Happy New Year from Our Home to Yours!

May love and laughter light your days and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours, wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons bring the best to you and yours!

Happy New Year from John Day and all of us at Homes Buy Day!

This Old Irish Blessing is one of my favorite toasts. Toasting has a long, if ignoble, history. Ancient Greeks and Romans hoisted a chalice to curry the favor of temperamental gods and emperors. Early Christians clinked glasses to ward off Satan. In the Middle Ages when scores were often settled by poison, the host's first sip determined whether drinking the wine would indeed lead to long life. Ever history's bad boys, Vikings shouted Skoal as they quaffed mead from the skulls of fallen foes. And the gallant English saluted a fair maiden by drinking a toast from her shoe. (Our thanks to Art Carey of the Philadelphia Enquirer for the history lesson.)

"The term toast derives from the quaint custom of dropping a piece of toast into a wine goblet. Why this was done is unclear," writes Carey. It may have softened the bread or filtered the wine or simply been common custom.

A few toasting tips:

• The host goes first.
• Keep it short and sweet -- no longer than 60 seconds.
• Never read your toast. Take time to practice and memorize it.
• Make sure it's appropriate to the audience and occasion.
• Do toast more than one person: the family, visiting friends, the entire gathering.

So raise your glass and toast to a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2007. After the New Year, visit us at Homes Buy Day and we'll help make those dreams come true. Happy New Year!

The Worst May Be Over! Housing Market Rebounding Slowly.

Consumer confidence soared in December and it looks like the worst of the housing downturn is gradually ending. Consumer confidence shot up to an 8-month high of 109.0 according to an Associated Press report. The National Association of Realtors reported that existing home sales edged up 0.6% in November following a 0.5% rise in October, the first back-to-back increase since spring 2005. Sales of new homes rose 3.4% in November. Predictions for 2007 are encouraging with the housing market expected to rebound slowly but steadily.

As the calendar rolls over to 2007, it will still be a buyer's market. Housing prices are expected to continue falling as sellers are forced to lower asking prices in response to the glutted market. However, lower prices will attract more buyers, leading to the eventual stabilization of the housing market in 2007.

"In October the median price of an existing home fell for a record fourth consecutive month, dropping to $218,000, down 3.1% from a year ago," wrote Martin Crutsinger for the Associated Press. "David Lereah, the [National Association of] Realtors' chief economist, estimated that each 1% decline in home prices brings an additional 50,000 buyers into the market."

Even though existing home sales for 2006 are down 9% nationwide, sales have increased marginally along the East Coast. While sellers can't expect to receive the inflated housing prices of the past few boom years, sales are expected to increase slowly as asking prices level out.

Aggressive marketing will enable sellers to compete effectively in the adjusting 2007 housing market, and an experienced and savvy realtor will allow buyers to get the most from their investment. If you're selling or buying a home in Maryland or the Washington DC area, veteran realtor John Day is your key to success. Visit John's informative website and read his valuable hints for sellers and buyers.

• If you're selling, John Day is a marketing genius. He'll design a dynamic marketing plan to sell your house, making powerful use of the internet. An expert at staging homes to sell quickly, John will provide valuable tips on getting your home ready to sell. A top seller with prestigious Long & Foster Realtors, you'll appreciate John's market-savvy advice on pricing your home to sell in today's changing market and his tough bargaining skills when it comes time to negotiate the sale.
  
• If you're buying, John Day has the knowledge, contacts, and experience to help you find the perfect home in the perfect neighborhood in Maryland or the Washington DC metro area. You'll depend on John's intimate knowledge of Maryland's many neighborhoods. He knows the communities, schools, recreation resources, shopping areas, restaurant and entertainment districts -- all the important qualities that make a community a good place to live. Personable and easy to talk to, John listens to his clients and is dedicated to their satisfaction. He won't drag you to properties that don't meet your criteria. John is a tough and proven negotiator who will get you the best price when it's time to close the deal. John will guide you through every step of the complicated process of buying a home from prequalification through closing, and even help you acclimate to your new community.

Give John Day a call today. If you're selling or buying a house in Maryland or the Washington DC metro area, you want expert realtor John Day by your side.

