(BETHESDA REAL ESTATE) If over 80% of all buyers are shopping on the web, then as real estate professionals we need to be there first.  They are looking for property and are hungry for information on how to go about purchasing that property.  Eventually these buyers end up with real estate professionals to guide them through the process as evidenced by the large blue wedge in the following chart.  Almost half of the buyers who buy homes come directly through the agents. What Does That Mean to You as a Seller?It means you need an agent who can be found on the Internet.  Found by buyers and found by other agents.  Because when your agent knows how to be found, he/she will know how to get your home found on the Internet.  To Get Buyers to Come In:Your agent needs to be:Using a blog to comm... 11/25/2007

Single Family Homes Sold Through October 2007 - Bethesda, MD (Montgomery County) 20816   StatusClose DateOriginal PricePrice at SaleSold PriceDiscountSubsidyDOMAddressSubdivisionSOLD5/15/2007$729,000$729,000$766,000105%$075305 CROMWELL DRSPRINGFIELDSOLD10/15/2007$875,000$875,000$840,00096%$005508 CROMWELL DRSPRINGFIELDSOLD8/22/2007$830,000$830,000$855,000103%$035608 JORDAN RDSPRINGFIELDSOLD5/31/2007$889,000$869,000$869,00098%$0315412 CHRISTY DRSPRINGFIELDSOLD7/15/2007$879,000$879,000$900,000102%$035603 CROMWELL DRSPRINGFIELDSOLD4/30/2007$925,000$925,000$920,00099%$075404 RIDGEFIELD RDSPRINGFIELDSOLD3/7/2007$939,500$925,000$925,00098%$0925302 BROOKEWAY DRSPRINGFIELDSOLD6/25/2007$950,000$950,000$950,000100%$005809 WILTSHIRE DRSPRINGFIELDSOLD6/29/2007$929,000$929,000$960,000103%$005505 CHR... 11/24/2007

Single Family Homes Sold in October 2007 - Bethesda, MD (Montgomery County) 20816  StatusClose DateOriginal PricePrice at SaleSold PriceDiscountSubsidyDOMAddressSubdivisionSOLD10/12/2007$599,000$599,000$599,000100%$0424803 BAYARD BLVDCRESTVIEWSOLD10/17/2007$679,000$679,000$669,00099%$1,00075214 BELVOIR DRGLEN MAR PARKSOLD10/30/2007$898,000$699,000$685,00076%$01555002 GLEN COVE PKWYWESTGATESOLD10/15/2007$875,000$875,000$840,00096%$005508 CROMWELL DRSPRINGFIELDSOLD10/26/2007$1,050,000$979,000$900,00086%$01205008 ROCKMERE CTSUMNERSOLD10/30/2007$1,250,000$1,250,000$1,292,500103%$035956 SEARL TERBEACON HILLSOLD10/22/2007$1,350,000$1,350,000$1,350,000100%$044908 JAMESTOWN RDYORKTOWN VILLAGESOLD10/2/2007$2,350,000$1,895,000$1,800,00077%$03215911 ONONDAGA RDHIGH POINTSOLD10/29/2007$1,975,000$1,... 11/23/2007

The Crescent Trail is traveled by bikers, runners, skaters and walkers.  The path is absolutely beautiful with water falls.  The Potomac River runs along it as well.       On my last ride -- I ran into a painter who was enjoying the delightful weather on a beautiful November Day.  I had to stop to take a picture of his wonderful painting.  Personally, I think he did an excellent job of capturing the scene.  What do you think?   Here's the scene he was painting!   There's no better way to view DC than on your bike on a Sunday --     Need I say More!   I am ready to ride whenever you are!           11/19/2007

