Jay's Real Estate Blog

Small Garrett County school ranks No. 1 in test scores

Crellin Elementary had a pass rate of 100 percent; Benfield in Arundel was No. 2
By Liz Bowie, The Baltimore Sun

7:55 p.m. EDT, July 22, 2010

The best elementary schools in the state come in all sizes and areas, from a small school filled with low-income students in the far reaches of Western Maryland to a midsize one in a wealthy neighborhood of Anne Arundel County.

Of the 874 elementary schools in the state, Crellin Elementary, a schoolhouse nestled in a coal mining area that has amassed a collection of prizes for leadership, environmental teaching and character education, is the school with the highest pass rate on the Maryland School Assessment.
With an average 100 percent pass rate, the 100 students at Crellin edged out Anne Arundel County’s Benfield Elementary, a school whose students live in neighborhoods along the banks of the Severn River.

The rankings were done by The Baltimore Sun after analysis of the state’s MSA data. State officials released the annual report card on reading and math Tuesday.

Read the rest here.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

Real Estate for Sale - 442 Deer Run - Sky Valley - GA7381957

Chalet for sale in Sky Valley with immediate boat slips available through the HOA. This house used to be a $25k/year rental property (owners have since occupied full-time) with Railey Mountain Lake Vacations and could be easily converted to a rental again. It has a spacious, fenced-in backyard and brick paver walkways surrounding the house. Also, walking distance to the new Thousand Acres golf course. $439,000.

More details & photos here.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350

Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

Garrett County Community Calendar - July 21-24 2010

Here are some of the activities and events going on over the next few days:
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Theatrical production: BRIGHTON BEACH
TOTL Theatre Company (Theatre On The Lake)

07/21/2010 – 07/24/2010
Garrett College Theater, 7:30 pm. Neil Simon, America’s premier comic dramatist, tells the story of the Jerome family caught in the throws of the Depression. $. 304-680-1002, www.totltheatre.org
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Deep Creek Lake Farmers Market – McHenry
Mountain Fresh Farmers Markets

Join us at the Garrett County Visitors’ Center for a 50-miles fresh farmers market! We have fresh fruits and vegetables plus delicious baked goods, eggs, crafts, and more!
Thursdays 4-6 pm

Deep Creek Lake Farmers Market – McHenry
Jul 22nd
Starts at 4:00 pm , Lasts 2 Hours
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Youghiogheny River Festival
Town of Friendsville

07/24/2010
Friendsville Town Park. Come out and support the Yough! Enjoy live music, local artisans, raffles, food vendors and the ever popular “ Rubber Ducky Race.” $. www.youghioghenyriverfestival.info
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Music at Penn Alps Concert Series Jul 24th
Penn Alps Restaurant & Craft Shop

Ten concerts will be presented at MPA’s regular venue at Penn Alps, Grantsville, and two concerts at Windsor Hall in Cumberland. All concerts begin at 7:30 PM on Saturday evenings.

Event Website: http://www.musicatpennalps.org

Building lots for sale in Mt Lake Park - C Street

C St – Mt Lake Park – GA7365848 – $18,900

I recently listed 2 building lots for sale in the town of Mountain Lake Park on C Street. Great value at $18,900 each, amongst the most competitively priced lots on the market. Both are eligible for public water & sewer.

More details here.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350 Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

Habitat chapter seeking applicants for first local home

A GREAT program to institute anywhere. Something I learned from the article, Garrett County has been building 5 habitat homes per year for the last 25 years!!!

Shane Riggs
Cumberland Times-News

Cumberland — CUMBERLAND — The money is in the bank. Appliances are waiting to be installed. Land has been secured. Everything is in place for Allegany County to see its first Habitat for Humanity house. The only thing missing from the plans is who will live in the house once construction is complete.

“That’s our biggest thing right now is finding our first Habitat for Humanity family in Allegany County,” said Kathy Miller, president of the local chapter. “We plan to start looking at applications August 1 and have a family hopefully chosen by August 10 for our first house.”

“We just need our first family,” said treasurer Shauna McQuade. “We need to reach our target market. As much as we have spoken to community groups we still need to find our first family to get into a house.”

