Author: Stacy Carlson

February 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 February 2019 Real Estate Rundown

January 2019 brought us some extreme temperatures and it had an effect on the real estate market. First it was WARM…too warm for snow making. It was the 10th before we had below freezing temperatures for more than 24 hours. Then it was COLD. Too cold for anything. We had record low temperatures here in Garrett County, resulting in several lost school days, cancellations/delays and generally unsafe conditions. I woke up one day to a frosty -16 below and wind chills in the minus 25 range. With those kind of temperatures, people elected to stay home and stay indoors. I had several clients postpone trips to look at homes because of the weather. Besides the temperatures, there wasn’t a ton of snow. Once Wisp would get a good base going, it would warm up and rain/melt it all away. Case in point, we had a healthy 12” of fluffy, beautiful snow show up on January 31st, and the very next day, Punxsutawney Phil called for an early spring. It was near 60 for the next few days and all the snow we had accumulated was GONE. As I look outside right now, it’s a perfect ‘snow globe’ day, which we could use some more of! Continue reading February 2019 Real Estate Rundown By Jay Ferguson

Venus Stark Joins Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales

Venus Stark, REALTOR®, is the latest addition to Taylor-Made’s growing real estate division.

About Venus Stark

With over fifteen years of real estate experience, Stark has helped hundreds of buyers and sellers in Garrett County as well as neighboring Pennsylvania counties. She is an outdoor enthusiast with a passion for sharing her love of the area with her clients.

“I am native to the mountains and lakes, I have always enjoyed all the wonderful things the area has to offer. I am very fortunate to be able spend my life in mother nature’s playground surrounded by unlimited activities. I love the outdoors in all seasons from boating to snowmobiling,” said Stark.

She enjoys showing clients all there is to love about the area. Her goal is to be a valuable resource for sellers and buyers to make the real estate process enjoyable.

Venus Stark Joins Taylor-Made

Why Venus stark Joined Taylor-Made

“Venus Stark has long been known as a top producing agent in Pennsylvania and Maryland, and we are very excited to have her back working with us at Taylor Made,” states Taylor-Made Co-Owner and Sales agent, Jay Ferguson.

Her combination of experience, savvy and focus on customer service make her a perfect match for a company that has earned a reputation as one of the leading brokerages in the Deep Creek Lake area. Continue reading Venus Stark Joins Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales

Setting the Right Price For Your Deep Creek Lake Home

Setting the Right Price for your Deep Creek Lake area home is the most crucial step to real estate success. Determining the right price for your home is a difficult task.  By setting your price too high, your home may become stagnate on the market. If your home is priced too low, you may lose out on thousands of dollars!

Use Your Resources – Your Agent!
What you need is someone who works in the market everyday – and that person is your agent. No one can offer you a better opinion of pricing and sales. Once your agent is familiar with your home, he or she can prepare a CMA and propose a price.

No Home is an Island …
Real estate moves in cycles. While home prices have usually risen over time, the path is unpredictable. What you will get for your home – and the time it will take to get it – depend on the overall market.

No Tears.
Be objective about your home when determining price. Remember, it is not relevant what you paid, how long you lived there, or how much you adore the property. The important consideration is what it will do in the market.

Is Your Home Overbuilt?
Generally, nicer homes yield higher sales prices. However, the closer you get to the top of the market, that theory may change. Overbuilt homes rarely sell within the price range it appears that they should. Buyers in the price range of the overbuilt home are generally interested in more upscale communities, while the typical buyer for the area cannot afford to pay a significantly higher price. Unfortunately, sellers with homes that are overbuilt will end up accepting less than they think they should.