Fireplaces High on Buyers' Wish Lists

Nothing is nicer than getting cozy in front of a crackling fire during the cold winter months. Fireplaces are #3 on buyers' wish lists when they start looking for a home, just behind outdoor porches and upscale kitchens, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

Fireplaces are no longer the drafty, cavernous heat-suckers of yore. Today's fireplaces can be tucked along walls, into corners, even between walls to provide comfort and warmth to two rooms at once. Options abound from the traditional wood-burning to energy-efficient gas-fed models, allowing homeowners to control air quality and energy consumption. Gas models account for two-thirds of fireplace sales, preferred for their clean-burning heat output and 86% efficiency rating. There are even very lifelike electric models on the market for those who desire the cozy ambiance and crackle of a fire without the smoke and heat, a wonderful option for allergy sufferers.

New fireplace designs can be found to match any decor. You can go rustic with traditional fieldstone topped with a rough wood beam mantle or sleek with a mantleless brushed nickel model that sits flush against the wall -- and everything imaginable in between. These days you can choose a fireplace model that accents your home's decor and even it's color scheme! Ornamental fronts of solid metal where heat is pumped into the room through decorative openings can be added to a room like a piece of art. The newly popular portrait fireplaces fit in kitchen cabinets, bedroom armoires, even bathrooms. Only 21 inches wide and elevated well off the floor, they provide both warmth and architectural style to a room.

New technology allows you to add a fireplace to any room in your home. More than 75% of all fireplaces sold last year were factory-built as opposed to being the brick and mortar construction of your parents' day. With direct venting, the size and expense of chimneys and flues is greatly reduced and exhaust is vented outside, protecting indoor air quality.

Many homes in Maryland and the Washington DC area are already equipped with cozy fireplaces. Visit the Homes Buy Day website to check out the latest real-time listings. Click the post title to take a virtual tour of our featured local listings. Veteran realtor John Day and his enthusiastic, experienced staff at Homes Buy Day can fill you in on all the details and arrange a private tour. Contact John Day today and enjoy a cozy, crackling fire in your new home this winter. Whether you're buying or selling a home in the Maryland and Washington DC areas, John Day is your key to success.

Warm Holiday Wishes from Our Home to Yours

From all of us at Homes Buy Day, we wish you and your family peace, comfort and joy. This is a time to gather around the hearth and bask in the warmth of family and friends. Home is so much more than the place where you live. We'd like to share with you some thoughts on home, from the light-hearted to the profound. Enjoy!

--with warm wishes, John Day and the staff at Homes Buy Day

Home is where the heart is. --Pliny the Elder

The ideal of happiness has always taken material form in the house, whether cottage or castle. It stands for permanence and separation from the world. --Simone de Beauvoir

The most important work you and I will ever do will be within the walls of our own home. --Harold B. Lee

A man's home is his wife's castle. --Alexander Chase

Eden is that old-fashioned house we dwell in every day. --Emily Dickinson

Life's a voyage that's homeward bound. --Herman Melville

Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in. --Robert Frost

He is the happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home. --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

We need not power or splendor, Wide hall or lofty dome; The good, the true, the tender, These form the wealth of home. --Sarah J. Hale

The fellow that owns his own home is always just coming out of a hardware store. --Kin Hubbard

Home, the spot of earth supremely blest. A dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest. --Robert Montgomery

Home is not where you live, but where they understand you. --Christian Morgenstern

A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it. --George Moore

I want a house that has got over all its troubles. I don't want to spend the rest of my life bringing up a young and inexperienced house. --Jerome K. Jerome

Home interprets heaven. Home is heaven for beginners. --Charles H. Parkhurst

Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam, Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home. -- John Howard Payne

Keep the home fires burning, While your hearts are yearning, Though your lads are far away, They dream of home. --Lena Guilbert Ford

Everyone has deep in their heart the old town or community where they first went barefooted, got their first licking, traded the first pocket knife, grew up and finally went away thinking they were too big for that burg. But that's where your old heart is. --Will Rogers

It takes a heap o' livin' in a house t' make it home. --Edgar Albert Guest

Wishing you always . . . Walls for the wind, a roof for the rain, and tea beside the fire. Laughter to cheer you, those you love near you, and all that your heart may desire. --Irish Blessing

Real Estate Books Make Great Last Minute Gifts

There are only a few shopping days left, but don't panic! If someone on your gift list is planning to buy a home or refinance their current home or is just interested in real estate, we have a few last minute gift suggestions.

