Sharon Curtiss

DID YOU KNOW…

There is a product to help benefit today’s borrowers in achieving fantastic deals and REALTORS® to achieve quick closings? Fannie Mae has a program for borrowers purchasing a REO (bank-owned) property directly from Fannie Mae. The products benefits are below: • No appraisal required. • No mortgage insurance required • Available to both owner-occupiers (primary and second homes) and investors • High maximum LTVs are allowed-95% primary homes & 90% second homes & investments • Up to 6% expanded interested party contribution. • 30 year fixed Rates as low as 4.875% • Up to 10 financed properties allowed. If you want to learn more, please let me know and I will refer you to a local lender.

------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ocean Pines Market Update

As of August 23, 2009 we currently have 324 single family, townhomes and condos on the market for sale in Ocean Pines. So far to date in 2009, we have had 119 properties go to settlement. There are currently 35 properties pending settlement. Here are the sales results by quarter. Q1 = 28; Q2 = 62; Q3 = 29. That is about 15 sales per month for a little over 21 mos of inventory. We are starting to see multiple offers on the properties that are in good condition and priced property. Don't forget to go to my website to search for all available properties in the area so you can take advantage of the great prices too! P.S. Hileman Real Estate is currently the No. 1 Broker for YTD Sales Volume in Ocean Pines!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------Ocean City Market Update

Now here is what's happening at the beach? There are currently 1769 homes/condos for sale in Ocean City. So far in 2009 our MLS indicates that 532 properties have settled and 169 properties are currently pending. Based on this information, there is about 27 months of inventory. Keep in mind however that not all available units in Ocean City are listed in the local MLS. Sales per quarter are as follows: Q1 = 161; Q2 = 228; Q3 = 143. The REO market is still pretty active at the beach. Give me a call if you are looking for a bank-owned property.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------Captain's Cove Update

And finally, Captain's Cove has had some activity this year as well. YTD we have seen 13 home and 21 lot settlements occur. There are 36 homes on the market and 252 lots available, so inventory is still high creating downward pressure on current sales prices. Also there are 5 homes and 7 lots pending settlement. Some of the builders have been seeing an increase in contracts for clients building on their own lots which is good news. So with prices still down you can buy a lot to build your next home at a reasonable price. Give me a call and I will be happy to send you an updated list.

Here is what's been happening in the Ocean Pines, MD real estate market since the beginning of the year.

Based upon a review of the information as reported in the local multiple listing service, you can see that the inventory is starting to level off to about 24 months of inventory on the market. In the Ocean Pines area, we do have a seasonal increase in the number of new listings coming on the market as well as the number of sales increasing during the summer months since that is when we have more visitors coming into the area.

Most of the sales are in the under $250,000 price range and prices are becoming more affordable for the first-time home buyers as well as those wanting to purchase a 2nd home. There are definitely some good buys to be had and we are encouraged that those buyers who have been waiting on the side lines have good reason to purchase now before the interest rates begin to rise.

Did you know that according to a recent article for the mortgage lenders, a 1% increase in mortgage rates will offset any savings you might get be getting a home at a 10% discount? So waiting to purchase could back fire on you.

Why not work with an Accredited Buyer's Agent and negotiate based on how much you feel the market may continue to decline. Keep in mind, each home is priced differently and the seller's motivation to sell will play an important role on how much you can expect to get off the list price.

When you hire me to represent you, I will do a complete market evaluation to ensure that know all the facts before making the decision to purchase. Visit my website www.sharoncurtiss.com for FREE Buyer Service reports and search for local property for sale.

Ocean Pines Market Update

Well now that 2008 is finally over, I thought I would update my Blog to show the sales trends in Ocean Pines since 1995.

As you can see there have been a lot of home sold over the years and as expected 2008 had the lowest amount sold. Our current inventory shows 244 single family homes on the market and prices have returned to more affordable levels.

This is great news for first-time buyers entering the market place. With interest rates at historic lows and the current $7500 first time buyer federal tax credit, we should all be encouraging anyone we know that qualifies to take advantage of this once in a lifetime opportunity. Many of you out there have children that can now afford the dream of homeownership.

If you need more information about purchasing a home or any other real estate related question, please feel free to give me a call at 410-726-4260. I will be happy to talk with you. Visit my website where you will find FREE Buyer and Seller Tips at www.sharoncurtiss.com.

There's no place like home... You never realize how true those words are until you go out of town for a while.

Don't get me wrong, I love to travel and one day I would love to retire to a beach in Mexico, but during the beginning of February my husband and I made our annual trip up to Atlantic City for a few days of fun. We like to celebrate our birthdays (mine is the 1^st and his is the 29^th), so we book a few nights at the Tropicana in comped rooms, take some spending money and make the ride up from Ocean City, Maryland - about 3 - 3 ½ hours drive if you don't take the Cape May - Lewes Ferry.

We always have a nice time, a few nice dinners out in the Havana Quarter, play craps a little (lose), go to the Atlantic City Boat Show (my husband is a boat broker) and then come home. This year though, the first thing I wanted to do when I got back was go to our favorite local watering hole, the Marlin Moon Grille.

I must say that this is the best restaurant in town (actually it is in West Ocean City in the Frances Scott Key Motel across from the Outlets). We like to go every Friday night (if we have the $$) for Happy Hour and have to get there by 5 pm to get a seat at the bar. They have drink discounts and some great bar food at happy hour prices. We usually have a few cocktails and appetizers versus a full dinner, but for special occasions we will go for the fine dining - and I mean FINE (yum). The owner Gary Beach is a fisherman, so he appreciates the freshest of ingredients, and you never go away disappointed. The bartenders are the best and make us feel like locals (even though we have only lived here since 2000). They know what we like to drink and will even have it ready for us when we sit down. This is such a comfortable place to go, that I even go by myself if my husband is out of town. I guess that is what makes it like home.

So if you are ever looking a great place to visit, come to Ocean City, Maryland and check out what our town has to offer. I might just have to change my retirement plans and stay right where I am and just visit those other countries, because there truly is no place like home.

Click here to search for listings in the Ocean City Maryland area, or go to www.sharoncurtiss.com for more area information.