Fall in Love With This Charming Cottage Home

You'll fall in love with this charming cape cod cottage in scenic Pasadena, Maryland. Complete with a white picket fence, this lovely, well-kept home is located at 957 Tidewater Road on a large corner lot in Pasadena's popular Green Haven subdivision.

The house has been beautifully updated and is in excellent condition. You'll enjoy two bedrooms and a full bath on the main level with a single, extremely large bedroom on the upper level. This home is perfect if you're tired of climbing stairs all the time. It's possible to live entirely on the main level and leave the second floor to visitors and the grandkids. On the fully furnished lower level there's a full kitchen, fourth bedroom and a second full bath -- perfect for a mother-in-law, college student or tenant. You'll also enjoy off-street parking and a detached garage.

You won't want to miss this great house -- and it's being offered at a great price too! Click the post title for more information about this charming cottage home in Pasadena, Maryland. Contact veteran realtor John Day to schedule your private tour this weekend. Visit John's website and check out the newest listings in Maryland and the metro Washington DC area. Whether you're buying or selling a home, John Day is your key to success.

Fabulous Country Paradise In Lothian, Maryland

The sellers are loading the moving van so this fabulous country hideaway is priced for quick sale and settlement. The house is ready for move-in, has a delightful in-ground pool, stables for the horses and, with 16.5 acres, plenty of space to ride. This could be your little slice of heaven in the country!

Located at 5814 Independent Lane in Lothian, Maryland, this spacious ranch home has four bedrooms and two full baths to accommodate your family and plenty of weekend guests. You'll love the bright, airy sunroom that looks out over the sculptured pool. There's a cozy fireplace for snuggling on chilly winter nights. You'll find plenty of storage space and potential in the partially finished basement and more storage in the attic, accessible by pull-down stairs.

The property has two large buildings for the storage of farm equipment, hay, autos and anything you can think of. Bring the horses -- or make your child's dream come true! There are three stalls easily accessible from the barn and house with fenced fields for grazing and water available.

This gorgeous property won't be on the market long. Call realtor John Day and schedule your private tour today. Click the post title for more information on this outstanding property and to take a virtual tour. Visit John's website to check out all the newest listings. If you're buying or selling a home in Maryland or the Washington DC metro area, John Day is your key to success.

Costly Mistakes No Seller Should Make

If you're selling a home today, you know it's a tough market. You can't afford to make mistakes if you're going to compete successfully for the attention of buyers. No one knows this better than veteran realtor John Day, a top seller at prestigious Long & Foster Realtors. John has compiled a list of "8 Costly Mistakes No Seller Should Make" to help sellers remain competitive in today's difficult market.

• Mistake #1: Not enhancing your home's curb appeal. First impressions are everything in home selling. If your home looks inviting and well-maintained from the outside, buyers will want to see what's inside. Make a bad first impression and you won't even get them in the door.
• Mistake #2: Failing to look at your home as if you were a buyer. Little things count when you're buying a home. Fresh paint, cleanliness, orderliness, up-t0-date maintenance all tell a buyer he can move in tomorrow. Showing your house when it's scruffy, messy or dirty is a total turn-off to buyers and they won't be back.
• Mistake #3: Inadequate marketing. A "For Sale" sign is not going to do it. The majority of buyers initiate their home search on the internet so you need a powerful web presence and 24-hour service. Check out John Day's Homes Buy Day website for an excellent example of powerful web marketing.
• Mistake #4: Not knowing how to price your home to sell. "Determining the market value of your home is one of the most challenging aspects of the selling process," says John Day. Setting the selling price is a fine art that requires an intimate knowledge of the local real estate market and buying/selling patterns. List too high and you alienate buyers. List too low and you lose time and money.
• Mistake #5: Offering explanations about your home during showings. Mum's the word at open houses and showings. Let your real estate agent earn his fee. You only hurt yourself if you point out flaws or offer to repair items. Actually, the smartest thing to do is walk out when a potential buyer walks in. Go for a walk, have a cup of coffee, run errands, visit a friend -- just get out of the house.
• Mistake #6: Being inflexible or unwilling to compromise. It's difficult to sell a home in the current market. This is not the time to stand tough. Every seller will have to compromise about things like move out dates, price, seller contributions and necessary repairs. Be prepared to bend or lose the sale.
• Mistake #7: Attempting to hide problems with your home. "The Maryland property disclosure/disclaimer law is very clear," says John Day. "You must disclose all material defects to the buyer, even if the property is being sold, as is." Be straight with your agent. Discuss problems or defects and how to disclose them to potential buyers. Your agent has the professional experience and expertise to do this in as positive a way as possible.
• Mistake #8: Trying to sell your home without a realtor. Marketing is key in selling a house in today's tough market. Realtors have access to broader marketing resources and listing services than the average person. A respected realtor like John Day has the resources and industry contacts to make sure your home gets maximum traffic.

