The Future is Now: New Products for Your Home

New products with a big WOW factor were revealed recently at the International Builders' Show in Orlando, Florida. Elevator ovens, space-age toilets, laundry organizers, hi-tech refrigerators, and picture-perfect fireplaces were among the amazing new products scheduled to appear in stores between now and summer. Dina ElBoghadady of the Washington Post previewed a few of the more unusual new products showcased.

• Elevator oven. At the touch a button the shelves in Gaggenau’s 24-inch wall-mounted Lift Oven raise and lower for easy loading and unloading. It’s smaller size frees up more counter space and can be even be mounted under a cabinet. Available this summer. Price tag: $3,300.
• Laundry organizers. Whirlpool has developed two items (sold separately) designed to save time and space in the laundry. The Laundry 123 tower is a vertical box with drawers for detergent, bleach, etc. Some models even have a pop-out rod for hanging clothes. It fits beside or between your washer/dryer. Available in March. Price tag: $199 to $329.
  The work surface is a stain-resistant rubber pad that rests on top of your appliances to provide space for sorting, treating and folding. A slide out surface for stackables will be available by summer. Available in March. Price tag: $199 to $299.
• Picture-perfect fireplace. Inspired by the plasma TV, Lennox is introducing a fireplace you can hang on your wall! The Radium is a ventless gas fireplace enclosed in a floating glass surface. As thin as a plasma TV, you can add a fireplace to any room in your home; just mount it on a wall and connect a gas line. Available in June. Price tag: $2,499 for a 35″x27″ model, $1,999 for a smaller unit that can fit inside a cupboard!
• Space-age toilets. Toilets have gone hi-tech. Kohler offers the C3 series of built-in bidets with pulsating water in three temperature and pressure settings, blue-light illuminated bowls for late night trips to the commode, warm-air dry, deodorizer, even remote control settings. Available now. Price tag $750 to $1,300.
  The transition seat allows adults and toddlers to use the same toilet without adding or removing an insert. Made to fit elongated bowls, the child’s seat nestles inside the adult ring. Available now. Price tag: $57.
• Hi-tech refrigerator. An electronic docking station is coming on Whirlpool's flat-door, side-by-side refrigerators. A plug and cradle on the fridge door will hold and charge popular personal electronics like cell phones and MP3 players. Available in time for Christmas. Price to be announced.

Need a place to show off all your fabulous new appliances? Visit John Day's website for the newest home listings in Maryland and the greater Washington DC area. Let veteran realtor John Day help you find the home of your dreams.

Stunning Colonial in Upper Marlboro, Maryland

Are you looking for a fabulous home in a fantastic location that you can move into quickly? This luxurious colonial at 5106 Back Stretch Blvd. in Upper Marlboro, Maryland is just waiting for you to move in. New on the market, the sellers have found their dream house and are ready to move immediately. They're offering a great deal plus fast, stress-free closing on a superlative home with three levels of first-class luxury. This dynamite home in popular Marlboro Downs could be your dream home!

This beautiful home has everything, including an elegant living room with separate dining room, a lovely sunroom, fabulous media room, cozy fireplace, spacious fully-finished basement, and great country kitchen. You and your family will have plenty of privacy with four spacious bedrooms, including two master bedrooms. And with three full and one half baths, you won't be stumbling over each other in the morning when everyone's getting ready for work and school.

Don't delay. This home is the best buy you'll find in prestigious Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Marlboro Downs is such a desirable neighborhood, this home won't be on the market now. Click the post title to take a virtual tour of this luxurious home. Then call John Day and schedule your personal tour this week. Visit John's website to preview more lovely homes in Maryland and the Washington DC metro area. If you're buying or selling a home, John Day is your key to success.

How to Sell Your House in a Buyer's Market

In a buyer's market, sellers need to be prepared to receive a reasonable, not inflated, price for their home and for their home to sit on the market just a bit longer. In fact, you and your realtor may have to get creative to make sure your house sells quickly and close to your asking price. Make the most of the current market with these tips from Jerry White's column Real Estate Matters.