(BETHESDA REAL ESTATE)Student Concert & Santa ClausTime:  2:00Date:  December 8Place:  Vetrans Park* corner of Norfolk and Woodmont AvenueVisit Santa Claus and enjoy performances by:Glorystar Children's ChorusKensington Parkwood Elementary SchoolNorwood Middle SchoolOur Lady of Lourdes SchoolWatkins Mill High schoolFor more information about real estate sales in Bethesda, MD 20816 please email me at josette.skilling@longandfoster.com or visit my website at Bethesda Real EstateAll data courtesy of:Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.4733 Bethesda AvenueBethesda, MD 20814301-385-9213 (cell)240-497-1700 (office)Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by The Activerain Network and its members and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of Josette Skilling or Long & ... 11/16/2007

(BETHESDA REAL ESTATE) Ice Sculpting Live!Time:  1:00Date:   December 8Place:  Vetrans Park* corner of Norfolk and Woodmont AvenuesWatch as professional ice scupltor transform a block of ice into a wintry work of art! I watch these guys carve ice every time I drop off dry cleaning at Valley Cleaners next to Talberts on River Road.  They are amazing!  It's hard to believe what they can create in ice - so intricate and artistic.  We watched a similar concert in St. Paul, MN a few years back and the felt the same wonder and awe.Hope to see you there!For more information about real estate sales in Bethesda, MD 20816 please email me at josette.skilling@longandfoster.com or visit my website at http://www.josetteskilling.com/Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.4733 Bethesda AvenueBethesda, MD 20814... 11/16/2007

(BETHESDA REAL ESTATE) Winter ConcertDate: Friday, December 7Time: 8:00 pmPlace: Imagination Stage4908 Auburn AvenueBethesda, MD 20814A free concert is being offered at Imagination Stage featuring:Almost Recess - A cappella vocal groupCoral Cantigas - Chamber choir music of Spain, Latin America and the CarribeanPotomac Fever - a cappella ensemble of the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, D.C.Reverb - A capella group performing gospel, folk and R&BSee you there!For more information about real estate sales in Bethesda, MD 20816 please email me at josette.skilling@longandfoster.com or visit my website at http://www.josetteskilling.com/Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.4733 Bethesda AvenueBethesda, MD 20814301-385-9213 (cell)240-497-1700 (office)Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by The Activerai... 11/16/2007

(BETHESDA REAL ESTATE) Montgomery County Public Schools, National Philharmonic & Strathmore Present2nd Grade Student ConcertsSponsored in part by a generous gift from Carolyn and Jeffrey LeonardThe second grade students in Montgomery County went to a concert at The Music Center at Strathmore in November as they've done for the last four years.  These concerts are the result of a unique partnership among National Philharmonic, Strathmore and Montgomery County Public Schools, working together to provide the coordination, concert logistics, educational materials and the transportation required to present these outstanding musical performances for students in one of the nation's premier concert halls, The Music Center at Strathmore.Throughout the performance, the students learn about the fo... 11/16/2007

Single Family Homes Sold in August 2007 - Bethesda, MD (Montgomery County) 20814  StatusClose DateOriginal PriceList PricePrice at SaleDiscountSubsidyDOMAddressSubdivisionSOLD8/13/2007$499,500$499,500$525,000105%$0115605 GROSVENOR LNWILDWOOD ESTATESSOLD8/28/2007$575,000$575,000$535,00093%$20,000134704 EDGEFIELD RDPARKWOODSOLD8/6/2007$615,000$594,000$560,00091%$16,800379800 RALEIGH TAVERN CTNORTH BETHESDA GROVESOLD8/29/2007$549,900$581,000$581,000106%$02084506 JONES BRIDGE RDGLENBROOK VILLAGESOLD8/30/2007$599,999$599,999$593,00099%$17,790349316 EAST PARKHILL DRPARKVIEWSOLD8/17/2007$625,000$625,000$615,00098%$074420 CHESTNUT STROSEDALE PARKSOLD8/6/2007$639,500$639,500$625,00098%$15,625208128 OLD GEORGETOWN RDBATTERY PARKSOLD8/16/2007$625,000$625,000$635,000102%$15,000109823 OLD GEORGETOWN... 11/15/2007

