1. Spider Hall Farm is located in Prince Frederick off Route 231. They are open on weekends and offer hayrides, a corn maze as well as a pumpkin patch. See their Facebook for more information.

2. Just over the Benedict Bridge in Benedict is Serenity Farm. Plenty of Halloween events and Kasper’s Castle!

3. 25 minutes south of Prince Frederick you’ll find Bowles Farm in Mechanicsville, home of the world’s largest corn maze! Visit Bowles so you don’t miss your chance for the petting zoo, maze, barrel rides and face painting. Be sure to grab a cupcake from the bakery on your way out.

For more information, visit Southern Maryland Online’s Halloween Guide.

Our model will be open for trick-or-treating on Halloween so we look forward to seeing your little ghosts and goblins!

To make sure your student has the best school year possible, check out some of these tips issued from the American Academy of Pediatrics:

1. Choose a backpack with wide, padded shoulder straps-the more comfortable with the weight of the books, the better.
2. Always utilize all the comparts your backpack offers. Spread the weight of the contents around and always pack the heaviest item/book closest to the center of the back.
3. Stay positive! Highlight all the benefits of starting a new school year-new friends, seeing old friends, and being able to participate in the classes they enjoy again.
4. Schedule ample homework time and set a rule that the tv stays off until school work is finished.

For these tips and much more, be sure to visit the AAP website on Back to School Tips.

Good luck and everyone enjoy your first day!

We had the opportunity to hear Peter Franchot, the Comptroller of Maryland, speak on the economy of the state as well as his opinions and ideas for the housing industry.

We also listened to Jeff Shore, an expert in new homes sales training. Jeff stressed the importance of a positive, confident attitude and the enthusiasm necessary to establish a comfortable relationship with a potential home buyer. After listening to Jeff speak I believe all three of us left the seminar encouraged, inspired and motivated! I look forwarding to reading more of Jeff’s work as well as his newsletter that is available on his website.

Finally, it would be a disgrace if I didn’t mention our unbelievable lunch at one of the best deli’s in Maryland, Edmart.

Thank you Brooke for such a great learning experience and day!

-Bobbi

Maryland Comptroller

Myself, Melissa, Jeff Shore and Brooke

Edmart Deli corned beef

Photo Courtesy of EarthEasy.com

We may be more than half way through Summer but we still have plenty of hot days ahead of us.  Below you will find a few very important tips to help keep your yard healthy and happy on a warm day:

1. Do not over-water your lawn!   Grass reaches deep with its roots for moisture, so water about once a week.  Water heavily, about an inch or two, for best results.
2. Do not cut your grass short!  By giving your lawn an extra inch or so in length, your allowing the blades to shade your roots from the sun.  Healthy roots grow longer and stronger.
3. Do fertilize your grass every 2 months or so.  Healthy, fed grass produces thick, even blades that cool down the soil and maintain your grass even in hot weather.
4. Last but not least, the best time to water your lawn is early morning.  You have the best chance of avoiding evaporation at this time of day.

Combining the above tips will leave you with a healthy yard for the remainder of Summer and the hot beginning days of Fall!

Our newest editions on the real estate market here in Calvert County bring new data and changes worth reviewing:

June Highlights-

• Homes are selling faster than recent months have reported.  On average, a house is on the market for about a month less than before, which is a pleasant decrease in the waiting period for sellers.
• The average listing price of a home is back under $300,000.00 like it was in previous months.  The last time we saw over $300,000.00 for a home listing was back in January.  It is definitely a buyer’s market right now.
• The number of homes sold are holding steady since last month at a little over 100 homes this month.  This is significant as this is only the second time home sales have broken 100 in a year.

Some noticeable differences in our July report below:

• There was a drop in sales from June to July with 57 total homes sold.  The decrease in sales could be due to summer vacations and busy summer schedules. Hopefully things will pick back up next month.
• Great news!   On average this report, homes were on the market less than 100 days, giving confidence to homeowners selling their properties.
• The “sold price” for homes is back over $300,000.00 after decreasing last month to around $274,000.00.  Let’s hope this trend continues for sellers in our county!

Calvert County Housing Market Trends Through May 2010

In this third issue of The State of Calvert County Real Estate, let’s discuss the activity and trends we’ve been seeing over the last couple of months. The chart below presents a lot of data but shows a few points worth noting:

• The month of May saw a dramatic increase in sales compared to months prior.  Sales were double what we saw in February and March.
• The seller contribution to closing costs has remained consistent, around $6,000.00.  Sellers, be prepared to assist your buyer in this market.
• On a positive note, there has been an increase in the sales price of homes.  Sales prices have hit over $300,000.00 for the first time since January 2010.

First the bad news – Lynn Bonde, the energetic and visionary CEO of Calvert Hospice is retiring following a successful 12 year career. The good news – Lynn’s long list of accomplishments include the building of the Burnett-Calvert Hospice House and the creation of the Shoppe for Hospice ladies and children’s gently used clothing store. At Lynn’s Retirement Dinner, to highlight Shoppe for Hospice, a fashion show was hosted by Ann Kaine, manager of the Shoppe.

Lynn Bonde, Jay Webster, Ann Kaine

Both Calvert County home builders are pleased with combined sales of almost 40 homes in the last 13 months in  the College Station community. An convenient Prince Frederick location combined with exceptionally affordable prices from the mid $300’s has attracted many first time homebuyers as well as folks purchasing their second homes. Both Kaine Homes and Marrick Homes feature furnished model homes and design centers and are open seven days a week.

Thanks to Eileen Jenkins, EMT and Trainer, we learned valuable emergency first aid skills including CPR. For example, to stop a nose-bleed, you hold your head down and squeeze your nostrils. Many thought the correct procedure was to tilt your head backwards (blood then drains down your throat – a no-no). Here’s another – 90% of bleeds can be stopped by applying consistent pressure. Eileen, you did a great job putting up with our not-always-on-task group.

Thanks, so much.

All of us at Kaine Homes

For those of us whose constantly monitor the housing market, we’re ever watchful for what we hope will be the bottom of this Great Recession. Why are we looking so hard? Because no recovery can start until most of  the lights are off. The bottom will give us a new foundation upon which the economy and the housing market can rebuild.  Thankfully, all real estate markets are local.  We’re very grateful that we’re in the Washington Metro market which is still supporting strong job growth. Many areas of the country (FL, AZ, NV, CA) still have considerable bleeding left before they reach the bottom. 

In a recent report by Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Economy.com, noted that prices in the Washington Metro market would decline by about 6% but rebound next year by more than 4%.  Another report by Hanley Wood Market Intelligence places the DC area in the top 10 real estate markets in the country.

Speaking in very local terms, our Calvert County market seems to be sprouting some “green shoots” of stabilization.  In fact, our home and lot prices have started to rise in the last few months. This hasn’t happened for over two years. Be on the lookout for Melissa’s upcoming blog post where she’ll do an in depth analysis of our local sales activity.

So just maybe what I see rising under my feet is the bottom. Let’s hope.

Brooke