October 2022 Real Estate Guide

Real

The COASTAL ASSOCIATION

(CAR) is a trade organization for real estate professionals in Wicomico, Worcester and Somerset Counties on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Its membership consists of more than 1,000 REALTORs® and affiliate members serving the home-buying and home-selling needs of the public since 1957.

The term REALTOR® is a registered collective membership mark, which may be used only by real estate professionals who are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and subscribe to its strict Code of Ethics.

The COASTAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS is located at 314 Franklin Avenue, Suite 106 • Berlin, MD 21811. Phone: 410-641-4409. On the Web: www.coastalrealtor.org

OCEAN CITY TODAY is the leading newspaper publisher on the Maryland coast, with Ocean City Today publishing weekly on Friday, Bayside Gazette and Ocean City Digest publishing on Thursdays and Real Estate, the Coastal Real Estate Resource publishing key weekends throughout the year. On the Web: www.oceancitytoday.com

A beginner’s guide to fall planting and maintenance

Spring and summer are perhaps the busiest times of year for gardeners. However, fall also is a prime time to tend to gardens.

The tree and bare root retailer Bower & Branch advises that soil temperatures in many regions of the country may still be warm enough to encourage root growth well into the start of winter. Furthermore, fall is often the ideal time to plant, fertilize and keep a garden going or to get a head start on next year’s bounty.

Here are some tips to make the most of the fall gardening season.

• Think about fall annuals and bulb planting. Near the end of September, start planting cool-weather-

loving pansies and violas for pops of color as summer flowers fade. Also, it’s a good idea to stock up on bulbs that will bloom in the months to come before they sell out in stores. Wait until the temperatures really cool down before planting them in desired spots for spring sprouts.

• Sow salad seeds. Lettuce, spinach, radishes, and arugula tolerate cooler temperatures. Try new and interesting lettuce varieties and enjoy salads well into the fall season.

• Take inventory of the sun. Positioning a garden carefully means maximizing hours of sunlight, which begin to dwindle in the fall. Experts Continued on Page 14

TONS OF POTENTIAL

THE SEARCH HAS ENDED!

Spacious 4BR/3BA

Buyers should do their own due diligence to measure

and confirm all information to their

including but not limited to schools, sizes, tax information.

BRING BACK THE GLORY DAYS!

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NEED SOME ELBOW ROOM?

How does 7 acres sound, with some major utilities already in place? Partly cleared and partly wooded, with a cleared building site, an 85 foot Well and Standard Septic installed in 2001. Existing chain link dog pen with concrete slab. Forest Conservation Easement and small area of nontidal wetlands in rear.

Zaffiris

Coastal Association swears in new board

Lower Eastern Shore, Md. – The Coastal Association of Realtors installed its 2022-2023 board of directors at a recent ceremony at The Kylan Barn.

Austin Whitehead, a Realtor and associate broker with Whitehead Real Estate Executives in Salisbury, was installed as president of the association’s board.

“I am excited about what the future holds for both our industry and the Eastern Shore,” said Whitehead. “As our market begins to normalize and we come out of covid our association needs to focus externally on our members and the community. We will continue our

work in advocacy for our members and homeowners.

“We will focus on those who want to be homeowners by advocating for greater financial literacy and we will focus on our members by highlighting what it means to be a Realtor. I am honored to be leading this great organization in this exciting time.”

Whitehead, along with the rest of the board, was installed by Maryland Realtors President Yolanda Muckle.

The following members were also installed during the ceremony:

President-Elect Brigit Taylor, Keller

Williams Realty, Bethany Beach, Del.

Vice President Lauren Bunting, Keller Williams Realty Delmarva, Salisbury

Treasurer Terrence McGowan, Keller Williams Realty Delmarva, Ocean City Secretary/Treasurer-Elect Steve Parsons, Coldwell Banker Residential, Salisbury

Immediate Past President Grace Masten, Sea Grace at North Beach Realtors, Ocean City

Director Cameron Drew, Hileman Real Estate, Berlin

Director Colby Phippin, Whitehead

Real Estate Executives, Salisbury

Director Summer Forbes, Hileman Real Estate, Berlin

Director Frances Sterling, ERA Martin and Associates, Salisbury

Director Veronica Bishop, ERA Martin and Associates, Berlin

Director Kate Deckenback, Keller Williams Realty Delmarva, Salisbury

“We have a great group of professionals to lead us into 2023,” said Bernie Flax, chief executive officer of CAR. “They will represent our over 1,000 members well and I am excited to see what this dynamic group will accomplish.”