(BETHESDA REAL ESTATE) When a buyer looks at a home, they look at all the factors: foreclosures, distressed sales, bankruptcies, divorces, and area market fluctuations. All too often sellers mistake the appraisal value of their home as what a diligent buyer would pay. An appraisal is an opinion of value for an entirely different purpose than selling your home - often to provide a bank information to fund a loan. If a lender is motivated to loan you money, his appraisal may come in higher than the true market value of your property. The appraiser might ignore other issues in his analysis, such as foreclosures in the market or distressed sales. Thus the real picture of the market is clouded by an overly optimistic assessment.Many sellers use the appraised value of their home in order to j... 11/14/2007

(BETHESDA REAL ESTATE) Some of the traditional advertising tools agents have used are print ads and open houses.  In truth, print ads bring little to no activity to the home and less than 1% of houses ever sell at an open house. Agents use open houses to attract buying prospects, not to sell your home, although the more buyer prospects I have as an agent the better I am able to market directly to them.  Knowing that 3-4 buyers are looking right in one area for a certain home means I can match them up when listings come up that meet their criteria.Successful marketing of your home - getting the best price, at the right terms, and with the fewest problems - requires much more. In fact, over 80% of all buyers start on the Internet so that's why the most competent agents will have a broad r... 11/14/2007

(BETHESDA REAL ESTATE) If you make the right improvements often it will help your home stand out from the crowd and become that #1,2 or 3 home on the buyer's list.  If they can get the feeling of space, newness, light, privacy or security the emotional desires are met and the buyer has an instant feeling of "home."  Very simple and inexpensive improvements can provide an improved emotional response in a potential buyer. The improvements we are talking about are not the major renovations but the minor changes that can add great value and help the house show better.  There is something that can be done at every budget level to improve the condition of the home.Paint:  A very inexpensive solution with tremendous payoff is fresh paint.  The modern palette is easy on the eyes and very soothi... 11/14/2007

(BETHESDA REAL ESTATE) Everyone wants to realize as much money as possible when selling their home. It's a completely natural inclination to price the home high, thinking you can always come down in the future.  The old "let's just try it at this price to see what the market will do."  The fear of leaving money on the table overwhelms the desire to make an actual profit.  But the beauty of the market is it corrects for under pricing with quick or multiple offers.  The correction for overpricing follows...A listing price that is too high frequently nets the seller even less money than an original price at market value. I'm often asked, but how can that be? For one, because people looking for homes in your price range will reject your home in favor of other homes in a reasonable price ran... 11/14/2007

 (BETHESDA REAL ESTATE) The decision to sell your home can involve any number of stresses.  So many of today's sellers are motivated by circumstances outside their control: foreclosure, job change, job relocation, health issues, financial changes, divorce, death.  Other sellers need to move because their families have grown or they need different school systems or it's just time to downsize to something easier to maintain.   Whether you've lived in your home for one year or for a lifetime, it's not just a roof over your heads but it's really a central core where memories were created and where dreams were either born or fulfilled.  It's the nest where we raised our family and watched them fly with wings of their own, allowing the cycle to begin anew with their own families. Is it any wo... 11/14/2007

(Bethesda Real Estate)The net sheet is really the crux of the whole transaction.  I've developed this handy spreadsheet that serves not only our purposes at the beginning of the process but for understanding how an offer price will affect the bottom line.  There are so many numbers to track but really in the end the number in the red circle is what we generally care about!  What I find is that when clients focus there instead of on individual costs they really make better overall decisions.  In Montgomery County, we generally split the transfer taxes between buyer and seller since this can be such a significant portion of the closing costs.  Those are fixed to the sales price so as it adjusts the numbers in my spreadsheet adjust with it.  Each county handles these taxes differently so I... 11/13/2007

