“There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” – Mark Twain
My name is Jay Ferguson and I am one of the owners of the real estate division of Taylor Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales. I am entering my 19th year in the real estate business here in Garrett County and at Deep Creek Lake. If you are interested, you can click here find out more about me personally and my background.
I will be writing a monthly blog post about our local real estate market, sharing & interpreting statistics and offering some insights into the market as a whole…as I see it. These are my personal thoughts and musings about the market in general and are not intended as anything more specific. And, to be clear, I am an optimistic, glass half-full kind of guy.
Lastly, every stat I reference is based on the official stats published by Bright MLS on or around the 15th of each month. My plan is to give you straightforward stats coupled with my analysis from the front lines and let you interpret what you read in your own way.
The month of May was a steroid shot for the Deep Creek Lake market. Even after being shutdown for the first half of the month, the second half of May was on fire. Vacation rentals are booked solid through the summer as demand ‘to get out the house’ finally gave way with the opening of our transient vacation rental homes.
You can see it in the numbers below – people are buying homes left and right. We continue to have inventory issues and thats good news for sellers, but buyers now have fewer homes to choose from. Many people that I spoke to about selling this summer have decided to keep their property for the time being and are spending their time here at the lake instead. That’s part of the inventory problem.
COVID-19 responders are the everyday heroes that have been on the front lines. From grocery store workers and truck drivers to doctors and nurses, these are the people that have held our country together during this time of crisis.
Their dedication in the face of adversity is an inspiration. Our team wanted to find a way to give back by treating them to a trip to the lake. We received more than three hundred nominations. The response was overwhelming and the stories of selflessness were truly touching. Through the generosity and kindness of our home owners, we were able to give away Deep Creek Lake vacations to some very special people.
We are beyond thankful for these everyday heroes and cannot wait for them to enjoy a well-deserved vacation.
Here are a few of their stories.
COVID-19 Responders
Leah K. – Labor and Delivery Nurse
“My name is Leah and I am a Labor and Delivery nurse. The pandemic has presented quite a challenge for the small rural hospital I work for. We care for COVID positive mothers until delivery and then follow them to the COVID unit, helping to staff this unit until mother and baby are discharged. We work diligently to keep the mothers and babies that are COVID negative upon admission remaining COVID negative. I am a shift leader on this unit and do my best to stay up to date in order to help protect our staff. My husband is a paramedic so is also on the front lines of care. We have two young daughters and do our best to work opposite shifts in an attempt to limit childcare needs and potentially exposing others. We are happy to be of service during this time.”
Leah K. and Her Co-Workers
Heidi A. – Nurse Pracitioner
“I live in Delaware with my husband of three years, Jonathan, and I am pregnant with our first child who is due to arrive in August! I work for a hospital in Philadelphia as a neonatal nurse practitioner in their NICU. Most of the children in my care are either premature or have an issue that needs our specialized attention. I absolutely love what I do, even though it is very challenging some days. My husband and I love Deep Creek Lake! It is our hidden escape and we try to get out there at least once a year.”
Heidi and Her Husband Jonathan
Rodney R. – Waste Management Employee
Rodney was nominated by his wife, Laura, who said: “Rodney is an essential worker with Waste Management who has been going above and beyond to ensure all residential trash collection gets picked up regularly. Many people are unfortunately home now doing home remodels and projects. He tirelessly makes sure trash isn’t getting behind. When garbage is piled up rodents and bears can wreak havoc and even pose more threats to human health. He works 10-12 hours daily and never complains.”
Rodney R. and His Family on a Past Deep Creek Vacation
Katie M. – Nurse
Katie was nominated by her husband. He said she deserved a vacation because she is a “Hard working nurse keeping our community safe while on the clock and mother of 3 kids when “off the clock”. Humble and hardworking!!”
Katie and Her Husband in their Deep Creek Lake Gear
Ken M. – Department of Corrections
Ken has worked for the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections for more than twenty-five years. He was nominated by his wife, Amy. She pointed out that the Department of Corrections workers are an often overlooked first responder employee. When we contacted Ken, he said, “I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for this fantastic prize, it came as quite a shock when I received the call that I had won. I also need to thank my wonderful wife for nominating me for this opportunity. Of all my years working, I have to say that the COVID-19 Era of 2020 has been the absolute most challenging time. This is a wonderful thing you are doing for first responders and front line workers.”