• The price is right. Price your home realistically. You cannot expect to get the sky-high price your neighbor got last year when the housing market was still booming. Price your house to compete with similar houses currently for sale in your local market.
• Three cheers for appreciation. Even if sales prices are a bit lower than during the recent boom years, you'll still come out ahead. Take a realistic look at your financial gains in home equity over the years you've owned your home. According to the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, U.S. homes appreciated more than 56% over the past five years.
• Stand out from the crowd. Make sure your home creates a dynamite first impression on potential buyers. Maximize curb appeal, paint and carpet in neutral colors, and make sure all maintenance is up-to-date. Itemize repairs and their costs on a home inspection report and make it available to potential buyers. In a crowded market, you want to give buyers a reason to choose your house.
• Sweeten the deal. Offer the buyer a financial incentive -- a seller's contribution -- to buy your home without lowering the asking price. For example, buy down the interest rate on the buyer's mortgage, pay a portion of the buyer's closing costs, cover the buyer's mortgage payments for up to the first six months, pay the buyer's first year's homeowners' association fees -- any of these will save the buyer thousands of dollars and the seller will realize more for his home than if he had dropped the asking price by $10-, $20- or even $30,000.

For expert advice on selling your home in the current buyer's market, turn to veteran realtor John Day. John is an expert at pricing homes and staging them to sell, both key to selling your home quickly in a highly competitive market. Visit John's website to learn about his proven and tech-savvy marketing plan. Click the post title to read his valuable Seller's Guide, packed with tips gained from his years of experience as a top seller for prestigious Long & Foster Realtors. If you're selling (or buying) a home in Maryland or the Washington DC metro area, John Day is your key to success.

Landscaping to Create Outdoor "Rooms"

Thinking of your yard as a series of outdoor "rooms," each devoted to a specific activity will help you get the most out of your outdoor space (see yesterday's post). But once you've defined how you plan to use your yard, how do you implement a plan to actually create your "rooms"?

Horticulturist Jane Martin says the first step is to take an inventory of your property and analyze it. Begin by making a scale drawing that includes property lines, the house, garage and other structures, driveway and walkways. On your drawing, mark summer and winter wind directions, sunny and shady areas, topography (flat and sloping areas), and soil conditions including areas with poor drainage. Test the soil to determine its pH and nutrient levels. Armed with this information you'll be able to determine which plants will thrive in each of your outdoor "rooms."

Remember to be flexible as you design each space. You may need to change some of your original ideas. For example, a rose garden planned for a shady side yard will not thrive. You may have to move your roses to a sunnier location or plant a luscious shade garden instead. Consider your house and the placement of windows and doors. You don't want to plant shrubs under a window if they will block the light when they reach maturity. Consider planting dwarf shrubs or tall lilies instead.

Use garden beds, walkways, patios, fences, borders, arbors, lawn ornaments, furniture, etc. to help define the parameters of each "room." A trellis and a small pond or fountain might create a meditation or reading area. A patio or deck create a natural extension of your indoor kitchen and dining area. Provide privacy by screening one or more sides with a hedge, tall grasses or a lattice fence. A line of pots planted with herbs or flowers can be used to create a "wall" along one side of a patio to control access and traffic flow. Garden beds can be built out into the central space of your yard to separate one area from another. Walkways can be used to both separate and connect areas. This is an opportunity to be creative. Gone are the days when flower beds circled the house or lined the back fence. Consider your entire yard when planning your outdoor "rooms."

If you need a little help coming up with design ideas, Martin recommends Residential Landscape Architecture: Design Process for the Private Residence (Prentice Hall, $110), but there are many excellent books available at your local library and bookstore in a variety of price ranges. Many gardening catalogs and magazines provide design ideas, and your local home improvement store should carry a good, comprehensive how-to book. Check with your local nursery, too. Many provide free landscape service when you purchase their plants.

Settle in with your catalogs and gardening plans and enjoy the next few months of winter plotting out some new outdoor "rooms" to enjoy this summer. Immersed in pictures of lush, gorgeous plants, it's a little easier to believe that spring is just around the corner!

