Denise Watkins Blog

 In the Upper Marlboro real estate market, conditions continue to favor both sellers and buyers even as more house become available compared to this time last year.  July 2015 found an increase in the number of active listings, new listing and pending listings for single family detached homes, ac...

Last week my husband and I took our daughter and niece to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware which is approximately 2.5 miles away from Upper Marlboro, MD.  Soon as we unpacked our belongings, it started pouring down raining and the next thing you see are the lifeguards waving their hands to get everyone’s...

Walking away from your home has consequences for the family, the community, the market and the economy.  However, there are options that homeowners should consider before leaving: Short Sale:    Homeowner has a financial hardship and qualifies for a sales transaction where the lender is willing t...

Like most things in real estate, neighborhoods are constantly changing in value. In some cases they can improve rapidly and decline gradually, but more often than not they change slowly, over time. Ideally, you want to buy property in neighborhoods as they’re appreciating. You certainly don’t wan...

Sure, you probably had a garage sale before the big move from your old neighborhood, but have you ever thought of having one after you’ve relocated? It’s a great way to meet the neighborhood.It’s common sense to have a garage sale before your big move. There’s no reason to pay movers to load boxe...

While some home upgrades can add value to your home, others don’t measure up as well. One of the worst offenders? The home office remodel. Many home remodeling projects do wonders for the value of the home including a gourmet kitchen, finished basement with a theater room, an additional room or a...

Summer is now here, it’s hot and things are really cooking in the real estate market.  While there are pros and cons to buying and selling homes at various times throughout the year, summer can be, on average 25 to 30 percent more active than the annual average. In summer you have a real mix of b...

All sellers want their home to sell for the highest possible price. This is one reason why it’s so easy for agents to “buy” listings. If you’re not familiar with the concept, “buying” a listing is when an agent tells a client their home is worth far more than the market value in order to win the ...

There’s much to admire about owning an historic home. You probably don’t need to be sold on the beauty of a grand old house, and in all likelihood the home is in an established neighborhood or district where prices are projected to appreciate at a better clip than other areas. Plus, if it’s truly...

Whether your home is two years old or a classic Victorian from 1950, you can help your house hold its value and scream curb appeal with a few simple fair weather cleaning projects. Keeping a home in shape is a little like good dental hygiene… routine attention prevents major renovation! With the ...