My finest gift to Rylee

My grand daughter, Rylee, has an aversion to Santa. Elmo and the Grinch are o.k. Santa was this terrifying man at the mall.

Through a set of circumstances that are to boorish to share, I was asked if I knew anyone that could appear as Santa at my nephews third birthday party. My niece is very conniving and I was pegged for the role.

Adorned in the finest of Santa suits, white beard and hair clad, I appeared. Much to my surprise, I was met with looks of wonder. It is impossible to describe the joy in childrens eyes when they look upon SANTA. They stand 5 feet away and stare, giggling in unison to Santa's laughter.

I settled in to the chair and greeted them, one at a time, with gifts. Ten minutes into the visit, this little bundle of joy ran up to me and crawled into my lap.

She looked up in awe as I whispered.

"Santa Claus loves you Rylee"

Joy in a grandchild's heart. There is no greater gift.

There is more behind the door of that "Open House"

On a recent post, one of my esteemed friends from Florida discussed his views on open houses. He offered some statistical data and suggested that any agent that included them in a marketing plan during a listing presentation should be thrown out the door.

I won't disagree with the statistical analysis that was presented. I am wondering why it is even an issue. He and many others feel that open houses are a waste of time. I accept that. He and others are quick to point out that one of the side benefits of holding an open house is that the agent may come in contact with buyers or others that are considering selling their home. Somehow, this is presented as a bad thing for the owner of the home.

He is quick to point out all of the possible dangers. He mentions theft, injury to visitors, injury to the agent as things that may occur. He fails to acknowledge that theft can occur when visitors view the home with their agent, injury may occur when visitors visit the home with their agent, injury may occur to the agent when they are showing the home. Somehow, he and others perceive that bad things only happen during the open house. There is always risk. A meteor may strike the house during an open house as well. The same meteor would strike the house if no one was there when it arrived. Just because one event occurs during another does not create a causational relationship of one with the other.

A broker's open is a good opportunity to showcase the home for other agents. This showcase often increases the awareness of the home with other agents in the market. Increased awareness may land the home on a short list in the future.

People do visit open houses. In some cases, people buy the house. In other cases, neighbors recommend the home to a friend that is seeking to move into the neighborhood. There are times that viewing a home will enable the buyer to focus on exactly what they are seeking. In these cases, one open house helps sell another. I personally believe that open houses are a long continuem of product on the market. Making the product available for viewing does help increase the overall sales figure for the market.

It is one thing, to adamantly believe there is no value to your personally holding an open house. If you feel that way, I would suggest your chance for success in holding open houses will be limited by your attitude regarding them. I do not feel that they should be the "deal breaker" regarding hiring an agent. Throwing an agent out because an open house may or may not be part of their marketing plan is short sighted at best.

The beauty of our profession is found in the wide array of opportunities available to us to use in our day to day operations. Postcards work for some, farming works for others. Phone calls work for some and personal "pop-bys" work for others. Shown by appointment only works for some and open houses work for others.

If we are to stop marketing in every fashion that is not singular in purpose, our costs would increase significantly. If we are to be honest about all the reasons we market, our listing appointments would go on for hours. Should we toss every agent that suggests the use of craig's list because in addition to marketing the home, it may bring potential buyers and sellers? Should we toss every agent that suggests placement of the home on their personal website because in addition to marketing the home, it may bring potential buyers and sellers? I, for one, think not.

I think that our job is to expose the home to as many potential buyers as possible. The greater the pool of potential buyers, the more likely we may receive an offer on the property. The ad for the open house brings exposure. The neighborhood notification about the open house brings exposure. The signage on the street regarding the open house brings exposure. The open house brings exposure. Exposure brings the potential for opportunity.

I will accept that he sees no value in them. I accept that others may see no value in them. Neither of those facts is sufficient to denigrate those that hold them nor is it evidence that they have no worth.

If you would like to discuss the sale of your home or if you have any other questions about the process, feel free to contact me.

An open letter to you.....

We are facing difficult times.

It seems we are hearing bad news at every turn. New Orleans remains in shambles a little over two years after the levees failed. The number of illegal immigrants now living in this country is estimated to be around 12,000,000. The war in Iraq continues with no apparent end in site. The value of the dollar continues to fall. Foreclosures reach new levels each month.
We are facing difficult times.

