Silverspringism

Mandy Mulligan, a Cavalier Breeder and member of Cavaliers of the Northeast hosted a Fun Match at her home in Leonardtown Maryland last Weekend.  It's not too often that this Dog Club has events this close to my home in Maryland, so I was very anxious to go.

I've only seen 4 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (other than my own) in person.  Out of the 4 other dogs I've seen 2 were Blenhiems (red and white colored) and 2 were Tricolors (black and white with tan points)  I've always wanted to see the other two types of dogs, "Black and Tan" and the "Ruby" (all Red), in person.  I've also never been to an all Cavalier event or show.

It was a beautiful day last Saturday and in only about an hours drive from DC my dog Charlie and I were at Mandy's beautiful property in Southern Maryland.  There were Cavaliers galore there!  Lots of them of all colors and ages. 

There was also a lot of real "Southern Maryland Hospitality" going on here!  A big tent was set up with all this homemade food, snacks and desserts, including a Southern Maryland STUFFED HAM!!  When you see this local delicacy - You know you are in the Saint Mary's County part of Southern, Maryland. There was also plenty of water and doggie treats.

We watched the other dogs compete with their handlers in several classes.  I met tons of Cavalier Breeders and owners there.  One of the breeders was kind enough to lend me a costume for Charlie (I didn't bring one) so he could be in the Halloween parade/contest.  We had a blast and I can't wait until this event comes again next year! 






After leaving this show I have this crazy idea that I'd like to have all 4 colors of Cavaliers so I can name them:

Charles (my current Blenhiem Charlie),
Diana - (a Tri Color - she will be called Dixie for short)
William (a Black and Tan - he will be called Wills for short)
and Harry (a Ruby color). 

I love this breed of dog and since I went to this show and fun match, I have a new appreciation for them.  Any other Cavalier owners out there?  I've heard that once you have one you are hooked forever and they say you "can't have just one".  Now I know it's true.

OMG, just look at that cute little face!

I am finally getting around to doing my MEME post.  I was tagged by Patricia Kennedy a while back, so here goes:

1.  I was born in Washington, DC at The Columbia Hospital for Women - My parents moved into their brand new  house in, WHERE ELSE? Silver Spring, Maryland a month after I was born.  I was christened in a church, WHERE ELSE?, in Silver Spring, Maryland.  When I was 13 my parents moved again into another brand new, but bigger house in, WHERE ELSE?, Silver Spring, Maryland. 

2.  I went to Elementary, Middle and High School in, WHERE ELSE? Silver Spring, Maryland and married my High School Sweet Heart also from, WHERE ELSE? Silver Spring, Maryland.  The wedding was in a Church in, WHERE ELSE?, Silver Spring, Maryland.  The Reception was at a Country Club in WHERE ELSE?, Silver Spring, Maryland.

3.  My Father and Uncle were Real Estate Brokers and Appraisers - They owned a Real Estate Company that opened in 1946 called Woodside Realty Company.  Woodside Realty Company was located in, WHERE ELSE?, Downtown Silver Spring, Maryland.

4.  I graduated from Nursing School, became a Registered Nurse (RN) and then an OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner (RNC) I worked in a Hospital and an OB/GYN Clinic - Both were located in WHERE ELSE?, Silver Spring, Maryland.

5.  After 10 years of Nursing, I became an Ad executive for the "Advertiser Newspapers" (now known as the Gazette Newspapers) for 2 years.  My assigned selling territory for the newspaper chain was, WHERE ELSE?, Silver Spring, Maryland.  For the past 20 years I have been a Real Estate Agent who specializes in helping buyers and sellers with Residential Real Estate in, WHERE ELSE?, Silver Spring, Maryland!

I am going to tag some newbies here and or some people that I'd like to know more about, as suggested, in a post by Jeff Belonger.

