5 Simple Landscape Ideas That will make your neighbors say - WOW!!

If you're in the market to sell or just want to spruce up your homes curb appeal, here are a few easy ideas to make it happen. 

1. Add a Splash of Color - By adding color to your landscape, you are in essence adding another dimension. Flowering annuals produce an abundance of color for a sustained period of time.

2. The size of trees and shrubs should be in proportion to the size of the home, whether it be a one-story, two-story, etc. They should also not be blocking windows, doors or other architectural features of the home.

3. Lush Green Lawn - in other words get rid of those brown spots. And if you are located in a drought area, how about drought resistant plants, rocks, boulders and other ornamental grasses.

4. Shine the light - Add low voltage or solar lighting to the outside to add drama to your home at night. Highlight the front door, walkway, trees or branches, but don't overdo it.

5. Add a fountain - The sound of water is very appealing and soothing. You can put a nice one together fairly reasonably.

$149,000 Great priced home in water privileged community. Will not last long with a new roof and painted siding on a spacious yet manageable lot.Seller will also be installing New kitchen floor, Bathroom floor, New toilet, New Carpet in living room, and painting all rooms as well as new kitchen appliances. With only a 30 min commute to the bay bridge.

Offered at $149,000 201 Central Dr Chestertown, MD Click Here for More Information

DESCRIPTION Great priced home in water privileged community. Will not last long with a new roof and painted siding on a spacious yet manageable lot.Seller will also be putting in New kitchen floor, Bathroom floor, New toilet, New Carpet in living room, Paint all rooms as well as new kitchen appliances. With only a 30 min commute to the bay bridge. Bring your offer to day before this home is no longer available

PROPERTY DETAILS •  Single Family Home •  clas acres lot •  3 bedrooms •  Built in Unspecified •  0.34 Acres •  1 bathrooms   PROPERTY FEATURES •  Single Family Property •  1 total full bath(s) •  Parking features: Free, Gravel Driveway •  Status: Active •  Single story •  Heating features: Baseboard, Electric •  County: QUEEN ANNES •  Type: Detached home, Fee simple •  Cooling features: Electric, Window Unit(s) •  Subdivision: CHESTER HARBOR •  Style: Ranch home •  Exterior construction: Vinyl siding •  Year Built: 1978 •  Bathroom(s) on main floor •  Lot is 15000 sq. ft. •  3 total bedroom(s) •  Bedroom(s) on main floor •  Approximately 0.34 acre(s) •  1 total bath(s) •  Swimming pool(s) •  Lot size is less than 1/2 acre

SELLER CONTACT INFO Dina Baxter CENTURY 21 Rosendale Realty - Kent Island 605 Main St. Suite 100 Stevensville Maryland 21666 (410) 643-2166 dina@dinabaxter.com

Posted: April 02, 2010

Realtors See Broad Based Stabilization in Housing Demand

The National Association of Realtors today released Existing Home Sales data for March 2010.
From the release:


Buyers responding to the homebuyer tax credit and favorable affordability conditions boosted existing-home sales in March, marking the beginning of an expected spring surge, according to the National Association of Realtors.
Existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, rose 6.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.35 million units in March from 5.01 million in February, and are 16.1 percent above the 4.61 million-unit level in March 2009.
Single-family home sales rose 7.3 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.68 million in March from a level of 4.36 million in February, and are 13.3 percent above the 4.13 million level a year ago. The median existing single-family home price was $170,700 in March, up 0.6 percent from March 2009.

Existing condominium and co-op sales increased 3.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 670,000 in March from 650,000 in February, and are 39.3 percent higher than the 481,000-unit level in March 2009. The median existing condo price5 was $170,600 in March, which is 0.7 percent below a year ago.

The chart below illustrates a pick up in home buyer demand during the spring/summer/early fall months of 2009, which happens to coincide with the expiration of the original first time homebuyer tax credit, followed by a drastic decline in the winter months all the way into spring 2010.

Single-family median prices rose in 14 out of 20 metropolitan statistical areas reported in March in comparison with a year earlier. Five metro areas experienced double-digit increases, including San Diego, St. Louis and Boston.
Regionally, existing-home sales in the Northeast increased 6.0 percent to an annual level of 890,000 in March and are 25.4 percent higher than a year ago. The median price in the Northeast was $249,800, up 8.9 percent from March 2009.

Existing-home sales in the Midwest rose 7.2 percent in March to a pace of 1.19 million and are 15.5 percent above March 2009. The median price in the Midwest was $139,300, up 0.2 percent from a year ago.

