnight hours.
Run a Mile, Make a Kid Smile
There’s still time to sig
n up for the fun run at BCC High School on Sunday, November 20. Entry fee is $20. Money raised goes toward helping kids who are fighting cancer or other serious diseases via the Hope for Henry Foundation.
The race begins at 1pm on the BCC track at 4301 East-West Highway in Bethesda, MD 20814.
If you are a younger runner, you must submit a registration form and a waiver form signed by your parents.
Sorry about the late notice. Hope you can make it!
East Bethesda MD 20814 Homes for Sale 11/18/11
Update for 11/18/2011… no new listings, none under contract, 1 back on the market, and 2 price reductions. Pickings are slim. We only have 6 homes in East Bethesda currently marketed on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS).
All the homes in this article are currently for sale within East Bethesda. The top of the list features the newest listings, while the bottom showcases those that have been on the market for quite some time. I’ll be updating this post every Friday, so be sure to check back to see what’s new, what’s gone, & what might be coming (and check out the date up top… if it’s not current, neither is this information!). I’ve lived in East Bethesda for over 16 years. I’ve sold real estate in East Bethesda for over 12 years. It’s a wonderful neighborhood within walking distance of two metro stops AND downtown Bethesda. While all of this information is available to you on the various search engines, I’ve taken the time to inject my opinion on the condition, pricing, and likelihood of each property selling… or not. I hope you’ll give me a call if you have any questions. I have loved living here over the years, and I want to share it with other enthusiastic people!
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4523 Cheltenham Drive, $774,900
Perfect little gem of a colonial on a pretty block. 3BR/1FB up. Another 1BR/1FB in the lower level. Pretty kitchen with stainless and granite. Handsome paint and tile throughout. Finished basement. Big shed in the back. It’s one of the smaller colonials, and because of this might be a touch enthusiastic on the price. Recent $25K price reduction. Days on Market: 30 Read the rest of this entry »
Wanna Buy A House? Get Married.
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) ju
st published it’s findings on buyer and seller trends in the real estate market regarding transactions taking place between July 2010 and June 2011. One of the more interesting findings is that 64% of the buyers during this period were married couples, compared to 58% last year. So, what’s the catch? The growth suggests that buyers with double incomes (married couples) are in a better position to qualify for a mortgage in this challenging credit environment. Ouch.
Other interesting tidbits:
- First time homebuyers fell to a 37% market share this past year, compared to a record high of 50% in 2010. Much of this is credited to the first time home buyer tax credit during the 2010 buying cycle (which ironically is not as large as the gain to many buyers as a result of lowered interest rates).
- 94% of entry-level buyers chose a fixed-rate mortgage (no surprise here). 54% of first-time buyers chose Read the rest of this entry »
The October 2011 Evers & Co. Real Estate Report
While the Washington Metro marketplace remains one of the top real estate markets in the country, for the first time in 17 months the close-in Metro area marketplace failed to show an increase in price over the same month in the previous year, and it is being attributed to the slide in the stock market and concerns over the European debt, which have shaken buyer confidence across the board. The National Home Builders Association also tracked declines in consumer confidence to the same concerns over the global economic situation.
The bright spot for the third quarter was in loans for commercial real estate, which climbed up 98% over lending in the same period in 2010, and this is the kind of increase the marketplace has been waiting for.
The real estate market is traditionally quieter in November and December, and it looks like that the degree to which we can match or exceed last year’s numbers will depend on a wide range of economic factors.
* Statistics are taken from the Metropolitan Regional Information System for three areas: Washington, D.C.; Montgomery Country, Maryland; and Fairfax County, Arlington and Alexandria in Virginia.
East Bethesda MD 20814 Homes for Sale 11/11/11
Update for 11/11/2011… no new listings, 1 under contract, 1 withdrawn from the market, and no price reductions.
All the homes in this article are currently for sale within East Bethesda. The top of the list features the newest listings, while the bottom showcases those that have been on the market for quite some time. I’ll be updating this post every Friday, so be sure to check back to see what’s new, what’s gone, & what might be coming (and check out the date up top… if it’s not current, neither is this information!). I’ve lived in East Bethesda for over 16 years. I’ve sold real estate in East Bethesda for over 12 years. It’s a wonderful neighborhood within walking distance of two metro stops AND downtown Bethesda. While all of this information is available to you on the various search engines, I’ve taken the time to inject my opinion on the condition, pricing, and likelihood of each property selling… or not. I hope you’ll give me a call if you have any questions. I have loved living here over the years, and I want to share it with other enthusiastic people!
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
4523 Cheltenham Drive, $799,900
Perfect little gem of a colonial on a pretty block. 3BR/1FB up. Another 1BR/1FB in the lower level. Pretty kitchen with stainless and granite. Handsome paint and tile throughout. Finished basement. Big shed in the back. It’s one of the smaller colonials, and because of this might be a touch enthusiastic on the price. Days on Market: 23 Read the rest of this entry »
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