For great ideas on enjoying, improving and getting the most out of your home, visit John Day's website. If you're buying or selling a home in Maryland or the Washington DC metro area, John Day is your key to success.

Planning Outdoor "Rooms" Makes Better Use of Your Yard

There's nothing more pleasant on a cold winter day than sitting down with an armload of seed and flower catalogs and planning your summer garden. As you page through beautiful pictures of colorful flowers you can almost smell their luscious scents wafting in the warm summer breeze. If, like me, you long to feel the warm sun upon your back and the earth between your fingers, planning your summer garden helps pass the cold, gray days of winter. It gives you hope that despite today's cold and snow, spring truly is right around the corner.

Garden design is more than picking plants you like and plunking them here and there. "Think about design as creating outdoor spaces or rooms that are functional, aesthetic, livable and maintainable," says Ohio State University horticulturist Jane Martin. Create rooms around various landscape objects using fences, patios, plants and ponds to define spaces with different purposes. Think about the furnishings or ornamental pieces you plan to place in the space or activities that will take place there when designing each "room." Developing functional outdoor rooms suited to specific activities will encourage you to make more use of your outside space.

"A good design," says Martin, "will meet and satisfy the needs and desires of the family, fit the physical conditions of the site, take on a form that follows a predetermined function and appeal to the eye."

She suggests thinking of your property as three spaces:

• The front yard: Your home's public face, you want it to create a good first impression.
• The side yards: Generally unused, they primarily serve as a path to the backyard, but careful planning can give them purpose.
• The backyard: A private space for family gatherings and personal pursuits, this is your home's most intensively used outdoor space.

Use these spaces to create outdoor "rooms" to serve specific purposes: arrival/entry, living/ entertaining, food preparation/dining, recreation, gardening, and work/storage. Try to extend the indoor spaces that fulfill these functions into the outdoors. For example, use patios and decks to extend indoor kitchens and dining rooms or porches and front yards to extend indoor foyers.

Gather the family and discuss how you want to use your outdoor space and establish priorities. Martin encourages flexibility as your landscape plan may change over time. Backyard play space needed for young children may later be used for entertaining guests or turned into a specialty garden. To bring your ideas into focus, Martin suggests writing a short (4-5 sentence) synopsis of how you want to use your property.

Tomorrow, we'll talk about planning and how to landscape your yard to create outdoor rooms you can use. Visit John Day's blog and website every day for great ideas on enjoying, improving and getting the most out of your home. John Day is devoted to his clients' happiness and satisfaction, both during and long after the home buying/home selling process is complete. Stay in touch; John is always happy to hear from his friends. And if you're buying or selling a home in Maryland or the Washington DC metro area, give John a call. John Day is your key to real estate success.

How to Buy a Home in a Buyer's Market

Inventories are high. Interest rates are low. It's a buyer's market! But that doesn't mean you're the only one out there looking for a home. Today's market offers a buyer definite advantages, but it still takes a little savvy know-how to get the best deal. Capitalize on the current market with these tips from Jerry White's column Real Estate Matters.

• Don't time the market. While it's tempting to wait as long as possible in the hopes that prices will decline further, you can lose your window of opportunity. When a home is placed on the market, it is usually priced competitively within the range at which similar homes are selling. In a buyer's market there is often room for negotiation, but first you have to put in a bid. If you find a house you love, don't wait hoping the price will come down. It may never happen and someone else may swoop in and buy the house of your dreams. Put in a bid and start negotiating to see how low the seller is willing to go.
• Take your time. With more homes on the market, you have the opportunity evaluate a greater number of homes before deciding to buy. But this doesn't mean you should procrastinate. Check with your agent to find out how long a typical home in your area is on the market. You may not have as long as you think.
• Homes ARE selling. Remember, you aren't the only one looking for a home. Properly priced homes are selling. The reasons most people buy a home -- new job/promotion, marriage, divorce, family expansion -- hasn't changed, so there's always a ready market for homes. According to predictions by the National Association of Realtors, home sales for 2007 are expected to exceed 6 million nationwide, the third-best year in history. So if you find your dream home, put in your bid before the competition discovers it too.
• Watch mortgage rates. Mortgage rates have been at historic lows but they have nudged upward a bit in recent months and are expected to continue doing so, though slowly and in small increments. Your realtor or lender can let you know how different rates will impact your budget. Small increases in mortgage rates may not significantly change your monthly payment, but it's wise to keep track of the actual cost while you're shopping.
• Negotiate incentives. Anxious sellers may offer a variety of incentives that go far beyond carpeting allowance, such as cars, trips, paying off credit card balances, etc. Make sure any inducement makes sense to you. You may be better off asking the seller to put that money into renovating the kitchen or master bath or, better yet, negotiating a lower price that will positively impact your mortgage payments.