In the South, existing-home sales increased 7.1 percent to an annual level of 1.97 million in March and are 13.9 percent higher than a year ago. The median price in the South was $154,800, up 5.2 percent from March 2009.

Existing-home sales in the West rose 6.6 percent to an annual rate of 1.30 million in March and are 14.0 percent above March 2009. The median price in the West was $209,400, down 7.9 percent from a year ago.

Total housing inventory at the end of March rose 1.5 percent to 3.58 million existing homes available for sale. Raw unsold inventory is 1.8 percent below a year ago, and is 21.7 percent below the record of 4.58 million in July 2008.

This represents an 8.0-month supply at the current sales pace, down from an 8.5-month supply in February.
REMEMBER: The annual rate for a particular month represents what the total number of actual sales for a year would be if the relative pace for that month were maintained for 12 consecutive months. See comments on chart....

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said it is encouraging to see a broad home sales recovery in nearly every part of the country, with two important underlying trends. “Sales have been above year-ago levels for nine straight months, and inventory has trended down from year-ago levels for 20 months running,” he said.
“The home buyer tax credit has been a resounding success as these underlying trends point to a broad stabilization in home prices. This is preserving perhaps $1 trillion in largely middle class housing wealth that may have been wiped out without the housing stimulus measure.”
“Foreclosures have been feeding into the inventory pipeline at a fairly steady pace and are being absorbed manageably,” Yun said. “In fact, foreclosures are selling quickly, especially in the lower price ranges that are attractive to first-time home buyers.”

“With home values stabilizing, a revival in home buying confidence will likely help the housing market get back on its feet even as the tax credit impact disappears,” Yun said.

Adoptable Labrador Retriever: "Mr. Big is about 11 weeks old

Adoptable Labrador Retriever: Mr. Big: Petfinder: "Mr. Big is about 11 weeks old. He came into ARF with his 6 brothers and sisters. They all love to play and are very friendly. If you are interested in a sweet puppy that loves everyone, stop by the ARF center and visit.

Mr. Big is up-to-date with routine shots and spayed/neutered."

• Animal Resource Foundation Inc
• Chester, MD
• (410) 643-8700

Trade Apartment for House-Brand NEW- 3BR/2+1BA Single Family House

Offered at $219,000 103 Booker Ave Price, MD Click Here for More Information

DESCRIPTION

PROPERTY DETAILS •  Single Family Home •  clas acres lot •  3 bedrooms •  Built in Unspecified •  0.29 Acres •  2.5 bathrooms   PROPERTY FEATURES •   Single Family Property •  1 total half bath(s) •  Master bedroom is 11 X 14 •  Status: Active •  Two story •  Living room is 13 X 23 •  County: QUEEN ANNES •   Type: Detached home, Fee simple •  Kitchen is 13 X 20 •  Year Built: 2010 •  Style: Colonial •  Parking features: Driveway/Off Street •  New Home •  Master bedroom •  Heating features: Electric, Heat Pump(s) •  New construction •  Living room •  Cooling features: Electric, Heat Pump(s) •  3 total bedroom(s) •  Kitchen •  Exterior construction: Crawl space, Vinyl siding •  2.5 total bath(s) •  Laundry room •  Lot is 12500 sq. ft. •  2 total full bath(s) •  Bathroom(s) on main floor •  Approximately 0.28 acre(s)

SELLER CONTACT INFO Dina Baxter CENTURY 21 Rosendale Realty - Kent Island 605 Main St. Suite 100 Stevensville Maryland 21666 (410) 643-2166 dina@dinabaxter.com

Posted: March 25, 2010

Yes, you can have a pony!

Ok you just had a flash back to childhood.  I bet you can remember having that knock down drag out screaming fit with Mom or Dad on the old pony request. You know, the one where you were on the floor kicking and screaming in the last stages of hyperventilation with some foreign substance streaming from your nose.

Mom finally said a Pony was out of the question. How dare she ruin my life!!!

Now let’s segue into Grown-up-ville where you’re on the hot seat from little Johnny to deliver the next Xbox game or Steve Job’s latest hit me for $500.00! I think the mortgage and electric are still due this month.

Do we really need all of this stuff to be happy? We grew up just fine without the Pony and I suspect we’ll be just fine in the end without Tour of Duty 12.

So for all you Moms and Dads that are commiserating over the next potential capital expenditure, just take a deep breath and let Suzie know that Yes, she can have that Pony when she’s all grown up.

How to Hide Farmville, Mafia Wars and Other Stuff From Your Facebook Wall

For those of you who can’t stand Facebook Applications, like Farmville, Yoville, Mafia Wars, Secret Valentines, etc. Of course I don’t care that others like playing those games, but I don’t want to see it muddying up my wall. Here is how to eliminate these posts from your wall without removing your friends’ “normal” posts.