The Deep Creek Market
Your Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales real estate agent is here to help you! Helping you reach your goal is their number #1 objective. In order to do that, your home MUST be priced properly. **Here’s an interesting fact, over the past year in Deep Creek Lake, homes with lower days on market sold for an average of 95% of list price. Homes with longer days on market only got an average of 90% of list price. What are the obvious takeaways? If your home is priced at or slightly below market value, you will sell faster and for more money! If your home is over-priced, it will take longer to sell and you will not get as much at closing. The average sales price for Deep Creek Lake homes is $500,000. Based on our list to close calculations, if you price this home incorrectly, you may lose as much at $50,000 in negotiations! No one wants that. When you’re ready to list your home, schedule an in depth consultation with a Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales agent, they will guide you through the pricing process and make sure that you get the most money possible for your home!

**Data from BrightMLS – deemed to be accurate but not guaranteed

Special thanks to Beverly Everett, guest contributor!

Deep Creek Lake Real Estate Agents, The Everett Team

Beverly Everett

Email: Beverly@DeepCreekVacations.com
Phone: 301-387-4700
Cell: 301-616-4805

Most people recognize Bob and Beverly Everett from simply hearing them utter a single word. Their deep Southern drawl is as unmistakable as their down-home hospitality and charming friendliness. Not only does this respected local business team with over 15 years experience in real estate speak with a unique accent – it’s simple in the Everett’s nature to accentuate the positive. One way they do this is by making the most of the great life they’ve discovered here. 

Learn more about The Everett Team – Click Here!

January 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.

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, analysis and let you interpret what you read. This first post will be longer than most, as I have more background to cover to bring you up to speed.

January 2019 Real Estate Rundown

So, without further ado, lets jump into some numbers!

january-2019-real-estate

2018 was an off-year compared to the robust numbers we experienced in 2017. The market was down in almost every measurable category. Total sales volume (-12.36%) and average sales price (-6.78%) both dropped over the past year. The total number of units sold was down nearly 6%. Continue reading January 2019 Real Estate Rundown By Jay Ferguson

Blackwater Falls – A Favorite Deep Creek Day Trip

Blackwater Falls is less than an hour southwest of Deep Creek Lake.  Blackwater Falls State Park is the centerpiece the West Virginia state park system.  Strikingly beautiful, this enchanting park contains a dense hardwood and pine forest, half-mile wide 500 foot deep canyon and several cascading waterfalls.  The region offers outdoor enthusiasts a wide array of activities to choose from including: hiking, kayaking, bicycling, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, nature photography and wildlife observation.

blackwater falls

Blackwater Falls State Park History

Blackwater Falls State Park is named for the falls of the Blackwater River whose amber-colored waters plunge five stories, then twist their way through an eight-mile long gorge. The river’s “black” water is a result of tannic acid from fallen hemlock and red spruce needles.  Although they are a natural component of the ecosystem, the tannins cause the river to be highly acidic.  In order for aquatic species to survive, lime is added to the river to counteract the acidity. Continue reading Blackwater Falls – A Favorite Deep Creek Day Trip

Your Deep Creek Real Estate Update

Your Deep Creek real estate update brings good news about the winter market! The snow guns are pumping out the snow on the slopes and buyers are still pumping out contracts. We may have slowed down with showings for the year, but the buyers are serious.

The sales have stayed steady for this time of year with 42 closings in November. The county average sales price was $454,200 and a lake area average of $601,398 is up over last year’s average. The inventory continues to trend down for the winter with 371 active listings for hungry buyers.

your deep creek real estate update

Buyer’s Tip: First time home buyer money is available from the Maryland Home Mortgage program. Contact one of our agents about getting some free money from the state. All of Garrett County is a target area for this program. Continue reading Your Deep Creek Real Estate Update

Upcoming Deep Creek Lake Holiday Events

Deep Creek Lake Holiday EventsUpdated 12/8/2018 Deep Creek Lake holiday events keep things festive in the mountain of Western Maryland throughout late November and early December. If you love unique, local art or are looking for fun kids’ activities, you won’t be disappointed.

It is easy to catch the spirit of the season when you experience fun activities with friends and family. The best way to start is to choose your perfect mountain home – maybe one with a cozy fireplace or bubbling outdoor hot tub – and then plan your trip around one of these favorite Deep Creek Lake holiday events.