If you're selling a home in Maryland or the greater Washington DC metro area, contact John Day. He'll give you a fair and honest assessment of your home. He'll tell you what you need to do to sell your home quickly and for the best possible price. Visit John's website for more valuable tips for sellers and buyers. If you're buying or selling, John Day is your key to success.

Do Accurate Appraisals Need the Human Touch?

Can a computer do as good a job as a human appraiser at determining the value of your home? That's the question. Home appraisers in Maryland, Virginia and Oklahoma recently filed suit against FNC, Inc., a major mortgage technology company, asking the courts to make a determination. FNC collects traditional appraisal data, stores it and markets it to mortgage lenders as a substitute for a traditional appraisal. Processing 400,000 appraisals a month, FNC counts among its customers the 50 largest mortgage lenders in the country.

Appraisers who use FNC's Appraisal Port system charge that the technology behemoth has been stealing their data, repackaging and remarketing it to lenders for its own gain, explains Kenneth Harney of the Washington Post in his column, The Nation's Housing (click the post title to read the full article). Appraisers claim that FNC assured them that data they entered in Appraisal Port was secure, that FNC did not have access to the data and would not store or remarket the data.

For homeowners, the question of piracy is secondary to the question of which process results in the most effective appraisal. Lenders have been moving toward automated valuation models which are faster and cheaper, often only $40. A human appraiser generally charges several hundred dollars to inspect and write an appraisal of your home. While computerized models can give you a general idea of how your house compares to others in the same market, it's no substitute for a living, breathing human being. Beyond the raw data, a human appraiser sees the condition of the home, inspects for damage and signs of wear or failure. He also gauges the value of the neighborhood, the way things look and smell, all of which affect the value of your home.

Bottom line: If you want a general idea of how much a home of your size and type is worth in your area, use the online computer calculators. If you want to know how much YOUR actual home is worth, pay for a human appraiser to come out and take a look.

Veteran realtor John Day can recommend a thoroughly professional and competent appraiser. If you're buying or selling a home, give John a call or visit his website to check out the latest listings in Maryland and the metro Washington DC area. John Day is your key to success.

Housing Market Decline Good News for Buyers

Doom and gloom are back in the headlines. The National Association of Realtors expects existing home sales to decline this year and median sale prices to drop.

• Existing home sales, which were 6.48 million in 2006, are expected to dip to 6.29 million this year before bouncing back to 6.49 million in 2008.
• The median price for existing homes is forecast to drop 1% to $219,800 this year, but should rebound 1.4% in 2008.

Compared to 2006, home prices dropped 1.4% in the first quarter of this year. It's the first year-over-year decline in national home prices since 1991, according to the S&P Case-Shiller index. Prices have been falling for the past three quarters.

This is good news for home buyers. High inventory, low prices and low mortgages make this a great time to invest in a new home, particularly if you plan to live in it for a few years. The real estate market is expected to stabilize in the next year, though at a lower level than the artificially inflated boom years of a couple seasons ago. If you plan to stay in your home for several years, you'll come out ahead.

For the latest information on the housing market in your neighborhood, call veteran realtor John Day. John can help you find your dream home or sell your house in Maryland or the metro Washington DC area; just click the post title to view homes selling in your area. Whether you're buying or selling a home, John Day is your key to success.

Neutral Palette Blooms With Color

Gone are the days when selling your house meant drowning it in a sea of beige to appease potential buyers. The neutral palette now blooms with color. Turquoise, purple and orange flash a bit of brilliance next to the creams and sandy tans.

