Tuesday, October 27, 2015

712 Kersey Road in Silver Spring, MD. Sold and I found the buyer! Complex sale but it settled.

Call:  (301)943-4370
 
Today one of my buyers closed on 712 Kersey Road,
one of the most desirable locations in Kemp Mill Estates, a subdivision in Silver Spring, MD.
In addition to being in a sought after part of Kemp Mill, 712 Kersey Road is part of the
cluster of homes built in Kemp Mill during the mid 1980's, so it is more unique and has more of
a contemporary feel than most of the homes in Kemp Mill, which were built in the late 1950's and early 1960's.  The location and style of home offset the home not having electricity and being full of clutter when it went on the market.  There were multiple offers on the home with esclation clauses and it went under contract in just a few days. Fortunately my buyers won the bidding war.
 
 
This home was listed as a short sale, meaning that the sellers of the home were asking their lender to
forgive the balance, if any between the sales price and the how much they owe on a loan.  I must give
kudos to the listing agent and short sale team for getting the short sale approved in a very short time period. In addition to this being a short sale, the seller was fending off bankruptsy so we depended on the court to ultimately approve the sale.  With the complexity of the sale I am amazed that we
settled in less than 3 months.  I have worked short sales that have taken 6 plus months.  I know the contract period seemed like forever for the buyers but for realtors who are selling homes every day, 712 Kersey Road was about as smooth and short of a sale as I could ever imagine, given the complexity of the sale. 
I was happy to be there for my buyers every step of the way and will be there every step of the way when you, your colleagues friends and family are ready to move.
If you or yours are thinking about moving, have a real estate question or want to talk about the market, please contact me any time.  I always appreciate and have time for your referrals.
Thank you!
Adam Bashein
Licensed in MD & DC
Cell:  (301)943-4370
Office:  (301)469-4700 - ask for Adam
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
information deemed to be accurate but not guaranteed





First impression is the front outside entrance to a home. Curb appeal.

Call:  (301)943-4370
adambashein@mris.com
www.basheinhomes.info

Great front entrance to this home. Nice touch for the sale. Too bad the owner didn't get a chance to enjoy this before placing the home on the market.  Realtors are here to here add to help stage, add value to their seller's homes as they get ready for the market. From experience we know what is likely to appeal to home buyers' eyes.










Whenever you or your friends, family and colleagues are thinking of selling, remember to invite me over for a free and confidential market analysis and marketing presentation.  Even if you aren't thinking of selling but have a real estate question, I would love to hear from you.  I always have time and am thankful for your referrals.

Thanks!  Adam:  (301)943-4370; adambashein@mris.com


Adam Bashein
Licensed in MD & DC
adambashein@mris.com
www.basheinhomes.info
Cell:  (301)943-4370
Office:  (301)469-4700 - ask for Adam
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
information deemed to be accurate but not guaranteed

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Making real estate fun. Add a little flavor to the transaction


Cell:  (301)943-4370
adambashein@mris.com
www.basheinhomes.info

Buying and selling a home can be a stressful process and it is nice to try and do something to

bring a smile to people's faces at the settlement table.

I was touring a listing today and they were serving cookies.

 These brought smiles to my face. 

I am knowing for bringing bagels to my settlements.

 I am thinking of buying some or asking one of my baking friends to help me out :-)!





 Life is good!

Adam
Licensed in MD & DC
adambashein@mris.com
www.basheinhomes.info
Cell:  (301)943-4370
Office:  (301)469-4700 - ask for Adam

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Information deemed to be accurate but not guaranteed.



Monday, August 31, 2015

The Fall is a great time to buy or sell!


Cell:  (301)943-4370
adambashein@mris.com
www.basheinhomes.info





Below are several reasons why it is a good time to sell:

1.  Interest rates are still very low so your home.

2.  There is a lack of housing inventory

3.  Most potential buyers are back from their summer vacations and are in town, ready to
make a move if the right home comes up.

4.  While some buyers may have stopped looking because of the school year, there are buyers whose moves are more related to finding the right home and the right time is when the right
home comes on the market.  And, the right home can be your home, if your home shows well and is priced correctly.