Each challenge is presented in a neat package. Each challenge is presented with numbers and graphs. Each challenge is presented in turn on the nightly news. Numbers and graphs may present one view of the facts. Numbers and graphs accompanied by sound bites present a slanted view of the challenges that face us. Conservative and liberal biased media outlets present opposing views of the challenges and equally opposing views of what should be done to address these challenges. Every thing is not black or white.

The challenges seem so overwhelming, that many of us don't know where to begin to address them. I am just one of many that believe that we do have the power to change the course of these events and in doing so, change the course of history.

Let me back up a bit. Hurricane Katrina was forecast and most people knew ,that if it did hit close to New Orleans, the subsequent damage would be significant. No one expected the levees to fail. Spending time attempting to place blame on anyone detracts from where our focus should be.

The people in the 9th ward did not plan to be in the path of flooding waters. They were working people. They were living their lives as best they could. Each of them has a story that can not be told by lumping their plight into one big problem. They had dreams when they moved into the 9th ward. Those dreams did not wash away in the flood waters.

The illegal immigrants did not march across our borders 12,000,000 strong. They came alone or in small groups. They came to realize the dream of living in our wonderful country. Their desire does not remove their guilt for crossing illegally nor does their status diminish their dream. Each of them has a story that can not be told when you lump them all into a number. They had dreams when they came here. Those dreams will not be erased by deportation nor will they be squashed by the construction of a large wall.

Our involvement in Iraq is a fact. A resolution will never be found if both sides continue to discuss how we got there. Every day, soldiers that represent us go out on missions or patrols and put their lives on the line. They do not decide when or where, they just follow orders. They are all volunteers. They each believe that they are serving their country and doing their part so that we may continue to live free. Each one of them has a story, a family and a dream. The dirt, dust and constant threat to their lives has not ended their dreams.

The value of the dollar is impacted by our purchasing and our saving. It is impacted by our investments. It is impacted by the way we live our lives. The dollar is one measure of our economy. We can not allow that which measures us to continue to falter.

We are all quite aware of the foreclosure problems. Investors that were attempting to make profits within the system have been caught short. There is no sin in attempting to better your financial position. Home owners were buying a place for their family to live. They may have stretched what they could accomplish. Most of them did not do so maliciously. Realtors were showing homes and selling homes to willing buyers. That is what we were asked to do. Lenders made loans. Appraisers appraised homes. The majority of all of the people in trouble never dreamed that they would find themselves in this position. No one plans to have their furniture piled on the side of the road. Everyone in this situation was attempting to realize dreams. Those dreams did not die with the downturn of the market.

So I wonder, what if we each take responsibility to do our best to make our little corner of the world better. Not one of us has the power to fix all of this. Each of us has the power to do our job with the focus on making it better.

Can we just look at each situation on its own merits? Can we stop lumping everyone and everything into a neat package? None of these problems are insurmountable.

If we deal with one family at a time, eventually the entire southeastern coast will be rebuilt. It will not happen in a day or a week or probably a year, but one day we will achieve success and those dreams will remain alive.

If we understand the motivation of illegal's and endeavor to deal with each situation, we will correct the current problem. It will take years to sort out, but in the interim, could we possibly stop painting the tarnished cloud of "you must be illegal" that hangs over every Latino's head. One day, we will facilitate the dream of citizenship that they cherish.

None of us is in a position to change the course of events in the Middle East. We can study the problem, listen to solutions and vote for candidates that we believe offer a way out. I would never pretend to know whether the solution is a continued presence or a 100% draw down of the troops. I am willing to let better minds than mine make that call. I do believe that we need to speak our piece at the ballot box. Once the election is over, we all need to come together and support whoever wins. We are one country. We must keep our dreams alive as well.

The same can be said regarding the value of the dollar and our worldwide economic situation and our current exorbitant national debt. We must listen, study and vote. Once we have done so, support those that we have charged with the responsibility of guiding our ship of state.

The last issues are the ones that we as Realtors, lenders, neighbors, etc. can directly impact. We can look at situations as they exist today and do our best to resolve them. Each person has a story and we must listen and do what we can to help them. There is no solution found in judgment nor is there any resolution is blame. We have the wonderful opportunity of assisting those in trouble. We may not be able to fix what is wrong, but we do have the skills to assist them in finding the best solution possible, one family at a time.

We are facing difficult times.

I believe that we have the talent and ability to make a difference.

I invite you to join me in re-dedicating our efforts......one family at a time.

I have asked before...why rent when you can own ?