Talk with your realtor. You'll find his experience helpful in evaluating your buying options in today's market. A veteran realtor like John Day of prestigious Long & Foster Realtors has the knowledge and experience in the local area to provide you will valuable advice on when to bid and what to offer. A skilled and aggressive negotiator, John will make sure you get your dream home for the the lowest price possible. Visit John Day's website and check out the latest listings. Read John's Buyers Guide packed with valuable information and tips on buying a home. If you're buying or selling a home in Maryland or the Washington DC area, John Day is your key to success.

Tips on Getting Your House Ready to Sell

Planning to sell your home this year? Don't wait until the last minute to get your home market-ready. Winter is the perfect time to take care of indoor maintenance and simple remodeling projects before you put your house on the market.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Go through each room in your house with a critical eye. Invite your neighbor over to get an impersonal opinion. Make a list of repairs for each room and post it at the entrance. Look for popped nails on ceilings, chipped paint on baseboards, cracks in the plaster, bad stains on the carpeting, etc. Don't be a perfectionist. You don't want to spend time or money correcting every tiny little flaw. You're looking for things that stand out that will make the buyer think, "Ugh, I don't want to deal with that." or "Gee, I wonder what else is wrong?"
• Give each room a fresh coat of neutral paint. It will make your home appear fresh and clean and potential buyers won't worry about the walls clashing with their furniture. If your walls are already a neutral color, you may be able to get away with a quick touch up or with painting one or two walls in high traffic areas.
• Replace worn or torn carpeting with natural hues. Again, it will make your home appear fresh and neutral colors will appeal to a broader pool of potential buyers.
• If your hardwood floors are in bad shape, consider having them sanded and refinished. Gleaming hardwood floors are a real selling point today. If cost is a factor, consider refinishing just the floors in the entry and main living space.
• Spread your furniture out to create a feeling of greater space. No more than two pieces per wall is a good goal. Bring your couch and chairs away from the wall and into the room to create a conversation group. Avoid ringing the room with furniture. Try to use the space in the center of the room too.
• Let in the light. Outside, trim overgrown bushes away from windows. Replace heavy, dark drapes with simple, sheer ones to create a light and airy feeling. And remember to leave the lights on when you know your agent will be showing your house. Light makes your home feel warmer and more inviting.
• If your kitchen or bathroom cabinets look old and dated, there's no need for replacements. Just paint them and add new hardware. Do replace rusted, pitted or corroded fixtures.
• Decide which jobs you can do and which are better left to a professional. Ask you realtor for the name of a handyman. Most realtors have built professional relationships with several local contractors and may be able to help get your work scheduled more quickly.
• Start depersonalizing your home now. You want buyers to focus on the home itself, not your possessions, so start packing up the knickknacks and family photos. Sort, organize and get rid of clutter. Go through each room and start throwing out or donating to charity things you don't use, don't like or can live without. You'll thank yourself when moving day comes around.
• Don't know what to do with things you still want? Pick up a few boxes and start packing. A neat stack of moving boxes in the basement or garage is much more attractive to potential buyers than a jumble of "stuff" all over the place. As you get into the de-cluttering process and the stack of boxes grows, you may want to rent a storage locker that will also allow you to remove furniture and other large items from your home. This is a time when less truly is more. The less stuff in your house, the more space the buyer will see! Check with your realtor, he may have a partnership with a local moving company and be able to get you a discount on storage facilities and supplies.

