It’s that time already - an extra hour of sleep

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Spring forward and fall back… That is the easiest way to remember which way to turn your clocks AT 2 AM in the morning!!! Sure, that is exactly when I do all my clocks, except for the VCR, it will blink 11:00 instead of 12:00.

I used to love closing the bars back in the day on this night…ONE more hour of drinking!!!! Now I just go to bed an hour earlier and wake up some ungodly hour that my body is used to. It will be at least a week before my body realizes that it has to do what my mind is telling it to do. The clock says 10:00 PM, time for bed…no I’m not ready yet. Then an argument starts and all the voices in my head start and we are all up the rest of the night.

Frederick, MD

Day light saving time also serves as a reminder to change you the batteries in your Smoke detectors and Carbon Monoxide detectors, might as well check the air fresheners too (they are probably plugged in empty.)

If you want that cool clock, visit the World Time Server Site.

October 31, 2008 · Filed Under Frederick Events

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The Real Estate absorption rates around Frederick County

These are some tough times in the housing market (an understatement.) We have the 700 Billion dolllar bailout buyout bailout that will help stabilize the market. We have local real estate companies closing their doors. Coldwell Banker on Patrick Street (in the plaza with Outback) made that announcement last week. They don’t have a presence in Frederick County at all now. Coldwell Banker closed their other Frederick office and the Mt Airy office last year (along with Mackintosh and Lederer & Co.) I just read this morning that a Kithchen and Bathroom business in Mt Airy is closing their doors. It is impacting all aspects of the industry. Long & Foster still has a presence in Mt Airy and Frederick with three offices, one on Buckeystown Pike, another on Kingfisher Dr off Monocacy Boulevard with the last one in Mt Airy. Long & Foster has made some adjustments through out the state as well as every business is doing now. Wes is a smart man and has had his finger on the pulse of real estate for a long time and will weather this storm as well.

With all of these changes going on, there are indicators that the market is/has bottomed out. We have been in a market decline since July 8th 2005 in my best estimates. That was the day I noticed all the showings and listing activity come to a screeching halt. For the first time in a long time we had an increase in sales in Frederick County last month. It was a 51% increase…yipee. But wait, no celebrations yet…we need at least three months of consistant increases to show that we have truly bottomed out.

Another indicator is the absorption rate, remember…the closer to six months absorptioin, the closer we are to a “normal” market. We have made some nice movement the last few months toward a normal market. If you were on the fence about the market this should help you get off the fence as a buyer. The closer this becomes a normal market, the harder it is for you the buyer to get a great deal on housing. Now, the flip side…Sellers, finally a sigh of releif that you won’t be as beat up as you have been the last year.

Below is the current chart for absorption rates in October, and the changes were compared to May of this year.

October 2008 Absorption Rates

Area	Active	Contract	Sold in last 90 Days	Absorption Rate	Change
Adamstown & Point of Rocks	43	6	12	11	-2
Brunswick & Knoxville	75	10	24	9	-3
Frederick	1167	203	351	10	-2
Ijamsville	42	4	16	8	-10
Middletown & Myersville	151	13	36	13	-4
New Market	137	7	41	10	-4
Thurmont & Emmitsburg	127	14	30	13	-1
Walkersville & Woodsboro	96	14	34	8	-7

Frederick County	2033	294	598	10	-4
Montgomery County	5394	1322	2335	7	-4
Washington County	1261	143	262	14	-3
Howard County	1811	312	741	7	-10
Carroll County	1215	142	330	11	-1
Maryland	44692	6432	12002	11	-3

There is light on the horizon…now if we can just keep everyone in financial turmoil in their homes, we would be in great shape…Uncle Sam has that under control…ahem.

Have a great day.

October 21, 2008 · Filed Under Frederick MD Real Estate

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Friday Foto from the grave at Mt Olivet Cemetery

I have taken up photography as a hobby in hopes to make it a business someday. I am still far from the great photographers out there that grind out great shots day in and day out. I joined a photography guild a few months back in Brunswick called the Brunswick Photographer’s Guild…simple enough. It is filled with great people that help each other grow by sharing tips and tricks of the trade. We have monthly meetings, contests and photowalks. I organized the latest one at Mt Olivet’s Cemetery in Frederick. The cemetery has great history dating back to pre-civil war era. I thought it would be fitting getting since it is close to Halloween and especially since it was a full moon.

I am still processing all the shots from the cemetery walk, but you will be able to see them here when I am all finished. In the mean time, I leave you with my Halloween Postcard. (I wanted to make sure you got it before the holiday…I know how things can get lost in the mail)

This was a long exposure shot with a little touch up magic of photoshop.

Enjoy the weekend, get out and see the fall foliage.

If you found this post looking for cemetery plots…goto Mt Olivet’s Cemetery Official Website for more information. They have space available.

October 17, 2008 · Filed Under Frederick Misc, Friday, Fun

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Freaky Friday Foto

My good friend called me the other day and asked me if I heard about Stonehenge in Frederick. I didn’t have a clue. He said it was on the news…still no clue. Someone took the time to stack (or glue) a bunch of rock formations all along Hamburg Road. Who knows how long these rock formations have been here. The formations are quite unique and interesting to view. You can find the at the end of Rosement to Yellow Springs which turns into Hamburg Road. This is a goat path of a road that leads up to Gambrill State Park.

Here is what I found…

Have a great weekend.

October 10, 2008 · Filed Under Frederick Misc, Friday, Fun

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