Silver Spring Students Dig Into Learning

Students in Silver Spring are learning how to dish some dirt—literally.  St. Francis International School has a working garden that’s tended by the students, and it’s helping to teach them many different lessons according to an article on the Gazette web site.

The planting of seeds and tending to the growing flowers and vegetables are what get students interested.  From there, teachers tie in lessons such as why early civilizations sprang up near waterways. In deciding what to grow and sell to raise funds for a class trip, the eighth grade is learning math and economics. And of course there will be instruction in how to prepare wonderful dishes with the food they’ve grown.

Currently the garden consists of eight beds that are four feet by four feet as well as some edible fruit trees and bushes.  However, a recent grant will allow the school to begin building a 20 x 12 foot greenhouse as well.  Given enough room, students might be able to plant and grow some of their favorite things and then take them home to their own gardens.

Many of the current students live in urban areas so they don’t get to experience the wonder of growing the food that they eat.  It’s a real joy for them to see how a strawberry grows or where a tomato comes from. And of course, there’s that age-old fun of digging in the dirt. A garden is more than a garden when it’s truly an outdoor classroom.

This is just another example of the great educational opportunities for children in the DC Metro Area.

Contact me, Mynor Herrera, today for expert help buying or selling in the DC, MD, & VA areas! I also specialize in Bethesda and Chevy Chase, as well as the sub-divisions of Rosemary Hills, Rock Creek Forest, East Bethesda & Whitehall Condominium.

Be a Stand-Out Buyer in the DC Home Market

In today’s housing market, the buyer has generally held all the cards. But that’s beginning to change according to a recent Washington Times article which says that Bethesda, Chevy Chase and other areas are starting to see some real buyer competition. This includes even the “slow movers” such as foreclosures and short sales.

Rather than increased demand, lower inventory is creating this situation, and it’s happening across a very broad range of home prices, not just the lower-priced homes. If only one or two homes are listed in a popular neighborhood, you’ll likely see lots of competing offers. As I stated in the article, sometimes buyers with little cash end up “competing against cash-heavy real estate investors, particularly for bank-owned foreclosures.”

The heat of the chase can often push a buyer to offer more than they can really afford. This can create financial problems down the road. If you start out shopping at the top of your price range and competition drives up the price, you could be out of luck for that property. The advice I gave in the article is that buyers should avoid getting caught up in the emotion of the moment and “establish a price that they feel comfortable offering and make sure they do not go above that cap.”

There are some ways to improve the chance of your offer being the one that’s accepted amid the competition. For the article I stated that buyers can “offer a higher earnest-money deposit” for this purpose. “A larger earnest-money deposit is only risky if you act risky. It is very rare to lose it. There are multiple opportunities to walk away from the contract without losing your deposit.” Generally, offering one percent of the sales price is customary in today’s market. It shows the seller that you are a serious buyer and enables you to write a contract as soon as you know what home you want to buy.

Some of my other recommendations to stand out as a buyer include having a strong relationship with your lender and using a personal touch. As I told the Times, “It can be helpful for the buyers’ agent to present their offer in person. Not only does this personalize the process, but the agent can also answer any questions or concerns and even make immediate changes to the offer with the permission of the buyer.”

So while buyers may not have the same clout as before, with a little extra vigilance and the help of a great agent, they can still stand out from the crowd in this market and hold the winning offer.

Contact me, Mynor Herrera, today for expert help buying or selling in the DC, MD, & VA areas! I also specialize in Bethesda and Chevy Chase, as well as the sub-divisions of Rosemary Hills, Rock Creek Forest, East Bethesda & Whitehall Condominium.

No Coins for the Meter? In Silver Spring, There’s an App for That!

Silver Spring has joined Bethesda as a location that offers pay-by-cell parking.  Wheaton and Montgomery Hills will be added by this summer.

