Tag Archives: go brent

Silver Spring Cares Presents the 2nd Annual Warm Clothing Drive!

Silver Spring Cares is kicking off their 2nd Annual Winter Clothing Drive to benefit Linkages to Learning at JoAnne Leleck Elementary at Broad Acres. If you find yourself with winter items you no longer need, consider donating your items to the drive. This will help ensure our Silver Spring residents are warm and healthy this winter season! Silver Spring Cares will be going around town picking up donations now through November 30th, just simply sign-up here to schedule your pick-up.

Read more info below via the Silver Spring Cares blog

Items accepted: Winter Coats,  Jackets, Hats, Gloves, Scarves, Boots, Sweatshirts, Sweaters, Pajamas, Pants, Fleece, Socks, etc! Basically, if it’s warm and in great condition, it’ll happily find a new home this winter! Please only consider donating items that are in excellent and clean condition. Please do not donate items that missing buttons, have stains or tears.

Silver Spring Cares will be hitting the streets to collect your donations. Simply place your clean and gently used donations in a clearly labeled bag and place on your porch for pick up.

Sign up here when you’re ready for pick up. Once your request is received, you will receive an email to confirm pick up. Please be aware that we are only able to pick up within a 20-minute drive of downtown Silver Spring. Have more questions? Email heather@silverspringcares.org. Thanks for helping make Silver Spring a great place to thrive! 

Are You Ready to Find Your Dream Home?

Are you ready to find your dream home? Let Go Brent be your guide!
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If you’ve decided to embark on your home buying journey, it’s time to schedule a free consultation with a Go Brent agent. Once we have a sense of your ideal home, we’ll ensure you’re aware of the best available properties in your desired area, price range, and location.

As well-connected experts, we’ll be in touch with other agents and may learn of new listings before they hit the market. And yes, while home searches on the internet can be fun, it can also be a time suck for you. Let us work on your behalf – we’ll send you on-going property and neighborhood updates, plus offer you flexibility for scheduling appointments.

Then when you find “the one,” you can count on our strong command of the sales contract; we’ll prepare a solid offer, minimize your risk, and negotiate on your behalf.

This year, we’ve worked with 50 clients who have purchased homes in Silver Spring, Takoma Park, Kensington, Rockville, Potomac, and Gaithersburg. We’ve helped first-time homebuyers, clients purchasing larger “move-up” homes, as well as clients who are downsizing.  And if you are thinking of simultaneously buying a new home and selling your current home, we can assist with that too.

When you choose Go Brent, you’ll work with a full-time agent with an unrivaled command of the local market.

Want to know more?
Learn more about our team or contact us to schedule your free consultation!

New Real Estate Pricing Stats: Mid-Year 2018

We have real estate pricing stats with data through mid-year 2018. 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.

Staging Sells!

Go Brent offers clients 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!

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 work with clients to evaluate existing furniture placement and assist with a plan to declutter and depersonalize the home prior to listing for sale.

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Our Summer Picks: What Our Team is Into This Summer!

With just a few weeks of summer left, we thought we’d share what’s captured our interest and kept us busy, aside from real estate. From books to podcasts, here’s what we’re into this summer…how about you?

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Debbie Gerald

LovesThe Moth Radio Hour Podcast on NPR. “Just people telling stories, you never know what you will get!”

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Liz Brent

Reading Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover; a book club pick for Now Read This from PBS NewsHour and The New York Times. Also enjoying local blog by Casey Anderson at Montgomery Planning.

 
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Cari Jordan

Enjoying The Habitat Podcast, just finished watching The Staircase documentary on Netflix, and starting to read Jenny Mollen’s Live Fast, Die Hot.

  

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Susanna Drayne

Favorite books this summer so far: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee, This Could Hurt by Jillian Medoff, and The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin. Binged the 30 for 30 Podcast about Bikram Choudray of Bikram yoga.

   

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Beth Stanton

Hooked on Audible — just finished listening to A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles and started Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. Also reading An American Marriage by Tayari Jones.

  

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Heather Foley

Listening to Slate’s new podcast Better Life Lab and reading Differently Wired by Deborah Reber. Checking our family-friendly podcasts too: Wow in the World, Brains On! & The Adventures of Eleanor Amplified.

   

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Marty Milam

Loving the podcast My Favorite Murder!

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Any of these on your summer list? Anything you recommend? Let us know what you’re into this summer!

The Silver Spring Cares Random Acts of Kindness Summer Challenge is On!

Our friends over at Silver Spring Cares have partnered up with McGinty’s Public House in Downtown Silver Spring, putting together their very first Random Acts of Kindness Summer Challenge catered toward all kids (0-12) to promote acts of kindness in our community. The Kindness Challenge is an easy five-step process and once completed, they can get a FREE kids meal at McGinty’s from August 27thAugust 31st!

“Do kind things and get a free meal.”

Read some of the post below and head over to their site to challenge your kids to participate!


Here at Silver Spring Cares, we believe that that kindness is contagious. In fact, we know it to be a fact. It’s science!

We also happen to believe that with a little effort, we can make our community the kindest place to live.

That’s why we partnered up with our super kind friends at McGinty’s Public House to create our very first Random Acts of Kindness Summer Challenge! This month we’re challenging you (kids ages 0 – 12) to show off just how kind our community can be.  Complete the challenge and then join us at McGinty’s anytime between Monday, August 27th – Friday, August 31st and get a FREE kids meal! Yes, it’s that easy. Do kind things and get a free meal. What?! Amazeballs.

It’s fun and easy to participate!

Head over to Silver Spring Cares and let’s show the community some kindness!