• Home Buying for Dummies (Wiley Publishing, $21.99). In this essential book, authors Eric Tyson and veteran real estate professional Ray Brown provide complete coverage of virtually every home-buying topic. Easy and entertaining to read, the book covers all the basics: hiring an agent, finding the right house, negotiating a good deal, and selecting a mortgage. Since most buyers start their home search on the internet, online resources receive extensive coverage. Packed with valuable tips and hints for home buyers, the authors also warn of pitfalls and unscrupulous practices.
  
• Everything You Need to Know Before Buying a Co-Op, Condo, or Townhouse (AMACOM Publishing, $18.95). Real estate attorney Ken Roth shares his legal expertise and personal experiences in a comprehensive yet accessible guide to the challenges and benefits of buying, owning and living in lifestyle homes. He provides vital information on financing and tax considerations, dealing with homeowners associations and co-op boards, repair and renovation issues, rights and responsibilities of ownership, and more.
  
• The Complete Idiot's Guide to Mortgages (Penguin, $14.95). Everything you need to know before you sign on the dotted line. Written by Jamie Sutton, a 27-year veteran of the mortgage industry, and Edie Driskill, a certified financial planner, the guide covers everything home buyers and refinancers need to know. The authors walk you through the application process, how to overcome qualification hurdles, choosing the right lender, finding the right loan, and when and how to refinance to save money. Valuable advice is given on managing your finances and saving for a downpayment. All the new, creative mortgage programs popular today are clearly defined. Sample forms are provided.
  
• The Reverse Mortgage Advantage," (McGraw-Hill, $21.95). If you're 62 or older, you'll want to find out more about this intriguing investment method. Renowned real estate expert Warren Boroson thoroughly explains the pros and cons of reverse mortgages in this detailed but easy-to-read book. Myths and horror stories from the early days of reverse mortgages are dispelled and the modern reality clearly explained.
  
• Find it, Fix it, Flip it! (Plume Books-Penguin Group, $15.00) Michael Corbett, entertaining host of TV's Mansions and Millionaires, regales the reader with insider information and established methods to successfully buy and flip a house. Loaded with practical, useful tips, the before and after photos are amazing. There's even a chart that helps you calculate the potential profit before you purchase.
  
• Trump: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received (Thomas Nelson Publishers-Rutledge Hill Press, $19.99). If you're curious about how the big boys play, you'll find this book by real estate tycoon Donald Trump fascinating. A compilation of the best realty advice you'll ever get, each of the 100 chapters is authored by a successful real estate investing, brokerage or marketing entrepreneur.

Enjoy the holidays. Sit down in a comfy chair, sip a little eggnog, and enjoy one of these fascinating books. Then give veteran realtor John Day a call and he'll help you put your new knowledge to practical use. Visit John Day's website for real estate tips gleaned from his years of experience as a successful realtor and top agent at prestigious Long & Foster Realtors. On John's website you'll find valuable advice on buying and selling a house, mortgages, the latest listings and more, plus information on local schools and communities. If you're buying or selling a home in Maryland or the Washington DC metro area, John Day is your key to success.

Make Sure Your Realtor Is Internet Savvy

More Americans are using the internet to find a place to live according to a new study. With more listings and real estate information online, the internet is increasingly where Americans begin their home search. The Pew Internet and American Life Project recently reported that 39% of Americans use the internet to search for a place to buy or rent. That's up from 34% in 2004 and 27% in 2000. In the under 30 age group, more than half searched for housing online.

With the internet becoming increasingly important in both home searches and sales, buyers and sellers need to make sure their realtor is internet savvy. Veteran realtor John Day understands the power of the internet and makes aggressive use of the web in his marketing plans. John developed the highly informative Homes Buy Day website to serve both buyers and sellers in Maryland and the Washington DC metro area. John has packed his website with valuable tips and information gleaned from his years of experience as a top agent with prestigious Long & Foster Realtors.

On John Day's website you can search both John's local listings and MLS listings in real time. You can check out every property just as soon as it's listed. On John's website you'll find not only accurate and detailed descriptions of each property, but a minimum of six pictures showing various rooms and views of the property. Many realtors show only a single picture of the outside of the house making it difficult to decide whether it's really what you're looking for. On John's website, you can take a virtual tour of each property to gauge how closely it meets your criteria -- a far more effective way of starting your home search. And if you're a seller, you should know that research shows home listings featuring six photos are viewed nearly 300% more often than homes without multiple photos.