“There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” – Mark Twain
My name is Jay Ferguson and I am one of the owners of the real estate division of Taylor Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales. I am entering my 19th year in the real estate business here in Garrett County and at Deep Creek Lake. If you are interested, you can click here find out more about me personally and my background.
I will be writing a monthly blog post about our local real estate market, sharing & interpreting statistics and offering some insights into the market as a whole…as I see it. These are my personal thoughts and musings about the market in general and are not intended as anything more specific. And, to be clear, I am an optimistic, glass half-full kind of guy.
Lastly, every stat I reference is based on the official stats published by Bright MLS on or around the 15th of each month. My plan is to give you straightforward stats coupled with my analysis from the front lines and let you interpret what you read in your own way.
The second month of COVID 19 was exactly what you would anticipate with regards to the real estate market. Bad. Almost our entire real estate market was on lockdown. Our office was shutdown to the public. The Governor had determined that the only ‘essential’ home shopping was for a primary residence, which really rules out 80% of our clientele that is coming to look at 2nd homes or vacation/investment properties. The strategy was a success, and as I write this, Garrett County is now re-opened, as of last Friday at 5pm.
Update on existing business, transactions are still closing on time. Lenders are getting the job done, even working remotely. Homes are still being listed for sale and often selling quickly. We are entering Memorial Day weekend and the traditional kickoff to summer. Based on how busy I have been over the past few weeks, I am confident the market will stabilize. Hopefully, this time next month, we have stronger numbers to report. All in all, the median prices are up, days on market is still down and we still have declining inventory, so the news isn’t all bad.
With families ready to begin traveling and vacationing once more, the Taylor-Made team has some tips on how to have a safe vacation and be considerate of the community. We want to help keep everyone healthy!
1.Follow Government Guidelines
It’s important to observe and respect rules and regulations in place for public safety. This includes but is not limited to adhering to recommendations or rules set forth by local or national governments with regards to how we travel and conduct ourselves in private and public settings. Stay aware of regulations that might impact your travel to Deep Creek. This includes guidelines for personal protective equipment (PPE) recommendations and social distancing.
Our county health department asks that visitors:
-Practice social distancing
-Wear a face mask (required) in all retail stores to prevent the spread
-Wash hands or use hand sanitizer when visiting retail establishments
If you have questions regarding COVID-19 while visiting DCL you can call the Garrett County COVID-19 Hotline at 301-334-7698.
2. Bring Supplies
Many communities around the country have limited supplies in grocery stores. Please plan to bring essential supplies and groceries that you can to ease the burden on local stores. This includes paper products, PPE, toiletries and cleaning products, groceries, laundry supplies, and other essentials. By bringing more of these with you, you’re ensuring you’ll have what you need for an enjoyable vacation. If you do need to visit local grocery stores, try to only send one person into the store to support social distancing.
You can also get groceries delivered to reduce visits to local stores. Destination Grocers is just one of the options. This also allows you to spend more time vacationing and less time shopping.
“There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” – Mark Twain
My name is Jay Ferguson and I am one of the owners of the real estate division of Taylor Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales. I am entering my 19th year in the real estate business here in Garrett County and at Deep Creek Lake. If you are interested, you can click here find out more about me personally and my background.
I will be writing a monthly blog post about our local real estate market, sharing & interpreting statistics and offering some insights into the market as a whole…as I see it. These are my personal thoughts and musings about the market in general and are not intended as anything more specific. And, to be clear, I am an optimistic, glass half-full kind of guy.
Lastly, every stat I reference is based on the official stats published by Bright MLS on or around the 15th of each month. My plan is to give you straightforward stats coupled with my analysis from the front lines and let you interpret what you read in your own way.
Our first
month of ‘COVID 19’ real estate stats really wasn’t that bad, overall. I
expected the month of March to be down considerably (because of Marylands
lockdown/quarantine in place strategy), but what I have discovered is actually
surprising. Stats are up. The market is doing fine, so far.
Transactions are still closing – on time – which is spectacular. Homes are still being listed for sale. We have modified our approach to get our agents, photographers and video/3D tour folks into homes one at a time – adhering strictly to social distancing policies. Our staff and marketing department are getting the job done – from home. The only challenge is coordinating buyer showings and keeping everyone safe, but we have great processes for that, too – reliance on ‘virtual walkthroughs/showings’ and videos. Our core principle of investing in technology is paying off more than ever. Its helping to keep a vital part of our economy moving!