"There is an entire world out there of colors that are not beige," says Stephanie Hoppen, author of the book Perfect Neutrals: Color You Can Live With (Watson-Guptill, $35). "If green is not neutral, gardens would always look ghastly; if blue is not neutral, nothing would go with the sea or sky."

Explaining color theory, Hoppen shows how to pair deep, rich hues with equally intense colors to create a soothing room. In the right combinations, even saturated colors can harmonize, not jar, she says. To aid the reader, Hoppen includes helpful reference charts for paint colors, carpets and upholstery fabrics. She also provides a source list for paint, wallpaper, carpet, flooring, fabric, leather, lighting and accessories. As Hoppen is British, a number of the specialty stores are in the United Kingdom, but most of her sources are international with products available in the US.

If you're getting ready to sell your house, consider using colorful new neutrals to attract buyers. Consult with veteran realtor John Day. An expert at staging homes for sale, John can let you know where best to spend your time and money to make your home attractive to buyers. Visit John Day's website for more seller tips. You'll find great tips for buyers too and hundreds of beautiful homes for sale in Maryland and the Washington DC metro area. If you're selling or buying a home, John Day is your key to success.

Dads Rule the Grill!

Dads of the world arise! Your time is now! Grilling is hot these days and (as we all know) dads rule the grill (and the remote)! It's time to drag out those great Father's Day gifts from years past: the bright red bib apron emblazoned with the words Fire Hazard and the orange lobster claw-handled grill tools. You can put them to good use this summer.

Grill sales are increasing annually (up 66% since 1992) as more families get out of the kitchen and embrace outdoor living -- and cooking. No more hot summer kitchens or pots and pans to wash up. Toss dinner on the grill and it's ready in 30 minutes with no clean up!

The number of grill options today is staggering. These are not your father's Weber kettle! Some of the cool features available today include:

• Multiple burners that allow preparation of several dishes at once.
• Snazzy accessories like pizza grillers, skewer racks, fish trays and rotisseries. (Ducane offers a grill complete with a margarita blender so you can quench your thirst while you baste the steaks!)
• Powerful lightweight portable grills that fit in your car trunk but still deliver maximum fire power.
• See-through propane containers and gauge meters that show when fuel is low.

The only thing missing is a remote and that can't be far behind. So dads, this summer, get out your BBQ recipes, your basters, brushes and tongs and commandeer the patio. This is your time to shine!

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there from realtor John Day and the entire Homes Buy Day staff. If you want to buy or sell a home in Maryland or the Washington DC area, visit our website and give us a call.

How to Sell Your House in a Tough Market

If your house is on the market, you know how tough it can be to sell right now. Housing inventories are at record highs and it is not unusual for houses to sit on the market for 60 to 90 days. Pricing right is the key, but good staging will give you an edge on the competition. With 2007 turning out to be more competitive than ever, you need every trick in the book to sell your house.

How do you stage a house to give it that "wow" factor? Here are some tips from the experts. Some may seem subtle, but it's always the little things that count.

• Don't distract or offend buyers. No dog hair on the sofa, no litter box in the laundry room, no Playboys in the bedroom, no cobwebs in the corners, no dust hanging off the ceiling fan.


• Pack up the family photos and knick knacks. Get rid of the clutter. Buyers want to envision their belongings in the house, not look at yours.


• No all-white interiors; it's too sterile. But steer away from overly bold colors too. New neutrals in earth tones, greens and off-whites make buyers think they could move in tomorrow, no matter what kind of furniture they have.


• Fertilize the grass and water until it's green. Plant whole flats of colorful flowers. You want masses of bright color and a deep green lawn to invite buyers to look inside.


• Spend a few bucks on a new doormat and, if your knob and knocker are weathered and pitted, new brass ware for the door. It makes your house look fresh and new.


• Spritz a little vanilla spray in the room just before you let the buyer in the door. It evokes a subliminal reaction of pleasure, like the smell of baking cookies.


• You can also sprinkle a few drops of vanilla on the oven door and set the temperature on low for a "fresh baked" smell.


