State’s decision to ban booze comes as surprise

March 24, 2010

State’s decision to ban booze comes as surprise
Michael A. Sawyers
Cumberland Times-News

— CUMBERLAND — Local alcoholic beverage officials, merchants and recreationists agree that they had no idea the Maryland Department of Natural Resources had banned the possession and consumption of beer, wine and liquor in state forests until they read about it in Wednesday’s Times-News.

Maryland State Forester Steve Koehn said Tuesday that the policy was adopted because rowdy imbibers at times had ruined the camping experiences for others.

“We realize that some people will be annoyed with this regulation, but we believe that the greater good is being served,” Koehn said.

Contacted again on Wednesday, Koehn said his agency has ongoing authority to restrict alcohol use, thus a public hearing process was not needed for that action.

“We are informing people about the ban on a one-by-one basis when they call in to reserve a campsite,” Koehn said. “For those who use a self reservation system at the forest, we have posted signs at the camping pads.”

Koehn said information about the ban may also be put on the DNR Web site.

A similar ban has been in effect at state parks since last year and one is being drafted for wildlife management areas.

John Stakem, owner of Broadway Liquors in Frostburg and the president of the Allegany County Liquor Dealers Association, said Wednesday that the forest ban was news to him.

“I live in Frostburg and I know that 3 percent of the university students cause problems and 97 percent of the kids are good. It isn’t a 100-percent perfect world. Why regulate the people who do things the right way?” he said.

Stakem, who often attends Maryland General Assembly sessions in Annapolis to represent the alcoholic beverage industry, said he will study the new ban before deciding about any action he may take.

John Boal, sales manager for Western Maryland Distributing Co., said the forest service ban is likely to have a widespread local impact.

“We have four stores we distribute to near Green Ridge State Forest, including Bill’s Place,” Boal said. “This ban will hurt those stores and in turn hurt our business. That means it will hurt our drivers and sales representatives, all local people who spend their money locally.”

Bill’s Place owner Bill Schoenadel said the ban will ruin business at his Little Orleans establishment, tucked between the Potomac River and Green Ridge State Forest. Schoenadel operates a tavern there and sells take-out beer.

Schoenadel contends that there is nothing wrong with hunters or anglers drinking beer at their public campsites at the end of a day of recreation, something that has recently become illegal.

Sen. George Edwards said Wednesday from Annapolis that he considers the alcohol ban to be a major change.

“You would think with a big change in policy that the DNR would call some kind of public gathering and say ‘hey, this is what we’re doing and this is why we’re doing it,’ ” Edwards said. “At least people would have been on notice instead of learning about it after the fact. I didn’t know about it until now. If they want to be a transparent agency, this would have been a good opportunity for them to show it.

“I haven’t heard anything from the state forest people up home about this being a big problem. I guess now if you want to have a family picnic on the state grounds and you have a certain kind of cold drink you are breaking the law,” Edwards said.

Sid Turner, who owns Chestnut Ridge Liquor Store at Grantsville, said Wednesday that he showed the newspaper article to numerous customers.

“I got the same reaction from everybody,” Turner said. “They said ‘that’s (expletive deleted).’ ”

Turner said that the ban on alcohol at New Germany and Big Run state parks has already cut into his sales and he expects the ban at nearby Savage River State Forest to further decrease business.

Turner is also the vice president of the Citizens Rights and Heritage Group, a formalized organization that acts as a watchdog of state government actions that affect Garrett County.

“We will be bringing this up at our next meeting,” Turner said.

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

More Garrett County seniors eligible for property tax break

Commissioners extend 50 percent credit

Megan Miller Cumberland Times-News

Cumberland — OAKLAND — A recent act by the Garrett County Commission could give more residents a tax credit on their county tax bills, starting this tax year.

Currently, county residents who qualify for the state Homeowners’ Property Tax Credit program, are 65 or older, and have lived in Garrett for at least 10 years, can also receive an additional credit of 25 percent of the state credit amount to apply to their county tax bill.

But the income threshold and tax bill guidelines to qualify for the state program left out a portion of Garrett’s low-income seniors who “probably suffer more than anyone else in trying to pay their taxes,” according to County Administrator Monty Pagenhardt.

Now residents who don’t meet the requirements for the state program can qualify for a county credit if they are 65 or older, have lived in Garrett for at least 10 years and have a combined gross household income of $25,000 or less. That extends a county credit to people whose incomes are low, but whose tax bills aren’t high enough to meet the state program guidelines.

“This goes over and above the state’s guidelines,” Pagenhardt said. “It’s not that much money for the county, about $8,300 in lost revenue, but the commissioners felt they wanted to do something to benefit that segment of county residents.”

