Northwood News - nfcca.org · to send a letter to the MoCo Council, opposing aspects of the new...
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INSIDE Next Meeting on December Ninth The next meeting of the Northwood-Four Corners Civic Association will be held on Wednesday, 9 December 2009, at 7:30 p.m. at the North Four Corners Rec Cen- ter. The Rec Center is located at 211 Southwood Avenue, just off Edgewood Avenue. Our guest speaker will be Mike Lenett, the State Sena- tor for our District. (For more information, see page 15.) All residents of the North- wood-Four Corners-Forest Knolls area are invited to at- tend and express their views. Only paid members of the NFCCA ($10/household) are eligible to vote. (See a list of current members as of press time on page 9.) Published Bimonthly by the Northwood-Four Corners Civic Association December 2009 News Northwood December SMTWTFS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 At the October NFCCA meeting, members autho- rized President Carole Barth to send a letter to the MoCo Council, opposing aspects of the new Growth Policy pro- posed by MNCPPC. The County has two pri- mary tools for guiding future development: Master Plans and the Growth Policy. Mas- ter Plans set forth the type of development that is al- lowed and its location. Un- der county law, the Growth Policy is used to implement the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance by pacing the rate of growth to allow proposed development to proceed only in areas where supportive in- frastructure can accommodate it. The Growth Policy sets standards for determining if public facilities (roads, mass transit, water supply, sewers, schools, police stations, fire- houses, and health clinics) can support increased develop- ment. Most of the changes pro- posed by the Planning Board would have undercut the intent of the Ordinance and created an even bigger infra- structure deficit than we al- ready face. Instead of actually addressing problems like in- adequate transit, overcrowded schools, and worsening traffic congestion, the Board’s pro- posals would have “solved” them by making them offi- cially “disappear.” For example, the new pol- icy would allow developers to buy and sell a finding of Ad- equate Public Facility (APF). Thus, a developer whose proj- ect had an APF could sell that APF to a different developer. It makes no sense, however, to transfer an APF that’s based on the analysis of spe- cific intersections to a project located elsewhere. After all, Montgomery County Council Acts on Growth Policy (continued on page 2) you can’t move the uncon- 9 Property Detectives.....................5 Linda Perlman shows how you can uncover informa- tion about home owners easily online. Police Give Crime Overview of Our Neighborhood .............................9 Thefts from vehicles are by far our biggest problem. Students Reforest FKES ............10 One woman’s drive resulted in the planting of 22 native trees on school grounds. Real Estate Changes in Our Neigh- borhood in 2009 .......................12 Neighborhood realtor Gary Macdonald gives us a tuto- rial on how the market has changed since last year.
Transcript of Northwood News - nfcca.org · to send a letter to the MoCo Council, opposing aspects of the new...
INSIDE
Next Meeting on December Ninth ThenextmeetingoftheNorthwood-FourCornersCivicAssociationwillbeheldonWednesday,9December2009,at7:30p.m.attheNorthFourCornersRecCen-ter.TheRecCenterislocatedat211SouthwoodAvenue,justoffEdgewoodAvenue. OurguestspeakerwillbeMikeLenett,theStateSena-torforourDistrict.(Formoreinformation,seepage15.) AllresidentsoftheNorth-wood-FourCorners-ForestKnollsareaareinvitedtoat-tendandexpresstheirviews.OnlypaidmembersoftheNFCCA($10/household)areeligibletovote.(Seealistofcurrentmembersasofpresstimeonpage9.)
Published Bimonthly by the Northwood-Four Corners Civic Association December 2009
NewsNorthwood
December
SMTWTFS
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31
AttheOctoberNFCCAmeeting,membersautho-rizedPresidentCaroleBarthtosendalettertotheMoCoCouncil,opposingaspectsofthenewGrowthPolicypro-posedbyMNCPPC. TheCountyhastwopri-marytoolsforguidingfuturedevelopment:MasterPlansandtheGrowthPolicy.Mas-terPlanssetforththetypeofdevelopmentthatisal-lowedanditslocation.Un-dercountylaw,theGrowthPolicyisusedtoimplement
theAdequatePublicFacilitiesOrdinancebypacingtherateofgrowthtoallowproposeddevelopmenttoproceedonlyinareaswheresupportivein-frastructurecanaccommodateit.TheGrowthPolicysetsstandardsfordeterminingifpublicfacilities(roads,masstransit,watersupply,sewers,schools,policestations,fire-houses,andhealthclinics)cansupportincreaseddevelop-ment. Mostofthechangespro-posedbythePlanningBoardwouldhaveundercuttheintentoftheOrdinanceandcreatedanevenbiggerinfra-structuredeficitthanweal-readyface.Insteadofactuallyaddressingproblemslikein-adequatetransit,overcrowdedschools,andworseningtrafficcongestion,theBoard’spro-posalswouldhave“solved”thembymakingthemoffi-cially“disappear.” Forexample,thenewpol-icywouldallowdeveloperstobuyandsellafindingofAd-equatePublicFacility(APF).Thus,adeveloperwhoseproj-ecthadanAPFcouldsellthatAPFtoadifferentdeveloper.Itmakesnosense,however,totransferanAPFthat’sbasedontheanalysisofspe-cificintersectionstoaprojectlocatedelsewhere.Afterall,
Montgomery County Council Acts on Growth Policy(continued on page 2)
youcan’tmovetheuncon-
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Property Detectives.....................5LindaPerlmanshowshowyoucanuncoverinforma-tionabouthomeownerseasilyonline.
Police Give Crime Overview of Our Neighborhood .............................9Theftsfromvehiclesarebyfarourbiggestproblem.
