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So far Kelly Malagari has created 18 blog entries.

714 Midway Ave, Mount Airy, MD 21771

If it was on your wish list, Here It Is! Just a sneak peak before the holiday and ready for shows first of the year! Make it your own for 2025! Awesome Mount Airy 62+ Wildwood Park Community with Library and Community Center nearby. This is The Howard Model (Floor Plan uploaded) with a Main & Upper Level. Main Level features a Living & Dining Combination Room with Hardwood Flooring; the Kitchen with Hardwood Flooring also has a Pass Through Opening with a Built in Countertop connecting you to the Living Area, Garage Access, and a Full Size Pantry. In the Rear of the Main Level features the Primary Bedroom with Carpet Flooring and Attached Modern Full Bath with Walk-in Shower; 2nd Bedroom with Hardwood Flooring has the Walk Out Access to the Backyard Patio; Full Hall Bath with tub shower; and a Laundry Closet with Full Size Washer & Dryer side by side. Upper Level offers a Large 3rd Bedroom; Full Bath; and Utility Closet with Storage Area. In the Garage is an extra Freezer and there is a pull down ladder giving you access to a huge Floored Storage Room with Shelves! The home does come with a Generator that has been maintained on a regimen. Extremely well taken care of, features modern touches, and freshly painted too!

597 Cawley Dr #5 3A, Frederick, MD

Bright & Open Top Floor – Two Bed Two Bath Condo! Secured Building & Elevator! Vaulted Ceilings! Freshly Painted throughout and Updated with New LVP in Kitchen, Breakfast Nook, Entry Foyer and Hall Bath; and New Carpet in Living, Dining and Bedrooms. Primary Bedroom has two Closets (one being a large Walk In) & Attached Ceramic Bathroom with a Double Vanity, Garden Tub and Separate Stall Shower. Kitchen has a wrap around Breakfast Bar and Features Corian Counters, Maple Cabinets, Pantry and Breakfast Nook. Balcony with Utility Closet. Hot Water Heater Installed in 2018. All windows have push up/pull down blinds installed in 2021. Conveniently in your unit is also a Full Size Washer & Dryer. One Assigned Parking Space as well as a huge Parking Lot with plenty of Visitor Spaces. Start 2025 Owning Your Own Home!

Where is our Farmland?

Where is our Farmland?

Mount Airy Real Estate by Maureen Nichols, REALTOR®
Team Bonnie and Maureen of RE/MAX Realty Plus

As we know, Mount Airy is where four Maryland counties meet: Carroll, Frederick, Howard and Montgomery. I think it’s fair to say the entire 21771 is a community strongly opposed to dense development, and if you see the yard signs and read between the lines: Mount Airy wants no development. At. All. However, no amount of opposition can or should stop those elected and appointed to do their job. Their job is to plan for growth, not stop it. The negativity, threats, insults and misinformation that bubbles about during the planning process doesn’t help get the job done, and it doesn’t help the public make informed decisions concerning growth.

Recently, I spotted a “Save Our Farmland” post – insinuating developments are taking our farmland away. I will argue the opposite: Planned development is in place to protect our farmland. I believe our state and counties have planned better for the preservation of land than they have for population growth and future housing needs.

A recent article in Frederick News-Post titled “Can Frederick County ever be ‘Montgomery County North’?” touted Frederick County’s goal of preserving 200,000 acres of its 427,000 acres – 47%! – via a myriad of agricultural and conservation programs.

Howard County – the 2nd smallest county in Maryland, has over 27,000 acres preserved, with the majority located in the western 21771-21797 quadrant. Montgomery County has designated approximately 93,000 acres (1/3rd) to the Agricultural Reserve. Carroll County, comprising 287,900 Acres, is The Shining Star with 75,000 acres in permanent preservation and a goal of 100,000 acres. This is just preserved land, not including total farmland, additional land zoned conservation, parkland & open spaces.

Carroll County’s website states:  “Carroll County’s Agricultural Land Preservation effort is the most successful in the State of Maryland, preserving more farms and more acres through the purchase of land preservation easements than any other county in Maryland. Carroll County’s program also ranks among the nation’s top five similar programs administered by local governments in the United States.”