• Lightly fragrant candles and flowers in the bathrooms smell good and look fresh.

Veteran realtor John Day is an expert at staging houses to sell. A top seller with prestigious Long & Foster Realtors, John knows the market. John can price your home right to sell quickly and stage it to appeal to buyers. Visit John Day's website for more valuable tips for sellers. (There are tips for buyers too.) If you're selling or buying a home in Maryland or the Washington DC metro area, John Day is your key to success.

What to Do When Your Home Is Worth Less than Your Mortgage

It's every homeowner's nightmare scenario: You have to sell your home but the sale price won't cover your mortgage. This kind of bad dream doesn't happen often. Usually homeowners can wait it out until the market improves, purchase prices go up again, and things balance out. The problem is that this takes time, sometimes years. Some people don't have time to wait out the market. A job transfer, divorce, illness or other necessity may force them to sell now. If you bought high during the recent boom but need to sell this summer when prices have been forced down by high market inventories, you could have a serious problem.

What do you do if you can't sell your house for enough to meet the closing costs? First of all, don't neglect your mortgage payment. You'll do serious damage to your credit rating and make matters much worse. You do have options, says veteran realtor John Day. The best might be a short sale.

A short sale "is when you fess up to the lender, let them know about your hardship and ask if they would please accept less money than you owe," John explains.

Obviously, lenders are reluctant to do this which makes short sales fraught with stress and tension. Of course, the circumstances that brought you to the decision are stressful in themselves, then there's the exacting paperwork associated with a short sale which adds to the stress. It's best to have an experienced real estate agent by your side to help guide you through the process. A knowledgeable agent like John Day not only knows the ropes and understands the process, but can provide much needed advice and moral support.

To find out how to initiate a short sale and the process involved, read John Day's excellent June newsletter (just click the post title). Here's what to expect if you attempt a short sale:

• Make sure you date and keep copies of everything. You should also date and document every phone call for your records, including the name of the person you talked to.


• Contact your lender's loan service department and explain your problem.


• Submit paperwork and a financial statement. (They'll be looking for assets you can cash in to make up the difference between the sale price and your loan amount.)


• Your realtor puts your house on the market, finds a buyer and obtains a bona fide offer.


• Submit the contracts and paperwork to your lender.


• Wait. Your lender will need some time to make a decision.

If you're selling your home, contact veteran realtor John Day. A top seller with prestigious Long & Foster Realtors, John has the experience and expertise to sell your home for the highest possible price.

If you're facing a potential short sale, you want John Day by your side. John will do everything he can to help you get through what will be a stressful process. Give John a call today and visit John's website for lots of great tips on selling and buying a house. If you're buying or selling a home in Maryland or the Washington DC metro area, John Day is your key to success.

Needs of Aging Boomers Drive Housing Trends

Flexibility and accessibility are the new buzz words for home designers, architects and remodelers. The changing needs of Baby Boomers are driving changes in housing trends.

With land prices rising, homeowners are making the most of their space. Smaller homes on smaller lots are gaining favor. The key is in making better use of the available space. For the first time in 3 years, home sizes are decreasing rather than increasing, according to the latest Design Trends Survey by the American Institute of Architects. Homeowners are focusing not on more space but on using that space more effectively.

Aging themselves and, in many cases caring for their aged parents, the Boomer generation is looking for homes that are more accessible. Wider hallways, fewer steps, single-story homes, open floor plans that are easy to maneuver through -- all are in increasing demand.

The survey of 500 architects asked what clients were asking for.

74% greater accessibility
63% outdoor living space
63% informal space

If you're looking for a home with flexibility and accessibility, click the post title to go to John Day's Homes Buy Day website. You'll find thousands of homes in Maryland and the Washington DC metro area. Give John Day a call, tell him what you're looking for, and let John find the house of your dreams. If you're buying or selling a house, John Day is your key to success.

Live, Work and Play in Lothian, Maryland

This is the dream location for a home-based business. You can live, work and play without leaving home on this spacious Lothian, Maryland property. Two beautiful acres of space and no covenants give you maximum flexibility. A great ranch home with lots of potential, plenty of open yard space surrounding the home, two spacious detached garages with plenty of electrical service, and two paved driveways, one to the shop and garage and one to the house make this an ideal location for a home or home/business combination.