5.  There are potential buyers who are renting and their leases are ending soon and/or they are renting month to month/on short term leases until the right home comes up.

6.  There are buyers who move for jobs throughout the year.

7.  The fall is a beautiful season, potential buyers appreciate curb appeal, front and back
yards, patios and decks.  It may be a hair cooler now than it was over the summer, so it might be an even more appealing and comfortable time for buyers to move.  

8.  Buyers whose moves aren't tied to a certain time of year are serious buyers and those are the buyers who you want to consider your home.

Even if you aren't certain about listing your home for sale right now, you should invite me over to take pictures of your home right now, while it is beautiful outside.  I'll get beautiful pictures of your home without the lawn, driveway, any part of the house covered with snow, The pictures will be dark, as opposed to gloomy.  You sometimes don't get a second chance to make
a good impression with buyers.  We want your home to show well.

Here are several reasons why it is a great idea to buy in the fall:

1.  Interest rates are still at an historic low and who knows what the interest rates will be in 
the spring.

2.  Your monthly mortgage may be less than what your monthly rent is/could be -- I can refer you to a lender to get you approved for a loan.

3.  You may be competing with less buyers for a home than you were over the summer, as some people time their moves around the school year and school is back in session.
 
4.  You can fully appreciate and see the outside of the home, the yard, patios and decks.   

5.  The sun still sets pretty late each day so you can really take a good look at homes.

 6. If you buy in the fall, you can be in your new home for the holidays

7.  Any homeowner who has their home on the market during the fall season is serious about moving and so their move isn't tied to the school year.  You and a seller could be a perfect fit for each other.  

8.  A seller whose home was on the market during the spring and or summer, didn't get sold results and is still on the market as we enter the fall, may be more open to negotiations if the home seems like a fit for you.

9.  Each month you continue to rent, you are paying somebody else's mortgage instead of building equity.




Whether you or someone you know is thinking of buying or selling their home, has a real estate
question or is just curious about t the market is doing, I would be delighted to meet and speak.  I am here to help make your potential moves smooth.  Whenever the time is right for you and yours, I would be delighted to speak.



 I am always thankful and available for your kind referrals.


Life is good!

Adam
Licensed in MD & DC
adambashein@mris.com
www.basheinhomes.info
Cell:  (301)943-4370
Office:  (301)469-4700 - ask for Adam
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
information deemed to be accurate but not guaranteed.

Friday, August 21, 2015

News to share! I couldn't have done it without you!

Cell:  (301)943-4370
adambashein@mris.com
www.basheinhomes.info

Just a few months back, I was recognized by my office as one of the top listing agents in the month of May.  Thank you so much for thinking of me and for your referrals. 


Any time you, a family member, friend or colleague is thinking of moving or has a real estate question, please call or email me.  I am thankful that you think of me, am here to help and always have time for your referrals.

Life is good!

Adam
adambashein@mris.com
Licensed in MD & DC
Cell:  (301)943-4370
Office:  (301)469-4700 - ask for Adam

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
information deemed to be accurate but not guaranteed.





A picture is worth a thousand words and could turn away potential buyers for considering touring your home!

Cell:  (301)943-4370
adambashein@mris.com
www.basheinhomes.info

As I was previewing one of my automatic emails of home searches for a client, one home came on the market and I remember it because of one particular photo in the listing.  No, it isn't their beautiful kitchen, bathroom or yard.  It is a picture of a cat.   Usually all of the photos in a listing are of the home - the exterior and the interior, plus possibly pictures of the community and conveniences, such as  gyms, pools, lakes, parks, shopping centers and beltways/trains --if you are selling the home as a commuter home. The pictures do not tend to include 'personal photos', such as pictures of the family and/or their pets.

The picture of the cat stood out to me because pets tend to be something that people love or hate and there are people who are allergic to cats.  If a buyer has an aversion to cats for any reason what so ever and sees a picture of a cat in a listing, he or she is more likely to remember that picture than the pictures of the beautiful kitchen, bath, etc.  In other words, that buyer is probably focussed on the pet and not the home and has ruled the home out as a possibility.