The point of this article? Inflammatory posts and baseless claims against those whose job and passion it is to develop homes and businesses, insinuating those who are crazy enough to run for office to help us plan for growth were elected only to stop growth (or else they’ll be ousted!!) and insisting those who are “in the business of real estate” and volunteer their expertise on commissions and boards are only doing so to profit from their vote, is not only inaccurate but counter-productive.

That fact is, Maryland housing is at a 96,000 unit shortage and counting. I’m not sure about you, but I want our counties to keep on preserving farmland! I want the homes we must build to house our growing population to be built on smaller plots of land in more densely populated areas. It’s what makes the most sense, right? Don’t stick your head in the sand and think that fighting this can make it go away or somewhere else. I challenge you to look at the big picture – from the entire state, to the counties that surround us, to the town limits. The topic of growth and development isn’t a “for” and “against” fight – it’s a necessity we’re way behind in planning for.

Let’s keep on preserving our farmland!

Election Impact on the Real Estate Market

Election Impact on the Real Estate Market

Mount Airy Real Estate by Maureen Nichols, REALTOR®
Team Bonnie and Maureen of RE/MAX Realty Plus

In an election year, as we near the election, almost every buyer and seller asks: Will the election impact the market? Should we wait to buy, wait to sell? And right after the election, we are asked: Does the outcome of the election make a difference, will it affect pricing and interest rates as we move into the new year?

Historically, nationally, the number of transactions during October to November of an election year decrease approximately 15% – about 10% higher than the normal “fall” slowdown. But it’s just a pause, as buyers bounce right back into the market following the election and those homeowners thinking about selling move forward with their plans to sell.

What is different and better about this election year? Party preference aside, this year, at this time, we have certainty now, in only days past Election Day. With certainty comes confidence. Certainty keeps the market pause shorter. Certainty keeps the market healthy and vibrant. The experts predict more activity in 2025 – nationally a 13% increase in transactions – and I am in total agreement.

I believe we all think our 4-County Mount Airy market has been going strong for years – and it has in some ways. Everyone has heard these stories: house goes under contract before it hits the market and closes way over asking price; house goes on the market, has ten offers within 5 days and closes way over asking price. But in reality, since 2021, our market has been in a recession. Prices have risen, but the actual number of transactions has decreased. As a nation, we have not seen this few transactions per year since the 1990’s. In Mount Airy – we’ve seen a 30% reduction in transactions along with a 30% increase in prices.

Snapshot by County 2021 2022 2023 2024
Mount Airy Zip – All Counties
MLS Residential Closed Transactions
514 380 314 259
(YTD 11/18/24)
Mount Airy – Frederick County
Townhouse Pricing (Village of Tall Oaks)
$300,000 $320,000 $350,000 $400,000
Carroll County
Single Family (Fields of Nottingham)
$543,780 $648,700 $663,000 $714,000

Bottom line – elections have very little impact on our real estate market. There are some predictable behaviors associated with election years – the pause and the bounce back just before and after an election. But generally speaking, most Maryland consumers go about their day to day business without regard to the election or the party in power. If a consumer is in the market to buy or sell a home, their concerns are more centered on pricing, interest rates, market timing and job stability than they are about who or what party is in power in Washington. By all indicators, 2025 should be a great year to buy or sell residential real estate!