August pending home sales continue to show decreases

WASHINGTON – Pending home sales sagged for the third straight month in August, according to the National Association of Realtors. Three out of four major regions experienced month-over-month decreases in transactions, however, the West saw a modest gain. Year-over-year, all four regions posted double-digit declines.

The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator of home sales based on contract signings, fell 2.0 percent to 88.4 in August. Yearover-year, pending transactions dwindled by 24.2 percent. An index of 100 is equal to the level of contract activity in 2001.

“The direction of mortgage rates –upward or downward – is the prime mover for home buying, and decadehigh rates have deeply cut into contract signings,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “If mortgage rates moderate and the economy continues adding jobs, then home buying should also stabilize.”

Yun expects the economy will remain sluggish throughout the remainder of this year, with mortgage rates rising to close to 7 percent in the coming months.

“Only when inflation calms down

will we see mortgage rates begin to steady,” said Yun.

As a result of the current interest rate environment and weaker economic activity, NAR expects existinghome sales to decline 15.2 percent in 2022, to 5.19 million units, while new home sales are projected to fall by 20.9 percent.

Yun notes that limited housing inventory and almost non-existent distressed property sales have supported home prices. Overall, he forecasts prices will rise by 9.6 percent in 2022.

In 2023, Yun foresees slower price appreciation and corresponding increases in sales as the year progresses.

“Next year, the annual median home price is expected to rise by only 1.2 percent,” Yun added. “Home sales will pick up in the second half of 2023, but will be down by 7.1 percent overall.”

Pending Home Sales Regional Breakdown

The Northeast PHSI decreased 3.4 percent from last month to 76.6, down 19.0 percent from August 2021. The Midwest index fell 5.2 percent to 88.4 in August, a 21.1 percent drop

Continued on Page 14

OF MAINTENANCE ISSUES AND REQUESTS?

• A Word From Our Homeowners •

“Thank you SO very much for all of your above and beyond help and customer service! Your business’ personalized support truly stands out, and is hands down what led me to selecting Century21 to partner with for our rental management services moving forward!”

-Lindsay Johnson

“As we approach 15 years of service in managing the summer rentals of my house in Ocean City, Maryland, I want to express my gratitude for the excellent support you have provided to my rental program. You have been consistently responsive to my requests, and have responded quickly to requests for repairs and other needs as the occasion presents. If I live another 15 years, Century 21 New Horizon Realtors will continue to be my agent.”

-Glenn Slocum

“Century 21 New Horizon is a top-notch rental agency, providing unit owners and renters personable and efficient service. As a unit owner, Century 21 has always been consistently responsive to not only our needs but to the renters as well. They are by far the most hands-on and customer focused rental agency in Ocean City, Maryland. Make Century 21 your #1 choice for reserving a beach rental. You will be assured to have a perfect and enjoyable vacation!”

-Megan Schlitt

“Over the years we have developed an excellent and successful working partnership with Kim and Century 21 New Horizon [since 2005]. And I believe that you can do the same!”

-Frank C.

saunas.

&

just up the street from

City’s popular 58-acre complex, Northside Park. The hvac was replaced in 2020 and comes fully furnished in neutral tones which allows you to put your own

to this 2 bedroom,

unit.

sell at $469,000.

Terry LooneyMatt Bogdan Palma Devic Paul Faulstich

Lauren Waesche

Fall planting can extend season

say gardens grow best in sunny locations that receive six hours of direct sunlight each day. This is where container gardens can be helpful, as they allow gardeners to move plants into spots that will get ample sunlight.

• Fill in landscaping gaps. Some fall plants can add color around the landscape and brighten up homes to add curb appeal. In addition to pansies and violas, asters, kale and chrysanthemums are fall blooms. Keep in mind that mums can come back year after year. So take them out of those flower pots and get them into the ground. They can be enjoyed next year as well, sprouting in early spring and developing leaves and buds through late summer.