While John Day's savvy use of the internet is only part of his dynamic marketing plan, his astute use of the web guarantees that your property will be seen by thousands of potential home buyers across the country. And if you're a buyer, it means you can view all of an area's listings from one, well-organized, easy-to-use site. To check out John Day's user-friendly website, just click the post title. Then call John or fill out the handy contact form on his website and he'll be happy to contact you promptly via e-mail. Whether you're buying or selling a home in Maryland or the Washington DC area, John Day is your key to success.

Find a Piece of Paradise Along Maryland's Waterways

When you think of paradise what image do you conjure up? Do you dream of azure ocean waves lapping up on a white sand beach? Do you yearn for deep green forest glades where cool waters burble down a rock-strewn stream? Does your heart sing at the sight of soaring mountain peaks, tipped with glistening glacial snow? For each of us the idyllic home setting is unique, but the ability of water to soothe and relax, the effect its sight and sound has on the human psyche is universal. There's an old adage for living a pleasant life: Visit the mountains, but live near water.

Life near the ocean or a river or a lake is particularly satisfying. Not only can you enjoy swimming, boating, and myriad water sports, but the sight and sound of water renews the human spirit. You can wile away a pleasant afternoon watching the comings and goings of people and wildlife along the water's edge. Staring at sun-dappled waves gently lapping the shore is more mesmerizing and calming than a yoga mantra. And the sight of the red sun melting slowly into the horizon is the perfect end to the day.

If you crave the relaxation and delight of living on the water, veteran realtor John Day can show you several remarkable properties in Maryland. Visit John's website and click on John's Local Listings, or click the post title. Scroll through John's most recent home listings; there are several lovely homes in Maryland located on or near the water. Take a look at the features of each property and click the Find Out More Information link to take a virtual tour. Then call John Day to schedule a private tour of the property. Like they say: Life is easy on the waterfront. Call John Day today and let him help you stake out your own little piece of paradise along one of Maryland's beautiful waterways.

If You're Selling a House, It's All About Marketing

If you're selling a home, you know it's all about marketing. Real estate agents have a tremendous advantage over do-it-yourselfers when it comes to marketing real estate, says John Day in his informative monthly newsletter (click the post title to read the December issue). Because they spend huge amounts of money on advertising, realtors benefit from doing a volume business. And because they expect considerable results from their hefty financial outlay, you can be assured that they are skilled in choosing advertising venues and crafting ads that will sell your home.

Among the many techniques realtors use are:

• direct mail
• neighborhood canvassing
• maintaining their own websites
• networking with professional and community organizations and former clients
• advertising in local newspapers and real estate magazines
• holding open houses
• utilizing the MLS network

Realtors factor into their marketing budget the cost of using all these advertising vehicles, something that is far beyond the financial means, not to mention the expertise, of the average home seller. Most realtors also have the backing and resources of a large company to draw on. With so many options at his fingertips, a realtor can easily place your property front and center where thousands of potential home buyers will see it.

"Marketing real estate is expensive and it is a complex world to figure out what is most effective for your house and your neighborhood," John Day cautions. This is one of those times when it's financially prudent to use the experts.

When you list your home with John Day, you get an experienced and proven expert in home sales. Among the 5% top sellers with Long & Foster Realtors, John leads his office of 100 agents in sales. John has developed an aggressive marketing strategy proven to sell your home quickly. A veteran realtor with years of experience in the Maryland/ Washington DC market, John Day has the expertise and winning negotiating style to get you the best possible price for your home. To learn more about John Day's dynamic marketing plan for selling your home, click the link. You'll find helpful information on getting your home ready to sell, showing your home, pricing, contracts, even comparable prices and listings. Visit John Day's website for more information, and call John today to list your home. It's the smartest marketing move you'll make.

Time Is Right to Realize the American Dream

It's the American dream, but what is so special about owning a home? When you talk to homeowners, the magic sometimes gets lost in the good-natured complaints about fixing the leaky sink or the unending battle with crabgrass. But the gripes are just a smokescreen for the pride and satisfaction that comes with owning your own home.

Many young people feel that buying a home or a condominium is their first real step into adulthood. When you buy a home, it announces to the world that you have not only arrived financially but are ready to become a responsible member of the community and grow a few roots. You're no longer just passing through. When you buy a home you make a positive investment in your community, in your financial prosperity, and, most importantly, in your family's future.