Summer vacations are something that families look forward to throughout the year. They give you an opportunity to press the pause button on your everyday life and truly enjoy your favorite people. Memories are made and traditions are started.
Now more than ever, we need a chance to decompress. The recent crisis has us all on edge. As we begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel, many are starting to think about planning safe summer vacations. Choosing a professionally managed vacation rental is by far the best vacation choice at the moment. Discover below why Deep Creek Lake is the perfect option for a safe and healthy summer trip.
If you decide you are interested in Deep Creek Lake real estate while you are here, contact Betsy Holcomb at 301-616-5022 or email betsy@deepcreekvacations.com.
3 Reasons for Deep Creek Lake Summer Vacations
A Safe Vacation within Driving Distance After all the recent uncertainty, you likely feel hesitant to plan a trip that air travel or public transportation. It is normal that you will still have concerns about venturing out into the world. Deep Creek Lake is within two hours from Pittsburgh and less than three hours from Baltimore and Washington, DC. A trip to the lake will give you a much needed change of scenery that is still close to home.
Deep Creek Lake vacation rentals offer the same privacy you experience in your own house… just with a better view! Unlike a hotel, you won’t have to deal with shared spaces. Vacation rentals give you peace of mind that the only contact you and your family have is with each other. Your can make meals in your own kitchen and recreation is available right outside your door. Your vacation rental is exclusive to your family.
Deep Creek Lake has Plenty of Room for Social Distancing With nearly 90,000 acres of public lands, there is room to roam at a safe social distance. Eight state parks offer miles of trails for hiking, biking, cross country skiing and ATVs (permit required). From swimming and fishing to kayaking and canoeing, there is plenty of on-the-water fun too. Our wide open spaces offer a family-friendly experience at a relaxed pace. Spring and fall are quieter times of year when you can feel like you have the whole place to yourself.
Deep Creek Lake Zoom backgrounds for your next meeting! People are using video conferencing now more than ever. While you are stuck at home, keep your vacation dreams alive with a scenic virtual background from Deep Creek.
You probably won’t convince any of your friends or coworkers that you are actually at the lake right now, but it doesn’t hurt to dream … right?
Meticulously maintained and tastefully decorated, you will feel right at home the minute you step through the door. This five bedroom, 5.5 bath home has plenty of room for family and friends. The open floor plan and fabulous kitchen are ideal for entertaining. Multiple gathering areas, two fireplaces, hardwood floors and central air conditioning are a few of the highlights.
Connect with Deep Creek Lake from home! These are challenging times for sure, but technology allows us to connect with our favorite places. We can’t welcome you to the lake right now, but there are a few ways to bring a little bit of the Deep Creek to you.
This post is brought to you by Betsy Spiker Holcomb, Sales Agent and Co-Owner of Taylor-Made’s real estate division. Should you have any questions about buying or selling at Deep Creek Lake, you can reach her at betsy@deepcreekvacations.com or 301-616-5022.
We hope that at least one of these ways to connect with Deep Creek Lake brighten your day or week!
Connect with the Lake
1. Take a look at our live Deep Creek Lake web cam. Sometimes just looking at the lake can ease your mind. Treat yourself to a “lake break” and get a live look at Deep Creek on Taylor-Made’s webcam. It has great sunset views too!
2. Leave a review for your favorite Deep Creek Lake businesses. Small businesses are having a hard time right now. Show support to your favorite restaurants or activities at the lake by leaving a review. You can think about happy times you have spent at the lake and mention how that business made your experience better.
3. Connect with us on Facebook or Instagram. Stay in touch through social media. We are posting about what is happening in the area along with sharing beautiful photos and fun videos.
Easter dinner takeout options make holiday meal planning easy! Whether you pick-up an entire feast with all the fixings or just some sweet treats, it is a great way to show your support for local restaurants.
Pre-order a dinner package for pick-up Saturday, April 11. Each package includes an entree, a hot side, two cold sides and a soup. Plus, you can pick-up wine to go with your holiday meal.
Easter bundles from Trader’s offer lots of options to enjoy starting with coffee and quiche for breakfast and peanut butter eggs and cookies to snack on throughout the day. Please order 24 hours in advance. Drop-off in Garrett County is available too!
Available for takeout or local delivery, this popular Oakland spot is serving a traditional Easter dinner on Sunday. You can get your growler filled with craft beer too!
