The BrazzelDazzle Blog

Uniquely Special - Just Listed!

Custom Contemporary- Columbia, Kings Contrivance!

FABULOUS Custom Contemporary located in Columbia, in the Kings Contrivance Village, Backing to 300+ Acres of Wooded Parkland! It Features: Quarry Tile & Walls of Unique Window Arrays that Provide Passive Solar Heat; a 2-Story GREAT ROOM with Built-ins & Dramatic 2-Story Brick Wall with Wood Stove; Updated Center Island Granite Kitchen with 42" Cabinets, Double Oven & 5-Burner Stovetop; a 2- Story Sunroom Overlooking Acres of Wooded Parkland; Master Bedroom with 2 Balcony/Overlooks & Gorgeous Remolded Bath; Remodled Hall Bath with Vessel Sink and Beautiful Ceramic; and a Walk-In Attic with plenty of Storage Room!  $625,00

Just listed! 9456 Hickory Limb, Columbia, MD 21045

Hopewell! Lake Elkhorn Views!

Lovely 2 bedroom, 2 bath condominium with beautiful, wooded views of Lake Elkhorn from a triple slider in the living room and double slider and breakfast/family room! You'll enjoy Brand New Carpet and new vinyl flooring in the Kitchen! 

This is a mid level unit with a large private deck overlooking Lake Elkhorn, a wood-burning fireplace with ceramic surround, Master Bedroom walk-in closet and oval soaking tub, and breakfast bar in rear Kitchen with scenic Views! $190,000

FHA announced an increase in the mortgage insurance premium.  As of today (2/28/2011), the FHA mortgage insurance premium is .90% of the loan amount, payable montly.  Effective on April 18, 2011, the premium will increase to 1.15% of the loan amount.  What that means to a buyer is that on a mortgage with a $250,000 loan amount, the payment will increase by $52 each month.  A purchaser has to have a contract registered by April 15, 2011, to get the .90% rate.  As mortgage rates rise the fees are getting higher for loans.  It's a great time to buy!

Call Sue or Dipper Today!

A FULL PRICE OFFER ... in THIS market?  YES!

Last Saturday as I was pulling out of my driveway to meet my Buyer Clients at 10:20AM, a few snowflakes were beginning to fall.  By the time I reached my office ten minutes later, the roads were already covered and the forecast was for icy conditions throughout the day.  Feeling trepidatious about driving all over the County in the snowstorm, I offered to let Mr. Buyer drive for me - he chose to drive his vehicle, which was fine with me!  His profession provides training in defensive driving and he is a PRO!

The first house we toured had just come on the market the day before, was priced agressively, and was exactly what the Buyers were hoping to find.  There had only been one showing the evening prior, and all of Saturday's scheduled appointments had been cancelled.  The agent had a scheduled Open House for that afternoon which she cancelled, as well.

Cars all around us were slipping and sliding and we passed numerous fender-benders.  But, we continued on our tour all day long, seeing all of the available options that my Clients or I had identified. Nothing beat #1.  So, we returned at the end of the afternoon for a second viewing.  Mrs. Buyer literally was clapping her hands with joy and hopping up and down, saying that this was "IT" and that the house fit almost everything she was hoping to find.  It was not quite a "10", but they could make it into one.

I contacted the listing agent who agreed that if we made an acceptable offer that day, she would cancel tomorrow's scheduled showings and mark it "under contract" in the MLS.  My Clients decided to make a full price offer and asked for a few concessions.  The Seller countered and said that if we accepted the counter, it would be my Client's house - with no further showings tomorrow. 

DONE DEAL!  A full price offer in THIS market?  YES!

Clarksville, MD 21029 - Open House Sunday January 24th- Ashleigh Knolls -7213 Wolverton Court

Join the Sue Wettstein Brazzel Real Estate Team at an Open House this Sunday January 24th from 1 to 2:30pm. 

This is an elegant, quality-built 5 bedroom, 4 1/2 bath home constructed by Mitchell and Best Homes on a level, fenced .77 acre lot in the Ashleigh Knolls neighborhood of Clarksville.  It features almost 6,000 finished square feet with gorgeous sanded-in-place oak flooring on the main and upper levels, fabulous built-ins, a main level library, second level office, masonry fireplace, two tray ceilings, over-sized moldings, a Prince/Princess Suite, Sunroom, and fully finished lower level with walk-out and possible private suite.

Ashleigh Knolls in Clarksville is a great communting location to D.C., Annapolis, and Baltimore.  Routes 29, 32 and 95 are all within minutes away. The JHU Applied Physics Lab and one of the oldest Ledo's Restaurants (home of the rectangular pizza!) are around the corner!  And the public schools are rated among the best in the state!!

Offered at $875,000

Directions: Rt. 216 to Brown's Bridge Road to Moorland Drive to 7213 Wolverton Court - 1-2:30pm

Ask Dipper about the FREE GIVE-AWAY when you come to visit...!

The notion of "splitting the difference" should have no place in real estate negotiations!  This concept of "fairness" goes back at least to the story of King Solomon.  When faced with two women who claimed to be the Mother of an infant (one was the true parent and one an impostor), the King suggested splitting the baby in half and giving each woman her share.  When the true Mother protested and insisted that he give the baby to the impostor, King Solomon (in his wisdom!) saw the truth and gave the baby to his Mother.

In the midst of negotiating a sales price in real estate, a Buyer or Seller will often come up with the proposal to "split the difference" between two prices .  The temptation is to capitulate in the spirit of "fairness", "equity", and a "win/win" outcome.   But, unless this number is where you want to be in the end ... I think "splitting the difference" should have no place in real estate negotiations!

WHY? ...

• "Fairness" is not required in real estate price negotiations. 
• "Splitting the difference" puts a capricious element into the negotiations.  A sales price should be determined by the value of the property ... not "splitting the difference".
• Oftentimes, houses have been priced aggressively and accurately ... why should the Seller "split the difference" with an unreasonable Buyer?  Where's the fairness in that?

Of course, it's always wonderful if both parties in a negotiation feel great about the outcome ... but, in my opinion, "splitting the difference" isn't the way to get there.

A new and improved Howard County Settlement & Downpayment Loan Program (SDLP) has been implemented by the Howard County Housing Office!  This program is for first-time homebuyers and is designed to give buyers (who otherwise could not afford to buy) help with their down payments and/or closing costs.

One great thing about the Howard County Settlement & Downpayment Loan Program (SDLP) is that the monies do not have to be re-paid to Howard County until the houses are either re-financed or re-sold.  Another perk is that the payments are not counted against the first-time homebuyers' debt ratios when qualifying for the loans.  The loans will be financed at 2% lower than the prime interest rate.  So, the loans are going to have deferred payments and will be very affordable!

BUT, only $400,000 has been allocated for the Howard County Settlement & Downpayment Loan Program (SDLP) ... so buyers must act quickly to take advantage of this offer.  To find out if you qualify (there are income limitations) and to find out how much money you might qualify to borrow, give Sue or Dipper a call today!  The Howard County Settlement & Downpayment Loan Program (SDLP) funds will run out quickly as the availability becomes more widely known!