I was reviewing property for sale in Montgomery County. It seems that prices have begun to bottom out. I am always surprised when potential buyers tell me they are waiting until prices absolutely bottom out. You see, when they hit bottom, they won't stay there long. They will begin to rise again and it is possible that the rise will be quicker than the fall.
The other thing that a lot of folks overlook are short sales. Once they are sold, they are gone. Many of these homes present better value than if everyone waits until the foreclosure happens. In Montgomery County, I found several homes priced under $300,000. That did not happen very often in the last year or so.

This home is in Germantown. It features 4 bedrooms and 2 and 1/2 baths. They are even offering a home warranty. All this for $249,900. Payments on that could be as low as $1500 per month.

This home is in Germantown. It features 3 bedrooms and 2 and 2 half baths. They are even offering a free appraisal if you use a specified lender. All this for $289,900. Payments on that could be as low as $1800 per month.

This home is in Germantown. It features 4 bedrooms and 2 and 1/2 baths. They are even offering a home warranty. All this for $299,000. Payments on that could be as low as $1800 per month.

Imagine, while everyone else is sitting back waiting, you could be moving into your own home. If these homes have caused you to pause and rethink sitting on the fence.....GOOD.

My name is John MacArthur and I am a Realtor in this area. If you would like to discuss this information with me, I can be reached at 301-537-4377 or you can send me an e-mail me at macarthurgroup@gmail.com . I would be glad to discuss any one of them with you. A phone call may be the first step to your next home.

I am available at 301-537-4377.

Let's talk. I never promise the moon, but I always give down to earth information.

Single Family Homes in Montgomery County for $400,000 and lower???

I have lived in and around this county all my life. Suffice it to say that I have reached that long in the tooth status. I have watched the county grow (Georgia Avenue was a two lane road and Wheaton Plaza was woods).

I have lived through the ups and downs of housing markets. This one has been a doozy. One thing that really caught my eye was that a family could actually buy a single family home for around $400,000 or less again. How sweet it is to see that prices have come down to the level that homes have become affordable. Take a look at these. They represent a portion of what is out there right now.

This home is located in Silver Spring, north of Dennis Ave. It has 5 bedrooms and 2 baths. It is close to Metro, shopping and has easy access to 495. It is selling for $309,999. I can hardly believe it. That is a single family home at a townhome price.

This home is located in Takoma Park. That's right, Takoma Park that has been priced so high for so long, many have given up hope. It has 5 bedrooms and one bath. There is rough in for another. Takoma Park for only $320,000. Payments could run as low as $1900 per month.

The next bargin I came across is located in Conneticutt Avenue estates. I know the neighborhood well, I live here. Solid homes built by Kay or Greenberg in the late 50's. This one offers 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. It is selling for only $329,990. This could be home for less than you imagine.

The last home I will share now is this gem. It is a little farther out. It is located in Germantown but take a look. It is a 4 bedroom, 3 and one half bath, colonial. It is more than a bargin at the low price of $400,000. Think long and hard about it. If this matches your dreams....act now. If not, someone else will be living in your dream home.

Imagine, while everyone else is sitting back waiting, you could be moving into your own home. If these homes have caused you to pause and rethink sitting on the fence.....GOOD.

My name is John MacArthur and I am a Realtor in this area. If you would like to discuss this information with me, I can be reached at 301-537-4377 or you can send me an e-mail me at macarthurgroup@gmail.com . I would be glad to discuss any one of them with you.

A phone call may be the first step to your next home. I am available at 301-537-4377. Let's talk. I never promise the moon, but I always give down to earth information.

Balancing My World and Yours

The fact that I am a real estate agent does not ban me from pausing every November to be thankful. You see, I hear about agents that jumped up from a holiday meal to go show a house. I have heard the old wives tales about the biggest deals being done on a holiday.
I don't believe it!




I think that I have the right to sit down with my family and enjoy a feast celebrating all that has happened in the last year. I think those that are buying and selling have that same right. "Black Friday" will come soon enough. My feelings on setting aside time to share special days are not a secret. My friends and clients know that I am a more rounded person because I balance the personal and professional aspects of my life. I encourage them to do the same.






Halloween is now the start of the great American holiday festival. We start in mid-October, preparing for the night of children's delight. We decorate our walks and doorways with ghosts and goblins. Every knock is answered and we are treated to costumes, store bought and hand made, trumpeting the success of t.v., movie and books.



We begin our season giving treats to those that come and entertain us. Our journey into the fall and winter is a celebration of fantasy.