Talk to your realtor to find out where to concentrate your time and money. He'll know what buyers in your area are looking for and what the competition has to offer. In Maryland and the Washington DC metro area, you'll want to talk with veteran realtor John Day. An expert at staging homes for sale, John has the expertise and experience to sell your home quickly and for top dollar. Visit John's website and read his Seller's Guide (there's one for Buyer's too). It's packed with valuable information and tips on selling your home. If you're selling or buying a house in Maryland or the Washington DC area, John Day is your key to success.

The Benefits of Using a Full-Service Realtor

One-stop shopping. That's what many people say is the advantage of using a full-service real estate agent -- everything you need to buy or sell a home in one convenient location. But a full-service realtor provides much more than easy access to resources. A full-service realtor is dedicated to providing you with maximum service while ensuring that your interests are effectively represented every step of the way. Discount agents and U-sell outfits may seem appealing, particularly if you're trying to pinch a few pennies, but they'll wind up costing you more money in the long run.

"The truth is in buyer's markets ... full-service agents are more important than ever and could mean the difference between "sold" or "expired," writes Elizabeth Weintraub on About.com. (Click the post title to read the article.)

For sellers, a full-service realtor . . .

• makes savvy use of the internet as a selling tool to showcase your home to thousands of potential buyers.
• understands the value of using multiple photos on the multiple listing service sites to reach the greatest number of buyers. He employs expert photography and crops pictures to accentuate your home's best features. He'll also create a full-length, appealing description for the listing to entice buyers' interest.
• understands the value of drive-by advertising and utilizes professional signage with easily read contact information.
• projects quality, producing professional advertisements, flyers and direct mail materials to generate interest in your home.
• is an expert at staging your home to sell.
• is an experienced salesman who knows how to "work" an open house.
• is an aggressive and successful negotiator who knows how to close the deal and get you top dollar for your home.
• is an experienced and effective contract writer who will protect your interests.

For buyers, a full-service realtor . . .

• is an attentive listener who takes time to answer all your questions.
• is highly knowledgeable about the area and can effectively direct your home search.
• is familiar with local lenders and loan programs and can recommend the best program for your particular needs. He will walk you through the pre-approval process which will help you shop more effectively for a home and make your offer more enticing to sellers.
• is an strong and successful negotiator who will aggressively represent you to get the best deal possible.
• is an experienced and effective contract writer who will protect your interests.
• helps you acclimate to your new community after closing. He can help you locate reliable post-closing services: movers, decorators, landscapers, security services, etc.

A full-service real estate agent is committed to his clients and prides himself on providing the highest quality service. If full-service agents appear to charge just a bit more than cut-rate agents, it's because you get much more, from beginning to end. And, as we all know, you get what you pay for.

Veteran realtor John Day prides himself on providing the highest quality full-service realty services in the area. John has the experience and expertise to help you buy or sell your home in Maryland or the Washington DC metro area. Visit John's website to view his comprehensive professional marketing plan to sell your home. You'll also find helpful articles on home selling and home buying, as well as the latest real-time MLS listings. Give John a call and get the ball rolling. If you're buying or selling a home in Maryland or the Washington DC metro area, full-service realtor John Day is your key to success.

Tips for Choosing a Great Real Estate Agent

Whether you're looking for your dream home or selling your current home, a qualified real estate agent will help you avoid the pitfalls, negotiate the best deal possible, and protect your interests while guiding you through the complicated home buying or home selling process.

So how do you choose a great real estate agent? If you're buying, you want someone who can negotiate the most affordable price on your dream home. If you're selling, you want someone who can get you top dollar for your home. But signing with the agent who offers to list your home for the most money may not be your smartest move. Ultimately, it's the market, not the agent, that determines the value of your home. You can't go wrong if you choose an agent based on competence, experience, market strategies and tools.