Find offending post.
Hover over the top right corner until you see the “Hide” button.



Click on the “Hide” Button.

From here you can either:
Hide EVERYTHING that person posts (far left button)
Hide only that application (middle button)
If you like the person but not the application, click the middle button.
Repeat this process for anything that you don’t want cluttering up your Facebook wall.

I'm all about saving Money-Here is a Free directory Service by Google

Google's new 411 service is free, fast and easy to use. 

Facing Divorce in tough economic times. Don't loose your Spouse and your house

Divorce is a terribly difficult situation to face. You are losing something that you once valued. There are numerous financial and legal considerations. There may be children to think of. And of course you must give some thought to your future, after the divorce.

When it comes to a divorce you have every right to think about the mortgage. If you don’t think that you’d be able to pay the mortgage on the home, then you should not try to keep the house. If you want to get out of the mortgage you may have some trouble. Every state with community property laws is slightly different. Some states are known as non community property states, where they believe that someone always owns everything; it’s just a matter of determining who.

When it comes to the lenders, they aren’t going to be happy having to rewrite the mortgage on your home. However, even if you are in the middle of the divorce, the mortgage payment still needs to be paid. In fact, it is up to the creditor to allow you to get off the mortgage or keep you on. If your wife or husband can not get the loan by themselves, then you are more than likely going to have to make sure that the mortgage is paid regardless of whether you live there are not. Late payments can really mess up someone’s credit.


If you want to get out of the divorce without the mortgage, you are going to have to think about a few things. You are going to have to either ask your spouse to buy it out, or you will have to ask them to sell. Depending on the state and your circumstances, you may have to sell the house regardless. Remember, if you put your house up for sale, you still have to pay the mortgage until the day it is signed over to a new couple or person. You are still the legal owner of the home.

If you are worried about your credit rating you should do some work or investigation before you enter the divorce process. You will need to know what credit cards that you two have and the balances on each. Not only do you have to worry about the liabilities that you two have accumulated during the marriage, you have to think about all the money that you have saved on account. You may end up having to repay your spouse from the account and pay for your credit debt.

When you file for divorce you will want to close all joint accounts. Make sure that everyone knows that it was by request, not because of other circumstances. You will want them to note that so that it shows up on your credit report and has no negative impact on your credit when you apply for new credit.

If there is any possible way to maintain civil communications with your soon-to-be ex-partner, you will both benefit from working together to protect each person’s credit profile after the divorce. You will both want to move forward with your lives. It is much easier to move forward with a clean credit report.

It's always good to consult with professionals (Accountant, Attorney, Real Estate Agent) to help navigate you through the process and mitigate any potential risk.

Written by
Mark Flanders

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First Time Buyers-513 Watson Road, Centreville, MD

Offered at $309,900 513 Watson Rd Centreville, MD Click Here for More Information

DESCRIPTION

PROPERTY DETAILS •  Single Family Home •  Unspecified lot •  3 bedrooms  •  Built in Unspecified •  Unspecified Area •  1.5 bathrooms     PROPERTY FEATURES •   Single Family Property •  1 total half bath(s) •  Parking features: Driveway/Off Street, Free, Gravel Driveway •  Status: Active •  Single story •  Heating features: Electric •  County: QUEEN ANNES •   Type: Detached home, Fee simple •  Central air conditioning •  Subdivision: WATSON WOODLANDS •  Style: Ranch home •  Central heat •  Year Built: 1985 •  Bathroom(s) on main floor •  Cooling features: Ceiling Fan(s), Electric, Heat Pump(s) •  3 total bedroom(s) •  Bedroom(s) on main floor •  Exterior construction: Vinyl siding •  1.5 total bath(s) •  2 car garage •  Lot is 43560 sq. ft. •  1 total full bath(s) •  Attached parking •  Approximately 1 acre(s)

SELLER CONTACT INFO Dina Baxter CENTURY 21 Rosendale Realty - Kent Island 605 Main St. Suite 100 Stevensville Maryland 21666 (410) 643-2166 dina@dinabaxter.com

Posted: March 19, 2010

So your Mother-in-law has Tacky or Ugly furniture. Don't worry you have options!

One of the hottest trends to sell a home today is home staging, an interior decorating technique for making the most of your home's attributes and making it more attractive for a potential buyer. Home staging has been known to boost home sales prices, as well as quicken the amount of time the home stays on the market. But the question is: What is the pricing for home staging-and is it worth it?