Students Reforest FKES ............10Onewoman’sdriveresultedintheplantingof22nativetreesonschoolgrounds.
Real Estate Changes in Our Neigh-borhood in 2009 .......................12NeighborhoodrealtorGaryMacdonaldgivesusatuto-rialonhowthemarkethaschangedsincelastyear.
2 December2009NorthwoodNews
Northwood Newsispub-lishedbytheNorthwood-FourCornersCivicAssociation.TheNFCCArepresentsthe~1,490householdsintheareaboundedbyColesvilleRd.(Rte.29),UniversityBlvd.(Rte.193),CaddingtonAve.,andtheNorthwestBranch. AnyresidentofthisareaiseligibletojointheNFCCA.Annualduesare$10perhouseholdandmaybepaidatanyAssociationmeetingormailedtothetreasurer. Northwood Newsispub-lishedfivetimesayear—inOctober,December,February,April,andJune.Toplaceanadordiscussastory,pleasecontacttheeditor.
EditorJacquieBokow10603CavalierDriveSilverSpring,[email protected]
VisitOurWebsitewww.nfcca.org
NorthwoodNews
President’sMessage
It’sNovemberasIwritethis,soThanksgivingisonmymind.AsIstartmysixthyearaspresident,Iamthankfulthatwehavetwoneighborswhohavevolunteeredtobenewboardmembers,andthatLauraHusseyhasvolunteeredtobeVicePresident.Asthesayinggoes,manyhandsmakelightwork.Butthat’snottheonlyreasonI’mgladwehaveafullslate. Ittakesacombinationofexperienceandnewtalenttokeepanassociationstrong.Experiencedactivistshaveex-tensivecontactsandlotsofbackgroundinformation.Theyknowhowtogetaholdofneededinformationquickly.Thiscanbecriticallyimportantwhenacommunityhastore-spondrapidlytoamajorissue.Butitisequallyimportanttohaveadiversityofskillsandinterests,plusenthusiasm.Wealsoneedsocial-mindedpeopletocreatefuneventsthatbringustogether. Forexample,weclearlyhavelotsofdog-loversinNorth-wood/FourCorners/ForestKnolls.Still,neverhavinghadadog,Iwouldneverhavethoughtoforganizing“ThePittingofthePooches.”Andifsomeonehadsuggestedittome,Iwouldhavehadnocluehowtogoaboutit.BecauseofLau-ra’sinvolvement,wehadareallyniceeventlastMay.Sothemorepeoplewhogetinvolved,thericheroursharedexperi-encebecomes. Thisyear,MontgomeryCountylostsomededicatedactivists.IalsolostafriendandcolleaguewhooriginatedtheBayScapesconcept.Theselossesbroughthomehowimportantitistoempowermorepeopletocarrytheworkon.Noneofuswillbehereforever,butwewillalwaysneedpeoplewillingtofighttoprotectwhatmakesthisaspecialplacetolive. Weareallbusywithmanyresponsibilities.It’shardtofindbalance.Youtakeontoomuch,andyouburnoutorcan’tmeetyoucommitments.Ontheotherhand,ifyoudon’tstepupanddowhatyoucan,theAssociationwillceasetoexist.Thishappensinmanycommunities. Thispromptedmetowonder,whatwouldourneighbor-hoodbelikeifthosewhocamebeforeushadnotkepttheAssociationgoing? Therewouldbenopoint-of-contactforrequirednoticesofvariousproposedgovernmentactions.Youwouldn’thearaboutitunlessyoureadthelegalnoticesinthepaperorun-lessyouweredeemedanaffectedpropertyowner.Ifyoudidfindout,andwantedthecommunitytobeinvolved,youwouldhavetofindawaytoinformyourneighborsandgetagrouporganized,allwhileyourwindowforaffectingthede-cisionwasrapidlyclosing. Similarly,ifyouwereconcernedaboutanissue(crime,streettrees,orwhatever),youwouldnothaveaready-made
(continued on page 3)
gestedintersectionstothesiteoftheotherproject!Thisislikemakingyourchild’sfail-inggradedisappearbybuyinganA-student’sreportcard. Happily,theCouncildidnotapprovethetransferofAPFfindings.Infact,itonlyapprovedthreeofthe11Plan-ningBoardproposals.Still,thereareplentyofissuestobeconcernedaboutwhenthenewGrowthPolicytakesef-fectonJanuary1.WewillhavemoreinformationbytheDecembermeeting.
(continued from page 1)
Growth Policy
3NorthwoodNewsDecember2009
TheBoardofDirectorsfortheNorthwood-FourCor-nersCivicAssociationmeetsfivetimesayear,inOctober,December,February,April,andJune.Currentofficersfor2009-2010are:
PresidentCaroleBarth10602LockridgeDrive301.593.7863cbarth@mindspring.com
VicePresidentLauraHussey10308EdgewoodAvenue301.592.0646laura_hussey@ mindspring.com
TreasurerLindaPerlman1203CaddingtonAvenue301.681.3735LSPerlman@hotmail.com
SecretaryTiffanyWright405RoyaltonRoad301.328.7380wright.tiffany@gmail.com
AtLargeTedDaniel302MarvinRoad301.593.0418ted.daniel@mail.house.gov
Editor,Northwood [email protected]
NFCCABoard
Get Involved With Your NFCCA!
Yourcivicassociationcannotexistwithoutyourparticipationandsupport!Pleasemarkthesedatesonyourcalendarforthe2009-2010cycleofmeetingsofthe
Northwood-FourCornersCivicAssociation:
9December200910February201014April20109June2010
ThesedatesareallonthesecondWednesdayofthe
month.
