Maryland

What a great community - I love sharing it. This is living - waterfront living in a maintenance free, gated community within walking distance to the shops and restaurants of charming Solomons Island within 1 hour to Rt 95/495.

There are condominium options to meet a wide variety of needs priced from the $200's to mid $400's with exceptional amenities :

Year-round outdoor enjoyment walking the waterfront trail and community fountain and park

Relaxing by the beautiful pool in the summer months

Convenient fully-equipped fitness center

Beautiful pavilion can be reserved when entertaining requires a larger space to accommodate your guests

Keep your boat at your fingertips in the community marina

AND MORE

The nearby Calvert Marine Museum offers great learning experiences through its exhibits featuring marine life and the Chesapeake Bay and an outdoor theatre with a summer concert program. Also learn about the support of the Cove Point lighthouse. Calvert Marine Museum

Please contact me to find out more about Solomons Landing and other Calvert County and St. Mary's County Real Estate by calling, via e-mail, or Solomons Landing

Best Agent Business Virtual Assistants don't just live in the real estate world as staff - often they enter it as clients. This moving story of a virtual assistant who just bought a house tells it all, from the importance of finding the right agent to the importance of making a fair offer based in the market conditions to the mound of paperwork necessary to close.

As a first time home owner, I can tell you one thing, very few emotions are left unturned during the process. I had no idea what I would be getting into, and here I am almost a month and a half later, still wondering how this all happened.

Let me back up and give you a quick history of the whole process and how it began. My husband is active duty Navy. When he received word that we would be staying in Jacksonville, I was ecstatic. Not only would we not have to move for at least three years, but we would actually be able buy our first home, and paint the walls a color other than white. Now, when we found out we would be able to look into buying a home, I was 7 ½ months pregnant, moody, and tired all the time. The military has a program called Movers Advantage, so we decided to utilize this program. We started with one realtor who sent us many listings to view on-line, but none that had any of the specs we were looking for in a house, our soon-to-be home. She was very passive, not as aggressive as I would have like her to be, so we politely requested a new agent.

Wow, she was wonderful. Not only did she find us ten plus homes for us to look at, she scheduled us is times to view these houses, all within a weeks time. Our first realtor did nothing of the sorts. So into the car we went, driving around, looking at house after house, and not finding anything that said Home.

Three days of looking, and I was beginning to feel overwhelmed, and disappointed. This was not only because we were growing closer and closer to time for my husband to be finishing with his training command, but also because our little baby would be arriving very soon and I knew my time was limited on being able to look for a house. It was hard enough waddling in and out of a car, then looking through house after house, but doing so with a newborn....not happening.

Day four of looking seemed to be producing the same results...nice houses, but not our home. It was the last house of that day, it had been on the market 1 day, and I just had this feeling. This house was on the same street as the house we were renting, so it would be a short move, and almost seemed too easy. We pulled in the driveway and I got a tingling feeling. As soon as my feet stepped into the front foyer, I knew it was home. I began scurrying around the house as fast as a 9 month pregnant lady could and became more excited with each step. My husband and I sat down at the bar right there in that house and put our offer on paper and the realtor submitted it.

Then the nerves sat in, and it was almost unbearable. We gave them two days to respond, and when 5 o'clock on the day we requested a response came and went, my heart was sad. I just knew that they had passed on our offer. Several hours later, the phone rang, they had countered. Contrary to most people's beliefs, their counter actually included a few things we hadn't thought of, agreed to most of our conditions, the only thing was they wanted a little more money. We put our counter offer in and the next day, with a house full of friends cheering on our respective college football teams, the phone rang....WE GOT THE HOUSE! The whole room broke into cheers, and we were so excited to share that moment with everyone!

Then the fun part, form after form, stacks of papers, inspections, walk thrus....o my the paperwork seemed almost endless. Then, in the middle of trying to get all of this done, our son made his appearance into the world. With a 3 ½ week old in tow, we arrived at the Law office to do our final closing. What an amazing feeling. The lawyer was wonderful and explained everything as we signed our lives away. As we sat there at the round table, signing paper after paper, I felt very relieved. The process was finally over, and we had a house, a home, a place our son will take his first steps, say his first words, and celebrate his birthday. It was the most amazing feeling knowing that it was done, and we could start moving our things into our home.

Not only did we find a house that we fell in love with, we made some new friends that we now talk to regularly, and plan on having dinner with, the "old" owners. It made the process even more enjoyable, though the first word that comes to mind when I reminisce about first starting the home buying process would have to be "anxiety filled," ha!

We've been in our new home for a little over a month now and couldn't be happier. The pictures are on the wall, the furniture is in place, and we're having our first dinner party tomorrow night. You want to know the best part; it's all over for at least three years!

Want more new ideas to make your business run more efficiently? Take 30 minutes today to schedule a call with Steve Kantor to see how a part time virtual assist can transform your business. Interested in a part time career with us? Visit our website for more information.

Recycling in Gaithersburg just became easier as residents of single family homes and townhouses can now "single stream" their recyclables. Single streaming simplifies the recycling process by allowing customers to combine recyclable paper, plastic, glass, steel and aluminum materials into one single container for collection. These materials are then picked up by a single truck and taken to the Waste Management recycling facility in Elkridge, MD, where advanced recycling technology is used to automate the sorting of these materials. Single streaming promotes recycling for those who like the simplicity of using one container for all recyclables. This system eliminates the need to separate newspapers from bottles and cans, which can take up space at home with several different bins for recycling. Any questions regarding these collections should be directed to the Gaithersburg Department of Public Works at 301-258-6370.