FESTIVAL OF TREES GARRETT COUNTY
November 23-24 at the Garrett County Fairgrounds, 10AM-6PM
Benefitting the Dove Center, there are lots of family activities to enjoy. Breakfast with Santa, crafts, face painting, and more will keep the kids entertained. Plus, you can shop for holiday gifts from local artisans and vendors. Beautifully decorated trees are found throughout the exhibit hall, and they are auctioned off at 6PM on Saturday as the grand finale. MORE INFO Continue reading Upcoming Deep Creek Lake Holiday Events

Jodi Taylor Refosco Named President of the VRMA

We are thrilled to announce that Taylor-Made owner, Jodi Taylor Refosco, was named President of the Board of Directors for the Vacation Rental Management Association (VRMA). The gavel was officially passed at the International Conference that was held in Las Vegas.

About VRMA

The Vacation Rental Management Association is an organization of vacation rental professionals and vendors. Members have educational and networking opportunities that strengthen their businesses and the industry as a whole. VRMA is the voice for vacation rental managers with thousands of members around the world.

Jodi was first introduced to VRMA by her parents over twenty years ago. She has  held leadership roles that include serving as Secretary and Vice President of the board. Additionally, she was part of the conference planning and education committees.

Taylor-Made employees regularly attend VRMA events in order to connect with their peers and stay up-to-date on the latest industry trends. By taking advantage of these opportunities, both the company and the staff are elevated in their ability to assist travelers and home owners. It keeps them on top of the latest trends, products and processes.

About Jodi

Jodi started Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales, in 2008 with her husband, Joe, and her brother, Chad Taylor. Their inventory numbers over 400 vacation rental homes along with property services for 150 non-renting homes. For over a decade, their employees have provided exceptional service to guests and owners. A growing real estate division caters to Deep Creek Lake area buyers and sellers as well.

VRMA Photo

“I am honored to serve as President of this incredible organization that has been instrumental in the growth of our industry,” said Jodi Taylor Refosco. “I have great respect for those who have held this seat before me and look forward to upholding their legacy.”

 

Deep Creek Lake Real Estate News October 2018

 

Deep Creek Lake real estate news October 2018 is positive for the beginning of fall!

Deep Creek Lake Real Estate News October 2018

The leaves may not have changed colors early this year, but the listings statuses have been making a colorful changes. We currently have 22 homes under contract status right now and have put SOLD signs in the yard of 17 homes in past 30 days.  The average sales price was $550,513.  That’s a 25% increase compared to last year! Home inventories are still low giving buyers less competition going into the winter months.

Deep Creek Lake Real Estate News October 2018

Buyers Tip

Ski season is coming up. Start looking at potential investment properties near the slopes before everyone else does. The quieter fall season gives you easier access to properties that are already established vacation rentals.  Continue reading Deep Creek Lake Real Estate News October 2018

Snowshoeing at Deep Creek Lake

If you like to hike, you’ll love snowshoeing at Deep Creek Lake! When the newscasters are frantically reporting the latest “blizzard of the century,” that’s the perfect time to strap on some snowshoes and head outside.  Whether your goal is to get out for a leisurely walk in the snow or go for a more physically challenging adventure, you’ll find this traditional mode of travel easy to learn—and effective at getting you where you want to go.  With miles of hiking trails available to snowshoe enthusiasts in area state parks, Garrett County is home to endless opportunities for winter backcountry travel.

Snowshoeing at Deep Creek Lake

History of Snowshoeing

The origin and age of snowshoes are not precisely known. Historians believe they were invented from 4,000 to 6,000 years ago, probably starting in Central Asia. Before humans built snowshoes, nature provided examples. Several animals, most notably the snowshoe hare, had evolved over the years with oversized feet enabling them to move more quickly through deep snow. Continue reading Snowshoeing at Deep Creek Lake