It is quite possible that the sellers and their agent thought it was a good idea to show a picture of the cat in the listing so people will either immediately be excited (if they love pets), ambivolent (they don't care one way or another about pets) or turned off (if they hate and/or have pet allergies),  Some people also assume that homes with pets are not neat, are more likely to have rodent issues, which could turn potential buyers away.  You never know.  Pictures put a lot of good and bad ideas in people's heads.  If I was a seller and had pets, I would strongly consider having mets pets stay in a 'pet hotel', at a friend or family member's home during the listing period because people either love or hate them and you want buyers to focus on the home, not your pets.  So I understand if it is a way of disclosing, but think it would be better to say in the notes to agents and buyers that there are nice cats in the house --- which this listing does.  

To me, the best ingrediants to a successful home sale are a clean home that is priced well, easy to show and uses photos in their listings that are most likely to positively grab buyers' eyes, as they do their internet home searches, possiblydeciding from the online search which homes are worth seeing and which ones to pass on.  We don't want buyers to pass on homes because of photos.  But, the reality is a picture is worth 1000 words.  In MLS, you can currently post up to 30 pictures in MD& DC listings (and possibly more with virtual tours).  Make your home shine in every way possible,  And, remember, sometimes more is less.  If between your home, community features and items of interest there aren't 30 great photos to display, choose the photos that are most likely to help sell the home.  On the other hand, listings with too few photos, no interior photos could be perceived by buyers as homes which don't show well, have issues. Let your realtor guide you.  

Anytime you or someone you know is thinking of moving, needs help preparing to sell and wants the full service they deserve, contact me for a free no hassle consultation, which includes a complimentary market analysis of the home.  Even if you aren't thinking of moving but have a real estate question or want to talk about the real estate market, call or email me.  I always appreciate and have time for your referrals.

Life is good!

Adam
adambashein@mris.com
Licensed in MD & DC
Cell:  (301)943-4370
Office:  (301)469-4700 - ask for Adam
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
information deemed to be accurate but not guaranteed







Thursday, August 20, 2015

My listing at 1102 Arcola Ave in Silver Spring, MD. sold! It was repeat business! The sellers just bought with me!

Cell:  (301)943-4370
adambashein@mris.com
www.basheinhomes.info

On the heals of securing their home purchase at 12013 Kemp Mill Road, my clients were ready to sell their beautiful town home at 1102 Arcola Ave in Silver Spring, MD.  It's was beautiful 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath town home built in the 1980s with many features, including 2 main level living areas, a deck off of the updated kitchen and a spacious walkout basement.  The home is in an excellent location, just around the corner from a swim club, public transportation and a full service shopping center.

The sellers did a great job of keeping the home clean and staging it to sell. One of the sellers is a photographer so she took great photos of the home. We had a very active open house and were able to secure a contract in less than a month.

We recently settled and now my clients can just focus on loving their new home at 12013 Kemp Mill Road.

It is so gratifying when you get repeat business from clients.  There aren't many greater feelings.





Moving can be a very stressful experience and  I would love to be there for you, your family members, friends and colleagues when you all decide it is time to find a new home.  I always provide the highest level of service with low pressure and am with you every step of the way.  Even if you aren't looking to move but want to talk about real estate, have a real estate question, call or email me any time.  I am always thankful for your referrals.

Life is good!

Adam
Licensed in MD & DC
adambashein@mris.com
Cell:  (301)943-4370
Office:  (301)469-4700 - ask for Adam

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
information deemed to be accurate but not guaranteed



Listed and sold! 1218 North Belgrade in Kemp Mill Estates, a subdivision in Silver Spring, MD! Repeat business!

Cell:  (301)943-4370
adambashein@mris.com
www.basheinhomes.info


The best compliment a home buyer or home seller can give me is contacting me when they are ready to move/put their home on the market again.  The next best compliment is referring me to others who are ready to move and need a great realtor.

A few years ago the owners of 1218 North Belgrade Road in Kemp Mill Estates, a subdivision in Silver Spring, MD. enlisted me to sell their home.  Unfortunately the owners weren't getting the price that they wanted for selling the home so they asked me to also list the home for rent.  So I was able to find a renter for them. 