Since the recipient of Allegany County’s premiere Habitat for Humanity house has not been selected, applications are still being taken through Aug. 1.

Miller and McQuade said priority will be given to the family who can show a need and also is willing to participate in the Habitat program.

“The process involves 300 hours of sweat equity,” said Miller. “So the family we select will not only be helping to build their own house but also the second house in the area Habitat for Humanity builds.”

Sweat equity hours can include actual construction to volunteer work in fundraising.

The potential Habitat for Humanity homeowner must meet financial criteria under the guidelines of the program. To continue to be a candidate, the applicant must attend “homeownership courses.”

“We basically teach people how to be a homeowner and what to do, for instance, when you need to call that $65-an-hour plumber,” Miller said.

While the program has been in the developmental stages for more than four years, this will be the first time construction of the house under the nationally recognized Habitat program will start in the local area.

“We really had to get our facts together and show on the national level that we knew what we were doing,” said Miller.

Neighboring counties have had success with the program. Washington County has been a participant for nearly a decade while Garrett County has been building five Habitat homes a year for the last 25 years.

While properties are earmarked in the city for future Habitat houses, a lot in Cresaptown has been chosen as the first official site for 2010 construction.

After the application deadlines passes, the family selection committee will narrow the list to three before a final family is selected. Mary Moran is the committee chairwoman.

“We know the need is there and so we want people to get included in being the second and third families picked as well,” she said. “We know the families are out there. We just need to get the word out and reach them.”

Miller said the Habitat for Humanity committee — made up of local volunteers and civic leaders — hopes that more families begin applying for the house between now and the deadline.

“Our biggest priority is finding the right family in need,” she said. “We have a lot of families out there living in unsafe and unsanitary conditions. And no one should have to live like that. Our motto is, a hand up, not a hand out.”

Miller assures the application processs is not complicated and should not be intimidating or overwhelming to those interested in applying.

A one-level, three-bedroom house will include donated and new appliances and will be move-in ready. The selected homeowner will be given the opportunity to choose color schemes for the interior and exterior.

Constructed at a cost of $65,000 to $85,000, the appraisal value of the house will be $125,000 when complete, said Miller.

“It’s not a lavish home but it’s a wonderful, comfortable, economical house that people can stay in for the rest of their lives.”

Applicants may be considered if present housing is not adequate and if conventional means of buying a home have failed. Candidates must have been a resident of Allegany County for the last two years. Maximum annual income levels range from $22,900 for a single person to $43,830 for those with a family of eight. The selected applicant will be purchasing the home from Habitat and monthly mortgage payments will be paid directly to the organization.

McQuade said the goal is to begin construction on the house in autumn and have the family moved in by the time the first snowflake falls.

“Once we get ground broken it will happen pretty quickly,” she said. “We hope to be done by late fall. It’s going to be a nice holiday present for one local family.”

For more information, call 301-468-5784 or 301-707-6356.

Beachtree Properties Debuts New Property in Oakland, Maryland

MILLERSVILLE, MD–(Marketwire – July 19, 2010) – Beachtree Properties, a resort group comprised of boutique hotels, announces renovation completion and opening of its newly-acquired property in Oakland, Maryland.

Inn at Deep Creek, formerly known as Alpine Village Inn, a 29-unit lakeside hotel, has undergone extensive renovations after Beachtree Properties took ownership in May. The detailed project incorporated a complete makeover from the inside-out, including a new roof, kitchens, bathrooms, furniture, flooring and carpeting. To make guests’ stay more comfortable, new pillow top beds, contemporary fabrics and fixtures with sheer and blackout curtains in each suite have been added. In addition, each suite is complete with flat screen TVs, iPod docking stations, and complimentary Wi-Fi.

Inn at Deep Creek is an all-suite hotel situated on the largest freshwater lake in Maryland. The resort’s suites feature brand-new warm elegant décor with kitchens and some suites feature fireplaces. Onsite amenities include a large heated outdoor pool, a landscaped poolside grilling area complete with picnic tables, a private beach with a day-use boat dock, and a second-floor balcony to provide guests with views of the lake.