Look for these things when you're interviewing realtors:

• Make sure your agent is a Realtor. Realtors are licensed professionals who adhere to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) Code of Ethics.
• Ask if your realtor is a current member of the NAR? Members stay current with home trends and receive ongoing education, providing you with the most up-to-date real estate expertise.
• Check with friends, neighbors and business associates to find out which realtors are most respected in your local community. They will have developed local contacts and resources that will give you an edge in the very competitive real estate market.
• Look at the abbreviations following an agent's name. They refer to various advanced training accreditations earned through long hours of hard work. CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) is the highest industry designation available to residential real estate agents and recognizes education, experience and transaction volume.
• Choose an agent with strong analytical skills. You want an agent who can correctly assess a home's strengths and weaknesses when you buy and effectively stage your home to accentuate its best features when you sell.
• Ask what tools your agent will use to market your home. An effective marketing plan will use multiple media to reach a wide audience of potential buyers. Since at least 80% of home buyers start their search online, your agent should make innovative use of online tools, including virtual tours, community and property videos, mapping, home valuation programs, and detailed property information that includes school and community data.
• Most important, choose an agent whose personality is compatible with your own. You'll be spending a lot of time with this person, often in periods of high stress, so good rapport is essential. You want an agent who listens, who you can talk to comfortably, and who you can trust.

Veteran realtor John Day is the person you want by your side if you're buying or selling a house in Maryland or the Washington DC metro area. Click the post title to learn about John's extensive credentials which far exceed every category listed above. One of the most respected realtors in the area, John's the man other realtors go to when they need help or advice. Visit John Day's website and find out about his dynamic marketing plan for helping you buy your dream home or sell your current home. Make sure you read his valuable Buyer's Guide and Seller's Guide which are packed with valuable tips gleaned from his many years of experience as a top realtor with prestigious Long & Foster Realtors. Give John a call. Whether you're buying or selling a home in the Maryland or Washington DC metro area, John Day is your key to success.

The Wave of the Future: What Wonders Does 2007 Hold?

Just like fashions, housing trends change periodically. Take a look at what buyers will be looking for in 2007.

Smaller homes and ranch homes. Homes that make efficient use of space by dedicating rooms for work, play, relaxation, entertainment, computer use, etc. are starting to replace McMansions. Small spaces mean less labor-intensive cleaning for harried homeowners. Both young professionals and aging Baby Boomers are attracted by single-floor plans: the young for the efficiency, the old for the lack of stairs!

Upscale kitchens. Given the American preference for a casual lifestyle, the kitchen is the center of the home universe.

• Wall-less kitchens that integrate with a great room will replace separate living and dining rooms.
• Most meals are eaten in the kitchen now, so dine-in space is important.
• Versatile islands that can be used as an eating area, cooking station or entertainment space are in demand.
• Slab surfaces are popular choices for countertops. The natural look provided by granite, stone, concrete, limestone, soapstone and marble is in. Formica and tile are out.
• Stainless steel and white appliances are in, black is out.
• Technologically advanced appliances are highly sought, such as stoves that can be programmed to turn on automatically.

Spa-like bathrooms. The bathroom will become even more of a personal refuge. Suite-style bathrooms with separate spaces for toilet, shower and vanity continue to be popular. The future will see increases in both size and opulence.

• Saunas and steam showers with be added to create a rejuvenating personal oasis.
• Large windows and skylights will allow more natural light into the bathroom.
• Huge shower stalls with multiple shower heads that bathe you in water streams from several angles will bring the luxury of Hollywood mainstream. Pulsing water streams will add a relaxing massage capability.

Separate bedrooms. Bedroom suites with separate bedrooms are becoming popular. With our hectic lifestyles, a good night's sleep can be easier if you don't have to fight for the covers or deal with the buzz saw of a snoring spouse.

Wall colors. Quieter, more subdued tones inspired by nature will replace the vivid, saturated colors of the past few years. Look for desert neutrals, sandy colors, khaki and indigo. Yellows will make a resurgence and pink -- as in Cadillac convertible gray-toned pink -- won't be just for little girls any more.

Finished basements. Remodeling the basement increases the usable square footage of a home and allows you to add a home theater or game room, two of the hottest new requests.

