Author Archives: Beth Stanton

Go Brent Team Welcomes Kathleen Dobson

Go Brent Team is excited to introduce the newest member of the team, Kathleen Dobson. As our marketing assistant, Kathleen will help coordinate Go Brent Team’s listings as well as assist with other marketing efforts. Her time will be divided between the office and working at GBT properties throughout Silver Spring, Takoma Park, and Kensington.

Go Brent Team and A Wider Circle

Kathleen previously worked in the field of recruitment and business development including eight years at the New Zealand Embassy where she met her husband Jason (who hails from New Zealand). She’s lived in the DC area for 24 years, eight of those in Woodside Park. Her sons, Aidan and Liam, attend Woodlin Elementary School.

Kathleen previously held a MD Real Estate license and speaks both Spanish and French! She’s been busy coordinating our annual winter clothing drive, picking up donations from clients and delivering them to A Wider Circle and the Linkages to Learning Centers at Montgomery Knolls/Pinecrest ES, Broad Acres ES, and Silver Spring International MS. We’ll be collecting items all winter so if you have a donation to make, email Kathleen to arrange for pickup.

Welcome Kathleen!

Go Brent Team Winter Coat/Clothing Drive

Last year Go Brent Team collected hundreds of winter items including new or gently used coats, hats, gloves, scarves and boots. All of the items were delivered to Downcounty Consortium schools’ Linkages to Learning programs and A Wider Circle.

We are kicking off our annual drive this week and would like your help. How?Gather gently used or new items; message us on Facebook or send us an email. You can leave items on your doorstep and one of our team members will swing by to pick up! Since both A Wider Circle and Linkages to Learning support the entire family, we can accept any winter items ranging from infant to adult sizes. Last year we also collected $500 in donations and purchased hat and glove sets for elementary school kids. If you prefer to make a donation, send us a message and we’ll coordinate pick up. We’ll continue collecting items and donations through January.

The Farmer’s Almanac is calling for a colder, wetter winter so let’s band together and keep our neighbors warm!

Check out our Community Partners

to-do-list

Go Brent Team is proud to be on the forefront of the local scene, serving our neighbors in this wonderfully diverse and interesting community. We’ve been working here for almost two decades now and we’ve forged strong and long-lasting relationships with other nearby friends, helpers and businesspeople. Check out our Community Partners page featuring a few of the dependable locals we count on to keep things running smoothly. Our page is a good starting place if you’ve got a “honey-do” list that isn’t getting done, need a paint color consult, are planning a home renovation or garden make-over,  or just looking for someone nearby who’s reliable. And remember, if you are looking for expert advice on the real estate market, reach out to Go Brent Team. Of course we work with buyers and sellers, but we also offer homeowners free consultations. We can discuss topics ranging from home renovations to mortgage refinancing to selling vs. renting and more. Need info on a free consult? Click here!

Go Brent Team Part-time Position Available

shakinghands web

Go Brent Team, the area’s top real estate team, is looking to fill a part-time job that can grow with the right person. We are looking for someone who is independent, discreet, efficient, organized, can multi-task, and is familiar generally with Montgomery County, and specifically with Silver Spring, Kensington and Takoma Park. Applicants must have their own car.

Many of the duties will require driving to our current and upcoming listings, and our local partners (printer, locksmith, etc). There will be office and computer work required as well as some client contact. Office work can be done partially out of the GBT office in downtown Silver Spring and partially from home.

Hours range from 15-25 hours per week, depending on the season. There potential for the job to grow to full-time. Pay will be hourly with mileage reimbursed.

Interested parties should contact Beth Stanton with cover letter an resume.

Montgomery Co Tax Bills Are Coming – Are You Receiving the Homestead Tax Credit?

It’s July, for Montgomery County homeowners this means that annual and semi-annual tax bills will be arriving in your mailboxes shortly – the County estimates mailing bills in mid-July (bills will also be available via the County website).

Montgomey Co Tax Bill with Homestead Credit

When you receive your bill you should look to see if you are receiving the Homestead Property Tax Credit (you’ll see “County Property Tax Credit”). This tax credit was established to help homeowners deal with large assessment increases on their principal residence. The Homestead Credit limits the increase in taxable assessments each year to a fixed percentage.

To prevent improper granting of this credit, a law was enacted in 2007 that requires all homeowners to submit a one-time application to establish eligibility for the credit. There are several criteria to be met, but the main conditions are that the property is your principal residence and you must have lived in it for at least six months of the year, including July 1 of the year for which the credit is applicable.

If you are not seeing a homestead property tax credit on your tax bill, you should determine the status of your Homestead eligibility by looking up your property on the Real Property Database. Look at the bottom of the page, where it says Homestead Application Status. If it says “No Application,” then you should reapply to capture this credit on future tax bills.

For more info, check out frequently asked questions about Homestead Property Tax Credit, or contact the Homestead unit directly at 1-866-650-8783 or sdat.homestead@maryland.gov.

1875 Historical Property For Sale in Silver Spring

plaque

Go Brent Team is proud to list this grand historic property! This urban oasis on a quiet cul-de-sac is an engaging combination of charming architectural detail and modern conveniences. The main level offers generous room sizes and wonderful flow without sacrificing intimacy or character. The front screened porch beckons you inside to a grand living room with cozy reading nook; formal dining room; sunny family room; expansive, renovated eat-in kitchen; convenient mud room and powder room. Ascend the handsome wrap-around staircase to the upper level featuring four bedrooms, three full baths and a balcony overlooking a lovely deep back yard. The home’s crowning glory is a third story loft/office with windows on all four sides and cupola offering majestic sky-high views of the surrounding region.[wolf_flexslider ids=”736,735,733,734,739,737,740,741,730,731,748, 732″]

The landscaping is truly a delight to behold with its many unusual shrubs, mature trees and productive kitchen garden. The generous lot (almost 1/2 acre) provides a venue for large-scale entertaining or quiet afternoons of relaxation and repose.

