Tag Archives: Silver Spring real estate

FREE First-Time Homebuyer Seminar – Saturday, January 27

Join Debbie Gerald with Go Brent Team of Keller Williams Capital Properties and Ramez Fahmy, Branch Manager at Caliber Home Loans for an informative seminar on how to purchase your first home. The seminar is offered on Saturday, January 27 from 10-11:30am at the Silver Spring Civic Center in downtown Silver Spring. There is no cost or obligation, just plenty of information! Please register in advance.

Homebuyers are invited to come discuss the ins and outs of purchasing and financing your first home. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions and learn how to start the home buying process.

A little more about your hosts:


As a member of Go Brent Team, a top-ranked DC Metro area team helping 40 clients to buy homes last year, Debbie Gerald specializes in educating first-time homebuyers on the home buying process and the many avenues available when purchasing your first home. Debbie is an expert in the marketplace and an experienced contract negotiator; she also provides clients with superior service. Buyers know they can count on Debbie to guide them as they search for the right home.

Caliber Home Loans Branch Manager Ramez Fahmy offers buyers 20-years experience in mortgage lending. Ramez is dedicated to providing superior service and expert guidance to first-time buyers throughout the home financing process. Caliber Home Loans offers competitive rates and fees along with innovative mortgage solutions to first-time homebuyers. Last year Ramez helped over 100 clients finance their home purchase. (NMLS#: 476394)

Can’t attend but want more information about home buying process? Email Debbie or call 301.873.0422.

Check out our Community Partners

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. Are you ready to spruce things up or take care of needed repairs in 2018? Our page is a good starting place if you’ve got a “honey-do” list that needs attention, 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!

Thankful for Our Community!

We are thankful to live in a vibrant area offering the perfect combination of both urban and suburban living.

From the Purple Line to new building construction to bikeways and dockless bike shares, our landscape is ever-changing and exciting! Silver Spring and Takoma Park neighborhoods are thriving and there is good work being done in our community by local non-profits.

We enjoy being a part of this evolving community!  If you don’t already live here, maybe you should?

Get started with Go Brent Team

Why Good Property Photography Matters

You’ve seen them and laughed – horrible real estate photos. Those really outlandish property photos will be featured on blogs and lists, but what about those photos that just look dark, are taken from the wrong angle, or look as if the real estate agent just didn’t care?

Bad Photography Examples

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Photographer in the Photo

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Bad Angle Photo

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Sad Living Room Photo

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According to the National Association of Realtor, 95% of all buyers actively looking to buy a home search via websites and almost 90% of all buyers use photos and virtual tours to gather information about homes in which they have interest.

So that means photos and virtual tours are extremely important. In most cases, they are the buyers FIRST IMPRESSION!

That’s why Go Brent Team agents walk with sellers through their own home to discuss how to prepare for photographs and ensure the house is photo and web ready. From de-personalizing to de-cluttering to furniture placement, our agents work to present your home at it’s very best – both for online and in-person visitors.

We work with professional photographers to draw floor plans, photograph rooms, and produce virtual tours. Sure, iPhones take great photos but we’re real estate agents, so we leave photography to the experts. We also accompany the photographers during the photo shoot to ensure they capture your home’s best features.

Check out our recent listings and you’ll see how amazing our clients’ homes look!

Thinking of selling and interested in talking to us about our marketing strategy, which includes top-notch photos? 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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Value Added: Outdoor Living

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)

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104 Southwood Avenue | Northwood Park (For Sale)

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217 Williamsburg Drive | Woodmoor (Under Contract)

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If you’re interested in seeing more, contact us today!

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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
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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.

Homestead Exemption Example
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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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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.”