Roughly two years later the owners of 1218 North Belgrade Road remembered me and I asked me to list the home for sale again.  Fortunately we got sold results and the sellers could move on with the next phase in their lives.














Whenever you, a family member, friend or colleague  is thinking of selling, it would be my pleasure to come over and give you a free, confidential no obligation market analysis of your home.  I would love the opportunity to work hard for you and to get you sold results.  Even if you aren't thinking of selling, but have real estate questions any time, please give me a call or send me an email.

Life is good!

Adam
Licensed in MD & DC
adambashein@mris.com
Cell:  (301)943-4370
Office:  (301)469-4700 - ask for Adam

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
information deemed to be accurate but not guaranteed





I found the buyer for this home at 14654 Bauer Drive in Rockville, MD.!

Cell:  (301)943-4370
adambashein@mris.com
www.basheinhomes.info


I help people make moves all over Maryland and in Washington, DC.  And, on the buying, I pride myself in having patience as people decide where they want to live and making sure they are picking the right house to call home.

These buyers considered several areas over their many year home search before we came across this wonderful condo style home in Townes of North Creek Condominium community in Rockville, MD, just off of Bauer Drive.  This is very near Aspen Hill, which is becoming an ever more popular area for home buyers.  It was an extremely well kept home and you wouldn't have known by the property condition or access to the home that the seller had been renting the home out.  The tenants were nice and neat.    This is a really nice community in a great location, very close to shopping and to a pool, near the Bauer Drive-Norbeck Road Intersection.  

This is a brick home with a large eat-in kitchen and a daylight walkout basement.  It also has a serene feel, with a nice fenced in patio.

One of the benefits of this community is that the monthly condo fee covers utilities and maintenance.  So, an owner doesn't have to budget for purchasing such items as an a.c. unit or hot water heater. In addition, the condo has a reserve fund for when such things as a roof need to be replaced.  It is really  unique, low maintenance situation for home owners and I am so happy that my clients now call 14654 Bauer Drive home.






By the way, any time one of your family members, friends or colleagues is considering making a move, the first thing they should do is contact me for a free, no hassle consultation.  I have patience and will make sure they make a great move with high service and low pressure.  Any time they have a question or want to talk about the real estate market, I am here for them.  I always appreciate and have time for your referrals.  Thanks!

Life is good!

Adam
Licensed in MD & DC
adambashein@mris.com
Cell:  (301)943-4370
Office:  (301)469-4700 - ask for Adam

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
information deemed to be accurate but not guaranteed



I found the buyer for this For Sale By Owner at 11708 Fulham Street in Kemp Mill, a subdivision in Silver Spring, MD.!

Cell:  (301)943-4370
adambashein@mris.com
www.basheinhomes.info

One of my friends was moving out of town and trying to sell their home without a real estate agent.
They had told me that they would cooperate with me if I found a buyer for their home.  It is a beautifully and uniquely renovated home in the center of Kemp Mill Estates, a subdivision in Silver Spring, MD.  The home also has a rare detached 2 car garage.  Most homes in Kemp Mill Estates don't have garages.

So, I had a buyer consultation with my new clients in the beginning of June and we discussed this home at 11708 Fulham Street in the center of Kemp Mill Estates, a subdivision in Silver Spring, MD.  We went through this home 2 times and discussed the value of the home.  This may have been the most renovated split foyer home that I have seen and so, while we knew it was worth more than your typical and even nicely updated split foyer, it was hard to determine the value.   

So the appraiser came to look through the home, took notes and gave me plenty of time to discuss how everyone arrived at a price.  More and more appraisers are letting agents explain how a price/value was arrived at.  We continued to go forward toward settlement.

We had the home inspection and the home was in very good shape.  No home is perfect but the home was kept up very well.  We were able to come up with an amicable solution on inspection items that the buyers asked the sellers to address.