The decorations are no sooner packed away for another year, when we begin to prepare for Thanksgiving. It is a time for giving thanks. It is a time to see every glass half full and remember that there are so many less fortunate in this world.
Friends and family gather to enjoy the finest feast. Early in the day, the streets are filled with Thanksgiving parades that end much too soon to the jingling music that accompanies Santa, high on his float, arriving to hear first hand the desires of every little girl and boy.





By afternoon, football is found on every major channel. The meal is followed by a plethora of desserts that lead to many early afternoon naps. As night falls, hot coffee and one more piece of pie are shared while eager consumers go over the ads for the "Black Friday" sales. Then the countdown begins.


We are a nation of many faiths. This is a special time for all of them. The most ancient of religions celebrate the birth of Zoraster around this time. The pagans have always celebrated the beginning of winter. Christians have chosen this time to celebrate the birth of Christ.






Children of all ages and many faiths just wait for Santa Claus. I find joy in the season of giving. I don't mind waiting in the lines to make a purchase. The large crowd in front of me represent so many happy faces on Christmas morn. Even Scrooge found joy on Christmas morning.



So, how does one find balance between the demands of a profession and the desires of the heart? As a real estate agent, my job is dealing with people. They are celebrating as well. They have the added burden of either a home on the market or the need to find another house. I always have my home to return to at the end of a day. I find balance by pausing and .....

I put myself in their shoes!

I have been fortunate enough to be homeless. I have been fortunate enough to have been confined in a place that did not allow holidays. I have been fortunate enough to have gone long periods of time away from friends and family. I have been fortunate enough to not have enough money to pay for food for my family. I have been fortunate to have suffered along the road of life. I have been rich and I have been poor. I have learned the value of comfortable which resides somewhere between the two.


I put myself in their shoes, because I have worn them before and I know with a little support and encouragement, they too can rise above their situation.

It doesn't matter if they are trying to rent a one bedroom apartment or purchase a $700,000 home. The basic needs remain the same. When I try to juggle their demands with the life I have chosen to live, I set the stress aside, put myself in their position and seek a resolution.

When it is time to share the holidays with friends and family, I let them know what I will be doing and encourage them to do the same. The problems we all face, will still be there tomorrow. Today is a day for enjoying what we have, whom we love and the guiding hand that leads us.

Then I slip out into my studio..................

and I paint.

Sitting on the fence...don't get caught by interest rate increases!

So, you are sitting back waiting on those prices to fall even further. I understand. After all, it is rather safe on the fence.

The problem you have while sitting there, watching prices, is that the cold wind of interest rate increases is on the horizon. Just like "the hawk" that brings the chill to the frozen tundra of Lambeau field; the chill of rate increases will freeze you out of potential homes faster than you can say "jimmy crack corn and I don't care."

We have ridden the roller coaster of low rates to the bottom and watched them creep up and then take a moderate dip again. The rates remain, at what we in the business like to call "historically low". Of course, you don't pay your bills with historically adjusted money. You pay your bills with money earned today. I have to tell you, rising costs and inflation are reducing your buying power while you sit up there on that fence.

You're waiting.

I can't find many that would disagree that prices remain high on homes for sale. Not all of the homes, but many of them remain a bit out of reach. Of course, the prices on some homes will always be out of reach. While you are sitting atop that fence waiting for the really nice 4 bedroom colonial with a finished basement to drop another $25,000, the cost of that $25,000 may be growing before it exists. It may be more prudent to sit back and take another look at what you can afford today. You might have to pass on the finished basement, but you will be able to afford your house. You might be better off if you decided what you can afford rather than waiting on that fence until the market dictates what you can afford to you. It is always better to be the driver rather than the driven.

What danger is lurking in the ocean of uncertainty? What will the next wave of financial news bring to bear? The best possible scenario would be that interest rates remain stable. A quick look at the overall financial condition of the country as it relates to the rest of the world gives us a clue. Interest rates will have to rise. Everytime you hear that the value of the dollar overseas has gone down, understand, that will impact you, while you sit perched above the fray. Instead of bemoaning that a trip to Rome or London will be more difficult, you better realize that a trip to the local grocery store or gas station will soon be more unpleasant.

Let me put it in basic terms. If you can afford a $450,000 loan today, a one percent rise in the interest rate will reduce the power of that money to $400,000. Just a half point will drop the power to $425,000. Now, before you go grab a calculator, these figures aren't based on some fancy program. It is just principle and interest at 6% for today and then 7% or 6.5% in the future.

