I was asked by the Montgomery County Maryland Women’s Council of REALTORS® to give a presentation about what I have learned about social networking in the last couple of years.  I was honored to be asked and so I went last Wednesday to see the members of

I put my presentation together, keeping it simple for myself and for the members to not be overwhelmed by the massive amount of information that goes along with social networking.   I thought Blogs, Social Networks and Micro-blogging would be the a good place to start.  Far from being and über geek,  I have taken many classes over the last year, and still do now, to learn about this ever evolving way of doing business.

I put my presentation together, simple and what I hoped would be clear for the members to understand.  My  RE/MAX broker was great and loaned me the projector for my presentation.  I got there, set everything up, had my cup of coffee, waited for the meeting to be called to order and wouldn’t you know the bulb burns out in the projector!!  Never a good thing for a presentation, let alone my nerves.  Trying to fix it, to no avail, we decide to just us my laptop, turn down the lights and press on.

My main focus of the presentation was what Social Networking was, why we should care about it, and how can someone get started.

My suggestions for the group, that have worked for me personally were:

•  ActiveRain because it is a real estate community
• RealEstatetomato because of the extensive training 
• Facebook because we all need friends and exposure
• Twitter is easy and part of my social network

I told the members that social networking was the future of real estate marketing not only for Listing and selling homes, but also for branding ourselves in our community. 

I think several understood what I was saying and asked me several questions.  I told them I was not a technical person but would find out the answers for the things I did not know.   I think one of the biggest things I had going for me was that I am not a technical computer person,  I am a REALTOR® who can explain this type of information in a way that non technical people can understand.  We speak the same language of marketing homes not html. 

I had a great time with the members and was flattered to be asked.  Funny though, I think if I am involved with these groups, I think I am pretty mainstream, but I found that it is not popular as I thought.  I hope the members found my information helpful and will become active in social networking.

I hope that the members will take some time to explore these networks that I have shared with them.  I think they will be amazed at the support that they will receive from others who are already active in Social networking, there is nothing to be intimidated about, jump in!   I hope the members of WCR will try to join one network  at a time, slowly learning how to be a participant in the paradigm shift of our industry.

If have been shopping for a home in Montgomery County Maryland, then The Kentlands was surely one of the stops or considerations you made.  If you are not familiar with the Kentlands it is a Neo Traditional Neighborhood.
The Neighborhood is designed where you could Live, play and work in one area.  Smaller yards, sidewalks and all of the amenities and shopping are within walking distance.  The Kentlands is a very active, social community in the heart of Gaithersburg.

There is shopping of every kind from food to lawn mowers. Office space is available to run any and all businesses.  The warmer months bring out the Farmer’s market, you have Whole Foods and Giant Grocery Stores.  Lots of restaurants and pubs as well.
There are several differnent styles of homes. Everything from condos to Luxury single family homes and towns are available for all tastes and lifestyles.  The Kentlands even has a senior apartment community.
The condos start, these days, in the low $200,000s and the single family homes can go up to the low $1,000,000. The style is a colonial Williamsburg theme through the neighborhood. The homes sit on small lots, we refer to them as zero lot lines. They are small, mostly decks or patios out back for yard space.

As entertainment goes, the center piece of the neighborhood is the Kentlands Mansion that was once owned by the Kent family who owned all of the land.  The mansion is a place to hold events from Weddings to corporate business meetings.  The home sets up on the hill overlooking the lake.  Next is the Arts Barn.  It sets behind the mansion and holds art exhibits, take art classes , even take in a play at the Arts Barn. 

If you would rather take in a movie, the theatre is right up the street, and then you can go for pizza afterward.

No matter who you are, the Kentlands has a lifestyle just for you.

For more information contact Audrey June-Forshey at RE/MAX Realty Group.

©Audrey June-Forshey

If you would like more information, please contact me at 301-938-8028 or AudreyForshey@gmail.com

Audrey June-Forshey | RE/MAX Realty Group | 301-921-2672 20803 Ireland Court, Germantown, MD Brick Front Garage Town home. Nine Foot ceilings, Gourment Kitchen with 42 inch cabinets, New appliances, and Granite counter tops. Large Deck, fenc 4BR/2.5BA Condo offered at $334,900 Year Built 1995 Sq Footage 1,642 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 2 full, 1 partial Floors Unspecified Parking Unspecified Lot Size 4,864 sqft HOA/Maint $108 per month DESCRIPTION Close to transportation, updated from top to bottom. Great home in great location. see additional photos below PROPERTY FEATURES Central A/C Central heat Walk-in closet Hardwood floor Family room Living room Dining room Dishwasher Refrigerator Stove/Oven Granite countertop Attic Basement Washer Dryer Laundry area – inside Balcony, Deck, or Patio Yard COMMUNITY FEATURES Garage parking Guest parking Laundry on-site Storage space(s) OTHER SPECIAL FEATURES Close To Public Transportation ADDITIONAL PHOTOS Front Kitchen Living Room Master Bedroom Master Bath Contact info: Audrey June-Forshey RE/MAX Realty Group 301-921-2672 For sale by agent/broker Equal Opportunity Housing Posted: Feb 27, 2009, 1:39pm PST

Bethesda Maryland has an abundance of restaurants.