AllmeetingsareheldattheNorthFourCornersRecreationCenter,
211SouthwoodAvenue,at7:30p.m.
We hope to see you there!
placetobringyourissues,gethelp,buildconsensus,andthenspeakwiththepowerofalmost1,500homes. Youwouldnothavefuncommunity-wideeventslikeNationalNightOut,norwouldtherebeamechanismtopreserveandshareourcom-munity’srichhistoryfromtheco-ophousestotheWorld’sFairHouse. YouwouldnothavetheAssociationmeetings,news-letter,orlistservebringing
youvaluableinformationlikecrimealertsandhowtoreportburnedoutstreetlights. Finally,we’dbelivinginavastlydifferentenvironment.TherewouldbenopedestrianaccesstotheshoppingacrossRt29.TheclosestTraderJoe’swouldbeinRockville.TherewouldbenobridgesontheNorthwestBranchtrailandourfavoritefrogpoolwouldnotexist.Infact,theparkitselfwouldhavearoadormonorailoccupyingmostoftheland.TherewouldbenotreesbetweenUniversityBoulevardandtheNorthFourCornersRec.Center.Therewouldbemuchmorecut-throughtraffic,travelingathigherspeeds.Largecom-mercialenterpriseswouldextendfurtherintoresidentialblocks,causingevenmoretrafficproblems. Allinall,I’dsaythat’swellworth$10dollarsayearandalittlevolunteertime.So,keepyourmembershipcurrentandaskyourneighborsifthey’vere-upped.Helpdistributethenewsletter,andcontributeanarticleorastoryidea.BuyanadforyourbusinessintheNorthwood News.CometotheAssociationmeetings,andhelpfindaspeakerortopicyou’dliketohearabout.Helpoutwithanevent.Writelet-terstothePlanningBoard,Council,andpresstosupportNFCCApositions.Helpcoveranissuebylendingyourex-pertise.ConsiderjoiningtheBoardnextyear.Afterall,it’saloteasiertokeepthiscivicassociationgoingthanitistobuildonefromscratch.
—Carole A. Barth
(continued from page 2)
President’s Message, continued
4 December2009NorthwoodNews
Listings in Northwood/Forest Knolls/KinsmanAs of 11/15/2009
Full HalfActive ListPrice Style Bedrms Baths Bath
1307CaddingtonAve $315,000 SplitLevel 5 4 0
1108ChiswellLane $439,000 SplitLevel 4 2 1
403DennisAve $389,000 Rambler 5 3 0
512DennisAve $389,900 Rambler 4 2 0
508DennisAve $395,000 Rambler 6 3 0
10614EastwoodAve $228,900 Rambler 2 2 0
10217EdgewoodAve $499,900 Colonial 3 2 0
401IrwinSt $354,999 SplitLevel 4 2 1
1012LoxfordTer $349,000 Colonial 6 3 0
10709LombardyRoad $364,000 Rambler 4 2 0
803MaltaLane $319,000 SplitLevel 4 2 1
313MarvinRoad $439,875 Colonial 3 2 0
10612OrdwayDr $299,000 CapeCod 5 2 1
For All YourReal Estate Needs, Call
Maureen Bovich
Serving Northwood, Forest Knolls &Kinsman Residents For Over 10 Years
Office Direct: 301 388-2625Cell: 301 502-0601Email: [email protected]
** Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed **
12520 Prosperity Drive, Suite 105, Silver Spring, MD 20904 • 301-388-2600
5NorthwoodNewsDecember2009
By Linda S. Perlman Areyoucuriousaboutyourneighbor?Doyouwanttoknowthesalespriceofthepropertyonthenextblock?Haveanybuildingpermitsbeenissuedorhastheproper-tybeenregisteredasarentalunit?Thanks(ornothanks)totheInternet,thereisamul-titudeofinformationavailableonlineaboutpropertyowner-shipanditiseasytofind. Let’sassumethatthepropertyyouwishtoresearchisinMontgomeryCounty.StartyourpropertydetectivesearchbygoingtotheDHCA(DepartmentofHousingandCommunityAffairs)ePropertyMiningApplicationatwww.montgomerycountymd.gov/apps/DHCA/pdm_online/pdmfull.asp.DHCA’seProp-ertyMiningApplicationwillgiveyouinformationfromsevendatasourcessimplybyenteringastreetnameandnumber.ThefirstdatasourceistheMontgomeryCountypropertytax.However,Irecommendlookingattheproperty’sactualpropertytaxbillandaccountinformationatwww.montgomerycoun-tymd.gov/apps/tax/index.asp.Thissitewilltellyoutheamountofpropertytaxesandwhetheranypropertytaxesareowedontheproperty. ThesecondinformationcategoryinDHCA’seProp-ertyMiningApplicationisthe“MarylandRealPropertyDataSearch.”AlthoughtheStateDepartmentofAssessmentsandTaxation(SDAT)realpropertydatasearchresultsfromtheePropertyMiningApplicationshouldbesuffi-
cientformostpropertydetec-tivepurposes,thereismuchmorerealpropertyinforma-tionavailablefromtheSDATwebsiteatsdatcert3.resiusa.org/rp_rewrite/.Forex-ample,ifyouwantalistingofallofthepropertyownersonaspecificstreet,thenjustenterthestreetname(withoutahousenumber),suchas“Cad-dington.”Alternatively,ifyouwishtolearnaboutproper-tiesthathavesoldinthearea,select“propertysales.”Youcansearchforpropertysalesbydate,street,orsubdivi-sion.(Thesubdivisioncodeisatwo-orthree-digitnumber,whichcanbefoundonyourassessmentnoticeorpropertytaxbill;forexample,the“For-estKnolls”subdivisioncodeis102.)Onceyouenterthisinformation,youthencanfindthesalespriceofthepropertyandthenewowner’snameandaddress. ThethirdcategoryofinformationunderDHCA’sePropertyMiningApplicationis“permits.”Thislinksyou
directlytotheMontgomeryCountyDepartmentofEnvi-ronmentalResources(DER)permittingservicesoffice,whichallowsyoutosearchforbuilding,electrical,fence,andotherpermitsbypropertyad-dress. Fourth,ifthepropertyisrental,thenyoucanfindoutifthepropertyhasarentalli-censeandcontactinformationfortheholderoftherentallicense.Arentallicenseisrequiredevenofsingle-familydetachedhomerentals;anexceptiontotherentallicenserequirementmightbeifpartoftherentalpropertyisown-er-occupiedorisoccupiedbyarelativeoftheowner. ThelasttwocategoriesoftheDHCAePropertyinfor-mationprobablywillnotyieldmanyresultsforsingle-familyowner-occupiedhomes.Thisincludes“housingcodeen-forcement,”whichliststhenatureofcomplaintsmadeagainstapropertyandthedispositionofthecomplaint.
