FREE MARKET ANALYSIS OF YOUR POTOMAC MD HOME!   Do your 2011 goals involve... Selling a Home in Potomac MD ~ Buying a Home in Potomac MD ~ Living in Potomac MD? If you are thinking of selling, buying or just plain curious about home values in Potomac, MD contact Marsha Schuman and Betsy Schuman Dodek, The Schuman Team at Washington Fine Properties. First we will schedule a time to walk through your home. Next, we will do an in depth analysis of your home and compare it to the current market value for homes in Potomac MD. Market value tells us what a buyer will pay for your home at a particular time in the market. It reflects a price range based on what similar Potomac MD homes have sold for in the past few months. Determining this price range requires your real estate advisor to have ex... 12/23/2010

  Really Nice Homes in Potomac Maryland 20854 www.ReallyNiceHomes.com Please click on the links for really nice pictures "CLICK ON PHOTO GALLERY" www.ReallyNiceHomes.com   For Maryland, DC and Virginia   7312 BROOKSTONE CT,  POTOMAC,  MARYLAND 20854 Price: $1,895,000 Fabulous custom Contemporary sited on 2+ acres with towering trees and mature landscaping. Sun-fille ... View Details View Photo Gallery (9) MLS#: MC7466902 MLS: MRIS Bedrooms: 5 Bathrooms: 4 Partial Baths: 2 Acres: 2.05 7301 BRICKYARD RD,  POTOMAC,  MARYLAND 20854 Price: $1,895,000 OUTSTANDING FULLY CUSTOMIZED HOME WITH GORGEOUS RENOVATIONS AND EXPANSIONS. ... View Details View Photo Gallery (6) MLS#: MC7457385 MLS: MRIS Bedrooms: 6 Bathrooms: 8 Partial Baths: 2 Acres: 2.12 9425 WING FOOT CT,  POTOMAC,  MARYLAND 20854 Pric... 12/22/2010

    Nestled between the Canal and Brickyard Road is River Falls, one of the favorite neighborhoods in Potomac.  The distinctive River Falls lifestyle focuses on lots of activity! The neighborhood tennis and swim club and the nearby Canal andGreat Falls Park are a huge draw for today’s residents.  The Fourth of July parade with streamer decorated bicycles, tennis lessons, lemonade stands, swim teams and lifeguarding, and hiking the C&O Canal towpath – there was, and is, no shortage of neighborhood activities. Don’t forget that River Falls is just a short bike trip into Potomac Village with the busiestStarbucks in the metro area, Potomac Pizza for quick bites, Tally-Ho for a more leisurely meal, Strosniders for hardware necessities, and grocery stores, pharmacies, the library – in short ... 11/29/2010

How does a Home Stager working in Bethesda, Rockville and Potomac Md become better? I believe education is the way. Sharing experiences and seeing what other Stagers across the country are doing is a sure way to spark ideas. That is exactly what I did. The week from Oct 7-11 eighty plus ASP and ASPM stagers met and shared ideas on the beautiful Carnival cruise ship Ecstasy. We set sail from Galveston Texas and anchored in Cozumel Mexico. We were welcomed on opening day by a video- taped message from Barb Schwarz. She unfortunately wasn’t there due to a recent surgery. We then had great presentations from established stagers on the project lifecycle and how to re-ignite your Business. Later that day we “Met the Pros”. We broke up into smaller groups and brainstormed with other stagers on... 11/14/2010

So you are a golfer moving to DC and you need a house.  What are you going to do to continue to enjoy the sport that you love.  Even though DC is not an area known for its golf courses like Pebble Beach or Sawgrass, we do have a few courses here and there a lots of options for you.  When you pick your Realtor, you might want to talk to him or her about your passion for golf and make sure that accessibility to golf courses is part of the research that your agent does for you.   Are you going to play one of the many local public courses or join a golf or country club? If you work in Montgomery County, Maryland, you might want to look at homes that are near one of the nine golf courses that Montgomery County owns and operates from Potomac to Damascus to Silver Spring.  For instance, the ni... 11/07/2010

  The distinctive River Falls lifestyle focuses on lots of activity! The neighborhood tennis and swim club and the nearby Canal and Great Falls Park are a huge draw for today’s residents The Fourth of July parade with streamer decorated bicycles, tennis lessons, lemonade stands, swim teams and lifeguarding, and hiking the C&O Canal towpath – there was, and is, no shortage of neighborhood activities. Don’t forget that River Falls is just a short bike trip into Potomac Village with the busiest Starbucks in the metro area, Potomac Pizza for quick bites, Tally-Ho for a more leisurely meal,  Strosniders for hardware necessities, and grocery stores, pharmacies, the library – in short everything you need for village life! As River Falls has evolved over its 40 years of construction a “new” pha... 10/27/2010

