Stacey-Ann's Blog

There are many wonderful opportunities to live where you golf in Prince George's County, MD.

One of Prince George's County's premier new home communities is Beechtree.  Beechtree is conveniently located off Rt 301 in Upper Marlboro, MD.  Beechtree's location makes it a convenient place to live if you work in Washington, DC, Baltimore, Annapolis, or Southern, MD.

Beechtree is a picturesque community built around the stunning Lake Presidential golf course and a large lake and entry fountain.  

Beechtree is home to the gorgeous Lake Presidential Golf Course.   Lake Presidential has received numerous awards in the 2 years that it has been open, including being rated as being in the Top 10 new courses in US in 2009 by Golf Magazine.  Residents of Beechtree enjoy discounted play on the public course. Yearly membership opportunities are also available.  

Lake Presidential's stunning clubhouse is open to the public and features a wonderful restaurant, a Sunday brunch, and a Monday night Poker Tournament.

Living at Beechtree has never been more affordable.

• Townhomes by Ryan Homes begin in the upper $200s ($299,000).
• Single Family Builders include Ryan Homes, MidAtlantic Homes, & Haverford Homes.  Floorplans start in the mid $300s.  
• There are also some resale homes currently available

Planned amenities for Beechtree include a swimming pool and tennis courts which are expected to be available for use by the end of 2010.

Within 30 minutes drive of Beechtree a resident will find Six Flags, Bowie Town Center, Annapolis Mall, Chesapeake Beach, Downtown DC, Waldorf, and countless other attractions, restaurants, and shops.

If you are interested in learning more about this wonderful community or would like to begin the process of owning a home in Beechtree, give me a call.

This morning my son Sebastian jumped out of the bed and declared that he did indeed look bigger than yesterday now that he is 5!

I cannot believe that my "baby" is turning 5.  It seems like just yesterday that he was a baby in the house.  Now when I talk to him he seems like such a little man! 

It's been a fun day in the house today helping him celebrate.  He shares a birthday with my younger brother so that helps make it all seem extra special.

It's that time of year when golfers are getting ready to hit the courses again.  For many people (golfers and non-golfers) living in a golf course community is a dream.  Well now, that dream can easily become a reality.

Oak Creek Club is a beautiful golf course community located in Upper Marlboro, MD.

Oak Creek Golf Club features a private 18 hole championship golf course.  The course is universally appreciated by all who are lucky enough to play it.  The golf course's design allows the golfer to feel as though they are playing in a course in the middle of the woods rather than one that is woven throughout a housing development.

The hallmark of Oak Creek Club is the 24 hour guard gated access.  Planned amenities in Oak Creek Club include the swim and tennis center, shuttles to the metro, neighborhood park, and clubhouse.

Oak Creek Club features an active and well managed Home Owner's Association.  At all times during the recent snow storms the roads in Oak Creek were passable.  Crews worked tirelessly to ensure that Oak Creek residents could navigate the streets safely at all time.

Oak Creek Club is a vibrant and warm community that prides itself on encouraging socialization among it's residents.  HOA activities include Easter Egg Roll, Valentine's Party, Halloween party, movies at the lake, and various block parties and parades.  The monthly HOA fee includes basic cable, high speed internet as well as access to all community amenities.

Homes in this wonderful golf community have never been more affordable: 

• Townhomes by Craftstar Homes are almost sold out but start in the low $300s.
• Single Family Builders include Ryan Homes, K&P Builders, NV Homes, & Cratmark Homes and floor plans start in the mid $300s.  
• There are also resale and rental homes available.

• .

Oak Creek Club is conveniently located in Upper Marlboro, MD just outside the nation's capital.  It is convenient to jobs in DC, Baltimore, & Annapolis.

Outside the gates, Oak Creek residents enjoy quick access to great shopping at Bowie Town Center and Largo Town Center, parks and recreation activities, historic homes, PG Community College, and numerous restaurants.

If you are interested in buying a home in Oak Creek club or in learning more about this exclusive, golf course community give me a call.   

This past weekend I was out showing property with a buyer and his mom.  We ended up looking at a townhome in Howard County, MD.  The description indicated that the home had 3 bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms, and 2 half bathrooms.

The house was very strangely laid out with each room on a different level.  When we made it to the basement we realized that we had only seen 2 bathrooms.  The buyers and I were perplexed as to why the MLS mentioned so many bathrooms when I opened a closet in the basement.  The door had slats and I assumed that I would find the washer and dryer or the hot water heater.  However, there was the third bathroom.  

