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Favorable Outlook for Second-Home Market

According to the National Association of Realtors' (NAR), 2008 Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey, long-term demand for second homes is expected to be strong.

In the first half of the decade, people between the ages of 50 and 59 dominated sales of second homes. There are now nearly 125 million people in the United State between the ages of 30 and 59, and according to NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun, "the bulge of population approaching middle age should drive the second-home market over the next decade."

In addition, Yun says that lifestyle considerations are the single most important factor in the vacation home market. In fact, 89 percent of buyers surveyed wanted to use the home for vacation or as a family retreat, while investment concerns were considered secondary.

The Typical Vacation Home Buyer

• 46 years old
• Median household income of $97,200
• Purchased a property that was a median of 316 miles from their primary residence.

Additional Findings About Vacation-Home Buyers

• Twenty-six percent of vacation homes were purchased in small towns
• Seventy percent purchased detached single-family homes.Sixty-nine percent purchased existing homes; the rest purchased new homes
• Vacation-home buyers plan to keep their property for a median of 12 years
• Eight in 10 second-home buyers consider it a good time to invest in real estate.

Spring markert is here! ~ Weichert Selling Tips

Spring is here, and that means blooming flowers, green grass and the return of yard work. If you are selling your home during the warm weather seasons ahead, it is important to spend some time sprucing up your home's exterior.

The goal in creating a well-kept yard is to give potential buyers a positive first impression, while also making them feel that your property is easy to maintain. The following tips can help achieve these objectives:

1. Prune overgrowth. Trees can hide a home's best features if planted too close to the house or if they are allowed to grow unchecked. Be sure to remove any branches that touch the house, cover a window or block a path.
   
2. Blast winter away. Use a power washer to remove the cobwebs, mold and dirt that have accumulated over the winter. This is a quick and easy way to improve the appearance of decks, patios, fences, windows and siding.
   
3. Add color. Use potted flowers and hanging baskets to direct attention to your home's finest features. Plant low-cost annuals such as impatiens, petunias and geraniums, and use mulch that retains its color throughout the season for added impact.

Mallory Maxwell Kubicek graduates from MAR Leadership Academy

Columbia, Md., April 24, 2009—Mallory Maxwell Kubicek, a member of the sales team at WEICHERT, REALTORS® - New Colony in Columbia, and of the Howard County Association of REALTORS® (HCAR), was among 17 recent graduates from the Maryland Association of REALTORS® (MAR) Leadership Academy to be honored at ceremonies held in Annapolis.
The MAR Leadership Academy was formed by realtors who understand the important role they play in their community and the need to enhance the leadership skills, knowledge, and competencies of fellow realtors. WEICHERT, REALTORS® - New Colony is a strong advocate and recognizes the importance of this program to HCAR’S future. The agency’s Sales Manager Kathy Huver was present at the graduation ceremony to applaud Kubicek’s achievements.
The Academy offers an intensive curriculum designed around the development of leadership skills, communications, strategic planning, legislative and government affairs and community involvement. Classes are conducted over seven months and stress the value of professional and personal commitment to professional, charitable and civic endeavors.Kubicek, a four-year realtor, said, “ I found Leadership enriching and enlivening – I gained valuable perspective on Maryland Real Estate through hearing speakers and participants’ experiences during dynamic monthly sessions on various leadership themes. I am grateful to the Academy’s alumni who attended our celebration and who provide solid support to their associations, MAR and NAR, because they understand how vital real estate is to Maryland citizens and a healthy economy. I hope to show my gratitude through service.”
“Spread the message and embrace the results,” 2009 President Elect Steve Meszaros said. “I charge you to go into your local communities and increase your visibility, which will in turn increase the viability of the real estate profession. The Association is so very proud of the 168 graduates beginning with its first graduating class in 2001,” he added.
Guest speaker Mark Foreman, National Association of REALTORS® 2009 Liaison to Law & Policy, told graduates “You must have a passion to serve, coupled with an understanding of the responsibility and power of being in a leadership position.” He commended the graduates and stressed that “future leaders must be well trained and possess stronger skills to make what seems impossible possible.”
Village Settlements, sponsor of the 2008-09 MAR Leadership Academy was recognized for its support. The Maryland Association of REALTORS® is the largest Maryland professional trade association serving over 28,000 members and is dedicated to preserving the vitality of the real estate market. REALTOR® is a registered collective membership mark which may only be used by those real estate professionals who subscribe to the REALTOR® organization's strict Code of Ethics, and who are members of the National, State and Local REALTOR® organizations.

Mallory can be reached at WEICHERT, REALTORS® - New Colony, 6925 Oakland Mills Road, Suite A, in Columbia, telephone 410-381-3331.