• Regular Refuse - Not collected by the City. Residents should make arrangements directly with private refuse haulers.
  
  
• Newspapers, Mixed Paper, Recyclable Cans, Glass Containers, and Plastic Containers - Collected by the City's recycling contractor in City provided bins, placed at the curb on your recycling day.
  
  
• Corrugated Cardboard - Collected by the City's recycling contractor these no longer need to be cut or flattened.
  
  
• Brush and Branches - Collected by the City's recycling contractor when tied in bundles or placed in biodegradable brown paper bags and placed at the curb on your recycling day.
  
  
• Grass Clippings and Other Yard Trimmings - Collected by the City's recycling contractor when placed in biodegradable brown paper bags and set at the curb on your recycling day.

• Large Appliances - Collected by City crews on your first recycling day of the month. Doors should be removed or secured so they cannot be opened.
  
  
• Large Household Items - Acceptable items collected by City crews on your first recycling day of the month.

Bulk items must be separated from regular refuse and marked "Bulk Pick Up" Items improperly prepared will not be collected.

• Loose Leaves - Collected by crews in the fall and spring when raked to the curb during designated leaf collection days.
  
  
• Storm Damage/Large Amounts of Brush - Call 301-258-6370 to discuss special arrangements.
  
  
• Holiday Trees - Collected by City crews when placed at the curb on your recycling day (Dec. 26 - Jan. 31).

On October 17, 2005, Gaithersburg's Mayor and City Council approved Ordinance No. O-8-05 which makes Montgomery County's multi-family and commercial recycling laws applicable in the City of Gaithersburg.

Multifamily properties located in Gaithersburg must now implement a recycling program in accordance with Montgomery County's "Think Reduce and Recycle at Apartments and Condominiums" (TRRAC) program. Montgomery County implements the multifamily recycling program in Gaithersburg. For more information, please contact the TRRAC Multi-Family Recycling Program at 240-777-6400 or visit the website.

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/swstmpl.asp?url=/Content/DPWT/solidwaste/education/trrac/index.asp

Key provisions of Montgomery County's multifamily recycling laws:

• On-site recycling services must be provided for all residents.
  
  
• Multifamily properties must recycle certain materials:

  - Newspapers, including inserts
  - Aluminum and bi-metal (steel/tin) food and beverage cans and aluminum foil products
  - Glass bottles and jars (green, clear and amber)
  - Plastic bottles with necks
  - Yard trimmings (grass, leaves, brush and Christmas trees)

• The property owner/manager must develop a waste reduction and recycling plan for submission to Montgomery County.
  
  
• The property owner/manager must contract with a Montgomery County licensed collector.
  
  
• The property owner/manager must meet County annual reporting requirements.
  
  

On October 17, 2005, Gaithersburg's Mayor and City Council approved Ordinance No. O-8-05 which makes Montgomery County's multi-family and commercial recycling laws applicable in the City of Gaithersburg.

Businesses located in Gaithersburg must now implement a recycling program in accordance with Montgomery County's "Smart Organization Reduce & Reuse Tons" (SORRT) program. Montgomery County implements the business recycling program in Gaithersburg. For more information, please contact the SORRT Non-residential Recycling Program at 240-777-6400 or visit the website.

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/swstmpl.asp?url=/Content/DPWT/solidwaste/education/sorrt/index.asp

Key provisions of Montgomery County's commercial recycling laws:

• All businesses must recycle the following required materials with a goal of recycling 50 percent of total waste produced:

  - office paper
  - corrugated cardboard containers
  - newspaper
  - aluminum and steel/tin food and beverage cans (including bi-metal cans)
  - glass and plastic food and beverage containers
  - yard trim

• Businesses with 100 or more onsite employees must complete a Business Recycling and Waste Reduction Plan (referred to as the Plan) to tell the County how your business will recycle the required materials.
  
  
• Businesses with 100 or more onsite employees must submit an Annual Business Recycling and Waste Reduction Report (referred to as the Annual Report) by the dates specified in the Reporting Schedule. Businesses with fewer than 100 onsite employees may submit an annual report upon request of the Division of Solid Waste Services.

Posted on ActiveRain as a community service.

CHARACTER COUNTS IN GAITHERSBURG, MARYLAND

Ryan Homes has recently returned to Oak Creek Club in Upper Marlboro, MD. They are offering single family homes beginning in the $340,000s. Ryan is offering neo-traditional floor plans which feature a smaller lot size and a rear entry garage as well as traditional single family homes. There are several lots available including several that back to the golf course and others that face the entry lake and fountain.

The complete list of builders in Oak Creek:

Townhomes

• NV Homes
• Craftstar Homes

Single Family Homes

• Ryan Homes
• K&P Builders
• NV Homes
• Craftmark Builders

Oak Creek Club is Prince George's County premier country club community. The community features 24 hour guard gated entrance as well as a private 18 hole golf course and the fully restored Bowieville Mansion.

Planned amenities for Oak Creek Club include: a shuttle to the Morgan Metro station, a clubhouse, a swim & tennis center, and walking trails.

If you are interested in learning more about Oak Creek Club in Upper Marlboro or if you would like a personal tour give me a call.