Property Detectives: Finding Out About Any Home
(continued on page 6)
Online sources can tell you about the owners of any MoCo home.
6 December2009NorthwoodNews
Call “The Refinance Lady”to lower your payments !
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Thishousingcodeenforce-mentinformationwillapplyprincipallytorentalproperties. Finally,theePropertyDataMiningApplicationalsoincludesinformationonMP-DUs,or“moderatelypriceddwellingunits,”whichareaffordablehousingunitsre-quiredtobeincludedinmanynewresidentialdevelopmentsandredevelopments. Agoodpropertydetectivewon’tstophisorhersearchattheDHCA’sePropertyMiningApplication.Thereismuchmoreavailablefreeinforma-tion.Thisincludes,butisnotlimitedto,theonlineMary-landLandRecords(www.MdlandRec.Net)andplats.net(forsubdivisionplats),SDAT
Tobin O’Connor & Ewinghave been providing quality legal services in the Washington, D.C., area since 1993, in six essential
practice areas:
Corporate & Business LawLabor & Employment
LitigationReal Estate
Estate Planning & ProbateImmigration
Tobin O’Connor & Ewing5335 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Suite 700Washington, D.C. 20015
Phone: 202-362-5900Fax: 202-362-5901
www.tobinoconnor.com
(continued from page 5)
Property Detectives Find Answersbusiness/charterinformation(www.dat.state.md.us)tosearchforcorporations,lim-itedliabilitycompanies,andotherentityownersofprop-erty;MarylandJudiciaryCaseSearch(casesearch.courts.state.md.us/inquiry/inquiry-index.jsp)tosearchforcourtcases(includingforeclosures)byoragainstapropertyowner.Therearealsovari-ous“peoplelocator”services,includingSwitchboardandAnyWho.com.Finally,thereis“Google,”perhapsthemostpowerfulofallsearchen-gines.GoogleEarthorZillow,amongotherwebsites,alsocanprovidemapsandsatelliteimagesofproperties,aswellasestimatesofthemarketval-uesofproperties.
7NorthwoodNewsDecember2009
Here’sabriefintroduc-tiontoourtwonewestboardmembers.
M.J. Gallagher M.J.Gallagher,oneofournewAt-Largeboardmembers,haslivedinNorthFourCor-nersfornineyears.ShelivesonSouthwoodAvenueandsaysshewas“ropedintothisdeal”bycurrentBoardmem-berBrianMorrissey,whoisherneighborand“all-aroundhelpfulguy,soifyouneedanything,contacthimfirstandmesecond!”shequips. “Seriously,”saysGal-lagher,“Ijoinedinordertokeepourcivicgroupviable.ItisimportanttomethatwewatchoutforeachotherandtherebyenhancethequalityofourlivestogetherhereinFourCorners.Ijustdidn’tthinkthatdeliveringthenewslettertothefolksonSouthwoodwasenoughofacommitmenttoourneighborhood.”
Tiffany Wright TiffanyWright,whohasagreedtoserveasSecretary,isfairlynewtoourarea;sheboughtherhouseinApril2008withherbestfriend.
“Afterlookingat30ormorehouses,”shesays,“wedrovepastRoyaltonRoadlateonenightandfellinlovewithitfromtheoutsideinthepitchblackdark.Wemetourreal-tortherethenextday,loveditevenmoreinthelightofday,andhereweareayearandahalflater.” Theotherresidentsofthehousehavefourlegs:dogSofitheVizslaandtwocats,CJandCharlie. TiffanyisthefirstWater-shedManagerfortheCityofBowie,whereshe’sbeenem-ployedsinceFebruary2009.(“AndIloveit!,”saysTiffany.)Beforethat,shewasaWater-shedAnalystwiththenon-profitCenterforWatershedProtectioninEllicottCity,Md. [Thank you both for step-ping forward to serve your community. Neighbors, come to the December meeting to meet M.J. and Tiffany.]