Home ownership is one of the smartest investments you can make, says Jerry White in his column Real Estate Matters. Not only do you start building financial equity but there are significant income tax advantages, including mortgage interest and property tax deductions. In addition, improvements add to your basis, decreasing the taxable cost when you sell. Today's tax climate is very homeowner friendly. Check with your tax planner for requirements and details.

But the main reason people buy a home is the great feeling you get knowing that your family is safe and secure in a space all their own. With inventory up, prices down, and interest rates low, this is a prime time to buy a home. Veteran realtor John Day can help you realize your dream of home ownership.

A top realtor with prestigious Long & Foster Realtors, John Day has the knowledge and experience to find your dream home in Maryland and the Washington DC area. Easy to talk to and attentive, John is devoted to helping his clients realize their dreams. John will help you find the perfect home in the perfect community so you and your family can start living the American dream. And you'll appreciate John's tough negotiating skills when it comes time to bid. John will make sure you get the very best possible price on your new home. Visit John Day's website to learn more and take a virtual tour of the latest listings. Then call John Day today so you can start living the American dream. Whether you're buying or selling a home, John Day is your key to success.

Housing Prices Stable Despite Decline in Sales

That "POP" you heard last week might not have been the housing bubble bursting, but the surprised jaw-drop of housing experts across the country. There was a little ray of sunshine amidst the clouds of doom and gloom. Third quarter figures from the National Association of Realtors showed a 1.2% decline in median housing prices, the first since 1993, and a plunge in total house and condo sales of 12.7% across the country compared to the same period last year. The ray of sunshine? Despite the slight national decline, housing prices remained stable in most local markets.

Doom and gloom reports by the media frightened homeowners worried about their equity. Did the bubble finally burst or, worse, was the country entering a prolonged period of eroding home values? Either scenario could have a disastrous effect on homeowners' wallets. It's important to remember that the quarterly statistics reflect median sales and price values, meaning that an equal number were above and below the stated midpoint. Kenneth Harney who writes about housing issues for the Washington Post Writers Group tried to put it all in perspective:

"How bad is that? Not that bad, but it's still important: Median-price decreases have been unusual events in recent years. They signal that something negative is under way in the marketplace. But given the unprecedented run-ups in real-estate prices during the boom years, plus near-record low mortgage rates fueling those fires, who is really shocked by a 1.2 percent decline?"

In fact, Harney said, in 102 of the 148 metropolitan markets covered in the association's survey, median prices actually increased. Nationally, median prices rose in 69% of the local markets surveyed and dropped in just 30.6%. Median prices in the Washington DC area declined 2.2%. Not nearly as dire as news reports made it seem! "The only real bust under way nationally -- and in many local markets -- is in sales volume, not prices or property values," said Harney. Sales volume fell 15% in Washington DC, significant but not disastrous.

What is interesting is that the decrease in home sales has not driven down home prices. "Absent severe reversals in national or local economies, housing prices and values move glacially in retreat," Harney explained. In stable economies, sellers can wait until market conditions improve; they aren't forced to sell at low prices. Sellers can breathe a sigh of relief as long as they can wait out the market. "Median prices in 70% of the nation's metropolitan areas are still growing and are likely to continue to grow," Harney concluded. (To read his entire column, click the post title.)

With more houses on the market, it takes aggressive salesmanship to sell a house right now. Veteran realtor John Day has the experience, expertise, contacts and tough negotiating skills to sell your home quickly and for the best possible price. A top agent at prestigious Long & Foster Realtors, John is one of their top 15 selling agents in the Southern Maryland region. Visit John Day's website to review his dynamic marketing plan and read his valuable tips for sellers. Then given John a call. If you're selling or buying a home in the Maryland or Washington DC area, John Day is your key to success.

Unleashing Your "Inner Griswold" Safely

When my children were young, one of my family's favorite Christmas traditions was piling into the car and cruising the city looking at the Christmas lights. We relished finding a street in the throes of a light war, neighbors competing to see who could adorn their property with the greatest number of lights and plastic figurines. Not content with the glow from his yard, one homeowner added a new figurine to his roof every year until it was crowded with a small village of carolers, snowmen and reindeer!

