May 2019 Real Estate Rundown By Jay Ferguson

“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 find out more about me personally and my background when you click here.

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.

April 2019 brought a TON of new inventory – over 100 new listings on the market for sale. Its good news for buyers who want to have more choices, but it’s a little nerve-wracking for sellers who now have more competition. Continue reading May 2019 Real Estate Rundown By Jay Ferguson

Past & Present: Log Cabins in Deep Creek, MD

Log cabins in Deep Creek, MD have long been a staple style of home. They evoke that perfect “mountain vibe” for vacationers, second home owners and full-time residents.

log cabins in deep creek, md

Past: Log Cabins in Deep Creek, MD

As you might know, Deep Creek Lake was built in 1924-25; within about 10 years, people realized what a gem it was and began building “camps and cottages”.  Some of the early cottages were one-room log cabins, built with logs that had been felled for the lake’s construction.  According to the August 28, 1938 newsletter of the Deep Creek Lake Association, there were 189 private cottages and 80 cottages for rent around all of Deep Creek Lake.  Many of those were very modest log buildings accompanied by an outhouse (privy) with no running water.

Continue reading Past & Present: Log Cabins in Deep Creek, MD

Taylor-Made Real Estate Celebrates 5th Anniversary!

The Taylor-Made real estate division reached a key milestone in April 2019 – 5 years in business. This achievement is underscored by rapid growth and a focus on positive client outcomes.

The vacation rental side of the company opened in 2008 and was founded by Jodi Taylor Refosco, her husband, Joe Refosco, and her brother, Chad Taylor. After many successful years renting homes, real estate sales was the next natural step.

Taylor-Made Real Estate

In 2014, they partnered with Jay Ferguson, a top-producing area agent, to open the real estate division. Along with being a co-owner, he was the first sales agent. Local real estate professionals began to join the team. Continue reading Taylor-Made Real Estate Celebrates 5th Anniversary!

April 2019 Real Estate Rundown By Jay Ferguson

“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 find out more about me personally and my background here.

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.

March 2019 brought more good news for the local real estate market and the market in general: The Federal Reserve announced that there will be no more interest rate hikes this year. That’s great news for everyone (‘except bond traders’, as a client who happens to be a bond trader quipped). It’s good news for buyers and sellers alike. It’s starting to feel more like spring in the mountains. Leaves are budding, birds are chirping, and docks are hitting the water!

The specifics:
-There were a whopping 58 new listings that came on the market. That’s an increase of 57% from last month and a 15.9% decrease from last year. The 5 year average was 73 new listings for the month of March,

-Pending sales (homes that went under contract) were up 17.9% from last month. That’s a decline of 6.1% from February 2018 and it was right in line with the 5 yr avg. Continue reading April 2019 Real Estate Rundown By Jay Ferguson

The Perfect Deep Creek Lake Memorial Day Getaway

Plan the perfect Deep Creek Lake Memorial Day getaway for your crew! The holiday weekend is the ideal time to enjoy a little R&R at the lake. You can kick-off the unofficial start to summer making fun memories with family and friends.

Relaxation Starts at DCL

Treat yourself to some rest and relaxation with your feet up as you enjoy views of Deep Creek Lake. We have the best selection of homes with top-of-the-line amenities and convenient locations. It is easy to de-stress at one of our beautiful Deep Creek Lake vacation rentals.

Smaller groups might want to consider staying in a townhome community. Many of them have shared amenities like indoor pools, tennis courts and lake access areas.

deep creek lake memorial day getaway

If you are looking for something on a larger scale, we have that too. Our homes range from 1-10 bedrooms. There are options that meet just about every need so that you are completely comfortable. Continue reading The Perfect Deep Creek Lake Memorial Day Getaway

March 2019 Real Estate Rundown By Jay Ferguson

“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 find out more about me personally and my background here.

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.