Meet Our New Board MembersSenior-Friendly Communities We’veallheardtheprov-erb,“Ittakesavillagetoraiseachild.”Well,it’sequallytruethatittakesacommu-nity’sunitedeffortstohelpseniorcitizensstayintheirhomes.CapitolHillVillageisaneighborhoodnonprofitwhichprovidesamixofvol-unteerandcontractedservicestohelpelderlyresidents“ageinplace.”Whetherit’shelpwithyardworkoraridetotheDoctor’soffice,theneededsupportisavailablerightintheneighborhood.Likeaco-op,memberspooltheirfundstocontractforservicesatre-ducedrates.Alsolikeaco-op,membersofallagesvolunteertimetoreducetheneedforhiredhelp. TheJanuaryprogramoftheMontgomeryCountyCivicFederationwillfeaturearep-resentativefromCapitolHillVillagetoexplainhowthisapproachworks.Therewillalsobearepresentativefromasimilarprogramthatisget-tingunderwayinMontgomeryCounty.Thisisinformationthatcouldchangeyourfuture,orthatofsomeoneyoulove. CivicFederationmeetingsarefreeandopentothepub-lic.MeetingsareheldinthefirstfloorauditoriumoftheCountyCouncilBuilding(100MarylandAvenue,Rockville)at7:45p.m.TheDecembermeeting,heldon14Decem-ber,willincludeaprogramonpubliclibrariesandthemedia.TheJanuarymeeting,withthesenior-friendlycommunityprogram,isscheduledfor11January2010.
Join the NFCCA’s Two List ServesNFCCA General List ServeSubscribe:[email protected](youmustsubscribefirst):[email protected]
Northwood Parents List ServeSubscribe(sendanemailto):[email protected](youmustsubscribefirst):northwood [email protected]
8 December2009NorthwoodNews
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9NorthwoodNewsDecember2009
BeltonRd./Ct.:428(1/48)CaddingtonAve.:909,1103,
1113,1203(4/83)CavalierDr./Ct.:301,10603,
10613,10709(4/53)ChiswellLa.:1014,1018,1025
(3/39)ColesvilleRd.:—(0/22)DennisAve./Ct.:—(0/43)EastwoodAve.:10709,10715
(2/53)EdgewoodAve.:10209,10216,
10301,10308,10400,10408,10428(7/72)
EisnerSt.:400,403,404(3/32)
FoxgloveLa.:11104(1/4)GlenwildRd./Ct.:10600,
10701,10703(3/33)HannesSt./Ct.:104,202,
220,229,306,309,320,403,404,405;10912Ct.(11/104)
IrwinSt.:—(0/31)
KerwinRd./Ct.:407,417,422,505,508(5/42)
KinsmanViewCircle:—(0/85)
LadsonRd.—(0/18)LockridgeRd.:10602(1/31)LombardyRd./Ct.:10706,
10806,10817,10904,11000(5/88)
LorainAve.:10104,10206(2/21)
LoxfordTerr.:857,921,1001,1004(4/135)
MaltaLa.:901(1/45)MargateRd.:10809,10822
(2/50)MarvinRd.:302,306,314
(3/18)MountainQuailRd.:10410,
10426,10428(3/28)NorthwoodAve.—(0/13)OrdwayDr.:10702(1/26)PlayfordLa.:—(0/31)PinewoodAve.:319(1/13)
Members as of 11/17/09: How Rates Your Street?RoyaltonRd./Terr.:405,409
(2/31)SnowyOwlDr.:128(1/23)SouthwoodAve.:105,111,115,
127(4/21)SutherlandRd.:10209(1/31)ThistleDr./Ct.:203,218
(2/22)TimberwoodAve.:306,317
(2/25)UniversityBlvd.:509,611
(2/48)WhittingtonTerr.—(0/15)WoodridgeAve.:111,115
(2/13) Total:82outof1,490(5.5%)
Wecurrentlyhave82members.Ifyou’dliketoincreaseyourstreet’smember-ship,sendyourdues—$10perhousehold—totheTreasurer(seepage3foraddress).
Police Give Crime Overview of Our NeighborhoodBy Jacquie Bokow MoCoPoliceLt.PaulLi-quoriegaveanoverviewofthetypesofcrimethatoccurinourneighborhoodwhenhespoketoattendeesattheOc-toberNFCCAmeeting. Lt.Liquoriepulledthestatisticsforourneighbor-hoodfromJanuarythroughSeptemberandreportedthefollowingnumberofreportedcrimes: AggravatedAssault:1. Rape:1. Robberies:3. CommercialBurglaries:7. StolenVehicles:7. ResidentialBurglaries:12. TheftsfromVehicles:63. Hetoldusthattheag-gravatedassaultwaspartofa
domesticdisputeandtherapewasofan18-year-oldwomanatapartywherealcoholandmarijuanawerepresent.Thethreerobberieswere:(1)ahomelessmanrobbedofhis
squeegie,(2)oneattheGettygasstation,and(3)onebyaBlairstudentonanother. TheLt.emphasizedthatthepoliceneedcommunityinput.Themorepeoplewhocallaboutanincident,themorelikelywe’llgetare-sponse.Forexample,hesaid,onepersonreportinghearingagunshotmightbedismissedasacarbackfiringoranyothernumberofsounds,butnumerouscallswillexpediteanofficerresponding. Sincewesufferfromtheftsfromcarsmost,don’tleaveelectronicsinyourvehicle.Aplugorevensuctioncupmarksonthewindshieldtellathiefyoupossesssuchitems.Andlockyourcar!Asurpris-ingnumberoffolksforget.