Preparing Your Home for Sale
Most sellers realize the importance of cleaning up their home before putting it on the market. Things like fixing leaky sinks, mending cracks in the walls and completing other minor repairs are also pretty standard. Some people paint; others replace flooring. Some even freshen up the landscaping or add some new interior fixtures. These things are often good to do and, in many ways, are considered forms of "staging," or preparing your home for sale.

There are professionals, however, who will go above and beyond what most homeowners think of when they go to sell their house. For a fee, these individuals and companies will come into your home and furnish it with items that are neutral, attractive and sometimes high-end, in order to make your house as attractive as possible. Home staging costs often include moving around, removing or adding furniture and adding tasteful artwork or other decoration to make your home really shine.


Staging: Is It Worth It?
The main benefit of hiring a professional to stage your home is that they will look at your surroundings with an experienced, tasteful and objective eye. They won't be attached to grandmother's antique table, nor will they have the same affinity you may have for that pink bathroom. They will be able to come in and tell you which items should be removed, what should be added and how best to feature your home.

While home staging may seem like an unnecessary expense, there probably isn't a single house that couldn't benefit from a bit of carefully manipulated staging-even if it's a simple matter of re-organizing, freshening up and removing clutter. And often, suggestions and changes from professionals can amount to significant increases in the bottom line profit when selling your home.

Home staging pricing for a simple consultation run from $200 to $400, yet for extensive staging work on larger homes, be prepared for pricing to run up to $6,000. Some staging firms will provide free estimates. However, according to www.StagedHomes.com, a leader in home staging services, statistics show an average of a 3% minimum increase in final sales price on homes that had been staged, versus those who had not. On a $300,000 home, that's a $9,000 increase-and well worth the home staging fees.

Regardless if you choose to hire a professional staging company, please don't shop at the store below. A little Friday humor to brighten your day.

People still want homes!

A nationwide survey conducted by Fannie Mae found 65% still believe the value of owning a home. However, the survey suggests that people are fairly gun shy since the housing bubble.

The survey also demonstrated that consumers are taking a more balanced approach with less risk taking.

Over 40% stated safety was a primary driver when choosing a home with a third of folks indicating that schools played a big factor in their decision making.

The survey showed that 60% of folks now believe that its harder to buy a home today that it was for their parents.

However, 70% said they believe owing a home is still one of the safest investments. This is down from 83% in 2003.

The survey was conducted by telephone this winter with 3,451 Americans age 18 and older.

I’d like to know your thoughts on the survey findings? Has your outlook changed on home ownership since the housing crash? Send me your comments!

Dina

149,000- 3BED+1BA Chestertown, MD

Offered at $149,000 201 Central Dr Chestertown, MD Click Here for More Information

DESCRIPTION Great priced home in water privileged community. Will not last long with a new roof and painted siding on a spacious yet manageable lot.Seller will also be putting in New kitchen floor, Bathroom floor, New toilet, New Carpet in living room, Paint all rooms as well as new kitchen appliances. With only a 30 min commute to the bay bridge. Bring your offer to day before this home is no longer available

PROPERTY DETAILS •  Single Family Home •  clas acres lot •  3 bedrooms •  Built in Unspecified •  0.34 Acres •  1 bathrooms   PROPERTY FEATURES •  Single Family Property •  1 total full bath(s) •  Parking features: Free, Gravel Driveway •  Status: Active •  Single story •  Heating features: Baseboard, Electric •  County: QUEEN ANNES •  Type: Detached home, Fee simple •  Cooling features: Electric, Window Unit(s) •  Subdivision: CHESTER HARBOR •  Style: Ranch home •  Exterior construction: Vinyl siding •  Year Built: 1978 •  Bathroom(s) on main floor •  Lot is 15000 sq. ft. •  3 total bedroom(s) •  Bedroom(s) on main floor •  Approximately 0.34 acre(s) •  1 total bath(s) •  Swimming pool(s) •  Lot size is less than 1/2 acre

SELLER CONTACT INFO Dina Baxter CENTURY 21 Rosendale Realty - Kent Island 605 Main St. Suite 100 Stevensville Maryland 21666 (410) 643-2166 dina@dinabaxter.com

Posted: April 02, 2010

Your home can make you happier!

"Light and color have a definite impact on people's emotional response," says Alison Whitelaw, a San Diego architect and vice president of the Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture, a group that brings research scientists and designers together.

Maximizing full-spectrum light during the day, matching wall color and ceiling height to a room's purpose, and placing the main seating in the "power position" (ideally with a wall at your back) -- those are just some of the tricks researchers say are proven to make houses feel better to their occupants.