Howe to Be A Real Housewife of Potomac Avenel is a planned community dating from the 1980s (shortly before I became a Realtor) on the site of a large farm not far from Potomac Village.  The community’s street boundaries are Persimmon Tree Road on the north, Country Club Drive on the east, Rock Run Park on the south, and Avenel Farm Drive on the west.  Oaklyn Drive, its main street, winds through the neighborhood with other streets like Crimson Leaf and Avenel Farm Drive branching off.  It is a golf course community of expensive single-family homes and townhomes built around TPC at Avenel, a private golf club operated by the PGA Tour and home of the Booz Allen Classic (formerly the Kemper Open). Some of the most expensive homes in Montgomery County, Maryland are located in Avenel.   Alth... 10/26/2010

POTOMAC HOMES FOR SALE: WASHINGTON FINE PROPERTIES GROUP OPEN HOUSE ~ 10/24 FROM 2:00-4:00 PM Please join The Schuman Team and Washington Fine Properties for our group open house this Sunday October 24th, 2010 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the following Potomac Homes For Sale. 11728 Le Havre Drive List Price: $1,175,000 Subdivision: Lake Normandy Estates Lot Size: .38 acres Virtual Tour for 11728 Le Havre Drive   Directions: From Potomac Village, go north on Falls Road (past Glen); make a right on Winterset Drive; left on Le Havre Drive to the cul-de-sac. 10532 Democracy Boulevard List Price: $1,395,000 Subdivision: Blenheim (adjacent to Potomac Village) Lot Size: .82 acres Virtual Tour for 10532 Democracy Boulevard   Directions: From Potomac Village go north on Falls Road; make right ... 10/22/2010

POTOMAC HOMES FOR SALE: THE HALT TO FORECLOSURES Potomac Residents, are you thinking about selling your home this fall? Now might be a great time to get on the market. Rates are low and your competition is less than it might be as a result of the moratorium on foreclosures. There are buyers circling at Open Houses and looking for homes to purchase before the end of the year. If you live in Potomac, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Rockville, Maryland or the District of Columbia and you are thinking about buying or selling, call me at 301-996-8700. Take a few minutes to read the following post about those affected by the recent halt to foreclosures.   Via Dave Halpern - Louisville Short Sale Expert (Louisville Short Sale Expert Realtors (502) 664-7827): The ripple effect of the abrupt halt to fore... 10/14/2010

Potomac, MD 20854 Zip Code Home Sales Statistics - Average Sold Price $979,394 The following residential sales statistics are for the past month and are compared with the same month last year. There were 88 new listings of homes for sale and 46 homes for sale went to pending new contracts. The sold dollar volume for the zip code was down 13.47% from last year. The number of homes sold and settled was 31 from 34 last year. The average time on the market was 93 days from 115 days last year. The average sale price was 89.72% of the average list price. The average sold price was $979,394. The median sold price was $809,500.    Please contact us if you wish to receive statistics for another zip code.  Life is good in Maryland. RealEstate Business Intelligence, LLC.ZIP Code Statistics - Highe... 10/12/2010

Should I refinance to a 15 year mortgage? A number of borrowers who have the equity and cashflow are making the switch and refinancing to 15 year mortgages.  15 year mortgages are amortized over 15 years instead of 30 years, so the payment is slightly higher but the loan is paid off much sooner.  Also 15 year mortgage rates are much better than their 30 year counterparts. The benefits to refinancing to a 15 year mortgage: If you are buying your "final" home in your mid 30's would it be great to know you'd be done with your mortgage payment when you turn 50!? Rates are about 0.5% to 0.75% better.  Ie: if 30 year rates are around 4.25-4.5% you can expect 15 year to be between 3.5-4% On a $300,000 30 years mortgage at 4.5% you will end up paying $247,000 in mortgage interest.  On a 15 year... 10/03/2010

POTOMAC MD RESTAURANTS: SPRINKLES HITS THE SPOT!I may be stating the obvious but Sprinkles has to be one of the most popular spots in Potomac Village. Especially this summer and autumn with the hotter than hot days we've experienced. Sprinkles is an institution in Potomac Village and has been around for years. In 2009, Sprinkles' owner signed a 10 year lease that will keep this popular spot around for a long time! Sprinkles sells delicious ice cream, frozen yogurt, cupcakes, doughnuts, bagels, coffee and more. They have a ton of toppings to choose from and they make great "blend-ins" if you like your toppings mixed in. Hours of Operation are as follows: Mon-Thurs 6:00 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Fri, Sat 6:00 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Sun 7:00 a.m.-9:30 p.m.  If you have a sweet tooth and you happen to be in ... 09/28/2010

POTOMAC MD HOME SALES - HOW IS THE "SUPER LUXURY" REAL ESTATE MARKET DOING??  LET'S VISIT AVENEL. THE AVENEL STORY One of the most popular luxury communities in the Washington-Maryland-Northern Virginia real estate market is AVENEL, a luxury home community in Potomac, Maryland.  Known in Montgomery County for the beauty, convenience and amenities offered, this completely residential community has grown in popularity over the years.  Homes constructed by quality luxury home builders contributed homes with style that will maintain their value in all markets conditions over the years.  The uniqueness of Avenel benefits all home onwers.                               CLICK ON IMAGE FOR LARGER VIEW.         Avenel Homes   Avenel Homes   Avenel Homes   Avenel Homes AVENEL STATISTICS ACTIVE as ... 09/21/2010