Lt. Paul Liquorie
10 December2009NorthwoodNews
SeveralhundredstudentsatForestKnollsElementarySchoolworkedlastmonthtoplant20nativetreesonschoolproperty.TheprojectwasthebrainchildofClareNielsen,acommunicationsdirectorandconservationistwithConservationInterna-tionalinArlington,Va.,whoseolderdaughter,Emily,isinthirdgradeattheschool.Nielsenhaslivedintheneigh-borhoodwithherhusbandKennyforcloseto15years. “IgottheinspirationfortheprojectwhenInoticedthenicebigtreesinbackoftheschool,”saidNielsen.“Ibe-lievethismustbearemnantoftheforestthatwasinplacewhenForestKnollsandthesurroundingcommunitywasbuilt.Matureoaksandhicko-ries—thefoundationofanimportanttypeofforestinourregion—aregrowingthere.Ithassomeothernicesmallertrees,too,likesassafras.Butitwasmissingmanykindsofsmallertreesthatcreatean‘understory’beneaththebigtrees.Thislayerofplantsandtreesisreallyimportanttobirdsandotherkindsofwildlifebecauseofthesafetyfrompredatorsitshidingplacesprovideaswellastheenrichedsourcesoffood.Istartedtowonderwhetheritwouldbepossibletotrytorestorethisarea,tobringthe‘forest’backtoForestKnolls.WhenDianeLillstartedthePTA’sGreenCommitteeatFKESlastyearandsharedmyvision,wegotstarted.” ThetreesweredonatedthroughaprojectcalledTreesforSchools,ajointinitiative
ofTree-mendousMaryland(MarylandDepartmentofNaturalResources’ForestService)andtheSierraClub.Lillknewaboutthispossibil-ityfromherworkwithotherschools;Nielsencontactedthemandnegotiatedtheof-fer.Theyhavenowdonatedatotalof22nativetreestoFKES(twoplantedlastspring,aredbudandawhiteoak).TheNovemberplantingwas10redbud,onewillowoak,threeriverbirch,threeold-mans-beard(alesser-known
smallfloweringtreeknownforitswhitefluffyspringflow-ers),andthreedogwood.Allarenativesofourregion;youcouldfindexamplesofmostofthesegrowinginourneigh-borhood’sforestalongtheNorthwestBranch. Suppliesfortheplanting(fencing,mulch,compost)wereacquiredthroughagrantNielsennegotiatedwiththeMarylandUrbanandCom-munityForestCommittee(MUCFC),avolunteergroup
Students Work to Reforest Forest Knolls School
(continued on page 11)
Clare Nielsen helps daughter Emily water a newly planted tree while other members of Mr. Faleder’s third grade class watch.
11NorthwoodNewsDecember2009
ofcitizens,professionals,andgovernmentofficialswork-ingtoprotectandenhancethestate’sforestecosystems.Theylikedthe“Kids(Re)ForestingForestKnolls”proj-ectbecauseitcombinestreeplantingwitheducation(in-volvingkidsinlearninghowtoplantandcarefortrees,aswellaslabelingtreesandcreatingeducationsignage,whicharenextphasesoftheproject). AlmostallstudentsatFKESwereinvolvedintheplantingeffort.Allstudentsin25classesparticipatedinsomeway,fromfillingtheholestoplacingthemulchtowateringtheirnewtrees. Eachtreewasnamedbytheclassesinvolvedinits
planting,inspiringafeelingofconnectionandresponsibil-ity.NamesrangedfromthedescriptiveWoodyandRosie(onedogwoodwasdubbed“Puppy”)tothemysteriousSeraphina,thelatterawon-derfulnameforoneofthethreegracefulriverbirches. “Ihopetheyfoundthatitisnothardtoplantatreeandit’soneofthemostimportantthingswecandotohelpourplanet,”saidNielsen.“Mostpeopledonotknowthatde-forestationisamajorcauseofclimatechange,releasing20percentofcarbondioxideemissionsannually,morethantheentiretransportationsector—allofthecars,trucks,planes,andtrainsintheworldcombined!”
The“Kids(Re)forestingForestKnolls”projectwillkeepongoingafterthistree-planting,withtheinstallationofanaturetrail,permanenttreeidentificationsigns,andcreationofafieldguidetothetrees/natureontheschoolgrounds.
Kids Reforest Forest Knolls
Parents like Joe Yanovitch dug holes the preceding Sunday.
12 December2009NorthwoodNews
By Gary Macdonald It’samazinghowmanyopinionsthereareouttherewhenitcomestotherealestatemarket.SomeofmyfriendsareaskingifIhavebeenlookingforanewjob,whileothersseemtobelievehomepricesareontheriseandthey’rereadytostartflip-pinghomesasaninvestment. And,ifyoulistentothera-dioorTV,youstillheargloomanddoomwhenitcomestothemarket.Sowhodoyoubelieve?Onwhatshouldwebaseourbeliefs?ShouldwetakethewordsofthepunditsonTVandradio? Thereisnodoubtthatoneofthebiggestfactorsofanyrealestatemarketislocation.And,ifyou’rereceivingthisnewsletter,consideryourselfveryluckybecauseweliveinaphenomenallocation:soclosetoD.C.,theBeltway,shopping,parks,etc.,andthefactthatourschoolsareexcel-lentmakeNorthwood/FourCorners/ForestKnollsalwaysindemand.NoteveryonewhohasaSilverSpringaddressisthisfortunate,sopatyour-selvesonthebackforpickingasolidcommunity. Iwanttosharesomesta-tisticswhichmayclearupafewthingsaboutthereales-tatemarketin2009,butfirstIneedtogiveyoujustaquickupdateastohowwegottowhereweare.2001to2005:Homepricesaverageda20%increaseinvalueacrosstheboard.2006:Homepricespeak.2007:Foreclosuresandshortsalesstartedtobecomeverypopular.Themortgage
industrygoesthroughanextrememakeover.Homesdroppedabout10%invalue2008:Slowestyearforrealestateinmany,manyyears.Homesdroppedanav-erageof20%invalue.