Comparing 2018 & 2017 YTD Listings in Silver Spring and Takoma Park

With the first half of the year in the books, we took a look at the number of single family and town homes listed in close-in Silver Spring and Takoma Park. The numbers below represent homes that were listed in 2018 year-to-date compared with listings for the same period in 2017.

Listings in 20910 and 20912 are both down significantly this year, 18% and 12% respectively; while the number of listings in 20901 and 20902 are about the same this year compared to last.

20910

2018: 169
2017: 205

20912

2018: 94
2017: 107

20901

2018: 311
2017: 303

20902

2018: 312
2017: 297

There is no crystal ball in real estate; the market ebbs and flows based on interest rates, buyer/seller motivation, and other factors. So, while we can’t predict exactly what will happen in the second half of the year, meeting with an agent to discuss the particulars of your situation is best. Go Brent agents are experienced and savvy; we’ve navigated the local market for years and we’ve been top agents inside the Beltway since 2008.

Schedule your free, no-obligation consultation today. We consult with both buyers and sellers. Many times we work with clients months, or even years, in advance of making a decision. Regardless of your timeframe,  we look forward to helping you plan for what’s next!

Giving Back Boredom Busters via Silver Spring Cares

We are in the thick of summer with the new school year still a ways away – this means more time for the kids to be bored and restless while they wait for school to start. Silver Spring Cares put together a great list to fight this with 10 ways to get your kids involved in the local community this summer!

Read some below or head on over to their site to read the full list.

Welcome to the endless summer, Maryland! Where you’ll get 4,200 additional renditions of “I’m Bored!” Ok ok, school does start back September 4 but that seems really far away. So to help you reduce the “I’m Boreds” by 10, here are ten things your kids can do to help others this summer (with minimal supervision).

Host a food drive for Manna Food Center

Check out the Most Needed Foods list, make flyers, and let your neighbors know your kids will do porch pickup of food donations. Summer time is a lean time for food pantries so getting your neighborhood involved to bridge the summer food gap!

Paint Kindness Rocks inspired by Small Things Matter

Create kindness rocks to be abandoned and discovered by others as a Random Act of Kindness. Spread messages of love and kindness throughout your community!

Pick Up Litter on your Street for the Friends of Sligo Creek

Grab a trash bag and gloves and send your kids down your street to pick up the trash that gathers in the gutters. Trash gets washed to the creek from gutters so picking up trash along your street can help protect Sligo Creek!

Make Cards for our Senior Community Members through Silver Spring Village

Put your kids’ art skills to use and make beautiful drawings, colorings or cards to give to Silver Spring Village to distribute to their clients.

Clean out Closets for Mary’s Center

Two birds, one stone here, parents! Have your kids clean out their closets and toys and donate gently used things they no longer wear/play with to Mary’s Center for the families they serve.

Read Full List via Silver Spring Cares Blog

Could “Tiny Homes” Make Their Way to Montgomery County?

photo via The Design Of The House Is Cool And Simple

Repost below is from the Montgomery County MD Council Facebook Page

Looking for housing for elderly parents or a college student? An accessory dwelling unit (also known as an in-law unit, accessory apartment and by many other names) could be right for you. These units include living spaces constructed over garages, basement apartments and even tiny backyard homes. These types of units provide environmental, life-style and financial benefits.

Did you know the Montgomery County MD Council introduced legislation on July 17 to streamline the regulations associated with constructing accessory dwelling units? Let the Council know what you think by using #MoCoTinyHousing on social media or via letter/email to the Council. You can also testify at the Council’s public hearing on September 11 at 1:30 p.m.

For more information on Zoning Text Amendment 18-07 and Bill 26-18, which is sponsored by Council members Nancy Floreen and George Leventhal and Council President Hans Riemer, see the links to the Council staff reports below.

Read more here:
https://tinyurl.com/MoCoZTA1807

https://tinyurl.com/Bill2618

To keep updated on this and other County Council news, sign-up to receive The Council Connection, Council President Hans Reimer’s e-newsletter.

Celebrate 4th of July with these Community Events!

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:

Montgomery County Mid-County Sparkles

Where: Albert Einstein High School
Address: 11135 Newport Mill Road
Websitemontgomerycountymd.gov

Live music will begin at 7:30 PM, featuring Quiet Fire 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.

Click here for more information


photo via Visit Montgomery

129th Annual Takoma Park Independence Celebration

Parade: Carroll & Ethan Allen Avenues
Fireworks: Takoma Park Middle School
Address: 7611 Piney Branch Road
Website: takomapark4th.org

The parade begins at 10:00 AM and lasts until about noon. Parade is held rain or shine and begins 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.

Click here for more information


photo via Visit Montgomery

23rd Annual Kensington Fourth of July Bike Parade

Parade: St. Paul Park
Address: Plyers Mill Road and St. Paul Street
Website: tok.md.gov

The annual bike parade kicks off at 10 a.m. at St. Paul Park. Those wishing to participate should begin lining up along St. Paul Street between Plyers Mill Road and Oberon Street by 9:45 am. This event is open to all kids, and those young at heart, that wish to decorate their bike, scooter, wagon or stroller and follow a Kensington Volunteer Fire Department truck through the streets of Kensington.

Click here for more information


photo via eventbrite

City of College Park & The University of Maryland Concert & Fireworks

Where: University of Maryland
Address: Lot 1 adjacent to Campus Drive
Website: eventbrite.com

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.

Click here for more information


Looking for something else? Check out these other area events and celebrate!

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Bowie Baysox Ball Game, BBQ and Fireworks!

City of Rockville Independence Day Celebration at Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park

Six Flags July 4th Fest!