Sitting on the fence, you may find that if and when prices drop, interest rate increases have wiped out your buying power. I don't have a crystal ball, but I can guarantee that the first rate increase will be followed by others quickly. If you wait to act, you may find that you are "chasing the market".

Maybe it's time you stopped sitting on the fence and became proactive about the purchase of your next home. It is rather easy enough to get in touch with a real estate agent. (God knows there are about 20,000 in this area). Find one, get comfortable and at least find out what you may be able to do today. The facts regarding your situation may not be as pleasant as you would wish. Knowing the facts will allow you to act. Acting now will prevent you from losing the power of your dollar while you were waiting for prices to fall.

It will never only be about price. It will always be about what you can comfortably afford. I just thought you should know, the house you are watching and waiting for the price to drop may be out of your reach by the time the price falls. Don't let the media keep you perched on that fence. Get the facts. Knowledge is power.

If you would like to discuss this information with me, I can be reached at 301-537-4377. If I can't help you in your area, I have a personal relationship with agents in most areas and I will put you in touch with one that will help you.

There is no room for anarchy in this business....

Shakespeare offered "Much Ado About Nothing". I was perusing this morning's Washington Post and came across an article regarding an email sent by the owner of Long and Foster exhorting his agents to use the in-house lender. I was surprised to see that his note caused enough of a stir to reach the level of prominence that the Post gave it. Then, I stopped and realized this is the same instrument that has been extolling the death of the real estate market for months.

Later today, doing my usual reading of blog entries, I came across one from an Active Rain member. I had read some his other blogs and realized that even on Active Rain
outlandish self promotion through "McCarthyism" techniques occurs. It is no mean feat to point at supposed enemies in our midst and create a stir with what, on the surface, appears to be sound, rational and probably factual statements. The problem occurs when the facts are checked and they don't quite measure up to the "sky is falling" impression left with the original post.

Today's entry actually reminded me of the accuracy shared in most political advertisements. You have seen them. Statements taken out of context used to paint an opponent in a corner. The advertising camp can sit back and rejoice how we put a spin on that one. Voters are left to ferret out the truth.

There was an anonymous quote in the article.

An agent offered, "I'm thinking that some agents will feel psychic pressure to use only Prosperity Mortgage," the agent said. "I'm supposed to give my clients the best service, and that means helping them find the best loan."

I had to read the sentence a few times. I was not sure if it bothered me that there was an agent that thought helping a client find the best loan was part of her service or if I was concerned that the agent actually believed that statement.

In either case it is a rather sticky web of self importance she is weaving.

Claiming to be responsible for finding your client the best loan certainly opens a larger can of worms than referring a client to an in-house lender for pre-approval for a loan. What authority gives any agent the right to determine what is the best loan for any client? Does that agent truly want to accept the liability for every loan that she recommends? The only person that can determine if the loan is the right loan is the client. You do need to make sure that they understand the terms and conditions of the loan. They decide.

The law is pretty clear. You can not advise a client about anything except real estate. You can not step in and give financial advice. You can not step in and give legal advice. You can not.

You may have wonderful intentions. You may feel you are doing the right thing protecting your client. You are only stepping outside the boundaries of your fiduciary responsibilities and leaving yourself exposed to unwarranted liabilities. Our profession is based on the law. Everything we do is deeply entrenched within the law. Using your personal opinion to direct a client anywhere is outside the law.

If a client says, "I don't have a lender". You can not reply "Here is a lender's number, call them."

You can share with them, "There are several good lenders in this area. I would recommend that you contact a local lender, so that we will not run into problems getting the necessary documents to the settlement office in a timely fashion. I have worked with XXXXXX in the past and they have always funded closing within the contractual time. If you would like their number, I will provide it." "As soon as you decide who you wish to use, I will be glad to contact them and set up an appointment. I will go to the first meeting with you. It is important that I have a relationship with whomever you choose to fund the transaction. Also, you do not have to use the first lender that you speak with. They will provide you with a Good Faith Estimate, which you can use as a bench mark in speaking with other lenders."

It is up to them to decide whom they wish to contact. It is up to them to decide whom they choose. If any agent thinks that they are going above and beyond the call duty by choosing the lender, they are not. They are stepping outside the law. This practice could lead to anarchy.

There is no room for anarchy in this profession.


As always, I welcome your questions and/or comments. Feel free to write me an email if you have specific issues that you would like me to address.