Your March 2019 Real Estate Rundown

February 2019 brought almost all good news for the local real estate market. Virtually all measurables were positive, with the exception of the number of new listings that hit the market. That number dipped from last month AND last February. If you are in the market to sell, that’s pretty good news – less homes you are competing with overall. If you are in the market to buy, it’s about a dozen less homes you have to choose from. Continue reading March 2019 Real Estate Rundown By Jay Ferguson

Southern Garrett Boys Basketball Team Plays in State Championship

Southern Garrett Boys Basketball team finished second in the Maryland 1A state championship, but according to much of Garrett County, they will be forever #1.  Our community in Garrett County always bands together and it was very evident at the State playoffs in College Park, MD with the sea of red and white in the stands.  Also, the Southern Garrett Wrestling Squad won the State Championship again this year going undefeated!    Continue reading Southern Garrett Boys Basketball Team Plays in State Championship

Deep Creek Lake Kid’s Camps 2019 Guide

Deep Creek Lake kid’s camps offer something to keep all ages entertained! Whether you own a home at the lake or are vacationing with your kids/grandkids, they may enjoy making new friends at one of CARC’s Adventure, Music or Athletic Camps.  The camps begin June 17th and run through August 16th and are for children ages 6-12.  You can sign up for a full day or AM half day.

Deep Creek Lake Kid’s Camps at the CARC

The Great Garrett Adventure Camp lineup this summer 2019 can be found here and includes everything from an All Star Camp, Mythical Monsters & Mayhem, American Ninja Camper, Junior Chef, Water Water Everywhere, From A to Zoo and Who Done It.  The Music, Athletic and Adventure Sports Camps have not been announced yet but typically include a baseball and basketball camp and more. Continue reading Deep Creek Lake Kid’s Camps 2019 Guide

Home Financing Tips from Local Experts

Our home financing tips cover some of the many avenues through which you can purchase and finance a home in today’s marketplace. I talked to some local experts in the accounting and mortgage industries, and they shared options to consider when choosing the best one for you. Factors such as how long you intend to own the property, the down payment funds you have available and the fees you will incur are just a few items for consideration. To begin your Deep Creek Lake real estate search, you can contact me, Betsy Holcomb, at 301-616-5022 or betsy@deepcreekvacations.com.

Home Financing – Mortgage Update Courtesy of Mike Archer, First Home Mortgage

According to Freddie Mac, the average 30 year fixed rate on 2/7/2019 was 4.41% with .4pts and 3.38% with .4pts on a 15 year term.  Interest rates have dropped rather significantly following steady climb throughout the 4th quarter of 2018.  The general consensus is that rates will likely level off and remain steady throughout 2019.

If you have contemplated a refinance, now is the time to investigate your options while rates remain historically low.  I am finding that more and more clients are moving from a 30 year to a 15 or 10 year options to reduce the interest rate and pay their house off more quickly as they are now contemplating retirement.  A quick phone conversation is all that is needed to evaluate your options.

If you looking to purchase a house and have less than 20% to put down?  If so, don’t worry, First Home Mortgage offers several options that allow you to put down less than 20% and avoid paying mortgage insurance.  We also have the option of using a 2nd mortgage to structure the loan so that both loans are under 80% of the property’s value and therefore do not require mortgage insurance. Continue reading Home Financing Tips from Local Experts

Tips for Your Deep Creek Lake Family Reunion

Planning your Deep Creek Lake family reunion can be a lot of work. We put together some tips to make the process easier for you. That way, you can put more focus on all of the fun you will have enjoying time with your favorite people.

Tips for Your Deep Creek Lake Family Reunion

Make plans early and pick a date

The earlier you plan your Deep Creek Lake family reunion, the easier it will be to find one large home for everyone or several homes close together. If possible, make your reservations a year in advance. Your chances of getting exactly what you want in term of location and amenities when you reserve well in advance of your arrival date. Summer and winter are our peak season and offer lots of fun opportunities for outdoor recreation. Spring and fall are quieter times of year when you can take advantage of great, low rates.

Some families create a “reunion committee” to help with decision making. You can delegate tasks and make sure all of the details are covered. Google docs can be beneficial for organizing your info.

Continue reading Tips for Your Deep Creek Lake Family Reunion