• Clean up unwanted growth. Fall is an ideal time to cut back spent vegetable plants and get rid of errant weeds. Rather than bagging leaves, mow them with a grass catcher and then add the mix to a vegetable garden as an excellent soil insulator. The nitrogen and carbon will fertilize the soil, enhancing growing possibilities and limiting weed growth.

• Propagate plants in the fall. As temperatures gradually begin to cool, start taking cuttings from perennials, gathering seed pods from azaleas and rhododendrons and dividing hardwood cuttings, says the resource Gar-

dening Know How. Consult with a garden center or horticulturist on the proper ways to propagate stems using rooting hormone and other techniques.

• Continue to water plants. Water is essential in the fall and winter as roots can still be growing. Gradually reduce watering duration as plants go dormant.

Fall planting and maintenance can extend gardening season and improve the chances of growing a healthy spring garden.

Pending sales decline in Aug.

from the previous year.

The South PHSI slid 0.9 percent to 105.4 in August, a decline of 24.2 percent from a year ago. The West index rose by 1.4 percent in August to 71.0, down 31.3 percent from August 2021.

“Home prices are the least affordable in the West and, consequently, the region suffered deeper annual declines in contract signings due to rising interest rates when compared to other areas of the country,” Yun added. “However, the recent increases of the last two months, though small, are encouraging.”

Continued from

Consider these holiday gift ideas for new homeowners

The real estate market has been a wild ride in recent years. Sellers have cashed in on record-breaking profits, and buyers have had to compete against many others — sometimes in bidding wars — for a limited number of properties. Once listed, homes are selling fast. As interest rates rise and inventory increases, things are likely to change, though for some it did not come soon enough.

Individuals who were lucky enough to find a new home this year may discover they now have little money to outfit those homes. Shoppers with new homeowners on their holiday shopping lists may want to help those loved ones outfit their homes this season. The following are some home-related gift ideas to get shoppers started.

• Video/smart doorbell: Although the smart doorbell market began with only a handful of options, there’s now a bevy of manufacturers who make video and smart home doorbells. These doorbells serve the dual purpose of alerting homeowners to someone at the door, while providing surveillance of the comings and goings outside of the home. Depending on the product, a subscription may be needed to access video history. Doorbells range from $50 to $200 and more depending on features and resolution.

• Furniture gift card: There’s a good chance new homeowners will need to furnish new rooms in a home, particularly if they’re coming from an apartment or a smaller place. Many people also like to update furnishings when they move into new places. A gift card to a popular furniture store in the area will provide the head-start new homeowners need to secure sofas, dining sets, lamps, rugs, and more.

• Household tool kit: What better way to prepare new homeowners for the do-it-yourself projects and household repairs than with a tool kit? Home improvement retailers often package common tools needed in carrying cases or sets, but shoppers can grab separate items they think will be used and group them together into one gift. Pliers, screwdrivers, wrenches, a level, and measuring tape are good starter tools.

• Customized doormat: Give that new home additional curb appeal with a doormat customized with a special message or the new homeowners’ names, such as Welcome to the Smith Home. Other customizeable products include cutting boards and wall plaques.

• Programmable thermostat: A programmable or learning thermostat will help new homeowners save on their enContinued on Page 21

your Coastal member to apply for your non-profit grant.

organizations we have supported.

are the organizations we have supported.

AGH Forensic Nurse Examiners (FENS)

Art League of Ocean City

Atlantic Club

Atlantic General Hospital Foundation -Campaign for the Future

Beyond Your Walls, Inc.

Chesapeake Housing Mission

Coastal Hospice: The Macky and Pam Stansell House Community Players of Salisbury Cricket Center

Crisfield Arts and Entertainment District

Crisfield Volunteer Fire Department

Diakonia

Eastern Shore Alzheimer's Association

Eastern Shore Pregnancy Center

Eastern Shore Running Club Scholarship Fund

Epoch Dream Center

GOC Chamber of Commerce Foundation

Grace Center

Habitat for Humanity of Wicomico County Habitat for Humanity of Worcester County Help and Outreach Point of Entry (HOPE)

Hope 4 Recovery Hope And Life Outreach (HALO)