Those seniors who qualify for the expanded county program will receive a 50 percent credit on their county real estate and landfill taxes, but their state taxes will not be affected.

Pagenhardt said the three commissioners agreed unanimously on the action, which makes about 32 more households eligible for county tax relief.

Wendy Yoder, director of financial services, said residents must still fill out the state application to be eligible for either the county and state credits or the new county credit program.

Applications are due by Sept. 1 for the tax bills that will come out in the summer, she said. The application forms are available online at http://www.dat.state.md.us/, at the State Department of Assessments and Taxation office in the Garrett County Courthouse, or by calling that office at (301) 334-1950 and requesting a form by mail.

For more information contact the county staff at (301) 334-8970.

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

Dennis Hannibal - Western Maryland Appraisals - Deep Creek Lake

I wanted to profile my good friend Dennis Hannibal, who is a local appraiser here in Garrett County & Deep Creek Lake. We had a great conversation about the real estate market the other day at my Railey Realty office. He is a wealth of information and I highly recommend him for all of your appraisal needs!

Dennis Hannibal
Western Maryland Appraisal Services
Mc Henry, Maryland (md)
301-387-7446

dehannibal@verizon.net

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

More Garrett County seniors eligible for property tax break

Commissioners extend 50 percent credit

Megan Miller Cumberland Times-News

Cumberland — OAKLAND — A recent act by the Garrett County Commission could give more residents a tax credit on their county tax bills, starting this tax year.

Currently, county residents who qualify for the state Homeowners’ Property Tax Credit program, are 65 or older, and have lived in Garrett for at least 10 years, can also receive an additional credit of 25 percent of the state credit amount to apply to their county tax bill.

But the income threshold and tax bill guidelines to qualify for the state program left out a portion of Garrett’s low-income seniors who “probably suffer more than anyone else in trying to pay their taxes,” according to County Administrator Monty Pagenhardt.

Now residents who don’t meet the requirements for the state program can qualify for a county credit if they are 65 or older, have lived in Garrett for at least 10 years and have a combined gross household income of $25,000 or less. That extends a county credit to people whose incomes are low, but whose tax bills aren’t high enough to meet the state program guidelines.

“This goes over and above the state’s guidelines,” Pagenhardt said. “It’s not that much money for the county, about $8,300 in lost revenue, but the commissioners felt they wanted to do something to benefit that segment of county residents.”

Those seniors who qualify for the expanded county program will receive a 50 percent credit on their county real estate and landfill taxes, but their state taxes will not be affected.

Pagenhardt said the three commissioners agreed unanimously on the action, which makes about 32 more households eligible for county tax relief.

Wendy Yoder, director of financial services, said residents must still fill out the state application to be eligible for either the county and state credits or the new county credit program.

Applications are due by Sept. 1 for the tax bills that will come out in the summer, she said. The application forms are available online at www.dat.state.md.us, at the State Department of Assessments and Taxation office in the Garrett County Courthouse, or by calling that office at (301) 334-1950 and requesting a form by mail.

For more information contact the county staff at (301) 334-8970.

Contact Megan Miller at mmiller@times-news.com.

Deep Creek Lake now at normal level

Cumberland Times-News

— Deep Creek Lake at normal level

MCHENRY — Deep Creek Hydropower is now operating within the rule band established by the Maryland Department of the Environment to retain Deep Creek Lake at its appropriate level.

Last month, MDE approved a request from Brookfield Renewable Power, the owner of Deep Creek Hydropower, to lower the water level to accommodate the winter’s record snow pack and subsequent melting.

Brookfield also brought in seven “ice eaters” to break up and remove ice and reduce ice pressure on the spillway. MDE and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources worked closely with Brookfield to monitor the situation.

The analysis of water content in the snow pack and the lower than expected rainfall has made spring flooding this year unlikely.

Lake levels are posted at www.deepcreekhydro.com.

Spring time at the Wisp Ski Resort

It’s that time of year…I’m starting to see some bare spots on the Wisp Ski Resort. Overall, it was a great ski season and a record winter for snowfall. Spring is here at Deep Creek Lake and the warmer weather (and rain) has led to some bare spots on the mountain. Virtually all of the snow that was here on the ground has melted now. It snowed yesterday, but there was no accumulation. Keep checking back for more info from the I Love Deep Creek blog!

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

Investors Are Buying Houses Again

March 23, 2010 by cloeffler

Good news for the second-home market.

