TheSilverBee.com

Goodbye Halloween - Time to Think About Turkey

Debbie Cook — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:54:39 +0000

Somewhere in Silver Spring . . . . the skeleton house was my pick for the best Halloween Display I saw this year.

My photos do not do it justice because they are taken in the daytime. There are skulls mounted on the gutters with fire spewing out of them (at night) like funeral pyres. Still can’t figure out how they did that?

At night this yard really looks
like a graveyard with skeletons
hanging in trees, coffins, sitting in chairs, hanging from the highest window, sprawled on the ground in pieces. Someone is very talented and would be super at settting scenes.

Now that we are into November that means the annual Montgomery County Thanksgving Parade is around the corner. The Parade takes place the weekend before Thanksgiving, Saturday November 21st this year. Time: 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon

Save the Date for the event that heralds the beginning of the Holiday Season!
Downtown Silver Spring on Georgia Avenue from Sligo to Silver Plaza on Ellsworth Drive to Fenton Street.

There will be Marching Bands, including the Redskins Marching Band and many High Schools from around the county, Macy’s Parade type Balloons, floats, vintage cars, dogs, horses, ethnic dancing groups, police groups and fire trucks with Isiah Leggett as the grand marshall this year.

The Silver Spring Regional Center is looking for volunteer help with the Parade:
Volunteers needed for the Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade to act as balloon handlers- leading the giant Macy-like Thanksgiving balloons and dressing up in costumes to be on the floats. Also, we need assistance with set-up and break-down.

This opportunity is great for Groups!
Small Grp: 3-10: YES
Medium Grp: 10-25: YES
Large Grp: 25-50: YES
X-Large Grp: 50+: YES

The hours are from 7:30am to 1:30pm (you need to be present the whole time) on Saturday, November 21. Dress warmly, as you will be outside. You should try and wear black as your outside layer color. Once you arrive, you will be assigned a position and given directions about your volunteer job. Volunteers meet at the new fire station at 8110 Georgia Avenue. If you or your group is up for this Contact:
Elizabeth Gallauresi 301-793-2928 egallauresi@themodernmuse.com

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The Silver Spring Real Estate Market’s Crystal Ball

Debbie Cook — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:19:33 +0000

The Real Estate Market in Silver Spring and Takoma Park continues to pick up momentum. The question is, have we hit bottom and are we heading out of this or is this just a short upswing before the bottom really falls out?
I wish I had a Crystal Ball but . . . . . “Those that live by the Crystal Ball eat glass”!

My suggestion right now would be that if you are wanting to buy, jump in now. You can’t go wrong. If you are selling or need to sell, sell now and price your home to move fast. If this is a short upswing then you don’t want to miss your chance to sell now during an upswing. How long of a window might we have? This is another question that is begging for a Crystal Ball.  I would guess that we might see a better market for at least the next 60 days. The problem longer term could be interest rate increases or the increase in inventory of foreclosed homes. Either of these could have a negative impact. My suggestion is NOT to watch national trends, but focus mostly on what you see taking place in our community. This will certainly give you the best perspective on our market.

To get your own “Real Time” Market Trend Statistics for any zip code or property type in Silver Spring and or Takoma Park Check out:   www.SilverSpringStats.com

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10 Mistakes to Avoid and 25 Easy Fix-ups when Selling your Silver Spring Home

Debbie Cook — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:59:42 +0000

Also Check Out these 25 Fast and Easy Fixups when selling your Silver Spring Home

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South Silver Spring - Cool, Hip, Urban and Green

Debbie Cook — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:02:06 +0000

South Silver Spring is triangular shaped and is bounded by Newell Street and Blair Mill Road on the northwest, the B&O Railroad right-of-way on the east and the District of Columbia line on the southwest. The South Silver Spring area is a part of the Silver Spring Central Business District (CBD). It is a combination of small scale commercial buildings and a scattering of high rise office buildings. After years of decay, South Silver Spring is being transformed into an exciting mixed use neighborhood with high tech businesses, arts oriented enterprises, new restaurants and over 1,000 new housing units. The new housing is the result of several large, adaptive re-use projects and several new residential development.

South Silver Spring is the Ultimate Walkable Neighborhood - You can live practically car-free!

Run errands in no time, including a Giant, CVS, dry cleaners. Shop Organic at nearby Whole Foods Market and a weekly Farmer’s Market (May to October). Explore more than 100 restaurants, from fine dining to cheap eats - including highly rated favorites Ray’s the Classics, Jackie’s Restaurant, and Ceviche. Take in a movie at the American Film Institute’s Silver Theatre and cultural center.

Bike and hike on the Capital Crescent Trail, the Metropolitan Branch Trail, and the Silver Spring Green Trail. Work out at Gold’s Gym, Washington Sports Club, LA Fitness, or Curves.

Condominums in South Silver Spring are prized for there accessibility to Metro and their lower price tag as compared to DC.

Check out real estate market reports for condominiums in South Silver Spring:

              The Aurora                                    8045 at Silver Spring Metro
                  The Silverton                                 The Mica

                        Search all Condos for Sale in Silver Spring zip code 20910

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New Pharmacy Opens next to Whole Foods in Downtown

Debbie Cook — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 19:30:14 +0000

There is a “new” pharmacy in the old Moto Photo storefront (next to Next Day Blinds) in the Whole Foods/Strosniders Shopping Center. Upscale Care Rx has moved here from the Crescent Condos Location on the ”crazy busy” part of Wayne Avenue. It’s way easier to get to now. There is more merchandise in this new location, such as greeting cards, hosiery, hair brushes, chapstick and other items you would normally find at a small mom and pop corner drugstore. This Pharmacy carries conventional as well as homeopathic medications. They will flavor medications for your children or you, if needed, at no extra charge. They have FREE delivery. What other Drugstore or Pharmacy in Silver Spring has this type of unique, friendly personalized service?

