Tag Archives: Realtor

Finding Your New Home: Think Budget and Location

Photo: 2018 Sold/Under Contract homes for Go Brent buyers

A recent Washington Post article discussed home ownership and how “buyers in the Washington area, accustomed to the lack of available homes and declining affordability in the past few years, are beginning to recognize that widening their scope of potential neighborhoods might be necessary to get a home they want.”

Many times, buyers know what they are looking for and have preconceived notions of where they want to live. Working with an experienced Go Brent agent may help you think outside the box and consider other neighborhoods you aren’t familiar with. Go Brent has recently worked with several buyers who purchased in Riverdale Park, near the Gateway Arts District. One of our recent listings in Wheaton received 10 offers; buyers are just a bit further from downtown Silver Spring but maintained walkability to Metro, access to Sligo Creek Park, and saw a more affordable sales price.

Go Brent agents can also help you determine which home features or neighborhood attributes are most important to you, which may help broaden your search. Looking at your max budget – what is most important to you? Is Metro access a must or is it a home with all bedrooms upstairs? Is walkability a priority or would a more suburban location be ok if you could find a home with certain other attributes?

A free buyer consultation with one of our buyer agents can help you prioritize your wants and needs while considering a variety of locations and neighborhoods. Contact us to set up a consult with one of our expert buyer agents. We look forward to helping you find your first, or next, home!

With Home Inventory Low – Go Brent is Ready to help Sellers

The number of single-family homes on the market now is quite low. Sellers don’t have a lot of competition and we have many buyers who are eager to buy but are fazed by the lack of inventory.

If selling your home has crossed your mind, now may be an excellent time to sell. We are currently meeting with homeowners to discuss if they should put their home on the market quickly to take advantage of the lack of inventory or prep their home and wait for the spring market.

Sellers Blog | 9309 Glenville
9309 Glenville Road
Long Branch Village

Listed and Under Contract in:
6 days

*Just 70 days from listing to sold

Sellers Blog | 111 Elm Ave
111 Elm Avenue
Takoma Park

Listed and Under Contract in:
6 days

*Received multiple offers for more than list price

Sellers Blog | 301 Lexington
301 Lexington Drive
Woodmoor

Listed and Under Contract in:
5 days

*Previously on market 4+ months with another brokerage

A Go Brent agent can provide you with a free consultation to discuss your property and the current market situation.

Please reach out if you are interested in a free seller consultation or would like to discuss other options such as leasing or home renovation projects.

With Home Inventory Low – Go Brent is Ready to help Buyers

As a buyer, competition can be stiff — we are seeing multiple offers and escalation clauses on many properties. As seasoned full-time agents, we’ve navigated competitive markets before and can best assist you with your home purchase. We know how to prepare a strong offer, best leverage your position, and minimize your risk. Also, Go Brent agents are in constant communication with area agents and often learn of new listings before they hit the market. A free consult with a Go Brent agent will be advantageous as you begin or continue your search for a home.

If you are interested in a free consultation or would like to hear about new listings that are “Coming Soon” – please contact us!

Detached Single Family Homes Currently on Market

2090116
209029
209038
2090426
2090521
2090621
2091018
209129
2089519

We Are Go Brent

New look, same commitment.

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Longtime local Realtor Liz Brent has formed Go Brent, a new local boutique real estate brokerage. Go Brent’s team of seasoned Realtors include Liz Brent, Cari Jordan, Debbie Gerald, Tammy Thomas, Natalie Thomas, Pat Thomas, and Linda Magolda. Go Brent offices continue to be staffed by Susanna Drayne, Marty Milam, and Beth Stanton. The brokerage office is located at 914 Silver Spring Avenue #103 in downtown Silver Spring.

Recognized as real estate service leaders in the DC Metro area, Go Brent agents are consistently listed as top Realtors inside the Beltway. For the past 3 years, we’ve been ranked as the top listing agents in all of Silver Spring and in 2017, we were among the top listing agents in Takoma Park.

For over 20 years now, we’ve partnered with buyers and sellers to achieve their real estate goals. Go Brent agents have assisted over 1,000 home buyers and sellers through attentive communication, skillful negotiation, and proactive problem-solving.

Repeat clients and client referrals account for over 80% of our business. We consider this to be our true measure of success.

Liz Brent is also the Founder of Silver Spring Cares, a local not-for-profit that works to strengthen the Silver Spring community through the power of connection.

Visit our new website, www.gobrent.co, to learn more.

When Is The Best Time to Buy or Sell a Home?

Since November 1, Go Brent Team has assisted 5 buyers and 13 sellers go UNDER CONTRACT!

While many consider the spring season as the prime time to buy or sell, it’s important to note that homes sell all year long. And while homes with spring blooms do look pretty, homes sell when there’s snow on the ground and yes, over the holidays too. The best time to buy or sell a home is when it’s right for YOU.

We are currently working with a number of clients who are preparing for a move in the beginning of 2018. How can we help you next year? Contact us for a no-obligation consultation to discuss your timeline. And if you are thinking of buying or selling during the spring market, now is the time to start planning!

Contact Us Today!

Why Buy A Home With Go Brent Team?

As a homebuyer, Go Brent Team offers you value. We are all full-time agents who have an unrivaled command of the local market.

We will:

  • Provide you with a free consultation to get a clear picture of your ideal home.
  • Help you choose an experienced lender.
  • Offer on-going updates of properties in your target neighborhoods, schedule appointments, and assist you to compare homes.
  • Advise you on offer terms, prepare an offer, and negotiate on your behalf.
  • Assist you with vendor selections and coordinate services.
  • Coordinate preparation for settlement and complete the transaction.
  • Serve as an on-going resource.

As your buyer agent, we’ll work to ensure you are aware of the best properties available in your desired area, price range, and location. We can also suggest other neighborhoods that you may have overlooked but might want to consider. Often times, we also learn of new listings before they actually hit the market which can offer you an advantage.

Recently Sold To Go Brent Team Buyers!

We assisted our buyers with the purchase of these homes.

We negotiated the sale of these homes for our buyers before they hit the market.

Thinking of buying a new home?

Please contact us to schedule a free consultation! Our team is licensed in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. and our buyer agents, Tammy Thomas, Debbie Gerald, and Cari Jordan, look forward to working with you.

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New Real Estate Pricing Stats for Mid-Year 2017

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.

The Advantage of Pre-Sale Home Preparation

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

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

Tax Bill Example
click to enlarge

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.

Homestead Exemption Example
Click to Enlarge

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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Boomers, Millennials, and the McMansions No One Wants via Realtor.com

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.”