Well, it should be no surprise to anyone - the rates are climbing back up. And as they climb, 
homebuyers who have been on the fence, wondering when they'd be at the bottom, feeling they had to have the absolutely best deal (in-)humanly possible, are going to start tumbling off the proverbial fence -- ATTENTION, HOMEBUYERS! Now is the time you've been waiting for! Call your Realtor, call your lender -- Ask them how that interest rate hike is going to affect your potential purchasing power! THIS IS IT! This is the nudge you've been waiting for, wondering whether or not it was time to buy -- Remember: You don't know you've seen the bottom of the market until it's BEHIND you!
And Mr. and Mrs. Seller -- Don't forget this affects you as well. As the interest rates go up, your potential buyers can afford less, so if the opportunity is here to sell now, you don't want to miss it!
And really, I have to tell you, buying the first home in what? 1986? It was time to buy, we needed a home, and the interest rates were what? 17%? Guess what? We bought anyway, as did millions of other people! So if the rate is 4.?, or 5.? -- At least it's not 17.?
Call today to get moving!
Best regards, Gretchen
It's almost time... Mark it now on your ca
lendars... Sunday, June 13th at 1:00 pm is Columbia's LakeFest Sixth Annual Boat Float! If you haven't seen a Boat Float yet, in downtown Columbia, now is the time; just remember sunscreen if the sun's out. Last year, it was hot and sunny, but SO much fun to watch the boaters try 1) to get in their boats and float, 2) actually move their boats around the course, and 3) finish the course! Woo hoo hoo!
Here is the activity schedule for that weekend, so get your calendars out: June 12 - 14: LakeFest Celebration
· Friday, June 12: 5:00 - 11:00 visual arts activities and performances at Columbia Town Center lakefront
· Saturday, June 13: 11:00 - 11:00 kicks off with the 6th Annual Kinetic Art Parade along Little Patuxent Parkway, followed by a day filled with visual arts activities and performances at lakefront
· Sunday, June 14: 12:00 - 7:00 visual arts activities and performances at lakefront
June 13th
o 10:00 - 7:00 Chalk-It-Up Contest
o 11:00 - 6th Annual Kinetic Art Parade
o Noon - 7:00 Indoor ArtPark Fine Arts & Crafts Show & Sale
o Noon - 9:00 Outdoor ArtPark Fine Arts & Crafts Show & Sale
o Noon - 7:00 Maryland Wine tastings at Indoor ArtPark
o 12:30 - 7:30 PuddlePushers Kids Arts & Crafts Tent
o 12:00 - 11:00 Lakefront Musical Performances featuring Local, Regional and National bands.
o 1:00 6th Annual Howard County Boat Float
o 1:00, 3:00, 5:00, 7:00 -Gravity-defying aerial feats and circus acts of
Cirque-tacular.
Hope to see you there!
Best regards, Gretchen
All this recent rain in Central Maryland makes now a GREAT time to check for hidden water damage -- just brought to my attention again how very damaging the HIDDEN part can be -- it's the ones you don't notice, that then don't get addressed -- So go on up to the attic and check for water leaks, seepage, dampness, check the gutters and downspouts, check the drainage around the house. Better to catch it early, rather than waiting until you've listed your home, received an offer, ratified a contract, and then the home inspector shows up... So use all that rain to your advantage, preemptively ensuring your home is dry dry dry!
And on a personal note, what a wet time it was at the Mayfield Wood Middle School 6th grade Outdoor Ed 3 day Program at Summit Lake last week --Yes, that's the THREE DAYS last week that it rained almost non-stop -- What a great program here in Howard County for the middle schoolers -- TORRENTIAL RAIN! And a big SHOUT OUT to all those GREAT TEACHERS who participate each year for our kids!
Best regards,
Gretchen
I was in a home Saturday, second showing, down in the basement, walking into the utility room, wondering where the darn light switch was, when I smelled -- yes, you guessed it, gas -- Didn't notice it at all the week before when we went through the first time! Fortunately we survived :) - Interesting how we always assume it will be fine, and continue on inspecting the home - and I emailed the listing agent - probably the water heater.
And of course, straight from the BG&E website:
| Natural Gas Safety
If you smell a gas leak 410-685-0123 or 1-800-685-0123. Report gas leaks immediately |
Speaking of which, can't tell you how many dark basements I've walked into just lately, walking into rooms looking for light switches -- Maybe the listing agents should try the tour themselves in the dark and leave the rest of us a clue or two from the hallway as to where to search next!
Best regards,
Gretchen
The Howard County MD housing market's median sales prices were down from Jan 2008 to Jan 2009 by 14.41%, from $359,040 to $307,300. The number of home sales settled went from 131 to 119, down just 9.16%. And the average days on market went from 119 in Jan 2008 to 135 in Jan 2009 - an increase of 13.45%. Of the 119 homes that sold, nearly half of them (55) went under contract in 90 days or less (and 32 of those 55 went under contract in 60 days or less) Well-priced, well-marketed homes are continuing to sell!
While 392 new listings came on the market in January 2009, 187 went under contract with or without contingencies, nearly half.
For more information on your home's value in this market, contact Gretchen today at 443-676-1625 (cell) or by email (Gretchen@GretchenConley.com).
If you'd like the approximate value of your home, but aren't ready to be contacted by an agent, visit http://www.GretchenConley.com. Provide as much detail as possible about your home. Gretchen will respond by email only (unless you request a phone call) with an estimate of your home's current value within 24 hours of your request!
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I love helping sellers and buyers with their life transitions, guiding my clients toward the best home sale and purchase decisions for them, on a timeframe that best suits their needs!
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