Deep Creek Lake is situated in Garrett County, Maryland, and known for its approximate 76,000 acres of lakes, parks, caves and forests. It encompasses 3,900 acres and is at a mountain elevation almost half a mile high. Popular for its freshwater man-made lake with twenty-six different species of fish, the lake is perfect for fishing, whether it be fly fishing or ice fishing. Exciting activities at the lake include kayaking, canoeing, rafting, camping, hiking, mountain biking and in the winter, skiing at nearby Wisp Ski Resort.

The hotel opened Fourth of July weekend and is open year-round. For information or to make reservations, call Inn at Deep Creek at 877.853.6932 or visit www.InnatDeepCreek.com

Beachtree Properties specializes in distinctive boutique hotels in exciting vacation destinations. Formed in 2006, Beachtree Properties manages twelve independent resorts across North America, providing a home away from home with all the services expected from a large hotel chain. Beachtree Properties values and recognizes the character and individuality of each property, offering well-appointed accommodations and world-class service.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350

Deep Creek Lake Info, Business Directories, Classified Ads, Events & more! Advertise on http://www.deepcreekalive.com/!

Maryland DNR Registration Now Open For Becoming An Outdoors Woman

Swanton, MD – (Ammoland.com) – The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announces that registration is now open for the next Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) weekend workshop to be held Friday, October 22 through Sunday, October 24 at the Western Maryland 4-H Center in Garrett County near Deep Creek Lake.

BOW enables women to learn about a wide variety of outdoor opportunities in a casual, non-threatening environment.

“The program is designed to be hands-on, giving participants enough knowledge to further pursue their interests once the workshop is over,” said Patty Allen, Maryland BOW state coordinator.

Participants may choose from more than 30 classes, including outdoor photography, geocaching, turkey and deer hunting, fly fishing, hiking, kayaking, outdoor survival skills and many others. In addition, BOW places special emphasis on the camaraderie that goes along with outdoor recreation.

These outdoor skills workshops are offered specifically for women 18 years of age and older; however, men are also welcome.

For more information or to register for the upcoming workshop, visit http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/Education/bow/index.asp

Olympic whitewater paddler Casey Eichfeld auction

From Steve Green @High Mountain Sports:

Olympic whitewater paddler Casey Eichfeld will be giving a private flatwater kayak lesson/tour to a few special guests on Deep Creek Lake.
All proceeds go toward supporting him as a whitewater athlete. The tour includes all neccesary equipment including: a kayak, lifevest, and paddle …from High Mountain Sports. The 1 hour tour/lesson will start at 8:30 AM on Saturday July 31st. Traders Coffee House will provide pastries and beverages before or after the tour. If there are substantial competing bids we will consider a second chance offer to the second highest bid. The winning bidder may bring up to 5 guests.

Link to auction on eBay

Misty morning at Deep Creek Lake

An otherwise misty morning at Deep Creek Lake after some booming thunderstorms last night:

Banks repossess homes at record pace: RealtyTrac

By Lynn Adler

NEW YORK | Thu Jul 15, 2010 11:59am EDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Banks repossessed a record number of U.S. homes in the second quarter, but slowed new foreclosure notices to manage distressed properties on the market, real estate data company RealtyTrac said on Thursday.

The root problems of job losses and wage cuts persist, making a sustained U.S. housing recovery elusive.

Banks took control of 269,962 properties in the second quarter, up 5 percent from the prior quarter and a 38 percent spike from the second quarter of last year, RealtyTrac said in its midyear 2010 foreclosure report.

Repossessions will likely top 1 million this year.

“The underlying conditions haven’t improved,” RealtyTrac senior vice president Rick Sharga said in an interview.

The housing market still grapples with “unemployment, economic displacement in general, and still sits on over 5 million seriously delinquent loans that in all likelihood will at some point go into foreclosure,” he said.

In 2005, the last “normal” year in housing, Sharga said, about 530,000 households got a foreclosure notice and banks took over a comparatively minuscule 100,000 houses.

This year more than 3 million households are likely to get at least one foreclosure filing, which includes notice of default, scheduled auction and repossession, Irvine, California-based RealtyTrac forecasts.