Nothing quite says relaxing like the thought of sitting outside on your porch during a beautiful evening. And with the dog days of summer behind us, sitting outside becomes a reality again.
Outdoor spaces can be very appealing for buyers, especially for those who enjoy being outside and like to have the space and ambience to entertain. While many buyers may not specifically have porches, patios, or backyard studios on their “must have” list, outdoor spaces certainly can add value for some buyers as it extends the living space of the home.
Several of our current listing offer great outdoor spaces – take a look!
26 Eastmoor Drive | Woodmoor (For Sale)
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113 Eastmoor Drive | Woodmoor (For Sale)
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2970 Forsythe Avenue | Forest Glen Park (For Sale)
Can you believe we’re more than halfway through 2017? Our real estate pricing stats are updated through mid-year 2017. The stats cover the past ten years of home sales. We have stats available for zip codes in Silver Spring, Takoma Park, and Kensington. Some zip codes show that home prices are near, or exceed, where we were at the top of the market.
We’re happy to share this data with you! Fill out the form below to request your copy.
Pre-sale home preparation is one of the most important things you can do to add value in the mind of the buyer. Go Brent Team’s home preparation can raise the value of your property by leading the eye to attractive features while minimizing flaws.
We offer advice regarding all phases of property preparation. While some sellers paint, refinish floors, and take on other major projects, some clients do very little. We will advise you on which improvements will add value and, if appropriate, arrange for the work and oversee the contractors.
Even if major improvements to the house are not on your agenda, we can recommend minor changes and inexpensive adjustments that can make a big difference in attracting buyers. Cleaning, small repairs, and landscaping can go a long way in making an appealing visual statement, both in online photos and in person.
Considering selling? Ensure your home makes the best impression when it hits the market. Contact us for a free consultation today!
“We dreaded going through the prep work to get ready to sell. The fact that Go Brent Team could arrange for the contractor, mover, hauler, cleaner, and window washer was a huge load off our minds. You really, really surpassed our expectations. We thank you!”
— Ken Brown & Donna Creedon, sold in Silver Spring after just 5 days on the market
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Tax Bills are Here – Ensure You’re Receiving Tax Credits! Homestead Property Tax Credits and New Mo Co Tax Credits for Elderly & Military Retirees
It’s July, for Montgomery County homeowners this means that 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).
Homestead Property Tax Credits
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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.
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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 visit their website.
Tax Credits for Elderly & Military Retirees
Earlier this year the Montgomery County Council also enacted new legislation granting property tax credits for elderly individuals and for military retirees. Owners who are 65 or over and who has owned and lived in the dwelling for at least 40 consecutive years or those who are 65 or over and a military retiree may qualify depending on the assessed value of the home.
For 2017 taxes only, applications will be accepted until September 1, 2017. If you wish to receive a credit for your 2017 taxes, you must apply by September 1, 2017. For all other tax years, you must apply by April 1. This tax credit will not be issued on the July property tax bill; instead it will be calculated and issued on a subsequent revision of your tax bill, with the tax credit appearing as a line item deduction on the bill.
You can read more about the new tax credit and how to apply here.
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Go Brent Team routinely offers complimentary staging – our staging strategy has been honed over the last 15+ years and focuses on transforming a property into a welcoming, enticing space to attract the largest pool of potential buyers thereby resulting in a quicker sale for the highest possible price for our sellers!
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Over the past decade, we’ve built a substantial inventory of furniture, rugs, books and general décor to lend to clients. Years of experience arranging furniture in all types of homes, plus a retail background in home furnishings and décor merchandising, gives a strong base of knowledge. Our complimentary service includes furniture, décor as well as the labor! This represents a significant cost savings for sellers.
We also assist our clients with a plan to declutter and depersonalize the home to ensure that photos showcase the home rather than possessions.
photo via Tom Merton/iStock; hobo_018/iStock; pamspix;iStock
We recently came across this article from realtor.com that digs into the current housing market for both baby boomers and millennials.
“Younger and older generations alike are gravitating toward smaller dwellings in more urban, walkable suburbs and cities, with restaurants and coffee shops around the corner.” – Realtor.com article
“This is spot on,” per Liz Brent. “The outer zip codes of Silver Spring have not recovered from the crash in 2008 and unless there is significant development other than housing and transportation fixes, they likely will not recover. Meanwhile, what we are seeing the innermost zip codes, in Takoma Park (20912) and Silver Spring (20910, 20901, and parts of 20902), is that very few houses stay on the market for any length of time and we continue to see multiple offers, particularly on renovated houses.”
Many of you will surely be headed downtown for the Independence Day parade, A Capitol Fourth Concert, and the amazing fireworks display. If you’re planning on spending Independence Day on the National Mall, you can find a schedule of events, best firework viewing areas, and lots of other details on the National Park Service site. If you don’t want to venture downtown, here are some terrific July 4th events you can take in closer to home:
Albert Einstein High School, 11135 Newport Mill Road
Live music will begin at 7:30 PM, featuring Gringo Jingo Ultimate Santana Tribute Group with fireworks at 9:15 PM. The viewing areas will be at the front of the school on the ball field and at the Newport Mill Middle School, 11311 Newport Mill Road. No on-site parking at either school or at adjacent properties, except for handicapped parking. Shuttle buses will pick up passengers, beginning at 6 PM, at Westfield Wheaton Plaza in the parking lot in between the North Building and the CVS store and at the Wheaton Metro Station Georgia Avenue side. Low lawn chairs and coolers are welcome. Food vendors will be on site. No alcoholic beverages are permitted. Rain date for the fireworks only is July 5th. No shuttle service will be available on the 5th.