Humane Society of Wicomico County Humane Society of Worcester County Junior Acheivement of the Eastern Shore

Life Crisis Center

Lower Shore Land Trust

Maryland Food Bank of the Eastern Shore

Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra

Most Blessed Sacrament School

Ocean City Power Squadron

Parsonsburg Volunteer Fire Department

Rackliffe House

Salisbury Christian School

Salisbury Neighborhood Housing

Tim Kennard River Run

United Needs & Abilities

United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore Village of Hope Wall that Heals (Veterans Memorial)

Wicomico Child Advocacy Center (CAC)

Wicomico County Parks & Rec/CFES

Wicomico Environmental Trust

Wicomico Grows Kindness

Wicomico Libraries Reader Van Worcester County Veterans Memorial at Ocean Pines

Worcester Goes Purple Worcester GOLD

Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services

Wyatt's Warriors Foundation Young Life Salisbury

REALTORS® are members of the National Association of REALTORS®

Revitalize your landscape without spending too much

Many homeowners think they have to spend tons of green to get green in their landscape, but that isn’t necessarily so. Homeowners can improve their landscapes without digging themselves into financial holes. These strategies can help anyone save some cash and still end up with attractive gardens and more.

• Use stones or gravel for a walkway. If commercially installed pavers or cement walkways are not within your budget, there are some affordable alternatives. Flagstone or individually purchased and spaced pavers and pea gravel can be used to create pathways. Some construction sites even offer free stones when asked.

Soften the look with moss or other plants on the perimeter.

• Remove some lawn. Lawns can require hours of upkeep that may involve the application of expensive fertilizers and weed-killing products that are not always so eco-friendly. Reduce the size of a lawn by putting in a mixed planting bed of perennials or ornamental grasses or use landscape fabric and mulch.

• Look for free mulch. Municipal recycling centers may offer residents access to free mulch made from grinding up leaves, branches and other plant debris collected throughout the town. Simply bring a few con-

McLean

Department of

Title Service

Raskauskas

Network

Senkbeil

Motto Mortgage

Mortgage

Pro-Spect Inspection Services

Strayer

Salisbury Neighborhood Housing

Home

Aydelotte

Appraisal Service

T & G

Inc

The Gold Standard Inspection Company

The Mortgage Link, Inc

Waterstone Mortgage

Heckscher

Runkles

Whitecap Mortgage

Succarotte

Free mulch and scavenged stones for walkways can dress up areas of the landscape for little money. Continued on Page 21

PrimeLending Rod Flowers

Spruce it up, stay within budget

tainers to the recycling center and spread the mulch for an ornamental look or to insulate landscapes over winter and protect against weeds.

• Repurpose old items into planters. Old wheelbarrows, barrels, watering cans, and other items can be repurposed into container gardening vessels. Figure out if items marked for the garbage bin can be incorporated into garden features instead.

• Invest in plants that are easy to propagate. Perennials are the gardener’s friend when it comes to saving money. These plants sprout anew each year, and many, such as sedum, catmint, ferns, hostas, and blackeyed Susans, can propagate by division. Figure out the best times of year to divide the plants and start growing them in individual containers before planting the sturdy new shoots in the

ground. A single variety of plants grouped together in mass plantings is affordable and easy.

• Shop end-of season sales. Garden centers may begin to make room for holiday items come the fall. Take advantage of reduced costs on remaining plants and landscape accessories during this time of year. Plants can be covered or allowed to thrive indoors until they can be planted in the spring.

• Pool your resources. Homeowners planning on a big landscaping or revitalization project may want to speak with neighbors to see if they’re interested in doing the same. Contractors guaranteed business from a few homes in the same neighborhood may be willing to negotiate lower prices for the volume of work on things like driveway repaving, deckor fence-building, or installation of paver patios.

Gift ideas for new homeowners

ergy bills. Many thermostats now pair with smart home systems and phones and automatically adjust the temperature as needed to reduce energy consumption.

• Linens: A high thread count sheet set or plush Turkish cotton towels may

not be something new homeowners think to get for themselves. But these luxurious gifts can make life at home more comfortable.

Moving into a new home is an exciting yet expensive endeavor. Carefully curated gifts can tap into what new homeowners need the most.