All in all, it was a pretty friendly and smooth transaction, especially considering that the sellers moved out of the country before settlement...but they were very accessible, easy to work with,

The buyers are delighted with their new home, excited to plant roots in the neighborhood after renting for several years.  It was a pleasure to work with them and negotiate a good deal with them.  Some home searches take months and years. In this case, it took a very short time because we found the right home and got the sellers to work with us toward a happy conclusion.

Any time one of your friends, family members or clients is thinking about moving, I would love to help them in there home search and find the home of their dreams.  Even if they aren't thinking about a move but have a real estate question, I'd love to talk.  As I always say, it is my please to speak with your friends, family members and colleagues and I always have time for your referrals.




Life is good!



Adam
Licensed in MD & DC
adambashein@mris.com
Cell:  (301)943-4370
Office:  (301)469-4700 - ask for Adam
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
information deemed to be accurate but not guaranteed






I found the buyer for this home with an AMAZING YARD at 12013 Kemp Mill Road in Springbrook Forest, a Subdivision in Silver Spring, MD.!


Cell:  (301)943-4370
Email:  adambashein@mris.com

www.basheinhomes.info

When these buyers approached me, they gave me very specific search parameters if they
were going to move.  They owned a town home and were ready for a single family home, if it had a very nice backyard and it was a nice fixer upper.  Like most town homes, they had a very small yard, which is good if you want low maintenance.  But, if you love the outdoors and you, your kids want to play outside, you need to go to the park.  There are several parks in the Silver Spring area but it is nice to have your own yard.  These clients also enjoy home improvement projects so they weren't turned away by old, outdated homes.

This home at 12013 Kemp Mill Road fit the bill perfectly.  While the home is on a "main street" it is very far set back, has a scenic feel and sits on just under an acre of land.  So it feels very private.  Beautiful yard, great play area and a great place to take photographs. One of my clients is a photographer.

The home also had a lot of charm and character but needed updating.  We learned through the home inspection of some big issues that had to be considered, and these issues definitely gave the buyers something to think about.  Fortunately, we were able to negotiate an amicable resolution with the sellers and it was a very pleasant transaction.

My clients love their home and have already done so much to it.  I am fortunate to also call them friends and it has been a delight coming over, watching the home transformation.  It almost feels like I am watching a realty show.  It is great seeing the smiles on their faces and how excited they are to have friends come over.

They should enjoy the home for many years and create many memories.





So, please, whenever you hear of family, friends and colleagues who are looking to move, no matter how wide or narrow their home search criteria is, I am here to guide them through the process and to make sure they get the homes of their dreams.  And, even if they aren't ready to move, aren't thinking about moving but have real estate questions, please pass my contact information to them.  It would be my pleasure to meet and speak with them.  I always appreciate and have time for your referrals.

Life is good!

Adam
adambashein@mris.com
Licensed in MD & DC
Cell:  (301)943-4370
Office:  (301)469-4700 - ask for Adam
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
information deemed to be accurate but not guaranteed  

I found the buyer for this home on 11229 Bybee Street in Kemp Mill Estates, a subdivision in Silver Spring, MD!


Cell:  (301)943-4370
Email:  adambashein@mris.com
www.basheinhomes.info


My buyer's home search began a few years and we knew there was a match when this home came
on the market in the end of April, 2015.  With some homes you have the sense that they are meant for certain buyers and I had that sense for two reasons.  

The first reason is that my buyer's family lives in Kemp Mill, this Silver Spring subdivision and his parents own this same model home.  In addition, he is family oriented and the home is just a few blocks from where his parents live.

The second reason I felt this home was meant for my client is that it wasn't just a fixer upper, but the home was full of the seller's belongings.  It was an estate sale and when the home came on the market it was full of the seller's belongings.  Two things worked in my buyer's favor:  (1) again, he was familiar with the layout and (2) his family is in the renovation business so he and his father could look past the seller's belongings and focus on the home, its potential.   The selling party loved the fact that he is local, wanted to live near his parents and we had a very nice transaction.

My client is delighted with the home and is in the process of renovating it.  Living in the neighborhood and being friends with the buyer, it has been a pleasure watching him fix the home up.  I will be more excited when he finally moves in.


