Enjoy the last few days of your summer

The Market slowed a bit during the summer but continues to be the best real estate market in at least 7 years.  Rates are still low and Sellers get it that homes need to be recently updated and well maintained or sell for less. Buyers understand that they have to have some money saved and excellent credit to take advantage of the best values in a long while.  All around a great time to move, including lower closing costs relative to when sales prices were higher as commissions and transfer taxes are based on percentages of the sales price.  Have a great summer and I am here if you want to discuss your next move.

So we Moved!

"Dear Goodness Gracious", as my mother used to say!  Moving is so much harder than it looks and is so much more time consuming.  I would imagine that is partly due to the fact that one cannot see the many complexities involved in planning and executing a move all in one look or glance in time.

My office moved back to its old digs at the Columbia Lakefront near Lake Kittimaqundi in April.  What were they thinking?  It gets us back on the ground floor which is good in the real estate business and I am settling in.  I personally did not have a lot to move as my primary office is and always has been at home.  Last Thanksgiving I moved my office into a separate room for the first time ever in my home.  What a difference!  Still a lot of work. New connections, equipment, new hiding places for things I need and cannot find. So organized.  Just got that sorted out and our office moved, including replacing our printers and updating our computers which of course meant delays and confusion, but miraculously I had the best Spring in my 30 year career and I want to thank all those who have worked with me this year to buy or sell real estate.  You are all awesome and I am loving my job!

As systems improve and processes are mechanized and computerized, our office is getting into the 21st century by shifting to DOTLOOP which will allow my office to find new ways to go paperless. It presents challenges as those of us who have seen contracts mushroom from 3 pages to over 50 have to leave the carbon paper of the 80's behind and learn to fill out and sign the on-line forms of today.  When ever it takes me twice as long to prepare an offer than it did in the past, I remember that I am not having to get in my car and drive to 5 different real estate offices to get 5 different sets of keys to 5 different properties to show buyers who would show up after I had collected all the keys, then I had to keep them separate and not loose them before returning them all to the correct offices after the prospective buyers had left my office. That is what helps me look forward to the new challenges in the world of real estate.  As my mother used to say, "Never a dull moment!"  Enjoy the rest of your Summer!

P.S. I have not had time or the ingenuity to replace the old office address on this blog with the new one.....maybe over the winter I will get to that! Phone numbers are the same though!

Moving is Not Child's Play

"Adults are used to changes in their lives, starting over in new places, making job moves, but children are not. Children thrive in routine and security. Making a move can upset the family dynamics, at least temporarily"......plus: 1. Hold a family meeting – Sometimes we get caught up in “adult talk” and do not realize that little ears are picking up everything we are saying and not saying. Once you know the move is imminent, sit down with the children to have an open family discussion. Present the move to them as a positive thing and that you are looking forward to the adventure as a family. 2. Explain the absence of one parent – If one of the parents has to move before the family, discuss this transition with the children as well. The absence of one parent can really upset younger children because they may not fully comprehend where that person has gone. Try to set up family calls through Skype regularly so the children can visually see and talk to the absent parent. Meanwhile, ensure they understand that it is a temporary situation. 3. Make the unknown known – Children can be very scared of the unknown or what they do not understand. If it is possible, take the children to the new area and show them around. Oftentimes, you can schedule a tour of the school and meet the teachers. Ask the teacher to introduce them to a future classmate. With any luck, they will be fast friends later. If you have already selected a home to purchase, show pictures to the children and let them pick out the paint colors and the décor of their room. This will engage them more in the move and give them something to look forward to. 4. Maintain organization and consistency – There are so many things to do before a move that it is easy to forget "family pizza night", bedtime stories and play dates. However, children will be more stressed by the situation if the family routine is not maintained. Make every attempt to eat dinner as a family and participate in the neighborhood events until you move. This will help with the family dynamics and also give the children the additional feeling of security that they need. Moving can be stressful for the whole family, but with a good plan, it can also be an adventure that everyone can look forward to. Edited from information provided by MOVEADVOCATE.com.