What is pay-by-cell parking?  It’s the ability to use your cell phone to add time to a parking meter that is pay-by-cell ready, which is currently about 4,500 meters in Silver Spring according to the Gazette web site.

Besides the advantage of not having to carry around change for the meter, there are other bonuses. One is that you’ll get a text message when your meter is about to expire so you can add time via your cell phone from wherever you are.  No more running down to the curb to add time.  Another is that you can get your money back for unused time if you return to your car before your meter expires.  Both of these options can keep you from ever getting another parking ticket.

And fiscal conservatives will be happy to know that the program costs the county no money, except charges for adding decals to the meters that use the app.

The one possible downside is the 35 cent convenience fee that you must pay on top of your parking costs.  But compared to a $45 or higher parking ticket, most people happily pay the fee.

First-time users must register by either visiting www.mc.goparknow.com or calling 301-830-7074.  You’ll set up an account and select a credit card for the parking fees.  When you park at a pay-by-cell meter, you call the same phone number or send a text to 32075.  Then just follow the prompts.  To end a session before time expires and get money back, you call the same number.

Pay-by-cell parking is now one of four options for parking in the county.  The others are a monthly parking pass, an electronic CashKey that holds up to $200 for use in certain meters, and good old-fashioned coins.

This is yet another reason why people in Silver Spring and the surrounding areas love living here!

Contact me, Mynor Herrera, today for expert help buying or selling in the DC, MD, & VA areas! I also specialize in Bethesda and Chevy Chase, as well as the sub-divisions of Rosemary Hills, Rock Creek Forest, East Bethesda & Whitehall Condominium.

Know Your Options When Buying a Foreclosure

Walk or drive through any neighborhood in Bethesda, Rock Creek Forest, or Rosemary Hills, and there’s a good chance you’ll see a home that’s in foreclosure. It’s sad for the families who’ve lost their house, but it’s also an opportunity for many buyers who otherwise could not afford to buy a home.

Many folks wonder whether foreclosures are safe to buy.  According to a recent article on Houselogic.com, there are two options for buying a foreclosure and each has its pros and cons.

1.    Buying at Auction

In this scenario, you bid on the home on the steps of a courthouse. Most experts consider this the riskier option mainly because you won’t be able to inspect the home before the auction to learn about potential issues.

• If the house has been empty for a while, there could be burst pipes, kicked-in walls, or rodents living in the house. You buy “as is.”
• If there’s a tenant in the house who doesn’t want to leave, you are responsible for the eviction process and all its potential costs.
• The title might not be clear or could have liens.
• The previous owner could file for a last-minute bankruptcy, which cancels the foreclosure and your purchase, even if you’ve already put down a cash deposit.

So while buying at auction can be a price bargain, it’s sometimes not worth all the headaches.  Generally only investors and house flippers will take on these challenges.

2.    Buying from a Bank

If a home doesn’t sell at auction, the bank takes ownership of the title and puts the home on the market for 20 to 30 percent above the minimum auction price. It also will hire a Realtor® to handle the sale. This is just like buying a non-foreclosed house, but the bank is the owner.

The potential problem for this option is lack of maintenance on the house. A bank might not have stayed on top of upkeep for the vacant house, and the former homeowners probably pulled out anything they could sell, including appliances. A lack of maintenance—as little as peeling paint—can make it harder to get a mortgage. So buyers have to do a lot of the fix-ups themselves.

The upside is that on average you’ll pay 20 percent less than for a non-foreclosed home.  And if a house is on the market, it generally has a clear title. However, you should still consult an attorney to make sure of this and be sure to get title insurance.

Knowing your options for buying a foreclosure can get you a great deal while helping you avoid some of the more expensive pitfalls.

Contact me, Mynor Herrera, today for expert help buying or selling in the DC, MD, & VA areas! I also specialize in Bethesda and Chevy Chase, as well as the sub-divisions of Rosemary Hills, Rock Creek Forest, East Bethesda & Whitehall Condominium.