More home buyers are snapping up properties with cash, a trend driven in large part by investors returning to the market after four years of falling prices around the country.
The share of home sales involving all-cash transactions was 26% in January, up from 18% a year earlier, according to the National Association of Realtors. The figures come from a survey of members about their most recent transactions. Many home buyers also are paying cash, but investors are largely using cash so they can avoid paying interest charges on loans and get a larger return on their investment.

Other NAR data also show a pickup in investment activity.

Home purchases made by buyers identified as investors climbed to 17% in January, up from 15% in December and 12% in November.

“We bottomed out in 2008, and in late 2009, prices stabilized and investors have returned,” says Mark Fleming, chief economist at First American CoreLogic. “It’s a different type of investor going after foreclosed properties and expecting to hold on for longer time frames.”

Many investors say they’re financing their purchases with cash on hand, rather than borrowing.

Evan Spinrod of San Francisco bought three rental properties in November and February and now owns 21 in four states. The rent he collects gives him an 8.5% annual return on his investment. Some of his homes are worth about $165,000. “I’m still looking,” Spinrod says. “You can’t build these houses for the prices they’re selling them. I’ve always seen that the real wealth was in real estate. People have been sitting on cash, and there’s no interest from the bank (to pay).”

Leonard Baron, a real estate professor at San Diego State University, has bought three homes with cash in the

San Diego area in the past eight months, ranging in price from $100,000 to $130,000. He rents the properties.

Baron says now is an ideal time to make such purchases. “It’s because prices have dropped so much and rents really haven’t,” he says. “The deals were unbelievable.”

Some Realtors also say they’re seeing increased investor activity.

“Flippers, rehabbers, investors … are, in fact, buying,” says Lisa Johnson, with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Haverhill, Mass. “I’m getting builders who have stopped building and are instead buying up condos and single-family homes to fix them up and sell them. It’s a neat change I haven’t seen in four years.”

All-cash purchases also reflect a growing number of investors buying higher-end properties without credit, says NAR spokesman Walter Molony. That’s a sign that some investors see real estate prices as having nowhere to

go but up. All-cash offers give buyers a competitive edge on rival offers – even higher ones – that are dependent on financing. Cash deals can close faster and are less likely to fall through.

“You have to have cash to be able to close quickly and have negotiating power. Cash is king,” says Tanya Marchiol, president of Phoenix-based Team Investments, which buys about 70 properties a month with cash it raises from investors. “We do want to flip it or generate cash flow (through renting it out). Now is the time to buy for cash flow. We know the market is going to rebound.”

Some investors say the current real estate market is an ideal time to buy because homes are so low priced, they are bound to hold their value.

That’s the philosophy of Jim McClelland of Tinley Park, 111.

He is buying about 120 to 150 entrylevel homes in the Chicago area this year and owns a total of about 300 properties.

He says now is a good time to buy because properties going into foreclosure are no longer just one-bedroom, fixer-uppers but nicer, split-level brick homes with more bedrooms that will probably appreciate to a higher value.

That’s because so many prime-rate borrowers who bought more expensive homes have gone into foreclosure.

He puts about $60,000 into upgrading a property, then rents it out.

“Do I think this year will be a better time to invest than in 2009? Yes,” McClelland says. “There have always been foreclosures. The difference now is you get a better home for the same kind of money. You’re sitting on better inventory. People get into real estate for financial independence. It’s not a quick fix. It appreciates. It doesn’t happen overnight.”

By Stephanie Armour USA TODAY

Alcohol banned in Maryland state forests

Michael A. Sawyers
Cumberland Times-News

—

LITTLE ORLEANS — If you have a Busch beer and want to head for the mountains, don’t make it a public hilltop in Maryland.

It is now illegal to possess or consume alcoholic beverages on state forests in Maryland, according to Steve Koehn, Maryland state forester.

“There is a department-wide policy banning alcohol on the state’s public lands,” Koehn said Tuesday. “The park service got on board first and we are following suit.”

Koehn said strong drink will still be allowed at two pavilions, one on the Green Ridge and one on the Potomac-Garrett state forests, but only when a proper permit is possessed.

“You would be OK transporting unopened alcohol in your vehicle through a state forest, but if you are at a scenic overlook, for example, and can’t wait to pop open a cold one, you may be in for some trouble if a Natural Resources Police officer sees you,” Koehn said.

Koehn said the policy was adopted because people were having bad camping experiences.

“A family would be camped near another group that was not consuming alcohol in a measured fashion and it would ruin their trip,” he said. “We realize that some people will be annoyed with this regulation, but we believe that the greater good is being served. It’s all about the Maryland public having a positive experience on their lands.”

Bill Schoenadel said the regulation will ruin his business.