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Ertter’s Market for Sale and the General Store is Open in Forest Glen

Debbie Cook — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 16:40:48 +0000

Ertters Market is for Sale! The 7,377 sq foot corner building with Errters Market, a dry cleaners and several rental apartments is for sale for $2,200,000.00.

The Comercial Listing Broker describes it this way in the MRIS system:

“The asset at 523 Dale Drive, Silver Spring, Montgomery County, Maryland is a well-located mixed-use corner property in a micro-commercial market that serves local consumers and long-time customers. With ample parking for both retail customers and apartment residents, this asset is conveniently located in an extremely stable neighborhood with near-impossible barriers to entry”“property consists of two leased retail suites and four two-bedroom/one-bath apartments. The retail suites are leased to Ertter’s Market (convenience store) and No.1 Organic Cleaners (dry cleaner). Three of the apartments are currently leased, and the other apartment can be easily leased in the tight rental market of Silver Spring” This building was built in 1938 by Morris Miller of the “DC line” liquor store. Morris Miller started several of these corner grocery stores similar to Ertter’s in NW Washington, DC. back in the 1920’s and 1930’s. Ertter’s was a favorite hangout for Blair High School students.

Also
The General Store is Open for Business and it sure smells good around the corner of Capitol View Avenue and Post Office Road now.

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Fat Tuesday, Pancake, Shrove Tuesday and Paczki Day

Debbie Cook — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 22:01:25 +0000

Today is Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday and Paczki Day, the time we all Fatten ourselves up before tightening our belts and giving up things for Lent. Below are 3 “recession proof” Ways to celebrate Fat Day on the cheap in Silver Spring, Md

Number 1
Head straight to the WOODMOOR Pastry Shop for some of their famous, divine, decadently outrageous Paczki and or pick up one of their fantastic King Cakes for dessert. After a couple of these, you won’t need any dinner or pancakes for a long time.

Number 2
There are several Silver Spring and Takoma Park Churches with Pancake Suppers tonight:
Church of the Ascension on Sligo Avenue in Silver Spring
Grace Episcopal Church on Grace Chruch Road and Georgia Avenue
Takoma Park Presbyterian Church on Tulip Avenue in Takoma Park
Colesville Presbyterian on New Hampshire Avenue in Colesville

Check out the new International House of Pancakes (IHOP) Location in Silver Spring
at 12251 Tech Road, Silver Spring, Md 20904 for NATIONAL Pancake Day 2009 and
FREE Pancakes til 10 pm tonight.

Number 3
Stop at any “Popeye’s” in Silver Spring and dine on the BEST Red Beans and Rice outside of New Orleans. The red beans and rice are the very same red beans and rice served at
Al Copeland’s Copelands of New Orleans Restaurant.

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Silver Spring Real Estate - $8000 Homebuyer Tax Credit

Debbie Cook — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:19:17 +0000

If you are a first time home buyer or have not owned a residence in the past 3 years, now would be a good time to consider buying your first home and there is no better place to buy it than Silver Spring or Takoma Park, Md

Prices have never been lower in Silver Spring and Takoma Park.
The interest rates are low hanging around 5%
You get to deduct the $8000.00 to purchase your new home.

Here is a quick guide to how you can apply the tax credit and how it compares to the $7500.00 credit in 2008.

Search for Silver Spring and Takoma Park Real Estate (no registration required - so search to your heart’s content!)

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Enough Already with Real Estate - We’re Launching Pigs!

Debbie Cook — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 01:28:42 +0000

Tired of hearing about the housing market Doom and Gloom? While the economic news is universally negative, there is some good news in the Silver Spring Real Estate Market:

We closed on 5 Silver Spring Properties in December through the middle of January. In the last 2 weeks showings on listings have tripled since the previous month. We’ve recently been involved in 4 multiple contract situations (multiple buyers making offers on the same house), who would have thought in this “terrible” market? We have 5 ready, willing and able buyers that we’re helping to find Silver Spring Homes for.

Interest rates are the lowest they have been since 1955! I think the market will still struggle on in 2009 and we may still be a ways from the bottom but in reality, it’s not as bad as it is being made out to be.

If you listen to the news, watch TV, surf the net or read the paper, you would think houses are selling only when pigs fly!

From now on the Silver Spring Team will be launching pigs.

Click Here to search for your own new Silver Spring piglet, pig or hog

Click Here to find the approximate value of your Silver Spring piglet, pig or hog

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Is this a good time of Year to Sell a Silver Spring House or Condo?

Debbie Cook — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:03:27 +0000

Statistics for Real Estate in Silver Spring, Md (Downtown) zip code. Notice the big uptick in the median price at the very end of the year when the inventory gets Low the median price rises. It appears that selling a house at this time of year may be a smart move. Less Inventory means Less competition and can translate into a better price!

The Eight Reasons Why Winter may be the Best Time to Sell

SILVER SPRING Real Estate Market (20910)

Median Price

Average Days on Market

Inventory

Median Market Action Index

To follow the trends in your Silver Spring or Takoma Park zipcode - Subscribe to My Market Reports. It is FREE and there is no obligation.

For a Computerized Assesment of Current Home Value in Silver Spring or Takoma Park
visit: www.SilverSpringCMA.com

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