But our favorite stop was always the Santa House. You could tell you were getting close by the glow in the sky and the slow-moving string of cars turning into the subdivision. Not only was the Santa House covered in all manner of lights and decorations a la National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, but the garage featured a two-story train layout donated by the local hobby shop. There was a mailbox for mailing letters to Santa and a huge sleigh you could climb in. The upstairs windows featured animated scenes of a jolly papa bear reading to the cubs, mama bear baking cookies and other delights. The sidewalks were lined with lighted candy canes and the yard was filled with little houses containing more animated displays of elves and animals. It was better than the downtown store windows. And on Christmas Eve the owner and his wife would dress as Mr. and Mrs. Claus and stroll along the sidewalk passing out candy canes to all the kids. A visit to the Santa House was always one of the magical moments of our Christmas.

I came across an internet site that made me nostalgic for those Christmas Eve drives so many years ago. If you want to unleash your inner Clark Griswold this year, or just take a virtual tour of some amazing holiday houses, visit Planet Christmas. You can see lots of homes like the one pictured. If you're determined to turn your own home into a Griswold Special, the site will give you lots of ideas and how-to tips, including how to stay safe and how much of your paycheck you'll be sending to the electric company.

No matter how big or small your holiday display this year, a few simple precautions will insure that your decorations don't create a safety hazard. Take these suggestions from the experts to insure a safe, happy holiday this year:

• Don't string together more light strands than are recommended on the packaging.
• Never run extension cords under a carpet or where they can be cut or damaged (including run over by a vaccum cleaner).
• Never run extension cords through a window or door that you use. If you don't have an outside outlet on your porch (many older homes do not), purchase an outlet that screws into your porch or garage light socket. They're available at most hardware stores during the holiday season.
• Use an extension cord heavy enough to handle the amps being used. For instance, an extension cord that's OK for a table lamp becomes a hazard if used for a toaster oven or a massive light display. Appliances and electrical decorations will have a sign on the item or box indicating what gauge cord is necessary to handle the amperage.
• Use weather protected, outdoor rated extension cords for outdoor displays. Never use indoor cords in areas exposed to the weather.
• Use surge protectors instead of extension cords.
• Use only electrical products that carry the UL seal of approval from Underwriter's Laboratories (UL) which insures they meet electrical industry standards and specifications.
• The sound of crackling or sizzling, a burning smell or smoke are definite warning signs you've taken holiday decorating a step too far. They can signal electrical arcing in the circuit that can result in a fire in a matter of hours or days. Turn off the electrical item, turn off the breaker and call an electrician pronto before you're forced to call the fire department!
• Make sure any repairs or changes to your electrical system are performed by a professional electrician and meet the National Electric Code (NEC) and all local and state codes.
  

At Homes Buy Day, John Day and his staff want everyone to have a safe and happy holiday. On our website you won't find homes lit by a million little tiny white lights, but you will find hundereds of quality homes to fit the tastes and needs of every househunter. We are experts at buying and selling homes in Maryland and the Washington DC area. Let us help you find your dream house or sell your home quickly and for the best possible price. Whether you're buying or selling, John Day and his Homes Buy Day team are your key to success.

Charming Cottage in Desireable Sherwood Forest Offers Many Amenities

You'll feel the day's problems slip away as you drive up to this charming cottage tucked into a beautiful wooded lot in Annapolis, Maryland. Located at 262 Nottingham Hill in the highly desireable gated community of Sherwood Forest, this lovely home offers amenities galore. You'll enjoy a marina and water access to the Severn River, tennis courts, basketball courts, scenic bike trails, playgrounds, and much, much more.

Partially renovated, this darling 3-bedroom, 3-bath home offers lots of space for family and friends. Hardwood floors, cathedral ceilings, large dramatic windows, and a cozy fireplace make this spacious house a delight to come home to. With so many fabulous features and such grand space, you'll enjoy entertaining -- this is a house cozy enough for two but with plenty of space to handle a big crew.

The finished lower level has a great rec room, a cozy den (or 4th bedroom), and a laundry area. Two of the baths have been recently remodeled to include toasty heated ceramic tile floors. Come summer, you can read, play cards, even dine al fresco on the large screened porch. Or string up a hammock in the shady backyard. This is a home to delight in while you relax and enjoy all the advantages of this wonderful community.

To take a virtual tour of this charming cottage, click the post title. Veteran real estate agent John Day will be happy to tell you more and schedule your private tour. This is an exceptional home and won't be on the market long, so give John a call today. If you're buying or selling a home in Maryland or the Washington DC area, visit John Day's website to view more local listings. Experienced, savvy and committed to his clients, John Day is your key to success.