Schoenadel runs the unique and popular Bill’s Place, a known watering hole and grocery along the Potomac River at Little Orleans.

“Nobody knew anything about this until just the other day when some signs were seen at the state forest campsites,” Schoenadel said.

“Hunters and fishermen don’t cause problems. They like to go back to their camps at night and sit around a fire and have a few beers while they talk about the day. Those are the people I sell beer to.”

Schoenadel said that before a rails and trails program was established for hikers and bikers along the river, hunters and anglers were his main source of business.

“If the state takes a soft approach to this new regulation, I mean if they don’t bother people at campsites who are quietly having a beer and keeping it out of sight, then it might not be so bad. But there are some rangers who like to write a ticket for everything they can,” he said.

Jim Mullan of the Maryland Wildlife & Heritage Service said that agency too is in the process of drafting similar regulations that would apply to wildlife management areas.

Contact Michael A. Sawyers at msawyers@times-news.com.

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

Residential Market Stats that Matter - Railey Realty Still #1

In a sales meeting this morning, our manager Nancy Trotta went over the latest residential market statistics for the Garrett County area. The numbers are amazing, and I wanted to share some of the highlights:

There are currently 33 properties currently under contract between $55,900-$1,989,000. Of those contracts, Railey Realty has 18 of those homes under contract – 55% of the market!

Our next 3 closest competitors have 8 contracts COMBINED. Their individual market share ranges from 6%-9%, respectively. I believe that this demonstrates why I chose to make the move to Railey Realty last month – more market share and the ability to still sell homes even in the current market conditions. Our results speak for themselves!

And it’s not just contracts – our listing inventory is nearly double that of the next closest competing broker. We have 239 homes currently listed and more on the way. For the best selection of real estate listings, again, we are #1 in Garrett County & Deep Creek Lake!

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

Spotting trends in cottage sales and vacation rentals

Spotting trends in cottage sales and rentals
March 22, 2010 by cloeffler

Looking for a fresh twist on the residential real estate story? There is always the second-home specialty as reported in this article.

We’re 10 weeks out from Memorial Day – summer’s unofficial start – so how about a look at the vacation home and cottage niche? You can take the consumer tack, illustrate how this market reflects your region’s economy – or both – for a readable and picturesque package.

For many cash-strapped homeowners, juggling two mortgages isn’t quite as easy as it seemed to be earlier this decade. Many cabins and cottages are on the block, but it’s clearly a buyer’s market, with inventory up and median prices dropping by around 25 percent. The National Association of Realtors reported a year ago that sales of second homes had dropped 30 percent from 2007 to 2008. An update to the trade group’s Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey is due out in a few weeks. Meanwhile, the association’s “field guide” to the second-home market includes past articles and other resources that will help you organize your feature.
Check up on the cottage and cabin scene in your region’s resort areas. Sources include sellers, real estate agents, county assessors. Are people in financial straits failing to pay property taxes on vacation homes? What’s the foreclosure situation? Talk to do-it-yourself sellers who are advertising in classifieds – what gimmicks are they using to sweeten the deal? Are rental rates dropping?

Look for unusual tactics – I recently noticed a half-page ad one homeowner placed in my local coupon-clipper publication; it touted a single lavish vacation property hundreds of miles away.

Cottages by their nature are heavily invested with nostalgia and emotion; keep an eye out for interesting human interest stories, such as multi-generation cabins being sold off or abandoned. Also check into the economic effect on area businesses; fewer weekenders translates to less trade at mom-and-pop establishments that depend on seasonal business. How hard has this vicious downward spiral hit your state’s recreational spots?

Some industry sources say cheap prices and plenty of inventory are attracting investment buyers who plan to flip or rent out vacation properties.

And others note that homeowners who normally keep the cottage in the family are instead leasing out their second homes in a bid to boost cash flow or at least make the property pay its own way.

HomeAway.com, which operates several vacation-rental Web sites, says some markets are showing double or more the number of listings compared to a year ago. They’re up 178 percent in Telluride, Colo., for example, and 206 percent in Sunset Beach, N. Carolina, according to Victor Wang of HomeAway’s media relations staff.

While HomeAway doesn’t disclose overall listing trends for competitive reasons, Wang said generally they will try to assist journalists with data for specific markets and regions. He also has data about investment properties and buyer surveys.

If you’re focusing on rentals, in addition to local listing services and classifieds, try Vacation Rentals by Owner – it boasts 130,000 listings and very easy-to-use interface with region-specific state maps, making it a great source of “real people” for your stories.

By Melissa Preddy on Mar 22, 2010

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