March 2015

I believe Winter is finally over and I am quite happy about it! We are finally seeing some warmer temperatures and the snow has melted away. For me this means a start to the Spring market in real estate. The prediction is still that interest rates will rise this year with current headlines indicating this may happen as soon as June. There is also still a low inventory which makes this the perfect time to sell your home. Buyers are waiting for the perfect home to come on the market and they are determined to lock in their interest rate before rates go up. If you are thinking of selling your home I would be happy to meet with you to discuss the market, how you can prepare your home for sale and what the current pricing in your market looks like. Now is a good time to get your house on the market. Please see the articles in the right hand column with some helpful information on hiring contractors and some encouraging news about the increase in pending home sales. Please visit my website at www.kathywhalen.com. It is easy to search the Multiple Listing Service for homes with upgraded map searches, there is more information on Schools, more Community information, easy access to information on upcoming open houses in Montgomery County and DC as well as links to pictures and disclosures for my listings. I also have a mobile website: m.kathywhalen.com which allows you to search for homes based on where you are located using the GPS feature. Please scan the QR code at the bottom of this article to take a test drive.

Also, be sure to see my listngs below, read the real estate articles in the column to the right and visit my

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About Kathy

Link to all Upcoming Open

Houses

Contact Me

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Kathy Whalen, Realtor Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.

Direct: 301-649-5743

Office: 240-497-1700

kathy@kathywhalen.com

Pending Home Sales

Rise in January to Highest Level in 18

Months

Source: RISMEDIA, Monday, March 2, 2015

website where you can click to see current interest rates and a link to all homes currently listed for sale. As always, if you have any real estate questions or needs I am available to help. Thanks, Kathy Whalen .

My Listings.......

ACTIVE

$435,000

1707 Sanford Road

Silver Spring, MD 20902

Click on picture above to see additional photos

Stunning Home in Sought After Forest Estates

Neighborhood! Perfect Condition with Gorgeous

Custom Bath Remodel, Kitchen with

Granite Counters and Stainless Appliances, Deck

overlooking Landscaped Yard, Living Room with

Stone Fireplace, Finished Lower Level with

Separate Entrance and Convenient Location Near

Metro!

Estimated property tax and non-tax charges in first

fiscal year of ownership is $3,838.04

Improved buyer demand at the beginning of 2015 pushed pending

home sales in January to their highest level since August 2013,

according to the National Association of REALTORS®. All

major regions except for the Midwest saw gains in activity in

January. The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator

based on contract ...

Click on image above to read the full article

10 Questions to Ask Before

Hiring a Contractor

Source - The Real Estate Book, by Kerrie Kelly, ASID

A generation ago, most people made their own improvements around the

house. DIY wasn't a trend-it was simply the way we lived. Most homeowners

had a garage stocked with power saws, hand tools, and everything they needed

to repair any issue that arose.

ACTIVE

$370,000

10360 Castlehedge Terrace

Silver Spring, MD 20902

Click on picture above to see additional photos

Three Level Townhome in Sought After Forest

Estates Neighborhood! Deck overlooking Green

Space, Master Bedroom with Full Bath, Spacious

Family Room with Level Walkout to Fenced Yard

and Convenient Location Near Metro!

Estimated property tax and non-tax charges in first

fiscal year of ownership is $3,523.50

UNDER CONTRACT

$635,000

10504 Amherst Avenue

Silver Spring, MD 20902

Click on picture above to read the full article.

Search the Multiple Listing Service for Homes

Maryland's Foreclosure Mediation

Click on picture above to see additional photos

Stunning 3 Level High End Addition with

Gourmet Kitchen, Family Room, Mudroom, Main

Level Laundry, 5 Bedrooms, 3.5 Baths and

Spectacular Master Suite!

Estimated property tax and non-tax charges in first

fiscal year of ownership is $5,898.39

UNDER CONTRACT

$420,000

1713 Brisbane Street

Silver Spring, MD 20902

Click on picture above to see additional photos

Expanded and Updated Colonial in Popular Forest

Estates Neighborhood! Family Room with Gas

Fireplace and Full Bath Addition. Updated Kitchen

opens to the Family Room. Finished Lower Level

and Screened Porch. Hurry!

Estimated property tax and non-tax charges in first

fiscal year of ownership is $4,136.10

SOLD

$280,000

10302 Drumm Avenue

Kensington, MD 20895

Program

(Click on Above Image to Read

Information About Maryland's Mediation Foreclosure Program)

Click on Picture for Information on Downtown Silver Spring

Click on picture above to see additional photos

Fabulous opportunity in Kensington! Property is

sold as is and needs work. Main Level has large

windows and nice hardwoods with 3 bedrooms and

1.5 baths. Daylight lower level with Large picture

window, door to the patio and great possibilities.

Nice fenced yard, off street parking. Estimated

property tax and non-tax charges in first fiscal year

of ownership is $4,106.

SOLD

$449,000

714 Kerwin Road

Silver Spring, MD 20901

Montgomery County School

Assignment Locator

Estimated Real Property Tax and Other Non-tax Charges

Visit My Website

Please Click On Picture to See Homes I

Have Recently Sold

Click on picture above to see additional photos

Charming Cape Cod with Completely Remodeled

Interior! New Kitchen, 3 New Baths, Refinished

Hardwood Floors, Freshly Painted, 4 Bedrooms

and 2.5 Baths. Estimated property tax and non-tax

charges in first fiscal year of ownership is

$4,254.83

SOLD

$325,000

1516 Hanby Street

Silver Spring, MD 20902

Click on picture above to see additional photos

Picture Perfect Rambler with Updated Table Space

Kitchen, Large Private Deck, 2 Full Baths, Family

Room and Convenient Location Near Metro.

Estimated property tax and non-tax charges in first

fiscal year of ownership is $3,690.26

SOLD $633,000

10412 Barrie Avenue

Silver Spring, MD 20902

HOUSELOGIC

HouseLogic is a free source of

information and tools-from the

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF

REALTORS®-that can help you

make smart and timely decisions

about your home.

(Click on Above Logo to Visit Houselogic's New Helpful Website

for Homeowners and Potential Homeowner)

Thank you for taking

the time to read my

Monthly Real Estate

Newsletter! I hope you

found it both

interesting &

informative. I would

love to help you with

your real estate needs!

Please call or email me

& I would be happy to

set up a time to meet

Click on picture above to see additional photos

Spacious 3 Story Addition plus a Garage! This one

is Special! High End Granite and Stainless Kitchen

opens to the Family Room. Main Level Mud

Room, Amazing Master Suite with Walk In Closet

and Full Bath. 4 Bedrooms and 2 Full Baths on

Upper Level. EVERYTHING is Remodeled!!

Estimated property tax and non-tax charges in first

fiscal year of ownership is $5,266.34

SOLD

$615,000

11015 Wickshire Way

North Bethesda, MD 20852

Click on picture above to see additional photos

with you to discuss

buying or selling your

home.

Sincerely,

Kathy Whalen Kathy Whalen Long &

Foster Real Estate

7700 Old Georgetown

Road

Bethesda, MD 20814

kathy@ kathywhalen.com

Wow! Beautifully Renovated Home in Sought

After White Flint Area. New Hardwood Flooring,

Gorgeous Master Bath, New Heat and Air

Conditioning and Perfect Condition!

Estimated property tax and non-tax charges in first

fiscal year of ownership is $5,829.78.