3925 Addison Woods Rd, Frederick, MD

Welcome to your Urban Oasis in the Villages of Urbana! This Gorgeous 4 Bedroom, 4.5 Bath Neo-Traditional 4 Finished Level Home boasts a Fully Fenced Backyard featuring a 13×16 Vinyl and Trex Deck off the Main Level and Staircase down to the Professionally Hardscaped Patio with a 12×12 Amish Built Gazebo that houses a 6 Person Hot Tub; and a Raised Garden and multiple Flower Beds, has been Meticulously Maintained by the Original Owners and has undergone Recent Updates and Upgrades to keep up with the Modern Times. Enjoy the Covered Front Porch within your Gated Fully Fenced Yard. You are then welcomed into the Main Level featuring a Formal Living Room; Formal Dining Room; Powder Room; Bumped Out Family Room w/ Gas Fireplace; Bumped Out Breakfast Nook with access to the Backyard Deck; and a Gourmet Kitchen with Granite Countertops, Island, & Butlers Pantry. The Main Level recently underwent a Professional Makeover with All New Kitchen Upgrades: 4-Piece Stainless Steel Appliances; Built in Miele Coffee Maker; 2 Tone Painted Maple Cabinets with Under Cabinet Lighting; Tile Backsplash; New Pendant Lights, New Chandeliers; Maple Hardwood Floors Refinished (main level); Walls Painted; and New Window Treatments. Traveling Upstairs note the Custom Runner over the Stained Staircase. The Primary Bedroom features Cherry Maple Hardwood Flooring; 2 Closets; Attached Ceramic Full Bathroom with Spa Tub; Oversized Ceramic Stall Shower; and 2 Separate Vanities. Each of the Two Additional Bedrooms have been Upgraded with durable Bamboo Flooring and the Hallway has Cherry Maple Hardwood Flooring. Full Ceramic Hall Bathroom w/ Tub Shower; a convenient Walk-in Ceramic Laundry Room with Washer & Dryer; and Linen Closet complete this level. The Large Finished Loft on the 3rd Floor has the 4th Bedroom with bonus Sitting Area; durable Cork Flooring; 2 Walk-in Closets; and an Ensuite Ceramic Full Bathroom w/ Tub Shower. The Basement features a Finished Recreation Room with Dry Bar and LVP Flooring; Full Ceramic Tiled Bathroom w/ Tub Shower; 2 Closets; and the Separate Utility & Storage Room. The Backyard Oasis is Fully Fenced with the 6 ft Tall Privacy Vinyl Fence with 2 Gates accessing the Alley & 1 Gate connecting you to the Front Yard, Mature Trees, Hardscaped, nook under the Deck and ready for entertaining and relaxing. Have peace of mind knowing the Roof on both the Home and 2 Car Detached Garage have been Replaced in Jan 2022; Exterior of the home was Professionally Painted and sealed in 2020; CINCH 1 Year Home Warranty is Included. The Villages of Urbana features multiple community pools, gym, trails, playgrounds, tennis & basketball courts and shopping centers and is great for commuters.

14.3 Acres in S. Carroll County, Mount Airy

Build your dream home here! Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!! 14.3 Acres – gently sloped cleared corner lot, bordered by trees on the east line (Bennett Road) of lot and bordered by woods & stream on the southern end of lot. This lot shares the stream which is the South Branch of Patapsco River. No Covenants & Restrictions, No FCE. Conventional Perc & Well Installed. See highlighted plat in photo array for boundary, the installed well location (southeast area of lot), & the approved septic area (western area of lot) – Note the dotted highlight marks a well easement at the front of this lot. That well services the waterline to the next door lot which is the house at 8002 Bennett Branch Rd. Tax record says the address is Griffith Road based on the original parcel – but at the end of Griffith Road it turns into Bennett Branch Road before the entrance/start of this lot, then around the curve it turns into Bennett Road. You could potentially take your driveway entrance off the north side of lot (near sign) or off Bennett Road (where plat notes “proposed driveway”). Use 8002 Bennett Branch Rd in GPS to get to the parcel. Park to the right of the sign on lot – but please don’t drive across/through field

1014 Westward Drive, Mount Airy, MD 21771

Over 1500 SF of Absolutely Adorable Living Space! Spic, Span & All Spruced up: Ready for new owners! The Open Country Kitchen features Stainless Appliances, Ceramic Tile Flooring and Backyard access to the Huge 2 Tiered Deck! Living Room, Two Bedrooms & Full Bath on Main Level. Family Room, Bedroom & Full Bath on Lower Level. Utility/Laundry Room on lower level with walkout access to the backyard under the deck. Neutral Paint, Updated Flooring, Custom Closet Built-ins, and Modern Touches throughout. Oversized Two Car Garage with Built-in Shelving! Awesome yard – Fenced at rear & sides – with a large Storage Shed and Playset. Kitchen Appliances & 50 Year Architectural Shingle Roof Brand NEW in 2023! HVAC installed in 2015; Hot Water Heater in 2022. 1 Year Cinch Warranty. Such a lovely split level home in a cute neighborhood with No HOA. You’ll also enjoy being right around the corner from everything in Mount Airy!