DefinitionsShortSale:Ahomeonthemarketthatisworthlessthanwhatisowedandthesellercannotcometothesettlementtablewithenoughmoneytopayofftheirloanandpaytheirsettlementcosts.Foreclosure:Asalethattakesplace,usually,atthecourthousesteps.Theownerscouldnotmaketheirpaymentsandthelenderhasevictedthem(ortheyleftvol-untarily)andistryingtosellthehomeatapublicauction,calledaforeclosuresale.Bank-OwnedHome:Ahomethatwenttoauctionasaforeclosuresalethatdidnotsellandthebankboughtitback.Thesehomesareusu-allyputonthemarketwithaRealtorworkingforthebank.ThesearealsocalledREOproperties(Real-EstateOwned). Allofthethreetypesofsalesabovearealsocalled“DistressedSales”andarealmostalwayspurchasedforbelowmarketvalue. So,inlate2009,what’sgoingoninNorthwood/For-estKnollsnow? Aswecomparethefirst11monthsofthisyeartothefirst11monthsoflastyear,somestatisticsandfiguresreallyjumpout.ButfirstIbelieveitisimportanttocompareappletoapples.Youcannot
talkaveragesalespricefromoneyeartotheotherifyou’reusingdistressedsalesand“normal”salestogether.Themainreasonforthisisthat,in2009,wehavehadalargein-creaseindistressedsalesfrom2008.Here’sacharttohelpmakesenseofit.
2008vs.2009HomeSales1/1–11/14
Northwood/ForestKnolls
Distressed Sales 2008 2009 DifferenceNo.Sales 3 13 +433%Avg.Price $345K $275K -21%
Normal Sales 2008 2009 DifferenceNo.Sales 26 23 -12%Avg.Price $371K $358K -4%
Asyoucansee,thetotalnumberofsalesin2009(bothdistressedandnormal)haveincreased,sothereismoreactivity,whichisagoodthing.Unfortunately,though,thenumberofdistressedsaleshaveincreasedtremendouslyandthosevaluesareconsider-ablylowincomparison. Nowforsomesilverlin-ing:fromlastyeartothisyear,theaveragesalespricehasonlydroppedabout4%onnormalsales.Onestatisticnotshownisthefactthattheaveragedaysonthemarketforanormalsaleinourcom-munityisatonly58days.Thesenumbersareveryen-couragingtosee. Let’stakeaquicklookatthebiggerpictureanduseMontgomeryCountyasawhole.LastOctober(2008)therewereapproximately
Real Estate Changes in Our Neighborhood in 2009
(continued on page 15)
13NorthwoodNewsDecember2009
Barbara Ciment Associate Broker, Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc
$300 Million & 1,000 Career Sales Top Office Producer Since 1988
(H) 301-622-7002 (O) 301-949-7070
[email protected] www.ciment.com
Your Neighborhood Realtor Serving SS/Northwood for 30+ Years
$16 Million in 2009 Sales I am selling lots of homes even in this most difficult real estate market. More than ever, you need a top professional to deal with the unexpected obstacles to closing your transaction. Your agent must negotiate with other agents but, even more importantly, you need an experienced agent to work closely with inspectors, lenders, mortgage brokers, appraisers and settlement attorneys to make sure your deal settles.
Your Neighborhood Specialist Before you make any move in Northwood, Forest Knolls, or Kinsman Farm, I would be pleased to share my insights with you. I will inform you on how the overall market is affecting prices in the Northwood Area.
Call for My Free Market Analysis When you list with me, I will advise you on how to prepare and stage your home to sell for Top Dollar in this market.
Recent Sales in the Northwood Area
3 BR Split Level414 Eisner St
Sold Price: $400,000
4 BR Split Level825 Loxford Ter
Sold Price: $381,000
4 BR Cape Cod404 Belton Rd
Sold Price: $380,000
3 BR Rambler803 Lombardy Ct
Sold Price: $340,000
5 BR Split Foyer1302 Caddington AveSold Price: $325,000
3 BR Rambler10404 Royalton TerSold Price: $322,000
3 BR Townhouse69 Kinsman View CirSold Price: $290,000
5 BR Rambler705 University Blvd WSold Price: $255,000
When you are ready to sell your home with me, I will discuss the recent activity in your neighborhood and review comparableCurrent Listings and Recent Sales. Above is a sample of Recent Sales from the MRIS as of November 14, 2009
Now is a Great Time to Buy a Home! Let Me Help You Find the Home of Your Dreams!