Whenever you come across a family member, friend or colleague that is looking to move, I promise to take great care of them with high service and low pressure, making sure it is a smooth move.  If they aren't looking to move but have real estate questions, want to talk about the market, it would be my pleasure to meet and speak with them.  I am always thankful and have time for your referrals.

Thanks!

Adam
adambashein@mris.com
Licensed in MD & DC
Cell:   (301)943-4370
Office:  (301)469-4700 - ask for Adam

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
information deemed to be accurate but not guaranteed



Friday, February 13, 2015

My recent co-op sale in Chevy Chase, MD!

 Cell:  (301)943-4370
Email:  adambashein@mris.com
www.basheinhomes.info

How many of you knew, before reading this blog post, that there is a co-op community in 
Chevy Chase, MD?  

During the home search my buyers, out of towners,  were looking for the most part at traditional single family homes.  Then, one day the came across this amazing co-op at 3575 Hamlet Place, located a little bit south of the beltway (495), just off of Connecticut Ave., nestled in a quiet community of 76 homes, called Hamlet Place.  I scheduled a tour of this 3 level home with the buyers. After going through the home and talking it over, the buyers realized that this home was a perfect fit.

Currently there are very few co-ops in Montgomery County, MD., and very few 
Montgomery County lenders and settlement companies do work on co-ops.  So, when my buyers decided that they wanted to pursue 3575 Hamlet Place, we had find a lender and settlement company who are co-op specialists.  Fortunately, these companies did good jobs.  It was a pretty smooth transaction and I would be comfortable working with them in the future.

This home is both spacious and has a very good flow. The main level features an 'L-shaped' connecting living room and dining. Great for entertaining. There is also a main level powder room, which is wonderful for the buyer's personal privacy...guests don't have to go upstairs into the bedroom area.  

Upstairs are 3 bedrooms, featuring a large master bedroom.  There is both a master bath and a hall bath.  In addition, there is an attic, which makes a great storage space.

The daylight walkout basement features a huge play area/rec area/sitting area. Just outside is a lovely flagstone patio for outdoor entertaining or a quiet outdoor candle light dinner.  There is also a powder room in the basement, which could be converted into a full bath if need be and a large laundry room.

The community itself features nice outdoor living spaces and is close to a trail.  Another nice feature about the Hamlet Place community is that their property management's office space is in the community itself.  So, it is easy to address any issues.

I wish my clients many years of happiness in this community and am thankful to my clients who referred them to me.  I am a full service realtor, licensed in MD and DC, and have helped people both in buying and selling in many neighborhoods.  

Any time you or someone you know is thinking of moving or has a real estate question, I would love to speak and help in any way possible.  I always have time for your referrals.

Thank you.

Life is good!

Adam
Licensed in MD & DC
adambashein@mris.com
www.basheinhomes.info
Cell:  (301)943-4370
Office:  (301)469-4700 - ask for Adam
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Information deemed to be accurate but not guaranteed







Testimonial from person who just purchased a home in Chevy Chase, MD



Cell:  (301)943-4370
Email:  adambashein@mris.com
www.basheinhomes.info


The best compliments I receive from people are using my services, referring me to others and writing testimonials.  This buyer moved in from out of town and asked her friends, who I sold a home to, to recommend a realtor.  I am flattered.







Hi Adam, 

I wrote this recommendation of your work that you can include on your profile. 
Thanks, 
Elana



"We recently worked with Adam to find our home in Montgomery County. Adam was patient as we looked for a place that was the right fit for us, helpful in explaining the Maryland real estate scene and processes, and thorough and diligent in moving things forward once we were ready to make an offer. 
It was great to celebrate with him at the settlement - he kindly brought bagels and made it a fun experience!"
Feb 12, 2015


Whenever a friend or family member of yours says that they are considering relocating or has a real estate question, your first move should be giving them my contact information and promising that I will take care great of them.  I always have time and greatly appreciate referrals.

Life is good!

Adam
Licensed in MD & DC
adambashein@mris.com
www.basheinhomes.info
Cell:  (301)943-4370
Office: (301)469-4700 - ask for Adam
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
information deemed to be accurate but not guaranteed