1.  Tara Painting from Jacksonville, Florida

2.  Kristie Weber from Missouri

3.  Lynda Bloom from Rockville, Maryland

   

 

Clifton Park Village is a older, small neighborhood of 62 single family homes that connects to the Montgomery Knolls Subdivision in Silver Spring, Md 20901.  In this mature, established area with tall towering trees and Shady streets, the homes are quaint, mostly frame, mostly cape cod style homes built in the late 1930's to early 1940. Some of the houses have been restored and added onto in recent years and because a lot of the homes are frame they are painted a rainbow of different colors

Report is for Real Estate Activity in the last 6 months,
April - October 2007

2 Active Listings
Both Listings are priced at $420,000
Average Time on Market - 70 Days
*Both Houses are 4 Bedroom - 2 Bath Cape Cods with Basements

2 Sold Listings
Average List Price - $359,000
Average Sale Price - $352,000
Average Time on the Market - 24 Days
* Both properties were smaller than the norm in Clifton Park Village (1 full bath and no basements)

The Montgomery Knolls Neighborhood is located just off of University Blvd where University intersects Piney Branch Road in Silver Spring - zip code 20901  This mature, established  community has rolling hills with Post WWII brick Colonials, Cape Cods and Ramblers.  There are 168 Single Family Homes in Montgomery Knolls and a small 44 Home Townhouse Development built in the early 1980's.

All Real Estate Activity in Montgomery Knolls (April - October 2007) Single Family Homes

3 Active (For Sale) Listings 
High Listing Price - $469,985
Low Listing Price - $359,900 
Average Time on Market - 112 Days

1 Listing Under Contract
List Price - $375,000
Days on Market - 6

3 Withdrawn Listings
Average List Price - 463,567
Average Days on Market before withdrawl - 150 Days

There have been No (Closed) Completed Sales in the Last 6 months

Capitol View Park is an Old Historic Neighborhood down by the Railroad Tracks and just past Forest Glen in the area of Silver Spring that borders Kensington, Maryland.  In this quiet shaded glen, away from the hustle and bustle of Downtown, you will find a mix of every thing from old "Sears" Bungalows, Restored Victorians, post WWII capes cods, colonials and ramblers to recently built homes.

There are 395 Total Single Family Houses in Capitol View Park, Silver Spring zip code 20910

Real Estate Market Activity Report is for the preceding 6 Months -April - October 2007

More info about the Capitol View Park Neighborhood,


5 Active Listings for Sale
Average List Price - $533,685
Lowest Asking Price - $380,000
Highest Asking Price - 845,000
Average Time on Market - 108 Days

9 Sold Listings
Average List Price - $684,322
Average Sold Price - $676,575
Lowest Sold Price - $469,000
Highest Sold - $1,005,000 (with $65,000 seller credit)
Average Time on Market - 43 Days

Contracts Pending
0 - None

Withdrawn Listings
3 Listings were removed from the Market
Average Price Withdrawn Listings - $682,133
Average Time on Market - 171 Days

                                                       Update Capitol View Park in 2009

I don't know how I missed this!

I don't watch much TV,  that's why - I found this today while reading a Local Silver Spring Blog!  

On Sept 28, the day after Jim Cramer's famous rant about real estate, the Today Show's Matt Lauer had Cramer and our NAR President elect side by side for an interview about Jim's statement:  Don't you DARE buy a house right now!

In this interview he conceded that there were only 3 areas in the United States where it would be OK to buy right now, the first -Seattle, Washington, the second - A Zip Code (10005) in Manhattan and last but not least, Montgomery County, Maryland !!!

Wow ! Out of 50 States and all the other umpteen million places he could have picked he chose little old us!  I want to know the why, what statistics and how he came to the conclusions? Boy would that make a heck of a relo package for buyers!! Does he live in Montgomery County, Maryland?  Does anyone know where he lives? 
OMG, Does he live in Silver Spring?
         
All I really know about him is that he is brutally loud, abrupt, yells and waves his arms a lot. 

The only time I really stopped to watch him was one day he had his dog on the show with him.  I was mesmerized and watched the show only because the dog (it is sooo cute) was on and I have the same breed of dog.  The only thing I really liked about him was his taste in pets!  I can take just so much of all that yelling and arm waving.  Now, I also like his take on one of the best places to buy a house!  

Now I am on the lookout for the huge flood of buyers to start gobbling up all the listings in Montgomery County, Maryland real soon!!!!

If you are thinking of buying or selling a Montgomery County, Maryland Home, I know a really GREAT AGENT in Montgomery County!


Here's the Video of the Interview