7624 Talbot Run, Mount Airy, MD 21771

Tucked Way back off the Road inside 6.11 Acres of Woods, this custom, freshly painted two-story home is ready for its next chapter. Gleaming hardwood floors throughout main & upper levels. Living room (Great Room!) entry features a wood-burning fireplace. Super Spacious Country Kitchen & Dining with Atrium to future deck. Main level primary bedroom with full bath and walk-in closet. Main level laundry with front loading washer & dryer. Upper Landing is perfect for a study nook! 3 spacious bedrooms and full bath complete the upper level space. Full unfinished basement with a level walk-out and pellet stove. 2 Car side entry garage. Propane Forced Air Heat and Central Air. And yes, there is cable/internet available all the way out here!

Who Pays the Agents Now?

Who Pays the Agents Now?

Mount Airy Real Estate by Maureen Nichols, REALTOR®
Team Bonnie and Maureen of RE/MAX Realty Plus

Other than our wonderful volunteers, does anyone “work” for free?

Career paths differ, as does how workers get paid, be it by hourly wage, annual salary, by the job or by commission – a percent of a sale. The majority of Real Estate Agents (we are REALTORS® only if we are a member of the National Association of REALTORS®, the state association and a local association – what is known as a three-way agreement) are independent contractors and get paid by commission.

When there are two parties to a sale – a buyer and a seller – who pays the commission? In Maryland, the seller sets the sales price and negotiates the commission rate via a contract with their “listing” agent. Our standardized listing contracts – since the beginning of Buyer Agency in 1991 – have been provided by the legal division of Maryland REALTORS® and have broken out how the negotiated commission is going to be paid out. As a seller in our neck of the woods, you fill in ALL the blanks – the total commission and then how much of that total is going to your listing agent, how much is going to the buyer’s agent and, if applicable, how much goes to a sub-agent.

Did this change on August 14, 2024? Not really. Our standardized contract changed a little bit – basically making bold print out of check boxes and fill-in-the-blanks to make sure sellers absolutely, positively know that commission is negotiable.

Did Buyer Agency rules change on August 14, 2024? Not really. We have ALWAYS!!!! been required to have a signed Buyer Agency Contract with a buyer in order to legally represent them. Without one – we might be with the buyer, but we’re working for a seller we’ve never met and that is a fact. With one, that buyer understands that if we are not getting paid by the seller, it is the buyer’s responsibility to pay us. The revised standardized contract now shows this in bold print, with a fill-in-the-blank amount, making sure buyers absolutely, positively know that we get paid to work for them and how much we get paid.

Well, but, here’s the next question: Who pays the commission now? Things “changed” on August 14th to comply with a settlement agreement the National Association of REALTORS® negotiated. This agreement did not include rules concerning who pays what or how much who pays, it concerns only how compensation (commission) is disclosed and how it is advertised. Does this change things? Not really.

Going forward, buyers and sellers will hopefully have a clearer understanding of who is paying what to who and their own monetary obligations – if any – to their agent. But this agent doesn’t see any huge upsets in our industry or any substantial changes to the commission structure – because it works and it works well. It allows for all parties to have representation and for all workers to get paid from the proceeds of the sale; the sale price the buyer is paying… So now I’ll ask: Who “really” pays the commission?

For more information, especially to understand the value REALTORS® bring to the table for both buyers and sellers, check out: marylandhomeownership.com

Advantages of seller-paid commission for sellers and buyers:

  • Increased buyer interest: When sellers cover the commission, the property becomes more attractive to a broader range of buyers.
  • Potential for higher selling price: Bigger pool of buyers, higher sale price
  • Faster sale of property: Remove the extra financial burden on buyers, quicker sale, less time on market.
  • Enhanced seller reputation: Sellers who cover commission costs are often viewed as more motivated and cooperative
  • Simplified negotiation process: With commission costs off the table, negotiations can focus squarely on the property’s price
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