Silver Spring Hosts Nonprofit Forum

If you currently run a nonprofit organization or are thinking about starting one, plan on attending an upcoming free forum in Silver Spring titled “Your Nonprofit: Build It! Grow It! Fund It! Sustain It!”  

The event, now in its second year, will be hosted by U.S. Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards and will include presentations by experts in finance, grant writing, media, and many other areas. Leaders from nonprofits, government and foundations will teach attendees about running a successful nonprofit organization in 20 training sessions throughout the day. 

About 200 nonprofit representatives attended last year’s event and learned, among other things, where typical funding comes from and how to find grants outside of the federal government.

Nonprofits play an essential role in our communities. This forum helps teach the skills for building and maintaining them so they can continue to help those in need.

The forum will run on Monday, May 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Silver Spring Civic Building in Silver Spring.  For more information, go to www.donnaedwards.house.gov or call 301-516-7601.

Contact me, Mynor Herrera, today for expert help buying or selling in the DC, MD, & VA areas! I also specialize in Bethesda and Chevy Chase, as well as the sub-divisions of Rosemary Hills, Rock Creek Forest, East Bethesda & Whitehall Condominium.

How to Keep the Power On in Bethesda

Anyone who lives in Bethesda, Chevy Chase or the general DC metro area has had their power knocked out by a storm. Sometimes it’s only gone for minutes, but in extreme situations it can be hours or days. If you have a critical need to keep your power on at all times, consider a standby generator. This is a stand-alone unit that sits outside your house and is run by an alternative power source such as propane or natural gas. If the electricity fails, the unit is signaled to turn on even if you’re not home.

These units are pricey, from $5,000 to $40,000, but they do recoup about 48 percent of their cost when you sell. What follows is some information from Houselogic.com on how to assess if this is really what you need.

Buying a standby generator is like buying insurance—you really can’t tell when or if you’ll need it. Some critical decision factors are:

·         Your area has frequent, prolonged power losses.

·         You and/or your family rely on medical equipment that needs electricity.

·         You work at home and need to stay connected to your office.

If you live where it’s hot, a generator ensures that children and the elderly are protected from the heat. This obviously works in reverse in cold areas and can also help prevent pipes from freezing and flooding the house, which can be a lot more expensive than the price of the generator.

Once you’ve decided this is for you, evaluate your power requirements. Home wattage use varies, and the more power a generator will supply the more it costs. Then decide what you want or need powered in an emergency. It can be as little as the AC, the fridge, and some lights, to as much as the whole house. A 3,000 square-foot house could need 25 to 30 kilowatts of power. Just running a few things requires as little as 17kW. The bigger the need, the larger the generator required.

Whenever possible, have your generator supplier set up your service, as they’re most familiar with the product. Otherwise, you need a plumber to connect the fuel source and an electrician to connect to your home’s power supply. Make sure anyone you use is licensed and certified for your unit, that they know the local codes regarding location and fuel storage and whether a permit is needed.

Along with the cost of the generator and its installation, remember to budget for the type of fuel it will use. In addition, will you need to plumb for a gas line or perhaps purchase and install a propane tank? It’s a good idea to talk with your plumber or utility company before you buy the generator to ensure you can get an affordable alternative power source in your area.

Once set up, you can relax and know that you’ll have power despite Mother Nature’s whims, and that you’ve also added value to your home.

Contact me, Mynor Herrera, today for expert help buying or selling in the DC, MD, & VA areas! I also specialize in Bethesda and Chevy Chase, as well as the sub-divisions of Rosemary Hills, Rock Creek Forest, East Bethesda & Whitehall Condominium.

Local Foodies Get a “Twofer”

 

People in the metro DC area who love food will be in luck on Sunday, May 15, says Gazette.net.  There will be two different food festivals happening that day, one a brand new event and the other an annual favorite.  Folks from Bethesda, Silver Spring and all of the metro area should plan to attend.