There was silence and then all three of us started laughing out loud.  My buyer's mom took pictures.  Who would put a bathroom in a closet?  There was no way to sit on the toilet AND close the closet door.  I guess privacy was not a premium for these sellers.

Kinda makes you wonder where the 2 half baths that we never found were hidden.

Forbes.com has published it's list of America's 25 Richest Counties.  This list is based on 2008 median income.  Median is the number directly in the middle.  This means that in these counties 50% of the population makes above this number and 50% makes below this number.  Of the 25 counties on the list, 11 are in the DC area (6 are in the top 10).

1.  Loudon County, Va - $110,643

2.  Fairfax County, VA - $106,785

3.  Howard County, MD - $101,710

6.  Fairfax City, VA - $98,133

9.  Arlington County, VA - $96,390

10.  Montgomery County, MD - $93,999

12.  Stafford County, VA - $89,536

13.  Calvert County, MD - $89,049

14.  Prince William County, VA - $88,675

21.  Charles County, MD - $86,586

23.  Alexandria City - $85,135

In total 19 of the 25 counties were located on the East Coast.

It's that time of the year in Prince George's County when golfers start coming out of hibernation.  A few warm days in a row and everyone starts dusting off their clubs ready for another season of golf.

If you are a golf enthusiast, maybe this is the year to consider living where you golf. 

There are many great communities in Prince George's County where you can live with quick access to world class golf courses.  Even if you don't golf, the views of the golf course can provide a breathtaking backdrop to your new home.

If you want information about the golf course communities in Prince George's County give me a call.  There are communities available for every budget and many offering new construction options.

Beginning this year I implemented a $150 donation to charity with every closing.

Following the successful closing of 1112 Ring Bill Loop today I am happy to report that the following donations will be made in the name of my buyers.

• $50 to the MS Society's Walk MS.  This is a charity of my choosing.  I walk in the MS walk each year to help raise money for research and treatment of MS.
• $50 to Unicef.  The client chose Unicef because they were impressed with the work Unicef did with children in Haiti and wanted to support their efforts to protect the world's children.
• $50 to Clinton/Bush Haiti Fund.  The client chose this one to continue to assist in the rebuilding of Haiti following January's devastating earthquake.

I am excited to be able to make these donations and I look forward to making many more donations in the coming months (and years).

If you are interested in buying or selling a home in Maryland please give me a call.

Last Fall I received an AR referral from Diana Geremia.  She indicated that a couple from California wanted to purchase a home in Upper Marlboro.  I would be working mostly with their daughter who lives locally.

The daughter was a pleasure to work with and we looked at several properties.  Finally we put a contract on a gorgeous townhome in Perrywood.  It came on the market that day, we had the offer to the listing agent that night and beat out 4 other offers that came in.

The deal was supposed to close Jan 22.  However, it was one drama after another, one delay after another.  Finally the accommodating sellers decided they had enough of us and decided not to extend the contract.  We convinced them to stick with us and began the closing process last Thursday.  The buyers are still in CA so they had to sign there and overnight everything here.  There were some mistakes and more drama and we had to resign everything Friday and finally funds were disbursed today!

Through it all, the listing agent, Rhonda Richardson, was a JOY to work with.  Even when I called with more updates and delays she was always professional and incredibly pleasant.  We both had a good chat and laugh today when we realized it was finally done.

It is indeed a pleasure to work with other professionals in this business.  I truly believe that this transaction could have ended up differently were it not for the collegial working relationship and mutual respect that she and I developed over the past few months.

In an era where REO agents often get a bad name, I am happy to report that Rhonda Richardson was fabulous. 

I look forward to selling some more of her listings.

My buyers and I pulled up to our first house this morning and we were greeted by a big man who opened the door wearing just a pair of pants.  He asked us if we could come back because he didn't know we were coming.

He was kinda menacing so we left thinking that we wouldn't bother with that house.

However, after seeing one horrible house after another we decided to swing back by there.

We approached very sheepishly and knocked on the door.  It took awhile for someone to open it but they invited us in.  That's when we were assaulted by the unmistakable smell of marijuana.  Clearly we had interrupted someone's enjoyment of their Sunday morning spliff.  In the bedrooms the smell of marijuana was coupled with the burning incense.

It wasn't a bad house but we couldn't wait to get out of there.

Between the marijuana and the mold in the house before that one I am taking my allergy medicine tonight.