Now is a great time to take advantage of these insights. According to a recent poll commissioned jointly by Money and home-improvement chain Lowe's, 52% of homeowners say they are focused on smaller projects that increase their enjoyment of their homes even if they don't increase its value.

Problem is, those people are in danger of wasting money on projects that won't increase their pleasure after all. That's because our survey shows that people aren't always right about what will make them happy in their homes.

For instance, homeowners think that their outdoor space has a big impact on their happiness, but it turns out that's not true. Indoor spaces have much more impact -- particularly the living room or family room, the kitchen, and bedrooms.

That's where this story comes in. It suggests ways you can apply design research to make six key rooms work harder for you. For example, your bedroom can get better at lowering anxiety and promoting sleep; your home office at helping you work more efficiently; and your living room at increasing family togetherness.

That last one is especially important, given that the National Science Foundation's General Social Survey -- which has polled some 53,000 people since it began in 1972 -- finds that what makes people happiest isn't their wealth, work, or health. Rather, it's their family relationships.

Best of all, the suggested fixes don't cost much (with the exception of a couple of kitchen projects). Some are free. And you need not tackle them all -- completing even two or three can make a difference.

Before you dive in, one caveat: We don't all respond to spaces exactly the same way. What brings you joy is affected by your personal associations.

"If your happiest times were at your grandmother's house, which had green walls, then green may make you feel better" than the colors research suggests, says Dr. Esther Sternberg, chief of neuroendocrine immunology and behavior at the National Institute of Mental Health and the author of "Healing Spaces: The Science of Place and Well-Being."

But keep the following tips in mind. They may come in handy when it's time to prep your house for sale -- you know, when your market starts moving again.

By Elizabeth FennerMarch 29, 2010: 12:34 PM ET

Queen Anne’s County Property Transfers Posted Through March 26

FROM: Clough, Tony L., Jr.
CONSIDERATION: $455,000
TO: Motier, Eric G. & Mary J.
303 Cosden Road, Barclay

FROM: Winchester, Allan A.
CONSIDERATION: $15,000
TO: Winchester, Jonathan
1414 Barclay Road, Barclay

FROM: Davidson Development, Inc.
CONSIDERATION: $290,000
TO: Gowl, Michael A. & Lisa L.
114 Austin Court, Centreville
FROM: Richland Homes, Inc.
CONSIDERATION: $200,000
TO: Suntrust Bank
118 Austin Court, Centreville

FROM: Murdoch Building & Renovations, Inc.
CONSIDERATION: $390,000
TO: Bagley, Bryant T. & Laura L.
113 Sheaffer Road, Chestertown

FROM: Church Hill Pond, LLC
CONSIDERATION: $175,000
TO: Toth, Albert A. & Anna Mae
502 The Pond Way, Church Hill

FROM: McQuestion, Patricia H.
CONSIDERATION: $269,500
TO: Ellis, Thomas J. & Katherine T.
369 Wicomico Road, Stevensville

FROM: Stader, Stacy H.
CONSIDERATION: $390,000
TO: Yost, Mimsy & Cristen
206 Love Point Avenue, Stevensville

GREAT COMMUNITY OF WOODED LOTS WITH WATER ACCESS AT COMMUNITY PIER. TOTAL OF 5 LOTS FROM 1 TO 3 ACRES. PRIVATE SETTING WITH DEER, TURKEY, DUCKS,AND OTHER WILD LIFE FOR NEIGHBORS.

Offered at $84,000 Hidden Woods Rd Greensboro, MD Click Here for More Information

DESCRIPTION GREAT COMMUNITY OF WOODED LOTS WITH WATER ACCESS AT COMMUNITY PIER. TOTAL OF 5 LOTS FROM 1 TO 3 ACRES. PRIVATE SETTING WITH DEER, TURKEY, DUCKS,AND OTHER WILD LIFE FOR NEIGHBORS.

PROPERTY DETAILS •  Lot/Vacant Lot •  Built in Unspecified •  Unspecified lot    PROPERTY FEATURES •  Land Property •  Subdivision: HIDDEN WOODS LANDING •  Lot size is between 2 and 5 acres •  Status: ACTIVE •  Lot is 107593 sq. ft. •  Present use: Call agent for details on association fee info •  County: CAROLINE •  Approximately 2.46 acre(s) •  Topography: Trees, Water access, Wooded area/setting

SELLER CONTACT INFO Dina Baxter CENTURY 21 Rosendale Realty - Kent Island 605 Main St. Suite 100 Stevensville Maryland 21666 (410) 643-2166 dina@dinabaxter.com

Posted: March 06, 2010