The newcomer this year is Taste the World in Fenton Village, which starts in the parking lot by Highland Origin Coffee on Fenton Street.  Participants get a passport flier listing names and locations of the 21 participating restaurants in Fenton Village which they can visit for $5.00 tastings.  If you get your passport stamped by at least three of the restaurants, you can be entered into a raffle.

The organizers of Taste the World hope to make everyone more aware of what Silver Spring has to offer, including a wide range of restaurants such as African, Indian, and Ethiopian.

Now in its 16^th year, The Taste of Wheaton is also a festival of diverse eating in the Washington, DC metro region.  This event is located in the Wheaton Triangle between Grandview Avenue and Reedie Drive, and participating restaurants are set up in booths.  Food samples at this event cost between $1.00 and $5.00.  There’s also entertainment such as puppet shows, face painting, and art displays.

Scheduling both festivals on the same date was an accident, say the organizers, but they hope people will see it as a double-dose of good food.

While the date for both events is May 15, the times vary at bit. Taste the World runs from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and The Taste of Wheaton from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  So much food, so little time!

Contact me, Mynor Herrera, today for expert help buying or selling in the DC, MD, & VA areas! I also specialize in Bethesda and Chevy Chase, as well as the sub-divisions of Rosemary Hills, Rock Creek Forest, East Bethesda & Whitehall Condominium.

How to Weather a Short Sale

What is a short sale? It’s when homeowners in a bad financial situation sell their home for less than the amount due on the mortgage, and all proceeds revert to the lender. This is sometimes referred to as being underwater. And while short sales can be an appealing alternative to a foreclosure, it’s not necessarily an easier process. If you live in Chevy Chase, Rosemary Hills, or any other neighborhood and are contemplating a short sale, here are some things you need to know from the AOL Real Estate website.

Consult the Experts - If you’re considering a short-sell, talk to three crucial people: a CPA, a real estate attorney, and a qualified real estate agent. They will know your state’s laws regarding short sales and foreclosures and can help you determine if a foreclosure would be better than a short sale in your specific situation.

Use a Qualified Agent - Many agents will say they are short-sale experts when they have no real field experience. To find a qualified agent, look for the title Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) or National Association of Realtors Short Sale Specialist. Then ask how many short sale listings they currently have and request names and phone numbers of their last five short-sale clients.

Verify Your Home’s Value - You can do this yourself using various on-line tools, you can ask your real estate agent to give you an estimate, or you can use an independent appraiser. Use the Appraisal Institute website to find someone in your area. Know that your lender will want the house priced as close as possible to market value.

List Appropriately - This is a key step. Start out listing your home at slightly above market value and then lower the price at pre-determined intervals until you get an offer. This will show your lender that you’re trying to get them the most for your home. It’s a balancing act of enticing buyers while satisfying a lender’s profit needs.

Make Your Package - This includes, but is not limited to, a hardship letter, tax returns from the past two years, and last two pay stubs. The entire package could be 60 to 80 pages. Be sure all required documents are there or the bank could put off your short sale.

Be Patient - It can take 30 to 45 days for the lender to get your package, input your information, and assign a negotiator to the sale. You could actually wait as long as three months for this.

Negotiate - The lender’s negotiator will offer you an appraisal or broker price option (BPO) of your home. If a buyer’s offer is within five percent of the BPO and the lender has all your information, the short sale will be approved. If the offer is too low, the lender might come back with a higher sale price. Negotiations will follow, but that’s just how it’s done.

The entire short sale process can take from six weeks to a year or longer, but don’t get discouraged. If you have a good team behind you, you’ll end up making the sale and will be satisfied with the results.

Contact me, Mynor Herrera, today for expert help buying or selling in the DC, MD, & VA areas! I also specialize in Bethesda and Chevy Chase, as well as the sub-divisions of Rosemary Hills, Rock Creek Forest, East Bethesda & Whitehall Condominium.