Potomac, MD 20854 Zip Code Home Sales Statistics - Average Sold Price $884,118   The following residential sales statistics are for the past month and are compared with the same month last year. There were 63 new listings of homes for sale and 38 homes for sale went to pending new contracts. The sold dollar volume for the zip code was down 26.36% from last year. The number of homes sold and settled was 51 from 65 last year. The average time on the market was 80 days from 104 days last year. The average sale price was 91.40% of the average list price. The average sold price was $884,118. The median sold price was $825,000.    HOC Notice:  The Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County just reduced its 30 year fixed rate to 4.25% for first time home buyers. Please share this in... 09/14/2010

Ever dream of buying a beautiful investment property in a far-away place like Brazil or perhaps something a little closer to home like the lovely island of Jamaica is more to your liking...Well, whatever your taste, chances are your good old Uncle Sam has already bought some land in the same area and with the economy being what it is, he's ready to wheel and deal. Let's see if we can find the investment property of a lifetime. Luxurious locations and even some attractive funding make these worth the time to take a second look. Bureau of Overseas Building Operations - Now this is a resource you hardly ever run across! This little known gem lists property owned (and listed for sale) by the federal government in exotic locations around the world. Pick up a beautiful 7,000 square foot home... 08/21/2010

POTOMAC MD RESTAURANTS: AN EXPANSION FOR BROOKLYN'S DELI & CATERING AT POTOMAC WOODS SHOPPING CENTER Everyone is buzzing about Brooklyn's Deli & Catering's expansion at Potomac Woods Shopping Center off Seven Locks Road in Potomac MD! At a time when restaurants seem to be closing, it's refreshing to hear about expansions!!! Brooklyn's Deli & Catering joins a strong lineup of retail establishments at Potomac Woods Shopping Center such as Starbucks, Wink Eyecare Boutique, Amici Miei Ristorante, On Cloud 9, Natural Body Spa & Shop and The Little Gym. Brooklyn's is located across the street from Lifetime Fitness and in the backyard of Park Potomac Place.   No one can deny that Potomac needed a great deli. Brooklyn's Deli & Catering is refreshing and affordable. The dining area is a good siz... 08/18/2010

 I had an epiphany yesterday. If you want to sell your listings just follow these three steps. 1. Get to know a reputable Home Stager. One with an ASP designation usually takes the guesswork out. 2. Have them go with you to evaluate each property. 3. Insist that your clients follow the Home Stager's advice. If there is problem with cost, help your client out at closing.   All my properties have sold extremely quickly. I work in the Washington D.C. area in Bethesda, Potomac and Rockville and even though our market may be better than in other parts of the country, all listings do not sell as fast as staged ones. Do not Overprice. I make my Real Estate very happy.  One last thought, a full staging is best but a consultation will also help tremendously. 08/14/2010

MERRY-GO-ROUND FARM POTOMAC, MARYLAND HOMES FOR SALE Merry-Go-Round Farm is a unique neighborhood located approximately 5 miles past Potomac Village along the Potomac River. It is comprised of 79 custom homes on 200+ majestic acres. Merry-Go-Round Farm is a family friendly neighborhood that caters to outdoor sports enthusiasts and nature lovers alike!!! Through the Merry-Go-Round Farm Home Owners Association, residents can take advantage of many amenities including walking trails, an exercise gym, lighted tennis courts, 3 private lakes, canoes, access to the C&O canal and an equestrian center with boarding and riding lessons. The Washington Post wrote a nice article on the Merry-Go-Round neighborhood last weekend highlighting the superior architecture, style, materials and craftsmanshi... 07/25/2010

Potomac, MD 20854 Zip Code Home Sales Statistics     Home owners and prospective purchasers want to know the trends of the local real estate market. The following statistics are for the past month and are compared with the same month last year. There were 101 new listings of homes for sale and 58 homes for sale went to pending new contracts. The sold dollar volume for the zip code was up 12.62% from last year. The number of homes sold and settled was 68 from 51 last year. The average time on the market was 48 days from 107 days last year. The average sale price was 95.85% of the average list price. The average sold price was $861,790. The median sold price was $780,000.      Please contact us if you wish to receive statistics for another zip code.  Blooming for Maryland home buyers. Rea... 07/13/2010

With new construction picking up in Potomac, MD. Should builders be allowed to give incentives for using their recommended or affiliated lender?   Often when purchasing a newly built home builders offer discounts, rebates, closing costs, or upgrades, only if the purchaser agrees to use the builder’s mortgage lender.  While it is understandable that a builder would want to refer customers to reputable lender(s) they know and trust, enticing customers with large incentives to use a certain lender may be considered a borderline violation of RESPA.  It becomes even more controversial when the recommended lender charges higher than market rates and or fees for their services.  After all, are Potomac real estate agents or sellers allowed to give incentives for using their recommended lender? ... 06/18/2010