Jackie and I are pretty good cooks, but as with all things there is always room to improve.  So Jackie and I take recreational cooking classes at L’Academie de Cuisine Culinary School in Bethesda.  There is an accredited program for those who have the passion to cook, become professional chefs and make it their life’s work. Then, there are the people like Jackie and myself who really have fun cooking and concocting new dishes for the fun of it.

L’Academie de Cuisine offers demonstration classes, if you would like to be an observer or you can take a participation class and get in right in on the act.  The participation classes are what Jackie and I always sign up for.  Last night we made Beef Wellington with herb and walnut pate’, and Semolina Cake with Caramel Pears.  The class was taught by Chef Dave Arnold from L’Academie de Cuisine.

The class will start and Chef Dave Arnold will demonstrate each dish we are to prepare and then the students will work in pairs, with directions in hand, and start to prepare each dish on the menu. 

I have to say, it seemed a bit overwhelming to think we were going to make Beef Wellington and all of the trimmings in 2 to 3 hours.  However, the class had great instruction and great success.   At the end of the class, when everything is finished the reward is to sit down, with a glass of wine, and enjoy your creation.

It is a very social activity.  Jackie and I are the best of friends, and we always meet many folks in our classes.  We took photos and I emailed them to the other folks in the class so that they could share the photos of our accomplishments.

I must tell you the Beef Wellington was fabulous.  The Caramel Pear Desert was “to die for”.  If you are a die hard foodie I strongly suggest you sign up for one of L’Academie’s recreational classes.

Glen Echo Bethesda Maryland

I often have people ask me if I ever rode the Carousel at Glen Echo Park as a kid?  Unfortunately I did not grow up here and never had the privilidge of riding the carousel. The carousel is the  Dentzel Carousel built in 1921.  The Park was formed back in 1891 and was used for Arts, science and literature mostly.  In the early part of the 1900’s it became an amusement park that most local Washingtonians grew up with until 1968.

The Federal Government took the land over as part of the park service, but in 2002 Montgomery County Maryland took the park back.  It has been set up as a non profit organization and still today it remains true to the Arts, science and literature as started in 1891.  The park sits perched above the Potomac River.

You can still ride the Dentzel Carousel.  It opens in the Spring and runs through the fall.  It is scheduled to open May 2, 2009.

Apart from the amusement park Glen Echo Park has so much to offer.  From Mid November through January 2009 the Annual Holiday Art Show and Sale will be held in the Popcorn Gallery.  The works featured will be from the artists in residence at Glen Echo Park.  Admission is free.

Pop Corn Gallery Glen Echo Park Bethesda

In addition to the amusment park and the art gallery, there is a children’s museum and gallery, the Spanish Dance Hall which had a complete renovation.  You can reserve the dance hall for special occasions.  There are classes you can sign up for in pottery, glass making, you name it you can fill your art indulgence to your hearts content. Glen Echo Calendar of Events.

Many Washingtonians have kept Glen Echo Park memories in their hearts from their childhood  years and now they can continue the tradition with their families through their adult years.

You may also contact the Partnership to take many classes, or if you are interested in teaching at the park you may contact them on the website for that information as well.   We are lucky to have such a wonderful facility available to us here in Montgomery County and the DC area.

I am working with ya dautta,

Dont be scared or nervous,

I am here to be at your service.

One of my friends says that God makes babies so wonderful and cute that you love them through their teenage years.  God also makes them teenagers so you are able to let them move on and move out when they are in their late teens.  I always thought that was a pretty good analogy.

I know you nurtured and sheltered your child to the nth degree of your love and ability.  Now they have gone off and grown up.  I know, the nerve of them.  They have been out in the working world for awhile and may actually have saved up some of their own money to consider starting to look for their very own home.

This will be a new milestone for them.  I know you will want to be there and support them through this transaction.  I am going to tell you, as a first time buyer specialist, you – Mom and Dad- need to be there for them, but you MUST let them navigate this transaction on their own with their REALTOR®.  They will call you to discuss the transaction and ask for your advice.  They will resent you if you try to “do” the transaction for them.  I have seen this happen more times than not, but far be it for me to get in the middle of a family squabble.

The questions you, Mom and Dad, will want to ask your kids as they purchase their first home are;

• Who are you working with as your agent?
• How much experience does your agent have?
• Does the agent specialize in the area you are interested in?
• Does the agent have a good balance of Buyer Transactions vs Seller transactions.
• Of the Buyer Transactions – are first time home buyers one of the agent’s specialties.
• Did the agent refer 2 or 3 lenders so rates and services can be compared.
• Does the agent represent the buyer or the seller.
• Will the agent have a Buyer Broker Agreement where the agent has a Fiduciary relationship with the buyer?
• Does the agent have a “Buyer Pre-qualification Appointment” to lay a good foundation for a smooth transaction?
• Does the agent have a grasp on basic financing information.