• High ceilings increase the sense of space even in a relatively small room and can accommodate the size and wiring requirements of home entertainment systems.
• Big window wells with full-masonry systems let more light into below-ground rooms and are growing in popularity.

Garages. Garages are going high profile. They've become another room in the house and are being used as home workshops and project spaces.

• Buyers want lots of cabinets, organized storage systems, and space for an extra fridge and maybe even a freezer.
• Residential flooring, superior lighting and heating/cooling capabilities allow more versatile use.
• Hidden garages are returning to popularity and underground garages are the wave of the future. Putting the garage underground gives homeowners more space for extra rooms, larger backyards and even swimming pools.

Integrated technology. Systems that integrate all your home's electronics so they work together are the wave of the future. Centralized control panels that let you set lighting, temperature, home alarms, digital entertainment systems, music, even program your oven to cook a casserole while you're at work will be the next great thing.

For more information on real estate trends, contact veteran realtor John Day. Visit John's website to view the newest listings in Maryland and the Washington DC metro area. If you're buying or selling a home, John Day is your key to success.

Maryland Farm Is Heaven on Earth

If you've ever wanted your own little slice of heaven, this beautiful 28-acre farm in Lothian, Maryland is calling. Gently rolling hills, a lovely wooded area, and plenty of wide open fields surround a charming Cape Cod home that faces Bayfront and Crandall Roads in scenic Anne Arundel County. A perfect spot for horse lovers, the farm includes three barns.

The views of the surrounding farm are stunning from the enclosed glass porch of the lovely home on the property. Imagine chilly evenings cuddling up in front of the fireplace after an exhilarating day of riding or hiking. You'll enjoy getting friends and family together for spring picnics and great summer barbecues in a backyard that goes on forever! With 3 bedrooms, including one on the main floor, and 2 full baths, your family with have plenty of space to stretch out. And there's abundant storage in the unfinished basement.

Grab your own little slice of heaven and take a look at this stunning farm and home in the most scenic part of Maryland. Designated AA-County, the property cannot be subdivided, so bring your horses, turn the dogs loose for a joyous romp, and watch your kids' eyes light up as they set off on another day of exploring.

For more details and to take a virtual tour of this beautiful farm, click the post title. Then call John Day to schedule your personal tour. Check out John's website to view other stunning properties in the Maryland and Washington DC metro area. Whether you're buying or selling, realtor John Day is your key to success.

The Real Skinny on Foreclosures

Despite recent scary headlines, "foreclosures are not at an all-time high," reassures veteran realtor John Day in his February newsletter.

"At any given time, approximately 4.5% of borrowers are late making their mortgage payment," says experienced realtor John Day. "Of those, only about 1 in 10 end up somewhere in the official foreclosure process, but that doesn't mean they lose their house to foreclosure. Most do not."

Most homeowners find a solution to their financial problems and reinstate their mortgages. Some have enough equity in their home to pay off the mortgage by selling their home. If you are experiencing serious financial difficulties that may affect your ability to meet your payments, have a frank discussion with your lender -- and do it early. Lenders lose money on foreclosures and "do not want to foreclose," John says. In fact, many lenders are willing to work with the borrower, sometimes negotiating a repayment program, but such negotiations must be made before official foreclosure proceedings begin.

If you hold a second mortgage on your property, "things become more complicated," John warns. Second mortgage lenders used to foreclose behind the primary lender, hoping the sale of the property would generate enough funds to pay both debts. Today, second mortgage lenders are apt to retain the loan as a unsecured debt. Once they secure a court judgment, they can garnish your wages or attach your personal and other real property in an effort to collect.

For more information on the foreclosure process, click the post title to read John Day's interesting and instructive article. When you visit John's website, you'll find his current monthly newsletter under Tips, along with other valuable articles on buying and selling a home, mortgages and credit.

John Day cares about his clients and has packed his user-friendly website with tons of excellent information on local communities, schools, area activities, web resources, loans, and much, much, more. John shares numerous valuable tips gained during his years of experience as a top agent with prestigious Long & Foster Realtors. Give John Day a call. If you're buying or selling a home in Maryland or the Washington DC metro area, John Day is your key to success.