Situated in scenic Anne Arundel County, this property is located at 6160 Fishers Station Road in Lothian, Maryland. The ranch house has 3 bedrooms and one bath, a lovely brick fireplace, a charming country kitchen, and a fabulous large rear deck with a luxurious hot tub. Sounds like a great way to end the day, doesn't it?

Parts of the lower level are finished so dream away. You might want to put in a dynamite game room or entertainment den. Handymen (and women) will love the first-rate workshop. Click the post title to find out more about this intriguing property and take a virtual tour.

This is just one of many wonderful Maryland properties you'll find offered on John Day's Homes Buy Day website. Check out thousands of homes in Maryland and the metro Washington DC area. Call John today and schedule your personal tour. If you're buying or selling a home, veteran realtor John Day is your key to success.

New Design Trends Make Use of Outdoor Space

It's a far cry from the family camping of your youth, but there's a definite trend in home design to bring the outdoors inside and connect the inside to the outdoors. Today designers, remodelers and builders have taken outdoor living to the next level. Indoor rooms are not only being designed to connect to patios, decks and gardens, these outdoor spaces are being planned as extensions of their interior counterparts. Your backyard is now considered another "room" in your house to be tweaked and manipulated to enhance your overall comfort and convenience.

Here are some of the new trends seen at a recent Parade of Homes:

• Huge windows make the outdoor view part of the indoor scenery, letting in fresh air and sunshine.
• Gathering rooms are a new channeling of the great room concept. Window walls with multiple glass or french doors to a large patio make it possible to use the patio and room as a single unit. Intricate tile patterns begin inside, leading onto the outdoor patio where they are repeated and enhanced. Lighting and decorating schemes for the indoor space are also carried into the outdoor area. In one home, a stunning two-sided fireplace was built into the common wall allowing use from both the inside room and the patio.
• Plasma TVs mounted on the walls of covered porches and patios let you cheer for the home team while you're barbecuing. One home featured a specially designed rear window with motorized blinds that allows movies to be projected onto it. Films can be viewed from the indoor family room or, with the flick of a switch, the image inverts for outdoor viewing.
• Ceiling fans mounted into porch ceilings create a breeze when Mother Nature takes a rest and keep bugs away.
• Integrated stereo systems now include outdoor speakers, some even disguised as flower pots and benches that also provide extra seating.
• Large one-way windows in the bathroom allow light and view in but keep peeping toms out.
• Specially designed cupolas and skylights bring natural light deep into the interior of the home.

Whatever you're looking for in a home, John Day can help you find it. A top realtor with prestigious Long & Foster Realtors, John has an intimate knowledge of Maryland's real estate markets and can help you find the perfect home in the perfect community. Take a look at the latest listings on John'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.

Visit Our Mortgage Center for Tools and Tips on Home Loans

Purchasing a home is the biggest financial decision most of us make during our lifetime. With so many loan products available today, it's difficult to know what will mesh best with your finances and lifestyle. Recent scandals in the mortgage loan industry have made many home buyers gun shy about choosing a lender.

At Homes Buy Day we understand your concerns. On our website mortgage center, you'll find information about lenders you can trust. (Click the post title to visit our mortgage center.) These are lenders we can recommend personally who exhibit the highest degree of professionalism and utmost integrity. One of our recommended lenders is Prosperity Mortgage which serves Montgomery County and western Maryland, including the Washington DC metro area. With a focus on meeting the individual needs of each customer, Prosperity Mortgage provides knowledgeable, superior service while exhibiting the highest professionalism and integrity. Click the link to find out more.

At our mortgage center you'll also find links to several excellent mortgage calculators, reputable title companies, credit tips, mortgage tips, a glossary of terms, and great hints for both home buyers and sellers. At Homes Buy Day we understand that the process of buying or selling a home can be confusing, even overwhelming. Our experienced realtors will successfully guide you through every confusing step, from pre-qualification to closing and escrow.

Visit the Homes Buy Day website to view hundreds of homes in Maryland and the Washington DC metro area. Give us a call and let us help you find the home of your dreams or sell your home.