What a difference ....

Market news in June:

Clear Capital reports that national home prices rose 8.2% in the year ended in May. CoreLogic reports that home prices, including distressed sales, rose 12.1% from April 2012 to April 2013.

Non-farm payrolls rise to 175K in May, above the 159K expected. Revisions for March and April were -12K. ADP reports that private employers added 135K new jobs in May, below the 157K expected. The Labor Force Participation Rate rises a tenth to 63.4. Fitch reports that the May jobs report supports continued monetary easing. Challenger, Gray & Christmas reports that planned layoffs at companies across the nation fell by 4.5% in May for the third month in a row.

Freddie Mac reports that the 30-yr fixed is at 3.91% when paying a 0.7 point. If no point is paid, the rate is 4.09%. The refi index plunged by 15% with home loan rates jumping.

I am thrilled to see a healthier residential home market!

Happy Fourth of July everyone!

Happy Fourth of July All!

It has been such a busy real estate market that I have had no time to add anything here. The best real estate market in about 7 or 8 years! I want to thank the many buyers and sellers who are currently working with me for participating in the best year I have ever experienced in 29 years in real estate!  And to those who referred many of these friends and family to me this year and over the past few years, I also want to extend many thanks and my most humble appreciation for your trust in me. For those still looking and thinking about moving you have probably heard that rates have started to rise.  This is true but I would like to mention that everything is relative.  Your buying power is greater at lower interest rates and for those who have bought with interest rates below 4%, isn't it great!  For those who are facing possibly higher rates please bear in mind as I have told so many young people recently, my first purchase was a VA mortgage at 8% and we were thrilled!  It happened as a sudden drop below 8.5% the week we bought in a market where most everyone else had double digit interest rates.  It is still a fabulous way to have a stake in your home and your life.  For those who prefer to rent or must rent for other reasons, start putting a little away every month in the fund to start saving for your down-payment.  Owning is so much better than renting if you want more say in how and where you live. It isn't for everybody, but if you or anyone you know would like to discuss the merits of owning over renting, let's get coffee!  Have a safe and Happy Fourth everyone!

Office Moved Back to the Lake Kittimaqundi side of the Columbia Mall!

My new address is :  5575 Sterrett Place, Suite 100, Columbia,MD 21044 which means I am on the ground floor once again and that I am the closest I have been to the Lakefront Office where I first began my real estate career back in 1984.  Melbourne, Feagin and Hammersmith, Better Homes and Gardens was located where the Tomato Palace now stands adjacent to Clyde's.  My phone numbers have not changed! Congratulations to all the high school and college graduates!
Best wishes,
Linda

Phone Charger Wise

Street Smarts Essential Chargers, Unexpected Hazards

Charging your cell phone too long can be a hazard. Technically speaking, it's not possible to overcharge a battery to the point of explosion, since the adapter limits power going into the cell phone's battery. However, leaving a phone plugged in longer than the time it takes to get a full charge can cause it to overheat, presenting a fire hazard to anything it may be in contact with–not to mention shortening battery life. Phone chargers also warm up and may overheat without adequate ventilation. Keeping a "rats nest" tangle of cords, plugs and multiple connected devices only exacerbates the hazard–even if the charger is disconnected from the phone but still plugged into the wall socket. Chargers still pull a current whether they are connected to a cell phone or not. Here are some tips to reduce the chances of causing a fire with your cell phone: Make sure you charge the phone on a solid surface away from fabric or other flammable material. Don't leave your cell phone connected to any charger for longer than it takes to get a full charge and never more than 24 hours. Make sure your chargers have adequate ventilation and, if possible, unplug them or turn off the switch when not in use. Don't carry your cell phone inside pockets, especially highly flammable clothing. Use a purse or backpack. Avoid after-market chargers and batteries. They have a much higher incidence of failure and fire than the manufacturer's version.