14 December2009NorthwoodNews
Gary MacdonaldRealty Executives Premier
301.476.7700 x213202.369.1659 (Cell)
“YOUR REALTOR” Since 1998
2009 Real Estate Sold Homes (July 1 – November 14)Northwood and Forest Knolls
SHORT SALESAddress Type BR Bath Orig. $ Sold $ Seller Subsidy Net Sales $423 Kerwin SF 4 2 $439,000 $260,000 $ 7,800 $252,200800 Whittington SF 4 3 $299,000 $290,000 $ 5,800 $284,200
FORECLOSED HOMES (BANK OWNED/REO)Address Type BR Bath Orig. $ Sold $ Seller Subsidy Net Sales $307 Belton SF 3 2 $239,900 $250,000 $ 7,500 $242,5001112 Chiswell SF 4 3 $339,900 $331,000 $ 8,000 $323,000705 University SF 5 3 $246,000 $255,000 $ 0 $255,000
“NORMAL RESALES”Address Type BR Bath Orig. $ Sold $ Seller Subsidy Net Sales $404 Belton SF 4 2 $385,000 $380,000 $ 9,000 $371,0001302 Caddington SF 5 2.5 $340,000 $325,000 $ 0 $325,00010400 Edgewood SF 3 2 $385,000 $377,000 $ 9,040 $367,960414 Eisner SF 3 2 $473,000 $400,000 $ 0 $400,000305 Ladson SF 3 1 $280,000 $280,000 $ 5,000 $275,000803 Lombardy SF 3 2 $350,000 $340,000 $ 0 $340,00010704 Lombardy SF 4 2 $369,000 $347,000 $ 4,000 $343,000825 Loxford SF 4 3 $390,000 $381,000 $ 0 $381,000200 Marvin SF 4 3 $439,900 $375,000 $11,250 $363,75010404 Royalton SF 3 1.5 $320,000 $322,000 $12,000 $310,000
$8,000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Extended. You must be under contract no later than April 30, 2010, and you must settle by June 30, 2010. Call for details; there are restrictions.$6,500 Tax Credit for Repeat Buyers Same dates apply as for First Timers and there are restrictions. Please call me for details.
Sign up for my free monthly eNewsletter by sending me a quick email. Each month I give away a $25 Gift Card for the winner of my trivia/riddle contest.
FIND OUT WHY 10 of my last 12 listings have averaged only 23 days on the market with 5 of them selling in less than 14 days!! Call me now to discuss.
Please call me for a FREE Comparative Market Analysis of your home. Visit www.garymachomes.com to search the MLS for free.
15NorthwoodNewsDecember2009
6,000activelistingsinthecounty—thisincludedsinglefamily,townhomes,condos,etc.—and729ofthosehomeswenttosettlement.Thismeans,atthattime,wewereholdingan8+monthinven-toryofactivelistings(6,000listingsdividedby729settle-ments=8.23).ThisOctober(2009),therewereapproxi-mately3,200activelistingsand950settlements.Thisequatestoa3.3monthinven-tory:lesslistings,moresales.Economics101;it’sallaboutsupplyanddemand.TheNa-tionalAssociationofRealtorssaysthat,whentheinventoryis4monthsandbelow,it’sa
sellers’market,4–6monthsisanormalmarket,andover6monthsisabuyers’market.Inotherwords,lastyearwasabuyers’marketandnowweareactuallyinasellers’mar-ket. Rememberduringtheboomof2001–2006whenitseemedlikeeveryhomewassoldwithaPriceEscalationClause(wherethebuyersof-fer$325Kbutaddtheesca-lationclausestatingthey’llpay$2,000morethananyofferupto$350K),nohomeinspectionorfinancingcon-tingencies,etc.?In2007and2008,IwasnotinvolvedinanyhomesalewhichfeaturedanEscalationClause.In
Real Estate Changes in Our Neighborhood in 2009(continued from page 12)
MikeLenett,StateSena-tortotheMarylandGeneralAssemblyforDistrict19(ourneighborhood’sdistrict),hasacceptedourinvitationtospeaktousattheDecemberNFCCAmeeting(seepage1). Lenett,whograduatedMagna Cum LaudefromBrandeisUniversityin1984,earnedhisMastersandJ.D.fromGeorgetownUniversityin1988.HeisamemberofthebarsoftheStateofMary-land,theDistrictofColumbia,severalU.S.CourtsofAp-peals,andtheU.S.SupremeCourt.HewasoneofthetopthreegraduatesfromGeorge-townwhenhereceivedhisLL.M.(MasterofLaws,anad-vancedlawdegree)in1992. Lenett,aDemocrat,waselectedtorepresentourareaintheMarylandGeneralAs-
semblyin2006,whereheiscurrentlyAssistantDeputyMajorityWhip. Thisisagreatopportunitytomeetourrepresentativeandtalktohimaboutissuesofcon-cerntous.Don’tmissit!
2009,Ihavebeeninvolvedwithaboutadozenofthem.Mybuyershavecompetedagainstotheroffersandmanyofmylistingshavereceivedmultipleofferswithescala-tions.Thatbeingsaid,wearenotanywherenearthefrenzywewereinthen.However,thereisnodoubtinmymindthat,ifahomeispricedcor-rectlyandshowscorrectly,itshouldsellquickly,mostlikelyinacoupleofweeksorsounlessithassomemajorissueswithlocation,function-ality,etc. Tosumthingsup,Ibe-lieveweareintrulyauniquesituationinrealestatetoday.Forthefirsttimeinmy11+yearsofrealestate,I’msee-ingthemarketasbeingbothasellers’andbuyers’market.ThereasonIsaythisisbe-causeusually,whenit’sonewayortheother,ittotallybenefitsthatoneside.Rightnow,withinterestratesat5%orlower,the$8,000FirstTimeHomebuyerTaxCredit(extendednowthroughJune2010),a$6,500creditfornon-firsttimers(somerestric-tions),thefactthatvalueshavedroppedtoamoreaf-fordablelevel,andaperceivedincreaseinconsumerconfi-dencemakesthisjustasgoodamarkettobuyasitistosell.CallitthePerfectStormifyouwill.Itjustseemsthatevery-thing,forthetimebeing,isallblendingverywelltogether.Let’shopeitstaysthatway,atleastforawhile. [Ed. Note: Gary Mac-donald, who lives on Kerwin Road, has lived in the neigh-borhood since 1996.]
Lenett to Speak at December Mtg.
Mike Lenett
16 December2009NorthwoodNews
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