If you wonder about the agent, you can do a search based on the agent’s license number with the state commission.  In Maryland, we work under a Fiduciary relationship.  That means that the agent has to, by law, put the interest of their client above all others – even the agent’s own interests.  Fiduciary is the highest form of loyalty in any  relationship.  As a matter of fact, we agents probably have a higher loyalty to your kids than you do now that they are adults.  So know they are in good hands.

Mom and Dad, don’t worry.  You did a great job raising your children.   They know right from wrong.  When I work with First time home buyers, they will typically come and see me for the initial buyer prequalification appointment.  Once that has been done and we have the ground work set, they will go out with me and look at different homes and pick the ones they like the most.  That will be when they call you into the transaction.  They will want to show you the work and research they have done.  They will also want your opinion about the homes they have narrowed down in their search.

Once you get there to see the house(s) they have picked, look for the major items of concern, but please don’t beat the house up.  I have had parents be so hard on the house their kids choose, I have had some cry at the house because they think you hate their house.  Just help them, don’t criticize them.  Remember, it is THEIR home, not yours.

I find that the parents that come with the kids to every appointment from start to finish and make all of the decisions during the transactions end up with more friction between family members than friction with the agents.   Remember, your kids are no dummies and they have probably done more homework and research on the internet than you did when you bought your first home.

Just relax, be there for them, let them ask you – because they will want your advice- and it should be a smooth transaction for all.

The Jewel of Montgomery County, can you guess what it is?

Have you already guessed?  It is the Strathmore Hall Art Center and they are celebrating 25 years of Art.  The Strathmore Art Center is located on the Grovsvenor Metro stop, perfect for anyone to get to!!  You would think that an Art Center like this would be in the city directly but, we here in Montgomery County are so thrilled call it our own.

Originally the land was purchased by Captain James Frederick Oyster and his wife for their Summer Home in 1899.   They bought 99 acres and built the mansion shortly thereafter.  They Oysters sold the home to Charles Corby and his wife, Hattie who remained in the home until her death in 1941.

After Mrs Corby passed away the land was left to St Mary’s Academy in which the Nuns turned the mansion into a convent and a school called St Angela Hall.   The Sisters then sold the mansion to The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association as their headquarters.  They then gave the property to Montgomery County and it was named Strathmore Hall.  Strathmore Hall would be renovated and used for the arts in 1983.

The Mansion has a 100 seat hall for concerts, tea rooms and many other rooms for education and art exhibits.  It has hosted weddings, and celebrations of all kinds.  It is set up on the lawn and is as beautiful and she is important to cultural events.

Fast forward to 2001.  After 25 years of work and under the direction of President & CEO Eliot Pfanstiehl, there was a ground breaking for the Music Hall.  The music hall was designed by Architect William Rawn Architects, Inc, Kirkegaard Associates who designed all of the acoustics, theater designers Theatre Project Consultants.  It is a masterpiece of architecture.  It is built of German limestone, it sets up on the knoll and has exquisite views.  The concert hall is the most beautiful concert hall I have ever seen, it rivals halls I have seen in New York, Hamburg, Berlin, and Washington DC.  It is as wonderful to see a show as to sit in awe of it’s beauty.

The Strathmore Art Center is partnered with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Washington Performing Arts Society, National Philharmonic, Levine School of Music, CityDance Ensemble, and Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra.  These are major players in the music and art world.

The great thing about Strathmore is that there is something for everyone.  In the Concert Hall you can see anyone from Neil Sedka to Tommy Tune to Bernadette Peters to Arlo Gutherie To Soweto Gospel Choir to Chanukah Feast in Concert to A Rockapella Holiday to the Musical Adventures of Flat Stanely for the kids.  I mean there is something for everyone!  I have seen plays, comedy tours, symphony concerts, the Beatle tour.  Strathmore has not left anyone out.

Check out their website Strathmore.org for all the information.  You can sign up for art classes, chorale classes, kids even have their own classes.  The Mansion has art exhibits featuring different artists. 

If you live in Montgomery County or in the Metro area, do yourself a favor and don’t miss out on this Gem, it is truly magic.

It is getting to be that time of year again.  Spider webs, cauldrons and spooky characters.  Some like to go to Haunted houses, haunted forests, but my idea of fun is the  Candlelight Ghost Tours in Frederick Maryland.

Did you know that Frederick is over 250 years old?   Many of the major Civil War battles were fought  around Frederick County.  The Battle of Antietam, South Mountain and the Monocacy Battle.   Frederick was the largest city during these battles and many of the wounded soldiers came to Frederick for medical help.

Downtown Frederick has been restored and updated over the years.  Just think of the small quaint alley ways, wonder what is lurking there down the way?    You can go antiquing down Patrick and Market streets.  There are many restaurants for your dining pleasure.  You can even live in a downtown loft.  

All of this history and energy should conjure up some fun for Ghost walking in Frederick. You can arrange for a tour through Candlelight Ghost Tours of Frederick at 301-668-8922 or www.marylandghosttours.com

Happy Hunting to you. . . .