Single Family Homes Sold in September 2007 - Bethesda, MD (Montgomery County) 20814  StatusClose DateOriginal PricePrice at SaleClose PriceDiscountSubsidyDOMAddressSubdivisionSOLD9/20/2007$799,900$799,900$800,000100%$0115925 CHESHIRE DRWILDWOOD MANORSOLD9/28/2007$825,000$825,000$825,000100%$01038107 KENTBURY DRCOLUMBIA FORESTSOLD9/27/2007$869,500$869,500$860,00099%$044702 ROSEDALE AVEROSEDALE PARKSOLD9/7/2007$969,000$949,000$900,00093%$0927812 ABERDEEN RDENGLISH VILLAGESOLD9/4/2007$1,095,000$1,095,000$1,090,000100%$0157824 GLENBROOK RDBATTERY PARKSOLD9/14/2007$2,200,000$2,200,000$1,905,00087%$0477809 FAIRFAX RDBATTERY PARK What Does It Mean?Bethesda Neighborhoods covered by this report are:Battery Park Columbia ForestEnglish VillageRosedale ParkWildwood ManorOne of the first things is t... 11/13/2007

(BETHESDA REAL ESTATE) If you read the article in The Post earlier you'll note that the Montgomery County Council is considering legislation that would increase the Recordation Tax on all purchases.  This increase has not passed as the Washington Post reported yesterday.  There has been quite a bit of confusion over what that legislation says because there have been five different versions of the bill.  The current version of the legislation, which passed a test vote on Monday and is subject to a final vote this Tuesday, is as follows:All purchases $500,000.00 and under will continue to be taxed at a base rate of $6.90 per thousand with an exemption for the first $50,000.00 if the property will be a principal residence. Any portion of a purchase that exceeds $500,000.00 will be taxed at... 11/09/2007

8 Reasons a Home Sells The Seller Sets the PriceThe Agent Brings the MarketThe Market Sets the RangeThe Buyer Sets the Value I often think of my job as a 50/50 partnership with clients who are selling real estate in Bethesda, but in reality the job distribution is heavily weighted towards the seller's responsibilities!   When all of their job is done mine can get done to the best of my ability.  But when even one of the factors in that red box gets short shrift I'm generally already swimming upstream.  Let's look at each one:Items the Seller ControlsChoice of real estate agent - I'll put this one first because it's the most important choice a consumer can make.  We are not all alike and all homes and sales are not equal either.  Those of us who are good at our jobs understand that we'll... 11/08/2007

 The Washington Post had an article this weekend about how buyers are piecing together a deposit for a down payment on a house.  Imagine actually putting money into homes again!  I know that brings up old fears of needing to put 20% down, but actually what they state is that 5% is the new norm.  On a $400,000 purchase that's $20,000.In our cash poor, credit driven society that's a tough number to come up with for so many people and it doesn't take into account the other funds required for closing which can add another $10,000-$15,000 on top of that.  Where does this money come from?The article points out that the best place is the buyer's own funds if you've managed to save that much.  If not, tap into your 401K via a hardship withdrawal or a loan back to yourself.  You'll pay tax on th... 11/06/2007

Single Family Homes Sold in August, 2007 - Bethesda, MD (Montgomery County) 20816Close DateOriginal PricePrice at SaleSold PriceDiscountSubsidyDOMAddressSubdivision8/31/2007$715,000.00$715,000.00$665,000.0093%$0.00164803 MONTGOMERY AVEGLEN COVE8/13/2007$789,000.00$739,000.00$735,000.0093%$0.00604914 JAMESTOWN RDWESTGATE8/22/2007$799,000.00$799,000.00$773,000.0097%$2,000.00355316 ALLANDALE RDGREENACRES8/8/2007$785,000.00$785,000.00$785,000.00100%$0.0096205 VORLICH LNFAIRWAY HILLS8/27/2007$829,900.00$829,900.00$799,950.0096%$0.00236015 MASSACHUSETTS AVEGLEN ECHO HEIGHTS8/16/2007$819,000.00$819,000.00$809,000.0099%$0.0026002 MILO DRWOODACRES8/31/2007$849,000.00$849,000.00$839,500.0099%$0.0045144 WESTPATH WAYSUMNER8/31/2007$849,900.00$849,900.00$845,000.0099%$0.0095145 MASSACHUSETTS AVEWEST... 11/04/2007