Fireworks, Takoma Park Middle School, 7611 Piney Branch Road
The parade begins at 10:00 AM, rain or shine, at the intersection of Carroll and Ethan Allen Avenues. It will travel south on Carroll Avenue, turn right on Maple Avenue, and continue to Ritchie Avenue. The evening celebration will be held at Takoma Park Middle School starting at 7:00 PM with entertainment provided by bilingual folk-rock band Elena & Los Fulanos, the Takoma Park Community Band, and The AcroAirs from Washington Adventist University. Fireworks display is slated to start at 9:30 PM. Limited parking is available in the parking lot of the Takoma Park Middle School and on nearby side streets. There will be food vendors on-site. Rain date is slated for next clear evening.
University of Maryland, Lot 1 adjacent to Campus Drive
Free concert featuring The Nightlife Band from 7:00-9:00 PM followed by a 30-40 minute Fireworks Extravaganza at dusk! Fun for all ages with concessions open at 5:00 PM (hamburgers, hot dogs, funnel cakes, ice cream, snow cones, soda and bottled water). Grass seating is limited, so bring your lawn chairs and blankets. Personal coolers are also allowed, but alcohol is not permitted. Rain date for fireworks only is July 5th.
We are excited to announce the launch of Silver Spring Cares, our new local non-profit. Founded earlier this year, Silver Spring Cares is the brainchild of Liz Brent, Associate Broker of Keller Williams Capital Properties and founder of Go Brent Team. The Long Branch apartment building fire and explosion in the summer of 2016 showed how powerful the generosity of Silver Spring residents could be. Always a people-connector, Liz sprung into action thinking of different ways to easily connect the needs of our more vulnerable neighbors with those with the ability to give. Hence, Silver Spring Cares was born.
Silver Spring Cares works to strengthen the Silver Spring community through the power of connection. Whether you are looking to donate items, donate funds, or donate time, Silver Spring Cares is your destination for information on our community’s needs and opportunities for service. By engaging the diverse needs and resources of our residents, we can create a community in which all of us may thrive.
Heather Foley
Silver Spring resident Heather Foley will serve the non-profit’s Director. Heather was a Marketing Team Leader for Whole Foods Market for 9 years. In addition to marketing, she was responsible for community engagement and managing all corporate donations including The National Zoo, National Geographic, and countless others. Heather has severed on several non-profit boards and most recently has worked with the DC Diaper Bank and Shepherds Table.
Check out the website for a list of participating non-profits, to find out about volunteering or donating, or learn about SSL hours. Silver Spring Cares is still growing and adding new organizations daily; if you know of a great organization that should be a part of Silver Spring Cares, please email us to let us know. You can also “Like” Silver Spring Cares on Facebook to stay up-to-date with local organizations and upcoming opportunities.
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Father’s Day is this week and if you’re still looking for a plan on how to spend the day, why not change it up with a little taste tour? We’ve put together a short list of local tasting rooms with incredible drink selections (and food, of course) that will satisfy your palate on a day that’s dedicated to you! Relax, take in the hops, and find your new favorite spot.
Anxo Cidery & Pinxtos Bar
photo via Eater DC
Begin your Father’s Day in Brightwood at ANXO Cidery & Pinxtos Bar. Anxo has a great selection of House Ciders and a Catalan-inspired menu featuring various Tapas and Pintxos!
Address: 711 Kennedy St. NW, Washington DC 20011 Phone: 202-722 2696 Website: www.anxodc.com
Hellbender Brewing Co.
photo via City Brew Tours
Next, head over to Hellbender Brewing, Co. Grab a seat at one of their communal tables with a board game and immerse yourself in their tap room. Enjoy pints of your favorite beers plus a selection of one-offs and rare finds you can’t get elsewhere. Still hungry? Grab some DC-made 8 Myles Wings from 4-7pm to go with those pints!
Address: 5788 2nd St NE, Washington, DC 20011 Phone: 202-827-8768 Website: www.hellbenderbeer.com
Denizens Brewing Co.
photo via Eater DC
Your tour ends at Denizen’s Brewing Co. right here in Silver Spring. This local brewery churns out fantastic beer, is dog-friendly, and has corn-hole for you to play right in their fantastic beer garden. Denizens is the perfect place to unwind for the remainder of your day.
Address: 1115 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910 Phone: 301-557-9818 Website: www.denizensbrewingco.com
Below are data statistics for single-family home sales year to date in 20910, 20901, 20912, and 20895.
Interested in what’s happening in another zip code or are you looking for information on the market in your specific neighborhood? Contact us for local market insights.
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73 Homes Sold in 20910
Highest Priced Sale – $1,213,990 Average Home Sold Price – $637,453 Average Days on Market – 22
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136 Homes Sold in 20901
Highest Priced Sale – $805,334 Average Home Sold Price – $471,015 Average Days on Market – 29
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46 Homes Sold in 20912
Highest Priced Sale – $1,050,000 Average Home Sold Price – $536,202 Average Days on Market – 28
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110 Homes Sold in 20895
Highest Priced Sale – $1,575,000 Average Home Sold Price – $623,168 Average Days on Market – 32
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