2312 Warren Court is located near shopping, and popular neighborhood businesses and gathering places – Snider’s Grocery, Woodside Deli, York Castle Ice Cream, Silver Cycles bicycle shop, and many others. Commuting is a breeze with easy access to the Beltway, bus stops and the Forest Glen Metro (1 mile away).

View floorplans, room dimensions and virtual tour.

Take a self-guided tour and learn the background of this unique home.

To schedule a viewing, please contact Go Brent Team.

Own a Piece of Local History

This lovely stone and siding home was built in 1940 by Blanche Kreuzburg, owner of Mrs K’s Toll House Restaurant for her son, Richard. Mrs. K had a passion for antiques and first-rate workmanship, so she hired only the finest craftsmen to assist in the construction. Young Mr. Kreuzburg considered 400 Greenbrier Dr a pastoral refuge and said that this quarter acre site was chosen for its enchanting views of nearby creek and forest land. Note the carved acorns above the living room mantel, signifying the Seven Oaks by which the neighborhood is known. 

[wolf_flexslider ids=”690,692,689,684,683″]

This prime location allows you to walk to all of the following: Sligo Creek Park (playgrounds, picnic areas, tennis and basketball courts), and miles of trails, the revitalized Downtown Silver Spring town center (shopping, entertainment and year-round farmers market), the public library, and the local public elementary & middle schools. Enjoy easy access to the Silver Spring Metro station, the MARC Train and the Beltway – all about a mile away.

View floorplans, room dimensions and virtual tour.

To schedule a viewing, please contact Go Brent Team.

Go Brent Team Welcomes New Member, Natalie Thomas!

Go Brent Team has expanded (again)! The team is excited to welcome Natalie Thomas. Natalie is currently working as a Buyers Operation Manager and is licensed in Maryland.

Natalie was raised in the Woodside Park neighborhood of Silver Spring. She joins us with experience in corporate event planning and public relations. Natalie holds a Masters in Communication, Culture, and Technology from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Maryland College Park. As an area native, Natalie is excited to work with buyers in close-in Montgomery County. She’s “thrilled to be a part of Silver Spring’s #1 team and work with the area’s top agents.”

As a dynamic real estate team, Go Brent Team looks for full-time agents who are dedicated to providing our clients with excellent customer service. If you are a real estate agent licensed in Maryland and/or Washington, D.C. and are interested in learning more about our team, please contact us: liz@gobrentteam.com.

Weekend Happenings – Silver Spring & Takoma Park

It was a LONG, WET week but the sun is shining and the weekend is here! The weather looks promising — sunny and 70º so it should be a great weekend to get out and do something fun. Here’s a round-up of a few local Silver Spring and Takoma Park events that just might fit the bill:

Annual Touch Truck @ Silver Spring Nursery School
Saturday, May 3 from 10AM – 1PM
Trucks of every kind for children to explore. There will also be live music, food, arts & crafts, a book fair, and face painting.

Woodlin Spring Fair @ Woodlin Elementary in North Woodside
Saturday, May 3 from 2PM – 5PM
Inflatable Obstacle Course, “Just Dance” Dance Off, Face Painting, Live Band, Flower Sale, Food & Bake Sale, Raffles, and more!

Old Takoma Art Hop
Saturday, May 3 & Sunday, May 4 from 10AM – 6PM
The 5th annual Art Hop will showcase a variety of art including photography, jewelry and wearable art, paintings, sculptures, collage and mixed media works.  Come see the work of over 70 of artists in shops, restaurants, and galleries throughout Old Town, the Takoma Junction and Takoma DC.

Takoma Park House and Garden Tour
Sunday, May 4 from 1PM – 5PM
Historic Takoma’s 2014 House and Garden Tour showcases the “Spirit of Holly Avenue.” The self-guided tour, includes several spectacular homes and gardens.

Fiesta Asia (Ellsworth Dr. & Fountain Plaza)
Sunday, May 4 from 10AM – 6PM
Asia Heritage Foundation hosts performances, food, crafts, interactive activities, and shopping.

Taste of Fenton Village (between Thayer & Silver Spring Avenues)
Sunday, May 4 from 1PM – 6PM
This family-friendly “restaurant crawl” offers $2 – $5 sample appetizers and tasting plates with international flavors. Rain or shine, 31 Fenton Village restaurants will welcome event attendees to sample their diverse cuisines and cultures at the same time.

Dive on In …. Silver Spring Pool Round Up!

April 15th may be tax day to most but to me it’s the official start of summer – it’s the day I send in my summer pool dues. My thoughts are already drifting to spending time with family and friends sitting poolside. We joined our pool about 13 years ago and have graduated from the baby pool, to the shallow end and now the diving well. I’ve finally reached the “other side” and can read a book or actually have a conversation!

There are lots of local pools with awesome swim teams and snack shacks, social events and holiday celebrations. If you are looking to join a pool, we’ve compiled a list of some local ones with links to the pool home page and membership info.

Continue reading →